JP2007237528A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly select a desired image as a printing target from image data which are stored in a recording medium such as a memory card. <P>SOLUTION: A printing history storage means 33 of the printer 1 writes information on the identification of the final printing time of the printing of the image in the recording medium 2, when the image of the image data 41 stored in the data-writable recording medium 2 is printed. When the image of the image data 41 stored in the recording medium 2 is printed, a printing candidate selecting means 31 reads the information on the identification of the final printing time from the recording medium 2, and selects the image data 41, which are stored in the recording medium 2 at the final printing time, identified on the basis of the read information, or later, as a printing candidate. A display means 13 displays the image of the image data 41 as the printing candidate selected by the means 31, so as to determine the image data as the printing object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing method.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image printing apparatus. The image printing apparatus stores a print information storage unit in a memory card. The image printing apparatus prints a print job stored in the print information storage unit that has a print count of 0. When the image printing apparatus prints the image, the image printing apparatus rewrites the number of times of printing for each image in the print information storage unit.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-289301 (FIGS. 4, 6, detailed description of the invention, etc.)

  If the image printing apparatus of Patent Document 1 is used, an image stored in a memory card is selected for printing, and a print job of the image is saved in the memory card, thereby printing the image stored in the memory card. be able to.

  Incidentally, in recent years, the storage capacity of memory cards has increased. The storage capacity of the memory card has reached several gigabytes. Such a large-capacity memory card can store a large number of image data. Therefore, a user who takes a picture with a digital camera keeps the taken image data in a memory card. After printing the image stored in the memory card, the user additionally stores a new image on the memory card. The user repeatedly executes printing and photographing alternately using one memory card.

  Therefore, according to the image processing apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is possible to select only unprinted image data and print an image.

  However, when the above-described image processing apparatus is used, all newly stored unprinted image data is printed, and even printing that is unnecessary for the user is printed. It is also possible to display a list of unprinted items and let the user select them, and print only the selected items. In that case, the number of unprinted items gradually increases, and the user's selection work The burden of will increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can quickly select a desired image to be printed from image data stored in a recording medium such as a memory card. The purpose is to obtain.

  A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print history storage unit that writes information specifying a final print time to a recording medium when an image of image data stored in a data-writable recording medium is printed, and a recording medium When printing the image of the stored image data, the information for specifying the final printing time is read from the recording medium, and the image data stored in the recording medium after the final printing time specified based on the read information is Print candidate selection means for selecting as a print candidate, and display means for displaying an image of the image data of the print candidate selected by the print candidate selection means for determining image data to be printed.

  If this configuration is adopted, the printing apparatus selects image data recorded on the recording medium after the last printing as a candidate of image data to be printed. For this reason, what has not been printed before is excluded from the candidates, so the number of print candidates is reduced, and the user can quickly select desired image data.

  Another printing apparatus according to the present invention prints image data to be printed and / or image data as a print candidate when printing an image of image data stored together with information on the storage time on a data-writable recording medium. The printing history storage means for writing the list to the recording medium together with the last update time of the list, and when printing the image of the image data stored in the recording medium, the last update time of the list is read from the recording medium, and the storage time is A print candidate selection unit that selects one or a plurality of image data after the last update time of the list as a print candidate, and an image of the print candidate image data selected by the print candidate selection unit. Display means for displaying to determine.

  If this configuration is adopted, the printing apparatus selects image data whose storage time is later than the last update time as an image candidate to be printed. For this reason, what has not been printed before is excluded from the candidates, so the number of print candidates is reduced, and the user can quickly select desired image data.

  In another printing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the above-described invention, the print history storage unit writes the last update time of the list as the last update time in the attribute information of the print history file storing the list, and prints The candidate selecting means selects a print candidate having a newer storage time in the attribute information of the image file storing the image data stored in the recording medium than the last update time in the attribute information of the print history file.

  If this configuration is adopted, the printing apparatus reads and compares the last update time of the attribute information of the print history file storing the list and the storage time of the attribute information of the image file, so that each image data is stored in the list. It can be determined whether or not the data is stored after the last update time. The printing device simply reads the attribute information of these files, and quickly determines whether each image data is stored after the last update time of the list without reading the list itself or the image data itself. can do.

  In another printing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to each configuration of the above-described invention, when the print candidate selection unit stores a plurality of pieces of image data whose difference between storage times is equal to or less than a predetermined time, One image data is selected as a printing candidate for a plurality of image data, and the predetermined time is longer than 0 seconds and not longer than 10 seconds.

  If this configuration is adopted, the printing apparatus can select one of the image data as a printing candidate for the image data of a plurality of images continuously shot in a short time. For example, images having substantially the same composition can be prevented from being repeatedly displayed on the display means.

  According to another printing apparatus of the present invention, in addition to each configuration of the above-described invention, the print candidate selection unit may select a print target or a print candidate in the list from among the image data whose save time is before the last update time of the list. Those not formed are further selected as print candidates.

  If this configuration is adopted, the printing apparatus has never printed or made a candidate for printing the image data whose storage time is after the last printing and the image data whose storage time is before the printing. One is selected as a candidate for an image to be newly printed. The printing apparatus can select image data that has never been printed or set as a print candidate as a print candidate.

  In another printing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to each configuration of the above-described invention, the print candidate selection unit has an image in which the storage time is a difference between the storage time of the image data included in the list and a predetermined time or less. The data is excluded from print candidates, and the predetermined time is longer than 0 seconds and not longer than 10 seconds.

  If this configuration is adopted, the printing apparatus prints the image data of a plurality of images continuously shot in a short time if the image data that is printed or is a print candidate is included in the image data. It is possible not to select as a candidate. For example, an image having substantially the same composition as an image printed in the past can be prevented from being displayed as a print candidate at the time of subsequent printing.

  According to another printing apparatus of the present invention, in addition to the components of the above-described invention, the print history storage unit prints image data and / or print candidates printed after image printing of image data is completed or immediately before it. The list of the image data and the last update time are written to the recording medium.

  If this configuration is adopted, the image data included in the list becomes image data actually printed and / or image data actually set as a print candidate. On the other hand, for example, if the image data list and the storage time thereof are stored at the start of printing of the image data, the image that is not actually printed when it cannot be properly completed after the start of printing. Data will be included.

  In another printing apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to each configuration of the above-described invention, the display unit displays permission to remove the recording medium after the printing history storage unit performs the writing process on the recording medium.

  By adopting this configuration, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being removed while the list and the last update time are being written.

  In the printing method according to the present invention, when an image of image data stored in a data-writable recording medium is printed, information for specifying the printing time is written to the recording medium, and the image data stored in the recording medium is recorded. When printing an image, a step of reading information for specifying a printing time from the recording medium, and image data stored in the recording medium after the printing time specified based on the information read from the recording medium are used as printing candidates. And a step of displaying an image of the image data selected as a print candidate in order to determine image data to be printed.

  If this method is adopted, the printing apparatus selects the image data recorded on the recording medium after the last printing as a candidate of image data to be printed. For this reason, what has not been printed before is excluded from the candidates, so the number of print candidates is reduced, and the user can quickly select desired image data.

  Hereinafter, a printing apparatus and a printing method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the printing apparatus will be described using a printer as an example. The printing method will be described as the operation of the printer.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The printer 1 has a card reader device 10. The card reader device 10 can remove or remove the memory card 2 as a data-writable recording medium. The card reader device 10 reads data from the attached memory card 2 and writes data to the attached memory card 2.

  The memory card 2 has a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and its outer shape is formed in a card shape. The memory card 2 includes a compact flash (registered trademark), a smart card, a multimedia card, an SD card, a memory stick, and the like.

  The printer 1 reads / writes a recording medium other than the memory card 2, for example, a card-type memory device having a hard disk drive, an external hard disk drive, a disk-type recording medium such as a CD-RW and a DVD-RAM, and the like. A drive device or the like may be detachably mounted.

  The card reader device 10 is connected to a microcomputer 11 built in the printer 1. In addition to this, the microcomputer 11 is connected with an operation device 12, a display device 13 as a display means, a main body memory 14, a timer 15, a print engine 16, and the like.

  The operation device 12 has a plurality of operation keys not shown. Examples of operation keys include a numeric keypad, a cross key, and a print button. When the operation key is operated, the operation device 12 outputs input data corresponding to the operated operation key to the microcomputer 11.

  The display device 13 has a display (not shown). An example of the display is a liquid crystal display. In the printer 1, for example, a full color liquid crystal display such as 1.5 type, 2.4 type, and 3.5 type is used. When the display data 22 is supplied from the microcomputer 11, the display device 13 displays an image based on the display data 22 on the display.

  The main body memory 14 stores various setting data used by the printer 1 and data temporarily generated during printing processing by the printer 1. The main body memory 14 is constituted by, for example, a semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or the like. The main body memory 14 may be realized as a part of the microcomputer 11.

  Examples of various setting data used by the printer 1 include setting value data 21 selected during printing and various display data 22. The display data 22 includes, for example, display data 22 for an image selection method selection screen.

  Items to be selected when printing with the printer 1 include, for example, the type of paper to be printed, paper size, layout, filter, automatic image quality correction, image quality adjustment, date printing, and the like. For example, the paper type setting values include plain paper, photographic paper, matte paper, and the like. The set value of the paper size includes A4, L size, postcard, and the like. The layout setting values include border, borderless, upper half, 1up, 2up, and index (for example, 20up). Filter setting values include none, monochrome, and sepia. Setting values for automatic image quality correction include none, PIM (print image matching), EXif print, and APF (auto photo fine). Setting values for image quality adjustment include brightness increase / decrease values, vividness increase / decrease values, and sharpness increase / decrease values. The setting values for date printing include none and yes. The main body memory 14 stores these set values as set value data 21.

  Examples of data temporarily generated by the printer 1 during the printing process include print instruction data 23 and preview data 24. The print instruction data 23 includes information for specifying an image to be printed, information on printing conditions for each image, and the like. The preview data 24 includes information for specifying an image displayed on the display device 13.

  The timer 15 is a circuit that generates time information. The timer 15 outputs the generated time information to the microcomputer 11.

  The print engine 16 executes printing on paper not shown. For example, the print engine 16 conveys paper set in a paper feed tray (not shown) of the printer 1 to a paper discharge tray. The print engine 16 discharges ink toward the paper during the conveyance. As a result, an image drawn with ink is printed on the paper.

  The microcomputer 11 executes a printing program (not shown). Thereby, the microcomputer 11 implements a print instruction unit 31 as a print candidate selection unit, a print execution unit 32, a print history update unit 33 as a print history storage unit, and the like.

  The print program may be stored in, for example, a memory (not shown) in the microcomputer 11 or the main body memory 14. The printing program may be stored in these memories before shipment of the printer 1 or may be stored in these memories after shipment of the printer 1. The printing program stored in these memories after shipment of the printer 1 may be provided to the user of the printer 1 by a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a transmission medium such as the Internet.

  The print instruction unit 31 generates a print instruction. For example, the print instruction unit 31 generates a print instruction for an image stored in the memory card 2 attached to the card reader device 10.

  The print execution unit 32 controls the print engine 16 based on the print instruction generated by the print instruction unit 31. The print execution unit 32 causes the print engine 16 to execute printing specified by the print instruction. For example, the print execution unit 32 causes the print engine 16 to transport a sheet set in a sheet feeding tray (not shown) of the printer 1. The print execution unit 32 causes the print engine 16 to eject ink. The print execution unit 32 causes the print engine 16 to convey the paper to the discharge tray.

  The print history update unit 33 generates print history data. The print history data includes data on information related to printing executed by the print execution unit 32. The print history update unit 33 writes the generated print history data to the memory card 2 attached to the card reader device 10 as a print history file.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the memory card 2 in FIG. The memory card 2 manages and stores the written data as a file. The memory card 2 in FIG. 2 stores eight image files 41 and a print history file 42. Each file stored in the memory card 2 has attribute information such as a file name and a storage time in addition to the written data. The file name is given at least in the memory card 2 so as not to be duplicated. The memory card 2 in FIG. 2 stores a print history file 42. The print history file 42 is stored in the memory card 2 after printing as will be described later. Therefore, the memory card 2 in FIG. 2 has been printed by the printer 1 in the past.

  The uppermost image file 41 in FIG. 2 has a file name “File0001.JPG” and a storage time “2005.11.4 / 15: 05: 46” as attribute information. The uppermost image file 41 stores the image data stored in the memory card 2 at 15:05:46 on November 4, 2005.

  The second image file 41 from the top and the third image file 41 from the top in FIG. 2 store image data captured by continuous shooting with a digital still camera or the like. Therefore, the storage time of the second image file 41 from the top is 15:45:01, and the storage time of the second image file 41 from the top is 15:45:02. The difference in the storage time of these two image files 41 by continuous shooting is 1 second.

  The image file 41 basically stores image data of one image. The format of the image file 41 includes, for example, Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format), JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), TIFF (Tagged-Image File Format), and GIF (CompuSerGestFarmSport. In the image file 41 of these formats, the image data is stored in a compressed format or an uncompressed format. The image file 41 in a format such as Exif has header data in addition to the image data. The header data can store the time when the image was captured, the environment information when the image was captured, and the like. In a digital still camera, generally, image data of a captured image is stored in the memory card 2 as an Exif format image file 41.

  The print history file 42 stores a history printed by the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the print history file 42 has a predetermined file name and a last update time “2005.12.4 / 1: 28: 16” as attribute information. The last update time of the print history file 42 is updated to the processing time every time the print history file 42 is created or updated. The data in the print history file 42 in FIG. 2 was last updated at 1:28:16 on December 4, 2005.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of print history data stored in the print history file 42 in FIG. The print history file 42 includes a list of an image file 41 of an image printed by the printer 1 and an image file 41 of an image that the printer 1 has selected as a print candidate. The print history file 42 includes a plurality of records. In FIG. 3, each row corresponds to one record. One record includes data such as the file name of the image file 41, the number of printed images of the image file 41, print settings, print time, preview history, and index print time.

  For example, the record in the top line of FIG. 3 includes a file name “File0001.JPG” of image data, the number of prints “1”, a print setting “L, Photo, 1up,...”, And a print time “2005.12”. .2 / 12: 05 ”, preview history“ present ”, and index print time“ absent ”. This is because the image of the image file 41 with the file name “File0001.JPG” was printed on a L-size photo paper in 1up at 12:05 on December 2, 2005, and a print preview was made. And index printing has not been performed.

  The third record from the top in FIG. 3 means that only the print preview of the image of the image file 41 with the file name “File0013.JPG” has been made. The fourth record from the top of FIG. 3 shows that the image of the image file 41 with the file name “File0014.JPG” is index printed at 1:12 on December 4, 2005, and then December 4, 2005. Means that one sheet was printed on L-size photo paper at 1:26. The fifth record from the top in FIG. 4 means that the image of the image file 41 with the file name “File0015.JPG” was index printed at 1:12 on December 4, 2005.

  Next, a printing operation by the printer 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of print instruction generation processing executed by the print instruction unit 31 of the printer 1 of FIG. 1 when printing an unprinted image. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of print history update processing executed by the print history update unit 33 of the printer 1 of FIG. 1 during printing.

  When the memory card 2 is attached to the card reader device 10, the print instruction unit 31 determines that (step ST1) and then selects an image selection method (step ST2), as shown in FIG. Specifically, the print instruction unit 31 first reads display screen data for selecting an image selection method from the main body memory 14 and supplies the display screen data to the display device 13. The display device 13 displays on the display a display screen for selecting an image selection method. Multiple selection of image selection methods on the display, such as “Print All”, “Select Print”, “Range Print”, “Select Date Print”, “Index Print”, “Print Unprinted”, etc. The value is displayed.

  A user who prints an image stored in the memory card 2 with the printer 1 operates the operation device 12. The operation device 12 outputs input data corresponding to the operation key to the microcomputer 11. The print instruction unit 31 selects one of a plurality of selection values of the image selection method displayed on the display based on the input data. The flowchart of FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the print instruction unit 31 selects “print unprinted” as a selection value.

  When “print unprinted” is selected as the selection value of the image selection method, the print instruction unit 31 reads the print history file 42 from the memory card 2 (step ST3). For example, the print instruction unit 31 specifies a predetermined file name of the print history file 42 and tries to read the attribute information of the print history file 42 from the memory card 2. Note that if printing on the memory card 2 has not been executed in the past, the print history file 42 is not stored in the memory card 2. In this case, the print instruction unit 31 proceeds to the next process without reading the attribute information of the print history file 42.

  When the process of reading the attribute information of the print history file 42 from the memory card 2 is completed, the print instruction unit 31 specifies the last print time using the memory card 2 (step ST4). When the attribute information of the print history file 42 can be read from the memory card 2, the print instruction unit 31 specifies the last update time of the print history file 42 as the last print time. If the attribute information of the print history file 42 cannot be read from the memory card 2, the print instruction unit 31 performs final printing on a predetermined past time that is sufficiently old, for example, January 1, 1900, 0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds. What is necessary is just to specify as time.

  After specifying the final print time, the print instruction unit 31 selects a print candidate image stored after the final print time from the memory card 2 (step ST5).

  Specifically, the print instruction unit 31 first reads the attribute information of the image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 and determines whether or not the save time of the image file 41 included in the attribute information is after the last print time. Determine whether. When the storage time of the image file 41 is after the last printing time, the image file 41 is specified as the image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 after the last printing time. With this determination, the print instructing unit 31 can quickly save the image file 41 in the memory card 2 after the final printing time without reading the contents of the image file 41, such as header data. It is possible to determine whether or not

  After specifying the image file 41 stored after the last printing time, the print instruction unit 31 selects the image of the image file 41 as a print candidate image. The print instruction unit 31 reads the image data of the image file 41 from the memory card 2 and supplies it to the display device 13. The display device 13 displays the print candidate image on the display. For example, when a thumbnail image is stored in the image file 41, the print instruction unit 31 may read the image data of the thumbnail image and supply it to the display device 13. The print instruction unit 31 stores the file name of the image file 41 of the previewed print candidate image in the main body memory 14 as the preview data 24.

  The user operates the operation device 12 in a state where a print candidate image is displayed on the display of the display device 13. The operation device 12 supplies input data corresponding to the operated key to the print instruction unit 31. The print instruction unit 31 selects the number of print candidate images and print conditions displayed on the display device 13 based on the input data from the operation device 12 (steps ST6 and ST7).

  The number of prints can be set from 0 to 99, for example. When 0 is selected, the print instruction unit 31 determines that the print candidate image is not printed. When one or more predetermined number of sheets is set, the print instruction unit 31 determines that the print candidate image is printed with the specified number of sheets.

  Further, when printing a print candidate image, the print instruction unit 31 stores in the main body memory 14 for each setting item such as paper type to be printed, paper size, layout, filter, automatic image quality correction, image quality adjustment, date printing, and the like. A list of set value data 21 is displayed. The print instruction unit 31 selects a setting value for each setting item based on input data from the operation device 12. The print instruction unit 31 stores the selected combination of setting values in the main body memory 14 as the print instruction data 23.

  When the selection of printing necessity / printing conditions for one print candidate image is completed, the print instruction unit 31 is an image file 41 stored after the last print time, and an unselected image file 41 remains as a print candidate. It is determined whether or not (step ST8). Specifically, the print instruction unit 31 searches for the memory card 2 again. If a new image file 41 stored after the last printing time cannot be specified, it is determined that there are no unselected print candidate images remaining.

  When a new image file 41 stored after the final printing time is specified, the print instruction unit 31 selects the image of the newly searched image file 41 as a print candidate image (step ST5). The print instructing unit 31 performs a print number selection process and a print condition selection process for the selected new print candidate image (steps ST6 and ST7).

  In the search process of the image file 41 for selecting the second and subsequent print candidate images, the print instruction unit 31 determines the difference between the image file 41 of the image already selected as the print candidate and the time information. Is not selected as a print candidate for the image file 41 having 10 seconds or less. Accordingly, the printer 1 selects the first image in the image file 41 of a plurality of images continuously taken with a time difference of 10 seconds or less as a print candidate, and does not select the remaining continuous shot images as print candidates. can do. On the display device 13, an image having substantially the same composition is not displayed many times. The time difference between the time information of the image file 41 may be, for example, 5 seconds or less other than 10 seconds.

  Through the above processing, the print instruction unit 31 sequentially selects new image files 41 stored in the memory card 2 after the final print time as print candidates one by one, and one or more print sheets are set. A print candidate image is selected as an image to be printed. Then, when there are no unselected print candidate images in the memory card 2, the print instruction unit 31 determines that there are no unselected print candidate images (step ST8).

  When there are no unselected print candidate images, the print instruction unit 31 generates a print instruction (step ST9). The print instruction unit 31 reads the print instruction data 23 stored in the main body memory 14 and generates a print instruction. The print instruction unit 31 generates a print instruction for printing the image of the print candidate image file 41 that has been selected to be printed with the selected number of prints and print conditions. The print instruction unit 31 supplies the generated print instruction to the print execution unit 32. In this print instruction, for example, the file name and print conditions of the image file 41 to be printed are organized and stored for each image file 41 to be printed.

  When a print instruction is supplied from the print instruction unit 31, the print execution unit 32 starts print processing. The print execution unit 32 controls the print engine 16 based on the print instruction to execute printing. For example, the print execution unit 32 first controls the print engine 16 to feed the paper set in the printer 1 to the printing position. The print execution unit 32 controls the print engine 16 to eject ink based on the image data while transporting the paper fed to the printing position little by little. The print execution unit 32 controls the print engine 16 to discharge the paper on which ink ejection based on the image data has been completed to the paper discharge tray. Thereby, the image of the image file 41 instructed to be printed by the print instructing unit 31 is printed on the paper under the printing conditions instructed by the print instructing unit 31.

  Further, the print execution unit 32 supplies a print end pre-notification to the print history update unit 33 immediately before all the printing based on the print instruction is completed, for example, before the last sheet is discharged. Thereafter, the print execution unit 32 supplies a print end notification to the print history update unit 33 after the printing based on the print instruction is completed.

  The print history update unit 33 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the print history update unit 33 is supplied with a print end advance notification from the print execution unit 32 (step ST11), the print history update unit 33 starts an update process of the print history file 42 (step ST12). Specifically, the print history update unit 33 first reads the accumulated preview data 24 and print instruction data 23 from the main body memory 14. The print history update unit 33 organizes the read data for each image file 41 and generates a record for each image file 41. The print history update unit 33 adds the generated record to the print history file 42 stored in the memory card 2. Also, the print history update unit 33 acquires time information from the timer 15 and updates the last update time included in the attribute information of the print history file 42.

  Note that the print history file 42 is not stored in the memory card 2 during the first printing. In this case, the print history update unit 33 generates the print history file 42 in the memory card 2 and then appends the generated record to the print history file 42. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the print history file 42 stores the print history of the image of the image file 41 stored in the memory card 2.

  The print history file 42 in FIG. 3 stores the print history for two times. In the print history file 42 of FIG. 3, the first and second lines are the first printing history, and the third to fifth lines are the second printing history.

  The first printing time is approximately 12:06 on December 2, 2005. At this point, the memory card 2 stores the upper three image files 41 (“File0001.JPG”, “File0002.JPG”, “File0003.JPG”) in FIG.

  The image file 41 with the third file name “File0003.JPG” is captured by continuous shooting with the image file 41 with the second file name “File0002.JPG”. Their storage times are 1 second different. The second image file 41 with the file name “File0002.JPG” is printed. Therefore, the print instruction unit 31 excludes the third image file 41 from the print candidates and sets the top two image files 41 as print candidates. As a result, the two image files 41 are recorded in the print history file 42.

  The print instruction unit 31 generates an instruction to print the two print candidate images. As a result, the print history file 42 stores information such as the number of prints, print settings, and print time of the two image files 41.

  The second printing time is around 1:28:16 on December 4, 2005, as shown as the last update time of the attribute information of the print history file 42. At this point, the memory card 2 stores seven image files 41 (from “File0001.JPG” to “File0016.JPG”) from the top in FIG.

  At the time of the second printing, the print instructing unit 31 specifies the first printing time, around 12: 6 on December 2, 2005 as the final printing time. The print instruction unit 31 selects an image file 41 whose save time is later than the final print time as a print candidate. That is, the print instructing unit 31 has the lower three image files 41 (“File0013.JPG”, among the upper seven image files 41 in FIG. 2 stored in the memory card 2 at the time of the second printing. “File0014.JPG”, “File0015.JPG”) are selected as print candidates.

  Among them, the print instruction unit 31 performs index printing of the image file 41 with the file name “File0014.JPG” and the image file 41 with the file name “File0015.JPG”. The print instruction unit 31 normally prints the image of the image file 41 with the file name “File0014.JPG” after index printing. Therefore, the print instruction unit 31 selects only the image of the image file 41 with the file name “File0013.JPG” as the print candidate image.

  When the memory card 2 storing the print history file 42 in FIG. 3 is loaded in the card reader device 10 for the third printing, the print instruction unit 31 is the last update time of the print history file 42. On December 4, 2005, 1:28:16 is specified as the last print time. The print instruction unit 31 selects an image file 41 whose storage time is later than 1:28:16 on December 4, 2005 as a print candidate.

  At the time of the third printing, the memory card 2 stores eight image files 41 (“File0001.JPG” to “File0115.JPG”) as shown in FIG. The print instructing unit 31 selects the image of the eighth image file 41 (“File0115.JPG”) from the top having a storage time later than 1:28:16 on December 4, 2005 as a print candidate image. The image is displayed on the display device 13.

  In addition, when the selection of the number of prints and the selection of the printing conditions regarding the image of the print candidate image are completed, the print instruction unit 31 searches for the next unselected print candidate image. There is no new next unselected image in the memory card 2. Therefore, the print instruction unit 31 determines that there is no unselected print candidate image. The print instruction unit 31 generates a print instruction for printing the image of the eighth image file 41 (“File0115.JPG”) from the top, and supplies the print instruction to the print execution unit 32. When there is a prior notice from the print execution unit 32 before the completion of printing, the print history update unit 33 reads the preview data 24 and the print instruction data 23 from the main body memory 14, and based on these data, the eighth from the top. A record relating to the print history of the image file 41 (“File0115.JPG”) is generated and added to the print history file 42.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the print history file 42 after the third printing. In the print history file 42 in FIG. 6, a sixth record is added as compared with the print history file 42 in FIG. The sixth record includes the file name “File0115.JPG” of the image file 41 selected as a printing candidate in the third printing and subsequently printed. The last update time of the attribute information of the print history file 42 is updated to 15:45:36 on December 10, 2005 when the third printing is completed.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the printer 1 has a plurality of image files 41 stored in the memory card 2 based on the last update time of the print history file 42 updated at the time of final printing. Then, the image file 41 stored after the last printing is selected, and the selected image file 41 is displayed as a printing candidate. The printer 1 can promptly select the image file 41 newly stored in the memory card 2 after the last printing as a print candidate and display the image for printing determination.

  In particular, in the printer 1 of the first embodiment, the last update time included in the attribute information of the print history file 42 is updated at the end of printing, and in the next printing, the last update time included in the attribute information and each image file 41 is compared with the storage time of the attribute information 41 to determine whether each image file 41 is stored after the final printing. Therefore, the printer 1 does not read image data of the image file 41 that is not a printing candidate in order to determine whether or not each image file 41 is stored after the final printing. The printer 1 can quickly determine whether each image file 41 is stored after the final printing.

  In addition, when the difference between the storage times of the plurality of image files 41 is 10 seconds or less, the printer 1 according to the first embodiment selects the image of the image file 41 searched first among them as a print candidate, The other image files 41 are not selected as print candidates. Therefore, the printer 1 can select one of the image files 41 as a printing candidate for the image files 41 of a plurality of images continuously shot with a time difference of 10 seconds or less. On the display of the display device 13, an image having substantially the same composition is not displayed many times.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The print instruction unit 51 serving as a print candidate selection unit also selects an image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 before the final print time as a print candidate. The print instruction unit 51 generates a print instruction for an image stored in the memory card 2. The print instruction unit 51 is realized together with the print execution unit 32, the print history update unit 33, and the like by the microcomputer 11 executing a print program (not shown).

  The constituent elements other than those described above have the same functions as the constituent elements of the same name in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given and the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a printing operation by the printer 1 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of print instruction generation processing executed by the print instruction unit 51 of the printer 1 of FIG. 1 when printing an unprinted image.

  When the print instruction unit 51 determines that the memory card 2 is loaded in the card reader device 10 (step ST1), the print instruction unit 51 selects an image selection method (step ST2). When the print instruction unit 51 selects “print unprinted” as a selection value, the print instruction unit 51 reads the attribute information of the print history file 42 from the memory card 2 (step ST3), and sets the last print time using the memory card 2. Specify (step ST4).

  After specifying the final print time, the print instruction unit 51 selects a print candidate image stored after the final print time from the memory card 2. If there is no print candidate image stored after the final print time, the print instruction unit 51 selects an unprinted print candidate image stored before the final print time (step ST21).

  In the memory card 2 of FIG. 2 when the print history file 42 has the data structure of FIG. 3, the eighth image file (“File0115.JPG”) 41 from the top of FIG. 2 is stored after the last printing time. It is saved as file 41. The print instruction unit 51 selects the image of the eighth image file (“File0115.JPG”) 41 from the top as a print candidate image.

  The print instruction unit 51 displays the image selected as the print candidate image on the display device 13, and selects the number of prints and the print conditions (steps ST6 and ST7). The print instruction unit 51 stores data of a combination of setting values selected based on input data from the operation device 12 in the main body memory 14 as print instruction data 23.

  When the necessity of printing of one print candidate image and the selection of printing conditions are completed, the print instruction unit 51 searches the memory card 2 again, and is an image file 41 stored after the last printing time, and has not been selected as a print candidate. It is determined whether or not the selected image file 41 remains. When there is no print candidate image stored after the final print time, the print instruction unit 51 specifically satisfies the following conditions among unprinted print candidate images stored before the final print time. Determine if it remains. In other words, the print instruction unit 51 is an image file 41 that is not recorded in the print history file 42, and the storage time of the image file 41 recorded in the print history file 42 is 10 seconds or less. It is determined whether or not an image file 41 that is not a time difference remains (step ST22). The time difference may be 5 seconds, for example.

  When the print history file 42 has the data structure of FIG. 3, in the memory card 2 of FIG. 2, seven image files 41 (“File0003.JPG” to “File0016.JPG”) from the top to the seventh from the top. Is stored before the final printing time. In the print history file 42 of FIG. 3, five of these image files 41 are recorded. The third image file (“File0003.JPG”) 41 from the top and the seventh image file (“File0016.JPG”) 41 from the top are unprinted image files 41 not recorded in the print history file 42. It becomes.

  In the unprinted image file 41, the storage time of the third image file (“File0003.JPG”) 41 from the top is the same as the storage time of the second image file (“File0002.JPG”) 41 from the top. 1 second difference. Therefore, the print instruction unit 51 determines that the seventh image file (“File0016.JPG”) 41 from the top is an unprinted print candidate image saved before the final print time.

  When it is determined that an unprinted print candidate image remains in this way, the print instruction unit 51 selects the newly searched image of the unprinted image file 41 as a print candidate image (step ST21). The print instructing unit 51 performs a print number selection process and a print condition selection process for the selected new print candidate image (steps ST6 and ST7).

  Through the above processing, the print instruction unit 51 stores the new image file 41 saved in the memory card 2 after the last printing time and the unprinted image file 41 saved in the memory card 2 before the last printing time. One by one is selected as a print candidate in order, and a print candidate image in which one or more prints are set is selected as an image to be printed. Then, when there are no unselected print candidate images in the memory card 2, the print instruction unit 51 determines that there are no unselected print candidate images (step ST22).

  When there are no unselected print candidate images, the print instruction unit 51 generates a print instruction (step ST9). The print execution unit 32 controls the print engine 16 based on this print instruction and executes printing. In addition, the print execution unit 32 supplies a print end advance notice to the print history update unit 33 immediately before all the printing based on the print instruction is completed, and then the print end notification is sent to the print history update unit 33 after the printing is completed. To supply.

  The print history update unit 33 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. The print history update unit 33 updates the print history file 42 (step ST12) when a print end advance notice is supplied from the print execution unit 32 (step ST11). Specifically, the print history update unit 33 adds the print history of the image file (“File0115.JPG”) 41 and the print history of the image file (“File0016.JPG”) 41 to the print history file 42. .

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the printer 1 has the plurality of image files 41 stored in the memory card 2 based on the last update time of the print history file 42 updated at the time of final printing. Then, the image file 41 stored after the last printing is selected, and the selected image file 41 is displayed as a printing candidate. The printer 1 can promptly select the image file 41 newly stored in the memory card 2 after the last printing as a print candidate and display the image for printing determination.

  In addition, the printer 1 according to the second embodiment has an image file 41 having a storage time that is less than 10 seconds from the storage time of the image file 41 recorded in the print history file 42 itself. Even an unprinted one not recorded in 42 is not selected as a print candidate. Therefore, when a part of the image file 41 of a plurality of images continuously shot with a time difference of 10 seconds or less is printed, the printer selects the remaining unprinted image file 41 as a print candidate in the subsequent printing. There is no end to it. For example, the printer 1 can prevent an image having substantially the same composition as an image printed in the past from being displayed as a print candidate in subsequent printing.

  Each of the above embodiments is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is.

  For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the print history update unit 33 includes, in addition to the image file 41 that has been originally printed, the image file 41 that has only been previewed or the image file 41 that has only been index printed, as the print history file 42. To record. In addition to this, for example, the print history update unit 33 records only the image file 41 that has been originally printed in the print history file 42 or only prints that have undergone preview or index printing are stored in the print history file 42 as print candidates. Or may be recorded.

  When the image file 41 to be recorded in the print history file 42 is restricted in this way, the printer 1 according to the second embodiment has the print history file 42 in addition to the image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 after the last printing time. The image file 41 stored before the last printing time that is not recorded in the above is selected as a printing candidate, and the image is displayed to determine image data to be printed. Therefore, the printer 1 quickly selects the image file 41 as a printing candidate from the image files 41 stored in the memory card 2 before the final printing time, and determines the image file 41 to be printed. Can be displayed.

  For example, when only the index-printed image file 41 is recorded in the print history file 42, the image file 41 that has not been index-printed is the image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 before the final print time. Selected as a print candidate. When only the previewed image file 41 is recorded in the print history file 42, the image file 41 that has not been previewed is printed even if it is the image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 before the final printing time. Selected as a candidate.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the print history update unit 33 updates the print history file 42 based on the print completion advance notification from the print execution unit 32. In addition, for example, the print history update unit 33 may update the print history file 42 based on a print completion notification from the print execution unit 32 or the like. In the case of this modification, the print history update unit 33 may display the card removal permission on the display device 13 after the update processing of the print history file 42 is completed. By processing in this order, it is possible to prevent the memory card 2 from being removed during the update process of the print history file 42.

  Further, the print history update unit 33 may update the print history file 42 when the print instruction units 31 and 51 instruct the print execution unit 32 to print. However, if the print history file 42 is updated before printing is completed in this way, for example, if printing is interrupted due to a paper jam or a power failure in the print engine 16, the printing is not actually completed properly. The image file 41 is recorded in the print history file 42 as a printed image file 41. On the other hand, as in the embodiment, by updating the print history file 42 when the image printing of the image file 41 is almost completed, the unprinted image file 41 is added to the print history file 42. It can be prevented from being recorded.

  Further, the print history update unit 33 may update the print history file 42 at a plurality of timings during one printing. For example, the print history update unit 33 may update the print history file 42 every time the print instruction units 31 and 51 preview, index print, or normal printing is performed. In the case of this modification, there is no need to save the print instruction data 23 and the preview data 24 in the main body memory 14 for updating the print history file 42.

  In addition, the print history update unit 33 may update the print history file 42 based on information regarding printing at that time when a predetermined time, for example, 60 minutes elapses after index printing. In addition to a predetermined time after index printing, for example, when an operation of turning off the power button or an operation for removing the memory card 2 is performed, before the processing, based on information on printing at that time The print history file 42 may be updated.

  In each of the above embodiments, the print history update unit 33 updates the last update time of the print history file 42 stored in the memory card 2 every time the print execution unit 32 performs printing, and the print instruction units 31 and 51 Whether each image file 41 stored in the memory card 2 is stored in the memory card 2 after the last printing is determined based on the last update time. In addition to this, for example, the print history update unit 33 may store the final print time in the memory card 2 separately from the print history file 42.

  In addition to the final print time itself, the print history update unit 33 also includes, for example, the newest image file among the plurality of image files 41 stored in the memory card 2 when the print execution unit 32 executes printing. The storage time 41 may be stored in the memory card 2 as information for specifying the final printing time. The print history update unit 33 stores the storage time of the newest image file 41 in the printed image file 41 in the memory card 2 instead of the storage time of the latest image file 41 at the time of final printing. May be. In these modifications, even if the printer 1 does not include the timer 15, the print history update unit 33 can store information specifying the final print time in the memory card 2. The print instruction units 31 and 51 promptly select the image file 41 saved in the memory card 2 after the last printing as a print candidate based on the information specifying the last print time saved in the memory card 2. Can do.

  In the second embodiment, the print instruction unit 51 has the image file 41 having the storage time before the final printing time as the image file 41 not recorded in the print history file 42, and the storage time is the same. An image file 41 that is not a time difference of 10 seconds or less from the storage time of the image file 41 recorded in the print history file 42 is selected as a print candidate. In addition, the print instruction unit 51 may select the image file 41 having the storage time before the final print time as a print candidate if it is not recorded in the print history file 42.

  The present invention can be suitably used in a printer that prints an image of an image file stored in a memory card.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the memory content of the memory card in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a print history file in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart when printing an unprinted image. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the printing history update process at the time of printing. It is a figure which shows the data structure of the printing history file after printing the 3rd time. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the printer which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart when printing an unprinted image.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer (printing apparatus), 13 Display device (display means), 31, 51 Print instruction part (print candidate selection means), 33 Print history update part (print history storage means)

Claims (9)

When printing an image of image data stored in a data-writable recording medium, print history storage means for writing information specifying the final printing time to the recording medium
When printing an image of image data stored in the recording medium, information for specifying the final printing time is read from the recording medium, and the recording medium is read after the final printing time specified based on the read information. Print candidate selection means for selecting the stored image data as a print candidate;
Display means for displaying the image of the print candidate image data selected by the print candidate selection means for determining image data to be printed;
A printing apparatus comprising: When printing an image of image data stored together with information on the storage time on a data-writable recording medium, a list of image data to be printed and / or image data as print candidates is displayed together with the last update time of the list. Print history storage means for writing to the recording medium;
When printing an image of the image data stored in the recording medium, the last update time of the list is read from the recording medium, and the one or more image data whose storage time is after the last update time of the list Print candidate selection means for selecting as a print candidate,
Display means for displaying the image of the print candidate image data selected by the print candidate selection means for determining image data to be printed;
A printing apparatus comprising: The print history storage means writes the last update time of the list as the last update time in the attribute information of the print history file storing the list;
The print candidate selection unit selects, as a print candidate, a print data having a newer storage time in the attribute information of the image file storing the image data stored in the recording medium than the last update time in the attribute information of the print history file. The printing apparatus according to claim 2.   The print candidate selection unit selects one of the plurality of image data as a print candidate for the plurality of image data when a plurality of image data whose difference between the storage times is equal to or less than a predetermined time is stored. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time is longer than 0 seconds and not longer than 10 seconds.   The print candidate selecting means further selects, as a print candidate, image data whose storage time is before the last update time of the list and that is not a print target or print candidate in the list. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4.   The print candidate selection means excludes image data whose save time is less than or equal to a predetermined time from the save time of the image data included in the list, and the predetermined time is from 0 second The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the printing apparatus is long and not longer than 10 seconds.   The print history storage unit writes the printed image data and / or a list of image data as print candidates and the last update time of the printed image data to the recording medium after or after the image printing of the image data is completed. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein:   The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display unit displays permission to remove the recording medium after the writing process to the recording medium by the printing history storage unit. When printing an image of image data stored in a data-writable recording medium, writing information specifying the printing time to the recording medium;
Reading information specifying the printing time from the recording medium when printing an image of image data stored in the recording medium;
Selecting image data stored in the recording medium after the printing time specified based on information read from the recording medium as a print candidate;
Displaying an image of the image data selected as the print candidate in order to determine image data to be printed;
A printing method characterized by comprising:

Images