JP4254611B2 - Printing system with processing function, image processing apparatus, processing printing program, image processing program, and processing printing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a system, a program, and a method for printing on a printing paper and cutting the printing paper, and more particularly, a printing system with a processing function capable of reducing labor and accurately adjusting a cutting position. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a processed printing program, an image processing program, and a processed printing method.

  Conventionally, as a technique for printing on a printing sheet and cutting the printing sheet, for example, a sheet cutting mechanism of a printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example) and disclosed in Patent Document 2. Image creation and cropping device (hereinafter referred to as second conventional example), image cropping method disclosed in Patent Document 3 (hereinafter referred to as third conventional example), and Patent Document 4 There is a random processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a fourth conventional example) in the inkjet printing system.

  In the first conventional example, a solenoid is attached to the print head carrier, and a blade is attached to the solenoid. When a paper cut signal is received from the host device during the printing operation of the printer, the solenoid is operated to project the blade. The protruding blade cuts the paper in the horizontal direction by moving the print head. Similarly, a vertical blade and a vertical solenoid are provided on the print head carrier, and the vertical blade is protruded to perform line feed and page break of the printing paper to cut the printing paper in the vertical direction.

  The second conventional example includes a guide rail that integrally supports the thermal transfer type printer head and the cutting head so as to be movable, and a head drive unit that controls the movement of the thermal transfer type printer head and the cutting head based on image data. A sheet driving unit that feeds a sheet in a direction orthogonal to the guide rail based on the image data, a printer platen disposed below the moving range of the thermal transfer type printer head, and a position below the moving range of the cutting head The cutting platen is provided, and both heads always slide along the guide rails by driving the head driving unit based on the image data.

  In the third conventional example, a pair of cores that engage with the take-up bobbin and the delivery bobbin, a cam disposed on the outer periphery of one of the cores, and a cam follower that contacts the cam main body of the cam at one end The other end of which is pivotally supported in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the platen, a cutting head having a cutting cutter capable of cutting the printing paper, and the other end of the arm. And a buffer member interposed between the substrate and the cutting head, and the cutting head is driven based on image data.

A fourth conventional example is an ink jet printing system that performs multicolor printing according to a desired layout pattern on both front and back surfaces of continuous paper that moves relative to the ink jet printer, and a mark detection unit on the downstream side of the ink jet printer. The random processing unit is provided so that the random processing unit operates in response to the output signal of the mark detection unit that reads the random mark provided on the continuous paper.
JP-A-8-282029 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-3000297 JP-A-11-320487 JP 11-348262 A

As described above, in any of the first to third conventional examples, the image is printed and cut out based on the image data, so that the printed image can be cut out on the contour line. it can. However, since printing and cropping of images are performed separately, there are problems that labor is required and that it is difficult to adjust the cropping position.
Further, in the fourth conventional example, the random processing unit performs random processing on the printing paper, but does not perform image clipping.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to such an unsolved problem of the conventional technology, and has a processing function capable of reducing labor and adjusting the cutting position accurately. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system, an image processing apparatus, a processed printing program, an image processing program, and a processed printing method.

[Invention 1 ] In order to achieve the above object, a printing system with a processing function of Invention 1 comprises:
A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction that intersects one scanning direction, and printing for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium sending means based on print data And a control unit for continuously printing on the print medium and cutting the print medium,
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
A cutting margin width setting means for setting the cutting margin width of the image, and a cutting margin data generating means for generating the cutting margin data based on the image data and the setting cutting margin width set by the cutting margin width setting means; Image position adjusting means for adjusting a printing position and a cutting position of the image based on the image data and the cutting margin data;
The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
The print control unit prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generation unit. And
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut area including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or The printing position and the cutting position of the second image are changed .

With such a configuration, when print data is given, since the given print data includes image data and cut margin data, the print control means, based on the image data and cut margin data, The print head, cutting head, head moving means, and print medium delivery means are controlled. As a result, the print head and the cutting head are integrally moved in the first scanning direction by the head moving means, and the printing medium is sent in the second scanning direction intersecting the first scanning direction by the printing medium sending means. The
Further, when the image margin width is set by the cut margin width setting means, the image margin is set by the cut margin data generating means with the set cut margin width from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line formed along the line is generated. Then, the print control means prints an image on the print medium based on the image data and the generated cut margin data, and on the cut line based on either the image data or the generated cut margin data. The image is cut out.
Further, when the image data includes a plurality of images, if the first cut area including the first image and its cut margin overlaps the second cut area including the second image and its cut margin, the image The position adjustment means changes the print position and cut position information of the first image or the print position and cut position information of the second image in the print data so that the first cut area and the second cut area do not overlap. Is done.

Thereby, the effect that the image can be cut out from the contour line of the image with a predetermined cut margin is obtained. Even in such a case, printing on the printing medium and cutting of the printing medium can be performed continuously, so that it is possible to reduce time and labor when cutting an image with a cutting margin as compared with the prior art. There is also an effect that the position can be adjusted relatively accurately.
In addition, an effect that the user can set a desired cutting margin width can be obtained. In addition, since the cutting margin data is generated based on the image data and the set cutting margin width, an effect of reducing labor for generating the cutting margin data can be obtained.
In addition, when the image data includes a plurality of images, there is also an effect that the first cut area and the second cut area can be cut without interference of the other cut area.
Here, this system may be realized as a single device, terminal, or other device, or may be realized as a network system in which a plurality of devices, terminals, or other devices are communicably connected. . In the latter case, each component may belong to any one of a plurality of devices and the like as long as they are connected so as to communicate with each other.

[Invention 2 ] Furthermore, the printing system with processing function of Invention 2 is the printing system with processing function of Invention 1 ,
The cut margin data generation means passes the center point of the circle orthogonal to the contour line of the image when the center point of the circle having the radius of the set cut margin width is moved onto the contour line of the image. A trajectory drawn by an intersection of a straight line and the circumference of the circle is formed as the cut line, and cut margin data including cut line information regarding the formed cut line is generated.

In such a configuration, when the center point of the circle having the set cut margin width as the radius is moved on the image outline by the cut margin data generation unit, the center of the circle is orthogonal to the image outline. The locus drawn by the intersection of the straight line passing through the point and the circumference of the circle is formed as a cut line, and cut margin data including cut line information regarding the formed cut line is generated.
As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect that the image can be cut out with a substantially uniform cutting margin over the entire circumference of the outline of the image.

[Invention 3 ] Furthermore, the printing system with processing function of Invention 3 is the printing system with processing function of Invention 1 ,
A cutting margin direction setting means for setting a cutting margin direction as to whether a cutting margin is provided inside or outside the contour line of the image, and a set cutting margin direction set by the image data and the cutting margin direction setting means. Cutting margin data generating means for generating the cutting margin data based on
The cut margin data generating means has a predetermined interval in the set cut margin direction from the outline of the image at a predetermined interval based on the image data and the set cut margin direction set by the cut margin direction setting means. Cutting margin data including cutting line information about the cutting line formed along
The print control unit prints the image on the print medium based on the image data and the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generation unit, and generates the image data and the cut margin data generation unit. The image is cut out on the cut line based on either one of the cut margin data.

  In such a configuration, when the cutting margin direction is set by the cutting margin direction setting unit, the cutting margin data generating unit sets the cutting margin direction from the image outline based on the image data and the set cutting margin direction. Cut margin data including cut line information relating to the cut line formed along the contour line of the image at a predetermined interval is generated. Then, the print control means prints an image on the print medium based on the image data and the generated cut margin data, and on the cut line based on either the image data or the generated cut margin data. The image is cut out.

  Thereby, the effect that the cutting margin direction which a user desires can be set is also acquired. Further, since the cut margin data is generated based on the image data and the set cut margin direction, it is possible to reduce the labor for generating the cut margin data.

[Invention 4 ] Furthermore, the printing system with processing function of Invention 4 is the printing system with processing function of Invention 3 ,
When the inside of the image is instructed among the image regions displayed based on the image data, the cutting margin direction setting means sets the cutting margin direction as providing a cutting margin inside the contour line of the image. When the outside of the image is instructed from among the image areas displayed based on the image data, the cutting margin direction is set assuming that a cutting margin is provided outside the outline of the image. It is characterized by.

With such a configuration, when the inside of the image is designated in the image area, the cutting margin direction is set by the cutting margin direction setting means so that the cutting margin is provided inside the contour line of the image. When the outside of the image is designated in the image area, the cutting margin direction is set assuming that a cutting margin is provided outside the image outline.
Thereby, since only the inside or outside of the image needs to be indicated, an effect that the setting of the cutting margin direction can be performed relatively easily is also obtained.

[Invention 5 ] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus of Invention 5 includes:
A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction, and printing for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium sending means based on print data An image processing apparatus for processing the print data used in a system that continuously performs printing on the print medium and cutting out the print medium.
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
A cutting margin width setting means for setting a cutting margin width of an image configured based on the image data; and a cutting margin width of the image based on the set cutting margin width set by the image data and the cutting margin width setting means. Cut margin data generating means for generating cut margin data, print data transmitting means for sending print data including the image data and cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generating means to the printing apparatus, the image data, Image position adjusting means for adjusting a printing position and a cutting position of the image based on the cutting margin data;
The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or The printing position and the cutting position of the second image are changed .
With such a configuration, an effect equivalent to that of the printing system with a processing function of the invention 1 can be obtained.

[Invention 6 ] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the processed printing program of Invention 6 comprises:
A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; A computer system comprising: a print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction ;
Print control means for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means and the print medium delivery means based on print data, a cut margin width setting means for setting a cut margin width of the image, the image data, and the Cut margin data generating means for generating the cut margin data based on the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting means, and adjusting the print position and cut position of the image based on the image data and the cut margin data Including a program for executing processing realized as image position adjusting means
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
The print control unit prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generation unit. And
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or The printing position and cutting position of the second image are changed}.

With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer system and the computer system executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the printing system with a processing function according to the first aspect can be obtained.

[Invention 7 ] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, an image processing program of Invention 7 includes:
A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction, and printing for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium sending means based on print data And an image processing program for processing the print data used in a system that continuously prints on the print medium and cuts the print medium.
A cutting margin width setting means for setting a cutting margin width of an image configured based on the image data, and a cutting related to the cutting margin of the image based on the set cutting margin width set by the image data and the cutting margin width setting means Cut margin data generating means for generating margin data, print data transmitting means for transmitting print data including the image data and cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generating means to the printing apparatus, and the image data and the cut Including a program for causing a computer to execute processing realized as image position adjustment means for adjusting the printing position and cutting position of the image based on margin data;
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or The printing position and the cutting position of the second image are changed .

With such a configuration, when the program is read by the computer and the computer executes processing according to the read program, the same operation and effect as those of the image processing apparatus of the fifth aspect are obtained.

[Invention 8 ] On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the process printing method of Invention 8 comprises:
A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Printing on the print medium and cutting of the print medium are continuously performed using a printing system with a processing function that includes a print medium sending unit that sends the print medium in a second scanning direction that intersects the first scanning direction. A processing printing method,
A print control step for causing the print control means to control the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium delivery means based on print data;
A cutting margin width setting step for causing a cutting margin width setting means to set a cutting margin width of the image;
A cutting margin data generating step for causing the cutting margin data generating means to generate the cutting margin data based on the image data and the set cutting margin width set by the cutting margin width setting means;
An image position adjusting unit that adjusts a printing position and a cutting position of the image based on the image data and the cutting margin data;
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
The cut margin data generation step forms the image with the set cut margin width along the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting means. Cut margin data including the cut line information about the cut line
The printing control step prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generating unit.
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting step includes a first cut area including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or The printing position and cutting position of the second image are changed .
Thereby, an effect equivalent to that of the printing system with a processing function of the invention 1 can be obtained.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 10 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a printing system with a processing function, an image processing apparatus, a processing printing program, an image processing program, and a processing printing method according to the present invention.
In the present embodiment, a printing system with a processing function, an image processing apparatus, a processing printing program and an image processing program, and a processing printing method according to the present invention are shown in FIG. This is applied to the case where an image is printed and cut based on the print data from.

First, the configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 200 are communicably connected by a printer cable 199 for transmitting print data.
Next, the configuration of the image processing apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image processing apparatus 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 100 reads out from the CPU 30 that controls the calculation and the entire system based on the control program, the ROM 32 that stores the control program of the CPU 30 in a predetermined area, and the ROM 32. It is composed of a RAM 34 for storing data and calculation results required in the calculation process of the CPU 30, and an I / F 38 for mediating input / output of data to / from an external device. These are used for transferring data. The buses 39 as signal lines are connected to each other so as to be able to exchange data.

The I / F 38 includes, as external devices, an input device 40 such as a keyboard and a mouse that can input data as a human interface, a storage device 42 that stores image data, tables, and the like as files, and an image signal. A display device 44 for displaying a screen and a printer cable 199 are connected.
The CPU 30 includes a microprocessing unit (MPU) or the like, starts a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 32, and executes a print request process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 according to the program. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the print request process.
The print request process is configured as a printer driver and is started when printing is requested by an application. When the CPU 30 executes the print request process, as shown in FIG. 3, first, the process proceeds to step S100. It has become.
In step S100, the image data is read from the storage device 42, the process proceeds to step S102, the entire image area is displayed on the display device 44 based on the read image data, and the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, a cut margin direction is set as to whether a cut margin is provided inside or outside the outline of an image to be cut out (hereinafter referred to as a target image) in the image area. First, the user is requested to set the cutting margin direction of the target image. When the inside of the target image in the image area is instructed by the input device 40 in response to the setting request, the set cut margin direction is set so that a cut margin is provided inside the contour line of the target image. In addition, when the input device 40 indicates the outside of the target image in the image area in response to the setting request, the set cutting margin direction is set so that a cutting margin is provided outside the outline of the target image.

Next, the process proceeds to step S106, and the cutting margin width of the target image is set. First, the user is requested to set the cut margin width of the target image. When the cut margin width is input from the input device 40 in response to the setting request, the input set value is set as the set cut margin width.
Next, the process proceeds to step S108, and the set cut margin width in the set cut margin direction from the contour line of the target image based on the read image data and the set cut margin direction and set cut margin width set in steps S104 and S106. The cutting margin data including the cutting line information regarding the cutting line formed along the contour line of the target image is generated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a case where a cutoff line is determined.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the set cut margin direction is inside, the cut line is obtained when the center point of the circle 3 having the set cut margin width as the radius is moved onto the outline 1 of the target image. It is formed as a trajectory 2a drawn by an intersection 3a between a straight line orthogonal to the contour line 1 and passing through the center point of the circle 3 and the circumference of the circle 3. When the set cut margin direction is outside, when the center point of the circle 3 is moved onto the contour line 1 of the target image, a straight line that is orthogonal to the contour line 1 of the target image and passes through the center point of the circle 3 It is formed as a locus 2b drawn by the intersection 3b with the circumference of the circle 3.

Next, the process proceeds to step S110, and the print position and cut position of the target image are adjusted based on the read image data and the generated cut margin data.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a case where the printing position and the cutting position of the target image are adjusted.
As shown in FIG. 5 (a), when two target images 4a and 5a are included in the image data, a cut region 4c including the target image 4a and its cut margin 4b, and the target image 5a and its cut margin It is assumed that the cut region 5c including 5b overlaps. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the print position and cut position of the target image 4a or the print position and cut position of the target image 5a are changed so that the cut area 4c and the cut area 5c do not overlap. To do.

Next, the process proceeds to step S112, and the print data including the read image data and the generated cut margin data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 200 together with the print request, and the series of processes is terminated and the original process is restored.
Next, the configuration of the printing apparatus 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus 200.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the printing apparatus 200 includes a print head 52 that prints on the printing paper 50, a cutting head 54 that cuts out the printing paper 50, and a guide that supports the printing head 52 and the cutting head 54 so as to move together. Rail 56, head drive unit 58 that moves print head 52 and cutting head 54 on guide rail 56, paper feed unit 60 that feeds print paper 50 in a direction orthogonal to guide rail 56, print head 52, and cutting The print control unit 62 is configured to control the head 54, the head drive unit 58, and the paper delivery unit 60 based on print data.

Next, the configuration of the print control unit 62 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the print control unit 62.
As shown in FIG. 7, the print control unit 62 reads out from the CPU 70 that controls the calculation and the entire system based on the control program, the ROM 72 that stores the control program of the CPU 70 in a predetermined area, the ROM 72, and the like. It is composed of a RAM 74 for storing data and calculation results required in the calculation process of the CPU 70, and an I / F 78 that mediates input / output of data to / from an external device, and these are used for transferring data. They are connected to each other via a bus 79 which is a signal line so as to be able to exchange data.

A print head 52, a cutting head 54, a head drive unit 58, a paper feed unit 60, and a printer cable 199 are connected to the I / F 78 as external devices.
The CPU 70 includes a microprocessing unit (MPU) or the like, starts a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 72, and executes the image printing process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 according to the program. .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the image printing process.
The image printing process is a process for printing in response to a print request from the image processing apparatus 100. When the image printing process is executed in the CPU 70, as shown in FIG. 8, first, the process proceeds to step S200. .
In step S200, it is determined whether or not a print request has been received. When it is determined that a print request has been received (Yes), the process proceeds to step S202. When it is determined that this is not the case (No), a print request is received. Until it is received in step S200.

  In step S202, the print data is received, the process proceeds to step S204, and the target image is printed on the print paper 50 based on the image data and the cut margin data included in the received print data, and the received print data is converted into the received print data. Based on one of the included image data and cut margin data, the target image is cut on the cut line, a series of processes are terminated, and the original process is restored.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
When printing and cutting the target image, in the image processing apparatus 100, the user first activates the printer driver from the application. When the printer driver is activated, the image data is read from the storage device 42 through steps S100 and S102, and the entire image area is displayed on the display device 44 based on the read image data.

Next, through step S104, the user is requested to set the cutting margin direction of the target image.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a case where the cutting margin direction of the target image is set.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the user wants to provide a cutting margin inside the target image 10 when printing and cutting out the star-shaped target image 10, the user shows in FIG. 9A. In this way, the inside (the area indicated by the reference numeral (1)) of the target image 10 is designated. When the inside of the target image 10 is instructed, the set cutting margin direction is set so that a cutting margin is provided inside the outline of the target image 10. Further, when the user wants to provide a cutting margin outside the target image 10, the user designates the area indicated by the reference numeral (2) outside the target image 10 as shown in FIG. 9B. When the outside of the target image 10 is instructed, the set cutting margin direction is set assuming that a cutting margin is provided outside the outline of the target image 10.

Next, through step S106, the user is required to set the cutting margin width of the target image.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where the cutting margin width of the target image is set.
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when printing and cutting a star-shaped target image 10, if the user sets a cutting margin width, and the set cutting margin direction is inside, As shown, a cut margin 12 is provided inside the target image 10. When the set cut margin direction is the outside, a cut margin 12 is provided outside the target image 10 as shown in FIG.

Next, through step S108, based on the read image data, the set cut margin direction and the set cut margin width, the outline of the target image is set with the set cut margin width in the set cut margin direction from the outline of the target image. Cut margin data including cut line information regarding cut lines formed along the line is generated.
Then, the print position and the cut position of the target image are adjusted based on the read image data and the generated cut margin data through steps S110 and S112, and the print data including the adjusted image data and the cut margin data Is transmitted to the printing apparatus 200 together with the print request.

  In the printing apparatus 200, when a print request is received, the print data is received through steps S202 and S204. Based on the image data and the cutting margin data included in the received print data, the print head 52, the cutting head 54, the head The drive unit 58 and the paper delivery unit 60 are controlled. As a result, the print head 52 and the cutting head 54 are integrally moved on the guide rail 56 by the head driving unit 58, and the printing paper 50 is sent out in a direction orthogonal to the guide rail 56 by the paper sending unit 60. The Then, the target image is printed on the printing paper 50 by the print head 52, and the target image is set along the contour line of the target image by the cutting head 54 with the set cut margin width in the set cut margin direction from the contour line of the target image. Is cut off.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 generates cut margin data based on the image data, and transmits print data including the image data and the cut margin data to the printing apparatus 200. The printing apparatus 200 prints the target image on the printing paper 50 based on the image data and the cut margin data included in the received print data, and the image data and the cut margin data included in the received print data. Based on either of them, the target image is cut out along the contour line of the target image at a predetermined interval from the contour line of the target image.

  Thereby, the target image can be cut out from the contour line of the target image with a predetermined cut margin. Even in such a case, since printing on the printing paper 50 and cutting of the printing paper 50 can be performed continuously, it is possible to reduce time and labor when cutting the target image with a cutting margin as compared with the conventional case. At the same time, the cutting position can be adjusted relatively accurately.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 sets the cutting margin width of the target image, and based on the image data and the set cutting margin width, the contour of the target image is set from the contour line of the target image. Cut margin data including cut line information related to the cut line formed along the line is generated, and the printing apparatus 200 generates a print sheet 50 based on the image data and the cut margin data included in the received print data. The target image is printed, and the target image is cut out on the cut line based on one of image data and cut margin data included in the received print data.

Thereby, the cutting margin width desired by the user can be set. Further, since the cutting margin data is generated based on the image data and the set cutting margin width, it is possible to reduce the trouble of generating the cutting margin data.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the center point of a circle having a set cut margin width as a radius is moved onto the contour line of the target image, the image processing apparatus 100 is orthogonal to the contour line of the target image and A trajectory drawn by the intersection of a straight line passing through the center point and the circumference of the circle 3 is formed as a cut line, and cut margin data including cut line information regarding the formed cut line is generated.

As a result, the target image can be cut out with a substantially uniform cutting margin over the entire outline of the target image.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 sets a cutting margin direction as to whether to provide a cutting margin inside or outside the contour line of the target image, and based on the image data and the set cutting margin direction. The printing apparatus 200 is configured to generate cut margin data including cut line information regarding cut lines formed along the outline of the target image at a predetermined interval in the set cut margin direction from the outline of the target image. The target image is printed on the printing paper 50 based on the image data and the cut margin data included in the print data, and the cut line is displayed based on either the image data or the cut margin data included in the received print data. The target image is cut out.

Thereby, the cutting margin direction desired by the user can be set. Further, since the cut margin data is generated based on the image data and the set cut margin direction, it is possible to reduce the trouble of generating the cut margin data.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 provides a cutting margin inside the contour line of the target image when the inside of the target image is instructed among the image areas displayed based on the image data. If the outside of the target image is specified in the image area to be displayed based on the image data, the cutting margin direction is set to provide a cutting margin outside the contour line of the target image. It is supposed to be.

Thereby, since it is only necessary to indicate the inside or the outside of the target image, the setting of the cutting margin direction can be performed relatively easily.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the image data includes a plurality of target images, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a first cut region including a first target image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of target images, and a plurality of cut images. When the second target image and the second cut area including the cut margin thereof overlap, the first target image is printed so that the first cut area and the second cut area do not overlap. The position and the cutting position, or the printing position and the cutting position of the second target image are changed.

Thereby, when a plurality of target images are included in the image data, the first cut area and the second cut area can be cut without interference of the other cut area.
In the above embodiment, the printing paper 50 corresponds to the printing medium of invention 1 , 3 , 5, 6 , 7 or 8 , step S104 corresponds to the cutting margin direction setting means of invention 3 or 4 , and step S106. Corresponds to the cutting margin width setting means of the invention 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 or 8 . Step S108 corresponds to the cut margin data generating means of the invention 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 or 8 , and step S110 is the image position adjusting means of the invention 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 or 8. It is compatible.

Further, in the above embodiment, moth Idoreru 56 and the head driving section 58 corresponds to the head moving means of the invention 1, 5, 6, 7 or 8. The sheet delivery unit 60 corresponds to the printing medium delivery means of the present invention 1, 5, 6, 7 or 8, the print control unit 62 and step S204, the printing of the invention 1,3,5,6,7 or 8 Corresponds to the control means.

Further, in the above embodiment, step S106 corresponds to the cutting margin width setting step of the invention 7 or 8, step S108 corresponds to the cutting margin data generation step of the invention 7 or 8, and step S110 is the image position. Corresponding to the adjustment step, Step S204 corresponds to the print control step of Invention 8 .
In the embodiment described above, the target image is cut out along the contour line of the target image at a predetermined interval from the contour line of the target image. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the target image is formed on the contour line of the target image. It can also be configured to cut off.

First, a case will be described in which the user creates a circle image with a radius of 5 cm as shown in FIG. 11 and cuts out the image by matching the contour line and the cut line of the image.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a case where the cutting margin direction of the target image is set.
FIG. 11A shows a case where a circle is desired to be used, and FIG. 11B shows a case where an outer frame obtained by cutting the circle is desired.

In step S100, the image data of the image shown in FIG. 11 is read, the process proceeds to step S102, the image illustrated in FIG. 11 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S104.
In step S104, the cutting margin direction is set outside the circle in the case of FIG. 11A and inside the circle in FIG. 11B, and the process proceeds to step S106 to set the cutting margin width. The process proceeds to step S108.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a case where the image is cut out by matching the contour line of the image with the cut line.
In step S108, cut margin data is generated based on the set cut margin direction and cut margin width. In the example of FIG. 12, the cutting margin width is 0.5 cm. Although no color is intentionally added except for the cutting margin, in the case of FIG. 12A, the color is originally inside the outline of the image, and in the case of FIG. 12B, the color is outside the outline of the image. Attached. Therefore, in both of FIGS. 12A and 12B, the cut line coincides with the contour line of the image. This is different from the above embodiment in that the cut line is not the outer edge line of the cut margin (hereinafter referred to as the margin line).

As a result, printing on the printing paper 50 and cutting of the printing paper 50 can be performed continuously, so that it is possible to reduce time and labor when cutting the target image as compared with the conventional technique and to compare the cutting positions. Can be adjusted accurately.
Next, a case where the user creates an image of a circle having a radius of 5 cm as shown in FIG. 11 and cuts the image by matching the margin line and the cut line will be described. This is the same case as in the above embodiment.

FIG. 11A shows a case where a circle is desired to be used, and FIG. 11B shows a case where an outer frame obtained by cutting the circle is desired.
The processing flow and data viewed from the user are the same as in the above case, but the image data held internally is different. This means that the image data held in the memory is different.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a case where an image is cut out by matching a margin line and a cut line.

The image data differs from the above case in the outline of the image.
In step S108, in the case of FIG. 13A, after setting the cut margin width and the cut margin direction, the image is enlarged by the cut margin width in the cut margin direction. That is, a margin is formed in the opposite direction to the set cut margin direction by the cut margin width from the contour line of the image. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 13B, after setting the cut margin width and the cut margin direction, the image is reduced by the cut margin width in the cut margin direction. That is, a margin is formed in the opposite direction to the set cut margin direction by the cut margin width from the contour line of the image. Therefore, in both of FIGS. 13A and 13B, the cut line coincides with the margin line.

Thus, the cut line becomes an image outline or margin line depending on how the image data is held .

Also, in the above embodiment, while printing the target image based on the image data and the cut margin data has been configured so as to extract the target image on the basis of one of image data and the cut margin data, more Specifically, how to use the image data and the cut margin data is as shown in FIGS.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a case where image data is used for controlling the cutting head 54.
In FIG. 14, the print head 52, the head drive unit 58, and the paper delivery unit 60 perform control based on the image data and the cutting margin data, and the cutting head 54 performs control based on the image data. That is, the target image is printed based on the image data and the cut margin data, and the target image is cut based on the image data.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a case where cut margin data is used for controlling the cutting head 54.
In FIG. 15, the print head 52, the head drive unit 58, and the paper delivery unit 60 perform control based on the image data and the cutting margin data, and the cutting head 54 performs control based on the cutting margin data. That is, the target image is printed based on the image data and the cut margin data, and the target image is cut based on the cut margin data.

  In the above embodiment, the printing on the printing paper 50 and the cutting of the printing paper 50 are continuously performed. However, the printing on the printing paper 50 and the cutting of the printing paper 50 are performed continuously. As long as it is, it may be performed in any order. Specifically, three configurations are possible. As a first configuration, after printing on the printing paper 50, the printing paper 50 is cut out. As a second configuration, the printing paper 50 is cut out and then printed on the printing paper 50. As a third configuration, printing on the printing paper 50 and cutting of the printing paper 50 are performed in parallel.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing of steps S104 to S110 is performed in the image processing apparatus 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing may be performed by the printing apparatus 200. it can.
In the above embodiment, the target image is cut out from the outline of the target image with the user-specified cutting margin width, regardless of the shape and size of the target image. A cutting margin width can be set according to the shape and size of the target image, and the target image can be cut out from the contour line of the target image with the set cutting margin width. For example, when the target image is large, the cut margin width is set small, and when the target image is small, the cut margin width is set large.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the control program stored in advance in the ROM 32 is executed when executing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 has been described. The program may be read from the storage medium storing the program into the RAM 34 and executed.
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the control program stored in advance in the ROM 72 is executed when executing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this and the procedure is shown. The program may be read from the storage medium storing the program into the RAM 74 and executed.

  Here, the storage medium is a semiconductor storage medium such as RAM or ROM, a magnetic storage type storage medium such as FD or HD, an optical reading type storage medium such as CD, CDV, LD, or DVD, or a magnetic storage type such as MO. / Optical reading type storage media, including any storage media that can be read by a computer regardless of electronic, magnetic, optical, or other reading methods.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the printing system with a processing function, the image processing apparatus, the processing printing program and the image processing program, and the processing printing method according to the present invention are processed in the printing apparatus 200 as shown in FIG. The present invention is applied to the case where an image is printed and cut based on print data from the processing apparatus 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other cases without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the network system to which this invention is applied. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus 100. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print request processing. It is a figure which shows the case where a cutoff line is determined. It is a figure which shows the case where the printing position and cutting position of a target image are adjusted. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus 200. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control unit 62. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an image printing process. It is a figure which shows the case where the cutting margin direction of a target image is set. It is a figure which shows the case where the cutting margin width | variety of a target image is set. It is a figure which shows the case where the cutting margin direction of a target image is set. It is a figure which shows the case where the contour line and cutting line of an image are made to correspond, and an image is cut out. It is a figure which shows the case where a margin line and a cutting line are made to correspond and an image is cut out. It is a figure which shows the case where image data is used for control of the cutting head. It is a figure which shows the case where cutting margin data is used for control of the cutting head.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image processing device, 30 ... CPU, 32 ... ROM, 34 ... RAM, 38 ... I / F, 40 ... Input device, 42 ... Storage device, 44 ... Display device, 200 ... Printing device, 50 ... Printing paper, 52 ... Printing head, 54 ... Cutting head, 56 ... Guide rail, 58 ... Head drive unit, 60 ... Paper feeding unit, 62 ... Print control unit, 70 ... CPU, 72 ... ROM, 74 ... RAM, 78 ... I / F, 199 ... Printer cable

Claims (8)

A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction, and printing for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium sending means based on print data And a control unit for continuously printing on the print medium and cutting the print medium,
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
A cutting margin width setting means for setting the cutting margin width of the image, and a cutting margin data generating means for generating the cutting margin data based on the image data and the setting cutting margin width set by the cutting margin width setting means; Image position adjusting means for adjusting a printing position and a cutting position of the image based on the image data and the cutting margin data;
The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
The print control unit prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generation unit. And
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or A printing system with a processing function , wherein the printing position and cutting position of the second image are changed . In claim 1 ,
The cut margin data generation means passes the center point of the circle orthogonal to the contour line of the image when the center point of the circle having the radius of the set cut margin width is moved onto the contour line of the image. A printing system with a processing function, wherein a trajectory drawn by an intersection of a straight line and the circumference of the circle is formed as the cut line, and cut margin data including cut line information about the formed cut line is generated. In claim 1 ,
A cutting margin direction setting means for setting a cutting margin direction as to whether a cutting margin is provided inside or outside the contour line of the image, and a set cutting margin direction set by the image data and the cutting margin direction setting means. Cutting margin data generating means for generating the cutting margin data based on
The cut margin data generating means has a predetermined interval in the set cut margin direction from the outline of the image at a predetermined interval based on the image data and the set cut margin direction set by the cut margin direction setting means. Cutting margin data including cutting line information about the cutting line formed along
The print control unit prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generation unit. A printing system with processing functions, characterized by In claim 3 ,
When the inside of the image is instructed among the image regions displayed based on the image data, the cutting margin direction setting means sets the cutting margin direction as providing a cutting margin inside the contour line of the image. When the outside of the image is instructed from among the image areas displayed based on the image data, the cutting margin direction is set assuming that a cutting margin is provided outside the outline of the image. A printing system with a processing function characterized by   A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction, and printing for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium sending means based on print data An image processing apparatus for processing the print data used in a system that continuously performs printing on the print medium and cutting out the print medium.
  The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
  A cutting margin width setting means for setting a cutting margin width of an image configured based on the image data; and a cutting margin width of the image based on the set cutting margin width set by the image data and the cutting margin width setting means. Cut margin data generating means for generating cut margin data, print data transmitting means for sending print data including the image data and cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generating means to the printing apparatus, the image data, Image position adjusting means for adjusting a printing position and a cutting position of the image based on the cutting margin data;
  The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
  When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or An image processing apparatus configured to change a printing position and a cutting position of a second image. A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; A computer system comprising: a print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction ;
Print control means for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means and the print medium delivery means based on print data, a cut margin width setting means for setting a cut margin width of the image, the image data, and the Cut margin data generating means for generating the cut margin data based on the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting means, and adjusting the print position and cut position of the image based on the image data and the cut margin data Including a program for executing processing realized as image position adjusting means
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
The print control unit prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generation unit. And
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or A printing program for changing the printing position and cutting position of the second image}.   A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Print medium sending means for sending the print medium in a second scanning direction intersecting with one scanning direction, and printing for controlling the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium sending means based on print data And an image processing program for processing the print data used in a system that continuously prints on the print medium and cuts the print medium.
  A cutting margin width setting means for setting a cutting margin width of an image configured based on the image data, and a cutting related to the cutting margin of the image based on the set cutting margin width set by the image data and the cutting margin width setting means Cut margin data generating means for generating margin data, print data transmitting means for transmitting print data including the image data and cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generating means to the printing apparatus, and the image data and the cut Including a program for causing a computer to execute processing realized as image position adjustment means for adjusting the printing position and cutting position of the image based on margin data;
  The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
  The cut margin data generating unit forms the set cut margin width along the image outline from the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting unit. Cut margin data including cut line information about the cut line
  When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting unit includes a first cut region including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or An image processing program for changing a printing position and a cutting position of a second image. A print head for printing on a print medium used for printing; a cutting head for cutting out a part of the print medium; a head moving means for moving the print head and the cutting head together in a first scanning direction; Printing on the print medium and cutting of the print medium are continuously performed using a printing system with a processing function that includes a print medium sending unit that sends the print medium in a second scanning direction that intersects the first scanning direction. A processing printing method,
A print control step for causing the print control means to control the print head, the cutting head, the head moving means, and the print medium delivery means based on print data;
A cutting margin width setting step for causing a cutting margin width setting means to set a cutting margin width of the image;
A cutting margin data generating step for causing the cutting margin data generating means to generate the cutting margin data based on the image data and the set cutting margin width set by the cutting margin width setting means;
An image position adjusting unit that adjusts a printing position and a cutting position of the image based on the image data and the cutting margin data;
The print data includes image data for printing an image, and cut margin data related to the cut margin of the image,
The cut margin data generation step forms the image with the set cut margin width along the image outline based on the image data and the set cut margin width set by the cut margin width setting means. Cut margin data including the cut line information about the cut line
The printing control step prints the image on the print medium based on the image data, and cuts the image on the cut line based on the cut margin data generated by the cut margin data generating unit.
When the image data includes a plurality of images, the image position adjusting step includes a first cut area including a first image and a cut margin thereof among the plurality of images, and a second image among the plurality of images. And the second cutout area including the cutout margin overlap with each other so that the first cutout area and the second cutout area do not overlap, or the first image print position and cutout position, or A modified printing method, wherein the printing position and the cutting position of the second image are changed .

Images