DE19736725A1 - Automatic alignment control for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

Measures the size and alignment of the text area of the document. The alignment equipment's processor is programmed with the available sizes of text area and the text to be copied/printed is matched to the available format with one or more of a number of corrections. These include automatic zoom correction, text length or width correction and orientation correction in either direction. The corrections are applied in small discrete steps to achieve the optimum settings.

Description

The invention relates to methods for preventing information loss ten on the print page margins, especially in computer printers, copier or Fax machines, in the processing of input documents in one print format with a first type area available for output documents a selectable output print format, on which the first type area as area-optimized, d. H. in the border area information-free, second Type area is to be reproduced according to the preamble of claim 1.

Documents can be in true-to-original size according to the state of the art or reproduced or reproduced with any enlargement or reduction become. By moving the documents to be output, for example on the Glass plate of a copier, the edges of the output can be influenced. By changing the image scale and by moving prin zipiell every document to any size and position of any Output or reproduce target formats.

The disadvantage is that it is common when zooming in, out or moving happens that the output does not use the target format optimally or to the Margins parts of the document are cut off. That is why there are often multiple manually correcting the image scale and / or moving and / or Correction of the margins of the target format necessary.

The disadvantages described can only be solved by the prior art careful manual operation of computer printers, copiers or fax avoid devices. For example, no border is cut off when copying if the documents to be copied taking into account the  set image scale (zoom factor) have the appropriate format or are smaller than the target format and are always inserted exactly in the copier.

The invention has for its object to remedy all those cases fen in which edges are cut according to the prior art and information on expenses would be lost.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in a generic method of the type defined at the outset by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1, namely by

• a) that the first type area of the input document according to size and location is measured and recorded,
• b) that the maximum printable area of the output print format is measured and saved or in for all output print formats of the device in question stored form is made available,
• c) that the first type area according to a) is compared with the target value of the maximum printable output print format according to b) and depending on the degree of mismatch
  the first type area reduced / enlarged
  and / or shifted in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction
  and / or rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise
  and / or is only contracted or expanded in its longitudinal or transverse direction until the first type area comes to lie within the maximum printable output print format,
• d) and that after the comparison according to c) the second type area is out is printed.

An advantageous development of the method according to claim 1 is that the adjustment of the parameters according to c1) to c4) incrementally, d. H. in small steps, is carried out. However, it is also possible to adjust the parameters after c1) to c4) is carried out continuously on the basis of formula calculation.

The invention applies to those copying documents, for example Cases when documents to be copied taking into account the set  Image scale (zoom factor) does not fit to the target format or ver are inserted and thus no further manual corrections are required would be lost due to trimmed edges. In such cases he if the method according to the invention is sufficient to automatically ensure that the desired target format is optimally used on one or more pages and no information is lost due to truncated edges go.

The first step in carrying out the method according to the invention is the end measurement of the template documents with respect to their first type area or in information field contained in them. The result of the measurement are the Be dimensions from which the size and location of the used (described) Document area are visible. To measure the first type area of the Any mechanical or data processing methods are used bar. E.g. you can basically use the Kleincom used in photo typesetting machines Use computers with which the actual value of the first type area by size and location is determined.

The second step to carry out the method according to the invention is the off measurement of the maximum printable area of the output print format or Target formats. The result of the measurement is preferably in an elec tronic memory stored values for the dimensions that make up Size and location of the maximum printable target format result. It is purpose moderate if the required dimensions for all output print formats in the the respective output devices are already available at the factory, d. H. in saved Form to be provided.

The third step for carrying out the method according to the invention is a setpoint / actual value comparison, such that the first type area (actual value) is compared with the setpoint of the maximum printable output print format and depending on the degree of mismatch

• - The first type area reduced / enlarged
• - And / or shifted in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction
• - and / or rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise  
• - and / or only contracted or expanded in its longitudinal or transverse direction until the first type area within the maximum printable output Print format comes to rest.

This process step also implies that one can by optional additional parameters the comparison between the first type area and the maximum printable Output print format can refine. For example, it can be stated that the actual right margin on the target format must be exactly 2 centimeters. Another optional additional parameter would be the default, the mapping Regulate the scale separately in the X and Y directions, i.e. allow X-Y distortions to make better use of the target format.

Also storing the setpoint (maximum printable area of the off print format) - second step - and the setpoint-actual value comparison to the Er You can average the manipulated variables according to the third step to the respective Connectable device, above in connection with the first step assign mentioned small computer.

If it is determined in practice that there are no margins on the target format be cut off and at the same time the optional additional parameters are observed means that the degree of mismatch is zero and consequently also no manipulated variables are formed for correction.

The fourth or last step of the method is after the adjustment has been carried out the second, constituting an image of the first type area, from the second type area printed.

To change the image scale of the first type area or to change it In practice you can find automatic mechanical solutions or displacement use automatic data technology solutions. These solutions can be found in work incrementally, i.e. by changing the parameters step by step, the right ones Achieve settings, or use formulas to get the right settings calculate and then a mechanical-electrical or electronic actuator respectively.

Claims (3)

1. Automatic method for preventing loss of information at the print page edges, in particular in the case of computer printers, copiers or fax machines, when processing input documents which are in an input print format with a first type area to output documents of a selectable output Print format on which the first type area is to be reproduced as an area-optimized second type area, ie in the marginal area free of information loss, characterized in that

• a) that the first type area of the input document is measured according to size and position,
• b) that the maximum printable area of the output print format is measured and stored or made available in a stored form for all output print formats of the device in question,
• c) that the first type area according to a) is compared with the target value of the maximum printable output print format according to b) and depending on the degree of mismatch
  the first type area reduced / enlarged
  and / or shifted in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction
  and / or rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise
  and / or is only contracted or expanded in its longitudinal or transverse direction until the first type area comes to lie within the maximum printable output print format,
• d) and that after the comparison according to c) the second type area is printed out.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment of the Parameters according to c1) to c4) incrementally, d. H. in small steps. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment of Parameters according to c1) to c4) continuously based on formula calculation is carried out.