JP2000141812A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To omit user's labor and to certainly arrange the paper sizes and printing directions of a series of sentences wherein a plurality of paper sizes and printing directions are included to output them, by automatically performing the alteration of a paper size and a printing direction without troubling user's hands. SOLUTION: A printer is equipped with a setting part 102 for setting a paper size to be printed and a printing direction by user's input operation, a detection part 106 detecting the paper size and printing direction of image data outputted to recording paper at every page and an image data converting part 108 performing the magnification and contraction of the image data outputted to recording paper at every page on the basis of the paper size and printing direction detected by the detection means and the paper size and printing direction set through the setting part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for outputting image data to recording paper, and more particularly, to a printer capable of outputting image data to recording paper of a plurality of paper sizes and printing directions. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional printer, for example, an "image forming apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2730 is disclosed.
And an "image forming apparatus" disclosed in JP-A-5-212931. These printer devices are A4 vertical, A
Image data is output on recording paper of various sizes and printing directions, such as 4 horizontal, B5 vertical, and B5 horizontal. In addition, the paper size described in this specification is A4, B5, etc.
The printing direction is the size of the recording paper, and the printing direction is the discharging direction of the recording paper discharged in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction.

[0003] By the way, there is a case where it is desired to output a series of sentences such as A4 portrait and A3 landscape in which a plurality of paper sizes and printing directions are mixed, such as presentation materials, with the same paper size and printing direction. In such a case, the paper size and printing direction of the text are changed and output using word processing software or the like on a personal computer connected to the printer device.

If, for example, an attempt is made to output an A4 portrait document, and the A4 portrait paper tray is empty and paper is placed on the A4 landscape paper tray, a paper connected to a printer is connected to a personal computer. Then, the print direction is changed using word processing software or the like and output.

[0005]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, since all changes in the paper size and the printing direction are left to the user, the user checks the paper size and the printing direction of each page. And
You must change the paper size and printing direction of each page using word processing software, etc., and prepare the text.
There is a problem that the operation is troublesome and a change error is likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and automatically changes the paper size and printing direction without the user's hand, thereby saving the user's time and effort.
It is an object of the present invention to output a series of sentences in which a plurality of paper sizes and printing directions are mixed, with the paper sizes and printing directions being surely aligned.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer apparatus, comprising: setting means for setting a paper size and a printing direction to be printed by a user's input operation; Detecting means for detecting, for each page, the paper size and printing direction of image data to be output on recording paper; and detecting the paper size and printing direction detected by the detecting means and the paper size and printing direction set via the setting means. Image data converting means for enlarging or reducing the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page based on the image data.

[0008] In the printer device of the first aspect,
The user sets the paper size and printing direction by input operation, detects the paper size and printing direction of the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page, and detects the detected paper size and printing direction and the set paper. The image data to be output on the recording paper is enlarged or reduced for each page based on the size and the printing direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to the first aspect, the image data converting means maintains the upper, lower, left, and right of the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page. , For enlarging and reducing the image data.

In the printer according to the second aspect,
The user sets the paper size and printing direction by input operation, detects the paper size and printing direction of the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page, and detects the detected paper size and printing direction and the set paper. Based on the size and the printing direction, the image data is enlarged or reduced for each page while maintaining the upper, lower, left, and right of the image data to be output on the recording paper.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer device according to the first or second aspect, when the recording paper of the paper size and the printing direction set via the setting means does not exist, the setting is performed. In addition to using recording paper of the same size as the paper size and having a different printing direction, the image data conversion means performs rotation conversion of image data to be output on the recording paper.

In the printer device of the third aspect,
When there is no recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction, a recording paper having the same size as the set paper size but having a different printing direction is used, and the rotation of image data to be output on the recording paper is converted.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
The first embodiment to the third embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment 1] A printer apparatus according to Embodiment 1 sets a paper size and a printing direction to be printed by a user's input operation, and sets a paper size and a printing direction of image data to be output on recording paper. Is detected for each page, and based on the detected paper size and printing direction and the set paper size and printing direction, the image data to be output on the recording paper is enlarged or reduced for each page.

The configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer device according to the first embodiment.

A printer unit 101 is provided with a setting unit 102 for setting a sheet size and a printing direction to be printed by a user's input operation on a front panel (not shown).
And from an external personal computer 104 via the LAN 103,
Data communication unit 1 for receiving image data to be output on recording paper
05, a detection unit 106 for detecting the paper size and printing direction of the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page, the paper size and printing direction detected by the detection unit 106, and the paper size set via the setting unit 102 And a printing direction, and a storage unit 107 for storing image data to be output on recording paper, a paper size and a printing direction detected by the detecting unit 106, and a paper size and a paper size set via the setting unit 102.
A comparison and determination with the print direction are performed, and based on the determination result, an image data conversion unit 108 for enlarging or reducing the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page, and an output process of the image data on the recording paper , A paper feeding unit 110 for performing a recording paper feeding process, and a discharging unit 111 for performing a recording paper discharging process.

Here, the output processing of the processing section 109, the paper supply processing of the paper supply section 110, and the paper discharge processing of the paper discharge section 111 are already well-known processing, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

The setting section 102 corresponds to the setting section of the present invention, the detecting section 106 corresponds to the detecting section of the present invention, and the image data converting section 108 corresponds to the image data converting section of the present invention.

The operation of the printer according to the first embodiment in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the scaling processing according to the first embodiment. The paper size and printing direction set via the setting unit 102 are A4 portrait, and the detection unit 10
6, when the page size and print direction of the image data of the first page detected by the detection unit 106 are A4 portrait, when the image data of a total of three pages having different paper sizes and print directions for each page is detected (see FIG. 201), the image data is output at the same magnification (202 in the figure). When the paper size and the printing direction of the image data of the second page are A3 landscape (203 in the figure), the image data is reduced to a size of 71% in length and width so as to fit in A4 length and is rotated by 90 degrees. It is output (204 in the figure). When the paper size and printing direction of the image data of the third page is B5 portrait (205 in the figure), the image data is enlarged and output to 115% in length and width so as to fit in A4 portrait (output in the figure). 206).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process from reception of image data to output to recording paper according to the first embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the paper size and the printing direction are set in advance via the setting unit 102 and are stored in the storage unit 107.

First, the data communication unit 105 receives image data (S301). Subsequently, the image data is stored in the storage unit 10.
7, the detection unit 106 detects the paper size and printing direction of the image data, and the detected paper size and printing direction are stored in the storage unit 107 (S3).
02). Next, the printing direction detected by the detection unit 106 is
It is determined whether the print direction is the same as the print direction set via the setting unit 102 (S303).

When it is determined that the printing direction detected by the detecting unit 106 is the same as the printing direction set via the setting unit 102, the paper size detected by the detecting unit 106 is set via the setting unit 102. It is determined whether the size is the same as the set paper size (S304). When it is determined that the paper size detected by the detection unit 106 is the same as the paper size set via the setting unit 102, output processing of image data to recording paper is performed (S305), and the processing ends. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the printing direction detected by the detecting unit 106 is different from the printing direction set via the setting unit 102, a 90-degree rotation conversion is performed on the image data. (S30
6) The process proceeds to step S304.

If it is determined in step S304 that the paper size detected by the detection unit 106 is different from the paper size set via the setting unit 102, the image data falls within the set paper size. (S307). Thereafter, a process of outputting the image data to the recording paper is performed, and the process ends.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the paper size and the printing direction are set by the user's input operation, and the paper size and the printing direction of the image data to be output on the recording paper are set for each page. Detects and enlarges or reduces the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page based on the detected paper size and the set paper size, and the detected print direction is different from the set print direction Furthermore, since the rotation of image data to be output on recording paper is performed, the paper size and the printing direction are automatically changed without the user's hand, thereby reducing the user's labor and providing a plurality of paper sizes. In addition, it is possible to output a series of sentences in which the printing directions are mixed with each other with the paper size and the printing direction aligned with certainty.

[Second Embodiment] A printer device according to a second embodiment sets a paper size and a printing direction for printing by a user's input operation, and sets a paper size and a printing direction of image data to be output on recording paper. Is detected for each page, and based on the detected paper size and printing direction and the set paper size and printing direction, the image data is enlarged for each page while maintaining the top, bottom, left and right of the image data to be output on the recording paper. , To reduce.

The configuration of the printer according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device according to the second embodiment. Note that the configuration of the printer 401 according to the second embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the printer 101 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. The description is omitted, and only the image data conversion unit 402 which is a different part will be described.

The image data conversion unit 402 includes the detection unit 106
The paper size / printing direction detected in step (1) is compared with the paper size / printing direction set via the setting unit 102, and the determination is made. The image data is enlarged or reduced while maintaining the vertical and horizontal directions. The image data conversion unit 40
Reference numeral 2 corresponds to the image data conversion means of the present invention.

The operation of the printer according to the second embodiment in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation of the printer according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
Is basically the same as the operation of the printer device according to
The same parts will be described with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a scaling process according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, similarly to FIG. 2, which is an explanatory diagram of the scaling processing according to the first embodiment, the setting unit 102
The paper size and printing direction set via the printer are A4 portrait, and the detection unit 106 detects image data composed of three pages of A4 portrait on the first page, A3 landscape on the second page, and B5 portrait on the third page. Here is an example of the case.

When the paper size and printing direction set via the setting unit 102 are A4 portrait, and the detecting unit 106 detects image data consisting of a total of three pages having different paper sizes and printing directions for each page, Detection unit 106
When the paper size and the printing direction of the image data of the first page detected in step (A) are A4 portrait (201 in the figure), the image data is output at the same magnification as in the processing according to the first embodiment (FIG. 202).

When the paper size and the printing direction of the image data of the second page are A3 landscape (203 in the figure), unlike the processing according to the first embodiment, the image data is 50% vertically and horizontally to fit in A4 portrait. , And blank data is added to the upper and lower portions created by the different printing directions and output (501 in the figure).

When the paper size and the printing direction of the image data of the third page are B5 portrait (205 in the drawing), the image data is 115% vertically and horizontally so as to fit in A4 portrait similarly to the processing according to the first embodiment. The output is enlarged to a size (206 in the figure).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process from reception of image data to output to recording paper according to the second embodiment. Here, it is assumed that the paper size and the printing direction are set in advance via the setting unit 102 and are stored in the storage unit 107.

First, the data communication unit 105 receives image data (S301). Subsequently, the image data is stored in the storage unit 10.
7, the detection unit 106 detects the paper size and printing direction of the image data, and the detected paper size and printing direction are stored in the storage unit 107 (S3).
02). Next, the printing direction detected by the detection unit 106 is
It is determined whether the print direction is the same as the print direction set via the setting unit 102 (S303).

When it is determined that the printing direction detected by the detecting unit 106 is the same as the printing direction set via the setting unit 102, the paper size detected by the detecting unit 106 is set via the setting unit 102. It is determined whether the size is the same as the set paper size (S304). When it is determined that the paper size detected by the detection unit 106 is the same as the paper size set via the setting unit 102, output processing of image data to recording paper is performed (S305), and the processing ends. .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the printing direction detected by the detecting unit 106 is different from the printing direction set via the setting unit 102, the image data is maintained in the up, down, left, and right directions. The data is enlarged or reduced as necessary so that it fits in the set paper size and printing direction, and blank data is added to a portion that is missing by changing the printing direction (S601).
After that, output processing of the image data to the recording paper is performed (S
305), and the process ends.

If it is determined in step S304 that the paper size detected by the detection unit 106 is different from the paper size set via the setting unit 102, the image data falls within the set paper size. (S307). Thereafter, an output process of the image data to the recording paper is performed (S305), and the process ends.

If the printing direction changes from horizontal to vertical in step S601, there is a portion where no image data exists above and below the recording paper due to the relationship between the length and width of the image data, and a blank portion exists where the image data does not exist. Data is added. The upper and lower ratios of the portion to which the blank data is added may be any. In other words, the image data may be output to any upper or lower part of the recording paper.

On the other hand, when the printing direction changes from vertical to horizontal, there is a portion where no image data exists on the left and right sides of the recording paper. In this case, blank data is added on the left and right sides of the recording paper. Here, the ratio of the left and right may be any as in the case where the printing direction changes from horizontal to vertical. In other words, the image data may be output to any part on the left or right in the recording paper.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the paper size and printing direction for printing are set by the user's input operation, and the paper size and printing direction of the image data to be output on the recording paper are set for each page. Based on the detected paper size and printing direction and the set paper size and printing direction, enlargement / reduction of the image data to be output on the recording paper is maintained for each page while maintaining the vertical and horizontal directions of the image data. Therefore, by automatically changing the paper size and printing direction without the user's hand, the user can save time and effort and mix multiple paper sizes and printing directions while maintaining the top, bottom, left and right of the image data. It is possible to output a series of texts in a surely aligned paper size and printing direction.

[Embodiment 3] In the printer apparatus according to the third embodiment, when there is no recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction, recording is performed with the same paper size as the set paper size but different printing direction. In addition to using paper, rotation conversion of image data to be output on recording paper is performed.

The configuration of the printer according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device according to the third embodiment. The configuration of the printer 701 according to the third embodiment is basically the same as the configuration of the printer 401 according to the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. The description is omitted and the image data conversion unit 702, which is a different part, will be described.

The image data conversion unit 702 includes the detection unit 106
The paper size / printing direction detected in step (1) is compared with the paper size / printing direction set via the setting unit 102, and the determination is performed. Based on the determination result, the image data to be output on the recording paper is output for each page. The image data is enlarged or reduced while maintaining the top, bottom, left and right, and when there is no recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction, rotation of the image data to be output on the recording paper is performed. Note that the image data conversion unit 702 corresponds to the image data conversion unit of the present invention.

The operation of the printer according to the third embodiment in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation of the printer according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
Is basically the same as the operation of the printer device according to
The same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof will be omitted, and only different portions will be described.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a scaling process according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 8, the paper size and printing direction set via the setting unit 102 are A4 portrait,
The detection unit 106 determines that the first page is A4 portrait and the second page is A
An example of a case in which image data composed of four pages of three horizontal pages and three pages of B5 vertical and the fourth page of A3 horizontal is detected, and only three A4 vertical recording sheets are present in an attached paper feed tray (not shown). Show.

The printer 701 outputs the first to third pages in the same manner as the enlargement / reduction processing according to the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5, and then the A4 vertical recording paper is out of paper (not shown). (Not in the supplied paper tray). The A3-horizontal image data (801 in the figure) of the fourth page detected by the detecting unit 106 is reduced to a size of 50% in length and width so as to fit in A4 length, and there is a shortage of the upper and lower portions due to different printing directions. Blank data is added to the part. However, A4 vertical recording paper is out of paper.
Since the image data cannot be output on four vertical recording papers, the image data is further rotated by 90 degrees so as to fit on the A4 horizontal recording paper and output on the A4 horizontal recording paper (802 in the figure).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process from receiving image data to outputting to recording paper according to the third embodiment. The printer 701 according to the third embodiment determines whether the recording paper of the paper size and printing direction set via the setting unit 102 before the output processing in step S305 is in an attached paper tray (not shown). (S901),
If the recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction is in the attached paper feed tray (not shown), an output process is performed and the process ends.

On the other hand, when the recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction is not in the attached paper feed tray (not shown),
In other words, when the paper is out of paper, the rotation conversion of the image data is performed (S902), and the output is performed on a recording paper having the same size as the set paper size and a different printing direction.

Here, if the recording paper having the same size as the set paper size and a different printing direction is also out of paper, an out-of-paper error process such as displaying a message notifying the user of the out-of-paper is performed.

In step S901, it is determined whether or not recording paper of the set paper size and print direction is in an attached paper feed tray (not shown), and the print direction is set to the same size as the set paper size. It is determined whether there is a different recording paper in the attached paper tray (not shown), and the recording paper in the set paper size and printing direction is not in the attached paper tray (not shown). If recording papers of the same size and different printing directions are present in the attached paper feed tray (not shown), the process proceeds to step S902.
While performing the rotation conversion, if both the recording paper of the set paper size and the printing direction and the recording paper of the same size as the set paper size but in the different printing direction are out of paper, error processing is performed. It may be performed.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, when there is no recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction, a recording paper having the same size as the set paper size but having a different printing direction is used. Since the rotation of the image data to be output on the recording paper is converted, the printing direction is automatically changed without the user's hand, so that the user can save time and effort.

It should be noted that also in the first embodiment described above,
As in the third embodiment, when there is no recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction, the recording paper having the same size as the set paper size but having a different printing direction is used and an image to be output on the recording paper is used. Data rotation conversion may be performed.

In the above-described first to third embodiments, the paper size and the printing direction of the image data to be output on the recording paper are detected for each page, and the paper size and the printing direction are output in the same manner. However, by switching the recording paper to be fed on the printer side, the output may be performed with the detected paper size and printing direction unchanged.

[0056]

As described above, according to the printer apparatus of the present invention (claim 1), the size of the paper to be printed and the printing direction are set by the input operation of the user, and the paper of the image data to be output on the recording paper is set. To detect the size and printing direction for each page, and to enlarge and reduce the image data to be output on the recording paper for each page based on the detected paper size and printing direction and the set paper size and printing direction. By automatically changing the paper size without the user's hand, the user's labor can be saved, and the paper size of a series of sentences in which a plurality of paper sizes are mixed can be surely aligned and output.

Further, the printer device of the present invention (Claim 2)
In order to enlarge and reduce the image data while maintaining the vertical and horizontal directions of the image data to be output on the recording paper, a series of a plurality of paper sizes and print directions are mixed while maintaining the vertical and horizontal directions of the image data. It is possible to output the text with the paper size and the printing direction aligned reliably.

Further, the printer device of the present invention (Claim 3)
In the case where there is no recording paper of the set paper size and printing direction, a recording paper of the same size as the set paper size but having a different printing direction is used, and rotation conversion of image data to be output on the recording paper is performed. Therefore, by automatically changing the print direction without the user's hand, the user's labor can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a scaling process according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process from reception of image data to output to recording paper according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a scaling process according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process from reception of image data to output to recording paper according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a scaling process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process from reception of image data to output to recording paper according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 printer device 102 setting unit 103 LAN 104 personal computer 105 data communication unit 106 detection unit 107 storage unit 108 image data conversion unit 109 processing unit 110 paper feed unit 111 paper discharge unit 401 printer device 402 image data conversion unit 701 printer device 702 image data Conversion unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] A setting unit configured to set a paper size and a printing direction to be printed by a user's input operation; and a detection unit configured to detect a paper size and a printing direction of image data to be output on recording paper for each page. An image for enlarging or reducing image data to be output on the recording paper for each page, based on the paper size and printing direction detected by the detection means and the paper size and printing direction set via the setting means; A printer device comprising: a data conversion unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data conversion means enlarges or reduces the image data for each page while maintaining the upper, lower, left and right of the image data to be output on the recording paper. The printer device according to the above. 3. When there is no recording paper of the paper size and printing direction set via the setting means, a recording paper having the same size as the set paper size but having a different printing direction is used, and The data conversion means
3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein rotation conversion of image data to be output on the recording paper is performed.