JP2000163239A - Printer, printing method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lay out images on one form by arranging and arraying all the images laterally long by converting image data files into print data files by rotating them in the direction reverse to a specific direction. SOLUTION: A control part 3 when converting an image data file into a print data file rotates its image in a prescribed direction by 90 deg. according to the structure of the image data file and the direction of a form where the image is printed. When the form is conveyed to a print part 2, its conveyance direction is always the long-side direction of the form and when one sheet of printed matter is printed, data are read in order from the left upper part to the right lower part of the print data file corresponding to the one sheet are printed. Consequently, even when the form is used laterally and images are laid out, the file is converted into the print data file having a longitudinally long data structure. Namely, when the images are laid out by using the form laterally, the top on the paper surface is positioned on the right on the print data file.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium for arranging and printing a vertically long image data file horizontally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image data file recorded by a digital camera has a so-called horizontally long data structure in which the number of horizontal pixels is larger than the number of vertical pixels. recent years,
2. Description of the Related Art There has been provided a digital camera which detects a photographing direction of a digital camera at the time of photographing and records an image at a vertically long angle as an image data file having a vertically long data structure.

Further, as for a printer which takes in an image recorded by a digital camera from a recording medium and prints the image, a printer capable of laying out a plurality of images on one sheet and printing the image is provided. For example,
When printing an index of an image recorded on a recording medium by a digital camera, the image is laid out in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and printed. When printing is performed based on an image data file having a general horizontally long data structure, all images can be horizontally arranged, aligned, and printed.

[0004]

However, according to a conventional printer which captures an image recorded by a digital camera from a recording medium and prints the image data, an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are provided. When fetching a plurality of image data files from a recording medium in which files are mixedly recorded and laying them out on one sheet and printing them, it is not possible to arrange and print all the images in landscape orientation. was there.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are mixedly recorded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium for calling a plurality of image data files from a recording medium, laying out all the images in a landscape orientation, and arranging and printing them when laying out and printing on one sheet. I do.

Another object of the present invention is to call a plurality of image data files from a recording medium in which an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are mixedly recorded. A printer in which the upper direction of an image is unified in two directions on the paper when laying out and arranging images on a sheet of paper in landscape orientation and arranging them in a row, and when laying out on landscape paper. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

According to the printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the number of vertical pixels of the image data file is a and the number of horizontal pixels is b, the control unit satisfies a ≧ b. When printing with the long side of the paper coincident with the short side of the image, the image data file is rotated 90 degrees in a predetermined direction so that the long side of the paper coincides with the long side of the image. In this case, the image data file is converted into a print data file without rotating.

In the case of a ≦ b, when printing with the long side of the paper and the short side of the image coincide, the image data file is not rotated and the long side of the paper and the long side of the image are matched. When printing an image data file, the image data file is rotated by 90 degrees in a direction opposite to a predetermined direction and converted into a print data file. For this reason, a plurality of image data files are called from a recording medium in which an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are mixed and all images are horizontally printed on one sheet. The layout can be arranged and aligned, and the upper direction of the image can be unified in two directions on the paper when laying out on a horizontally long sheet and when laying out on a vertically long sheet.

According to the printing method of the present invention or the recording medium of the present invention, the number of vertical pixels of the image data file is a, the number of horizontal pixels is b, and when a ≧ b, When printing with the long side direction of the image coincident with the short side direction of the image, the image data file is rotated by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction, and when printing with the long side direction of the paper coincident with the long side direction of the image, If the image data file is not rotated and a ≦ b, when printing with the long side direction of the paper and the short side direction of the image matched, printing is performed without rotating the image data file and the length of the image and the length of the image. When printing with the sides aligned,
The image data file is rotated by 90 degrees in a direction opposite to a predetermined direction and printed.

For this reason, a plurality of image data files are called from a recording medium in which an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are mixedly recorded, and the image is read on one sheet of paper. All of them can be laid out and arranged in landscape orientation, and the upper direction of the image can be unified in two directions on the paper when laying out on landscape paper and when laying out on portrait paper.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment showing the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in, the transport unit 1, the printing unit 2, the control unit 3,
It has a display unit 4, an input unit 5, a guide unit 6, a first data acquisition unit 7, and a second data acquisition unit 8. Transport unit 1
, A printing unit 2, a control unit 3, a display unit 4, and an input unit 5
The guide unit 6, the first data acquisition unit 7, and the second data acquisition unit 8 are provided in a box-shaped housing 9. The printer according to the present embodiment controls the control unit 3 based on the electronic data acquired from the first data acquisition unit 7 or the second data acquisition unit 8.
It is possible to print in the printing unit 2 driven by the printer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 9 has a display unit 4 and an input unit 5 on the upper surface, a first data acquisition unit 7, a power switch 91, and a warning lamp 92 for notifying that the ink is out or the paper is out. A guide unit 6 is provided, a second data acquisition unit 8 (not shown) is provided on the back surface, and a transport unit 1, a printing unit 2, and a control unit 3 (not shown) are provided inside. A paper supply port 93 and a paper discharge port 94 are formed on the upper surface and the lower front surface of the housing 9, respectively. A paper tray 95 is detachably engaged with the sheet supply port 93, and a sheet receiver 96 is detachably engaged with the sheet discharge port 94.

The transport unit 1 (not shown) is provided inside the housing 9 between the paper supply port 93 and the paper discharge port 94, and has a transport roller driven by a motor, and a driven roller that contacts the transport roller and transports the paper by friction. And a roller. The transport roller and the driven roller are made of a non-slip material such as rubber. The transport unit 1 is a mechanism that transports a sheet from a sheet supply port 93 to a sheet discharge port 94 by rotating a transport roller and a driven roller.

A printing section 2 (not shown) is provided adjacent to the transport section 1 and has a carriage on which an ink tank and an ink jet head are mounted, a step motor, and a carriage rail provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the paper is transported. And The printing unit 2 performs printing by a known inkjet method. Specifically, a carriage driven by a step motor reciprocates on a carriage rail at a position facing the sheet, and performs printing by ejecting ink in an ink tank from an inkjet head onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 1. Note that a laser method, a dot impact method, or the like can be used as the printing unit 2.

The control unit 3 (not shown) has a CPU, a ROM in which a control program is recorded, and a memory for temporarily storing a print data file. The control unit 3 converts an image data file acquired by the first data acquisition unit 7 or the second data acquisition unit 8 into a print data file by using a predetermined parameter, and stores the print file in a memory. The control unit 3 controls the transport unit 1 and the printing unit 2 based on the print file stored in the memory, and also controls the display unit 4, the input unit 5, and the guide unit 6.

When the control unit 3 converts the image data file into a print data file, the control unit 3 rotates the image 90 degrees in a predetermined direction according to the structure of the image data file and the direction of the paper to be printed. When the paper is transported to the printing unit 2,
The transport direction is always the direction of the long side of the sheet. When printing one printed material, the data is sequentially called from the upper left data to the lower right data of the print data file corresponding to one printed material and printed. For this reason, even if the layout is made using paper in landscape orientation, it is converted into a print data file having a vertically long data structure. That is, when laying out using paper in landscape orientation, the upper part on the paper surface is located to the right in the print data file. It should be noted that the rotation direction is defined not to be rotated with respect to the paper surface but to be rotated with reference to the print data file. The rotation direction is shown in the table below.

[0018]

[Table 1]

The input unit 5 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 9,
As shown in FIG. 3, various keys are provided on the key panel 50.

The print start key 501 is a key panel 5
0, that is, on the side close to the first data acquisition unit 7, has the most conspicuous appearance among all keys, and the operation surface is made of a transparent material, and an unillustrated LED (light) is provided inside the operation surface. emitteddiode) is provided. This LED is controlled to blink in a state where printing can be started. The print start key 501 is a key for transmitting a print designation signal or the like corresponding to the print setting displayed on the display unit 4 to the control unit 3 and starting printing.

All print key 502 and index key 5
Numeral 03 is provided at the forefront of the key panel 50 alongside the print start key 501, and has a rectangular shape with a rounded corner next to the print start key 501 among all keys, and the operation surface is transparent. An LED (not shown) made of a material is provided inside each operation surface.

Range designation key 505 and one frame key 504
Are provided side by side behind all print keys 502 and index keys 503, have an elliptical shape slightly smaller than those, and have operation surfaces made of a transparent material, and LEDs (not shown) inside each operation surface. Be provided.

All print key 502, index key 50
3. The range designation key 505 and the one-frame key 504 are keys for selecting any one of them, and the LED of the selected key emits light.

The upper key 506 and the lower key 507 are vertically arranged in the back of the one-frame key 504, that is, on the side near the display unit 4, and each have a line-symmetric triangular shape.

The right key 509 and the left key 508 are adjacent to the up key 506 and the down key 507, respectively.
1 are provided side by side in the back and each has a line-symmetric triangular shape. The right key 509 and the left key 508 change details of the printing conditions in each section of the display unit 4.

The display section 4 has an input section 5 on the upper surface of the housing 9.
It is provided adjacent to the back. The display unit 4 is a segment type liquid crystal panel, and includes a selection section 401, a paper type section 402 for displaying details of printing conditions, a paper size section 403, a layout section 404, a photo size section 405, and a photo selection section 40.
6, an image section 407, an image quality section 408, and an automatic adjustment section 409. FIG. 3 shows a state in which all segments of the liquid crystal panel are turned on. The display content selected on the display unit 4 is a print start key 501.
Is set as a printing condition in the control unit 3 by pressing.

The selection section 401 is a section for displaying a triangle selectively pointing to another section by the up key 506 and the down key 507 and activating the section. In the active section, the display can be switched by the right key 509 and the left key 508.

The paper type section 402 is a section whose display is switched to plain paper, photo print paper and super fine paper.

The paper size section 403 includes a postcard,
This is a section where the display is switched to a photo card and A4.

The layout section 404 is composed of 2
This is a section where the display is switched to columns, four frames, three columns, an index and a cutting guide. When "with cutting guide" is selected, the image can be printed with a register mark.

The photo size section 405 is 4 L, 2
This is a section whose display is switched to L, 4 × 6, L, E and a card. The display of the photo size section 405 is
It is determined by the paper size and layout settings. That is, the size of the image to be printed is determined by the paper size and the layout.

The photo selection section 406 is a section mainly for displaying the total number of image data files recorded on the recording medium and a number as an identification code from 0 to 199 for designating an image to be printed. When the right key 509 as an image selection key is pressed while the identification code is displayed, the number increases, and when the left key 508 is pressed, the number decreases. The displayed number represents the identification code of the image to be printed.

The number of copies section 407 is a section for mainly displaying the number of prints and a number as an identification code from 0 to 199 for designating an image to be printed.

The image quality section 408 includes high quality, high speed,
This section switches the display to ultra-high image quality.

The automatic adjustment section 409 is a section whose display is switched without the automatic photo fine. When the auto photo fine is selected, the photographic image is automatically adjusted in image quality and printed.

The guide portion 6 is provided below the front surface of the housing 9. The guide unit 6 has a speaker 61 driven by the control unit 3 and outputs audio data read from the ROM as audio.

The first data acquisition section 7 is provided above the front surface of the housing 9 as shown in FIG.
And a reader (not shown) for reading the image data file recorded on the recording medium and transmitting it to the control unit 3.
In this embodiment, a horizontally long image data file recorded on a recording medium is 639 pixels wide and 479 pixels vertically, and a vertically long data file is 479 pixels wide and 6 vertically long.
Assume that it is 39 pixels. In the card slot 71,
As a recording medium, a recording medium such as a PCMCIA standard memory card or a compact flash card generally used for digital cameras can be inserted together with an adapter.

The second data acquisition unit 8 (not shown) is provided on the back of the housing 9 and has a plurality of connectors. The second data acquisition unit 8 is an interface for connecting to a personal computer or a digital camera, and transmits electronic data extracted from those externally connected devices to the control unit 3.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above-described printer will be described. The printing by the printer will be described by dividing it into a two-stage portrait paper layout and an index layout, and an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and a data file having a vertically long data structure are alternately recorded on a recording medium (hereinafter, a memory card). It is assumed that 16 are recorded.

When the power switch 91 is turned on, a control program starts up, and a voice prompting the insertion of a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a memory card) on which an image data file such as "Please insert a card." Emits. When a memory card is inserted into the card slot 71,
The print start key 501 flashes, and all the print keys 502 are turned on.

(1) Two-Story Vertical Paper Layout After the memory card is inserted into the card slot 71, when the range designating key 505 is pressed, all the print keys 502 disappear and the range designating key 505 lights up. The display unit 4 displays the photo print paper and the paper size section 40 in the paper type section 402 as default settings of the control program.
Postcard No. 3, the whole is displayed in the layout section 404, the L is displayed in the photo size section 405, the high image quality is displayed in the image quality section 408, the auto photo fine is displayed in the automatic adjustment section 409, and the first image data of the range to be printed is displayed in the number of sheets section 407. The identification code of the file is 1, and the total number 16 of the image data files read from the memory card is displayed in the photo selection section 406 as the identification code of the last image data file in the range to be printed. At this time, the photo selection section 406 is active.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, after operating the down key 507 to activate the number section 407, the left key is operated to set the identification code of the last image data file in the printing range to 2. . Next, after operating the up key 506 to activate the paper size section 403,
Operate the left key to select the A4 paper size. Further, after operating the down key 507 to activate the layout section 404, the right key 509 is operated to select a two-column layout.

When the print start key 501 is pressed, the control unit 3 calls the image data files of the identification codes 1 and 2 from the first data acquisition unit 7 and rotates the image data file of the identification code 1 having a horizontally long data structure. Instead, the image data file of the identification code 2 having the vertically long data structure is rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees and converted into a print data file. FIG. 5 schematically shows the converted print data file.
Shown in Based on the converted print data file, the images corresponding to the identification codes 1 and 2 are printed on a vertically long sheet of A4 size in the same manner as the print data file shown in FIG.

(2) Index layout After inserting a memory card into the card slot 71, pressing the index key 503 causes all print keys 502 to disappear,
The index key 503 lights up. In the display unit 4, as shown in FIG. 6, the default settings of the control program include photo print paper in the paper type section 402, postcard in the paper size section 403, index in the layout section 404, and image quality section 4
In 08, the high-speed and photo selection section 406 displays the total number 16 of image data files read from the memory card, the photo size section 405 is not displayed, and the number of prints section 407 displays 1 as the number of prints.

When the print start key 501 is pressed, the control unit 3 calls up all the image data files from the first data acquisition unit 7, and the image data files corresponding to the odd-numbered identification codes having a horizontally long data structure are clockwise. To 90
The image data file corresponding to the even-numbered identification code having a vertically long data structure is not rotated, and the identification code is synthesized and converted into a print data file. FIG. 7 schematically shows the converted print data file. The image is laid out using paper in landscape orientation, but the print data file is portrait because it corresponds to the direction of the transported paper. When reading and printing the print data file, the data is called in order from the upper left to the lower right of the print data file, and the data is printed in order from the upper left of the print data file. Located on the right.

Based on the converted print data file, all the images recorded on the memory card are laid out on a horizontally long postcard-size sheet in 5 rows and 4 columns and printed as shown in FIG.

The upper side of the image of the printed matter printed on the two-stage layout of the portrait paper shown in FIG. 5 and the upper side of the image of the printed matter printed on the index layout shown in FIG. 8 are all directed upward or to the left on the paper.

According to the printer of this embodiment, a plurality of image data files are called from a recording medium in which an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are mixedly recorded. When laying out and printing on a sheet of paper, all images can be arranged in a landscape orientation, aligned and printed.

Further, a plurality of image data files are called from a recording medium in which an image data file having a horizontally long data structure and an image data file having a vertically long data structure are mixedly recorded, and all the images are printed on one sheet. In the case of laying out and arranging horizontally and arranging the images, it is possible to unify the upper direction of the image to the upper or left direction on the paper surface when laying out on a horizontally long sheet and when laying out on a vertically long sheet.

In this embodiment, the control program for controlling the printer has been described as being stored in the ROM in advance. However, this control program downloads the control program recorded on the recording medium to the printer. May be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a method of converting an image data file into a print data file by rotating the image data file in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a method for converting an image data file into a print data file by rotating the image data file in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a printed material according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transport part 2 Printing part 3 Control part 7 1st data acquisition part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Isao Esane 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa-shi, Nagano F-term in Seiko Epson Corporation (reference) 2C087 AB05 BB20 BD24 CA03 CB13 5B021 AA30 KK02 LB01 LB07 LE06 5C076 AA19 AA24 BA04 BA05 9A001 BB02 BB03 BB04 DD07 DD09 EE02 HH18 HH24 HH28 JJ35 KK31 KK42 KZ60

Claims (3)

[Claims] A data acquisition unit that acquires an image data file from a recording medium; a control unit that converts the image data file into a print data file; a printing unit that prints an image based on the print data file; A printer that includes a transport unit that transports a sheet to a printing unit, wherein the control unit sets the number of vertical pixels of the image data file to b, the number of horizontal pixels to b, and if a ≧ b, When printing with the long side direction coincident with the short side direction of the image, the image data file is rotated by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction, and when printing with the long side direction of the paper and the long side direction of the image aligned, When the image data file is not rotated, and when a ≦ b, printing is performed with the long side direction of the paper coincident with the short side direction of the image, the image data file is not rotated, and the long side direction of the paper and the image are not rotated. Head of When printing to match the direction, printers and converting the image data file in the predetermined direction opposite to the 90 ° rotation is allowed by the print data file. 2. A printing method using a printer for printing an image based on an image data file, wherein a is the number of vertical pixels of the image data file, b is the number of horizontal pixels, and a ≧ b. When printing with the long side direction of the paper and the short side direction of the image matched, the image data file is rotated by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction, and the long side direction of the paper is aligned with the long side direction of the image. When the image data file is not rotated, and when a ≦ b, when printing with the long side direction of the paper coincident with the short side direction of the image, the image data file is not rotated, and the long side of the paper is not rotated. And printing the image data file by rotating the image data file by 90 degrees in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when printing with the direction and the long side direction of the image matched. 3. A recording medium recording a computer program for printing an image based on an image data file, wherein a is the number of vertical pixels and b is the number of horizontal pixels of the image data file, and a ≧ In the case of b, when printing with the long side direction of the paper coincident with the short side direction of the image, the image data file is rotated by 90 degrees in a predetermined direction so that the long side direction of the paper coincides with the long side direction of the image. When printing with the image data file not rotated, and when a ≦ b, when printing with the long side direction of the paper coincident with the short side direction of the image, the image data file is not rotated. And printing the image data file by rotating the image data file by 90 degrees in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when printing with the long side direction of the image coincident with the long side direction of the image. Recorded recording medium.