JP2001353920A - Apparatus and method for outputting digital image - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image output apparatus in which the burden of a work, e.g. sorting of outputted sheets, can be lessened when a plurality of prints of different sizes are outputted. SOLUTION: When a plurality of images recorded on an image recording medium are printed out collectively, information of the print size and the number of print sheets designated by a user is acquired (S20), and a group of designated images to be printed are sorted by print size and rearranged (S18). Subsequently, each image is printed out according to the rearranged order (S19).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for printing out a digital image, and more particularly, to a method for collectively designating a plurality of images as print images and collectively printing out the designated image group. And an image output apparatus and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image data taken by a digital camera or the like is generally recorded on an image recording medium such as a compact flash (registered trademark) or a smart media. The user edits the image data recorded on the image recording medium by using an information processing device such as a personal computer and prints out the image data. Printed sheets are stacked on a discharge tray of the printer in a discharge order, and the discharge order is often the order in which normal printing is specified.

[0003] In some cases, a user designates a plurality of images to be printed from a plurality of images displayed as thumbnail images on the screen of a display, and then prints out the designated plurality of images collectively. In such a case,
The user does not always specify all images at the same size.

[0004]

In the case of a printer which has only one discharge tray and discharges paper from only one discharge tray regardless of the size of printing paper, a user can print a plurality of images at different print sizes. When an instruction is given to print all at once, print images of different sizes are discharged onto the discharge tray regardless of the size order, so that subsequent handling becomes inconvenient.

[0005] For example, a user usually prints at L size, which is a print size often used in the case of a silver halide camera, and sometimes prints at 2L size when he / she likes particularly. In this case, on the output tray,
The L size print paper and the 2L size print paper are mixed, and the user needs to perform a complicated operation for sorting or the like when taking out from the discharge tray. Further, when these are taken out of the discharge tray and carried as they are, there is also a problem such as paper folding due to stacked sheets of different sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the work load such as sorting when a plurality of prints having different sizes are output. An object of the present invention is to provide an image output device.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, when a plurality of images are printed out,
Images are rearranged for each image print size and output. Specifically, it has the following configuration.

An image output apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for printing out a digital image, comprising: an obtaining unit for obtaining an image to be printed out and a print size of the image; The image processing apparatus includes a sorting unit that sorts and sorts each image, and a printing unit that prints out images in the sorted order.

The reordering means may reorder the image data in the order of the file names of the image data in the image data groups having the same print size.

An image output method according to the present invention is a method for printing out a digital image, which acquires an image to be printed out and a print size of the image, and classifies the image to be printed out for each print size. Then, the images are printed out in the sorted order.

Another image output device according to the present invention is a device for printing out a digital image recorded on a recording medium, comprising a recording medium loading means for loading the recording medium, and image data from the loaded recording medium. Reading means for reading
Specify the image to be printed out of the read images,
Designating means for designating a print size of the image; sorting means for classifying and sorting the designated images for each designated print size; and printing means for printing and outputting the read images in the sorted order. And

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image output apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Configuration and Basic Operation of Image Output Apparatus) FIG.
1 shows the appearance of the image output device according to the present invention. The image output apparatus 100 prints out an image designated by a user from a picture recorded as digital data on a recording medium such as a compact flash or a smart media in a designated size (size) and number of sheets. is there.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image output device 100
Are a power switch 102, a media loading unit 104,
Charge slot 106, panel 108, and keyboard 11
0, a monitor 112, a print outlet 114, a front door 115 that opens forward for maintenance, and a cover 116.

The power switch 102 is connected to the image output device 10.
0 is a switch for starting.

The media loading unit 104 is provided with the image output device 1
00, which is used to load an image recording medium on which an image desired to be printed is recorded. Although the cover 116 is provided in the media loading unit 104 for dust prevention, a dustproof shutter may be provided in each loading port instead of the cover 116.

The fee input port 106 is used to insert a predetermined fee into the image output device 100 of the coin vender system.

The panel 108 is a display unit which is arranged adjacent to the medium loading unit 104 and displays the type of image recording medium which can be loaded. When a touch switch for selecting an image recording medium is provided as described later, the panel 108 may be an operation unit. Any one of four types of image recording media (smart media, compact flash, optical disk, and floppy (registered trademark) disk) can be loaded in the media loading unit 104 of the image output device 100 of the present invention. In each of these, image data is compressed and stored in JPEG format, and the image output device 1
00 is JPEG-decompressed and processed. For a more detailed description of the media loading unit 104 and the panel 108,
It will be described later with reference to FIG.

The keyboard 110 is provided for a user to input various operation instructions. Keyboard 11
0 is a key for selecting which image to print, a key for determining the start of printing, a key used only by a service person who performs maintenance of the image output apparatus 100, and a key for printing paper. Includes a forced ejection key (none shown).

The monitor 112 displays an operation instruction given from the keyboard 110 and an image to be printed. The monitor 112 further has a touch panel on its surface, and a user can operate the touch panel to give an instruction to the image output device 100. For example, it is an instruction to specify an image to be printed, its size, the number of sheets, and the like. This touch panel is provided in the image output device 100 as an image specifying unit 414 (see FIG. 3 described later).

The print outlet 114 is connected to the image output device 1
00 is used to eject the print.

The front door 115 is provided so as to be opened by pulling it toward the user.
It can be opened when the inside of 00 is maintained.

FIG. 2 shows the media loading unit 104 and the panel 1
08 is shown in more detail. As described above, the image output device 100 in the present embodiment can load four types of image recording media. The media loading section 104 has loading ports for loading these image recording media,
Each is provided in association with a number. The media loading unit 104 further has display units 210 and 220 indicating where to load the selected image recording medium. Panel 108 displays the number 4 associated with that number.
The types of image recording media are schematically shown. Below the schematic diagram of the image recording medium on the panel 108, symbols by numbers and letters are shown. The number to the left of each symbol corresponds to the number of the loading port of the media loading unit 104. By providing a touch switch on the panel 108, it is possible to specify which type of image recording medium to use.

Referring again to FIG. 1, image output device 100
Will be described. The image output apparatus 100 is activated when a power switch 102 is turned on by an administrator, a user, or the like of the image output apparatus 100. The user first inputs a predetermined fee into the fee input port 106, and selects an image recording medium to be used on the panel 108. The user checks the type of the image recording medium with the schematic diagram or abbreviation of the panel 108 and selects the image recording medium to be used. Selection may be performed by providing a touch switch on the panel 108 and using the touch switch, or by using a keyboard 110 (FIG. 1) to input a number corresponding to an image recording medium to be used. Is also good. Or monitor 4
It may be performed by the above touch panel.

When the user selects an image recording medium, four display sections 210, 2 corresponding to the selected image recording medium are displayed.
20 (see FIG. 2) lights up. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 220 corresponding to the smart media
Is lit. The user loads the recording medium (smart media in this example) into the loading port where the display unit 220 (see FIG. 2) is lit. By configuring the media loading unit 104 and the panel 108 as described above, the user can visually identify the image recording medium to be used by himself, and it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally loading the image recording medium into another loading slot. .
Subsequently, the user gives various operation instructions to the image output device 100 via the keyboard 110 and the touch panel of the monitor 112 (for example, the monitor 112
Instruction to specify the upper pixel).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image output apparatus 100. The image output device 100 includes operation units 108 and 110, a charge slot 106, loading slot display units 210 and 220, and a monitor 112. The image output device 100 further includes an overall control unit 400, a drive device 405 corresponding to an available image recording medium, an image data processing unit 410, a memory 412, and an image sorting unit 41.
4, the interface unit 420, and the print unit 430
And a hard disk drive 440.

Before describing the internal processing of the image output apparatus 100, the function of each internal component will be described. However, the operation unit 10 described with reference to FIGS.
8, 110, fee input port 106, loading port display section 210,
Description of the monitor 220 and the monitor 112 is omitted. Operation unit 108
Is a touch switch on the panel 108 (FIG. 2)
Reference numeral 10 denotes a keyboard 110 (FIG. 1),
Reference numerals 0 and 220 indicate a loading port display section (FIG. 2) of the image recording medium.

The overall control unit 400 includes the image output device 100
Controls the operation of all components. More specifically, the overall control unit 400 checks the charge input to the charge input port 106 (FIG. 1), receives commands from the operation units 108 and 110,
Lighting of loading port display sections 210 and 220, drive device 40
5, an image data read command to the image data processing unit 410, an image data processing command to the image data processing unit 410, and an image data storage command to the memory 412. And a read command, a display command to the monitor 112,
The image data is transmitted to the print unit 430 and the operation is controlled. Such processing is performed according to a computer program stored in the hard disk drive 440.

The drive device 405 includes a smart media drive 402 and a compact flash drive 40
4, including an optical disk drive 406 and a floppy disk drive 408. Any of the drive devices 405 reads the image data from the image recording medium in response to a command from the overall control unit 400 and outputs the read image data to the overall control unit 400 or the image data processing unit 410. A drive device other than the drive device described above can be used as long as the drive device performs such processing.

The image data processing section 410 includes the overall control section 4
In accordance with the instruction from 00, the image data received from the memory 412 or the drive device 405 is processed for display and printing.

The memory 412 stores the image data received from the drive device 405, and stores the image data in the image data processing unit 41.
0 stores the image data processed. Memory 412
Reads out the stored image data and sends it to the monitor 112 or sends it to the print unit 430 via the interface unit 420 according to an instruction from the general control unit 400.

The image specifying section 414 is provided for the user to specify various settings (for example, print image, print size, number of prints, etc.) on the monitor screen. In the present embodiment, the image specifying unit 414 is a touch panel, but may be a trackball or a mouse.

The interface unit 420 mediates bidirectional communication between the general control unit 400 and the printing unit 430. An example of data transmitted via the interface unit 420 is image data or the like from the memory 412 to the print unit 430. Another example of the data transmitted via the interface unit 420 is print state data indicating the print execution state to the overall control unit 400, for example, a print failure notification from the print unit 430, and the like.

The print unit 430 receives the image data via the interface unit 420 and prints on print paper based on the image data. Print section 4
Reference numeral 30 denotes a well-known printer mechanism such as a laser printer or a silver halide printer.

The hard disk drive 440 stores, as a computer program, processing procedures necessary for the overall control unit 400 to control the operation of the image output apparatus 100. One of the computer programs is shown in FIG.
This is a computer program for performing a process of rearranging images for each print size during printing, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. As long as the recording medium can store such a computer program, it is not necessarily required to be a hard disk, but may be a ROM or the like.

(Printing Operation of Image Output Apparatus) The printing operation of the image output apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation of the image output device described below is performed under the control of the overall control unit 400. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control of the overall control unit 400. The control illustrated in FIG. 4 is activated when the user performs any instruction operation on the operation unit 108 to start printing from the image recording medium.

As shown in FIG. 4, first, it is determined whether or not any of the image recording media is inserted in the media loading unit 104 (S11). If no image recording medium has been inserted, this process ends. If an image recording medium has been inserted, the presence or absence of image data recorded on the medium is checked (S12), and if there is no image data recorded, this processing ends.

If there is image data in the image recording medium, all the image data recorded in the medium is read out and stored in the memory 412 (S13). Thereafter, the read image data is JPEG-decompressed on the memory 412 and restored to the original image data (S14). The image data that has been JPEG-decompressed and restored is reduced or enlarged to have a predetermined size suitable for display on the monitor 112 (S15). The reduced or enlarged image is displayed on the monitor 112 (S16).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, not only an image but also keys for a user to perform a predetermined operation are displayed at the same time. In the example of FIG. 5, the image data is read from the image recording medium, reduced, and displayed as thumbnail images in the order of file names. The user selects one image to be printed from a group of images displayed as thumbnail images using the function of the touch screen while viewing the screen display as shown in FIG. When one image is selected, as shown in FIG. 6, the image selected in the setting image 50 is enlarged and displayed, and keys 20 and 3 for designating the print size and the number of prints are displayed.
0 is also displayed. The user can use these keys 20,
The print size and the number of prints are set using 30. When the designation of the print size and the number of prints for one image is completed, the user presses the "OK" key 12 and ends the settings such as the print size for the image. When there are a plurality of images to be printed, the above operation is performed for each image. When all settings are completed, the user presses the displayed “OK” key 10 to perform an “OK” instruction operation.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the general control unit 400 acquires the setting information specified by the user as described above,
It is stored in the memory 412 (S20). At this time, a print setting table as shown in FIG. 7 in which the designated image file name, print size, and number of prints are associated with each other is created, and the print setting table is stored in the memory 412.
Remember on top. Here, the print setting table manages such information so as to be arranged in the order of the file names of the image files.

When the user inputs an "OK" instruction operation on the screen (S17), a size classification process of classifying and rearranging the designated image group for each print size is performed (S18). Thereafter, a print execution process for printing images sorted and sorted by size is performed (S
19), end this processing.

The above-described size classification processing (step S18)
And the print execution process (step S19) will be described in detail below.

First, the size classification processing will be described. In this process, a process of rearranging designated image data for each print size is performed. For example, it is assumed that there are five images designated as images to be printed, the print size and the number of images are set as follows, and the images are arranged in order of file name. (File name) (Number of prints) (Print size) DSC_0001. jpg 5L DSC_0003. jpg 15 2L DSC_0007. jpg 10L DSC_0008. jpg 8 2L DSC_0009. jpg 12 L

In the present embodiment, the arrangement of the above images is classified and rearranged for each print size as shown below. (File name) (Number of prints) (Print size) DSC_0001. jpg 5L DSC_0007. jpg 10L DSC_0009. jpg 12 L DSC_0003. jpg 15 2L DSC_0008. jpg 8 2L

Thereafter, print processing is executed in the order of the images rearranged as described above. As a result, sheets of the same size are printed together and discharged. In the above example, in the image group having the same print size, the image data is arranged in the order of the file names.

The size classification process (step S18) will be specifically described with reference to FIG. First, classification is performed on an image whose print size is L size. With reference to the print setting table described above, the first image file in the table is designated as an image file to be classified (S
31). Next, the print size specified by the user for the specified image file is read (S3).
2). It is determined whether the size is the “L” size (S33). If the size is L, a serial number is assigned to the image file (S34). This serial number starts from 1 in this processing and is incremented each time it is given. By referring to the serial numbers, it is possible to obtain image data rearranged for each size. The information of the serial number is recorded in the print setting table in association with the image data.

It is determined whether the image file currently being processed is the last one in the print setting table (S3).
5) If it is the last one, the process proceeds to step S37 in order to classify a 2L size image. If the image file currently being processed is not the last one, the next image file is designated as an image file to be classified (S36), and the above processing (S32 to S35) is repeated.

In step S37, the first image file in the print setting table is designated as an image file to be classified. Next, the print size specified by the user for the specified image file is read from the memory 412 (S38). It is determined whether or not the size is the “2L” size (S39). If it is 2L size,
A serial number is assigned to the image file (S40). This serial number is a continuous number from the above processing (S31 to S36). It is determined whether or not the image file currently being processed is the last one in the print setting table (S41). If it is the last one, the process is terminated. If the image file currently being processed is not the last one, the next image file is designated in the print setting table as an image file to be classified (S4).
2) The above processing (S38 to S41) is repeated.

As described above, in the size classification process,
The designated images are classified and rearranged for each size image (L / 2L). In the above, L size or 2
Although the process is performed so as to classify only the two types of L size, the size can be similarly classified into more types.

Next, print execution processing (step S1)
Details of 9) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this processing, the images are printed in the order of images rearranged for each size with reference to the serial numbers added in the above-described size classification processing.

First, a pointer N for designating an image to be processed is set to 1 (S51). The image data of the image file having the serial number equal to the pointer N and the data related to the image data, such as the print size and the number of prints, are read (S52). The image data is enlarged or reduced so as to be printed at the read print size, and print data is created (S53). Thereafter, the driving of the transport unit (not shown) in the printing unit 430 is started (S54). At this time, the printing paper is pulled out from the roll of the printing paper with the driving of the transport unit. It is determined whether or not the paper has been transported by the print size (S55). When the paper of the print size has been transported, the cutter is driven to cut one sheet of paper (S56). The cut sheet is then conveyed at a constant speed until it is discharged to the discharge tray by the conveying unit. As print papers, L-size and 2L-size papers may be prepared in advance and used.

Thereafter, the process waits until the print print timing is reached (that is, until the leading edge of the paper reaches the print head) (S57), and when the timing is reached, the image data is printed on the cut paper (S57). S5
8). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the image has been printed by the designated number of prints (S59).
If the specified number of prints have not been printed yet, the flow returns to step S55 again, and the above processing (S55 to S55) is performed until printing of the specified number of prints is completed.
59) is repeated.

When the printing of the designated number of prints is completed, it is next determined whether or not the printing has been completed for all the designated images (S60). Is printed, the pointer N is advanced by one (S62), and the process returns to step S52. Then, the above processes (S52 to S60) are repeated until printing of all the designated images is completed.
When the printing of all the designated images is completed, the driving of the transport unit is stopped (S61), and this processing ends. The paper on which the image has been printed is discharged onto a discharge tray. At this time, the paper on which the image has been printed is collected and stacked on the discharge tray by size.

As described above, the image output apparatus according to the present embodiment sorts and sorts images by print size before executing print processing. As a result, since sheets of the same size are printed together, the work load such as sorting when taking out the print sheets is reduced, and problems such as paper breakage when carrying the ejected sheets as they are are also solved. .

The image output apparatus of this embodiment reads out image data to be printed from a recording medium,
N or the like. Further, the above processing can be realized by application software running on an information processing device such as a personal computer, a printer driver managing a print job, and the like. At this time, a print job output from application software, a printer driver, or the like includes print data sorted by print size.

[0056]

According to the present invention, images are rearranged for each print size before executing the print processing. As a result, since sheets of the same size are printed together, the work load such as sorting when taking out the print sheets is reduced, and problems such as folding of the paper when carrying the output sheets are also eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the appearance of an image output apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a panel and a media loading unit of the image output device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image output apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the overall control unit of the image output device.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a screen display when an image to be printed is designated (selected).

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a screen display when designating a print size and the number of prints for an image to be printed.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a print setting table created according to a setting by a user.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a size classification process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print execution processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100 Image processing device 400 Overall control unit 405 Drive device 410 Image data processing unit 412 Memory 414 Image designation unit 440 Hard disk drive

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C087 AB01 BA03 BB03 BC12 BD06 BD40 CA13 CB20 DA17 5B021 BB01 BB10 CC06 KK01 KK02 KK06 5C062 AB11 AB22 AC04 AC24 AF07 AF10 BA00 5C076 AA21 AA22 AA40 BA02 CB02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for printing out a digital image, comprising: an obtaining unit for obtaining an image to be printed out and a print size of the image; and a sorting unit for sorting and sorting the images to be printed out for each print size. An image output apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints out images in a rearranged order. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rearranging unit rearranges the image data in the image data group having the same print size in the order of the file names of the image data.
The image output device as described in the above. 3. A method of printing out a digital image, comprising: obtaining an image to be printed out and a print size of the image; sorting and sorting the images to be printed out by print size; An image output method characterized by sequentially printing out images. 4. An apparatus for printing out a digital image recorded on a recording medium, comprising: recording medium loading means for loading the recording medium; reading means for reading image data from the loaded recording medium; Specify the image to be printed out from inside,
Designating means for designating a print size of the image; sorting means for classifying and sorting the designated images for each designated print size; and printing for printing and outputting the images read in the sorted order. And an image output device.