JP2002086814A - Printer, printing system, and printing data storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of carrying out an optimum printing operation in accordance with a printing state of printing data, a printing system and a printing data storage medium usable in these apparatus and system. SOLUTION: Printing data are stored as printing data files FA-1, FA-2 and FA-3 into a CF card 105, and at the same time, status information corresponding to the printing state of the printing data is stored as a printing data file FB. An operation of printing the printing data is controlled on the basis of the status information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing an image based on print data, a printing system including the printing apparatus, and a print data storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras and an increase in memory capacity, various apparatuses related to image processing have been developed. For example, there is a device which stores a photograph data photographed by a digital camera in a storage medium such as a card type, sets the storage medium in a printer, and prints the photograph data by the printer. In such a system, as a method of designating print data to be printed from a plurality of pieces of photograph data, DPOF (Digital Print Or
der Format) using a standard print specification file. In this case, the digital camera creates a print designation file, stores it in a storage medium, and sets the storage medium in the printer.
Then, the printer prints the designated print data based on the print designation file read from the storage medium.

[0003]

By the way, as a method of designating print data to be printed from a plurality of pieces of photograph data, any one of the methods involves a troublesome designating operation. In particular, in the case of a portable printer, the printing operation may be interrupted due to insufficient power of a power source such as a battery or an unexpected accident. In this case, it is necessary to return the storage medium for the photo data from the printer to the digital camera, and to re-designate the print data to be printed after the print is interrupted, or to re-print the print data including those already printed. was there.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a print data storage medium that can execute an optimum printing operation in accordance with a printing state of print data. .

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for printing an image on the basis of print data, wherein the control means controls a printing operation based on status information corresponding to a printing state of the print data. It is characterized by having.

[0006] A printing system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising the printing device, and means for providing the printing device with the print data and the status information.

[0007] A print data storage medium of the present invention includes a print data storage unit capable of storing print data to be printed, a status information storage unit capable of storing status information corresponding to a print status of the print data,
It is characterized by having.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this specification, "print" (sometimes referred to as "recording") refers to not only the case where significant information such as characters and figures are formed, but also whether a person perceives it visually regardless of significance. Regardless of whether or not it is evident, it refers to a case where an image, a pattern, a pattern, or the like is widely formed on a print medium, or a case where the print medium is processed.

The term "print medium" refers to not only paper used in general printing apparatuses but also inks such as cloth, plastic films, metal plates, glass, ceramics, wood, and leather. In the following, it is also referred to as “paper” or simply “paper”.

In this specification, a "camera" refers to an apparatus or a device that optically captures an image and converts an optical image into an electric signal, and is also referred to as an "imaging unit" in the following description.

Further, "ink" (sometimes referred to as "liquid") is to be interpreted widely as in the definition of "print" described above. , A pattern, etc., processing of a print medium, or ink processing (for example, solidification or insolubilization of a coloring material in ink applied to the print medium).

One form of the head in which the present invention is effectively used is a form in which film boiling occurs in a liquid using thermal energy generated by an electrothermal transducer to form bubbles.

"Basic Configuration" First, the basic configuration of the apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. An apparatus described in this example includes an imaging unit (hereinafter, also referred to as a “camera unit”) that optically captures an image and converts it into an electrical signal, and an image that records an image based on the captured electrical signal. Recording unit (hereinafter,
(Also referred to as a “printer unit”). Hereinafter, the information processing apparatus described in this example will be described as a “camera with a built-in printer”.

In the apparatus main unit A001, the camera unit A
A printer unit (recording device unit) B100 is integrated with the back side of the unit 100. The printer unit B100 records an image using ink and a print medium supplied from the media pack C100. In this configuration, the device body A
As is clear from FIG. 5 when the exterior is removed from the outer side of FIG. 5, the media pack C100 is inserted into the right side of the apparatus main body A001 in the figure, and the printer unit B100 is inserted into the left side of the apparatus main body A001 in the figure. Is arranged. When recording is performed by the printer unit B100, the camera unit A1
The position of the apparatus main body A001 can be set so that the liquid crystal display unit A105 described later at 00 is located above and the lens A101 is located below. In this printing position, a printing head B120 described later in the printer unit B100 is used.
Is in a posture of discharging ink downward. The recording posture may be the same posture as the posture in the shooting state by the camera unit A100, and is not limited to the above-described recording posture. From the viewpoint of the stability of the printing operation, the printing position in which the ink is ejected downward is preferable.

In the following, the mechanical basic configuration of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described by dividing it into A "camera unit", B "media pack", and C "printer unit". Will be described as D “signal processing system”.

A "Camera Unit" The camera unit A100 basically constitutes a general digital camera, and includes a printer unit B10 described later.
The digital camera with a built-in printer as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 1 to 3, A101 is a lens, A102 is a finder, A1
02a is a finder window, A103 is a flash, A10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a release button, and A105 denotes a liquid crystal display unit (external display unit). As will be described later, the camera unit A100
Processing of data captured using CD, Compact Flash (registered trademark) memory card (CF card) A107
It stores images in the printer unit, displays the images, and exchanges various data with the printer unit B100. A discharge unit A109 discharges a print medium C104 on which an image has been recorded when the photographed image is recorded on a print medium C104 described below. A108 shown in FIG. 5 is a battery as a power source for the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100.

B "Media Pack" The media pack C100 is detachable from the apparatus main body A001, and in this case, is inserted from the insertion portion A002 of the apparatus main body A001 (see FIG. 3) to thereby obtain the media pack C100 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. The insertion portion A002 is closed as shown in FIG. 3 when the media pack C100 is not mounted, and is opened when the media pack C100 is mounted. FIG. 5 shows the media pack C100.
Shows a state in which the exterior has been removed from the apparatus main body A001 to which is attached. Pack body C101 of media pack C100
As shown in FIG. 4, a shutter C102 is provided so as to be slidable in the direction of arrow D. Shutter C102
When the media pack C100 is not mounted on the apparatus main body A001, it slides to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
When it is attached to the position 1, it slides to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG.

The ink pack C is provided in the pack body C101.
103 and a print medium C104 are accommodated. FIG.
In the ink pack C103, the print medium C1
04. In the case of this example, ink pack C
Three 103s are provided so as to individually accommodate Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) inks, and about 20 print media C104 are accommodated in an overlapping manner. Those inks and print medium C104
Means that the best combination for image recording was selected,
They are housed in the same media pack C100. Therefore, various media packs C100 (for example, media packs for ultra-high image quality, normal image quality, seals (split seals), etc.) having different combinations of ink and print medium are prepared, and the images to be recorded are prepared. These media packs C100 are selectively loaded into the apparatus main assembly A0 in accordance with the type and use of the print medium on which the image is formed.
By mounting the ink cartridge on the print medium 01, an image suitable for the purpose can be reliably recorded using the optimal combination of ink and print medium. Further, the media pack C100 is provided with an EEPROM (identification IC) to be described later, and the EEPROM stores identification data such as ink contained in the media pack and the type and remaining amount of the print medium.

When the media pack C100 is mounted on the main assembly A001 of the apparatus, the ink pack C103 has Y,
Through three joints C105 corresponding to the M and C inks, respectively, it is connected to an ink supply system of the apparatus main body A001 described later. On the other hand, the print medium C104
Are separated one by one by a separation mechanism (not shown), and are then sent out in the direction of arrow C by a feed roller C110 (see FIG. 9) described later. The driving force of the paper feed roller C110 is supplied from a transport motor M002 (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, provided on the apparatus main assembly A001 side, via a connecting portion C110a.

The pack body C101 is provided with a wiper C106 for wiping a recording head of a printer section described later and an ink absorber C107 for absorbing waste ink discharged from the printer section. ing. The recording head in the printer section reciprocates in the main scanning direction indicated by arrow A as described later. When the media pack C100 is detached from the apparatus main body A001, the shutter C102 slides to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, and the joint C105, the wiper C106,
And protect the ink absorber C107 and the like.

C "Printer Unit" The printer unit B100 of this example is a serial type using an ink jet recording head. This printer section B1
00 will be described separately for C-1 "print operation unit", C-2 "print medium transport system", and C-3 "ink supply system".

C-1 "Print Operation Unit" FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire printer unit B100, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer unit B100 with a part thereof removed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the leading end of the media pack C100 mounted on the apparatus main body A001 is located at a fixed position inside the main body of the printer section B100. The print medium C104 sent out from the media pack C100 in the direction of arrow C is transmitted to
While being sandwiched between the F roller B101 and the LF pinch roller B102, the sheet is conveyed on the platen B103 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow B. A carriage B104 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A along the guide shaft B105 and the lead screw B106.

On the carriage B104, as shown in FIG.
A bearing B107 for the guide shaft B105 and a bearing B108 for the lead screw B106 are provided. At a fixed position of the carriage B104, as shown in FIG. 7, a screw pin B109 protruding inside the bearing B108 is attached by a spring B110. Then, the tip of the screw pin B109 fits into the spiral groove formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lead screw B106, so that the rotation of the lead screw B106 is converted into the reciprocating movement of the carriage B104.

The carriage B104 has Y, M,
Ink jet recording head B1 capable of discharging C ink
20 and a sub-tank (not shown) for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head B120. The recording head B120 is formed with a plurality of ink ejection ports B121 (see FIG. 8) arranged in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction of the arrow A (in this example, orthogonal to the main scanning direction). The ink discharge port B121 forms a nozzle capable of discharging ink supplied from the sub tank. As a means for generating energy for ejecting ink, an electrothermal converter provided for each nozzle can be used. The electrothermal transducer generates bubbles in the ink in the nozzles by being driven to generate heat, and discharges ink droplets from the ink discharge port B121 by the bubbling energy.

The sub-tank has a smaller capacity than the ink pack C103 stored in the media pack C100, and has a size that stores at least an amount of ink necessary for recording an image of one print medium C104.
In the sub-tank, an ink supply portion and a negative pressure introduction portion are formed in the ink storage portions for each of the Y, M, and C inks, and these ink supply portions are individually provided to the corresponding three hollow needles B122. The negative pressure introduction sections are connected to a common supply air port B123. In such a sub-tank, as described later,
When the carriage B104 moves to the home position as shown in FIG. 6, ink is supplied from the ink pack C103 of the media pack C100.

In the carriage B104 shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 24 denotes a needle cover. When the needle B122 and the joint C105 are not connected to each other, the needle cover 122 is moved to a position for protecting the needle B122 by the force of the spring as shown in FIG. When connecting, the needle B122 is pushed upward in the figure against the force of the spring to release the protection of the needle B122. The moving position of the carriage B104 is the carriage B1.
04 encoder sensor B131 and printer unit B1
00 linear scale B132 on the main body side (see FIG. 6)
And is detected by. The movement of the carriage B104 to the home position indicates that the carriage B10 has moved.
The HP (home position) flag B133 on the fourth side and the HP sensor B134 (FIG.
See).

In FIG. 7, at both ends of the guide shaft B105, support shafts (not shown) are provided at positions eccentric from the center axis. The position of the carriage 104 is adjusted by rotating and adjusting the guide shaft B105 about its support shaft, so that the recording head B120 and the platen B
The distance between the print medium 103 and the print medium C 104 (also referred to as “paper distance”) is adjusted. The lead screw B106 is driven to rotate by a carriage motor M001 via a screw gear B141, an idler gear B142, and a motor gear B143. Also,
B150 is a flexible cable for electrically connecting a control system described below and the recording head B120.

The recording head B120 includes a carriage B10
By ejecting ink from the ink ejection port B121 in accordance with the image signal while moving in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow A together with 4, the image for one line is recorded on the print medium on the platen B103. By repeating such a recording operation for one line by the recording head B120 and a conveyance operation of a predetermined amount of the print medium in the sub-scanning direction of an arrow B by a print medium conveyance system described later, images are sequentially printed on the print medium. Record

C-2 "Print Medium Transport System" FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the components of the print medium transport system in the printer section B100. In FIG. 9, B201
Denotes a pair of discharge rollers, and one of the upper discharge rollers B201 in the figure includes a discharge roller gear B202 and a relay gear B2.
03, and is driven by the transport motor M002.
Similarly, the above-described LF roller B101 is connected to the transport motor M via the LF roller gear B204 and the relay gear B203.
002. The discharge roller B201 and the LF roller B101 convey the print medium C104 in the sub-scanning direction indicated by the arrow B by the driving force of the conveyance motor M002 at the time of normal rotation.

On the other hand, when the transport motor M002 rotates in the reverse direction, the switching slider B211 and the switching cam B2
The pressure plate head B 213 and a lock mechanism (not shown) are driven through the drive unit 12, and a driving force is transmitted to the paper feed roller C 110 on the side of the media pack C 100. That is,
The pressure plate head B 213 is driven by the driving force of the transport motor M002 during the reverse rotation, passes through the window C102A of the shutter C102 of the media pack C100 (see FIG. 4), and print media C integrated in the media pack C100.
104 is pressed downward in FIG. As a result, the print medium C104 at the lowermost position in FIG.
The sheet 100 is pressed on the sheet feeding roller C110 in the sheet 100. A lock mechanism (not shown) locks the media pack C100 with respect to the apparatus main body A001 by the driving force of the transport motor M002 at the time of reverse rotation, and
0 removal is prohibited. Media pack C10
The zero-side paper feed roller C110 carries out one print medium C104 at the lowermost position in FIG. 4 in the direction of arrow C by transmitting the driving force at the time of reverse rotation of the transport motor M002.

As described above, when the transport motor M002 rotates in the reverse direction, only one print medium C104 is taken out from the media pack C100 in the direction of the arrow C. Thereafter, when the transport motor M002 rotates forward, the print medium C104 is rotated. Is transported in the direction of arrow B.

C-3 "Ink Supply System" FIG. 10 is a perspective view of components of the ink supply system in the printer unit B100, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the media pack C100 is mounted on the components of the ink supply system. It is a top view.

The joint C105 of the media pack C100 mounted on the printer unit B100 is connected to the needle B12 on the side of the carriage B104 moved to the home position.
2 (see FIG. 8). The main body of the printer unit B100 is provided with a joint fork B301 (see FIG. 10) located below the joint C105, and the joint fork B301 is connected to the joint C1.
By moving 05 upward, the joint C105 is connected to the needle B122. This forms an ink supply path between the ink pack C103 on the media pack C100 side and the ink supply unit of the sub tank on the carriage B104 side. A carriage B10 moved to the home position is provided on the main body of the printer unit B100.
A supply joint B302 is provided below the fourth supply air port B123 (see FIG. 8). This supply joint B302 is provided via a supply tube B303.
It is connected to a pump cylinder B304 of a pump as a negative pressure source. The supply joint B302 is connected to the supply air port B123 on the carriage B104 side by being moved up by the joint lifter B305. Thus, a negative pressure introducing path is formed between the negative pressure introducing portion of the sub tank on the side of the carriage B104 and the pump cylinder B304. The joint lifter B305 moves the joint fork B301 up and down together with the supply joint B302 by the driving force of the joint motor M003.

The negative pressure introducing portion of the sub tank is provided with a gas-liquid separating member (not shown) that allows the passage of air and prevents the passage of ink. The gas-liquid separation member allows the air in the sub-tank to be sucked through the negative pressure introduction passage, thereby supplying ink from the media pack C100 to the sub-tank. When the ink in the sub-tank reaches the gas-liquid separation member, when the ink is sufficiently replenished, the gas-liquid separation member stops the passage of the ink, so that the ink supply is automatically stopped. The gas-liquid separation member is provided in an ink supply unit in an ink storage portion for each ink in the sub tank, and automatically stops replenishing ink for each of those ink storage portions.

The main body of the printer unit B100 is provided with a suction cap B310 capable of capping the recording head B120 (see FIG. 8) on the carriage B104 moved to the home position. The suction cap B310 has a suction tube B311 inside.
, A negative pressure is introduced from the pump cylinder B304 through the ink discharge port B1 of the recording head B120.
The ink can be sucked and discharged (suction recovery processing) from the ink cartridge 21. The recording head B120 also removes ink that does not contribute to image recording, if necessary, with a suction cap B3.
10 (preliminary discharge processing). Suction cap B
The ink in the ink cartridge C107 in the media pack C110 flows from the pump cylinder B304 through the waste liquid tube B312 and the waste liquid joint B313.
Is discharged.

The pump cylinder B304 constitutes a pump unit B315 together with a pump motor M004 for reciprocating the pump cylinder B304. Pump motor M004 is
It also functions as a drive source for moving the wiper lifter B316 (see FIG. 10) up and down. Wiper lifter B31
No. 6 moves the wiper C106 to a position where the recording head B120 can be wiped by moving the wiper C106 of the media pack C100 mounted on the printer unit B100 upward.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, B321
Is a pump HP sensor for detecting that the operating position of the pump constituted by the pump cylinder B 304 is at the home position. A joint HP sensor B322 detects that the ink supply path and the negative pressure introduction path described above have been formed. B323 is a chassis that forms the main body of the printer unit B100.

D "Signal Processing System" FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100.

In the camera section A100, 101 is a CCD as an image sensor, 102 is a microphone for voice input, 103 is an ASIC for performing hardware processing, 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes a first memory for temporarily storing image data and the like;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a CF card (“CF card A1
07), an LCD (corresponding to the “liquid crystal display unit A105”) for displaying a captured image or a reproduced image, and 120
Is a first CPU for controlling the camera unit A100.

In the printer section B100, 210 is
An interface 201 between the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100, an image processing unit 201 (2 for binarizing an image)
202, a second memory used for performing image processing; 203, a band memory control unit;
4 is a band memory, 205 is a mask memory, 206 is a head controller, and 207 is a printhead (“printhead B12
0), 208 is an encoder (corresponding to “encoder sensor B131”), 209 is an encoder counter, 2
Reference numeral 20 denotes a second CPU for controlling the printer unit B100;
1 is a motor driver, 222 is a motor (“motor M00
1, M002, M003, M004 ") 223
Is a sensor ("HP sensors B134, B321, B322").
224, an EEPROM built in the media pack C100, 230, an audio encoder unit, 25
0 is a power supply unit ("Battery A108") for supplying power to the entire apparatus.
).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the camera unit A100. In the shooting mode, the lens 107
The image captured by the CCD 101 through the
Signal processing (CCD signal processing) by C103
It is converted into a V luminance two-color difference signal. Further, the image data is resized to a predetermined resolution, JPEG-compressed, and recorded on the CF card 105. The voice is input from the microphone 102 and stored in the CF card 105 via the ASIC 103. Regarding the recording of the sound, it can be stored at the same time as the shooting or as a post-recording after the shooting. In the playback mode, the JPE
The G image is read out, JPEG-decompressed by the ASIC 103, and further resized to the display resolution.
06 is displayed.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the printer section B100.

The image reproduced on the camera unit A100 side, that is, the image read from the CF card 105, is JPEG expanded by the ASIC 103 and resized to a resolution suitable for the printing resolution as shown in FIG. Then, the resized image data (YUV) is sent to the printer unit B100 via the interface unit 210. As shown in FIG. 14, the printer unit B100 performs image processing on the image data sent from the camera unit A100 using the image processing unit 201, converts the image data into RGB signals, performs input γ correction according to the characteristics of the camera, and looks Color correction and color conversion using an up table (LUT), and conversion into a binary signal for printing. At the time of the binarization process, the second memory 202 is used as an error memory in order to perform an error diffusion (ED) process. In the case of this example, the binarization processing unit in the image processing unit 201 performs an error diffusion process, but other processes such as a binarization process using a dither pattern may be performed. The binarized print data is temporarily stored in the band memory 204 by the band memory control unit 203. An encoder pulse from the encoder 208 is input to the encoder counter 209 of the printer unit B100 every time the carriage B104 on which the recording head 207 and the encoder 208 are mounted moves a predetermined distance. Then, in synchronization with the encoder pulse, print data is read from the band memory 204 and the mask memory 205, and based on the print data, the head control unit 206 controls the print head 207 to perform printing.

The band memory control in FIG. 14 will be described as follows.

The plurality of nozzles in the recording head 207 are formed in rows so as to have a density of, for example, 1200 dpi. When the carriage is scanned once in order to print an image using such a recording head 207, the number of nozzles in the sub-scanning direction (hereinafter, also referred to as “vertical (Y direction)”) is equal to the number of nozzles in the main scanning direction (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical (Y direction)”). , "Horizontal (X direction)
In this case, it is necessary to create print data for the print area (print data for one scan) in advance.
After the recording data is created by the image processing unit 201,
Band memory 204 by band memory control unit 203
Is stored once. After one scan of print data is stored in the band memory 204, the carriage is scanned in the main scanning direction. At this time, encoder pulses input from the encoder 208 are counted by the encoder counter 209, print data is read from the band memory 204 according to the encoder pulses, and ink droplets are ejected from the print head 207 based on the image data. You. When the bidirectional printing method of printing an image (forward printing and backward printing) at the time of forward scan and backward scan of the print head 207 is adopted, image data is transferred from the band memory 204 according to the scan direction of the print head 207. Is read. For example, at the time of forward pass recording, the address of the image data read from the band memory 204 is sequentially incremented, and at the time of backward pass recording, the address of the image data read from the band memory 204 is sequentially decremented.

Actually, when the image data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing unit 201 is written into the band memory 204 and one band of image data is prepared, the scanning of the recording head 207 is performed. Becomes possible. Then, the recording head 207 is scanned, image data is read from the band memory 204, and the recording head 207 records an image based on the image data. During the recording operation, image data to be recorded next is created in the image processing unit 201,
The image data is written to an area of the band memory 204 corresponding to the recording position.

As described above, the band memory control is performed for the recording data (C, M, Y) created by the image processing unit 201.
Is written in the band memory 204 and the operation of reading out the print data (C, M, Y) to be sent to the head control unit 206 in accordance with the scanning operation of the carriage is performed while switching.

The mask memory control in FIG. 14 will be described as follows.

This mask memory control is required when the multi-pass printing method is adopted. In the case of the multi-pass printing method, a print image for one row having a width corresponding to the length of the nozzle row of the print head 207 is printed by dividing the print head 207 into a plurality of scans. That is, the transport amount of the print medium that is transported intermittently in the sub-scanning direction is set to 1 / N of the length of the nozzle row. For example, when N = 2, one row of the recorded image is scanned twice. (N-pass printing), and when N = 4, a print image for one line is printed in four scans (4-pass printing). Similarly, when N = 8, 8-pass printing is performed, and when N = 16, 16-pass printing is performed. Therefore, the recording image for one line is recorded by the recording head 207.
Is completed by multiple scans.

Actually, the mask memory 205 stores mask data for allocating image data to a plurality of scans of the print head 207. The mask data and the logical product (AND) data of the image data are stored in the mask memory 205. Then, the recording head 207 ejects ink to record an image.

In FIG. 14, the CF card 105
Are sent to the printer unit B100 via the interface 210 by the ASIC 102 in the same manner as the image data. Printer section B100
Is encoded (encoded) by the audio encoder 230 and recorded as code data in an image to be printed. When it is not necessary to add audio data to a print image, or when printing an image without audio data, naturally, coded audio data is not printed and only the image is printed.

In this embodiment, the description has been given of a camera with a built-in printer in which the camera unit A100 and the printer unit B100 are integrated. However, the camera unit A100
And the printer unit B100 can be separated into separate devices, and the same configuration can be realized in a configuration in which they are connected by the interface 210, and the same function can be realized.

[Characteristic Configuration] Hereinafter, embodiments of the characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 15, it is assumed that printing is performed using a printing apparatus 300 different from the above-described camera with a built-in printer. As described above, the CF card 105 includes the camera unit A of the camera with a built-in printer.
100 stores the image data. The image data includes data of an image captured by the camera unit A100. The printing apparatus 300 sets the CF card 1 by setting the CF card 105.
05 can be printed. Similarly, instead of the printing apparatus 300, using the printer unit B100 of the above-described camera with a built-in printer,
The image data stored in the F card 105 can be printed.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a data storage mode in the CF card 105 as print data storage means. Image data to be printed (hereinafter referred to as “print data”) IMG is stored in the CF card 105 as a print data file. In the case of this example, three print data IMG1, IMG2, IMG
3 is a print data file FA-1. FA-2, FA
-3 is stored. Further, the CF card 105
Includes a print data file FA-1. FA-2, F
A-3 print status information (STAT
E) is stored as the print status file FB. The print status information is as shown in FIG.
This is print information relating to each of the print data IMG1, IMG2, and IMG3, and includes three types: "DONE", which means complete printing; "ING", which means printing is in progress; and "NOT", which means that printing is not performed.

File FA (FA-1.FA-2, FA
-3) and FB are, for example, DPOF (Digital Prin
t Order Format) to create a standard print specification file. Thereby, data compatibility is maintained between the camera unit A110 and another device including the printing apparatus 300.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the process of creating the print status file FB in the camera unit A100 of the camera with a built-in printer. The camera unit A100 has a print data file FA.
-1. A print status file FB is created before and after creation of FA-2 and FA-3. At that time, the camera unit A
In step S1 of FIG. 18, 100 writes "NOT" indicating that printing has not been performed as all status information of the print data IMG1, IMG2, and IMG3.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining print execution processing in the printing apparatus 300. The printing apparatus 300 performs the print processing (step S
13), the print data file FA-1. F
A-2, FA-3 print data IMG1, IMG
2, IMG3 is printed in a predetermined order.
That is, the print data file FA-1. FA-2,
FA-3 is to be printed in a predetermined order. At the time of the print processing, status information of a print file to be printed is read out from the print status file FB and referenced (step S1).
1). Then, the status information of the print file is changed to "ING" (step S12), and then the print file to be printed is printed (step S13). Then, after printing the print file to be printed (step S13), the status information of the print file is changed to "DONE" (step S14). Then, the print data file FA-1. The processing of steps S11 to S14 is repeated for all of FA-2 and FA-3 (step S1
5) Then, the print execution process ends.

For example, when the content of the file FB is as shown in FIG. 17, the printing of the print data file FA-1 is completed, the print file FA-2 is being printed, and the print data file FA-3 is still being printed. Means being in a situation that has not been done. If the printing process of the printing device 300 is interrupted in this situation, the file FB
See and take action. That is, the print file FA
If there is a file being printed like -2,
On the condition that the fact is displayed or that the printing apparatus 300 has recovered to a printable state, the print processing from the print file FA-2 that was in the middle of printing is executed. That is, the print liles FA-2 and FA-3
Print Also, by removing the CF card 105 from the printing device 300 where the printing process has been interrupted and setting it in another printing device,
It is also possible to execute print processing from a print file that was being printed. Also, the printing device 300
When the image data stored in the CF card 105 is printed by using the printer unit B100 of the camera with a built-in printer instead of the printer unit B10,
0 can be handled in the same manner as the printing apparatus 300.

(Other Embodiments) The status information may be stored as a file as a print status file as in the above-described embodiment, or may be stored in the CF card 105 as attribute data of the print file. Further, as a medium for storing such data, CF card 10
5, various media can be used. For example, as the medium, not only a removable medium such as the CF card 105 but also a storage device unique to the printing apparatus can be used if there is room. In that case, data may be written to the storage device from another device.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the printing operation is controlled based on the status information corresponding to the printing status of the print data, the optimum printing operation corresponding to the printing status of the print data is executed. be able to. For example, when the printing operation is restarted, the optimum printing operation can be smoothly performed by setting the printing data that has not been printed as the printing target without the printing data of the printing completed as the printing target.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a camera with a built-in printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a media pack that can be mounted on the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an arrangement relationship of main components inside the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the printer shown in FIG. 6 with a part removed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a carriage in the printer unit of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of components of a print medium transport system in the printer unit of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of components of an ink supply system in the printer unit of FIG.

11 is a plan view when a media pack is mounted on a component of the ink supply system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a camera unit and a printer unit in the camera of FIG. 1;

13 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the camera unit in FIG.

14 is an explanatory diagram of signal processing in the printer unit of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a CF for explaining a characteristic configuration of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a card and a printing device.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a data storage mode in the CF card of FIG. 15;

17 is an explanatory diagram of a print status file in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a print status file creation process of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a print execution process using the CF card in FIG. 15;

[Explanation of symbols]

A001 Main unit A002 Insertion section A100 Camera section A101 Lens A102 Viewfinder A102a Viewfinder window A103 Strobe A104 Release button A105 Liquid crystal display section (external display section) A107 Compact flash memory card (CF card) A108 Battery A109 Ejection section B100 Printer section (recording device) Part) B101 LF roller B102 LF pinch roller B103 Platen B104 Carriage B105 Guide shaft B106 Lead screw B107 Bearing B108 Bearing B109 Screw pin B110 Spring B120 Recording head B121 Ink ejection port B122 Needle B123 Supply air port B124 Needle cover needle 132 B133 HP flag 134 HP sensor B141 Screw gear B142 Idler gear B143 Motor gear B150 Flexible cable B201 Discharge roller B202 Discharge roller gear B203 Relay gear B204 LF roller gear B211 Switching slider B212 Switching cam B213 Pressure plate head B301 Joint fork B302 Supply joint B304 Pump tube Lifter B310 Suction cap B311 Suction tube B312 Waste liquid tube B313 Waste liquid joint B315 Pump unit B316 Wiper lifter B321 Pump HP sensor B322 Joint HP sensor B323 Chassis C100 Media pack C101 Pack body C102 Shutter C102A Window C 103 Ink pack C104 Print medium C105 Joint C106 Wiper C107 Ink absorber C110 Feeding roller C110a Connecting part M001 Carriage motor M002 Transport motor M003 Joint motor M004 Pump motor 101 CCD 102 Microphone 103 ASIC 104 First memory 105 CF card (CF card) A107 ”) 106 LCD (corresponding to“ Liquid crystal display unit A105 ”) 107 Lens 120 First CPU 201 Image processing unit 202 Second memory 203 Band memory control unit 204 Band memory 205 Mask memory 206 Head control unit 207 Recording head (“ 208 Encoder (equivalent to “encoder sensor B131”) 209 Encoder counter 210 Centers face 220 a 2-CPU 221 motor driver 222 a motor ( "motor M001, M002, M00
223 sensor (“HP sensor B134, B321, B
322 ") 224 EEPROM 230 Voice encoder unit 250 Power supply unit (corresponding to" battery A108 ") 300 Printing device FA-1, FA-2, FA-3 Print data file FB Print status file

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Horii 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenichi Inatomi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Toshiya Kondo 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2C087 AC07 BA03 BA07 BA14 BC01 BD53 CB05 2C187 AC08 HA33 5B021 NN19 NN21 5C052 AA11 AA17 FA02 FA03 FA04 FB01 FB05 FC00 FE04 5C053 FA04 FA08 FA27 JA30 KA24 KA30 LA01 LA03 LA20

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for printing an image on the basis of print data, comprising: control means for controlling a printing operation based on status information corresponding to a printing state of the print data. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status information is information according to a progress of printing the print data. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status information indicates a status of completion of printing of the print data and a status during printing. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when resuming a printing operation, the control unit detects print data for which printing has not been completed from the status information, and causes the print data for which printing has not been completed to be printed. 4. The printing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 3, 5. The control unit controls a printing operation so that the printing data is printed in a predetermined order, and when the printing operation is restarted, the printing unit detects unfinished printing data from the status information. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein printing is performed in accordance with the predetermined order from print data whose printing has not been completed. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that updates the status information in accordance with a print status of the print data. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data and the status information are stored in association with a print data storage medium. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the print data storage medium is removable from a main body of the printing apparatus. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an imaging unit capable of acquiring the print data, wherein the printing apparatus includes an imaging unit. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is driven by a battery. 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is printed using an ink jet recording head capable of discharging ink. 12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the ink jet recording head has an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy as energy for discharging ink. 13. A printing system comprising: the printing apparatus according to claim 1; and means for providing the printing data and the status information to the printing apparatus. 14. A print data storage device comprising: a print data storage unit capable of storing print data to be printed; and a status information storage unit capable of storing status information according to a print status of the print data. Storage medium.