JP2002137499A - Apparatus and method for imaging, apparatus and method for printing, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for imaging, an apparatus and a method for printing and a storage medium by which users can easily select and print desired images from a plurality of images as printing objects. SOLUTION: Reduced images 41 are printed in a list on the basis of obtained image data. At this time, mark fill-out sections 42 are printed near the reduced images. The user fills out marks to the mark fill-out sections 42 near the reduced images desired to be normally printed, inserts the sheet to a printer paper feed opening and presses a mark read button. A printer reads out image data corresponding to the marks again and normally prints the image data when detecting that the user presses a printing start button after reading the filled out marks.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image fetched by an information processing device such as a personal computer is output to a printer, it is usually used.
While checking desired images one by one on the display of a personal computer, a print command is issued to an image forming apparatus such as a printer connected to the information processing apparatus. On the other hand, there is a printer that directly captures an image recorded by an image recording device such as a digital camera from an image recording device without using an information processing device and prints the image. Examples of this are a single operation type in which an operation panel provided in the printer main body is operated to input an ID number of a desired image one by one to select an image, or a single operation type in which the image is connected to a home television and displayed on a television screen. And a printer of a TV connection type which displays an image to be printed and selects an image to be printed while viewing the image.

[0003]

However, the capacity of storage media for recording images has been increasing, and, for example, a single storage medium loaded in one digital camera and the number of images to be recorded is several Some hundred pieces have also appeared. With the increase in the capacity of such a storage medium, the number of images to be printed becomes large, and a complicated procedure is required to print a desired image. For example, the television connection type has a drawback that it takes a long time because an image is selected by operating a remote controller or buttons while watching the screen of the television. Even a single-operation type printer that simply inputs an ID number with a button operation alone has a similar problem in that the operation becomes more complicated as the number of prints increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is an image forming apparatus which allows a user to easily select and print a desired image from a plurality of images to be printed. Device, image forming method, printing device,
It is an object to provide a printing method and a storage medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus capable of easily and clearly charging a user who easily selects and prints a desired image from a plurality of images to be printed. It is an object to provide a forming method, a printing device, a printing method, and a storage medium.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises: image data acquiring means for acquiring image data; and a reduced image for providing a reduced image to a user based on the image data. Providing means, a command obtaining means for obtaining a user's normal image print command for the reduced image provided by the reduced image providing means, and an image on a recording material based on the command obtained by the command obtaining means. And an image forming means for forming.

[0007] The image data acquiring means is a recording medium reading means for reading image data stored in a storage medium.

[0008] The reduced image providing means includes print data generating means for generating print data for printing the reduced image, and the image forming means stores the reduced image on a recording material based on the print data. It is characterized by forming.

The print data is data for arranging and printing a plurality of the reduced images.

[0010] The command acquisition means selects reading means for reading additional information added by a user on the recording material on which the reduced image is formed, and selects an image to be formed on the recording material based on the additional information. And selecting means for performing the selection.

The reading means is provided at a predetermined position on the recording material.
It is characterized by reading the mark written by the user.

The recording material on which the reduced image is formed has a mark writing section for writing the mark.

The image forming means records page information on the recording material, and the command obtaining means includes means for reading the page information.

The image forming means may form, after the reading means has read the additional information, an image indicating the number of images for which normal printing has been instructed on the recording material on which the reduced image has been formed. Features.

[0015] The image forming apparatus further comprises a charge calculating means for calculating a charge required by the user for performing the normal printing based on the number of the images. Is recorded on the recording material.

[0016] It is characterized by further comprising a charge setting means for setting the charge per normal printing sheet.

To achieve the above object, a method according to the present invention comprises an image data obtaining step of obtaining image data; a reduced image providing step of providing a reduced image to a user based on the image data; A command acquisition step of acquiring a user's normal image printing command for the reduced image provided by the image providing step; and an image forming step of forming an image on a recording material based on the command acquired in the command acquisition step. , Is characterized by having.

[0018]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the relative arrangement of components described in this embodiment, formulas, numerical values, etc., unless otherwise specified,
It is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to them.

(First Embodiment) (Overview) A printer as a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses an image data read from a storage medium to store the image data in the storage medium. The image is reduced-printed on a recording material. Further, a print command for printing the reduced image in the normal size is obtained from the user, and an image of the normal size is printed based on the command.

In this embodiment, a mark sheet is used as a method for acquiring a print command from a user. That is,
View the recording material on which the image has been reduced and printed on the mark sheet,
The user reads a mark written on a recording material as a print command from the user, and prints an image corresponding to the mark in a normal size.

Here, the storage medium includes a semiconductor memory such as a smart media (registered trademark) and a memory stick (registered trademark).

(Specific Configuration) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a printer as a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The printing method of this printer is
A known inkjet method is used.

In FIG. 1, the printer includes a control unit 1 for controlling the entire printer in a housing thereof, a printing unit 2 for recording a visible image on a recording material such as recording paper based on print data, and a recording material. Transport unit 3 for transporting
Medium reading unit 24 that reads out image data stored in memory
A print data generation unit 6 for generating print data based on image data read from a storage medium; an image recognition unit 11 for reading and recognizing an image printed on a recording material; and a user instructing a printer to operate. And a mark detection unit 7 for detecting a mark at a specific position on the conveyed print medium.

In FIG. 1, components normally provided in the ink jet printer, for example, a Centronics parallel interface unit which is an interface for receiving image data from a host system, a paper supply / discharge mechanism unit, a power supply unit, and the like are omitted. I have.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the present printer as viewed from the paper feed cassette side, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the present printer as viewed from the discharge tray side. In the housing 20, there are provided a cassette 21 in which special paper serving as a reduced image list is loaded and a manual paper feed port 22. Further, a cassette 23 capable of loading photographic quality inkjet paper is also provided. In the case of the present embodiment, a roll paper cartridge loaded with cassette roll paper is provided as the cassette 23. In addition, a storage medium reading unit 24 for reading image data stored in the storage medium 8 is provided on the front surface of the main body. Further, a paper discharge tray 25 for discharging the recording paper on which printing has been completed is provided. Further, a mark reading execution button 26 and an image printing execution button 27 are provided as the operation unit 4 as buttons for the user to operate the printer.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the configuration of the mark detecting section 7, and is a view of the recording paper conveyed in the direction of the arrow as viewed from the vertical recording surface side in the printing section. 30 is a carriage, 36 is a recording head, 32
And 34 are paper feed rollers and 31 is a paper press roller.
The carriage 30 reciprocates left and right along the carriage roller 33 in the figure, and the paper feed roller 32 and the paper pressing roller 3
Ink is ejected to the recording paper between the two.

Between the two paper feed rollers 32 and 34, three optical sensors 35 for detecting marks are provided. The number of sensors is a number corresponding to the number of images in the horizontal direction of the image reduction list. That is, as shown in this figure, in a printer provided with three sensors, only three rows or less of reduced images can be formed on recording paper. Here, three sensors are provided, but the number of sensors may be one, two, or four or more as long as it corresponds to the number of reduced images to be simultaneously recorded on recording paper.

Further, an optical sensor 37 for recognizing printed page information is provided. In the present embodiment,
As an example of an image indicating page information, a barcode is used from the viewpoint of ease of identification and cost.

A description will now be given, with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, of how a desired image can be printed from a storage medium on which a digital image is recorded by the present printer having the above-described configuration easily and at high speed.
It should be noted that a program related to processing realized by the printer according to this flowchart is stored in the memory of the printer and executed by the CPU of the printer.

First, in step S100, the user inserts the storage medium 20 recorded by a digital camera or the like into the storage medium reading unit 24. The printer detects the insertion of the storage medium and automatically reads the image data sequentially from the storage medium 20 (step S110). The plurality of read image data are sent to the print data generation unit 6, and are converted into print data representing a reduced image list in which a plurality of small-sized images are arranged (step S120). The print data is sent to the printing unit 2, and is printed as a reduced image list by the control unit 1 controlling the transport unit 3 and the like in addition to the printing unit 2 (step S130). Is performed (step S140). Here, the control unit 1 controls the transport unit 3 so that the recording paper for the reduced image list on which the mark is printed in advance is transported to the printing unit. here,
The recording paper is transported from the cassette 21 in FIG.

In step S150, it is determined whether or not all the images have been reduced and printed. If the reduced image list covers a plurality of pages and an unprinted image has been read from the storage medium, the process proceeds to step S150. Returning to S130, the reduced images of all the images are printed.

FIG. 4 shows an output example of the reduced image list. In FIG. 4, all the rectangular portions indicated by oblique lines are reduced images 41.
It is. A mark entry field 42 (vertical rectangle in the figure) is automatically printed beside each reduced image 41 (left side in the figure). Further, the scanning start mark 43 and the scanning end mark 4
4 is automatically printed at a predetermined position. A dedicated paper for a reduced image list, in which a mark entry field 42, a scan start mark 43, and a scan end mark 44 are printed in a predetermined position in advance, is loaded into the cassette 21, and the reduced image is printed on the dedicated paper. May be.

Further, in order to correspond to a reduced image list covering a plurality of pages, a barcode image 45 is automatically printed. This bar code 45 indicates the page number of the reduced image list. The print data representing these marks and the barcode image is stored in advance in the printer.
It is stored in a storage unit (not shown) such as an OM.

The user enters a mark indicating a desired image to be printed in the mark entry field 42 with a pencil or a pen or the like on the printed reduced image list after the printing is completed (step S160). Hereinafter, the reduced image list with the marking is referred to as an “image selection sheet”. FIG. 5 shows an example of the image selection sheet. In FIG. 5, 11 images are selected from the 18 images.

In step S170, the user sets the image selection sheet in the manual feed slot 22 again.
Further, as step S180, the user presses the mark reading execution button 26 for switching to the image selection sheet reading mode. When the printer detects that the mark reading execution button 26 has been pressed, the printer conveys the image selection sheet loaded in the manual feed slot 22 and reads the mark with the optical sensor 35 of the mark detection unit 7 provided inside the main body. Execute (step S190). At the same time, the optical sensor 37 also reads the barcode data 45 and determines the page number of the read list. This page information is used later when a desired image is read from the storage medium. Through these processes, the printer identifies the image in the storage medium to be printed specified by the user. Specifically, the order of the images to be printed on the image selection sheet is predetermined, and the order of reading the images from the storage medium is also predetermined. Printer) can identify which image of the storage medium has been designated. Also, the position (including the number of pages) of the image selection sheet and the image file name of the storage medium are stored in association with each other, and the image on the storage medium is identified and printed from the designated position (including the number of pages). Can also.

The mark sheet used here is provided with a scanning start mark 43 as a reference of a reading position for each row in which the mark entry column 42 exists. Reading of each mark entry field 42 is performed based on the relative distance from the scanning start mark 43 of each row. This method is a known technique used for mass processing of test answer sheets and the like. As described above, since three mark detection optical sensors 35 are provided perpendicularly to the direction in which the image selection sheet is transported, it is possible to process a reduced list of three columns.

When all the marks have been identified, the discharge port 25
The paper is further discharged (step S200). Here, if there is an unprocessed image selection sheet, that is, a marked selected reduced image list, if it is inserted into the paper feed port, reading is performed again.

Next, when the print execution button 27 is pressed,
(Step S220) Only the image identified by the image selection sheet is read out again from the storage medium 8, expanded according to the printing resolution, and a photographic quality printing paper prepared for normal printing is loaded from the cassette 23, and the photograph is read. Printing is performed on the image quality paper (step S230). After printing all the images for which instructions have been received, the paper is discharged (step S24).
0), the series of processing ends.

As described above, what the user does to the printer is to store the storage medium 8 in the storage medium reading unit 24.
Simply insert a mark in the list image list, set it again in the manual feed slot 22, and press two buttons (a mark reading button and a print execution button). Therefore, there is no need for the user to perform complicated device operations using a TV or a personal computer every time when selecting an image.

As described above, the ink jet printer of this embodiment automatically prints all reduced image lists when a storage medium is inserted. The user writes a mark with a writing tool or the like in a mark entry column provided beside the image while referring to the print result, and reloads the marked selection sheet into the printer and causes the printer to read the mark. It is possible to complete the operation of selecting a required image to be printed without operating the device. Then, only by pressing the print execution button, the necessary marked image can be automatically printed.

Further, since the image is printed directly from the storage medium in the printer, there is no need to develop the image data into a command or the like that can be understood by the printing apparatus on a personal computer or the like. Also,
When printing images recorded by digital cameras, etc.
Without using a computer or a personal computer, and without having to perform complicated image selection operations on the printer itself, it is possible to obtain a desired image almost automatically, thereby solving the conventional problem that it is complicated and time-consuming. Things.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to an ink jet printer, the present invention can be applied to printers of any printing system such as an electrophotographic printer and a thermal sublimation printer.

In the present embodiment, a mark reading method is used as a method of acquiring a normal print command from a user. Alternatively, a hole may be formed at a position where a reduced image can be identified and an optical transmission state may be obtained. A detection method is conceivable. Any method may be used by the user to add the information as long as the image to be printed can be clearly identified from the reduced image list, and the printer may detect the additional information by any method. .

(Second Embodiment) Next, a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer according to the present embodiment is used in a business system in which a printer administrator permits the use of a printer in exchange for a fee.

After identifying the mark written on the image selection sheet (or simultaneously with the identification), the printer determines from the number of the mark how many images will be printed normally and how much the fee will be. And print it again on the image selection sheet.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic internal configuration of the printer.
The printer includes a billing information creating unit 9 for calculating a printing fee from the number of marks written on an image selection sheet, and a billing initial setting unit 10 for setting a print price per sheet. Other components are the same as those in FIG.
The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The charge initial setting unit 10 for setting some per sheet to the printer is provided in the charge initial setting unit 10 and provided on the back of the main body.
A set of rotary switches 81, 82, 83 is shown in FIG. According to this, each of the three switches has hundreds,
It is assigned to the tens place and the ones place, and it is possible to set how much one piece is by using a rotary switch having ten contacts each. To change the price, simply turn the rotary switch. This setting content is read and held by the charging initial setting unit 9.

The billing information creating section 9 includes a rotary switch 8
By reading the amount data indicated by 1 to 83 from the charging initial setting unit 10 and reading the number of marks written on the image selection sheet from the marker detecting unit, how many sheets are printed,
Calculate the total price. Then, the print data generating unit 6 converts the number data and fee data into image data.

The image data is input to the printing unit 2 and is additionally printed on the image selection sheet. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image selection sheet on which additional printing is performed. In this figure,
At the lower end of the sheet, the number of prints and the total payment amount recognized by the mark detection unit 7 are printed (dotted frame 46).

According to this embodiment, in addition to the advantages of the first embodiment, when constructing an image printing and billing system, a receipt printer and a receipt sheet, an order form creation device and an order sheet are separately prepared. There is no need to perform this operation, and the image selection sheet can be used instead of an order slip or receipt, so that initial capital investment and running costs can be greatly reduced. Also, the user himself is freed from the operation of the information processing device such as the order terminal, and can clearly know how much cost is required before normal printing. After printing, the user of the printer may submit the image selection sheet to the cash register and pay the fee printed on the sheet. The charge collector can clearly see how many sheets are printed on the selection sheet and how much the total is, so that the payment acceptance operation can be performed efficiently.

(Other Embodiments) The printer according to the above-described embodiment has a storage medium reading unit capable of directly inserting and reading a storage medium as image data acquisition means for acquiring image data from the outside. The present invention is not limited to this, but may be configured to input image data from an external storage device via an interface such as a USB or an IEEE 1394 bus.

In the above embodiment, an example in which 18 reduced images are printed on one sheet has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and any number of reduced images may be listed, or the number of reduced images (that is, reduction ratio) may be changed by a user operation. Also, according to the present embodiment, the user
You can intuitively specify the image to be printed by looking at the selection sheet,
There is no need to specify each time a file name of an image stored in a removable memory, and a desired image can be easily printed.

[0053]

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a printing apparatus, and a printing method that allow a user to easily select and print a desired image from a plurality of images to be printed. , And a storage medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the printer according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mark detection unit of the printer according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reduced image list output by a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image selection sheet in which a user has entered a mark in a mark entry field of a reduced image list output by a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation and a processing procedure of the printer according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a price setting switch of a charging initial setting unit of a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image selection sheet output by a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention after image selection detection.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control unit 2 printing unit 3 transport unit 4 operation unit 6 mark detection unit 7 print data generation unit 8 storage medium 9 charging information creation unit 10 charging initialization unit 11 image recognition unit 20 housing 21 image selection sheet cassette 22 manual feed Orifice 23 Photographic image quality recording material cassette 24 Storage medium reading unit 25 Discharge port 26 Mark reading execution button 27 Image print button 30 Carriage 31 Paper holding roller 32, 34 Paper feed roller 33 Carriage roller 35 Mark reading sensor 36 Recording head 37 Bar code reading sensor 41 Reduced image 42 Mark writing field 43 Scan start mark 44 Scan end mark 45 Bar code 81 Hundreds rotary switch 82 Tens rotary switch 83 Ones rotary switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C061 AQ04 AQ05 AQ06 AS02 HJ06 HK11 HN15 2C087 AA13 AA18 AC05 AC07 AC08 BA03 BB10 BD06 CA02 CB03 2C187 AC05 AC07 AC08 5B072 BB00 CC23 DD02 MM11 5C076 AA19 A02 A02 A02

Claims (21)

[Claims] An image data acquiring unit that acquires image data; a reduced image providing unit that provides a reduced image to a user based on the image data; and a user with respect to the reduced image provided by the reduced image providing unit. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a command acquisition unit that acquires a normal image print command, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material based on the command acquired by the command acquisition unit. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data obtaining means is a recording medium reading means for reading image data stored in a storage medium. 3. The reduced image providing means includes print data generating means for generating print data for printing the reduced image, and the image forming means records the reduced image on a recording material based on the print data. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper surface is formed on the upper surface.
Or the image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print data is data for arranging and printing a plurality of the reduced images. 5. The command obtaining means includes: reading means for reading additional information added by a user to a recording material on which the reduced image is formed; and an image to be formed on the recording material based on the additional information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: selecting means for selecting 6. The reading means according to claim 1, wherein said reading means is provided at a predetermined position on a recording material.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a mark written by a user is read. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording material on which the reduced image is formed has a mark writing column for writing the mark. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image forming means records page information on said recording material, and said command obtaining means includes means for reading said page information. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 9. The image forming means forms an image indicating the number of images for which normal printing has been instructed on a recording material on which the reduced image has been formed after the reading means has read the additional information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 10. A charge calculating means for calculating a charge required by the user for performing said normal printing based on the number of images, wherein said image forming apparatus is calculated by said charge calculating means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an image representing the fee charged is recorded on the recording material. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a charge setting means for setting a charge per normal printing sheet. 12. An image data obtaining step of obtaining image data, a reduced image providing step of providing a reduced image to a user based on the image data, and a user requesting the reduced image provided by the reduced image providing step. An image forming method, comprising: a command obtaining step of obtaining a normal image print command of the following, and an image forming step of forming an image on a recording material based on the command obtained in the command obtaining step. 13. A printing apparatus comprising: a first means for printing a plurality of reduced images on a sheet based on a plurality of image information stored in a removable memory; and a plurality of images printed by the first means. It has a recognizing means for reading a sheet having a mark on an image to be printed and recognizing the image to be printed, and a second means for printing the image to be printed recognized by the recognizing means. Printing device. 14. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first means prints information indicating the number of pages. 15. A printing fee is printed on the sheet after the image to be printed is recognized by the recognition means.
14. The printing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a unit. 16. A method comprising: a first step of printing a plurality of reduced images on a sheet based on a plurality of image information stored in a removable memory; and a plurality of images printed by the first step. It has a recognition step of reading a sheet having a mark on an image to be printed and recognizing the image to be printed, and a second step of printing the image to be printed recognized by the recognition step. Printing method. 17. The printing method according to claim 16, wherein said first step prints information indicating the number of pages. 18. A printing method according to claim 16, further comprising a third step of printing a printing fee on said sheet after an image to be printed is recognized in said recognition step. 19. A printing method comprising: a first step of printing a plurality of reduced images on a sheet based on a plurality of image information stored in a removable memory; and a plurality of images printed by the first step. Storing a program having a recognition step of reading a sheet having a mark on an image to be printed and recognizing the image to be printed, and a second step of printing the image to be printed recognized by the recognition step A storage medium characterized by the above-mentioned. 20. The storage medium according to claim 19, wherein said first step prints information indicating the number of pages. 21. The storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising a third step of printing a print fee on said sheet after an image to be printed is recognized in said recognition step.