JP2002192814A - Imaging apparatus with printing attribute-printing function and method for printing printing attribute - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate sorting/arranging in order printed matters printed by an imaging apparatus. SOLUTION: The user selects individual printing objects so as to print printing attributes such as a printing quality, a paper type, etc., together with printing data body and sets a 'printing attribute-printing mode'. For a printing position of he printing attributes, the user designates a margin at a desired position at the right, left, top or bottom of a paper, or a system automatically selects in terms of a maximum margin position or the like. The imaging apparatus automatically prints the printing attributes together with the printing data body to the designated position at a time of the 'printing attribute-printing mode'. Arbitrary character strings (additional information such as a date, a title, etc.), required by the user can be printed in addition to the printing attributes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer and a plotter, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of setting print attributes such as print quality and paper type.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In image forming apparatuses such as printers and plotters, there are various types of image forming apparatuses such as printing quality (high quality or high definition, normal, draft or double speed, etc.) and paper type (glossy paper, film, plain paper, etc.). Printing attributes can be set on the operation panel on the image forming apparatus or on a personal computer (PC).
It can be set on the driver's property setting screen above.

As a means for confirming the current setting of the print attribute, a setting list (hereinafter referred to as a "setting list") is provided.
Many have a function to print out a.

[0004] Since the print result changes depending on the print attribute, when it is desired to change the print attribute in various ways and to compare and examine the print result, conventionally, the print information and the additional information such as date and title are added to the printed matter. Generally, the printed matter is classified and arranged by handwriting.

There is also a method of outputting a "setting list" every time printing is performed with different print attributes.

[0006]

As in the prior art, it is troublesome to manually write the print attributes and additional information at the time in the printed matter every time for classification and arrangement of the printed matter.
There is a possibility that the recognition of the printing attribute is erroneously entered.

When the "setting list" is printed, since the setting list is output separately from the printed matter, the correspondence with the printed matter may be confused. In addition, another sheet is output for each output of the printed matter, which leads to waste of paper.

Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the need to manually write a character string such as a print attribute on a printed matter, prevents waste of paper caused by printing a "setting list", and classifies and prints the printed matter.
The purpose is to facilitate organization.

[0009]

A print attribute printing method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: confirming a currently set print attribute; determining a position where a character string representing the print attribute is to be printed; And instructing printing of the character string representing the print attribute together with the print data body.

According to the present invention, a character string representing a currently set print attribute is automatically printed in a predetermined position, for example, in a blank portion of a printed matter, thereby eliminating the need for user's handwriting and the possibility of erroneous entry. In addition, it is possible to easily sort and arrange printed materials without wasting paper by outputting a setting list.

The print position of the print attribute may be a predetermined one of the front, rear, left and right margins of the printed matter, a position selected by the user, a position where the largest margin exists, and the like. .

When the printed material is roll paper, the position where the print attribute is printed may be a position of a region added to the front end or the rear end of the print region of the print data body.

The present invention can be understood as a recording medium on which a computer program for executing such a print attribute printing method is recorded.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: means for confirming a currently set print attribute; means for determining a position at which a character string representing a print attribute is to be printed; And a means for printing a character string representing the character string.

It is preferable that a user can arbitrarily designate a print attribute or the like to be printed on an operation panel on the image forming apparatus or a driver property setting screen on the host computer.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a part related to the present invention of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. This system includes a host computer 1 such as a personal computer and an image forming apparatus 2.

The host computer 1 has the same configuration as an existing personal computer or the like, and includes a printer driver 1 for the image forming apparatus 2 as a part related to the present invention.
0 and a communication interface 11. The printer driver 10 is software that operates when printing is performed from an application operating on the host computer 1 and generates image data that can be printed and output by the image forming apparatus 2. Further, according to the present invention, character string data representing a print attribute to be printed in a margin is generated. The communication interface 11 is for performing communication processing with the image forming apparatus 2, and transmits image data generated by the printer driver 10 to the image forming apparatus 2.

The image forming apparatus 2 includes a CPU 22, an operation unit 3,
4, print head 35, communication interface 21, RA
M23 and a flash ROM 27. The communication interface 21 performs communication processing with the host computer 1 and receives image data transmitted from the host computer.

The RAM 23 is usually a volatile memory, and has an image data storage area 24 for storing image data received by the communication interface 21 and a storage area for various data and a temporary work area required for processing a program. It has a work memory area 25 to be provided and another area 26.

The flash ROM 27 is a non-volatile memory, and a program 28 for analyzing received data,
An image forming processing program 29 for forming an image based on the analysis processing result, other control programs 30, a communication control program 31, an operation unit control program 32, and a print control program 33 are stored.

The CPU 22 controls the image forming apparatus 2 by processing these programs.

The print head 35 is a part for performing an actual printing operation when the CPU 22 executes the print control program 33.

The operation section 34 is a section for controlling an operation panel (not shown) by the CPU 22 executing the operation section control program 32. The operation panel includes a display for displaying necessary information to the user, keys such as up, down, left, and right used when the user performs various settings and instructions, and an LE for displaying the state of the image forming apparatus to the user.
D.

FIG. 2 shows four printing examples in which the arrangement positions of character strings (hereinafter simply referred to as character strings) representing print attributes in this embodiment are different. FIG. 2 (a) (b) (c)
(D) shows print data bodies 111, 113, 115, 1
17, the rear end, the front end,
Character strings 112 and 114 are arranged in the right and left margins, respectively. In the figure, character strings 112, 114, 116,
Although the area 118 is indicated by a frame, this frame does not need to be actually printed. Also, the case where the paper is landscape is shown, but the same applies to the case of portrait or roll paper. In the present invention, the print data bodies 111, 113,
Character strings 112, 1 representing print attributes together with 115, 117
An operation mode in which 14, 116, and 118 can be printed is called a print attribute print mode. The following is conceivable as a method of determining the arrangement position of the character string. (A) The position of the margin to be used is fixed in advance. Preferably, this fixed position is user selectable. If there is not enough space to accommodate the character string at the specified position, delete the character string that does not fit, reduce the character font, display a warning to the user and prompt the user to change the character string, etc. Take action. (B) The largest margin among the front, rear, left, and right margins is set as the character string printing position. This method can be used when all margin amounts are known in advance before the printing process starts. When the entire character string cannot be accommodated even in the maximum margin, the character string that cannot be accommodated is deleted, the character font is reduced so that the entire character string can be accommodated, and the like. (C) The use order of the front, rear, left and right margins is determined in advance,
If the size of the first-order margin is not sufficient, the next-order margin is used. This method can also be used when all the margin amounts are known before the start of the printing process, and is useful when automatically selecting a margin position without an instruction from the user. If the entire character string does not fit even in the last selected margin, the character string that does not fit is deleted, the size of the character font is reduced so that the entire character string fits, and so on. (D) The use order of the front, rear, left and right margins is determined in advance,
If the size of the first-order margin is not sufficient, the character strings are printed at a plurality of margin positions. That is, a character string portion that does not fit in the first order is printed at the next blank position. This method can also be used when all margin amounts are known in advance before the printing process starts.

The operation procedure of the user before printing in the present embodiment will be described below. The above operation is performed on the driver property setting screen on the personal computer or on the operation panel on the image forming apparatus. 1. Select items such as print attributes to be included in the character string to be printed. This item may include a file name, a print date, a time, and the like, in addition to the print attribute. Preferably, the user can select which items are printable in the print attribute print mode. 2. Select a margin position to print the character string. The user can select any of the character string arrangement position determination methods (a) to (d) described above. 3. Select transition to print attribute print mode.

In addition, it may be possible to specify the direction and font of characters for printing, such as print attributes, and to set the size of a print area for character strings. Note that the default setting is used when the print attribute print mode is specified and no other data is specified or when printing is performed without passing through a driver.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for printing a print attribute in the present embodiment. This processing is executed by a driver or an image forming apparatus (for example, the reception data analysis processing program 28 and the image formation processing program 29) on the host computer.

First, it is determined whether or not the current operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the print attribute print mode (S1).
1). If not, this process ends. In the print attribute print mode, it is checked whether or not there is a predetermined margin at a position designated in advance or designated by the user on the sheet (S12). The predetermined margin means a space on a sheet on which at least a part of a character string such as a print attribute can be identifiably printed. If there is no such margin at that position,
This processing ends. If there is a predetermined margin, it is checked whether or not all of the designated character strings can be accommodated in the margin (S13). If not, the part of the character string that does not fit is deleted (S14). If it fits, the entire string will be displayed. Otherwise, the remaining deleted string will be displayed.
It is arranged in the margin (S15). Thus, a character string such as a print attribute is arranged in the margin at the time of printing.

When printing from a personal computer via a driver, a print result including a character string such as a print attribute can be previewed on the personal computer. May be determined by the user before sending to the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another example of a process for printing a print attribute in the present embodiment.
In the process shown in FIG. 3, the position at which the character string such as the print attribute is printed is fixed at the designated position. In this example, however, the system automatically finds the maximum margin and places the character string at that position. They are arranged.

First, it is determined whether or not the current operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the print attribute print mode (S2).
1). If not, this process ends. If the print mode is the print attribute print mode, the presence or absence of a margin is checked (S22). If there is no margin on any of the front, rear, left and right sides of the sheet, this process is terminated. If there is any margin, a position having the largest margin is found (S23). It is checked whether or not all of the designated character strings fit in the maximum margin (S24). If it does not fit, the part of the character string that does not fit is deleted (S25). If it fits, the entire string will be displayed. Otherwise, the remaining deleted string will be displayed.
It is arranged in the margin (S26).

According to the processing of FIG. 4, the largest margin for arranging a character string such as a print attribute is automatically selected, so that a long character string is easily accommodated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing still another example of the process for printing the print attribute in the present embodiment. In this example, priorities are assigned in advance in the order of preferred positions for arranging character strings, and if all character strings cannot be accommodated, another blank position is sequentially selected so that all character strings are accommodated as much as possible. It is to be.

First, it is determined whether or not the current operation mode of the image forming apparatus is the print attribute print mode (S3).
1). If not, this process ends. If the print mode is the print attribute print mode, the presence or absence of a margin is checked (S32). If there is no margin on any of the front, rear, left and right sides of the sheet, this process is terminated. A predetermined position (a position with a higher priority) is selected from among the positions having the margin (S33). It is checked whether or not all the character strings fit within the margin (S34). If it does not fit, if there is a next position (S35), that position is selected (S36). It is checked again whether all the character strings can be accommodated (S34). Repeat steps S34 to S36,
If there is no margin that can accommodate all the character strings, the position of the largest margin is selected (S37), and the part of the character string that does not fit is deleted (S38). Step S34
If all characters can be accommodated, the entire character string is arranged in the margin, and if not, the remaining character strings deleted in step S38 are arranged in the margin (S39).

In each of the above processes, when there is no margin for printing a character string such as a print attribute, printing of the print attribute is not performed or a part of the character string is deleted. When roll paper is used as the paper, it is possible to print all character strings without fail even when there is not enough space for printing character strings such as print attributes.

FIG. 6A shows an example in which a character string such as a print attribute is printed at the rear end of the print data body on roll paper. In this case, the print data body 121 prints as it is, and a predetermined amount (for example, 5
A margin 122 (about 15 mm) is provided, and thereafter, a character string 123 such as a print attribute is printed. This makes use of the fact that the length of the paper in the direction of transport of the roll paper can be set variably.

FIG. 6B shows an example in which a character string such as a print attribute is printed at the leading end of the print data body on roll paper. Here, an example is shown in which the print position of the print data body 121 is shifted backward from the original position in order to create a margin 122 for printing a character string 123 such as a print attribute. In this case, first, a character string 123 such as a print attribute is printed, and a predetermined amount (about 5 to 15 mm) of a margin 122 is provided from a point where printing of the character string 123 such as a print attribute is completed. The main body 121 is printed.

In each case, paper is used more than in a case where a character string such as a print attribute is not printed. However, if the font for printing the print attribute is small, the paper is not wasted so much. This is very effective in classifying printed matter.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, various modifications and changes other than those described above can be made. For example, the print attribute is represented by a character string, but may be represented by a symbol, a graphic, or the like.

[0041]

According to the present invention, a character string representing a print attribute such as a currently set print attribute is printed together with the print data main body, so that no extra work is required by handwriting and paper is wasted. The print attributes can be checked at a glance together with the individual printed matter without any trouble, and the printed matter can be easily classified and arranged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a part related to the present invention in an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing four printing examples in which the arrangement positions of character strings representing print attributes are changed according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for printing a print attribute according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a process for printing a print attribute according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating still another example of a process for printing a print attribute according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram when printing on roll paper in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 Image forming apparatus 10 Printer driver 22 CPU 28 Received data analysis processing program 29 Image formation processing program 111, 113 Print data main body 112, 114 Character string

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A step of confirming a currently set print attribute; a step of determining a position where a character string representing the print attribute is to be printed; and printing the character string representing the print attribute together with a print data body at the position. And a print attribute printing method, comprising the steps of: 2. The printing attribute printing method according to claim 1, wherein the printing position of the printing attribute is a predetermined one of the front, rear, left, and right margins of the printed matter. 3. The print attribute printing method according to claim 1, wherein the print position of the print attribute is a position selected by a user in front, rear, left and right margins of a printed matter. 4. The print attribute printing method according to claim 1, wherein the position where the print attribute is printed is a position where a maximum margin is present among front, rear, left and right margins of the printed matter. 5. The print attribute printing according to claim 1, wherein when the printed material is roll paper, the position where the print attribute is printed is a position of an area added to a front end or a rear end of a print area of the print data body. Method. 6. A step of confirming a currently set print attribute, a step of determining a position where a character string representing the print attribute is to be printed, and printing the character string representing the print attribute together with the print data body at the position. And a recording medium recording a computer program for executing a print attribute printing method comprising: 7. A means for confirming a currently set print attribute, a means for determining a position for printing a character string representing a print attribute, and printing a character string representing the print attribute together with a print data body at the position. And an image forming apparatus having a print attribute printing function.