JP2003154740A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print terminal in which privacy of a client can be protected by suppressing a medium from being left behind. SOLUTION: Since an alarm section 111 delivers an alarm when the charge for a print order corresponds to a charge received at a charge receiving section 112, a client or a user can know the timing for taking out a medium and thereby the medium can be prevented from being left behind.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print terminal that creates a print based on image data read from a medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image pickup apparatuses such as digital still cameras capable of storing digital image data have been remarkably popularized due to improvements in image processing technology.
In particular, since the digital still camera is equipped with a liquid crystal display, it has an advantage that an image can be confirmed on the spot when it is taken or an unnecessary image can be deleted. or,
Since digital image data can be transmitted to all over the world through a network, digital still cameras and similar imaging devices are expected to become more popular in the future.

However, when viewing an image taken by a digital still camera, the liquid crystal display provided in the digital still camera generally has a problem that the screen is too small to see the displayed image. On the other hand, if it is displayed on a display of a personal computer or the like, a large image can be viewed, but the personal computer cannot always be used, and processing such as reading image data is troublesome.

On the other hand, if a print such as a photograph is formed on the basis of image data, it is easy to handle and there is an advantage that a large number of images can be viewed in a short time by organizing them in an album. .

[0005]

By the way, one mode of obtaining a print based on image data is for a user to print an image by himself using a home printer. According to such a mode, the user can print as many sheets as he / she likes at any time, and can take advantage of image processing to obtain his / her favorite image. However, there are many users who do not own a home printer and who have a home printer but are not familiar with how to use it.

[0006] When a user who cannot make full use of a home printer as described above desires printing based on image data, he / she requests a print shop such as a laboratory to print. However, if you request a print from a print shop, you can obtain high-quality prints by professional hands, but it takes a certain number of days to finish the prints, so you cannot easily order prints.
In recent years, there has been established a system for ordering prints for 24 hours via a network.
There may also be a significant number of users who are reluctant to place print orders over the network.

From such a background, it is considered to install an unmanned printing device in a convenience store, a theme park, a tourist resort, or the like. In such a printing apparatus, a user can easily and automatically obtain a desired image print relatively quickly by inserting a medium storing image data into a predetermined place.

By the way, when using such a printing apparatus, the media brought by the customer should be brought back by the customer. However, since the user generally handles an unfamiliar printing apparatus, the customer may forget to remove the medium. In such a case, if the customer who used the next time reads the image data from the forgotten medium, the privacy of the customer cannot be achieved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a print terminal capable of suppressing forgetting to remove a medium and protecting the privacy of a customer. .

[0010]

A print terminal according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a printer unit for producing a print based on image data stored in a medium, a receiving means for receiving a print charge, and the image data. The reading means for reading from the medium, the order selecting means for creating the print order data based on the read image data and calculating the charge for the print order, and the charge for the print order are the charges received by the receiving means. Since the notification means for notifying in response to the corresponding thing is provided, the customer, that is, the user, can know that the timing to take out the medium has arrived in response to the notice, thereby suppressing forgetting to take out the medium. . "Notification" means displaying an item that calls attention to the user in order to prevent misplacement of the medium, and issuing an alarm that attracts the user's attention to actually prevent misplacement of the medium. Is a concept that includes both.

Further, it is preferable that the reading means reads the image data one by one from the medium.

Further, it is preferable that the reading means collectively reads the image data from the medium.

Further, the charge for the print order is
In the case where the fee received by the receiving means does not correspond to the fee received, the notifying means preferably notifies when the payment is made through the receiving means. This is because, for example, when the input print fee is large, the user may desire to read out another image data from the medium and print it.

A print terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a printer unit for producing a print based on image data stored in a medium, a reading unit for reading the image data from the medium, and an image data read from the medium. Since it has a memory for storing and a notifying means for notifying when all the image data is read from the medium and stored in the memory, if such a notice is made, the customer, that is, the user, becomes a source of the image data. It is possible to know that the role of the media has ended and it is time to take out the media, and it is possible to suppress forgetting to take the media.

Further, there is a creating means for creating print order data based on the image data read from the medium, and the creating means responds to the fact that the medium is detached from the reading means, and print order is made. Since the creation of data is started, the media must be extracted without fail in order to create the print order data, so that forgetting to remove the media can be effectively suppressed.

Further, the notification means can effectively prevent forgetting to remove the medium by making a notification by sound or voice. Note that such notification includes the case where both sound and voice are emitted.

Further, it is preferable that the volume of the sound or voice increases with time. This is because at a low volume, the user may not be able to fully hear the sound or voice as a notification due to the surrounding noise.

A print terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises a printer unit for producing a print based on image data stored in a medium, a reading means for reading the image data from the medium, and all image data from the medium. The notification means for notifying when read out, and since the notification means issues a notification by sound or voice whose volume increases with time, the user notices the notification as compared with the case where the volume of the notification is constant. This makes it easier to prevent forgetting to remove the media more effectively.

A print terminal according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a printer unit for producing a print based on image data stored in a medium, a reading unit for reading the image data from the medium, and a print based on the read image data. Since it has order selection means for creating order data and calculating the charge for the print order, and notification means for notifying when the order selection means has finished calculating the charge, if such notification is made, the customer That is, the user
It is possible to know that the role of the medium as the supply source of the image data has ended and it is time to take out the medium, and thereby it is possible to suppress forgetting to take out the medium.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a print terminal that is an inkjet printer according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the print terminal of FIG. 1 cut vertically. The print terminal 100 is preferably placed in an unmanned box in a city, a theme park, a tourist spot, or the like, but may be placed in a convenience store or the like.

In FIG. 1, a print terminal 100 is surrounded by a housing 100A, has a liquid crystal display 101 on the upper front portion, and has a coin slot 102 on the right side thereof.
A plurality of media insertion ports 105 corresponding to different media, a key operation unit 103, and a coin return port 102a are provided below the liquid crystal display 101, and a print ejection port 104 is provided below them. A return lever 102b is arranged below the coin insertion slot 102. Originally, an electric mechanism (not shown) is arranged in the media insertion port 105 so that the media can be electrically moved between the reading position and the extracting position. A pull-out button 105a is provided beside the media insertion slot 105. The eject button 105a has a function of allowing the user to manually eject the medium loaded in the medium insertion port 105 by pressing the eject button 105a even when a power failure occurs. However, a part of the medium may be exposed to the outside of the housing 100A so that the user can grasp and pull out in the event of a power failure.
The liquid crystal display 101 is a touch panel type, and any input can be performed by pressing on the screen.

In FIG. 2, inside the housing 100A of the print terminal 100, a paper storage unit 107 as a medium is arranged on the back side (right side in FIG. 2), and from there, on the front side and the lower side, A transport unit 108 for transporting a sheet extends. An inkjet printer unit 109 that prints on paper is disposed near the end of the transport unit 108. Regardless of the drawing, the ejection direction of the ink from the head to the paper is preferably the gravity direction, but is not limited thereto. Printer unit 1
Cutter 119 for cutting paper adjacent to 09
Are arranged. The printed paper cut by the cutter 119 is stored in the storage unit 106. The storage unit 106 is arranged so that the user can take out a print through the storage unit 106 by appropriately approaching the print output port 104. As shown in the figure, the media reading units 105A are arranged behind the insertion ports 105, respectively.

Further, the casing 100A of the print terminal 100
A control unit 110 is arranged inside. As shown in FIG. 3, which is a control block diagram of the print terminal 100, the control unit 110 includes a printer unit 109 and a conveyance unit 10.
8, media reading unit 105A, liquid crystal display 10
1, a storage unit 106, an alarm unit (including a voice processing circuit and a speaker) 111, a fee collection unit 112, and a memory 120, which are connected to control them. Further, the control unit 110, which is a control device, is connected to the router R, which is a communication unit, and is communicably connected to the server S managed by the administrator via the network WAN.

Next, the operation of the print terminal 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When a user takes a picture with a digital still camera or the like and wants to print with the print terminal 100, he / she takes out the medium in which the image data is stored and prepares to load it into any of the medium insertion openings 105 of the print terminal 100.

Here, when the user first inputs a prescribed fee (for example, 500 yen), the print terminal 100 receives the fee (step S101). After that, when the user inserts a corresponding medium into the medium insertion port 105, the medium reading unit 105A, which is a reading unit, reads the image data from the medium accordingly (step S102), and the control unit 110 The print order data is created as described below (step S103).

Here, a case will be described in which the image data in the medium is read in batch and the print order data is created. When the image data is collectively read, the control unit 110 stores the image data in the memory 120.
Then, the screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 4, the image data read from the medium is displayed on the liquid crystal display 101 as five thumbnail images G1 to G5 here. The default value is "Number of prints: 1, Print size: L
(Version) information is displayed below the thumbnail images G1 to G5.
Displayed respectively. If the user wants to change the number of prints or print size, the image selection key K
One of the images is designated by 1 and the change key K2
Thus, the desired number of prints or print size can be changed. If printing is unnecessary, the number of prints may be set to zero. Each time the desired number of prints and size are set, the control unit 110 recalculates the charge (print charge) for the print order (step S10).
4) Based on the calculation result, the "print charge" in the table H1 displayed below the change key K2 is changed.

Here, when the amount of the "print fee" matches the amount of the "payment amount" (including the case where the total fee or an additional fee is later applied to match the amount), the amount of the "payment amount" Becomes zero. When the control unit 110 detects this in step S105, the control unit 110 controls the alarm unit 111 to issue an alarm as a sound notification of "please eject the medium" (step S106). Instead of such a voice, an electronic sound or the like may be emitted. Alternatively, the liquid crystal display 101 may be caused to perform a display as a notice of “please eject the medium”. As long as the control unit 110 determines in step S107 that the medium is in a state where the medium reading unit 105A can read the image data based on the signal from the medium reading unit 105A, the alarm in step S106 is repeated. Unless the user pulls out the media,
The enter key K3 is displayed in a light color or is erased so that the input from the user is not accepted.

When the user pulls out the medium, a signal is output from the medium reading unit 105A, so that the control unit 11
In step S107, it is determined that the medium has been removed, and the alarm is stopped in step S108. Here, the control unit 110 drives and controls the liquid crystal display 101 to display the enter key K3 in a clear manner and validate the input from the user. When the user presses the confirm key K3, the control unit 110 completes the acceptance of the print order, and based on the print order data including the confirmed image data and the information on the number of prints / size, the printer unit 1
In step 09, print creation is executed. In this embodiment, the control unit 110 and the liquid crystal display 101 compose a creating unit, and the control unit 110 and the alarm unit 111 compose a notifying unit.

As a modification of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to individually read the image data. In such a case, when the image data is read individually, the images shown in FIG. 4 are sequentially displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 101, and the print fee of Table H1 increases accordingly. Here, when the amount of the "print fee" matches the amount of the "payment amount", the amount of the "payment amount" becomes zero. When the control unit 110 detects this,
The alarm unit 111 is controlled to issue a voice alarm "Please remove the media". Subsequent operations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

However, the "print fee" may be less than the "payment amount". For example, the "payment amount" is 500 yen and the "printing fee" is 4
If it is 00 yen, the “payment amount” that should be returned to the user
Will be 100 yen. Here, when the user operates the return lever 102b (FIG. 1), the fee collection unit 112, which is a collection means, collects 100 yen of the settlement amount into the coin return slot 102.
Return to a. When the settlement is performed in this way, the control unit 110 controls the alarm unit 111 to issue a voice alarm “Please eject the media”. Further, when the user pulls out the medium, a signal is output from the medium reading unit 105A, so the control unit 110 determines that the medium has been pulled out (released), and the liquid crystal display 10
1 is driven and controlled, the enter key K3 is displayed clearly, and the input from the user is validated. Subsequent operations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, when the amount of the "print charge" exceeds the amount of the "insertion amount", when the user inserts the shortage from the coin insertion slot 102, the control unit 110 causes the alarm unit 111 to perform an alarm operation. You can do it.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, control unit 110 reads all image data from the medium in step S201, and then continues in step S20.
In step 2, the read image data is stored in the memory 120,
At that time, the alarm unit 111 is caused to perform an alarm operation (step S203). When all the image data is read from the medium and stored in the memory 120, the role of the medium as the source of the image data ends, so such a warning prompts the user to remove the medium and suppress forgetting to remove the medium. is there. Control unit 110
However, as long as it is determined in step S204 that the medium is in a state where the medium reading unit 105A can read the image data based on the signal from the medium reading unit 105A, the alarm in step S203 is repeated. When the user pulls out the medium, a signal is output from the medium reading unit 105A, so the control unit 110 controls the step S20.
In step S206, it is determined that the media has been removed.
Stop the alarm with.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the present embodiment, when the control unit 110 completes reading all the image data from the medium (step S301),
The alarm unit 111 is caused to perform an alarm operation (step S30
2) It is. Since the role of the medium as a source of the image data ends when all the image data are read from the medium, the alarm prompts the user to remove the medium and suppresses forgetting to remove the medium. When the control unit 110 determines in step S303 that the medium is in a state where the medium reading unit 105A can read the image data based on the signal from the medium reading unit 105A, the volume of the alarm is increased in step S304. The volume is set according to time (step S30
Since it increases every time (4 is repeated), it is easy to call the user's attention. When the user pulls out the medium, a signal is output from the medium reading unit 105A, so the control unit 110
Determines that the medium has been removed in step S303, and stops the alarm in step S305.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user first inputs a prescribed fee (for example, 500 yen), the print terminal 100 receives the fee (step S10).
1). After that, when the user inserts the corresponding medium into the medium insertion port 105, the medium reading unit 105A as the reading unit reads the image data from the medium accordingly (step S402), and the control unit 110 The print order data is created as described above (step S403). The control unit 110 calculates the charge based on the created print order data in step S404, and in step S405, the alarm unit 111.
Cause the alarm action. The control unit 110 performs step S4.
As long as it is determined at 06 that the medium is in a state in which the medium reading unit 105A can read the image data based on the signal from the medium reading unit 105A, step S40
Alarm 5 continues. When the user removes the medium, a signal is output from the medium reading unit 105A, so the control unit 110 determines that the medium has been removed in step S406, and stops the alarm in step S407.

Information regarding the operating status of the print terminal 100 is sent from the control unit 110 via the router R to the server S.
The operation status of the print terminal 100 can be sequentially monitored on the server S side. Control unit 11
0 and the server S constitute a monitoring device.

[0036]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a print terminal capable of suppressing forgetting to remove a medium and protecting the privacy of a customer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a print terminal according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view of the print terminal of FIG. 1 cut vertically and viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the print terminal 100.

FIG. 4 is a display example of a print order screen on the liquid crystal display 101.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart including alarm control by the control unit 110 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart including alarm control by a control unit 110 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart including alarm control by a control unit 110 according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart including alarm control by a control unit 110 according to the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 printing terminal 100A housing 101 LCD display 102 coin slot 103 key operation part 104 Print outlet 105 Media insertion slot 105A Media reading unit 106 Storage 107 Storage 108 transport section 109 printer unit 110 control unit 111 Alarm unit 112 Fee Collection Department 120 memory

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printer unit for creating a print based on image data stored in a medium, a collecting means for collecting a print fee, a reading means for reading the image data from the medium, and a reading means for reading the image data based on the read image data. Order selecting means for creating print order data and calculating a charge for the print order; and notifying means for notifying that the charge for the print order corresponds to the charge received by the receiving means,
A printing terminal comprising: 2. The print terminal according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads the image data from the medium one by one. 3. The print terminal according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit collectively reads the image data from the medium. 4. When the charge for the print order does not correspond to the charge received by the receiving means, the notifying means notifies when the payment is made through the receiving means. The print terminal according to claim 1. 5. A printer unit that creates a print based on image data stored in a medium, a reading unit that reads the image data from the medium, a memory that stores the image data read from the medium, and a read unit from the medium. And a notification means for notifying when all the image data is read out and stored in the memory. 6. A print order data creation method is provided which creates print order data based on the image data read from the medium, and the print creation order is generated in response to the medium being detached from the reading means. The printing terminal according to claim 5, wherein creation of data is started. 7. The print terminal according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit makes a notification by sound or voice. 8. The print terminal according to claim 7, wherein the volume of the sound or voice increases with time. 9. A printer unit for producing a print based on image data stored in a medium, a reading unit for reading the image data from the medium, and a notifying unit for notifying when all the image data are read from the medium. The print terminal is characterized in that the notification means performs notification by sound or voice whose volume increases with time. 10. A printer unit for creating a print based on image data stored in a medium, a reading unit for reading the image data from the medium, print order data based on the read image data, and a print order. A print terminal, comprising: an order selection unit that calculates a charge according to the above item; and a notification unit that notifies when the order selection unit finishes calculating the charge.