JP2003256181A - Print system, printer host and printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obscure intrusion of precedent and subsequent images when the images are continuously printed on a form and thereafter the form is automatically cut at the boundary of one of the image and another. <P>SOLUTION: This printer driver 520 temporarily stores color information of the final line of a precedent image in executing continuous print. When print data of a subsequent image is generated, the printer driver applies image processing such as gradation, blurring or the like to a region in the vicinity of the boundary to the precedent image so as to prevent sharp change between the color of the final line of the stored precedent image and the color in the vicinity of the boundary. Thereby, when the form is cut at the boundary between the images, the intrusion of the image is obscured even if the cutting position is shifted from the boundary line. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly to a printing system for automatically cutting a printing medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, technical development has been advanced and commercialized for realizing printing without margins on four sides of a printer. In the marginless printing, as shown in FIG. 8, the image to be printed is enlarged to generate an image 702 having a size slightly larger than the paper size 701, and the enlarged image is printed so that no margin is generated on the four sides. I am trying.

The marginless printing is mainly performed on fixed-size cut sheets such as A4 and B5, but the marginless printing is also put to practical use on continuous paper such as roll paper.

On the other hand, some printers that print on continuous paper such as rolls are provided with a cutter inside or outside the housing for automatically cutting the paper in a designated size after printing.

When it is desired to perform printing without margins on continuous paper such as roll paper with such a printer, for example,
As shown in FIG. 9, the preceding and succeeding images are continuously printed (the boundary portion where the enlarged image and the image overlap each other is trimmed in advance), and the boundary line is cut.

[0006]

However, the cutting is performed mechanically, and an error occurs in the cutting position. For this reason, if the images are continuous, the cutting position may deviate from the boundary line of the images, and the images before and after the cutting may be included in the images after the cutting.

When the preceding and succeeding images get in the image, the color of the intruded image appears at the upper end or the lower end of the image. Especially when the color difference is large, the intruded color becomes conspicuous, and the quality of the print result. Is reduced.

It is an object of the present invention to make the front and rear images inconspicuous when the paper is automatically cut at the boundary between the images after continuously printing the images on the paper.

[0009]

To solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, in a printing system for continuously printing images on a sheet and cutting between the images, A print data generation unit that generates print data for printing an image, a color information storage unit that stores color information of a side in contact with the next image when generating print data of the previous image, and a next image When generating the print data of the image, for the area having a predetermined width from the boundary line with the previous image of the image, based on the color of the area and the stored color information of the previous image, There is provided a printing system, comprising: an image processing unit that performs image processing so that the color does not change abruptly at the boundary line between the image and the next image.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the second aspect of the present invention, images are continuously printed on a sheet, and print data for cutting the sheet between the images is generated. In the printer host to be used, when generating the print data of the previous image, the color information storage unit that stores the color information of the side that contacts the next image, and the print information of the image when generating the print data of the next image. For a region having a predetermined width from the border with the previous image, based on the color of the region and the color information of the stored previous image, in the border between the previous image and the next image, There is provided a printer host comprising an image processing unit that performs image processing so that colors do not change rapidly.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, according to a third aspect of the present invention, images are continuously printed on a sheet,
In a printer driver that causes a computer to execute processing for generating print data for cutting a sheet between images, when generating print data for a previous image,
A color information storage unit that stores color information of a side in contact with the next image and an area having a predetermined width from the boundary line between the image and the previous image when generating print data for the next image. An image processing unit that performs image processing on the boundary between the previous image and the next image based on the color of the area and the stored color information of the previous image so that the color does not change abruptly. There is provided a printer driver characterized by being constructed by a computer.

Here, the image processing can be gradation processing or blurring processing.

According to the present invention, the color does not change abruptly at the boundary line between images, so that even if the cutting position of the paper deviates from the boundary line between images, the image The intrusion is inconspicuous.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the outline of the hardware configuration of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in the figure, the printing system includes a computer 50 for realizing various processes by an application, a printing process by a printer driver, and the like, and a printer 10 with a cutting function (hereinafter, simply referred to as a printer) connected to the computer 50. (Also referred to as "printer 10"). In this embodiment, the computer 50 functions as a printer host that generates print data and sends it to the printer 10. The printer 10 prints based on the print data received from the computer 50. The printer 10 has a cutting function for printing on printing paper such as roll paper and cutting it to a specified size. The configuration of the printing system is not limited to this. For example, a network printing system in which a plurality of computers 50 are connected may be used.

The computer 50 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 5 that performs processing based on various programs.
RA for temporarily storing data, programs, etc.
ROM (Read Only) in which M (Random Access Memory) 52, various data for controlling the computer 50, a startup program, etc. are stored in advance in a nonvolatile manner.
Memory) 53, and an interface 54 that controls data transmission / reception to / from a peripheral device such as the connected printer 10.

In the computer 50, a display device 61 such as a color display, an input device 62 such as a mouse and a keyboard, a media reading device 63 for reading data from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and an internal or external auxiliary storage. A device 64 and a communication control device for connecting to a computer network are connected. However, the configuration of the computer 50 is not limited to this.

The printer 10 is, for example, an ink jet type color printer. An inkjet color printer includes a plurality of ink cartridges filled with ink in a housing, and sprays the ink from a recording head onto a printing medium such as printing paper to perform printing.

The printer 10 has an interface 11 for controlling communication with the computer 50 such as reception of data.
And a CPU 12 that performs processing based on print data and various programs, and an R that temporarily stores print data and the like.
An AM 13, a ROM 14 in which various data and various programs for controlling the printer 10 are stored in a nonvolatile manner in advance, a print head for ejecting ink, a carriage drive mechanism for driving a carriage carrying the print head, and the like. The printing mechanism 15 includes a printing mechanism 15, a paper feeding mechanism 16 that feeds and discharges printing paper, and a cutting mechanism 17 that cuts the printing paper. However, the configuration of the printer 10 is not limited to this.

Next, an outline of the printing mechanism 15, the paper feed mechanism 16 and the cutting mechanism 17 of the printer with cutting function 10 used in the present embodiment will be described. Here, a case where the roll paper 22 is used as the printing paper will be described as an example. Of course, the printing mechanism 15, the paper feeding mechanism 16 and the cutting mechanism 17 can also function similarly with respect to regular sheets such as cut sheets and other recording sheets.

FIG. 2 is a printer 1 for explaining the printing mechanism 15, the paper feeding mechanism 16 and the cutting mechanism 17.
It is a side sectional schematic diagram of 0. The printer with cutting function 10 includes a printing mechanism 15 for printing on a roll paper 22 as a printing paper, and a paper feeding mechanism 1 for feeding the printing paper.
6. An apparatus main body 23 having a cutting mechanism 17 for cutting printing paper and the like, and a roll paper cassette 24 in which the roll paper 22 is set. Printing paper other than roll paper is supplied from a paper tray (not shown) or a manual insertion slot.

The roll paper 22 is attached to the drum-shaped paper tube 27 in a state of being pushed by the shaft portion 28 thereof, and the pair of front and rear rollers 2 arranged at the bottom of the roll paper cassette 24.
The flange portion 31 of the paper tube 27 is placed on the sheets 9 and 30, and is accommodated. A roll paper motor 32 that drives the drive roller 30 is disposed on the rear side of the bottom of the roll paper cassette 24. When the roll paper motor 32 is driven in the normal direction, the rotational force is transmitted from the drive roller 30 to the collar portion 31, and the roll paper 2
2 rotates in the direction of feeding the paper. On the other hand, when the roll paper motor 32 is driven in the reverse direction, the rotational force is transmitted from the drive roller 30 to the collar portion 31, and the roll paper 22 rotates in the paper winding direction.

At the front end of the roll paper cassette 24, a paper feed device 33 is arranged at a position corresponding to the transport path of the roll paper 22 delivered from the roll paper 22. Paper feeder 3
3 includes a paper feed driven roller 35 and a paper feed drive roller 36, and sends the roll paper 22 to the apparatus main body 23 side. A transport roller 37 and a paper discharge roller 38 are arranged in the apparatus main body 23 from the upstream side. These parts mainly constitute the paper feed mechanism 16.

The apparatus main body 23 includes a carriage shaft 40, and a carriage 41 is slidably supported on the carriage shaft 40. A recording head 43 is attached to the lower surface of the carriage 41, and ink droplets are ejected from nozzle holes (not shown) of the recording head 43 to print on the roll paper 22. The recording head 43 is connected to an ink cartridge (not shown) that is separate from the apparatus body 23, and receives the supply of ink from this ink cartridge.
A platen 39 is arranged between the transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 38 in the paper feeding direction. These parts mainly form the printing mechanism 15.

The apparatus main body 23 has a printed roll paper 2
A cutter device 45 for cutting 2 is built in. The cutter device 45 includes a cutter 46 as a processing unit, and the cutter 46 moves in the width direction of the roll paper 22 (direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction) with the movable blade 46a engaged with the fixed blade 46b in a cutable manner. Roll paper 2 by moving
Cut 2. The roll paper 22 cut by the cutter 46 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 23 by the auxiliary drive roller 48 of the cutter device 45. These parts mainly constitute the cutting mechanism 17.

The printing mechanism 15 is controlled by the CPU 12 executing a print command in the print data sent from the computer 50. That is, the computer 5
0 can print an arbitrary image at an arbitrary position by transmitting print data including a drawing command to the printer 10.

Further, the paper feed mechanism 16 and the cutting mechanism 17 use the CPU to send the roll paper feed command and the cutting command in the print data sent from the computer 50.
12 is controlled by executing. That is, the computer 50 sends print data including a roll paper feed command and a cutting command to the printer 10 to cause the printer 10 to feed the roll paper by an arbitrary amount and perform cutting at an arbitrary position. be able to.

Next, a functional configuration realized in the computer 50 and the printer 10 by the printing system will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

As shown in the figure, an application 510 and a printer driver 520 are installed on the computer 50.
And are built.

The application 510 has a function of causing the computer 50 to perform processing such as a word processor and graphics, and is constructed on the computer 50 by the CPU 51 executing the application program read by the RAM 52. .

The printer driver 520 reads the image data generated by the application 510 based on an instruction from the user, converts the image data into print data in a format interpretable by the printer 10, and transmits the print data to the printer 10 via the interface 54. It has a function.

Therefore, the printer driver 520 performs rasterizer processing for expanding the image data generated by the application 510 into image data which is a set of dots, and halftone processing for performing color conversion processing and halftone processing of the image data. A print data generation unit 522 for performing command conversion processing for converting the processed image data into print data for controlling the printer 10 so as to be printed, and a user interface for receiving print condition settings, print commands, etc. from the user. The unit 521 is provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, the print data generating section 522 is provided with an image boundary adjusting section 522a which performs processing for making the color change at the boundary between images inconspicuous in continuous printing.

The printer driver 520 loads the printer driver program read by the RAM 52 into the CPU 51.
Is executed to build on the computer 50. The printer driver program for this purpose can be distributed by being recorded in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM. And, this recording medium,
By reading with the media reading device 63, the printer driver program can be installed in the computer 50. The communication control device 65 can also be installed via a computer network such as the Internet.

In FIG. 3, a print control unit 110 and a print execution unit 120 are built on the printer 10.

The print control unit 110 is realized by the CPU 12, interprets the print data transmitted from the computer 50, and controls the printer 10 to execute printing based on the print data.

The printing execution unit 120 is realized by the printing mechanism 15, the paper feeding mechanism 16 and the cutting mechanism 17, and executes printing on the printing paper according to the instruction of the printing control unit 110.

Next, the process in which the user interface section 521 of the printer driver 520 receives the print condition setting from the user will be described.

When the user interface unit 521 of the printer driver 520 receives a print condition setting command from the user, for example, via the menu command of the application 510, the print condition setting screen 300 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. Is displayed on the display device 61, and the setting of printing conditions is received from the user.

As shown in FIG. 4, the print condition setting screen 300 is displayed.
Is a screen for the user to set printing conditions. For example, the paper size 301, the paper feeding device 302, the paper type 3
03, print quality 304, automatic cutting designation 305, marginless printing designation 306, and number of copies 307 can be set. However, the items set on the print condition setting screen 300 are not limited to these. For example, printer driver 5
Items related to image processing that can be performed in 20 may be included.

Here, the paper size designates the size of the image to be printed on the paper, for example, A4 and B.
It can be set by selecting 4, postcards, etc. from the menu. The paper feeding device designates a device for feeding paper, and can be set by, for example, selecting a roll paper, an A4 tray, or a manual feed from the menu. The paper type 303 is for specifying the type of printing paper, and can be set, for example, by selecting plain paper, photo paper, or the like from the menu. The print quality 304 specifies the print quality, and can be set by selecting high resolution, low resolution, or the like from the menu, for example.

The automatic cut designation 305 is for designating whether or not the paper is automatically cut. The automatic cut can be designated by clicking the check box, and the paper is automatically cut when printing is performed. Be cut off. The marginless print designation 306 is for designating whether or not printing is performed without the margin portion of the image (marginless printing). By clicking the check box, the marginless printing can be designated. At this time, the print data generation unit 5
22 generates a large image data to realize an image of the full paper size. 307 copies printed
When printing a plurality of copies, the number of copies can be input.

In the print condition setting screen 300, an "OK" button 308 for ending the print condition setting and a "Cancel" button 3 for canceling the setting.
It is equipped with 09. The printer driver 520 displays “O
When the click of the “K” button 308 is accepted, the print condition set on the print condition setting screen 300 is stored in a non-volatile manner and reflected in the subsequent print processing.

Next, the operation of the printer driver 520 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The user interface unit 521 of the printer driver 520 allows the application 510 from the user.
This process is started by accepting a print command via the menu command of (S101). At this time, the printer driver 520 refers to the print condition set on the print condition setting screen 300 to determine whether or not there is marginless printing,
Get the presence / absence of automatic disconnection.

Further, the number M of prints of the main print processing is calculated from the number of pages of the document to be printed and the number of print copies set on the print condition setting screen 300.

As a result, the number of printed sheets M is 1, that is,
When the number of pages of the document is one and the number of print copies is one (S102: Y), normal print processing is performed.

Further, when the printing without margins is not performed or the automatic cutting is not performed (S103: N), the normal printing process is performed.

In other cases, that is, when the number of printed sheets is 2
If the number of sheets is equal to or larger than the number of sheets (S102: N), and printing without margins is performed and automatic cutting is performed (S103: Y), first, N = 1 is set and the first sheet is printed (S10
4).

In the printing process for the 1 (N) th sheet, first, the print data generating unit 522 generates print data for printing the image of the first sheet, and the automatic cutting is performed after printing this image. Add a cutting command to (S1
05).

Then, the image boundary adjusting unit 522a causes the image data of the final line of the generated first print data,
In particular, the color information is temporarily saved. Here, the image data of the final line of the print data is the final line of the first image data at the boundary between the first image and the second image. Further, the line is a pixel column including one column of pixels, but may be a pixel column including a plurality of pixels.

Next, the generated print data and the cutting command are transmitted to the printer 10 (S109),
The printing process for the first sheet is completed (S110), and the printing process for the second sheet is started (S111: N).

In the printing process for the 2 (N) th sheet, first, similarly to the first sheet, the print data generation unit 522 generates print data for printing the image of the second sheet, and after printing this image. A cutting command is added so that automatic cutting is performed (S105).

Then, the printing process for the second and subsequent sheets (S10
In 6: N), an image boundary adjustment process is next performed (S107).

The image boundary adjusting process (S107) will be described with reference to FIG. The image boundary adjustment processing is performed by using the previous image (1
Based on the information of the last line of the (first) image, the image and the image are compared with a region (boundary adjustment region) having a predetermined width from the boundary line between the subsequent image (adjustment target image: second image) and the previous image Image processing is performed so that the color does not change rapidly at the boundary between and.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that this image processing is gradation. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the last line of the previous image is black and the boundary adjustment area of the subsequent image is white, the gradation is changed so that the boundary adjustment area continuously changes from black to white. To apply.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the cut position is deviated from the boundary line between the previous image and the subsequent image due to the smooth change of the color at the boundary between the previous image and the subsequent image. Even in this case, it is possible to make the image inconspicuous.

In the figure, for the sake of simplification of description, in the final line direction, the final line of the previous image is a single black color, and the boundary adjustment area before the image boundary adjustment process is a single white color. However, by performing the image processing for each pixel in the final line direction or for each predetermined unit pixel number, it is possible to deal with the case where these colors are changed as shown in FIG. 6C. be able to.

Further, when the color of the boundary adjustment area changes in the paper feed direction, how to apply gradation can be arbitrarily determined. For example, when the boundary adjustment region is as shown in FIG. 7A, any of FIGS. 7B and 7C may be used.

Note that FIG. 7 (b) shows the color change in the boundary adjustment area by gradation, and FIG. 7 (c) shows the color of the line below the boundary adjustment area (this figure). In black) and the color of the last line of the previous image (black). As a result, FIG. 7C shows one black color. Of course, another method may be used to apply the gradation.

The image processing applied to the boundary adjustment area is not limited to gradation. For example, blurring may be used. In short, it is sufficient if the image processing is performed so that the color does not change rapidly at the boundary between the images. Further, the width of the boundary adjustment area can be set arbitrarily.

The image processing method, the width of the boundary adjustment area, etc. may be set in advance,
The specification may be accepted from the user.

After the above-described image boundary adjustment processing (S107), the information of the final line of the second sheet is stored as in the case of the first sheet (S108). At this time, the information of the final line of the first sheet may be discarded.

Then, the print data after the image boundary adjustment processing is transmitted to the printer 10 (S109), and the print processing for the second sheet is completed (S110).

The print processing for the third and subsequent sheets is the same as the print processing for the second sheet. When the print processing for the M sheets is completed (S111: Y), the main print processing is completed.

On the other hand, in the printer 10, the computer 5
Printing is performed based on the print data sent from 0,
By performing the cutting, it is possible to obtain a print result in which the image is not conspicuous in the marginless printing on the continuous paper.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, when images are continuously printed on a sheet and then the sheet is automatically cut at the boundary between the images, the intrusion of the preceding and following images is made inconspicuous. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an outline of a hardware configuration of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the printer 10 for explaining the printing mechanism 15, the paper feeding mechanism 16 and the cutting mechanism 17.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a functional configuration realized by the computer 50 and the printer 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen 300.

FIG. 5 is a printer driver 520 in this embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining image boundary adjustment processing (S107).

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining how to apply gradation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining image enlargement in marginless printing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining blankless printing on continuous paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Printer with cutting function 11 ... Interface 15 ... Printing mechanism 17 ... Cutting mechanism 22 ... roll paper 23 ... Device body 24 ... Roll paper cassette 27 ... Paper tube 28 ... Shaft 29 ... Laura 30 ... Drive roller 31 ... Tsubabe 32 ... Roll paper motor 33 ... Paper feeding device 35 ... Paper feed driven roller 36 ... Paper feed drive roller 37 ... Conveyor roller 38 ... Paper ejection roller 39 ... Platen 40 ... Carriage shaft 41 ... Carriage 43 ... Recording head 45 ... Cutter device 46 ... Cutter 46a ... movable blade 46b ... Fixed blade 48 ... Auxiliary drive roller 50 ... Computer 54 ... Interface 61 ... Display device 62 ... Input device 63 ... Media reading device 64 ... Auxiliary storage device 65 ... Communication control device 110 ... Print control unit 120 ... Print execution unit 510 ... Application 520 ... Printer driver 521 ... User interface unit 522 ... Print data generation unit 522a ... Image boundary adjustment unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C087 AA15 AB05 AC07 BD37 CA04                       CA05                 5B021 AA01 BB02 KK08 LG07 LG08                       LL05                 5B057 AA11 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16                       CB01 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC03                       CE11                 5C077 LL19 MP08 PP37 PP58 PQ08                       PQ12 SS02 TT02                 5C079 LA31 LB12 MA11 NA06 PA03

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printing system for continuously printing images on a sheet and cutting between the images, a print data generating unit for generating print data for printing the images, and a printing of the previous image. When the data is generated, the color information storage unit that stores the color information of the side that is in contact with the next image, and when generating the print data of the next image, a predetermined line from the boundary line between the image and the previous image is generated. For a region having a width, image processing is performed based on the color of the region and the stored color information of the previous image so that the color does not suddenly change at the boundary line between the previous image and the next image. A printing system comprising: an image processing unit for performing the printing. 2. A printer host for continuously printing images on paper and generating print data for cutting paper between images, when generating print data for a previous image, A color information storage unit that stores color information of the side that is in contact with the image, and when generating print data for the next image, with respect to a region having a predetermined width from the boundary line between the image and the previous image, Image processing means for performing image processing on the boundary line between the previous image and the next image based on the color of the region and the stored color information of the previous image so that the color does not change abruptly. A printer host characterized by the above. 3. The printer host according to claim 2, wherein the image processing is gradation processing. 4. The printer host according to claim 2, wherein the image processing is blurring processing. 5. A printer driver for causing a computer to execute a process of continuously printing an image on a sheet and generating print data for cutting the sheet between the images. When generating the color information storage unit that stores the color information of the side that is in contact with the next image, and when generating the print data for the next image, set a predetermined width from the boundary line between the image and the previous image. Image processing is performed on the area having the color based on the color of the area and the stored color information of the previous image so that the color does not change rapidly at the boundary line between the previous image and the next image. A printer driver characterized by causing a computer to construct an image processing means. 6. The printer driver according to claim 5, wherein the image processing is gradation processing. 7. The printer driver according to claim 5, wherein the image processing is blurring processing. 8. A computer-readable recording medium in which the printer driver according to claim 5 is recorded.