JP2003326797A - Image printer and method for determining arrangement of image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing method satisfying the need of a user by making the user to select the length of a sheet being utilized for automatic arrangement of images in an image printer. <P>SOLUTION: The image printer having a function for printing a plurality of copies of an identical image is provided with a means for arranging a plurality of identical print images efficiently on the same sheet. The user is made to select the maximum sheet length at the time of printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image printing device for printing image information recorded on an electronic medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows the structure of a conventional image printing apparatus.

In FIG. 6, a CPU 601 is a central information processing unit, an internal storage unit 602 is a storage area directly connected to a CPU bus represented by a random access memory, and a peripheral device control unit 603 is a peripheral unit represented by Centronics / SCSI. The controller and the external storage device 604 are a mass storage device represented by a hard disk, a printing device 6
Reference numeral 05 is a printing device represented by a well-known electrophotographic device, inkjet printer, or the like.

First, the operator instructs the image information processing apparatus represented by a well-known computer (not shown) to print the image information together with the number of print copies.

The CPU 601 sequentially executes the program code in the internal storage device 602 and loads the image data stored in the external storage device 604 into the internal storage device 602.

At this time, the CPU 601 sets the number of prints to 2
When more than one copy is requested, a plurality of the same images are efficiently arranged on the same sheet by the image arrangement determination program stored in the internal storage device 602.

Subsequently, the CPU 601 controls the internal storage device 6
The image information loaded as a bit string on 02 is converted into a data structure suitable for printing, and is transferred to the printing device 605 using the peripheral device control device 603.

After the image printing, the printing device 605 cuts the printing paper by a paper cutting device typified by a roll cutter (not shown).

[0009]

In the printing apparatus shown in the above-mentioned conventional example, when the maximum length of the paper that can be used for image layout is short, that is, the more the number of paper cuts in one print job is, Since the number of times of paper cutting, cleaning of the print head, and the like, which are performed in advance, also increases, the printing time tends to increase as a whole. On the other hand, however, since the number of times the paper is automatically cut by the printing device is large, the labor of manually cutting the paper after printing is reduced.

On the contrary, when the maximum length of the paper that can be used for image arrangement is long, the division of the printing paper is prevented, and the printing time is shortened by the time required for each sub-job. In this case, since the number of times of automatically cutting the paper by the printing device is reduced, the time and effort for manually cutting the paper after printing is increased.

Such a tendency is particularly remarkable when a large amount of printing instructions are given.

As described above, the maximum usable length of the paper at the time of printing makes a difference in the printing time and the labor of cutting the paper, but the maximum usable length of the paper is conventionally fixed by the system, which is convenient for the user. The sex was lost.

[0013]

In order to solve the above problems, a printing method that matches the usage method of the user by adding a function to the system that allows the user to select the maximum length of paper that can be used for one printing Can be provided.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

The configuration of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, 101 is a central information processing unit (CPU), 102 is an internal storage device directly connected to a CPU bus represented by a random access memory, 103 is a peripheral device control device represented by Centronics / SCSI, and the like. Reference numeral 104 denotes an external storage device typified by a hard disk, 105 a printing device typified by a well-known electrophotographic device or inkjet printer, and 106 a print buffer for temporarily storing and storing print images.

In this embodiment, the printing paper has a width of A
Roll paper of 4 sizes in the long side direction (297 mm) is used.

First, the operator selects, from an input device represented by a keyboard device (not shown), the number of print copies of the image file stored in the external storage device 104 and the maximum paper length from the options provided by the system. And CPU
A print instruction is given to 101.

The maximum paper length is 105 mm, 210
It shall be selected from mm, 420 mm and 630 mm (Fig. 2).

Here, it is assumed that eight images of a size corresponding to a postcard (100 × 148 mm) (FIG. 3) are selected as print images, and 105 mm is selected as the maximum paper length.

Subsequently, the CPU 101 generates print information represented by a page description language script for printing one page of print image data and stores it in the internal storage device 102.

Subsequently, the CPU 101 controls the internal storage device 1
The minimum image layout determination code stored in 02 is sequentially executed, and the position of each image on the paper and other supplementary information are determined so that the designated number of copies of the image can be printed in the optimal layout.

Since the maximum paper length is specified to be 105 mm in the determination of the optimum image layout, the image layout is set to 10 mm.
The printing information is determined so that the printing is performed within a range of 5 mm × 297 mm, and as a result, two copies of the image are arranged on one sheet and four sheets are printed as a whole (FIG. 4).

Subsequently, the CPU 101 operates the internal storage device 10
By the print information changing unit stored in No. 2 and not described in detail here, the print information generated earlier reflects the determined optimum arrangement.

Finally, the changed print information is sent together with the image data to the printer 105 via the peripheral device controller 103.

Based on the print information, the printing device 105 is shown in FIG.
The printing of the first sheet is executed as shown in the image of (1), and after the printing is completed, the paper is cut at a position of 100 mm at the edge of the image.

After that, printing up to the fourth sheet is similarly performed.

The printing result is as shown in FIG. 4, and the number of sheets is four. The user cuts the center of each sheet.

(Second Embodiment) In the present embodiment, image printing is performed with the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. However, 630 mm is selected as the maximum paper length.

When the operator issues a print instruction as in the first embodiment, the CPU 101 generates print information represented by a page description language script for printing one page of print image data, and the internal storage device 102. To store.

Next, the optimum layout determination code of the image stored in the internal storage device 102 is sequentially executed. However, since the maximum paper length is specified as 630 mm, the image layout is within the range of 630 mm × 297 mm. Then, as a result, 8 pieces of images are arranged on one sheet, and print information is determined so that one sheet is printed as a whole (FIG. 5).

The printing device executes printing based on the decided printing information as in the case of the first embodiment.

The printing result is as shown in FIG. 5, and the number of sheets is one. The user cuts the paper to the desired size.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the printing apparatus having the optimum image layout determining means is provided with the setting of the maximum paper length that can be used for one printing, thereby making it possible for the user to use the method. And provided a printing method that conforms to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of first and second embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a screen for selecting a maximum paper length.

FIG. 3 is a print image according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a result of image arrangement in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an image layout result in the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a conventional configuration diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Central Information Processing Unit (CPU) 102 Internal Storage Device Directly Connected to CPU Bus Represented by Random Access Memory 103 Peripheral Device Control Device Represented by Centronics / SCSI 104 External Storage Device 105 Represented by Hard Disk 105 Known Electronic Printing device 106 typified by a photographic device or inkjet printer A print buffer 601 for temporarily storing and storing print images Central information processing unit (CPU) 602 Internal storage device 603 represented by a random access memory Directly connected to a CPU bus Centronics / SCSI Peripheral device control device 604 represented by, etc. External storage device 605 represented by hard disk, Printing device represented by well-known electrophotographic device, inkjet printer, etc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image printing apparatus having a function of printing a plurality of copies of the same image, capable of loading a printing paper sheet of an arbitrary length, and having means for cutting the printing paper sheet at an arbitrary length after image printing. An image printing apparatus, comprising: means for determining an optimum arrangement of an image on printing paper. 2. The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for automatically arranging a plurality of the same print images on the same sheet in accordance with the determined optimum arrangement. 3. The image layout determining method, wherein in the optimum layout determining step, the optimum layout is determined in consideration of image rotation. 4. The image recording apparatus having a function of setting a maximum length of a print sheet on which an image is arranged in the image recording apparatus and the optimum arrangement determining step. 5. The image recording apparatus having a function of determining the optimum arrangement of images within the set maximum length of the printing paper in the image recording apparatus and the optimum arrangement determining step.