JP2006102989A - Printing device, printing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which well performs bleed printing even if a recording paper lengthens due to moisture absorption. <P>SOLUTION: A printer driver 6 determines the size of an image of image data D2 by enlarging image data D1 so as to make a printing area to be a size protruding outward by a prescribed amount from the edge of the recording paper on the basis of the result of detection from a detection section to detect the width of a recording paper in a main scanning direction as paper width. The printer driver 6 prepares printing data PD to be supplied to a printer 3 from the image data D2, the size of which is determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing system, and a program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for printing without generating a blank on a recording sheet as a medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) is known as one of printing apparatuses that print an image on recording paper. In recent years, this type of printer has been provided with a so-called “borderless printing” function that prints on all four sides of a recording paper without any margins. Printing can be performed without causing a margin in the recording paper by ejecting the ink by protruding a predetermined amount.

For example, in Patent Document 1, the position of the end of the recording paper is detected for each main scanning of the print head by the detection means (sensor or the like) of the printer, and ink is ejected from the print head based on the detected position of the end. A technique for performing borderless printing by changing at least one of the start position and the end position is disclosed. As described above, by appropriately changing the printing range (ink discharge range) based on the detection result of each time by the detection unit, even when the recording paper is supplied obliquely, marginless printing is performed without causing a margin. It can be carried out.
JP 2004-82631 A

  However, the conventional techniques described above have the following problems. In other words, if the recording paper used for printing absorbs ambient moisture and the recording paper is stretched, margins may occur on all four sides even though borderless printing is performed. It was. This is because the printer performs printing in accordance with print data created in advance in a predetermined size corresponding to borderless printing. If the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption, the stretch This is because the image information corresponding to (the amount of increase in size) is insufficient. Such a defect becomes more prominent especially as the size of the recording paper increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and printing that can suitably perform borderless printing even when the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption. It is to provide a system and a program.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a detection unit that detects a width of a recording sheet in the main scanning direction as a sheet width, and a print area based on the sheet width detected by the detection unit. A size determining unit that determines the image size by enlarging the image data so that the predetermined amount protrudes outside the position of the edge of the recording paper; and the image data based on the image size determined by the size determining unit The gist of the invention is that the printing apparatus includes a print execution unit that executes printing based on print data created from the print data.

  According to this printing apparatus, the image size of the image data is determined based on the paper width detected by the detection unit, and printing is executed based on the print data created from the image data based on the image size. Thereby, even when the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption, borderless printing can be suitably carried out without causing margins on the four sides.

  In the above-described printing apparatus, the size determining unit calculates an increase amount of the recording paper size based on the paper width, and the increase amount is set in advance for borderless printing. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which an enlargement area is obtained in addition to the enlargement amount according to the image size, and the image size is determined by enlarging the image data in such a manner that the print area includes at least the enlargement area.

  In the configuration of such a size determination unit, the image size of the image data is set to an enlargement amount set in advance according to the size of the recording paper, and an increase amount of the size calculated based on the paper width detected by the detection unit. The size is increased to a size larger than the obtained enlargement area by adding the minutes. Thereby, borderless printing can be suitably performed even if the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption.

  In the printing apparatus described above, the size determination unit enlarges the image data in the width direction and the length direction with respect to the enlargement region, and the width direction when the image data circumscribes the enlargement region The enlargement ratio and the enlargement ratio in the length direction are calculated, and the larger one of the two calculated enlargement ratios is determined as the final enlargement ratio of the image data. A configuration in which the image data is enlarged to determine the image size may be employed.

  In the configuration of such a size determining unit, the image size of the image data is enlarged while maintaining the aspect ratio. Thereby, borderless printing in consideration of the elongation of the recording paper can be performed more suitably.

  In the above-described printing apparatus, the size determining unit, when borderless printing is performed on a cut sheet that is one of the recording sheets, the width direction and length of the cut sheet based on the sheet width. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the amount of increase in the size is calculated for each direction.

  With such a configuration of the size determining unit, when borderless printing is performed on a cut sheet, the amount of increase in the size is considered in each of the width direction and the length direction. Accordingly, borderless printing can be suitably performed even when the cut paper is stretched by moisture absorption.

  In the printing apparatus described above, the size determining unit may be configured to perform the size measurement in the width direction of the roll paper based on the paper width when borderless printing is performed on the roll paper that is one of the recording papers. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the amount of increase is calculated.

  With such a configuration of the size determining unit, when borderless printing is performed on the roll paper, the amount of increase in the size is considered in the width direction. That is, in the roll paper, the image height in the length direction is controlled to a constant height after printing. Therefore, it is only necessary to consider the elongation in the width direction without considering the elongation in the length direction. Thereby, borderless printing can be suitably performed even when the roll paper is stretched by moisture absorption.

  In the printing apparatus described above, the detection unit includes a sensor that detects the position of the edge of the recording paper and a sensor control circuit that measures the paper width based on a detection result by the sensor. Can be adopted.

With such a configuration of the detection unit, it is possible to detect the elongation generated on the recording paper.
In the printing apparatus described above, the size determination unit is provided as a function of a printer driver that creates the print data from the image data, and the printer driver sets the image size determined by the size determination unit. It is possible to adopt a mode in which the print data is created based on this.

  In the printing apparatus adopting such an aspect, a function for creating print data from image data based on the size determination unit and the image size determined by the size determination unit can be realized as a function of the printer driver.

  In a second aspect of the present invention, a computer including a printer driver that creates print data from image data, and a printing apparatus that is connected to the computer and executes printing based on the print data created by the printer driver; , The printer driver receives a detection result from the detection unit that detects the width of the recording paper in the main scanning direction as the paper width from the printing apparatus, and the print area is determined based on the received paper width. The gist of the invention is that it includes a size determining unit that determines the image size by enlarging the image data so that a predetermined amount protrudes outside the edge of the recording paper.

  According to such a configuration, when marginless printing is performed by a printing system including a computer having a printer driver and a printing apparatus connected thereto, the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption. However, borderless printing can be favorably performed without causing margins on the four sides.

  In the printing system described above, the printer driver makes a request for detection of the paper width to the printing apparatus based on an instruction to start a printing process in which borderless printing is set as a printing mode, and is detected by the detection unit. It is possible to adopt a mode in which the detection result of the paper width is received from the printing apparatus in a mode including status information as paper detection information.

  According to such a configuration, the printer driver receives the paper detection information as one of the status information from the printing apparatus, thereby grasping whether or not the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption. Then, an image size is determined by the size determination unit based on the received paper detection information, and print data is created from the image data based on the determined image size.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer driver program for creating print data to be executed by a computer and supplied to a printing apparatus based on image data, wherein the computer performs borderless printing as a print mode. A step of making a request for detecting the paper width to the printing device to detect the width of the recording paper in the main scanning direction as the paper width based on the instruction to start the printing process, and the paper width received from the printing device. Based on the detection result, the amount of increase in the size of the recording paper is calculated, the amount of increase is added to the amount of enlargement set in advance according to the size of the recording paper, an enlarged region is obtained, and the image data is obtained. An enlargement ratio in the width direction and an enlargement ratio in the length direction when the image data is in a state of circumscribing the enlargement area by enlarging the enlargement area in the width direction and the length direction, respectively. A step of calculating and determining a larger one of the two calculated enlargement factors as a final enlargement factor of the image data, and enlarging the image data with the determined enlargement factor, And a step of creating the print data from the image data based on the determined image size.

  With such a printer driver program, when performing borderless printing, even if the recording paper is stretched due to moisture absorption, the borderless printing is optimal without causing margins on the four sides. Can be implemented.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The printing system 1 includes a computer 2 and a color ink jet printer (hereinafter “printer”) 3 as a printing apparatus. The printing system 1 including the computer 2 and the printer 3 can be called a “printing apparatus” in a broad sense.

  The computer 2 incorporates an application program (hereinafter “application”) 4 that operates under a predetermined OS (operating system). The OS of the computer 2 incorporates a printer driver program that functions as the printer driver 6 and a video driver program that functions as the video driver 7, and the application 4 starts these driver programs. Various processes for handling image data are performed. For example, the application 4 activates a printer driver program to generate print data PD to be transferred to the printer 3 or activates a video driver program to display the display device 5 (CRT) connected to the computer 2. , LCD, etc.).

  In such a printing system 1, an operation for starting a printing process or the like is performed using an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) (not shown) of the computer 2, for example. When the application 4 receives a print processing start command via the input device, the application 4 outputs image data D1 stored in a buffer memory (not shown) of the computer 2 to the printer driver 6. The printer driver 6 generates print data PD to be supplied to the printer 3 based on the received image data D1.

Next, the functional configuration of the printer driver 6 will be described.
The printer driver 6 includes a size determination unit 11, a rasterization processing unit 12, a color conversion unit 13, a halftone unit 14, an MW (microweave) unit 15, a UI (user interface) control unit 16, and an I / F (interface) unit. 17.

  The size determination unit 11 performs a process of determining the image size of the image data D1 received from the application 4. The image size is determined by the size of the recording paper P selected on the print setting screen (driver UI), the setting for no border, and paper detection information Cs (described later) received from the printer 3. Note that the image size determined here is a size corresponding to a print area PA when the printer 3 drives a print head described later to execute printing. In other words, in the present embodiment, when printing is started by selecting one of the printing modes, “borderless printing”, the size determination unit 11 enlarges the image data D1 at a predetermined enlargement ratio. Then, image data D2 having a size corresponding to the print area PA corresponding to the borderless printing is generated.

  The rasterization processing unit 12 converts the resolution of the image data D2 received from the size determination unit 11 into a resolution (printing resolution) suitable for printing processing by the printer 3, and further converts characters and draw data into RGB data. Process. For example, when the resolution of the image data D2 is lower than the printing resolution, the rasterization processing unit 12 creates new data between adjacent rasters of the image data D2 by performing linear interpolation. Conversely, when the resolution of the image data D2 is higher than the print resolution, the rasterization processing unit 12 converts the resolution of the image data D2 to a lower resolution by thinning out the data at a certain rate.

  The color conversion unit 13 stores the image data (hereinafter referred to as “RGB data”) composed of the three color components R, G, and B after the rasterization process in a color conversion table 18 stored in a memory (not shown) of the computer 2. Based on this, the image data is converted for each pixel into multi-tone image data (hereinafter, “CMYK data”) expressed by a combination of a plurality of ink colors that can be used by the printer 3. For example, when the printer 3 can use four colors of ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), the color conversion unit 13 uses C, M, Y, and K. Are converted into CMYK data expressed by a combination of each gradation value.

  The halftone unit 14 performs a process of converting the CMYK data thus formed into image data of two gradations that can be expressed by the printer 3, that is, a so-called halftone process. The CMYK data is data expressed by 256 colors of each color, for example, gradation values 0 to 255, whereas the printer 3 can only take one of the states of forming dots or not forming dots. . For this reason, for example, it is necessary to convert image data expressed in 256 gradations into image data of two gradations representing the presence / absence of dot formation, so-called dot data. is there.

  The MW unit 15 rearranges the image data (dot data) after the halftone processing into an order to be transferred to the printer 3 in consideration of the dot formation order in the printer 3 and forms it as print data PD. To do. In other words, since each nozzle is arranged in the paper feed direction at a nozzle pitch having a resolution lower than the printing resolution, a continuous raster cannot be formed in one main scan. Therefore, in each main scan, a plurality of rasters are formed at nozzle pitch intervals, and each raster is formed by shifting the formation position little by little to fill the space between the rasters in order to finally form a continuous raster. To form. The process of rearranging dot data in the order to be transferred to the printer 3 in consideration of the number of nozzles of the print head, the nozzle pitch, and the like is called microweave processing. Note that the print data PD formed by performing the microweave process includes dot data (raster data) indicating whether or not dots are formed during each main scan and data indicating the paper feed amount.

  The UI control unit 16 has a function of displaying various windows related to print processing such as a print setting screen and an alert screen (warning screen) on the display device 5, and an input from the user (operation for starting print processing) in these windows. Etc.).

  The I / F unit 17 performs an interface function between the printer driver 6 and the printer 3. For example, the I / F unit 17 interprets an instruction (command) received from the user through the UI control unit 16 and transmits various commands CMD to the printer 3, or conversely, the command CMD received from the printer 3. And output it to the UI control unit 16.

  A program (printer driver program) for realizing the functions of the printer driver 6 is provided on a recording medium readable by the computer 2. As this recording medium, an arbitrary recording medium such as an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM,...), A magneto-optical disk (MO, MD,...) Can be used. Such a recording medium includes a medium, a disk device, and the like on which a program uploaded or downloaded via a communication medium is recorded.

Next, a specific configuration of the printer 3 in the printing system 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the printing mechanism of the printer 3. The printer 3 of this embodiment has a carriage 21 on which a black ink cartridge and a color ink cartridge (not shown) are mounted. The carriage 21 is attached with a print head 22 and a sensor 23 that constitutes a detection unit described later.

  The print head 22 is disposed to face a platen 24 that guides the recording paper P supplied from a paper feeding device (not shown) in the paper feeding direction (direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction; sub-scanning direction). The distance between the platen 24 and the print head 22, the so-called platen gap, is managed according to the type of the recording paper P to a value that can maintain the printing quality on the recording paper P satisfactorily. The print head 22 is formed with a plurality of nozzle holes (not shown) for ejecting ink droplets. In the present embodiment, each of these nozzle holes has three types of dot diameters: large, medium, and small. Ink droplets controlled to any one of the dot diameters are selectively ejected.

  The carriage 21 is fixed to an endless drive belt 26 stretched around a pulley 25 and is slidably supported on a slide shaft 27. The carriage 21 is reciprocated in the main scanning direction based on driving of a carriage motor 28. . When the carriage 21 is reciprocated, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle holes of the print head 22 at a predetermined timing, and the recording paper P is fed to the paper feed motor 29 (FIG. 2) in accordance with the movement of the carriage 21. The printing on the recording paper P is performed by being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction based on the driving of (see).

  In the present embodiment, the sensor 23 is configured by a reflective optical sensor including a light emitting element (for example, a light emitting diode) and a light receiving element (for example, a phototransistor). The sensor 23 optically detects the position of the end of the recording paper P by being moved in the main scanning direction together with the carriage 21. That is, in the sensor 23, light (incident light) emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the recording paper P or the platen 24, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element and converted into an electric signal. . Therefore, an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light is extracted from the sensor 23 as an output value (detection result by the sensor 23).

Next, the configuration of the control unit that drives and controls the printing mechanism of the printer 3 will be described. In the present embodiment, a printing execution unit is configured by the printing mechanism and the control unit.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printer 3. Note that the same components as those in FIG. 3 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The control unit 31 of the printer 3 is configured by, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and includes a controller 32, an I / F (interface) circuit 33, a buffer memory 34, an image buffer 35, a main memory 36, and an EEPROM 37. is doing. The controller 32 is configured with a CPU at the center, and comprehensively controls the operation of the printer 3. The buffer memory 34 and the image buffer 35 are composed of RAM (for example, SDRAM), and the main memory 36 is composed of ROM.

  The I / F circuit 33 is an interface between the printer 3 and the printer driver 6. The print data PD and various commands CMD received from the printer driver 6 are stored in the buffer memory 34, or conversely through the buffer memory 34. It has a function of transmitting the received command CMD to the printer driver 6.

  The buffer memory 34 temporarily stores print data PD and various commands CMD. In the image buffer 35, the print data (image data) of each color component from the print data PD stored in the buffer memory 34 is sequentially read from the buffer memory 34 and stored under the instruction of the controller 32. . The main memory 36 and the EEPROM 37 store programs executed by the controller 32, data, and the like. The controller 32 comprehensively controls the operation of the printer 3 by executing programs stored in the main memory 36 and the EEPROM 37.

  The controller 32 further includes a main scanning drive circuit 41 that drives the carriage motor 28, a sub-scanning drive circuit 42 that drives the paper feed motor 29, a head drive circuit 43 that drives the print head 22, and a sensor control circuit 44. The panel control circuit 45 and the status management circuit 46 are connected. The controller 32 reads necessary information from the print data PD and various commands CMD stored in the buffer memory 34, and generates control signals for controlling the circuits 41 to 46 based on the read information.

  Accordingly, the main scanning drive circuit 41 and the sub scanning drive circuit 42 drive the carriage motor 28 and the paper feed motor 29 based on each control signal output from the controller 32. The head drive circuit 43 rasterizes print data (image data) of each color component from the image buffer 35 based on a control signal output from the controller 32 in synchronization with a control signal for controlling the main scanning drive circuit 41. The data is read out every time and the print head 22 is driven accordingly.

  The sensor control circuit 44 drives the sensor 23 (light emitting element, light receiving element) based on the control signal from the controller 32, and the width (paper width) of the recording paper P based on the detection result from the sensor 23. ) And returns the measurement result to the controller 32. In the present embodiment, the sensor 23 and the sensor control circuit 44 constitute a detection unit.

  The panel control circuit 45 is electrically connected to an operation panel 47 provided as an operation device (user interface) of the printer 3. The operation panel 47 is provided with various operation keys such as a power switch and a print start switch, and a display screen made of, for example, liquid crystal. When the operation key of the operation panel 47 is operated by the user, the panel control circuit 45 outputs a key operation signal corresponding to the operated key to the controller 32. In response to this, the controller 32 displays the key operation signal. The process corresponding to is executed. The panel control circuit 45 displays various windows related to the printing process on the display screen of the operation panel 47 based on the control signal from the controller 32.

  The status management circuit 46 receives status information ST indicating the operation state of the printer 3 from the controller 32 and manages it. In such status information ST, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the status code C1 for notifying the operation state of the printer 3 such as an idle state or an error state, the presence or absence of recording paper P, the presence or absence of paper jam, etc. Error code C2 for notifying the content of the operation error 3, paper path information C3 for notifying the current setting of the recording paper P (cut sheet or roll paper, etc.), ink information for notifying the remaining ink amount, etc. C4 etc. are included. Here, in the present embodiment, as one of such status information ST, the result of measuring the width (paper width) of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction based on the detection result by the sensor 23 is also the paper. It is included as detection information Cs. The status management circuit 46 receives such status information ST from the controller 32 and stores it in the buffer memory 34 as well as storing it internally. When new status information ST is received from the controller 32, the information stored therein and the information in the buffer memory 34 are updated.

  The I / F circuit 33 returns the status information ST thus stored in the buffer memory 34 as a status reply command in response to the status request command from the printer driver 6. As a result, the printer driver 6 can grasp the operating state of the printer 3 at any time.

Next, a mode in which “marginless printing” is performed by the printing system 1 will be described. “Borderless printing” is a technique for printing without generating margins on the four sides of the recording paper P.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining borderless printing according to the present embodiment. Here, a description will be given on behalf of a mode in which, for example, a cut sheet CP is used as one of the recording sheets P.

  In the present embodiment, when borderless printing is performed on the cut sheet CP, the sheet width is detected by the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44), and the cut sheet CP is detected based on the detected sheet width. A feature is that the printer driver 6 enlarges the image data D1 so that the print area PA is larger than the size by a predetermined amount.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, when performing borderless printing on a cut sheet CP having a fixed size of “width W × length L”, the cut sheet CP is stretched due to moisture absorption. In this case, as described above, the borderless printing may not be performed correctly by the conventional borderless printing method. That is, although marginless printing is performed, margins may occur on the four sides due to the elongation of the cut sheet CP. The present embodiment proposes a process for favorably performing borderless printing without causing such problems. The specific method will be described in detail below.

  First, in the present embodiment, when borderless printing is performed on a cut sheet CP, the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44) detects the sheet width of the cut sheet CP, thereby causing elongation due to moisture absorption. Judge whether or not.

  Here, when the elongation due to moisture absorption occurs, it is considered that the cut paper CP is elongated at the same elongation rate in the width direction and the length direction (in the present specification, “width” “Direction” means a direction parallel to the main scanning direction, and “length direction” means a direction parallel to the sub-scanning direction (the same applies hereinafter). That is, the position of the edge of the cut sheet CP is detected by the sensor 23 and the sheet width is measured by the sensor control circuit 44 based on the detected position. As a result, as shown in FIG. It is considered that “Le” elongation occurs in the length direction at the same elongation rate. Accordingly, at this time, the size of the cut sheet CP is actually “width (W + We) × length (L + Le)”.

  Based on the result of detecting the size of the cut sheet CP (in other words, the actual physical size) that increases due to moisture absorption by the detection unit, the printer driver 6 has a predetermined amount of print area PA that is larger than the detected size. The print data PD is generated by enlarging the image data D1 so as to have a protruding size.

Here, a mode when the image data D1 is enlarged by the printer driver 6 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present embodiment, when the printer driver 6 performs the enlargement process on the image data D1 in “marginless printing”, the enlargement amount δ (that is, the protrusion amount) determined in advance according to the standard size of the cut sheet CP. ) To perform the enlargement process. The enlargement amount δ is set as a value that expands from the edge of the cut sheet CP by “δt” in the upward direction, “δb” in the downward direction, “δr” in the right direction, and “δl” in the left direction. It should be noted that such an enlarged amount δ (δt, δb, δr, δl) has no margin due to accumulation of tolerances due to mechanical deviations in printing processing such as recording paper skew (conveyance deviation) and paper feeding. It is set to a value that can optimize printing (a value that includes a margin that can be printed without generating margins on the four sides if it is a standard size).

  For this reason, the printer driver 6 of the present embodiment considers the elongation due to moisture absorption described above, and the size “width (W + We) × length of the cut paper CP after the detection of the paper width is preferably performed in order to perform borderless printing. At least the enlargement area EXA is obtained with respect to the enlargement area EXA (two-dot chain line in FIG. 5B) obtained by adding a predetermined enlargement amount δ (δt, δb, δr, δl) to “(L + Le)”. The image data D1 is enlarged in a manner included in the print area PA.

At this time, the printer driver 6 of the present embodiment further enlarges the image data D1 so as not to change the aspect ratio of the image.
Specifically, first, the printer driver 6 converts the image data D1 formed in an image size corresponding to the size (W × L) of the cut sheet CP into the enlarged areas EXA in the width direction and the length direction, respectively. The image data D1 is enlarged in a circumscribed manner, and the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction and the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction of the image data D1 are obtained individually.

Here, the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction and the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction are obtained by the following equations, respectively.
rW = (W + We + δr + δl) / W
rL = (L + Le + δt + δb) / L
Then, the printer driver 6 employs the larger enlargement ratio of these two enlargement ratios rW and rL as the enlargement ratio of the image data D1. For example, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction is large among the two enlargement ratios rW and rL, the printer driver 6 uses the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction to generate an image. The enlargement process of the data D1 is performed. That is, the printer driver 6 enlarges the image data D1 in the width direction and the length direction at an enlargement ratio rL, and an image corresponding to the print area PA of “width (W × rL) × length (L × rL)”. The image data D2 having a size is created. Therefore, in this case, the width (W + We + δr + δl) of the previous enlargement area EXA is changed according to the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction.

  The printer driver 6 of the present embodiment creates print data PD based on the image data D2 thus obtained. As a result, even when elongation due to moisture absorption occurs, the printer 3 can suitably perform borderless printing without causing margins on the four sides of the cut sheet CP.

Here, for ease of understanding, an example in which the above processing is embodied in, for example, an L-size cut sheet CP will be introduced below.
The L size is a cut sheet CP set to a standard size having a width W: 89 mm and a length L: 127 mm. Here, for example, when 1 dot (dot) = 1/360 inch (inch), when the width W and length L of the L size are represented by the number of dots, the width W is 1261 dots and the length L is 1800 dots.

  Further, the enlargement amount δ (δt, δb, δr, δl) of borderless printing in this L size is δt: 42 dots (3 mm), δb: 70 dots (5 mm), δr: 35 dots (2.5 mm), δl: It is set to 35 dots (2.5 mm).

  Now, as a result of detecting the paper width of the L-size cut paper CP by the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44) of the printer 3, for example, the extension We in the width direction was 42 dots (3 mm). In this case, the lengthwise extension Le is also considered to be 42 dots (3 mm). That is, at this time, the size of the L-size cut sheet CP is actually “width W: (1261 + 42) dots × length L: (1800 + 42) dots”.

  Therefore, the width of the enlargement area EXA is (1261 + 42 + 35 + 35) dots and the length is (1800 + 42 + 42 + 70) dots, and the printer driver 6 is configured to circumscribe and enlarge the image data D1 (image size: W × L) in the enlargement area EXA. The final enlargement ratio of the image data D1 is determined from the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction and the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction. In this case, since the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction is 1.0888, the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction is 1.0855, the printer driver 6 uses the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction of the image data D1. Determine the final enlargement ratio.

  That is, the printer driver 6 enlarges the image data D1 at the enlargement ratio rW, and creates image data D2 having an image size corresponding to the print area PA of “width W: 1373 dots × length L: 1960 dots”. Therefore, in this case, the enlargement amounts δt and δb in the length direction of borderless printing are changed to δt: 42 → 45 dots and δb: 70 → 73 dots, respectively, according to the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction.

Next, processing in the printer driver 6 (printer driver program) related to borderless printing will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the process of the printer driver 6 together with the process of the printer 3. FIG. 6 shows the period from the start of borderless printing to the end of the printing process.

  When the printer driver 6 receives an instruction to start “marginless printing” from the user (step 100), the printer driver 6 requests the printer 3 for the paper width of the recording paper P (sends a status request command) (step 110).

  Upon receiving this status request, the printer 3 detects the paper width of the recording paper P by the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44) (step 200), and uses the detection result as status information ST (paper detection information Cs). Return to the printer driver 6 (send status reply command) (step 210).

  The printer driver 6 obtains an increase amount of the size of the recording paper P based on the detection result of the paper width received from the printer 3, and an image is obtained from the increase amount of the size and the enlargement amount δ corresponding to the recording paper P. A final enlargement ratio of the data D1 is determined (step 120). Then, the image data D1 is enlarged based on this enlargement ratio, and the print area PA (that is, the image size of the image data D2) in borderless printing is determined (step 130).

  The printer driver 6 creates print data PD to be supplied to the printer 3 based on the image data D2 generated by the enlargement process in this way, and transmits it to the printer 3 together with a necessary command CMD (step 140). Then, the printer 3 executes “marginless printing” based on the print data PD received from the printer driver 6 (step 220).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Based on the paper width of the recording paper P detected by the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44) of the printer 3, the print area PA has a size that protrudes outside the position of the end of the recording paper P by a predetermined amount. The printer driver 6 is provided with a function of a size determining unit that determines the image size by enlarging the image data D1. As a result, the printer driver 6 creates print data PD to be supplied to the printer 3 from the image data D2 having the image size based on the image size determined by the size determination unit. In such a configuration, even when the recording paper P is stretched due to moisture absorption, borderless printing can be suitably performed without causing margins on the four sides.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the amount of increase in the size of the recording paper P is calculated based on the paper width detected by the detection unit, and the amount of increase is previously determined according to the size (standard size) of the recording paper P. The enlargement area EXA is obtained in addition to the set enlargement amount δ. Here, the enlargement amount δ is set to a value including a margin capable of optimizing marginless printing by accumulating tolerances due to mechanical misalignment in the printer 3 during printing. In other words, in the present embodiment, the enlargement area EXA is obtained by adding the increase in size to the enlargement amount δ, and the image data D1 is enlarged to a size larger than the thus obtained enlargement area EXA. The image size is determined. In such a configuration, borderless printing can be more suitably performed in consideration of the elongation of the recording paper P due to moisture absorption.

  (3) In the present embodiment, the image data D1 is enlarged in the width direction and the length direction with respect to the enlargement area EXA, and the enlargement ratio rW in the width direction when the image data D1 circumscribes the enlargement area EXA. And the enlargement ratio rL in the length direction, and the larger enlargement ratio of the two enlargement ratios rW and rL is determined as the final enlargement ratio of the image data D1. In such a configuration, the enlargement process of the image data D1 can be performed while maintaining the aspect ratio of the image data D1. Thereby, borderless printing can be optimized while considering the elongation of the recording paper P due to moisture absorption.

  (4) In the present embodiment, in the embodiment in which borderless printing is performed using the cut paper CP, the amount of increase in size due to moisture absorption of the cut paper CP is determined based on the paper width detected by the detection unit. Calculation was made for each of the direction and the length direction. In such a configuration, when marginless printing is performed on the cut sheet CP, the marginless printing can be suitably performed even when elongations We and Le are generated due to moisture absorption.

  (5) In this embodiment, since the printer driver 6 has the function of the size determination unit and the function of creating the print data PD from the image data D2 based on the image size determined by the size determination unit, the printer 3 In this case, satisfactory borderless printing can be realized only by providing the configuration of the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44). By the way, as a configuration of such a detection unit, it is also possible to adopt a configuration of a general sensor that is already provided (as an application for detecting a paper feed error) as it is. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the printing system 1 can perform good borderless printing in consideration of the elongation due to moisture absorption of the recording paper P by substantially adding and changing the printer driver program. (Printer) can be realized.

  (6) In the present embodiment, the printer driver 6 receives the result (paper detection information Cs) of detecting the paper width of the recording paper P by the detection unit of the printer 3 from the printer 3 as one of the status information ST. did. Thus, the printer driver 6 can grasp whether or not the recording paper P has been stretched due to moisture absorption by receiving the status information ST from the printer 3 at the start of borderless printing.

  (7) In the present embodiment, the detection unit performs the paper width detection operation only once based on the instruction to start the borderless printing process, and the printer driver 6 receives the paper width detected by the detection operation and receives the image. This is a mode for determining the size. Therefore, the paper width detection operation is not necessarily required in each main scanning.

  (8) In this embodiment, since the paper width is detected for each recording paper P to be printed (in other words, the amount of increase in size is changed according to the recording paper P), When elongation due to moisture absorption has not occurred, it is also suitably prevented that the image is discarded by enlarging the image more than necessary.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a mode in which the borderless printing described in the first embodiment is performed using the roll paper RP which is one of the recording papers P will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a processing image when borderless printing is performed using the roll paper RP. Note that the same processing as the processing using the cut sheet CP described above with reference to FIG.

  In printing on the roll paper RP, a known roll paper RP cutting cutter (not shown) provided in the printer 3 is controlled so that the image height (length direction) after printing is always constant. Is done. Therefore, when performing borderless printing on the roll paper RP, it is not necessary to consider the lengthwise elongation due to moisture absorption.

  That is, in the case of the roll paper RP, as shown in FIG. 7, only the width direction We has to be considered, and the width of the enlarged area EXA is (W + We + δr + δl) and the length is (L + δt + δb). Then, the printer driver 6 obtains an enlargement ratio rW in the width direction and an enlargement ratio rL in the length direction in the manner of circumscribing enlargement to the enlargement area EXA, and the enlargement ratio among them is obtained. Is used as the final enlargement ratio of the image data D1, thereby determining the image size (= print area PA) of the image data D2.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, in the aspect in which the roll paper RP is used as the recording paper P and the borderless printing is performed, the aspect ratio of the image data D1 is set in consideration of the elongation We in the width direction of the roll paper RP due to moisture absorption. By performing the enlargement process with the image held, the same effect as the borderless printing on the cut sheet CP can be obtained.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a modified example changed to the following mode may be adopted.
(Modification 1) In each of the above embodiments, the borderless printing is performed by the printing system 1 including the computer 2 and the printer 3 (printing apparatus) connected thereto, but the printer 3 is used as a stand-alone machine. Of course, a borderless printing can be performed by the printer 3 alone. In this case, the printer driver 6 may be constructed on the printer 3 side. That is, the printer driver program is stored in, for example, the main memory 36 of the printer 3, and the controller 32 of the printer 3 executes the printer driver program, so that the function (size determination) of the printer driver 6 described in each embodiment is performed. A series of image processing including the function of the unit 11 can be realized. By doing so, even in a mode in which borderless printing is executed by the printer 3 alone, borderless printing can be suitably performed in consideration of the elongation of the recording paper P. In short, the borderless processing according to the present invention can be realized in the form of the printing system 1 in which the computer 2 and the printer 3 are connected or in the form of the printer 3 alone that does not include the computer 2.

  (Modification 2) In each of the above embodiments, the amount of increase in size is calculated based on the paper width detected by the detection unit (sensor 23, sensor control circuit 44), and enlargement is performed from the amount of increase and the enlargement amount δ. The area EXA is obtained and the image size is determined by enlarging the image data D1 based on the enlarged area EXA. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this method. That is, according to the present invention, based on the result of detecting the paper width by the detection unit, the image data D1 is enlarged and the image size is enlarged so that the print area PA protrudes outside the position of the end of the recording paper P by a predetermined amount. And the print data PD is created from the image data D2 based on the image size. Therefore, any other method can be used as a method for determining (enlargement processing) the image size within the scope of this technical idea.

  (Modification 3) In each of the above embodiments, borderless printing is performed on the recording paper P having a standard size (L size in each of the above examples). However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the standard size. It is. In other words, the paper width of the recording paper P is detected by the detection unit, and borderless printing is performed based on the image data D2 (specifically, print data PD created thereby) determined based on the detection result. Therefore, it is possible to perform borderless printing on the recording paper P having a delicate paper width even if it is not a standard size.

  (Modification 4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the L size has been described as an example of the size of the recording paper P. However, it is needless to say that the size is not limited to this size. That is, even if the size is smaller than the L size, there is a possibility that elongation due to moisture absorption may occur. Conversely, if the size is larger than the L size, such elongation tends to occur remarkably. For this reason, the configuration of each of the above embodiments is particularly useful for a so-called large format printer that can perform borderless printing on a large recording paper P.

  (Modification 5) In each of the above embodiments, the values of the enlargement amounts δt, δb, δr, and δl are set according to the size (standard size) of the recording paper P. Good. Further, the enlargement amounts δt, δb, δr, and δl may be the same for the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the recording paper P.

  (Modification 6) In each of the above embodiments, while maintaining the aspect ratio of the image data D1, the enlargement ratio is determined by enlarging the image data D1 with respect to the enlargement area EXA. It is not limited to the mode which holds

  (Modification 7) In each of the above embodiments, the configuration of the detection unit is not limited to the configuration of the sensor 23 and the sensor control circuit 44. That is, any other configuration may be used as long as the width of the recording paper P can be detected during borderless printing.

  (Modification 8) In each of the above embodiments, the detection result of the paper width by the detection unit is transmitted as status information ST (paper detection information Cs) from the printer 3 to the printer driver 6. It is not necessarily limited only to the aspect transmitted as ST.

  (Modification 9) The configuration of the printer 3 of each of the above embodiments may be a so-called multifunction device (composite printer) having a scanner function, a print function, and a copy function.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printer. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a printing mechanism of a printer. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of status information. (A)-(c) is a schematic diagram which shows the process image at the time of implementing borderless printing using cut paper. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a printer driver. The schematic diagram which shows the process image at the time of implementing borderless printing using roll paper.

Explanation of symbols

  1: printing system, 2: computer, 3: printer (printing apparatus), 6: printer driver, 11: size determining unit, 23: sensor constituting the detecting unit, 44: sensor control circuit similarly constituting the detecting unit, 46 : Status management circuit, P: Recording paper, CP: Cut paper, RP: Roll paper, Cs: Paper detection information, ST: Status information, D1: Image data, D2: Image data after sizing, PA: Print area, PD: print data, δ (δt, δb, δr, δl): enlargement amount, We: elongation in the width direction of the recording paper, Le: elongation in the length direction of the recording paper, EXA: enlargement area, rW: in the recording paper Magnification factor in the width direction, rL: Magnification factor in the length direction of the recording paper.

Claims (10)

A detection unit that detects the width of the recording paper in the main scanning direction as the paper width;
A size determining unit that determines the image size by enlarging the image data based on the paper width detected by the detecting unit so that the print area has a size that protrudes a predetermined amount outside the position of the edge of the recording paper; ,
A print execution unit that executes printing based on print data created from the image data based on the image size determined by the size determination unit;
A printing apparatus comprising: The size determining unit calculates an amount of increase in the size of the recording paper based on the paper width, and adds the amount of increase to the enlargement amount corresponding to the size of the recording paper set in advance for borderless printing. Obtaining an enlarged area, and determining the image size by enlarging the image data in a mode in which the print area includes at least the enlarged area,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The size determination unit enlarges the image data in the width direction and the length direction with respect to the enlargement area, and the enlargement ratio and the length direction in the width direction when the image data circumscribes the enlargement area The enlargement ratio is calculated, and the larger of the two calculated enlargement ratios is determined as the final enlargement ratio of the image data, and the image data is enlarged at the determined enlargement ratio. Determining the image size;
The printing apparatus according to claim 2. In the case where borderless printing is performed on a cut sheet that is one of the recording sheets, the size determining unit determines the size for each of the width direction and the length direction of the cut sheet based on the sheet width. Calculate the amount of increase
The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. The size determining unit calculates an increase in the size in the width direction of the roll paper based on the paper width when borderless printing is performed on the roll paper that is one of the recording papers. ,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3. The detection unit includes a sensor that detects a position of an edge of the recording paper, and a sensor control circuit that measures the paper width based on a detection result by the sensor.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The size determination unit is provided as a function executed by a printer driver that creates the print data from the image data, and the printer driver uses the print data based on the image size determined by the size determination unit. Create
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. In a printing system comprising: a computer comprising a printer driver that creates print data from image data; and a printing device that is connected to the computer and that executes printing based on the print data created by the printer driver;
The printer driver receives a detection result from the detection unit that detects the width of the recording paper in the main scanning direction as the paper width, and the print area is based on the received paper width. A printing system, comprising: a size determining unit that determines the image size by enlarging the image data so that the predetermined amount protrudes outside. The printer driver makes a request for detection of the paper width to the printing apparatus based on a print processing start command for setting borderless printing as a print mode, and the detection result of the paper width detected by the detection unit is displayed on the paper. Received from the printing apparatus in a manner included in the status information as detection information,
The printing system according to claim 8. A printer driver program for creating print data executed by a computer and supplied to a printing apparatus based on image data,
The computer is
Performing a request for detection of the paper width to the printing apparatus to detect the width of the recording paper in the main scanning direction as a paper width based on a command to start a printing process in which the borderless printing is set as a printing mode;
The amount of increase in the size of the recording paper is calculated based on the detection result of the paper width received from the printing apparatus, and the amount of increase is enlarged according to the size of the recording paper set in advance for borderless printing. An enlargement area is obtained in addition to the quantity, and the image data is enlarged in the width direction and the length direction with respect to the enlargement area, and the enlargement ratio in the width direction when the image data circumscribes the enlargement area; Calculating the enlargement factor in the length direction, and determining the larger enlargement factor of the two calculated enlargement factors as the final enlargement factor of the image data;
Enlarging the image data at the determined enlargement ratio to determine an image size of the image data;
Creating the print data from the image data based on the determined image size;
A program for running.

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