JP2006135406A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus for reducing a recording execution time in the case that the recording apparatus records a plurality of the same images on one member to be recorded side by side. <P>SOLUTION: A flowchart for indicating object image generating procedures includes: a step S24 of expanding and storing image data of a "copy object" on a copy area when an ID number of the "copy object" to be processed differs from an ID number of an object of image data stored in the copy area as a copy source and the number of copied data is 0 (Yes in step S21), and converting an object type into a "copy source object"; a step S27 of converting the object type into an "image object" when the ID numbers are different and the number of copied data is not 0 (No in step S21) and the ID numbers are different (No in step S26); and a step S28 of converting the object type into a "copy destination object" when the ID numbers are the same as each other (Yes in step S26). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data input means for inputting image data from the outside, a recording execution means for executing recording on a recording material, a setting input means for inputting operations and settings of the recording execution means, and a setting input The present invention relates to a recording apparatus including a recording control apparatus that executes control of recording execution means based on operations and settings input by the means.

  In recent years, recording apparatuses such as inkjet printers have dramatically improved their original performance as recording apparatuses such as higher recording image quality and higher recording execution speed, and at the same time become attractive for users. There are no new features added. As an example thereof, a recording apparatus equipped with a function of executing recording on printer paper (recording material) in which a sealing surface called a so-called photo sticker is divided into grids or the like is known. A large number of stickers of the same image can be created by recording one image data in each divided area of the seal surface which is divided by reducing the size of the grid (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-313143 A

  As described above, when a plurality of the same image data are arranged and recorded on one recording material, the same recording data is recorded on one recording material in a normal recording execution procedure for recording one image on one recording material. When image data is repeatedly recorded, recording is performed while the image data is read (or further decoded when the image data is compressed data) and the image development process is repeatedly performed on the same image data. In other words, since the recording is executed in the same procedure as recording many different images one by one on one recording material, the recording execution time for one recording material is greatly increased. The problem of end up arises.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to shorten a recording execution time when a recording apparatus records a plurality of the same images on a single recording material. .

  To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image data input means for inputting image data from the outside, recording execution means for executing recording on a recording material, operation of the recording execution means, A recording apparatus comprising: setting input means for inputting settings; and a recording control apparatus that executes control of the recording execution means based on an operation and setting input by the setting input means, wherein the recording control An apparatus includes: object information generation means for generating object information for arranging image data selected by the setting input means from a plurality of image data in a state that can be input by the image data input means; Based on the object information generated by the object information generation means, the image data input means reads image data and performs image development processing. Object image generation means, the object information generation means designates the object type of the object that can be duplicated as a duplicate object, and the object image creation means designates the object designated as the duplicate object as a duplication source. The read image data is expanded to the image expansion area in accordance with the empty area of the copy source data holding area that holds the image data, and the expanded image data is held in the replication source data holding area as image data to be copied A copy source object to be copied, a copy destination object to copy image data as a copy source held in the copy source data holding area to a copy destination in the image development area, or an image object to read the image data and develop it in the image development area , Convert the object type to either To sense, it is a recording apparatus wherein.

  Image data input means for inputting image data from the outside is, for example, means for inputting image data from an internal memory of a digital camera directly connected to the recording apparatus, or a memory inserted in a memory card slot provided in the recording apparatus Means for inputting image data from a card. The setting input means is, for example, an operation button provided on the front surface of a general ink jet recording apparatus or the like. By selecting desired image data from a plurality of image data that can be input by the image data input means and performing a recording execution operation, the recording control device inside the recording device can select the image selected by the user. Data object information is generated and recorded on a recording sheet.

  The recording control device can be replicated when generating object information in which image data selected by the setting input means from a plurality of image data that can be input by the image data input means is arranged in a predetermined format. The object type of a simple object is designated as a duplicate object (object information generating means). An object whose type is designated as a duplicate object is processed by the object image generation means after the object type is converted into any one of three types: a duplication source object, a duplication destination object, and an image object that are different in image development processing.

When the copy source object reads the image data and expands it to the image expansion area, the copy source object expands the read image data to the image expansion area and holds the expanded image data in the copy source data holding area as image data to be the copy source. The object to be.
The duplication destination object is an object for duplicating the image data as the duplication source held in the duplication source data holding area to the duplication destination in the image development area.
An image object is an object that simply reads image data and develops it in an image development area.

  For example, when processing the duplicate object of the image data A, the object image generation means converts the duplicate object to be processed first into a duplication source object and processes the object type. The image data A is developed in the image development area and the image data A is held in the duplication source data holding area. Subsequent duplicate objects of the image data A are processed by converting the object type to the duplicate object. The image data A held in the copy source data holding area is copied to each copy destination in the image development area. As described above, when a plurality of image development processes are performed on the same image data A in the image development area, the image data is held as a duplication source and the duplication source image data is repeatedly duplicated to the duplication destination of the image development area. Therefore, it is possible to realize image development processing that is significantly faster than the processing for repeatedly developing the same image data.

  Then, the object image generating means converts the object type of the duplicate object into any one of the above three types according to the empty area of the duplicate source data holding area. According to the free space in the copy source data holding area, the copy object that should be processed by converting the object type to the copy source object or the copy destination object as described above depends on the free space in the copy source data holding area. Means converting to a simple image object for processing.

  Specifically, for example, the copy source data holding area holds the image data A that is the copy source, and when processing a duplicate object of different image data B, an empty area that only expands and holds the image data B If there is not, the object type of the duplicate object of the image data B is converted into an image object and processed. As a result, even if there is no empty area in the copy source data holding area where the copy source image data can be developed, the image development process can be continued. On the other hand, if there is an empty area sufficient to expand and hold the image data B, the object type of the duplicate object of the image data B is converted to the duplicate source object and processed. As a result, the image data A and image data B, which are the copy sources held in the copy source data holding area, can be copied to the respective copy destinations in the image development area and subjected to image development processing.

Thus, according to the recording apparatus described in the first aspect of the present invention, the image data is held as a duplication source, and the image data of the duplication source is duplicated to the duplication destination of the image development area to perform image development processing. By doing so, it is possible to realize image development processing that is significantly faster than repeatedly developing the same image data. Therefore, when a recording apparatus records a plurality of the same images on a single recording material, recording is performed. The effect that the execution time can be shortened is obtained.
Also, depending on the free space in the copy source data holding area, the copy object is converted into a simple image object and processed, so there is no free space in the copy source data holding area where the copy source image data can be expanded. However, the image development process can be continued.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the object information generation unit provides each duplicate object with information that associates duplicate objects having the same image data with each other. It is a recording device.
When the object image generation means performs object type conversion and image expansion processing, it is possible to associate duplicate objects of the same image data by referring to the association information given to each duplicate object.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect described above, the object image generation means includes a plurality of duplicate objects associated with each other among image data objects to be subjected to image expansion processing simultaneously in the image expansion area. In some cases, the recording apparatus is characterized in that one of duplicate objects associated with each other is used as a copy source object, and the remaining other copy objects are processed as a copy destination object.
When image development processing is performed by dividing the image development area into a plurality of parts due to memory capacity restrictions, etc. implemented in the recording device, the operation of executing image development processing and recording is performed in order for each divided image development area. Repeatedly executing the recording on the recording material. Therefore, in the object image generation means, it is necessary to perform conversion of the object type of the duplicate object and image expansion processing for each divided image expansion area, that is, in the range of the object group to be subjected to image expansion processing simultaneously. Therefore, when there are a plurality of duplicate objects associated with each other among the objects of the image data to be simultaneously subjected to the image development processing in the image development area, the object image generation means sets one of them as a copy source object (object The type is converted into a duplication source object), and the remaining other duplication objects are used as duplication destination objects (the object type is converted into a duplication destination object) and image development processing is performed. Accordingly, even when the image development process is performed by dividing the image development area into a plurality of parts, the conversion of the object type of the duplicate object and the image development process can be appropriately executed for each divided image development area.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect or the third aspect described above, the object image generation means is associated with each other among the objects of the image data to be subjected to image development processing simultaneously in the image development area. A recording apparatus is characterized in that a duplicate object having no duplicate object is subjected to image development processing as an image object.

  When image development processing is performed by dividing an image development area into a plurality of parts, there may be cases where the image development area includes a duplicate object that does not have a duplicate object that is associated with an object of image data that is simultaneously subjected to image development processing. In such a case, by processing the object type as an image object (converting the object type into an image object), image data without a copy destination is held in the copy source data holding area, and the copy source data holding area Can be prevented from being consumed in vain.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects described above, the object information generation unit is configured such that an object whose image data size exceeds the copy source data holding area is an object. The recording apparatus is characterized in that the type is designated in advance for the image object without being designated as a duplicate object.

  An object whose data size exceeds the copy source data holding area cannot be used as a copy source by holding the image data in the copy source data holding area. Therefore, for such an object, useless processing in the object image generating means can be omitted by specifying the object type in the image data in advance by the object information generating means for generating object information.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data input means for inputting image data from the outside, a recording execution means for executing recording on a recording material, and a setting for inputting operations and settings of the recording execution means. A recording control program for causing a computer to execute control of the recording execution unit based on the operation and setting input by the setting input unit, wherein the image data input unit An object information generation procedure for generating object information for arranging image data selected by the setting input means from a plurality of image data that is ready for input in a predetermined format, and the object information generation procedure. Based on the obtained object information, the image data input means reads the image data and performs image development processing. An image generation procedure, wherein the object information generation procedure includes a procedure of specifying an object type of an object that can be duplicated as a duplicate object, and the object image generation procedure includes an object designated as a duplicate object, The read image data is expanded to the image expansion area in accordance with the empty area of the copy source data holding area that holds the image data to be copied, and the expanded image data is stored as the copy source image data. A copy source object held in the area, a copy destination object for copying the copy source image data held in the copy source data holding area to the copy destination of the image development area, or image data is read and developed in the image development area Convert the object type to one of the image objects And a procedure for processing, it is a recording control program characterized.

  According to the recording control program described in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the invention described in the first aspect described above can be brought to any recording apparatus that can execute the recording control program. it can.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a “recording apparatus” according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a recording system including the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention and an “information processing apparatus”.
The ink jet recording apparatus 50 includes a “main scanning drive unit” that scans the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X by ejecting ink onto the recording paper P as a “recording material”. As shown, a carriage 61 supported by a carriage guide shaft 51 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction X is provided. A recording head 62 and a PW sensor 34 described later are mounted on the carriage 61, and the rotational driving force of the CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) is transmitted by a belt transmission mechanism (not shown) to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X. Move. A platen 52 that defines a gap between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording paper P is provided at a position facing the head surface of the recording head 62.

  A known capping device 59 is provided outside the one end side of the reciprocating region of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X. In a standby state in which recording is not performed, the carriage 61 moves over the capping device 59 and stops, and the head surface of the recording head 62 is sealed by the cap CP provided in the capping device 59. The stop position of the carriage 61 is defined as a home position HP.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 50, a conveyance driving roller 53 that conveys the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y is used as “sub-scanning driving means” that causes the recording head 62 to scan the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. And a conveyance driven roller 54 are provided. The conveyance driving roller 53 rotates when the rotation driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) is transmitted to the gear, and the recording paper P is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the conveyance driving roller 53. A plurality of transport driven rollers 54 are provided and are individually urged by the transport driving roller 53, and the recording paper P is in contact with the recording paper P when the recording paper P is transported by the rotation of the transport driving roller 53. Rotates following the transport of A coating having a high frictional resistance is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53. The recording paper P pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by the transport driven roller 54 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by the frictional resistance of the outer peripheral surface, and rotates in the sub scanning direction by the transport driving roller 53. To be transported. The “recording execution unit” of the inkjet recording apparatus 50 includes the above-described “main scanning driving unit” and “sub-scanning driving unit”, and the recording paper P is placed between the carriage 61 and the platen 52 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Recording is performed on the recording paper P by alternately repeating the operation of transporting the recording head 62 with the transport amount and the operation of ejecting ink from the recording head 62 onto the recording paper P while the recording head 62 is reciprocated once in the main scanning direction X. Is called.

  On the upstream side of the conveyance drive roller 53 in the sub-scanning direction Y, a paper feed tray 57 as a “recording material stacking unit” capable of stacking a large number of recording sheets P is disposed. The paper feed tray 57 is configured to feed (feed) recording paper P such as plain paper or photo paper. In the vicinity of the paper feed tray 57, an ASF (automatic feeding means) that automatically feeds the uppermost recording paper P stacked on the paper feeding tray 57 to the "recording execution means" Auto sheet feeder) is provided. The ASF is an automatic paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roller 57b provided on the paper feed tray 57 and a separation pad (not shown). The paper feed roller 57 b is disposed on one side of the paper feed tray 57. The recording paper guide 57a is provided on the paper feed tray 57 so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the width of the recording paper P. Then, the recording paper P placed on the paper feeding tray 57 is fed by the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller 57b rotated by the transmission of the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) and the frictional resistance of the separation pad. At the time of paper feeding, a plurality of recording papers P are not fed at a time, but only the topmost recording paper P is accurately separated and automatically fed one by one. A paper detector 33 according to a known technique is disposed between the paper feed roller 57b and the conveyance drive roller 53.

  On the other hand, as means for discharging the recording paper P after execution of recording, a paper discharge driving roller 55 and a paper discharge driven roller 56 as “discharge driving rollers” are provided. The paper discharge driving roller 55 is rotated by transmission of the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3), and the recording paper P after recording is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. Is done. The paper discharge driven roller 56 has a plurality of teeth around it, and is a toothed roller sharply sharpened so that the tip of each tooth makes point contact with the recording surface of the recording paper P. The plurality of paper discharge driven rollers 56 are individually urged by the paper discharge driving roller 55, and come into contact with the recording paper P when the recording paper P is discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. Rotates following paper discharge.

  A PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) that rotationally drives the paper feed roller 57b, the conveyance drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55, and a CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) that drives the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction will be described later. The recording control unit 100 controls the driving. Similarly, the recording head 62 is driven and controlled by the recording control unit 100 to eject ink onto the surface of the recording paper P. In the ink jet recording apparatus 50, the recording control unit 100 causes the carriage 61 to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X while ejecting ink from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P, and the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. Recording on the recording paper P is executed while alternately repeating the operation of transporting with the transport amount of.

The recording system 10 including the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and the “information processing apparatus” and the recording control unit 100 as the “recording control apparatus” will be described with reference to FIGS.
The recording control unit 100 as a “recording control device” includes a ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 103, an MPU 104, a nonvolatile memory 105 as a “nonvolatile storage medium”, a PF motor driver 106, and a CR motor driver. 107 and a head driver 108 are provided. The MPU 104 includes a rotary encoder 31 as a “rotation amount detection unit” that detects the rotation amount of the transport driving roller 53 via the ASIC 103, and a linear encoder 32 as a “carriage movement amount detection unit” that detects the movement amount of the carriage 61. The paper detector 33 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the conveyed recording paper P, the PW sensor 34 for detecting the edge of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X, and the ink jet recording apparatus 50 are turned on / off. A power switch 35 for turning off, a recording operation switch 36 for performing a recording start operation on the recording paper P by the “recording execution means”, and an output signal of the operation panel 39 as “setting input means” are input.

  The known rotary encoder 31 has a rotary scale 311 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance drive roller 53, and a rotary scale sensor 312 that detects slits formed at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the rotary scale 311. (FIG. 2). An output signal of the rotary scale sensor 312 that changes with the rotation of the transport driving roller 53 is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

  A known linear encoder 32 detects a linear scale 321 disposed in the vicinity of the carriage 61 substantially in parallel with the main scanning direction X and a linear scale that detects slits formed at equal intervals in the linear scale 321 mounted on the carriage 61. And a scale sensor 322 (FIG. 2). An output signal of the linear scale sensor 322 that changes as the carriage 61 moves in the main scanning direction X is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

  The known paper detector 33 is given a self-returning behavior to a standing posture and protrudes into the conveyance path of the recording paper P so as to be able to rotate only in the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the recording paper P. This detector has a lever that is pivotally supported in the state, and the lever rotates when the tip of the lever is pushed by the recording paper P, whereby the recording paper P is detected (FIG. 2). . The paper detector 33 detects the start end position and the end position of the recording paper P fed from the paper feed roller 57 b, and the detection signal is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103. The PW sensor 34 is configured by a non-contact optical sensor, and detects the end position of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X (side end position of the recording paper P), and the detection signal is transmitted via the ASIC 103. And output to the MPU 104. Based on the output signals of the paper detector 33 and the PW sensor 34, the MPU 104 calculates the transport position of the recording paper P, the size of the recording paper P, and the like.

  A ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC 103, an MPU 104, and a nonvolatile memory 105 are connected to the system bus of the recording control unit 100. The MPU 104 performs arithmetic processing for executing recording control of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and other necessary arithmetic processing. The ROM 101 stores a recording control program (firmware) necessary for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 50 by the MPU 104, and various data necessary for processing the recording control program is stored in the nonvolatile memory 105. . The RAM 102 is used as a primary storage area for the work area and recording data of the MPU 104.

  The ASIC 103 has a control circuit for performing speed control of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 which are DC motors and driving control of the recording head 62. Based on the control command sent from the MPU 104, the output signal of the rotary encoder 31, and the output signal of the linear encoder 32, various calculations for controlling the speed of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 are performed. The motor control signal based on this is sent to the PF motor driver 106 and the CR motor driver 107. Further, based on the recording data sent from the MPU 104, a control signal for the recording head 62 is calculated and generated and sent to the head driver 108 to drive-control the recording head 62.

The ASIC 103 includes a card IF 111, a host IF 112, and a device IF 113 as “information transmission means” that realizes information transmission with a personal computer 301, a digital camera 302, a mobile phone terminal 303, or the like as an “information processing apparatus”.
The card IF 111 realizes a card interface such as a nonvolatile memory card or a PC card inserted into the card slot 200 as “image data reading means”. When a memory card is inserted into the card slot 200, it is possible to read / write data from / to the memory card, and when an infrared communication interface card is inserted into the card slot 200, an infrared communication function such as the mobile phone terminal 303 is provided. An infrared communication interface with an electronic device is realized.

The host IF 112 implements a USB interface with a host device such as a personal computer (PC) 301 connected to the USB connector 37 for connecting the host device. The USB connector 37 is disposed on the back side of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 (FIG. 2).
The device IF 113 implements a USB interface with a USB device such as a digital camera (DSC) 302 connected to the USB connector 38 for device connection. The USB connector 38 is disposed on the front side of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 so that a USB device such as the digital camera 302 can be easily attached and detached (FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of recording data generation in the recording control unit 100.
Select image data to be recorded on the recording paper P from a plurality of image data that can be input from a memory card inserted into the card slot 200 or a digital camera 302 connected via the USB connector 38. This operation can be performed by operating the operation panel 39.

The object information generation unit 121 inputs PIF data defining the image layout of the recording execution area and an image list of the image data selected by the operation panel 39 arranged in the layout, and records the image data in a predetermined format. Object information to be placed in the execution area is generated.
The object image generation unit 122 reads image data through the card slot 200 or the USB connector 38 based on the object information from the object information generation unit 121 and performs image expansion processing.

  Next, an object information generation procedure in the object information generation unit 121 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the object information generation procedure.
First, the ID number is set to 1 (step S1). This ID number is assigned to the duplicate object to associate the duplicateable objects with each other. Duplicate objects with the same ID number are objects of the same image data. The ID number is incremented under a predetermined condition (step S10) starting from 1 and the ID number is held each time it is incremented.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether there is duplicate object information in a predetermined information storage area (step S2). If there is no duplicate object information (No in step S2), the object information of the object is set in a predetermined information storage area (step S3). This predetermined information storage area is allocated in advance to a predetermined storage area of the RAM 102. Object information to be set includes a file name (file name of image data), a rotation angle (rotation angle at the time of arranging image data), a fitting, a position rule, and the like.

  If there is duplicate object information (Yes in step S2), or after the object information is set (step S3), whether or not the image data of the object has a data size that exceeds the duplication area as the “duplication source data holding area” Is determined (step S4). This duplication area is a data storage area allocated in advance to a predetermined storage area of the RAM 102. If the image data of the object has a data size exceeding the duplication area (Yes in step S4), the object type is set to “image object” (step S5) and is set in a predetermined information storage area. The object information is cleared (step S6).

  On the other hand, when the image data of the object has a data size equal to or smaller than the duplication area (No in step S4), the object information set in the predetermined information storage area and the object information of the object are It is determined whether or not they are the same (step S7). If they are the same (Yes in step S7), the ID number held at that time is assigned (step S8), and the object type is set to “replicated object” (step S9).

  If the set object information is different from the object information of the object (No in step S7), the ID number is incremented and held at that time, and the incremented ID number is given (step S10). ). The object type is set to “replicated object” (step S11), and the object information set in the predetermined information storage area is updated with the object information of the object (step S12). Then, it is determined whether or not there is an object to be compared (step S13). If there is an object to be compared (Yes in step S13), the process returns to step S4 and the above procedure is repeatedly executed. When there are no more objects to be compared (No in step S13), the procedure ends.

  Next, an object image generation procedure in the object image generation unit 122 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an object image generation procedure.
An object whose object type is set to “image object” in the object information processing unit 121 is directly processed as an “image object”. Specifically, processing for expanding the read image data into the image expansion area is executed. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the object set in the “duplicate object” will be described.

  First, it is determined whether or not the ID number of the “duplicate object” to be processed is different from the ID number of the object of the image data held in the duplication area as a duplication source and the number of duplicate data is 0 (step S21). ). In this embodiment, there is one image data to be expanded and held as a replication source in the replication area as the “replication source data holding area”, and the number of replicated data is expanded and held as the replication source in the replication area. It means the number of image data to be copied to the image development area.

  If the ID numbers are different and the number of replicated data is 0 (Yes in step S21), then there is a free area in the replication area for holding the image data of the “replicated object” as a replication source. It is determined whether or not (step S22). If there is an empty area (Yes in step S22), the image data of the “duplicate object” is developed and retained in the duplication area. If there is no free area (No in step S22), the area for duplication is released (deleted unnecessary image data that has been recorded) to secure the necessary area, and the “duplicate object” The image data is expanded and held in the duplication area (step S23). Subsequently, the object type of the “duplicate object” is converted to “duplicate object” (step S24). Then, the number of replicated data (initial value is 0) is incremented (step S25).

  If the ID numbers are different and the number of replicated data is not 0 (No in step S21), then the ID number is the same as the ID number of the object of the image data held as the replication source in the replication area. Is determined (step S26). If the ID numbers are different (No in step S26), it means that the image data of the “duplicate object” is different from the image data held in the duplication area. Is converted into an “image object” and processed (step S27).

  On the other hand, if the ID numbers are the same (Yes in step S26), it means that the image data of the “duplicate object” and the image data held in the duplication area are the same and can be duplicated. Then, the object type of the “replication object” is converted to “replication destination object” (step S28). Then, the number of replicated data is incremented (step S29).

  In this embodiment, the number of image data expanded and retained as a duplication source in the duplication area as the “duplication source data holding area” is limited to one, but only a larger duplication area can be secured. If the large-capacity RAM 102 can be mounted on the ink jet recording apparatus 50, a procedure may be adopted in which a plurality of image data can be simultaneously developed and held as a duplication source according to the free capacity of the duplication area. As a result, higher-speed recording can be realized.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, the relationship between the “replication source object”, the “replication destination object”, and the “image object” when a plurality of images are arranged and recorded on the recording paper P by the above procedure is described. explain.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing a first embodiment of the recording paper P on which a large number of images are arranged and recorded in a predetermined manner.
In the first embodiment, 16 images A are arranged and recorded as shown in the figure.

  As described above, the ink jet recording apparatus 50 ejects ink from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P while reciprocating the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X, and the predetermined conveyance of the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. It has a configuration in which recording on the recording paper P is executed while alternately repeating the operation of conveying in quantity.

  From the start of recording (timing T1), first four images A are recorded simultaneously. The “copy object” of the four images A is processed by the object image generation means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images A in the image development area. The “duplicate object” of the image A is associated with the ID number 1 assigned in advance by the object information generation unit 121.

  In the object image generation unit 122, among the “duplicate objects” of the four images A, the “duplicate object” that is processed first is converted into the “duplicate object” and processed, and the remaining three “duplicate objects” are processed. Is converted into a “replication destination object” and processed. By the processing of the object converted to “replication source object”, the image data of the image A is developed at a predetermined development position, and the developed image data of the image A is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image A held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the other three object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  At the time when the next four images A are recorded (timing T2), the “duplicate objects” of the four images A are processed by the object image generation means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images A in the image development region. The “duplicate object” of the image A is associated with the ID number 1 in advance in the object information generation unit 121. The “duplicate object” of the four images A has the same ID number (ID number = 1) as the copy source image data (image A) held in the duplication area. Therefore, in the object image generation means 122, the image data of the image A is held as it is in the duplication area, and all the “duplicate objects” of the four images A are converted into “duplication destination objects” and processed. The image data of the image A held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the four object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data). Similarly, all four “replication objects” are converted into “replication destination objects” and processed, and four images A are recorded (timing T3, timing T4), and finally a total of 16 images. Recording in which A is arranged side by side is executed.

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a second embodiment of the recording paper P on which a large number of images are arranged and recorded in a predetermined manner.
The second embodiment is a case where four images A, four images B, four images C, four images D, a total of 16 images are arranged and arranged regularly as shown in the figure. is there.

  From the start of recording (timing T11), first, the first four images A are recorded simultaneously. The “copy object” of the four images A is processed by the object image generation means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images A in the image development area. The “duplicate object” of the image A is associated with the ID number 1 assigned in advance by the object information generation unit 121.

  In the object image generation unit 122, among the “duplicate objects” of the four images A, the “duplicate object” that is processed first is converted into the “duplicate object” and processed, and the remaining three “duplicate objects” are processed. Is converted into a “replication destination object” and processed. By the processing of the object converted to “replication source object”, the image data of the image A is developed at a predetermined development position, and the developed image data of the image A is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image A held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the other three object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  Next, four images B are recorded simultaneously (timing T12). The “copy object” of the four images B is processed by the object image generating means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images B in the image development area. The “duplicate object” of the image B is associated with the ID number 2 in advance in the object information generation unit 121.

  The ID number (ID number = 2) of the “duplicate object” of the four images B is different from the ID number (ID number = 1) of the image data (image A) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Further, the “duplicate object” of the image A is not included in the “duplicate object” that is simultaneously developed. Therefore, in the object image generation unit 122, among the “duplicate objects” of the four images B, the “duplicate object” to be processed first is converted into the “duplicate object” and processed, and the remaining three “duplicate objects” are processed. “Object” is converted into “Destination object” and processed. As a result of the processing of the object converted into the “replication source object”, the image data of the image B is developed at a predetermined development position, and the image data of the image A held in the duplication area is discarded and developed. The image data of image B is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image B held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the other three object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  Next, four images C are recorded simultaneously (timing T13). The “duplicate object” of the four images C is processed by the object image generation means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images C in the image development area. The “duplicate object” of the image C is associated with the ID number 3 in advance in the object information generation unit 121.

  The ID number (ID number = 3) of the “duplicate object” of the four images C is different from the ID number (ID number = 2) of the image data (image B) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Further, the “duplicate object” of the image B is not included in the “duplicate object” that is simultaneously developed. Accordingly, among the “duplicate objects” of the four images C, the “duplicate object” to be processed first is converted into the “duplicate object” and processed, and the remaining three “duplicate” are processed. “Object” is converted into “Destination object” and processed. As a result of the processing of the object converted into the “replication source object”, the image data of the image C is developed at a predetermined development position, and the image data of the image B held in the duplication area is discarded and developed. Image data of image C is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image C held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the other three object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  Finally, four images D are recorded simultaneously (timing T14). The “duplicate object” of the four images D is processed by the object image generating means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images D in the image development region. The “duplicate object” of the image D is associated with the ID number 4 in advance in the object information generation unit 121.

  The ID number (ID number = 4) of the “duplicate object” of the four images D is different from the ID number (ID number = 3) of the image data (image C) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Further, the “duplicate object” of the image C is not included in the “duplicate object” that is simultaneously developed. Accordingly, in the object image generation unit 122, among the “duplicate objects” of the four images D, the “duplicate object” to be processed first is converted into the “duplicate source object” and processed, and the remaining three “duplicate objects” are processed. “Object” is converted into “Destination object” and processed. As a result of the processing of the object converted into the “replication source object”, the image data of the image D is developed at a predetermined development position, and the image data of the image C held in the duplication area is discarded and developed. The image data of the image D is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image D held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the other three object processes converted to the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a third embodiment of the recording paper P on which a large number of images are arranged and recorded in a predetermined manner.
In the third embodiment, six images A, four images B, five images C, and one image D are arranged and recorded in a random arrangement as shown in the figure. is there.

  From the start of recording (timing T21), first the first four images A are recorded simultaneously. The “copy object” of the four images A is processed by the object image generation means 122 so as to simultaneously develop the four images A in the image development area. The “duplicate object” of the image A is associated with the ID number 1 assigned in advance by the object information generation unit 121.

  In the object image generation unit 122, among the “duplicate objects” of the four images A, the “duplicate object” that is processed first is converted into the “duplicate object” and processed, and the remaining three “duplicate objects” are processed. Is converted into a “replication destination object” and processed. By the processing of the object converted to “replication source object”, the image data of the image A is developed at a predetermined development position, and the developed image data of the image A is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image A held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the other three object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  Next, two images A and two images B are recorded simultaneously (timing T22). In order to simultaneously develop the two images A and B in the image development area, the “duplicate object” of the two images A and the “duplicate object” of the two images B are processed by the object image generation unit 122. In the object information generating means 121, ID number 1 is assigned in advance to the “duplicate object” of image A, and ID number 2 is assigned in advance to the “duplicate object” of image B, and is associated with each other.

  The “duplicate object” of the two images A has the same ID number (ID number = 1) as the copy source image data (image A) held in the duplication area. Therefore, in the object image generation unit 122, the image data of the image A is held as it is in the duplication area, and all the “duplicate objects” of the two images A are converted into “duplication destination objects” and processed. The image data of the image A held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the two object processes converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  On the other hand, the ID number (ID number = 2) of the “duplicate object” of the two images B is the ID number (ID number = 1) of the image data (image A) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Different. Further, only one image data is held in the duplication area, and the image data of the image A is held as duplication source data in the duplication area. Cannot be converted into “replication source object” and “replication destination object”. Accordingly, the “duplicate object” of the two images B is converted into an “image object” and processed, and the image data of the image B is directly developed at a predetermined development position (image data).

  Next, two images B and two images C are recorded simultaneously (timing T23). In order to simultaneously develop the two images B and two images C in the image development area, the “duplicate object” of the two images B and the “duplicate object” of the two images C are processed by the object image generation unit 122. In the object information generation unit 121, ID number 2 is assigned in advance to the “duplicate object” of image B, and ID number 3 is assigned in advance to the “duplicate object” of image C, and is associated with each other.

  The ID number (ID number = 2) of the “duplicate object” of the two images B is different from the ID number (ID number = 1) of the image data (image A) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Further, the “duplicate object” of the image A is not included in the “duplicate object” that is simultaneously developed. Therefore, in the object image generation unit 122, the “duplicate object” that is first processed among the “duplicate objects” of the two images B is converted into the “duplicate source object” and processed, and the remaining “duplicate objects”. Is converted into a “replication destination object” and processed. As a result of the processing of the object converted into the “replication source object”, the image data of the image B is developed at a predetermined development position, and the image data of the image A held in the duplication area is discarded and developed. The image data of image B is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image B held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the object processing converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data).

  On the other hand, the ID number (ID number = 3) of the “duplicate object” of the two images C is the ID number (ID number = 1) of the image data (image B) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Different. Further, the image data of the image B is held in the duplication area as duplication source data. Therefore, the “duplicate object” of the two images C is converted into an “image object” and processed, and the image data of the image C is directly developed at a predetermined development position (image data).

  Finally, three images C and one image D are recorded simultaneously (timing T24). The “image object” of the three images C and the “image object” of one image D are processed by the object image generation unit 122 so that the three images C and one image D are simultaneously developed in the image development region. In the object information generation unit 121, the ID number 3 is assigned to the “duplicate object” of the image C in advance, and the “image object” of the image D is not the “duplicate object”. Not.

  The ID number (ID number = 3) of the “duplicate object” of the three images C is different from the ID number (ID number = 2) of the image data (image B) that is the copy source held in the duplication area. Further, the “duplicate object” of the image B is not included in the “duplicate object” that is simultaneously developed. Therefore, in the object image generation unit 122, among the “duplicate objects” of the three images C, the “duplicate object” processed first is converted into the “duplicate object” and processed, and the remaining two “duplicate objects” are processed. “Object” is converted into “Destination object” and processed. As a result of the processing of the object converted into the “replication source object”, the image data of the image C is developed at a predetermined development position, and the image data of the image B held in the duplication area is discarded and developed. Image data of image C is held in the duplication area (original data). Then, the image data of the image C held in the duplication area is duplicated to a predetermined development position by the object processing converted into the “duplication destination object” (duplication data). Then, the “image object” of the image D is directly processed as an “image object”, and the image data of the image D is directly developed at a predetermined development position (image data).

  In this way, in a recording apparatus such as the ink jet recording apparatus 50, the recording execution time when recording a plurality of the same images on one recording paper P can be shortened. In addition, even in the case of an image arrangement in which an arbitrary number of images are irregularly arranged, the recording execution time can be shortened and the recording execution time can be shortened while enabling a more flexible layout such as a photo sticker. can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a schematic plan view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic side view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a recording system according to the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of recording data generation in a recording control part. It is the flowchart which showed the object information production | generation procedure. It is the flowchart which showed the object image generation procedure. 1 is a first embodiment of a recording paper P on which a large number of images are arranged and recorded. It is 2nd Example of the recording paper P on which many images were arrange | positioned and recorded. It is 3rd Example of the recording paper P on which many images were arrange | positioned and recorded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording system, 50 Inkjet recording device, 51 Carriage guide shaft, 52 Platen, 53 Conveyance drive roller, 54 Conveyance driven roller, 55 Discharge drive roller, 56 Discharge driven roller, 57 Feed tray, 57b Feed roller, 58 PF motor, 59 capping device, 61 carriage, 62 recording head, 63 CR motor, 100 recording control unit, 101 ROM, 102 RAM, 103 ASIC, 104 MPU, 105 nonvolatile memory, 106 PF motor driver, 107 CR motor driver , 108 head driver, 200 card slot, 301 personal computer, 302 digital camera, 303 mobile phone terminal, P recording paper, X main scanning direction, Y sub-scanning direction

Claims (6)

Image data input means for inputting image data from the outside, recording execution means for executing recording on a recording material, setting input means for inputting operations and settings of the recording execution means, and the setting input means A recording apparatus comprising: a recording control device that executes control of the recording execution unit based on an input operation and setting;
The recording control apparatus generates object information for generating object information for arranging image data selected by the setting input unit from a plurality of image data in a state that can be input by the image data input unit in a predetermined format. Generating means, and based on the object information generated by the object information generating means, object image generating means for reading image data by the image data input means and performing image development processing,
The object information generation means designates an object type of an object that can be duplicated as a duplicate object,
The object image generation unit is configured to change an object designated as a duplicate object according to an empty area of a duplication source data holding area that holds image data serving as a duplication source.
A duplication source object that develops the read image data into an image development area and holds the developed image data in the duplication source data holding area as image data to be duplicated;
A duplication destination object for duplicating the image data as the duplication source held in the duplication source data holding area to the duplication destination in the image development area;
Alternatively, a recording apparatus that performs image expansion processing by converting an object type into either an image object that reads image data and expands the image data into an image expansion area. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object information generating unit assigns information that associates duplicate objects having the same image data to each other. 3. The object image generation means according to claim 2, wherein when there are a plurality of duplicate objects associated with each other among image data objects subjected to image development processing simultaneously in the image development area, the object image generation means is associated with each other. A recording apparatus characterized in that image development processing is performed using one of the objects as a duplication source object and the remaining other duplication objects as duplication destination objects. 4. The object image generation unit according to claim 2, wherein the object image generation means performs image expansion processing on a duplicate object having no associated duplicate object among image data objects to be subjected to image expansion processing simultaneously in an image expansion area as an image object. A recording apparatus characterized by that. 5. The object information generation unit according to claim 1, wherein the object information generation unit preliminarily selects the image object for which the data size of the image data exceeds the copy source data holding area without specifying the object type as a copy object. A recording apparatus characterized by being specified as follows. In a recording apparatus comprising image data input means for inputting image data from the outside, recording execution means for executing recording on a recording material, and setting input means for inputting operations and settings of the recording execution means A recording control program for causing a computer to execute control of the recording execution unit based on the operation and setting input by the setting input unit,
An object information generation procedure for generating object information for arranging image data selected by the setting input means from a plurality of image data in a state that can be input by the image data input means; and the object Based on the object information generated in the information generation procedure, the image data input means reads the image data, and performs an image development process,
The object information generation procedure includes a procedure of specifying an object type of a replicable object as a duplicate object,
In the object image generation procedure, an object designated as a duplicate object is determined according to a free area in a duplicate source data holding area that holds image data serving as a duplicate source.
A duplication source object that develops the read image data into an image development area and holds the developed image data in the duplication source data holding area as image data to be duplicated;
A duplication destination object for duplicating the image data as the duplication source held in the duplication source data holding area to the duplication destination in the image development area;
A recording control program characterized by having a procedure for converting an object type into either an image object that reads image data and develops it in an image development area and performs image development processing.

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