JP2006168025A - Recording device, and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device which easily prints an image which a user wants to print on a label surface or a label surface image for a recording medium without troubling the user, on the label surface of the recording medium prepared or on a specified position of a recording paper, in the recording device equipped with an image reading device such as a scanner, and a mechanism which directly makes printing on the label surface of the recording medium such as a CD-R/DVD-R. <P>SOLUTION: This recording device has a means which directly records data formed by the image reading device on the recording medium, automatically extracts an arbitrary image or an image of the label surface of the optical recording medium, and copy-records the image on the label surface of the optical recording medium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly to an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges ink droplets onto a recording medium to form an image and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, it has become possible for general users to digitally record various types of data on a recordable rewritable CD / DVD medium by improving the performance of personal computers and the progress of CD and DVD technologies.

  For example, a user's original CD is created by temporarily storing desired music data from a commercially available music CD or the like in a computer and writing it on a rewritable CD together with other music data or normal data. Can do.

  This is premised on personal use, but is rapidly spreading due to the rapid advancement of audio image compression technology such as MP3 and MPEG4 and the lower price of recording media. In order to enjoy the original CD / DVD further, there are many media that can be printed directly with an inkjet printer by printing titles and images, label stickers attached to the label surface, and special coating treatment on the label surface. Yes. In the background of these technological developments, the increase in the amount of data due to the high performance of inkjet printers and digital cameras and the spread of broadband communications has also contributed greatly.

  In addition, a label printer system is known in which the label positioning setting operation in a printing state can be easily performed with high accuracy and can be easily transported one by one to the printer side of the label (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

Further, a latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum with a laser beam, and the toner is attached to the latent image portion by the toner developing device to make the image appear as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred to the transfer drum. It is known that this process is repeated for each color to form a full-color toner image on the transfer drum, and the toner image on the transfer drum is transferred to the optical disk 7 (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-101050 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-212857

  When media distribution becomes simple and routine, organize data on CD-R / DVD-R and other recording media received from family members, friends, acquaintances, etc., and create a new collection of original data. In addition, there will be more opportunities to create media for backup of the entire media contents and for personal storage or redistribution to other friends.

  At this time, the label side of the media you created may be an image of your favorite photo or magazine, etc. Also, the label side of the media you received is beautiful and elaborate, so that label side You may want to print the same image on the label side of your own media.

  Usually, in order to perform this work, the label surface of a CD-R / DVD-R or an arbitrary place such as a magazine is read by an image input device such as a scanner, and is transferred to a processing device such as a personal computer. Using the application software for the purpose of label printing in the device, adjust the position so that the prepared image is printed at the desired position on the label surface, and the format suitable for the recording device such as a printer Appropriate image files are processed and then printed on a label sticker or the label side of a CD-R / DVD-R.

  However, when performing the above work, it is necessary for the user to work on a computer, and it is necessary to operate peripheral devices such as a scanner and a printer. Therefore, for users who often create original media, There is a problem that it is not an easy task.

  In addition to normal printer functions, so-called multi-function printers that already have a fax function, a scanner function, a direct printing function for recording on a label surface of a recording medium such as a CD-R / DVD-R, and the like are already on the market. However, when the device is used alone, it has only a so-called copy function that prints the scanned image on recording paper such as regular plain paper or special coated paper, or a function that stores data on an external recording medium. Absent.

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus such as a scanner or a recording apparatus having a mechanism capable of printing directly on a label surface of a recording medium such as a CD-R / DVD-R. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that can easily print a label surface on a label surface of a prepared recording medium or a predetermined position on a recording sheet without bothering the user and a control method therefor. It is.

The present invention directly records data generated by an image reading device on a recording medium, automatically extracts an arbitrary image or an image on a label surface of an optical recording medium, and records it on the label surface of an optical recording medium. A recording apparatus having means for copying and recording.

According to the present invention, in an image reading apparatus such as a scanner or a recording apparatus having a mechanism capable of printing directly on a label surface of a recording medium such as a CD-R / DVD-R, the data is temporarily connected to a host computer. Recording media that have been prepared so that the user wants to print the image on the label side or the image on the label side of the recording medium without having to perform processing, editing, positioning when printing, and other cumbersome work. There is an effect that printing can be easily performed at a predetermined position on the label surface or recording paper.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a system using a recording apparatus P1 with an image reading mechanism that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The recording apparatus P1 with an image reading mechanism includes a document table 2, an operation panel 3, a media tray 4, a tray guide 5, and a document cover 6.

  The operation panel 3 is an operation panel on which a user performs settings and the like. The media tray 4 carries a medium for printing a CD / DVD or the like having a printable label surface. The tray guide 5 guides the conveyance of the media tray 4 and can be set near the discharge port. The document cover 6 prevents entry of extraneous light when the document is read.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of the recording apparatus P1.

  The recording apparatus P1 includes a printer unit 10 and a scanner unit 20.

  The printer unit 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an interface 14, an ASIC type recording apparatus control unit 15, a recording head 16, a carriage motor 17, a conveyance motor 18, and an operation panel 3.

  The ROM 12 stores a control program executed by the CPU 11 and other table data.

  The RAM 13 is used as an area such as a reception buffer that stores data received from the host computer or peripheral device (not shown) via the interface 14 and a print buffer that stores print data generated by the print data generation unit 153 described later. It is done.

  The ASIC type recording apparatus control unit 15 includes an I / F control unit 151, a data control unit 152, a print data generation unit 153, a drive control unit 154, a head control unit 155, and a key operation control unit 156. Have.

  The I / F control unit 151 transmits and receives data between the host computer and peripheral devices and the internally connected scanner unit 20 via the interface 14.

  The data control unit 152 performs read / write control of data with respect to the reception buffer and the print buffer in the RAM 13.

  The print data generation unit 153 generates print data.

  The drive control unit 154 controls driving of the transport motor 18 that feeds and discharges the recording medium.

  The head control unit 155 performs data transfer for the generated print data to the recording head 16 and ink ejection control in the recording head 16.

  The key operation control unit 156 includes a power switch, a resume switch, a start button for starting “easy media printing”, and the like, and controls the operation panel 3 and the like for performing settings and the like.

  The carriage motor 17 scans the carriage on which the recording head 16 is mounted.

  The scanner unit 20 includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an ASIC type image reading device control unit 24, a reading head 27, and a scanning motor 28.

  The ROM 22 stores a control program executed by the CPU 21 and the like.

  The RAM 23 stores read image data, and is a buffer area for the data generation unit 262 to process and edit image data, and temporarily stores various setting parameters.

  The ASIC type image reading device control unit 24 includes an I / F control unit 25 and an image reading unit 26.

  The I / F control unit 25 transmits / receives data to / from a host computer or an internally connected printer unit via the interface 14.

  The image reading unit 26 includes a data control unit 261, a data generation unit 262, a head control unit 263, and a drive control unit 264.

  The data control unit 261 performs read / write control of data with respect to the buffer in the RAM 23.

  The data generation unit 262 optimizes and edits image data for media.

  The head controller 263 controls the head 27 that optically reads an image.

  The drive control unit 264 controls the scanning motor 28 that moves the head 27.

  Next, operations from image reading to printing in the recording apparatus P1 will be described.

  First, in the recording apparatus P 1, the tray guide 5 is set, and a label printable medium as a copy destination is set on the media tray 4. The media tray 4 is inserted along the tray guide 5 to a predetermined position, whereby the preparation of the copy destination is completed.

  Next, when a copy source medium is placed on the document table 2 and the document cover 6 is closed, preparation of the copy source is completed.

  When an execution command of “easy label direct print”, which is the object of the first embodiment, is issued to the key operation control unit 156 by the user operating a button provided on the operation panel 3, the printer unit 10 and the image reading unit 26 provided in the ASIC image reading control unit 24 of the scanner unit 20 via the I / F control unit 151 of the scanner unit 20 and the I / F control unit 25 of the scanner unit 20. The drive control unit 264 controls the scanning motor 28, scans the reading head 27, performs A / D conversion on the data optically read by the head control unit 263, and thereby the document table 2 Scan the image.

  At this time, a necessary image exists in an image reading target frame shown in FIG. 3 to be described later. However, a method of converting only this range into data is relatively easy by a known technique such as pattern matching. Since it is realized, it will not be described in detail.

  When the image reading is started, the data control unit 261 in the ASIC 24 temporarily stores the image data in the reception buffer allocated in the RAM 23. The image data stored in the reception buffer may be processed and edited by the data generation unit 262 according to user settings, such as noise removal, smoothing, enlargement / reduction, and color matching. Stored in the send buffer.

  When a necessary amount of data is stored in the transmission buffer, the I / F control unit 25 transmits the stored data to the I / F control unit 151 of the printer unit 10. At the same time, the drive control unit 154 in the printer unit 10 drives the transport motor 18 and the like to move the media tray 4 to a printable position, and a sensor installed on a carriage or the like (not shown) is placed on the media tray 4. Verification to prevent erroneous printing such as platen printing, such as judgment of the media shape being stored and storage of the print area. At this time, if the desired image size placed on the document table 2 and the size of the media on the media tray 4 do not match, a configuration for calling attention may be adopted.

  When the scanner unit 20 finishes reading the image, the data control unit 152 sends the image data from the I / F control unit 151 in the ASIC 15 of the printer unit 10 to the reception buffer allocated in the RAM 13, and the received data is sent. Store once. The received data stored in the reception buffer is subjected to command analysis, and the print data generation unit 153 performs print data processing on the actual image data and stores it in the print buffer allocated in the RAM 13.

  When a necessary amount of data is stored in the print buffer, the head controller 155 reads the print data from the print buffer and transfers it to the recording head 16 at a predetermined timing.

  Further, in the main scanning process, the head controller 155 gives a driving pulse to the recording head 16 to perform an actual printing operation, thereby forming an image. The drive control unit 154 drives the carriage motor 17 and the conveyance motor 18 to execute scanning of the recording head 16 and conveyance of the recording medium.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of using an image detection unit using pattern matching to determine a range of an image to be read when an image is directly extracted from a media label in the first embodiment.

  The user inverts and places the label image extraction source medium 31 serving as a copy source on the document table 2 and closes the document table lid 6. When the copying operation is started, a portion other than the non-extracted portion 32 is recognized as an image generating portion 33 by a known pattern matching method, and the above-described series of reading and printing operations are performed. The loaded media tray 4 is discharged. In this way, a medium having a desired image printed on the copy destination label surface can be obtained.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method of using an image detection unit using a carrier sheet to determine a range of an image to be read when an image is extracted from a clipping of a magazine or the like in the first embodiment.

  As an image duplication destination recording medium, a 12 cm CD / DVD is assumed.

  The carrier sheet 41 is formed by stacking two thin plate-like materials and is sized to fit the image reading document table 2. With such a configuration, since the image extraction position is determined in advance, detection is easy. A circle having a diameter of 12 cm is cut out as an image reading target frame 42 in one of the two thin plate-like materials.

  The circular opening portion may be configured such that a highly transparent material is bonded from the back. The user prepares an extraction source image 43 desired to be copied on the label surface, and sandwiches it in the carrier sheet 41 so that a desired portion is exposed from the image reading target frame 42, thereby setting the state 44.

  Further, the carrier sheet 41 is reversed and placed on the document table 2, and the document table cover 6 is closed. When the copying operation is started, a portion exposed from the image reading target frame 42 is recognized as an image generation portion 45, and the series of reading and printing operations are performed. When these operations are completed, the copy destination medium 46 is loaded. The media tray 4 is discharged.

  As described above, a medium having a desired image printed on the copy destination label surface can be obtained.

  Further, by using an 8 cm CD / DVD carrier sheet 47, a business card size CD / DVD carrier sheet 48, etc. in accordance with commercially available recording media, the same results as described above can be obtained.

  In addition, when the recording device P1 does not have a direct print function for a recording medium, it is conceivable to use a commercially available label sticker. For example, the print position of the label sticker is set in the ROM 12 shown in FIG. Memorize parameters to be determined, call settings from the operation panel 3 so that they can be handled, set a label sticker on the normal paper feed slot, and press the start button to print the desired image as above You may make it the structure which can obtain the made label seal | sticker.

  With this configuration, if a user prepares a medium and an image, and presses a button once, the desired image is automatically displayed on the label surface without any operation or troublesome operation of the host computer. Can be obtained.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation in the first embodiment.

  To start easy label direct printing, first, the tray guide 5 is set (501), the copy destination medium is set in the media tray 4 (502), and the media tray 4 is set in the tray guide 5 (503). .

  At the same time, an image extraction method to be a copy source is selected (504). In this case, the carrier sheet is used (505) or the recording medium is extracted as it is (506). When a carrier sheet is used, an image is inserted into the carrier sheet (507) and set on the document table 2 (508). Here, via the operation panel 3 or the like installed in the printer unit 10, the scanner unit 20 captures an image, and when the image is converted into image data, the capture resolution, media type, manufacturer, print mode, and recording paper Various settings such as type and number of prints are made (509, 510).

  An easy label direct is started by pushing a start button or the like (511).

  An operation for scanning an image on the platen 2 is started, an image in a necessary range is extracted (512), and image data is created (513). According to the setting, the image data is processed and edited (514). At the same time, the media shape and print area of the copy destination are detected by a sensor, and it is determined whether or not the media is an applicable media (515, 516, 517). If applicable, it is compared with image data to determine whether printing is possible (519, 520, 525). When compatibility between the image and the print area is recognized (520), the media tray 4 is moved to the print portion (521), and printing is started (522).

When the printing operation (523) is finished, the media tray 4 is ejected (524), and the process is finished. If the media is not applicable (518), if it is determined that it is not compatible (525), a warning is issued (526) and the user is asked to continue (527). If you do not want to continue, exit.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a system that uses a recording apparatus P1 with an image reading mechanism that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a recording apparatus P1. In Example 1, when extracting an image directly from the label of a medium, in order to determine the range of the image to read, it is a figure which shows the method of utilizing the image detection means using pattern matching. In Example 1, it is a figure which shows the method of utilizing the image detection means using a carrier sheet in order to determine the range of the image to read, when extracting an image from clipping etc. of a magazine etc. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the first embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

P1: a recording apparatus with an image reading mechanism,
2 ... manuscript table,
3. Operation panel,
4 ... Media tray,
5 ... Tray guide,
6 ... Document cover,
10: Printer section,
11 ... CPU,
12 ... ROM,
13 ... RAM,
14 ... interface,
15... ASIC type recording device controller,
16: Recording head,
17 Carriage motor,
18 ... Conveyance motor,
20 ... scanner part,
21 ... CPU,
22 ... ROM,
23 ... RAM,
24... ASIC type image reading device control unit,
27 ... Reading head,
28: Scanning motor.

Claims (12)

An interface that is connected to a host device or a peripheral device and transmits / receives data, a memory that stores received data and print data, and a recording device control that generates the print data, controls the recording head, and controls the recording device , A recording mechanism including a recording head, driving means for driving the recording apparatus, an operation control unit including an operation panel capable of arbitrarily setting print information, image reading control, image extraction control, image An image reading device control unit that performs data generation, a head control unit including a reading head, a driving unit that drives the image reading device, a control unit that can directly record an image on a label surface of an optical recording medium, In a recording apparatus comprising a mechanism for supplying a power supply voltage to a connected peripheral device,
Data generated by the image reader is directly recorded on the recording medium, and an arbitrary image or an image on the label surface of the optical recording medium is automatically extracted and copied and recorded on the label surface of the optical recording medium. A recording apparatus comprising: means. In claim 1,
Recording having a direct print function for receiving data input by an image reading apparatus installed without intervention of a host apparatus and automatically performing a series of image processing, data generation, and recording operations apparatus. In claim 2,
A recording apparatus which reads an image on an image reading apparatus, extracts, processes and edits the image into a shape suitable for a recording medium as a copy destination, and generates data. In claim 3,
Processes and generates data for scanned image data such as noise removal, smoothing, enlargement / reduction, color matching processing, editing, etc., arbitrarily set by the user from the operation panel without intervention of the host device A recording apparatus comprising: means. In claim 4,
A recording apparatus, wherein, when an image is read, a copy source image is extracted by a position detection method using a carrier sheet and a detection method using pattern matching. In claim 5,
As the copy recording destination of the copy source image, not only the optical recording disk but also the recording position for the adhesive recording sheet with the adhesive sheet is set arbitrarily, and each recording sheet setting item is called from the internal storage device, A recording apparatus comprising means capable of controlling a recording operation. An interface that is connected to a host device or a peripheral device and transmits / receives data, a memory that stores received data and print data, and a recording device control that generates the print data, controls the recording head, and controls the recording device , A recording mechanism including a recording head, driving means for driving the recording apparatus, an operation control unit including an operation panel capable of arbitrarily setting print information, image reading control, image extraction control, image An image reading device control unit that performs data generation, a head control unit including a reading head, a driving unit that drives the image reading device, a control unit that can directly record an image on a label surface of an optical recording medium, In a control method of a recording apparatus comprising a mechanism for supplying a power supply voltage to a connected peripheral device,
Data generated by the image reader is directly recorded on the recording medium, and an arbitrary image or an image on the label surface of the optical recording medium is automatically extracted and copied and recorded on the label surface of the optical recording medium. A method for controlling a recording apparatus, comprising: a step. In claim 7,
Recording having a direct print function for receiving data input by an image reading apparatus installed without intervention of a host apparatus and automatically performing a series of image processing, data generation, and recording operations Control method of the device. In claim 8,
A method for controlling a recording apparatus, comprising: reading an image on an image reading apparatus, extracting, processing, and editing the image into a shape suitable for a recording medium as a copy destination to generate data. In claim 9,
Processes and generates data for scanned image data such as noise removal, smoothing, enlargement / reduction, color matching processing, editing, etc., arbitrarily set by the user from the operation panel without intervention of the host device A method for controlling a recording apparatus, comprising: a step. In claim 10,
A method for controlling a recording apparatus, comprising: extracting a copy source image when reading an image by a position detection method using a carrier sheet and a detection method using pattern matching. In claim 11,
As the copy recording destination of the copy source image, not only the optical recording disk but also the recording position for the adhesive recording sheet with the adhesive sheet is set arbitrarily, and each recording sheet setting item is called from the internal storage device, A method for controlling a recording apparatus, comprising a step capable of controlling a recording operation.

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