JP2006168106A - Image printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the various problems that when a plurality of different images taken by a digital camera or the like are printed by designating different numbers of printing on respective images, and all the printed matter are printed at one time, it is necessary for a user to perform manually the classification works after printing, but the classification works are extremely bad in its efficiency and there exists a risk to stain the printed faces caused by touching the printed matter by the manual works, and furthermore, when a special mechanism for the classification is provided, it results in the upsizing of the apparatus and increasing the cost. <P>SOLUTION: In a printer equipped with two series of paper feeding mechanisms, first papers for printing the classification information are fed and printed from a first paper feeding part, and second papers for printing a plurality of different images are fed and printed from a second paper feeding part, to controlling the order of printing of the printed matter fed from respective paper feeding parts. It is possible thereby that the first papers on which the classification information are printed play the role of partitioning papers, to automatically classify a plurality of image printed matter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image printing apparatus for printing a plurality of image data photographed by a digital camera or the like.

  In recent years, digital cameras have been spreading rapidly. At the same time, color printers have rapidly become higher in image quality and lower in price, and anyone can easily output an environment with print quality equivalent to silver halide photography at home.

  In addition, recording media (CF cards, SD cards, etc.) used for digital cameras are gradually increasing in capacity, and it is now possible to store tens or hundreds of images on a single recording medium. It's getting on.

  In such a situation, it is rare that the user captures and prints one image at a time, and usually a large number of images are printed at once after a certain amount of images have accumulated. Also, in the case of an image such as a commemorative photo showing a number of people, it is common practice to print a plurality of the same images and distribute them to each person.

There are some which print a plurality of different images at once by designating different numbers of prints for each image (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-175655 A JP 10-200839

  However, conventionally, when a plurality of different images are printed at once by specifying different numbers of prints for each image, it is necessary for the user to manually sort after printing, which is very inefficient. At the same time, there is a problem in terms of quality, such as a risk that the printed surface may become dirty by touching the printed material manually.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a mechanism and method for automatically sorting printed materials with an ink jet printer, but it is necessary to provide a dedicated sorting mechanism. There is a problem that it leads to an increase in the size of the device.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a method of selecting a plurality of images stored in a recording medium using an adapter, specifying the number of images to be printed for each image, and performing desired extra printing. There is no particular description regarding the sorting after the operation is performed, and the problem that the sorting must be performed manually is not solved.

  In an image printing apparatus capable of transporting two types of paper by different transport mechanisms and performing printing on each paper, for sorting a plurality of images on the first paper transported from the first transport mechanism Based on the sorting information, the sorting information is printed, the sorted image is printed on the second sheet conveyed from the second conveying mechanism, and a plurality of printed materials printed on the second sheet are printed. An image printing apparatus that controls the printing order of the first sheet and the printing order of the second sheet so as to sort them.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of images are conventionally printed and sorted to different sorting destinations manually, whereas sorting destination information is designated and each sorting destination is specified. By simply specifying the number of images to be printed in the printer, the printer automatically prints the sorting destination information and sorts the images, eliminating the need for manual sorting by the user, and the printing workload. Can be greatly reduced. In addition, since the frequency with which the printed material is touched by hand can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the risk of the printed material becoming dirty or scratched. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a special sorting mechanism for sorting printing, it is possible to avoid an increase in size and cost of the apparatus.

  Examples of more specific implementations of the present invention are shown below.

  The first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image printing apparatus = printer of the present invention. This printer is a printer having two systems of paper feeding mechanisms. Reference numeral 101 denotes a paper feed unit 1 that feeds paper from the front of the printer, and reference numeral 102 denotes a paper feed unit 2 that feeds paper from the top of the printer. The sheets fed from the respective sheet feeding units are discharged to a sheet discharge tray 103 via respective independent transport mechanisms (not shown). When used by a normal user, frequently used paper such as plain paper is set when feeding from the front side of 101, and feeding from the upper surface of the printer of 102 is relatively frequently used such as glossy paper. In many cases, an unprinted sheet is set in a sheet feeding unit when printing and an image is printed.

  Printing from the paper supply unit 101 is a so-called U-turn path system in which the paper is transported from the front, the transport direction is changed 180 degrees inside the printing apparatus, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray. Paper suffers from defects such as poor paper feeding and paper jamming, and the paper surface is easily scratched. On the other hand, if weak paper such as plain paper is left in the paper supply unit 102 for a long period of time, there is a problem that the paper is easily deformed by its own weight. Therefore, the above-described usage mode in which plain paper is set in the paper feeding unit 1 that feeds flat paper from the front and glossy paper is set in the paper feeding unit 2 that feeds paper from the upper surface of the printer has a great merit.

  In this embodiment, the plain paper fed from the paper feeding unit 1 will be described as an example of A4 size, and the glossy paper fed from the paper feeding unit 2 will be described as an example of L-size paper that is most frequently used for photo printing. It is not limited to this size combination. However, according to the sorting method of the present invention, the sorting operation is easier when the paper size of the paper feeding unit 1 is larger than the paper size of the paper feeding unit 2.

  FIG. 2 shows a connection form between devices when printing is performed by the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A PC main body 201 is connected to the printer 204 through a connection cable such as a USB cable. Reference numeral 202 denotes an application that runs on the PC, and the user uses this application to select an image to be printed. The printer driver 203 receives image data and control information sent from the application, generates print data to the printer 204 based on the information, and transfers the print data.

  In FIG. 3, the designation of sorting destinations performed on the application UI will be described. A check box 301 is used to specify whether or not to perform sorting destination designation printing by turning this check box ON / OFF. When the check box 301 is turned ON, input boxes for setting a plurality of sorting destinations indicated by 302 can be set, and the user designates a plurality of sorting destinations by inputting character information. In Fig. 3, it is possible to specify three destinations for sorting. However, if you want to specify more than three destinations, you can add additional rows under Sorting destination 3 by pressing the add button 303. In addition, it is possible to add a sorting place.

  Next, a method for selecting an image on the application UI will be described with reference to FIG. In the area 401, thumbnails of a plurality of images read out on the application are displayed. In the field 402, the file name of each image is displayed. In the field 403, the total number of prints designated for sorting images is displayed. Reference numeral 404 denotes a sorting destination designation button. When this button is pressed, a dialog box for specifying the sorting destination of each image is displayed. This sort destination designation button 404 can be input only when the sort destination designation check box 301 in FIG. 3 is checked. Reference numeral 405 denotes a print start button, which is printed as specified by pressing the print start button after performing a sort print designation to be described later for a plurality of images.

  FIG. 6 shows a sorting destination designation dialog box which is opened by pressing the sorting destination designation button 404 described in FIG. Dialog boxes corresponding to image1.jpg, image2.jpg, and image3.jpg in FIG. 4 correspond to (a), (b), and (c) in FIG. The number-of-prints designation button 601 designates the number of sheets to be printed on each sorting destination by pressing the up and down arrow keys to increase or decrease the number of printed sheets. In this embodiment, in FIG. 6A, the image image1.jpg is designated to be printed for a total of four sheets: two for sorting destination 1, one for sorting destination 2, and one for sorting destination 3. In FIG. 6B, one sheet is specified for the sorting destination 1 and no designation is made for the sorting destination 2, and one sheet is designated for the sorting destination designation 3. Similarly, in FIG. 6C, printing is designated for a total of three sheets, one for each of the sorting destinations 1, 2, and 3. In this way, the total number of prints of each sorting destination designated by the print number designation button 601 is displayed in 602, and the user can confirm how many of the selected images are printed in total. By further pressing the OK button 603, the designation in the sort destination designation dialog box in FIG. 6 is finished, the dialog box is closed, and the screen returns to the image selection screen in FIG.

  The flow of processing so far is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In 502, it is determined whether or not sorting printing is to be performed. This corresponds to whether or not the sorting destination designation check box in FIG. 3 is turned on. If it is determined in 502 that sort printing is to be performed, the flow advances to 503 to input sort destination information. This is equivalent to inputting the sorting destination information into the sorting destination information input 302 in FIG. Next, in 504, it is determined whether or not to specify a sorting destination. This corresponds to whether or not the sorting destination designation button 404 in FIG. 4 is pressed. If it is determined in 504 that the sorting destination is designated, the process proceeds to 505, and the number of sheets for each sorting destination is designated. This corresponds to designating the number of prints for each sorting destination with the print number designation button 601 in FIG. In step 506, it is determined whether to start printing. This corresponds to whether or not the print start button in FIG. 4 is pressed. If it is determined in step 506 that printing is started, the process proceeds to step 507, and printing is performed based on the printing conditions specified so far. If it is determined in the flowchart of FIG. 5 whether or not sorting printing is performed in 502, it is determined that sorting printing is not performed. As shown in FIG. Do it directly.

  With reference to FIG. 7, what kind of printing result is obtained by the sorting printing method described in the present embodiment will be described. The number described below each image indicates the order of printing. The first printout is the sortee information “Tanaka” of sortee 1 printed as characters. In this printing, the user can confirm the information of the sorting destination, and at the same time, it also serves as a partition sheet for photographic images to be printed later. Usually, paper such as plain paper is used for this printing. In the printer used in this embodiment, plain paper is set in the front paper feed unit 101 shown in FIG. 1, and the plain paper used for the first printing is fed from 101.

  In the printing orders 2 to 5, a plurality of images designated for printing to the sorting destination 1 are printed for the number of prints of each image. For this printing, glossy paper of L plate size fed from the paper feeding unit 102 in FIG. 1 is used.

  Since image1.jpg is designated to be printed on the sorting destination 1 in FIG. 6A, two sheets are printed in the printing order 2, 3 in succession. Since image2.jpg is designated to be printed on the sorting destination 1 in FIG. 6B, one sheet is printed in the printing order 4. Similarly, one sheet of image3.jpg is designated for the sorting destination 1 in FIG.

  Printing to the sorting destination 1 is completed by printing from the printing order 1 to 5, and then the sorting destination information of the sorting destination 2 is similarly printed in the printing order 6.

Printing as described above is continued until the printing order 12. Eventually, a plurality of printed images sorted for each sorting destination can be automatically obtained in a state in which plain paper that also serves as a partition sheet printed with sorting destination information is inserted therebetween. (The image of the printing result described in FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 20 in what order the printed materials are printed and stacked on the paper discharge tray 103 in FIG. 1)
As described above, the printer automatically prints the sorting destination information and sorts the image simply by specifying the sorting destination information and designating the number of images to be printed on each sorting destination. This eliminates the need for manual sorting by the user, greatly reducing the burden of printing, and reducing the frequency of touching the printed material, reducing the risk of smudges and scratches on the printed material. It becomes possible.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is characterized in that an envelope sheet is used as a sheet serving as a partition sheet, and the address information of the sorting person is printed on the envelope as the sorting destination information.

  In the present embodiment, envelope paper is set in the paper feed section 101 from the front, and L-size glossy paper is set in 102 in the same manner as in the first embodiment with respect to the two paper feed sections shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows an application UI for designating sorting destination information in this embodiment. A check box 901 for setting whether or not to specify a sorting destination and a column 902 for inputting sorting destination information are the same as in the first embodiment, but a detailed input switch 903 is newly added in the present embodiment. . When this detailed input switch is pressed, a dialog box shown in FIG. 10 for inputting detailed information for each sorting destination is displayed.

  In the detailed information input screens 1001 and 1002, the address and name of the sorting destination 1 = “Tanaka” are input, and the address of the envelope paper fed from the paper feeding unit 101 is displayed on the preview screen of 1003. Information is printed. The user inputs information into 1001 and 1002, confirms that the desired print result is obtained by looking at the state displayed in the preview, and presses the OK button 1004 to close this dialog.

  FIG. 11 shows what kind of printing result is finally obtained by this embodiment. Similar to FIG. 7 used in the description of the first embodiment, the printing order is described below each image. The first printing is information on the address of the envelope paper fed from the paper feeding unit 1 for the sorting destination 1 when the address and name are entered on the detailed input screen of FIG. Is. Similarly, in the printing orders 6 and 9, the information of the sorting destination 2 and the sorting destination 3 is printed on the envelope sheet as the address.

  By printing the sorting information as the address information on the envelope paper as described above, it is possible to send the sorted printed matter as it is in the envelope and mail it, greatly improving the work process from image printing → sorting → mailing. It becomes possible to do.

  In this embodiment, when the automatic duplex printing mechanism is provided in the printer to be used, printing on the envelope paper is performed by specifying not only the address printing but also the sender information. Can improve the work efficiency.

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, the printer function (scanning information of the recording medium used in the digital camera with the scanner function for reading image information) and the card slot (hereinafter referred to as MFP) that is not connected to the PC itself However, it provides an environment that allows easy sorting and printing.

  FIG. 12 shows an overall view of the MFP of this embodiment. Similar to the printer described in the first exemplary embodiment, 1201 and 1202 have two paper feeding mechanisms. 1204 is a scanner cover, and 1205 is an original table of the scanner. An LCD display unit 1206 and an operation button 1207 are used to specify the number of copies when copying with the MFP, and to select an image and specify the number when printing image data from a card.

  As for the MFP of this embodiment, as disclosed in JP-A-2002-51283, an image selection sheet is printed, the user checks the sheet, the sheet is read by the attached scanner, and is checked. There has been proposed a system for printing image data. According to this method, it is possible to select a plurality of images at a time relatively easily without using a personal computer. In this embodiment, a method for easily performing sorting printing using an image selection sheet is provided.

  First, the operation button 1207 in FIG. 12 is operated to display a message as shown in FIG. 13 on the LCD display unit 1206. This state is a state in which a sheet for specifying the sorting destination can be prepared for printing, and information on the sorting destination specifying sheet is set in the sheet feeding unit 1201 in FIG. 12 by pressing the determination button 1301 in FIG. Printed on plain paper.

  FIG. 14 shows the sorting destination designation sheet printed. Reference numerals 1401 to 1404 in FIG. 14 denote markers arranged at the four corners of the sheet. Further, what is indicated by 1405 to 1412 in FIG. 14 is a frame representing a position at which the user inputs the sorting destination information from sorting destination 1 to sorting destination 8 by handwriting. In this embodiment, up to eight sorting destinations can be designated by one sorting destination designation sheet, but of course this is not restrictive.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a state in which the user inputs the handwriting input on the sorting destination designation sheet. In this case, the input from the sorting destinations 1 to 3 is performed.

  Next, the operation button 1207 on the MFP main body shown in FIG. 12 is operated to display a message as shown in FIG. 16 on the LCD display unit 1206. This state is a state in which the user can prepare to scan the sorting destination designation sheet for which the sorting destination information has been input, and the sorting destination designation sheet is scanned by pressing the enter button 1601 in FIG. Here, the information read by the scanner attached to the MFP is subjected to OCR processing on the image information input by hand in the frame 1501 to 1503 in FIG. 15 by image processing control performed by a CPU (not shown) inside the MFP. The character information is converted.

  When three sorting destinations are designated by the sorting destination designation sheet shown in FIG. 15, the operation button 1207 of the MFP main body in FIG. 12 is operated to print the image selection sheet. At this time, based on the plurality of image data stored in the recording medium inserted in the card slot 1208 provided in the MFP main body of FIG. 12 and the sorting destination information designated by the sorting destination designation sheet described above, Printing is performed as an image selection sheet as shown in FIG. This image selection sheet is also printed on plain paper set in the paper feed unit 1 from the front of the MFP in FIG.

  In FIG. 17, reference numeral 1701 denotes a thumbnail of image data stored in the recording medium inserted in the card slot of the MFP main body. 1702 indicates the file name of each image data. Reference numeral 1703 denotes a check box for designating whether or not to print each image on the sorting destination designated by the sorting destination sheet. Reference numeral 1704 denotes an area printed on the image selection sheet so that the user can confirm the sorting destination information input by the sorting destination sheet. Reference numeral 1705 denotes a check box for designating an image size when printing image data, and reference numeral 1706 denotes a check box for designating a paper size for printing image data.

  The image selection sheet described above is read by the scanner attached to the MFP again with the user checking each check box by hand as shown in FIG. 17 to obtain information for sorting and printing each image. To do.

  Next, the operation button 1207 of the MFP main body in FIG. 12 is operated to display a message as shown in FIG. 18 on the LCD display unit 1206. This state is a state in which preparation for sorting printing is possible, and by pressing the enter button 1801 in FIG. 18, sorting information printing plain paper is fed from the sheet feeding unit 1 and sorting information is printed, and image printing is performed. Glossy paper is fed from the paper feed unit 2 and printed in a state of being sorted by each sorting destination. FIG. 19 shows the result of sorting printing in this example.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a sheet on which a user inputs handwritten information for specifying a plurality of sorting destinations and information for image printing is printed and the user inputs information. By using the scanner attached to the MFP of this embodiment to acquire various information for sorting printing, sorting printing can be performed relatively easily without using a PC, greatly increasing the work burden during printing for the user. It becomes possible to reduce.

1 is an overall view of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The system figure explaining the connection form between the apparatuses at the time of printing with the printer in 1st Example of this invention. The figure explaining the sorting destination designation | designated method in 1st Example of this invention. The figure explaining the image selection method in 1st Example of this invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a flow until image printing in the first embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the sorting destination designation | designated method for every image in 1st Example of this invention. The figure explaining the image printed by the sorting printing method in 1st Example of this invention. The figure explaining the image selection method in a prior art example. The figure explaining the sorting destination designation | designated method in 2nd Example of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the detailed information input screen of the sorting destination information used in 2nd Example of this invention. The figure explaining the image printed by the sorting printing method in 2nd Example of this invention. The whole MFP in the 3rd example of the present invention. The figure explaining MFP operation part LCD display at the time of printing of the sorting destination printing designation | designated sheet | seat in the 3rd Example of this invention. The figure explaining the sorting destination printing designation | designated sheet in the 3rd Example of this invention. 12 is an example of input of a sorting destination printing designation sheet in the third embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the MFP operation part LCD display at the time of the sorting destination printing designation | designated sheet scan in the 3rd Example of this invention. The figure explaining the image selection sheet | seat in the 3rd Example of this invention. The figure explaining the MFP operation part LCD display at the time of the sort printing start in the 3rd Example of this invention. The figure explaining the image printed by the sorting printing method in the 3rd Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image stacked on a paper discharge tray after being printed by the sorting printing method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Paper Feeder 1 (Front Paper Feeder)
102 Paper feed unit 2 (Top feed unit)
103 Output tray
1201 Paper Feeding Unit 1 (Front Feeding Unit)
1202 Paper feed unit 2 (Top feed unit)
1203 Output tray
1204 Scanner cover
1205 Scanner platen
1206 LCD display
1207 Operation buttons
1208 card slot

Claims (4)

  In an image printing apparatus capable of transporting two types of paper by different transport mechanisms and performing printing on each paper, for sorting a plurality of images on the first paper transported from the first transport mechanism Based on the sorting information, the sorting information is printed, the sorted image is printed on the second sheet conveyed from the second conveying mechanism, and a plurality of printed materials printed on the second sheet are printed. An image printing apparatus that controls the printing order of the first sheet and the printing order of the second sheet so as to sort them.   2. The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting information to be printed on the first sheet is information for specifying a plurality of sorting destinations by a user prior to printing.   The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sorting information is input by a user from an application of a host computer connected to the image printing apparatus.   The image printing apparatus includes an image input unit such as a scanner or a sensor, prints a sorting destination designation sheet for designating a sorting destination of a plurality of images, and receives information input by the user on the sorting destination designation sheet. 2. The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein sorting information for sorting printing is input by reading.

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