JP2006247946A - Printing device, order sheet printing method, program and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device capable of preventing the print of any useless order sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The order sheet 70 is provided with a thumbnail displaying part 71 wherein the content of an image file stored in a storage medium is displayed in thumbnail, an image selecting column 72 arranged below each thumbnail, and a reprint selecting column 73. A check mark is inputted in the image selecting column 72 to select the printing of the image file corresponding to the thumbnail displaying part 71, and a check mark is inputted in the reprint selecting column 73 to select the reprinting of the order sheet 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, an order sheet printing method, a program, and a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a user interface that can be easily printed by a user when a user selects and prints an image recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card or a DVD in a printer (a so-called multifunction machine) having a scanner device. Is provided. For example, as in Patent Document 1, when a user instructs printing of a selected sheet (hereinafter referred to as “order sheet”), index printing is performed in a thumbnail format. Using the order sheet created by this index printing, the user fills the mark on the order sheet with the print image and the printing conditions. When the order sheet is read by the scanner device of the printer, a desired image can be printed under desired printing conditions (hereinafter referred to as “order sheet printing”).
JP 2002-51283 A

  By the way, when the images stored on the recording medium are index printed, there may be a plurality of order sheets depending on the number of images. At this time, for example, if order sheet printing is performed using only one of the plurality of sheets on which the desired image is printed, the order sheet is used, and the image printed on the order sheet is ordered again. In order to perform sheet printing, all order sheets must be printed. That is, even an unused order sheet that has already been printed is printed again. Therefore, there is a problem that ink and printing paper are wasted when the order sheet is printed unnecessarily.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus that can prevent unnecessary order sheets from being printed.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus of the present invention includes a scanner unit for reading an image and a printer unit for printing an image stored in an external or internal storage device on a medium. Whether the printer unit reprints the same order sheet as the image selection field for selecting the contents of the image stored in the storage device and the image to be printed with respect to the order sheet. A reprint selection field for selecting whether or not, and printing the selected image based on the image selection field selected by the user and the reading result by the scanner unit of the reprint selection field. If the reprinting of the order sheet is selected, the order sheet is printed.

  According to the present invention, the order sheet is provided with the order sheet reprint selection field in addition to the display of the image stored in the storage device and the image selection field for selecting the image to be printed. Then, the user checks the reprint selection field, and the scanner unit reads the reprint selection field, whereby the same order sheet can be printed. Therefore, when the order sheet is composed of a plurality of sheets and the order sheet printing is performed again for an image printed on the same order sheet, it is not necessary to reprint all of the plurality of order sheets again. For this reason, it is possible to prevent unnecessary order sheets from being printed and to suppress waste of ink and paper.

The printing apparatus of the present invention has a display unit, and displays whether or not the order sheet is reprinted on the display unit before the printer unit reprints the order sheet.
According to the present invention, since whether or not to reprint the order sheet is displayed before the printer unit reprints the order sheet, whether or not the user has selected reprinting of the order sheet is displayed again. It can be confirmed and unnecessary order sheet printing can be prevented.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the selection of the image selection field is performed by selecting a printing condition of an image to be printed.
According to the present invention, since the image selection field is shared with the printing condition selection field, the image to be printed can be selected by selecting the printing conditions such as the print size and the number of prints.

  The order sheet printing method according to the present invention is an order sheet printing executed by a computer having a scanner unit for reading an image and a printer unit for printing an image stored in an external or internal storage device on a medium. Whether the printer unit reprints the same order sheet as the image selection field for selecting the content of the image stored in the storage device and the image to be printed for the order sheet A step of printing a reprint selection field for selecting the image, a step in which the scanner unit reads the image selection field and the reprint selection field selected by a user, and the printer unit includes Printing the selected image based on the reading result of the image selection field, and the printer unit reading the reprint selection field Based on, when the reprinting of the order sheet is selected, including a step of performing printing of the order sheet.

  According to the present invention, the order sheet is provided with the order sheet reprint selection field. Then, the user checks the reprint selection field, and the scanner unit reads the reprint selection field, whereby the same order sheet can be printed. Therefore, when there are multiple order sheets, there is no need to reprint all of the multiple order sheets for printing a part of the order sheets. This reduces waste of ink and paper.

  The program of this invention makes a computer perform each step of the order sheet | seat printing method mentioned above. According to this invention, the same effect as the order sheet printing method described above can be obtained.

The recording medium of the present invention records the program. According to this invention, the same effect as the order sheet printing method described above can be obtained.
The printing apparatus of the present invention is a printing apparatus including a scanner unit for reading an image and a printer unit for printing an image stored in an external or internal storage device on a medium. Prints on the order sheet the contents of the image stored in the storage device and a plurality of image selection fields for selecting a plurality of images to be printed corresponding to each image, and is selected by the user. The selected image is printed based on the reading result of the scanner section in the selected image selection field.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of image selection fields are provided for the display of images stored in the storage device, it is possible to perform order sheet printing a plurality of times with one order sheet.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the multifunction machine 1. The multifunction machine 1 as a printing apparatus includes a control unit 10 that controls the entire apparatus, a printer unit 20 for printing an image on a medium, and a scanner unit 30 for reading an image. The multifunction device 1 includes a reader / writer unit 40 that reads and writes data from and to a storage medium 41 (for example, a memory card or a DVD) as a storage device, an operation unit 50 that allows a user to input various commands, And a display unit 60 as display means for displaying characters, symbols and the like according to the command.

  The control unit 10 is configured as a microprocessor, and includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12 that stores a processing program, and a RAM 13 that temporarily stores data. The control unit 10 is connected to the printer unit 20, the scanner unit 30, the reader / writer unit 40, the operation unit 50, and the display unit 60 via the bus 14.

  The printer unit 20 includes a printer ASIC 21 and a printer engine 22. The printer ASIC 21 is a custom IC chip having a function of controlling the printer engine 22. The printer ASIC 21 develops the print data in the buffer provided in the RAM 13 into a bitmap image, and controls the printer engine 22 so that the decompressed data is printed on the medium M (printing paper). The printer engine 22 includes an ink cartridge 23, an ink carriage 24 that carries the ink cartridge 23 and moves in the horizontal direction, an ink jet head 25 that discharges ink to the medium M, and a roller 26 that moves the medium M to a printing position. And. The ink cartridge 23 is a color printing cartridge provided with a plurality of colors of ink.

  The scanner unit 30 includes a scanner ASIC 31 and a scanner engine 32. The scanner ASIC 31 is a custom IC chip having a function of controlling the scanner engine 32. The scanner ASIC 31 outputs the scan data read by the scanner engine 32 to the control unit 10, and the CPU 11 of the control unit 10 stores the output scan data in a buffer provided in the RAM 13. The scanner engine 32 includes a line image sensor 33 that optically reads the content displayed on the medium M, and a roller 34 that moves the medium M to a reading position.

The reader / writer unit 40 is configured to be connectable to the storage medium 41, and reads / writes data from / to the storage medium 41. The storage medium 41 stores a plurality of image files.
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 50 includes an order sheet reception button 51 that is used when the scanner unit 30 reads an order sheet, an order sheet creation button 52 that is used when creating an order sheet, and an MFP. 1 and a YES / NO button 53 that responds to a command from 1. The display unit 60 includes a display 61 on which characters, symbols, and the like corresponding to various commands are displayed.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the order sheet 70. The order sheet 70 includes a thumbnail display unit 71 that displays the contents of the image file stored in the storage medium 41 as thumbnails, an image selection field 72 arranged below each thumbnail, and a reprint selection field 73. Is provided. By checking the image selection field 72 with a writing tool or the like, it is possible to select printing of an image file corresponding to the thumbnail display unit 71 arranged at the upper part of the image selection field 72. In addition, by checking the reprint selection field 73 with a writing instrument or the like, it is possible to select reprinting of a new order sheet 70.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction device 1 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the main routine. The CPU 11 of the control unit 10 repeats the main routine at every predetermined timing. When the main routine is started, the CPU 11 determines whether any button of the operation unit 50 has been operated (step S110). When none of the buttons are operated, this routine is finished as it is. When any button is operated, it is determined whether or not the button is the order sheet creation button 52 (step S120). If the button is the order sheet creation button 52, all image files in the storage medium 41 read by the reader / writer unit 40 are converted into thumbnails (step S130). Then, print data of the order sheet is created using the thumbnail image (step S140), and the print data is output to the printer ASIC 21 (step S150). The printer ASIC 21 develops the print data into bitmap data, controls the printer engine 22, and starts printing the order sheet 70 on the medium M. The CPU 11 determines whether or not a print end signal has been received from the printer ASIC 21 (step S160). If the print end signal has not been received, the CPU 11 stands by and ends the main routine when receiving the print end signal.

  If the button operated in step S120 is not the order sheet creation button 52, it is determined whether or not the button is the order sheet acceptance button 51 (step S170). When the button is the order sheet reception button 51, it is determined whether or not the order sheet 70 is set in the scanner engine 32 of the scanner unit 30 (step S180). When the order sheet 70 is not set in the scanner engine 32, the main routine is finished as it is. When the order sheet 70 is set, the scanner ASIC 31 is instructed to start scanning (step S190). The scanner ASIC 31 controls the scanner engine 32 and the line image sensor 33 reads the contents of the order sheet 70. The CPU 11 determines whether or not a scan end signal has been received from the scanner ASIC 31 (step S200). If it has not received a scan end signal, it waits as it is, and when it receives a scan end signal, it proceeds to the next step. Based on the image selection field 72 in the scan data, the image file selected by the user for printing is recognized. The image file is read from the storage medium 41 connected to the reader / writer unit 40, print data is created, and output to the printer ASIC 21 (step S210). The printer ASIC 21 develops the print data into bitmap data and controls the printer engine 22 to start printing the image file selected by the user on the medium M. The CPU 11 determines whether or not a print end signal is received from the printer ASIC 21 (step S220). If the print end signal is not received, the CPU 11 waits as it is, and proceeds to the next step when receiving the print end signal.

  Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the reprint selection field 73 in the scan data is checked (step S230). When the reprint selection field 73 is not checked, this routine is finished as it is. If it is checked, whether or not to reprint a new order sheet 70 is displayed on the display 61 of the display unit 60 (step S240). Then, it waits for the user to operate the YES / NO button 53 (step 250). When the user operates the NO button, this routine is finished as it is. When the user operates the YES button, the print data in the state before being checked by the user on the order sheet 70 scanned in step S190 is output to the printer ASIC 21 (step S260). The printer ASIC 21 develops the print data into bitmap data, controls the printer engine 22, and starts printing the order sheet 70 on the medium M. The CPU 11 determines whether or not a print end signal has been received from the printer ASIC 21 (step S270). If the print end signal has not been received, the CPU 11 stands by and ends the main routine when receiving the print end signal. If the operated button is not the order sheet reception button 51 in step S170, the process corresponding to the operated button (step S280) is executed, and the main routine is terminated.

  Next, a case where an order sheet 80 having a different format as shown in FIG. 5 is used will be described. The order sheet 80 includes a thumbnail display unit 81 that displays the contents of the image file stored in the storage medium 41 as thumbnails, an image size selection column 82 arranged at the bottom of each thumbnail, and a reprint selection column 83. Is provided. The user can select the print size of the image in the image size selection field 82. The image size selection column 82 has a check column 82a on the right side of the print sizes described as L plate, 2L plate, A5, and A4. By checking the check field 82a corresponding to each print size with a writing tool or the like, the image file corresponding to the thumbnail display unit 81 arranged at the top of the image size selection field 82 is printed with the size of the selected image. be able to. In addition, by checking the reprint selection field 83 with a writing instrument or the like, it is possible to select reprinting of a new order sheet 80.

  When the order sheet 80 is used, the image size selection field 82 corresponds to the image selection field 72 of the order sheet 70, and order sheet printing is controlled according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  By the way, as a method for detecting a check in the image selection field 72, the image size selection field 82, and the reprint selection fields 73, 83, for example, the positions of the selection fields 72, 73, 82, 83 are set on the order sheets 70, 80. It may be stored in advance in the ROM 12 as XY coordinates so that the presence or absence of the check can be recognized. Further, when there is character information in each of the selection fields 72, 73, 82, and 83, for example, it may be configured so that it can be recognized by an OCR (optical character reader).

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the first embodiment, the order sheet 70 includes the display of the image stored in the storage medium 41 and the image selection field 72 for selecting the image to be printed, A print selection field 73 is provided. Then, when the user checks the reprint selection field 73 and the scanner unit 30 reads the reprint selection field 73, the same order sheet 70 can be printed. Therefore, when the order sheet 70 is composed of a plurality of sheets for the image file of the storage medium 41 and the order sheet is printed again for the image printed on the same order sheet 70, all of the plurality of order sheets 70 are used. Need not be printed again. For this reason, it is possible to prevent unnecessary printing of the order sheet 70 and suppress waste of ink and printing paper.

  (2) In the first embodiment, before the printer unit 20 executes reprinting of the order sheet 70, whether or not to reprint the order sheet 70 is displayed on the display 61 of the display unit 60. Accordingly, it can be reconfirmed whether or not the user has selected reprinting of the order sheet 70, and unnecessary printing of the order sheet 70 can be prevented.

  (3) In the first embodiment, the image print size can be selected in the image size selection field 82. Accordingly, since the image to be printed is selected by checking the image size selection field 82, it is not necessary to provide the image size selection field 82 and the image selection field 72 together.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the configuration of the multifunction machine 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is the same as that of the first embodiment. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of an order sheet 90 according to the second embodiment. The order sheet 90 is provided with a thumbnail display unit 91 that displays the contents of the image file stored in the storage medium 41 as thumbnails, and an image selection column 92 configured in six levels below each thumbnail. . The number-of-uses display 93 is written on the left side of the image selection field 92. Since the number-of-uses display 93 is 1 to 6, this order sheet 90 can be used six times. By checking the image selection field 92 with a writing instrument or the like, it is possible to select printing of an image file corresponding to the thumbnail display unit 91 located at the top of the image selection field 92.

  Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, some steps (steps S210 to S270) in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 are different from those in the first embodiment. In step S <b> 200, after receiving the scan end signal of the order sheet 90, the CPU 11 detects the number of times this order sheet is used based on the image selection field 92 in the scan data. For example, the number of times of use of the order sheet 90 is detected assuming that, among all the checked image selection fields 92, the one with the largest number of times of use display 93 is newly checked. Then, based on the image selection field 92 at the stage of the usage count display 93, the image file selected by the user for printing is recognized. The image file is read from the storage medium 41, print data is created, and output to the printer ASIC 21. The printer ASIC 21 develops the print data into bitmap data and controls the printer engine 22 to start printing the image file selected by the user on the medium M. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S220, in which the CPU 11 determines whether or not a print end signal has been received from the printer ASIC 21. If the print end signal has not been received, the CPU 11 stands by. If a print end signal is received, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S230. The main routine ends without proceeding.

According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(4) In the second embodiment, a plurality of image selection fields 92 are provided for the thumbnail display portion 81 of the image file stored in the storage medium 41. Therefore, order sheet printing can be performed a plurality of times with one order sheet 90.

  (5) In the second embodiment, by providing a plurality of image selection fields 92 for one thumbnail display portion 91, one order sheet 90 can be used a plurality of times. Therefore, waste of ink and paper can be suppressed.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
In the first embodiment, it is controlled whether or not the order sheets 70 and 80 are reprinted after the image is printed. Whether or not the order sheets 70 and 80 are reprinted before the image is printed is controlled. You may control.

In the first embodiment, whether or not to reprint the order sheets 70 and 80 is displayed on the display 61 in step S240, but this display need not be performed.
In the first embodiment, four types of print sizes are set in the image size selection field 82 of the order sheet 80, but two, three, five or more types of print sizes may be set.

  In the first embodiment, the reprint selection fields 73 and 83 are checked to reprint the order sheets 70 and 80. However, the number of prints is entered in the reprint selection fields 73 and 83, or a plurality of sheets are printed. By checking this, a plurality of order sheets 70 and 80 may be reprinted.

  In the first and second embodiments, an image is printed by checking the image selection fields 72 and 92 or the image size selection field 82. However, the image selection fields 72 and 92 or the image size selection field 82 A plurality of images may be printed by entering the number of prints or performing a plurality of checks.

  In the first and second embodiments, the image file stored in the external storage medium 41 connected to the reader / writer unit 40 is used, but the image file stored in the internal storage device is used. Also good.

  In the first and second embodiments, the order sheet printing is controlled by the CPU 11 of the control unit 10 provided in the multifunction machine 1, but may be controlled by a computer outside the multifunction machine 1.

  In the first and second embodiments, six thumbnail display portions 71 and 81 of the order sheets 70 and 80 are provided and four thumbnail display portions 91 of the order sheet 90 are provided, but the thumbnail display portions 71 and 81 are provided. , 91 may be set arbitrarily.

  In the first and second embodiments, the image selection fields 72 and 92 or the image size selection field 82 are provided at the bottom of the thumbnail display portions 71, 81, and 91 of the order sheets 70, 80, and 90. Alternatively, the image selection columns 72 and 92 or the image size selection column 82 may be provided in several places.

  In the first and second embodiments, image printing is designated by the order sheets 70, 80, 90. However, image erasing, copying, and moving may be processed by the same control.

  In the first and second embodiments, the selection is performed by checking the image selection fields 72 and 92, the image size selection field 82, and the reprint selection fields 73 and 83 with a writing instrument or the like. May be performed.

  In the second embodiment, the image is printed by checking the image selection field 92, but the image to be printed may be selected by selecting the print size of the image.

  In the second embodiment, the order sheet 80 is used six times, but may be two to five times, seven times or more.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an operation unit 50 and a display unit 60 of the multifunction machine 1. Explanatory drawing of the order sheet | seat 70. FIG. The flowchart of order sheet printing. Explanatory drawing of the order sheet | seat 80. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the order sheet | seat 90. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multifunction machine, 10 ... Control part, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 20 ... Printer part, 21 ... Printer ASIC, 22 ... Printer engine, 30 ... Scanner part, 31 ... Scanner ASIC, 32 ... Scanner Engine 40 ... Reader / writer unit 41 ... Storage medium 50 ... Operation unit 60 ... Display unit 70,80,90 ... Order sheet 71,81,91 Thumbnail display unit 72,92 ... Image selection field 73, 83: Reprint selection field, 82: Image size selection field.

Claims (7)

A printing apparatus comprising a scanner unit for reading an image and a printer unit for printing an image stored in an external or internal storage device on a medium,
The printer unit selects whether or not to reprint the same order sheet as the image selection field for selecting the content of the image stored in the storage device and the image to be printed for the order sheet. A reprint selection field of the image, and printing the selected image based on the image selection field selected by the user and the reading result by the scanner unit of the reprint selection field. A printing apparatus that prints the order sheet when reprinting is selected.   2. The printing according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit configured to display whether or not the order sheet is reprinted on the display unit before the printer unit performs the reprinting of the order sheet. apparatus.   3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the image selection field is performed by selecting a printing condition of an image to be printed. An order sheet printing method executed by a computer comprising a scanner unit for reading an image and a printer unit for printing an image stored in an external or internal storage device on a medium,
The printer unit selects whether or not to reprint the same order sheet as the image selection field for selecting the content of the image stored in the storage device and the image to be printed for the order sheet. Printing the reprint selection field of
The scanner unit reading the image selection field and the reprint selection field selected by a user;
The printer unit printing the selected image based on the reading result of the image selection field;
The printer unit, when reprinting of the order sheet is selected based on the read result of the reprint selection field, printing the order sheet; and
Order sheet printing method including.   The program for making a computer perform each step of the order sheet | seat printing method described in Claim 4.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded. A printing apparatus comprising a scanner unit for reading an image and a printer unit for printing an image stored in an external or internal storage device on a medium,
The printer unit prints an image content stored in the storage device on the order sheet and an image selection field for selecting a plurality of images to be printed corresponding to each image, A printing apparatus that prints a selected image based on a reading result of the scanner section in the image selection field selected by a user.

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