JP2007021757A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system in which waste of print sheet can be prevented when a roll sheet wound in a roll form is employed as a print sheet. <P>SOLUTION: In the print system, a printer performs print layout such that consumption of print sheet is minimized from the print image size, the number of print sheets, and the width of a roll sheet and performs printing according to that print layout. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system having a thermal transfer printer or an ink jet printer as a printing means, and more specifically, electronic information captured by a still camera or a video camera that records a still image is transmitted via a computer or a recording medium. The present invention relates to a printing system suitable for printing out by the apparatus.

  Conventionally, heat-sensitive paper has been used as printing paper, and a plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction are selectively driven to convey the paper in the sub-scanning direction, thereby printing dots on the paper. There is a line thermal transfer type printer that performs this.

  In recent years, with the progress of input devices that handle images such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, and scanners on the input side, thermal transfer type printer apparatuses have attracted attention as printing means.

  Because the inkjet printer has only two choices of whether or not to drop the droplets, let the small droplets land on the paper and get an apparent resolution and gradation by methods such as error diffusion On the other hand, in the case of a thermal transfer printer, the controllable heat value can be easily changed in one pixel, so that a large gradation can be obtained for one pixel. As a result, it is possible to obtain a smoother and higher quality image as compared with the ink jet printer. In addition, the performance of the thermal head and the performance of paper materials have also improved, making it possible to obtain image prints that are as good as silver halide photographs with a finished quality, especially in order to keep pace with the recent progress of digital cameras. It is attracting attention as a printer for natural images.

  On the other hand, ink-jet printers have been developed with technology such as smaller droplets, and more high-quality printers have also appeared.

  Therefore, such a printer device is directly connected to a photographing device such as a digital camera or a digital video camera, or it is configured integrally and the photographed image information is passed through a device such as a computer for processing the image information. There is also a system for printing without any problem (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  According to such a system, it is possible to easily print out image information from a digital camera or digital video, which is very convenient.

In addition, print paper options include print paper that has been cut in advance, print paper wound in a roll, and the like, which are used by the user.
JP 2003-163858 A

  However, in the above conventional example, when a system with a printer device or an image input device such as a digital camera is configured, a sufficient solution for miniaturization, low cost and high speed is not provided.

  For example, when roll paper is selected as the print paper, the print direction of the image on the print paper is determined by the data arrangement of the print data transfer source. In some cases, consumables such as printing paper are wasted by selecting whether to print in the horizontal direction.

  As described above, the conventional apparatus has a problem that a user-friendly printing system cannot be provided.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and is a printing system using a thermal transfer type printer device as a printing unit, which wastes consumable materials such as printing paper and image degradation during enlarged printing. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing system for preventing the above-described problem.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the printing system according to the present invention includes a print control unit that determines mainly a printing direction in which image data is printed.

  That is, the technical contents of the present invention can solve the above-described problems by including the following configuration.

  (1) It comprises a camera having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a field to be photographed into an electronic image signal, and a printer device that prints out the electronic image signal picked up by the camera on a recording sheet so as to be visible. In a printing system, printing paper wound in a roll shape can be mounted on a printer device, and the printer device has an image printing direction determination unit and a print data creation unit, and determines an image printing direction. And a printing system.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the economic efficiency by printing while preventing waste of consumable materials represented by printing paper from being printed, and to prevent deterioration in image quality during enlarged printing.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  This printing system employs a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system in a printer unit, and can print out electronic image information for an arbitrary number of prints. The printing system will be described according to the procedure.

  An embodiment of a normal thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a side surface of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment.

  First, the overall configuration of the recording apparatus will be described. A sheet feeding roller 3 separates and feeds sheets one by one from a sheet cassette 2 loaded with recording sheets P on the apparatus main body 1. At this time, the recording paper P is in contact with the paper feed roller 3 by the push-up plate 21 urged by the spring 20. The recording paper P conveyed by the paper feed roller 3 is nipped and conveyed by the conveying roller pair 4 so that the recording unit can reciprocate. The conveying roller pair 4 includes a pinch roller 42 and a grip roller 41.

  In the recording section, the platen roller 5 and the thermal head 6 that generates heat according to the recording information are opposed to each other across the recording paper conveyance path, and a heat-meltable or heat-sublimable ink stored in the ink cassette 7 is applied. The ink sheet 8 having an overcoat layer that is overcoated on the print screen in order to protect the ink layer and the print screen is pressed against the print paper P by the thermal head 6 and selectively heated. A predetermined image is transferred and recorded on P, and a protective layer is overcoated.

  The ink sheet covers the print area of the recording paper P and is provided with a yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) ink layer and an overcoat (OP) layer arranged in a size substantially equal to the size. After each layer is thermally transferred, the recording paper P is returned to the recording start position P1 and transferred onto the recording paper one after another.

  In this way, the recording paper P is reciprocated by the number of inks of each color and the number of overcoat layers by the conveying roller pair 4.

  At this time, the recording paper P after printing of each ink layer is reversed in front of the apparatus main body 1 and guided to the rear of the apparatus main body 1 through the front portion of the paper cassette and the lower guide portion. Since the recording paper P in the middle of printing comes out to the outside because it is reversed in front of the device, there is no waste of space or unintentionally touching it, making it possible to save space at the installation location, etc. Yes.

  Moreover, by directly using the lower part of the paper cassette 2 as a paper guide, the thickness of the apparatus main body 1 can be reduced, and the recording paper P is sandwiched between the ink cassette 7 and the paper cassette 2. The overall height of the apparatus main body 1 can be kept to a minimum by passing through the space, which enables downsizing.

  Reference numeral 25 denotes a paper transport guide portion of the paper cassette 2. This is a guide portion for reversing the recording paper P that has been reversed from the front of the apparatus main body 1 to the rear of the apparatus main body, and is provided in the paper cassette 2 to greatly contribute to downsizing of the entire apparatus main body 1.

  Reference numeral 26 also serves as a tray portion of the recording paper P printed on and discharged from the upper surface of the paper cassette 2, which also contributes to downsizing of the apparatus main body 1.

  Reference numeral 23 denotes a head cover A, and reference numeral 24 denotes a head cover B, which are plates for preventing contact with the thermal head 6 when the paper cassette 2 is replaced.

  After the printing of each ink layer is completed, the recording paper P is guided to the discharge rollers 19a and 29b and discharged from the rear of the apparatus main body 1 to the front, and the recording operation is completed.

  The discharge roller 19b is configured to be in pressure contact only during the discharge operation of the recording paper P, and is configured so that no stress is applied during printing.

  The apparatus main body 1 includes a guide portion 15 for the recording paper P, and guides the recording paper P.

  Reference numeral 15a denotes a conveyance path switching sheet. After the recording paper P is fed, the recording paper P is guided to the discharge-side path.

  Further, the thermal head 6 for printing is integrally provided in the head arm 22, and when the ink cassette 7 is replaced, it is retracted to a position where the ink cassette 7 can be removed and inserted.

  This retracting operation can be performed when the ink cassette 7 is replaced by pulling out the paper cassette 2. At this time, the head arm 22 is pressed by a cam portion (not shown) in conjunction with the mounting / demounting operation of the paper cassette 2. The cam portion of the cassette 2 is configured to move up and down as it retracts.

  In a normal thermal transfer recording apparatus, three colors of YMC are recorded three times in a surface sequential manner, so that it is necessary to control to accurately match the recording leading ends of the respective colors. For this purpose, it is necessary to convey the recording paper P firmly between the conveying roller pair 4 shown in FIG. For this reason, an unrecordable blank portion is required at the end of the recording paper P in the feed direction. In view of this, finally, in order to easily obtain a print having no border, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper P has a blank portion that is firmly sandwiched by the conveying roller pair 4 at the start of recording and cannot be recorded. A perforation 12 is provided so that it can be easily cut by hand later.

  The present invention is implemented using the recording paper P having the perforations described above and the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and the perforation region provided on the recording paper is overcoated.

  The area indicated by the diagonally slanting left line is a printing area, and is controlled so as to print an area including a perforation. The overcoat is an area that is substantially printed and is controlled so as to include an area that is printed slightly larger than the area to be printed.

  Furthermore, the detailed description regarding an apparatus is given below.

  In the recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the conveying roller pair 4 includes a pinch roller 42 and a grip roller 41. The grip roller 41 is directly connected to the output shaft of a stepping motor (not shown) via a speed reduction mechanism. The stepping motor is driven to rotate forward and backward by rotation control. Since the recording paper P is firmly sandwiched by the conveying roller pair 4 and reciprocated, the recording paper P is also accurately position-controlled and driven by rotation control of the stepping motor.

  As an example, if the recording pitch for one line by the thermal head 6 is 85 μm and the number of steps of the stepping motor for transporting the recording paper P for one line is four, the recording paper P has a stepping motor. By controlling the rotation in four steps, one line (that is, 85 μm) can be conveyed. If the printing range shown in FIG. 3 is 144 mm in the transport direction, 1694 lines can be printed, and in order to transport the recording paper by this amount, the stepping motor may be rotated by 6776 steps.

  In the recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, a recording paper leading edge detection sensor 10 is placed at a position near the paper feeding roller pair 4 when the paper feeding roller 3 is viewed from the paper feeding roller pair 4. The leading edge is detected, and after the detection, a predetermined line is fed and stopped within a range that can be clamped by the conveying roller pair 4. This position is the position at the start of recording described above. From here, the thermal head is driven to generate heat according to the recording information from the first Y yellow, and a predetermined image of each color ink is recorded or the overcoat layer is transferred. When one color is finished, the recording paper is then returned from this position in the direction of the paper discharge roller 9b and conveyed, the predetermined number of lines is returned again, and YMC each color and overcoat layer transfer is repeated four times.

  In the recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the distance of the position where the recording paper P is pressed by the recording paper leading edge detection sensor 10, the platen roller 5 and the thermal head 6 is 20 mm on the recording paper in consideration of the arrangement of components in the apparatus. However, this is not a limitation.

  At this time, the printed matter shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by transferring and recording each color ink and transferring the overcoat layer as described below.

  The color ink transfer and overcoat sequence will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  S1: The user instructs a print operation by a print button (not shown) or a print instruction from a digital camera or digital video camera.

  S2: Device main body 1 The processing circuit 18 inside the device main body 1 starts communication with the device that has executed the print instruction, and the processing circuit 18 checks various conditions necessary for printing with the device that has executed the print instruction. If necessary, image processing of image information to print information is performed.

  The digital camera DC performs optimal color and sharpness processing on the image information to be printed depending on the model of the connected printer device, and then changes the number of pixels of the digital camera DC to the pixel that matches the print size output from the printer device body 1. After performing the interpolation processing, the image information is sent to the printer apparatus main body 1.

  S3: When preparation for printing is completed, the control means 19 drives the motor connected to the paper feed roller 3 to start feeding the recording paper P.

  S4: After detecting the leading edge of the recording paper, the stepping motor is rotated by a predetermined step to start printing. At this time, the printing start position was set to 12.465 mm with reference to the leading edge of the recording paper.

  S5: Subsequently, while the stepping motor is rotated by four steps, the thermal head is driven to generate heat, and printing for one line is performed. The printing is completed by rotating for a total of 6776 steps (1694 lines). The print end position at this time is 156.455 mm with reference to the leading edge of the recording paper.

  At this time, the printed matter is separable by the perforation 12. That is, the printing operation is performed by printing to the margin part 16 side of the perforation 12 and separating the non-printed margin part 16 so that there is no margin part. Only 17 prints can be obtained.

  Therefore, a predetermined amount of the number of printed lines is cut out in an actual printed product and is not printed.

  S6: Next, the stepping motor is rotated by about 10 lines (40 steps) and stopped for deceleration until stopping.

  S7: From this state, the stepping motor is driven in the reverse direction, the recording paper P is conveyed in the reverse direction to the time of printing, is returned by a predetermined number of steps (6776 steps-deceleration), and for further deceleration, the predetermined number of lines. Rotate about 10 lines (40 steps) and stop.

  S8: The above is repeated three times for the three colors of YMC, and a desired mark image is transferred and recorded on the recording paper P.

  S9: Thereafter, the overcoat layer for protecting the printing screen is transferred once more.

  S10: Thereafter, the stepping motor is driven in the reverse direction and guided to the discharge roller 29b as it is, and the sheet is discharged by driving the discharge roller 29b to end a series of operations.

  In the above description, the control means (not shown) determines the number of steps of the stepping motor and the recording paper based on the recording paper leading edge detection signal first detected by the recording paper leading edge detection sensor 10 when the recording paper P is fed. Based on the positional relationship during the conveyance of P, the number of steps of the rotational driving of the stepping motor is managed at the time of all print recording, but the recording position management is performed. At the time of transfer recording of the overcoat layer, a recording sensor is provided at the leading edge of the recording paper to detect the leading edge of the recording paper, and based on the signal, the number of steps for rotational driving of the stepping motor is managed to manage the recording position. It is good also as a structure which performs.

  In the above description, the transfer of the overcoat layer is described to be performed only by turning ON / OFF the heat generation drive of the thermal head. However, at the start of the overcoat transfer, the heat generation amount is gradually increased, and the overcoat layer is transferred. At the end of the transfer, it is also possible to add a control as obtained by gradually reducing the amount of heat generation.

  Here, the communication between the printer that executes the print instruction in S2 and the printer apparatus will be described in more detail.

  As an example, it is assumed that the print instruction is executed now as a digital camera DC.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram in which the digital camera DC and the printer apparatus main body 1 are connected.

  It is assumed that the digital camera DC holds image information in a memory inside the digital camera DC after shooting. As the memory, a removable memory such as a compact flash (registered trademark) card or smart media (registered trademark) is convenient.

  It is assumed that a mode of the digital camera DC is set and an arbitrary image is reproduced.

  Since the reproduction of the image information can be confirmed at any time by the liquid crystal display device included in the digital camera DC, the user can arbitrarily call the photographed favorite image information.

  Here, if the printer 27 can communicate with the printer apparatus main body 1 by the cable 27 or wireless means, a predetermined print execution button (not shown) communicates necessary information from the digital camera DC to the printer apparatus. The print output can be obtained from

  The necessary information includes information on negotiation with the digital camera DC, information on an image to be printed from the digital camera DC, information added to the image information at or after recording, and the like.

  Now, the contents related to the present invention will be described in more detail.

  Conventionally, the image data transfer source determines the print data arrangement. On the other hand, when the printing apparatus size is designated from the digital camera DC, the printer apparatus body 1 attempts to print an image as shown in FIG. 5A, and the direction shown in FIG. There are two printing directions shown in FIG.

  Comparing FIG. 5-2 and FIG. 5-3, it can be easily understood that the print image shown in FIG. In printing using roll paper, the length in the main scanning direction can be arbitrarily set. Therefore, the printing paper as a consumable can be saved by selecting the printing direction shown in FIG.

  As described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing system for eliminating waste of printing paper.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of print data creation by the print system according to the present invention.

  When a printing instruction is issued from the digital camera DC connected to the printer apparatus main body 1, the printer apparatus main body 1 acquires the print size and print image data in a format such as a JPEG file in step 6-1.

  Subsequently, in step 6-2, the printer apparatus main body 1 sequentially executes JPEG data decompression and resizing processing to a designated print size.

  In step 6-3, the printing direction for reducing the number of print sheets is determined, and if necessary, rotation processing is performed in the direction shown in FIG. 5-3 in step 6-4.

  In step 6-5, print data of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) is created for each color printing.

  In step 6-6, the completion of printing of each color Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) is detected, and in step 6-7, an overcoat process is performed to complete the printing process.

  Although one image printing has been described above, a method for eliminating waste of printing paper for a plurality of prints will be described below. In the case of printing a plurality of sheets, the print direction is determined by the print image size and the print layout.

  When a plurality of images of the same size are designated for the image shown in FIG. 7A, waste of printing paper can be eliminated by selecting the print direction as shown in FIGS. 7-2 and 7-3. However, when printing a plurality of images, the printing direction shown in FIG. 7-3 is not uniquely determined, and depending on the width of the roll paper and the size of the image to be printed, FIGS. As shown in FIG. 8C, the printing direction opposite to the printing direction described in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C is the printing direction that does not waste printing paper. The method for determining the printing direction will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the roll paper width, roll paper length, print image width, and print image height.

  When printing the image shown in FIG. 9-1 on roll paper, it is shown below whether the print direction used can be reduced by selecting either FIG. 9-2 or FIG. 9-3 as the print direction. It can be calculated from Equation 1 and Equation 2. Equation 1 is the roll paper length L1 required when the printing direction is selected in the direction of FIG. 8-2, and Equation 2 is the roll paper length L2 when the printing direction is selected in the direction of FIG. 7-3.

k is the number of print images (where k is an integer of 1 or more)
w is the width of the roll paper x is the width of the image shown in FIG. 9-1 y is the height of the image shown in FIG. 9-1 i is the number of images that can be printed in the roll paper width direction (where i is an integer of 1 or more)
j is the number of images printed in the longitudinal direction of the roll paper.

When defined as above,
i = w / x;
j = k / i;
if ((k% i)! = 0) {
j ++;
}
L1 = j * y; [Formula 1]
i = w / y
j = k / i;
if ((k% i)! = 0) {
j ++;
}
L2 = j * x; [Formula 2]

  By comparing L1 and L2 in the above formulas 1 and 2 and selecting the smaller one, the printer main unit 1 can determine the print direction that reduces the consumption of printing paper. After determining the print direction, the printer apparatus main body 1 arranges the print data for the designated number of prints on the memory, and creates the print data so that the print processing is one sheet. Further, since the printing of the single image described above corresponds to the case where the number of print images k is 1, the printing direction can be similarly determined by comparing Expression 1 and Expression 2.

  At present, the mainstream of ink ribbons is a cassette shape in which Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are wound in series. However, each ink ribbon cassette is configured as an independent cassette for each color printing. If the printer apparatus main body 1 is configured so that the ink ribbon is replaced, the waste of the ink ribbon in addition to the printing paper can be prevented.

  The print processing in the case where the print image size is designated from the digital camera DC has been described above, but the print when the print image size is designated with a size larger than the printing paper or the image size is not designated is described below. The processing will be described.

  In the case as described above, the printing system according to the present invention executes the resizing process based on the roll paper width and executes the printing. For example, when trying to print the image shown in FIG. 10-1, the resizing process is performed while maintaining the aspect ratio so that the x direction in FIG. 10-1 is the same length as the roll paper width as shown in FIG. 10-2. As shown in FIG. 10-3, there are two types of resizing methods, in which the y direction in FIG. 10-1 is resized while maintaining the aspect ratio so as to be the same length as the roll paper width. If the user can select this resizing method from the digital camera DC, there arises a problem that the resizing process is in the enlargement direction and the printing result cannot be prevented from becoming a rough image.

Therefore, in the printing system according to the present invention,
1. A warning is displayed on the LCD on the digital camera DC that the resizing is in the enlargement direction, and printing is prohibited.

  2. After warning that the resize is in the enlargement direction on the LCD on the digital camera DC, printing is executed when printing is instructed.

  3. After warning that the resizing is in the enlargement direction on the LCD on the digital camera DC, only printing by the resizing method shown in FIG.

  4). When the print image size is large, the user selects one of the methods shown in FIGS. 10-2 and 10-3 to perform printing.

  By selectively performing the operations described above, image deterioration due to enlarged printing is prevented.

  In particular, as shown in Fig. 3, giving priority to the one with a smaller resizing ratio while the image becomes rough reduces the possibility of deteriorating the visual impression for the user, and prints an excessively rough image. This is useful because it can reduce waste.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a side surface of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining a color ink transfer and an overcoat sequence. 3 is a diagram illustrating a recording sheet P. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram in which a digital camera DC and a printer apparatus main body 1 are connected. FIG. 5-1 is a diagram showing an input image at the time of printing one sheet, 5-2 is a diagram showing a print image 1 at the time of printing one sheet, 5-2 is a diagram showing a print image 2 at the time of printing one sheet. 3 is a flowchart of a print sequence in the present invention. 7-1 is a diagram showing an input image when printing a plurality of sheets, 7-2 is a diagram showing a print image 1 when printing a plurality of sheets, and 7-3 is a diagram showing a print image 2 when printing a plurality of sheets. 8-1 is a diagram showing an input image when printing a plurality of sheets, 8-2 is a diagram showing a print image 1 when printing a plurality of sheets, and 8-3 is a diagram showing a print image 2 when printing a plurality of sheets. 9-1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the input image size and the print paper size, 9-2 is a diagram showing the relationship 1 between the input image size and the print paper size at the time of printing a plurality of sheets, and 9-3 is at the time of printing a plurality of sheets. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship 2 between the input image size and the print paper size. 10-1 shows an input image, 10-2 shows a print image 1 resized to the print paper size, and 10-3 shows a print image 2 resized to the print paper size.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Paper cassette 3 Paper feed roller 4 Carrying roller pair 5 Platen roller 6 Thermal head 7 Ink cassette 8 Ink sheet 9a Paper discharge roller 1
9b Paper discharge roller 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording paper front-end | tip detection sensor 11 SW2 signal 12 Perforation 13 Temporary storage image memory means 14 Print information memory means 15 Guide part 16 Margin part 17 Print area 18 Processing circuit 20 Spring 21 Push-up board 22 Head arm 23 Head cover A
24 Head cover B
25 Paper transport guide section 26 Paper discharge tray section 27 Cable 42 Pinch roller 41 Grip roller DC Digital camera

Claims (4)

In a printing system comprising a camera having an image pickup means for converting an optical image of a field to be photographed into an electronic image signal, and a printer device for printing out the electronic image signal picked up by the camera on a recording sheet so as to be visible. ,
A printing system capable of mounting printing paper wound in a roll shape on a printer apparatus, the printer apparatus having an image printing direction determination unit and a print data creation unit, and determining an image printing direction .   The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that determines a print layout from a designated print image size, the number of prints, and a print paper width.   The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising an image enlargement / reduction ratio determination unit, wherein the print direction is determined based on the enlargement ratio during the enlargement process.   The print system according to claim 1, wherein image degradation due to enlargement printing processing is automatically prevented.

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