JP2007069371A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can carry out efficient handling even when a printing size required to be printed and a size of a loaded recording medium are different from each other. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is equipped with a detecting means which detects the size of the loaded recording medium, a judging means which judges whether or not the printing size required to be printed and the size of the recording medium detected by the detecting means coincide with each other, and a setting means of acceptance or refusal of the printing request according to the judgment by the judging means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to the technical field of various printers including a thermal recording printer for medical use. More specifically, even when a print request for a print size that does not correspond to a loaded recording medium is received, efficient processing is performed. It relates to a printer that can be used.

Various printers such as a thermal recording printer that records an image on a thermal material with a thermal head are used in various applications such as medical applications and printing applications.
In these printers, a recording medium on which an image is recorded is stored in a stacked state in, for example, a housing-like magazine (cassette), and is loaded into the printer by loading the magazine at a predetermined position. Alternatively, the recording medium is loaded into the printer by being stored in a stacked state on a predetermined recording medium tray or the like.

  These printers are normally adapted to record images corresponding to a plurality of sizes of recording media. However, there are very few printers that can load media of all sizes supported by the printer at a time. For this reason, recording media of various sizes are usually supported by exchanging magazines, exchanging recording media stored in trays, or the like.

  For example, the printer sequentially supplies the supplied image data (or image data acquired in response to the print request) to a recording medium having a size designated by the print request in response to the print request from the server, the operation unit, or the like. Record, create and print a print.

However, there is a case where a print having a size not loaded with a recording medium is required due to, for example, an input error by an operator. In such a case, the printer normally rejects the print request.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 does not reject printing even when the requested print size is different from the loaded print medium, but when the requested print size is larger than the loaded print medium. Created a print by reducing the image, and when the requested print size was smaller than the loaded recording medium, a part of the recording medium was used to record the image according to the print request. It is disclosed to output a print.

JP-A-8-258362

When the printer rejects the print request, in order to output a desired print, an operator or the like needs to perform an operation for print output again and make a print request from the server or the like again.
Moreover, even if an image is automatically reduced or a print is output using a part of a recording medium having a different size as in Patent Document 1, this print is not necessarily a print desired by the user. Is not limited. Further, when the recording medium is expensive, printing using a part of the recording medium is disadvantageous in terms of cost.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is a thermal recording printer or the like used for medical applications, and print requests for prints having a size different from that of a loaded recording medium. Even if the print request is received, it accepts the print request without refusing it, and issues a warning prompting magazine / tray replacement if necessary, thereby eliminating the need for an operation for making another print request. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that reduces the frequency of replacement and makes it possible to perform efficient print output with suitable timing.

  In order to achieve the above object, a printer according to the present invention is a printer that outputs a print in which an image corresponding to a print request is recorded on a recording medium in response to the printing request, and the size of the loaded recording medium Detection means for detecting the print request, a determination means for determining whether the print size requested for printing and the size of the recording medium detected by the detection means match, and a print request corresponding to the determination by the determination means A printer having an accepting or rejecting setting unit is provided.

  In such a printer of the present invention, when the print size requested for printing and the size of the loaded recording medium are different, the first mode for rejecting the print request is loaded with the print size requested for printing. When a recording medium larger than the requested print size is loaded when the size of the recorded recording medium is different, the print request is accepted and the larger recording medium than the requested print size A second mode for rejecting the print request when the size of the recording medium loaded is smaller than the print size requested for printing. Even if the printed size and the size of the loaded recording medium are different, A third mode in which the print request is accepted and a warning is generated at the time of creation of the print request, and the print request is accepted even if the print size requested and the size of the loaded recording medium are different; If a print of the size of the loaded recording medium exists in the print after the print request, the print order is changed, and the print of the size corresponding to the loaded recording medium is given priority. It is preferable that at least two modes of a fourth mode for issuing a warning when there is no print of a size corresponding to the loaded recording medium, and to select and set one of the modes. In addition, it has a storage means for storing a print size that can be handled, and prints with a print size that is not supported. If the calculated came, it is preferable to reject any case the print request.

Such a printer of the present invention accepts a print request without rejecting the print request according to the setting or the like, even when a print request having a size different from that of the loaded recording medium is requested. If necessary, a warning that prompts the user to replace the magazine or tray is issued at a predetermined timing.
Therefore, according to the printer of the present invention, it is not necessary to perform an operation for making another print request, the frequency of exchanging magazines and the like can be reduced, and further, magazine replacement etc. can be performed at a suitable timing. Thus, it is possible to create an efficient print.

  Hereinafter, the printer of the present invention will be described in detail based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual diagram of an example of a medical diagnostic system using the printer of the present invention.

The illustrated medical diagnostic system 10 (hereinafter referred to as diagnostic system 10) includes a medical imaging device 12 (hereinafter referred to as imaging device 12) such as a radiographic image capturing / reading device, a server 14, and the present invention. And a printer 16.
The diagnostic system 10 uses a medical image communication network compliant with DICOM (Digital Imaging Communication in Medicine), for example, and stores image data (image information) of a medical image captured by the imaging device 12 in the server 14. Send it, process the necessary information, and store it with incidental information such as the patient name and imaging region.
Further, in the diagnostic system 10, when a print output instruction is performed using the server 14 or a separately provided operation means (console), a print request is sent from the server 14 to the designated printer 16 (as an example, this An instruction to output an image at this print size), image data or the like is sent in association with the image, and a print (hard copy) in which a medical image is reproduced by the printer 16 is output. Alternatively, a print request corresponding to a print output instruction is made from the operation means to the printer 16 instead of the server 14, and the printer 16 acquires image data or the like corresponding to the print request from the server 14 and creates a print. May be.

In the illustrated diagnostic system, the imaging apparatus 12 is a known medical image imaging apparatus such as a radiographic imaging reading apparatus, mammography, CT scan, or MRI.
Further, not only the image capturing device 12 but also a stimulable phosphor panel (IP (Imaging Plate)) on which a radiation image has been captured may be read and a radiation image information reading device having no image capturing function may be used.

The server 14 is a known server, and is connected to an imaging device and a printer 16 via a DICOM-compliant medical image communication network. Medical image data (image information) is received from the imaging device 12 or the radiographic image information reading device. The image information is stored in association with additional information such as a patient name and an imaging unit, which is acquired from the above and added to the image data and / or input separately.
In addition, the server 14 issues a print request corresponding to the output instruction to the selected printer 16 in response to an input to itself or a print output instruction by a predetermined operation means, and a medical image corresponding to the output instruction. Supply image data and incidental information.
The print request is not sent from the server 14 to the printer 16, but a print request corresponding to the print output instruction is issued from the operation means to the printer 16, and in response to this, the printer 16 sends image data of the medical image from the server 14. As described above, the supplementary information and the like may be acquired. Alternatively, the operation means may send print output instruction information to the server 14 in addition to the print request to the printer 16, and the server 14 may send the corresponding image data to the printer 16.

The printer 16 receives various information such as a print request and medical image image data, supplementary information related to a medical image such as a patient name and an imaging region, and creates a print corresponding to the print request. I'm an imager.
The printer 16 is a printer of the present invention, and when the print size requested for printing and the size of the loaded recording medium are different, the print request is rejected according to the mode setting described later, or Accept print request, output warning, change print order, etc.

The printer 16 of the present invention is not limited to a medical imager used in such a (medical) diagnostic system 10, and can be used for various applications. Further, the present invention is not limited to a printer connected to a network as shown in the illustrated example. Further, the image supply source is not limited to the server 14 and can correspond to various image supply sources.
Here, the format and the print size of a diagnostic print for reproducing a medical image captured by a medical imaging apparatus 12 such as a radiographic image capturing / reading apparatus are determined according to the type of the imaging apparatus, the imaging region, and the like. ing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, in the diagnostic system 10, a plurality of printers 16 often correspond to a plurality of imaging devices 12 (reading devices). In many cases, a print request is made to a size not loaded with a storage medium. Therefore, the present invention is particularly suitable for a medical imager such as a medical thermal recording apparatus and a medical printer using a photosensitive heat source image material.

FIG. 2 conceptually shows the configuration of the printer 16 in a block diagram.
As shown in the figure, the printer 16 has a medium loading unit 20, a print creation unit 22, a control unit 24, a size detection unit 26, a mode setting unit 28, a warning unit 30, and a size storage unit 32. Composed.

The medium loading unit 20 is a part where a recording medium (recording material) to be printed is loaded, and a recording medium corresponding to the print creation by the print creation unit 22 is loaded. Note that the printer 16 can handle recording media of a plurality of sizes, and the medium loading unit 20 can also load recording media of various sizes corresponding thereto.
The method for loading the recording medium is not particularly limited, and a method of loading a magazine or the like in a predetermined loading unit by storing it in a predetermined container such as a magazine or cassette, and a method of stacking the recording medium on a predetermined tray Various methods, such as a method, performed in a known printer can be used.
In the printer 16 of the present invention, the number of magazines and cassette loading sections and medium loading trays may be one or a plurality, as long as it can handle recording media of a plurality of sizes. A magazine or the like and a tray may be used in combination.

The print creation unit 22 creates and outputs a print in which an image corresponding to a print request is reproduced.
There is no particular limitation on the print creation method by the print creation unit 22, that is, the printer of the present invention, thermal recording, print creation in which a latent image corresponding to image data is recorded on a photographic photosensitive material and predetermined development processing is performed, Various known print creation methods such as electrophotography can be used. Here, as described above, since the printer 16 of the present invention is suitable for a medical imager, medical recording such as thermal recording using a thermal recording material in which a thermal recording layer is formed on a plastic film such as PET is used. Various types of print creating means used in the imager for printing are more preferable.

The control unit 24 controls the overall operation of the printer 16. Print requests, medical image data, and the like are supplied to the control means 24.
The control unit 24 determines whether the print size in the print request matches the size of the loaded recording medium detected by the size detection unit 26 in response to the print request from the server 14. If they match, the print request is accepted and necessary information is supplied to the print creation unit 22 to instruct the creation of the print. If they do not match, the mode set by the mode setting means 28 is set. In response, the print request is accepted or rejected, the print order is changed, the warning means 30 is instructed to output a warning, and the like. This will be described in detail later.

The size detection unit 26 detects the size of the recording medium loaded in the medium loading unit 20 and supplies the detection result to the control unit 24.
The size detection method of the recording medium is not particularly limited, and an identification means such as a size detection protrusion is provided on a magazine or the like, and this identification means is detected by mechanical means or optical means. Known methods implemented in various printers, such as a method of reading a bar code including information on the size of a recording medium to be attached, a method of detecting the size of a recording medium by detecting the type of a loaded magazine, etc. All the recording medium size detection methods are available.

The mode setting means 28 sets the processing mode when the print size requested for printing and the size of the loaded recording medium are different according to the selection by the operator or the like. It is a part which supplies information.
The illustrated printer 16 has four modes corresponding to the case where the print size requested for printing and the size of the loaded recording medium are different.

  In the first mode, if the print size requested to be printed (hereinafter referred to as the requested size) and the size of the loaded recording medium (hereinafter referred to as the loaded size) are different, the print request is issued. It is a mode to reject.

  In the second mode, when the requested size is different from the loaded size and the requested size is smaller than the loaded size, the print request is accepted and a part of the loaded recording medium is used. In this mode, a print corresponding to the print request is output, and if the requested size is larger than the loaded size, the print request is rejected.

In the third mode, even when the requested size and the loading size are different, the print request is accepted and a warning for prompting replacement of the magazine or the like by the warning means 30 is output when a print corresponding to the print request is created. It is a mode to do.
In this third mode, even if there is a print request having a required size corresponding to the loaded size later, the print order is not changed.

  In the fourth mode, a print request is accepted even if the requested size and the loaded size are different, and a print corresponding to the loaded size is output (queued) after that, for example, by browsing the server 14 or the operation means. If the print order is changed, the print request corresponding to the loaded size is preferentially created, and when only prints other than the loaded size are exhausted, the warning means 30 Is a mode for outputting a warning prompting replacement of a magazine or the like.

The mode selection / setting method is not particularly limited. A method for providing the printer 16 with a dedicated switch for mode selection / setting, a GUI (Graphical) using a display for operation of the printer 16, etc. All known methods such as a method using a user interface can be used.
Moreover, although the printer 16 in the illustrated example has the first to fourth four modes as a preferred mode, the present invention is not limited to this, and has any two modes or three modes. Alternatively, one or more of the four modes and another mode corresponding to a case where the requested size and the loading size are different may be selected / set.

  The printer 16 of the illustrated example has a size storage unit 32 that stores the size (print size) of a compatible recording medium as a preferred mode, and the requested size is a size that is not stored in the size storage unit 32. In this case, the print request is rejected regardless of the set mode.

In the printer 16, for example, the printer 16 basically does not correspond to this size, does not have a magazine corresponding to this size (for example, has not purchased), and performs settings corresponding to this size. There may be a size that cannot be handled by exchanging magazines. In the case of such a required size, it is basically impossible to create a print with the printer 16, and even if a warning for magazine replacement or the like is given, it is useless.
Therefore, in the printer 16 of the illustrated example, as a preferred mode, the size of the recording medium that can be handled is stored in the size storage unit 32, and if the requested size is a size that is not stored here, it is set. Regardless of the selected mode, the print request is rejected.

There is no particular limitation on the method of storing the size of the recording medium that can be accommodated in the size storage means 32, and various methods can be used.
As an example, a method of inputting a corresponding size in advance and storing it in the size storage means 32 is exemplified. Note that this input method may be a known method, similar to the selection / setting of the mode described above. In addition, a method of storing the size of the recording medium detected by the size detection unit 26 in the size storage unit 32 (that is, a method of learning / storing the size of the storage medium loaded in the past) can be used. In addition, a method using size input and a method using detection by the size detection unit 26 may be used in combination, and further, any one of a combination method, a method using size input, and a method using detection may be selected. Also good.

  In the present invention, it is also possible to store the size of a recording medium that cannot be handled, instead of storing the size of the recording medium that can be handled, and perform the same correspondence.

The warning means 30 outputs a warning at a predetermined timing when the third mode or the fourth mode is selected and the requested size and the medium size are different.
The warning output method is not particularly limited, and various methods can be used. As an example, a method for displaying on the display of the printer 16 such as “Please replace the magazine” or “The film size (paper size) is different” to prompt the user to replace the magazine loaded in the medium loading unit 20. Is exemplified. Alternatively, it is possible to use a method of prompting replacement of a magazine or the like by outputting a voice message such as “Please replace the magazine” instead of displaying on the display. Moreover, the generation of a warning sound or lighting of a warning light may be used. Furthermore, these two or more methods may be used in combination.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the diagnostic system 10 will be described to describe the printer of the present invention in more detail.

In the diagnostic system 10, image data of a medical image captured by the imaging device 12 is associated with supplementary information such as a patient name and an imaging region and sent to the server 14, and necessary information is organized in the server 14. And stored in a predetermined position (hierarchy, address, etc.).
On the other hand, in the printer 16, the mode is selected / instructed by the operator, and the mode setting means 28 sets the selected mode according to the input instruction, and supplies the information to the control means 24. When the recording medium is loaded (replaced), the size detecting unit 26 detects the loaded size (the size of the recording medium loaded in the medium loading unit 20) and sends it to the control unit 24.

  The operator selects a medical image and print size, selects the printer 16 that outputs the print, and gives an instruction to output the print. In response to this, the server 14 issues a print request to the printer 16 (control means 24) instructed to output the print at a predetermined timing, and also selects the selected medical image in association with the print request. Send image data and incidental information.

  The control unit 24 compares the loaded size and the requested size (print size requested for printing), and if they match, sends necessary information such as image data to the print creating unit 22 to print the print creating unit. 22 creates and outputs a print that reproduces a medical image or the like according to the print request.

  On the other hand, when the loading size and the requested size are different due to an input error or the like, the control unit 24 first detects whether or not the requested size is a compatible size stored in the size storage unit 32, If the requested size is not a compatible size, the print request is rejected to the server 14 without being limited to the mode set by the mode setting unit 28.

  On the other hand, when the loaded size is different from the required size and the required size is the size stored in the size storage means 32, the control means 24 responds to the mode set by the mode setting means 28. Perform processing.

  When the first mode is set and the loaded size and the requested size are different, the control unit 24 rejects the print request to the server 14.

When the second mode is set and the loading size is different from the required size, the control unit 24 first compares the loading size with the required size.
As a result of this comparison, if the requested size is smaller than the loaded size, the print request is accepted, and in addition to the necessary information such as image data, print creation is performed using a recording medium larger than the requested size. An instruction is issued to the print creation unit 22. In response to this, the print creation unit 22 creates and outputs a print in which a medical image or the like corresponding to the print request is reproduced on a part of the recording medium.
On the other hand, if the requested size is larger than the loaded size as a result of the comparison, the control unit 24 rejects the print request from the server 14.

When the third mode is set, if the loaded size and the requested size are different, the control unit 24 accepts the print request and issues a warning unit according to the print creation timing corresponding to the print request. An instruction is issued to output a predetermined warning corresponding to when the requested size and the loaded size are different, such as a display “Please change the magazine”.
When the medium loading unit 20 replaces the recording medium, the size detection unit 26 detects the size of the newly loaded recording medium (new loading size) and sends the information to the control unit 24. If the new loaded size matches the requested size, the control unit 24 sends necessary information such as image data to the print creating unit 22, and the print creating unit 22 responds to the print request by the medical image. Create a print that reproduces etc. and output it.
Therefore, in the third mode, the print order is not changed, and the print is created according to the order of the print requests.

When the fourth mode is set, if the loaded size and the requested size are different, the control unit 24 accepts the print request, browses the server 14, and sends it to the print request after the print request. Detect prints for which output is instructed (queued).
If there is a print corresponding to the loaded size as a result of this detection, the print order is changed, and this print is preferentially printed. That is, if the server 14 instructs the server 14 to output a print that matches the loaded size, the server 14 holds the print request received first and waits for a print request for a print that matches the loaded size and the requested size. In response to this print request, a print is normally created. In addition, when only the print that does not match the load size and the requested size, the warning means 30 displays a message such as “Please replace the magazine”. An instruction is issued to output a predetermined warning.
Thereafter, as in the third mode, when a recording medium corresponding to the requested size is loaded into the recording medium loading unit 20, a print corresponding to the pending print request is created.

As is clear from the above description, according to the printer of the present invention, even if the requested size and the loading size are different, the print request is accepted without rejection according to the mode setting, etc. At a predetermined timing, a warning prompting replacement of the loaded recording medium (magazine or the like) is output.
Therefore, according to the present invention, even when an erroneous print request is made to the printer due to an operator's operation mistake or the like, the operator does not need to perform another operation or the like to output a desired print. In addition, since the loaded recording medium (magazine or the like) can be replaced with good timing and the replacement frequency can be reduced, print output can be performed with very good efficiency.

  Although the printer of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the paper of the present invention. It is.

It is a figure which shows notionally an example of the (medical) diagnostic system using the printer of this invention. 1 is a block diagram conceptually showing the structure of an example of a printer of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 (Medical) diagnostic system 12 (Medical) imaging device 14 Server 16 Printer 20 Medium loading part 22 Print preparation part 24 Control means 26 Size detection means 28 Mode setting means 30 Warning means 32 Size storage means

Claims (3)

A printer that outputs a print in which an image corresponding to the print request is recorded on a recording medium in response to the print request;
Detection means for detecting the size of the loaded recording medium, determination means for determining whether the print size requested for printing and the size of the recording medium detected by the detection means match, and the determination means And a setting unit for accepting or rejecting a print request according to the determination by the printer. A first mode for rejecting a print request when the print size requested for printing and the size of the loaded recording medium are different;
If the print size requested is different from the size of the loaded recording medium, and if a recording medium larger than the requested print size is loaded, the print request is accepted and printing is performed. When a print in which an image of the requested print size is recorded on a recording medium larger than the requested print size is output and the size of the loaded recording medium is smaller than the requested print size, the print request The second mode, which refuses
A third mode for accepting a print request and issuing a warning when creating a print for the print request, even if the print size requested and the size of the loaded recording medium are different;
Even when the print size requested for printing and the size of the loaded recording medium are different, the print request is accepted, and the print of the size of the loaded recording medium is printed on the print after the print request. If there is a print, the print order is changed to give priority to the print of the size corresponding to the loaded recording medium, and a warning is issued when the print of the size corresponding to the loaded recording medium is exhausted. Having at least two modes of the fourth mode to emit,
The printer according to claim 1, wherein any mode is selected and set.   The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores a print size that can be handled, and rejecting the print request in any case when a print request of an unsupported print size is received.

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