JP2007235747A - Format setting system of tiling printing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a format setting system for tiling printing capable of printing a desired image in a way that the image falls into one print paper. <P>SOLUTION: The format setting system for the tiling printing includes: a relative position coordinate arithmetic means for calculating relative positional coordinates between a designated image part and a boundary index in a way that the overlapping on coordinates between the designated image part designated in advance in a reference image and the boundary index for demarcating a print unit of the tiling printing is less than a prescribed value; and a relative position determining means for determining a relative position between the designated image part and the boundary index in the case of the tiling printing on the basis of the calculation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tiling printing format setting system.

  Image forming processing for outputting images read by a digital copying machine to printing paper, and outputting images output from a host device to printing paper by a printer device has been advanced, and the output images are joined together to form an image recording device. An image forming method called continuous shooting or tiling is known in which printing is performed by joining sheets together in order to form an output image larger than the size of the sheet mounted on the printer (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-348331 A

  In the conventional image forming method as disclosed in Patent Document 1, tiling is set uniformly regardless of the image to be printed. For example, it is not desired to divide and print on a plurality of printing sheets like a head in a human image. There is a problem that the portion is also divided and printed.

  With the above problem as a background, an object of the present invention is to provide a tiling printing format setting system capable of printing so that a desired image fits on a single sheet of printing paper.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In the tiling printing format setting system that solves the above problem, the overlap in coordinates between the designated image portion specified in the reference image and the boundary index that defines the printing unit of tiling printing is less than a predetermined value. The relative position coordinate calculation means for calculating the relative position coordinate between the designated image portion and the boundary index as in the above, and the relative position between the designated image portion and the boundary index at the time of tiling printing is determined based on the calculation. A tiling printing format setting system, comprising: a relative position determination unit.

  With the above configuration, for example, a portion that is not desired to be dividedly printed on a plurality of printing papers such as a head in a human image is calculated so that it does not become a boundary of tiling printing. Therefore, it is possible to print on a single printing sheet.

  The tiling printing format setting system of the present invention can also be configured to include a specifying means for specifying the designated image portion and a display means for displaying the designated image portion.

  With the above configuration, the user can specify a portion that is not desired to be divided and printed on a plurality of arbitrary printing papers while viewing the display.

  Further, the tiling printing format setting system of the present invention includes a designation unit that designates the designated image portion, and the relative position coordinate calculation unit searches the designated image portion on the coordinates to search for the designated image portion and the boundary index. The relative position coordinates can be calculated.

  With the above configuration, the user only has to specify a portion that is not desired to be divided and printed on a plurality of printing papers, so that the operation load on the user can be suppressed.

  Further, the designation means in the tiling printing format setting system of the present invention may include a touch panel, and may be configured to designate a designated image portion in a reference image displayed on the touch panel.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to perform settings related to tiling printing even with the image reading apparatus alone.

  The tiling printing format setting system of the present invention can also be configured to include a confirmation output means for confirming the relative positional relationship.

  With the above configuration, for example, it is possible to confirm in advance the state when tiling printing is actually performed on one sheet of printing paper, so that wasteful printing paper can be prevented.

  The tiling printing format setting system of the present invention can also be configured to include printing means for printing the reference print image in the tiling printing format.

  With the above-described configuration, it is possible to perform tiling printing settings and tiling printing in the settings even with the image reading apparatus alone.

  Further, the tiling printing format setting system of the present invention is configured to include an output unit that outputs a tiling printing format for printing by an external device printing unit included in an external device different from the printing unit. You can also

  With the above configuration, even when the image reading apparatus does not include a printing unit, or even when the printing unit of the image reading apparatus cannot print with a desired paper size, tiling printing can be performed in another printing apparatus in the set format. Can be done.

  In addition, the boundary index in the tiling printing format setting system of the present invention can be configured to be described by a line segment representing the boundary.

  With the above configuration, the size of the boundary index can be grasped.

  Further, the relative position or the relative positional relationship in the tiling printing format setting system of the present invention may be configured to be expressed by two-dimensional coordinates.

  With the above configuration, the relative position or the relative positional relationship can be easily calculated. In addition, the area occupied by the storage medium can be reduced also when the calculation result is stored.

  In addition, the tiling printing format setting system of the present invention includes a second boundary index that divides the tiling printing target image and the tiling printing target image into a plurality of areas at the time of tiling printing determined by the relative positional relationship determination unit. Conversion means for converting the relative position data into the relative position data of the boundary index with respect to the actual image to be printed without changing the relative positional relationship. It can also be configured such that tiling printing is executed by outputting to the printing means.

  With the above configuration, the conversion unit converts the data into the relative position data according to the scale of the tiling printing, so that the tiling printing can be executed with the relative position data determined by the relative positional relationship determination unit. .

  For the purpose of providing a tiling printing format setting system capable of printing so that a desired image fits on a single sheet of printing paper, a designated image portion designated in a reference image and printing of tiling printing are provided. The relative position coordinates of the specified image part and the boundary index are calculated so that the overlap on the coordinate with the boundary index that defines the unit is less than the predetermined value, and the specification for tiling printing is based on the calculation This was realized by a configuration that determines the relative position between the image part and the boundary index.

  Embodiments of a tiling printing format setting system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine 10 which is an image reading apparatus of a tiling printing format setting system according to the present invention. In the configuration of the present invention, it is not always necessary to use the multifunction machine 10, and a scanner device having an image reading function may be used.

  The MFP 10 includes a CPU 11, a RAM 12 having a work memory 12a, a ROM 13 for storing various programs, a bus line 14, an input / output unit 15 (indicated as I / O in FIG. 1), a memory 16, and a communication interface 18 (in FIG. 1). (Noted as communication I / F), a reception buffer 17 for temporarily storing received data such as print control data, and an external memory 19.

  The ROM 13 stores a print control program 13a, a scanner control program 13b, a FAX control program 13c, a communication program 13d, and an image processing program 13e.

  The input / output unit 15 includes an operation panel 20 (see FIG. 2), a printing unit 23 including a well-known inkjet printing mechanism, laser printing mechanism, thermal transfer printing mechanism, or dot impact printing mechanism, and a document including an image sensor. A scanner unit 24 that performs reading, a FAX unit 25 that includes a fax modem and the like and performs facsimile communication, an image processing unit 26 that performs various processes on image data read by the scanner unit 24, and the like are connected as control targets. The operations of the printing unit 23, the scanner unit 24, and the FAX unit 25 are well known, and the corresponding print control program 13a, scanner control program 13b, FAX control program 13c or image processing program 13e stored in the ROM 13 is stored in the CPU 11. Are controlled using the work memory 12 a of the RAM 12.

  The communication interface 18 includes a communication interface circuit for transmitting and receiving data and the like with the PC 1 via the communication network 30. Transmission and reception of various data via the external communication network connected to the communication network 30 is performed by the CPU 11 executing the communication program 13d.

  The memory 16 is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable & Programmable Read Only Memory). For example, image data read by the scanner unit 24 is stored. In addition, for example, a telephone book in which transmission destination information such as a telephone number is added to, for example, a person name or a company name is stored. Using this telephone directory, facsimile transmission to a desired telephone number can be performed. Further, a hard disk device may be used as the memory 16.

  The external memory 19 includes a removable storage medium such as a memory card and its interface circuit, and is used for data backup of the multifunction device 10.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the operation panel 20 of the multifunction machine 10. The operation panel 20 includes an operation unit 21 and a display unit 22. The operation unit 21 uses a mechanical key, and a function selection button 21c including a power button 21a for turning on / off the multifunction machine 10, a cursor key 21b, a copy button 21c1, a FAX button 21c2, and a scanner button 21c3. , A numeric keypad 21d, a one-touch button 21e for registering information such as a telephone number and a FAX number, a start button 21f for starting various operations, a stop button 21g for interrupting or stopping various operations, a speaker 20a, and the like.

  The display unit 22 includes a known dot matrix type color liquid crystal display and a driver circuit (not shown) for performing liquid crystal display control. The driver circuit uses, for example, an active matrix driving method in which a transistor is attached to each pixel so that the target pixel can be surely turned on and off, and the display circuit and display screen data sent from the input / output unit 15 are used. Display based on. Further, an organic EL (ElectroLuminescence) display or a plasma display may be used as the display unit 22.

  Further, a touch panel integrated with the display unit 22 may be used as the operation unit 21. In the touch panel, an electric circuit is wired in a X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction through a gap called a spacer on a glass substrate and a transparent film on the screen of the display unit 22, and a pressed part when the user touches the film. Since the voltage value changes due to short-circuiting of the wiring, a so-called resistive film method of detecting this as a two-dimensional coordinate value (X, Y) is widely used. In addition, a so-called capacitance method may be used.

  An outline of tiling printing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows a print image 31 to be subjected to tiling printing. The length in the horizontal direction (x direction) is Wi, and the length in the vertical direction (y direction) is Hi. The upper left vertex of the rectangular print image 31 is the origin P1.

  The print image 31 is printed by dividing the image with, for example, A4 portrait paper at the time of tiling printing. In the example of FIG. 3B, vertical Hn sheets and horizontal Wn sheets are used. Note that Wn = (Wd + Wi + Wp-1) / Wp, Hn = (Hd + Hi + Hp-1) / Hp. Here, Wp and Hp are the lengths in the horizontal and vertical directions of the printable area R excluding the area where each sheet is pasted after tiling printing (see the sheet 34 in FIG. 3B). Wd and Hd represent the distances in the x and y directions from the origin of the printable area to the origin of the print image 31 on the paper 33 (print page number P1: described later) including the origin P1 of the print image 31, respectively. ing. The print page number P is expressed as P (x, y) = x + Wn × (y−1), and 1 ≦ x ≦ Wn, 1 ≦ y ≦ Hn. Further, the coordinate value of the origin of each print page when the upper left of each print page is (0, 0) is X coordinate value = Wd− (x−1) × Wp, Y coordinate value = Hd− (y− 1) Expressed as xHp.

(Tiling format setting process 1)
The tiling format setting process of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5 to 10. This process is executed by the scanner control program 13b and the image processing program 13e. First, when an image (original) to be scanned is set in an original reading section (not shown) included in the scanner section 24 of the multifunction machine 10 and the scanner button 21c3 of the operation section 21 is pressed, the display section 22 displays FIG. A scan menu such as the above is displayed, and a normal scan or a scan for tiling printing is selected. When the start button 21f is pressed, the document is scanned (S1).

  When the “normal scan” button is pressed in the scan menu of FIG. 5A and a scan is performed (S2: No), a normal scan process is performed according to the scan mode set by the operation unit 21 (S2: No). S3).

  Next, a description will be given of processing in a case where scanning is performed by pressing the “tiling print setting” button in the scan menu of FIG. 5A (S2: Yes). For example, when the print image 51 as shown in FIG. 8A is printed by tiling, for example, a print sheet with an enlargement / reduction ratio Rp so that the entire image can be printed on a sheet readable by the scanner unit 24 such as an A4 vertical size. 52. Note that the enlargement / reduction ratio Rp is represented by Rp = 1 / Max (Wi / (Wp × Rr), Hi / (Hp × Rr)), and is used to scan the print paper 52 and the transparent sheet 53 (described later) in an overlapping manner. In addition, Rr is preferably 1 or less, such as 2/3.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the print image 51 is printed on the central portion of the printing paper 52. At this time, the origin of the print image 51 on the printing paper 52 is represented by the X coordinate value of the printing paper 52 = Wp / 2−Wi × Rp / 2, and the Y coordinate value = Hp / 2−Hi × Rp / 2. In order to easily identify the print image 51, a blue frame 51a is printed on the outer edge of the print image 51.

  Next, a transparent sheet 53 as shown in FIG. The transparent sheet 53 is printed with a boundary index 53a in red at the same enlargement / reduction ratio Rp as that of the image 51. The vertical line of the boundary index indicates X coordinate values: 1, 1 × Wp / Rp−1, 2 × Wp / Rp−1,. . . , Wp, and the horizontal lines indicate Y coordinate values: 1, 1 × Hp / Rp−1, 2 × HP / Rp−1,. . . , Hp.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the transparent sheet 53 is overlaid and bonded onto the printing paper 52 on which the above-described printing image 51 is printed, and fixed with a tape 54 or the like. Next, on the tiling print setting screen of FIG. 5B, the user selects either printing with the set contents or storing the set contents and then pressing the “scan” button or the start button 21f. To do. This is read by the scanner unit 24. FIG. 10 shows the bitmap image 55 after being read. The print image 51 of FIG. 9 is scanned as the print image image 56, the frame 51 a is scanned as the frame image 56 a, and the boundary index 53 a of the transparent sheet 53 is scanned as the boundary index image 57.

  A tiling information recognition process (S4: described later) is performed using the read bitmap image 55, and tiling offsets Wd, Hd and the like are calculated (S5). When the “print” button is pressed on the menu screen of FIG. 5B (S6: Yes), a menu screen as shown in FIG. 6A is displayed, and printing is performed based on tiling information. Select whether to perform printing (to be described later) for confirming the contents of tiling information.

  When “tiling printing” is pressed on the menu screen of FIG. 6A, the menu screen of FIG. 6B is displayed, and the printing destination is designated. For example, when the “local printer” button is pressed, a command is sent to the printing unit 23 and printing is executed based on the tiling information (S8). When printing is completed, a screen as shown in FIG. 6C is displayed. As shown in FIG. 6C, the setting content at the time of tiling printing may be stored. The storage method will be described later.

  On the other hand, when the “store” button is pressed on the menu screen of FIG. 5B (S6: No), a screen as shown in FIG. 7A is displayed, and the storage destination is designated. When the “internal memory” button is pressed, the memory 16 is specified, and when the “external memory” button is pressed, the external memory 19 is specified as the storage destination. When the storage destination is designated, a screen as shown in FIG. 7B is displayed, and a setting file name is designated. When the tiling information is stored, a screen as shown in FIG. 7C is displayed (S7).

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the stored contents of tiling information. The tiling information includes Wi, Hi, Wd, Hd calculated above, the paper size, the print image file name, and the like. Wr and Hr (described later) may be included.

  The tiling information recognition process corresponding to step S4 of FIG. 4 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 12 and FIGS. The image data read by the scanner unit 24 is converted into digital multivalued image data (bitmap image 55: see FIG. 10) for each pixel by performing a general binarization process in the image processing unit 26. Then, an R (red) element as shown in FIG. 13 is extracted from the obtained bitmap image 55 by using a general image processing technique, and at least the boundary index image 57 and the R element image shown in FIG. Such B (blue) elements are extracted to obtain a B element image including at least the frame image 56a (S11).

  Next, 1 (the origin of the bitmap image 55) is set to the pointers i and j. In addition, the maximum values in the x and y directions of the coordinate values of the bitmap image are set in m and n (S12). Then, the row number n [m, bit map value B [i, j] is not 0 (that is, includes an R element or B element), and a row number that is not 0 is searched from the top left row. . Hereinafter, the search for the R element image will be described as an example.

  When the bitmap image value B [i, j] is 0 (no R element) (S13: No), it is checked whether the bitmap value B [i + 1, j] in the next column includes an R element ( S14, S15: No). When i reaches the maximum value m (S15: Yes), it is checked whether the R element is included in the next row (i = 1, j = j + 1) (S16, S17: Yes). When the R element is not included by the last bitmap value B [m, n] of the matrix (S17: No), a message indicating that the R element, that is, the boundary index image 57 could not be recognized, is displayed on the display unit 22. Displayed (S18). When an R element is included in the bitmap value B [i, j] (S13: Yes), when the row value j at that time is based on the origin Ps of the bitmap image 55 of n rows and m columns Hf that is the Y coordinate value of the origin Pf of the boundary index image 57 is set (S19).

  Then, the pointers i and j are set to 1 (S20), the row (j) is fixed, and the column (i) is changed to check whether the bitmap value B [i, j] includes an R element. (S21 to S26) When the R element is included (S21: Yes), the column value i is set to Wf which is the X coordinate value of the origin Pf of the print index (S27).

  The B element image is searched by the same method as described above, and the X coordinate value Wr and Y coordinate value Hr of the origin Pr of the print image 56 are obtained.

  Finally, tiling offsets Wd and Hd are calculated by the calculation formulas Wd = (Wr−Wf) × Rp, Hd = (Hr−Hf) × Rp (see FIG. 15). In FIG. 15, 58a corresponds to one sheet frame.

  In the above-described method, as shown in FIG. 16A, in addition to the case where the bitmap image 55 is scanned at a position parallel to the search direction S1 to Sn in the row direction of the B (or R) element, FIG. b) or even when the bitmap image 55 is scanned at a position not parallel to the search directions S1 to Sn as shown in FIG. 16C, the B (or R) element can be searched, so that the tiling offsets Wd and Hd are set. It can be calculated.

(Tiling format setting process 2)
Another example of the tiling format setting process will be described with reference to FIGS. The outline of this process is almost the same as the flowchart of FIG. 4, and therefore only the parts different from the above tiling format setting process 1 will be described. First, the enlargement / reduction ratio Rp is set so that a print image 61 (similar to that shown in FIG. 8A) to be read by the scanner unit 24 of the multi-function peripheral 10 can be accommodated on a single print sheet 60 such as A4 vertical size. Set and create. The expansion / contraction rate Rp is expressed as, for example, Rp = 1 / Max (Wi / Wp, Hi / Hp). In addition, the print color of the print image 61 is a blue gray scale, and a blue frame 61 a is printed on the outer edge of the print image 61 in order to easily identify the print image 61. Further, a paper frame 62 indicating the size of the paper to be tiling printed is printed on the printing paper 60 at the above-described scaling ratio Rp.

  Further, the print image 61 is printed at the center of the printing paper 60. At this time, the origin of the print image 61 on the printing paper 60 is represented by X coordinate value = Wp / 2−Wi × Rp / 2, Y coordinate value = Hp / 2−Hi × Rp / 2 of the printing paper 60.

  Next, it is desirable that the print paper 60 and the paper frame 62 fit into the paper frame 62 such as the head of a water bird in the print image 61 (an image that is not divided into a plurality of sheets and is not desired to be printed). Are marked with red 63, 64, for example (see FIG. 18).

  Then, the scanner unit 24 reads the print paper 60 including the print image 61 with the red marks 63 and 64. Then, tiling information recognition processing (described later) is executed.

  When the display unit 22 includes a touch panel, the printing unit 60 including only the print image 61 is read by the scanner unit 24, the bitmap image generated by the image processing unit 26 is displayed on the display unit 22, and the touch panel is used. It is also possible to select (touch) an image that is desirably within the frame of the paper to be tiled. In this case, the touched coordinates are detected on the touch panel, and for example, a region represented by a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the detected coordinates is displayed in red as a selected image, and the display unit 22 is displayed in FIG. A screen like this is displayed. When a “selection end” button (not shown) is pressed, a bitmap image 65 as shown in FIG. 20A is generated separately from the previously generated bitmap image.

  Another example of the tiling information recognition process corresponding to step S4 of FIG. 4 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 19 and FIG. The printing paper 60 read by the scanner unit 24 is subjected to the above-described image processing by the image processing unit 26, and a bitmap image 65 as shown in FIG. 20A is generated. Further, an R (red) element as shown in FIG. 20B is extracted from the bitmap image 65, and an R element image including at least the stamp images 68 and 69, and B (blue) as shown in FIG. 20C. ) The element is extracted to obtain a B element image including at least the frame image 66a. The coordinates based on the origin P2 of the bitmap image 65 of the stamp images 68 and 69 are set as T [x, y] in the work memory 12a. Remember. (S31).

  Next, as described below, it is determined whether or not the boundary index at the assumed tiling offsets Hd and Wd overlaps with the printed images 68 and 69, and Hd and Wd that do not overlap with all the printed images are determined as the tiling offsets. .

  First, 1 is set in the pointers x and y. Further, the horizontal and vertical maximum values Wp / Rp and Hp / Rp of the coordinate values of the paper frame image 67 are set to m and n (S32). The boundary index indicates that the vertical line has an X coordinate value of 1, 1 × Wp / Rp−1, 2 × Wp / Rp−1,. . . , Wp, and the horizontal lines indicate Y coordinate values 1, 1 × Hp / Rp−1, 2 × Hp / Rp−1,. . . , Hp, it is checked whether or not the mark T coordinate T is included on the boundary index.

  When the values of x and y are Wd and Hd, respectively, and the coordinates T of the mark image are not included at all on the boundary index (S33: Yes), the values of x and y at that time are respectively Wd. , Hd, the tiling offset is determined (S39).

  On the other hand, if at least one coordinate T of the mark image is included on the boundary index (S39: No), the pointers x and y are sequentially updated to Wd and Hd, and the coordinate T of the mark image is positioned on the boundary index line. Search for x and y that are not included at all (S34 to S37). If there is no x, y that does not include the coordinates T of the stamp image (S37: No), a message indicating that the tiling offset could not be determined is displayed on the display unit 22 (S38).

  Finally, Wr and Hr are obtained from the B element image of FIG. 20C by the same method as in FIG. Note that the determination condition in step S33 is that the number including the coordinate T of the print image on the boundary index is counted, and the counted number is smaller than a predetermined value Tmax determined in advance and stored in the memory 16 or the like. The values of x and y when this determination condition is satisfied may be Wd and Hd, respectively.

(Tiling format setting process 3)
Another example of the tiling information recognition process corresponding to step S4 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the print image 71 is printed on the print paper 70, the enlargement / reduction ratio Rp (described later) is set so that the print image 71 fits in the center of the print paper 70 as described above. At this time, as shown in FIG. 21, the reference frames 72a and 72b of the boundary index, the horizontal boundary index selection field 76, the vertical boundary index selection field 77, and the paper size selection field 78 are printed.

  FIG. 22 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. The example of FIG. 22 shows the reference frames 72a and 72b of the boundary index when Wd = 0 and Hd = 0. A horizontal reference frame 72a has a vertical length M (for example, 20 mm) at a position Q (for example, 30 mm) away from the origin P3 of the print image 71, and a horizontal length Wp / Rp rectangle in the horizontal direction. Wn pieces are formed in a continuous form. Similarly, the reference frame 72b in the vertical direction is a rectangle having a horizontal length M (for example, 20 mm) and a vertical length Hp / Rp at a position Q (for example, 30 mm) away from the origin P3 of the print image 71. It is formed in the form of Hn continuous in the lateral direction. The origin P3 of the print image 71 is represented by X coordinate value = Wp / 2−Wi × Rp / 2, Y coordinate value = Hp / 2−Hi × Rp / 2. Wn and Hn are represented by Wn = (Wd + Wi + Wp−1) / Wp and Hn = (Hd + Hi + Hp−1) / Hp, respectively (similar to FIG. 3).

  A boundary index is formed by an extension line of the side from the horizontal reference frame 72a toward the print image 71 and an extension line of the side from the vertical reference frame 72b toward the print image 71.

  FIG. 23 shows an example of selection from a plurality of boundary index reference frames. The user enters numbers for selecting the horizontal method and the vertical direction from the reference frame in the boundary index selection column 76 and the boundary index selection column 75, respectively. Further, the paper size (for example, A4) used for tiling printing is entered in the paper size selection field 78.

  The printing paper 70 having been filled in is read by the scanning unit 24, and a well-known character recognition process is performed in the image processing unit 26 to identify the entered characters and determine tiling offsets Wd and Hd.

The Wd value corresponding to the character recognition result in the horizontal boundary index selection field 76 is as follows.
Character recognition result 1 (reference frame 75a): Wd = Wp / Rp × 3/4
Character recognition result 2 (reference frame 74a): Wd = Wp / Rp × 2/4
Character recognition result 3 (reference frame 73a): Wd = Wp / Rp × 1/4
Character recognition result 4 (reference frame 72a): Wd = 0

The value of Hd corresponding to the character recognition result in the vertical boundary index selection field 77 is as follows.
Character recognition result 1 (reference frame 75b): Hd = Hp / Rp × 3/4
Character recognition result 2 (reference frame 74b): Hd = Hp / Rp × 2/4
Character recognition result 3 (reference frame 73b): Hd = Hp / Rp × 1/4
Character recognition result 4 (reference frame 72b): Hd = 0

  Further, the reference frames 72a and 72b, the reference frames 73a and 73b, the reference frames 74a and 74b, and the reference frames 75a and 75b may be printed in different colors. In this way, the user can easily select the reference frame.

  The enlargement / reduction ratio Rp is Rp = 1 / Max (Wi / Wp, Hi / Hp), and Wi and Hi are the sizes of the print image 71 and Wp and Hp can be printed on one tiling printing sheet as in FIG. It is a range. The printable ranges Wp and Hp are obtained from the paper size. The relationship between the character recognition result and Wd or Hd is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 16.

(Tiling format setting process 4)
Another example of the tiling information recognition process corresponding to step S4 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. When the print image 81 is printed on the print paper 80, the enlargement / reduction ratio Rp (same as in FIG. 3) is set so that the print image 81 fits in the center of the print paper 80 as described above. At this time, the boundary index is printed over the print image 81 as shown in FIG.

  Further, when printing the boundary index, a horizontal boundary index selection field 82, a vertical boundary index selection field 83, and a paper size selection field 84 used for tiling printing are also printed.

  In the example of FIG. 24, the one-dot chain line 85a in the horizontal direction is Wd = 0, the solid line 86a is Wd = Wp / Rp × (1/3), the broken line 87a is Wd = Wp / Rp × (2/3), An alternate long and short dash line 85b represents a boundary index when Hd = 0, a solid line 86b represents Hd = Hp / Rp × (1/3), and a broken line 87b represents Hd = Hp / Rp × (2/3). The interval between the same line types is Wp / Rp in the horizontal direction and Hp / Rp in the vertical direction. Further, the interval between adjacent boundary indexes in the horizontal direction is Wp / Rp × (1/3), and the interval between adjacent boundary indexes in the vertical direction is Hp / Rp × (1/3).

  In addition, the color may be changed for each line type of the alternate long and short dash line, the solid line, and the alternate long and short dash line. Further, the color may be changed for each set of alternate long and short dash lines 85a and 85b, solid lines 86a and 86b, and broken lines 87a and 87b. By doing so, the user can easily select the boundary index.

  In order to select the horizontal method and the vertical boundary index, the user selects a desired field (one place) in the boundary index selection field 82, the vertical boundary index selection field 83, and the paper size selection field 84 with a pencil or the like. Fill.

  The printing paper 80 for which the above selection has been completed is read by the scanning unit 24, and a well-known OCR (Optical Character Recognition) process is performed in the image processing unit 26 to identify the entered position and the tiling offset Wd. , Hd.

The Wd value corresponding to the character recognition result in the horizontal boundary index selection field 82 is as follows.
OCR recognition result 1 (boundary index 85a): Wd = 0
OCR recognition result 2 (boundary index 86a): Wp / Rp × (1/3)
OCR recognition result 3 (boundary index 87a): Wp / Rp × (2/3)

The value of Hd corresponding to the character recognition result in the vertical boundary index selection field 83 is as follows.
OCR recognition result 1 (boundary index 85b): Hd = 0
OCR recognition result 2 (boundary index 86b): Hd = Hp / Rp × (1/3)
OCR recognition result 3 (boundary index 87b): Hd = Hp / Rp × (2/3)

  As shown in FIG. 25A, when the tiling offsets Wd, Hd, Wn, Hn, etc. are determined and tiling printing is possible, confirmation printing is performed so as to fit on one sheet of printing paper. May be. This is executed when the “confirmation print” button is pressed on the menu screen of FIG. Also at the time of confirmation printing, the printing destination may be designated as shown in FIG.

  In the confirmation printing, as shown in FIG. 25B, when the enlargement / reduction ratio R is R = 1 / Max (Wn, Hn), the print image 91 is set with X = Wd × R and Y = Hd × R as the origin. In addition, the X coordinate values 1, 1 × Wp × R−1, 2 × Wp × R−1,. . . , Wn × R−1 through vertical lines L10, L11,. . . , L1n and Y coordinate values 1, 1 × Hp × R−1, 2 × Hp × R−1,. . . , Hn × R−1 through horizontal lines L20, L21,. . . , L2n are printed as boundary indices.

  Tiling information necessary for tiling printing such as tiling offsets Wd and Hd obtained in each of the above processes is transmitted to other printing means such as the printer 31 in FIG. 1, and tiling printing is performed by the printing means. It is good also as a structure to perform. This is executed when the “other printer” button is pressed on the menu screen of FIG. The tiling information to be transmitted includes at least one of the above-described Wi, Hi, Wd, Hd, tiling paper size, print image file name, tiling information file name, and the like.

  The tiling information stored in the memory 16 or the external memory 19 may be called and transmitted to other printing means. By operating the scanner button 21c3 and the like of the operation unit 21 and operating a menu screen (not shown) displayed on the display unit 22, the desired tiling information stored in the memory 16 and the like is called and called tiling information. Select the desired one. Next, the destination is designated and the tiling information is transmitted.

  Even if the printer 31 is not connected to the communication network 30, if the printer 31 is configured to be detachable from the external memory 19, tiling printing can be performed using the tiling information set in the multifunction machine 10. Become.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 26, the tiling information may be printed on a sheet with a two-dimensional code such as a barcode 95 or a QR code (registered trademark). When a print image is printed on this paper and read by the scanner unit 24, the content (tiling information) is read and read by a bar code reader or a two-dimensional code reader (not shown) included in the scanner unit 24 together with the print image. Based on the tiling information, the printing unit 23 performs tiling printing.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 27, marks 100 to 102 for positioning at the time of scanning may be printed in advance on a sheet on which a print image is printed. Moreover, you may print when printing a print image. When the print image is read by the scanner unit 24 using the paper including the print image and the marks 100 to 102, the paper is not correctly set on a document reading table (not shown) of the scanner unit 24. For example, FIG. When the outer edge of the printed image is not parallel to the outer edge of the bitmap image as in (b) or (c), the lateral displacement is corrected from the line connecting the marks 100 and 102, and the marks 100 and 101 are connected. A vertical shift from the line can be corrected. If the modified bitmap image is used, as shown in FIG. 16A, the bitmap image is arranged in parallel with the scan directions S1 to Sn, and the R element or the B element can be searched in the state. Search processing efficiency is improved.

A tiling print process corresponding to step S8 in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the print paper size setting (Wp, Hp) is acquired (S51). Any of the following acquisition methods may be used.
(1) Acquired from the paper size name designated by the operation of the operation unit 21 by the user.
(2) Obtained from the scale ratio of the basic paper size and the paper used for tiling printing to the basic paper size. The A1 size is the default for the sheet 1 cell of the boundary index. That is, Wp and Hp for the A4 size are determined as default values. When the user selects the A3 size, Wp and Hp are also multiplied by a magnification of A4 → A3 (144%).
(3) Obtained from the paper size name and the printable area value The printable areas corresponding to the paper size are defined as Wp and Hp.

Next, the layout configuration setting (Wn, Hn) is acquired (S52). Any of the following acquisition methods may be used.
(1) A printing paper configuration such as 2 × 2, 3 × 3, 4 × 4, and 5 × 5 is input from the user.
(2) The user inputs that the print image is to be multiplied by R, and Wn = (Wi × R + (Wp−1)) / Wp, Hn = (Hi × R + ( Calculate as Hp-1)) / Hp.

  Next, Wd and Hd calculated by the above-described method are acquired, the actual values of Wd and Hd are calculated according to (magnification) in the layout configuration acquired above (S53), and the position of the printing paper position Initialization is performed with the values of variables x and y representing 1 as 1 (S54).

Next, the origin coordinate value of the print image when the top left vertex of each print page is (0, 0) is calculated as follows (S55).
X coordinate value = Wd− (x−1) × Wp, Y coordinate value = Hd− (y−1) × Hp
Note that 1 ≦ x ≦ Wn and 1 ≦ y ≦ Hn.

  Then, a print image corresponding to the printing paper is printed (S56). The processes of steps S55 and S56 are sequentially performed from the left to the right of the printing paper line (S57, S58). When printing up to the rightmost printing paper of the line is completed, the process proceeds to the printing paper of the next line, and the printing of the left edge of the line is performed. Printing is sequentially performed from the paper (S59, S60).

  A configuration in which tiling printing format setting according to the present invention is performed by an external device such as a personal computer other than the multifunction machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 29, the tiling printing format setting system includes a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a PC) 1 and a multifunction device 10 connected to the PC 1 via a network. Further, instead of the multifunction machine 10, a scanner and a printer may be connected to the PC 1 via a network.

  As shown in FIG. 29, the PC 1 is configured as a known personal computer, and includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 3, a communication I / F (Interface) 4, a display unit 5, an operation unit 6, an image processing unit 7, and these. A connected control circuit 2 is provided.

  The HDD 3 has an OS program 3S that functions as an operating system (OS) for operating the PC 1, an application program 3W that functions as an application that operates on the OS, and a scanner driver program 3D that also functions as a scanner driver that operates on the OS 3S. A printer driver program 3P, a tiling information storage area 3T, and the like.

  The communication I / F 4 includes a network adapter having an interface function with a communication network 30 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and communicates with a device such as the MFP 10 connected to the communication network 30. It is possible.

  The display unit 5 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT display. The operation unit 6 includes a pointing device such as a mouse and operation means such as a keyboard.

  The control circuit 2 is configured as a normal computer, and includes a CPU 2a, a ROM 2b, a RAM 2c, an input / output interface (I / O) 2d, and a bus line 2e for connecting these configurations. The CPU 2a performs control based on the OS program 3S stored in the HDD 3. The OS program 3S is executed on the RAM 2c with the OS work memory 2S as a work area. The application program 3W, the scanner driver program 3D, and the printer driver program 3P are executed in the RAM 2c with the application work memory 2W, the scanner driver work memory 2D, and the printer driver work memory 2P as work areas, respectively. Is done.

  The image processing unit 7 includes an image processing circuit that analyzes an image that is read by the scanner unit 24 (see FIG. 1) of the multifunction machine 10 and acquired through the communication network 30 by a known technique such as pattern recognition. Composed

  The multifunction machine 10 is connected to the communication network 30 and can send and receive data to and from the PC 1 and performs various processes such as image reading and printing in response to commands from the PC 1. In the present embodiment, the multifunction device 10 is indirectly connected to the PC 1 via the communication network 30, but may be directly connected to the PC 1 via a parallel port or a USB port (not shown).

  In the case of the above configuration, a print image printed in a predetermined format is set on a reading table (not shown) of the scanner unit 24, and a scan command is sent to the multifunction machine 10 by the operation of the operation unit 5 of the PC 1, and the scanner driver program 3D Data read by the scanner unit 24 is acquired and converted into a bitmap image by the image processing unit 7, and tiling information such as Wd and Hd is generated using the converted bitmap image. Then, a print command is sent to the multifunction machine 10 based on the tiling information generated in the printer driver program 3P, a bitmap image, and the like, and tiling printing (including confirmation printing) is performed by the printing unit 23. Further, when storing the generated tiling information, the tiling information storage area 3T of the HDD 3 is used.

  For example, in the method of FIGS. 12 to 16, the printed image 51 and the transparent sheet 53 are separately read by the scanner unit 24, the data is acquired from the multifunction machine 10, and each bit is acquired by the image processing unit 7. Create a map image. Next, using known image editing software, tiling information recognition data in which these two bitmap images are superimposed is created. Then, the tiling information recognition process is executed to obtain tiling information. The obtained tiling information and the bitmap image of the print image 51 are sent to the multifunction device 10 together with a print command, and the multifunction device 10 performs tiling printing.

  In the method of FIGS. 17 to 20, first, the multi-function peripheral 10 reads a print image 61 printed together with the paper frame 62, acquires the read data from the multi-function peripheral 10, and the image processing unit 7 performs bit processing. Create a map image. Next, using well-known image editing software, the tiling information recognition data obtained by painting the bitmap data created in red on an image that preferably fits in one paper frame, such as the head of a waterfowl, is created. create. Then, the tiling information recognition process is executed to obtain tiling information. The obtained tiling information and the bitmap image of the print image 61 are sent to the multifunction device 10 together with a print command, and the multifunction device 10 performs tiling printing.

  21 to 23, the print image 71 includes reference frames 72a and 72b for the vertical boundary index, a horizontal boundary index selection field 74, a vertical boundary index selection field 75, and a paper size selection field. The data printed together with 76 is read by the scanner unit 24, the data is acquired from the multifunction machine 10, and each bitmap image is created by the image processing unit 7. Next, using known image editing software, a tiling information recognition data is created by entering a number or paper size in the selection field. Then, the tiling information recognition process is executed to obtain tiling information. The obtained tiling information and the bitmap image of the print image 71 are sent to the multifunction device 10 together with a print command, and the multifunction device 10 performs tiling printing.

  In the method of FIG. 24, the printed image 81 is printed together with the horizontal method boundary index selection field 82, the vertical direction boundary index selection field 83, and the paper size selection field 84, and is read by the scanner unit 24. Are obtained from the multifunction machine 10 and the image processing unit 7 creates each bitmap image. Next, using a well-known image editing software, a desired field of the selection field is painted to create tiling information recognition data. Then, the tiling information recognition process is executed to obtain tiling information. The obtained tiling information and the bitmap image of the print image 81 are sent to the multifunction device 10 together with a print command, and the multifunction device 10 performs tiling printing.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the knowledge of those skilled in the art can be used without departing from the spirit of the claims. Various modifications based on this are possible.

1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation panel of a multifunction machine. The figure explaining tiling printing. The flowchart explaining the tiling format setting process 1. FIG. The example of a display of a display part when a scan button is pressed down. The example of a display of the display part at the time of tiling print setting. The example of a display of a display part in the case of memorizing tiling print settings. The figure explaining the tiling format setting process 1. FIG. The figure explaining the tiling format setting process 1 following FIG. The figure explaining the tiling format setting process 1 following FIG. The figure which shows an example of the memory content of tiling information. The flowchart explaining a tiling information recognition process. The figure explaining tiling information recognition processing. The figure explaining the tiling information recognition process following FIG. The figure explaining the tiling information recognition process following FIG. The figure explaining the tiling information recognition process following FIG. The figure explaining the tiling format setting process 2. FIG. The figure explaining the tiling format setting process 2 following FIG. The flowchart explaining another example of a tiling information recognition process. The figure explaining the tiling information recognition process of FIG. The figure explaining another example of tiling information recognition processing. The figure explaining the tiling information recognition process of FIG. The figure explaining the tiling information recognition process following FIG. The figure explaining another example of tiling information recognition processing. The figure explaining tiling confirmation printing. The figure explaining barcode printing of tiling information. The figure explaining positioning mark printing. The flowchart explaining a tiling printing process. The figure explaining another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 PC
2 control circuit 5 display unit 6 operation unit 7 image processing unit 10 multifunction machine 11 CPU (relative position coordinate calculation means, relative position determination means, conversion means)
16 Memory (output means)
19 External memory (output means)
21 Operation part (designating means)
22 Display unit (display means, touch panel)
23 Printing section (printing means, confirmation output means)
24 Scanner unit 26 Image processing unit 31 Printer (printing means, confirmation output means)
61 Print image (reference image)
65 Bitmap image 67 Paper frame image (boundary index)
68, 69 Mark image (specified image part)
100 Scanner system

Claims (10)

Relative relation between the designated image portion in the reference image and the boundary index that delimits the coordinates on the coordinate between the boundary index that defines the printing unit of tiling printing and the coordinate value is less than a predetermined value. Relative position coordinate calculation means for calculating position coordinates;
Based on the calculation, relative position determining means for determining a relative position between the designated image portion and the boundary index at the time of the tiling printing,
A tiling printing formatting system characterized by comprising: Designation means for designating the designated image portion;
Display means for displaying the designated image portion;
The tiling printing format setting system according to claim 1, comprising: Including designation means for designating the designated image portion,
The tiling printing format setting system according to claim 1, wherein the relative position coordinate calculation unit calculates the relative position coordinate between the specified image portion and a boundary index by searching the specified image portion on the coordinate. .   4. The tiling printing format setting system according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit includes a touch panel, and designates the designated image portion in the reference image displayed on the touch panel. 5.   5. The format setting system for tiling printing according to claim 1, further comprising confirmation output means for confirming the relative positional relationship.   The tiling printing format setting system according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints the reference print image according to the tiling printing format.   The tiling printing format setting system according to claim 6, further comprising an output unit that outputs the tiling printing format for printing by an external device printing unit included in an external device different from the printing unit.   The tiling printing format setting system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the boundary index is described by a line segment representing the boundary.   9. The format setting system for tiling printing according to claim 1, wherein the relative position or the relative positional relationship is represented by two-dimensional coordinates. The relative position data of the tiling print target image at the time of the tiling printing determined by the relative positional relationship determination unit and the second boundary index that divides the tiling print target image into a plurality of regions Conversion means for converting the data into the relative position data of the boundary index with respect to the actual image to be printed without changing the relationship;
10. The tiling printing format setting system according to claim 6, wherein the converted data of the relative position of the boundary index is output to the printing unit and the tiling printing is executed.