JP2008072640A - Printer, computer program, and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the occurrence of a marginal portion on recording paper by arbitrarily performing coupling processing, dividing processing, enlargement/reduction scale setting and the like for each divided range of each page of a document. <P>SOLUTION: A printer with a print data generation unit 25 for generating print data allocating a plurality of documents to one piece of recording paper includes: a division instructing means 22-1 for instructing layout of division of the recording paper; a page position setting means 22-3 for designating which page is to be set to each position of the layout; and a coupling instructing means 22-1 for further instructing coupling of a plurality of divided recording paper ranges to the layout created by a layout instructing unit 22, wherein the print data generating unit 25 generates the print data allocating a plurality of documents to one piece of recording paper based on at least one instruction from the division instructing means 22-2, the page position setting means 22-3 and the coupling instructing means 22-1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints an image to be printed in an arbitrary layout, and in particular, a Nin1 aggregation function that assigns a plurality of documents to one sheet, and a 1 to N continuous shooting that assigns one document to a plurality of sheets. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function, a computer program also called a printer driver that realizes processing of the printing apparatus, and a printing method.

  Recently, image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, or multifunction machines having a combination of these functions that allocate input image data, in particular, a plurality of document image data to a recording sheet for output, have become widespread. ing. As such an assignment function, when printing on recording paper, a function called an “aggregation function” for reducing a plurality of pages of originals and consolidating them on one page of recording paper, and one page of originals. There is a function called “enlarged continuous shooting function” that performs an enlargement process and continuously captures on a plurality of pages of recording paper. Among the aggregation functions, a function of reducing and arranging a plurality of N-page originals on one page of recording paper is called “Nin1 aggregation”. For example, when N = 2, it is called “2 in 1 aggregation” in which two pages of originals are reduced and arranged on one page. On the other hand, in the enlarged continuous shooting function, the function of enlarging and arranging a one-page document on a plurality of N-page recording sheets is called “1 to N enlarged continuous shooting”. For example, when N = 2, it is called “1 to 2 enlarged continuous shooting” in which an original of one page is enlarged and arranged on two pages.

In such a function, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that when performing Nin1 consolidated printing of a plurality of pages, the last page and the first page are prevented from being printed on the same recording paper when straddling the pages. In addition, it is described that an adjustment is made by inserting another document image. Further, Patent Document 2 has a Nin1 aggregate print function and a repeat aggregate print function, so that it is possible to arbitrarily set which document image is arranged in the order in which the document image is arranged or in which position. It is described to do. Patent Document 3 has a Nin1 aggregate printing and repeat aggregate printing function, and for each divided area for printing one page of a document, an offset from a reference position, a width, a height size, a mask area setting, It describes that layout settings such as image orientation can be made. Patent Document 4 describes that print data is divided and aggregated in parallel with the long side of the recording paper. Patent Document 5 describes that different settings can be applied to the aggregate copy function within a single job to save output recording paper and shorten image formation time.
JP 2001-253135 A JP 2002-185760 A JP 2002-185761 A JP 2003-89251 A JP 2003-101695 A

However, in each of the above conventional technologies,
1) It is difficult to reduce and enlarge each original according to the user's preference.
2) Only partial parts of each original can be combined.
3) The aspect ratio may change. When the aspect ratio changes, a margin portion of the recording paper is generated.
There are problems such as.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to arbitrarily perform combination processing, division processing setting, etc. for each divided range of each page of the document. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a blank portion of the recording paper and to use the recording paper efficiently.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first means includes a print data generation means for generating print data assigned to one recording paper, a layout instruction means for instructing a layout of division of the recording paper, and the layout. A page allocating unit that sets a desired page at each divided position, and the print data generating unit generates print data set by the layout instruction unit and the page allocating unit. A combination instructing unit for instructing to combine the divided ranges of the divided recording papers with respect to the layout instructed and created by the layout instruction unit; The layout instruction means includes a division instruction means for instructing.

  The second means is characterized in that, in the first means, the layout instruction means, the page allocation means, the combination instruction means, and the division instruction means each comprise a computer program in which a processing procedure is set. .

  The third means is a computer program that is loaded into a computer and executes printing, a layout instruction procedure for instructing a layout for dividing the recording paper, and a page for designating which page is set at each position of the layout An allocation procedure, a combination instruction procedure for instructing a combination of ranges of a plurality of divided recording sheets, and a division instruction for instructing the division of the layout recording sheets, for the layout created by the layout instruction procedure Print data for generating print data in which a plurality of originals are assigned to one recording sheet based on at least one instruction of a procedure, the layout instruction procedure, the page allocation procedure, the combination instruction procedure, and the division instruction procedure And a generation procedure.

  The fourth means includes a layout instruction step for instructing a layout for dividing the recording paper, a page allocation step for specifying which page is set at each position of the layout, and the layout created in the layout instruction step. On the other hand, a combination instruction step for instructing combination of a plurality of divided recording sheets, a division instruction step for instructing division of the laid out recording sheets, the layout instruction step, the page allocation step, A print data generation step for generating print data in which a plurality of originals are assigned to one recording sheet through at least one of the combination instruction step and the division instruction step, and is generated by the print data generation step. The printing method is characterized by printing an image in which a plurality of originals are assigned to one recording sheet based on the printed data.

  In the embodiment described later, the print data generation means is the print data generation section 25, the page assignment means is the page position setting instruction means 22-3, the layout instruction means is the layout instruction section 22, and the division instruction means is the code. 22-2 corresponds to the link instruction means 22-1 respectively.

  According to the present invention, after the layout is set by the layout instructing means, it is possible to arbitrarily set the combination processing and the division processing for each divided range of each page of the laid out document. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of the blank portion and use the recording paper efficiently.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall schematic configuration in an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing apparatus includes a display device 1, a printer driver 2, and a printer 3. The printer driver 2 is software that drives and controls the printer 3 and executes desired printing. The printer driver 2 is downloaded to, for example, a hard disk, which is the external storage unit 203 of the personal computer (electronic device) shown in FIG. Software functions are realized. The printer driver 2 according to the present embodiment includes a division format instruction unit 21, a layout instruction unit 22, a preview generation unit 23, a setting screen display control unit 24, a print data generation unit 25, and a print data transmission unit 26. Computer software. The display device 1 is hardware connected to a personal computer, and includes a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays information such as print settings, previews, and the number of prints, as will be described later. The printer 3 is also hardware connected to a personal computer, and prints print data transmitted from the printer driver 2 on a recording sheet.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer basically includes a control unit 201, a main storage unit 202, an external storage unit 203, an input unit 204, and a transmission unit 205. The personal computer is connected to the display device 1 and also has a transmission unit 26. Is connected to the printer 3 via. The control unit 201 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), executes processing as the printer driver 2 according to a program stored in the external storage unit 203, and controls each unit. The main storage unit 202 includes a RAM (Random-Access Memory) and is used as a work area of the control unit 201.

  The external storage unit 203 includes a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, a hard disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a DVD-RAM (Digital Versatile Disc Random Access Memory), a DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable), and the like. In addition, the program and other data used by the personal computer are supplied to the control unit 201 in accordance with instructions from the control unit 201, and the data supplied from the control unit 201 is stored.

  The transmission unit 205 includes a serial interface or a LAN (Local Area Network) interface connected to a modem or a network termination device, and transmits print data to the printer 3. The input unit 204 includes a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and an interface for connecting the keyboard and the pointing device to the internal bus 200.

  The division format instructing unit 21 in the printer driver 2 performs a process for instructing a division method of Nin1 aggregation or 1 to N expansion continuous shooting, and the division method instructed here is passed to the preview generation unit 23 and the print data generation unit 25. .

  The layout instruction unit 22 performs a process of instructing the layout of the divided range, and the instruction of the layout instructed here is transferred to the preview generation unit 23 and the print data generation unit 25. Note that. The layout instruction unit 22 includes a combination instruction unit 22-1, which instructs combination of the divided ranges, a division instruction unit 22-2, which instructs division, and a page position setting instruction unit 22-, which sets pages in each divided range. 3 and paper position setting instructing means 22-4 for setting the paper position when a plurality of recording papers are displayed in the preview.

  The preview generation unit 23 performs processing for generating a print setting screen display preview based on the division method instruction specified by the division format instruction unit 21 and the layout instruction specified by the layout instruction unit 22. The generated preview and scheduled print number are passed to the setting screen display control unit 24. The setting screen display control unit 24 performs processing for displaying a print setting screen on the display device 1. When the preview generation unit 23 receives the preview data and the number of prints to be printed, they are displayed on the print setting screen of the display device 1.

  The print data generation unit 25 performs a process of generating print data from the original based on the layout instruction instructed from the division format instruction unit 21, and the generated print data is transferred to the print data transmission unit 26. The print data transmission unit 26 transmits the print data received from the print data generation unit 25 to the printer 3. At this time, hardware is transmitted from the transmission unit 205 to the printer 3.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display state of a layout control setting screen in the present embodiment displayed on the display device 1. In the setting screen 210, a document size designation field 211, a document direction designation field 212, a copy number designation field 213, a division instruction field 214, and a print preview display designation field 215 are displayed. A document size designation field 211 is a field for selecting a recording paper size at the time of printing output. The user selects a radio button of any size from the paper sizes such as A3 and A4 by using the pointing device.

  A document direction designation column 212 is a column for selecting the direction of a document to be printed. The user selects a radio button in any direction of the vertical and horizontal directions using the pointing device. The copy number designation column 213 is a column for designating the number of copies. The print preview display designation field 214 is a button for displaying a print preview according to the document size and document direction designated by the user in the document size designation field 211 and the document direction designation field 212. When print preview display is instructed from the print preview display designation field 214, the screen is switched as shown in FIG. 5 and subsequent screens, and screens for selecting division, combination, 4in1, 8in1, 16in1, and the like are also displayed. Can be processed. Although not shown, a page position setting instruction field and a paper position setting instruction field are also displayed, and it is possible to set the combination, division, page position, and paper position. These settings are performed by the combination instruction unit 22-1, the division instruction unit 22-2, the page position setting instruction unit 22-3, and the paper position setting instruction unit 22-4 of the layout instruction unit 22.

   FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of layout processing performed by the printer driver 2. In this processing procedure, first, when an image is received and the number of documents is acquired (step S101), a setting screen 210 is displayed on the display device 1 by the setting screen display control unit 24 (step S102). For example, the setting screen display control unit 24 causes the display device 1 to display a preview generated by the preview generation unit 23 based on the print attribute such as A4 portrait set from the setting screen 210 (step S103).

  In this preview screen, as described above, a screen for selecting division, combination, 4in1, 8in1, 16in1, etc. is displayed. When a division format including aggregation or enlarged continuous shooting is selected from this display, the division format instruction unit 21 The division format is set (step S104). And the preview which provided the partition line based on the setting is displayed on the display apparatus 1 (step S105).

  Next, the layout instruction unit 22 sets the size of each page (step S106), and the layout instruction unit 22 sets combination processing, division processing, page position setting, recording paper position setting, and the like (step S107). Next, it is checked whether or not recording paper is added / deleted by the paper position setting instruction means 22-4 (step S108). If there is addition / deletion, the process returns to step S107, and the setting is continued after the addition / deletion. Do. If there is no recording sheet addition / deletion, the page position setting instructing unit 22-3 checks whether there is any page addition / deletion (step S109). If there is a page addition / deletion, the process returns to step S106 to execute the subsequent processing.

  If there is no recording paper addition / deletion by the paper position setting instruction unit 22-4 and no page addition / deletion by the page position setting instruction unit 22-3, the print data generation unit 25 sets the division method set in step S107. Then, print data is generated from the image based on the layout instruction (step S110), and the layout process ends.

  5 to 9 are diagrams showing examples of various print settings. Among these, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of division on the print setting screen. In the case of this example, the print setting screen displays division and combination selection, “Nin1” selection, and a preview screen. Here, when the division and “4 in 1” are selected and the range under the preview is designated with a pointing device (clicking in the case of a mouse—the same applies hereinafter), the range under the preview is divided into a size of 4 in 1. .

  6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of the combination on the print setting screen. FIG. 6A illustrates a combination on the same page, and FIG. 6B illustrates a combination across a plurality of pages. As shown in FIG. 6A, when “Combine” is selected on the print setting screen and the “upper left range” and the “upper right” range of the preview are selected with the pointing device, the upper left and upper right ranges of the preview are displayed. Join. Also, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the “first upper right range” and the “second upper left range” of the preview are instructed by the pointing device, a plurality of recording sheets are combined. be able to. When printing, it can be read as a series of documents by connecting recording paper.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of page position setting. In the print setting screen, “page number” can be set in the page number setting column displayed in each divided range of the preview.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting the recording paper position. In setting a plurality of recording papers on the print setting screen, the “recording paper position” is set by moving the pointing device.

  FIGS. 9A and 9B show examples of layouts that can be combined. FIG. 9A shows 5in1, FIG. 9B shows 5in2, and FIG. 9C shows 6in2.

  It should be noted that the pages are automatically enlarged / reduced by the difference in layout from FIGS. 5 to 9, here, the further division and combination of the divided ranges, and different pages can be efficiently printed on one recording sheet. It can be seen that is printed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
1) Layout editing of a divided range on one sheet of recording paper can be easily performed.
2) Since the number of divisions of the recording paper can be specified from the options, the layout can be easily specified.
3) A layout can be easily specified by operating a pointing device.
4) When the range of the divided recording paper is specified, a combination process (for example, 4 in 1 + 4 in 1 → 2 in 1) and a division process (for example, 2 in 1 → 4 in 1 + 4 in 1) can be performed on a partial portion.
5) Since the combination processing (for example, 4 in 1 + 4 in 1 → 2 in 1) and the division processing (for example, 2 in 1 → 4 in 1 + 4 in 1) can be performed in the partial portion as in 4) above, the blank portion is reduced without changing the aspect ratio of the document. It becomes possible.
6) Since the margin portion can be reduced without changing the aspect ratio of the document as in 5), the use efficiency of the paper can be improved, thereby reducing the number of printed sheets. Become.
7) Since the manuscript page position can be set, the enlargement / reduction ratio can be set for each page of the manuscript according to the user's preference in consideration of the manuscript characteristics and readability that differ for each manuscript page.
There are effects such as.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a hardware configuration of a personal computer including a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of layout processing executed by the printing apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of division on a print setting screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of combination on a print setting screen. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a page position on a print setting screen. FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting a recording paper position on a print setting screen. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of layouts that can be combined on a print setting screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus 2 Printer driver 3 Printer 21 Division formation instruction | indication part 22 Layout instruction | indication part 22-1 Joining instruction means 22-2 Division instruction means 22-3 Page position setting instruction means 22-4 Paper position setting instruction means 23 Preview generation part 24 Setting screen display control unit 25 Print data generation unit 201 Control unit

Claims (4)

Print data generating means for generating print data allocated to one sheet of recording paper;
Layout instruction means for instructing the layout of the recording paper division;
Page allocation means for setting a desired page at each position divided in the layout;
Have
A printing apparatus for generating print data set by the layout instruction means and the page allocation means by the print data generation means,
A combination instructing unit for instructing to combine the divided range of the divided recording paper with respect to the layout instructed and created by the layout instruction unit;
Division instruction means for instructing division of the laid-out recording paper;
Is provided in the layout instruction means.   2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the layout instruction unit, the page allocation unit, the combination instruction unit, and the division instruction unit includes a computer program in which a processing procedure is set. In a computer program that is loaded on a computer and executes printing,
A layout instruction procedure for instructing a layout of the recording paper division;
A page allocation procedure for specifying which page to set at each position of the layout;
A combination instruction procedure for instructing a combination of a plurality of divided recording paper ranges for the layout created by the layout instruction procedure;
A division instruction procedure for instructing division of the laid-out recording paper;
A print data generation procedure for generating print data in which a plurality of documents are allocated to one recording sheet based on at least one instruction of the layout instruction procedure, the page allocation procedure, the combination instruction procedure, and the division instruction procedure; ,
A computer program comprising: A layout instruction process for instructing a layout of recording paper division;
A page allocation step for designating which page to set at each position of the layout;
For the layout created in the layout instruction step, a combination instruction step for instructing combination of a plurality of divided recording paper ranges;
A division instruction step for instructing division of the laid-out recording paper;
A print data generation step of generating print data in which a plurality of originals are allocated to one recording sheet through at least one of the layout instruction step, the page allocation step, the combination instruction step, and the division instruction step; ,
With
A printing method comprising: printing an image in which a plurality of originals are allocated on a single recording sheet based on the print data generated by the print data generation step.

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