JP2021075023A - Handy mobile printer, method for controlling handy mobile printer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a handy mobile printer that can more improve convenience, and to provide a method for controlling a handy mobile printer and a program.SOLUTION: A handy mobile printer 1 includes: a printing part 112 for printing an image on a medium; a reading part 113 for reading the image printed on the medium; and a printing control unit 128 that, when the image read by the reading part 113 includes an image mapped with predetermined printing operations, performs printing operations corresponding to the image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a handy mobile printer, a control method for the handy mobile printer, and a program.

Conventionally, a handy mobile printer including a mechanism for scanning and reading already printed contents and a mechanism for executing printing has been known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, the information of the image printed in the first scan is scanned, and the position of the ink ejection part at the next scan is adjusted so that an appropriate output can be performed for the print position. Techniques for improving print quality by doing so are disclosed.

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the image information obtained by scanning is used only for the purpose of adjusting the position of the ink ejection portion, and the point of further improving the convenience of the handy mobile printer is achieved. , There is room for improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a handy mobile printer, a control method for the handy mobile printer, and a program capable of further improving convenience.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises a printing unit that prints an image on a medium, a reading unit that reads an image printed on the medium, and an image read by the reading unit. When an image associated with a predetermined print operation is included, a print control unit that performs the print operation corresponding to the image is provided.

According to the present invention, the advantage of having a mechanism for scanning and reading an image can be effectively utilized, and the convenience of the handy mobile printer can be further improved.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a handy mobile printer. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the handy mobile printer. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the personal computer. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the personal computer. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for setting a handy mobile printer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the setting file of the handy mobile printer. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the basic operation of the handy mobile printer. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the handy mobile printer.

The handy mobile printer according to the present invention, the control method of the handy mobile printer, and the embodiment of the program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Hardware configuration of handy mobile printer)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a handy mobile printer. The handy mobile printer 1 is a printing device that prints an image on a medium such as paper by manually scanning the printer.

The handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment includes a control unit 10, an operation unit 111, a printing unit 112, a reading unit 113, and a display unit 114. Further, the control unit 10 includes a Host I / F (Interface) 101, a CPU 102, a ROM 103, a RAM 104, a storage unit 105, and a network I / F 106.

First, the configuration of the control unit 10 will be described. The Host I / F 101 is an interface for connecting a PC (personal computer) 2. The CPU 102 controls the operation of the entire handy mobile printer 1. The ROM 103 stores a program used to drive the CPU 102. The RAM 104 is used as a work area of the CPU 102.

The storage unit 105 stores various data such as programs for handy mobile printers and image data. The network I / F 106 is an interface for data communication using a communication network such as the Internet.

The operation unit 111 receives an instruction from the user and outputs the instruction to the CPU 102. The operation unit 111 is, for example, an input device such as a numeric keypad or a touch panel. In addition, buttons such as a print start button are also included in the operation unit 111.

The printing unit 112 prints an image on the medium. In the present embodiment, the printing unit 112 is an inkjet head that prints an image by ejecting a liquid onto a medium. The printing unit 112 is not limited to the inkjet head. For example, it may be a thermal head that prints on a medium by heat.

The reading unit 113 reads the image printed on the medium. In the present embodiment, the reading unit 113 is a reading device including an image sensor and the like. Examples of the image sensor include a one-dimensional CCD (Charged Coupled Device) image sensor and a one-dimensional CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor.

In the present embodiment, the reading unit 113 reads the image printed on the medium by the user scanning the handy mobile printer 1. Further, the reading unit 113 is provided on the front side in the moving direction of the handy mobile printer 1 with respect to the printing unit 112 in the moving direction at the time of printing.

The display unit 114 displays the operation screen and the like of the handy mobile printer 1. The display unit 114 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display.

The hardware configuration of the handy mobile printer 1 is not limited to the above. For example, a sensor that detects the coordinates may be provided so that the position of the printing unit at the time of rescanning can be corrected based on the coordinates and the information of the image printed on the medium read by the reading unit 113.

The program executed by the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a computer such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). It may be configured to be recorded and provided on a recording medium that can be read by.

Further, the program executed by the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading via the network. Further, the program executed by the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

(Handy mobile printer function)
Next, the function of the handy mobile printer 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the handy mobile printer.

The handy mobile printer 1 includes a first acquisition unit 121, a reception unit 122, a display control unit 123, a selection unit 124, a read control unit 125, a second acquisition unit 126, a determination unit 127, and a print control unit 128. Further, the storage unit 105 stores the image data 105A, the collation information 105B, and the setting file 105C.

The first acquisition unit 121 acquires an image to be printed by the handy mobile printer 1. In the present embodiment, the first acquisition unit 121 acquires the image transferred from the PC2. The first acquisition unit 121 can also acquire an image from the Internet via the network I / F 106.

Further, the first acquisition unit 121 can also acquire the character string input by the user via the operation unit 111 as an image. The image acquired by the first acquisition unit 121 is stored in the storage unit 105 as image data 105A described later.

The reception unit 122 accepts input from the user. In the present embodiment, the reception unit 122 accepts a print instruction input by the user via the operation unit 111, a user's selection of an image to be printed, and the like.

The display control unit 123 displays the screen on the display unit 114. In the present embodiment, the display control unit 123 displays a menu screen, a setting screen, and the like on the display unit 114. In addition, the display control unit 123 displays a screen on the display unit 114 that prompts the user to select an image to be printed.

The selection unit 124 selects an image to be printed by the handy mobile printer 1. In the present embodiment, the selection unit 124 selects an image to be printed by the handy mobile printer 1 from the image data 105A of the storage unit 105 according to the user's selection. The reading control unit 125 controls the reading unit 113 to read the image printed on the medium. The second acquisition unit 126 acquires the image read by the reading control unit 125.

The determination unit 127 makes various determinations in the handy mobile printer 1. In the present embodiment, the determination unit 127 refers to the setting file 105C described later and determines whether or not the movement division condition is set.

Here, the motion-separating condition means a condition that needs to be satisfied in order for the handy mobile printer 1 to perform a specific printing operation. In the present embodiment, an image specified by the user is read by the reading control unit 125. It means that it is included in the image printed on the read medium. Further, the printing operation refers to an operation performed by the handy mobile printer 1 when the image specified as the movement division condition is read by the reading control unit 125.

Further, the determination unit 127 determines whether or not the image read by the reading control unit 125 includes an image designated as a motion division condition. Specifically, the determination unit 127 determines whether or not the image printed on the medium read by the reading control unit 125 includes the image stored in the collation information 105B described later.

Further, the determination unit 127 refers to the setting file 105C, and the printing operation performed when the image specified as the motion division condition by the reading control unit 125 is read is the operation of printing the image selected in advance (hereinafter referred to as the operation). , Selected image printing) or printing that masks a certain area of the image printed on the medium (hereinafter referred to as mask printing).

In addition, when the printing operation is mask printing, it is also determined whether the target to be masked is only the designated character string or the area started immediately after the designated character string.

When the image read by the reading control unit 125 includes an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, the print control unit 128 performs a printing operation corresponding to the image.

Examples of the printing operation corresponding to the image include an operation of starting printing of the image on the medium, an operation of performing printing to mask the area where the image associated with the printing operation on the medium is printed, and printing on the medium. Examples thereof include an operation of performing printing that masks a certain area that starts immediately after the area in which the image associated with the operation is printed.

In the present embodiment, the print control unit 128 is designated by the setting file 105C when the determination unit 127 determines that the image acquired by the second acquisition unit 126 includes the image stored as the collation information 105B. Performs printing operation.

Specifically, when the designated printing operation is selection image printing, the print control unit 128 selects the selection unit 124 when the image read by the reading control unit 125 includes an image stored as collation information 105B. The operation to start printing the printed image is performed.

When the specified printing operation is mask printing and the area to be masked is only the specified character string, the print control unit 128 masks the area on which the image stored as the collation information 105B on the medium is printed. Print.

When the specified printing operation is mask printing and the area to be masked is an area started immediately after the specified character string, the print control unit 128 prints the image stored as the collation information 105B on the medium. Printing is performed to mask a certain area starting immediately after the area. The area to be masked in this case can be predetermined, for example, an area from the character immediately after the designated character string to the character 10 characters after the character.

The image data 105A is a set of images to be printed by the handy mobile printer 1 stored in the storage unit 105. In the present embodiment, the image data 105A is composed of the images acquired by the first acquisition unit 121.

The collation information 105B is an area in the storage unit 105 and is an area in which information designated as a movement division condition is stored. Examples of the information specified as the movement division condition include an image and a character string.

In the present embodiment, the collation information 105B stores the image specified in the setting file 105C described later. Even if a character string is specified, an image representing the character string is stored. The handy mobile printer 1 acquires an image stored as collation information 105B via the PC 2 or the Internet. The collation information 105B may exist on the network, not in the storage unit 105 of the handy mobile printer 1.

The setting file 105C sets information for controlling various processes by the handy mobile printer 1. In the present embodiment, the setting file 105C sets the movement division condition and the printing operation in association with each other.

In the present embodiment, the first acquisition unit 121, the reception unit 122, the display control unit 123, the selection unit 124, the reading control unit 125, the second acquisition unit 126, the determination unit 127, and the print control unit 128 Each function is realized by the CPU 102 executing a program stored in the ROM 103 or the like, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, among the functions of the first acquisition unit 121, the reception unit 122, the display control unit 123, the selection unit 124, the reading control unit 125, the second acquisition unit 126, the determination unit 127, and the print control unit 128. At least a part of the functions may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

(PC hardware configuration)
Next, PC2 will be described. The PC 2 plays a role of assisting the processing of the handy mobile printer 1, such as transferring image data and a setting file to be printed to the handy mobile printer 1.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a PC. PC2 includes CPU201, ROM202, RAM203, HD204, HDD (Hard Disk Drive) controller 205, display 206, external device connection I / F208, network I / F209, bus line 210, keyboard 211, pointing device 212, DVD-RW ( It is equipped with a Digital Versatile Disk Rewritable) drive 214 and media I / F 216.

The CPU 201 controls the operation of the entire PC 2. The ROM 202 stores a program used to drive the CPU 201 such as an IPL. The RAM 203 is used as a work area of the CPU 201. The HD204 stores various data such as programs. The HDD controller 205 controls reading or writing of various data to the HD 204 according to the control of the CPU 201.

The display 206 displays various information such as cursors, menus, windows, characters, or images. The external device connection I / F 208 is an interface for connecting various external devices. The external device in this case is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a printer, or the like.

The network I / F 209 is an interface for performing data communication using a communication network. The bus line 210 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting each component such as the CPU 201 shown in FIG.

Further, the keyboard 211 is a kind of input means including a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions and the like. The pointing device 212 is a kind of input means for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like.

The DVD-RW drive 214 controls reading or writing of various data to the DVD-RW 213 as an example of the removable recording medium. In addition, it is not limited to DVD-RW, and may be DVD-R or the like. The media I / F 216 controls reading or writing (storage) of data to a recording medium 215 such as a flash memory.

The program executed on the PC2 of the present embodiment is provided by recording a file in an installable format or an executable format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a CD-R, or a DVD. It may be configured to do so.

Further, the program executed by the PC2 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading via the network. Further, the program executed by the PC2 of the present embodiment may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

(PC function)
Next, the function of PC2 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the PC. The PC 2 includes a setting unit 221 and a communication unit 222.

The setting unit 221 associates the image with the printing operation. In the present embodiment, the setting unit 221 creates a setting file 105C that associates an image designated as a movement division condition with a printing operation performed when the image is read.

Specifically, the setting unit 221 is an application that operates on the PC2 having a function of creating a setting file 105C of the handy mobile printer 1 on the PC2 and transferring the setting file 105C to the handy mobile printer 1.

The setting unit 221 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for setting a handy mobile printer.

In the upper part of the screen, an image or a character string is specified as a movement division condition. In the middle of the screen, a printing operation to be performed when an image designated as a motion division condition is read by the reading control unit 125 is specified. Specifically, it specifies whether it is the selected image printing or the mask printing.

When mask printing is specified, it is also specified whether the target to be masked is only the specified character string or a certain area starting immediately after the specified character string.

At the bottom of the screen, specify the name of the setting file 105C. Further, the lower part of the screen is provided with a button for transferring the contents specified in the upper part of the screen and the middle part of the screen as the setting file 105C to the handy mobile printer 1, and a button for canceling the contents. In the present embodiment, when the user presses the button for transferring the setting file 105C, the setting unit 221 outputs an instruction to transmit the setting file 105C to the communication unit 222 described later.

The setting unit 221 may have a function of saving the setting contents in the HD204 of the PC2 and a function of reading the contents of the setting file 105C saved in the HD204 of the PC2.

Next, the contents of the setting file 105C will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the setting file of the handy mobile printer. FIG. 6 shows Setting. This is an example in which the setting file 105C saved in HD204 on the PC2 with the name dat is opened by a text editor or the like running on the PC2.

In this example, the setting file 105C is shown when "Specify an image" is checked in the upper part of the screen of FIG. 5, "Mask printing" and "Mask only a specified character string" are checked in the middle part of the screen. Condition indicates the movement division condition, Behaver indicates the printing operation, and MaskDetails indicates the object to be masked. The determination unit 127 of the handy mobile printer 1 makes various determinations based on these settings.

In the present embodiment, the setting unit 221 is provided in the PC 2, but the handy mobile printer 1 may be provided with the setting unit.

The communication unit 222 communicates using a communication network such as the Internet. It also sends and receives data to and from external devices. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 222 transmits data such as a setting file 105C and an image to the handy mobile printer 1. The communication unit 222 may transmit data to the handy mobile printer 1 via a communication network such as the Internet.

In the present embodiment, the communication unit 222 transmits the setting file 105C instructed by the setting unit 221 to the handy mobile printer 1.

In the present embodiment, each function of the setting unit 221 and the communication unit 222 described above is realized by the CPU 201 executing a program stored in the ROM 202 or the like, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, at least a part of the functions of the setting unit 221 and the communication unit 222 may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit.

(Overview of operation of handy mobile printer)
Next, an outline of the operation of the handy mobile printer 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the basic operation of the handy mobile printer. In this figure, it is assumed that the movement division condition is set and the selection of the image to be printed is completed when the selected image is printed.

First, the reception unit 122 receives the print instruction input by the user via the operation unit 111 (step S101). When the instruction is accepted, the reading control unit 125 reads the image printed on the medium (step S102). The second acquisition unit 126 acquires the image read by the reading control unit 125 (step S103).

The determination unit 127 determines whether the scanned image acquired by the second acquisition unit 126 includes the image stored as the collation information 105B (step S104).

Further, when it is determined that the image stored as the collation information 105B is included, the determination unit 127 performs a printing operation when the reading control unit 125 reads the image stored as the collation information 105B as "selected image printing". It is also judged whether it is "mask printing" or "mask printing". Further, when the determination unit 127 determines that "mask printing" is performed, the determination unit 127 also determines the target to be masked.

The print control unit 128 performs a printing operation according to the determination of the determination unit 127 (step S105). The above is the outline of the basic operation of the handy mobile printer 1.

(Handy mobile printer processing)
Next, the processing of the handy mobile printer 1 will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing of the handy mobile printer. In this figure, when the selected image is printed, it is assumed that the selection of the image to be printed has been completed.

First, the reception unit 122 receives the print instruction input by the user via the operation unit 111 (step S201). The determination unit 127 determines whether or not the movement division condition is set in the handy mobile printer 1 with reference to the setting file 105C (step S202).

When the movement division condition is set (step S202: Yes), the reading control unit 125 reads the image printed on the medium (step S203). The determination unit 127 determines whether or not the image read by the reading control unit 125 includes an image stored as the collation information 105B (step S204).

When the image stored as the collation information 105B is included (step S204: Yes), the determination unit 127 selects the print operation to be executed when the image stored as the collation information 105B is included. (Step S205).

When the printing operation is selective image printing (step S205: Yes), the print control unit 128 prints the selected image on the medium and ends this process (step S207).

When it is determined in step S202 that the motion division condition is not set by the determination unit 127 (step S202: No), the reading control unit 125 does not read the image, and the print control unit 128 selects the selected image on the medium. Is printed, and this process is completed (step S207).

In step S204, when the image stored as the collation information 105B is not included (step S204: No), the image printed on the medium is read by the reading control unit 125 (step S203), and the determination unit 127 Step S203 and step S204 are repeated until it is determined that the scanned image includes the image stored as the collation information 105B.

When the printing operation is not the selected image printing in step S205 (step S205: No), the determination unit 127 determines that the printing operation is mask printing, and determines whether the area for performing mask printing is only the designated character string. (Step S206).

When the mask area is only the designated character string (step S206: Yes), the print control unit 128 performs printing that masks only the designated character string on the image printed on the medium, and ends this process (step S208). ).

In step S206, when the mask area is not only the designated character string (step S206: No), the determination unit 127 determines that the mask area is an area starting immediately after the designated character string, and the print control unit 128 determines that the mask area is an area starting immediately after the designated character string. Printing is performed to mask a certain area starting immediately after the designated character string, and this process is terminated (step S209).

(Effect of handy mobile printer)
In the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment, when the reading control unit 125 reads an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, the printing control unit 128 performs a printing operation corresponding to the image.

Specifically, when the reading control unit 125 reads an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, the printing control unit 128 starts printing the image selected by the selection unit 124 on the medium. As a result, the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment does not start printing unless the reading control unit 125 reads the designated image. Therefore, the handy mobile printer 1 is erroneously instructed to start printing. Even if it does, it is possible to prevent the image from being printed on an unintended target.

Further, when the reading control unit 125 reads an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, the printing control unit 128 performs mask printing on a certain area on the printed image. As a result, the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment can easily cover up confidential information such as personal information such as a name and an address.

That is, the handy mobile printer 1 of the present embodiment can further improve the convenience of the handy mobile printer by effectively utilizing the information of the image printed on the medium read by the reading control unit 125. ..

(Modification example)
In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the setting file 105C associates a specific image of 1 with a printing operation of a specific 1. However, the setting file 105C may be a table in which a plurality of images and a plurality of printing operations are associated with each other.

By making the setting file 105C a table in which a plurality of images and a plurality of printing operations are associated with each other, it is possible to cause the handy mobile printer 1 to perform another printing operation without rewriting the setting file 105C of the handy mobile printer 1. It will be possible. The handy mobile printer 1 of the modified example is particularly useful in a situation where it is desired to perform mask printing immediately after performing selective image printing.

Each function of the above-described embodiment can be realized by one or a plurality of processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in the present specification is a processor programmed to execute each function by software such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to execute each function described above. It shall include devices such as ASICs, DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and conventional circuit modules.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The new embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above-described embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 Handy mobile printer 10 Control unit 101 Host I / F
102 CPU
103 ROM
104 RAM
105 Storage 105A Image data 105B Collation information 105C Setting file 106 Network I / F
111 Operation unit 112 Printing unit 113 Reading unit 114 Display unit 121 First acquisition unit 122 Reception unit 123 Display control unit 124 Selection unit 125 Reading control unit 126 Second acquisition unit 127 Judgment unit 128 Print control unit 2 PC
201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 HD
205 HDD controller 206 Display 208 External device connection I / F
209 Network I / F
210 Bass Line 211 Keyboard 212 Pointing Device 213 DVD-RW
214 DVD-RW drive 215 Recording media 216 Media I / F
221 Setting unit 222 Communication unit

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-486

Claims (6)

A printing unit that prints images on media,
A reading unit that reads an image printed on the medium,
When the image read by the reading unit includes an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, a print control unit that performs the printing operation corresponding to the image and a print control unit that performs the printing operation corresponding to the image.
Handy mobile printer with. The handy mobile printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing operation is an operation of starting printing of an image on the medium. The handy mobile printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing operation is an operation of masking an area on which an image associated with the printing operation on the medium is printed. The handy mobile printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing operation is an operation of masking a certain area that starts immediately after the area in which the image associated with the printing operation on the medium is printed. .. A printing unit that prints images on media,
A reading unit that reads an image printed on the medium,
It is a control method of a handy mobile printer equipped with
When the image read by the reading unit includes an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, the printing control step of performing the printing operation corresponding to the image is included.
How to control a handy mobile printer. A printing unit that prints images on media,
A reading unit that reads an image printed on the medium,
Handy mobile printer computer equipped with
When the image read by the reading unit includes an image associated with a predetermined printing operation, the print control step of performing the printing operation corresponding to the image,
A program that executes.

Images