JP2021121474A - Image processing device, image processing method and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To solve the problem that it takes time and efforts to predict time and a speed required in generating printing data in advance and further the prediction is not always correct, so that printing may not be executed properly if the printing is executed on the basis of an incorrect prediction.SOLUTION: An image processing device comprises a control part that when receiving an instruction to print an image, generates printing data that are used in printing from the image. After starting the generation of the printing data, the control part calculates a speed of the generation of the printing data on the basis of quantities of the generated printing data and time required in generating the printing data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program that generate print data.

A configuration is disclosed in which a printer driver that generates page description language data has a RIP time prediction means that predicts RIP (Raster Image Processor) time and embeds it in print data (see Patent Document 1).

According to the above document, the RIP time predicted value is determined by the printer driver based on the object type and the number of objects in the page, and is described in the page description language data. Then, the printer performs RIP processing that interprets the page description language data and generates bitmap data corresponding to the output color (CMYK) of the printer engine.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-155308

According to the above document, it is necessary to add a means for predicting the time required for generating print data to be provided to the printer engine, that is, for RIP processing, to a printer driver that is not in charge of RIP processing. Moreover, such a prediction is different from the time actually required to generate the print data. Proper printing may not be achieved due to the error between the prediction and the reality.

The image processing apparatus includes a control unit that generates print data to be used for printing from the image when receiving an instruction to print the image, and the control unit has been generated after the start of generation of the print data. The generation speed of the print data is calculated based on the amount of the print data and the time required to generate the print data.

The image processing method includes a print data generation step of generating print data to be used for printing from the image when receiving a print instruction of the image, and a print data generation step of generating the print data after the start of the print data generation step. It includes a speed calculation step of calculating the generation speed of the print data based on the amount and the time required to generate the print data.

The image processing program has a print data generation function that generates print data to be used for printing from the image when receiving an instruction to print the image, and the print data that has been generated after the start of generation of the print data. A computer is made to execute a speed calculation function that calculates the generation speed of the print data based on the amount and the time required to generate the print data.

The block diagram which shows the structure about this embodiment simply. The figure which shows the relationship between a print medium and a print head from the viewpoint from above. A flowchart showing image processing. The flowchart which shows the detail of step S100. The figure which shows the example of the print data for each page. A flowchart showing a print control process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to each figure. It should be noted that each figure is merely an example for explaining the present embodiment. Since each figure is an example, the ratio and shape may not be accurate, they may not be consistent with each other, or some parts may be omitted.

1. 1. Device configuration:
FIG. 1 simply shows the configuration of the printing system 50 according to the present embodiment.
The printing system 50 includes an image processing device 10, a storage unit 20, and a printing unit 30. The image processing device 10 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 13, an operation reception unit 14, a communication IF 15, and the like. IF is an abbreviation for interface. The control unit 11 includes one or more ICs having a CPU 11a, a ROM 11b, a RAM 11c, etc. as a processor, another non-volatile memory, and the like.

In the control unit 11, the processor, that is, the CPU 11a, performs various controls according to one or more programs 12 stored in the ROM 11b or other memory by using the RAM 11c or the like as a work area. conduct. The control unit 11 functions as a print data generation unit 12a, a storage control unit 12b, a speed calculation unit 12c, a print control unit 12d, and the like according to the program 12. Program 12 corresponds to an image processing program. The processor is not limited to one CPU, and may be configured to perform processing by a plurality of CPUs or a hardware circuit such as an ASIC, or the CPU and the hardware circuit cooperate to perform processing. It may be a configuration to be performed.

The display unit 13 is a means for displaying visual information, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, or the like. The display unit 13 may be configured to include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display. The operation receiving unit 14 is a means for receiving an operation by a user, and is realized by, for example, a physical button, a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. Of course, the touch panel may be realized as one function of the display unit 13.

The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 may be a part of the configuration of the image processing device 10, but may be peripheral devices externally attached to the image processing device 10. The communication IF 15 is a general term for one or a plurality of IFs for the image processing device 10 to connect to the outside by wire or wirelessly in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol including a known communication standard.

The storage unit 20 has one or more storage media. The storage medium is, for example, an SSD (Solid State Drive). The SSD is composed of a flash memory, and is faster in reading and writing data than an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The RAM 11c may be understood as a part of the storage unit 20.

The printing unit 30 includes a transport unit 31 and a printing head 32. The transport unit 31 is a mechanism for transporting the print medium in a predetermined transport direction. The print medium is typically paper, but may be a medium made of a material other than paper. As is known, the transport unit 31 includes a roller or belt for transporting the print medium, a motor for rotating the roller or belt, and the like.

The print head 32 is located in the middle of the transfer path of the print medium, and prints on the print medium conveyed by the transfer unit 31. The print head 32 ejects inks of a plurality of colors such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) to a printing medium by an inkjet method to execute printing. According to the inkjet method, the print head 32 ejects ink dots from nozzles (not shown) based on print data in which dot-on or dot-off is defined for each pixel.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the printed medium P to be conveyed and the print head 32 from a viewpoint facing downward from above. In FIG. 2, the transport direction of the print medium P is indicated by reference numeral D1. As shown in FIG. 2, a long print head 32 is arranged above the print medium P in the direction D2 intersecting the transport direction D1. The intersection referred to here is orthogonal, but it may be understood that the orthogonality includes not only a strict orthogonality but also an error that occurs in the manufacturing of the product. The print head 32 is a line-type print head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles are lined up over a range covering the width of the print medium P along the direction D2 for each color of ink.

Therefore, the conveyed print medium P receives ink ejection when it passes under the print head 32. In FIG. 2, the hatching attached to the print medium P indicates some print result recorded on the print medium P. In the present embodiment, the transport unit 31 transports a continuous printing medium P such as so-called roll paper in the transport direction D1. According to such a printing unit 30, it can be said that the conveying speed of the printing medium P by the conveying section 31 corresponds to the printing speed of the printing section 30. The printing speed is the printing distance per unit time. The printing distance is the distance in the transport direction D1. The unit time is, for example, seconds or minutes.

The configuration including the image processing device 10 and the storage unit 20 may be referred to as a print control device 40. The image processing device 10 and the storage unit 20 may be devices that are independent of each other, or may be a single device in which they are integrated. Alternatively, the print control device 40 may be a system configured by connecting a plurality of devices, more than two, so as to be able to communicate with each other.

When the printing unit 30 is a device independent of the image processing device 10 and the storage unit 20, it may be called a printing device, a recording device, an image forming device, a printer, or the like. Alternatively, the entire printing system 50 may be realized by one device 50. That is, it may be understood that one printing device includes an image processing device 10, a storage unit 20, and a printing unit 30.

2. Image processing with print data generation speed calculation:
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of image processing executed by the control unit 11 according to the program 12. This image processing involves calculating the generation speed of print data.
The control unit 11 starts the flowchart of FIG. 3 when it receives an instruction to print an image. The print instruction is input, for example, by the user operating the operation reception unit 14. Alternatively, the control unit 11 inputs a command as a print instruction from the outside via the communication IF15.

In step S100, the speed calculation unit 12c sets the number of pages "N" from the beginning to be excluded from the calculation target of the print data generation speed. N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Step S100 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

In step S110, the print data generation unit 12a starts a process of generating print data to be used for printing from the image. The image referred to here is an image file designated as a print target by a print instruction, and is content over a plurality of pages. The print data generation unit 12a performs various image processing such as format conversion processing, pixel number conversion processing, color conversion processing, halftone processing, etc. on each page constituting the image file for each page, thereby performing the print head 32. Generates raster format print data that defines dot on or off for each color and pixel used for printing. Such print data generation processing is also referred to as RIP processing.

According to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the print data generation step is started in step S110, and the print data generation step is continued for a period until it is determined as “Yes” in step S150.
Further, in step S110, the storage control unit 12b starts a process of sequentially writing the page-based print data generated by the print data generation unit 12a to the storage unit 20.

After starting the generation of print data in step S110, the print data generation unit 12a repeatedly determines whether or not the generation of print data from the first page to the Nth page of the plurality of pages constituting the image has been completed ( Step S120). The "N" used for the determination in step S120 is, of course, the number of pages N set in step S100. When the print data generation unit 12a finishes generating the print data up to N pages, the print data generation unit 12a determines “Yes” in step S120, and proceeds to step S130.

In step S130, the speed calculation unit 12c calculates the print data generation speed based on the amount of the generated print data and the time required to generate the print data. Step S130 corresponds to the speed calculation step. However, in step S130, the speed calculation unit 12c calculates the generation speed for the print data from the N + 1th page onward among the print data generated so far. Specifically, the speed calculation unit 12c multiplies the number of pages of print data generated up to the present time from the determination of “Yes” in step S120 by the length per page, and sets the value as “Yes” in step S120. The print data generation speed is calculated by dividing by the elapsed time from the judgment of "" to the present time. The length per page is the size of the transport direction D1 for one page in the print medium P, and has already been set by the print instruction. Such a generation rate is obtained as a distance per unit time.

In step S140, the speed calculation unit 12c updates the print data generation speed with the generation speed calculated in step S130. The speed calculation unit 12c stores the latest generation speed after the update in a predetermined memory. In step S140, which is executed for the first time after starting the flowchart of FIG. 3, the speed calculation unit 12c sets the generation speed calculated in step S130, which is executed for the first time after starting the flowchart of FIG. 3, as the latest generation speed. good. The time required to generate print data varies from page to page depending on the number and contents of the objects contained in the pages that make up the image. The generation speed calculated in step S130 can be said to be the average processing speed for printing data generation from the N + 1th page onward.

In step S150, the print data generation unit 12a repeatedly determines whether or not the generation of the print data is completed, and when the generation of the print data is completed, the flow chart of the image processing of FIG. 3 is determined by the determination of "Yes". finish. To be precise, the storage control unit 12b writes the print data of the last page generated by the print data generation unit 12a to the storage unit 20, and then the flow chart of the image processing ends. The print data generation unit 12a may determine “Yes” in step S150 when the generation of print data is completed for all the pages constituting the image file specified by the print instruction. If the print data generation has not been completed, the print data generation unit 12a proceeds from the determination of “No” in step S150 to step S130.

After the speed calculation unit 12c determines "Yes" in step S120, the speed calculation unit 12c may execute step S130 every time, for example, the generation of print data for one page is completed. As a result, for example, in step S130, which is executed when the generation of the print data on the N + 20th page is completed after the generation of the print data is started in the step S110, the speed calculation unit 12c is from the N + 1th page to the N + 20th page. The generation speed is calculated based on the time required to generate the print data for a total of 20 pages.

However, the speed calculation unit 12c does not set all the generated print data after the N + 1th page as the generation speed calculation target at each step S130, but print data for the latest predetermined number of generated pages. May be used as the calculation target of the generation speed. For example, it is assumed that the "most recent predetermined number of pages" is set to 10 pages. In this case, in step S130, which is executed when the generation of the print data on the N + 40th page is completed after the generation of the print data is started in the step S110, the print data for a total of 10 pages from the N + 31st page to the N + 40th page is executed. The generation rate may be calculated based on the time required for their generation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the details of step S100. Step S100 may be referred to as an exclusion page number setting process.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of print data for each page. Before explaining FIG. 4, the reason for performing the exclusion page number setting process will be described. In FIG. 5, reference numerals PD1, PD2, PD3, PD4, PD5 ... Indicates page-based print data generated from each page of the image file by the print data generation unit 12a. The numbers such as "1" written together with the reference numeral "PD" indicate the order of the print data generated by the print data generation unit 12a. That is, the print data PD1 is the print data of the first page, and the print data generation unit 12a generates the print data PD1, PD2, PD3, PD4, PD5 ... In that order.

Here, among the plurality of pages constituting the image file, the first page and the page near the first page often do not include many objects to be printed. An object is a text, a photo, an illustration, or any other information that is printed. The first page or a page near the first page may have a small amount of simple character strings such as a content title, an index, identification information, or date information, or may have a relatively large blank area. ..

As an example, the print data PD1 has only date information 60 as an object. Further, the print data PD2 on the next page of the print data PD1 has only the frame image 61 that defines the layout of a photograph or the like on the paper surface as an object. Further, the print data PD3 of the next page of the print data PD2 has a wide blank area 62 covering more than half of the page. On the other hand, the print data PD4, PD5 ... Following the print data PD3 include many objects such as photographs and characters that play a major part in the content expressed by the image file. In such an example of FIG. 5, it can be said that the print data PD1, PD2, PD3 take less time to generate the print data per page than the print data PD4, PD5 ...

Further, in consideration of the convenience of the processing process after the printing process by the printing unit 30, an image file in which several pages consecutive from the first page are intentionally left as blank pages may be provided to the image processing device 10. .. Generating print data for blank pages takes almost no time.
Due to these circumstances, if all pages from the first page are targeted for calculation of the print data generation speed, a calculation result deviating from the print data generation speed of the page corresponding to the main part of the content may be obtained. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the number of excluded pages is set in order to obtain a highly reliable print data generation speed.

In step S101 of FIG. 4, the speed calculation unit 12c sets an initial value of the number of pages N. The initial value of N is a value that is assumed to be appropriate in consideration of various printing situations, and is a predetermined value. It is also possible for the user to specify such an initial value in advance.

In step S102, the speed calculation unit 12c determines whether or not the N page length is equal to or less than the value obtained by dividing the total print distance by a predetermined coefficient K. However, K> 1. The N page length is N × the length per page. At the stage of step S102, N is an initial value. The total print distance is the total number of pages x the length per page. That is, it is confirmed in step S102 whether the ratio of the N page length to the total print distance is too large. The total number of pages is information obtained from the image file specified by the print instruction.

If N page length ≤ total print distance / K is established, the speed calculation unit 12c proceeds from the determination of “Yes” in step S102 to step S104. On the other hand, if N page length> total print distance / K, the speed calculation unit 12c proceeds from the determination of “No” in step S102 to step S103.

In step S103, the speed calculation unit 12c sets the number of pages N that satisfies the total print distance / K or less. That is, the setting of N is changed from the initial value. For example, if the length per page is 1 m, the total printing distance is 100 m, and K = 10, the number of pages corresponding to 10 m, that is, N = 10 is set. If the value obtained by dividing the total print distance by the coefficient K does not become an integral multiple of the length per page, N may be set so that the N page length does not exceed the total print distance / K.

The speed calculation unit 12c proceeds to step S104 after step S103.
In step S104, the speed calculation unit 12c determines whether or not the N page length is equal to or less than the maximum exclusion distance. The maximum exclusion distance is predetermined as the maximum print distance to be excluded from the calculation target of the print data generation speed, assuming that some blank pages or the like continue from the first page. That is, the maximum exclusion distance is an upper limit for the N page length itself, which has nothing to do with the total print distance considered in step S102. N in step S104 after passing through "Yes" in step S102 is an initial value. On the other hand, N in step S104 that has passed through step S103 is, of course, a value set in step S103.

If the N page length ≤ maximum exclusion distance is established, the speed calculation unit 12c determines “Yes” in step S104 and ends the exclusion page number setting process. On the other hand, if N page length> maximum exclusion distance, the speed calculation unit 12c proceeds from the determination of “No” in step S104 to step S105.

In step S105, the speed calculation unit 12c sets the number of pages N that satisfies the maximum exclusion distance or less. That is, the setting of N is changed from the initial value or the value set in step S103. For example, if the length per page is 1 m and the maximum exclusion distance is 5 m, the number of pages corresponding to 5 m, that is, N = 5 is set. If the maximum exclusion distance is not an integral multiple of the length per page, N may be set so that the N page length does not exceed the maximum exclusion distance.

The speed calculation unit 12c that has executed step S105 finishes the process of setting the number of excluded pages. The speed calculation unit 12c uses N related to the setting at the time when the exclusion page number setting process is completed for the determination in step S120.
According to such an exclusion page number setting process, in steps S102 and S103, the number of pages N is set to be equal to or less than the number of pages corresponding to the print distance obtained by dividing the total print distance of the image by the coefficient K. Further, in steps S104 and S105, the number of pages N is set to be equal to or less than the number of pages corresponding to the maximum exclusion distance.

The number of pages N set as a result of FIG. 4 is a value that satisfies both the condition determined in step S102 and the condition determined in step S104. However, it is also possible to set the number of pages N that satisfies only one of the above two conditions. That is, the embodiment in which steps S104 and S105 are omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is also included in the present embodiment. Similarly, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the embodiment in which steps S102 and S103 are omitted is also included in the present embodiment.

3. 3. Print control processing:
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a print control process executed by the control unit 11 according to the program 12. The flowchart of FIG. 6 shows an example of how to use the print data generation speed calculated as described above.
The control unit 11 executes the flowchart of FIG. 6 in parallel with the flowchart of the image processing of FIG. The control unit 11 starts the flowchart of FIG. 6 when the print instruction is received.

Although not shown, the control unit 11 that receives the print instruction instructs the print unit 30 to start a predetermined print preparation operation. The print preparation operation is an operation required for the printing unit 30 to be in a state in which printing can be executed. The print preparation operation includes, for example, flushing and cleaning of the nozzles so that the print head 32 can normally eject ink from each nozzle. Further, the print preparation operation includes, for example, an activation process until the transfer unit 31 is in a state where the print medium P can be conveyed at a stable speed. The print preparation operation requires a certain amount of time. Although it depends on the specifications and the model of the printing unit 30, for example, it takes about 3 minutes from the instruction of the printing unit 30 to start the printing preparation operation to the end of the printing preparation operation.

In step S200, the print control unit 12d repeatedly determines whether or not a predetermined first time has elapsed since instructing the print unit 30 to start the print preparation operation, and when the first time has elapsed, " From the determination of "Yes", the process proceeds to step S210. The first hour elapses earlier than the print preparation operation ends. As described above, when the print preparation operation takes about 3 minutes, the first time is, for example, about 2 minutes.

In step S210, the print control unit 12d acquires the print data generation speed. The generation rate acquired in step S210 is the latest generation rate updated by step S140 in FIG. 3 at that time. In other words, in the example of FIG. 6, the calculation of the print data generation speed in step S130 is executed at least once when the first time elapses. That is, the control unit 11 starts calculating the print data generation speed earlier than the print preparation operation of the print unit 30 is completed. In order to start the calculation of the print data generation speed earlier than the print preparation operation of the print unit 30 is completed, the speed calculation unit 12c ensures that the print data is calculated in a predetermined time shorter than the print preparation time in step S100. As the number of pages for which generation is completed, a predetermined value defined in the program 12 may be set in the number of pages N.

In step S220, the print control unit 12d makes a determination based on the generation speed acquired in step S210 and the print speed of the print unit 30. The printing speed has already been set by the printing instruction, or is a fixed value in the printing unit 30. In any case, the printing speed is known at the stage of step S220. Specifically, the print control unit 12d determines whether or not the generation speed is higher than the speed obtained by multiplying the print speed by a predetermined correction coefficient C. However, C> 1. Then, if the generation speed> the printing speed × C, the determination of “Yes” proceeds to step S230, and if the generation speed ≦ the printing speed × C, the determination of “No” proceeds to step S240. An appropriate value of the correction coefficient C is predetermined. As an example, C = 1.2.

In step S230, the print control unit 12d waits for the end of the print preparation operation of the print unit 30 and causes the print unit 30 to execute printing. As described above, assuming that the print preparation operation takes about 3 minutes and the first time is about 2 minutes, it takes about 1 minute from the determination of "Yes" in step S200 to the end of the print preparation operation. It takes. Therefore, the print control unit 12d waits for about 1 minute after determining "Yes" in step S200, and then starts printing in step S230. The print control unit 12d instructs the print unit 30 to start printing based on the print data. In step S230, the storage control unit 12b reads out the print data written in the storage unit 20 and sends the print data to the print unit 30 in parallel with the process of writing the print data generated by the print data generation unit 12a to the storage unit 20. Perform the process of transferring. The printing unit 30 causes the printing head 32 to execute ink ejection based on the transferred print data. During the printing period, the printing unit 30 naturally conveys the print medium P by the conveying unit 31 at a conveying speed corresponding to the above-mentioned printing speed.

According to step S230, printing based on the print data by the print unit 30 is executed in a situation where the print data generation unit 12a continues to generate print data. If the print data generation speed is faster than the print speed, there is no possibility that the print data supply to the printing unit 30 will not be in time for printing even if the print data generation and printing are performed in parallel. Therefore, when the print control unit 12d can confirm in step S220 that the print data generation speed is faster than the print speed, the print control unit 12d proceeds to step S230 and prints on the print unit 30 when the print preparation operation is completed. To run

On the other hand, in step S240, the print control unit 12d repeatedly determines whether or not the generation of print data is completed, and when the generation of print data is completed, proceeds from the determination of "Yes" to step S250. The determination in step S240 is the determination itself in step S150 in FIG. That is, when the print control unit 12d determines “No” in step S220, the print control unit 12d then proceeds to step S250 at the timing determined as “Yes” in step S150.

In step S250, the print control unit 12d causes the print unit 30 to perform printing based on the print data. The storage control unit 12b reads out the print data written in the storage unit 20 and transfers the print data to the print unit 30. The printing unit 30 causes the printing head 32 to execute ink ejection based on the transferred print data. That is, according to step S250, printing is executed by the printing unit 30 after all the processes for generating print data from the image related to the printing instruction are completed. When printing based on the print data of the final page is completed in step S230 or step S250, the flowchart of FIG. 6 ends.

The method of using the print data generation speed is not limited to the mode shown in FIG.
For example, the print control unit 12d repeats comparing the latest generation speed updated by the speed calculation unit 12c with the print speed × C even after proceeding from the determination of “Yes” in step S220 to step S230. Then, when the generation speed> the printing speed × C is not established, the printing operation by the printing unit 30 may be stopped and step S240 or lower may be executed.

Alternatively, the print control unit 12d may instruct the print unit 30 to print the print speed according to the calculated print data generation speed. For example, it is assumed that the printing unit 30 can change the printing speed by adjusting the conveying speed by the conveying unit 31 and the number of executions per time of ink ejection by the printing head 32. The print control unit 12d determines a printing speed satisfying the generation speed> the printing speed × C by using the generation speed calculated by the speed calculation unit 12c and the coefficient C, and instructs the printing unit 30 of the determined printing speed. do. The printing unit 30 that has received the instruction of the printing speed may start the printing operation at the instructed printing speed after the print preparation operation is completed.

4. summary:
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image processing device 10 includes a control unit 11 that generates print data to be used for printing from the image when receiving an instruction to print the image. Then, the control unit 11 calculates the print data generation speed based on the amount of the generated print data and the time required to generate the print data after the start of the print data generation.
According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 actually generates print data and calculates the print data generation speed. Therefore, it is not necessary to add a means for predicting the print data generation speed in advance to other means that are not in charge of printing data generation. In addition, since the generation speed is calculated according to the result of actual print data generation, the accuracy is higher than that of the conventional prediction. Therefore, the control unit 11 can make and execute an appropriate selection regarding printing according to the highly accurate production speed.

In addition, there is a need to more accurately grasp the time and speed required to generate print data. In response to such a problem, in the present embodiment, when N is an integer of 1 or more, the control unit 11 prints the N + 1th page and subsequent pages excluding the N page from the first page of a plurality of pages constituting the image. Calculate the generation speed for data generation.
According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 has the first N pages including the first page in which there is a high possibility that there are substantially no or few objects to be printed among the plurality of pages constituting the image for which the print instruction has been received. Is excluded regarding the calculation of the print data generation speed. As a result, it is possible to avoid calculating the generation speed that deviates from the generation speed when the print data is generated for each page including the main object to be printed. That is, it is possible to obtain a more reliable generation speed in executing the print control.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 may set the N to be the number of pages or less corresponding to the printing distance obtained by dividing the total printing distance of the image by a predetermined coefficient K larger than 1.
According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 can suppress the number of pages N to a certain percentage or less of all the pages constituting the image.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 sets the N to be the number of pages or less corresponding to a predetermined maximum exclusion distance as the maximum print distance to be excluded from the calculation target of the print data generation speed. , May be.
According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 can avoid securing an unnecessarily large number of pages N.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 11 completes a predetermined preparatory operation until the printing unit 30 that executes printing on the printing medium based on the print data becomes ready for printing. , The calculation of the print data generation speed may be started.
According to the above configuration, the control unit 11 can grasp the print data generation speed earlier than the printing unit 30 finishes the print preparation operation. As a result, it is possible to make a judgment using the print data generation speed before the print preparation operation is completed.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 does not exclude the N pages from the first page of the plurality of pages constituting the image, and the generation speed is based on the amount of the generated print data and the time required to generate them. It is also possible to calculate.

In the present embodiment, the first page means the first page in the processing order, and basically refers to the page having the lowest page number, that is, the page having the page number = 1 in the image file. However, depending on the user, a print instruction indicating that printing should be performed in the reverse order of the page numbers may be input. When such an instruction is given, the control unit 11 treats the last page having the highest page number among the plurality of pages constituting the image as the "first page", and print data in order from the page having the highest page number. It may be generated or written to the storage unit 20.

The present embodiment also discloses inventions in categories other than the image processing apparatus 10.
For example, in the present embodiment, when a print instruction for an image is received, a print data generation step (step S110) for generating print data to be used for printing from the image and a print data generation step have been generated after the start of the print data generation step. Discloses an image processing method including a speed calculation step (step S130) for calculating a print data generation speed based on the amount of print data and the time required to generate the print data.

Further, the present embodiment discloses a program 12 corresponding to an image processing program. The program 12 has a print data generation function that generates print data to be used for printing from the image when an image print instruction is received, and the amount of print data and print data generated after the start of print data generation. The computer (CPU 11a) is made to execute the speed calculation function for calculating the generation speed of the print data based on the time required for the generation of the print data. Of course, a medium such as a memory for storing the program 12 is also established as an invention.

The print head 32 is not a line-type head as shown in FIG. 2, but is mounted on a carriage that can move in parallel with the direction D2, and ejects ink to the print medium P while the carriage is moving, that is, a so-called serial type. It may be a head. When the print head 32 is a serial type, the transfer unit 31 does not continuously transfer the print medium P at a constant transfer speed, but a path and a path in which the print head 32 ejects ink while the carriage is moving. The print medium P is conveyed between the two.

Further, the transport unit 31 may not transport continuous paper such as roll paper as a printing medium, but may transport single-cut paper that has been cut in advance according to the size of each page.
Further, assuming that the print head 32 is a serial type or the transport unit 31 transports the cut sheet, the print speed and the print data generation speed are the distances per unit time as described above. Instead, it may be regarded as the number of pages per unit time.
Further, the print head 32 may be a mechanism for printing by a method other than the inkjet method, and for example, printing may be performed by an electrophotographic method or a thermal method.

10 ... Image processing device, 11 ... Control unit, 11a ... CPU, 11b ... ROM, 11c ... RAM, 12 ... Program, 12a ... Print data generation unit, 12b ... Storage control unit, 12c ... Speed calculation unit, 12d ... Print control Unit, 20 ... Storage unit, 30 ... Printing unit, 31 ... Conveying unit, 32 ... Printing head, 40 ... Printing control device, 50 ... Printing system, P ... Printing medium

Claims (7)

It is an image processing device
A control unit that generates print data for use in printing from the image when an image print instruction is received is provided.
The control unit is characterized in that after the start of generation of the print data, the generation speed of the print data is calculated based on the amount of the generated print data and the time required to generate the print data. Image processing device. When N is an integer of 1 or more, the control unit calculates the generation speed for the generation of the print data for the N + 1th page and subsequent pages excluding the N pages from the first page of the plurality of pages constituting the image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is used. The image processing according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets N to the number of pages corresponding to the print distance obtained by dividing the total print distance of the image by a predetermined coefficient larger than 1. Device. 2. Item 3. The image processing apparatus according to item 3. The control unit starts calculating the generation speed earlier than the predetermined preparatory operation performed until the printing unit that executes printing on the print medium based on the print data is in a state in which printing can be executed is completed. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A print data generation step of generating print data for use in printing from the image when an image print instruction is received, and a print data generation step.
After the start of the print data generation step, a speed calculation step of calculating the generation speed of the print data based on the amount of the generated print data and the time required to generate the print data is provided. Image processing method. A print data generation function that generates print data for use in printing from the image when an image print instruction is received, and a print data generation function.
After the start of generation of the print data, a computer is made to execute a speed calculation function for calculating the generation speed of the print data based on the amount of the generated print data and the time required to generate the print data. An image processing program characterized by this.

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