JP2022074906A - Printer and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer on which print settings can be configured in accordance with a sheet, and an information processing system.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a printing unit which prints an image on a sheet; acquisition means which acquires data on the sheet from a packaging material of the sheet; a control unit which controls the printing unit on the basis of the data acquired in the acquisition means; and extraction means which extracts first information for identifying the sheet and second information on the sheet, which is different from the first information, from the data acquired in the acquisition means. When the first information cannot be extracted by the extraction means, the control unit controls the printing unit on the basis of the extracted second information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

This case relates to a printing device and an information processing system that set print settings according to a sheet.

In a printing device that prints an image on various sheets, it is necessary to print the image with the optimum printing settings according to the characteristics of the sheet. Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system that reads information about a sheet from a barcode attached to a packaging material accommodating the sheet with a barcode reader. In this printing system, an image can be printed on a sheet with print settings according to the read information.

JP-A-2002-86862

However, the printing system of Patent Document 1 requires information on a barcode reader and a sheet recorded on the barcode. Therefore, if there is no barcode reader, or if the packaging material does not have a barcode attached, the information about the sheet cannot be read. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing device or an information processing system capable of setting print settings according to a sheet even when there is no barcode.

The printing apparatus of the present invention has a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet, an acquisition unit that acquires data about the sheet from the packaging material of the sheet, and a control that controls the printing unit based on the data acquired by the acquisition means. A printing device including a unit, and an extraction means for extracting a first information for identifying a sheet and a second information about a sheet different from the first information from the data acquired by the acquisition means. When the extraction means cannot extract the first information, the control unit controls the printing unit based on the extracted second information.

It is possible to provide a printing device or an information processing system capable of setting print settings according to a sheet.

It is a figure which shows the state which the sheet is housed in a packaging material. It is a figure which shows the printing apparatus which includes the reading part. It is a schematic diagram which shows the main part of a printing apparatus. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the control system of a printing apparatus. It is a flowchart for deciding the print setting. It is a conceptual diagram which showed the example of information acquisition about a sheet by an identification code. It is a schematic diagram for making a print setting by an identification code. It is a schematic diagram for making a print setting by character recognition.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all combinations of features described in the present embodiment are essential for the means for solving the present invention. The same configuration will be described with the same reference numerals. In addition, the relative arrangement, shape, and the like of the components described in the embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to them.

In the following description of the embodiment, "printing" includes not only the case of forming significant information such as characters and figures, but also the case of forming an image, a pattern, a pattern, etc. on a wide sheet. Further, although cut paper is assumed in this embodiment, cloth, plastic film, or the like may be used.

<Printing equipment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of sheets are housed in a packaging material. The sheet 1 is cut paper and is housed in the packaging material 2. On the surface of the packaging material 2, the product name (Copy paper) and the manufacturer (Manufacture Name) of the sheet 1 are described. Further, information on the sheet such as brightness (White 92), size (Letter size 8.5x11 In), and basis weight (Weight 20 lb) is described. Further, depending on the sheet, a one-dimensional bar code for identifying a product or a two-dimensional bar code (hereinafter, identification code) such as a QR code (registered trademark) is printed on the surface of the packaging material 2. When printing an image on a sheet, the printing apparatus of the present embodiment sets printing according to the sheet by an identification code. Further, even if the packaging material 2 does not have an identification code, the printing setting according to the sheet is performed by extracting the image data or the character data other than the identification code of the packaging material 2.

A printing apparatus including a reading unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a main part of the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a control system of a printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit 3 for printing an image and a reading unit 4 (scanner) for reading the image. The printing unit 3 includes a recording head 5, a cassette 7, a feeding roller 8, a plurality of transport rollers 10, a control unit 16, and a communication unit 20. The cassette 7 contains a sheet 1 for printing an image. The feeding roller 8 is rotationally driven by the feeding motor 9 to feed the sheet 1 to the transport roller 10. The transport roller 10 is rotationally driven by the transport motor 11 to transport the sheet 1 along the transport path 14. The recording head 5 prints an image on the sheet 1 in the transport path 14. The recording head 5 can eject ink to the sheet by being driven by the head driving unit 6. The sheet 1 on which the image is printed is conveyed by the transfer roller 10 and discharged to the discharge tray 18. Although the recording head 5 is a line head having nozzles over the entire width of the sheet, it may be smaller than the entire width of the sheet. In this case, printing is performed while scanning the recording head 5 in the width direction of the sheet. The printing method may be a thermal transfer method, an electrophotographic method, or the like, instead of the inkjet method.

The reading unit 4 includes an ADF (auto document feeder) and an FBS (flatbed scanner). Therefore, it is possible to read the image of the original document automatically fed by the ADF and to read the image data of the original document or the packaging material placed on the platen of the FBS by the user. The read image data is transferred to the control unit 16 by the data transfer unit 19. In the present embodiment, the acquisition means for acquiring data related to the sheet from the packaging material is the control unit 16 for acquiring image data from the reading unit 4 which is the reading means. However, the reading unit 4 may have an acquisition means. Further, the reading means may be a digital camera, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile information terminal, or the like as long as it is a device capable of capturing an image. These devices are connected to the communication unit 20 by wire or wirelessly to transmit image data to the control unit 16. In this case, the acquisition means for acquiring data from the packaging material in the present embodiment is included in the control unit 16. By the way, when the data is acquired as voice from the packaging material, the acquisition means acquires the voice data input by the voice input means such as a microphone. The microphone may be provided in a printing device, or may be provided in a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a portable information terminal, or the like. Although the printing apparatus has both the printing unit 3 and the reading unit 4 in the present embodiment, it may be configured not to include the reading unit 4.

The control unit 16 that controls the printing device is connected to the recording control unit 13, the drive control unit 15, the data transfer unit 19, and the communication unit 20. The host PC and the server 25 are connected to the printing device via a wired or wireless network. The communication unit 20 can receive information from the external server 25 or transmit information to the server 25. Further, the communication unit 20 can receive image data to be printed from the host PC. Therefore, the printing device and the server 25 can be a part of an information processing system via a network. Further, the information processing system may include a digital camera, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile information terminal, a voice input means, and the like.

The control unit 16 includes an input buffer 23, a CPU 21, an output buffer 24, and a memory 22. The memory 22 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores various programs for controlling a printing device, various parameters such as print settings, and various data including a database. The control unit 16 controls the printing apparatus by various programs and various parameters using ROM and RAM. For example, a printing operation for printing an image and a reading operation for reading an image are executed. The printing operation is an operation in which the sheet 1 is conveyed by the conveying roller 10 corresponding to the printing mode and the printing setting, and the ink is ejected by the recording head 5. The scanning operation is an operation of scanning an image of a document while scanning a scanning sensor or transporting a document corresponding to a scanning mode or a scanning setting. The printing operation and the reading operation may be interlocked or may be operated individually.

The printing device includes an operation panel for the user to input or acquire information. The operation panel is, for example, a touch panel display including a touch panel that accepts user operations and a display that is a display unit for displaying information. The operation panel may further include operation buttons. The user can instruct a print operation or a read operation, set a print mode, and set various parameters via the operation panel. In addition, the user can display information on the print mode setting, print setting, and various parameters of the printing device on the display.

When the control unit 16 receives an instruction to print an image from the printing device or the host PC, the control unit 16 drives the feeding roller 8 and the transport roller 10 via the drive control unit 15. Then, the sheet 1 is fed from the cassette 7 and conveyed to the position of the recording head 5. At this time, at the position of the transport roller 10 arranged immediately before the recording head 5, adjustments are made to correct the tip position and inclination of the fed sheet 1. There are a plurality of adjustment methods, one is a method in which the tip of the sheet is abutted against a stopped roller pair, and the other is a method in which the tip of the sheet is abutted against a reversing roller pair. In addition, the recording head 5 adjusts the ink ejection timing. By this adjustment, it is possible to realize optimum printing according to the type of sheet.

When the sheet 1 is conveyed to the position of the recording head 5, the amount of ink is determined by the combination of image data, sheet type, print mode, and print setting based on the command of the recording control unit 13, and the ink amount is determined from the recording head 5 to the sheet 1. Ink is ejected toward. Depending on the amount of ink and the type of sheet, a drying waiting time is set in order to suppress printing rubbing and sheet curling. The weight is the time for the sheet to stay in the transport path 14.

In the printing operation, there are a plurality of items whose control is changed according to the type of sheet, and if the type of sheet is incorrect, the optimum printing result cannot be obtained. The print setting is performed by the user operation, but since there are various types of sheets used, the setting operation becomes complicated. In this embodiment, print settings are made according to the following flowchart.

<Determining print settings>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for determining print settings.

In the S1 step, the user places the surface of the packaging material 2 of the sheet on the FBS platen of the reading unit 4 to read the image data. The control unit 16 corresponds to a character recognition program that can extract a character string of an image and convert it into text, a barcode extraction program that extracts an identification code from an image, and an image processing program that extracts an image. In the present embodiment, the control unit 16 has an acquisition means for acquiring data and an extraction means for extracting information. When the reading unit 5 is an acquisition means, information may be extracted by optical character recognition (OCR: Optical Character Reader).

In the S2 step, the control unit 16 extracts an image or a character from the image data. The image data includes a one-dimensional barcode such as a barcode including a unified product code, a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code, a character string, a standard logo mark, a trademark related to a sheet, and a trademark related to a manufacturer. The character string includes the product name, manufacturer, size, basis weight, and the like. Image recognition and extraction is performed by standard image recognition and image processing programs.

When the image data is a two-dimensional barcode such as a one-dimensional barcode or a QR code, the control unit 16 extracts an identification code by a standard barcode or a barcode extraction program that extracts a standard QR code. When the image contains a barcode and other images, the control unit 16 identifies the position of the barcode by using an image processing program using an edge detection routine, and further identifies the barcode to identify the identification code. To extract. When the image does not include an identification code, the control unit 16 uses an image processing program such as pattern recognition and feature detection to obtain a standard logo mark, a trademark related to the sheet (name, mark, logo, etc.), and a trademark related to the manufacturer (name, mark, logo, etc.). Image information about the sheet such as name, mark, logo, etc.) is extracted.

When the image data contains an alphanumerical character string, the control unit 16 extracts information for print settings by the character recognition program. The character recognition program performs layout analysis on the acquired image data, then extracts the character part and determines the reading order. In addition, the line can be recognized from the relationship between the space between consecutive characters and the size of the space between character strings. The candidate characters of the recognized character string and the context of the character string are collated with the pre-registered word dictionary. Misread parts can be corrected as appropriate.

When the image data contains a plurality of information, the image is processed by a plurality of processing programs. For example, a barcode extractor ignores a character string and extracts a barcode. The character recognition program ignores the barcode and extracts the character string. When a valid identification code is obtained from the image and the character recognition program extracts a known character string, the information of the identification code can be confirmed by using the extracted character string. The reverse is also true.

In the S3 step, the control unit 16 determines whether the acquired image data includes the identification code. If the barcode extraction program has extracted the information regarding the identification code, the process proceeds to step S7. If the information regarding the identification code is not included, the process proceeds to step S4.

When a plurality of pieces of information are included, the processing results of different processing programs are evaluated and the optimum information is selected. If the identification code information has been extracted, this result may be prioritized. For example, if the extraction program that extracts the barcode applied to the image is a valid recognition result and the character recognition program is a recognition result of an unknown character string, the barcode recognition result is adopted and the step S7. Proceed to. Further, when the identification data is extracted, the result may be displayed on the operation panel and the user may determine the correct content. Further, the extracted information may be collated with the database and the result may be displayed on the operation panel so that the user can determine the correct content.

In the step S7, the control unit 16 confirms whether the sheet corresponding to the extracted identification code exists in the database registered in advance. If the identification code information is in the database, the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if the information regarding the identification code corresponding to the database is not registered, the process proceeds to the S4 step. If the database is on an external server 25, the extracted information is sent to the server 25 by the communication unit 20. Then, if the information about the identification code extracted in the database exists, the server 25 sends the information about the sheet to the communication unit 20. The image data may be sent to the server 25, and the server 25 may extract the information.

In the step S4, the control unit 16 determines whether the extracted character string or the image has information about the sheet. The information about the sheet is different from the identification code. In the case of the packaging material of FIG. 2, the character strings Copy Paper, Manufacture Name, White 92, Letter size 8.5 × 11 In, Weight 20 lb, and 500 sheets are recognized by the character recognition program. The control unit 16 collates each character string with a database relating to the product name and the manufacturer name of the sheet prepared in advance, and confirms whether or not the corresponding product exists. In FIG. 2, a product whose manufacturer name is Manufacture Name and whose product name is Copper Paper exists in the database. Here, assuming that the information corresponding to the identification code exists, the process proceeds to the S5 step. As the database relating to the product name and the manufacturer name, the database existing in the printing device 3 or the server 25 is used.

By the way, the printing apparatus or the information processing system may not have the S3 step and the S7 step. In this case, the information about the sheet is extracted without extracting the one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar code from the acquired image data. Even if there is no barcode reader, the user can easily set the print settings.

In the step S5, the control unit 16 sets the print according to the sheet based on the extracted identification code or the character string / image information. FIG. 7 shows an example of print settings when the identification code is product C. The print settings set the sheet transfer speed, the adjustment method, the ink amount, and the drying waiting time after printing according to the individual sheets (products A to L in FIG. 7). The types of sheets include thin paper, plain paper, and thick paper. The transport speed is high speed, normal, and low speed. The adjustment method is (1) to (6). The amount of ink to be driven is small, normal, and large. Drying wait times are short, normal and long. The determined print setting is saved in the memory 22. Here, the transport speed is high, the adjustment method is (2), the amount of ink is small, and the waiting time for drying is short, respectively, corresponding to the product C.

If the extracted information is not in the database in the step S8, the control unit 16 confirms whether the character string or the image contains the information related to the sheet. Here, if there is information on the basis weight and brightness of the sheet, it is assumed that there is information on the sheet, and the process proceeds to the S9 process. For example, in the case of the packaging material of FIG. 2, there is no Copper Paper or Manufacture Name. In this case, the character recognition program uses the notation of Weight 20 lb as the basis weight of 20 lb, the notation of White 92 as the brightness of 92, and the notation of Letter size or 8.5 × 11 In as the letter size as the sheet size. Can be extracted. In the case of basis weight, the character recognition program extracts a character string such as Weight and mass registered in advance, and a numerical value before or after a unit related to mass such as gram (g) and pound (lb). In the case of size, the notation of standard size such as Letter and A4, and the numerical value before the unit of length such as mm and inch are extracted. For information related to other sheets, the corresponding notation and the character string before the unit are extracted.

In this way, the information of the image or the character string can be collated with the database and associated with the information about the sheet. Even in the case of data input by the voice input means, the product name or the manufacturer name may be extracted and collated with the database to be associated with the information related to the sheet.

In the step S9, the control unit 16 stores the parameters related to the sheet in the input buffer 23. Here, the parameters are basis weight and lightness. FIG. 8 shows the print settings for the basis weight and the brightness stored in the memory 22. If there is no information about the sheet, the process proceeds to S11.

In step S10, print settings are selected based on the saved information. The control unit 16 sets print settings based on the information in the input buffer 23. Here, the print settings corresponding to the basis weight X2 (20) and the brightness Y1 (92) in FIG. 8 are selected. Then, the transport speed, the adjustment method, the amount of ink, and the waiting time for drying are set respectively. Here, the transport speed is high, the adjustment method is (2), the amount of ink is small, and the waiting time for drying is short, respectively, corresponding to the product C. That is, even if there is no barcode, the same print settings as in the S5 process can be set. It should be noted that the barcode may be set in more detail depending on the image data. For example, in FIG. 8 with respect to FIG. 7, the amount of ink: the minimum and the waiting time for drying: 0 are included. Further, the printing apparatus or information processing system may not have the S3 step, the S4 step, the S5 step, and the S7 step. In this case, the S2 step is followed by the S8 step.

If the extracted character string / image does not contain information about the sheet in the step S11, the control unit 16 sets the default print settings. In this case, the control unit 16 may display on the operation panel that the sheet information could not be extracted.

In the step S6, the control unit 16 executes a printing operation based on the printing settings. As a result, the control unit 16 can appropriately control the drive control unit 15 and the recording control unit 13 according to the seat. The operation to be controlled is not limited to this, and includes operations that are appropriately changed according to the sheet and types of ink that are selected.

The printing apparatus has a mode of holding the print setting until the next time when the packaging material is read, and a mode of erasing the print setting when the sheet set in the main body is exhausted. The user can appropriately select a mode from the operation panel. Further, the information of the identification code of the sheet or the extracted information may be stored in the memory 22. As a result, the user can select the same print setting by reading the stored information without performing the operation of reading the packaging material. The extracted image may be displayed on the operation panel as a thumbnail so that the user can easily select the print setting to be read.

As described above, in the printing apparatus for printing images on various sheets, the user can easily make print settings related to the sheets. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the print quality from being deteriorated due to an error in the print setting. In addition, data related to the sheet can be acquired as a character string / image from the packaging material. Therefore, printing settings can be made even with a printing device that does not have a sheet without a barcode, a barcode reader, or the like. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to prepare an identification code, it is possible to easily deal with newly sold sheets and sheets that are not widely used. As a result, print settings can be executed at low cost.

3 Printing unit 4 Reading unit 16 Control unit

Claims (11)

A printing unit that prints images on a sheet, and
An acquisition method for acquiring data about a sheet from the packaging material of the sheet,
A printing apparatus including a control unit that controls the printing unit based on the data acquired by the acquisition means.
It is provided with an extraction means for extracting a first information for identifying a sheet and a second information about a sheet different from the first information from the data acquired by the acquisition means.
A printing apparatus characterized in that when the first information cannot be extracted by the extraction means, the control unit controls the printing unit based on the extracted second information. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information is a one-dimensional bar code or a two-dimensional bar code identification code. The second information is described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the second information is at least one of a character string, a logo mark of a standard, a trademark relating to a product of a sheet, and a trademark relating to a manufacturer of a sheet. Printing equipment. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acquisition means acquires the data from a reading means capable of reading an image of a packaging material. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the acquisition means acquires the data from a voice input means for inputting voice. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit controls the printing unit based on the first information when the first information can be extracted. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit confirms whether or not the first information or the second information exists in a database registered in advance. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the database is stored in a server connected via a network. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the extracted first information or the second information is stored in a database together with print settings. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first information or the second information stored in the database is displayed and the printing setting is selected. A printing unit that prints images on a sheet, and
An acquisition method for acquiring data about a sheet from the packaging material of the sheet,
A control unit that controls the printing unit based on the data acquired by the acquisition means, and a control unit.
It is provided with an extraction means for extracting a first information for identifying a sheet and a second information about a sheet different from the first information from the data acquired by the acquisition means.
An information processing system characterized in that when the first information cannot be extracted by the extraction means, the control unit controls the printing unit based on the extracted second information.

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