JP3125925B2 - Printer, printing method and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium capable of printing an image recorded on the recording medium by itself.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when electronic data is printed by a printer, it is not possible to specify electronic data to be printed by a personal computer connected to the printer, and to specify electronic data to be printed by the printer alone.

In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, printers capable of reading a recording medium, such as a memory card, on which images are recorded by the digital camera, projecting the images on a television screen, and printing on paper, have been supplied to the market. Have been. According to such a printer, an image to be printed can be designated for an image recorded by a digital camera on a television screen.

Further, a printer provided with a touch panel combined with a liquid crystal display device and capable of reading a recording medium such as a memory card on which images are recorded by a digital camera and projecting a plurality of images as indexes on the touch panel has been supplied to the market. ing. According to such a printer, an image to be printed can be designated and printed by the printer alone by operating the touch panel.

[0005]

However, according to a printer which cannot specify an image to be printed unless it is connected to a personal computer, a user who is not accustomed to handling the personal computer can print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like on paper. There was a problem that it was difficult to do.

Further, according to a printer for projecting a recorded image on a television screen and specifying an image to be printed, and setting a printing condition, an image to be printed cannot be specified without connecting to a television. There is a problem that it takes time to print the recorded image.

Further, according to the printer which is provided with a touch panel and designates an image to be printed by the printer alone, it is necessary to provide a touch panel capable of displaying an image as an index, which causes a problem that the printer becomes expensive. .

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problem, and, for an image recorded by a digital camera or the like, a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium capable of individually designating and printing an image to be printed The purpose is to provide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that allow a user unfamiliar with handling a personal computer to easily print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printer, a printing method, and a recording medium that can save the trouble of printing an image recorded by a digital camera or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive printer capable of designating an image to be printed by itself and printing the image recorded by a digital camera or the like.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data acquisition unit for acquiring image data from a recording medium, and a thumbnail image data stored in the data acquisition unit.
Based on the acquired allowed thumbnail image data of the first printing method for printing an identification code corresponding to the plurality of index images each index images per one sheet of paper, or the
The data acquisition unit acquires the image data to be printed,
And switching means for switching a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit by the second printing method for printing an image based on the elephant image data, and a first printing method and the second print mode, printing
An input unit having identification code determination means for determining an identification code for determining target image data . Therefore, an image to be printed can be designated and printed by the printer alone.

According to the printer of the second aspect of the present invention, since the input section has the image selection key for determining the predetermined identification code when pressed, the image to be printed can be designated by the key operation. .

According to the printer of the third aspect of the present invention, the input section has a switching key for switching between the first printing mode and the second printing mode when pressed. Therefore, the first printing method and the second printing method can be switched by the key operation.

According to the printer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the display unit for displaying the identification code corresponding to the identification code signal of the input unit is provided, an image to be printed is specified while confirming the identification code on the display unit. Can be printed.

According to the printing method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention or the recording medium according to the sixth aspect, the data acquisition unit performs the support.
The thumbnail image data is acquired, the printing unit and the transport unit are controlled based on the thumbnail image data, and a plurality of index images and an identification code corresponding to each index image are printed per sheet, and the identification code is input. accepted
The image data to be printed is determined, and the data
Then, the image data to be printed is acquired, and the printing unit and the transport unit are controlled based on the image data to be printed to print the image . Therefore, an image to be printed can be designated and printed by the printer alone.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in, the transport unit 1, the printing unit 2, the control unit 3,
It has a display unit 4, an input unit 5, a guide unit 6, a first data acquisition unit 7, and a second data acquisition unit 8. Transport unit 1
, A printing unit 2, a control unit 3, a display unit 4, and an input unit 5
The guide unit 6, the first data acquisition unit 7, and the second data acquisition unit 8 are provided in a box-shaped housing 9. The printer according to the present embodiment controls the control unit 3 based on the electronic data acquired from the first data acquisition unit 7 or the second data acquisition unit 8.
It is possible to print in the printing unit 2 driven by the printer.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 9 has a display unit 4 and an input unit 5 on the top surface, a first data acquisition unit 7 and a power switch 91 on the front surface, and a warning lamp 92 for notifying that the ink has run out or the paper runs out. A guide unit 6 is provided, a second data acquisition unit 8 (not shown) is provided on the back surface, and a transport unit 1, a printing unit 2, and a control unit 3 (not shown) are provided inside. A paper supply port 93 and a paper discharge port 94 are formed on the upper surface and the lower front surface of the housing 9, respectively. A paper tray 95 is detachably engaged with the sheet supply port 93, and a sheet receiver 96 is detachably engaged with the sheet discharge port 94.

The transport section 1 (not shown) is provided inside the housing 9 between the paper supply port 93 and the paper discharge port 94, and transports the paper by friction by contacting the transport roller driven by a motor and the transport roller. And a driven roller.
The transport roller and the driven roller are made of a non-slip material such as rubber. The conveyance unit 1 is configured to rotate the conveyance roller and the driven roller to rotate the paper supply port 93 to the paper discharge port 94.
Is a mechanism for transporting the paper to the printer.

A printing section 2 (not shown) is provided adjacent to the transport section 1 and has a carriage on which an ink tank and an ink jet head are mounted, a step motor, and a carriage rail provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the paper is transported. And The printing unit 2 performs printing by a known inkjet method. Specifically, a carriage driven by a step motor reciprocates on a carriage rail at a position facing the sheet, and performs printing by ejecting ink in an ink tank from an inkjet head onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 1. Note that a laser method, a dot impact method, or the like can be used as the printing unit 2.

The control unit 3 (not shown) has a CPU, a ROM in which a control program is recorded, and a memory for temporarily storing image data. The control unit 3 extracts various information from the image data acquired from the first data acquisition unit 7 or the second data acquisition unit 8 and displays the information on the display unit 4 or drives the guide unit 6 to provide a user interface,
In addition, the input unit 5 determines an input and controls the printing unit 2 to perform printing. The control unit 3 controls the transport unit 1 and the printing unit 2 by a first printing method for printing an index with an identification code or a second printing method for printing an image specified by the identification code printed on the index.

The input unit 5 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 9,
As shown in FIG. 3, various keys are provided on the key panel 50.

The print start key 501 is a key panel 5
0, that is, on the side close to the first data acquisition unit 7, has the most conspicuous appearance among all keys, and the operation surface is made of a transparent material, and an unillustrated LED (light) is provided inside the operation surface. emitteddiode) is provided. This LED is controlled to blink in a state where printing can be started. The print start key 501 is a key for transmitting a print designation signal or the like corresponding to the print setting displayed on the display unit 4 to the control unit 3 and starting printing.

The print key 502 and the index key 503 as switching keys are provided at the front of the key panel 50 in parallel with the print start key 501. It has a rounded rectangular shape, the operation surface is made of a transparent material, and an LED (not shown) is provided inside each operation surface.

The range designating key 505 and the one-frame key 504 as switching keys are provided in line behind the all-printing key 502 and the index key 503, have an elliptical shape slightly smaller than those, and have a transparent operation surface. LEDs (not shown) are provided inside the respective operation surfaces.

All print key 502, index key 50
3. The range designation key 505 and the one-frame key 504 are keys for selecting any one of them, and the LED of the selected key emits light.

The upper key 506 and the lower key 507 are vertically arranged at the depth of the one-frame key 504, that is, on the side closer to the display unit 4, and each have a line-symmetric triangular shape.

A right key 509 and a left key 508 as an image selection key and a switching key are an up key 506 and a down key 50.
7 are provided side by side at the back of the print start key 501, and each has a line-symmetric triangular shape. The right key 509 and the left key 508 change details of the printing conditions in each section of the display unit 4.

The display section 4 has an input section 5 on the upper surface of the housing 9.
It is provided adjacent to the back. The display unit 4 is a segment type liquid crystal panel, and includes a selection section 401, a paper type section 402 for displaying details of printing conditions, a paper size section 403, a layout section 404, a photo size section 405, and a photo selection section 40.
6, an image section 407, an image quality section 408, and an automatic adjustment section 409. FIG. 3 shows a state in which all segments of the liquid crystal panel are turned on. The display content selected on the display unit 4 is a print start key 501.
Is set as a printing condition in the control unit 3 by pressing.

The selection section 401 is a section for displaying a triangle selectively pointing to another section by the up key 506 and the down key 507 and activating that section. In the active section, the display can be switched by the right key 509 and the left key 508.

The paper type section 402 is a section whose display is switched to plain paper, photo print paper and super fine paper.

The paper size section 403 includes a postcard,
This is a section where the display is switched to a photo card and A4.

The layout section 404 includes
This is a section whose display is switched in the downward, central, whole, index, and with a cutting guide. When "with cutting guide" is selected, the image can be printed with a register mark. When the index is selected by the right key 509 or the left key 508 as a switching key or the default setting of the control program, a switching signal for switching the control of the transport unit 1 and the printing unit 2 by the control unit 3 to the first printing mode is transmitted. Then, all the thumbnail image data recorded on the recording medium is printed as an index image with an identification code attached to each of 16 frames per sheet. Right key 509 or left key 5 as switching key
08 or a default setting of the control program, a switch signal for switching the control of the transport unit 1 and the printing unit 2 by the control unit 3 to the second printing mode is transmitted, and the identification code is selected according to the selected layout. Prints the image specified by.

The photo size section 405 is 4 L, 2
This is a section whose display is switched to L, 4 × 6, L, E and a card. The display of the photo size section 405 is
It is determined by the paper size and layout settings.

The photo selection section 406 is a section for mainly displaying the total number of image data recorded on the recording medium and a number as an identification code from 0 to 199 for designating an image to be printed. When the right key 509 as an image selection key is pressed while the identification code is displayed, the number increases, and when the left key 508 is pressed, the number decreases. The displayed number represents the identification code of the image to be printed.

The number section 407 is a section for mainly displaying the number of prints and a number as an identification code from 0 to 199 for designating an image to be printed.

The image quality section 408 includes high quality, high speed,
This section switches the display to ultra-high image quality.

The automatic adjustment section 409 is a section whose display is switched without the automatic photo fine. When the auto photo fine is selected, the photographic image is automatically adjusted in image quality and printed.

The guide section 6 is provided below the front surface of the housing 9. The guide unit 6 has a speaker 61 driven by the control unit 3 and outputs audio data read from the ROM as audio.

The first data acquisition section 7 is provided above the front surface of the housing 9 as shown in FIG.
And a reader (not shown) that reads out image data including the thumbnail image data recorded on the recording medium and transmits the image data to the control unit 3. In the card slot 71, a recording medium such as a PCMCIA standard memory card or a compact flash card generally used for digital cameras can be inserted together with an adapter as a recording medium.

The second data acquisition section 8 (not shown) is provided on the back of the housing 9 and has a plurality of connectors. Second
The data acquisition unit 8 is an interface for connecting to a personal computer or a digital camera, and transmits electronic data extracted from the externally connected devices to the control unit 3.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above-described printer and the printing method will be described. For the sake of explanation, printing by the printer is classified into normal printing, one-touch printing, two-touch printing, additional printing, and detailed setting printing.

When the power switch 91 is turned on, a control program starts up, and a voice prompting insertion of a recording medium (hereinafter, a memory card) on which image data is recorded, such as "Please insert a card." Emit.

(1) The normal print control unit 3 monitors the electronic data of both the first data obtaining unit 7 and the second data obtaining unit 8, and preferentially processes the first electronic data. Therefore, when a personal computer is connected to the second data acquisition unit 8 by a cable and a print instruction is issued from the personal computer, the display on the display unit 4 disappears, and the printer is driven by the control of the personal computer.

(2) One-touch printing After the power switch 91 is turned on, the card slot 71
When a memory card on which image data is recorded is inserted, the print start key 501 blinks and the all print keys 502 as switching keys are turned on. As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 4 includes photo paper in the paper type section 402, postcard in the paper size section 403, and
4, the total size of the image data read from the memory card is displayed in the photo size section 405, the high image quality in the image quality section 408, the high image quality in the image quality section 408, the automatic photo fineness in the automatic adjustment section 409, and the number of image data read from the memory card in the photo selection section 406, and the printing in the number of sheets section 407 One is displayed as the number of sheets. Since the entire layout has been selected, the control unit 3 controls the printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 according to the second printing method.

When the blinking print start key 501 is pressed, all the image data recorded on the memory card are printed one by one according to the display on the display unit 4. Printing in this manner is hereinafter referred to as one-touch printing.

(3) Two-touch print After the memory card is inserted into the card slot 71, when the index key 503 as a switching key is pressed, all the print keys 502 are turned off and the index key 503 is turned on.
Then, the display unit 4 displays a paper type section 40 as a default setting of the control program as shown in FIG.
Postcard 2 in photo print paper, paper size section 403, index in layout section 404,
High speed and photo selection section 4 in quality section 408
In 06, the total number of image data read from the memory card is displayed, and in the number section 407, 1 is displayed as the number of prints. Since the index layout is selected, the control unit 3 controls the printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 according to the first printing method.

When the blinking print start key 501 is depressed, the thumbnail image data recorded on the memory card is read out and, as shown in FIG. 16 in 4 rows
An index code 102 is attached to each index image of a frame and printed. Further, since the thumbnail image data is read out and printed, the printing speed is very high. Printing in this manner is hereinafter referred to as two-touch printing.

(4) Additional printing After the index is printed by two-touch printing, when the one-frame key 504 as a switching key is pressed, the index key 503 disappears, and the one-frame key 504 is turned on. As shown in FIG. 7, the display unit 4 displays the photo print paper and the paper size section 40 in the paper type section 402 as default settings of the control program.
3 Postcard, layout section 404 overall, photo size section 405 L, image quality section 408 high quality, auto adjustment section 409 auto photo fine, photo selection section 406 identification code of first frame stored on memory card 1 and 1 in the number section 407 are displayed. At this time, the photo selection section 406 is active.

Next, a right key 509 as an image selection key
Alternatively, the user operates the left key 508 to specify the identification code of the image to be printed in the images printed in the index in the photo selection section 406. Since the entire layout has been selected, the control unit 3 controls the printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 according to the second printing method. When the flashing print start key 501 is pressed, an image corresponding to the specified identification code is printed according to the settings displayed on the display unit 4.

After the index is printed by two-touch printing, a range designation key 5 as a switching key
When 05 is pressed, the index key 503 disappears and the range designation key 505 lights up. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, a default setting of the control program is displayed on the display unit 4.
A photo print paper is applied to the paper type section 402, a postcard is applied to the paper size section 403, the entirety is provided for the layout section 404, the L is provided for the photo size section 405, the image quality is high for the image quality section 408, and the automatic adjustment section 409 is provided.
Auto photo fine and photo selection section 40
6 displays 1 as the identification code of the first frame stored in the memory card, and the number section 407 displays the total number of image data read from the memory card as the identification code of the last frame. At this time, the photo selection section 406 is active.

Next, in the photo selection section 406, the right key 509 or the left key 508 as an image selection key is operated to designate the identification code of the first image in the range to be printed out of the images printed in the index. Further down key 5
07, the number section 407 is activated, and the right key 509 or the left key 508 is operated to designate the identification code of the last image in the range to be printed out of the images printed in the index. The control unit 3 drives the printing unit 2 and the transport unit 1 by the second printing method because the entire layout is selected. When the blinking print start key 501 is pressed, an image corresponding to the identification code whose range is specified is printed according to the settings displayed on the display unit 4.

After printing the index by two-touch printing, one frame key 504 or range designation key 5
Pressing 05 for printing is hereinafter referred to as additional printing.

(5) Detailed setting print In the above-described one-touch print, two-touch print, additional print, and camera-specified print, the user operates the up key 506 or the down key 507 to select a section whose print condition is to be changed, and prints a paper in each section. It is also possible to change the settings such as the type, paper size, image quality, and automatic adjustment and set arbitrary printing conditions, and then press the print start key 501 to perform printing. For example, in the additional printing, when the paper size section 403 is activated and A4 is selected, printing is performed under the second printing method, and an image having a large A4 size can be printed. Pressing the print start key 501 after setting arbitrary printing conditions in this manner to perform printing is hereinafter referred to as detailed setting printing.

On the other hand, even if printing is in progress by pressing the print start key 501, the next printing can be set. For example, when printing one frame at a time by pressing the one-frame printing key in additional printing, the identification code of the photograph to be printed next can be specified continuously while printing is in progress. Therefore, when performing additional printing of a plurality of frames, there is no need to wait for printing to be completed for each frame and then specify an identification code of an image to be printed next, so that continuous printing can be performed comfortably. .

According to the printer of this embodiment, an index for designating an image to be printed can be printed by itself, and the identification code can be set while looking at the index. Can be.

Further, since there is no need to specify an image to be printed by connecting to a personal computer, a user who is not accustomed to handling the personal computer can easily print an image recorded by a digital camera or the like. Further, there is no need to connect to a television and to designate an image to be printed, and image data taken easily can be printed.

Further, since a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying an image as an index or a touch panel combined with the liquid crystal display device is not required, a printer which is less expensive than a printer which specifies an image to be printed by the touch panel is provided. be able to.

In this embodiment, the control program for controlling the printer has been described as being stored in the ROM in advance. However, this control program downloads the control program recorded on the recording medium to the printer. May be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an index according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyance unit 2 Printing unit 3 Control unit 4 Display unit 5 Input unit 7 First data acquisition unit 502 All print keys (switch key) 503 Index key (switch key) 504 1 frame key (switch key) 505 Range designation key (switch key 508 Right key (image selection key) 509 Left key (image selection key)

Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-8-307589 (JP, A) JP-A-9-211681 (JP, A) JP-A-10-181142 (JP, A) JP-A-10-164484 (JP) JP-A-10-66015 (JP, A) JP-A-10-108006 (JP, A) JP-A-8-294080 (JP, A) JP-A-9-265174 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 21/00 G06F 3/12 H04N 1/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer comprising: a printing section for performing printing; and a transport section for transporting paper to the printing section, a data acquisition section for acquiring image data from a recording medium, and a thumbnail image in the data acquisition section. Get data and
A first printing method for printing a plurality of index images and an identification code corresponding to each index image per sheet based on the nail image data , or the data acquisition unit
To obtain the image data to be printed,
Placing a control unit that controls the printing unit and the conveyance unit by the second printing method for printing an image based on the data, and switching means for switching between said first printing mode and the second printing scheme, the image data to be printed printer characterized in that it comprises an input unit having an identification code determining means for determining an identification code for. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the input unit has an image selection key for determining a predetermined identification code when pressed. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the input unit has a switching key that switches between the first printing mode and the second printing mode when pressed. 4. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying an identification code corresponding to the identification code signal of the input unit. 5. A printing section for performing printing, a transport section for transporting paper to the printing section, a data acquisition section for acquiring image data from a recording medium, and controlling the printing section and the transport section based on the image data. And a control unit that prints the thumbnail image data by the data obtaining unit .
Controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the thumbnail image data to print a plurality of index images and an identification code corresponding to each index image on one sheet of paper; the image data to be printed with only receiving
Finalizing and acquiring image data to be printed by the data acquisition unit
Phase and, printing method comprising the the steps of printing an image by controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit based on the image data to be printed to. 6. A printing section for performing printing, a transport section for transporting paper to the printing section, a data acquisition section for acquiring image data from a recording medium, and controlling the printing section and the transport section based on the image data. A recording medium recording a computer program for printing using a printer having a control unit that performs thumbnail image data acquisition by the data acquisition unit
A step of controlling the printing unit and the transporting unit based on the thumbnail image data to print a plurality of index images and identification codes corresponding to each index image per sheet ; Accept and print the image data to be printed
Confirming procedure and acquiring image data to be printed by the data acquisition unit
Procedures and a recording medium recording a computer program characterized in that it comprises a, a step of printing an image by controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit based on the image data to be printed to.