JP3344179B2 - Printing control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing control device for printing information such as characters and figures at desired positions on recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of print control apparatus includes a reading section for reading an image from a document, a display section for forming a display image from the image of the document in accordance with the positional relationship between the reading section and the document at the time of reading, and a display section for displaying the image. A control unit that edits a display image displayed on the unit, and a printing unit that prints on a recording member based on the display image edited by the control unit.

According to this printing control apparatus, a sheet is once read before printing and the read image is displayed on a screen. For example, when the sheet has a fixed form, characters, figures, etc. are entered in the entry fields in the fixed form. By inputting the above data, the next time the same sheet is set, desired information such as characters and figures can be printed in the entry field of the sheet.

[0004] As described above, if recording paper having a fixed form is prepared, it is possible to print necessary items in the entry fields in the fixed form without printing the fixed form itself. .

[0005]

However, in the above-described print control apparatus according to the prior art, since the paper is manually positioned at the paper feed port, the paper is set at the first reading and the paper is set at the second time. In some cases, misalignment may occur with the paper set during printing. At the stage of reading the fixed form, character editing is performed while confirming the entry position based on the image data of the read image, so that the editing result on the display screen shows a layout-like but nearly completed image. Will be. On the other hand, in the printing stage, even if the read image content of the re-set paper is the same as that at the time of the first reading, a slight shift in the set position causes the edited result on the display screen and the printed result on the paper to be different. However, there is a problem that the reproducibility of the print result is lowered, for example, a print character is out of an entry column due to a positional deviation between the print result and the print result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a specified input even if there is a positional deviation between a sheet displayed for designating a character input position and a sheet for printing the character. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control device that enhances the reproducibility of a print result by reliably printing out a character at a position.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
First reading read from paper set in printing device
Image storage means for storing an image;
Display control means for controlling the display of the captured image on the display screen
On the displayed first read image.
Position specifying means for arbitrarily specifying the print output position of desired data
The desired print output position based on the designated print output position.
Storage location of the data on the first read image
To calculate and store the storage location as location information
Calculating and storing means for printing the desired data;
At present, a new image is created from the paper set in the printing device.
Reading control means for reading an image, and said reading control means
The second read image read at
Comparing with the first read image stored in the storage means
The second reading for the first reading image
Detecting means for detecting the rotation state of the image,
Data to the paper set in the printing device
When printing, the rotation state detected by the detection means
A print control means for controlling to rotate and print according to the
Is provided.

According to the above arrangement, the image storage means
The first sheet read from the sheet set in the printing apparatus.
The read image is stored, and the first image is stored by the display control means.
Control the display of the read image on the display screen,
Step on the displayed first reading image
The print output position of the desired data is arbitrarily specified. And
The position calculation storage means stores the print data on the basis of the designated print output position.
Then, on the first read image of the desired data,
Calculate storage location and store the location as location information
I do. Further, the desired data is marked by the reading control means.
When printing, make sure that the paper is
Read a new image from the
The second read image read by the control means
Compare with the first read image stored in the storage means
To read a second read image for the first read image.
The rotation state of the page is detected, and the printing control means
Print the desired data on the paper set in the
Rotation, according to the rotation state detected by the detection means.
And control to print.

Therefore, the first read first read
Read from the paper loaded this time for the scanned image
The second read image was tilted and rotated
The desired data specified in the first read image is
Adjust to the desired position according to the rotation state of the second read image.
By actually printing out, you can improve the reproducibility of the print result.
Can be

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a print control apparatus according to the present invention. The print control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is applied to an electronic device such as a word processor having a serial printer type print function.

The print control apparatus includes, for example, a CPU 1 for controlling the entire apparatus, a ROM 2 storing various programs for operating the CPU 1, a RAM 3 used as a work area for various programs, an input unit 4, A display unit 5, a printing unit 6, an image reader (hereinafter referred to as a reader) 7, a main image memory 8, an input character / position information table 9, a correction value calculation processing unit 10, a sub image memory 11, , A correction value storage unit 12, and a bus 13 for transmitting signals such as addresses and data.

The CPU 1 controls the apparatus according to various programs stored in the ROM 2. The ROM 2 stores a program and the like for operating the present apparatus in accordance with flowcharts shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 described later, and uses the RAM 3 as a work area when executing the program.

The input unit 4 includes input devices such as keys. The display unit 5 is a device that displays an image such as a creation / edit screen or a read image input from a reader 7 described later in document processing, for example. The printing unit 6 is a device that includes a carriage and moves in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions to print an image such as a document. The reader 7 is a reading device attached to the carriage of the printing unit 4 and is movable integrally with the carriage.

The main image memory 8 stores the reader 7
Has a memory capacity capable of storing an image read from a sheet (hereinafter referred to as image data). The input character / position information table 9 is a memory that stores input characters and their absolute position information in association with each other, for example, in a format shown in FIG.

The correction value calculation processing section 10 calculates a correction value in accordance with a flowchart shown in FIG. 13 which will be described later, and includes a predetermined size (for example, 500
A sub-image memory 11 for storing (* 500 dots) image data and a correction value storage unit 12 shown in FIG. 3 are used.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of the input character / position information table 9, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of the correction value storage unit 12. FIG. 4 is a top view showing an example of paper used, and FIG.
9 are explanatory diagrams for explaining a method of using the memory, FIG. 10 is a top view showing an example of a print result of the paper shown in FIG. 4, and FIG.
13 to 13 are flow charts for explaining from data input processing to printing processing. In the following description, FIG.
The recording paper 40 is used as shown in FIG. This recording paper 40
It has a fixed form in which the entry fields indicated by 41 to 45 are arranged.

When the start of the data input process is instructed, an image of the set recording paper 40 is read by the operation of the reader 7 from a paper feed port (not shown). The image data is stored in the main image memory 8 as shown in FIG. 5 (FIG. 11; steps S1 to S3). In the main image memory 8, reference numeral 8a denotes an empty area; 50, image data of the recording paper 40;
45 shows image data corresponding to 45,
This image data 50 is stored in the memory with a margin.

An image corresponding to the contents stored in the main image memory 8 is displayed on the display unit 5 (step S4), and input of data (data such as characters and figures) to the display image is started. Is done.

Before inputting the character data, the editing position (including the character input position) is designated, and when the position is designated on the display screen by the cursor (step S5),
Absolute position information (x, y) indicating an absolute position (coordinate) on the main image memory 8 corresponding to the designated position is calculated (step S6).

The absolute position information (x, y) is a base point for inputting one character or a continuous character string, and character data can be input by specifying this position.

In the next steps S7 and S8, for example, when a character string "character recognition" is input (see FIG. 6),
"Sentence", "letter", "recognition", "knowledge" each code
The absolute position information serving as the base point of the input is stored in correspondence (see FIG. 2). In the case of this character string "character recognition", the absolute position information is stored as coordinates (P, Q), and a display area 60 is secured as shown in FIG. Subsequently, if a character is to be input at another location, the process returns to step S5 and the above-described process is repeatedly executed until an instruction to end the operation is issued (step S9). Thus, the data input process ends.

Next, the printing process will be described. When the start of the printing process is instructed and a sheet (the recording sheet 40 is set in the same manner as in the data input process) is set in a sheet feed port (not shown)
The process shifts to the correction value calculation process (Step S11).
This correction value correction processing will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a valid image is searched in the main image memory 8. Here, the effective image refers to a black dot forming a certain shape, for example, image data 71 to 75 corresponding to the entry columns 41 to 45. In this example, the search ends by detecting the upper left position of the image (step S21). When a valid image is detected in this way, the position is stored in the correction value storage unit 12 as absolute position information (coordinates (a, b)) (step S22).

Next, the reader 7 is moved to a position on the recording paper 40 corresponding to the above-mentioned coordinates (a, b). Is executed (steps S23 and S2).
4). The image read by this image reading is stored in the sub-image memory 11 as shown in FIG. 7 (step S25). In FIG. 7, reference numeral 11a denotes an empty area.

Then, a block image (block image data) of n × m dot size is cut out from the position of the base point (coordinates (a, b)) from the main image memory 8. This block image is denoted by IORG. Subsequently, a block image (block image data) of n × m dot size starting from the coordinates (a, b) is also cut out from the read image stored in the sub-image memory 11. This block image is indicated by ICOM.

Next, the block images IORG and ICO
M is compared by pattern matching. As a result, if no match is obtained, the process proceeds to step S2
The process proceeds to step S9, and if a match is obtained, the process proceeds to step S
Move to 32.

When the process proceeds to step S29, it is determined whether or not the deviation amount of the block image ICOM that matches the block image IORG falls within a predetermined printable range. Therefore, the block image IORG and the ICOM are matched so that the patterns of the block image IOG and the ICOM are the same.
The process of shifting the COM cutting position in the x (main scanning) direction and the y (sub scanning) direction in units of dots is repeatedly executed (steps S27 to S30). If it is confirmed in step S29 that the shift amount exceeds the allowable printing range in the next shift, for example, an error process for displaying a message for guiding the sheet to be reset on the display unit 5 is executed. The process returns to step S11 (see FIG. 12). In this way, by displaying the message and notifying the operator of the error, a failure such as a jam can be avoided in advance.

When the process proceeds to step S32, since the deviation amount of the block image ICOM corresponding to the block image IORG is within a predetermined printable range, the coordinates (A, B) is stored in the correction value storage unit 12. Further, in steps S33 and S34, the correction values Δa and Δb indicating the amounts of displacement in the x direction and the y direction are calculated by the following equations (1),
It is determined by (2). Δa = Aa (1) Δb = Bb (2)

Then, in step S34, the correction values Δa and Δb are stored in the correction value storage unit 12.

When the correction value calculation processing is completed in this way, the processing returns to step S13 (see FIG. 12).
After step S13, the input character / position information table 9
Is read out in association with the first input character data (character code) and its absolute position information (coordinates (P, Q)), and the absolute position information is stored in the correction value storage unit 12.
Are corrected by the correction values Δa and Δb stored in the. This is shown in the following equations (3) and (4). P ′ = P + Δa (3) Q ′ = Q + Δb (4)

The corrected absolute position information (coordinates (P ', Q')) corresponds to the position shown in FIG. 9 in the image data, and the recording paper currently set in the paper feed port. 40 shows a print start position when printing is performed on the image 40. This printing start position is stored in the correction value storage unit 12 as shown in FIG. 3 (step S14). In steps S15 and S16, the carriage of the printing unit 6 is moved with the printing start position as the absolute position, and the printing process based on the read character data is controlled. Further, when character data is stored in the input character / position information table 9, the process returns to step S13, and the above-described process is repeatedly executed (step S17).

According to the printing result obtained as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the character is output at the position specified on the display screen, and the character string "character recognition" protrudes from the predetermined entry field 41. And the like can be eliminated.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the read image read from the recording paper 40 set this time is shifted vertically and horizontally from the read image read from the recording paper 40 first. However, the desired character data specified for the first read image is printed out after being corrected in accordance with the positional deviation of the current read image, so that the reproducibility of the print result can be improved.

In the above description, the shift is corrected using a continuous character string as one unit. However, the shift may be corrected in a line unit regardless of the presence / absence of continuation. In this case, if one character string is continuously input over several lines by a line feed or the like, the base point (absolute position) of the first character of the next line is calculated based on the base point specified first, By storing this in the input character / position information table 9 in association with the character code, the input character can be managed on a line-by-line basis. According to this, the start position of character printing on the same line is corrected before printing for one line, so that even if the position slightly shifts from the middle of the recording paper during printing, the accuracy can be corrected to the correct position. Higher characters can be printed. The specification of the absolute position with respect to the input character may be performed on a line basis or on a character string basis.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment described above, the displacement of the set paper in the up-down and left-right directions is detected. However, even when the inclination of the set paper is included in the correction target according to the second embodiment described below. explain.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the print control apparatus according to the present invention .
The same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those described above, and description thereof will be omitted.

The correction value calculation processing section 14 shown in FIG.
A correction value storage unit 15, a first block image memory 16,
And the second block image memory 17 is used to calculate a correction value.

The correction value storage unit 15 stores the block images IORG and ICO in the storage contents of the correction value storage unit 12 described above.
The rotation angle θ which is a relative inclination between M is added. The first block image memory 16 stores the main image.
Has a memory capacity for storing the block image IORG was cut from Jimemori 8, the second block image memory 17, a memory capable of rotating the image stores the block images ICOM was cut from the sub-image memory 11 It has a capacity (area).

Next, the operation will be described. FIGS. 16 and 17 are explanatory diagrams for explaining a method of using the memory when the read image at the time of printing is rotated.
And 19 are flowcharts for explaining the procedure of the printing process. The printing process is performed according to a program stored in the ROM 2, but the correction value calculation process is performed by the correction value calculation processing unit 10. Since the data input process is the same as that in FIG. 11, the description will be omitted, and the following description will focus on different printing processes.

First, when the recording paper 40 is set, the reader 7 is operated to read an image (steps S41 and S42). The read image (image data) is stored in the sub-image memory 11, for example, as shown in FIG. 11 (step S43). In the sub-image memory 11, 70 indicates image data of the recording paper 40, and 71 to 75 indicate image data corresponding to the entry columns 41 to 45, respectively.

Subsequently, in steps S44 and S45, similar to steps S21 and S22 in FIG. 13, a valid image base point is searched based on the image data already stored in the main image memory 8, and the coordinates of the base point are searched. Processing for storing (a, b) in the correction value storage unit 15 is executed. Then, a block image IORG of nxm dot size is cut out from the base point and stored in the first block image memory 16 (steps S46 and S4).
7).

Further, in the sub-image memory 11, a base point is searched, a block image ICOM is cut out from the base point, and the second block image memory 1 is extracted.
7 is stored (steps S48 to S51). Note that the base point of the block image ICOM indicates the x coordinate as A ′ and the y coordinate as B ′, and these are also stored in the correction value storage unit 15 (see FIG. 15).

Subsequently, the block images IORG and ICOM are stored in the first and second block image memories 16 and 17 respectively.
Are read, and pattern matching between block images is performed (step S52). As a result, if they match, the process proceeds to the next step S55, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to the rotation process of step S54 (step S53).

If the processing directly proceeds to step S55 without going through the rotation processing of step S54, it is determined that there is no relative inclination between the block images, and the coordinates of the base point position stored in the correction value storage unit 15 The shift amounts (correction values Δa and Δb) in the x (main scanning) direction and the y (sub scanning) direction between (a, b) and (A ′, B ′) are calculated by the above-described equations (1) and (2). And the correction value storage unit 1
5 (step S56).

In step S54, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, the image data 51 (see FIG. 5) in the first read image is replaced with the corresponding image data 71 obtained by the current read. As described above, this processing is executed when the camera is inclined upward by the angle θ. In this case, based on the block image IORG, the block image ICOM in the second block image memory 17 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise from the position of the coordinates (A ', B') of the image as a base point. Processing for pattern matching is performed. The rotation angle θ is obtained by repeatedly executing the rotation processing (step S54). In the example of FIG. 16, the block image ICOM is
ICO in the left direction around the base point (coordinates (A ', B'))
By rotating to the position of M 'by the rotation angle θ, pattern matching is obtained. The rotation angle θ is stored in the correction value storage unit 1
5 is stored.

If a match cannot be obtained even if the block image ICOM is rotated by a certain amount or more, the recording paper is forcibly set again for reasons such as avoiding printing errors. Processing for displaying the message on the display unit 3 is executed. After this message is displayed, the process returns to step S41 to wait for the sheet to be reset. The rotation limit is preferably about 5 °, but can be set arbitrarily for mechanical or processing reasons.

In this way, when the processing up to the calculation of the correction value is completed after the pattern coincidence is obtained, step S57
The processing shifts to steps S13 and S14 in FIG.
Similarly to the above, a process of reading character data from the input character / position information table 9 and obtaining a print start position (coordinates (P ′, Q ′)) is executed. Note that this printing start position is not always the leading position of printing depending on the inclination of the currently set recording paper 40, that is, the rotation state based on the rotation angle θ.

Next, printing is controlled by rotating the angle of the character pattern based on the read character data according to the rotation angle θ with reference to the printing start position. Also in this case, if character data is further stored in the input character / position information table 9, the process returns to step S57, and the above-described process is repeatedly executed (step S6).
0).

The printing result obtained above is also
As in the case of FIG. 10, characters are output at the positions specified on the display screen, and problems such as the characters protruding from a predetermined entry column can be eliminated.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even if the image block ICOM read from the currently set sheet is tilted and rotated with respect to the image block IORG read first, The desired character data designated in the image IORG is corrected and printed in accordance with the rotation state of the block image ICOM, so that the reproducibility of the print result can be improved.

In the above-described pattern recognition, the process of rotating the block image until the pattern matches or the limit of the mismatch is executed by the rotation process in step S54. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, for example, vector information may be extracted, and the rotation angle θ may be obtained from the vector information. This eliminates the need for a loop process of changing the repetition angle, thereby reducing processing speed and other factors. Efficiency can be improved.

Further, the effective image is not limited to the rectangular entry box as in the case of the recording paper 40.
Any shape such as a straight line, a curve, a waveform, a circle, an ellipse, and the like may be used as long as the shape is a base point for character input.

Further, the above-described print control device has been described by taking a serial printer type as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to a line printer type.

[0059]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first reading is performed.
Set this time for the first read image
The second read image read from the torn paper is tilted
Even if rotation occurs, it is specified in the first read image.
The desired data according to the rotation state of the second read image.
To print out the desired data at the specified position.
Printing system that can improve the reproducibility of print results
A control device can be provided.

[0060]

[0061]

[0062]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a print control device according to a first embodiment .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of an input character / position information table 9 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a correction value storage unit 12 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing an example of a recording paper 40 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of using a main image memory 8 ;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a method of using the sub-image memory 11 ;

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the sub-image memory 11 ;

8 is a diagram for explaining how to use the sub-image memory 11.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method of using the sub-image memory 11 ;

FIG. 10 is a top view illustrating an example of a print result.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a data input process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a correction value calculation process of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a print control device according to a second embodiment .

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a correction value storage unit 15 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a sub-image memory 1 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of using No. 1 ;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a rotation angle θ.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Input unit 5 Display unit 6 Printing unit 7 Reader 8 Main image memory 9 Input character / position information table 10, 14 Correction value calculation processing unit 11 Sub-image memory 12, 15 Correction value storage unit 13 Bus 16 First block image memory 17 Second block image memory 40 Recording paper 41 to 45 Entry field 50 to 55, 70 to 75 Image data 60 Display area θ Rotation angle

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image reading unit that reads a sheet set on a printing apparatus;
Image storage means for storing a first read image; Display control of the first read image on a display screen
Display control means; Desired data is displayed on the displayed first read image.
Position designation means for arbitrarily designating the print output position of the data; Based on the designated print output position, the desired data
Calculating the storage location of the data on the first read image.
Calculates the position where it is issued and its storage position is stored as position information
Storage means; At the time of printing the desired data,
Scan to read a new image from the loaded paper
Control means; The second read image read by the read control means
The first reading stored in the image storage means.
Compared to the first read image.
To detect the rotation state of the second read image
Delivery means, The desired data is stored in the printer.
When printing on paper, the time detected by the detection means
Print control that controls to rotate and print according to the rotation state
Means, Print control device provided with.