JP3570541B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a main processing unit for sending image information converted into a digital signal to a printing unit to perform continuous printing, and interrupting printing by the main processing unit to print image information input from an input unit. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus provided with an interrupt processing means for sending a print job to a printing unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique configured as described above, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-8816. In this conventional example, image information of a developed film is converted into a digital signal and taken in, and a photograph is output by a print output unit. It has the performance of performing printing and the capability of interrupting and printing the digital image recorded on the storage medium by the interrupt means with respect to the print output means. The timing for printing a digital image includes a case where a film to be processed is interrupted and a case where it is detected that a storage medium is set in a drive.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, considering printing of an ID photo at a DP store, ID photos require quick processing from photographing to print finishing, but poor quality prints such as instant photos are not desired. Quality prints are required. Therefore, a storage medium that records images captured by a digital camera is set in the drive of an apparatus that has the ability to print from photographic film as in the conventional technology, and the image information is imported. This image information is interrupted. It is conceivable to print a high-quality ID photograph by printing by processing. However, when a digital image recorded on a storage medium is printed at a timing when the film to be processed is interrupted as in the conventional technology, a request that requires prompt processing cannot be satisfied, and the storage medium cannot be used. When printing digital images at the timing set in the drive, interrupt processing is performed even immediately before the current print processing from photographic film is completed, and the proper processing order may be disrupted .
[0004]
When printing is performed by interrupt processing based on image information from the outside in this way, a complicated operation must not be imposed on the operator, and it is desired that the operation be simple. Further, if the printer has a performance capable of performing normal printing and printing by interruption processing, it is necessary for the worker to accurately recognize what processing is being performed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to rationally configure a photographic printing apparatus capable of performing printing based on external image information by a good operation without impairing the effectiveness of the interrupt processing.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first feature of the present invention (claim 1), as described at the beginning, a main processing means for sending image information converted into a digital signal to a printing unit to perform continuous printing, and this main processing means. A print state of the main processing unit, and an interrupt processing unit for interrupting the printing of the image data and sending the image information input from the input unit to the printing unit to perform the printing. A display control unit for displaying on the display unit which of the print states the printer is in, and printing by the interrupt processing unit based on the operation of the switch displayed on the display unit. Means for automatically returning to the printing state of the main processing means at the end of printing by the means and restarting printing ,
The interrupt processing means interrupts the printing by the main processing means and sets the timing of printing the image information from the input unit by the printing unit in an immediate mode in which the printing is immediately performed. In addition to being configured to be able to select any of the priority modes to be performed in priority to the order of, the configuration is such that the selection can be performed based on the display content of the display unit , its operation, and, The effects are as follows.
[0008]
The second aspect of the present invention (Claim 2) is Oite to claim 1, wherein the input unit is, the constructed image information of the storage medium for recording image information includes a reading read mechanism, the reading Image processing can be performed while image information of the storage medium read by the mechanism is displayed on the display unit or a dedicated display, and the image information on which the image processing has been performed can be output to the printing unit. The operation and the effect are as follows.
[0009]
A third aspect of the present invention (claim 3) is Oite to claim 1, wherein the input unit is a digital camera, or with composed of an input terminal to which image information from the image scanner is transmitted, the input terminal Image processing means capable of performing image processing while displaying the image information input from the display unit or a dedicated display, and outputting the processed image information to the printing unit. The function and effect are as follows.
[0010]
[Action]
According to the first feature, when the interrupt processing unit sends the image information input from the input unit to the printing unit based on the operation of the switch displayed on the display unit and performs printing, the display control unit sets The display unit indicates that the printing is being performed by the interrupt processing unit. When the printing is completed, the returning unit automatically returns to the printing state of the main processing unit. Since the display control means displays on the display unit that the printing is being performed by the means, the printing status can be accurately grasped based on the display contents of the display unit, and the printing can be performed by the interrupt processing means. After that, there is no need to manually return to the printing state in the main processing means. In addition, when printing by the interrupt processing means, select the immediate mode when quick printing is required, and select the priority mode when printing after the current order is printed. Only needs to be done.
[0012]
According to the second feature, when printing the image information recorded on the storage medium, the storage medium is set in the reading mechanism as the input unit, and the image information recorded on the storage medium is displayed on the display unit, or It is possible to display the image information on the dedicated display and process the image information with the image processing means as necessary, while checking the display, and print the image processing processed in this way. Become.
[0013]
According to the third feature, in a case where image information from a digital camera or an image scanner is transmitted to an input terminal as an input unit for printing, the image information from the input terminal is displayed on a display unit, or It is possible to display the image information on the dedicated display, check the display, process the image information by the image processing means as needed, print size, composition, color tone, etc., and print the image processing processed in this way It becomes.
[0014]
〔The invention's effect〕
Therefore, a photographic printing apparatus capable of performing printing based on image information from the outside with good operability while accurately grasping the printing situation without losing the speed of the interruption process was rationally configured. In addition, the printing is performed by the interrupt processing means at an optimal timing, and the image information recorded on the medium such as a CD-R, Zip, or flash memory card, and the image information from a digital camera or an image scanner are appropriately processed. Now you can print.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a photographic printing apparatus. The photographic printing apparatus includes a film scanner unit A for converting image information of a photographic film 1 of 135 size or the like into a digital signal, and is photographed by a digital camera. A reading mechanism R for reading information from a storage medium 2 such as a flash memory card (an example of a storage medium) on which recorded image information is recorded, a console 3 for inputting various control information, and a mouse for inputting pointing information And an exposure unit C (an example of a printing unit) for exposing the silver halide photographic paper 5 from the photographic paper magazine 5M. The silver halide photographic paper 5 exposed in C is developed, dried, and cut into a size corresponding to one frame image by a cutter (not shown). A developing unit D for discharging, it is configured by further comprising a monitor 6 as a display unit for displaying various information.
[0016]
The film scanner unit A includes a light source system that sends out a light beam from a halogen lamp 7 as a white light source with its intensity distribution adjusted by a mirror box, a diffuser, and the like, a plurality of rollers 8 that sandwich and convey the photographic film 1, and A film carrier unit provided with an electric motor 9 for synchronously driving the plurality of rollers 8 via a timing belt, a gear, and the like; an optical lens 11 for taking out a frame image of the photographic film 1 set on a mask 10 of the film carrier unit; A photoelectric conversion unit 12 for separating image information taken out by the optical lens 11 into three primary colors of R, G, and B and converting the color information into a digital signal. The photoelectric conversion unit 12 scans the light beam transmitted through the photographic film 1 in the sub-scanning direction by changing the reflection direction with a mirror, or by moving the photographic film 1 and the photoelectric conversion unit 12 in the sub-scanning direction. And a light beam obtained by this scanning is split into three directions by a prism or the like, and is passed through a red, green, and blue filter through a CCD line sensor (for example, about 5,000 in the main scanning direction). (A CCD having a CCD element) and outputs digital signals corresponding to the three primary colors of a red component, a green component, and a blue component.
[0017]
The controller B includes a microprocessor, a ROM-type memory in which the basic processing operation of the microprocessor is set, a RAM for temporarily storing processing data, an interface circuit, and other basic circuits. A large-capacity RAM type frame memory 13 for storing digital signals of three primary colors subjected to photoelectric conversion, and a hard disk 14 for storing various data can be accessed.
[0018]
The exposure section C includes a plurality of rollers 15 for sandwiching and transporting the photographic paper 5 and an electric motor 16 for synchronously driving the plurality of rollers 15 via a timing belt and gears. An exposure head 17 for exposing image information is provided. As the engine of the exposure head 17, a liquid crystal shutter system, a laser exposure system, a CRT system, a fluorescent tube system, and the like are known. Here, a line exposure type using a liquid crystal shutter system is used. Sometimes, one line of exposure is performed by the exposure head 17, and at the same time, the exposure head 17 is moved relative to the printing paper 5.
[0019]
In this photographic printing apparatus, a photographic film 1 after development processing is set on a film carrier portion to print all frame images simultaneously, and a reprint printing (reordering) in which a frame image is designated and printed. Print), a digital print based on the image information of the storage medium 2 set in the readout mechanism R, and a print for the ID photo based on the image information of the storage medium 2 set in the readout mechanism R in the same manner. Any of the ID photo printing and the ID photo printing to be performed can be performed. In particular, at the time of simultaneous printing and additional printing, the ID photo can be printed prior to these printing processes by interrupt processing. I have.
[0020]
That is, when performing simultaneous printing and additional printing (reorder printing), the photographic film 1 is set on the film scanner unit A as described above, and the frame image information is converted into a digital signal of three primary colors and the frame is converted. The image data is read from the frame memory 13 line by line and transferred to the exposure head 17. When digital printing is performed, a storage medium is used. 2 is read out by the readout unit R, a process of storing the image information in the hard disk 14 is performed first, and then the image information from the hard disk 14 is transferred to the frame memory 13 and stored in the same manner as described above. The information is read out line by line and transferred to the exposure head 17, and the exposure head 17 is relatively moved in synchronization with the transfer. It has become to perform the processing.
[0021]
Next, an outline of the printing process in the photo printing apparatus will be described. That is, when the “L” version is being printed by this photo printing apparatus, the “L is printing” message is continuously displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. Two switches S1 and S2 indicating an interrupt process between the "ID photo" and the "digital camera" are displayed. This display state continues to be displayed as long as the state of printing the “L” version continues.
[0022]
Then, when printing is performed from the storage medium 2 on which an image photographed by a digital camera is recorded, such as when a request for printing an ID photo is made, the storage medium 2 is set in the reading mechanism R, and the console 3 is set. The cursor is set to the position of the switch S1 of the "ID photograph" by operating the cursor key or operating the mouse 4, and the left button of the mouse 4 is pressed, or the return switch of the console 3 is operated. Ends. After the selection, the "OK" switch S3 displayed on the monitor 6 is operated in the same operation form, and the process shifts to the next processing. The operation of the switches displayed on the monitor 6 in the following processing is simply referred to as an operation. This operation is performed by operating the cursor keys of the console 3 or operating the mouse 4 to move the cursor. This means that the left button of the mouse 4 is operated or the return key of the console 3 is operated.
[0023]
When the selection of the interrupt processing is completed as described above, the image information recorded on the storage medium 2 is temporarily stored in the hard disk 14 and then transferred to the frame memory 13 (or a RAM in the controller) to perform the image processing. Are set in a state in which the image information can be displayed, and as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in the figure, in this embodiment, three pieces of image information are displayed on the monitor 6. However, when four or more images are captured on the storage medium 2, By operating the selection switch S4 displayed on the monitor 6, the image information to be displayed can be switched. With this display, the image information most suitable for printing is visually determined. The cursor is set at a position (any one of W1, W2, and W3) of the display unit for displaying the appropriate image information, and the selection is made. Then, the "OK" switch S5 is operated to select the image information. finish.
[0024]
When this selection is completed, the message “Please select the type” is continuously displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. 4, and the “driver's license”, “passport”, “visa”, “entrance test”, “ The five switches SC of "resume" and the switch SE of "other size" are displayed. In addition, only when the switch “other size” of the switches SC and SE is selected, the operator 3 is allowed to input the values of the vertical size and the horizontal size of the ID photo from the console 3. At the time of this input, the input numerical value is displayed on the display unit W4. Further, after this input and after any one of the five switches SC of “driver's license”, “passport”, “visa”, “entrance examination”, and “resume” is operated, the number of prints from the console 3 Is allowed, the number is displayed on the number display section W5, and when the "OK" switch S6 is operated thereafter, the process proceeds to the next process.
[0025]
After the setting of the size and the number of ID photos is completed in this way, the message "Please align the face" is continuously displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. The selected image information is displayed on the preview screen WP. The preview screen WP displays a center base line CL indicating the center position in the left-right direction, and horizontal base lines HL and HL for determining the standard positions of the upper end position of the face and the lower end position of the face. A switch SV for scrolling the image information in the vertical direction and a switch SH for scrolling the image information in the horizontal direction are displayed. Further, the monitor 6 displays a zoom switch S6 for enlarging and reducing image information and a correction switch S7. By operating these switches S7, the center of the face of the person of the image information in the left-right direction is set to the center baseline. The composition can be determined by arranging the upper end and the lower end of the face so as to be in contact with the horizontal base lines HL and HL so as to match CL. When the correction switch S7 is operated, the brightness, saturation, hue, R (red), G (green), B (blue), contrast, and sharpness are set as shown in FIG. An auxiliary display unit WC appears, and by operating these, the color tone, brightness, contrast, and the like can be arbitrarily corrected. Then, as a result of these operations, if the image displayed on the preview screen WP is finished to be suitable for the ID photo, the "OK" switch S8 is operated to move to the next process. The image processing means is constituted by a program for displaying the image information on the monitor 6 and processing the image information under the control of the console 3 and the mouse 4 in this manner.
[0026]
In the next process, as shown in FIG. 6, a message "Please select a print start" is displayed on the monitor 6, and switches SQ and SP of "immediately" and "after one order" are displayed. When prompt processing is required, the "immediate" switch SQ is selected, and when the currently printed processing is prioritized, the "after one order" switch SP is selected. When the "OK" switch S9 is operated in a state where one of the switches SQ and SP is selected, an interrupt process is performed at a set timing, and a process of printing the required number of ID photos is started. When the ID photo is printed, the message "ID photo is being printed" and the message "Return to original print automatically" are displayed on the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. Processing for automatically returning to the original print state is performed.
[0027]
The outline of this processing is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8. In this processing, the printing status such as "printing L size" is displayed as described above, the image information is read from the frame memory 13, and the exposure head 17 are continuously performed (steps # 101 and # 102), and as described above, the process of printing the ID photo is selected, and when the "immediate" switch SQ is operated, the exposure head When the printing of one sheet at 17 is completed, the print status of "Printing the ID photo" is displayed and the display "Automatically returns to the original print" is displayed, giving priority to subsequent prints. The image information is sent to the exposure head 17 to start printing the ID photo (steps # 103 to # 105), and the switch SP "After one order" is selected. Waits for the completion of one order's print, and the ID photo is being printed. ', And displays' Return to original print automatically', giving priority to the next order's print. Then, the image information is sent to the exposure head 17 to start printing the ID photo (steps # 106 to # 109). In each case, when the ID photo printing is completed, processing for automatically restarting the original print is performed. These processes are performed until all printing is completed (# 110 step). In this processing, the main processing means m is configured in step # 102, and the interrupt processing means n is configured in steps # 105 and # 109. Control for performing the printing processing after the processing in steps # 105 and # 109 is completed. The return processing r is configured by the processing returning to the flow of <1>, and the display control means d is configured by steps # 101, # 104, and # 108.
[0028]
When the switch S2 of the "digital camera" is operated on the screen shown in FIG. 2, the image information recorded on the storage medium 2 is printed prior to the print processing currently being performed in the same manner as described above. Although the process is performed, there is not much difference from the print of the ID photo except for the point that the image processing cannot be performed.
[0029]
As described above, according to the present invention, when an order for taking and printing an ID photo is received at a DP store, or when an order for printing a ID photo based on image information taken by a digital camera is received, the present invention can be performed quickly. For example, when an order for photographing and printing an ID photo is generated, a customer's portrait is photographed on the spot with a digital camera, and the photographed image information is stored in a flash memory or the like. The user simply sets the medium 2 on the reading means R, performs processing in the displayed order on the basis of the display on the monitor 6, and performs an operation for performing printing. , The ID photo can be interrupted and the ID photo printed, so that the ID photo can be completed and handed over to the customer in a very short time. It has become. In particular, when the ID photo is printed, it is only necessary to perform the processing in the order in accordance with the display contents of the monitor 6, so that an erroneous operation is hardly performed. When the ID photo is printed, the original print processing is automatically performed. Not only do not need to perform any special operation to return to the original processing as in the case where the processing of the printing device was artificially interrupted and the ID photo was printed. This eliminates the inconvenience that printing is not restarted due to erroneous operation or forgetting to operate.
[0030]
[Another embodiment]
In addition to the above-described embodiment, the present invention includes an input terminal 20 as an input unit as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 1, for example. It is possible to directly input the image information, and the input unit is constituted by a microcomputer having a display, and the image information processed by the microcomputer is inputted to the controller B. It is also possible to carry out.
[0031]
In addition, a sublimation type printer or an ink jet type printer that prints on non-silver salt photographic paper can be used as the print unit, and it is also possible to provide a dedicated display for performing image processing. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a photo printing apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing display contents of a monitor in a printing state. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing display contents of a monitor when image information is selected. FIG. Fig. 5 shows the display contents of the monitor at the time of image processing. Fig. 5 shows the display contents of the monitor at the time of image processing. Fig. 6 shows the display contents of the monitor when selecting the print start timing. Fig. 8 shows the display contents of the monitor of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart of a print processing routine.
2 storage medium 6 display unit 20 input terminal C printing unit R readout mechanism d display processing unit m main processing unit n interrupt processing unit r return unit

Claims (3)

Main processing means (m) for sending the digitalized image information to the printing section (C) for continuous printing, and interrupting the printing by the main processing means (m) to input the information from the input section; A print processing unit (n) for transmitting the image information to the printing unit (C) for printing.
Display control means (d) for displaying, on a display unit (6), which of a print state in the main processing means (m) and a print state in the interrupt processing means (n); The printing by the interrupt processing means (n) is executed based on the operation of the switch displayed on the display section (6). When the printing by the interrupt processing means (n) is completed, the printing by the main processing means (m) is performed. A return means (r) for automatically returning to the state and restarting printing .
An immediate mode in which the interrupt processing means (n) immediately interrupts the printing by the main processing means (m) and prints the image information from the input section in the printing section (C); After the printing for the order is completed, any one of the priority modes for giving priority to the next order can be selected, and the selection can be made based on the display contents of the display unit (6). It has been that printing device. The input unit is provided with a reading mechanism (R) for reading out image information of a storage medium (2) for recording image information, and the input unit is configured to read out the storage medium (2) read out by the reading mechanism (R). Image processing that can perform image processing while displaying image information on the display unit (6) or a dedicated display, and that can output the processed image information to the printing unit (C) and has claim 1 Symbol placement of the printing apparatus comprises means. The input unit includes an input terminal (20) through which image information from a digital camera or an image scanner is transmitted, and the image information input from the input terminal (20) is displayed on the display unit (6). Alternatively, it is possible to perform image processing in a state of displaying a dedicated display, and has claim 1 Symbol mounting an image processing means capable of outputting image information the image processing has been performed the printed portion (C) Printing equipment.

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