JP4693738B2 - Recording apparatus and recording method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method for trimming an original image and recording the image with no margin on a recording medium.

  In recent years, relatively inexpensive multifunction printers having a wide variety of functions have been widely used in place of single-function printers that only record image data. Such a multi-function printer is roughly classified into a scanner, a recording device, a memory card reader, and a user interface operation unit, and realizes a multi-function by combining them. In general, a copy function is realized by combining a scanner and a recording device, or card direct printing of a photographic image taken by a digital camera is realized by combining a memory card reader and a recording device.

  On the other hand, in such a copy function and card direct printing function, there is a high demand for so-called “marginless recording” in which an image is output without providing a margin at the end of the recording medium, and a multi-function having such a function is provided. Many printers are also available. That is, with the copy function, it is possible to copy an original without a margin by performing “record without margin”, and with the card direct printing function, it is possible to print a photograph taken with a digital camera or the like without a margin.

  When copying without margins, the original image read by the scanner is enlarged to image data having a size slightly larger than the designated paper size. Also, when performing photo printing without margins, an operation of resizing the image file read from the memory card to a size slightly larger than the designated paper size is performed. By such enlarging processing and resizing, image data to be recorded is generated up to a region (hereinafter referred to as a “edge portion”) that is slightly beyond the leading edge, the trailing edge, or the left and right edges of the recording medium. As a result, even if some errors are included in the conveyance accuracy of the recording apparatus, it is possible to stably provide “marginless recording” in which no blank area exists at the end of the recording medium.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a method of using data outside a trimming frame as image data of a border when trimming a part of an image read by a scanner or an image read from a memory card and performing “marginless recording”. Is disclosed. If the data in the trimmed area is enlarged in order to generate the data of the border area, data that is not recorded on the recording medium even though it exists in the trimmed area is generated. Further, in this case, even if an attempt is made to copy the trimmed image at the same magnification, there is a disadvantage that the image cannot be copied at the same magnification for the enlargement process. However, if the method of Patent Document 1 is adopted, the original data existing outside the trimming frame is used as the data for the border part, and the data in the frame is not applied to the border part region, so that this may be damaged. Absent. Even if some errors are included in the conveyance accuracy of the recording device, the original data is recorded at the edge of the recording medium, so an image without a sense of incongruity can be copied at the same magnification with no margins. I can do it.

JP 2003-274149 A

  By the way, according to Patent Document 1, when the image data of the edge portion is not sufficiently obtained from the original image as in the case of trimming the edge portion of the original image, the pixel at the edge of the image is generated in a pseudo manner. A method is disclosed. As a generation method at this time, the image data of the edge portion of the original image is repeatedly copied or mirrored to generate the image data of the edge portion by interpolation. However, although interpolation generation is possible, in order to stably provide “marginless recording” with no sense of incongruity, it is better to suppress such pseudo areas as few as possible. However, Patent Document 1 does not necessarily give consideration to suppress the above-described interpolation generation area as small as possible.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for specifically explaining a problem in Patent Document 1. In FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a region of a recording medium on which “marginless recording” is executed, and an arrow indicates a conveyance direction of the recording medium in the recording apparatus. An area 102 surrounded by a solid line indicates an image area required by the recording apparatus in order to execute recording on the recording medium area 101 without a margin. The image area 102 is an area in which margins are added in the front-rear and left-right directions with respect to the recording medium area 101 to ensure recording without margins.

  In the recording apparatus, due to the mechanical characteristics of the apparatus, the leading end and the trailing end of the recording medium may not be able to be conveyed with the same accuracy. For example, a pair of conveyance rollers that convey while sandwiching the recording medium is provided upstream and downstream of the position where the recording head performs recording, but when recording the leading edge and the trailing edge of the recording medium, It is transported by a pair of transport rollers on one side. Therefore, the difference in conveyance accuracy between these roller pairs appears as a difference in recording position accuracy between the front end and the rear end, and generally the conveyance accuracy of the rear end is often inferior to that of the front end. As a result, the margin (edge portion area) required when executing “recording without margin” is more required at the rear end than at the front end. Also, due to the skew of the recording medium during conveyance, an image cannot always be recorded with the same accuracy at the left and right end portions. In other words, the margin (border area) required when executing “recording without margins” depends on the mechanical characteristics of the apparatus, and includes the leading edge, trailing edge, right edge, and left edge of the recording medium. Each is different. In the figure, a case where a 2 mm border region is required for the front end portion and the left and right end portions and a 5 mm border region is required for the rear end portion is shown.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of trimming the upper left corner of an original image read by a scanner or the like for a recording apparatus that requires such a border area. The trimming frame 111 is a frame for designating an area to be cut out from the original image 110 and printed. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the case where the trimming frame 111 is similar to the size 101 of the recording medium is shown, but the actual trimming frame may not necessarily be similar to the recording medium.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing an image area 102 required when “recording without margins” is performed on the image area cut out by the trimming frame 111 shown in FIG. Since the conveyance direction of the recording medium is the direction of the arrow, the image data of the border area can be prepared from the original image in the most part at the front end and the right end. However, on the other hand, since the original image data is not sufficient at the rear end portion and the left end portion, a lot of image data must be generated by interpolation for the border region. In the drawing, such an area is indicated by hatching as the interpolation data generation area 112.

  The border area is an area that may be recorded on the edge of the recording medium due to a conveyance error, and the larger the area, the higher the probability of being recorded on the recording medium during “marginless recording”. It can be said. On the other hand, if the marginal area in which the data is artificially generated by the interpolation is recorded in a very wide range, there is an increased concern that the original image in the trimming frame may be uncomfortable. In other words, as in this example, if the area where image data must be generated by interpolation generation corresponds to the rear edge part 104 having the widest edge part area, the effect of Patent Document 1 is obtained. You will not be able to get enough.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Therefore, even when the original image is trimmed and “marginless recording” is executed, a suitable “marginless recording” that minimizes the area of data that is artificially generated by interpolation and has no sense of incongruity. Is to realize.

  To this end, the present invention is a recording apparatus for transporting a recording medium in a predetermined transport direction and recording an image with no blank space on the recording medium, and inputs a trimming area instruction in an original image by a user. A border which is arranged around an input means and a trimming area corresponding to an instruction input by the input means, and at least one of a front end portion, a rear end portion, a right end portion and a left end portion with respect to the predetermined transport direction has a different width. A setting means for setting a partial area; a generating means for generating an image for supplementing a protruding area when the edge area set by the setting means protrudes from the original image; and a edge set by the setting means. In the case where the partial area protrudes from the original image, there is less area to supplement the border area by the image generated by the generating means. Determining means for determining the orientation of the recording image in which the image of the trimming area and the image of the edge area including the image generated by the generating means are combined with respect to the predetermined transport direction; An image of a border area that is set by the setting unit and supplemented by the image generated by the generation unit according to the orientation of the recording image determined by the determination unit on the recording medium conveyed in the predetermined conveyance direction And recording means for recording an image for recording in which the image in the trimming area is combined.

  Also, a recording method for transporting a recording medium in a predetermined transport direction and recording an image with no blank space on the recording medium, the recording method being arranged around a trimming area according to a user instruction in the original image. A setting step for setting a border portion region in which at least one of a front end portion, a rear end portion, a right end portion, and a left end portion with respect to the predetermined transport direction has a different width, and the border portion region set in the setting step is the original A generation step of generating an image for supplementing a protruding area when protruding from the image, and a margin portion set in the setting step, when the margin portion area protrudes from the original image, the edge portion is generated by the image generated by the generation step. A border portion including the image of the trimming area and the image generated in the generation step so that the area supplementing the area is smaller A determination step of determining a direction of the recording image combined with the image of the area with respect to the predetermined transport direction, and a recording medium transported in the predetermined transport direction of the recording image determined by the determination step A recording step of recording an image for recording in which the image of the border region set by the setting step and supplemented by the image generated by the generation step and the image of the trimming region are combined according to the orientation It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, when performing “marginless recording”, an area in which image data is interpolated and generated even if the size of the necessary border area differs at each of the four ends of the recording medium. Can be minimized. As a result, even when there is an error in the recording position when recording the edge of the recording medium, “marginless recording” is realized in a state where there is no sense of incongruity between the trimming area and the edge area. Is possible.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of a multifunction printer applicable to the present invention. The print setting designation unit 11 includes a user interface and outputs a command for instructing function setting or recording start from the user. Further, a command for designating a trimming area designated by the user is output. The trimming processing unit 12 performs a trimming process on the image data stored in the image memory 15 in accordance with the command output from the print setting designation unit 11. The card reader unit 17 reads the image data stored in the card memory by a digital camera or the like and transfers it to the image memory 15. The scanner 16 reads a document placed on the document table, converts it into image data, and transfers it to the image memory 15. The image memory 15 temporarily stores image data received from the card reader 17 or the scanner unit 16.

  The trimming processing unit 12 analyzes the image data stored in the image memory 15 according to the command output from the print setting designation unit 11. Then, by specifying the method of generating the edge data generated by the edge data interpolation generating unit 13 or specifying the recording direction of the image data, the recording control unit 14 converts the image data into recordable image data. The border part data interpolation creating unit 13 creates image data in the border part region in the four directions based on the border part data generation method specified by the trimming processing unit 12.

  The image data developed by the trimming processing unit 12 and the data of the edge part generated by the edge part data interpolation generation part 13 are sent to the print control part 14. The print control unit 14 records an image on a recording medium according to the received data.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a series of steps executed by the multi-function printer of the present embodiment shown in FIG.

  When the process is started, first, in step S101, the print setting designation unit 11 outputs a command corresponding to the setting content designated by the user via the user interface. In this embodiment, the “spaceless equal-size copy mode” and the trimming area are set.

  In the subsequent step S102, the scanner unit 16 reads the document placed on the document table, and stores the read image data in the image memory 15.

  In step S <b> 103, the trimming processing unit performs the clipping process of the original image stored in the image memory 15 based on the trimming range designated by the print setting designation unit 11, and temporarily determines the printing direction and the top, bottom, left, and right border part regions. I do.

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not there is sufficient original data to correspond to the trailing edge of the recording medium in the printing direction temporarily determined in step S103. If it is determined that sufficient original data exists for the rear edge portion, the printing direction temporarily set in step S103 and the upper, lower, left, and right edge portions are set as main settings, and the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is not enough original data for the trailing edge portion in the transport direction, the process proceeds to step S105, and the printing direction is such that sufficient original data exists for the trailing edge portion. Also, the upper, lower, left and right border areas are converted. When sufficient original data does not exist in all four directions of the border, such as when the trimming area covers the entire original image, the largest amount of original data is given to the trailing edge. Convert the print orientation to orientation. In other words, the printing direction is converted so that the border portion with the largest amount of original data is at the rear end in the transport direction. Thereafter, the border area is set based on the converted printing direction.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the printing direction and the border area converted in step S105 when the printing direction temporarily set in step S103 is in the state shown in FIG. If the printing direction temporarily set in step S103 is in the state shown in FIG. 3, it is determined in step S104 that there is not enough original data for the rear edge portion 104, and the printing direction is displayed. Reverse as shown in FIG. That is, in the trimmed image, the printing direction is converted so that the side closer to the edge of the original image is the leading edge in the transport direction. In this way, as shown in FIG. 6, most of the area of the rear edge part 104 can be obtained from the original image 110, and the interpolation data generation area 113 that must be generated by interpolation is the same as in the case of FIG. Compared to a significant reduction.

  Returning again to the flowchart of FIG. In step S106, it is determined whether or not the image data of the set border area can be formed only with the original data. If it is determined that the data can be formed only with the original data, the process proceeds to step S108. If it is determined that the original data alone cannot be formed, that is, as shown in FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step S107, and data of the area where the original data is insufficient, that is, the reduced interpolation data generation area 113 is generated. As a method for generating the interpolation data, various methods such as mirroring copying from the inside of the original image, or copying pixel data located at the extreme end of the original image continuously can be employed. In the present invention, the data generation method is not particularly limited.

  When all the four-edge border data is generated in the above steps, the process proceeds to step S108, and the print control unit 14 combines the trimmed original image data and the generated border part data to make one marginless copy. Create data. After that, the marginless copy is executed in accordance with the copy data and the set print direction. Thus, the present process ends.

  The above is a description of the process for executing “same size copy without margins”, but substantially the same process can be performed when printing an image taken with a digital camera or the like without margins.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a series of steps executed by the multifunction printer of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 when trimming a part of a photographic image to execute marginless photographic printing.

  When the process is started, first, in step S201, the print setting designation unit 11 outputs a command corresponding to the setting content designated by the user via the user interface. In this embodiment, a “no-margin equal-size photo printing mode” and a trimming area are set.

  In subsequent step S202, the card reader unit 17 reads the image data stored in the memory card and stores it in the image memory 15.

  The processes after step S203 are the same as those performed when the same-size copy without margins already described with reference to FIG. 5 is performed, and therefore a detailed description of each process is omitted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the “marginless recording” is executed, the image data can be obtained even when the necessary size of the border area is different at each of the four ends of the recording medium. Can be minimized as much as possible. Therefore, even when there is an error in the recording position when recording the edge of the recording medium, “marginless recording” is realized without causing a sense of incongruity between the trimming area and the edge area. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the processing of allocating more original data to the image data of the rear end edge part is exemplified in the case where the area of the rear end edge part is larger than the front end part and the left and right end parts. explained. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The size of each edge area required in the four directions of the recording medium varies depending on the recording apparatus to be used, and it is generally assumed that the rear edge requires more edge areas than other areas. Not exclusively. Regardless of the size of the border area in each of the four directions and the ratio of each other, there is a process for adjusting the printing direction so that as much image data as possible contained in the border area can be copied and generated from the original data. If it does, it is included in the category of the present invention.

  The multi-function printer of this embodiment is configured to include the scanner unit 16 and the card reader unit 17 in order to obtain an original image. However, the present invention does not particularly define input means for obtaining the original image. . Only one of the scanner unit 16 and the card reader unit 17 may be provided, or another input unit may be provided.

  Furthermore, in the above description, the case where the trimmed original image and the shape of the recording medium are similar has been described. Although it can be said that such a case can exhibit the effect of the present invention most efficiently, the present invention is not limited to such a case. When the trimmed original image and the shape of the recording medium are not similar, the original image may be enlarged or reduced vertically and horizontally so that the trimmed image is inscribed or circumscribed in the area of the recording medium. When inscribed, there is a region where the original image data is insufficient even in the recording medium region. In this case, a method of generating data by the interpolation method as described above can be used in combination. On the other hand, in the case of circumscribing, a situation occurs in which a part of the original image protrudes outside the area of the recording medium. In this case, the protruding area can be used as a border portion outside the trimming frame.

It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating specifically the malfunction in a prior art. It is a figure for demonstrating an example in the case of trimming the upper left corner part of an original image with respect to the recording device which requires a border part area | region. It is the figure which showed the image area required when the image area cut out by the trimming frame is "recording without a margin" according to a prior art. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of control of the multifunction printer applicable to this invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a series of steps executed by the multi-function printer when executing the same size copy without margin. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a printing direction and a border area when a temporarily set printing direction is converted. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a series of steps executed by a multifunction printer when trimming a part of a photographic image to execute photo printing without margins.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multifunction printer 11 Print setting designation | designated part 12 Trimming process part 13 Border part Data interpolation preparation part 14 Print control part 15 Image memory 16 Scanner part 17 Card reader part 101 Recording medium area | region 102 No margin image area 103 Leading edge part 104 Rear Edge border portion 105 Left edge border portion 106 Right edge border portion 110 Original image 111 Trimming frame 112 Interpolation data generation region 113 Interpolation data generation region

Claims (7)

A recording apparatus for transporting a recording medium in a predetermined transport direction and recording an image with no margin on the recording medium,
An input means for inputting an instruction of a trimming area in the original image by the user;
A border region is set around the trimming region according to the instruction input by the input unit, and at least one of the front end, the rear end, the right end, and the left end with respect to the predetermined transport direction has a different width. Setting means to
Generating means for generating an image for supplementing the protruding area when the border area set by the setting means protrudes from the original image;
When the border area set by the setting means protrudes from the original image, the image of the trimming area and the generation so that the area generated by the generation means may be reduced by the image generated by the generation means. Determining means for determining the orientation of the recording image combined with the image of the border area including the image generated by the means with respect to the predetermined transport direction;
An image of a border area that is set by the setting unit and supplemented by the image generated by the generation unit according to the orientation of the recording image determined by the determination unit on the recording medium conveyed in the predetermined conveyance direction And a recording means for recording an image for recording in which the image in the trimming area is combined.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets a border part region having a different width between a front end part and a rear end part of the trimming area with respect to the predetermined transport direction.   The setting unit is configured so that a width of the edge portion area disposed at a rear end portion of the trimming area with respect to the predetermined conveyance direction is larger than a width of the edge portion area disposed at a front end portion. An area is set, and the determination unit is configured to determine the orientation of the recording image with respect to the predetermined conveyance direction so that the area to be supplemented by the image generated by the generation unit is smaller in the edge part region disposed at the rear end. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is determined.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates an image for supplementing the protruding area based on the original image.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original image is acquired from a scanner that optically reads a document.   5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the original image is acquired by reading an image recorded on a memory card from a card reader. A recording method for transporting a recording medium in a predetermined transport direction and recording an image with no margin on the recording medium,
A setting for setting a border region that is arranged around a trimming region according to an instruction from the user in the original image and has at least one of a front end portion, a rear end portion, a right end portion, and a left end portion with respect to the predetermined transport direction having a different width. Process,
A generation step of generating an image for supplementing the protruding region when the border region set in the setting step protrudes from the original image;
When the edge part area set in the setting step protrudes from the original image, the image of the trimming area and the generation so that the area generated by the generation process is less supplemented with the edge part area. A determination step of determining an orientation of the recording image combined with the image of the border area including the image generated in the step with respect to the predetermined conveyance direction;
An image of the edge portion area set by the setting step and supplemented by the image generated by the generation step according to the orientation of the recording image determined by the determination step on the recording medium conveyed in the predetermined conveyance direction And a recording step of recording a recording image in which the image in the trimming area is combined.

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