JP4721001B2 - Recording device, recording control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus having a configuration capable of executing recording of a digital image based on a digital image file on a recording surface of a recording material, and a recording control program executable by a computer of the recording apparatus.

  Digital image files taken with a digital camera or the like can be stored in a large capacity such as an optical storage disk such as a CD-R or DVD-R or a magnetic disk such as a hard disk via a small storage medium such as a memory card or a USB interface. Generally, it is stored in a medium and managed in a batch. In recent years, recording apparatuses such as an ink jet printer equipped with an optical storage disk drive or a hard disk drive (HDD) capable of storing a digital image file in such a storage medium are known. A user directly reads a digital image file taken with a digital camera or the like into a printer via a small storage medium such as a memory card or a USB interface, and prints it on a photo paper or the like (direct print). Digital image files can be stored in a CD-R, DVD-R, or built-in hard disk for batch management.

  However, conventionally, for example, a memory card is inserted into a memory card slot of a printer, or a digital camera is directly connected to a printer with a USB cable, and a plurality of digital image files in the memory card are stored in a CD-R or the like or in a printer. When saving to a hard disk, etc., one folder is automatically created for each memory card on a CD-R or other hard disk, and all the multiple digital image files in the memory card are stored in that folder. It was common to be saved collectively in a folder. Although there is no problem as long as the number of digital image files in the memory card is small, the memory capacity of recent memory cards is increasing more and more every year, but the digital image files that can be stored in one memory card The number of is increasing.

  Therefore, a large number of digital image files are stored in a single folder as they are, and a folder such as a hard disk has a large number of folders that require much effort and time for the user to search for a desired digital image file. Digital image files were often saved together. On the other hand, when saving digital image files to a hard disk or the like, the user manually creates a plurality of folders and categorizes the digital image files one by one in order to reduce such a search burden. This is both cumbersome and troublesome, and may impose a heavy burden especially on users who are not good at operating electronic devices.

  As an example of the prior art capable of solving such a problem, based on time information such as shooting date and time and reading date and time added to a read digital image file, digital time and time such as shooting date and time are close to each other An image reading / storing apparatus that stores image files by grouping image files into a plurality of groups, creating a folder for each group, and storing digital image files is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-339344 A

  However, the uniform classification of grouping and classifying digital image files that are close in time within a certain range, such as the shooting date and time, is not necessarily a class that can be easily searched for all users. Classification that the user expects is not always made. Therefore, when searching for a desired digital image file, there is a case where the classification is hardly useful, and there is a possibility that a great amount of labor and time will be spent to search for the desired digital image file.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that a large number of digital image files are classified on a storage medium in a recording apparatus including a disk drive such as a CD-R or a hard disk. The purpose of batch management is to make it possible to classify and store digital image files in a simple and intuitive manner according to the classification criteria according to the circumstances of each user.

  To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a digital image file input means capable of inputting a digital image file from the outside, an external storage device capable of reading and writing a digital image file, and an order sheet. Marking state reading means capable of reading the marking state of the image, digital image input control via the digital image file input means, control of the external storage device, and control of reading the marking state of the order sheet by the marking state reading means And a controller capable of executing recording of a digital image based on a digital image file on a recording surface of a recording material, wherein the controller is a digital image file input unit. A series of input or ready-to-enter digital The order sheet is created by recording, on a recording material, a marking area for classification that is arranged between a thumbnail image list of image file groups and thumbnail images adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the thumbnail image list. The marking state of the order sheet after the user has marked is read by the marking state reading means, and the classification marking area portion that has been marked out of the classification marking area of the read order sheet is used as a classification boundary. A group of digital image files that have been input by the digital image file input means or are ready for input are grouped into a plurality of groups, and are grouped on a storage medium that is in a writable state by the external storage device Create a folder on each Storing digital image files of the group to each folder corresponding to the folder, it is a recording apparatus wherein.

  For example, a series of digital image files input from the memory card inserted into the memory card slot with the digital image file input means, or a memory card inserted into the memory card slot ready for input with the digital image file input means When saving a series of stored digital image files to a hard disk or the like built in the recording device, a user first creates an order sheet that records a list of thumbnail images of the series of digital image files. create. In the created order sheet, a list of thumbnail images of a series of digital image files is recorded, and a classification marking area is recorded between each thumbnail image adjacent in the arrangement direction of the thumbnail image list.

  While viewing the list of thumbnail images of the created order sheet, the user specifies and marks a classification marking area between thumbnail images that are separated by desired classification conditions from each thumbnail image.

  Then, the series of digital image files are classified into a plurality of groups with the marking area for classification being classified as a classification boundary by causing the marking state reading means of the recording apparatus to read the order sheet after marking. . A folder is created for each classified group on a storage medium that is writable by an external storage device, and a digital image file of a group corresponding to each created folder is stored in each folder.

  Thus, according to the recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, for example, a series of digital image files such as a plurality of digital image files stored in the memory card inserted in the memory card slot. Since a group can be visually classified and saved by viewing the thumbnail image list recorded on the order sheet, it is possible to classify and save the group with a disk drive such as a CD-R or a hard disk. In the recording apparatus, when a large number of digital image files are classified and managed on a storage medium, the digital image files can be classified and stored easily and intuitively according to the classification criteria according to the circumstances of each user. An effect is obtained.

  In addition, since a series of digital image file groups can be classified and stored according to classification criteria according to the individual circumstances of the user rather than the uniform classification as in the past, the user can select from the storage medium after the storage. It is easy to search for the digital image file, and it is possible to obtain the operational effect that the labor for the search is reduced and the search time can be shortened.

  Furthermore, the user simply marks the order sheet, and then the recording device automatically classifies a series of digital image files to create each folder, and stores and sorts each folder. When the digital image files are classified on the storage medium and managed collectively, the conventional troublesome panel operation or the like is not required, and the operational effect of improving convenience is obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the control device can designate that the thumbnail image list, the classification marking area, and the thumbnail image are not saved for each of the thumbnail images. Is recorded on a recording material in a predetermined format to create the order sheet, and a digital image file designated as not necessary for storage is specified from the marking state of the storage-necessity-designated marking area of the read order sheet. The recording apparatus is characterized by excluding a digital image file from a storage target in the storage medium.

  In this way, because the order sheet is provided with a storage-free designated marking area, if you select an unnecessary digital image file and mark the storage-necessary designated marking area due to shooting failure, etc., many digital image files can be created. When classifying and collectively managing on a storage medium, unnecessary digital image files can be excluded in advance due to shooting failure. Therefore, storing unnecessary digital image files can reduce the possibility that the storage capacity of a storage medium such as a hard disk will be wasted.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect or the second aspect described above, when the control device creates the order sheet, it is for order sheet identification that can be read by the marking state reading means. When the display is recorded at a predetermined position of the order sheet and the order sheet is read, is the order sheet identification display recorded at a predetermined position of the recording material in which the marking state is readable? The recording apparatus is characterized by identifying whether the recording material is the order sheet or not.

  In this way, when the order sheet is read by the marking state reading means, the order sheet is identified at a predetermined position of the order sheet as a mark that can be used to identify whether the recording material to be read is the order sheet. The display for use is recorded in advance. When reading the order sheet, first, the order sheet identification display is detected to confirm that the recording material is indeed the order sheet, and then the marking state is read. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of errors due to reading the recording material by the marking state reading means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect described above, the information that can be specified from the order sheet identification display includes the digital image file input means in addition to the fact that the recording material is the order sheet. In the case where the order sheet of a series of digital image files that are input in or ready to be input is composed of a plurality of pages, the total number of pages of the order sheet and the page number of the order sheet are also included. This is a recording apparatus characterized by that.

  For example, when a large number of digital image files are stored in a memory card inserted in a memory card slot, thumbnail images having a size that allows the image contents to be visually recognized are arranged on one order sheet. Since it is impossible to record, in such a case, an order sheet composed of a plurality of pages is created for the series of digital image file groups. At this time, if the total number of the order sheet composed of a plurality of pages and the page number of the order sheet can be specified from the order sheet identification display, the order sheet cannot be read in the order of the page numbers when the marking state is read. However, it is possible to correctly specify the marking state and to easily read all the pages of the order sheet without omission.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a digital image file input unit capable of inputting a digital image file from the outside, an external storage device capable of reading and writing the digital image file, and a marking state of the order sheet can be read. A digital image input control via the digital image file input means in a recording apparatus comprising a marking state reading means and having a configuration capable of recording a digital image based on a digital image file on a recording surface of a recording material; A recording control program for causing a computer to execute control of the external storage device and control of reading the marking state of the order sheet by the marking state reading unit, the state being input or inputable by the digital image file input unit Series of digital images A procedure for creating the order sheet by recording on the recording material in a predetermined manner the classification marking areas arranged between the thumbnail images of the file group and the thumbnail images adjacent in the arrangement direction of the thumbnail images. And a step of reading the marking state of the order sheet after the user has marked by the marking state reading means, and the marking area for the classification that is marked in the classification marking area of the read order sheet As a classification boundary, a procedure for classifying a series of digital image file groups input by the digital image file input means or in an input enabled state into a plurality of groups, and on a storage medium in a writable state by the external storage device Folder for each group A step of forming, and a procedure for the digital image file group corresponding to each folder created to store in each folder, it is a recording control program characterized.
According to the recording control program described in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as the invention described in the first aspect of the present invention are brought to any recording apparatus capable of executing the recording control program. Can do.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a “recording apparatus” according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
In the ink jet recording apparatus 50, the recording paper P is used as means for causing the recording head 62 that performs recording by ejecting ink to the recording paper P as “recording material” to scan the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X. On the other hand, a carriage 61 supported by a carriage guide shaft 51 so as to be movable in the main scanning direction X is provided. The carriage 61 is equipped with a recording head 62 and a PW sensor 34 to be described later, and the rotational driving force of the CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) is transmitted by a belt transmission mechanism using an endless belt (not shown) to perform the main scanning direction. Reciprocates to X. At a position facing the head surface of the recording head 62, the recording surface of the recording paper P and the head surface of the recording head 62 are supported while slidably supporting the recording paper P conveyed by a “recording material conveying means” described later. A platen 52 is provided for defining the interval at a predetermined interval.

  A known capping device 59 is provided outside the one end side of the reciprocating region of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X. In a standby state in which recording is not performed, the carriage 61 moves over the capping device 59 and stops, and the head surface of the recording head 62 is sealed by the cap CP provided in the capping device 59. The stop position of the carriage 61 is defined as a home position HP.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 50, recording is performed as “recording material conveying means” capable of conveying the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y so that the recording head 62 scans the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. A conveyance driving roller 53 and a conveyance driven roller 54 that convey the paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y are provided. The conveyance driving roller 53 rotates when the rotation driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) is transmitted to the gear, and the recording paper P is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the conveyance driving roller 53. A plurality of transport driven rollers 54 are provided and are individually urged by the transport driving roller 53, and the recording paper P is in contact with the recording paper P when the recording paper P is transported by the rotation of the transport driving roller 53. Rotates following the transport of A coating having a high frictional resistance is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53. The recording paper P pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by the transport driven roller 54 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport driving roller 53 by frictional resistance, and is transported in the sub-scanning direction by the rotation of the transport driving roller 53. .

  On the upstream side of the conveyance drive roller 53 in the sub-scanning direction Y, a paper feed tray 57 as a “recording material stacking unit” capable of stacking a large number of recording sheets P is disposed. The paper feed tray 57 is configured to feed (feed) recording paper P such as plain paper or photo paper. In the vicinity of the paper feed tray 57, as the “automatic feeding means” for automatically feeding the uppermost recording paper P of the recording paper P stacked on the paper feed tray 57 to the “recording material conveying means”. An ASF (Auto Sheet Feeder) is provided. The ASF is a known automatic paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roller 57b provided on the paper feed tray 57 and a separation pad (not shown). The paper feed roller 57 b is disposed on one side of the paper feed tray 57. The recording paper guide 57a is provided on the paper feed tray 57 so as to be slidable in the width direction in accordance with the width of the recording paper P.

  Then, the recording paper P placed on the paper feed tray 57 by the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller 57b rotated by the transmission of the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) and the frictional resistance of the separation pad, A plurality of recording sheets P are not fed at a time, but only the topmost recording sheet P is accurately separated and automatically fed one by one. A paper detector 33 according to a known technique is disposed between the paper feed roller 57b and the conveyance drive roller 53.

On the other hand, a discharge driving roller 55 and a discharge driven roller 56 are provided as means for discharging the recording paper P after execution of recording. The paper discharge driving roller 55 is rotated by transmission of the rotational driving force of the PF motor 58 (FIG. 3), and the recording paper P after recording is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. Is done. The paper discharge driven roller 56 has a plurality of teeth around it, and is a toothed roller sharply sharpened so that the tip of each tooth makes point contact with the recording surface of the recording paper P.
A PF motor 58 (FIG. 3) that rotationally drives the paper feed roller 57b, the conveyance drive roller 53, and the paper discharge drive roller 55, and a CR motor 63 (FIG. 3) that drives the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X will be described later. The recording control unit 100 controls the driving. Similarly, the recording head 62 is driven and controlled by the recording control unit 100 to eject ink onto the surface of the recording paper P. The recording control unit 100 forms dots by ejecting ink from the recording head 62 to the recording paper P while reciprocating the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X, and the predetermined conveyance of the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. The recording control on the recording paper P is executed while alternately repeating the operation of transporting by the amount.

The recording control unit 100 as a “control device” will be described with reference to FIGS.
The recording control unit 100 includes a ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) 103, an MPU 104, a nonvolatile memory 105 as a “nonvolatile storage medium”, a PF motor driver 106, a CR motor driver 107, and a head driver 108. ing. The MPU 104 includes a rotary encoder 31 as a “rotation amount detection unit” that detects the rotation amount of the transport driving roller 53 via the ASIC 103, and a linear encoder 32 as a “carriage movement amount detection unit” that detects the movement amount of the carriage 61. The paper detector 33 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the conveyed recording paper P, the PW sensor 34 for detecting the edge of the recording paper P in the main scanning direction X, and the ink jet recording apparatus 50 are turned on / off. Output signals of a power switch 35 for turning off and a recording operation switch 36 for performing a recording start operation on the recording paper P are input.

The known rotary encoder 31 has a rotary scale 311 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyance drive roller 53, and a rotary scale sensor 312 that detects slits formed at equal intervals along the outer periphery of the rotary scale 311. (FIG. 2). An output signal of the rotary scale sensor 312 that changes with the rotation of the transport driving roller 53 is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.
A linear encoder 32 known as “carriage movement detection means” that outputs a detection signal that can specify the movement direction and the movement amount of the carriage 61 is a linear scale 321 that is arranged in the vicinity of the carriage 61 and substantially parallel to the main scanning direction X. And a linear scale sensor 322 mounted on a carriage 61 for detecting slits formed at equal intervals in the linear scale 321 (FIG. 2). An output signal of the linear scale sensor 322 in which the period of the pulse corresponding to the amount of movement of the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction X changes with the moving speed is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

The known paper detector 33 is given a self-returning behavior to a standing posture and protrudes into the conveyance path of the recording paper P so as to be able to rotate only in the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the recording paper P. This detector has a lever that is pivotally supported in the state, and the lever rotates when the tip of the lever is pushed by the recording paper P, whereby the recording paper P is detected (FIG. 2). . The paper detector 33 detects the start position of the recording paper P fed from the paper feed roller 57 b and the end position of the recording paper P being conveyed, and the detection signal is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.
The PW sensor 34 as “recording material detecting means” has a light reflectivity of the recording paper sliding surface of the platen 52 and a light of the recording surface of the recording paper P at a portion facing the recording surface of the recording paper P of the carriage 61. From the difference from the reflectivity, the end of the recording paper P on the platen 52 can be detected in a non-contact manner, and the detection signal is output to the MPU 104 via the ASIC 103.

A ROM 101, a RAM 102, an ASIC 103, an MPU 104, and a nonvolatile memory 105 are connected to the system bus of the recording control unit 100. The MPU 104 performs arithmetic processing for executing recording control of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and other necessary arithmetic processing. The ROM 101 stores a recording control program (firmware) necessary for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 50 by the MPU 104, and various data necessary for processing the recording control program is stored in the nonvolatile memory 105. . The RAM 102 is used as a work area for the MPU 104 and a storage area for recording data.
The ASIC 103 has a control circuit for performing speed control of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 which are DC motors and driving control of the recording head 62. Based on the control command sent from the MPU 104, the output signal of the rotary encoder 31, and the output signal of the linear encoder 32, various calculations for controlling the speed of the PF motor 58 and the CR motor 63 are performed. The motor control signal based on this is sent to the PF motor driver 106 and the CR motor driver 107. Further, based on the recording data sent from the MPU 104, a control signal for the recording head 62 is calculated and generated and sent to the head driver 108 to drive-control the recording head 62.

  The ASIC 103 includes a card IF 111, a host IF 112, and a device IF 113 as “digital image file input means” capable of inputting a digital image file from a personal computer 301, a digital camera 302, or a nonvolatile memory card 303 as an “information processing apparatus”. Have. The card IF 111 realizes a card interface such as a nonvolatile memory card 303 or a PC card inserted into the card slot 200. When the nonvolatile memory card 303 is inserted into the card slot 200, data can be read from and written to the nonvolatile memory card 303. The host IF 112 implements a USB interface with a host device such as a personal computer (PC) 301 connected to the USB connector 37 for connecting the host device. The USB connector 37 is disposed on the back side of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 (FIG. 2). The device IF 113 implements a USB interface with a USB device such as a digital camera (DSC) 302 connected to the USB connector 38 for device connection. The USB connector 38 is disposed on the front side of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 so that a USB device such as the digital camera 302 can be easily attached and detached (FIG. 2).

  The ink jet recording apparatus 50 includes a hard disk drive 201 as an “external storage device” capable of reading and writing digital image files and a scanner unit as a “marking state reading unit” capable of reading a marking state of an “order sheet” described later. 41 is provided. The hard disk drive 201 is connected to the ASIC 103 and can store a digital image file input from the outside via the card IF 111, the host IF 112, or the device IF 113 in a hard disk as a “storage medium”. The digital image file stored in the hard disk of the hard disk drive 201 is arbitrarily read and deleted from the recording control unit 100 or from the outside (for example, from a host device such as the personal computer 301 connected to the host IF). be able to.

  The scanner unit 41 is a known image reading device that can read an image or the like recorded on a recording material. When the “order sheet” to be read is placed at a predetermined position of the scanner unit 41 and the order sheet reading switch 42 is operated, the marking state of the “order sheet” can be read. Further, when the reading operation is stopped during reading, the order sheet reading stop switch 43 is operated. The present invention can be implemented even if the hard disk drive 201 is a disk drive of an optical storage disk such as a CD-R or a DVD-R.

  The recording control unit 100 as the “control device” controls the digital image input through the card IF 111, the host IF 112, and the device IF 113 as the “digital image file input unit”, and controls the hard disk drive 201 as the “external storage device”. Control is performed to read the marking state of an “order sheet” to be described later by the scanner unit 41 as “marking state reading means”. The recording control unit 100 can also execute control (direct printing) for directly reading a digital image file from the digital camera 302 or the nonvolatile memory card 303 and executing recording on the recording paper P by a predetermined operation.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 50 according to the present invention having the above-described configuration is a series of digital signals that can be input from the digital camera 302, the nonvolatile memory card 303, or the like via the card IF 111, the host IF 112, or the device IF 113. When the image file group is stored in the hard disk of the hard disk drive 201, it can be automatically classified and stored for each folder as follows. Hereinafter, the nonvolatile memory card 303 will be described as an example.

  First, a procedure for creating an “order sheet” according to the present invention and an “order sheet” executed by the recording control unit 100 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing an “order sheet” according to the present invention.
The recording control unit 100 displays a list of thumbnail images SM (images A to O) of a series of digital image files that can be input from the nonvolatile memory card 303 via the card IF 111 by a predetermined operation by the user. The marking area G for classification arranged between the thumbnail images SM adjacent in the arrangement direction of the list of thumbnail images SM, the marking area S that does not require storage that can be designated not to be stored for each thumbnail image SM, and the recording paper An order sheet identification display SD for identifying that P is an “order sheet” is recorded on the recording paper P in the predetermined format shown in FIG. 4 to create an “order sheet”.
The arrangement order of the thumbnail images SM may be any arrangement order. For example, the arrangement order may be determined based on the shooting date / time of the digital image file or the file creation date / time, or the user may set the order according to an arbitrary reference. The arrangement order may be set freely. In addition, in a digital image file to which no thumbnail image is added, the developed image of the digital image file may be reduced and recorded side by side instead of the thumbnail image.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating an “order sheet” according to the present invention. It should be noted that the procedure shown in the flowchart is a recording control when the user performs a predetermined order sheet creation operation when a series of digital image file groups can be input from the nonvolatile memory card 303 via the card IF 111. This is a procedure executed by the unit 100.

  First, a file identification number list in which identification numbers in time series (in order of shooting date / time, order of file creation date / time) are associated with digital image files in the nonvolatile memory card 303 is created (step S1). The file identification number list may be created and held on the RAM 102, for example. Subsequently, the recording paper P is fed (step S2), and whether or not the recording paper P is normally fed is determined from the detection state of the paper detector 33 (step S3). If the recording paper P is not normally fed (No in step S3), the procedure ends as a paper feeding error. On the other hand, when the recording paper P is normally fed (Yes in step S3), the thumbnail images of the respective digital image files are displayed in a predetermined format in the order of the identification numbers in the file identification number list as shown in FIG. Along with the recording on the recording paper P, the marking area G for classification, the marking area S for which no storage is required, and the order sheet identification display SD are also recorded on the recording paper P in the arrangement shown in FIG. Is created (step S4) and discharged (step S5).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining digital image file by referring to the file identification number list (step S6). If there is a remaining digital image file (Yes in step S6), the next step is performed. The recording paper P is fed (step S2), and the next “order sheet” is created. On the other hand, if there is no remaining digital image file (No in step S6), the user is prompted to select whether or not to read the “order sheet” (step S7), and the procedure ends.

  For example, when there are a large number of digital image files in the nonvolatile memory card 303 and the “order sheet” is composed of a plurality of pages, one thumbnail image SM having a size that allows the image contents to be visually recognized. It is impossible to record them all on the order sheet. Therefore, in this “order sheet” creation procedure, as the information that can be identified from the order sheet identification display SD, the recording material corresponds to the nonvolatile memory card 303 in addition to the “order sheet”. It is preferable to include the total number of pages of the “order sheet” and the page number of each order sheet. When reading the “order sheet”, first, if the total number of pages of a series of “order sheets” composed of a plurality of pages and the page number of the “order sheet” can be specified from the order sheet identification display SD, When reading the marking state, the marking state can be correctly specified without being read in the order of the page numbers, and all the pages of the “order sheet” can be easily read without omission. The order sheet identification display SD may be constituted by, for example, a known barcode.

FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing an “order sheet” after marking by the user.
While viewing the list of thumbnail images SM (image A to image O) of the created “order sheet”, the user specifies the marking area G for classification that is a partition based on the desired classification condition from the images of the thumbnail images SM. To mark. The classification marking areas G are respectively arranged between adjacent thumbnail images SM in the order of arrangement. For example, in FIG. 6, when marking the classification marking area G between the thumbnail image SM of the image B and the thumbnail image SM of the image C, the respective digital image files corresponding to the images A to O are image A. And B and images C to O are classified into two groups.

  Further, the user can view the list of thumbnail images SM (image A to image O) of the created “order sheet”, and can specify the storage-free designation marking corresponding to the thumbnail image SM of the digital image file that is unnecessary and does not need to be saved. Mark area S. The storage-unnecessary designated marking area S is arranged in a one-to-one correspondence below the thumbnail images SM, and the digital image file of the thumbnail image SM marked with the preservation-unnecessary designated marking area S is stored in the hard disk drive 201. Are not saved on the hard disk and are not saved.

  The marking state of the “order sheet” after marking by the user as described above can be specified by reading the “order sheet” with the scanner unit 41.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reading the “order sheet” by the scanner unit 41.
Whether or not the order sheet reading switch 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) has been operated from the state in which the selection of whether or not to read the “order sheet” is displayed to the user (step S7 in FIG. 5). Is determined (step S11). If the order sheet reading switch 42 is not operated (No in step S11), it is determined whether or not the order sheet reading stop switch 43 is operated (step S12), and the order sheet reading stop switch 43 is operated. If yes (Yes in step S12), the procedure is terminated as it is. If the order sheet reading stop switch 43 has not been operated (No in step S12), the process returns to step S11 to determine again whether or not the order sheet reading switch 42 has been operated (step S11). On the other hand, when the order sheet reading switch 42 is operated (Yes in step S11), the order sheet identification display SD is read (step S13), and the recording sheet P to be read is “order sheet”. It is determined whether or not (step S14).

  When it is determined that the recording sheet P to be read is not “order sheet” because the order sheet identification display SD cannot be normally read because the order sheet identification display SD is not recorded at a predetermined position. (No in step S14), a reading error of “order sheet” is displayed and an operation selection display of rereading or canceling is displayed on a liquid crystal display or the like (not shown) (step S15), and the process returns to step S11. On the other hand, when the order sheet identification display SD can be normally read and it is determined that the recording sheet P to be read is “order sheet” (Yes in step S14), subsequently, “order sheet”. Each of the marking areas G for classification and the marking areas S that are not required to be stored is read, and the marking state is temporarily stored in the RAM 102 (step 16).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining “order sheet” (step S17). Whether or not the “order sheet” extends over a plurality of pages and the presence or absence of the remaining “order sheet” include the total number of pages of the “order sheet” included in the information that can be specified from the order sheet identification display SD and the “order sheet” "Can be specified from the page number. If there is a remaining “order sheet” (Yes in step 17), the next request for setting the “order sheet” and the operation selection display for reading or canceling are displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like (step S18). Return to step S11. When there is no remaining “order sheet” (No in step S17), an operation selection display for starting or stopping saving to the hard disk is displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like (step S19), and the procedure ends.

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating the reading of the “order sheet” by the PW sensor 34.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for reading the “order sheet” by the PW sensor 34.
The present invention can be implemented even in the ink jet recording apparatus 50 in which the scanner unit 41 is not mounted. In such an ink jet recording apparatus 50, it is possible to scan the “order sheet” by the PW sensor 34 mounted on the carriage 61 and read the marking state from the light reflectance of each marking column. . The procedure will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Steps S21 and S22 are the same as steps S11 and S12 in the flowchart shown in FIG. When the order sheet reading switch 42 is operated (Yes in step S21), the “order sheet” placed on the sheet feeding tray 57 is fed (step S23), and the carriage 61 is moved in the main scanning direction X. By moving, the “order sheet” is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y to a position where the PW sensor 34 can scan the order sheet identification display SD (step S24). The position of the order sheet identification display SD in the sub-scanning direction Y includes, for example, the “order sheet” format, the physical interval in the sub-scanning direction Y from the paper detector 33 to the PW sensor 34, and the paper detector 33. Thus, it is possible to specify from the accumulated transport amount starting from the time when the leading edge of the “order sheet” is detected.

  Subsequently, the carriage 61 is moved in the main scanning direction X, the order sheet identification display SD is scanned by the PW sensor 34 (main scanning X1 in FIG. 8), and the order sheet identification display SD is read (step S25). ), It is determined whether or not the recording paper P to be read is an “order sheet” (step S26). When it is determined that the recording sheet P to be read is not “order sheet” because the order sheet identification display SD cannot be normally read because the order sheet identification display SD is not recorded at a predetermined position. (No in step S26), a reading error of “order sheet” is displayed and an operation selection display of rereading or canceling is displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like (step S27), and the process returns to step S21.

  On the other hand, when the order sheet identification display SD can be normally read and it is determined that the recording paper P to be read is “order sheet” (Yes in step S26), the PW sensor 34 continues. The “order sheet” is conveyed to a position where the marking area (the marking area G for classification or the marking area S for which storage is not required) can be read (step S28), and the carriage 61 is moved in the main scanning direction X and scanned by the PW sensor 34. All the marking areas on the line are scanned (main scanning X2 in FIG. 8), the marking state of each marking area is read (step S29), and the read marking state is temporarily stored in the RAM 102 (step 30).

  Next, it is determined from the “order sheet” format whether or not there is a next marking area (step S31). If there is a next marking area (Yes in step S31), the process returns to step S28 to return to the remaining marking area. The remaining main scanning operation for reading the marking area is repeated (main scanning X3 to X11 in FIG. 8) to detect the marking state of all the marking areas. When the marking states of all the marking areas are read (No in step S31), after the “order sheet” is discharged (step S32), if the “order sheet” extends over a plurality of pages, the remaining It is determined whether or not there is an “order sheet” (step S33). If there is a remaining “order sheet” (Yes in step 33), the next request for setting the “order sheet” and the operation selection display for reading or canceling are displayed on the liquid crystal display or the like (step S34). Return to step S21. Subsequently, the above procedure (steps S21 to S33) is repeatedly executed, and when there is no remaining “order sheet” (No in step S33), an operation selection display for starting or stopping saving to the hard disk is displayed (step S34). ), The procedure ends.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for storing the digital image file in the nonvolatile memory card 303 in the hard disk of the hard disk drive 201. Note that the procedure shown in the flowchart is, for example, recording control when a user performs a predetermined storage operation when a series of digital image file groups can be input from the nonvolatile memory card 303 via the card IF 111. This is a procedure executed by the unit 100.

  First, it is determined whether or not a storage cancel operation has been performed by the user (step S41). If the storage cancel operation has been performed (Yes in step S41), the procedure is ended as it is. On the other hand, if the save cancel operation has not been performed (No in step S41), the file identification corresponding to the identification number in the file identification number list created and held in step S1 of the flowchart of FIG. 1 (initial value) is set to the count value n of the number counter (step S42). Further, 1 (initial value) is set to the count value m of the group identification number counter corresponding to the group identification number described later (step S43).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a digital image file corresponding to the count value n of the file identification number counter is in the nonvolatile memory card 303 with reference to the file identification number list (step S44). If there is a digital image file corresponding to the count value n of the file identification number counter (Yes in step S44), whether or not marking is performed on the storage-unnecessary designated marking area S corresponding to the thumbnail image SM of the digital image file. It judges from the marking state which memorizes (step S45).

  If the thumbnail image SM is not marked in the storage-marking designated marking area S (No in step S45), the digital image file with the file identification number n is associated with the group with the group number m (step S46). Subsequently, it is determined from the marking state storing whether or not the marking area G for classification between the thumbnail image SM of the digital image file on the “order sheet” and the next thumbnail image SM is marked. If the marking has been made (Yes in step S47), the count value m of the group identification number counter is incremented (step S48). On the other hand, if the thumbnail image SM is marked in the storage unnecessary designation marking area S (Yes in step S45), the digital image file having the file identification number n is excluded in order to exclude the digital image file from the storage target. Is associated with the storage unnecessary group (step S49).

  After the group association of the digital image file with the file identification number n is executed, the count value n of the file identification number is incremented (step S50), and the process returns to step S44 to correspond to the count value n of the file identification number counter after the increment. It is determined whether the digital image file to be stored is in the nonvolatile memory card 303 (step S44). After the steps S44 to S50 are repeatedly executed, when the digital image file corresponding to the incremented count value n of the file identification number counter is not in the nonvolatile memory card 303 (Step S44). No in S44), 1 (initial value) is set to the count value Fn of the folder identification number counter (step S51).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether the count value Fn of the folder identification number counter is equal to or smaller than the count value m of the group identification number counter (step S52). If the count value Fn of the folder identification number counter is less than or equal to the count value m of the group identification number counter (Yes in step S52), a folder with the number of the count value Fn on the hard disk of the hard disk drive 201 is created. (Step S53). Subsequently, all digital image files associated with the group identification number Fn are stored in the folder with the created folder name Fn (step S54), and the count value Fn of the folder identification number counter is incremented (step S55). Return to S52. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the count value Fn of the incremented folder identification number counter is equal to or smaller than the count value m of the group identification number counter (step S52).

  When the count value Fn of the folder identification number counter exceeds the count value m of the group identification number counter (No in step S52), all digital image files in the nonvolatile memory card 303 are stored for each group number m. Since it is classified into each folder and stored in the hard disk of the hard disk drive 201, the procedure is terminated.

According to such a procedure, the digital image file group in the nonvolatile memory card 303 will be described as follows, for example, by taking the marking state of the “order sheet” illustrated in FIG. 6 as an example.
The “order sheet” classification marking area G illustrated in FIG. 6 includes thumbnail images B and C, thumbnail images F and G, thumbnail images H and I, and thumbnail images J and K. The four points between are marked. In addition, since the thumbnail images D, H, and L are not required to be stored in the designated marking area S, the thumbnail image D, H, and L digital image files are associated with the storage-unnecessary group and stored in the hard disk drive 201. Excluded from being saved to the hard disk. Therefore, the digital image files of the thumbnail images A to O are classified as follows.
Group identification number 1 ... Images A and B
Group identification number 2 ... Images C, E, F
Group identification number 3 ... image G,
Group identification number 4 ... Images I and J
Group identification number 5 ... Images K, M, N, O
Unnecessary group… Images D, H, L
As described above, finally, digital image files of the following thumbnail images are classified as follows and stored in the hard disk of the hard disk drive 201.
Folder with folder name 1 Images A and B
Folder with folder name 2 ... Images C, E, F
Folder with folder name 3 ... image G
Folder with folder name 4 Image I, J
Folder with folder name 5: Images K, M, N, O
In this embodiment, the folder name to be automatically assigned is assigned the count value Fn of the folder identification number counter as it is. However, whatever folder name is automatically given on any basis, the present invention can be implemented. Is possible. For example, the latest or oldest shooting date or file creation date or time among the digital image files of each group may be used as the folder name.

  Thus, according to the ink jet recording apparatus 50 according to the present invention, the user can obtain a series of digital images such as a plurality of digital image files stored in the nonvolatile memory card 303 inserted in the card slot 200. For the file group, by marking each of the thumbnail image lists recorded in the “order sheet” while marking the marking area G for classification, the classification boundary is visually set and classified and stored. Can do. As a result, when a large number of digital image files are classified and managed on a storage medium in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus 50 equipped with a CD-R drive, a hard disk drive 201, etc. Digital image files can be classified and stored easily and intuitively with the combined classification criteria.

  In addition, since a series of digital image file groups can be classified and stored according to classification criteria according to individual circumstances rather than uniform classification as in the past, classification very close to the classification desired by the user is made. It can be expected that the digital image file will be saved in the state. Thus, it becomes easy for the user to search for a desired digital image file from the storage medium after saving, and the labor for searching can be reduced and the search time can be shortened.

  Furthermore, the user only needs to perform a minimum operation and “order sheet” marking, and then the inkjet recording apparatus 50 automatically classifies a series of digital image file groups and stores them in folders. Therefore, when a large number of digital image files are classified on a storage medium and managed collectively, the conventional complicated panel operation or the like becomes unnecessary, and convenience is improved.

  Furthermore, since the “order sheet” is provided with a storage-necessary designated marking area S, if an unnecessary digital image file is selected and marking the storage-necessary designated marking area S due to a failure in shooting, a large number of markings are designated. When digital image files are classified on a storage medium and collectively managed, unnecessary digital image files can be excluded in advance due to shooting failure or the like. Therefore, storing unnecessary digital image files can reduce the possibility that the storage capacity of a storage medium such as a hard disk will be wasted.

  Further, when the “order sheet” is read by the PW sensor 34 or the like mounted on the scanner unit 41 or the carriage 61, the order sheet identification display SD previously recorded at a predetermined position of the “order sheet” is detected. Since the marking state is read after confirming that the recording sheet P is indeed an “order sheet”, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring due to reading the recording sheet P other than the “order sheet”. Can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a schematic plan view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic side view of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a recording system according to the present invention. It is the top view which illustrated typically the order sheet which concerns on this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the preparation procedure of the order sheet which concerns on this invention. It is the top view which illustrated typically an example of the order sheet after marking. It is the flowchart which showed the reading procedure of the order sheet. It is the top view which illustrated reading of the order sheet by a PW sensor. It is the flowchart which showed the reading procedure of the order sheet. It is the flowchart which showed the reading procedure of the order sheet. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure preserve | saved to a hard disk. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure preserve | saved to a hard disk.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Recording system, 34 PW sensor, 41 Scanner unit, 42 Order sheet reading switch, 43 Order sheet reading stop switch, 50 Inkjet recording device, 100 Recording control part, 101 ROM, 102 RAM, 103 ASIC, 104 MPU, 105 Nonvolatile Memory, 200 card slot, 201 hard disk drive, 302 digital camera, 303 non-volatile memory card, G classification marking area, P recording paper, S storage unnecessary marking area, SD order sheet identification display, SM thumbnail image, X Main scanning direction, Y Sub scanning direction

Claims (5)

Digital image file input means capable of inputting a digital image file from the outside, an external storage device capable of reading and writing the digital image file, marking state reading means capable of reading the marking state of the order sheet, and the digital image A digital image input control via a file input means, a control device for controlling the external storage device and a control for reading the marking state of the order sheet by the marking state reading means, and on the recording surface of the recording material A recording apparatus having a configuration capable of recording a digital image based on a digital image file,
The control device is arranged between a thumbnail image list of a series of digital image file groups input by the digital image file input means or in an input enabled state and between thumbnail images adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the thumbnail image list. The order marking sheet is created by recording the marking area for classification on the recording material in a predetermined format,
Read the marking state of the order sheet after the user has marked with the marking state reading means,
A series of digital image files that have been input or are ready to be input by the digital image file input means with the marked marking area portion of the order sheet as the classification boundary in the classification sheet area of the read order sheet A group is classified into a plurality of groups, a folder is created for each group classified on a storage medium that is writable by the external storage device, and a digital image file of the group corresponding to each created folder is stored in each folder. A recording device characterized by storing. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device records the thumbnail image list, the marking area for classification, and a marking area that does not need to be stored for each thumbnail image on a recording material in a predetermined format. Create the order sheet,
The digital image file that is designated as not requiring storage is identified from the marking state of the marking-not-designated marking area of the read order sheet, and the identified digital image file is excluded from the storage target in the storage medium, Recording device. 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the order sheet is created, an order sheet identification display readable by the marking state reading unit is recorded at a predetermined position of the order sheet.
When reading the order sheet, whether or not the recording material is the order sheet is determined by whether or not the order sheet identification display is recorded at a predetermined position of the recording material in a state where the marking state is readable. A recording apparatus characterized by identifying whether or not. 4. The information that can be specified from the order sheet identification display according to claim 3, wherein the recording material is the order sheet, or a series of information that is input by the digital image file input means or in an inputable state. When the order sheet of the digital image file group is composed of a plurality of pages, the total number of pages of the order sheet and the page number of the order sheet are also included. A digital image file input means capable of inputting a digital image file from the outside, an external storage device capable of reading and writing the digital image file, and a marking state reading means capable of reading the marking state of the order sheet. In a recording apparatus having a configuration capable of executing recording of a digital image based on a digital image file on a recording surface of a recording material, digital image input control via the digital image file input means, control of the external storage device, and the marking A recording control program for causing a computer to execute a control for reading a marking state of the order sheet by a state reading unit,
A list of thumbnail images of a series of digital image files that have been input by the digital image file input means or are ready to be input, and classification markings arranged between thumbnail images adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the thumbnail image list A procedure for recording the area on a recording material in a predetermined format and creating the order sheet;
A procedure for reading the marking state of the order sheet after marking by the user with the marking state reading means;
A series of digital image files that have been input or are ready to be input by the digital image file input means with the marked marking area portion of the order sheet as the classification boundary in the classification sheet area of the read order sheet A procedure for classifying groups into groups,
A procedure for creating a folder for each group classified on a storage medium that is writable by the external storage device;
A recording control program comprising: a step of storing digital image files of a group corresponding to each created folder in each folder.

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