JP7056282B2 - Handy printer, printing method and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a handy printer , a printing method and a program.

A manual scanning type printing apparatus is known that prints a print target such as characters, symbols, marks, and patterns on a printing medium by grasping the housing and manually scanning.

Patent Document 1 discloses a manual scanning type printing apparatus including a reference indicator provided near the bottom surface of a housing and a display for displaying the relative positional relationship between the reference indicator and the image to be printed. .. This allows the user to know the relative positional relationship between the reference indicator and the printed image.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0223982

In the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the printing target is to be printed on the edge of the printing medium, there is a possibility that the printing target will be printed out of the printing medium unless the user accurately adjusts the printing position of the printing target. be. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, it is not easy to print the print target without protruding to the place where the user wants to print.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a handy printer , a printing method, and a program capable of printing without protruding into an area to be printed.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the handy printer according to the present invention is a handy printer capable of printing along with relative movement with a printing medium, and a plurality of printing elements, each of which ejects ink, are used. A print head arranged in a predetermined direction, a scanner arranged so that scan positions as reading positions of brightness information are arranged in parallel with the arrangement positions of the plurality of printing elements, and the printer prior to printing. The brightness information of the printed medium read by the scanner is stored as the printed medium information, or the brightness information of the printed surface on which the printed medium read by the scanner is placed prior to printing is received. Initial setting means stored as mounting surface information, the printed medium information or the mounted surface information stored by the initial setting means, and the brightness information read by the scanner at the time of printing. Based on the above, a specific means for specifying a printing element that is removed from the printing medium at the time of printing from among the plurality of printing elements, and a printing element specified by the specific means for ejecting the ink. It is characterized by comprising a print head control means for stopping the printing element while it is removed from the printing medium.
Further, one aspect of the printing method according to the present invention is a print head in which a plurality of printing elements, each of which ejects ink, are arranged in a predetermined direction, and the plurality of printing elements having a scanning position as a reading position of brightness information. It is a printing method executed by a handy printer which is provided with scanners arranged so as to be arranged parallel to the arrangement position of the above and is capable of printing along with relative movement with a printing medium . The brightness information of the printed medium read by the scanner prior to being stored as the printed medium information, or the brightness of the printed surface on which the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is placed. The initial setting step for storing information as the mounted surface information, the printed medium information or the mounted surface information stored in the initial setting step, and the scanner read by the scanner at the time of printing. Based on the brightness information, a specific step of specifying a printing element that is removed from the printing medium at the time of printing from among the plurality of printing elements, and a specific step of specifying the ink from the printing element specified in the specific step. It is characterized by including a print head control step of stopping the ejection while the printing element is off the printing medium.
Further, one aspect of the program according to the present invention is a print head in which a plurality of printing elements, each of which ejects ink, are arranged in a predetermined direction, and the scanning position as a reading position of brightness information is the plurality of printing elements. A handy printer computer equipped with a scanner arranged so as to be arranged parallel to the arrangement position and capable of printing along with relative movement with the printing medium was read by the scanner prior to the printing. The brightness information of the printed medium is stored as the printed medium information, or the brightness information of the mounted surface on which the printed medium is placed, which is read by the scanner prior to printing, is stored as the printed surface information. Based on the initial setting means, the printed medium information or the mounted surface information stored by the initial setting means, and the brightness information read by the scanner at the time of printing. The printing element receives the ejection of the ink from the specific means for specifying the printing element that is removed from the printing medium at the time of printing from the plurality of printing elements, and the printing element specified by the specific means. It is characterized in that it functions as a print head control means for stopping while it is off the print medium.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a handy printer , a printing method and a program capable of printing without protruding into an area to be printed.

It is a figure which shows the handy printer and the terminal apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view which shows the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the transmission process performed by the terminal apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the printing process which the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the print area detection process which the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the dot line printing process which the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure explaining the printing process executed by the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the printing process executed by the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the printing process executed by the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the printing process executed by the handy printer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printed medium which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printed medium which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printed medium which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the handy printer which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Hereinafter, the printing apparatus according to the embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the handy printer (printing apparatus) 100 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 101 having a size that is easy for the user to grasp by hand, and is scanned by the user in the sub-scanning direction. , Characters, symbols, logos, characters, marks, patterns, etc. are printed so as not to protrude from the printed medium R. The data indicating the print target to be printed by the handy printer 100 is transmitted from the terminal device 200. The terminal device 200 is composed of, for example, a smart phone provided with a display 230 and a tablet PC (Personal Computer). The handy printer 100 and the terminal device 200 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a wireless line. The handy printer 100 and the terminal device 200 constitute a printing system 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the handy printer 100 has a decision button 120 for receiving an instruction to start printing, and an indicator 130 indicating a position to start printing. The surface on which the decision button 120 is provided is the upper surface.

The indicator 130 indicates a position to start printing when scanning in the sub-scanning direction and printing. The indicator 130 has a light guide plate, an LED that emits red light (Light Emitting Diode), an LED that emits green light, and an LED that emits blue light, and emits light in any color. The indicator 130 has a shape extending in a direction parallel to the main scanning direction of the print head 160 described later. The indicator 130 is arranged at a position where it overlaps with the print head 160 when the upper surface is viewed vertically and the indicator 130 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a reference distance described later. The main scanning direction is orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, a scanning distance detection unit 140, a scanner 150, and a print head 160 are provided on the bottom surface of the handy printer 100.

The scanning distance detection unit 140 is composed of a light source such as an LED and an optical sensor, and detects the distance scanned by the handy printer 100 in the sub-scanning direction.

The scanner 150 is composed of n light receiving elements provided side by side in a line in the main scanning direction and an LED light source, and the scanner 150 reads an image in a scanned area. The scanner 150 is arranged at a position separated by a reference distance d1 from the end of the indicator 130, and has the first light receiving element P1 to the nth light receiving element Pn.

The print head 160 includes a magenta color print head 160M that ejects magenta ink, a cyan print head 160C that ejects cyan ink, a yellow print head 160Y that ejects yellow ink, and inks of each color (not shown). It consists of a tank. The print heads 160M, 160C, and 160Y are each provided with n nozzles, which are printing elements, arranged side by side in a line in the main scanning direction. The number of nozzles is the same as n, which is the number of light receiving elements of the scanner 150. The magenta color print head 160M includes the first nozzle M1 to the nth nozzle Mn. The cyan color print head includes the first nozzle C1 to the nth nozzle Cn. The yellow print head 160Y includes the first nozzle Y1 to the nth nozzle Yn. The print head 160 selectively ejects ink from the nozzles by energizing the print target. The magenta color print head 160M is arranged at a position separated from the scanner 150 by a reference distance d2. The cyan color print head 160C is arranged at a position separated from the scanner 150 by a reference distance d3. The yellow print head 160Y is arranged at a position separated from the scanner 150 by a reference distance d4.

As an electrical configuration, the handy printer 100 has a control unit in addition to the above-mentioned decision button 120, an indicator 130, a scanning distance detection unit 140, a scanner 150, and a print head 160, as shown in FIG. It includes 110, a communication unit 170, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 180, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 190.

The control unit 110 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. By executing the program stored in the ROM 180, the control unit 110 functions as a print target acquisition unit 111, an indicator display control unit 112, a print area detection unit 113, and a print head control unit 114.

The print target acquisition unit 111 acquires data indicating a print target transmitted from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 170 and stores it in the RAM 190.

The indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 to notify the user of the start of printing and the completion of printing. When the print target acquisition unit 111 acquires data indicating the print target and enters the print standby state, the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in green. When the enter button 120 is pressed, the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in white, and when printing is completed, the indicator 130 lights in blue. After that, the indicator display control unit 112 turns off the indicator 130 after a certain period of time has elapsed.

The print area detection unit 113 detects the printed medium R as a print area from the area read by the scanner 150. Specifically, when the print area detection unit 113 determines that the handy printer 100 has been scanned by the reference distance d1 after the decision button 120 is pressed, the 1-dot line read by the scanner 150 is scanned every 1-dot pitch. It is determined whether or not the printed medium R is detected from the image of. Specifically, when the luminance detected by each pixel of the scanner 150 is larger than the reference luminance, it is determined that the print medium R has been detected. After that, the print area detection unit 113 stores in the RAM 190 a portion where the printed medium R is detected each time the dot pitch is scanned.

The print head control unit 114 is on the print medium R among the plurality of print elements based on the scan distance scanned in the sub-scanning direction detected by the scan distance detection unit 140 and the detection result of the print area detection unit 113. The print head 160 is controlled so that the print target is printed by the print element, and the image to be printed is printed on the portion where the print medium R is detected by the print head 160. Specifically, assuming that the handy printer 100 is scanned for a distance L after the determination button 120 is pressed, the print head control unit 114 is scanned when the determination button 120 is pressed and then the distance L-reference distance d2 is scanned. A magenta color print head 160M is made to print a 1-dot line of an image to be printed on a portion where the print medium R is detected. Further, the print head control unit 114 is one of the images to be printed on the cyan color print head 160C at the portion where the print medium R is detected when the distance L-reference distance d3 is scanned after the decision button 120 is pressed. Have the dot line printed. Further, the print head control unit 114 displays the image to be printed on the yellow print head 160Y at the portion where the print medium R is detected when the distance L-reference distance d4 is scanned after the decision button 120 is pressed. 1 Dot line is printed.

The enter button 120 receives an instruction to start printing based on the user's operation.

As described above, the scanning distance detecting unit 140 detects the scanned distance, which is the distance scanned by the print head 160 with respect to the printed medium R, and outputs data indicating the detected scanned distance to the control unit 110. Output.

As described above, the scanner 150 detects the printed medium R for each dot line and outputs the data indicating the detected printed medium R to the control unit 110.

As described above, the print head 160 prints data from a nozzle provided in the print head 160 each time the print head 160 scans a distance corresponding to a dot pitch in the sub-scanning direction under the control of the print head control unit 114. Ink is selectively ejected for each YMC (Yellow Magenta Cyan) accordingly. The ejected ink adheres to the print medium R, and pixels (1 dot line) arranged in a line in the main scanning direction of the print head 160 are printed.

The communication unit 170 receives the image to be printed and the data indicating the scanning direction from the terminal device 200. The communication unit 170 is composed of a wireless communication module such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) and Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The ROM 180 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and as described above, the control unit 110 stores a program for realizing various functions, a reference luminance, and reference distances d1 to d4. The RAM 190 is composed of a volatile memory and is used as a work area for the control unit 110 to execute a program for performing various processes. Further, the RAM 190 stores data such as YMC image data, a distance L, and a print area of the image to be printed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal device 200 includes a control unit 210, a communication unit 220, a display 230, an operation unit 240, a ROM 250, and a RAM 260.

The control unit 210 is composed of a CPU and the like. The control unit 210 functions as the print target acquisition unit 211 and the print target transmission unit 212 by executing the program stored in the ROM 250.

The print target acquisition unit 211 acquires data indicating a print target received by the operation unit 240 or received by the communication unit 220.

The print target transmission unit 212 transmits data indicating a print target to the handy printer 100 via the communication unit 220.

The communication unit 220 transmits data indicating a print target to the handy printer 100. The communication unit 220 is composed of a wireless communication module such as a wireless LAN and Bluetooth (registered trademark), similarly to the communication unit 170 described above.

The display 230 displays an input image to be printed and an image necessary for operation, and is composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display) or the like.

The operation unit 240 receives data indicating a print target and instructions for starting and ending the printing process based on the input of the user. The operation unit 240 and the display 230 form a touch panel display device.

The ROM 250 is composed of a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and the control unit 210 stores programs for realizing various functions. The RAM 260 is composed of a volatile memory and is used as a work area for the control unit 210 to execute a program for performing various processes. Further, the RAM 260 stores data indicating a print target.

Next, the transmission process executed by the terminal device 200 having the above configuration and the print process executed by the handy printer 100 will be described.

The terminal device 200 responds to an instruction from the user to start the process, and starts the transmission process shown in FIG. Further, the handy printer 100 starts the printing process shown in FIG. 7 in response to the instruction from the user to start the process. Hereinafter, the transmission process executed by the terminal device 200 and the print process executed by the handy printer 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, the print target acquisition unit 211 receives the data indicating the print target input to the operation unit 240 (step S101). The print target acquisition unit 211 stores the received data indicating the print target in the RAM 260. Next, the print target transmission unit 212 determines whether or not an instruction to transmit data indicating the print target has been accepted (step S102). If the instruction to transmit data is not accepted (step S102; No), step S102 is repeated. When the instruction to transmit the data is received (step S102; Yes), the print target transmission unit 212 transmits the data indicating the print target to the handy printer 100 via the communication unit 220 (step S103).

Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the print target transmission process has been input (step S104). If the instruction to end the transmission process is not input (step S104; No), the process returns to step S101, and steps S101 to S104 are repeated. When an instruction to end the transmission process is input (step S104; Yes), the transmission process ends.

When the data of the print target and the scanning direction are transmitted from the terminal device 200, as shown in FIG. 7, the print target acquisition unit 111 of the handy printer 100 has the print target transmitted from the terminal device 200 via the communication unit 170. The data indicating the above is acquired and stored in the RAM 190 (step S201). Next, the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in green (step S202). As a result, the handy printer 100 is put into a print standby state.

Next, the indicator display control unit 112 determines whether or not the decision button 120 has been pressed (step S203). If it is determined that the enter button 120 is not pressed (step S203; No), step S203 is repeated. When it is determined that the enter button 120 has been pressed (step S203; Yes), the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in white (step S204). Next, the print area detection unit 113 determines whether or not the handy printer 100 has been scanned by the reference distance d1 after the decision button 120 is pressed (step S205). If it is determined that the reference distance d1 has not been scanned (step S205; No), step S205 is repeated. When it is determined that the reference distance d1 has been scanned (step S205; Yes), the print area detection unit 113 executes the print area detection process (step S206).

When the print area detection process starts, as shown in FIG. 8, the print area detection unit 113 sets the variable i = 1 (step S301). The print area detection unit 113 detects the distance L scanned by the handy printer 100 after the decision button 120 is pressed (step S302). Initially, the distance L = the reference distance d1. The print area detection unit 113 determines whether or not the first light receiving element P1 of the scanner 150 has detected the printed medium R (step S303). Specifically, when the brightness detected by the first light receiving element P1 is larger than the reference brightness, it is determined that the printed medium R has been detected. When the print area detection unit 113 determines that the first light receiving element P1 of the scanner 150 has detected the printed medium R (step S303; Yes), the first light receiving element P1 is printed at the scanned distance L. The fact that the medium R has been detected is stored in the RAM 190 (step S304). Next, it is determined whether or not the variable i = n (step S305). On the other hand, when the print area detection unit 113 determines that the first light receiving element P1 of the scanner 150 has not detected the printed medium R (step S303; No), the process proceeds to step S305.

Since the variable i = 1, it is determined that the variable i = n is not (step S305; No). Next, i is incremented (step S306), and the process returns to step S303. Steps S303 to S306 are repeated until the variable i = n. As described above, n is the number of light receiving elements of the scanner 150. By repeating steps S303 to S306, the portion of the 1-dot line image read by the scanner 150 when the decision button 120 is pressed and then scanned at a distance L stores the portion where the printed medium R is detected in the RAM 190. Will be done. When the print area detection unit 113 determines that the variable i = n (step S305; Yes), the print area detection process ends and the process returns to the print process shown in FIG. 7.

Next, the print head control unit 114 executes the dot line printing process (step S207). When the dot line printing process starts, the print head control unit 114 sets the variable i = 1 as shown in FIG. 9 (step S401). When the handy printer 100 is scanned at a distance L-reference distance d2 after the decision button 120 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the first light receiving element P1 has detected the printed medium R (step S402). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the fact that the printed medium R is detected by the first light receiving element P1 of the scanner 150 at the scanned distance L-reference distance d2 is stored in the RAM 190. When it is determined that the first light receiving element has detected the print medium R when the distance L-reference distance d2 is scanned (step S402; Yes), the print head control unit 114 is set to 1 of the magenta color print head 160M. Ink is ejected to the second nozzle M1 (step S403). On the other hand, if it is determined that the first light receiving element P1 has not detected the printed medium R when the distance L-reference distance d2 is scanned (step S402; No), the process proceeds to step S404.

Next, when the handy printer 100 is scanned at a distance L-reference distance d3 after the decision button 120 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the first light receiving element P1 has detected the printed medium R (step S404). .. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the fact that the printed medium R is detected by the first light receiving element P1 of the scanner 150 at the scanned distance L-reference distance d3 is stored in the RAM 190. When it is determined that the first light receiving element P1 has detected the print medium R when the distance L-reference distance d3 is scanned (step S404; Yes), the print head control unit 114 of the cyan color print head 160C Ink is ejected to the first nozzle C1 (step S405). On the other hand, if it is determined that the first light receiving element P1 has not detected the printed medium R when the distance L-reference distance d3 is scanned (step S404; No), the process proceeds to step S406.

Next, when the handy printer 100 is scanned at a distance L-reference distance d4 after the decision button 120 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the first light receiving element P1 is detected as the print medium R (step S406). .. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the fact that the printed medium R is detected by the first light receiving element P1 of the scanner 150 is stored in the RAM 190 at the scanned distance L-reference distance d4. When it is determined that the first light receiving element P1 has detected the printed medium R when the distance L-reference distance d4 is scanned (step S406; Yes), the print head control unit 114 sets the yellow print head 160Y to 1. Ink is ejected to the second nozzle Y1 (step S407). On the other hand, if it is determined that the first light receiving element P1 has not detected the printed medium R when the distance L-reference distance d4 is scanned (step S406; No), the process proceeds to step S408.

Next, the print head control unit 114 determines whether or not the variable i = n (step S408). Since the variable i = 1, it is determined that the variable i = n is not (step S408; No). Next, i is incremented (step S409), and the process returns to step S402. Steps S402 to S409 are repeated until the variable i = n. By repeating steps S402 to S409, the print head control unit 114 arranges the images to be printed stored in the RAM 190 in the portion where the print medium R is detected in a line in the main scanning direction for each YMC1. A 1-dot line, which is a pixel line, is printed. When the print head control unit 114 determines that the variable i = n (step S408; Yes), the dot line printing process is terminated and the process returns to the printing process shown in FIG. 7.

Next, the print area detection unit 113 determines whether or not the handy printer 100 has been scanned for a distance corresponding to one dot pitch (step S208). If it is determined that the distance corresponding to one dot pitch has not been scanned (step S208; No), step S208 is repeated. When it is determined that the distance has been scanned corresponding to one dot pitch (step S208; Yes), it is determined whether or not the printing of the print target has been completed (step S209). If it is determined that the printing of the print target has not been completed (step S209; No), the process returns to step S206, and steps S206 to S209 are repeated until printing is completed. By repeating steps S206 to S209, the print area detection unit 113 stores the portion of the 1-dot line image in which the printed medium R is detected every time the distance is scanned corresponding to the 1-dot pitch. The print head control unit 114 prints a 1-dot line of the image to be printed on the portion where the print medium R is detected.

When it is determined that the printing of the print target is completed (step S209; Yes), the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in blue (step S210). After that, the indicator 130 is turned off (step S211), and the printing process is completed.

Next, the print process executed by the handy printer 100 and the transmission process executed by the terminal device 200 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13 based on specific examples.

The handy printer 100 prints a print target on a portion of the area read by the scanner 150 that is determined to be the print medium R. Further, when the user arranges the indicator 130 of the handy printer 100 at the position where he / she wants to start printing, presses the enter button 120, and scans the handy printer 100, printing starts from the position of the indicator 130 when the enter button 120 is pressed. Will be done. As a result, the user can easily print the print target so as not to protrude from the print medium R. Here, an example of printing the “mesh pattern” to be printed at the planned printing position P of the printed medium R shown in FIG. 10 without protruding from the printed medium R will be described.

First, in response to the instruction from the user to start the process, the handy printer 100 starts the print process, and the terminal device 200 starts the transmission process. When the terminal device 200 starts the print target transmission process, the print target acquisition unit 211 acquires data indicating the print target input to the operation unit 240 (step S101; FIG. 6). At this time, the print target acquisition unit 211 acquires the "mesh pattern" input by the user as the print target. Next, when the instruction to transmit the data is received (step S102; Yes; FIG. 6), the print target transmission unit 212 transmits the data indicating the print target to the handy printer 100 via the communication unit 220 (step S103; FIG. 6). After that, when an instruction to end the transmission process is input (step S104; Yes; FIG. 6), the transmission process ends.

Next, when the data indicating the print target is transmitted from the terminal device 200, the print target acquisition unit 111 of the handy printer 100 acquires the data indicating the print target transmitted from the terminal device 200 and stores it in the RAM 190 ( Step S201; FIG. 7). Next, the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in green (step S202; FIG. 7).

Next, when the user presses the enter button 120 with the indicator 130 aligned with the scheduled print position P (step S203; Yes; FIG. 7), the indicator display control unit 112 lights the indicator 130 in white (step S204; FIG. 7). Next, when the print area detection unit 113 determines that the reference distance d1 has been scanned after the decision button 120 is pressed (step S205; Yes; FIG. 7), the print area detection unit 113 executes the print area detection process. (Step S206; FIG. 7).

In the print area detection process, when the determination button 120 is pressed and the distance L is scanned, the portion of the 1-dot line image read by the scanner 150 in which the print medium R is detected is stored in the RAM 190. As shown in FIG. 11, when the determination button 120 is pressed and then scanned for a distance L1, the first light receiving element P1 to the mth light receiving element Pm is located on the printed medium R, so that the first light receiving element P1 is scanned. The light receiving element Pm thth from the light receiving element P1 detects the print medium R. After that, the RAM 190 stores that the first light receiving element P1 to the mth light receiving element Pm has detected the printed medium R. It should be noted that 1 <m <n.

Next, the dot line printing process is executed (step S207; FIG. 7). In the dot line printing process, when the handy printer 100 is scanned at a distance L1-reference distance d2 after the decision button 120 is pressed, ink is ejected from the magenta color print head 160M to the portion where the print medium R is detected. Assuming that the position shown in FIG. 11 is the position scanned by the distance L1 and the distance L1-reference distance d2 is scanned, the first light receiving element P1 to the oth light receiving element Po are located on the printed medium R. The portion of the 1-dot line image read by the scanner 150 in which the printed medium R is detected is the portion read by the first light receiving element P1 to the oth light receiving element Po. It should be noted that 1 <o <m. The print head control unit 114 ejects ink from the first nozzle M1 of the magenta color print head 160M corresponding to the first light receiving element P1 to the oth light receiving element Po to the nozzle Mo. At the position where the handy printer 100 is scanned at the distance L1-reference distance d3 or the distance L1-reference distance d4, the scanner 150 is not located on the print medium R, so that the print medium R is not read by the scanner 150. Therefore, ink is not ejected from the cyan print head 160C and the yellow print head 160Y.

When the handy printer 100 is scanned at the position shown in FIG. 12, the first light receiving element P1 to the pth light receiving element Pp of the scanner 150 is located on the printed medium R, and therefore the light receiving element P1 to the pth. The light receiving element Pp of the above detects the printed medium R. After that, the RAM 190 stores that the first light receiving element P1 to the pth light receiving element Pp have detected the printed medium R. It should be noted that 1 <q <n.

Next, the dot line printing process is executed (step S207; FIG. 7). In the dot line printing process, assuming that the position shown in FIG. 12 is the position scanned by the distance L2, the printed medium R is detected when the handy printer 100 is scanned by the distance L2-reference distance d2 after the enter button 120 is pressed. Ink is ejected from the magenta color printing head 160M to the printed portion. Distance L2-Reference distance d2 When scanned, the first light receiving element P1 to the qth light receiving element Pq are located on the printed medium R, so that the 1-dot line image read by the scanner 150 is covered. The portion where the print medium R is detected is a portion read by the first light receiving element P1 to the qth light receiving element Pq. The print head control unit 114 ejects ink from the first nozzle M1 to the qth nozzle Mq of the magenta color print head 160M corresponding to the qth light receiving element Pq from the first light receiving element P1. At the position where the handy printer 100 is scanned at the distance L2-reference distance d3 or the distance L2-reference distance d4, the print medium R is read by the entire scanner 150, so that the cyan color print head 160C and the yellow print head 160Y are used. Ink is ejected from the 1st to nth nozzles.

Next, when the handy printer 100 is scanned at the position shown in FIG. 13, it is determined that printing of the print target is completed (step S209; Yes; FIG. 7), and the indicator display control unit 112 turns the indicator 130 blue. Lights up (step S210; FIG. 7). After that, the indicator 130 is turned off (step S211; FIG. 7), and the printing process is terminated.

As described above, according to the handy printer 100 of the present embodiment, the printed medium R is detected by the scanner 150, and the print target is printed by the print head 160 at the position where the printed medium R is detected. Therefore, the print target can be printed so that the print target is not printed at a position other than the print medium R and does not protrude from the print medium R. Further, since the number of nozzles of the print head 160 of each color of the handy printer 100 is the same as the number of n nozzles, which is the number of light receiving elements of the scanner 150, printing is performed accurately so that the print target does not protrude from the printed medium R. can. This is particularly effective when printing an image such as a pattern so that it does not protrude from the edge of the printed medium R.

(Modification example)
In the handy printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example in which the reference luminance as a reference for detecting the print medium R is stored in the ROM 180 in advance has been described. The handy printer 100 only needs to be able to detect the printed medium R, and even if the scanner 150 of the handy printer 100 scans the printed medium R in advance and the print area detection unit 113 stores the luminance information of the printed medium R in the RAM 190. good. In this case, the printed medium R can be detected even when the luminance of the printed medium R is different from the reference luminance stored in advance. The handy printer 100 can detect the printed medium R from the luminance information obtained by scanning the printed medium R in advance. Further, information indicating a pattern such as a color or a pattern of the printed medium R may be stored, and the printed medium R may be detected by the pattern such as a color or a pattern.

In the handy printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example in which the print area detection unit 113 detects the printed medium R has been described. The handy printer 100 only needs to be able to print a print target on the print medium R, the print area detection unit 113 detects an area other than the print medium R as a print prohibited area, and the print head control unit 114 uses the print head 160 to detect an area other than the print medium R. It may be controlled not to print in the print prohibition area. For example, a region where the detected luminance is less than the reference luminance may be set as a print prohibition region. Further, the print prohibited area is scanned in advance by the scanner 150, and the print area detection unit 113 stores the luminance information of the print prohibited area in the RAM 190. In this case, by scanning the print prohibited area with the scanner 150 in advance and storing the luminance information of the print prohibited area in the RAM 190, it is possible to prevent the handy printer 100 from printing the print target in the print prohibited area. Further, information indicating a pattern such as a color or a pattern of the print prohibited area B shown in FIG. 14 may be stored, and the print area detection unit 113 may detect the print prohibited area B by a pattern such as a color or a pattern. The print prohibited area B includes a desk or the like on which the print medium R is placed.

Further, the handy printer 100 scans the area other than the printed medium R and the printed medium R in advance with the scanner 150, and stores information such as the brightness of the printed medium R and the area other than the printed medium R in the RAM 190. The print area or the print prohibited area may be detected based on the brightness between the brightness of the print medium R and the brightness of the area other than the print medium R. By doing so, the area between the printed medium R and the area other than the printed medium R can be accurately detected.

Further, the print area detection unit 113 may detect the edge portion E of the print medium R and detect the inside of the edge portion E as the print medium R. In this case, the print area detection unit 113 receives in advance information on whether scanning is started from the printed medium R before the start of printing or scanning is started from outside the printed medium R. When the information to start scanning is received from the print medium R, printing is started when the enter button 120 is pressed, and when the edge portion E is detected, printing is ended at the position where the edge portion E is detected. When the information that the scanning is started from the outside of the print medium R is received and the edge portion E is detected after the decision button 120 is pressed, printing is started from the position where the edge portion E is detected. When the edge portion E is detected again after the printing is started, the printing is ended at the position where the edge portion E is detected. The edge portion E may be detected by the luminance difference between the printed medium R shown in FIG. 15 and the region outside the printed medium R.

Further, the print area detection unit 113 may detect the line EL indicating the edge portion E and detect the inside of the line EL as the print area. For example, the line EL shown in FIG. 16 may be detected, the inside surrounded by the line EL may be detected as a print area, and the print target may be printed inside the line EL.

In the handy printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, the print area is detected by the luminance, but the method of detecting the print area may be other than the luminance. For example, the print area detection unit 113 may detect the print area by color or pattern.

In the handy printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example in which the scanner 150 has n light receiving elements and the print heads 160M, 160C, 160Y have n nozzles has been described. The handy printer 100 only needs to be able to detect the print medium R by the scanner 150 and print the print target on the portion where the print medium R is detected by the print head 160, and the scanner 150 has a plurality of light receiving elements. The number of light receiving elements of the scanner 150 and the number of nozzles of the print heads 160M, 160C, and 160Y may be different. In this case, printing is performed on the printed medium R in which the printed medium R is detected by the light receiving element of the scanner 150 corresponding to the nozzles of the print heads 160M, 160C, 160Y.

For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the scanner 150 may have light receiving elements Pa to Pe. In this case, the area of the printed medium R may be calculated between the light receiving elements Pa to Pe by complementing the data of the area of the printed medium R detected by the light receiving elements Pa to Pe. As the completion method, linear interpolation, spline completion, or the like can be used. By reducing the number of light receiving elements of the scanner 150, the cost of the scanner 150 can be suppressed.

In the handy printer 100 of the above-described embodiment, an example having a scanner 150 having light receiving elements provided side by side in a line in the main scanning direction has been described. As long as the scanner 150 can acquire information on the print area, a camera that captures the print area may be used as the scanner 150.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the print head 160 ejects magenta, cyan, and yellow inks from the nozzles has been described. However, the print head 160 may eject single-color or two-color inks. It may eject ink of four or more colors. Further, although an example of an inkjet type in which the print head 160 is provided with nozzles arranged in a line is described, the print head 160 may be a thermal type or another type. ..

Further, the central part of the handy printer 100 composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM and the like, the transmission process and the print process executed by the terminal device 200, is a normal information mobile terminal (smartphone,) regardless of the dedicated system. It can be executed using a tablet PC), a personal computer, or the like. For example, a computer program for performing the above operations may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium (flexible disc, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory), etc.). An information terminal that executes the above-mentioned processing may be configured by storing and distributing the computer program and installing this computer program on an information mobile terminal or the like. Further, the computer program may be stored in a storage device of a server device on a communication network such as the Internet, and the information processing device may be configured by downloading or the like by a normal information processing terminal or the like.

Further, when the functions of the handy printer 100 and the terminal device 200 are realized by the division of the OS (Operating System) and the application program or the cooperation between the OS and the application program, only the application program portion is used as a recording medium or a recording medium. It may be stored in a storage device.

It is also possible to superimpose a computer program on a carrier wave and distribute it via a communication network. For example, the computer program may be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication network, and the computer program may be distributed via the network. Then, by starting this computer program and executing it in the same manner as other application programs under the control of the OS, the above-mentioned processing may be executed.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and the present invention includes the invention described in the claims and the equivalent range thereof. included. The inventions described in the original claims of the present application are described below.

(Appendix 1)
With the print head,
A housing having the print head on the bottom and
A scanning distance detecting means for detecting the distance scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the housing, and
A print area detection means for detecting a print area for printing a print target, and
A print head control means for causing the print head to print the print target in the print area detected by the print area detecting means.
A printing apparatus characterized by being provided with.

(Appendix 2)
Equipped with a scanner that reads the image of the scanned area
The print area detecting means detects the print area from the image read by the scanner.
The printing apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 3)
The print area detecting means detects a portion having a brightness higher than the reference luminance from the image read by the scanner as the print area.
The printing apparatus according to Appendix 2, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 4)
The print area detecting means detects a portion having a brightness lower than the reference luminance from the image read by the scanner as a print prohibited area.
The print head control means prints the print target on a portion other than the print prohibited area.
The printing apparatus according to Appendix 2 or 3, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 5)
The print area detecting means acquires a color or a pattern from an image read by the scanner, and detects the print area or the print prohibited area by the color or the pattern.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 2 to 4, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 6)
The print area detecting means detects an edge portion and detects the inside of the edge portion as the print area.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 5, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 7)
The print area detecting means detects the printed medium as the print area.
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 6, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 8)
The print head has a plurality of printing elements provided side by side in a line in the main scanning direction.
The print head control means prints the print target by the print element on the print area among the plurality of print elements based on the detection results of the scanning distance detecting means and the print area detecting means. Controlling the print head,
The printing apparatus according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to 7, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above.

(Appendix 9)
With the print head,
A housing having the print head on the bottom and
A scanning distance detecting means for detecting the distance scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the housing, and
Using a printing device equipped with
A print area detection step that detects the print area to print the print target, and
A print head control step for causing the print head to print the print target in the print area detected by the print area detection step.
A printing method characterized by comprising.

(Appendix 10)
With the print head,
A housing having the print head on the bottom and
A scanning distance detecting means for detecting the distance scanned in the sub-scanning direction of the housing, and
A computer that controls a printing device,
A print area detecting means for detecting a print area for printing a print target,
A print head control means for causing the print head to print the print target in the print area detected by the print area detecting means.
To function as,
A program characterized by that.

1 ... printing system, 100 ... handy printer, 101 ... housing, 110, 210 ... control unit, 111, 211 ... print target acquisition unit, 112 ... indicator display control unit, 113 ... print area detection unit, 114 ... print head control Unit, 120 ... Enter button, 130 ... Indicator, 140 ... Scanning distance detector, 150 ... Scanner, 160 ... Print head, 160M ... Magenta color print head, 160C ... Cyan color print head, 160Y ... Yellow print head, 170, 220 ... Communication unit, 180, 250 ... ROM, 190, 260 ... RAM, 200 ... Terminal device, 212 ... Print target transmission unit, 230 ... Display, 240 ... Operation unit, R ... Printed medium, d1 to d4 ... Reference distance

Claims (5)

It is a handy printer that can print along with the relative movement with the print medium.
A print head in which a plurality of printing elements, each of which ejects ink, are arranged in a predetermined direction.
A scanner arranged so that the scan position as the reading position of the luminance information is arranged in parallel with the arrangement position of the plurality of printing elements.
The brightness information of the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is stored as the printed medium information, or the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is placed on the printed medium. Initial setting means for storing surface brightness information as mounting surface information,
The printable medium at the time of printing based on the printable medium information or the mounted surface information stored by the initial setting means and the luminance information read by the scanner at the time of printing. A specific means for identifying a printing element that deviates from the top from among the plurality of printing elements, and
A print head control means for stopping the ejection of the ink from the printing element specified by the specific means while the printing element is removed from the printing medium.
A handy printer characterized by being equipped with. The scanner is arranged so as to be positioned in front of the print head in a direction in which the scanner is moved relative to the print medium.
The handy printer according to claim 1. The scanner is arranged so that the scan position is parallel to the direction orthogonal to the direction of relative movement with respect to the print medium.
The handy printer according to claim 1 or 2. A print head in which a plurality of printing elements, each of which ejects ink, are arranged in a predetermined direction, and a scanning position as a reading position of brightness information are arranged so as to be aligned in parallel with the arrangement position of the plurality of printing elements. It is a printing method executed by a handy printer, which is equipped with a scanner and is capable of printing along with relative movement to a printing medium .
The brightness information of the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is stored as the printed medium information, or the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is placed on the printed medium. The initial setting step to store the brightness information of the surface as the printed surface information,
Based on the printed medium information or the mounted surface information stored in the initial setting step and the luminance information read by the scanner at the time of printing, the printed medium at the time of printing. A specific step of specifying a printing element that deviates from the top from among the plurality of printing elements, and
A print head control step for stopping the ejection of the ink from the printing element specified in the specific step while the printing element is off the printing medium.
A printing method characterized by including . A print head in which a plurality of printing elements, each of which ejects ink, are arranged in a predetermined direction, and a scanning position as a reading position of brightness information are arranged so as to be aligned in parallel with the arrangement position of the plurality of printing elements. A handy printer computer that is equipped with a scanner and is capable of printing with relative movement to the printing medium .
The brightness information of the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is stored as the printed medium information, or the printed medium read by the scanner prior to printing is placed on the printed medium. Initial setting means for storing surface brightness information as mounted surface information,
The printed medium at the time of printing is based on the information on the printed medium or the mounted surface information stored by the initial setting means and the luminance information read by the scanner at the time of printing. A specific means for identifying a printing element that deviates from the top from among the plurality of printing elements.
A print head control means for stopping the ejection of ink from a printing element specified by the specific means while the printing element is removed from the printing medium.
A program characterized by functioning as.

Images