JP7151386B2 - PRINTING DEVICE, PRINTING SUPPORT METHOD AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device, a printing support method, and a program.

Patent Document 1 describes a handy printer that prints an image on a recording paper with a recording head while manually moving the printer body on the recording paper.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-225512

In the handy printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, since scanning is manually performed by the user, the user's assumption of the image may vary depending on the misjudgment of the print start position, that is, the position and angle at which the handy printer is placed when printing is started. You may not be able to print in the specified print range. Also, the image printed by the handy printer may be too large or too small for the print range expected by the user. As described above, even if the image to be printed is different from what the user expects, there is a problem that the user cannot know how the image will be printed until the user actually prints it. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus, a printing support method, and a program that facilitate a user's printing operation.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of printing a predetermined image on a printing medium while being relatively moved by a user with respect to the printing medium. A control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image. and wherein the control means adjusts the size of the test image to correspond to the size of the predetermined image .
A printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of printing a predetermined image on a printing medium while being relatively moved by a user between the printing medium and the predetermined image. a control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the image; is characterized in that when the test image is printed again, the test image is printed such that the shape or color of the test image is different.
A printing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus capable of printing a predetermined image on a printing medium while being moved relative to the printing medium by a user, wherein the predetermined image is printed on the printing medium. a control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accompaniment with the relative movement operation prior to printing the image; is set in a direction opposite to the operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the predetermined image.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a printing support method according to a first aspect of the present invention is capable of printing a predetermined image on a printing medium while a user performs a relative movement operation with respect to the printing medium. A print support method executed by a printing device, in which a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image is accompanied by the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image. , wherein the control process adjusts the size of the test image to correspond to the size of the predetermined image .
A printing support method according to a second aspect of the present invention is a printing support method executed by a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a printing medium while being relatively moved by a user with respect to the printing medium. A control for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image. The control processing is characterized in that when the test image is printed again, the test image is printed so that the shape or color of the test image is different.
A printing support method according to a third aspect of the present invention is a printing support method executed by a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a printing medium while being relatively moved by a user with respect to the printing medium. A control for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image. and wherein an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the test image is set in a direction opposite to an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the predetermined image. and

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a program according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a printing apparatus capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user with respect to the print medium. The computer of (1) is caused to print a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accompaniment with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image. and the control means adjusts the size of the test image to correspond to the size of the predetermined image .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for controlling a computer of a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium. prior to printing, a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image is printed, and the control means is characterized in that when the test image is printed again, the test image is printed such that the shape or color of the test image is different.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for controlling a computer of a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium. prior to printing the test image indicating the print start position, the print end position, or the print range corresponding to the predetermined image. is set in a direction opposite to the operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the predetermined image.

According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the user's printing operation.

1A and 1B are a side view and a bottom view of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an image to be printed according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a test image according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 5 is a flowchart of test printing processing executed by the printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1; 4 is a diagram showing an example of a test image printed on a print medium in Embodiment 1; FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a test image printed on the print medium in Embodiment 1; FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a test image printed on the print medium in Embodiment 1; 4 is a flowchart of print processing executed by the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a test image printed on a print medium in Embodiment 2; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a test image according to Embodiment 3; FIG. 14 is a flowchart of print processing executed by a printing apparatus according to Embodiment 4; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a test image in which (a) only the print start position and (b) only the print end position are printed on the print medium;

(Embodiment 1)
A printer 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts in the drawings.

1A and 1B are a side view and a bottom view of a printing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. The printing apparatus 1 is a manual scanning type printing apparatus that is gripped by a user and slidably moved on the printing medium 2 to print an image 3 to be printed and a test image 4 on the printing medium 2 . be. Such manual scanning printing devices are also called handy printers, handheld printers, and direct printers.

The print medium 2 is a medium on which the image 3 to be printed and the test image 4 are printed by the printing device 1 . The print medium 2 is also called a recording medium or a print target. The print medium 2 includes printing paper, printing labels, and corrugated cardboard, and is typically made of paper or resin, but is not limited to these. The print medium 2 may be any medium as long as it is made of a material to which ink can be adhered and has a surface condition to which ink can be adhered.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image 3 to be printed. As shown in FIG. 2, the image 3 to be printed is an image to be printed on the printing medium 2 by the printing device ₁ , and has a width of W1 and _a length of L1. The image 3 to be printed is also called a print image or a print pattern. The image 3 to be printed may include symbols, patterns, pictures, and photographs in addition to the characters and graphics shown in FIG. 2, but is not limited to these.

FIG. 3 shows a test image 4. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the test image 4 is an image to be printed on the printing medium 2 by the printing device 1, and indicates the print start position, print end position and size of the image 3 to be printed. The test image 4 includes a left edge 4L and a right edge 4R. The width of the left end portion 4L is W ₂ (≧W ₁ ) and the length is D _L , the width of the right end portion 4R is W ₂ and the length is D _R , and the distance between the left end portion 4L and the right end portion 4R is L ₂ (≧L ₁ ). The test image 4 as a whole has a width of W ₂ and a length of (D _L +D _R +L ₂ ).

A left end portion 4L and a right end portion 4R respectively indicate a print start position and a print end position of the image 3 to be printed. The test image 4 is thinner than the image 3 to be printed, and is printed in a form that does not interfere with the printing result of the image 3 to be printed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 4, the printing apparatus 1 includes a housing 10, a printing unit 20, a movement amount measuring unit 30, an interface unit 40, a control unit 50, a storage unit 60, a buffer 70;

The housing 10 accommodates the printing unit 20 , the movement amount measuring unit 30 , the interface unit 40 , the control unit 50 , and the storage unit 60 , which are components of the printing apparatus 1 . As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the printing section 20, the movement amount measuring section 30, and the interface section 40 are exposed from the housing 10. FIG. The housing 10 is made of resin or metal, but is not limited to this. The housing 10 has a marker 11 parallel to the print head 22 on a surface adjacent to the surface on which the printing unit 20 is arranged. The housing 10 is also called an apparatus main body 10 . The housing 10 includes a substrate and a battery inside, but illustration thereof is omitted.

The marker 11 is an indicator that indicates to the user the width of the print head 22 of the printing unit 20, which will be described later, and the print start position. The width of the marker 11 is W2, which is equal to the width of the test image ₄ and the width of the print head 22;

The printing unit 20 is arranged on the surface of the housing 10 that contacts the print medium 2 , and prints the image 3 to be printed and the test image 4 on the print medium 2 . The printing unit 20 includes an ink tank 21 filled with ink, and a print head 22 for ejecting fine droplets of the ink filled in the ink tank 21, and performs printing by an inkjet method. The ink tank 21 supplies ink to the print head 22 . A plurality of nozzles are arranged in the print head 22 along the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The print head 22 heats the ink in the nozzles with a heater to generate air bubbles in the ink, and the generated air bubbles eject the ink from the nozzles onto the print medium 2 . The distance from the marker 11 to the print head 22 is L.

The movement amount measuring unit 30 is a sensor that measures the amount of relative movement of the printing device 1 and the printing unit 20 included in the printing device 1 with respect to the printing medium 2 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the movement amount measuring section 30 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 31 and an image sensor 32 . The movement amount measurement unit 30 irradiates the print medium 2 with light from the LED 31 , reads the light reflected from the print medium 2 with the image sensor 32 , and compares the reflected light before and after the movement to determine the movement of the printing apparatus 1 . Measure the amount and direction of movement. The movement amount measurement unit 30 provides data including the measured amount and direction of movement to the control unit 50 .

The interface unit 40 receives input from the user including instructions to start test printing, end test printing, start printing, and end printing, and presents information to the user. The interface unit 40 provides the control unit 50 with the received instruction to start test printing, end test printing, start printing, or end printing, and presents the information acquired from the control unit 50 to the user. The interface unit 40 may include buttons, keys, or a touch pad for receiving input from the user, a liquid crystal display or speaker for presenting information to the user, or a touch panel serving as both of them. It is not limited to this.

The control unit 50 is a processing device that controls the printing device 1 by executing a program. The controller 50 includes a position calculator 51 and a print controller 52 . The control unit 50 may include a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), but is not limited to this.

When the interface unit 40 receives the instruction to start test printing, the control unit 50 controls the movement amount measurement unit 30 to start measuring the movement amount of the printing apparatus 1 . The control unit 50 reads the data of the test image 4 from the buffer 70, and when the printing apparatus 1 is moved by the length of the test image 4 (D _L +D _R +L ₂ ) by being held by the user, the movement amount measurement unit 30 to stop the measurement.

When the interface unit 40 receives an instruction to start printing, the control unit 50 controls the movement amount measurement unit 30 to start measuring the movement amount of the printing apparatus 1 . The control unit 50 reads the data of the image 3 to be printed from the buffer 70, and when the printing apparatus ₁ is moved by the length L1 of the image 3 to be printed by being held by the user, the movement amount measuring unit 30 is moved. control to stop the measurement.

When the interface unit 40 receives an instruction to start test printing, the position calculation unit 51 calculates the position of the printing device 1 based on the movement amount of the printing device 1 measured by the movement measurement unit 30 . When the movement amount measurement unit 30 measures the movement amount of the printing apparatus 1, the position calculation unit 51 acquires the movement amount of the printing apparatus 1 measured by the movement amount measurement unit 30, and returns the movement amount to the position before the movement of the printing apparatus 1. is added to calculate the post-movement position of the printing apparatus 1 . The position calculation unit 51 sets the position where the user places the printing device 1 on the printing medium 2 as the initial position, and causes the printing device 1 to scan right from the initial position by the distance L from the marker 11 to the print head 22. The left end of the image 3 to be printed is set as the position, and the position of the printing device 1 with respect to the test image 4 is calculated by adding the amount of movement from there. The position of the printer 1 calculated by the position calculator 51 is typically the center position of the bottom surface of the printer 1, but is not limited to this.

When the interface unit 40 receives an instruction to start printing, the position calculation unit 51 calculates the position of the printing device 1 based on the amount of movement of the printing device 1 measured by the movement measurement unit 30 . The calculation process is the same as in the case of printing the test image 4 .

When the interface unit 40 receives the instruction to start test printing, the print control unit 52 controls the printing unit 20 to start printing the test image 4 . At this time, the housing 10 is held by the user to move the printer 1 . The print control unit 52 acquires the position of the printing device 1 with respect to the test image 4 calculated by the position calculation unit 51, and controls the printing unit 20 to print a portion of the test image 4 corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20. . After printing the test image 4, the print control unit 52 controls the printing unit 20 to stop printing.

When the interface unit 40 receives the instruction to start printing, the print control unit 52 controls the printing unit 20 to start printing the image 3 to be printed. The printing process is the same as that for printing the test image 4 .

The storage unit 60 stores programs and data for the control unit 50 to execute processing, and functions as a work area when the control unit 50 executes processing. The storage unit 60 stores a program for controlling the printing unit 20 to print, a program for controlling the movement amount measuring unit 30 to measure the movement amount, the coordinates of the printing unit 20, data of the image 3 to be printed, and the test image 4. data can be stored, but the object to be stored is not limited to this. The storage unit 60 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), but the elements of the storage unit 60 are not limited to these.

The buffer 70 temporarily stores the data of the image 3 to be printed or the data of the test image 4 . The buffer 70 acquires and stores the data of the image 3 to be printed from the storage unit 60 and provides the control unit 50 with the data of the portion to be printed. When the data of the image 3 to be printed is provided to the control unit 50, the buffer 70 erases the provided portion of the stored data of the image 3 to be printed. When the image 3 to be printed has been completely printed, all the data of the image 3 to be printed stored in the buffer 70 has been deleted. The same is true when printing the test image 4 . Although buffer 70 may include RAM, the elements of buffer 70 are not limited to this.

A test print process executed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of test printing processing executed by the printing apparatus 1 . The test print processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the interface unit 40 receives an instruction to start test printing from the user and the control unit 50 acquires the instruction to start test printing from the interface unit 40, test printing is performed using the place where the printer 1 is placed at that time as an initial position. Processing is started. When the test printing process is started, the print control unit 52 controls the printing unit 20 to start test printing (step S101). Test printing is started from the left end of the test image 4, and the printing device 1 is held and moved by the user.

When the test printing is started, the movement amount measurement unit 30 measures the movement amount of the printer 1 from the initial position (step S102).

After measuring the movement amount, the position calculation unit 51 acquires the movement amount measured by the movement amount measurement unit 30, and calculates the position of the printing apparatus 1 with respect to the test image 4 (step S103).

When the position calculation unit 51 calculates the position of the printing device 1 , the print control unit 52 acquires the position of the printing device 1 relative to the test image 4 calculated by the position calculation unit 51 and acquires the data of the test image 4 from the buffer 70 . Then, the printing unit 20 is controlled to print the test image 4 corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20 (step S104).

After printing the test image 4 corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20, the print control unit 52 determines whether or not all parts of the test image 4 have been printed (step S105). If it is determined that printing has not been performed (step S105: NO), the process returns to step S102.

If it is determined that all portions of the test image 4 have been printed (step S105: YES), the test printing process ends.

The user looks at the test image 4 printed on the printing medium 2 by the test printing process, and confirms whether the test image 4 is printed in the size desired by the user and at the position desired by the user.

FIG. 6 shows a test image 4 printed on the substrate 2 to be printed. As shown in FIG. 6, the test image 4 is too large to fit within the print range A desired by the user. , it protrudes from the print range A. In this case, the user reduces the size of the image 3 to be printed via the interface unit 40 and performs test printing again. If the test image 4 is too small for the print area A desired by the user, the size of the image 3 to be printed is increased, and test printing is performed again.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the test image 4 printed on the print medium 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the test image 4 is printed at an angle with respect to the printing range A desired by the user. It deviates from the printing range A like B. In this case, the user changes the print start position, that is, the initial position and angle at which the printing apparatus 1 is placed when starting test printing, and performs test printing again.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the test image 4 printed on the print medium 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the test image 4 is printed in the size desired by the user and at the position desired by the user. It can be printed in the printing area A as shown in the printing image B. In this case, the user places the printer 1 so that the marker 11 overlaps the left end portion 4L of the test image 4 in parallel, and prints the image 3 to be printed.

A print process executed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of print processing executed by the printer 1 . The print processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the interface unit 40 receives a print start instruction from the user and the control unit 50 acquires the print start instruction from the interface unit 40, print processing is started. When the printing process is started, the printing control section 52 controls the printing section 20 to start printing (step S201). Printing starts from the left end of the image 3 to be printed, and the printing device 1 is held and moved by the user.

When printing is started, the movement amount measurement unit 30 measures the amount of movement of the printing apparatus 1 from the initial position, using the placement position of the printing apparatus 1 at the start of printing as the initial position (step S202).

After measuring the movement amount, the position calculation unit 51 acquires the movement amount measured by the movement amount measurement unit 30, and calculates the position of the printing apparatus 1 with respect to the image 3 to be printed (step S203).

When the position calculation unit 51 calculates the position of the printing device 1, the print control unit 52 acquires the position of the printing device 1 calculated by the position calculation unit 51 with respect to the image 3 to be printed, and extracts the image 3 to be printed from the buffer 70. , and controls the printing unit 20 to print the image 3 to be printed corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20 (step S204).

After printing the image 3 to be printed corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20, the print control unit 52 determines whether or not all parts of the image 3 to be printed have been printed (step S205). If it is determined that printing has not been performed (step S205: NO), the process returns to step S202.

If it is determined that all portions of the image 3 to be printed have been printed (step S205: YES), the printing process is terminated.

By executing the test printing process and the printing process with the configuration as described above, the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment performs a test indicating the print start position, the print end position, and the size of the image 3 to be printed. By printing the image 4, it is possible to present the print position and range of the image 3 to be printed to the user before printing the image 3 to be printed, thereby facilitating the print operation by the user.

The user visually confirms the printed test image 4, and corrects the size of the image 3 to be printed, the position of the printing apparatus 1 when printing is started, and the scanning direction, so that the image desired by the user can be obtained. can be printed in the print range assumed by .

Since the test image 4 is printed smaller and thinner than the image 3 to be printed, the appearance of the image 3 to be printed is not spoiled. Further, since the distance between the left end portion 4L and the right end portion 4R of the test image 4 is equal to the length of the image 3 to be printed, it is possible to prevent the image 3 to be printed from overlapping the test image 4 when printed. .

(Embodiment 2)
A printing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the printer 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

As described in the first embodiment, when the test image 4 printed on the print medium 2 by the first test printing process is not printed in the size desired by the user and in the position desired by the user, The user changes the size of the image 3 to be printed or the initial position or scanning direction of the printing device 1, and then executes the test printing process again.

When performing the second test printing process, the print control unit 52 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment stores the test image 4B having a different shape from the test image 4A printed in the first test printing process in the storage unit 60. , and the print control unit 52 prints the acquired test image 4B in the test printing process.

The print control unit 52 prints the test image 4B in a color different from that of the test image 4A. For example, when the test image 4A is printed in light gray, the test image 4B is printed in light blue, but the combination of colors is not limited to this.

FIG. 10 shows a test image 4A and a test image 4B printed on the print medium 2. FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the test image 4B is printed in a shape different from that of the test image 4A. Although the test image 4B has a different shape, the test image 4B indicates the print start position, print end position and size of the image 3 to be printed in the same manner as the test image 4A.

By having the configuration described above and executing the test printing process and the printing process, the printing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In addition, even when a plurality of test images 4 are printed, printing each test image 4 in a different shape or color has the effect of facilitating user identification.

(Embodiment 3)
A printing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the printer 1 according to the third embodiment is the same as the configuration of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the test image 4. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the test image 4 printed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment includes two width indication portions 4M in addition to the left edge portion 4L and the right edge portion 4R. One of the width indicating portions 4M is arranged at the center of the upper end of the test image, and the other is arranged at the center of the lower end of the test image. The length of the width indicating portion _4M is DM, and the two width indicating portions 4M are arranged with _a distance of W1 in the width direction. That is, the distance between the two width indication portions 4M indicates the width of the image 3 to be printed.

By having the configuration described above and executing the test printing process and the printing process, the printing apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In addition, the width of the image 3 to be printed can be presented to the user more accurately, making it easier for the user to print the image 3 to be printed at a desired position and with a desired size. .

(Embodiment 4)
A printing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the printer 1 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the printer 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.

After completing the test printing, the interface unit 40 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment displays a display asking the user whether to print the image 3 to be printed as it is. When the user inputs a selection to print the image 3 to be printed as it is, the printing apparatus 1 prints the image 3 to be printed from right to left.

When the user makes an input to select not to print the image 3 to be printed as it is, the printing apparatus 1 executes test printing processing or printing processing again as in the first embodiment.

A printing process executed by the printing apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of print processing executed by the printer 1 . The print processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the interface unit 40 receives an instruction to start printing from the user and the control unit 50 acquires the instruction to start printing from the interface unit 40, the printing process starts with the place where the printer 1 is placed at that time as the initial position. be done. When the printing process starts, the print control unit 52 controls the printing unit 20 to start test printing (step S301). Test printing starts from the left edge of the test image 4, and the printing device 1 is grasped by the user and moved from left to right.

When test printing is started, the movement amount measurement unit 30 measures the movement amount of the printer 1 from the initial position (step S302).

After measuring the movement amount, the position calculation unit 51 acquires the movement amount measured by the movement amount measurement unit 30, and calculates the position of the printing apparatus 1 with respect to the test image 4 (step S303).

When the position calculation unit 51 calculates the position of the printing device 1 , the print control unit 52 acquires the position of the printing device 1 relative to the test image 4 calculated by the position calculation unit 51 and acquires the data of the test image 4 from the buffer 70 . Then, the printing unit 20 is controlled to print the test image 4 corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20 (step S304).

After printing the test image 4 corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20, the print control unit 52 determines whether or not all portions of the test image 4 have been printed (step S305). If it is determined that printing has not been performed (step S305: NO), the process returns to step S302.

If it is determined that all portions of the test image 4 have been printed (step S305: YES), the print control section 52 controls the printing section 20 to end test printing (step S306).

After completing the test printing, the interface section 40 displays to the user a display asking whether or not to print the image 3 to be printed (step S307). If the user selects not to print (step S307: NO), the printing process is terminated, and the measurement by the movement amount measuring section 30 is terminated.

If the user selects printing (step S307: YES), the print control unit 52 controls the printing unit 20 to start printing (step S308). Printing starts from the right edge of the image 3 to be printed, and the printing device 1 is grasped by the user and moved from right to left.

When printing is started, the movement amount measurement unit 30 continues measuring the movement amount of the printing apparatus 1 (step S309).

After measuring the movement amount, the position calculation unit 51 obtains the movement amount measured by the movement amount measurement unit 30, and calculates the position of the printing apparatus 1 with respect to the image 3 to be printed (step S310).

When the position calculation unit 51 calculates the position of the printing device 1, the print control unit 52 acquires the position of the printing device 1 calculated by the position calculation unit 51 with respect to the image 3 to be printed, and extracts the image 3 to be printed from the buffer 70. , and controls the printing unit 20 to print the image 3 to be printed corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20 (step S311).

After printing the image 3 to be printed corresponding to the position of the printing unit 20, the print control unit 52 determines whether or not all parts of the image 3 to be printed have been printed (step S312). If it is determined that printing has not been performed (step S312: NO), the process returns to step S309.

If it is determined that all portions of the image to be printed have been printed (step S312: YES), the print process is terminated.

By performing the test printing process and the printing process with the configuration as described above, the printing apparatus 1 according to the fourth embodiment can achieve the same effects as the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In addition, it is possible to print the test image 4 and the image 3 to be printed by one reciprocating scan, which makes it possible for the user to reduce the trouble of printing.

(Modification)
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is an example, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the embodiments of the present invention can be applied in various ways, and all embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention.

Although the printing unit 20 includes the ink tank 21 and the print head 22 and performs printing by an inkjet method, it is not limited to this. Any printing method including a thermal method and a thermal transfer method may be used for printing.

Although the movement amount measurement unit 30 includes an LED and an image sensor, and the image sensor reads the light emitted by the LED and reflected by the print medium 2 to measure the movement amount, the movement amount is not limited to this. . The movement amount measuring unit 30 may include a roller or a ball arranged on the bottom surface of the housing 10 and measure the movement amount by measuring the rotation thereof.

Although the movement amount measuring unit 30 includes an LED as a light source, it is not limited to an LED that emits light in the visible wavelength range, and may include an LED that emits light in the infrared wavelength range or ultraviolet wavelength range. Also, the light source of the movement amount measuring unit 30 is not limited to LEDs, and may be laser light, cold cathode fluorescent tubes, or the like.

Although the printing apparatus 1 prints the image 3 to be printed from left to right, it is not limited to this. It may be printed from right to left, or may be printed in any direction including up and down.

Although the width of the test image 4 is equal to the width of the print head 22 and the marker 11, it is not limited to this. The width of the test image 4 is equal to the width of the image 3 to be printed, or the width of the test image 4 is greater than the width of the image 3 to be printed. However, the size of the test image 4 may be changed as the image 3 to be printed is changed. Although the distance between the left edge 4L and the right edge 4R is equal to the length of the image 3 to be printed, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be larger or smaller than the length of 3.

Although the test image 4 includes the left end portion 4L indicating the print start position and the right end portion 4R indicating the print end position of the image 3 to be printed, it is not limited to this. FIG. 13 shows (a) an example of the test image 4 including only the left edge 4L printed on the print medium 2 and (b) an example of the test image 4 including only the right edge 4R printed on the print medium 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example; As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, only one of the image indicating the print start position and the image indicating the print end position may be printed. It may be selected whether or not to print the test image 4 .

The print control unit 52 according to the second embodiment prints the test image 4B printed in the second test print process in a shape and color different from those of the test image 4A printed in the first test print process. is not limited to They may be printed in the same shape or color.

The configurations described in Embodiments 1 to 4 may be combined in an arbitrary combination. For example, the test image 4 including the width indicating portion 4M of the third embodiment may be printed multiple times with different colors or shapes as described in the second embodiment.

After the test printing in the fourth embodiment, if the image 3 to be printed is not to be printed, the interface unit 40 selects not to be printed. can be This lifting of the printing apparatus 1 by the user is also effective for canceling test printing processing and printing processing.

In addition to being able to provide a printing apparatus having a configuration for realizing the functions according to the present invention, it is also possible to make an existing printing apparatus or the like function as a printing apparatus according to the present invention by applying a program. That is, by applying the program for realizing the functions of the printing apparatus exemplified in the embodiment and the modified example so that the CPU or the like that controls the existing printing apparatus can be executed, the printing apparatus according to the present invention can be obtained. can function. Also, the printing method according to the present invention can be implemented using a printing apparatus.

Moreover, the application method of such a program is arbitrary. The program can be applied by storing it in a computer-readable storage medium such as a flexible disk, CD (Compact Disc)-ROM, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, memory card, or the like. Furthermore, a program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and applied via a communication medium such as the Internet. For example, the program may be posted and distributed on a bulletin board (BBS: Bulletin Board System) on a communication network. Then, the above processing may be executed by starting this program and executing it in the same manner as other application programs under the control of an OS (Operating System).

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the invention described in the claims and the scope of equivalents thereof. and are included. The invention described in the original claims of the present application is appended below.

(Appendix 1)
A printing device,
a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on the print medium by moving the printing device with respect to the print medium;
a print control unit that controls the printing unit to print a test image indicating at least one of a print start position and a print end position of the image to be printed on the print medium;
A printing device characterized by:

(Appendix 2)
a movement amount measuring unit that measures a movement amount of the printing unit with respect to the printing medium;
a position calculation unit that calculates the position of the printing unit on the printing medium based on the movement amount measured by the movement amount measurement unit;
The print control unit controls the print unit to print at least one of the image to be printed and the test image on the print medium based on the position of the print unit calculated by the position calculation unit. do,
The printing apparatus according to appendix 1, characterized by:

(Appendix 3)
The print control unit causes the test image to be printed in a lighter color than the image to be printed.
The printing apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, characterized by:

(Appendix 4)
The print control unit prints the test image smaller than the image to be printed.
The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, characterized by:

(Appendix 5)
The print control unit prints the test image indicating a range in which the image to be printed is printed.
5. The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 4, characterized by:

(Appendix 6)
The print control unit includes one end indicating the print start position and the other end indicating the print end position of the image to be printed, and the distance between the one end and the other end of the image to be printed is to print a test image showing the length of the image in
The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 5, characterized by:

(Appendix 7)
The print control unit changes at least one of shape and color of the test image and prints the test image multiple times.
7. The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, characterized by:

(Appendix 8)
The print control unit causes a test image to be printed that includes a width indication portion indicating the width of the image to be printed.
8. The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 7, characterized by:

(Appendix 9)
The print control unit prints the image to be printed by scanning in a direction opposite to the direction in which the test image is printed.
9. The printing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 8, characterized by:

(Appendix 10)
measuring the amount of movement of a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on a printing medium with respect to the printing medium;
calculating the position of the printing unit based on the measured amount of movement;
printing a test image indicating at least one of a print start position and a print end position of the image to be printed based on the calculated position of the printing unit;
A printing method characterized by:

(Appendix 11)
In a computer of a printing device having a printing unit for printing an image to be printed on a printing medium,
measuring the amount of movement of the printing unit with respect to the printing medium;
calculating the position of the printing unit based on the measured amount of movement;
printing a test image indicating at least one of a print start position and a print end position of the image to be printed based on the calculated position of the printing unit;
A program characterized by

Reference Signs List 1 printing device 2 printing medium 3 image to be printed 4, 4A, 4B test image 4L left end 4M width indicator 4R right end 10 housing (apparatus main body ), 11 Marker 20 Printing unit 21 Ink tank 22 Print head 30 Movement amount measuring unit 31 LED 32 Image sensor 40 Interface unit 50 Control unit 51 Position Calculation unit 52 Print control unit 60 Storage unit 70 Buffer A Print range B Print forecast map

Claims (10)

A printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium,
a control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image ; ,
The control means adjusts the size of the test image to correspond to the size of the predetermined image.
A printing device characterized by: A printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium,
A control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image,
When the test image is printed again, the control means prints the test image so that the shape or color of the test image is different.
A printing device characterized by: A printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium,
A control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image,
an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the test image is set in a direction opposite to an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the predetermined image;
A printing device characterized by: The control means causes the test image to be printed in a lighter color than the predetermined image .
4. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: A print support method executed by a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium,
A control process for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image,
The control process adjusts the size of the test image to correspond to the size of the predetermined image.
A printing support method characterized by: A print support method executed by a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium,
A control process for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image. ,
When the test image is printed again, the control process causes the test image to be printed with a different shape or color.
A printing support method characterized by: A print support method executed by a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being relatively moved by a user between the print medium and the print medium,
A control process for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image,
an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the test image is set in a direction opposite to an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the predetermined image;
A printing support method characterized by: A computer of a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being operated by a user to move relative to the print medium,
function as control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image; ,
The control means adjusts the size of the test image to correspond to the size of the predetermined image.
A program characterized by A computer of a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being operated by a user to move relative to the print medium,
function as control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image; ,
When the test image is printed again, the control means prints the test image so that the shape or color of the test image is different.
A program characterized by A computer of a printing device capable of printing a predetermined image on a print medium while being operated by a user to move relative to the print medium,
function as control means for printing a test image indicating a print start position, a print end position, or a print range corresponding to the predetermined image in accordance with the relative movement operation prior to printing the predetermined image; ,
an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the test image is set in a direction opposite to an operation direction in the relative movement operation when printing the predetermined image;
A program characterized by

Images