JP3127902B2 - Printer, print control method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer, a print control method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when printing electronic data by a printer, printing conditions are set by a personal computer connected to the printer, and printing start is instructed by the personal computer. When print start is instructed, electronic data to be printed is called from the memory of the personal computer and transmitted to the memory of the printer as print data based on the setting of the printing conditions.

In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, printers capable of reading a recording medium, such as a memory card, on which images are recorded by the digital camera, projecting the images on a television screen, and printing on paper, have been supplied to the market. Have been. In addition, a printer is provided on the market, in which a display device is provided, and an image can be designated and printed on the display device. According to these printers,
A printing condition can be set for an image recorded by a digital camera on a television screen, or an image can be specified on a display device, and printing can be instructed by a printer. When a command to start printing is issued, electronic data to be printed is called from a memory or a recording medium of the printer, and printing is started based on the setting of printing conditions.

[0004]

However, according to the printer instructing the start of printing by the personal computer, the electronic data to be printed is called from the memory of the personal computer every time the printing conditions are set and the start of printing is instructed. Is transmitted to the memory of the printer as print data based on the setting of. Therefore, it is not possible to shift to another operation until the electronic data to be printed is transmitted to the printer memory as print data based on the print condition settings. For this reason, when the data amount of the electronic data to be printed is large, there has been a problem that work on the personal computer is interrupted for a long time.

Further, according to a printer capable of instructing a print start by the printer itself, every time print conditions are set and a print start is instructed, electronic data to be printed is called from a memory or a recording medium of the printer and printed. Execute printing based on the condition settings. Therefore, the next printing condition cannot be set until the electronic data to be printed is called and printing is completed based on the setting of the printing condition. It takes a long time to complete one print, and it may take several minutes to complete one print, especially when the print target is an image. Therefore, when a plurality of printing conditions are set, there is a problem that the user cannot leave the printer for a long time until the last printing condition is set, which is very inconvenient.

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problem, and provides a printer, a print control method, and a recording medium capable of continuously accepting a plurality of print condition settings in a short time. The purpose is to:

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a print control method, and a recording medium that can immediately shift to another operation after setting print conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer, a print control method, and a recording medium that can prevent accidental duplicate printing due to an erroneous operation.

[0009]

According to the printer of claim 1, wherein the A solution for the present invention, the image data and the image data for desired data acquisition unit for acquiring image data from a recording medium, printing the
And print setting means for setting the data of the printing conditions, an input unit and a print condition determining means for determining a set printing condition, a defined printing conditions for each of a plurality of image data in the image data A storage unit capable of sequentially storing the image data in association with each other, and acquiring the set image data from the data acquisition unit ;
Call the determined print condition from the storage unit, the acquired image
A control unit that controls the printing unit and the transport unit based on the image data and the called printing conditions. Therefore, by storing the print setting data in the storage unit, it is possible to continuously set the print conditions. In addition, different signs
Printing conditions can be set continuously .

[0010] According to the printer of the second aspect of the present invention, the control unit after out of order signal to determine the same printing condition for the same image data transmitted from the print condition determining means continue within a predetermined time Ignore outgoing order signals. For this reason, accidental duplicate printing due to an erroneous operation can be prevented.

[0011]

According to the printer of the third aspect of the present invention, the input unit is provided with a plurality of image data stored in the storage unit .
There is a canceling unit for erasing the printing conditions determined for each . For this reason, unnecessary print setting data can be erased after instructing the start of printing, and useless printing can be prevented.

A printing control method according to claim 4 of the present invention or
According to the recording medium of claim 6 , (a) printing is desired
The image data to be specified and the mark set for the image data
Accepting printing conditions and a command to start printing image data
(Procedure) and (b) When a print start command is received
Print conditions set in association with the specified image data
(C) storing the specified image data
Data from the recording medium and call the set print conditions.
The acquired image data and the called print conditions.
A step (procedure) of controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the
And perform the procedure of (c) at the stage of (c) or
In the row, the rows (a) and (b) for other image data
Make the floor or procedure executable. Therefore, by storing the print condition settings, the print conditions can be continuously set.

A printing control method according to claim 5 of the present invention or
According to the recording medium according to claim 7, wherein, when a print start instruction to set the same printing conditions against <br/> the same image data is accepted in succession within a predetermined time, ignoring the print start command after Including steps (procedures). For this reason, accidental duplicate printing due to an erroneous operation can be prevented.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in, the transport unit 1, the printing unit 2, the control unit 3,
It has a display unit 4, an input unit 5, a storage unit 6, a first data acquisition unit 7, and a second data acquisition unit 8. A transport unit 1;
Printing unit 2, control unit 3, display unit 4, input unit 5, storage unit 6, first data acquisition unit 7, second data acquisition unit 8
Is provided in a box-shaped housing 9. The printer according to the present embodiment can print the electronic data obtained from the first data obtaining unit 7 or the second data obtaining unit 8 in the printing unit 2 driven by the control unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 9 has a display unit 4 and an input unit 5 on the upper surface, a first data acquisition unit 7, a power switch 91, and a warning lamp 92 for notifying that the ink or paper has run out. And a second data acquisition unit 8 (not shown) on the back, and a transport unit 1, a printing unit 2, a control unit 3, and a storage unit 6 (not shown) inside. A paper supply port 93 and a paper discharge port 94 are formed on the upper surface and the lower front surface of the housing 9, respectively. A paper tray 95 is detachably engaged with the sheet supply port 93, and a sheet receiver 96 is detachably engaged with the sheet discharge port 94.

The transport section 1 (not shown) is provided inside the housing 9 between the paper supply port 93 and the paper discharge port 94, and transport rollers driven by a motor and transport the paper by friction by contacting the transport rollers. And a driven roller.
The transport roller and the driven roller are made of a non-slip material such as rubber. The conveyance unit 1 is configured to rotate the conveyance roller and the driven roller to rotate the paper supply port 93 to the paper discharge port 94.
Is a mechanism for transporting the paper to the printer.

A printing section 2 (not shown) is provided adjacent to the transport section 1 and has a carriage on which an ink tank and an ink jet head are mounted, a step motor, and a carriage rail provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the paper is transported. And The printing unit 2 performs printing by a known inkjet method. Specifically, a carriage driven by a step motor reciprocates on a carriage rail at a position facing the sheet, and performs printing by ejecting ink in an ink tank from an inkjet head onto the sheet conveyed by the conveyance unit 1. Note that a laser method, a dot impact method, or the like can be used as the printing unit 2.

The control unit 3 (not shown) has a CPU.
The control unit 3 transmits the electronic data from the first data acquisition unit 7 or the second data acquisition unit 8 to the storage unit 6, receives the order signal of the input unit 5, attaches an identifier to the print setting data, and represents the print setting data. Is transmitted to the storage unit 6. Further, the print setting data and the electronic data are called from the storage unit 6, the print file is developed in the storage unit 6 based on the called print setting data and the electronic data, and the transport unit 1 and the print unit 2 are stored based on the print file. Control. In addition, various information is extracted from the storage unit 6 and displayed on the display unit 4 to provide a user interface.

The storage unit 6 (not shown) has a ROM in which a control program is recorded, and a RAM for temporarily storing electronic data and print setting data. The RAM accumulates print setting data transmitted from the control unit 3 in a task list described later in order. The task list can store a maximum of 199 print setting data.

The input unit 5 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 9.
As shown in FIG. 3, various keys are provided on the key panel 50.

A print start key 501 as a print condition determining means is provided at the forefront of the key panel 50, that is, on the side close to the first data acquisition unit 7, and has the largest and most prominent shape among all keys. The surface is made of a transparent material and an unillustrated LED as a light emitting means is provided inside the operation surface.
(Light emitted diode). This LED
Is controlled to blink in a state where printing can be started. When the print start key 501 is pressed, an order signal corresponding to the setting of the printing condition displayed on the display unit 4 is transmitted to the control unit 3 to determine the printing condition. When the print start key 501 is pressed while the LED provided on the print start key 501 is blinking, an order signal is transmitted.

All print keys 502 and index keys 503 as print setting means are provided at the foreground of the key panel 50 in parallel with the print start key 501, and are the second largest among all keys, next to the print start key 501. It has a rectangular shape with rounded corners, the operation surface is made of a transparent material, and an LED (not shown) as a light emitting means is provided inside each operation surface.

Range designation key 505 as print setting means
And the one-frame key 504 are provided in the back of the all-printing key 502 and the index key 503, have an elliptical shape slightly smaller than those, and have an operation surface made of a transparent material, inside each operation surface. LED as light emitting means
Is provided.

All print key 502, index key 50
3. The range designation key 505 and the one-frame key 504 are keys for selecting any one of them, and the LED of the selected key emits light.

The upper key 506 and the lower key 507 as print setting means are located behind the one-frame key 504, that is, the display unit 4.
Are provided vertically side by side, and each has a line-symmetric triangular shape.

A right key 509 and a left key 508 as print setting means are provided adjacent to the up key 506 and the down key 507 and beside the print start key 501, and are provided side by side. 504, each having a line-symmetric triangular shape. The right key 509 and the left key 508 change details of printing conditions in each section of the display unit 4.

Frame key 510 as print setting means
The filter key 511 is provided behind the print start key 501 and before the right key 509 and the left key 508, and has the smallest and inconspicuous shape among all keys.

The cancel key 512 as a canceling means is
It is provided behind the print start key 501 and has a shape that is slightly larger than the frame key 510 and the filter key 511. When the cancel key 512 is pressed, the control unit 3 deletes all the print setting data stored in the task list.

The display unit 4 has an input unit 5 on the upper surface of the housing 9.
It is provided adjacent to the back. The display unit 4 is a segment type liquid crystal panel, and includes a selection section 401, a paper type section 402 for displaying details of printing conditions, a paper size section 403, a layout section 404, a photo size section 405, and a photo selection section 40.
6, an image section 407, an image quality section 408, and an automatic adjustment section 409. FIG. 3 shows a state in which all segments of the liquid crystal panel are turned on. The printing condition corresponding to the display content as the instruction data selected on the display unit 4 is transmitted to the control unit 3 as an order signal when the print start key 501 is pressed.

The selection section 401 is a section for displaying a triangle selectively pointing to another section by the up key 506 and the down key 507 and activating the section. In the active section, the right key 509 and the left key 508 can be used to switch the display of options in the print condition details.

The paper type section 402 is a section for displaying plain paper, photo print paper and super fine paper as options in the details of printing conditions.

The paper size section 403 is a section for displaying a postcard, a photo card, and A4 as options in the details of the printing conditions.

The layout section 404 includes top, bottom, center,
This is a section for displaying the entirety, an index, a cut guide, and the like. When "with guide" is selected, it is possible to print the image with register marks.

The photo size section 405 includes 4L, 2L, 4 × 6,
This is a section for displaying L, E and cards. The display of the photo size section 405 is determined by setting the paper size and the layout.

The photo selection section 406 is a section for displaying numbers 0 to 199 of the identification code of the print designation image as options mainly in the details of the printing conditions.

The number-of-prints section 407 is mainly used as the number of prints, from 0 to 19, as options in the details of printing conditions.
This is a section for displaying numbers up to 9.

The image quality section 408 is a section for displaying high image quality, high speed, and ultra-high image quality as options in specific printing conditions.

The automatic adjustment section 409 is a section where the display is switched without the automatic photo fine.

The first data acquisition section 7 is provided above the front surface of the housing 9 as shown in FIG.
And a reader (not shown) that reads electronic data recorded on a recording medium and transmits the electronic data to the control unit 3. In the card slot 71, a recording medium such as a PCMCIA standard memory card or a compact flash card generally used for digital cameras can be inserted together with an adapter as a recording medium.

The second data acquisition section 8 (not shown) is provided on the back of the housing 9 and has a plurality of connectors. The second data acquisition unit 8 is an interface for connecting to a personal computer or a digital camera, and transmits electronic data extracted from those externally connected devices to the control unit 3.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above-described printer will be described. For the sake of explanation, printing by the printer is classified into normal printing, index printing, additional printing, detailed setting printing, and continuous printing.

When the power switch 91 is turned on, the control program starts.

(1) The normal print control unit 3 monitors the electronic data of both the first data obtaining unit 7 and the second data obtaining unit 8, and preferentially processes the first electronic data. Therefore, when a personal computer is connected to the second data acquisition unit 8 by a cable and a print command is issued from the personal computer, the display on the display unit 4 disappears, and the printer is driven by the control of the personal computer thereafter.

(2) Index print After inserting a memory card into the card slot 71, pressing the index key 503 causes all print keys 502 to disappear,
The index key 503 lights up. As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 4 displays photo printing paper in the paper type section 402, postcards in the paper size section 403, indexes in the layout section 404, and image quality section 40 as printing initial conditions of the control program.
8, the total number of image data read from the memory card is displayed in the high speed and photo selection section 406, and 1 is displayed as the number of prints in the number section 407.

When a memory card is inserted into the card slot 71 and the index key 503 is pressed, and then the blinking print start key 501 is pressed, an order signal is transmitted.
The thumbnail image data recorded on the memory card is read out, and as shown in FIG.
For each postcard size sheet, 16 frames of images are printed in four columns and four columns as an index with the identification code 102. Since the thumbnail image data is read and printed, the printing speed is very high. Printing in this manner is hereinafter referred to as index printing.

(3) Reprinting After printing the index by index printing, pressing the 1-frame key 504 causes the index key 503 to be pressed.
Disappears and the one-frame key 504 lights up. And display unit 4
As shown in FIG. 6, photo printing paper is applied to the paper type section 402, postcards are applied to the paper size section 403, the entirety is applied to the layout section 404, and the photo size section 405 is used as the initial printing conditions of the control program.
L, an image quality section 408, a high image quality, an automatic adjustment section 409, an auto photo fine / photo selection section 406 and a number section 407, 1 are displayed.
At this time, the photo selection section 406 is active.

Next, the right key 509 or the left key 508 is operated to designate an identification code of an image to be printed out of the images printed in the index in the photo selection section 406. When the blinking print start key 501 is pressed, an order signal is transmitted and the image of the specified identification code is printed according to the settings displayed on the display unit 4.

(4) Detailed setting print In the above-described index print and additional print, the up key 506 or the down key 507 is operated to select a section for which the print condition is to be changed, and the paper type, paper size, It is also possible to print by pressing the print start key 501 after changing the settings such as image quality and automatic adjustment and setting arbitrary print conditions.
Pressing the print start key 501 after setting arbitrary printing conditions in this manner to perform printing is hereinafter referred to as detailed setting printing.

(5) Continuous printing In the above-described index printing, additional printing, and detailed setting printing, after pressing the print start key 501, a printing control method for continuously setting printing conditions and instructing printing start is described. A description will be given based on FIGS. 7 and 8. When the print start key 501 is pressed to instruct printing start, and when the order signal based on the instruction data displayed on the display unit 4 is received by the control unit 3, the order signal is assigned an identifier in the control unit 3 and print setting is performed. The print setting data is transmitted to the storage unit 6 as data, and the print setting data is added to the last part of the task list in the storage unit 6 to wait for reception of an order signal. This series of operations is performed in parallel by real-time processing even when the control unit 3 controls the transport unit 1 and the printing unit 2.

The task list is conceptually grasped as shown in FIG. That is, the RAM space has a space for storing 199 print setting data in advance, and print condition data with an identifier is sequentially stored in each space.

As shown in FIG. 7, if data is stored at the forefront of the task list (S10),
The print setting data stored at the forefront of the task list is called (S20), the electronic data corresponding to the print setting data is called from the first data acquisition unit 7 by the identification code (S30), and the called print setting data and electronic data Based on the print file, the print file is developed in the storage unit 6, and the transport unit 1 and the print unit 2 are driven and printed based on the print file (S40). When printing corresponding to one print setting data is completed, the print setting data is erased from the RAM (S50), and the locations where the other print setting data are stored in the task list are moved up by one (S6).
0). Further, if print setting data is stored in the task list (S10), the print setting data stored at the forefront of the task list is called and printing is continuously performed.

If the print start key 501 is repeatedly pressed within three seconds with the same printing conditions being set without any setting being changed in the continuous printing, the control unit 3 sets the last of the successive order signals. Ignore the ones.

According to the printer of this embodiment, the control unit 3 accumulates the order signal in the task list of the RAM, calls the print setting data from the task list and controls the printing, and therefore can always receive the order signal. Therefore, printing conditions can be set continuously without waiting for the end of printing.

Further, when performing a plurality of printings, the printing conditions can be set continuously at one time, so that the printing conditions can be set in a short time.

Further, if the print start key 501 is continuously pressed under the same print condition setting for the same identification code within 3 seconds, the subsequent order signal is ignored, thereby preventing accidental duplicate printing due to erroneous operation. can do.

This embodiment has been described based only on a printer that prints by executing a control program stored in the ROM of the printer. However, the method of storing the order signal in the task list of the RAM and calling the print setting data from the task list to control the printing can be applied not only to the printer but also to the OS or the printer driver of the personal computer. Also, by providing a recording medium on which a control program using this method is recorded, control at the time of a print instruction of a personal computer or a printer driver is changed, and an operation environment in which continuous printing conditions can be set is realized, or It is possible to realize an operation environment in which the setting of the printing conditions can be completed in a short time and the next operation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an index according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a display unit and an input unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a print control method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a task list in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 conveyance unit 2 printing unit 3 control unit 5 input unit 6 storage unit 7 first data acquisition unit 501 print start key (print condition determination unit) 502 all print keys (print setting unit) 503 index key (print setting unit) 505 range Designation key (print setting means) 504 One-frame key (print setting means) 506 Up key (print setting means) 507 Down key (print setting means) 508 Right key (print setting means) 509 Left key (print setting means) 512 Cancel key (Revocation means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-6-238958 (JP, A) JP-A-57-94829 (JP, A) JP-A-7-256948 (JP, A) JP-A 8- 142441 (JP, A) JP-A-6-22264 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 29/38 B41J 21/00 B41J 29/00 G06F 3/12

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printer comprising a printing unit for performing printing, and a conveyance unit for conveying paper to the printing unit, comprising: a data acquisition unit for acquiring image data from a recording medium ; and print setting means for setting a printing condition of the image data, an input unit and a print condition determining means for determining the set printing condition, the printing condition that has been determined for each of the plurality of image data the acquisition and the image data sequentially storable storage unit in association, the setting image data from the data acquisition unit
And, a printer and a control unit for controlling the printing unit and the conveyance unit based on the call to the determined printing condition, the acquired image data and the called printing condition from the storage unit. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein said control unit determines the same printing condition for the same image data continuously input within a predetermined time from said printing condition determining unit . 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the instruction data input later is ignored. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is stored in the storage unit.
The printing conditions determined for each of multiple image data
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a canceling means for erasing.
Printer. 4. A printing unit for performing printing, and paper is printed on the printing unit.
Conveying unit for conveying and acquiring image data from recording medium
Printing control method for controlling a printer having a data acquisition unit
A law, (a) a step of accepting a set printing condition for specifying said image data of the image data desired to be printed and the print start command of the image data, said print start command (b) Storing the set printing conditions in association with the specified image data when accepted; and (c) acquiring the specified image data from the recording medium and calling the set printing conditions. Controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the acquired image data and the called printing conditions, and in the step (c),
A print control method capable of executing the steps (a) and (b). 5. The same printing condition for the same image data.
A print start command for setting the items is received continuously within a predetermined time
Includes the step of ignoring a later print start command if
The print control method according to claim 4. 6. A printing unit for performing printing, and paper is printed on the printing unit.
Conveying unit that conveys and acquires image data from recording medium
A control unit for controlling a printer having a data acquisition unit.
(B) receiving a designation of image data desired to be printed, a printing condition set for the image data, and a print start command for the image data; A step of storing the set print conditions in association with the specified image data when the print start command is received; and (c) obtaining the specified image data from the recording medium, and And controlling the printing unit and the transport unit based on the acquired image data and the called printing conditions . About image data
Computer capable of executing the above procedures (a) and (b)
A recording medium on which a program is recorded. 7. The same printing condition for the same image data.
A print start command for setting the items is received continuously within a predetermined time
Includes a procedure to ignore the later print start command
A record in which the computer program according to claim 6 is recorded.
Medium.