JP5014103B2 - Printing apparatus, control method therefor, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that generates a calendar with an image, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium.

  In recent years, with the advance of image input devices such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, and mobile phones, printer apparatuses that employ various methods for printing out captured image data have been commercialized.

  As printing methods of general printer apparatuses, there are an ink jet method, a laser method, and a thermal transfer method. The ink jet method and the thermal transfer method are widely used in photo printer apparatuses used for the purpose of printing out image data such as photographs taken by a camera.

  The ink jet printer is a method in which ink is ejected as extremely small droplets by impact or heating, and the resolution and gradation are obtained by a method such as error diffusion by landing small droplets on paper.

  On the other hand, a thermal transfer printer uses thermal paper as printing paper, selectively drives a plurality of thermal heads arranged in the main scanning direction, and transports the paper in the sub-scanning direction to thereby transfer the paper onto the paper. Dot-line printing.

  The sublimation type thermal transfer printer is a method in which an ink ribbon sublimated from a solid to a gas is attached to a sheet. By controlling the amount of heat applied to the head, it is possible to change the density of one pixel and express an image with rich gradation, which is suitable for printing a photograph. In recent years, it has become possible to obtain high image quality that is not inferior to silver halide photography in proportion to improvements in the performance of thermal heads and the quality of paper materials.

  In response to the expansion of the market for digital photo printers suitable for photo print output, a printing system that directly connects printers and image capture devices (image input devices) such as digital cameras and digital video cameras without using a personal computer. The spread is progressing.

  In addition, some printer apparatuses equipped with a liquid crystal display or the like can select a print target image by inserting a storage medium directly into the printer apparatus and displaying image data on the liquid crystal display. By operating the operation member on the printer apparatus side and selecting image data to be printed out while viewing the display screen, it is possible to print out the image data.

  In addition to printing out image data directly on paper, devices having various image data editing functions have been commercialized. Examples include an album print function for creating an album by arranging a plurality of image data, a calendar creation function for creating a calendar by laying out image data and the date of the month together, and the like.

As an apparatus having the calendar creation function, Patent Document 1 proposes an electronic imaging apparatus that combines a calendar and image data with a simple operation and stores them in a storage medium. Patent Document 2 proposes a printing apparatus that can easily print a required calendar by using only a switch without displaying on a display.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-4400 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-129084

  As described in the above background art, in an image processing apparatus such as a printer apparatus, as an image data editing function, there is a technique in which image data is combined with a date and stored in a print output or a storage medium.

  However, it is necessary for the user to periodically create the calendar, and there is a concern that the user himself forgets the creation itself. Also, when creating calendars for one year at a time, the load on the user required for creation of the date, selection of images, layout, etc. is not light as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  In particular, in a camera direct print system in which a digital camera and a printer device are directly connected without using an application on a personal computer, a liquid crystal display provided in the digital camera or the printer device often has a small size. Accordingly, setting operations and image data editing operations are difficult as compared with the case where a monitor screen of a personal computer is used.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a control method thereof, a program, and a storage medium that can notify a user of the calendar creation time as appropriate and can easily create a calendar with only a simple setting operation. There is.

  In order to achieve the above object, the printing apparatus according to claim 1 includes a printing unit that prints a calendar on which a date for a certain period is arranged, an acquisition unit that acquires date information regarding the current date, and the acquisition unit. And control means for performing a display for prompting calendar printing based on the acquired date information.

  12. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a generating unit that generates a calendar in which a date for a predetermined period is arranged, a printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print the calendar generated by the generating unit, and date information relating to the current date. And a display means for performing a display prompting the calendar to be printed based on the information on the date included in the calendar printed by the printing means and the date information obtained by the obtaining means. Features.

  13. A control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a generation step for generating a calendar in which dates for a predetermined period are arranged, a print control step for causing the printing unit to print the calendar generated by the generation step, and a current date An acquisition step of acquiring date information relating to, and a display step of performing a display prompting the calendar to be printed based on the information related to the date included in the calendar printed by the printing means and the date information acquired in the acquisition step. It is characterized by having.

  The program according to claim 13 is a program for causing a computer to execute a control method for a printing apparatus, wherein the control method for the printing apparatus is generated by a generation step for generating a calendar in which dates for a period are arranged, and a generation step. Print control step for printing the calendar by the printing unit, an acquisition step for acquiring date information about the current date, information about the date included in the calendar printed by the printing unit, and date information acquired by the acquisition step And a display step for performing a display for prompting the printing of the calendar.

  A computer-readable storage medium according to a fourteenth aspect stores the program according to the thirteenth aspect.

  According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately notify the user of the calendar creation time, and it is possible to easily create a calendar with only a simple setting operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a UI operation member on the upper surface of the printer apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer apparatus and the operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  On the upper surface of the printer device 1 having a built-in sublimation type thermal transfer printer unit, a power button 2 for turning on the printer device 1, a print / stop button 3 for executing / stopping print output, and a GUI screen are displayed. A liquid crystal display 4 is arranged.

  After the power is turned on by pressing the power button 2, the image data stored in the memory card inserted into the SD card / memory stick card insertion slot 7 or the CompactFlash (registered trademark) insertion slot 8 is read out. Are displayed on the liquid crystal display 4.

  The image data is selected and designated by the cross key / step SET button 17.

  In FIG. 2, when the menu button 12 is pressed, the screen shifts to a print output number or paper setting screen. The editing button 13 is used to move to the image data trimming editing work screen, and the zoom button 15 and the pan button 16 are used to determine the trimming size.

  The display button 14 displays information on the image data. The creation button 11 makes a transition to a calendar creation, multi-layout creation (laying out a plurality of image data in a layout), and album creation selection screen.

  After the setting of image data to be printed is completed, the print / cancel button 3 is pressed to start print output. After the paper inserted from the lower paper discharge port 5 or the paper separated by the cartridge in the printer apparatus 1 is conveyed to the thermal head unit, print output is started, and after completion from the upper paper discharge port 6 The paper is ejected and stocked.

  In addition to the memory card, the image data can be printed out from the digital camera side by connecting the USB B connector terminal 10 and the digital camera. By connecting the USB A connector terminal 9 and a personal computer, a print output operation can be performed from the personal computer side.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a printer apparatus as an image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, a main control unit 300 that plays a central role in the system configuration of the printer apparatus includes a CPU 301, a RAM 302, an image data processing unit 303, a flash ROM 304, a calendar function control unit 305, an internal storage unit 306, and a clock function unit 307. Is done.

  A CPU 301 executes system processing of the printer apparatus and arithmetic processing according to various programs. In addition, the CPU 301 performs control for causing each unit to execute a corresponding process in response to an operation to the operation unit or the like or input of an instruction. The CPU 301 functions as a print control unit.

  The RAM 302 is used as a work area for temporary storage of image data and image resizing processing. An image data processing unit 303 performs image data processing, generates image data necessary for print output, and stores the image data in the RAM 302.

  The image data processing unit 303 performs enlargement / reduction processing on the image data stored in the memory card 314 or the image data received from the external device, and the enlarged / reduced image data and the calendar function control unit 305 create the image data. Create a calendar from the specified date and time. The flash ROM 304 stores parameters such as a system control program and various adjustment values.

  The calendar function control unit 305 controls the calendar date and time, creation of the day of the week, notification of calendar creation to the user, automatic print output of the calendar, and the like based on the date information from the clock function unit 307, and the result is displayed on the CPU 301. To communicate. The internal storage device unit 306 includes a hard disk drive and a flash memory, and stores image data.

  The input / output I / F 310 provides an interface when the printer apparatus 1 is connected to an external device such as a digital camera or a PC. The input / output control unit 309 controls the interface (input / output I / F 310). Reading and writing control of the memory card (storage medium) 314 that stores image data is performed via the memory card controller unit 313, and data is transmitted to and received from the main control unit 300.

  The user performs various operations by operating the operation unit 308 while confirming the processing content on the GUI screen displayed on the LCD screen 311. The LCD screen 311 is controlled by the LCD driver unit 312. A speaker unit 318 is used to generate an electronic sound for notification to the user, an operation confirmation sound, and the like.

  The operation unit 308 gives an instruction to cause the image data processing unit 303 to create a calendar.

  Further, the LCD screen 311 sets a calendar creation date and a notification content for prompting the user to create a calendar.

  The print engine unit 315 performs print processing (output to paper) of image data including a calendar on paper.

  The print engine unit 315 includes a print output head such as an ink jet print head or a thermal head, a drive mechanism such as a stepping motor for paper conveyance, and a paper supply / discharge mechanism that performs paper supply / discharge.

  In addition, the print engine unit 315 includes a cartridge 317 containing an ink liquid and an ink ribbon, and a cartridge recognition unit 316 that recognizes the cartridge type. This configuration depends on the printing method and product form.

  Although not shown, the printer apparatus 1 stores therein a power supply circuit for supplying power necessary for operation, various ICs, a circuit board on which elements are mounted, and the like.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the printer apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the calendar printing (creation) process executed by the printer apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an LCD screen (GUI screen) when the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is performed.

  This process is executed under the control of the main control unit 300 in FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made following this flowchart.

  Here, the calendar printing of the present embodiment is a printing form in which a calendar on which a date of a certain period (for example, one month) is arranged and an image are combined and printed on one sheet of paper.

  Step S401: Select a calendar print setting menu on the LCD screen 311.

  Step S402: The LCD screen 311 of FIG. 5 is displayed, and the user selects calendar print settings.

  Step S403: When the user selects “(1) Notification at the end of every month”, the process proceeds to the first process (step S404).

  Step S405: If the user selects “(2) Notification when power is turned on”, the process proceeds to the second process (step S406).

  Step S407: If the user selects “(3) Automatic printing at the end of every month”, the process proceeds to a third process (step S408).

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, a transition may be made directly to the first to third processes described below without selection via the LCD screen 311.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first process executed in step S404 of FIG. 4, that is, the calendar printing (creation) notice and the calendar creation process.

  Hereinafter, description will be made following this flowchart.

  Step S601: The calendar function control unit 305 determines whether or not a calendar for the next month to be printed is not created. If the printout has been completed, the process ends. If not output, the process proceeds to step S602.

  Step S602: The clock function unit 307 is in a standby state until the end of the specified date and time at the end of the month, and the clock function unit 307 acquires information on the current date, and if the acquired current date and time information is the specified date and time, the step The process proceeds to S603.

  Step S603: The printer apparatus 1 is automatically turned on under the control of the calendar function control unit 305.

  Step S604: An electronic sound generated from the speaker unit 318 and an LCD screen display are performed, and a notification for prompting the user to create a calendar is performed. At this time, the GUI screen example shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the LCD screen 311.

  Step S605: When an operation by the user is started by notification, the process proceeds to a calendar creation process (step S608). If the operation is not started, the process proceeds to step S607 after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S606).

  Step S607: Under the control of the calendar function control unit 305, the CPU 301 generates a command for automatically turning off the printer apparatus 1, and the apparatus is turned off.

  When creating a monthly calendar, the specified date and time in step S602 is notified at the end of every month, and the calendar for the next month is created, and at the beginning of each month, the calendar for the same month is created. May be.

  Furthermore, when the weekly calendar is created at the designated date and time in step S602, notification is made every weekend, and the calendar for the next week is created. Alternatively, an announcement may be made at the beginning of each week to encourage the creation of a calendar for the same week. Also, the user may set an arbitrary designated date and time.

  Step S608: In the calendar creation process, image data to be used for calendar creation is selected from the image data stored in the internal storage unit 306 or the memory card 314. When trimming image data, the trimming size is confirmed and set on the LCD screen 311.

  After the setting, the image data processing unit 303 performs enlargement / reduction processing of the image data, and selects the layout of the day of the week / date generated by the calendar function control unit 305 from the month / day information of the clock function unit 307 and the image data. . Then, after the paper size setting and paper mode setting, print output is performed to create a calendar. FIG. 8 shows an example of a completed calendar.

  The image used for the calendar is automatically selected from the internal storage unit 306 or the memory card 314 based on the current date / time information acquired by the clock function unit 307 and the calendar date to be printed. You may do it. In this case, when creating a calendar for January, an image taken in January is selected, so an image suitable for the season is selected.

  Alternatively, the image may be automatically selected from images stored in a specific folder. The user designates a folder in advance or stores an image in the designated folder, whereby an image desired by the user is automatically selected.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second process executed in step S406 of FIG. 4, that is, the calendar printing (creation) notice and the calendar creation process.

  Hereinafter, description will be made following this flowchart.

  Step S901: The apparatus is turned on by the user.

  Step S902: The current date information of the clock function unit 307 is acquired, and the calendar function control unit 305 determines whether or not the calendar of the month following the current month has not been printed. The calendar function control unit 305 stores date information such as month and week of a printed calendar, and makes a determination based on the date information. If the print output has been completed, the process ends. If the print has not been output, the GUI screen display shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the LCD screen 311 to prompt the calendar creation processing (step S903).

  Step S904: If calendar creation is started by the user, the process proceeds to the calendar creation process in step S905. If it does not start, the process ends.

  Step S905: In the calendar creation process, image data to be used for calendar creation is selected from the image data stored in the internal storage unit 306 or the memory card 314. When trimming image data, the trimming size is confirmed and set on the LCD screen 311.

  After setting the trimming size, the image data processing unit 303 performs enlargement / reduction processing of the image data, and the layout of the day / date generated by the calendar function control unit 305 from the date information of the clock function unit 307 and the image data Make a selection. Print output after paper size setting and paper mode setting to create a calendar.

  The calendar of the corresponding month in step S902 corresponds to the next month if it is the end of the month, and the same month if it is the beginning of the month.

  Similarly to the first process, in the second process, when printing a calendar for one week, the calendar printing is executed when the current date and time information acquired by the clock function unit 307 is the weekend or the beginning of the week. May be prompted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the third process executed in step S408 of FIG. 4, that is, the calendar printing (creating) process.

  Hereinafter, description will be made following this flowchart.

  Step S <b> 1101: While confirming the display on the LCD screen 311, the user performs settings for creating a calendar through the operation unit 308. Set the calendar configuration on a monthly or weekly basis.

  Step S1102: An image obtained by combining the image data and the date generated from the date and time information of the clock function unit 307 is displayed on the LCD screen 311 and the layout is set.

  Step S1103: The calendar paper size is set.

  Step S1104: One or a plurality of image data to be used for the calendar are selected from the image data stored in the internal storage unit 306 or the memory card 314 and set. Alternatively, a folder in which image data to be printed is stored is selected and set.

  Step S1105: Specify the calendar print output date and time.

  Step S1106: It is determined whether or not the same paper size as the setting made above is loaded in the printer apparatus 1 when the user turns off the printer apparatus 1.

  Step S1107: When different paper sizes are loaded, a notice that the paper sizes are different is displayed on the LCD screen 311.

  Step S1108: The clock function unit 307 determines whether the print designation date / time has come.

  Step S1109: When the designated date and time comes, the printer apparatus 1 automatically turns on the power.

  Step S1110: After the printer apparatus 1 is activated, it is determined whether or not print output is possible. If the print output is impossible, an error log is left (step S1112), and an error message is displayed on the LCD screen 311 after the user turns on the power. If printer output is possible, calendar print output is performed (step S1111).

  Step S1113: After the print output is completed, the printer apparatus 1 automatically turns off the power and ends the process.

  When specifying the image data in step S1104, if a folder in which the image data is stored is specified, the image data may be randomly selected from the folder to create a calendar. Alternatively, the user may make a “favorite” setting for image data in advance, and preferentially select image data from the folder to create a calendar.

  Further, when it is set to automatically create a calendar at the end of every month / first or at the beginning of every weekend, the user may select and set image data to be laid out on a plurality of calendars in advance. Alternatively, a calendar may be created by automatic selection on the printer device side every time it is created from a folder in which image data is stored.

  In combination with the above-described calendar print output process, the created calendar layout data may be stored in the internal storage unit 306 or the memory card 314 so that it can be referred to later.

  The object of the present invention is achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is a process of reading the program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Cases are also included.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

  The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices such as a host computer, an interface device, and a printer device, or to a device composed of a single device such as a multifunction peripheral.

1 is an external perspective view of a printer apparatus as a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a UI operation member on an upper surface of the printer apparatus in FIG. 1. 1 is a block diagram of a printer apparatus as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of calendar printing (creation) processing executed by the printer apparatus of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a GUI screen when performing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 1st process performed by step S404 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a GUI screen at the time of implementing the process shown by the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the calendar produced by step S608 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the 2nd process performed by FIG.4 S406. It is a figure which shows the example of a GUI screen at the time of implementing the process shown by the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a third process executed in step S408 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

300 Main control unit 301 CPU
302 RAM
303 Image data processing unit 305 Calendar function control unit 307 Clock function unit 308 Operation unit 311 LCD screen 314 Memory card 315 Print engine unit 318 Speaker unit

Claims (14)

Printing means for printing a calendar on which a date for a certain period is arranged;
An acquisition means for acquiring date information relating to the current date;
A printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs a display for prompting calendar printing based on the date information acquired by the acquisition unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display that prompts the calendar to be printed is performed based on information related to a date included in the calendar printed by the printing unit and date information acquired by the acquisition unit.   3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the date information acquired by the acquisition unit is one of a month end, a month start, a weekend, or a week start, a display for prompting the calendar printing is performed. The printing apparatus as described in. The certain period is one month,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the date information acquired by the acquisition unit is the end of a month, the control unit performs display for prompting printing of a calendar of the next month. The certain period is one week,
3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the date information acquired by the acquisition unit is a weekend, the control unit performs display for prompting printing of a calendar for the next week.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prompts printing of a calendar on which a date that has not yet been printed is arranged. The printing means combines and prints an image and a calendar on which a date is arranged,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects an image to be printed together with a calendar.   The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the selection unit selects an image based on date information acquired by the acquisition unit.   The printing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the selection unit selects an image to be printed together with a calendar from images in a predetermined folder.   10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a display for prompting the printing of the calendar in response to the power supply of the printing apparatus being turned on. Generating means for generating a calendar in which dates for a certain period are arranged;
Printing control means for causing the printing means to print the calendar generated by the generating means;
An acquisition means for acquiring date information relating to the current date;
A printing apparatus comprising: a display unit configured to display a calendar to be printed based on information on a date included in a calendar printed by the printing unit and date information acquired by the acquisition unit. A generation step for generating a calendar in which dates of a certain period are arranged;
A printing control step of causing the printing unit to print the calendar generated by the generating step;
An acquisition step for acquiring date information about the current date;
Control of a printing apparatus, comprising: a display step for performing display for prompting printing of a calendar based on information on a date included in a calendar printed by the printing unit and date information acquired by the acquisition step Method. In a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a printing apparatus,
The control method of the printing apparatus is:
A generation step for generating a calendar in which dates of a certain period are arranged;
A printing control step of causing the printing unit to print the calendar generated by the generating step;
An acquisition step for acquiring date information about the current date;
A program comprising: a display step for performing display for prompting printing of a calendar based on information on a date included in a calendar printed by the printing unit and date information acquired by the acquisition step.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 13.

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