JPH0831133B2 - Print interval judgment method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [Overview] A character spacing determination method for printing on a medium, in which image data read from the medium by a character projection processing unit is subjected to projection processing in character units of character lines, and the center positions of characters on both ends are projected. Then, the second counting means counts the number of bits between the center positions of the characters at both ends, and the number of characters in the character line is sequentially calculated by the calculation means based on the number of bits of the character spacing values stored in the storage means. The printed character spacing can be accurately and easily determined by sequentially comparing the calculated number of characters counted by the first counting means with the matching means and obtaining the character spacing value of the matched number of characters.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a character spacing determination method for printing on a medium, and more particularly to a character spacing determination method capable of determining a printing spacing using image data of printing read from a medium.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

In the print quality inspection of characters printed on a medium by a printer or the like, a method for correctly and easily determining the character spacing for printing is required. Conventionally, the character spacing is measured by a scale. , For example 1 /
When judging the character spacing of 10 inch pitch or 1/12 inch pitch, the standard of 1/10 inch pitch is 2.54 mm ± 0.5 mm, 2.04 mm ~
3.04mm, and the standard for 1/12 inch pitch is 2.12mm ± 0.5mm, 1.62mm ~
It will be 2.62 mm.

Therefore, the part that overlaps the allowable size range, that is, 2.04 mm to 2.
Since it is 62 mm, it may not be possible to simply determine the character spacing for determination, and since it is troublesome by hand, there is a problem that automation of measurement is required.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a character spacing determination method capable of determining a printing spacing using image data of printing read from a medium.

[Means for solving problems]

 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, 7 is a character projection processing means for reading characters printed on a medium by a reading means and performing a projection process for each character line of the read image data, and 8 is a first character count processing for counting the number of characters in the character line. A counting means, 9 is a second counting means for counting the number of bits between the center positions of the characters on both ends of the projection data of the character projected by the character projection processing means, and 10 is a plurality of types of character spacing values to be printed. Storage means stored by the number of bits, 11 is the number of bits between the center positions of the characters on both ends of the projection data counted by the second counting means 9, and bits of a plurality of types of character interval values stored in the storage means 10. A calculating means for sequentially calculating the number of characters in the character line based on the number, 12 is a matching means for sequentially matching the number of characters counted by the first counting means 8 and the number of characters calculated by the calculating means 11. .

Therefore, when they are matched by the matching of the matching means 12, it is determined that the character spacing value corresponds to the calculated number of characters.

[Action]

The image data read from the medium is projected by the character projection processing means 7 for each character of a character line to obtain the center positions of the characters at both ends.

Next, the second counting means 9 counts the number of bits between the center positions of the characters at both ends, the number of bits of the character spacing values of a plurality of types stored in the storage means 10 is read out, and the calculating means 11 performs the character line processing. Is sequentially calculated, and the number of characters counted by the first counting means 8 is sequentially collated by the collating means 12. Thus, the character spacing can be automatically and accurately determined by determining the character spacing value corresponding to the number of characters when they match by collation.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings. In FIG. 2, the ones corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are shown surrounded by a one-dot chain line.

In FIG. 2, the reading unit 2 includes a positioning / conveying mechanism 3 for setting and conveying the medium 1, an image sensor S, and an analog / digital (hereinafter referred to as A / D) conversion unit 4, and the medium 1 is printed. Read the image data of the characters and convert it to A / D.

The binarization circuit 5 binarizes the multi-tone image data sent from the reading unit 2, separates the medium surface from the printing unit, and removes noise by a median filter (not shown).

The image buffer 6 stores binarized image data.

The character projection processing unit 7a performs a projection process for each character of a character line of image data, and obtains the center position of the projection data of each character.

The character counting unit 8a counts the number of characters in a line based on the center position of the projection data of each character.

The pixel counting unit 9a counts the number of bits between the center positions of the projection data of the characters on both ends of the line.

The character spacing value memory 10a stores a plurality of types of character spacing values to be printed in bit numbers. For example, the bit numbers n ₀ and m _{0 of} 1 / n inch pitch and 1 / m inch pitch are stored.

The calculation unit 11a sequentially calculates the number of characters in the line from the number of bits between the center positions of the characters on both ends of the projection data and the number of bits of a plurality of types of character interval values stored in the character interval value memory 10a.

The comparison determination unit 12a sequentially compares the number of characters counted by the character counting unit 8a and the number of characters calculated by the calculation type 11 until they match, and when they match, determines that the character interval corresponds to the number of characters.

Further, 13 is a display (hereinafter referred to as CRT), 14 is a printer, and 15 is a control unit.

With such a configuration and function, the character H is printed in rows and columns on the medium 1 as shown in FIG. 3, and the operation when the character spacing d of the character H is obtained is the fourth.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in the figure.

The image data read from the medium 1 and binarized is stored in the image buffer 6.

By the character projection processing unit 7a, the projection range X shown in FIG.
Is performed, and the character center positions at both ends are obtained from the projection data. Projection data is shown at the bottom of the figure.

The character counting unit 8a determines the number of characters in the line N based on the character center position.
Ask for.

The pixel counting unit 9a counts the number of bits B between the character center positions of both characters.

The calculation unit 9a reads 1 from the character interval value memory 10a.
The number of characters Nn is obtained by dividing the number of bits B between the character center positions by the number of bits bn of / n inch pitch.

The comparison / determination unit 12a compares the numbers of characters N and Nn, and if N = Nn, the character spacing d is determined to be 1 / n inch pitch.

If N ≠ Nn, the number of characters Nm is obtained by dividing the number of bits B between the character center positions by the number of bits bm of 1 / m inch pitch in the same manner as the flow of.

The comparison / determination unit 12a compares the numbers of characters N and Nm, and if N = Nm, the character spacing d is determined to be 1 / m inch pitch.

If N ≠ Nm, the number of bits with a different character interval is read from the character interval value memory 10a, calculated, and the comparison determination is repeated until they match.

 The determination result is output to the CRT 13 and the printer 14.

In this way, the print character spacing on the medium 1 can be automatically and accurately determined.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the character spacing for printing on the medium can be automatically determined.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a medium, 2 is a reading unit, 7 is a character projection processing unit, 7a is a character projection processing unit, 8 is a first counting unit, 8a is a character counting unit,
9 is a second counting means, 9a is a pixel counting section, 10 is a storage means,
10a is a character spacing value memory, 11 is a calculation means, 11a is a calculation unit,
Reference numeral 12 represents a collating means, and 12a represents a comparison and determination unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character projection processing means (7) for reading a character printed on a medium by a reading means and performing a projection process for each character line of the read image data, and counting the number of characters in the character line. First counting means (8), and second counting means (9) for counting the number of bits between the central positions of the characters on both ends of the projection data of the character projected by the character projection processing means (7). A storage means (10) in which the plurality of types of character spacing values to be printed are stored in the number of bits, and a number of bits between the center positions of the double-ended characters of the projection data counted by the second counting means (9) And the storage means (1
Calculation means (11) for sequentially calculating the number of characters of a character line based on the number of bits of the character spacing values stored in 0), the number of characters counted by the first counting means (8) and the calculation A collating means (12) for sequentially collating the number of characters calculated by the means (11), and determining that the character spacing value corresponds to the calculated number of characters when they are matched by the collation of the collating means (12). A printing interval determination method characterized in that