JP2004208334A - Composite printer and scan image copying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable four-edge-free copying without margins appearing in a printout when an image of a document is captured by an image scanner and printed by a printer.
SOLUTION: A normal copying mode, a completely borderless copying mode and a quasi-marginless copying mode can be selected. In the complete marginless copy mode, the scanned image of the original from the image scanner is adjusted to a size larger by a predetermined margin (3 mm) than the printing paper, and then printed on the printing paper. In the normal copy mode, the scan image is printed after being adjusted to a size smaller than the printing paper by a predetermined margin (3 mm). In the near borderless copy mode, the scanned image is printed after being adjusted to a size between the perfect borderless copy mode and the normal copy mode.
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite printer and a scan image copying method.

  In recent years, some printers have been able to perform so-called four-sided borderless printing in which an image based on print target data is printed on the entire printing surface of a printing sheet. In addition, stand-alone printers that can print predetermined data on print paper by themselves without requiring connection to a host device represented by a personal computer or the like have become widespread. A composite printer has been developed in which a scanner function is further added to such a stand-alone printer, and an image captured by the scanner mechanism can be directly printed on printing paper by the printer mechanism without using a host device. Related prior arts are described in Patent Documents 1 to 4.

  Since the multifunction printer does not require a connection to the host device, the user typically sets a document on the platen, and operates the operation panel provided on the main body to give a print instruction to the stand-alone printer. Then, after reading by the scanner mechanism, printing is automatically performed by the printer mechanism, and a print result can be obtained.

JP-A-11-298725 JP 2000-184145 A JP-A-11-69096 JP 2001-218025 A

  In the above-described multifunction printer, when an image captured from a document by the scanner mechanism is printed as it is on a print sheet of the same size as that of the document by the printer mechanism as it is, the scanner mechanism can capture the image. Since the area is smaller than a whole area of the document surface by a predetermined margin (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner margin), the scanner margin appears on the printing paper as it is, and a satisfactory print result cannot be obtained. In order to adjust the deviation between the scan area by the scanner mechanism and the print area by the printer mechanism, improving the mechanical accuracy of both reading and printing has a problem in terms of product cost. In particular, since the above-described multifunction printer as a stand-alone printer mainly targets personal users, there is a strong demand that the product cost must be kept low.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to enable four-sided borderless printing in which a margin area does not appear even when an image captured by a scanner mechanism is printed by the printer mechanism in a multifunction printer.

A composite printer according to one aspect of the present invention includes a document table, a scanner section that scans a scan area on the document table, and outputs image data of the scan area, and an image of the scan area from the scanner section. A processing unit that processes data to generate print image data, a print unit that executes printing on a print medium using the print image data from the processing unit, a normal copy mode, and a borderless copy mode, A selection unit for selecting any one of at least two types of copy modes from among a plurality of types of copy modes including an equal-size copy mode. And the processing unit comprises:
(1) When the normal copy mode is selected, the size of the image data in the scan area is changed or not changed, and the size of the print image data is reduced to a size smaller than the size of the print medium. Generate
(2) when the borderless copy mode is selected, changing the size of the image data in the scan area to generate the print image data so as to have a size larger than the size of the print medium;
(3) When the 1: 1 copy mode is selected, the print image data is generated without changing the size of the image data in the scan area.

  A preferred embodiment may further include a print start control unit that controls a print start position of the printer engine according to the mode selected by the selection unit.

A scan image copying method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: scanning a scan area on a platen to obtain image data of the scan area; and processing the obtained image data of the scan area to form a print image. Obtaining data, executing printing on a print medium using the print image data, and a plurality of types of copy modes including a normal copy mode, a borderless copy mode, and a 1: 1 copy mode. Selecting one of at least two types of copy modes. In the step of obtaining the print image data,
(1) When the normal copy mode is selected, the print image data is generated so as to be smaller than the size of the print medium, with or without changing the size of the image data in the scan area. And
(2) when the borderless copy mode is selected, changing the size of the image data in the scan area to generate the print image data so as to have a size larger than the size of the print medium;
(3) When the 1: 1 copy mode is selected, the print image data is generated without changing the size of the image data in the scan area.

  The present invention also provides a computer program executed by a processor of a control device in a multifunction printer so that the above-described scan image copying method is performed in the multifunction printer.

  According to the present invention, in the borderless copy mode, it is possible to perform four-edge-free printing without a margin area appearing.

  According to the present invention, in addition to the borderless copy mode, the normal copy mode and the normal copy mode can be selected. In the normal copy mode, the scan image is printed without loss, and in the normal copy mode, the scan image is equal. Printed twice.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a multifunction printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction printer 1 has a scanner function of capturing a document such as a document as scan image data, and a printer function of converting print target data such as scan image data and application data into print image data and printing the print data on print paper. . The multifunction printer 1 has a control device therein, and performs overall control to realize various functions.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal panel and various buttons are provided on the upper surface of the main body of the composite printer 1 to form a user interface 11. Through the user interface 11, the user can issue an instruction to read or print a document, set various reading conditions, set printing conditions, and the like.

  On the upper surface of the main body of the composite printer 1, a document table 12 having a glass surface on which a document is placed and a cover 13 are provided. Although not shown, a light source for irradiating a document placed on the glass surface of the document table 12 with light and an optical sensor for receiving the reflected light are provided below the document table 12. Upon receiving an image reading instruction / printing instruction from the user via the user interface 11, the multifunction printer 1 reads the original placed on the original platen 12 and stores it as scan image data in a predetermined data format in an internal memory. I do. Subsequently, the multifunction printer 1 performs printing on printing paper based on the scan image data stored in the memory. After printing, the multifunction printer 1 discharges the printing paper to the discharge tray 14.

  A card slot 15 as an external interface is provided on the front surface of the main body of the multifunction printer 1. The card slot 15 complies with, for example, the PCMCIA standard, and is configured so that a memory card (not shown) conforming to such a standard can be attached and detached. For example, when detecting that the memory card has been inserted into the card slot 15 and has been inserted, the multifunction printer 1 displays a message prompting a print execution instruction on the liquid crystal panel. The user can give a print instruction by performing an operation for setting print conditions as necessary. When receiving the print instruction from the user, the multifunction printer 1 reads out the image data recorded in the memory card and performs printing on the printing paper. After printing, the multifunction printer 1 discharges the printing paper to the discharge tray 14.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the composite printer 1 according to the present embodiment. The processor 21 executes various control programs. That is, the various programs stored in the ROM 22 are executed by the processor 21 so as to cooperate with other hardware to cause the multifunction printer to realize predetermined functions. In the present embodiment, at least a user interface function, a scanner function, an image generation function, a print control function, and the like are realized.

  The external interface circuit 24 enables the processor 21 to access the memory card 2 inserted in the card slot 15. After loading the image data stored in the memory card into the RAM 23 via the external interface circuit 24, the processor 21 generates image data based on the image data according to the set printing conditions.

  The scanner circuit 25 is for reading a document placed on the document table 12 and capturing the document as scan image data. After loading the scan image data captured by the scanner circuit 25 into the RAM 23, the processor 21 generates print image data based on the scan image data according to the set print conditions. The scanner circuit 25 uses an image input system (a reduction optical system that reads a document by reducing the size of a document with a lens, a contact optical system that reads a document at a magnification of 1 using a CCD having a document width, and the like). be able to. The scanner circuit 25 reads a color information of a document according to a predetermined method (such as a method of combining a monochrome linear CCD with a color filter or a method of using a color linear CCD which itself has a color separation function). Can be used.

  The image memory 26 is for storing the generated print image data. The engine controller 27 reads the print image data stored in the image memory 26 and supplies the read print image data to the print engine 28 while controlling the operation of the print engine 28. The engine controller 27 is activated by, for example, a print execution command sent from the processor 21 as a trigger when print image data having a predetermined bandwidth is expanded in the image memory 26.

  The print engine 28 includes, for example, a paper feed mechanism and a print head, and performs printing on a print medium such as paper. As the print engine 28, a printer corresponding to the type of printer such as a laser printer or a serial printer can be used.

  The user interface circuit 29 is for controlling the user interface 11 realized by the liquid crystal panel and various buttons.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a characteristic portion of a printing mechanism corresponding to borderless printing.

  A platen 111 that supports the paper 113 from a surface opposite to a surface that receives the ejected ink is provided in a discharge path of the paper 113 sent by the paper feeding device in the multifunction printer 1. In the platen 111, an ink absorber 116 for absorbing ink ejected from the print head of the carriage 115 is embedded at a position facing the traveling path of the carriage 115.

  The ink absorber 116 is, for example, urethane resin, is long in the scanning direction of the carriage 115, and has a constant width in the paper feeding direction. Accordingly, even if ink is ejected above the upper end and below the lower end of the paper 113 as the carriage 115 reciprocates, the ink is received and absorbed by the ink absorber 116, so that the ink is ejected outside the paper 113. The ejected ink does not stain the platen 111.

Further, the ink absorber 116, the left end portion 117A, the right end portion 117D, and a predetermined portion 117B and 117C between them are wider in the paper feed direction and reverse it becomes (i.e. longer). Accordingly, even if ink is ejected to the left from the left end and to the right from the right end of the paper 113 with the reciprocation of the carriage 115, the ink is received and absorbed by the ink absorber 116. The ejected ink does not stain the platen 111. Since the widened portion is only the specific portions 117A to 117D of the ink absorber 116, the composite printer 1 can handle a paper size that can perform borderless printing without soiling the platen 111. It can be all of a plurality of paper sizes, or some specific sizes, such as JIS A4 size (210 x 297 mm), B5 size (182 x 257 mm), and postcard size (100 x 148 mm) It can also be limited to If the size of the paper 113 is, for example, A4 size, the ink absorber 116 absorbs ink discharged outside the left end and the right end of the paper 113 at portions 117A and 117D, and the size of the paper 113 is, for example, B5 size. If there is, the ink discharged outside the left end and right end of the paper 113 is absorbed at the portions 117B and 117D, and if the size of the paper 113 is, for example, a postcard size, the left end and the right end of the paper 113 at the portions 117C and 117D Absorbs ink ejected outside.

  With the configuration described above, even when printing without borders, the platen 111 is prevented from being stained by the ink ejected outside the paper 113 (the configuration described with reference to FIG. 3). Are described in the specification and drawings (Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2000-275965 and 2000-295861) attached to a patent application filed by the present applicant in the past). Borderless printing can be performed in response to a user request in a printer mode and a composite printer mode described below.

  The present embodiment converts the print image data into print image data based on the scan image data captured under the control of the scanner circuit 25 so that the print image is enlarged with respect to the document image so as not to give the user a visually strange feeling. It is characterized in that the printing magnification is adjusted when generating and printing is performed.

  For example, when the scan area captured by the scanner mechanism is formed including the outer area around the original, the print magnification is adjusted so that the peripheral boundary of the original corresponds to the peripheral boundary of the print sheet. . When the scan area captured by the scanner mechanism is formed in the inner peripheral area of the document, the inner boundary of the inner peripheral area is enlarged and adjusted so as to correspond to the outer boundary of the printing paper. However, in any case, it is preferable that the two do not completely overlap and coincide with each other, but slightly protrude from the outer edge boundary portion of the printing paper in consideration of an error. The print magnification is defined by the relationship between the scan area and the actual document size, but is preferably about 104 to 106%, and more preferably about 105%.

  More specifically, as an example of the former, as shown in FIG. 4, when the multifunction printer 1 specifies the A4 size as the document size and takes in the document, the multifunction printer 1 actually includes the outer area around the document. The scanned area obtained is captured as an image (scanned image). In this case, since the outer area is an extra area that should not originally appear in the print result, the outer peripheral boundary A of the actual document is the outer peripheral boundary A of the printing paper on which the printing without four sides is performed. Enlarge and adjust the print magnification to correspond to '. As a result, no extra area is printed, and a satisfactory print result can be obtained for the user as four-edge-free printing.

  As an example of the latter, as shown in FIG. 5, when the multifunction printer 1 specifies an A4 size as a document size and takes in a document, the scanning area is actually set to a margin inside area of the document size. As an image. In this case, if the printing is performed as it is, a blank area will appear in the printing result. Therefore, the inner boundary part A of the inner peripheral area of the document corresponds to the peripheral boundary part A ′ of the printing paper on which the printing without four sides is performed. The print magnification is adjusted so as to make it larger. As a result, a blank area that cannot be captured at the time of capturing is not printed, and the user can obtain a satisfactory print result as four-sided borderless printing.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the multifunction printer 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows, as a single flowchart, a series of processes from a process in which a document is fetched as an image by a scanner function to a process in which the document is printed by a print function.

  That is, when the user places a document on the platen 12, closes the lid 13, and operates the user interface 11 to give an image reading / printing instruction, the multifunction printer 1 controls the scanner under the control of the scanner circuit 209. The document reading operation is performed by controlling the mechanism, and the read image is temporarily stored in the RAM 23 as scan image data (STEP 501). After reading by the scanner mechanism is completed, the multifunction printer 1 converts the scan image data into print image data and expands the print image data in the image memory 26. At this time, the composite printer 1 converts the image into image data according to a preset print magnification (for example, 105%) so that the print image is enlarged with respect to the original image (original image) (STEP 502). Then, after completing the conversion into the image data, the multifunction printer 1 supplies the image data stored in the image memory 26 to the print engine 28, and executes printing on the printing paper (STEP 503). The supply of the print image data to the print engine 28 may be started when, for example, the print image data for a predetermined bandwidth is stored in the image memory 26.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, printing in which the print magnification is adjusted based on the scan image data captured so that the print image is enlarged with respect to the original image so as not to visually disturb the user Since the image data is generated and printed in accordance with the image data, even when the scan area at the time of capturing the image includes an extra area or when the entire document cannot be captured and the margin area is included, the image data is printed. No extra area or blank area appears in the print result, and satisfactory results can be obtained as four-edge-free printing. In particular, according to the present embodiment, satisfactory four-edge-free printing can be realized without improving the mechanical accuracy of the scanner mechanism or the printing mechanism. Will be able to respond.

  Next, another embodiment of the composite printer according to the present invention will be described.

  This composite printer has, for example, the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and further has not only a function as a composite printer but also a function as a single image scanner and a function as a single inkjet printer. Has both. The multifunction printer has a scanner mode, a printer mode, and a multifunction printer mode that can be selected by a user, and can selectively execute these modes according to a user's request. (Hereinafter, this composite printer is referred to as a “multi-composite printer”).

  When the scanner mode is designated, the multi-composite printer optically reads an image of a document placed at a predetermined position on a document table to generate scan image data, and converts the scan image data to a personal computer or the like. A process for sending to a host device (not shown) is performed. When the printer mode is designated, the multi-function printer receives print image data from a host device (not shown) and performs a process of printing an image represented by the print image data on a print sheet specified by the user. When the multi-function printer mode is specified, the multi-multi-function printer generates print image data based on scan image data generated by reading a document placed on a platen, and generates a print image represented by the print image data. Then, a process for printing on a print sheet specified by the user is performed.

  An operation panel (not shown) provided in the multi-composite printer includes a plurality of buttons for performing desired settings and instructions for the multi-composite printer, a mode currently set in the multi-composite printer, a state of the multi-composite printer, and the like. Is displayed on the display screen. The user can switch between the scanner mode, the printer mode, and the multifunction printer mode using the operation panel. Further, in the case of the multifunction printer mode, the user can selectively designate “normal copy mode”, “complete borderless copy mode”, and “quasi-edgeless copy mode” using the operation panel. , The number of copies (the number of copies) can be set.

  Hereinafter, a multi-composite printer that executes the “normal copy mode”, the “complete borderless copy mode”, and the “semi-borderless copy mode” will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows a copy result when the “normal copy mode” is executed. In order to make the following description easy to understand, it is assumed that the size of the document 43 and the size of the printing paper 47 shown in this figure are the same, and that the copy magnification is “1 ×”. The same applies to FIGS. 8 to 11 below.)

  The “normal copy mode” is a mode for copying the image of the document 43 with margins. In this mode, even if another mode (ie, “completely borderless copy mode” or “quasi-edgeless copy mode”) is set to copy the image of the document 43 without borders, the printing paper 47 Is a mode automatically set if the size of the image is not the specific size corresponding to borderless printing.

  In the “normal copying mode”, it is possible to reliably prevent the ink from being ejected outside the printing paper 47 due to the variation of the printing start position (from another viewpoint, the printing paper 47 is not affected even if the printing start position varies). A printer margin 45A (for example, +3 mm) for normal copying, which is sufficient to form margins at the upper, lower, left, and right ends, is set.

  In the “normal copying mode”, a scanner margin 41 is set, which allows the image of the document 43 to be read reliably even when the document reading start position varies. The scanner margin 41 is set to a value (for example, 1.5 mm) smaller than the normal copying printer margin 45A (this value is used in other modes “perfect marginless copy mode” and “quasi-marginless copy mode”). But the same is true). This is because it is possible to make the mechanical accuracy of the image scanner 23 higher than that of the printer 24, thereby making it possible to make the variation in the document reading start position smaller than the variation in the printing start position. .

  In the "normal copying mode", copying is performed as follows.

  That is, the image scanner scans a range (that is, a scan area) 44 of the document 43 placed on the document table inside the preset scanner margin 41. Accordingly, scan image data representing the scan image 80 in the scan area 44 is generated by the scanner circuit.

  The processor in the multi-copy apparatus sets the size of the scan image 80 represented by the scan image data to an area (print area) 100 in the print sheet 47 which is inside the edge of the print sheet 47 by a printer margin 45A for normal copying. The print image data representing the scan image 44A whose size has been corrected is generated by correcting the size of the scan image 44A, and the scan image 44A is printed on the printing paper 47 based on the print image data.

  Specifically, based on the normal copying printer margin 45A, the processor in the multi-copying apparatus changes a portion 44B having the same width as the normal copying printer margin 45A from a portion including the right end and the lower end of the scan image 80. Trim. Further, the processor trims a portion 44C including a margin obtained by subtracting the scanner margin 41 from the normal copying printer margin 45A from the portion including the upper end and the left end of the trimmed rectangular area (the part 44C is the upper end and the left end). Instead of the portion including the left end, a portion including the lower end and the right end may be used). Then, the processor controls the engine controller to trim the portions 44B and 44C described above from the scanner image 80 and leave the remaining print target portion (that is, the size-corrected scan image) 44A in the center of the printing paper 47. The printing is performed on the paper 47 so as to be positioned (in other words, the center of the print target portion 44A overlaps the center of the printing paper 47). As a result, a margin equal to the normal copy printer margin 45A is generated near the upper, lower, left, and right ends of the printing paper 47 on which the print target portion 44A is printed. The printing start position for positioning the print target portion 44A at the center of the paper 47 may be predetermined with the upper left end of the print target 44A as the origin, or calculated and determined every time one page is printed. You may be.

  According to the above-described method, even if the scanner margin 41 is smaller than the printer margin 45A, it is possible to perform 1: 1 copying while ensuring a margin equal to the printer margin 45A.

  FIG. 8 shows a copy result when the “complete borderless copy mode” is executed.

  The “complete borderless copy mode” is a mode for copying the image of the document 43 without forming any margin (for example, the mode in which the size of the printing paper 47 corresponds to borderless printing). It cannot be performed unless it is a certain size.)

  In the “perfect borderless copy mode”, the scan image 80 is printed on the printing paper 47 after being enlarged to a size larger than the size of the printing paper 47. Considering the variation of the print start position based on the mechanical system of the printing mechanism of the multi-composite printer, for example, when the scan image is placed at the center of the paper 47, Further, the size of the image is such that the image protrudes at least 3 mm from the upper, lower, left and right edges of the sheet. If the width of the protruding portion 200 is interpreted in a broad sense and referred to as “printer margin”, in the “complete borderless copy mode”, a printer margin 45B for complete borderless copy is set in advance, and the printer margin 45B is set. Will be copied based on. The printer margin 45B for complete borderless copying is set for the purpose of executing printing in which no margin is formed by reliably setting the size of the image to be printed to a size protruding from the paper 47. Yes, for normal copying set for the purpose of ensuring that the entire image to be printed fits within the paper 47 so that ink is not ejected outside the paper 47 and the platen 111 is not stained. Is symmetric with the printer margin 45A. Therefore, in this embodiment, the size of the printer margin 45A for normal copying is indicated by a positive value, and the printer margin 45B for perfect borderless copying is indicated by a negative value (for example, -3 mm).

  By the way, in the "perfect marginless copy mode", copying is performed as follows.

  That is, the scanner circuit reads an image of an area in the document 43 (that is, in the scan area) inside the edge of the document 43 by a preset scanner margin 41, and acquires a scan image 80.

  The processor in the multi-composite printer generates an enlarged image 80A of the acquired scan image 80 based on the printer margin 45B. However, the magnification of the enlarged image 80A with respect to the scan image 80 is surely smaller than that obtained by applying the technology of the conventional borderless printing printer as it is to the conventional multifunction printer. This is because, in this embodiment, the scanner margin 41 is not set to the same size as the large printer margin 45A for normal copying, but is set to a small size corresponding to the high mechanical accuracy of the scanner mechanism. As a result, even near-edge copying can be performed at almost the same size.

  Now, when the processor enlarges the scan image 80 into an image (hereinafter referred to as an enlarged scan image) 80A, the processor controls the engine controller so that the center C1 of the document 43 in the enlarged scan image 80A is the center of the printing paper 47 as a copy result. The enlarged scan image 80A is printed on the paper 47 so as to overlap C2. As a result, the image in the scan area of the document 43 is copied without a border in the center of the print paper 47 (however, since the scan image 80 is enlarged larger than the size of the print paper 47, The area does not ride on the paper 47). The printing start position for performing such copying may be determined in advance, or may be calculated and determined each time one page is printed.

  FIG. 9 shows a copy result when the “quasi-edgeless copy mode” is executed.

  The “quasi-edgeless copy mode” is a mode for obtaining a borderless original image at a magnification closer to a desired copy magnification (for example, the same magnification) than the “complete borderless copy mode”.

  In the “quasi-edgeless copy mode”, a size (for example, −1.5 mm) smaller than the printer margin 45A (for example, +3 mm) for normal copying and larger than the printer margin 45B (for example, −3 mm) for completely borderless copying. A printer margin (hereinafter, printer margin for quasi-borderless copying) 45C is set. For this reason, in the “quasi-edgeless copy mode”, the size of the enlarged scan image 80B at the time of printing falls within the area of the paper 47 inside the edge of the printing paper 47 by the printer margin 45A for normal copying. The size is larger than the size and smaller than the size of the read image 80A printed in the “complete borderless copy mode”. As a result, when the image is copied in the “quasi-marginless copy mode”, no margin is formed at all, or even if the margin is formed, a narrower margin than in the “normal copy mode” is formed on the printing paper 47. Either of at least one edge is formed. Since a copy in which no margin is formed can be performed, the “quasi-borderless copy mode” is the same as the “perfect borderless copy mode” in that the size of the printing paper 47 is the specific size corresponding to the borderless printing. Otherwise, it cannot be executed.

  In the “quasi-edgeless copy mode”, copying is performed in the same manner as in the “complete borderless copy mode”.

  That is, the scanner circuit reads an image of an area in the document 43 inside the edge of the document 43 by a preset scanner margin 41 and acquires a scan image 80.

  The processor in the multi-composite printer enlarges the acquired scan image 80 based on the printer margin 45C to generate an image (hereinafter, enlarged scan image) 80B. Here, the magnification of the enlarged scan image 80B with respect to the original scan image 80 is smaller than in the case of the “perfect borderless copy mode” as described above. As a result, when the borderless printing is successful, the copied image is an image closer to the desired magnification (for example, the same magnification) than the borderless image in the “complete borderless copy mode”.

  Now, after generating the enlarged scan image 80B, the processor controls the engine controller to convert the enlarged scan image 80B such that the center C1 of the document 43 in the enlarged scan image 80B overlaps the center C2 of the printing paper 47 as a copy result. Printing is performed on paper 47. Thus, the image 80 in the scan area of the document 43 can be copied without a border in the center of the printing paper 47. The printing start position for performing such copying may be determined in advance, or may be calculated and determined each time one page is printed.

  The above is the description of the “quasi-edgeless copy mode”. In this mode, if the printer margin 45C satisfies the conditions described above (that is, if the printer margin 45C is within the range from the printer margin 45A for normal copying to the printer margin 45B for completely borderless copying), It can be a size. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, if the printer margin 45C for quasi-edgeless copying is set to 0 mm, it is possible to perform complete edgeless copying closest to the user-desired copying magnification (for example, the same magnification) (it is not certain). Can). Further, as shown in FIG. 11, if the printer margin 45C for quasi-edgeless copying is set to 1.5 mm, which is the same as the scanner margin 41, (at a copy magnification that perfectly matches the user's request, a slight margin is generated. 3.) A substantially borderless copy can be performed (in this case, the scan image 80 may be printed as it is, or a predetermined portion 44D is trimmed based on the printer margin 45C for the quasi-borderless copy mode). It may be printed later).

  In the "quasi-edgeless copy mode", the printer margin 45C for the quasi-edgeless copy is automatically adjusted within the above-described range according to a predetermined algorithm (for example, based on the state of the multi-composite printer). May be. Specifically, the magnification of the scanned image 80 is automatically adjusted within a specific range (for example, within a range of 100% to 105% if the user's desired copying magnification is 100% (actual magnification)). Accordingly, the printer margin 45C for the quasi-edgeless copy mode may be adjusted within the above-described range. When the magnification of the scan image 80 is adjusted, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the print start position of the scan image 80A enlarged based on the adjusted magnification is calculated or calculated in a table (for each magnification). It is adjusted based on a table in which each corresponding print start position is recorded.

  Hereinafter, a processing flow of copying performed in the above-described multi-function printer will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the size of the document and the size of the printing paper are the same, and the size of the printing paper is a size corresponding to complete borderless copying. It is also assumed that the copy magnification specified by the user is the same.

  The multi-function printer starts copying when a copy execution button (not shown) on the operation panel is pressed (step S0).

  At this time, if the mode specified by the user is the “normal copy mode” (“normal copy mode” in S1), the processing is performed in the following flow (the following description is made by referring to FIG. 13).

  That is, first, the image of the document placed on the document table is read based on the scanner margin 41 (for example, 1.5 mm) (S2), and the scan image 80 is obtained. Then, based on the printer margin 45A (for example, 3 mm) for normal copying, the peripheral portions 44B and 44C of the scanned image 80 are trimmed from the scanned image 80 as described above (S3). The trimmed remaining portion 44A is printed at approximately the center of the printing paper 47 after the printing start position is adjusted based on the calculation or the table prepared in advance as described above (S8) (S9).

  When copying is started (step S0), if the mode designated by the user is "complete borderless copy mode" ("complete borderless copy mode" in S1), the flow is as follows. The process is performed (the following description refers to FIG. 7 together with FIG. 12).

  That is, first, the image of the document placed on the document table is read (S4), and the scan image 80 is obtained. Then, the scan image 80 is enlarged based on the printer margin 45B (for example, -3 mm) for complete borderless copying (S5). The enlarged scan image 80A is printed on the printing paper 47 (S9) after the printing start position is adjusted based on the calculation or the table prepared in advance as described above (S8).

  When copying is started (step S0), if the mode specified by the user is the "quasi-edgeless copy mode" ("quasi-edgeless copy mode" in S1), the flow is as follows. Processing is performed (the following description refers to FIGS. 9 to 11 together with FIG. 13).

  That is, first, the image of the document placed on the document table is read (S11), and the scan image 80 is obtained. The size of the scan image 80 is set to a printer margin 45C (for example, a certain value in the range of +3 mm to -3 mm) for quasi-edgeless copying which is set in advance or calculated by a predetermined algorithm at the time of copying. (S7) (however, the size of the printer margin 45C for quasi-marginless copying is changed based on correction (slight enlargement (for example, enlargement at any magnification of 101 to 105%) or trimming of a specific portion)). If it is the same as the size of the scanner margin 41, there is no need to correct it). The size-corrected image is printed on the printing paper 47 (S9) after the printing start position is adjusted based on the calculation or the table prepared in advance as described above (S8).

  The above is the flow of copying in the multi-function printer according to this embodiment.

  In this flow, if the sizes of the original 43 and the paper 47 are different, the multi-composite printer determines based on the difference between the sizes of the original 43 and the paper 47 (each size of the original 43 and the paper 47 is a predetermined sensor). , Or may be recognized by being notified by the user), or the copy magnification can be automatically adjusted (in other words, the size of the original read image can be adjusted). .

  For example, if the size of the document 43 is the L version of the photograph (service version) and the size of the paper 47 is A4, the copy magnification is set to 233% so that the image of the document 43 is properly and normally copied on the entire paper 47. (Hereinafter, this function is referred to as “fit page function”). In this case, in the “quasi-marginless copy mode”, the multi-composite printer sets the printer margin 45C for the quasi-marginless copy within the range described above (that is, the printer margin 45A for normal copy to the printer margin 45% for complete borderless copy). In order to adjust the copy magnification “233%”, the above-mentioned adjusted copy magnification “233%” can be further adjusted within a specific range (for example, within the range of 233% to 252%). As shown in FIG. 14, the print start position of the scanned image whose size has been corrected based on the adjusted magnification is also calculated or prepared in advance in a table (table in which each print start position corresponding to each magnification is recorded). ) Can be adjusted.

  In the above-described flow, when the size of the printing paper 47 specified by the user is not the size corresponding to the borderless printing, and the “complete borderless copy mode” or the “quasi-marginless copy mode” is designated, A message indicating that the designated copy mode cannot be executed is displayed on the display screen of the operation panel.

  Further, in the above-described flow, when a copy magnification larger than the same magnification (that is, enlarged copy) or a copy magnification smaller than the same magnification (that is, reduced copy) is designated by the user, the size of the scan image 80 is changed to the copy magnification. Is scaled up or down based on If the enlarged or reduced original reading image does not fit in the print area based on the printer margins 45A, 45B, or 45C in the above-described various copy modes, the size is corrected (reduced, reduced) so that it fits in the print area. Alternatively, a portion protruding from the print area is trimmed. On the other hand, if the enlarged or reduced scan image fits in the print area based on the printer margins 45A, 45B, or 45C, the scan image is enlarged without any size correction or to a size matching the print area. Then, it is printed at substantially the center of the printing paper 47.

  Further, in the above-described flow, the multi-composite printer may receive a selection of which of the designated copy magnification (or the copy magnification calculated by the fit page function) and the designated copy mode is given priority. good. In this case, if priority is given to the copy magnification, the multi-composite printer corrects the size of the scan image 80 according to the copy magnification, and as a result, even if the size-corrected image is printed as it is, the user designates it. Cannot be performed (for example, even when printing is performed with margins in spite of the fact that “completely borderless copy mode” is specified), The image whose size has been corrected is printed as it is in accordance with the copy magnification. On the other hand, when it is specified that the copy mode is prioritized, the multi-composite printer cannot execute the user-specified copy mode if the image whose size has been corrected according to the user-specified copy magnification cannot be executed as it is. For example, when printing is performed with margins in spite of the fact that "complete borderless copy mode" is specified), the resized image is further resized to perform the user-specified copy mode. After printing.

  As described above, according to the above-described second embodiment, the scanner margin 41 is set to a small size corresponding to the high mechanical accuracy of the scanner mechanism without being set to the same size as the large printer margin 45A for normal copying. You. As a result, it is possible to perform borderless copying closer to the user's desired magnification (for example, the same magnification) as compared to the conventional borderless printing printer technology directly applied to the conventional multifunction printer.

  According to the above-described second embodiment, a mode “quasi-edgeless copy mode” for executing an intermediate copy between the normal copy and the completely borderless copy is prepared. In the quasi-edgeless copy mode, the size of the scan image 80 is modified to be larger than in the normal copy and smaller than in the complete borderless copy. For this reason, a completely borderless copy can be performed at a magnification closer to the magnification desired by the user (for example, the same magnification).

  By the way, in the second embodiment, the following modified examples can be considered.

  That is, a printer margin adjustment screen 1000 as illustrated in FIG. 15 is displayed on the operation panel of the multi-composite printer (or a display screen of the host apparatus if the host apparatus is connected to the multi-composite printer). Using the printer margin adjustment screen 1000, the printer margin can be freely adjusted within a predetermined range. Hereinafter, the printer margin adjustment screen 1000 will be described in detail (in this embodiment, the scanner margin is “1.5 mm”).

  The printer margin adjustment screen 1000 includes a document size display area 1001, a designated print magnification display area 1005, a print paper size display area 1002, a printer margin adjustment area 1003, and a print margin display area after printer margin adjustment 1004. Has been.

  In the document size display area 1001, the size of the document set on the document table 60 is displayed. Note that the document size displayed in the area 1001 may be one automatically identified by the multi-function printer or one manually input by the user.

  The print paper size display area 1002 displays the size of the paper currently set as a print target.

  In the designated print magnification display area 1005, a print magnification (for example, 100%) manually designated by the user is displayed. For example, when the document size displayed in the document size display area 1001 and the print paper size displayed in the print paper size display area 1002 are different, the print magnification displayed in this area 1005 is the page fit. The print magnification automatically adjusted by the function may be used.

  In the printer margin adjustment area 1003, a plurality of types (for example, five types) of printer margins are displayed so as to be selectable by a touch panel method or the like. Also, in the printer margin adjustment area 1003, an explanation (how to print) of each of a plurality of types of selectable printer margins when printing is actually performed with the printer margin. Or a mark or the like that can identify the information).

  In the print margin after printing margin adjustment display area 1004, a plurality (for example, five) of printing magnifications after adjustment of the printer margin corresponding to the plurality of kinds of printer margins described above are displayed. The “print magnification after adjusting the printer margin” indicates how to set the printer margin and change the print magnification to the specified print magnification. In this figure, for example, when 100% printing (that is, equal-size printing) is designated, if a printer margin "1.5 mm" having the same size as the scan margin "1.5 mm" is selected, 100% printing is surely performed. % Can be printed. Also, for example, even if 100% printing is designated, if a printer margin "-3 mm" that is significantly different from the scanner margin "1.5 mm" is set, the printing magnification will increase to 105%. ing. Each of the print margins after adjustment of the printer margin displayed in the print margin display area 1004 after adjustment of the printer margin is automatically changed in accordance with the designated print magnification (that is, the print magnification displayed in the designated print magnification display area 1005). Change.

  In this embodiment, the user can select a desired printer margin from a plurality of types of printer margins on the printer margin adjustment screen 1000, and copying is performed based on the selected printer margin. As a result, it is possible to accurately obtain a copy result that matches the taste.

  Note that the form of adjusting the printer margin is not limited to the form shown in FIG. For example, a method of increasing or decreasing in increments of a predetermined value may be used.

  Various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment. For example, the printer mechanism in the composite printer is not limited to an ink jet printer, but may be another type of printer, for example, a laser printer. Further, the paper sizes that can be printed without borders are not limited to the above three types. More or less (for example, the printing mechanism 27 or the like can be configured so that the L size or 2L size of a photograph is also a paper size that allows borderless printing).

  FIG. 16 shows a configuration and a function of a main part of another embodiment of the multifunction printer according to the present invention.

  This composite printer has a mechanical structure as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 16, includes therein a scanner circuit 210, an ASIC (Application Specific IC) 220, and firmware (that is, firmware). (A microprocessor for execution) 230, a print engine 240, and a storage device 250.

  The scanner circuit 210 performs an image scanning process 211 to scan and read an image of a document placed on a document table. At this time, the firmware 230 performs the scan control 231 to control the image scan processing 211 so as to scan a scan area determined according to the document size specified by the user. The scan image data 251 of the document output from the scanner circuit 210 is temporarily stored in a storage device 250 such as a RAM or a hard disk.

  The ASIC 220 reads the scan image data 251 from the storage device 250 and performs image enlargement processing 221 to slightly enlarge the scan image data 251 (for example, when the document size is A4 size, the enlargement ratio is 105% When the document size is a postcard size, the enlargement ratio is 109%, etc.). The enlarged image data 252 is temporarily stored in the storage device 250. Thereafter, the ASIC 220 reads the enlarged image data 252 from the storage device 250, performs color conversion / halftoning processing 222, and simulates the enlarged image data 252 (for example, RGB full-color image data) with a matrix of ink dots. The original image is converted into enlarged dot image data 253 (for example, CMYK binary image data). The enlarged dot image data 253 is temporarily stored in the storage device 250. By the way, in this embodiment, an ASIC is used to perform the image enlargement process 221 and the color conversion / halftoning process 222, but this is merely an example and is not necessarily required. For example, by executing a computer program such as firmware instead of or in combination with the ASIC, one or both of the image enlargement process 221 and the color conversion / halftoning process 222 can be performed.

  The firmware 230 reads the enlarged dot image data 253 from the storage device 250, performs a trimming process 232, and extracts the remaining portion obtained by removing unnecessary peripheral portions from the enlarged dot image data 253 as valid print image data 254. The extracted print image data 254 is temporarily stored in the storage device 250, and then transferred to the print engine 240. The print engine 240 generates a printout by driving the printhead using the print image data 254.

  FIG. 17 is a plan view of the document table for explaining a scan area of the document table scanned by the scanner circuit 210 when performing copying without four sides.

  In FIG. 17, reference numeral 260 denotes a document table frame formed by the casing of the multifunction printer. A glass platen platen 261 is fitted in the frame 260. The user can place a document of a desired size on the glass document table 261 and designate the size of the placed document to the multifunction printer, for example, A4 size or B5 size. Although the multifunction printer does not know the size and arrangement of the actual original placed on the glass platen 261, the original 262 of the size designated by the user is placed on the glass platen 261 in a prescribed posture and arrangement. (For example, as illustrated in FIG. 17, the posture and arrangement are such that the upper left end, upper short side, and left long side of the document 262 match the upper left end, upper short side, and left long side of the glass platen 261, respectively) , Can be assumed. The document 262 assumed in this way is hereinafter referred to as a “supposed document” in a sense to distinguish it from an actual document.

  The composite printer slightly enlarges the area occupied by the assumed original 262 on the glass platen 261 to the outside thereof by the upper, lower, left and right margins 264, 265, 266, and 267 of a predetermined size, and uses the enlarged area 263 as a scan area Set. In short, the scan area 263 is set so that the assumed original 262 is completely included in the scan area 263 with a margin of up / down / left / right margins 264, 265, and 266. By setting the scan area 263 to be appropriately larger than the assumed document 262 in this way, as long as the size of the actual document placed on the document table 261 matches the size specified by the user, the actual posture of the document Even if the arrangement is slightly deviated from that specified above, and even if the actual scan area is slightly deviated from the set scan area 263 due to the mechanical accuracy of the scanner mechanism, most of the time, In that case, the actual document will fall within the actual scan area (ie, the entire area of the actual document will be scanned). For example, the top and left margins 264 and 266 can be 1.5 mm and the bottom and right margins 265 and 267 can be 3 mm.

  The multifunction printer scans the scan area 263 slightly larger than the assumed document 262 in this manner, and outputs the image data of the scan area 263 as the scan image data 251 shown in FIG. As described above, in most cases, the output scan image data 251 includes image data of the entire area of the actual original placed on the glass platen 261.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the size of an image for explaining the image enlarging process 221 and the trimming process 232 in the case where copying without four sides is performed.

  As indicated by an arrow 279 in FIG. 18, in the image enlargement process 221, the image data of the scan area 263 (the scan image data 251 in FIG. 16) is enlarged at a predetermined enlargement rate around the center point 263C. , Becomes image data having the size of the illustrated area (hereinafter referred to as an enlarged scan area) 271. The image data of the enlarged scan area 271 is the enlarged image data 252 shown in FIG. In the image data of the enlarged scan area 271, the image data of the original assumed original 262 is, as indicated by an arrow 278, an area slightly larger than the print medium (print paper) 272 specified by the user in advance (hereinafter, enlarged paper The image data is enlarged to image data having a size of 273. The enlarged paper area 273 is equal to a size obtained by enlarging the size of the print medium 272 outward by a predetermined size in the upper, lower, left and right printer margins 274, 275, 276, and 277.

  Thereafter, in the trimming process 232, a portion 280 (shown by cross-hatching in FIG. 18) of the image data of the enlarged scan area 271 outside the enlarged paper area 273 is removed, and the image data of the enlarged paper area 273 is removed. Only is taken out. The image data of the enlarged paper area 273 thus extracted is the print image data 254 shown in FIG. The print image data 254 is transferred to the print engine 340 to drive the print head.

  As described above, the print image data 254 (the image data of the enlarged paper area 273) is equal to the size obtained by enlarging the size of the print medium 272 outward by the upper, lower, left and right printer margins 274, 275, 276, and 277. Thus, even if the actual position of the print medium supplied on the platen slightly deviates from the predetermined position due to the mechanical accuracy of the paper feed mechanism of the print engine 340, in most cases, the actual print medium is , Completely enters the area of the print image data (enlarged paper area 273) on the platen to be scanned by the print head. As a result, copying without four edges can be performed. Here, as the specific dimensions of the upper, lower, left and right printer margins 274, 275, 276, and 277, for example, 3 mm can be adopted.

  In many cases, but not necessarily, the size of the document and the size of the print medium are the same. In this case, specific values of the enlargement ratio used in the image enlargement processing 221 are, for example, 105% if the designated document size is JIS standard A4 size (210 × 297 mm), and the designated document size is postcard size. (100 × 148 mm), for example, 109% can be adopted.

  FIG. 19 shows a configuration and a function of a main part of still another embodiment of the multifunction printer according to the present invention.

  This composite printer has a mechanical structure as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 19, includes therein a scanner circuit 310, an ASIC (Application Specific IC) 320, and firmware (that is, firmware). (A microprocessor to be executed) 330, a print engine 340, and a storage device 350.

  The scanner circuit 310 can manually or automatically perform the pre-scan processing 311 and the main scan processing 312. When performing four-edge-free copying, the scanner circuit 310 automatically performs the pre-scan process 311 and the main scan process 312 automatically in this order. When the pre-scan process 311 and the main scan process 312 are performed, the firmware 330 performs a scan control 332 to control the scan area and resolution of each process.

  In the pre-scan process 311, the entire area where a document is likely to be placed (for example, the entire area of a glass platen) is scanned at a predetermined low resolution (for example, 50 dpi) at high speed. The prescan image data 351 of the entire document table obtained by the prescan processing 311 is temporarily stored in a storage device 350 such as a RAM or a hard disk.

  After the pre-scan processing 311 is performed, the firmware 330 reads the pre-scan image data 351 from the storage device 350 and performs the document area detection processing 331 on the pre-scan image data 351 to execute the actual scan on the document table. Of the original document is detected.

  Various methods can be adopted as the method of the document area detection processing 331. One of them is exemplified by the following procedures (1) to (5).

  (1) The luminance value of each pixel of the prescan image data 351 is binarized based on a predetermined threshold. The threshold value can be, for example, 210 when the range of the luminance value is 0 to 255.

  (2) The resolution of the binary prescan image data 351 is reduced. For example, the result of performing an OR operation on 4 × 4 = 16 pixels of the binary prescan image data 351 becomes one pixel of the binary prescan image data 351 whose resolution has been reduced. In this example, the resolution of the binary prescan image data 351 is reduced to one fourth of the original. Hereinafter, the original resolution of the binary pre-scan image data 351 is referred to as a second resolution, and the resolution after the resolution is reduced is referred to as a first resolution.

  (3) A labeling process is applied to the binary prescan image data 351 of the first resolution obtained by the resolution reduction. Various algorithms can be used for the labeling process. For example, a two-pass type labeling process based on eight-way connection can be used. As a result of the labeling process, a group of pixels having a pixel value of 1 and connected to each other (a label region having a pixel value of 1) is extracted from the binary prescan image data 351 of the first resolution.

  (4) Noise removal processing is applied to the extracted label area to remove a noise area due to dust or dirt that has entered when the document is to be pre-scanned from the label area.

  (5) After the noise removal processing, the smallest rectangular area completely surrounding the label area is extracted as the document area.

  As described above, when a document area is detected from the prescan cage data 351, document area data 355 indicating the position of the document area on the document table is temporarily stored in the storage device 350. The pre-scan image data 351 is deleted from the storage device 350.

  Thereafter, the main scan processing 312 by the scanner circuit 310 is automatically executed. At the time of the main scan processing 312, the firmware 330 uses the document area data 355 so that the entire area of the detected document area is completely scanned (that is, the detected document area is completely included in the scan area). Control the scan area. In this case, the scan area may be controlled to exactly match the detected document area, or may be controlled to be slightly larger than the detected document area by a predetermined scanner margin. The main scan image data 352 obtained in the main scan processing 312 is temporarily stored in the storage device 350.

  The ASIC 320 reads the main scan image data 352 from the storage device 350 and performs an image enlargement process 321 to slightly enlarge the main scan image data 352. The enlarged image data 352 is temporarily stored in the storage device 350. Thereafter, the ASIC 320 reads the enlarged image data 353 from the storage device 350 and performs a color conversion / halftoning process 322 to simulate the enlarged image data 353 (for example, RGB full color image data) with a matrix of ink dots. It is converted into enlarged dot image data 354 (for example, CMYK binary image data) that expresses the original image. The enlarged dot image data 354 is temporarily stored in the storage device 350. It should be noted that one or both of the image enlargement process 321 and the color conversion / halftoning process 322 may be performed by executing a computer program such as firmware instead of or in combination with the ASIC.

  The firmware 330 reads the enlarged dot image data 354 from the storage device 350, performs a trimming process 333, removes unnecessary peripheral portions from the enlarged dot image data 354, and uses the remaining portion as valid print image data 356. Take out as. The extracted print image data 356 is temporarily stored in the storage device 350, and then transferred to the print engine 340. The print engine 340 generates a printout by driving a print head using the print image data 356.

  FIG. 20 is a plan view of a document table for explaining scan areas in pre-scan and main scan when performing copying without four sides.

  In FIG. 20, a glass platen platen 261 is fitted in a platen frame 260 constituted by a casing of the multifunction printer. The user can place an original 362 of a desired size on the glass original platen 261 and request the multifunction printer to execute the four-edge-less copying. Then, the multifunction printer performs the above-described pre-scan processing 311. In the pre-scan processing 311, a scan area is set in an area including the entire area where the document 362 may be placed, for example, an area 361 slightly larger than the glass document table 261. The multifunction printer scans the scan area 361 of the pre-scan at high speed and outputs image data (the pre-scan image 351 in FIG. 19) of the scan area 361.

  Subsequently, the above-described document area detection processing 331 is performed, and an actual document area 362 is detected from the scan area 361. Thereafter, the above-described main scan processing 312 is performed, and the detected document area 362 is scanned. The scan area in the main scan processing 312 may be exactly the same as the original area 362 or may be slightly larger than the original area by a predetermined scanner margin (that is, the original area 362 is completely included in the scan area 263). However, for the sake of simplicity, the following description will be made assuming that the same scan area as the original area 362 is used.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the size of an image for explaining the image enlarging process 321 and the trimming process 333 in a case where copying without four edges is performed.

  As indicated by an arrow 378 in FIG. 21, in the image enlargement process 321, the image data of the document area 362 (the actual scan image data 352 in FIG. 19) is enlarged around its center point 362 C, as shown in the figure. The image data has the size of an area (hereinafter, referred to as an enlarged original area) 371. The image data of the enlarged document area 371 is the enlarged image data 353 shown in FIG. The portrait or landscape (preferably the shorter of the portrait and landscape) of the enlarged document area 371 is equal to an area (hereinafter, an enlarged paper area) 273 that is slightly larger than the print medium (print paper) 272 specified by the user in advance. . The enlarged paper area 273 is equal to a size obtained by enlarging the size of the print medium (print paper) 272 outward by a predetermined size of upper, lower, left and right printer margins 274, 275, 276, and 277. When the aspect ratio of the original area 362 is the same as that of the print medium 272, the enlarged original area 371 coincides with the enlarged paper area 273. As in the example shown in FIG. 21, when the aspect ratio of the original area 362 is different from that of the print medium 272, the enlarged original area 371 is larger than the enlarged paper area 273 in the vertical or horizontal dimensions. . Here, as the specific dimensions of the upper, lower, left and right printer margins 274, 275, 276, and 277, for example, 3 mm can be adopted.

  Thereafter, in the trimming process 333, a portion 372 (shown by cross-hatching in FIG. 21) outside the enlarged paper area 273 is removed from the image data of the enlarged original area 371, and the image data of the enlarged paper area 273 is removed. Only is taken out. The image data of the enlarged paper area 273 thus extracted is the print image data 356 shown in FIG. The print image data 356 is transferred to the print engine 340 to drive the print head.

  As described above, some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, these are merely examples for describing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in other various forms.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a multifunction printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a characteristic portion related to borderless printing. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining adjustment of a print magnification according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining adjustment of a print magnification according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the multifunction printer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state of copying when a “normal copying mode” is executed. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state of copying when the “complete borderless copying mode” is executed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state of copying when the “quasi-edgeless copy mode” is executed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of copying when the printer margin 45C is different from that in the “quasi-edgeless copy mode” of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state of copying when the printer margin 45C is different from the “semi-borderless copying mode” in FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of printing start positions respectively corresponding to a plurality of copy magnifications that can be set based on the printer margin 45C in the “quasi-edgeless copy mode”. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of copying performed in the multi-function printer. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of printing start positions respectively corresponding to a plurality of copy magnifications that can be set based on the printer margin 45C when the copy magnification is adjusted by the fit page function in the “quasi-edgeless copy mode”. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a printer margin adjustment screen. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration and a function of a main part of another embodiment of the multifunction printer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a document table for explaining a scan area in a case where copying without four sides is performed. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an image size for describing an image enlargement process 221 and a trimming process 232 when performing copying without four sides. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration and functions of a main part of still another embodiment of the multifunction printer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the document table for explaining a scan area of the document table in pre-scan and main scan when performing four-edge-free copying. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an image size for describing an image enlargement process 321 and a trimming process 333 in a case where copying without four edges is performed.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Composite printer 12 Platen 21 Processor 25 Scanner circuit 27 Engine controller 28 Print engine 43 Document 47 Print paper 45A Printer margin for normal copying 41 Scanner margin 44 Scan area 80 Scan image 100 Print area in print paper 45B Copy without border Printer margin 45C Printer margin for semi-edgeless copying C1 Center of document C2 Center of printing paper 1000 Printer margin adjustment screen 210 Scanner circuit 220 ASIC (Application Specific IC)
230 firmware 240 print engine 250 storage device 260 frame for platen 261 platen 262 manuscript (assumed manuscript)
264, 265, 266, 267 Top / bottom / left / right margin 263 Scan area 272 Print medium 273 Enlarged paper area 310 Scanner circuit 320 ASIC (Application Specific IC)
330 firmware 340 print engine 350 storage device 352 pre-scan image data 352 actual scan image data

Claims (4)

A platen,
A scanner unit that scans a scan area on the platen and outputs image data of the scan area,
A processing unit that processes the image data of the scan area from the scanner unit to generate print image data;
A printing unit that executes printing on a print medium using the print image data from the processing unit;
A normal copy mode, a borderless copy mode, and a selection unit for selecting any one of at least two types of copy modes among a plurality of types of copy modes including a 1: 1 copy mode;
The processing unit includes:
(1) When the normal copy mode is selected, the print image data is generated so as to be smaller in size than the print medium, with or without changing the image data in the scan area;
(2) when the borderless copy mode is selected, changing the size of the image data in the scan area to generate the print image data so as to have a size larger than the size of the print medium;
(3) A multifunction printer that generates the print image data without changing the size of the image data in the scan area when the 1: 1 copy mode is selected. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, further comprising a print start control unit that controls a print start position of the printer engine according to the mode selected by the selection unit. Scanning a scan area on the platen to obtain image data of the scan area;
Processing the obtained image data of the scan area to obtain print image data;
Performing printing on a print medium using the print image data;
Selecting any one of at least two types of copy modes among a plurality of types of copy modes including a normal copy mode, a borderless copy mode, and a 1: 1 copy mode;
With
In the step of obtaining the print image data,
(1) When the normal copy mode is selected, the print image data is generated so as to be smaller than the size of the print medium, with or without changing the size of the image data in the scan area. And
(2) when the borderless copy mode is selected, changing the size of the image data in the scan area to generate the print image data so as to have a size larger than the size of the print medium;
(3) A scan image copying method for generating the print image data without changing the size of the image data in the scan area when the 1: 1 copy mode is selected. Scanning a scan area on the platen to obtain image data of the scan area;
Processing the obtained image data of the scan area to obtain print image data;
Performing printing on a print medium using the print image data;
Selecting any one of at least two types of copy modes among a plurality of types of copy modes including a normal copy mode, a borderless copy mode, and a 1: 1 copy mode;
With
In the step of obtaining the print image data,
(1) When the normal copy mode is selected, the print image data is generated so as to be smaller than the size of the print medium, with or without changing the size of the image data in the scan area. And
(2) when the borderless copy mode is selected, changing the size of the image data in the scan area to generate the print image data so as to have a size larger than the size of the print medium;
(3) When the same-size copy mode is selected, the multifunction printer performs a scan image copying method for generating the print image data without changing the size of the image data in the scan area. A computer program executed by a processor of a control device in a printer.

Images