JP2017135492A - Printing apparatus and printing control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily set the maximum magnification at which an area excluding a margin unnecessary for printing from document data can be printed on a print medium.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: an acquisition part that acquires document data; a document analysis part that excludes a margin from the document data and specifies a printing target area; an instruction receiving part that receives an enlargement instruction; a layout part that, in response to the enlargement instruction, sets the maximum magnification at which the entire printing target area can be printed on a print medium; and a display part that displays a print preview of the document data on which the size of the print medium and the magnification are reflected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing control program.

  Conventionally, a copying machine is known in which a user can set an arbitrary enlargement magnification while confirming a print preview. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for automatically setting a maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing document data having a size different from that of a print medium on a standard print medium.

Japanese Patent No. 5630763

  By the way, in a copying machine that reads document data from a standard area, when a non-standard document is copied, margins that do not require printing are included in the document data. However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is not possible to automatically set a maximum enlargement magnification that allows printing on a print medium in an area obtained by removing unnecessary blanks from original data.

  The present invention was created to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that makes it easy for a user to set an enlargement magnification.

  (1) A printing apparatus for achieving the above object includes an acquisition unit that acquires document data, a document analysis unit that specifies a print target area by removing margins from the document data, and an instruction reception unit that receives an enlargement instruction. In response to the enlargement instruction, a layout unit for setting a maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire print target area on a print medium, and printing of the document data reflecting the size of the print medium and the enlargement magnification And a display unit for displaying a preview. By providing the printing device with a function that automatically sets the maximum enlargement ratio that allows printing the entire print target area excluding the margins from the original data on the print medium, the print medium can be obtained by removing the unnecessary print area from the original data. It is easy for the user to set the maximum magnification that can be printed.

  (2) In the printing apparatus for achieving the above object, when the layout unit receives the first enlargement instruction, the layout unit sets a maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire document data on the print medium, When the second enlargement instruction is received, a maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire print target area on the print medium may be set. By adopting this configuration, the user can set the maximum enlargement ratio that can be printed on the print medium, whether to print the entire document data or to print the area excluding the margin from the document data. Easy to set.

  (3) In the printing apparatus for achieving the above-described object, the instruction receiving unit is configured to set the maximum magnification that can print the entire print target area on the print medium. An arrangement instruction for selecting the arrangement of the margin may be received. By adopting this configuration, the user can select the layout of the margin of the printed material.

  (4) In the printing apparatus for achieving the above object, the layout unit may rotate the print target area relative to the print medium in accordance with the print target area and the orientation of the print medium. By adopting this configuration, it becomes easy for the user to set the maximum magnification that can be printed on the print medium when the print target area is rotated.

  Note that the function of each means described in the claims is realized by hardware resources whose function is specified by the configuration itself, hardware resources whose function is specified by a program, or a combination thereof. The functions of these means are not limited to those realized by hardware resources that are physically independent of each other. Furthermore, the present invention is also realized as a print control program or a recording medium thereof. Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium developed in the future.

1 is a network configuration diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a block diagram of the smart phone concerning the example of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a reading mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a plan view showing the platen glass and the scan area. It is a flowchart of the copy process concerning the Example of this invention. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a document and a scan area according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6B to 6E are plan views showing images based on document data according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a screen block diagram concerning the Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows the image based on the original data concerning the Example of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the magnification and the tap frequency concerning the Example of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the corresponding component in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
1. Configuration of Printing Device FIG. 1 shows a printing system that includes a multifunction device 2 as an embodiment of a printing device and a smartphone 1 that can execute a printing control program.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the smartphone 1 includes a wireless LAN communication unit 13 for communicating with an external device according to a wireless LAN protocol, a control unit 12 configured with a computer, and a touch panel display that functions as an instruction receiving unit and a display unit. 11 is provided. The control unit 12 includes a RAM that is a main storage device, a flash memory that is an external storage device, a processor, and an input / output mechanism, and by loading the print control program stored in the flash memory into the RAM and executing it by the processor, It functions as an acquisition unit, a document analysis unit, an instruction reception unit, a layout unit, and a display unit.

  The MFP 2 includes a printing function for printing original data stored in an external device such as the smartphone 1 or a removable memory, a scanning function for optically reading the original to generate original data, and a copying function for copying the original. And. As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 2 includes a touch panel display 21 that functions as an instruction receiving unit and a display unit, a control unit 22 configured by a computer, and a wireless LAN communication unit 23 for communicating with an external device according to a wireless LAN protocol. A scanning mechanism 24 that reads a document and generates document data and a printing mechanism 25 that prints on a printing medium are provided. The wireless LAN communication unit 23 and the scan mechanism 24 function as an acquisition unit under the control of the control unit 22. The control unit 22 includes a RAM that is a main storage device, a flash memory that is an external storage device, a processor, and an input / output mechanism, and by loading a print control program stored in the flash memory into the RAM and executing it by the processor, It functions as an acquisition unit, a document analysis unit, an instruction reception unit, a layout unit, and a display unit. The printing mechanism 25 includes a print head, a sensor for detecting paper and ink, a motor for transporting the print head and paper, and an encoder for detecting the rotation angle of the motor and the position of the print head. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printing mechanism 25 can print on the entire A4, A5, and B5 size paper without margins.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the scanning mechanism 24 includes an original platen glass 241, a contact type linear image sensor 242 that is long in the main scanning direction, a circuit that controls the contact type linear image sensor 242, and a contact type linear image sensor 242. Are provided with a circuit for processing the output signal, a motor for moving the contact-type linear image sensor in the sub-scanning direction parallel to the platen glass 241, and an encoder for detecting the rotation angle of the motor. An area on which the original is to be placed on the original platen glass 241 when a standard-size original is copied onto a standard-size paper is defined as a scan area. That is, the scan area and the area where the image read from the scan area is printed on paper are associated in advance. A scan area 241a shown in FIG. 4B is an area where an A4 size document is to be placed, and the size is A4. The scan area 241b is an area on which an A5 size document is to be placed, and the size is A5.

2. Printing Control Method Next, a printing control method will be described by taking the copy function of the multifunction device 2 as an example. The copy process shown in FIG. 5A is activated when the touch panel display 21 receives a copy instruction from the user, and is controlled by the control unit 22.

  First, the control unit 22 causes the scan mechanism 24 to read the document, thereby acquiring the document data shown in FIG. 6B (S1). At this time, the control unit 22 selects one of the scan areas 241a and 241b, and acquires document data read by the scan mechanism 24 from the selected scan area. The control unit 22 may select one of the scan areas according to the size of the document, or may select the widest scan area regardless of the size of the document or paper. A scan area having a size corresponding to the size of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is selected. The size of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 may be detected by a sensor or may be input by the user. That is, the aspect ratio of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is equal to the aspect ratio of the document data acquired by the control unit 22.

  Here, A5 size paper is set in the printing mechanism 25, and as shown in FIG. 6A, a copy instruction is accepted with a document 3 smaller than the A5 size placed on the A5 size scan area 241b. To do. In this case, the control unit 22 discards the pixel data outside the scan area 241b corresponding to the size of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25, and is configured with the pixel data in the scan area 241b as shown in FIG. 6B. Document data I (1) is written into the RAM of the control unit 22.

  Next, the control unit 22 displays a print preview on the touch panel display 21 based on the size of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25, the print resolution, the document data, and the resolution of the touch panel display 21 (S2). In this embodiment, the image is printed on the paper without margins, and the aspect ratio of the original data is the same as the aspect ratio of the paper. Therefore, the entire image represented by the original data is displayed as a print preview on the entire display area corresponding to the paper. The For example, when the document 3 is placed on the document table glass 241 as shown in FIG. 6A, the print preview is the image itself indicated by the document data I (1) shown in FIG. 6B.

  Next, the control unit 22 receives a print setting for document data via the touch panel display 21 (S3). At this time, the control unit 22 displays on the touch panel display 21 a screen on which an operation target object for setting an enlargement magnification is set together with the print preview, and the touch panel display 21 detects a user operation on the operation target object.

  FIG. 7 is a configuration example of a screen for accepting print settings for document data. The print preview 21n is displayed based on the document data as described above. The paper size 21 m corresponds to the paper set in the printing mechanism 25. The operation target objects 21a to 21j are displayed as tap operation targets. When each operation target object is tapped, the control unit 22 activates a process corresponding to the tapped region.

  FIG. 5B shows a flow of an automatic scaling process that is activated when the operation target object 21b is tapped. A tap on the operation target object 21b corresponds to a first enlargement instruction. The automatic scaling process is a process for printing the entire document data on the paper so that the ratio of the image represented by the entire document data in the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 becomes the largest.

  When the operation target object 21b is tapped, the control unit 22 sets the maximum enlargement magnification that allows the entire document data to fit in the set printable area of the paper (S11). Here, both an enlargement magnification for converting the document data into print data and an enlargement magnification for displaying the document data on the touch panel display 21 are derived. The enlargement magnification for converting the document data into the print data is derived based on the set paper size, print resolution, and document data resolution. The magnification for displaying the document data on the touch panel display 21 is derived based on the set paper size, print resolution, document data resolution, and touch panel display 21 resolution.

  In this embodiment, the scan area is selected according to the size of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25. However, the automatic scaling process is performed, for example, when the paper size is A4 and the A5 size scan area 241b is used. This process is effective when the paper size and the scan area size do not match so that the document data can be read. Such inconsistency is caused by accepting manual selection of the paper size or manual selection of the scan area. FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the paper P and the original data I (1) when the paper size is changed to B5 after the original data I (1) is read from the A5 size scan area 241b. is there. For example, when the document data and the paper are in the relationship shown in FIG. 6C, in the automatic scaling process, the entire document data is B5 size paper based on the size of B5, the print resolution, the resolution of the document data, and the resolution of the touch panel display 21. The maximum magnification that fits in is derived. If the enlargement magnification is set to less than 1, the document data is reduced.

  When the enlargement magnification is set, the control unit 22 displays a print preview on the touch panel display 21 based on the set enlargement magnification and document data (S12). For example, when the image I (1) represented by the document data and the paper P have the relationship shown in FIG. 6C at a predetermined print resolution, a print preview shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the touch panel display 21. In FIG. 8A, P represents B5 size paper. By displaying the print preview as shown in FIG. 8A, the user can recognize that when the document 3 is printed on B5 size paper, the margin remains even if the print setting does not leave a margin.

  FIG. 5C shows the flow of the cut-out enlargement process that is activated when the operation target object 21f shown in FIG. 7 is tapped. A tap on the operation target object 21f corresponds to a second enlargement instruction. The cutout enlargement process is a process for cutting out the print target area from the original data so that the ratio of the original image to the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is the highest, and printing the entire print target area on the paper. is there.

  When the operation target object 21f is tapped, the control unit 22 specifies a print target area by removing margins from the document data, and cuts out the print target area (S21). The print target area in the copy process is an area corresponding to the background of the original smaller than the scan area in the entire image represented by the original data corresponding to the scan area. Therefore, a white surface facing the original platen glass 241 of the cover 243 shown in FIG. The print target area must be cut out as a rectangle. Therefore, the control unit 22 identifies the rectangular print target area by comparing the threshold value corresponding to the white surface of the cover 243 facing the original platen glass 241 with the pixel value of the original data. For example, from the document data I (1) shown in FIG. 6B, the control unit 22 specifies and cuts out the print target area I (2) shown in FIG. 6D.

  In the process of acquiring and printing document data from an external device such as the smartphone 1, the margin color is unknown. However, even if the color of the margin is unknown, it is possible to specify the rectangular boundary between the margin and the print target region by extracting the contour by differentiating the pixel value.

  Next, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the orientation of the print target area matches the orientation of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 (S22). Here, the attitude means whether the rectangular print target area and the paper are each long in the horizontal direction or long in the vertical direction. Strictly speaking, for example, if the print target area is long in the main scanning direction of the scanning mechanism 24 and the paper is short in the paper transport direction by the printing mechanism 25, it is determined that the print target area and the paper match in a so-called landscape orientation. If the print target area is short in the main scanning direction of the scanning mechanism 24 and the paper is long in the paper transport direction by the printing mechanism 25, it is determined that the print target area and the paper match in a so-called portrait orientation.

  When the posture of the print target area does not match the posture of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25, the control unit 22 rotates the print target area by 90 degrees (S23). For example, as shown in FIG. 6D, when the printing target area I (2) is long in the main scanning direction of the scanning mechanism 24 and the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is long in the paper transport direction by the printing mechanism 25, the control unit 22 rotates the print target area I (2) to generate the print target area I (3) shown in FIG. 6E.

  When the posture of the print target area matches the posture of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25, the control unit 22 prints the entire print target region cut out from the document data as the print target of the paper set in the printing mechanism 25. The maximum magnification that fits in the area is derived and set (S24). Here, as in step S11, both an enlargement ratio for converting the print target area into print data and an enlargement ratio for displaying the print target area on the touch panel display 21 are derived. That is, the enlargement magnification for converting the print target area into the print data is derived based on the set paper size, print resolution, and print target area resolution. The magnification for displaying the print target area on the touch panel display 21 is derived based on the set paper size, print resolution, print target area resolution, and touch panel display 21 resolution.

  Next, the control unit 22 displays a print preview on the touch panel display 21 based on the set enlargement magnification and the print target area of the document data (S25). For example, when the original data I (1) and the A5 size paper P have the relationship shown in FIG. 8A as a result of the automatic enlargement process, the image I (3) obtained by rotating the print target area by 90 degrees is the A5 size. The print preview shown in FIG. 8C is displayed on the touch panel display 21 so as to be in contact with the three sides of the frame P indicating the paper. As shown in FIG. 8C, the frame corresponding to the set paper is represented by the print preview, and the original image is printed on the A5 size paper at the maximum enlargement ratio that does not protrude from the paper by the cut-out enlargement process. The user can recognize that.

  FIG. 5D shows a flow of margin adjustment processing that is activated when the operation target objects 21g to 21j shown in FIG. 7 are tapped. Taps on the operation target objects 21g to 21j correspond to arrangement instructions. The margin adjustment process is a process for setting which of the four sides of the paper a margin position where an image is not printed on the paper is arranged.

  When the operation target objects 21g to 21j are tapped, the control unit 22 selects an area corresponding to each object as a blank area (S31). Here, the operation target objects 21g to 21j are displayed so as to indicate the left, right, upper, and lower sides of the paper represented by the print preview.

  Next, the control unit 22 displays a print preview on the touch panel display 21 based on the selected margin area, the set enlargement ratio, and the print target area (S32). Specifically, for example, when the operation target object 21h indicating the right is tapped while the print preview illustrated in FIG. 8C is displayed on the touch panel display 11, the control unit 22 is represented by the print preview in step S31. The left edge of the paper is selected as the margin area. Then, the control unit 22 moves the print target area I (3) to the right, and displays a print preview shown in FIG. 8D on the touch panel display 11.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the enlargement factor as one item of the print setting is set, the control unit 22 generates print data from the document data based on the print setting including items other than the enlargement factor, and print data Based on the above, the printing mechanism 25 is controlled to execute printing (S4). As a result, the document data is printed on the paper with the layout displayed in the print preview.

  According to the embodiment described above, the MFP 2 has the function of automatically setting the maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire print target area excluding the margin from the document data on the paper, so that it is not necessary to print from the document data. It becomes easy for the user to set the maximum enlargement magnification at which the area excluding the margin can be printed on the paper. Then, by simply starting the automatic scaling process, it is possible to easily set an enlargement magnification for printing the entire document data to the maximum. Further, it is possible to easily set the enlargement magnification for printing the entire area excluding the margin from the original data only by starting the cut-out enlargement process. Regardless of the orientation of the original and the paper set in the printing mechanism 25, it is possible to easily set the enlargement magnification for printing the entire area excluding the margin from the original data.

3. Other Embodiments The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, as described below, the first enlargement instruction and the second enlargement instruction may be received continuously. The operation target objects 21c and 21e shown in FIG. 7 are objects for receiving an instruction to set an arbitrary magnification. The control unit 22 decreases the magnification when the operation target object 21c is tapped, and increases the magnification when the operation target object 21e is tapped.

  Then, when the operation target object 21e is tapped so as to exceed the enlargement magnification at which the ratio of the image represented by the entire document data occupying the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is maximized, the control unit 22 performs a predetermined number of taps. On the other hand, the magnification is maintained without being changed, and the magnification is changed when the number of taps exceeds a predetermined number. Further, when the operation target object 21e is tapped so as to exceed the enlargement magnification at which the ratio of the image represented by the entire print target area in the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is maximized, the control unit 22 taps a predetermined number of times. Is maintained without changing the magnification, and when the number of taps exceeds a predetermined number, the magnification is changed. FIG. 9A shows the relationship between the operation on the operation target object 21c thus associated and the enlargement magnification.

  Further, the control unit 22 taps a predetermined number of times when the operation target object 21c is tapped so that the ratio of the image represented by the entire document data occupying the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is less than the enlargement magnification. Is maintained without changing the magnification, and when the number of taps exceeds a predetermined number, the magnification is changed. The control unit 22 taps a predetermined number of times when the operation target object 21c is tapped so that the ratio of the image represented by the entire print target area in the paper set in the print mechanism 25 is less than the enlargement ratio. Is maintained without changing the magnification, and when the number of taps exceeds a predetermined number, the magnification is changed. FIG. 9B shows the relationship between the operation on the operation target object 21c thus associated and the enlargement magnification.

  When the enlargement magnification is set so that the ratio of the image represented by the entire document data in the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is maximized, the control unit 22 performs the same process as the automatic enlargement process described above. A print preview is displayed on the touch panel display 21. When the enlargement magnification is set so that the ratio of the image represented by the entire print target area in the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is maximized, the control unit 22 performs the same process as the cut-out enlargement process described above. A print preview is displayed on the touch panel display 21.

  Further, for example, in a state where an enlargement magnification is set at which the ratio of the image represented by the entire print target area in the paper set in the printing mechanism 25 is the largest, the operation target object 21e for further increasing the enlargement magnification, When 21 f is tapped, the control unit 22 may guide the user to set a larger size paper in the printing mechanism 25.

In addition, although the Example which applied this invention to the multifunctional device was described, this invention can also be applied to communication terminals, such as a printer and PC which can be connected with a printer which does not have a reading mechanism, and a printer. For example, when the document data is transmitted from the smartphone 1 to the multifunction device 2 for printing, an operation screen for setting an enlargement magnification may be displayed on the touch panel display 11 of the smartphone 1 together with a print preview. In this case, the control unit 12 of the smartphone 1 may execute the above automatic scaling process and cutout enlargement process. A print control program for the control unit 12 to function as an acquisition unit, a document analysis unit, an instruction receiving unit, a layout unit, and a display unit may be downloaded from the server and stored in the flash memory of the control unit 12.
Further, part or all of the operation target object may be provided as a mechanical switch separately from the screen.

21a-21j: Operation target object, 1 ... Smartphone, 2 ... MFP, 2 ... Printer, 3 ... Document, 11 ... Touch panel display, 12 ... Control unit, 13 ... Wireless LAN communication unit, 21 ... Touch panel display, 21n ... Printing Preview, 22 ... Control unit, 23 ... Wireless LAN communication unit, 24 ... Scanning mechanism, 25 ... Printing mechanism, 241 ... Original glass, 241a ... Scanning area, 241b ... Scanning area, 242 ... Contact linear image sensor, 243 ... Cover, I ... Original data, print target area, P ... Paper

Claims (5)

An acquisition unit for acquiring document data;
A document analysis unit that specifies a print target area by removing margins from the document data;
An instruction receiving unit for receiving an enlargement instruction;
In accordance with the enlargement instruction, a layout unit that sets a maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire print target area on a print medium;
A display unit for displaying a print preview of the document data reflecting the size of the print medium and the magnification;
A printing apparatus comprising: When the layout unit receives the first enlargement instruction, the layout unit sets a maximum enlargement ratio capable of printing the entire document data on the print medium, and when the second enlargement instruction is received, the entire print target area is set. Set the maximum magnification that can be printed on the print medium,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The instruction receiving unit receives an arrangement instruction for selecting an arrangement of margins of the print medium in a state where the maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire print target area on the print medium is set;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The layout unit rotates the print target area with respect to the print medium according to the print target area and the orientation of the print medium;
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Computer
An acquisition unit for acquiring document data;
A document analysis unit that specifies a print target area by removing margins from the document data;
An instruction receiving unit for receiving an enlargement instruction;
In accordance with the enlargement instruction, a layout unit that sets a maximum enlargement magnification capable of printing the entire print target area on a print medium;
A display unit for displaying a print preview of the document data reflecting the size of the print medium and the magnification;
Print control program to function as.

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