JP2006146462A - Electronic distribution printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function for receiving drawing data in various formats such as vector data or raster data prepared by a CAD or the like from a host, and for converting the drawing data into electronic drawing data with high picture quality in a printing device, and for distributing the drawing data to a designated host computer. <P>SOLUTION: A printing device for processing drawing data in various formats such as a CAD is mounted with a TWAIN compatible driver owned by an image scanner or the other device drivers for electronic distribution so that an electronic drawing can be distributed to a designated host computer in the same way as the image scanner. This printing device side is provided with a non-volatile storage device for storing mass data or information, a communication mechanism for simultaneously receiving data from a plurality of host computers, a communication mechanism for transmitting electronic data converted for distribution to the host computers and a communicating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to existing drawing management software and filing software, which are control software for an image scanner, in a printing apparatus called a plotter or printer that is not equipped with an image input device such as an image scanner, and a drawing created and printed by CAD or the like. The present invention relates to an electronic distribution printing apparatus having a function that can be used and converted into electronic data.

Conventionally, in order to centrally manage paper drawings created and stored in the past and electronic drawings of various formats created by CAD, etc., functions of both an input image device such as an image scanner and a printing apparatus, or both functions In addition, a multi function (MF) apparatus having the above and a drawing management software for editing and filing electronic drawings are required.
In this environment, the paper drawing is converted into electronic data and managed as an input document of an input image device such as an image scanner.

In addition, for drawings created by CAD, etc., if CAD and other software are linked with drawing management software, they are handed over to the drawing management software as electronic drawings and managed, and if not, Is once printed and managed as an electronic drawing as an input document of an input image device such as an image scanner.
Drawings created by CAD or the like, especially A0 and large-sized drawings exceeding it, are printed and operated for business, but management is required to be electronic drawings.
Even in an environment where CAD software and drawing management software can be linked, such A0 and larger-sized drawings are printed once and confirmed, and then CAD and other software are executed again to create a drawing It is necessary to make it.

In addition, the high-performance printing device has various convenient incidental functions such as drawing layout adjustment, image quality, hue, monochrome mode, and stamp printing for drawing data. Drawings printed using this function are electronic drawings. If you want to manage them in an environment where the above CAD software and drawing management software are not linked, you can print and manage paper originals as input data for input image devices such as image scanners. Must.
In addition, an image scanner that can convert a large-sized paper drawing of A0 or larger into an electronic drawing with little inclination and dirt is very expensive.
There is also a method of performing tilt correction and dirt removal on the drawing management software side, but it takes time and effort because the electronic data once captured by the image scanner is confirmed on the screen on the host computer side and executed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electronic distribution printing apparatus according to the present invention is a TWAIN-compatible device included in an input image device such as an image scanner in a printing apparatus that performs printing corresponding to various printing data transmitted from a host computer. A driver and a device driver for electronic distribution are installed, and image scanner related software such as existing drawing management software and filing software used by connecting to the printing apparatus is prepared. The printing apparatus converts the format into print data that can be printed by a print engine having various print drawing data created and transmitted by software such as CAD prepared on the host computer side, and stores it in a storage device And printing. After printing, the specified image data for printing is stored by starting the TWAIN-compatible device driver and electronic distribution device driver of the input image device such as an image scanner installed in the printing device. It is converted into electronic data that can be handled by image scanner related software such as drawing management software and filing software prepared on the host computer, and distributed.

  The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to the present invention is prepared on the host computer side for an input image device such as an image scanner in a general printing machine classified as a printer or plotter in which an input image device such as an image scanner is not mounted. It can be connected to image scanner related software such as drawing management software and filing software, and the image data processed for printing can be converted to the data format handled by this software on the host computer side and distributed. It is possible to create electronic drawings for drawing management without expensive input image devices such as image scanners with various types of large format, high resolution, color / monochrome functions, and at the lowest cost, regardless of Windows OS restrictions. , Large size, long size, etc. Quality electronic drawings can be obtained easily and efficiently.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic distribution printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, for example, intermittently transports large roll paper as continuous paper by a paper transport mechanism having a pinch roller or the like, and transports the paper while transporting the paper to a laser print head such as an LED. This is a laser-type printing device that prints on large paper by charging and fixing the printer.

  The printing apparatus 1 is received from a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 that performs overall control of the apparatus, a program ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 in which a control program executed by the CPU 10 and control data are recorded, and a host computer. A large-capacity non-volatile device 12 as a storage means for recording image data obtained by converting data for printing, a print engine 13 having a print head such as an LED system and performing print processing in accordance with supplied pixel data, this printing An engine interface 14 for sending pixel data to the apparatus engine 13, a communication interface 15 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the host computers 21, 22... 23 via the network 20, an operation key and a display unit, and attribute parameters for printing and distribution. Operation panel 16 for performing various setting operations, pulling roll paper A transport mechanism for transporting paper for taking out and printing and a transport motor 17 for driving the mechanism are provided. Further, the printing apparatus 1 is provided with a paper feeding mechanism (not shown) that can set one or a plurality of roll papers, and printing is performed on any of the roll papers set in the paper feeding mechanism. Yes.

  The large-capacity nonvolatile device 12 is constituted by, for example, a hard disk device configured to hold data even when the power is shut off.

2 shows that image data is transferred from a plurality of host computers 21, 22... 23 connected to the printing apparatus 1, printed, converted into a data format for distribution, and then converted from the printing apparatus 1 to a plurality of host computers 21, 22. ... is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of delivery to any one or more of 23. The printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is, for example, on a roll paper set based on print data transmitted from the host computer 21 side. Electronic data that can be handled by image scanner-related software such as drawing management software and filing software prepared on the host computer side in addition to the normal printing device functions that perform printing. It has a function to convert to and deliver.

  The printing device function and the electronic data distribution function are related to the CPU 10, the large-capacity nonvolatile device 12, the program ROM 11 in which the print engine control program and the communication control program are stored, the setting of print attribute parameters at the time of printing, and the distribution at the time of electronic data distribution. It can be realized by a communication interface 15 that transmits / receives data to / from any one or a plurality of host computers 21, 22,...

  The large-capacity non-volatile device 12 primarily stores the area for spooling received data before processing and the number of processed print data that exceeds the performance of the print engine, or converts the data waiting for distribution into the primary A storage area is prepared.

  The printing device function is realized by a data processing control program that can process and save received data in both monochrome and color print image data, and the electronic data distribution function is a TWAIN-compatible device driver required for input image devices such as image scanners. And an electronic data distribution control program including a device driver for electronic distribution.

  Next, drawing data created by CAD or the like is received, and print image data as a result of data processing performed for printing is printed by the electronic data distribution control program, simultaneously with printing, or without printing 21, 22. Distribution is performed to any one of the designated host computers.

  Depending on the printing machine to be prepared, the actual printed drawing may vary, but color processing is performed on a monochrome machine, processing at a higher resolution than that provided by the print engine, or A0 size on an A3 size printing machine The electronic data that is converted and distributed, such as distributing large-sized data or large-sized data, can be distributed with the same quality data.

  Hereinafter, the processing will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a printing procedure in which image data transferred to the printing apparatus 1 is converted into print data that can be sequentially transferred to the printing engine 13 and stored in the large-capacity non-volatile device 12, and the printed data is a distribution destination drawing. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which is converted into the various data formats which image scanner related software, such as management software and filing software, and the electronic data management apparatus handle, and is delivered.

  The process shown in FIG. 3 is a process executed by the CPU, and is started by receiving data from any of the host computers 21, 22,.

  First, when the printing apparatus is turned on, the initialization process in step S1 is executed. In the initialization process, the print engine is activated to prepare for printing of the apparatus, and activation information is notified to various control modules. When the initialization process in step 1 is completed, the apparatus enters an idle state, and enters a setting parameter reference and change acceptance state by various methods such as an operation panel or the Web. Step S2 is a check of setting parameter change start, and step S3 is a setting parameter changing process.

  In step S4, the storage state of the processed data for printing is checked. If the large-capacity nonvolatile device 12 is full of data waiting for printing or delivery, data from any of the host computers 21, 22... 23 is executed until the large-capacity nonvolatile device 12 is freed by executing printing or distribution. Reception is awaited.

  If there is a free space in the large capacity non-volatile device 12 in step S4, the process proceeds to step S5 to enter a data reception waiting state. When the reception of data is started, the process proceeds to step S6 where the received data is converted into print image data and stored in the large-capacity nonvolatile device 12.

  In step S7, the inside of the large-capacity nonvolatile device 12 is checked, and it is checked whether or not the converted printing image data is stored. If there is no stored print image data, the process returns to step S2. If the printing image data has been stored, it is checked in step S8 whether the printing image data has already been printed.

  If printing has not yet been performed, in step S9, an inquiry is made to the print engine as to whether or not printing is possible. If the image data for printing cannot be printed, such as during printing or an error, the process returns to step S2.

  If it is in a printable state, printing is performed in step S10.

  In step S11, distribution control is started. If delivery destination designation or automatic delivery is designated in advance in step S3, the process jumps to step S13. If not, a setting operation such as a delivery destination of the printing image data is performed in step S12.

  In step S13, it is confirmed whether the designated distribution destination host computers 21, 22,... 23 are in a standby state. If OK, the image data for printing is related to the image scanner such as the distribution destination drawing management software or filing software in step S14. It is converted into various data formats handled by software and electronic data management devices and distributed.

  As described above, the electronic distribution printing apparatus of the present invention is a host for an input image device such as an image scanner in a general printing machine classified as a printer or plotter that is not equipped with an input image device such as an image scanner. Connect to image scanner related software such as drawing management software and filing software prepared on the computer side, and convert the image data processed for printing into the data format handled by the software on the host computer side and distribute it. It is possible to create electronic drawings for drawing management at minimum cost without the need for expensive input image devices such as image scanners with various types of large format, high resolution, color / monochrome functions. Regardless of Windows OS restrictions, large format, long A high-quality electronic drawing of a size such as a scale can be obtained easily and efficiently. The main effects are listed below.

  First, even if there is no input image device such as an image scanner, the existing distribution software, graphic software, and electronic drawing management software can be used to scan vector data and vector raster mixed data sent to the printing machine. The result drawing can be distributed to the specified host computer.

  Second, a large drawing or long drawing exceeding the limit of an input image device such as an image scanner can be converted into image data and distributed to a designated host computer.

  Third, regardless of Windows OS limitations, vector data can be received as it is, and large or long drawings can be converted into image data and distributed to designated host computers.

  Fourth, if it is only necessary to confirm the part of the print, use A4 size printing machine to distribute A0 size drawings, etc. Can be delivered.

  Fifth, it is possible to deliver high-quality electrons that are not affected by the performance limits of existing image scanners and other input image devices in terms of resolution and image quality performance.

  Sixth, color image data can be generated and distributed to a designated host computer by a monochrome printing machine regardless of engine performance.

  Seventh, CAD drawings can be distributed to related departments at the same time as printing, improving operational efficiency.

  Eighth, printing drawings that are actually used with the stamp function, margin setting, line width change, line color change, etc., which the printing machine has uniquely enabled, can be distributed as is to the designated host computer.

It is a block diagram which shows the electronic distribution printing apparatus of this invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of transferring image data from a plurality of host computers to a printing apparatus constituting the electronic distribution printing apparatus of the present invention and distributing digitized drawing data from the printing apparatus to a designated host computer. Processing in which image data transferred to a printing apparatus constituting the electronic distribution printing apparatus of the present invention is converted into print data that can be sequentially transferred to a print engine, stored in a large-capacity nonvolatile device, printed, and distributed It is a flowchart which shows a procedure.

Explanation of symbols

1 Printing device 10 CPU
11 Program ROM
12 Large-capacity non-volatile device 13 Print engine 14 Engine interface 15 Communication interface 16 Operation panel 17 Conveyance motor 21 Host computer 22 Host computer

Claims (16)

  An electronic device that receives drawing data from a host computer, performs imaging processing, and prints, and is equipped with an electronic distribution device driver that distributes imaging data subjected to imaging processing to the host computer Distribution printing device.   It can be connected to the drawing management software prepared in the host computer, and the image data processed for printing the received data is converted into the same data format as the electronic data output from the input image device, and the drawing management software 2. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a function of distributing the electronic data to a running host computer.   It can be connected to the drawing management software prepared in the host computer, and the image data processed for printing the received data is converted into the same data format as the electronic data output from the input image device, and the drawing management software An electronic distribution printing apparatus comprising a function of distributing electronic data to a folder of an activated electronic data management apparatus or server machine.   A communication interface that can send and receive data online with the host computer and can notify the status of the printing apparatus and control instructions related to printing and distribution, and a storage device that stores image data converted for printing 4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation panel for designating a print attribute parameter, an image data attribute parameter to be distributed, a distribution destination and a distribution method, and a CPU for performing control related to printing and distribution. Distribution printing device.   5. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image data processed for printing can be stored, and the image data processed for printing is sequentially stored during the printing process. .   The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the storage device is a non-volatile storage device.   The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the CPU converts the distribution data into a data format handled by the image scanner related software and the electronic data management apparatus.   5. The printing can be performed by setting the attribute of the vector drawing data for specifying the scale, rotation, printing position adjustment, line width change, color / monochrome switching, line color designation, or color matching information of the photographic image data. The electronic distribution printing apparatus described in 1. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an operation panel capable of starting execution of distribution by inputting a manual operation or an automatic operation.   2. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution execution start is performed by manual operation or automatic operation input, and is performed online by drawing management software prepared on the host computer side. .   A determination step for determining whether the data transmitted from the host computer to the printing device is printable data, a printing step in which the printing device converts the format into printable print data, and printing, and printing An electronic drawing process for converting the post-format converted image data for printing into a data format handled by the image scanner related software, and the format converted data in a folder of a specified host computer, electronic data management device or server machine The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a distribution step of distributing.   It is an electronic distribution printing device capable of printing large format drawings such as A0 size and long size, and when distributing large format electronic drawing data, it is possible to mix and distribute small size drawing data smaller than A2 size. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that:   12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the electronic apparatus is a monochrome printing apparatus having color processing control, printing data received from the host computer in monochrome, and distributing the color data to the host computer. Distribution printing device.   12. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an electronic drawing having a size larger than that of the print engine can be distributed.   11. The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electronic distribution printing apparatus can be operated in a printer mode of a multifunction (MF) apparatus.   The electronic distribution printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a communication interface as a means for executing distribution can be selected and installed.

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