JP7587206B2 - Control device and computer program - Google Patents

Description

This specification relates to a technology for controlling a print execution unit that includes a cutting unit that cuts a print medium of a first size to create a print medium of a second size.

Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming device equipped with a sheet cutting unit that cuts sheets using a cutter. When this image forming device receives an instruction to print on a specified A4 sheet, if there are not enough A4 sheets, the image is formed on half the area of an A3 sheet. The image forming device cuts the A3 sheet on which the image has been formed, creates an A4 sheet on which the image has been formed, and discharges it to a discharge tray.

JP 2018-186448 A

However, with the above technology, when A4 sheets are in short supply, A3 sheets are simply cut, so there is a possibility that the sheets cannot be used efficiently enough.

This specification discloses technology that allows for efficient use of print media such as sheets.

The technology disclosed in this specification has been made to solve at least some of the problems described above, and can be realized as the following application examples.

[Application Example 1] A control device for a print execution unit capable of printing on a first size print medium and a second size print medium smaller than the first size, the control device including a cutting unit that cuts the first size print medium to create the second size print medium, the control device including a control unit and a memory, the control unit acquiring original image data showing an image including a target image, acquiring the size of the target image using the original image data, determining whether the size of the target image is larger than a reference size based on the second size, executing a first control to cause the print execution unit to create a first printed medium if the size of the target image is larger than the reference size, and executing a second control to cause the print execution unit to create a second printed medium if the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size, the first printed medium being the first size print medium on which an image including the target image is printed, the second printed medium being the second size print medium on which an image including the target image is printed, and the second size print medium being the second size print medium created by cutting the first size print medium by the cutting unit.

According to the above configuration, the first control for creating a printed medium of a first size and the second control for creating a printed medium of a second size can be used depending on the size of the target image. As a result, the print medium can be used efficiently. For example, it is possible to save the print medium.
[Application Example 2]
The control device according to Application Example 1,
the reference size includes a first reference length based on a length in a first direction of the print medium of the second size, and a second reference length based on a length in a second direction of the print medium of the second size,
A control device, wherein the judgment conditions for determining that the size of the target image is equal to or less than the reference size include that the length of the target image in a direction corresponding to the first direction is equal to or less than the first reference length, and that the length of the target image in a direction corresponding to the second direction is equal to or less than the second reference length.
[Application Example 3]
The control device according to Application Example 2,
The control unit further includes:
A print data generation process is executed to generate print data using the original image data;
Executing either the first control or the second control using the print data;
A control device, in which, in the printing data generation process, if the target image does not satisfy the judgment condition and a rotation target image obtained by rotating the target image by a predetermined angle satisfies the judgment condition, the printing data indicating the rotation target image is generated.

[Application Example 4 ] A control device for a print execution unit capable of printing on a first size print medium and a second size print medium smaller than the first size, the control device including a cutting unit that cuts the first size print medium to create the second size print medium, the control device including a control unit and a memory, the control unit acquires original image data indicating an image including a target image, acquires the size of the target image using the original image data, determines whether the size of the target image is larger than a reference size based on the second size, and notifies a user that it can execute first control to cause the print execution unit to create a first printed medium if the size of the target image is larger than the reference size, and second control to cause the print execution unit to create a second printed medium if the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size, the control device being configured to execute a control unit for executing ...

According to the above configuration, when the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size, the user is notified that the second control can be executed to cause the print execution unit to create a printed medium of the second size. As a result, the creation of the printed medium of the second size can be promoted, and the print medium can be used efficiently.
[Application Example 5]
The control device according to application example 4,
the reference size includes a first reference length based on a length in a first direction of the print medium of the second size, and a second reference length based on a length in a second direction of the print medium of the second size,
the determination condition for determining that the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size includes that a length of the target image in a direction corresponding to the first direction is equal to or smaller than the first reference length, and a length of the target image in a direction corresponding to the second direction is equal to or smaller than the second reference length;
The notification includes displaying a screen for receiving an instruction from a user as to whether or not to execute the second control.
[Application Example 6]
The control device according to application example 4,
the reference size includes a first reference length based on a length in a first direction of the print medium of the second size, a second reference length based on a length in a second direction of the print medium of the second size, and a reference area based on an area of the print medium of the second size,
the control unit determines that the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size when the area of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference area even if the length of the target image in the direction corresponding to the first direction is longer than the first reference length, or the length of the target image in the direction corresponding to the second direction is longer than the second reference length;
The notification includes a notification that the second control can be executed by changing the layout of the target image.
[Application Example 7]
The control device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 6,
The second size is half the size of the first size,
A control device in which the cutting unit cuts one piece of print media of the first size to create two pieces of print media of the second size.
[Example 8]
The control device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 7,
The original image data is image data generated by an image sensor and represents an image including an original document;
A control device, wherein the size of the target image is the size of a portion showing a document within an image represented by the original image data.
[Example 9]
The control device according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 7,
the target image is an image showing an object within an image;
A control device, wherein the size of the target image is the size of the area within the image in which the object is placed.

The technology disclosed in this specification can be realized in various forms, such as a printing device, a printing method, an image processing method, a computer program for realizing the functions of these devices or the above methods, a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded, etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system 1000 according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printer 10. 13 is a flowchart of a copy process. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing examples of a scanned image and a printed image. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen WI1. 4 is a flowchart of a printing process. 4 is a flowchart of a printing process. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an example of an image represented by image data and a print image. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen WI2.

A. First embodiment:
A-1: Configuration of the Printing System 1000 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on an example embodiment. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system 1000 according to the example embodiment.

The printing system 1000 includes a multifunction device 200 and a terminal device 300. The multifunction device 200 and the terminal device 300 are communicatively connected via a wired or wireless network NW.

The terminal device 300 is a computer used by a user of the multifunction device 200, such as a personal computer or a smartphone. The terminal device 300 includes a CPU 310 as a controller for the terminal device 300, a non-volatile storage device 320 such as a hard disk drive, a volatile storage device 330 such as a RAM, an operation unit 360 such as a mouse or keyboard, a display unit 370 such as a liquid crystal display, and a communication unit 380. The communication unit 380 includes a wired or wireless interface for connecting to the network NW.

The volatile storage device 330 provides a buffer area 331 for the CPU 310. The non-volatile storage device 320 stores a plurality of computer programs, specifically, an application program AP and a printer driver program DP.

The application program AP is a program that causes the CPU 310 to realize a function for processing image data, such as a program that realizes a document creation function or a document viewing function. Hereinafter, the function that the CPU 310 realizes by executing the application program AP is also referred to as an "application." The application program AP includes a program that realizes a function of starting the printer driver program DP and instructing the printer driver program DP to print an image represented by image data handled by the application. The application program AP is provided by the manufacturer of the application program AP, for example, in a form that is downloaded from a server or stored on a DVD-ROM or the like.

The printer driver program DP is a program that causes the CPU 310 to realize a function that causes the multifunction device 200 to print an image using image data obtained from an application in accordance with instructions from the application. Hereinafter, the function that the CPU 310 realizes by executing the printer driver program DP is also referred to as the "printer driver." The printer driver program DP is provided by the manufacturer of the multifunction device 200, for example, in a form that is downloaded from a server or stored on a DVD-ROM or the like.

The multifunction device 200 includes a printer 10 as a print execution unit, a scanner 30, a CPU 210 that controls the printer 10 and the scanner 30, a non-volatile storage device 220 such as a hard disk drive, a volatile storage device 230 such as a hard disk or flash memory, an operation unit 260 such as a button or touch panel for acquiring operations by the user, a display unit 270 such as a liquid crystal display, and a communication unit 280. The multifunction device 200 is connected to an external device, for example, a user's terminal device (not shown) via the communication unit 280 so as to be able to communicate with the external device.

The volatile storage device 230 provides a buffer area 231 for temporarily storing various intermediate image data generated when the CPU 210 performs processing. The non-volatile storage device 220 stores a computer program CP. In this embodiment, the computer program CP is a control program for controlling the multifunction device 200. The computer program CP may be provided by being stored in the non-volatile storage device 220 when the multifunction device 200 is shipped. Alternatively, the computer program CP may be provided in a form in which it is downloaded from a server, or in a form in which it is stored on a DVD-ROM or the like. By executing the computer program CP, the CPU 210 controls the printer 10, for example, to perform the printing process described below.

The printer 10 prints by ejecting ink (droplets) of each of the following colors: cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). The printer 10 includes a print head 110, a head drive unit 120, a main scanning unit 130, a transport unit 140, and a cutting unit 150.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the printer 10. The printer 10 further includes a paper feed tray 20 in which multiple unprinted sheets S are stacked and stored, a paper discharge tray 21 into which printed sheets S are discharged, and a platen 50 disposed opposite the nozzle formation surface 111 of the print head 110.

The transport unit 140 transports paper S as a print medium along a normal path NR that passes between the paper feed tray 20, the print head 110, and the platen 50, and leads to the paper discharge tray 21. The upstream side of the normal path NR is simply referred to as the upstream side, and the downstream side of the normal path NR is simply referred to as the downstream side. More specifically, the transport unit 140 includes outer guide members 18a to 18c that guide the paper S along the normal path NR, inner guide members 19a to 19b, a paper feed roller 141 provided on the normal path NR, an upstream transport roller pair 142, a downstream transport roller pair 143, an upstream paper discharge roller pair 144, and a downstream paper discharge roller pair 145. The paper feed roller 141 is attached to the tip of a rotatable arm 15, and holds the paper S by sandwiching the paper S between the paper feed tray 20 and the paper feed roller 141. Each roller pair holds a sheet on the normal path NR. The transport unit 140 transports the paper S by driving these rollers using a transport motor (not shown) under the control of the CPU 210.

The transport unit 140 further drives the upstream discharge roller pair 144 in the opposite direction to the normal route NR, thereby transporting the paper S from the upstream side of the discharge roller pair 144, passing between the upper guide member 13 and the lower guide members 14a and 14b, along the reverse route RR that merges with the normal route NR. The transport unit 140 also includes flap members 16 and 17 that are rotatably configured to allow the transported paper S to be appropriately transported along either the normal route NR or the reverse route RR.

Note that the transport direction (also called the sub-scanning direction) AR in Figure 2 is the sheet transport direction (+Y direction) between the print head 110 and the platen 50.

The main scanning unit 130 includes a carriage 133 that carries the print head 110, and a sliding shaft 134 that holds the carriage 133 so that it can move back and forth along the main scanning direction (X-axis direction). The main scanning unit 130 uses the power of a main scanning motor (not shown) to move the carriage 133 back and forth along the sliding shaft 134. This achieves main scanning by moving the print head 110 back and forth in the main scanning direction.

The nozzle forming surface 111 of the print head 110 facing the platen 50 has multiple nozzle rows, i.e., nozzle rows (not shown) that eject the above-mentioned C, M, Y, and K inks. Each nozzle row includes multiple nozzles that are positioned differently in the transport direction and are aligned along the transport direction.

The head drive unit 120 drives the print head 110, which moves back and forth by the main scanning unit 130, above the paper S transported by the transport unit 140. This causes ink to be ejected from multiple nozzles of the print head 110 onto the paper S, forming dots on the paper S.

The cutting unit 150 is disposed between the upstream discharge roller pair 144 and the downstream discharge roller pair 145 on the normal path NR. The cutting unit 150 includes a cutter (not shown) and cuts the paper S into an upstream portion and a downstream portion in the transport direction at a predetermined cutting position Yc by moving the cutter along the X direction. The cutting position Yc is the position in the transport direction where the paper S is cut (the position in the Y direction in FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the cutting unit 150 can cut one A4 size paper S to create two A5 size papers.

The scanner 30 is a reading device that optically reads an object such as a document using a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or CMOS. The scanner 30 outputs scan data that indicates a scanned image (an image of the scanned document). The scan data is, for example, RGB image data that expresses the color of each pixel with RGB values. The RGB values are the gradation values (hereinafter also referred to as component values) of three color components, that is, the color values of the RGB color system that include the R value, the G value, and the B value. The R value, the G value, and the B value are, for example, gradation values of a predetermined number of gradations (for example, 256).

A-2. Copying Process Fig. 3 is a flowchart of the copying process. The copying process is a process in which scanned data is generated by reading an original document, and the scanned image is printed on paper S using the scanned data. For example, the copying process is executed by the CPU 210 of the multifunction device 200 when a user places an original document on the scanner 30 and issues a copy instruction via the operation unit 260. Note that the terminal device 300 is not used in the copying process.

In S100, the CPU 210 (FIG. 1) acquires scan data. For example, the CPU 210 acquires the scan data by controlling the scanner 30 to cause the scanner 30 to read an original document.

In S105, the CPU 210 determines whether the set paper size is A4 size. The set paper size is obtained, for example, by detecting the size of the paper S stored in the paper feed tray 20 using a sensor (not shown). Alternatively, the set paper size may be obtained based on information indicating the size specified by the user via the operation unit 260. In this case, the information is included in the copy instruction.

If the set paper size is a size other than A4 size (e.g., A5 size or postcard size) (S105: NO), in S110, the CPU 210 executes normal printing processing. The normal printing processing is processing that controls the printer 10 to print the scanned image on paper S of the set size.

If the set paper size is A4 size (S105: YES), in S115, the CPU 210 identifies the document area indicating the document in the scanned image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a scanned image and a printed image. The scanned images SIa, SIb, and SIc in FIGS. 4(A), (B), and (C) include document areas Ca, Cb, and Cc, respectively. When the scanned images to be processed are the scanned images SIa, SIb, and SIc in FIG. 4, the CPU 210 identifies the document areas Ca, Cb, and Cc, respectively. Identification of the document area is performed using a known method. For example, the CPU 210 detects linear edges in the scanned image using a known straight line detection algorithm (e.g., Hough transformation, etc.) and identifies one or more rectangles composed of these linear edges. The CPU 210 further detects object pixels in the scanned image by binarization processing, and identifies a rectangular area including all object pixels among the identified rectangles as the document area.

In S120, the CPU 210 determines the height Hc (length in direction D2 in FIG. 4) and width Wc (length in direction D1 in FIG. 4) of the identified document region. The units of height Hc and width Wc are, for example, the number of pixels.

In S125, the CPU 210 determines whether the height Hc and width Wc of the document area satisfy the A5 printing condition. The A5 printing condition is satisfied when an image of the specified document area can be printed on A5 size paper. The A5 printing condition in this embodiment is satisfied when at least one of the following conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied.
Condition (1): The height Hc of the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference height Hth, and the width Wc of the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference width Wth (Hc≦Hth and Wc≦Wth).
Condition (2): The width Wc of the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference height Hth, and the height Hc of the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference width Wth (Wc≦Hth and Hc≦Wth).

Here, the reference height Hth is a height based on the A5 size. The reference width Wth is a height based on the A5 size. In FIG. 4A, the reference height Hth and the reference width Wth are illustrated for the scan image SIa. The scan image SIa in FIG. 4A is equivalent to the A4 size with the direction D1 as the short side direction and the direction D2 as the long side direction. Therefore, a rectangular area (the hatched area in FIG. 4A) that has half the height of the scan image SIa and the same width as the scan image SIa is equivalent to the A5 size. As shown in FIG. 4A, the reference height Hth is the number of pixels equivalent to the short side length of the A5 size, and the reference width Wth is the number of pixels equivalent to the long side length of the A5 size.

When the manuscript area Ca in FIG. 4(A) is the manuscript area to be processed, the height Hc and width Wc of the manuscript area satisfy both conditions (1) and (2), and are therefore determined to satisfy the A5 printing conditions. When the manuscript area Cb in FIG. 4(B) is the manuscript area to be processed, the height Hc and width Wc of the manuscript area do not satisfy condition (1) but do satisfy condition (2), and are therefore determined to satisfy the A5 printing conditions. When the manuscript area Cc in FIG. 4(C) is the manuscript area to be processed, the height Hc and width Wc of the manuscript area do not satisfy condition (1) or condition (2), and are therefore determined to not satisfy the A5 printing conditions.

If the A5 printing conditions are not met (S125: NO), the CPU 210 proceeds to S140. If the A5 printing conditions are met (S125: YES), in S130, the CPU 210 displays a notification screen recommending the A5 printing function on the display unit 270 of the multifunction device 200. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen WI1 recommending the A5 printing function. The notification screen WI1 in FIG. 5 includes a message MS1 recommending the A5 printing function, and two buttons BTy and BTn for selecting whether or not to use the A5 printing function.

If the user wishes to execute the A5 printing function, the user inputs a selection instruction for the A5 printing function by pressing the button BTy indicating "YES". If the user wishes to execute the A4 printing function, the user inputs a selection instruction for the A4 printing function by pressing the button BTn indicating "NO". The A5 printing function is a function that creates printed A5 size paper by printing an image on the downstream half of the A4 size paper S in the transport direction AR and cutting the A4 size paper S so as to divide it into a downstream part and a downstream part in the transport direction AR. The A4 printing function is a function that creates printed A4 size paper by printing an image on the A4 size paper S and not cutting the paper S.

In S135, the CPU 210 determines whether the A5 printing function has been selected based on the selection instruction input by the user. If the A5 printing function has been selected (S135: YES), the CPU 210 proceeds to S150. If the A4 printing function has been selected (S135: NO), the CPU 210 proceeds to S140.

In S140, the CPU 210 generates print data for the A4 print function. Specifically, the CPU 210 converts the scan data into print data without rotating or adjusting the position of the document area. For example, the CPU 210 performs color conversion processing on the scan data, which is RGB image data. The color conversion processing is a process of converting the RGB image data into CMYK image data that represents the color of each pixel with CMYK values. The CMYK values are color values in the CMYK color system, and include gradation values (component values) of the four color components C, M, Y, and K, that is, multiple component values corresponding to the colors of the ink. The color conversion processing is performed using a color conversion profile (e.g., a lookup table) that associates the RGB values with the CMYK values. The CPU 210 performs halftone processing on the CMYK image data. Halftone processing is a process used, for example, in well-known error diffusion and dithering methods, and is a process that generates so-called print data (also called dot data) that represents the dot formation state for each pixel and for each ink color. The dot formation state can be one of four states, for example, "large dot," "medium dot," "small dot," or "no dot." Alternatively, the dot formation state can be one of two states, "dot present" and "no dot present."

In S145, the CPU 210 executes A4 print control using the print data. That is, the CPU 210 supplies the print data to the printer 10 and causes the printer 10 to execute the A4 print function described above. For example, when the scan data showing the scan image SIc in FIG. 4(C) is to be processed, the A4 print control is executed, and an A4-sized sheet of paper Sc (FIG. 4(F)) is created on which a print image PIc showing an image of the document area Cc is printed, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 21.

In S150, the CPU 210 determines whether the height Hc and width Wc of the document area satisfy the rotation requirement condition. The rotation requirement condition is a condition that is satisfied when the image in the document area needs to be rotated 90 degrees in order to be printed in an A5 size area (the downstream half of the A4 size paper S). Condition (1) of the A5 printing condition described above is a condition that allows the image in the document area to be printed on A5 size paper without rotating the document area. Condition (2) is a condition that allows the image in the document area to be printed on A5 size paper when the image in the document area is rotated 90 degrees. Therefore, the rotation requirement condition is that condition (1) is not satisfied and condition (2) is satisfied.

If the rotation requirement is met (S150: YES), in S155, the CPU 210 executes a rotation process on the scan data to rotate the scanned image by 90 degrees, generating rotated scan data. If the rotation requirement is not met (S150: NO), that is, if there is no need to rotate the image in the document area, the CPU 210 skips S155. For example, if the document area Ca in FIG. 4(A) is the document area to be processed, it is determined that the height Hc and width Wc of the document area do not meet the rotation requirement. If the document area Cb in FIG. 4(B) is the document area to be processed, it is determined that the height Hc and width Wc of the document area meet the rotation requirement.

In S160, the CPU 210 generates print data for the A5 print function. Specifically, the CPU 210 adjusts the position of the image in the document area as necessary so that the image in the document area (or the rotated image if rotation processing has been performed) is printed on the downstream half of the A4 size paper S, and generates A5 size RGB image data from the scan data. The CPU 210 performs color conversion processing and halftone processing on the RGB image data to generate print data.

In S165, the CPU 210 executes A5 printing control using the print data. That is, the CPU 210 supplies the print data and the cutting instruction data to the printer 10, and causes the printer 10 to execute the A5 printing function described above. The printer 10 prints an image of the document area on the downstream half of the A4 size paper S according to the control of the CPU 210, and then further transports the paper S until the center of the paper S in the transport direction (Y direction in FIG. 4) coincides with the cutting position Yc (FIG. 2). The printer 10 drives the cutting section 150 according to the control of the CPU 210 to cut the A4 size paper S to create two A5 size papers. The printer 10 discharges the downstream paper on which the image has been printed of the two A5 size papers to the paper discharge tray 21. The printer 10 transports the upstream paper on which the image has not been printed of the two A5 size papers along the reversal path RR to use it for the next printing on the A5 size papers.

For example, when the scan data showing the scan image SIa in FIG. 4(A) is to be processed and A5 print control is selected, an A5-sized sheet of paper Sa (FIG. 4(D)) is created on which a print image PIa showing the image of the document area Ca is printed, and is discharged to the discharge tray 21.

For example, when the scan data showing the scan image SIa in FIG. 4(A) is to be processed and the A5 print control is selected, an A5 size sheet of paper Sa (FIG. 4(D)) is created on which a print image PIa showing the image of the document area Ca is printed, and the paper is discharged to the paper output tray 21. When the scan data showing the scan image SIb in FIG. 4(B) is to be processed and the A5 print control is selected, an A5 size sheet of paper Sb (FIG. 4(E)) is created on which a print image PIb showing the image of the document area Cb rotated 90 degrees is printed, and the paper is discharged to the paper output tray 21.

According to the embodiment described above, the CPU 210 acquires scan data (S110 in FIG. 3), acquires the size of the image in the document area using the scan data (S115 in FIG. 3), and determines whether the size of the image in the document area is larger than the reference size (size defined by the reference width Wth and reference height Hth) (S125 in FIG. 3). If the size of the image in the document area is larger than the reference size (NO in S125 in FIG. 3), A4 print control is executed to make the printer 10 create a printed sheet of A4 size (S145 in FIG. 3), and if the size of the image in the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference size (YES in S125 in FIG. 3), A5 print control is executed to make the printer 10 create a printed sheet of A5 size (S165 in FIG. 3) on the condition that a selection instruction for the A5 print function is input from the user. The printed sheet of A5 size is created by cutting the A4 size sheet S by the cutting unit 150. As a result, the A4 print control and the A5 print control are used depending on the size of the image in the document area. As a result, paper S can be used efficiently.

In particular, A5 size is half the size of A4 size, and the cutting unit 150 cuts one A size sheet S to create two A5 size sheets S. This allows, for example, A5 size sheets S that were not printed on in one printing run to be used for another printing run, thereby saving paper S.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the reference size includes a reference width Wth and a reference height Hth (FIG. 4A). The judgment conditions for judging that the size of the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference size, i.e., the A5 printing conditions (S125 in FIG. 3), include that the width Wc of the image in the document area (length in direction D1 in FIG. 4) is equal to or smaller than the reference width Wth, and that the height of the image in the document area (length in direction D2 in FIG. 4) is equal to or smaller than the reference height Hth. As a result, the CPU 210 can appropriately judge whether the size of the image in the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference size, and therefore can appropriately judge whether the A5 printing function can be used. As a result, the A4 printing function and the A5 printing function can be appropriately used.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the print data generation process, if the size of the image in the document area does not satisfy condition (1) for an unrotated image as described above, but satisfies condition (2) for an image rotated by 90 degrees (S150 in FIG. 3: YES), print data is generated that indicates the pixels of the document area that has been rotated by 90 degrees (S155, S160 in FIG. 3). As a result, when A5 print control is executed, appropriate print data can be generated so that it can be printed on A5 size paper.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the CPU 210 acquires scan data (S110 in FIG. 3), acquires the size of the image in the document area using the scan data (S115 in FIG. 3), and determines whether the size of the image in the document area is larger than the reference size (size defined by the reference width Wth and reference height Hth) (S125 in FIG. 3). If the size of the image in the document area is larger than the reference size (NO in S125 in FIG. 3), A4 printing control is executed to make the printer 10 create a printed sheet of A4 size (S145 in FIG. 3), and if the size of the image in the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference size (YES in S125 in FIG. 3), the user is notified that A5 printing control can be executed to make the printer 10 create a printed sheet of A5 size (S130 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5). As a result, the A5 printing function is utilized, and the creation of printed sheets of A5 size can be promoted, so that the paper S can be used efficiently. For example, a user may not know about or understand the A5 print function, which allows printing on A5-sized paper created by cutting A4-sized paper S. Even if the user knows about the A5 print function, it may be a heavy burden for the user to check each time whether the size of the document can be printed on A5-sized paper. Even in such a case, in this embodiment, an appropriate notification is given when the A5 print function is available, which can promote the use of the A5 print function.

Furthermore, the reference size includes a reference width Wth and a reference height Hth (FIG. 4A). The judgment condition for judging that the size of the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference size, i.e., the A5 printing condition (S125 in FIG. 3), includes that the width Wc of the image in the document area (length in direction D1 in FIG. 4) is equal to or smaller than the reference width Wth, and the height of the image in the document area (length in direction D2 in FIG. 4) is equal to or smaller than the reference height Hth. The notification to the user includes displaying a notification screen WI1 for receiving an instruction from the user as to whether or not to use the A5 printing function, in other words, whether or not the CPU 210 executes A5 printing control (S145 in FIG. 3) (S130 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5). As a result, it is possible to appropriately judge whether or not the size of the image in the document area is equal to or smaller than the reference size based on the size of the document area, so that the notification screen WI1 for receiving an instruction from the user as to whether or not to execute A5 printing control can be appropriately displayed.

Furthermore, the image data acquired in this embodiment is scan data representing an original, and the image size used to determine the A5 printing conditions is the size of the original area, i.e., the size of the portion of the scanned image representing the original (S115-S125 in FIG. 3). In copy processes that use scan data, it is often preferable to print the entire original, not just the objects within the original. In this embodiment, in such cases, it can be appropriately determined whether or not A5 printing control can be performed.

As can be seen from the above explanation, the scan data in this embodiment is an example of original image data, and the image of the document area is an example of a target image. Furthermore, the A4 size in this embodiment is an example of a first size, and the A5 size is an example of a second size. Furthermore, the reference width Wth in this embodiment is an example of a first reference length, and the reference height Hth is an example of a second reference length. Furthermore, the A4 print control in this embodiment is an example of a first control, and the A5 print control is an example of a second control.

B. Second embodiment FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow charts of the print process. In the second embodiment, the print process of FIGS. 6 and 7 is executed instead of the copy process of FIG. 3. The print process of FIGS. 6 and 7 is executed by the CPU 310 of the terminal device 300. For example, when a user prints an image based on image data being processed by an application running on the terminal device 300, the user inputs a print instruction to the application. When the print instruction is input, the application starts the printer driver. That is, the CPU 310 executes the printer driver program DP. The printer driver (CPU 310) starts the print process of FIGS. 6 and 7.

At S200, the CPU 310 acquires image data indicating the image to be printed. The acquired image data is RGB image data. For example, the CPU 310 acquires the RGB image data by performing a rasterization process on vector data generated by the application program AP.

In S205, similar to S105 in FIG. 3, the CPU 310 determines whether the set paper size is A4 size. If the set paper size is a size other than A4 size (e.g., A5 size or postcard size) (S205: NO), in S210, the CPU 310 executes normal printing processing.

If the set paper size is a size other than A4 (e.g., A5 or postcard size) (S205: NO), in S210, the CPU 310 executes normal printing processing, similar to S110 in FIG. 3.

If the set paper size is A4 size (S205: YES), in S215, the CPU 310 identifies an object area in which an object in the image is placed. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an image shown by image data and a printed image. An object is an element that is expressed using dots when printed, and is an element that has a color different from white in the image. Objects include, for example, characters, photographs, and graphics (tables, graphs, etc.). The images OId and OIe in FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively include objects OBd and OBe such as characters and tables. When the images to be processed are the images OIe and OId in FIG. 8, the CPU 310 identifies object areas AAd and AAe, respectively. Identification of the object area is performed using a known method. For example, the CPU 310 detects object pixels in the image by binarization processing, and identifies a circumscribing rectangular area including all identified object pixels as the object area.

In S220, the CPU 310 determines the height Ho (length in direction D2 in FIG. 8) and width Wo (length in direction D1 in FIG. 8) of the identified object region. The units of the height Ho and width Wo are, for example, the number of pixels.

In S225, CPU 310 determines whether the height Ho and width Wo of the object area satisfy the A5 printing condition. The A5 printing condition is a condition that is satisfied when the image of the specified object area can be printed on A5 size paper. The A5 printing condition in this embodiment is satisfied when at least one of the following conditions (A) and (B) is satisfied.
Condition (A): The height Ho of the object area is equal to or less than the reference height Hth, and the width Wc of the object area is equal to or less than the reference width Wth (Ho≦Hth and Wo≦Wth).
Condition (B): The width Wo of the object area is equal to or smaller than the reference height Hth, and the height Ho of the object area is equal to or smaller than the reference width Wth (Wo≦Hth and Ho≦Wth).

Here, the reference height Hth and the reference width Wth are the height and width based on the A5 size, as in the first embodiment. In FIG. 8(A), the reference height Hth and the reference width Wth are illustrated for the image OId.

When the object area AAd in FIG. 8(A) is the object area to be processed, the height Ho and width Wo of the object area satisfy both conditions (A) and (B), and therefore it is determined that it satisfies the A5 printing conditions. When the object area AAd in FIG. 4(C) is the object area to be processed, the height Ho and width Wo of the object area do not satisfy either condition (A) or condition (B), and therefore it is determined that it does not satisfy the A5 printing conditions.

If the A5 printing conditions are not met (S225: NO), the CPU 310 proceeds to S270. If the A5 printing conditions are met (S225: YES), in S230, the CPU 310 displays a notification screen recommending the A5 printing function on the display unit 370 of the terminal device 300. The displayed notification screen is, for example, the notification screen WI1 in FIG. 5, as in the first embodiment.

In S235, similar to S135 in FIG. 3, the CPU 310 determines whether the A5 printing function has been selected based on the selection instruction input by the user. If the A5 printing function has been selected (S235: YES), the CPU 310 proceeds to S250. If the A4 printing function has been selected (S235: NO), the CPU 310 proceeds to S240.

In S240, similar to S140 in FIG. 3, the CPU 310 generates print data for the A4 print function. In S245, the CPU 310 executes A4 print control using the print data. That is, the CPU 310 supplies the print data to the multifunction device 200 and causes the printer 10 of the multifunction device 200 to execute the A4 print function described above. In this case, an A4-sized sheet S is created on which a print image showing the image of the object area is printed, and is discharged to the discharge tray 21.

In S250, CPU 310 determines whether the height Ho and width Wo of the object area satisfy the rotation requirement condition. The rotation requirement condition is a condition that is satisfied when the image of the object area needs to be rotated 90 degrees in order to be printed in an A5 size area (the downstream half of the A4 size paper S). Condition (A) of the A5 printing condition described above is a condition that allows the image of the object area to be printed on A5 size paper without rotating the object area. Condition (B) is a condition that allows the image of the object area to be printed on A5 size paper when the image of the object area is rotated 90 degrees. Therefore, the rotation requirement condition is that condition (A) is not satisfied and condition (B) is satisfied.

If the rotation requirement is met (S250: YES), in S255, CPU 310 executes a rotation process on the image data to rotate the image by 90 degrees, generating rotated image data. If the rotation requirement is not met (S250: NO), that is, if there is no need to rotate the image in the object area, CPU 310 skips S255.

In S260, similar to S160 in FIG. 3, CPU 310 generates print data for the A5 print function. Specifically, CPU 310 adjusts the position of the image in the object area as necessary so that the image in the object area (or the rotated image if rotation processing has been performed) is printed on the downstream half of the A4 size paper S, and generates A5 size RGB image data from the image data. CPU 310 performs color conversion processing and halftone processing on the RGB image data to generate print data.

In S265, the CPU 310 executes A5 print control using the print data. That is, the CPU 310 supplies the print data and cutting instruction data to the multifunction device 200, and causes the printer 10 of the multifunction device 200 to execute the A5 print function described above. The printer 10 executes printing of the image and cutting of the paper S, similar to S165 in FIG. 3, to create an A5-sized paper with the object image printed on it, and discharges it to the paper output tray 21. For example, when the image data showing the image OId in FIG. 8(A) is to be processed, and the A5 print control is selected, an A5-sized paper Sd (FIG. 8(C)) is created on which a print image PId showing the image of the object area AAd is printed.

At S270 in FIG. 7, CPU 310 identifies object area OS. Unlike the area of a rectangular object region, object area OS is the area of the portion of the object region where the object is placed. When image data showing image OIe in FIG. 8(C) is to be processed, the area of the portion of object region AAe where object OBd is placed (the hatched portion in FIG. 8(C)) is identified. For example, CPU 310 divides the object region into a predetermined number of blocks (e.g., 100 blocks, 10 vertically and 10 horizontally). Then, of the 100 blocks, the total area of a number of blocks that contain object pixels is identified as object area OS.

At S275, the CPU 310 determines whether the object area OS is equal to or smaller than the reference area OSth. The reference area OSth is an area based on the A5 size. The image OId in FIG. 8(A) is equivalent to the A4 size with the direction D1 as the short side direction and the direction D2 as the long side direction. Therefore, the area of a rectangular area (the hatched area in FIG. 8(A)) that has half the height of the image OId and the same width as the image OId is equivalent to the A5 size. The reference area OSth is, for example, a value between 60% and 80% of the area equivalent to the A5 size.

If the object area OS is larger than the reference area OSth (S275: NO), the CPU 310 proceeds to S240. If the object area OS is equal to or smaller than the reference area OSth (S275: YES), in S280, the CPU 310 displays a notification screen WI2 on the display unit 370 of the terminal device 300, notifying the user that the print area is sufficiently smaller than A5 paper. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the notification screen WI2. The notification screen WI2 in FIG. 9 includes a message MS2 indicating that the A5 print function can be used by changing the image layout because the print area is small, and two buttons BTy and BTn for selecting whether or not to interrupt printing.

If the user wishes to interrupt printing and change the layout, the user inputs an interrupt instruction by pressing the button BTy indicating "YES." If the user wishes to execute the A4 printing function, the user inputs a continue instruction by pressing the button BTn indicating "NO."

In S285, the CPU 310 judges whether an interrupt instruction has been input by the user or whether a continue instruction has been input. If an interrupt instruction has been input (S285: YES), the CPU 310 interrupts the print process in S290. In this case, for example, the function as a printer driver is terminated without printing, and the terminal device 300 returns to a state in which the application that started the printer driver can edit the image, such as changing the layout. In this case, the user can change the layout of the objects in the image so that the object area in the image can be printed on A5 size paper. After changing the layout, the user can start the printer driver again and input a print instruction to perform printing using the A5 print function. In this case, the user can save paper S. If a continue instruction has been input (S285: NO), the CPU 310 advances the process to S240.

According to the second embodiment described above, even if the A5 printing conditions of S225 are not met (NO in S225 of FIG. 6), if the object area OS is equal to or smaller than the reference area OSth (YES in S275 of FIG. 7), the CPU 310 notifies the user that A5 printing control can be performed by changing the layout of the image (S280 in FIG. 7, FIG. 9). As a result, the user can be informed that the image can be printed on A5 size paper by changing the layout. If the user wishes to save paper S even by changing the layout, the notification can encourage the user to change the layout. As a result, the use of the A5 printing function can be encouraged.

Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the image size used to determine the A5 printing conditions is the size of the image in the object area (S215-S225 in FIG. 6). When printing an image, it is often the case that the size of the paper S can be either A4 or A5 size depending on the user, as long as the image in the object area can be printed. In this embodiment, in such cases, it can be appropriately determined whether or not A5 printing control can be performed.

As can be seen from the above explanation, the image data generated by the application in this embodiment is an example of original image data, and the image of the object area is an example of a target image.

C. Modification (1) In the copy process of the first embodiment, it is determined whether the A5 printing conditions are met based on the size of the image in the document area (S115 to S125 in FIG. 3). Alternatively, in the copy process, it may be determined whether the A5 printing conditions are met based on the size of the image in the object area in which objects (text, photographs, graphics) are arranged in the document area, as in the second embodiment.

(2) The configuration of the cutting unit 150 in this embodiment is an example and is not limited to this. For example, the cutting unit 150 may be configured to cut one A3-sized sheet of paper to create two A4-sized sheets of paper. Also, the cutting unit 150 may be configured to cut one sheet of paper so as to divide it into two or more sheets (e.g., three or four sheets) to create two or more sheets of paper. In either configuration, for example, in S125 in FIG. 3 or S225 in FIG. 6, it is preferable that a judgment condition is set so that it can be judged whether or not the image to be printed can be printed on one sheet of paper after cutting.

(3) Note that the reference height Hth used in the A5 printing conditions in the above embodiment is the number of pixels equivalent to the short side length of the A5 size, and the reference width Wth is the number of pixels equivalent to the long side length of the A5 size. Alternatively, for example, taking into account the provision of margins, the reference height Hth may be the number of pixels equivalent to 90% of the short side length of the A5 size. Furthermore, if prioritizing the saving of paper S and allowing the image to be slightly reduced, for example, the reference height Hth may be the number of pixels equivalent to 105% of the short side length of the A5 size. Generally speaking, the reference height Ht may be a value determined based on the A5 size. The same applies to the reference width Wth.

(4) The copy process in FIG. 3 and the print processes in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 may be modified as appropriate. For example, if an automatic switching mode that automatically switches between A4 print control and A5 print control is enabled, the A4 print control and A5 print control may be automatically switched between without notifying the user in the copy process in FIG. 3. In this case, S130 and S135 in FIG. 3 are omitted, and if the A5 print conditions are met (S125 in FIG. 3: YES), the process proceeds to S150, and if the A5 print conditions are not met (S125 in FIG. 3: NO), the process proceeds to S140. The same applies to the print processes in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

In addition, in the copy process of FIG. 3, S150 and S155 may be omitted, and rotation processing may not be performed when performing A5 print control. In this case, the A5 print conditions in FIG. 3 may be conditions that allow printing on A5 size paper without rotation, specifically, condition (1) described above. The same applies to the print processes in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

In the printing process of Figures 6 and 7, as in the copy process of Figure 3, it is possible to display only the notification screen WI1 recommending the A5 printing function, and not to display the notification screen WI2 notifying that the printing area is sufficiently smaller than A5 paper. In this case, in the printing process of Figures 6 and 7, steps S270 to S290 are omitted, and if the A5 printing conditions are not met (S225: NO in Figure 6), the process proceeds to S240.

(5) As the printing medium, other media, such as overhead projector film, may be used instead of paper S. Also, while the printer 10 in the above embodiment is an inkjet printer, the printer 10 may alternatively be an electrophotographic printer that uses toner to print.

(6) In the first embodiment, the copy process in FIG. 3 is executed by the CPU 210 of the multifunction device 200. Alternatively, for example, the CPU 310 of the terminal device 300 may execute the copy process using scan data acquired from a scanner connected to the terminal device 300. In the second embodiment, the print process in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is executed by the CPU 310 of the terminal device 300. Alternatively, for example, the CPU 210 of the multifunction device 200 may execute the print process using image data acquired from the terminal device 300.

Furthermore, the copy process in FIG. 3 and the print processes in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 may be executed by, for example, the CPU of a server that acquires scan data or image data from the multifunction device 200 or the terminal device 300 and generates a print job using the image data. Such a server may be a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other via a network. In this case, the server controls the multifunction device 200 by sending a print job to the multifunction device 200 that includes an instruction to execute the A5 print function and an instruction to execute the A4 print function.

(7) In each of the above embodiments, a part of the configuration realized by hardware may be replaced by software, and conversely, a part or all of the configuration realized by software may be replaced by hardware. For example, in the copy process of FIG. 3 and the print process of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the halftone process and color conversion process when generating print data may be realized by a dedicated hardware circuit (e.g., ASIC) that operates according to instructions from a CPU.

The present invention has been described above based on examples and modifications, but the above-mentioned embodiments of the invention are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

10... printer, 1000... printing system, 110... print head, 111... nozzle forming surface, 120... head drive unit, 13... upper guide member, 130... main scanning unit, 133... carriage, 134... sliding shaft, 140... transport unit, 141... paper feed roller, 142... upstream transport roller pair, 143... downstream transport roller pair, 144... upstream discharge roller pair, 144... discharge roller pair, 145... downstream discharge roller pair, 14a... lower guide member, 15... arm, 150... cutting unit, 16... flap member, 18a... outer guide member, 19a... inner guide member, 20... paper feed tray, 20 0...Multifunction device, 21...Paper output tray, 210...CPU, 220...Non-volatile storage device, 230...Volatile storage device, 231...Buffer area, 260...Operation unit, 270...Display unit, 280...Communication unit, 30...Scanner, 300...Terminal device, 310...CPU, 320...Non-volatile storage device, 330...Volatile storage device, 331...Buffer area, 360...Operation unit, 370...Display unit, 380...Communication unit, 50...Platen, AP...Application program, CP...Computer program, DP...Printer driver program, S...Paper, WI1...Notification screen, WI2...Notification screen

Claims (7)

A control device for a print execution unit capable of printing on a print medium of a first size and a print medium of a second size smaller than the first size, the control device including a cutting unit that cuts the print medium of the first size to create a print medium of the second size,
A control unit and a memory are provided,
The control unit is
Obtaining original image data representing an image including a target image;
Obtaining a size of the target image using the original image data;
determining whether the size of the target image is larger than a reference size based on the second size;
execute a first control to cause the print execution unit to create a first printed medium when the size of the target image is larger than the reference size;
If the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size , a notification is executed to inquire whether or not to execute the printing on a print medium of the second size;
executing second control to cause the print execution unit to create a second printed medium when the user selects to print on the second size print medium in the notification;
executing the first control when the user selects not to print on the second size of print medium in the notification;
the first printed medium is a print medium of the first size on which an image including the target image is printed;
A control device, wherein the second printed medium is a print medium of the second size on which an image including the target image is printed, and the print medium of the second size is created by cutting the print medium of the first size by the cutting unit. The control device according to claim 1 ,
the reference size includes a first reference length based on a length in a first direction of the print medium of the second size, and a second reference length based on a length in a second direction of the print medium of the second size,
A control device, wherein the judgment conditions for determining that the size of the target image is equal to or less than the reference size include that the length of the target image in a direction corresponding to the first direction is equal to or less than the first reference length, and that the length of the target image in a direction corresponding to the second direction is equal to or less than the second reference length. The control device according to claim 1 ,
the reference size includes a first reference length based on a length in a first direction of the print medium of the second size, a second reference length based on a length in a second direction of the print medium of the second size, and a reference area based on an area of the print medium of the second size,
the control unit determines that the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size when the area of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference area even if the length of the target image in the direction corresponding to the first direction is longer than the first reference length, or the length of the target image in the direction corresponding to the second direction is longer than the second reference length;
The notification includes a notification that the second control can be executed by changing the layout of the target image. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The second size is half the size of the first size,
A control device in which the cutting unit cuts one piece of print media of the first size to create two pieces of print media of the second size. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The original image data is image data generated by an image sensor and represents an image including an original document;
A control device, wherein the size of the target image is the size of a portion showing an original within an image represented by the original image data. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
the target image is an image showing an object within an image;
A control device, wherein the size of the target image is the size of the area within the image in which the object is placed. A computer program for a print execution unit capable of printing on a first size print medium and a second size print medium smaller than the first size, the computer program comprising a cutting unit that cuts the first size print medium to create the second size print medium,
An image acquisition process for acquiring original image data representing an image including the target image;
A size acquisition process for acquiring the size of the target image using the original image data;
a size determination process for determining whether the size of the target image is larger than a reference size based on the second size;
A print control process;
This is realized on a computer.
The print control process includes:
executes a first control to cause the print execution unit to create a first printed medium when the size of the target image is larger than the reference size;death,
If the size of the target image is equal to or smaller than the reference size,execute a notification inquiring whether or not to execute the printing on the second size print medium;
executing second control to cause the print execution unit to create a second printed medium when the user selects to print on the second size print medium in the notification;
executing the first control when the user selects not to print on the second size of print medium in the notification;
the first printed medium is a print medium of the first size on which an image including the target image is printed;
The second printed medium is a print medium of the second size on which an image including the target image is printed, and is a print medium of the second size created by cutting the print medium of the first size by the cutting unit.,KoComputer program.

Images