Printing system, printing control method, information processing device, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium

Abstract

A printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head for printing printed content on a printing medium; and an information processing device for controlling the printing device. The information processing device includes a processor configured to detect the position of a control target portion according to print image data from a server, the control target portion including a specific portion in a print image corresponding to the print image data. The processor is configured to generate print control information for printing the control target portion. The processor is configured to send the print image data, the position of the control target portion, and the print control information to the printing device. The printing device performs different print controls for the control target portion and a portion other than the control target portion based on the print image data, the position of the control target portion, and the print control information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing control method, an information processing device, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. Background Art

[0002] For example, in supermarkets and retail stores, there are receipt printing devices that issue receipts by cutting receipts out of continuous paper. In such receipt printing devices, a driving mechanism is driven by a stepping motor so that a strip-shaped continuous paper held in a roll shape has predetermined information printed thereon, is cut into a certain length as needed, and is issued as a receipt.

[0003] In addition, for example, there are airline boarding passes that describe boarding information such as the destination, flight number, and seat number, and luggage tags that describe luggage information such as the destination and flight number of flight luggage and are attached to luggage to serve as a mark when conveying or delivering the luggage. The boarding pass and luggage tag can also be printed by a printing device similar to a receipt printing device that issues a receipt.

[0004] In a printing device such as a receipt printing device, a heated thermal head is applied to a printing medium such as thermal paper to print on the printing medium. In the printing device, for example, print data designated by a host computer is developed into print image data, and print contents corresponding to the developed print image data are printed on the printing medium at a designated print speed and print density.

[0005] However, in a printing device, when a printing medium such as thermal paper has poor quality and produces poor color, printing blur occurs at a default printing speed. Therefore, for example, when a barcode or the like is printed on the printing medium, the reading rate of the barcode or the like becomes lowered. Therefore, in a conventional printing device, the printing density is increased to improve the printing quality, and when there is no improvement, the printing speed is reduced to print.

[0006] Reference List

[0007] Patent Literature

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-168086

[0009] Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 05-84984

[0010] Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-166724

[0011] Patent Document 4: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-237237

[0012] Patent Document 5: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-131277 Summary of the invention

[0013] Technical issues

[0014] In a recent printing device, for example, print image data is directly received from a server, and print content corresponding to the print image data is printed on a print medium. However, in the printing device, the position of a specific portion such as a barcode or a logo cannot be specified based on the print image data. Therefore, it is difficult to specify the position of a specific portion such as a barcode or a logo based on the print image data and to adjust the printing speed or printing density of the specified position. As a result, when printing is performed based on the print image data including the specific portion, the print quality of the specific portion may be reduced.

[0015] According to one aspect, an object is to provide a printing system or the like which can improve the print quality of a specific portion even when printing is performed based on print image data including the specific portion.

[0016] Solution to the problem

[0017] According to one aspect of the embodiment, a printing system includes: a printing device including a thermal head for printing print content on a print medium; and an information processing device for controlling the printing device. The information processing device includes a processor configured to detect the position of a control target portion according to print image data from a server, the control target portion including a specific portion in a print image corresponding to the print image data. The processor is configured to generate print control information for printing the control target portion. The processor is configured to send the print image data, the position of the control target portion, and the print control information to the printing device. The printing device performs different print controls for the control target portion and a portion other than the control target portion based on the print image data, the position of the control target portion, and the print control information.

[0018] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0019] According to an aspect, even when printing is performed according to print image data including a specific portion, the print quality of the specific portion can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a printing system according to the present embodiment.

[0021] Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a printing apparatus.

[0022] Figure 3is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the printing apparatus.

[0023] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of a printing apparatus.

[0024] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing apparatus.

[0025] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of a printing system.

[0026] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information processing apparatus.

[0027] Fig. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print image of an airline boarding pass.

[0028] Figure 8B : is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print image of a luggage tag.

[0029] Fig. 9 It is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the morphology conversion process.

[0030] Fig.10 It is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the morphology conversion process.

[0031] Fig.11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of contour extraction processing.

[0032] Fig.12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of print content when the barcode interval in the Y coordinate direction is equal to or larger than a predetermined interval.

[0033] Fig.13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of print content when a plurality of barcodes overlap in the Y coordinate.

[0034] Fig.14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of print content when the barcode interval in the Y coordinate direction is smaller than a predetermined interval.

[0035] Fig.15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing operation of the entire printing system regarding the ticket issuing process.

[0036] Fig.16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of an information processing apparatus regarding a detection process.

[0037] Fig.17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing operation of the printing apparatus regarding a printing process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following describes in detail an embodiment of the printing system and the like disclosed in the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the disclosed technology is not limited to the present embodiment. In addition, the embodiments illustrated below can be appropriately combined as long as there is no inconsistency.

[0039] [Implementation Method]

[0040] [Configuration of Printing System 1]

[0041] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment. Figure 1 The printing system 1 shown includes a plurality of information processing devices 2, a printing apparatus 3, a server 4, a LAN (Local Area Network) 5, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 6. The information processing device 2 is communicatively connected to the server 4 via, for example, the LAN 5. The information processing device 2 is, for example, a computer such as a personal computer. The printing apparatus 3 is communicatively connected to the information processing device 2 via, for example, the USB 6, and is, for example, a printer device such as an airline printer that prints out printed contents such as boarding passes and baggage tags. In addition, for ease of explanation, the printing apparatus 3 is communicatively connected to the information processing device 2 via the USB 6 in the described case, but it may be connected in parallel and may be changed as the case may be. In addition, the printing apparatus 3 is connected to the information processing device 2 by a cable in the described case, but it may be connected wirelessly and may be changed as the case may be. The server 4 is, for example, a host computer such as an airport server that manages the entire printing system 1.

[0042] [Configuration of Printing Device 3]

[0043] Figure 2 It is a perspective view illustrating an example of the printing device 3 . Figure 2 The printing device 3 shown includes a printer unit 3A and a control unit 3B. A roll paper holder 12 on which a roll-shaped roll paper 11 as a printing medium (e.g., thermal paper) is placed can be connected and mounted on the rear surface of the printer unit 3A. In addition, instead of the roll paper holder 12, it is also possible to connect a fanfold paper tray in which a printing medium such as continuously folded fanfold paper is placed.

[0044] The control unit 3B has a power switch 21 provided on the front surface, and has an operation unit 22 provided on the upper surface. The power switch 21 turns on / off the power of the printing device 3. The operation unit 22 includes an operation switch for operating the printing device 3 and a status display LED that displays the status of the printing device 3. For example, the status display LED lights up when the roll paper 11 or the fan folded paper runs out, or the status display LED lights up when an error occurs. The control unit 3B has a discharge roller 23 provided on the front surface. The discharge roller 23 discharges the printed roll paper 11 from the printer unit 3A.

[0045] Figure 3 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the printing device 3. The printer unit 3A includes an operation unit 22, a discharge roller 23, a conveying motor 24, a platen roller 25, a thermal head 26, a cutter drive motor 27, a cutter 28, etc. The printer unit 3A has an insertion port 29A provided on the rear side, and has a discharge port 29B provided on the front side. In addition, a conveying path 29C is formed between the insertion port 29A and the discharge port 29B.

[0046] The insertion port 29A has a print medium such as the roll paper 11 or the fan folded paper inserted from the roll paper holder 12 or the fan folded paper tray. The discharge port 29B discharges a baggage tag or a boarding pass as a print medium having print contents printed thereon due to the rotational force of the discharge roller 23. The conveying path 29C conveys the print medium inserted through the insertion port 29A to the discharge port 29B. The conveying motor 24 rotates the platen roller 25. The platen roller 25 is rotated by the conveying motor 24 to convey the print medium inserted through the insertion port 29A to the discharge port 29B via the conveying path 29C. The thermal head 26 selectively generates heat from a plurality of heating elements arranged in a row to print print contents on the print medium that reacts to the heat.

[0047] The cutter driving motor 27 operates to move the cutter 28 up and down. The cutter 28 is moved up and down by the cutter driving motor 27 to cut the print medium having the print content printed thereon into a predetermined size so as to form a baggage tag, etc. The discharge roller 23 clamps the printed baggage tag, etc. with the opposing clamp rollers and discharges it through the discharge port 29B.

[0048] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 3 . Figure 4The printer unit 3A shown includes a conveying motor 24 and a thermal head 26. The thermal head 26 includes a thermistor 26A that detects the ambient temperature of any heating element in the thermal head 26. The thermistor 26A outputs an AD conversion value of a detection signal of the ambient temperature of the heating element. The control unit 3B includes a connection IF (interface) 31, a ROM (read only memory) 32, a RAM (random access memory) 33, and a CPU (central processing unit) 34. The connection IF 31 is an interface for communicatively connecting to the information processing device 2 via the USB 6.

[0049] The ROM 32 stores, in addition to the printing program executed by the printing device 3, table data and the like for executing each function of the printing device 3. For example, it stores a control program for printing a desired drawing design on a printing medium by the thermal head 26 driven by the head driving circuit and data such as print data, size information, and print fonts for characters, symbols, graphic symbols, and the like included in the drawing design to be printed.

[0050] The RAM 33 is used as an input data storage device that stores printing information such as information specifying characters, symbols, graphic symbols included in a desired drawing design to be printed, their sizes and character spacing, and the size of a printed material to be created. In addition, the RAM 33 is used as a data storage device that stores print image data, which is generated based on the input print information and represents a desired drawing design. In addition, the print image data is data such as a print image corresponding to the print content. In addition, the RAM 33 includes registers, counters, etc., which temporarily store data required for printing processing, such as the position of a specific part and print control information about each position. In addition, the specific part is, for example, a part such as a logo or a barcode that requires high-quality printing of the print image. The CPU 34 controls the entire printing device 3. For example, the CPU 34 loads a print program stored in the ROM 32 into the RAM 33, and performs print control on the print medium based on the loaded print program.

[0051] [Configuration of Information Processing Device 2]

[0052] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 . Figure 5The information processing apparatus 2 shown includes a communication IF 41, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 42, a ROM 43, a RAM 44, and a CPU 45. The communication IF 41 is an interface that is communicatively connected to the server 4 via the LAN 5 and is communicatively connected to the printing device 3 via the USB 6. The HDD 42 is an area that stores various types of information. The ROM 43 is an area that stores various programs. The RAM 44 is an area that stores various types of information. The CPU 45 controls the entire information processing apparatus 2.

[0053] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the software configuration of the printing system 1 . Figure 6 The printing system 1 shown includes an information processing device 2 and a printing apparatus 3. The software on the CPU 45 in the information processing device 2 includes an application (hereinafter referred to as app) 45A, a handler 45B, and a USB driver 45C. In addition, it is assumed that the ROM 43 stores the app 45A, the handler 45B, and the USB driver 45C. The app 45A is a client application for sending and receiving client data, etc. from the server 4. The handler 45B is a service module that converts commands from the app 45A into commands for the printer unit 3A in the printing apparatus 3. The handler 45B detects the coordinate position of a specific part (such as a barcode or a logo) based on the print image data obtained from the server 4, and generates print control information for each coordinate position. The USB driver 45C is a driver that drives the printer unit 3A in the printing apparatus 3.

[0054] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 . Figure 7The information processing device 2 shown includes a control unit 2A and a storage unit 2B. The control unit 2A loads the print control program stored in the ROM 43 into the RAM 44, and executes the loaded print control program to execute it as a print control process. The control unit 2A includes a receiving unit 51, a detection unit 52, a generating unit 53, and a sending unit 54 as functional configurations. The storage unit 2B includes a first storage unit 61, a second storage unit 62, and a coordinate table 63. The control unit 2A controls the entire information processing device 2. The storage unit 2B stores various types of information. The receiving unit 51 receives customer data including print image data to be printed from the server 4 via the LAN 5. The detection unit 52 detects the coordinate position of a specific part such as a barcode or a logo according to the print image data, and detects the coordinate position of the control target part described below according to the coordinate position of the specific part. The generating unit 53 generates print control information, such as a print speed and a print density, for each coordinate position of the control target part. In addition, the print control information is information for print control of the coordinate position of the control target part. The printing control information is, for example, control information such as a printing speed lower than a default printing speed and a printing density higher than a default printing density. The detection unit 52 stores the printing control information for each coordinate position of the control target portion in the coordinate table 63. The transmission unit 54 transmits the coordinate position of the control target portion including a barcode, a logo, etc., and the printing control information and print image data for each coordinate position of the control target portion to the printing device 3 via the USB 6.

[0055] The detection unit 52 binarizes each pixel of the print image corresponding to the print image data into black and white, and performs a morphological conversion process on each pixel after the binarization. The detection unit 52 extracts the contour of the specific part from the pixel after the morphological conversion process based on a similar condition similar to the specific part. In addition, when the specific part is a barcode, the similar condition is a barcode threshold, where it can be assumed that the horizontal size and vertical size of the contour are the horizontal size and vertical size of the barcode. In addition, when the specific part is a logo, the similar condition is a logo threshold, where it can be assumed that the horizontal size and vertical size of the contour are the horizontal size and vertical size of the logo. When an extracted contour corresponding to the similar condition is extracted from the extracted contour after the morphological conversion process, the detection unit 52 stores the coordinate position of the extracted contour corresponding to the similar condition in the first storage unit 61. When the duty ratio between one value (black) and the other value (white) of the two values ​​of each pixel of the extracted contour stored in the first storage unit 61 is equal to or greater than the duty threshold, the detection unit 52 detects the contour as the coordinate position of the specific part. The detection unit 52 stores the coordinate position of the extracted contour whose duty ratio is equal to or greater than the duty threshold value in the second storage unit 62. Then, the detection unit 52 detects the coordinate position of the control target portion from the coordinate positions of the extracted contour stored in the second storage unit 62 based on a single condition described below, and stores the coordinate position of the control target portion in the coordinate table 63.

[0056] The first storage unit 61 stores the coordinate positions of the extracted contours corresponding to similar conditions. The second storage unit 62 stores the coordinate positions of the extracted contours whose duty ratios are equal to or greater than the duty threshold. The coordinate table 63 stores the coordinate positions of the control target portion.

[0057] Fig. 8A is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print image 70A of an airline boarding pass. Fig. 8A The printed image 70A corresponding to the printed image data on the boarding pass shown includes a logo 71A near the lower left end, a barcode 72A near the center lower end, and a logo 71A near the upper right end. The logo 71A near the lower left end is, for example, "ABCD Airlines", and the logo 71A near the upper right end is, for example, "ABCD".

[0058] Figure 8B 70B is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a printed image 70B of a luggage tag. Figure 8B The printed image 70B of the printed image data on the luggage tag shown includes three barcodes 72B near the left side, four barcodes 72B near the center, one barcode 72B near the right side, one logo 71B near the center, and one logo 71B near the right side. The logos 71B near the center and near the right side are, for example, "ABCD".

[0059] [Description of the morphology conversion process]

[0060] Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the morphological conversion processing. The detection unit 52 performs the morphological conversion processing on each pixel of the print image corresponding to the print image data. In the morphological conversion processing, each pixel of the print image is binarized into black or white, and Fig. 9 As shown, it is determined whether there is even one black pixel among the eight pixels α1 adjacent to the pixel α0 of one point as the determination target. Then, in the morphology conversion processing, when there is even one black pixel among the eight pixels α1 adjacent to the pixel α0 as the determination target, the pixel α0 as the determination target is replaced with black.

[0061] Fig.10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the morphology conversion process. Depending on the line width or the ratio of the barcode, for example, the morphology conversion process is performed multiple times to replace about two dots with black at a time, that is, to fill them with black. As a result, the pixels after the morphology conversion process are filled with black, such as Fig.10 As shown, the black area gradually increases.

[0062] [Description of Contour Extraction Processing]

[0063] Fig.11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of contour extraction processing. In the contour extraction processing, only the outermost contour within the area filled with black in the print image after morphological conversion is extracted as the extracted contour, and the black-filled area inside the extracted contour is ignored. Fig.11 In the example, among the extracted contours R1, R2 and R3, the extracted contour R3 is excluded from the extracted contours. The detection unit 52 stores the coordinate positions of the extracted contours whose horizontal and vertical sizes satisfy the similar conditions of the barcode (4mm×26mm) and the similar conditions of the logo (5mm×5mm) in the first storage unit 61. In addition, the detection unit 52 stores in the second storage unit 62 the coordinate positions of the extracted contours whose duty is equal to or greater than the duty threshold value (for example, the proportion of black is 40%) among the extracted contours stored in the first storage unit 61. The detection unit 52 sorts the coordinate positions of the extracted contours in the second storage unit 62 in ascending order of the Y coordinate of the printed image.

[0064] Fig.12 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of printed content when the barcode interval in the Y coordinate direction is equal to or greater than a predetermined interval. Fig.12As shown, the printer unit 3A performs printing in a row unit in a column direction (Y coordinate direction) from top to bottom. When the interval between the extracted contour R4 and the extracted contour R5 in the Y coordinate direction is equal to or greater than the predetermined interval, the detection unit 52 determines that the extracted contour R4 and the extracted contour R5 are not on the same Y coordinate (the same row), and determines that the extracted contour R4 and the extracted contour R5 do not meet the single condition of the extracted contour. Then, the detection unit 52 stores the portion of the extracted contour R4 from the start Y coordinate Y1 to the end Y coordinate Y2 and the portion of the extracted contour R5 from the start Y coordinate Y3 to the end Y coordinate Y4 as the separated coordinate position of the control target part M in the coordinate table 63. On the other hand, the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target part M includes the portion from the start Y coordinate Y0 to the start Y coordinate Y1, the portion from the end Y coordinate Y2 to the start Y coordinate Y3, and the portion after the end Y coordinate Y4. The print control of the coordinate position of the control target part M is the first print control, and the print control of the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target part M is the second print control. The second printing control has a default printing speed and a printing density, and the first printing control has a printing speed lower than the default printing speed and a printing density higher than the default printing density.

[0065] The printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 performs the second print control to print the portion from the start Y coordinate Y0 to the start Y coordinate Y1, the portion from the end Y coordinate Y2 to the start Y coordinate Y3, and the portion after the end Y coordinate Y4. In addition, the printer unit 3A performs the first print control to print the portion from the start Y coordinate Y1 to the end Y coordinate Y2 and the portion from the start Y coordinate Y3 to the end Y coordinate Y4. That is, the printer unit 3A prints the control target portion M including the logo, barcode, etc. of the extraction contour R4 and the extraction contour R5 with high quality, and prints the portion other than the control target portion M with normal quality. As a result, even in the case of printing based on the print image data including the specific portion, the print quality of the specific portion can be improved.

[0066] Fig.13 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of print contents when a plurality of barcodes overlap on the Y coordinate. Fig.13As shown, the detection unit 52 determines that the extracted contour R6 and the extracted contour R7 overlap in the Y coordinate and are on the same Y coordinate (same row), and determines that the extracted contour R6 and the extracted contour R7 satisfy a single condition for the extracted contour. Then, since the extracted contour R6 and the extracted contour R7 satisfy a single condition, the detection unit 52 determines that they are one extracted contour and determines that the portion from the start Y coordinate Y11 of the extracted contour R6 to the end Y coordinate Y14 of the extracted contour R7 is the coordinate position of the control target portion M. On the other hand, the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target portion M includes the portion from the start Y coordinate Y10 to the start Y coordinate Y11 and the portion after the end Y coordinate Y14.

[0067] The printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 performs the second print control to print the portion from the start Y coordinate Y10 to the start Y coordinate Y11 and the portion after the end Y coordinate Y14. In addition, the printer unit 3A performs the first print control to print the portion from the start Y coordinate Y11 to the end Y coordinate Y14. That is, the printer unit 3A prints the control target portion M including the logo, barcode, etc. of the extracted contour R6 and the extracted contour R7 with high quality, and prints the portion other than the control target portion M with normal quality. Therefore, even in the case of printing based on the print image data including the specific portion, the print quality of the specific portion can be improved.

[0068] Fig.14 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of printed content when the barcode interval in the Y coordinate direction is less than a predetermined interval. When the interval between the extracted contour R8 and the extracted contour R9 in the Y coordinate direction is less than a predetermined interval, the detection unit 52 determines that the extracted contour R8 and the extracted contour R9 are on the same Y coordinate (same row) and determines that the extracted contour R8 and the extracted contour R9 satisfy a single condition for the extracted contour. Then, since the extracted contour R8 and the extracted contour R9 satisfy a single condition, the detection unit 52 determines that they are one extracted contour and determines that the portion from the start Y coordinate Y21 of the extracted contour R8 to the end Y coordinate Y24 of the extracted contour R9 is the coordinate position of the control target portion M. On the other hand, the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target portion M includes the portion from the start Y coordinate Y20 to the start Y coordinate Y21 and the portion after the end Y coordinate Y24.

[0069] The printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 performs the second print control to print the portion from the start Y coordinate Y20 to the start Y coordinate Y21 and the portion after the end Y coordinate Y24. In addition, the printer unit 3A performs the first print control to print the portion from the start Y coordinate Y21 to the end Y coordinate Y24. That is, the printer unit 3A prints the control target portion M including the logo, barcode, etc. of the extraction contour R8 and the extraction contour R9 with high quality, and prints the portion other than the control target portion M with normal quality. Therefore, even in the case of printing based on the print image data including the specific portion, the print quality of the specific portion can be improved.

[0070] The detection unit 52 detects the coordinate position of the control target portion M from the print image, and stores the coordinate position in the coordinate table 63. In addition, the generation unit 53 generates print control information about the first print control for the coordinate position of the control target portion M. Then, the transmission unit 54 transmits the print image data, the coordinate position of the control target portion M, and the print control information corresponding to the coordinate position of the control target portion M to the printing device 3.

[0071] When the printing device 3 receives the print image data, the coordinate position of the control target portion M, and the print control information, it specifies the coordinate position of the control target portion M and the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target portion M according to the print image data. The printing device 3 specifies the first print control based on the print control information for the coordinate position of the control target portion M and the second print control used as a default for the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target portion M. The printing device 3 performs print control on the print medium based on the first print control and the second print control for each coordinate position.

[0072] [Description of Operation of Overall Printing System 1]

[0073] Next, the operation of the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment is described. Fig.15 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operation of the printing system 1 regarding ticket issuance processing. The app 45A in the information processing device 2 receives the print image data from the server 4 (step S11). In addition, for ease of explanation, the application 45A receives the print image data directly from the server 4 in the described case, but the print image data may be generated from the coordinates, text data, etc. in the customer data received from the server 4, and may be changed as appropriate. The app 45A requests the handler 45B to make a request for the print image data (step S12).

[0074] When a print request is received from app 45A, the handler 45B in the information processing device 2 determines whether to enable detection processing (step S13). In addition, the detection processing is a process of detecting the coordinate position of the control target part including a specific part (such as a barcode or a logo) based on the print image data. For example, when the quality of the print medium is desired, the detection processing is not required and is therefore disabled, and when the quality of the print medium is poor, the detection processing is required and is therefore enabled. When the detection processing is enabled (step S13: Yes), the handler 45B starts the detection processing to detect the coordinate position of the control target part including a specific part such as a barcode or a logo in the print image data (step S14). The handler 45B determines whether the print image data includes a specific part such as a barcode or a logo (step S15).

[0075] When the print image data includes a specific part such as a barcode or a logo (step S15: Yes), the handler 45B specifies the coordinate position of the specific part such as the barcode or the logo in the print image data (step S16). The handler 45B specifies the coordinate position of the control target part from the specified coordinate position of the specific part (step S17). In addition, the coordinate position of the control target part is the coordinate position of the specific part such as the barcode or the logo in the print image data.

[0076] The handler 45B generates print control information corresponding to the coordinate position of the control target portion, for example, information about the first print control such as print density and print speed (step S18). In addition, the information about the first print control is information about a print control that is higher than the default print density and lower than the default print speed. The handler 45B sends the print control information for each coordinate position of the control target portion to the printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 via the USB driver 45C (step S19). Although the printer unit 3A receives the coordinate position and print control information of the control target portion from the handler 45B, the coordinate position of the portion other than the control target portion and the default print control information about the coordinate position (for example, the second print control information) are previously registered. In addition, the handler 45B sends the print image data to the printer unit 3A (step S20).

[0077] The printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 determines whether the printing control information (information about the first printing control) for each coordinate position of the control target portion has been received (step S21). When the printing control information (information about the first printing control) for each coordinate position of the control target portion has been received (step S21: Yes), the printer unit 3A stores the printing control information (information about the first printing control) for each coordinate position based on the printing control information (information about the first printing control) (step S22). Specifically, the printer unit 3A stores information about the first printing control such as the printing speed and the printing density for each coordinate position of the control target portion in the print image data, and information about the second printing control for each coordinate position of the portion other than the control target portion in the print image data.

[0078] The printer unit 3A starts the printing operation of printing the image data based on the information about the first printing control and the information about the second printing control for each coordinate position (step S23) and ends the processing operation. Fig.15 That is, the printer unit 3A increases the printing density and reduces the printing speed for the control target portion such as the barcode or logo in the print image data, thereby improving the printing quality of the barcode and logo portion. In addition, the printer unit 3A prints the portion other than the barcode and logo portion in the print image data at the default printing speed and printing density.

[0079] Furthermore, when the print control information for each coordinate position of the control target portion has not been received (step S21: No), the printer unit 3A starts the print operation of printing the image data based on the information about the second print control (such as the print speed and print density as the default setting) (step S24). Then, the printer unit 3A ends the processing operation, as shown in FIG. Fig.15 shown.

[0080] When the detection process is not enabled (step S13: No), the handler 45B proceeds to step S20 to send the print image data to the printer unit 3A. In addition, when there is no specific part such as a barcode or logo in the print image data (step S15: No), the handler 45B proceeds to step S20 to send the print image data to the printer unit 3A.

[0081] [Description of Operation of Information Processing Device 2]

[0082] Fig.16is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operations regarding detection processing of the information processing device 2. The handler 45B determines whether there is print image data (step S31). When there is print image data (step S31: yes), the handler 45B determines whether the detection processing is enabled to detect the coordinate position of a specific part such as a barcode or a logo based on the print image data (step S32). When the detection processing is enabled (step S32: yes), the handler 45B determines whether the specified size for extracting the outline has been set (step S33). In addition, the specified size is a similar condition such as the minimum size of the outline of a barcode or logo in the print image data. For example, the object for specifying the size is the width or ratio of the thin and thick lines in the barcode in the case of a one-dimensional barcode, and is the size of a particle in the case of a two-dimensional barcode.

[0083] When the designated size has been set (step S33), the processor 45B performs Fig. 9 and Fig.10 After the morphological conversion process is performed on the print image data, the handler 45B performs the contour extraction process (see Fig.11 ) to extract the extraction contour from the print image data (step S35). Specifically, after performing the morphology conversion process and the contour extraction process, the handler 45B specifies the coordinate position of the extraction contour of a specific portion such as a barcode or a logo from the print image data, and stores the specified coordinate position of the extraction contour in the first storage unit 61.

[0084] After storing the coordinate position of the extracted contour of a similar specific part such as a barcode or a logo in the first storage unit 61, the handler 45B determines whether the number of extracted contours (the number of extracted contours) stored in the first storage unit 61 has reached a predetermined threshold value (step S36). In addition, the predetermined threshold value is the total number of specific parts such as barcodes or logos previously set in the print image data. When the number of extracted contours has not yet reached the predetermined threshold value (step S36: No), the handler 45B specifies any extracted contour from a plurality of extracted contours (step S37). The handler 45B determines whether the specified extracted contour is equal to or greater than a barcode threshold value (step S38). In addition, the barcode threshold value is, for example, a similar condition corresponding to a preset minimum size of a barcode. When the specified extracted contour is equal to or greater than the barcode threshold value (step S38: Yes), the handler 45B determines that the specified extracted contour is similar to a barcode and stores the coordinate position of the extracted contour in the first storage unit 61 (step S39). In addition, when the extracted contour is not equal to or greater than the barcode threshold (step S38: No), the handler 45B determines that the specified extracted contour is not similar to the barcode, and determines whether the specified extracted contour is equal to or greater than the identification threshold (step S40). In addition, the identification threshold is, for example, a similar condition corresponding to a preset minimum size of the identification.

[0085] When the specified extracted contour is equal to or greater than the identification threshold (step S40: Yes), the handler 45B determines that the extracted contour is similar to the identification and stores the coordinate position of the specified extracted contour in the first storage unit 61 (step S41). Then, the handler 45B proceeds to step S36 to determine whether the number of extracted contours has reached a predetermined threshold.

[0086] When the number of extracted contours has reached the predetermined threshold value (step S36: Yes), the processor 45B determines whether there is a duty threshold value (step S42). In addition, for the duty threshold value, for example, the proportion of black is 40%. When there is a duty threshold value (step S42: Yes), the processor 45B determines whether the number of extracted contours has reached the effective detection number (step S43). In addition, the effective detection number is the total number of specific parts in the preset print image data.

[0087] When the number of extracted contours has not reached the effective detection number (step S43: No), the handler 45B specifies the extracted contour (step S44). The handler 45B calculates the duty of the specified extracted contour (step S45). In addition, the duty of the extracted contour is the ratio between the black and white of the extracted contour at the extracted coordinates after the coordinates of the extracted contour are extracted from the print image data. The handler 45B determines whether the duty of the specified extracted contour is equal to or greater than the duty threshold value (step S46).

[0088] When the duty of the specified extracted contour is equal to or greater than the duty threshold value (step S46: yes), the handler 45B determines that the specified extracted contour is a specific portion such as a barcode or a logo, and stores the coordinate position of the extracted contour in the second storage unit 62 (step S47). In addition, after storing the coordinate position of the extracted contour in the second storage unit 62, the handler 45B proceeds to step S43 to determine whether the number of extracted contours of the extracted contours stored in the second storage unit 62 has reached the effective detection number. When the duty of the extracted contour is not equal to or greater than the duty threshold value (step S46: no), the handler 45B determines that the specified extracted contour is not a specific portion such as a barcode or a logo, and proceeds to step S43 to determine whether the number of extracted contours has reached the effective detection number.

[0089] When the number of extracted contours has reached the effective detection number (step S43: Yes), the processor 45B sorts the coordinate positions of the extracted contours stored in the second storage unit 62 and having a value equal to or greater than the duty threshold (step S48). The processor 45B determines whether there is an extracted contour satisfying a single condition among the sorted extracted contours (step S49). The processor 45B determines that the extracted contour satisfying a single condition is an extracted contour (step S50).

[0090] The handler 45B determines that the coordinate position of the extracted contour that is stored in the second storage unit 62 and satisfies a single condition or the coordinate position of the extracted contour that does not satisfy a single condition is the coordinate position of the control target portion, and stores the coordinate position of the control target portion in the coordinate table 63 (step S51). Specifically, the handler 45B sorts the coordinate positions of the sorted extracted contours of the control target portion stored in the coordinate table 63 in ascending order. In addition, the handler 45B stores the printing control information (information about the first printing control) for each coordinate position of the control target portion in the coordinate table 63 (step S52). In addition, the handler 45B sends the coordinate position of the control target portion stored in the coordinate table 63, the printing control information (information about the first printing control), and the print image data to the printing device 3 (step S53), and ends the processing operation, as shown in FIG. Fig.16 That is, the printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 sorts the sorted coordinate positions of the extracted contours in ascending order to start printing.

[0091] When there is no print image data (step S31: No), the handler 45B sends a normal print request to the printing device 3 (step S54), and ends the processing operation. Fig.16 When the detection process is not enabled (step S32: No), the handler 45B sends the print image data to the printing device 3 (step S55), and ends the processing operation. Fig.16 shown.

[0092] When there is no duty threshold value (step S42: No), the handler 45B sets the duty default value as the duty threshold value (step S56), and proceeds to step S43 to determine whether the number of extracted contours has reached the effective detection number.

[0093] [Description of Operation of Printing Device 3]

[0094] Fig.17 1 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing operations of the printing device 3 regarding printing processing. The printer unit 3A in the printing device 3 determines whether the coordinate position of the control target part, the print control information, and the print image data have been received from the information processing device 2 (step S61). In addition, the print control information is information about the first print control for the coordinate position of the control target part. When the coordinate position of the control target part, the print control information, and the print image data have been received (step S61: yes), the printer unit 3A calculates the control start position and the control end position based on the coordinate position of the control target part (step S62). In addition, for example, when the coordinate position of the control target part is as shown in Fig.14 , the control start position is the start Y coordinate Y21 of the extracted contour R8 of the control target portion, and the control end position is the end Y coordinate Y24 of the extracted contour R9 of the control target portion. After the control start position and the control end position of all control target portions in the print image are calculated, the printer unit 3A stores information about the first print control and information about the second print control for each control start position and control end position. In addition, the printer unit 3A sets the print medium at the print start position (step S63), and starts printing on the print medium at the print start position (step S64). In addition, the print start position is, for example, the start position of the print content corresponding to the print image data.

[0095] After the printing on the print medium starts, the printer unit 3A performs the print control corresponding to the default print control information (step S65). After performing the print control corresponding to the default print control information, the printer unit 3A determines whether the print position has reached the print end position (step S66). In addition, the print position is, for example, a print position in the middle of the current printing performed by the thermal head 26. The print end position is, for example, an end position of the print content corresponding to the print image data. When the print position has reached the print end position (step S66: Yes), the printer unit 3A ends the processing operation, as shown in FIG. Fig.17 shown.

[0096] When the print position has not reached the print end position (step S66: No), the printer unit 3A determines whether the print position has reached the control start position (step S67). When the print position has reached the control start position (step S67: Yes), the printer unit 3A performs print control corresponding to the print control information (information about the first print control) (step S68). Specifically, when the control start position has been reached, the printer unit 3A performs the first print control for the coordinate position of the control target portion, that is, increases the print density and decreases the print speed. Furthermore, in step S68, the printer unit 3A determines whether the print position has reached the control end position during the execution of the print control corresponding to the print control information (step S69).

[0097] When the print position has reached the control end position (step S69: Yes), the printer unit 3A proceeds to step S65 to perform print control corresponding to the default print control information. In addition, when the print position has not reached the control start position (step S67: No), the printer unit 3A proceeds to step S65 to perform print control corresponding to the default print control information. When the print position has not reached the control end position (step S69: No), the printer unit 3A proceeds to step S68 to perform print control corresponding to the print control information.

[0098] [Description of Effects of Embodiment]

[0099] The information processing device 2 detects the control target portion including a specific portion such as a barcode or a logo from the print image data, and sends the print control information (information about the first print control) for increasing the print density and reducing the print speed only for the control target portion on the print medium to the printing device 3. As a result, even when printing is performed according to the print image data including the specific portion, the printing device 3 can improve the print quality of the specific portion. In addition, since the printing device 3 reduces the print speed only for the control target portion including the specific portion, a significant reduction in the print speed of the entire print medium can be prevented. In addition, since the printing device 3 increases the print density only for the control target portion, the influence on the life of the thermal head 26 can be reduced.

[0100] The detection unit 52 extracts the contour of the specific part from the print image data based on the similar condition similar to the specific part, and detects the position of the specific part from the extracted contour. As a result, the information processing device 2 can detect the position of the control target part including the specific part from the print image data.

[0101] The detection unit 52 binarizes each pixel of the print image, performs morphological conversion processing on each binarized pixel, then extracts a contour from the pixel after the morphological conversion processing, and detects the position of the specific portion based on the extracted contour. Therefore, the information processing device 2 can accurately detect the position of the control target portion including the specific portion based on the print image data.

[0102] When the duty ratio between one value and the other value of the two values ​​of each pixel of the extracted contour is equal to or greater than a predetermined duty threshold, the detection unit 52 detects the contour as the position of the specific portion. Therefore, the information processing device 2 can detect the position of the control target portion including the specific portion from the print image data with high accuracy.

[0103] The generating unit 53 generates information about the first printing control as the printing control information for each position of the specific part, the first printing control for performing control to increase the printing density so as to be different from the part other than the specific part when printing is performed by the thermal head 26. As a result, the printing device 3 increases the printing density for the specific part, thereby improving the printing quality of the specific part.

[0104] The generating unit 53 generates information about the first printing control as the printing control information for each position of the specific part, the first printing control for performing control to reduce the printing speed when printing is performed by the thermal head 26 so as to be different from the part other than the specific part. As a result, the printing device 3 reduces the printing speed for the specific part, thereby improving the printing quality of the specific part.

[0105] The information processing apparatus 2 enables the detection process in the case of a print medium with poor print quality. As a result, even when printing is performed on a print medium with poor print quality according to print image data including a specific portion, the printing device 3 can improve the print quality of the specific portion. In addition, the information processing apparatus 2 disables the detection process in the case of a print medium with a desired print quality. Therefore, the printing speed is the same as that of the conventional model.

[0106] The information processing device 2 transmits the coordinate position of the control target portion, the information on the first print control for each coordinate position of the control target portion, and the print image data to the printing device 3. The printing device 3 controls the printing of the control target portion based on the coordinate position of the control target portion and the information on the first print control for each coordinate position of the control target portion acquired from the information processing device 2. As a result, the printing device 3 can improve the print quality of a specific portion without changing the hardware configuration.

[0107] Although the printing device 3 according to the present embodiment is exemplified as an airline printer or the like that issues an airline boarding pass or the like, it may be, for example, a receipt printing device that issues a receipt or the like, and may be changed as circumstances dictate.

[0108] In addition, each component of each unit illustrated does not always need to be physically configured as shown. Specifically, the specific form of separation / integration of the unit is not limited to the one shown, and all or some of them can be functionally or physically configured to be separated / integrated in any unit according to various loads or usage conditions.

[0109] In addition, all or any part of the various processing functions performed by each device may be performed on a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (or a microcomputer such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) or an MCU (Micro Controller Unit)). In addition, it is obvious that all or any part of the various processing functions may be performed on a program analyzed and executed by a CPU (or a microcomputer such as an MPU or an MCU) or wired logic hardware.

[0110] Reference Symbols List

[0111] 1 Printing system

[0112] 2 Information processing equipment

[0113] 3 Printing device

[0114] 3A Printer Unit

[0115] 4 Server

[0116] 26 Thermal head

[0117] 51 Receiving Unit

[0118] 52 Detection Units

[0119] 53 Generation Unit

[0120] 54 Sending Unit

[0121] 61 First storage unit

[0122] 62 Second storage unit

[0123] 63 Coordinate table

Claims

1. A printing system, comprising: A printing device, the printing device comprising a thermal head that prints print content on a print medium; as well as An information processing device that controls the printing device, wherein: The information processing device comprises a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform the following steps: a detection step of detecting a position of a control target portion including a specific portion in a print image corresponding to the print image data based on the print image data from the server; a generating step of generating printing control information for printing the control target portion; and a sending step of sending the print image data, the position of the control target portion and the print control information to the printing device, Wherein, in order to detect the position of the control target part, the processor is configured to: Binarizing each pixel of the printed image; Perform morphological transformation processing on each binary pixel; extracting contours from pixels after said morphological transformation process; detecting the position of the specific portion from the extracted contour; and When a duty ratio between one value and the other value of two values ​​of each pixel of the extracted contour is equal to or greater than a predetermined duty threshold, the contour is detected as the position of the specific portion to detect the position of the control target portion including the specific portion, and The printing apparatus performs different printing controls on the control target portion and a portion other than the control target portion based on the print image data, the position of the control target portion, and the printing control information.

2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: When the printing device sequentially prints the print contents on the print medium in a row unit in a column direction, the detecting step includes detecting a position of the control target portion including the specific portion and a portion in the same row as the specific portion.

3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: The detecting step includes the steps of extracting an outline of the specific portion from the print image data based on a similar condition similar to the specific portion, detecting a position of the specific portion from the extracted outline, and detecting a position of the control target portion including the specific portion.

4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: The generating step includes the following steps: generating control information as the printing control information for each position of the control target part including the specific part, the control information being used to control the printing device to increase the printing density for printing a part other than the control target part when the printing device prints the control target part.

5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: The generating step includes the following steps: generating control information as the printing control information for each position of the control target part including the specific part, the control information being used to control the printing device to reduce the printing speed for printing parts other than the control target part when the printing device prints the control target part.

6. A printing control method performed by a printing system, the printing system comprising: A printing device, the printing device comprising a thermal head that prints print content on a print medium; and an information processing device, wherein the information processing device controls the printing device, and the printing control method comprises the following steps: The information processing device performs the following steps: a detection step of detecting a position of a control target portion including a specific portion in a print image corresponding to the print image data based on the print image data from the server; a generating step of generating printing control information for printing the control target portion; and a sending step of sending the print image data, the position of the control target portion and the print control information to the printing device, and performing, by the printing device, different printing controls on the control target portion and a portion other than the control target portion based on the print image data, the position of the control target portion, and the print control information, Wherein, the detection step comprises the following steps: Binarizing each pixel of the printed image; Perform morphological transformation processing on each binary pixel; extracting contours from pixels after said morphological transformation process; detecting the position of the specific portion from the extracted contour; and When a duty ratio between one value and the other value of two values ​​of each pixel of the extracted contour is equal to or greater than a predetermined duty threshold, the contour is detected as the position of the specific portion to detect the position of the control target portion including the specific portion.

7. An information processing device, the information processing device controlling a printing device including a thermal head, the thermal head printing print content on a print medium, the information processing device including a processor, the processor being configured to: detecting, based on print image data from a server, a position of a control target portion including a specific portion in a print image corresponding to the print image data; generating printing control information for printing the control target portion; as well as sending the print image data, the position of the control target portion and the print control information to the printing device, Wherein, in order to detect the position of the control target part, the processor is configured to: Binarizing each pixel of the printed image; Perform morphological transformation processing on each binary pixel; extracting contours from pixels after said morphological transformation process; detecting the position of the specific portion from the extracted contour; and When a duty ratio between one value and the other value of two values ​​of each pixel of the extracted contour is equal to or greater than a predetermined duty threshold, the contour is detected as the position of the specific portion to detect the position of the control target portion including the specific portion.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a print control program stored therein, the print control program causing a processor of an information processing device to execute a processing step, the information processing device controlling a printing device including a thermal head, the thermal head printing a print content on a print medium, the processing step comprising the following steps: a detection step of detecting a position of a control target portion including a specific portion in a print image corresponding to the print image data based on the print image data from the server; A generating step, generating printing control information for printing the control target part; and a sending step of sending the print image data, the position of the control target portion and the print control information to the printing device, Wherein, the detection step comprises the following steps: Binarizing each pixel of the printed image; Perform morphological transformation processing on each binary pixel; extracting contours from pixels after said morphological transformation process; detecting the position of the specific portion from the extracted contour; and When a duty ratio between one value and the other value of two values ​​of each pixel of the extracted contour is equal to or greater than a predetermined duty threshold, the contour is detected as the position of the specific portion to detect the position of the control target portion including the specific portion.

Images