Information processing method, information processing apparatus, and recording medium

Abstract

The present application provides an information processing method, an information processing device, and a recording medium that save time for arranging first media one by one on a platen of a flatbed printer and more accurately arrange the printing media. The information processing method is an information processing method for printing a first image by a flatbed printer (20) provided with a platen (230) on which the first media are placed and a printing device (210) that prints the first image on the first media, in which the information processing method generates a second image indicating a position that becomes a reference for placing the first media on the platen (230), causes the printing device (210) to print the second image on a second medium placed on the platen (230), and causes the printing device (210) to print the first image on the first medium placed on the second medium on which the second image is printed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an information processing method, an information processing apparatus, and an information processing program. Background Technology

[0002] Flatbed printers have long been known as printing devices primarily for printing images on three-dimensional or thick media. In a flatbed printer, a larger medium, such as a panel or signboard made of acrylic or wood, or a smaller medium, such as a coaster, is placed on a platform, and an image is printed onto the placed medium using an inkjet method.

[0003] In a flatbed printer, pre-cut media is positioned on a stage aligned with the printing position. In existing flatbed printers, software such as printing applications is used to set the printing position. Especially in the commercial printing industry, software such as RIP (Raster Image Processor) is used.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for setting the printing position by organizing data related to multiple printed images corresponding to various media into a single printing data. Specifically, in this technique, the layout of the printed images is set by specifying the spaces between these printed images on the operation screen displayed on a computer display device or the control panel of a flatbed printer.

[0005] However, when using the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to place the medium in the printing position set by software by referring to the scale attached to the mounting stage. In this placement method, since time is spent placing each medium one by one and the placement is based on visually viewing the scale values, there is a possibility that the medium may be placed in the wrong position.

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-202837 Summary of the Invention

[0007] One aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing method for printing a first image using a flatbed printer equipped with a mounting stage for placing a first medium and a printing apparatus for printing a first image on the first medium. In this information processing method, a second image is generated representing a position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting stage; the printing apparatus prints the second image onto the second medium placed on the mounting stage; and the printing apparatus prints the first image onto the first medium placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed.

[0008] Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for printing the first image using a flatbed printer equipped with a mounting table for placing a first medium and a printing apparatus for printing a first image on the first medium. The information processing apparatus comprises: an image generation unit that generates a second image representing a position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting table; a first printing control unit that causes the printing apparatus to print the second image onto the second medium placed on the mounting table; and a second printing control unit that causes the printing apparatus to print the first image onto the first medium placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed.

[0009] Furthermore, one aspect of the present invention relates to a recording medium that records an information processing program. This program is for printing the first image using a flatbed printer equipped with a mounting table for placing the first medium and a printing apparatus for printing the first image on the first medium. The information processing program enables a computer to perform the following functions: an image generation function that generates a second image representing a position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting table; a first printing control function that causes the printing apparatus to print the second image onto the second medium placed on the mounting table; and a second printing control function that causes the printing apparatus to print the first image onto the first medium placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the information processing system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the information processing device 10.

[0012] Figure 3 A diagram representing the printing pattern of the second image in information processing system 1.

[0013] Figure 4 A block diagram illustrating the structure of the flatbed printer 20.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the actions of information processing system 1.

[0015] Figure 6A A diagram illustrating the printing method of a first image and a second image, as an example of the operation of information processing system 1.

[0016] Figure 6BA diagram illustrating the printing method of a first image and a second image, as an example of the operation of information processing system 1.

[0017] Figure 6C A diagram illustrating the printing method of a first image and a second image, as an example of the operation of information processing system 1.

[0018] Figure 6D A diagram illustrating the printing method of a first image and a second image, as an example of the operation of information processing system 1. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Hereinafter, the information processing method, information processing apparatus, and information processing program according to the embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the dimensions and scales of the various parts in the drawings differ appropriately from the actual situation. Furthermore, since the embodiments described below are preferred examples, various technically preferred limitations have been added; however, unless otherwise specified in the following description, the scope of the invention is not limited to these methods.

[0020] 1. Overall Structure

[0021] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of an information processing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information processing system 1 includes an information processing device 10 and a flatbed printer 20. The information processing device 10 and the flatbed printer 20 are connected in a manner that allows them to communicate with each other. Furthermore, Figure 1 The structure shown is merely an example and is not limited thereto. For example, it could also be configured such that multiple flatbed printers 20 are connected to an information processing device 10 in a communicative manner.

[0022] Information processing system 1 is a system for printing images on a medium that is primarily three-dimensional or has thickness and is placed on a stage 230 (described later) of a flatbed printer 20.

[0023] More specifically, the information processing system 1 is a system for printing a second image onto a second medium, using a position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting stage 230 as a second image when printing a first image onto a first medium. The first medium is placed on the second medium on the mounting stage 230 with the second image to be printed on the second medium as a reference. The first image is printed onto the placed first medium.

[0024] Here, "first medium" refers to the medium on which the main image is printed by the flatbed printer 20. "First image" refers to the main image printed on the first medium. "Second medium" refers to the medium placed on the mounting stage 230, and the medium on which the first medium is mounted. "Second image" refers to the image printed on the second medium, and the image representing the position used as a reference for mounting the first medium on the second medium.

[0025] The information processing device 10 generates a second image. Furthermore, the information processing device 10 causes the flatbed printer 20 to print the second image onto a second medium placed on the mounting stage 230. Additionally, the information processing device 10 causes the flatbed printer 20 to print a first image onto a first medium placed on the second medium on the mounting stage 230.

[0026] The flatbed printer 20 is a flatbed printer that prints on a printing medium by inkjet printing under the control of the information processing device 10. The printing medium is not particularly limited to any medium that can be printed by inkjet printing; for example, it can be various types of paper, cloth, or film. Especially in this embodiment, the printing medium is preferably a three-dimensional medium or a medium with thickness.

[0027] In this embodiment, the flatbed printer 20 prints a second image onto a second medium placed on a mounting stage 230 under control from the information processing device 10. Furthermore, the flatbed printer 20 prints a first image onto a first medium placed on a second medium on the mounting stage 230 under control from the information processing device 10.

[0028] 2. Structure of Information Processing Device

[0029] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating an example of the structure of an information processing device 10. The information processing device 10 typically uses a PC as an example, but is not limited to this; it can also be, for example, a tablet terminal or a smartphone. The information processing device 10 includes a processing unit 110, a storage unit 120, a display unit 130, an input unit 140, and a communication unit 150. The various elements of the information processing device 10 are interconnected via one or more buses for communicating information.

[0030] The processing device 110 is a processor that controls the entire information processing device 10, and may be composed of one or more chips. The processing device 110 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) including interfaces for connecting to peripheral devices, arithmetic units, and registers. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the processing device 110 may be implemented using hardware such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The processing device 110 executes various processes in parallel or sequentially.

[0031] Storage device 120 is a recording medium readable by processing device 110, and stores multiple programs, including the control program PR1 executed by processing device 110 and a program for executing the aforementioned RIP. Furthermore, storage device 120 stores a first image to be printed on a first medium and a second image to be printed on a second medium. Storage device 120 may be configured using at least one of the following: ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), RAM (Random Access Memory). Storage device 120 may also be referred to as a register, cache, main memory, or main storage device.

[0032] Display device 130 is a device for displaying images and text information. Display device 130 displays various images under the control of processing device 110. For example, various display panels such as liquid crystal display panels and organic EL (ElectroLuminescence) display panels are preferably used as display device 130.

[0033] Input device 140 is a device that accepts operations from the user. For example, input device 140 is configured to include a keyboard, touchpad, touch panel, or mouse. Here, if input device 140 is configured to include a touch panel, it may also serve as display device 130.

[0034] The communication device 150 is hardware used for communicating with other devices, particularly the flatbed printer 20, as a transmitting and receiving device. The communication device 150 is also referred to, for example, as a network device, network controller, network interface card, communication module, etc.

[0035] The processing device 110 functions as an image generation unit 111, a first printing control unit 112, a second printing control unit 113, and a shape acquisition unit 114 by reading and executing the control program PR1 from the storage device 120. Alternatively, the control program PR1 can be transmitted via a communication network from other devices such as a server that manages the information processing device 10.

[0036] The image generation unit 111 generates a second image representing the position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting stage 230. More specifically, when the user of the information processing system 1 performs printing settings for the first image using software such as the RIP described above, the image generation unit 111 generates a second image representing the position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting stage 230.

[0037] Figure 3 An example representing the second image. For example... Figure 3 As shown in "Mode 1", the second image may include a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first image. For example, if the outline of the first image is a rectangle, the second image may be the rectangle itself, or an L-shaped polyline or point representing the vertices of the rectangle. Furthermore, if the outline of the first image coincides with the outline of the first medium, the second image may further include a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first medium.

[0038] Alternatively, as will be described later, if the shape of the first medium is obtained through the shape acquisition unit 114, then as Figure 3 In "Mode 1", the second image may also include a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first medium obtained by the shape acquisition unit 114. In this case, the portion of the frame line representing the outline of the first medium may not necessarily be consistent with all or part of the outline of the first image.

[0039] Or, such as Figure 3 As shown in "Mode 2", the first image contains Figure 3 In the case where the object is exemplified as the letter "A" in the first image, the second image may also include a portion of the frame of a rectangle that connects to the outline of the object "A" contained in the first image. Or, as... Figure 3 As shown in "Mode 3", the second image can also include a portion of the outline of the object "A" itself contained in the first image. Or, as... Figure 3As shown in "Mode 4", the second image may also include both a portion of a frame representing the outline of the first image or a portion of a frame representing the outline of the first medium, and a portion of a frame of a rectangle that aligns with the outline of an object contained in the first image. Alternatively, as... Figure 3 As shown in "Mode 5", the second image may also include a portion of the frame line representing the outline of the first image or a portion of the frame line representing the outline of the first medium, and a portion of the outline of the object "A" contained in the first image. In particular, if the first medium is not transparent, even if the second images of "Mode 2" and "Mode 3" are to be used, the second images of "Mode 4" and "Mode 5" are preferred if the second image is smaller than the first medium.

[0040] The first printing control unit 112 performs control to cause the flatbed printer 20 to print a second image on a second medium placed on the stage 230.

[0041] The second printing control unit 113 performs control to cause the flatbed printer 20 to print a first image on a first medium that has been placed on a second medium on which a second image has been printed.

[0042] The shape acquisition unit 114 acquires the shape of the first medium. Specifically, for example, if the information processing device 10 or the flatbed printer 20 is equipped with a scanner, the shape acquisition unit 114 acquires the shape of the first medium read by the scanner. Alternatively, if the user of the information processing system 1 inputs the shape of the first medium from the input device 140, the shape acquisition unit 114 acquires the shape of the first medium input from the input device 140. Furthermore, the shape acquisition unit 114 is not a necessary structural element. That is, the processing device 110 may be configured to not necessarily include the shape acquisition unit 114.

[0043] 3. Structure of a flatbed printer

[0044] Figure 4 This is a block diagram illustrating a structural example of a flatbed printer 20. The flatbed printer 20 includes an ink head 210, an ink head moving device 220, a mounting stage 230, a display device 240, an input device 250, and a communication device 260.

[0045] The ink head 210 is a device for ejecting ink onto a second medium placed on a mounting stage 230 and onto a first medium placed on the second medium. Under the control of the information processing device 10, the ink head 210 ejects ink supplied by an ink cartridge (not shown) from multiple nozzles (not shown) onto the first and second media. More specifically, the ink head 210 has a pressure chamber (not shown) and a drive element for each nozzle, and ejects the ink from the pressure chamber from the nozzle by varying the pressure within the pressure chamber using the drive element. The drive element may be, for example, a piezoelectric element or a heating element. Furthermore, the number of colors of ink ejected by the ink head 210 is not limited. Additionally, in this specification, the ink head 210 is sometimes referred to as a "printing device".

[0046] The ink head moving device 220 is a mechanism for moving the ink head 210 relative to the stage 230. In this embodiment, the ink head moving device 220 moves the ink head 210 in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, which are parallel to the stage 230. In the flatbed printer 20, by performing the movement of the ink head 210 and the ejection of ink in parallel, an image is formed on the printing surfaces of the first medium and the second medium, which serve as printing media.

[0047] The stage 230 is a stage for placing the first medium and the second medium, which are printing media. The stage 230 is positioned below the ink head 210.

[0048] Display device 240 is a device for displaying image and text information. Under the control of a processing device (not shown), display device 240 displays various images. For example, various display panels such as liquid crystal display panels and organic EL (Electroluminescence) display panels are preferably used as display device 240.

[0049] Input device 250 is a device that accepts operations from the user. For example, input device 250 may be configured to include a touchpad, touch panel, or mouse, etc. In this case, if input device 250 is configured to include a touch panel, it may also serve as display device 240.

[0050] The communication device 260 is hardware used for communicating with other devices, especially the information processing device 10, as a transmitting and receiving device. The communication device 260 is also referred to, for example, as a network device, network controller, network interface card, communication module, etc.

[0051] 4. Operation of Information Processing System 1

[0052] Next, by reference Figure 5 as well as Figures 6A to 6DThis will explain the actions of information processing system 1. Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the actions of information processing system 1. Figures 6A to 6D A diagram illustrating the printing method of a first image and a second image, as an example of the operation of information processing system 1.

[0053] First, the image generation unit 111 targets, for example... Figure 6A As shown, the second medium 50, which is placed on the stage 230 by the user, generates second images 51A to 51H (S1) that represent the positions on which the first mediums 52A to 52H are placed (described later) as references.

[0054] Next, the first printing control unit 112 as follows Figure 6B As shown, the flatbed printer 20 prints the second images 51A to 51H onto the second medium 50 placed on the stage 230 (S2).

[0055] like Figure 6C As shown, the user of the information processing system 1 places the first medium 52A to 52H on the second medium 50 in such a way that the positions are aligned with each of the printed second images 51A to 51H.

[0056] Finally, the second printing control unit 113, as Figure 6D As shown, the flatbed printer 20 prints the first images 53A to 53H onto the first media 52A to 52H placed on the second media 50 (S3).

[0057] 5. The effects of information processing system 1

[0058] As explained above, according to this embodiment, an information processing method is provided for printing a first image by a flatbed printer 20. The flatbed printer 20 includes a stage 230 for placing a first medium and an ink head 210 for printing the first image on the first medium. In the information processing method, a second image is generated representing a position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the stage 230. The ink head 210 prints the second image on the second medium placed on the stage 230, and the ink head 210 prints the first image on the first medium placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed.

[0059] By printing the second medium placed on the mounting stage 230 to become the reference position for placing the first medium, the user of the information processing system 1 can save time by configuring the first medium one by one and configure the first medium more accurately.

[0060] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second image may also include a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first image.

[0061] Thus, the first medium can be placed on the second medium by aligning it with the printing position of the first image.

[0062] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second image may also include a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first medium.

[0063] Thus, the user of the information processing system 1 can align the first medium with the outline of the printed first medium and place the first medium on the second medium.

[0064] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second image may also include a portion of the frame line of a rectangle that connects to the outline of the object contained in the first image.

[0065] Thus, the user of the information processing system 1 can align the printing position of the first medium with that of the first image, thereby enabling more accurate placement.

[0066] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second image may also include a portion of the outline of the object contained in the first image.

[0067] Therefore, when the size of the first image is different from the size of the first medium and the shape of the first medium is not rectangular, the user of the information processing system 1 can align the printing position of the first medium with that of the first image for more accurate placement.

[0068] 6. Variations

[0069] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments illustrated above. For example, it may be configured such that, in the information processing system 1, the information processing device 10 is integrated into the housing of the flatbed printer 20.

[0070] Symbol Explanation

[0071] 1…Information processing system; 10…Information processing device; 20…Flatbed printer; 50…Second medium; 51…Second image; 52…First medium; 53…First image; 110…Processing device; 111…Image generation unit; 112…First printing control unit; 113…Second printing control unit; 114…Shape acquisition unit; 120…Storage device; 130…Display device; 140…Input device; 150…Communication device; 210…Ink head; 220…Ink head moving device; 230…Platform; 240…Display device; 250…Input device; 260…Communication device.

Claims

1. An information processing method, comprising a method for printing a first image using a flatbed printer equipped with a mounting stage for placing a first medium and a printing apparatus for printing a first image on the first medium. In the information processing method, A second image is generated representing the position that serves as a reference for placing the first medium on the mounting stage. The printing apparatus prints the second image onto the second medium placed on the mounting stage. The printing apparatus prints the first image onto the first medium, which is placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed. The second image includes a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first image.

2. The information processing method as described in claim 1, wherein, The second image includes a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first medium.

3. The information processing method as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second image includes a portion of the frame of a rectangle that connects to the outline of an object contained in the first image.

4. The information processing method as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second image includes a portion of the outline of the object contained in the first image.

5. An information processing apparatus for printing the first image using a flatbed printer equipped with a mounting stage for placing a first medium and a printing apparatus for printing a first image on the first medium, wherein, The information processing device includes: An image generation unit generates a second image representing a reference position on the mounting stage where the first medium is mounted, and the second image includes a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first image. A first printing control unit causes the printing apparatus to print the second image onto a second medium placed on the mounting stage; The second printing control unit causes the printing apparatus to print the first image onto the first medium that has been placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed.

6. A recording medium having a program for information processing recorded thereon, the program being a program for printing the first image using a flatbed printer equipped with a mounting stage for placing the first medium and a printing apparatus for printing the first image on the first medium. The information processing program enables the computer to perform the following functions: An image generation function generates a second image representing a reference position on the mounting stage where the first medium is mounted, and the second image includes a portion of a frame line representing the outline of the first image; A first printing control function enables the printing apparatus to print the second image onto a second medium placed on the mounting stage; A second printing control function enables the printing apparatus to print the first image onto the first medium that has been placed on the second medium on which the second image has been printed.

Images