Printer and system constituted of printer and server

Abstract

To allow, with a simple configuration, an operator to: easily confirm information about setting of image formation such as printing conditions without requiring complicated operation; and determine what kind of image formation setting were used for the print onto a medium, inferring from the medium itself printed on the basis of the information about setting of image formation such as a desired printing condition.SOLUTION: A printer for forming an image on a medium on the basis of image data comprises: a file generation unit which writes out information about setting of image formation to a file; a storage unit which stores the file written out by the file generation unit; and a printing unit which prints a two-dimensional code recording a link to the file stored in the storage unit at a position not overlapping the image formed on the medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer and a system including a printer and a server. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printer that forms an image by printing the image on a medium based on desired image data, and a system including the printer and a server.

[0002] In this specification and the claims, the term "printer" comprehensively means various printing apparatuses such as an inkjet printer, a laser printer, or a thermal transfer printer that form an image by printing the image on a medium using various printing technologies based on image data.

[0003] Also, in this specification and the claims, the term "media" includes not only various recording media such as recording papers made of papers such as plain paper, but also sheets formed from resin materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyester, metal plates formed from aluminum, iron, etc., glass plates, wood plates, etc., which are relatively thick plate materials, and various materials formed by various materials.

Background Art

[0004] Conventionally, various printers such as inkjet printers, laser printers, or thermal transfer printers have been known.

[0005] As such a printer, for example, an inkjet printer is known that is controlled in its overall operation by a computer system, includes a table (mounting table) on which media such as recording paper is placed, and disposes a carriage that can move relative to the table in a predetermined direction above the media placed on the table, and mounts an ink head that discharges ink by an inkjet method from ink nozzles on this carriage, and discharges ink from the ink nozzles of this ink head onto the media by an inkjet method to perform desired printing.

[0006] In this specification and in the claims, the direction of movement of the carriage in such an inkjet printer will be appropriately referred to as the "main scanning direction."

[0007] In the inkjet printer described above, the table on which the media is placed is configured to be movable relative to the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, thereby enabling printing to be done on the desired location on the media placed on the table.

[0008] In this specification and in the claims, the direction perpendicular to the "main scanning direction" will be appropriately referred to as the "sub-scanning direction."

[0009] Incidentally, in the case of the printer described above, a method for checking information regarding image formation settings for the media, such as printing conditions, is known, for example, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-27381.

[0010] The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-27381 involves creating a UI sheet that stores information regarding image formation settings, such as printing conditions, to be specified when performing desired printing on a media, and allowing the user to check this UI sheet for information regarding image formation settings for the media, such as printing conditions.

[0011] However, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-27381 mentioned above requires the creation of a separate UI sheet containing information on image formation settings, such as printing conditions, in addition to the media to be printed on. This process is time-consuming and complicated, which is a problem.

[0012] Furthermore, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-27381, as mentioned above, has the problem that it is not possible to determine what image formation settings were used for printing on the media from the media itself, based on a UI sheet that stores information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-27381 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0014] This invention was made in view of the various problems of the prior art described above.

[0015] The objective of this invention is to provide a printer and a system consisting of a printer and a server that, through a simple configuration, allow operators to easily check information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions without requiring complicated procedures.

[0016] Furthermore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a printer and a system comprising a printer and a server that can determine from the printed media itself what image formation settings were used to print on the media, based on information regarding image formation settings such as desired printing conditions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] To achieve the above objectives, the printer and the system comprising the printer and server according to the present invention are configured to print a two-dimensional code that can identify information regarding the image formation settings in a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the media.

[0018] Therefore, according to the printer and the system comprising the printer and server of the present invention, it becomes possible to identify information regarding image formation settings from a two-dimensional code printed on the media, so that operators can easily check information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the printer and the system comprising the printer and server of the present invention, information regarding image formation settings can be identified from the two-dimensional code printed on the media. Therefore, it becomes possible to understand what image formation settings were used to print on the media based on the printed media itself, based on information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions.

[0020] In other words, the printer according to the present invention is a printer that forms an image on a medium based on image data, and comprises a file generation unit that writes information regarding the settings for image formation to a file, a storage unit that stores the file written by the file generation unit, and a printing unit that prints a two-dimensional code recording a link to the file stored in the storage unit at a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the medium.

[0021] Therefore, with the printer according to the present invention, the operator can access a file containing information about image formation settings, such as printing conditions, from a two-dimensional code printed on the media, and can easily check information about image formation settings, such as printing conditions.

[0022] Furthermore, in the printer according to the present invention, the above-mentioned file is written in a markup language that constitutes a web page.

[0023] Therefore, with the printer according to the present invention, the visibility of the operator can be improved when the operator checks information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions.

[0024] Also, in the printer according to the present invention, in the above-described printer, the web page is configured to display information regarding the setting of the image formation in a tabular format.

[0025] Therefore, according to the printer of the present invention, an operator can list information regarding settings of image formation, such as printing conditions, in a tabular format, so that the operator can easily grasp the information.

[0026] Also, a system comprising the printer and a server according to the present invention has the above-described printer according to the present invention and a server connected to the printer, and the printer is configured to have a transmission unit that transmits the file stored in the storage unit to the server.

[0027] Therefore, according to the system comprising the printer and the server according to the present invention, it becomes possible to reduce the data storage capacity of the printer.

[0028] Also, the printer according to the present invention is a printer that forms an image on a medium based on image data, and has a printing unit that prints a two-dimensional code storing information regarding the setting of the image formation at a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the medium.

[0029] Therefore, according to the printer of the present invention, an operator can easily confirm information regarding settings of image formation, such as printing conditions, from the two-dimensional code printed on the medium.

[0030] Also, in the printer according to the present invention, the two-dimensional code is readable by a reading device and is printed in the smallest size among the sizes printable by the printer.

[0031] Therefore, with the printer according to the present invention, when printing two-dimensional codes, it becomes possible to avoid wasting media.

[0032] Furthermore, in the printer according to the present invention, the printing unit prints the two-dimensional code at a position that is within the range of the image data in the transport direction of the media and within the printable range in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the media when transporting and printing the media.

[0033] Therefore, with the printer according to the present invention, when printing two-dimensional codes, it becomes possible to avoid wasting media. [Effects of the Invention]

[0034] As described above, the present invention has a simple configuration that allows operators to easily check information regarding image formation settings, such as printing conditions, without requiring complicated procedures, thus providing an excellent effect.

[0035] Furthermore, as described above, the present invention has the excellent effect of making it possible to determine from the printed media itself what image formation settings were used to print on the media, based on information regarding image formation settings such as desired printing conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0036] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an inkjet printer as a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the inkjet printer shown in Figure 1 with the exterior components removed. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of the inkjet printer shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention, mainly focusing on the control device in the inkjet printer shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of how information regarding image formation settings is displayed in a table format. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of printing a 2D code in a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the media. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows another example of printing a 2D code in a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the media. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation involved in reading a two-dimensional code according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention, mainly focusing on a control device, according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation involved in reading a two-dimensional code according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the printing of a two-dimensional code by a printing unit in a third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0037] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, an example of an embodiment of the printer and a system comprising the printer and server according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0038] In the following description, an inkjet printer will be used as an example of an embodiment of the printer according to the present invention. However, the term "printer" in this specification and in the claims includes various printing devices that print and form images on a medium using various printing technologies based on image data, such as inkjet printers, laser printers, or thermal transfer printers.

[0039] (I) A first embodiment according to the present invention

[0040] (I-1) Description of the overall configuration of the printer according to the present invention

[0041] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective diagram illustrating an inkjet printer as a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Furthermore, Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view illustrating the inkjet printer shown in Figure 1 with the exterior components removed.

[0043] Furthermore, Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating the cross-sectional structure of the inkjet printer shown in Figure 1.

[0044] In the following explanation, the Y direction in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system refers to the main scanning direction, which is the transport direction in which the carriage 20 (described later) moves and transports the object. The X direction in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system refers to the sub-scanning direction, which is the transport direction in which the table 18 moves and transports the object, and the Z direction in the XYZ Cartesian coordinate system refers to the height direction, which is perpendicular to the XY plane.

[0045] Furthermore, for the sake of clarity in the following explanation, the Y direction (main scanning direction) will be described as the left side of the page on which Figure 1 is drawn, and the right side, and the X direction (sub-scanning direction) will be described as the front side of the page on which Figure 1 is drawn, and the top side, and the Z direction (height direction) will be described as the down up side.

[0046] It should be noted that the directions described above are merely defined for the sake of explanation and do not in any way limit the installation configuration of the inkjet printer, nor do they limit the present invention in any way.

[0047] Reference numeral 10 indicates a so-called flatbed type inkjet printer, which prints images and the like by ejecting ink from an ink head 22 onto a media 12 using an inkjet method.

[0048] The operation of such an inkjet printer 10 is controlled by a control device 100, which is composed of a computer system such as a microcomputer. The control device 100 prints an image onto a medium 12 based on image data, forming the image on the medium 12.

[0049] Such print data may be supplied from an external source and taken into the control device 100 of the inkjet printer 10, or it may be generated by the control device 100 of the inkjet printer 10.

[0050] In this embodiment, the control device 100 is shown as being located inside the exterior member 16 (see Figure 1), but of course, the control device 100 may also be located outside the exterior member 16.

[0051] More specifically, the inkjet printer 10 includes a base portion 14 with a rectangular XY plane, an exterior member 16 disposed on the base portion 14 so as to cover the base portion 14 from above, leaving a predetermined area space A, a table 18 that is movable in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) and the Z direction (height direction) within space A and on which media 12 is placed and transported, a carriage 20 that is movable in the Y direction (main scanning direction) above the table 18 in space A, and an ink head 22 mounted on the carriage 20.

[0052] Reference numeral 20a denotes a carriage cover that covers the carriage 20, and the ink head 22 is covered by the carriage cover 20a and mounted on the carriage 20.

[0053] In this embodiment, the ink head 22 is arranged within the carriage 20 such that the nozzles for ejecting ink towards the media 12 using an inkjet method are positioned downwards.

[0054] Furthermore, the lower part of the carriage 20 is open and is designed so as not to obstruct the ejection of ink from the nozzle of the ink head 22 toward the media 12.

[0055] Furthermore, as will be described later, the carriage 20 is configured to be able to move relative to the table 18 in the Y direction (main scanning direction), the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and the Z direction (height direction).

[0056] As described above, the inkjet printer 10 is equipped with a control device 100, and the operator can control the operation of the entire inkjet printer 10 by operating various control elements 24a provided on the operation panel 24 located on the upper right end of the exterior member 16.

[0057] Specifically, the control panel 24, although not shown in detail, is provided with a group of controls 24a for the operator to perform various operations such as setting and input operations related to image printing, and a display unit 24b that displays the operation status of the group of controls 24a and various other information.

[0058] As an operator constituting the operator group 24a, a two-dimensional code printing operator 24a-1 is provided, which instructs the printing of a two-dimensional code (described later), as an operator relevant to the implementation of the present invention.

[0059] Furthermore, the display unit 24b displays, in a table format, the files (described later) stored in the storage unit 104 (described later) as a display related to the implementation of the present invention.

[0060] Here, the exterior member 16 has a box-like shape with an open bottom, and a cover member 26 that can be opened and closed is provided at the front.

[0061] Furthermore, the exterior component 16 is detachably attached to the base portion 14 at its lower part.

[0062] To explain in more detail, the inkjet printer 10 has a frame 28 disposed on the base portion 14 so as to extend along the Y direction (main scanning direction) above the table 18.

[0063] A guide rail 30 extending along the Y direction (main scanning direction) is provided on the front of the frame 28, and the carriage 20 is slidably engaged with this guide rail 30 in the Y direction (main scanning direction).

[0064] In the inkjet printer 10, the configuration for transporting the carriage 20 so that it can reciprocate along the Y direction (main scanning direction) on the guide rail 30 includes a left pulley 32 provided to the left of the left end of the guide rail 30, a right pulley 34 provided to the right of the right end of the guide rail 30, an endless belt 36 wound around the left pulley 32 and the right pulley 34, and a motor 38 connected to the right pulley 34 that rotates the right pulley 34.

[0065] The carriage 20 is fixed to a predetermined position on the belt 36, and the motor 38 drives the right pulley 34 to rotate, causing the belt 36 to travel between the left pulley 32 and the right pulley 34. This causes the carriage 20, which is fixed to the belt 36, to move in the Y direction (main scanning direction) and transport the material.

[0066] Next, the inkjet printer 10 is equipped with a table 18 on which the media 12 is placed, and this table 18 is formed by a plate-like body that extends along the XY plane.

[0067] To explain the positional relationship between the table 18 and the ink head 22 in the Z direction (height direction), the table 18 is positioned below the nozzles of the ink head 22.

[0068] In this inkjet printer 10, a sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 40 moves and transports the table 18 in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and a height direction movement mechanism 42 moves the table 18 in the Z direction (height direction).

[0069] This sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 40 is housed within the base portion 14 and comprises a right-side slide rail 44R extending in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) and provided on the base portion 14, a left-side slide rail (not shown) extending in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) parallel to the right-side slide rail 44R and provided on the base portion 14, a support member 46 that is slidably engaged with and guided by the right-side slide rail 44R and the left-side slide rail and is capable of reciprocating movement in the X direction (sub-scanning direction), and a support member movement motor (not shown) connected to the support member 46.

[0070] The support member 46 is formed in a box shape and has an opening 46a that opens upwards.

[0071] Therefore, according to the sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 40, when the motor for moving the support member is driven and rotated, the support member 46 is moved in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) along the right slide rail 44R and the left slide rail, and as a result the table 18 is configured to be able to move relative to the carriage 20 in the X direction (sub-scanning direction) and is transported.

[0072] Furthermore, the height-direction movement mechanism 42 described above is housed within the support member 46 and comprises a plurality of guide columns 48 extending in the Z direction (height direction), a box-shaped table support case 50 that is slidably engaged with and guided by the guide columns 48 and is capable of reciprocating movement in the Z direction (height direction), and a motor for moving the table support case (not shown) connected to the table support case 50.

[0073] The table 18 is fixed to the upper surface of the table support case 50, and the table 18 is supported by the table support case 50.

[0074] Therefore, according to the height direction movement mechanism 42, the table support case 50 is moved in the Z direction (height direction) along the guide column 48 by the rotation of the motor for moving the table support case.

[0075] Reference numeral 23 denotes a UV lamp (ultraviolet irradiation lamp) that irradiates ultraviolet light onto the ink ejected from the nozzle of the ink head 22 onto the media 12. By irradiating the ink on the media 12 with ultraviolet light using this UV lamp 23, the curing of the ink can be accelerated.

[0076] (I-2) Description of the functional configuration of the control device in the printer according to the present invention

[0077] Figure 4 shows a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention, primarily focusing on the control device in the inkjet printer shown in Figure 1.

[0078] Figure 5 also shows an example of how information regarding image formation settings can be displayed in a table format.

[0079] Furthermore, Figure 6 shows an example of printing a 2D code in a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the media.

[0080] Furthermore, Figure 7 shows another example of printing a 2D code in a position that does not overlap with the image formed on the media.

[0081] The control device 100 is configured to include, as a functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention, a file generation unit 102, a storage unit 104, a printing unit 106, and a display control unit 108.

[0082] Here, the file generation unit 102 generates a file by writing information related to image formation settings, such as printing conditions, when printing and forming an image on the media 12 based on the image data.

[0083] Here, information regarding image formation settings includes, for example, layout, quality settings, color settings, printer color matching settings, image data file format, job type, job management, clipping and splitting settings, spot color settings, processing date and time, machine name, job name, image data size, print area, ink consumption, start date and time, end date and time, machine setting information, firmware version, media type, print date, image data preview image, UV lamp (ultraviolet irradiation lamp) setting value, and head adjustment value.

[0084] The format of the file generated by the file generation unit 102 is not limited, but in this embodiment, we will describe the case where the file is written in a markup language that constitutes a web page.

[0085] Furthermore, the display format of the web page in the display unit 24b is not limited, but in this embodiment, we will describe the case in which the web page is displayed in a table format in the display unit 24b.

[0086] When a web page is displayed on the display unit 24b, it is displayed as a list, for example, as shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, "○○" represents any number or character used to indicate information regarding the image formation settings.

[0087] In the table shown in Figure 5, the layout section displays media size, image scaling, print position, and image data rotation direction; the quality settings display paper type, print quality, resolution, mode, print orientation, halftone processing method, scan speed, and feed speed; and the head adjustment values ​​display bidirectional adjustment values ​​and head height.

[0088] Next, the storage unit 104 stores the files generated by the file generation unit 102.

[0089] Furthermore, when the inkjet printer 10 prints an image onto the media 12 based on image data, and the operator instructs the printing of a two-dimensional code by operating the two-dimensional code printing operator 24a-1, the printing unit 106 prints a two-dimensional code containing a link to access a file stored in the storage unit 104 (a file that stores information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions when the inkjet printer 10 prints an image onto the media 12 based on image data), in a position on the media 12 that does not overlap with the image formed thereon.

[0090] There are various types of 2D codes, such as QR codes (registered trademark) and data matrices, and the choice of which 2D code to use should be determined as appropriate.

[0091] Furthermore, the two-dimensional code that records the link for accessing the files stored in the memory unit 104 may be stored in the control device 100 in advance and read by the printing unit 106 for printing, or it may be generated and printed by the printing unit 106.

[0092] Here, when the printing unit 106 prints the 2D code onto the media 12, it is preferable to set the size to the smallest size that is readable by the information terminal 400 (reader) and printable by the inkjet printer 10's printing function, in order to avoid wasting media 12.

[0093] Furthermore, the printing unit 106 only needs to print the two-dimensional code at an appropriate position that does not overlap with the image formed on the media 12. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the two-dimensional code 202 containing the link can be printed above the area on the media 12 where the image 200 is formed.

[0094] Alternatively, although not shown in the diagram, a two-dimensional code containing a link may be printed at the bottom of the area where the image 200 is formed on the media 12.

[0095] Furthermore, the inkjet printer 10 performs printing while relatively transporting the carriage 20 in the main scanning direction and transporting the media 12 in the sub-scanning direction. The printing unit 106 may, for example, print a two-dimensional code 302 containing a link within a region B that is within the range of the image 300 in the transport direction of the media 12 (sub-scanning direction) and within the printable range in the main scanning direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the media 12, as shown in Figure 7. It is even better to print the two-dimensional code 302 containing the link at a position close to the image 300 within region B, as shown in Figure 7.

[0096] By printing a two-dimensional code 302 with a link recorded at such a location on the media 12, it becomes possible to avoid wasting media 12 when printing the two-dimensional code.

[0097] Next, the display control unit 108 controls the information terminal 400 to display the accessed file on the display unit 24b when the information terminal 400 reads the two-dimensional code printed by the printing unit 106 and accesses a file stored in the storage unit 104 using the two-dimensional code as a link.

[0098] (I-3) Description of the operation of the printer according to the present invention and the description of the control method thereof

[0099] In the above configuration, the inkjet printer 10 is controlled by the control device 100 for its overall operation. However, the general operation of the inkjet printer 10 when printing on the media 12 can be described using the conventional technology disclosed in the patent documents cited above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted. Below, only matters related to the implementation of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 and Figure 8, which were referenced above.

[0100] Figure 8 shows a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation involved in reading a two-dimensional code according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] As shown in Figure 8, when the information terminal 400 reads a two-dimensional code 502 that records a link printed in a position that does not overlap with the image 500 printed on the media 12 by the printing unit 106 of the inkjet printer 10, the information terminal 400 accesses the file in the storage unit 104 that is linked to the read two-dimensional code, and the display control unit 108 controls the display unit 24b to display the accessed file.

[0102] When displaying the accessed file on the display unit 24b, it is displayed in a table format, for example, as shown in Figure 5.

[0103] Therefore, with the inkjet printer 10, the operator can access a file containing information about image formation settings, such as printing conditions, from a two-dimensional code 502 that records a link printed on the media 12, and can easily check information about image formation settings, such as printing conditions.

[0104] (II) A second embodiment according to the present invention

[0105] Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, an example of a system consisting of a printer and a server according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

[0106] Figure 9 shows a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration related to the implementation of the present invention, mainly focusing on the control device, for a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] Figure 10 also shows a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation involved in reading a two-dimensional code according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] The system 600 according to this second embodiment of the present invention, comprising a printer and a server, is configured to include the inkjet printer 10 described above and a server 602 connected to the inkjet printer 10.

[0109] Furthermore, the inkjet printer 10 differs from the control device 100 in the first embodiment in that, in addition to the configuration of the control device 100 in the first embodiment, it includes a transmission unit 110 that sends files stored in the storage unit 104 to the server 602.

[0110] In this system 600 consisting of a printer and a server, files stored in the storage unit 104 are sent to the server 602 by the transmission unit 110, and the server 602 can manage the files.

[0111] Therefore, compared to the first embodiment, the amount of data stored in the storage unit 104 of the inkjet printer 10 can be reduced.

[0112] As shown in Figure 10, when the information terminal 400 reads a two-dimensional code 702 that records a link printed in a position that does not overlap with the image 700 printed on the media 12 by the printing unit 106 of the inkjet printer 10, the information terminal 400 accesses the file on the server 602 that is linked to the read two-dimensional code, and the server 602 controls the display control unit 108 to display the accessed file on the display unit 24b.

[0113] When displaying the accessed file on the display unit 24b, it is displayed in a table format, for example, as shown in Figure 5.

[0114] Therefore, with the system 600 consisting of a printer and a server, the operator can access a file that stores information about image formation settings such as printing conditions from a two-dimensional code 702 that records a link printed on the media 12, and can easily check information about image formation settings such as printing conditions.

[0115] (III) A third embodiment according to the present invention

[0116] Next, as a third embodiment of the present invention, an example of a printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 11.

[0117] Figure 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the printing of a two-dimensional code by the printing unit in a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0118] Unlike the first and second embodiments described above, the inkjet printer 10 according to this third embodiment of the present invention prints a two-dimensional code 802 in a position that does not overlap with the image 800 printed on the media 12, as shown in Figure 11, in such a way that the two-dimensional code 802 itself records information regarding the image formation settings.

[0119] Therefore, with the inkjet printer 10 according to this third embodiment, information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions can be easily confirmed directly by reading a two-dimensional code with the information terminal 400.

[0120] (IV) Explanation of the effects of the printer and the system comprising the printer and server according to the present invention.

[0121] As described above, the printer and the system comprising the printer and server according to the present invention allow operators to easily check information regarding image formation settings, such as printing conditions, without requiring complicated procedures due to their simple configuration.

[0122] Furthermore, according to the printer and the system comprising the printer and server of the present invention, it becomes possible to determine from the printed media itself, based on information regarding image formation settings such as printing conditions, what image formation settings were used to print on the media. (V) Description of other embodiments and variations

[0123] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative, and the present invention can be implemented in various other forms. That is, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, etc., can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0124] For example, the above-described embodiment may be modified as shown in (V-1) to (V-5) below.

[0125] (V-1) In the above-described embodiment, the files accessed by the information terminal 400 are displayed on the display unit 24b of the inkjet printer 10. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and for example, the files may be displayed on the display unit of the information terminal 400, or on the display unit of various devices equipped with a display unit.

[0126] (V-2) In the embodiments described above, a tabular format was shown as an example of a display mode for displaying files. However, the display mode for displaying files is not limited to this, and an appropriate display mode may be adopted depending on the size of the display area of ​​the display unit for displaying files, for example.

[0127] (V-3) In the embodiments described above, a detailed explanation of the configuration of the server 602 has been omitted. However, the server 602 can have any configuration as long as it is connected to the inkjet printer 10 and capable of storing files transmitted from the storage unit 104, and is accessible from the information terminal 400.

[0128] (V-4) In the above-described embodiment, the information terminal 400 (reading device) was separate from the inkjet printer 10, but the reading device may be provided on the inkjet printer 10.

[0129] (V-5) Of course, the embodiments described above, as well as the various other embodiments and modifications shown in (VI-1) to (VI-4) above, may be combined as appropriate. [Industrial applicability]

[0130] The present invention is suitable for use in printers that print and form images on a medium based on desired image data. [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 10 Inkjet Printers 12 Media 14. Base 16 Exterior components 18 tables 20 Carriage 20a Carriage Cover 22 Inkheads 23. UV lamp (ultraviolet irradiation lamp) 24 Control Panel 24a Control group 24a-1 2D code printing operator 24b Display section 26 Cover component 28 frames 30 Guide Rails 32 Left pulley 34 Right-side pulley 36 belts 38 Motors 40 Sub-scanning direction movement mechanism 42 Height Direction Movement Mechanism 44R Right-side sliding rail 46 Support member 46a opening 48 Guide posts 50 Table Support Cases 100, 100' control device 102 File Generation Section 104 Storage section 106 Printing Department 108 Display Control Unit 110 Transmitter 200, 300, 500, 700, 800 images 202, 302, 502, 702 2D codes recording links 802 A 2D code that records information about the image formation settings. 400 Information terminals (readers) A system consisting of 600 printers and servers. 602 Server Space A B area

Claims

1. A printer that forms an image on a medium based on image data, a file generating unit that writes information about image formation settings into a file; a storage unit that stores the file written by the file generation unit; a printing unit that prints a two-dimensional code that records a link to the file stored in the storage unit at a position that does not overlap with an image to be formed on a medium; A printer comprising:

2. 2. The printer according to claim 1, The file is written in a markup language that configures a web page. A printer characterized by:

3. 3. The printer according to claim 2, The web page displays information about the imaging settings in a tabular format. A printer characterized by:

4. A system consisting of a printer and a server, A printer according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3; a server connected to the printer; and The printer has a transmission unit that transmits the file stored in the storage unit to the server. A system comprising a printer and a server.

5. A printer that forms an image on a medium based on image data, a printing unit that prints a two-dimensional code that stores information about image formation settings in a position that does not overlap with the image to be formed on the medium; A printer comprising:

6. 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein: The two-dimensional code is printed in the smallest size that can be read by a reading device and that can be printed by the printer. A printer characterized by:

7. 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein: When the printing unit conveys the medium and prints the two-dimensional code, the two-dimensional code is printed at a position that is within the range of the image data in the conveyance direction of the medium and within a printable range in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the medium. A printer characterized by:

Images