Information processing apparatus, printing apparatus, printing method, and printing processing program

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing processing program which can print an image at a desired position on a printing medium without positioning the printing medium.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus according to the present invention has: a camera for acquiring table image data obtained by capturing a printing medium 54 mounted on a table 40 provided on a printing apparatus 12 and one or a plurality of positioning points 50 whose distance from an original point 58 of the printing apparatus 12 is specified; an image processing unit for disposing printing image data indicating an image to be printed on the printing medium 54 with respect to the table image data displayed on a display; a position specifying unit for, based on the positioning points 50 indicated by the table image data, specifying a position from the printing image data disposed on the table image data or the original point 58 of the printing medium 54; and a printing data transmission control unit for transmitting the printing image data together with the position specified by the position specifying unit to the printing apparatus 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, a printing device, a printing method, and a print processing program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Technological developments have been made to prevent misalignment in images printed on a print medium.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a printer that displays on a display a preview image on which an image to be printed on a print medium and a processing position where processing is performed on the print medium after printing are superimposed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-44821 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In Patent Document 1, a preview image is displayed on a display, allowing the user to check the positional relationship between the image to be printed and the processing position relative to the print medium. However, if the position of the print medium is misaligned after checking the preview image, the position of the print medium must be readjusted. Such alignment of the print medium is time-consuming.

[0006] In addition, for print media with an uneven shape, there is a method of aligning the print media by fixing the print media with a dedicated jig, but this method requires the preparation of a jig that corresponds to the shape of the print media.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, a printing device, a printing method, and a print processing program that are capable of printing an image at a desired position on a print medium without aligning the print medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An information processing device of a first aspect of the present invention comprises an acquisition means for acquiring image data capturing one or more printing media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from the origin of the printing device are identified, an image processing means for positioning print image data indicating an image to be printed on the printing medium relative to the image data displayed on an image display means, a position identification means for identifying the position from the origin of the print image data or the print medium placed in the image data based on the reference positions indicated by the image data, and a transmission means for transmitting the print image data to the printing device together with the positions identified by the position identification means.

[0009] According to this configuration, image data of the print medium placed on the table is displayed on the display means, and the print image data is arranged relative to the image data. Then, the position of the print image data or the print medium from the origin is specified based on the reference position indicated by the image data, and the print image data is sent to the printing device together with the specified position. As a result, this configuration prints an image to match the position of the print medium already placed on the table, so that the image can be printed at the desired position on the print medium without aligning the position of the print medium on the table.

[0010] In the above information processing device, a flat base material on which the reference position is provided may be placed on the table, and the acquisition means may acquire the image data by capturing an image of the print medium placed on the base material and the reference position. According to this configuration, when the print medium is a food product, hygiene control is easy because the print medium is not placed directly on a table.

[0011] In the information processing device, the origin may be provided on the table, and the substrate may be placed on the table so that the reference position provided on the substrate overlaps with the origin. With this configuration, it is easy to identify the position of the print image data or the print medium from the origin.

[0012] In the above information processing device, the base material may be formed of a liquid-absorbent or liquid-repellent material. This configuration makes it easy to perform sanitation control when the print medium is food, etc. Examples of the liquid-absorbent material include paper and cloth, and examples of the liquid-repellent material include glass, acrylic, plastic resin, etc.

[0013] In the above information processing device, a transparent plate may be placed on the base material, and the print medium may be placed on the transparent plate. With this configuration, when the print medium is food or the like, hygiene control is easy regardless of the material of the base material. The transparent plate may be, for example, glass or plastic that can be washed.

[0014] In the information processing device, the color of the reference position and the color of the print medium may be different from each other. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the reference position from being confused with the print medium and the position being specified.

[0015] In the information processing device, the reference position may be a corner of the base material. According to this configuration, it is not necessary to provide a mark serving as the reference position on the base material.

[0016] In the information processing device, the table may be provided with a guide for placing the base material at a predetermined position. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the actual distance between the origin of the printing device and the reference position of the base material from deviating from the specified distance.

[0017] In the information processing device described above, when a plurality of print media are placed on the table, the type of one or more of the print media may be different from the types of the other print media. With this configuration, images can be printed simultaneously on the different types of print media.

[0018] In the above information processing apparatus, when a plurality of print media are placed on the table, the print image data may be different for each of the print media. With this configuration, different types of images can be printed simultaneously on the plurality of print media.

[0019] In the above information processing device, the print medium may be a handmade product. According to this configuration, even if the print medium is non-uniform in shape and is a one-off or small-scale production, an image can be printed at a desired position on the print medium without aligning the print medium. Note that handmade products include, for example, accessories, leather products, wooden products, and pottery.

[0020] In the information processing device, the print medium may be a food product. With this configuration, an image can be printed at a desired position on the food product.

[0021] The information processing device may further include a correction unit that corrects at least one of a distortion of the image data and a tilt of the print medium in the image data. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent deviations between the specified position of the print image data or the print medium and the actual position.

[0022] In the above information processing device, the print image data may be adjusted when the print image data is arranged on the image data displayed on the image display means. According to this configuration, the print image data can be adjusted according to the print medium displayed on the display means. The image adjustment includes enlarging, reducing, rotating, and changing the color of the print image data.

[0023] A second aspect of the printing device of the present invention comprises an acquisition means for acquiring image data capturing one or more printing media placed on a table provided in the printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from the origin of the printing device are identified, an image processing means for positioning print image data indicating an image to be printed on the printing media relative to the image data displayed on an image display means, and a position identification means for identifying the position from the origin of the print image data or the print medium placed in the image data based on the reference positions indicated by the image data, and prints the print image data at the positions identified by the position identification means.

[0024] A printing method of a third aspect of the present invention includes a first step in which an acquisition means acquires image data capturing one or more printing media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from the origin of the printing device are identified; a second step in which an image processing means arranges print image data indicating an image to be printed on the printing media relative to the image data displayed on an image display means; a third step in which a position identification means identifies the position from the origin of the print image data or the print medium arranged in the image data based on the reference positions indicated by the image data; and a fourth step in which the printing image data is printed by the printing device at the positions identified by the position identification means.

[0025] A printing processing program of a fourth aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the following steps: a first step in which an acquisition means acquires image data capturing an image of one or more printing media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from the origin of the printing device are identified; a second step in which an image processing means arranges printing image data indicating an image to be printed on the printing medium relative to the image data displayed on an image display means; a third step in which a position identification means identifies the position from the origin of the printing image data or the printing medium arranged in the image data based on the reference positions indicated by the image data; and a fourth step in which the printing image data is printed by the printing device together with the positions identified by the position identification means. Effect of the Invention

[0026] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, a printing device, a printing method, and a print processing program that are capable of printing an image at a desired position on a print medium without aligning the print medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a functional block diagram of an information processing apparatus for print processing according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a table of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 13 is a diagram showing table image data displayed on a display of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a printing process according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] A printing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic overall view of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0029] The printing system 10 includes a printing device 12 and an information processing device 14 .

[0030] The printing device 12 is equipped with an inkjet head that ejects ink onto a printing medium placed on a table. In this embodiment, the printing device 12 moves the inkjet head in the main scanning direction relative to the printing medium, and ejects ink from the nozzles of the inkjet head toward the printing medium. In this way, the printing device 12 executes printing in the main scanning direction on the printing medium, and each time printing in the main scanning direction is completed, the table moves the printing medium in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. In other words, the printing device 12 prints onto the printing medium by repeating the ejection of ink in the main scanning direction by the inkjet head and the movement of the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction by the table.

[0031] The printing device 12 may print on the print medium by discharging ink by moving the inkjet head in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction without moving the table in the sub-scanning direction. The printing device 12 may also print on the print medium by discharging ink from the inkjet head to the print medium placed on a table to which the inkjet head is fixed and which moves in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

[0032] The print media in this embodiment are, for example, handmade products, food, and other items that are irregular in shape and are small compared to the size of the table of the printing device 12. Handmade products are, for example, accessories, leather products, wooden products, pottery, miscellaneous goods, and other items that are one-of-a-kind or produced in small quantities. Foods are confectionery such as Western confectionery and Japanese confectionery, vegetables, fruits, and other items.

[0033] The information processing device 14 is a portable information processing device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and includes a display 16 that is a touch panel display and a camera 18. The camera 18 is provided on the side opposite to the side on which at least the display 16 is provided. The information processing device 14 is capable of communicating with the printing device 12 and capable of transmitting print data to the printing device 12.

[0034] Here, the print medium placed on the table had to be positioned at a predetermined location, which required time and effort to adjust the position of the print medium or use a jig so that the print medium was in the predetermined location.

[0035] Therefore, the printing system 10 of the present embodiment performs printing processing that does not require alignment of the print medium placed on the table.

[0036] The printing process of this embodiment acquires image data (hereinafter referred to as "table image data") capturing an image of the print medium placed on the table of the printing device 12 and a reference position whose position from the origin of the printing device 12 is specified. As an example, the table image data is acquired by capturing an image of the table from above using the camera 18 included in the information processing device 14.

[0037] Then, the information processing device 14 places the print image data on the printing medium indicated by the table image data displayed on the display 16, determines the position of the placed print image data from the origin based on the reference position, and transmits the print image data together with the determined position to the printing device 12 as print data.

[0038] 2 is a functional block diagram of the information processing device 14 for print processing of this embodiment. The information processing device 14 includes a communication unit 20, a storage unit 22, an image processing unit 24, a position identification unit 26, a data correction unit 28, and a print data transmission control unit 30, in addition to a display 16 and a camera 18. The functions of the image processing unit 24, the position identification unit 26, the data correction unit 28, and the print data transmission control unit 30 are realized by a computer such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) included in the information processing device 14 executing a program stored in the storage unit 22.

[0039] As described above, the camera 18 functions as an acquisition means for acquiring table image data that captures one or more printing media placed on a table provided in the printing device 12 and one or more reference positions whose positions from the origin of the printing device 12 are identified.

[0040] The communication unit 20 transmits and receives information between the printing device 12 and other information processing devices, etc., via a wired or wireless connection.

[0041] The storage unit 22 stores an application for performing a print process (hereinafter referred to as a "print application"), various image data used in the print process, and other programs, various data, and the like.

[0042] The image processing unit 24 displays table image data on the display 16, and arranges print image data indicating an image to be printed on a print medium with respect to the table image data displayed on the display 16. The arrangement of the print image data is performed based on a user's operation on the information processing device 14.

[0043] The position specifying unit 26 specifies the position of the print image data arranged in the table image data from the origin based on the reference position indicated by the table image data.

[0044] The data correction unit 28 corrects distortion of the table image data.

[0045] The print data transmission control unit 30 controls the communication unit 20 to transmit the print image data together with the position identified by the position identification unit 26 to the printing device 12 as print data.

[0046] Next, the printing process of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0047] 3 is a schematic top view of the table 40 of the printing device 12. The printing device 12 is equipped with an operation unit 46 having operation buttons 42 for operating the printing device 12 and a display 44. The display 44 may be a touch panel display.

[0048] In the printing device 12 of this embodiment, a planar substrate 52 having one or more alignment points 50 is placed on a table 40. As an example, the shape of the substrate 52 is a rectangle with opposing sides parallel to each other. A printing medium 54 is placed on the substrate 52. The position where the printing medium 54 is placed is not determined, and it may be placed on the substrate 52 randomly.

[0049] The table image data acquired by the camera 18 in this embodiment is image data obtained by capturing an image of the print medium 54 placed on the substrate 52 and the alignment point 50, which is the reference position. The area surrounded by the dashed line 56 shown in FIG. 3 is the area captured by the camera 18.

[0050] The print medium 54 is, for example, a handmade product or food. In this embodiment, the print medium 54 is, for example, a cookie, which is a food. When multiple print media 54 are placed on the table 40, the type of one or more print media 54 may be different from the other print media 54. This allows the printing process of this embodiment to print images on multiple different types of print media 54 simultaneously.

[0051] The position of the alignment point 50, which is the reference position, is specified in advance from an origin 58 of the printing device 12. In this embodiment, the origin 58 is, for example, the upper left corner of the table 40 as viewed in FIG.

[0052] The alignment points 50 in this embodiment are, for example, marks provided on the substrate 52. The marks to be the alignment points 50 may be any marks whose center positions can be clearly recognized, and may be, for example, marks including cross shapes such as + and × having an intersection of two straight lines, marks such as ◯ and □, or combinations thereof. The alignment points 50 in this embodiment are, for example, provided at three of the four corners of the substrate 52, but the alignment points 50 may be provided at at least two or more locations. When the alignment points 50 are provided at two locations, they are preferably provided at diagonal corners of the substrate 52.

[0053] Furthermore, the color of the alignment points 50 marked is different from the color of the print medium 54. This makes it possible to prevent the alignment points 50 from being confused with the print medium 54 and their positions from being specified. For this reason, it is preferable that multiple types of base material 52 with different colors of alignment points 50 are prepared and used according to the color of the print medium 54.

[0054] Here, when the print medium 54 is food, there is a possibility that oil, sugar, salt, moisture, etc. may seep out from the food. Therefore, the base material 52 may be formed of a liquid-absorbent or liquid-repellent material, for example. Examples of the liquid-absorbent material are paper and cloth, and examples of the liquid-repellent material are glass and plastic. By using such a material for the base material 52, it is easy to perform sanitary management when the print medium 54 is food, etc. In other words, by using paper for the base material 52, it is possible to dispose of it because it is inexpensive. Furthermore, by using cloth, glass, plastic, etc. for the base material 52, it is possible to wash and reuse it.

[0055] Furthermore, a transparent plate may be placed on the substrate 52, and the print medium 54 may be placed on the transparent plate. The transparent plate may be, for example, glass or plastic, which is washable. This makes it easy to perform sanitation control regardless of the material of the substrate 52 when the print medium 54 is food or the like. That is, the alignment points 50 can be provided on paper or cloth that does not have functions such as liquid absorption or liquid repellency, and used as the substrate 52, and the alignment points 50 can be recognized through the transparent plate placed on the substrate 52.

[0056] The table 40 is also provided with a guide 60 for placing the substrate 52 at a predetermined position. As an example, the guides 60 in this embodiment are provided on the upper and left sides when looking at Fig. 3, and the substrate 52 is disposed so as to follow the guides 60. This makes it possible to prevent the actual distance between the origin 58 of the printing device 12 and the alignment point 50 of the substrate 52 from deviating from the specified distance.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows table image data 70 displayed on the display 16 of the information processing device 14 of this embodiment.

[0058] Here, the table image data 70 is acquired by imaging the table 40 from above with the camera 18, but the user may not be imaged horizontally with respect to the table 40 but may be imaged at an angle, which may cause distortion in the table image data 70. There is also a possibility that the print medium 54 may be imaged in a state in which it is placed at an angle with respect to the surface of the table 40. If the table image data 70 is distorted or the print plate 54 is imaged in a state in which it is placed at an angle with respect to the surface of the table, an error occurs in identifying the position of the print image data 72 arranged in the table image data 70. Therefore, if the table image data 70 is distorted or if the print medium 54 is inclined in the table image data 70, at least one of the distortion and the inclination of the print medium 54 is corrected by the data correction unit 28, and then the table image data 70 is displayed on the display 16.

[0059] Data correction unit 28 recognizes, for example, two opposing sides of substrate 52 from table image data 70. Then, data correction unit 28 corrects the table image data 70 to be horizontal with respect to table 40 by rotating, enlarging, reducing, or the like all or a part of the table image data 70 so that the two sides become parallel if they are not parallel, and by correcting the tilt if the two sides are tilted.

[0060] The inclination of the print medium 54 in the table image data 70 may be determined by the user confirming the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16. When the inclination of the print medium 54 is confirmed, the area of ​​the print medium 54 is extracted from the table image data 70, and the inclination of the print medium 54 is corrected by the user inputting a correction value for the extracted area. Also, data such as the aspect ratio of the print medium 54 may be set in advance, and the print medium 54 may be determined to be inclined if the aspect ratio of the print medium 54 in the table image data 70 differs from the set value. In this case, the print medium 54 in the table image data 70 is corrected so that the aspect ratio of the print medium 54 in the table image data 70 becomes the set value.

[0061] However, the data correction unit 28 is not limited to the above, and may perform the correction by a conventionally known method as long as it can correct the distortion of the table image data 70 and the inclination of the print medium 54 in the table image data 70.

[0062] Then, the user arranges the print image data 72 so as to overlap the print medium 54 displayed on the display 16. The print image data 72 is stored, for example, in the storage unit 22 or another information processing device, and is arbitrarily selected by the user.

[0063] When multiple print media 54 are placed on the table 40, the print image data 72 may be different for each print medium 54. This allows different types of images to be printed simultaneously on multiple print media 54. In this case, the user selects multiple types of print image data 72 from the storage unit 22 or the like.

[0064] Furthermore, the print image data 72 may be adjusted when it is placed in the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16. Image adjustment refers to enlarging, reducing, rotating, and changing the color tone of the print image data 72 by the image processing unit 24. This allows the print image data 72 to be adjusted in accordance with the print medium 54 displayed on the display 16.

[0065] Once the placement of the print image data 72 on the printing medium 54 indicated by the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16 has been completed, the position determination unit 26 determines the position of the print image data 72 placed on the table image data 70 based on the alignment point 50 indicated by the table image data 70.

[0066] The position of the print image data 72 is specified, for example, by calculating the distance from the multiple alignment points 50 to a representative point of the print image data 72. The representative point of the print image data 72 is, for example, the center point of the print image data 72 or any predetermined point.

[0067] As described above, the base material 52 of this embodiment has alignment points 50 provided at three of the four corners of the base material 52. Therefore, the orientation of the table image data 70 can be determined by registering in advance positions where no alignment points 50 are provided. The position of the print image data 72 is specified using the determined orientation of the table image data 70 as well.

[0068] 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing process of this embodiment. The printing process is realized by the computer included in the information processing device 14 executing a printing application (program) stored in the storage unit 22.

[0069] First, in step 100, the user uses the camera 18 of the information processing device 14 to capture an image of the table 40 on which the print medium 54 is placed from above, and the camera 18 acquires table image data 70. Note that the user does not move the print medium 54 placed on the table 40 from the time the image is captured by the camera 18 until printing of the image is completed.

[0070] In the next step 102, the display 16 displays the table image data 70. If distortion has occurred in the table image data 70, the data corrector 28 corrects the distortion of the table image data 70 before displaying the table image data 70 on the display 16.

[0071] In the next step 104, the image processing unit 24 arranges the print image data 72 with respect to the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16. The arrangement of the print image data 72 is performed based on the user's operation on the information processing device 14.

[0072] In the next step 106, the position identifying unit 26 identifies the position of the print image data 72 arranged in the table image data 70. If the table image data 70 is distorted, the position of the print image data 72 arranged in the table image data 70 is identified using the table image data 70 in which the distortion has been corrected.

[0073] In the next step 108, the print data transmission control unit 30 transmits the identified position of the print image data 72 and the print image data 72 as print data to the printing device 12 via the communication unit 20.

[0074] When the printing device 12 receives the print data from the information processing device 14, it prints an image based on the print image data 72 at the position indicated by the print data. The print image data 72 is enlarged or reduced before being transmitted to the printing device 12 so as to reflect the vertical and horizontal sizes when arranged on the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16.

[0075] In this way, the printing process of this embodiment prints an image to match the position of the printing medium 54 already placed on the table 40, so that the image can be printed at the desired position on the printing medium 54 without aligning the printing medium 54 on the table 40.

[0076] Although the present invention has been described above using the above embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and the forms with such modifications or improvements are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the alignment points 50 of the substrate 52 are marks provided on the substrate 52, but the present invention is not limited to this. The alignment points 50 may be, for example, corners of the substrate 52. This eliminates the need to provide marks on the substrate 52 as alignment points 50. Furthermore, the marks and corners of the substrate 52 may be used in combination as the alignment points 50.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the position of the print image data 72 arranged in the table image data 70 is specified, but the present invention is not limited to this. The printing process may specify the position of the print medium 54 instead of the print image data 72. In this case, the position of the print medium 54 is specified by recognizing the print medium 54 from the table image data 70 and specifying the distance from the center of the print medium 54 to the alignment point 50. In order to recognize the print medium 54 from the table image data 70, the color of the table 40 or the base material 52 is set to a single color such as white, and the area other than the single color is determined to be the print medium 54. Alternatively, instead of performing such a determination, the user may input the position of the print medium 54 to the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16. Then, the printing device 12 prints the print image data 72 at the specified position of the print medium 54.

[0079] In the above embodiment, a form in which a corner of the table 40 is set as the origin 58 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The origin 58 may be, for example, a predetermined position on the surface of the table 40, and a mark indicating the origin 58 may be displayed at this predetermined position. In this form, the substrate 52 may be placed on the table 40 such that the alignment point 50 provided on the substrate 52 overlaps with the origin 58 provided on the table 40. This makes the position of the origin 58 and the alignment point 50 the same, making it easy to identify the position of the print image data 72 or the print medium 54 from the origin 58.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the print medium 54 is placed on the substrate 52, but the present invention is not limited to this. The print medium 54 may be placed on the table 40 without using the substrate 52, and the print process may be performed using the table image data 70. In this embodiment, one or more reference positions are provided on the table 40, and the table image data 70 is acquired by the camera 18 capturing an image of the print medium 54 and the reference position of the table 40. In this embodiment, the position of the print image data 72 arranged on the table image data 70 is specified based on the reference position indicated by the table image data 70. The reference position may be a mark provided on the table 40, or the origin 58 itself provided on the table 40 may be used as the reference position. In addition, in this embodiment, when the print medium 54 is food or the like, hygiene management may be performed by laying paper or the like between the print medium 54 and the table 40.

[0081] Furthermore, when a reference position is provided on the table 40 and the printing medium 54 is placed on the substrate 52, the substrate 52 is placed on the table 40 so that the reference position of the table 40 and the alignment point 50 of the substrate 52 overlap.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the printing process is performed by the information processing device 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. The printing process may be performed by the printing device 12. When the printing process is performed by the printing device 12, for example, the communication means acquires table image data 70 captured by the camera 18 of the information processing device 14. Note that the printing device 12 may be equipped with a camera, and the table image data 70 may be acquired by the camera. Also, the table image data 70 may be acquired by a separate camera, and the data may be transmitted to the information processing device 14 or the printing device 12.

[0083] Then, the printing device 12 displays the table image data 70 on the display 44, and arranges the print image data 72 in the table image data 70 based on the user's operation. After that, the printing device 12 specifies the position of the print image data 72 arranged in the table image data 70 or the position of the print medium 54 from the origin 58 based on the reference position indicated by the table image data 70, and prints the print image data 72 at the specified position.

[0084] In the above embodiment, the origin 58 is provided on the table 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. The origin 58 may be provided on another part of the printing device 12 as long as the distance from the reference position can be specified.

[0085] (Effects of the embodiment) (1) The information processing device 14 of this embodiment includes a camera 18 that acquires table image data 70 obtained by capturing an image of one or more print media 54 placed on a table 40 provided in the printing device 12 and one or more alignment points 50 whose positions from the origin 58 of the printing device 12 have been specified, an image processing unit 24 that arranges print image data 72 indicating an image to be printed on the print medium 54 with respect to the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16, a position specifying unit 26 that specifies the position of the print image data 72 arranged in the table image data 70 or the print medium 54 from the origin 58 based on the alignment points 50 indicated by the table image data 70, and a print data transmission control unit 30 that transmits the print image data 72 together with the position specified by the position specifying unit 26 to the printing device 12. According to the information processing device 14 of this embodiment, an image is printed so as to match the position of the print medium 54 already placed on the table 40, so that an image can be printed at a desired position on the print medium 54 without aligning the print medium 54 on the table 40.

[0086] (2) In this embodiment, a planar substrate 52 having alignment points 50 provided thereon is placed on a table 40, and a camera 18 captures an image of a print medium 54 placed on the substrate 52 and the alignment points 50 to obtain table image data 70. According to this embodiment, when the print medium 54 is a food product, the print medium 54 is not placed directly on the table 40, making it easy to perform sanitation management.

[0087] (3) In this embodiment, the origin 58 is provided on the table 40, and the substrate 52 is placed on the table 40 so that the alignment point 50 provided on the substrate 52 overlaps with the origin 58. According to this embodiment, it is easy to identify the position of the print image data 72 or the print medium 54 from the origin 58.

[0088] (4) The substrate 52 of the present embodiment is formed of a liquid-absorbent or liquid-repellent material. According to the present embodiment, sanitation control is easy when the print medium 54 is food or the like.

[0089] (5) In this embodiment, a transparent plate is placed on the base material 52, and the print medium 54 is placed on the transparent plate. According to this embodiment, when the print medium 54 is a food product or the like, hygiene control is easy to perform regardless of the material of the base material 52.

[0090] (6) In this embodiment, the alignment points 50 and the printing medium 54 are different colors. According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the alignment points 50 and the printing medium 54 from being confused with each other and their positions being identified.

[0091] (7) In this embodiment, the alignment points 50 are corners of the base material 52. According to this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide marks on the base material 52 as alignment points 50.

[0092] (8) The table 40 of this embodiment is provided with a guide 60 for placing the substrate 52 at a predetermined position. According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the actual distance between the origin 58 of the printing device 12 and the alignment point 50 of the substrate 52 from deviating from the specified distance.

[0093] (9) In this embodiment, when multiple print media 54 are placed on the table 40, the type of one or more print media 54 is different from the other print media 54. According to this embodiment, images can be printed on print media 54 of different types at the same time.

[0094] (10) In this embodiment, when multiple print media 54 are placed on the table 40, the print image data differs depending on the print medium 54. According to this embodiment, different types of images can be printed on multiple print media 54 at the same time.

[0095] (11) The printing medium 54 of this embodiment is a handmade product. According to this embodiment, even if the printing medium 54 is non-uniform in shape and is a one-of-a-kind item or is produced in small quantities, an image can be printed at a desired position on the printing medium 54 without aligning the printing medium 54.

[0096] (12) In this embodiment, the print medium 54 is food. According to this embodiment, an image can be printed at a desired position on the food.

[0097] (13) The information processing device 14 of this embodiment includes a data correction unit 28 that corrects at least one of the distortion of the table image data 70 and the inclination of the print medium 54 in the table image data 70. According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent deviation between the specified position of the print image data 72 or the print medium 54 and the actual position.

[0098] (14) In this embodiment, the print image data 72 is adjusted when it is placed on the table image data 70 displayed on the display 16. According to this embodiment, the print image data 72 can be adjusted in accordance with the print medium 54 displayed on the display means. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 12 Printing device 14 Information processing equipment 16 Display (display means) 18 Camera (acquisition method) 24 Image processing unit (image processing means) 26 Position specifying unit (position specifying means) 28 Theta correction unit (correction means) 30 Print data transmission control unit (transmission unit) 40 Table 52 Base material 54 Print media 50 Alignment point (reference position) 60 Guide 70 Table image data (image data) 72 Print image data

Claims

1. an acquisition means for acquiring image data obtained by capturing an image of one or more print media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from an origin of the printing device are specified; an image processing means for arranging print image data, which indicates an image to be printed on the print medium, with respect to the image data displayed on the image display means; a position specifying means for specifying a position of the print image data or the print medium arranged in the image data from an origin based on the reference position indicated by the image data; a transmitting means for transmitting the print image data together with the position identified by the position identifying means to the printing device; An information processing device comprising:

2. A planar substrate on which the reference position is provided is placed on the table; the acquiring means acquires the image data by capturing an image of the printing medium placed on the base material and the reference position; The information processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The origin is provided on the table, The substrate is placed on the table such that the reference position provided on the substrate overlaps with the origin. The information processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The information processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the base material is formed of a material having liquid absorbency or liquid repellency.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a transparent plate is placed on the base material, and the print medium is placed on the transparent plate.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the color of the reference position and the color of the print medium are different colors.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the reference position is a corner of the base material.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the table is provided with a guide for placing the base material at a predetermined position.

9. 3 . The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when a plurality of print media are placed on the table, a type of one or more of the print media is different from that of the other print media.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when a plurality of print media are placed on the table, the print image data differs depending on the print medium.

11. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the print medium is a handmade product.

12. The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the print medium is a food product.

13. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit that corrects at least one of a distortion of the image data and a tilt of the print medium in the image data.

14. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image data is subjected to image adjustment when the print image data is arranged on the image data displayed on the image display means.

15. an acquisition means for acquiring image data obtained by capturing an image of one or more print media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from an origin of the printing device are specified; an image processing means for arranging print image data, which indicates an image to be printed on the print medium, with respect to the image data displayed on the image display means; a position specifying means for specifying a position of the print image data or the print medium arranged in the image data from an origin based on the reference position indicated by the image data; Equipped with printing the print image data at the position specified by the position specifying means; Printing device.

16. A first step of acquiring image data by an acquiring means, the image data being captured of one or more print media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from an origin of the printing device are specified; a second step in which image processing means arranges print image data indicating an image to be printed on the print medium with respect to the image data displayed on the image display means; a third step of using a position specifying means to specify a position from an origin of the print image data or the print medium arranged in the image data based on the reference position indicated by the image data; a fourth step of causing the printing device to print the print image data at the position identified by the position identifying means; A printing method comprising the steps of:

17. On the computer, A first step of acquiring image data by an acquiring means, the image data being captured of one or more print media placed on a table provided in a printing device and one or more reference positions whose positions from an origin of the printing device are specified; a second step in which image processing means arranges print image data indicating an image to be printed on the print medium with respect to the image data displayed on the image display means; a third step of using a position specifying means to specify a position from an origin of the print image data or the print medium arranged in the image data based on the reference position indicated by the image data; a fourth step of causing the printing device to print the print image data together with the position identified by the position identifying means; A printing processing program for executing the above.

Images