Printing apparatus and method for controlling the printing apparatus

Abstract

Because the decision is based on the entire dataset, it is burdensome and time-consuming. [Solution] A printing device that can communicate with an information processing device and comprises a control unit and a printing unit, wherein the control unit obtains image data of the page to be printed and a specified printing direction from the information processing device, selects at least one region from the four sides and four corners of the page to extract image data, performs character recognition to analyze the orientation of the characters, determines that rotation of the image data is necessary if the orientation of the characters differs from the printing direction, rotates the image data so that the orientation of the characters matches the printing direction, and prints the rotated image data using the printing unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method for a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, a document such as a postcard with seven rectangles arranged side by side in the upper right is read by a reading means, analyzed to determine the orientation of the paper, and the orientation of the image to be printed based on a print command received from an information processing apparatus is determined. If the orientations of both are different, an image forming apparatus that changes the print command and prints the image in the same orientation as the paper is known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The above-described image forming apparatus needs to read and analyze the entire document during processing, which is a large burden and takes a long time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A printing apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus, comprising a control unit and a printing unit, wherein the control unit acquires image data of a page to be printed and a specified printing direction from the information processing apparatus, selects at least one of the regions of the four sides and four corners of the page, extracts the image data, performs character recognition to analyze the orientation of the characters, and if the orientation of the characters is different from the printing direction, determines that rotation of the image data is necessary and rotates the image data so that the orientation of the characters matches the printing direction, and the printing unit prints the rotated image data.

[0006] A control method for a printing apparatus equipped with a printing unit, comprising: acquiring image data of the page to be printed and a specified printing direction; selecting at least one of the four side regions and four corner regions of the page and extracting the image data; performing character recognition to analyze the orientation of the characters; determining that rotation of the image data is necessary if the orientation of the characters differs from the printing direction; rotating the image data so that the orientation of the characters matches the printing direction; and printing the rotated image data using the printing unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A block diagram showing the configuration of a printing system including a printing device and an information processing device. [Figure 2] A flowchart illustrating the control method for a printing device. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram showing image data of the four sides and four corners of a page represented in the first region (X1, Y1). [Figure 4] A schematic diagram representing the first image data, including the first image, as the first page. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram showing the first image data in Figure 4 rotated 180 degrees so that it faces "upward," which is the specified printing direction. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram showing the second image data, including the second image, as the second page. [Figure 7] A schematic diagram showing the second image data in Figure 6 rotated 90 degrees to the left so that it faces upwards, the specified printing direction, and then represented in the second region (Y1, X1). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] 1. Printing System Configuration As shown in Figure 1, the printing system 1 comprises an information processing device 10 and a printing device 20. The information processing device 10 and the printing device 20 are connected to each other so that they can communicate with one another, for example, via a WAN (Wide Area Network) 30 such as the Internet. Note that the WAN 30 may also be a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The information processing device 10 and the printing device 20 are each assigned, for example, a unique IP address (Internet Protocol Address). These devices can communicate with a communication destination by specifying the IP address assigned to that destination.

[0009] The information processing device 10 is, for example, a computer. The information processing device 10 is composed of a first control unit 11, a first communication unit 12, and a first storage unit 13. The first control unit 11 comprehensively controls each part of the information processing device 10. The first control unit 11 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) for managing input / output, and logic circuits such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and a PLD (Programmable Logic Device). The first control unit 11 is also called the processor. In addition, the CPU of the first control unit 11 is sometimes specifically referred to as the processor.

[0010] The first storage unit 13 is composed of memory such as flash ROM (Read Only Memory) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive), which are rewritable non-volatile memories, and RAM (Random Access Memory), which are volatile memories. The non-volatile memory of the first storage unit 13 may also include an SSD (Solid State Drive). The CPU of the first control unit 11 reads the program stored in the non-volatile memory of the first storage unit 13 and executes it using the RAM of the first storage unit 13 as a working area.

[0011] The first communication unit 12 is configured to include a circuit capable of communication wirelessly or via a wire. The first communication unit 12 has an antenna in the case of wireless communication and a connector in the case of wired communication. The first communication unit 12 can communicate via the WAN 30. While the information processing device 10 uses the first communication unit 12 to send and receive data with the communication destination, for the sake of brevity, this process will be omitted in the following explanation. The same applies to the second communication unit 22 of the printing device 20, which will be described later.

[0012] Furthermore, the information processing device 10 includes an input / output unit 14. The input / output unit 14 is a so-called user interface for the user of the information processing device 10. The input / output unit 14 is, for example, a touch panel display. In this case, the input section of the input / output unit 14 is composed of a detection panel, and the output section is composed of a display panel. The detection panel is constructed by overlaying it on the display panel. The detection panel can detect the operator's finger or other actions using methods such as capacitive, resistive, or optical detection. The input can be a keyboard, mouse, or buttons. The output can be a stand-type LCD display or similar.

[0013] The printing device 20 is comprised of a second control unit 21, a second communication unit 22, and a second storage unit 23. Since the configuration of these components of the printing device 20 is substantially the same as that of the information processing device 10 described above, a detailed explanation is omitted. The second control unit 21 is also simply referred to as the control unit. The printing apparatus 20 includes a printing unit 24. The printing unit 24 is composed of printing mechanisms such as a head and transport rollers (neither of which are shown in the illustration). Examples of printing media include plain paper, synthetic paper, photographic paper, and film. The print head is, for example, an inkjet type, which prints by ejecting multiple colors of ink such as CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black). However, the print head may also be a thermal type or an electrophotographic type.

[0014] 2. Control Method of Printing Device Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the schematic diagrams shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the control method of the printing device 20 will be described. Note that FIGS. 3 to 7 show the results when the image data D of page P is printed on a medium by the printing unit 24 of the printing device 20 as described later. FIGS. 3 to 7 also show the results when the image data D of page P is displayed on a screen such as a display by the input / output unit 14 of the information processing device 10.

[0015] For the sake of brevity, hereinafter, the information processing device 10 will be simply referred to as the device 10. Also, the description will be omitted in which the first control unit 11 of the device 10 reads programs such as applications and drivers stored in the first storage unit 13 and each value and executes the respective processes described later. Also, the description will be omitted in which the second control unit 21 of the printing device 20 reads programs such as firmware stored in the second storage unit 23 and each value and executes the respective processes described later.

[0016] 2-1. Execution by Printing Device First, the case where the printing device 20 executes its own control method will be described. The device 10 can, for example, execute an application such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) to create a design drawing, store it in the first storage unit 13 as a file, and print it by the printing device 20.

[0017] The design drawing created by CAD or the like can have a plurality of pages P. Each page P is composed of image data D and is stored in the first storage unit 13. The device 10 can read the corresponding image data D from the first storage unit 13 for each page P and print it by the printing device 20. Hereinafter, printing page P will also be referred to as printing image data D.

[0018] The printing device 20 starts processing, and the printing direction of the medium when printing page P relating to the design drawing is specified by the device 10 (S101). The information of the specified printing direction is transmitted from the device 10 to the printing device 20. The printing device 20 receives and acquires the information of the specified printing direction from the device 10 and stores it in the second storage unit 23. The device 10 can accept a print direction specification based on a predetermined input to the input / output unit 14 by a user who wishes to specify the print direction. Alternatively, the printing device 20 may be equipped with a printing device input / output unit (not shown) and directly accept a print direction specification based on a predetermined input to the printing device input / output unit by a user.

[0019] Device 10 transmits image data D of the page P to be printed to the printing device 20 based on a predetermined input to the input / output unit 14 by a user who intends to print a design drawing. The printing device 20 receives and acquires the image data D of the page P to be printed (S102). At this time, the printing device 20 can also acquire information relating to the first region (X1, Y1) in Figure 3 described later, as well as information about the area occupied by page P, and can also make a determination of whether the page is horizontal or vertical, as described later. The printing device 20 stores the image data D acquired for each page P in the second storage unit 23. The printing device 20 can read the image data D from the second storage unit 23 in page P units and print.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the image data D of each page P to be printed is stored in the memory address of the second storage unit 23 of the printing device 20, such as RAM, corresponding to a two-dimensional coordinate system of the X and Y axes, with "0" representing zero as the base point. The image data D of each page P is then printed by the printing unit 24 of the printing device 20 to a predetermined position on the medium, corresponding to this two-dimensional coordinate system. Furthermore, the image data D of each page P is stored in memory addresses such as RAM in the first storage unit 13 of the device 10, corresponding to these two-dimensional coordinates. The image data D of each page P can also be displayed on the display of the input / output unit 14 of the device 10, corresponding to these two-dimensional coordinates.

[0021] In other words, the two-dimensional coordinates shown in Figures 3 to 7 correspond to the memory addresses of the second storage unit 23 of the printing device 20 where the image data D of each page P is stored, and to the positions on the medium on which the image data D of each page P is printed by the printing unit 24. Furthermore, these two-dimensional coordinates correspond to the memory addresses of the first storage unit 13 of the device 10 where the image data D of each page P is stored, and to the positions where the image data D of each page P is displayed on the display of the input / output unit 14, etc.

[0022] Incidentally, the orientation of the image data D between each page P of the created design drawing may not be consistent. Figure 3 is an example, for convenience, showing multiple pages with different orientations of image data D to be printed within the first region (X1, Y1) of a 2D coordinate system. Note that in the first region (X1, Y1) shown in Figures 3 to 6, X1 is longer than Y1, resulting in a so-called landscape orientation.

[0023] Figure 3 shows multiple image data D for pages P, each containing characters or strings of text in a different orientation, within a region of width W, specifically in the four sides (bottom A1, left A2, top A3, and right A4) and the four corners (bottom right B1, bottom left B2, top left B3, and top right B4). Width W represents the range including the height of at least one character or one line. Hereafter, characters or strings of text contained in image data D will simply be referred to as characters. In the 2D coordinate system shown in Figures 3 to 7, the orientation of the characters is defined as follows: "Upward" is in the positive direction of the Y-axis, "Rightward" is in the positive direction of the X-axis, "Downward" is in the negative direction of the Y-axis, and "Leftward" is in the negative direction of the X-axis.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, in the image data D of each page P, the first string C1 "FGH" on the bottom edge A1 is positioned to face upwards, the second string C2 "IJK" on the left edge A2 is positioned to face right, the third string C3 "LMN" on the top edge A3 is positioned to face downwards, and the fourth string C4 "OPQ" on the right edge A4 is positioned to face left. Furthermore, in the image data D of each page P, the first character F1 "R" in the lower right corner B1 is positioned to face upwards, the second character F2 "T" in the lower left corner B2 is positioned to face right, the third character F3 "U" in the upper left corner B3 is positioned to face downwards, and the fourth character F4 "V" in the upper right corner B4 is positioned to face left.

[0025] Returning to Figure 2, the explanation continues. When the printing device 20 acquires image data D from the device 10 (S102), it analyzes the orientation of the characters contained in the image data D by associating them with two-dimensional coordinates (S103). The text contained in image data D includes, for example, the title, header, and footer on page P. These titles, headers, and footers are often placed in at least one of the four side regions and the four corner regions mentioned above, as shown in Figure 3, in the case of a design drawing, for example.

[0026] The analysis process of the printing device 20 will be described in detail. The printing device 20 selects at least one region from the four sides and four corners of the page P to be printed, where titles, headers, footers, etc., are often placed, and extracts image data D from that region. The second storage unit 23 of the printing device 20 stores OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software, including a pattern matching algorithm. The printing device 20 reads and executes the OCR software from the second storage unit 23 on the extracted image data D and can recognize it as characters. The printing device 20 can then analyze the orientation of the recognized characters in relation to two-dimensional coordinates.

[0027] If the printing device 20 is unable to perform character recognition on the image data D of the initially selected and extracted area, it then selects at least one area from the remaining four sides and four corners (excluding the initially selected area where character recognition failed) to extract image data D and performs character recognition on that area. Cases where character recognition fails on the extracted image data D include, for example, areas that do not contain characters and are blank or other images. In this manner, if character recognition fails, the printing device 20 repeats the character recognition process while changing the area from which image data D is extracted.

[0028] When the printing device 20 extracts image data D, it can efficiently extract areas where character recognition is possible by selecting the order of the areas to be extracted as follows. For example, since the first area (X1, Y1) shown in Figure 3 is landscape orientation, page P is also landscape orientation, and the title, header, footer, etc. are often placed in either the upper A3 or lower A1 area. Furthermore, the printing device 20 obtains the area occupied by page P, such as the first area (X1, Y1), from the device 10, and can determine whether page P is landscape or portrait, as described later.

[0029] If the printer 20 determines that page P is landscape orientation, it first selects one of the areas, either the top A3 or the bottom A1, and then the other area. After that, the printer 20 selects one of the areas, either the left A2 or the right A4, and then the other area. Subsequently, the printer 20 selects the four corner areas in order. In the case of design drawings and similar documents, page P is often landscape orientation. In this case, the printing device 20 may not determine whether page P is landscape or portrait orientation, but instead initially select either the top A3 area or the bottom A1 area.

[0030] Furthermore, for example, if the first area (X1, Y1) is vertically oriented, then page P will also be vertically oriented, and the title, header, footer, etc., will often be placed in either area A2 on the left side or A4 on the right side. If the printer 20 determines that page P is portrait orientation, it first selects one of the areas on the left side A2 and the right side A4, and then selects the other area. After that, the printer 20 selects one of the areas on the top side A3 and the bottom side A1, and then selects the other area. Furthermore, the printer 20 then sequentially selects the areas at the four corners.

[0031] As described above, the printing device 20 extracted image data D from the four side regions and the four corner regions of the page P to be printed, with width W in the X and Y directions of the coordinate system. If the printing device 20 is unable to perform character recognition on the image data D of the area it initially selected and extracted, it may then widen the width W of that area and extract the image data. For example, the printing device 20 may try widening the width W little by little in units of the height of one character or one line. If the printing device 20 is unable to perform character recognition even after widening the area to a predetermined range, it may select another area and extract the image data while similarly widening the width W.

[0032] Furthermore, the printing device 20 has a variable width W and sets upper and lower limits on the size of the four side regions and the four corner regions. The printing device 20 may arbitrarily determine the location of one of the four side regions and the four corner regions, determine the size of that region within the set upper and lower limits, and extract the image data D. If character recognition of the extracted image data D is not possible, the printing device 20 may repeat the character recognition process while changing at least one of the location of the region and the size of the region. The printing device 20 can extract areas where character recognition is more effective, even when the positions of titles, headers, footers, etc., are difficult to determine on page P.

[0033] Furthermore, the printing device 20 may perform character recognition on the entire image data D on the first page P to be printed to analyze the orientation of the characters and obtain the positions of the title, header, footer, etc., as well as their sizes. The printing device 20 can determine the area to extract for subsequent pages P based on the positions of the title, header, footer, etc., obtained on the first page P. Furthermore, the printing device 20 can determine the size of the area to extract for subsequent pages P based on the sizes of these elements obtained on the first page P.

[0034] As described above, the printing device 20 selects at least one of the four sides and four corners of the page P to be printed, where titles, headers, footers, etc., are often placed, and extracts image data D from that area. Then, the printing device 20 performs character recognition on the extracted image data D and analyzes the orientation of the characters. The printing device 20 does not need to perform character recognition on the entire image data D of each page P and analyze the orientation of the characters. The printing device 20 only needs to perform character recognition on the image data D of a specific area and analyze the orientation of the characters. In the printing device 20, the second control unit 21 in particular has a reduced processing burden and requires less processing time.

[0035] Next, the printing device 20 compares the printing direction specified by device 10 (S101) with the orientation of the analyzed characters (S103) to determine whether rotation of the image data D is necessary (S104). For example, the specified print direction is the positive direction of the Y-axis in a 2D coordinate system. In this case, the print direction will be set so that the characters contained in the image data D are facing "up".

[0036] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, an example of rotating the first image data D1 on the first page P1 will be explained. The printing device 20 receives and acquires the first image data D1 (S102). As shown in Figure 4, the first image data D1, which includes the first image E1, is defined as the first page P1 and is shown within the range of the first region (X1, Y1) indicated by two-dimensional coordinates. The first image data D1 contains the third string C3, "LMN," at the top edge A3. The printing device 20 can select the top edge A3, extract the first image data D1, perform character recognition, and analyze that the orientation of the characters in the third string C3, "LMN," is "downward."

[0037] The printing device 20 compares the specified printing direction with the orientation of the analyzed characters. In this case, the specified printing direction is the direction in which the characters face "up", and the orientation of the analyzed characters is "down". The printing device 20 can determine that the specified printing direction and the orientation of the analyzed characters are different, and therefore determine that rotation of the first image data D1 is necessary.

[0038] Returning to Figure 2, the printer 20 determines that the orientation of the analyzed characters does not match the specified printing direction, and therefore determines that rotation of the image data D is necessary (S104: YES), and rotates the image data D (S105). Specifically, the printer 20 rotates the image data D so that the orientation of the analyzed characters matches the specified printing direction.

[0039] For example, the printing device 20 rotates the first image data D1 shown in Figure 4 by 180 degrees so that the characters face upwards, which is the specified printing direction. As a result, as shown in Figure 5, the third string C3, "LMN", which was at the top edge A3, is now at the bottom edge A1 and faces upwards. The first image E1 included in the first image data D1 is also rotated by 180 degrees. At this time, the first image data D1 was rotated by 180 degrees, and as shown in Figure 5, it continues to represent the range of the first region (X1, Y1) in two-dimensional coordinates.

[0040] Returning to Figure 2, the explanation continues. The printing device 20 prints the rotated image data D using the printing unit 24 (S106). Then, the printing device 20 finishes processing. The printing device 20 can print the image data D in the specified printing direction. For example, the printing device 20 can rotate the first image data D1 shown in Figure 4 by 180 degrees and print it in a direction where the characters, which are the specified printing direction, are facing "upwards," as shown in Figure 5.

[0041] As mentioned above, the two-dimensional coordinates shown in Figures 3 to 7 correspond to the memory addresses of the second storage unit 23 of the printing device 20 and the positions of the medium on which the image data D is printed by the printing unit 24. When rotating the image data D, the printing device 20 can process it as follows. In other words, as shown in Figure 4, if the specified printing direction and the orientation of the analyzed characters are different, the printing device 20 can rewrite the memory address of the second storage unit 23 to the corresponding address so that the first image data D1 is rotated by 180 degrees. Alternatively, the printing device 20 may, during printing, read the first image data D1 from the memory address of the second storage unit 23 in a sequence such that it is rotated by 180 degrees and then print it. The same method can be used to display the results on the input / output unit 14 in the case of device 10.

[0042] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, the printing device 20 determines that rotation of the image data D is not necessary if the printing direction specified by the device 10 and the orientation of the analyzed characters are the same (S104: NO). Although not shown in Figure 2, the printing device 20 prints the image data D using the printing unit 24 without rotating it, and then completes the process. The printing device 20 can print the image data D in a specified printing direction. The printing device 20 does not need to rewrite the image data D in the second storage unit 23, nor does it need to change the reading order.

[0043] Next, referring to Figures 6 and 7, we will explain an example of rotating page 2, P2, which follows page 1, P1, following Figure 2. The specified printing direction is the same as in the case of the first page P1 described above, where the characters face "up" (S101). The printing device 20 receives and acquires the second image data D2 of the second page P2 from the device 10 (S102). Figure 6 shows the second image data D2, including the second image E2, as the second page P2, within the range of the first region (X1, Y1) shown in two-dimensional coordinates. The second image E2 is a different image from the first image E1. That is, the second image data D2 is different from the first image data D1. The second image data D2 on page 2, P2, contains the second character F2, "T," in the lower left corner B2. The printing device 20 selects the lower left corner B2, extracts the second image data D2, and performs character recognition. The printing device 20 can analyze that the orientation of the second character F2, "T," is "rightward" (S103).

[0044] The printing device 20 compares the specified printing direction with the orientation of the analyzed character. In this case, the specified printing direction is the direction in which the character faces "up," and the orientation of the analyzed second character F2, which is "T," is "rightward." The printing device 20 determines that the specified printing direction and the orientation of the analyzed characters are different, and therefore determines that rotation of the second image data D2 is necessary (S104: YES), and rotates the second image data D2 as shown in Figure 7 (S105).

[0045] Specifically, the printing device 20 rotates the second image data D2 shown in Figure 6 by 90 degrees to the left so that the characters, which are in the specified printing direction, face "upwards". As a result, the second character F2, "T", which was located in the lower left corner B2, is now in the lower right corner B1, as shown in Figure 7, and faces "upwards". The second image E2 included in the second image data D2 is also rotated by 90 degrees to the left. Because the sizes in the X and Y directions are different, the second image data D2, upon rotation by 90 degrees to the left, changes from the range of the first region (X1, Y1) in Figure 6, shown in 2D coordinates, to the range of the second region (Y1, X1) shown in Figure 7. In the second region (Y1, X1), X1 is longer than Y1, resulting in a so-called vertically elongated shape. The printing device 20 rotates the second image data D2 90 degrees to the left and prints it using the printing unit 24 in the direction in which the characters, which are the specified printing direction, face "upwards," as shown in Figure 7 (S106).

[0046] Furthermore, if the printing device 20 does not have a medium that corresponds to the second region (Y1, X1) when the second image data D2 is rotated, it may not print the rotated second image data D2 and instead send error information to the device 10. Alternatively, the printing device 20 may pre-set the rotation direction in the second storage unit 23 if the media does not correspond to the image data D that the device 10 is trying to rotate. As described above, if the media does not correspond to the second region (Y1, X1), the printing device 20 can read the rotation direction set in the second storage unit 23, rotate the second image data D2, and print it.

[0047] As shown in Figure 5, the printing device 20 can rotate the first image data D1 by 180 degrees so that the first page P1 shown in Figure 4 is oriented in the specified printing direction, with the characters facing "upwards," and then print it. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the printing device 20 can also rotate the second image data D2 by 90 degrees to the left so that the second page P2 shown in Figure 6, which follows the first page P1, is oriented in the specified printing direction, with the characters facing "upwards," and then print it.

[0048] As a result, as shown in Figures 5 and 7, both the first page P1 and the second page P2 will be aligned in the specified printing direction. Similarly, even if there are other pages P besides the first page P1 and the second page P2, the printing device 20 can rotate the image data D for each page P if it determines that rotation is necessary, and print the image data D aligned to the specified printing direction.

[0049] Furthermore, the printing device 20 can process the case where the orientation of the characters analyzed on each page P is different, as shown in Figure 3, in the same manner as described above, as follows. Note that the specified printing direction is the direction in which the characters are "up". In other words, the printer 20 does not rotate when the first string C1 on the bottom side A1 is "FGH" because it is "facing upwards". The printer 20 rotates 90 degrees to the left when the second string C2 on the left side A2 is "IJK" because it is "facing right". The printer 20 rotates 180 degrees when the third string C3 on the top side A3 is "LMN" because it is "facing downwards". The printer 20 rotates 90 degrees to the right when the fourth string C4 on the right side A4 is "OPQ" because it is "facing left".

[0050] Furthermore, the printer 20 does not rotate when it is facing upwards in the case of the first character F1, "R," at the bottom right corner B1. The printer 20 rotates 90 degrees to the left when it is facing rights in the case of the second character F2, "T," at the bottom left corner B2. The printer 20 rotates 180 degrees when it is facing downwards in the case of the third character F3, "U," at the top left corner B3. The printer 20 rotates 90 degrees to the right when it is facing lefts in the case of the fourth character F4, "V," at the top right corner B4. Even if the orientation of the characters analyzed on each page P is different, as shown in Figure 3, the printing device 20 can rotate the image data D if necessary to ensure that the printing direction of each page P is consistent.

[0051] Furthermore, even if the specified printing direction is one in which the characters are not facing upwards, the printing device 20 can process the data in the same manner as described above. Furthermore, although the range of image data D for page P was explained above using the first region (X1, Y1) as an example, the range of image data D for page P can be any region, and may be different for each page P. Even if the range of image data D is different for each page P, the printing device 20 can print each page P with the same printing direction. Users of device 10 can visually confirm that the printing direction of each page P is aligned. Furthermore, users can staple or otherwise bind the pages P together while maintaining their aligned printing direction.

[0052] 2-2. Execution by Information Processing Device Next, as with the case of the printing device 20 described above, we will explain the case in which the device 10 executes the control method of the printing device 20, referring to Figure 2. Device 10 stores, for example, a driver or application capable of controlling the printing device 20 in the first storage unit 13, and can read it and execute it in the same way as the printing device 20 described above. In the following explanation, we will focus on the differences from the case where the process is executed using the aforementioned printing device 20, and will omit similar information.

[0053] The device 10 detects a predetermined input to the input / output unit 14 by a user attempting to print a design drawing via a driver or application, and accepts a specification of the printing direction of the medium when printing page P. Based on this predetermined input from the user, the device 10 specifies the printing direction (S101). The specified printing direction is stored in the first storage unit 13 of the device 10. The device 10 may also acquire the printing direction specified in the printing device 20. Device 10 obtains image data D of the page P to be printed from an application such as CAD (S102).

[0054] The device 10 selects at least one region from the four sides and the four corners of the page P to be printed and extracts image data D. The first storage unit 13 of the device 10 stores OCR software. The device 10 reads the OCR software from the first storage unit 13 and executes it on the extracted image data D, allowing it to recognize the data as characters. The printing device 20 can then analyze the orientation of the recognized characters. If character recognition fails, device 10 repeats the character recognition process while changing the area from which image data D is extracted.

[0055] Thus, the device 10 selects at least one region from the four sides and four corners of the page P to be printed, where titles, headers, footers, etc., are often placed, and extracts image data D. Then, the device 10 performs character recognition on the extracted image data D and analyzes the orientation of the characters. Device 10 does not need to perform character recognition on the entire image data D and analyze the orientation of the characters. Device 10 only needs to perform character recognition on a specific region of the image data D and analyze the orientation of the characters. In device 10, the first control unit 11 in particular has a reduced processing burden and requires less processing time.

[0056] Next, the device 10 compares the specified printing direction (S101) with the orientation of the analyzed characters (S103) to determine whether rotation of the image data D is necessary (S104). If the device 10 determines that the specified printing direction and the orientation of the analyzed characters are different, it can determine that rotation of the image data D is necessary (S104: YES). Device 10 rotates the image data D so that the orientation of the analyzed characters matches the specified printing direction (S105). Device 10 transmits the rotated image data D to the printing device 20, and the printing unit 24 of the printing device 20 prints it (S106). The device 10 can rotate and print the image data D in a specified printing direction using the printing device 20.

[0057] On the other hand, if the device 10 determines that the specified printing direction and the orientation of the analyzed characters are the same, it can determine that rotation of the image data D is not necessary (S104: NO). Although not shown in Figure 2, the device 10 transmits the image data D to the printing device 20 without rotation, and the printing unit 24 of the printing device 20 prints it. The device 10 can print the image data D in a specified printing direction using the printing device 20.

[0058] In this way, the device 10 rotates the image data D if it determines that rotation is necessary, even if there are other pages P, and the printing device 20 can print the image data D in the specified printing direction. Furthermore, even if the area of ​​the image data D differs for each page P, the device 10 can print using the printing device 20 while ensuring that the printing direction of each page P is aligned. Users of device 10 can view and bind each page P with its orientation aligned.

[0059] As described above, the printing device 20 is capable of communicating with the device 10 and comprises a second control unit 21 and a printing unit 24. The second control unit 21 obtains image data D of the page P to be printed and the specified printing direction from the information processing device 10. The second control unit 21 selects at least one region from the four sides and four corners of page P to extract image data D, and performs character recognition to analyze the orientation of the characters. The second control unit 21 determines that rotation of the image data D is necessary if the orientation of the characters differs from the printing direction, rotates the image data D so that the orientation of the characters matches the printing direction, and prints the rotated image data D using the printing unit 24. The second control unit 21 can print each page P with the printing direction aligned.

[0060] Thus, the printing device 20 can extract image data D from at least one of the four side regions and the four corner regions of the page P to be printed, perform character recognition, and analyze the orientation of the characters. The printing device 20 does not need to perform character recognition on the entire image data D to analyze the orientation of the characters, thus reducing the processing burden and the processing time. Furthermore, device 10 can perform processing in the same manner as the printing device 20 described above.

[0061] Although embodiments have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and may be modified, substituted, deleted, etc., as long as it does not depart from the spirit of this invention. As mentioned above, a design drawing was used as an example, but the material to be printed can be anything other than a design drawing, such as text, tables, or images. It is preferable that these materials include a title, header, or footer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1...Printing system, 10...Information processing device, 11...First control unit, 12...First communication unit, 13...First storage unit, 14...Input / output unit, 20...Printing device, 21...Second control unit, 22...Second communication unit, 23...Second storage unit, 24...Printing unit, 30...WAN, A1...Bottom edge, A2...Left edge, A3...Top edge, A4...Right edge, B1...Bottom right corner, B2...Bottom left corner, B3...Top left corner, B4...Top right corner, C1...First string, C2...Second string, C3...Third string, C4...Fourth string, D...Image data, D1...First image data, D2...Second image data, E1...First image, E2...Second image, F1...First character, F2...Second character, F3...Third character, F4...Fourth character, P...Page, P1...First page, P2...Second page, W...Width.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus that is capable of communicating with an information processing device and comprises a control unit and a printing unit, The control unit, The image data of the page to be printed and the specified print orientation are obtained from the information processing device. Select at least one of the four side regions and four corner regions of the aforementioned page to extract the image data, perform character recognition to analyze the orientation of the characters, If the orientation of the characters differs from the printing direction, it is determined that rotation of the image data is necessary, and the image data is rotated so that the orientation of the characters matches the printing direction. A printing apparatus that prints the rotated image data using the printing unit.

2. The control unit, If character recognition is not possible with respect to the image data of the initially selected region, the printing apparatus according to claim 1, then, excluding the region where character recognition was not possible, at least one of the remaining four side regions and the four corner regions is selected.

3. The control unit, If the page is landscape orientation, first select one of the four sides, either the top or bottom side, then select the other side. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, if the page is vertically oriented, the left and right sides of the four sides are selected first, and then the other side is selected.

4. The control unit, First, select one of the four regions, either the upper or lower side, then select the other region. Then, select one of the regions on the left or right side, and then select the other region. Furthermore, the printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the four corner regions are selected in order thereafter.

5. The control unit, If character recognition is not possible for the image data of the initially selected region, then the region is expanded and the image data is extracted. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if character recognition is not possible even when the area is widened to a predetermined range, another area is selected.

6. When the control unit extracts the image data, The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower limits of the size of the four side regions and the four corner regions are set, and the location and size of the regions are arbitrarily determined, and the image data is extracted.

7. A control method for a printing apparatus equipped with a printing unit, The image data of the page to be printed and the specified print orientation are obtained. Select at least one of the four side regions and four corner regions of the aforementioned page to extract the image data, perform character recognition to analyze the orientation of the characters, If the orientation of the characters differs from the printing direction, it is determined that rotation of the image data is necessary, and the image data is rotated so that the orientation of the characters matches the printing direction. A method for controlling a printing apparatus, wherein the printing unit prints the rotated image data.

Images