Printing device

Abstract

To perform processing necessary for cutting in a printer regardless of a function of a printer driver.SOLUTION: A printer (1) performs, when the size of an image of acquired image data is smaller than the size of a sheet stored in a sheet feeding tray (11), generation processing of generating rotation image data of a rotation image obtained by rotating the orientation of an image, printing processing of causing a printing unit (21) to print the rotation image on the basis of the rotation image data generated by the generation processing, and cutting processing of causing a cutting unit (24) to cut a sheet printed with the rotation image by the printing processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a printing device having a cutting function for a print medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Some recent printing devices have a function to cut the print medium after printing, as described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 does not describe processing such as determining the layout of the image to be printed on the print medium or determining whether cutting is necessary.

[0003] Generally, such processing is performed by a printer driver of a creation device (such as a computer or smartphone) that creates print data for printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-94784 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, if the printer driver does not have the functionality to perform the above-mentioned processing, it is not possible to create print data that has undergone this processing, and it is not possible to cut the print medium printed using this print data in the printing device. As a result, the print product cannot be obtained in the desired form, resulting in the problem of wasting print medium.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to perform the processing required for cutting in a printing device regardless of the functions of the printer driver. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a printing device of a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a storage unit that stores printing media, an acquisition unit that acquires image data, a printing unit that prints an image on the printing medium based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a cutting unit that cuts the printing medium, and a control unit, wherein the control unit performs a generation process that generates rotated image data of a rotated image in which the orientation of the image is rotated when the size of the image in the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is smaller than the size of the printing medium stored in the storage unit, a printing process that causes the printing unit to print the rotated image based on the rotated image data generated by the generation process, and a cutting process that causes the cutting unit to cut the printing medium on which the rotated image is printed by the printing process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the processing required for cutting can be performed in the printing device regardless of the function of the printer driver. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a printer as an example of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the printer. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer for printing and cutting paper under the control of a control unit in the control system. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a series of operations in which printing and cutting are performed in a printer based on image data. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1 as an example of a printing device according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printer 1.

[0011] The printing device may be a multifunction device that has multiple functions such as a scan function, a print function, a copy function, and a fax function. In the following description, the up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions of the printer 1 are defined based on the state shown in Figure 1, in which the printer 1 is installed and ready for use.

[0012] (Printer 1 Overview) 1, printer 1 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape and has the function of printing images on both sides of printing paper, which is an example of a printing medium, using an inkjet method. Note that printer 1 may also record images on printing paper using, for example, an electrophotographic method in addition to the inkjet method.

[0013] 1, printer 1 has a paper feed tray 11 as an example of a storage section at the bottom, and a housing 12 that houses the components of printer 1. A paper output tray 13 is provided above paper feed tray 11, and an opening 14 is formed above paper output tray 13.

[0014] (Internal structure of Printer 1) 2, the printer 1 includes a paper feed tray 11, a paper discharge tray 13, and a conveying unit 15 inside a housing 12. The conveying unit 15 has a main conveying path 151 that extends from the paper feed tray 11 to the paper discharge tray 13, and a reverse conveying path 152 that branches off from the main conveying path 151.

[0015] The paper feed tray 11 stores printing paper 16 as an example of a print medium. The transport unit 15 transports the printing paper 16 taken in from the paper feed tray 11 along a main transport path 151 to an end position of the main transport path 151, and discharges the printing paper 16 from the main transport path 151 onto the paper output tray 13. Alternatively, the transport unit 15 inverts the printing paper 16 being transported along the main transport path 151 along a reversing transport path 152, returns the printing paper 16 to the main transport path 151, and similarly discharges the printing paper 16 from the main transport path 151 onto the paper output tray 13. The transport unit 15 takes in the printing paper 16 from the paper feed tray 11 into the main transport path 151 using a feed roller 17 provided above the paper feed tray 11. The main transport path 151 curves forward in a semicircular arc from near the starting end on the paper feed tray 11 side.

[0016] The main conveying path 151 is provided with a pair of first conveying rollers 19, a printing section 21, a pair of second conveying rollers 22, a pair of third conveying rollers 23, a cutting section 24 and a pair of fourth conveying rollers 25, from the upstream side of the conveying direction of the printing paper 16 (hereinafter simply referred to as the upstream side) to the downstream side of the conveying direction of the printing paper 16 (hereinafter simply referred to as the downstream side).

[0017] The first transport roller 19 is located upstream and immediately before the printing unit 21. The second transport roller 22 is located between the printing unit 21 and the upstream end of the reverse transport path 152. The third transport roller 23 is located between the upstream end of the reverse transport path 152 and the cutting unit 24. The fourth transport roller 25 is located between the cutting unit 24 and the downstream end of the main transport path 151, and functions as an ejection roller that ejects the print paper 16 onto the paper output tray 13.

[0018] The printing unit 21 has an inkjet recording head 211, which prints an image on the printing paper 16. The cutting unit 24 uses a cutting blade to cut the printing paper 16 into an upstream portion and a downstream portion in the transport direction.

[0019] The reverse conveyance path 152 has an upstream end located upstream of the pair of third conveyance rollers 23, and a downstream end located near the starting end of the main conveyance path 151. A first flap 26 is provided at the upstream end of the reverse conveyance path 152, and a second flap 27 is provided at the downstream end. The first flap 26 and the second flap 27 operate to switch the conveyance direction of the print paper 16. A pair of fifth conveyance rollers 28 is provided on the reverse conveyance path 152. The first to fifth conveyance rollers 19, 22, 23, 25, and 28 sandwich and convey the print paper 16.

[0020] (Control system configuration) Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system provided in the printer 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the printer 1 includes a control unit 3 configured by, for example, a microcomputer. The control unit 3 is connected to a feed roller 17, an acquisition unit 18, first to fifth conveyance rollers 19, 22, 23, 25, and 28, a storage unit 20, a printing unit 21, a cutting unit 24, and first and second flaps 26 and 27. The control unit 3 controls the operation of the conveyance unit 15, i.e., the feed roller 17, first to fifth conveyance rollers 19, 22, 23, 25, and 28, the printing unit 21, the cutting unit 24, and the first and second flaps 26 and 27.

[0021] The control targets of the control unit 3 for the feed roller 17, the first to fifth transport rollers 19, 22, 23, 25, 28, and the first and second flaps 26, 27 are one or more drive units such as motors that drive them.

[0022] The first and second flaps 26, 27 are driven to a reverse guide position (solid line position in FIG. 2) and a retracted position (dashed line position in FIG. 2) under the control of the control unit 3. The reverse guide position is a position where the first flap 26 guides the printing paper 16, which is transported in the reverse direction by the reverse rotation of the third transport roller 23, from the main transport path 151 to the reverse transport path 152, and the second flap 27 guides it from the reverse transport path 152 to the main transport path 151. The retracted position is a position where the first and second flaps 26, 27 do not interfere with the transport of the printing paper 16 on the main transport path 151 from the paper feed tray 11 to the paper output tray 13.

[0023] The control unit 3 causes the printing unit 21 to print an image based on image data supplied from the image data creation device 4 or the external memory 5. The image data creation device 4 is, for example, a general-purpose computer, and creates image data to be used for printing by the printer 1. The image data creation device 4 has a printer driver that controls the printer 1, and the printer driver can reduce or enlarge the image. The external memory 5 is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and can store image data created by the image data creation device 4 or the like.

[0024] The acquisition unit 18 acquires image data from the image data creation device 4 or the external memory 5. The acquisition unit 18 has a communication interface for acquiring image data from the image data creation device 4. The acquisition unit 18 also has a USB interface for acquiring image data from the external memory 5.

[0025] The storage unit 20 stores whether the printer 1 is set to cut or not cut. The cut setting is a setting in which the cut processing unit 35 (described later) of the control unit 3 performs the cut processing, and is represented, for example, by "1" in a 1-bit area in the storage unit 20. The non-cut setting is a setting in which the cut processing unit 35 does not perform the cut processing, and is represented by "0" in the above 1-bit area.

[0026] The paper feed tray 11 accommodates printing paper 16 of a standard size, for example, A4. The printer 1 is equipped with one paper feed tray 11, but may be equipped with multiple paper feed trays 11. The paper feed tray 11 stores the size of the printing paper 16 accommodated therein as a setting.

[0027] The control unit 3 includes a size determination unit 31, a command determination unit 32, a generation processing unit 33, a print processing unit , and a cutting processing unit .

[0028] The size determination unit 31 determines whether the paper size is a paper size to be cut. The paper size is the size of the print paper 16 based on the settings of the paper feed tray 11. The paper size to be cut is the paper size to be cut based on the size of the image of the image data acquired by the acquisition unit 18 (hereinafter simply referred to as the image size). For example, when an A4 print paper 16 is to be cut in half to have an A5 size, the image size is A5 and the paper size to be cut is A4.

[0029] The image size is smaller than the size of the paper to be cut, and more specifically, if the image size is a specified size, the size of the paper to be cut is twice the specified size. The size determination unit 31 compares the image size with the paper size based on the settings of the paper feed tray 11 to determine whether the paper size is the size of the paper to be cut.

[0030] The command determination unit 32 determines whether or not a cut command CUTTYPE has been assigned to the image data acquired by the acquisition unit 18. The cut command CUTTYPE includes "CUT," which is an example of a cut command that causes the cutting unit 24 to perform cutting, and "NONE," which is an example of a non-cut command that does not cause the cutting unit 24 to perform cutting. Furthermore, when the command determination unit 32 determines that the cut command CUTTYPE has been assigned to the image data, it determines whether the cut command CUTTYPE is "CUT" or "NONE."

[0031] The generation processing unit 33 performs a generation process that lays out the image so that it will be printed on the cut printing paper 16. The generation processing unit 33 performs a rotation process and a position conversion process as part of the generation process. The rotation process is a process that generates rotated image data of a rotated image by rotating the image orientation of the image data. The position conversion process is a process that converts the printing position of the rotated image so that the rotated image is printed in the cut half of the printing paper 16. The generation processing unit 33 performs the rotation process and the position conversion process simultaneously, rather than separately.

[0032] The generation processing unit 33 performs generation processing in response to a determination by the command determination unit 32 that the cut command CUTTYPE is "CUT" (hereinafter simply referred to as CUT determination). The generation processing unit 33 performs generation processing in response to a determination by the size determination unit 31 that the paper size is a paper size to be cut (hereinafter simply referred to as cut paper size determination) and storage of a cut setting in the storage unit 20. Furthermore, the generation processing unit 33 does not perform generation processing and outputs the image data acquired by the acquisition unit 18 as is in response to a determination by the size determination unit 31 that the paper size is not a paper size to be cut (hereinafter simply referred to as non-cut paper size determination), a determination by the command determination unit 32 that the cut command CUTTYPE is "NONE" (hereinafter simply referred to as NONE determination), or storage of a non-cut setting in the storage unit 20.

[0033] The print processing unit 34 performs print processing to cause the printing unit 21 to print a rotated image or a non-rotated image on the print paper 16 supplied from the paper feed tray 11, based on the rotated image data or image data output from the generation processing unit 33. The print processing unit 34 performs print processing based on the rotated image data in accordance with the determination of the paper size to be cut by the size determination unit 31 and the storage of the cutting setting in the storage unit 20. The print processing unit 34 performs print processing based on the rotated image data in accordance with the CUT determination by the command determination unit 32. The print processing unit 34 also performs print processing based on the image data in accordance with the determination of the paper size not to be cut by the size determination unit 31, the NONE determination by the command determination unit 32, or the storage of the non-cut setting in the storage unit 20.

[0034] The cutting processing unit 35 performs cutting processing in which the cutting unit 24 cuts the print paper 16 on which an image is printed by the print processing unit 34. The cutting processing unit 35 performs cutting processing in accordance with the paper size determination by the size determination unit 31 as the paper to be cut and the storage of the cutting setting in the storage unit 20. The cutting processing unit 35 performs cutting processing in accordance with a CUT determination by the command determination unit 32. The cutting processing unit 35 does not perform cutting processing in accordance with the paper size not to be cut determined by the size determination unit 31, a NONE determination by the command determination unit 32, or the storage of the non-cut setting in the storage unit 20. The cutting processing unit 35 may perform cutting processing after the print processing performed by the print processing unit 34, or may perform cutting processing before the print processing.

[0035] (Printer 1 operation) In the above configuration, the operation of the printer 1 will be described below. This is a flow chart showing the operation of the printer 1 that prints and cuts the printing paper 16 under the control of the control unit 3 in the control system.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, first, the control unit 3 causes the acquisition unit 18 to acquire image data from the image data creation device 4 or the external memory 5 (step S1).

[0037] When the image data is acquired, the command determination unit 32 determines whether or not a cut command CUTTYPE is assigned to the acquired image data (step S2). In step S2, if the command determination unit 32 determines that a cut command CUTTYPE is assigned to the image data (YES), it determines whether or not the cut command CUTTYPE is "CUT" (step S3).

[0038] In step S3, if the command determination unit 32 determines that the cut command CUTTYPE is "CUT" (YES), the generation processing unit 33 performs a process of laying out the image of the image data acquired by the acquisition unit 18 as the generation process (step S4). In the layout, the generation processing unit 33 rotates the image by 90 degrees and places the image in half the area of ​​the printing paper 16 to be cut, thereby generating rotated image data.

[0039] Next, the print processing unit 34 performs printing processing (step S5). As a result, the print unit 21 prints a rotated image based on the rotated image data on half of the area to be cut of the print paper 16. Then, the cutting processing unit 35 causes the cutting unit 24 to cut the print paper 16 in half (step S6).

[0040] The processes of steps S5 and S6 may be interchanged.Furthermore, the processes of steps S4 and S5 and the process of step S6 may be interchanged.

[0041] In step S2, if the command determination unit 32 determines that the cut command CUTTYPE is not assigned to the image data (NO), the size determination unit 31 determines whether the paper size is a paper size to be cut (step S7). In step S7, if the size determination unit 31 determines that the paper size is a paper size to be cut (YES), the generation processing unit 33, the print processing unit 34, and the cutting processing unit 35 each determine whether cutting is set in the storage unit 20 (step S8).

[0042] In step S8, if the generation processing unit 33, the print processing unit 34, and the cutting processing unit 35 determine that cutting is set in the storage unit 20 (YES), the process proceeds to step S4. Also, in step S8, if the print processing unit 34 determines that cutting is not set in the storage unit 20 (NO), the print processing unit 34 performs printing processing (step S9) and ends the process. Also, in step S7, if the size determination unit 31 determines that the paper size is not a paper size to be cut (NO), the process proceeds to step S9.

[0043] In step S3, if the command determination unit 32 determines that the cut command CUTTYPE is not "CUT", that is, the cut command CUTTYPE is "NONE" (NO), the print processing unit 34 performs the print process (step S10) and ends the process.

[0044] Next, we will explain an example of the operation of the printer 1 that prints an A5 image in half the area of ​​the A4 printing paper 16 and then cuts it. Figure 5 is a diagram showing a series of operations in which the printer 1 performs printing and cutting based on image data.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 5, an A4 image is reduced in the image data creation device 4 to create an A5 image, and the image data of that image is sent to the printer 1. The printer 1 receives and acquires that image data. Alternatively, the printer 1 acquires that image data from the external memory 5 in which the A5 image data is stored.

[0046] If cutting is to be performed, the control unit 3 of the printer 1 determines YES in steps S2 and S3, or YES in steps S7 and S8, performs image layout processing in step S4 and printing processing in step S5, and then performs cutting processing in step S6. Based on the acquired image data, the generation processing unit 33 places a rotated image, obtained by rotating the A5 image 90 degrees so that it is landscape, in the upper half of the A4 printing paper 16. The print processing unit 34 instructs the printing unit 21 to print the rotated A5 image on the printing paper 16. The cutting processing unit 35 causes the cutting unit 24 to cut the A4 printing paper 16 in half after printing.

[0047] As a result, A5 printing sheets 16A and 16B formed by cutting the A4 printing sheet 16 are ejected from the printer 1. The rotated image is printed on printing sheet 16A, and nothing is printed on printing sheet 16B.

[0048] On the other hand, if cutting is not to be performed, the control unit 3 of the printer 1 makes a NO determination in step S2, a YES determination in step S7, and a NO determination in step S8, and then performs the print process in step S9. The print processing unit 34 instructs the print unit 21 to print the A5 image onto the print paper 16 without changing its orientation. As a result, the A4 print paper 16 on which the portrait-oriented A5 image has been printed is ejected from the printer 1.

[0049] In the above example, the printing paper 16 is cut after printing, but as mentioned above, printing may be performed after cutting. To achieve this process, the cutting unit 24 must be located upstream of the printing unit 21 on the main transport path 151 in FIG. 2.

[0050] In the above example, the A5 image is placed in the upper half of the A4 size, but the A5 image may also be placed in the lower half of the A4 size. Alternatively, if the printer 1 acquires two pages of A5 images, it may perform a process of printing and cutting one page of the A5 image on each half of the A4 printing paper 16, thereby obtaining two sheets of printing paper 16A, 16B on which the A5 images are printed.

[0051] (Effect of Printer 1) If the image size is smaller than the size of the printing paper 16, more specifically, if the image size is half the size of the printing paper 16, the generation processing unit 33 performs the generation processing, the print processing unit 34 performs the printing processing, and the cutting processing unit 35 performs the cutting processing. This makes it possible to obtain rotated image data of the rotated image in the printer 1 without requiring a special printer driver, and to cut the printing paper 16 on which the rotated image is printed based on the rotated image data. This makes it possible to reuse the printing paper 16B that was not printed on, as described above. This reduces the waste of printing paper 16.

[0052] [Software implementation example] The functions of printer 1 can be realized by a program that causes a computer to function as printer 1, and a program that causes a computer to function as each control block of printer 1 (particularly each part included in control unit 3).

[0053] In this case, the printer 1 includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The functions described in the above embodiment are realized by executing the program using the control device and storage device.

[0054] The program may be stored non-transitory on one or more computer-readable storage media. The storage media may or may not be included in the printer 1. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the printer 1 via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0055] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the control blocks can be realized by logic circuits. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each of the control blocks is formed is also included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the functions of the control blocks can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0056] (Summary of the embodiment) A printing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a storage unit that stores a print medium, an acquisition unit that acquires image data, a printing unit that prints an image on the print medium based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a cutting unit that cuts the print medium, and a control unit, wherein the control unit performs a generation process that generates rotated image data of a rotated image in which the orientation of the image is rotated when the size of the image in the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is smaller than the size of the print medium stored in the storage unit, a printing process that causes the printing unit to print the rotated image based on the rotated image data generated by the generation process, and a cutting process that causes the cutting unit to cut the print medium on which the rotated image is printed by the printing process.

[0057] According to the above configuration, printing and cutting processes are performed when the image size is smaller than the size of the print medium stored in the storage unit. This allows the printing device to obtain rotated image data of the rotated image without requiring a special printer driver, and cut the print medium on which the rotated image is printed based on the rotated image data. This reduces waste of print medium.

[0058] In one embodiment of the printing device of the present disclosure, when the image data of the image of a specified size is acquired by the acquisition unit, the control unit performs the generation process and the cutting process if the printing medium having twice the size of the specified size is stored in the storage unit, but does not need to perform the generation process and the cutting process if the printing medium having twice the size of the specified size is not stored in the storage unit.

[0059] With this configuration, if the storage compartment contains a print medium that is twice the standard size, rotated image data is generated and the print medium printed using the rotated image data is cut in half. This makes it easy to print an A5 image on an A4 sheet and then cut it in half.

[0060] A printing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure further includes a memory unit that stores whether the printing device is set to a cutting setting in which the control unit performs the cutting process or a non-cutting setting in which the control unit does not perform the cutting process, and when the non-cutting setting is stored in the memory unit, the control unit does not need to perform the cutting process even if the size of the image in the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is smaller than the size of the printing medium stored in the storage unit.

[0061] According to the above configuration, by storing a non-cutting setting in the memory unit, even if the size of the image is smaller than the size of the printing medium stored in the storage unit, the printing medium can be forcibly prevented from being cut if cutting is not necessary.

[0062] In a printing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the control unit performs the generation process and the cutting process when the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is provided with a cutting command to cut the printing medium, whereas the control unit does not need to perform the generation process and the cutting process when the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is provided with a non-cutting command not to cut the printing medium.

[0063] According to the above configuration, when a cut command or a non-cut command is attached to the image data, the cut command or the non-cut command can be accepted and the generation process and the cut process can be performed or not performed.

[0064] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1. Printer (printing device) 3. Control Unit 11 Paper feed tray (storage area) 16 Printing paper (printing media) 21 Printing Department 24 Cut section 33 Generation processing section 34 Print processing unit 35 Cutting processing section

Claims

1. a storage section for storing a print medium; an acquisition unit that acquires image data; a printing unit that prints an image on the printing medium based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; a control unit, The control unit a determination process for determining whether the size of the print medium accommodated in the accommodation unit is a cutting target size that is twice the size of the image of the image data acquired by the acquisition unit; a generation process for generating rotated image data of a rotated image obtained by rotating the orientation of the image; a printing process for causing the printing unit to print the rotated image based on the rotated image data generated by the generation process; a cutting process in which the printing medium on which the rotated image is printed is cut by the cutting unit; When it is determined in the determination process that the size of the print medium accommodated in the accommodation unit is the size to be cut, the generation process, the printing process, and the cutting process are performed; A printing device characterized in that if the judgment process determines that the size of the printing medium stored in the storage unit is not the size to be cut, the generation process and the cutting process are not performed, and an image based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is printed by the printing unit.

2. a storage unit that stores whether a cut setting in which the control unit performs the cut processing or a non-cut setting in which the control unit does not perform the cut processing is set for the printing device; The printing device described in claim 1, characterized in that when the non-cutting setting is stored in the memory unit, the control unit determines in the judgment process that the size of the printing medium stored in the storage unit is the size to be cut, and even if the size of the image of the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is smaller than the size of the printing medium stored in the storage unit, the control unit does not perform the generation process and the cutting process, and causes the printing unit to print an image based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit.

3. The control unit When a cutting command for cutting the print medium is added to the image data acquired by the acquisition unit, the generation process, the printing process, and the cutting process are performed; A printing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that if the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is accompanied by a non-cutting command that does not cut the printing medium, the generation process and the cutting process are not performed, and an image based on the image data acquired by the acquisition unit is printed by the printing unit.

Images