JP2001253121A - Manual printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To improve the usability of a manual type printing apparatus which performs printing by operating a main body on a printing target. A GPS processing unit detects a position of a main body. Image information generated by a drawing device or the like is wirelessly transmitted, and received by the wireless communication unit 4 and stored in the memory 11. At the time of printing, two points on the print target P are set as reference points, the first reference point is made to correspond to the upper left of the display screen, and the direction connecting the first and second reference points is made to correspond to the horizontal direction of the display screen. Image data corresponding to the current position is extracted from the image information based on the position information detected by the GPS processing unit 3 when the object 1 is scanned, the moving direction thereof, and the position of the reference point. Printing by the print head 7 is performed based on the data. Since the image data corresponding to the current position of the main body 1 is printed, the image data corresponding to the scanning position can be printed by freely scanning the main body 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for manually scanning an apparatus on a printing object such as a sheet of paper.
The present invention relates to a manual printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing target.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of printing apparatus, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-267522, a traveling roller and a print head are provided at the lower end of a main body formed so as to be gripped by hand. The traveling amount of the traveling roller is detected from the rotation of the traveling roller, and predetermined print data is output to the print head based on the traveling amount. The operator holds the main body and holds the main body on a printing target such as paper. There is known an apparatus in which predetermined print data is printed by scanning with a.

[0003]

However, in such a method in which the travel amount is detected from the rotation of the travel roller and print data corresponding to the travel amount is output, printing is performed line by line. In order to print all the data displayed in the printer, it is necessary to scan the printing device line by line.

Further, for example, when printing over a plurality of lines, or when printing a large character or the like that cannot be printed by one scan, it is necessary to scan along the previously printed line. However, there is a problem that the usability is poor.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional unsolved problems, and has as its object to provide a manual printing apparatus capable of easily printing desired image information. And

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a manual printing apparatus according to claim 1 prints designated print data on a print target by manually scanning the print target. Printing means, reference point setting means for setting a reference point for specifying a printing position of image information stored in a predetermined storage area, and position detection means for detecting a relative position of the printing means with respect to the reference point. Specifying image data corresponding to the current position of the printing unit from the image information based on the reference point set by the reference point setting unit and the relative position detected by the position detection unit, and specifying this as the print data And control means for performing the operation.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the position of the printing means for performing printing by manually scanning over the print target is detected by the position detecting means as a relative position with respect to the reference point set by the reference point setting means. For example, based on the positional relationship between the reference point and the image information and the relative position of the printing unit with respect to the reference point detected by the position detecting unit, the image data corresponding to the current position of the printing unit is extracted from the image information. The specified image data is specified as the print data to the printing means and printed.

Therefore, since the image data corresponding to the current position of the printing means in the image information is printed, the printing means can be freely scanned on the printing object irrespective of the scanning direction. The image data corresponding to the position is printed.

In the manual printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the reference point setting means recognizes a position of the printing means as a reference point when a preset reference point setting operation is performed. It is characterized by being adapted to.

In the invention according to claim 2, the reference point setting means recognizes, as a reference point, the position of the printing means when a preset reference point setting operation such as a switch operation is performed. The relative position of the printing unit with respect to the reference point is detected by the position detecting unit. Therefore, for example, by moving the printing means to a desired position on the print target and performing a reference point setting operation at this position, it becomes possible to print image information using the desired position as a reference point.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the manual printing apparatus, the position detecting means includes a GPS device, and a relative position of the printing means is determined based on position information detected by the GPS device. It is characterized in that it is to be detected.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the position detecting means detects the position information of the printing means by the GPS device, and detects the relative position from the reference point based on the position information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the manual printing apparatus, the reference point setting means is configured to be able to set the reference point by latitude and longitude.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the reference point setting means is configured to be able to set the position of the reference point by latitude and longitude, it sets the latitude and longitude of the desired print position as the reference point. This makes it possible to print at a position based on a position specified by latitude and longitude.

A manual printing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention has a wireless unit capable of receiving information transmitted by wireless communication, and receives the image information by wireless communication. It is characterized by having.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, image information transmitted by wireless communication is received by wireless means, and printing is performed based on the received image information. Therefore, by transmitting image information generated by a drawing device or the like to a manual printing device, an image created by the drawing device or the like can be printed at a desired position even at a position distant from the drawing device.

Further, in the manual printing apparatus according to claim 6 of the present invention, the image information is transmitted after being encrypted.
The wireless means has an encryption processing means for converting the encrypted image information into image information printable by the printing means.

In the invention according to claim 6, the image information is transmitted by wireless communication. At this time, the image information is encrypted and transmitted, and the image information received by the wireless means is processed by the encryption processing means. Is done. Therefore, even if an unintended device receives this image information, it is possible to prevent the contents from being decoded.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a manual printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a manual type printing apparatus. The main body 1 has a rectangular shape, for example, and is configured to be easily gripped by an operator. A traveling roller 2 is rotatably provided at the lower end of the main body 1. A GPS at the upper end of the main body 1 detects the current position of the main body 1 based on signals from GPS satellites.
A processing unit 3 is provided, and a wireless communication unit 4 for transmitting and receiving various information such as image information to and from an external device (not shown) is provided below the processing unit 3.

Further, the power of the main body 1 is turned on / off, and a reference position is inputted and printing is instructed.
An input unit 5 for selecting any one of a drawing mode and a mark mode, and inputting a target position when the mark mode is selected; a current position of the main body 1 detected by the GPS processing unit 3; A position display panel 6 for displaying a target position for performing mark printing is provided.

In the vicinity of the traveling roller 2 of the main body 1, there is provided a known print head 7 capable of performing color printing by, for example, an ink jet system or a thermal transfer system. An ink jet nozzle (not shown) is provided in a direction perpendicular to the direction.

The running roller 2 is rotatably supported inside a frame 1c formed at the lower end of the main body 1. The frame 1c has a projection 1d formed of a resin or the like having good sliding properties. Is formed. Then, when the main body 1 is placed on the print target P, the traveling roller 2 and the protrusion 1d come into contact with the print target P, whereby the posture of the main body 1 is maintained, that is, the print head 7 and the print target The distance to P is kept constant. A rotary sensor (not shown) for supporting the traveling roller 2 is provided with a scanning sensor 2a composed of, for example, a rotary encoder for detecting whether or not the main body 1 is scanned on the printing object P. When the rotation is detected, the main body 1 is regarded as being scanned on the print target P.

Then, while the operator holds the main body 1 by hand and brings the running roller 2 and the projection 1d into contact with a printing target such as paper, the rotation direction of the running roller 2 on the printing target P, that is, FIG. , The distance between the print head 7 and the print target P is kept constant, and the current position of the main body 1 is detected by the GPS processing unit 3 and the position is determined according to the current position. The predetermined image is printed by the print head 7.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the system configuration of the manual printing apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the manual printing apparatus 100 includes the GPS processing unit 3, the wireless communication unit 4, a memory 11 for storing image information received from an external device by the wireless communication unit 4, and the print head. The print control unit 13 controls the printer 7 and performs color printing based on the designated image data, and an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 15 that designates image data to the print control unit 13.

The GPS processing unit 3 is constructed in the same manner as a known GPS device, detects the current position, that is, the latitude and longitude, and also detects the moving direction, and stores the detected current position in a predetermined area of the position display panel 6. indicate. The wireless communication unit 4 is configured similarly to a known wireless communication device, performs wireless communication with an external device (not shown), and stores received image information in the memory 11. The print control unit 13
Is configured similarly to a known print control device, controls an ink jet nozzle (not shown) provided in the print head 7 based on designated image data, and performs color printing of an image specified by the image data. .

On the other hand, the arithmetic processing section 15 is
Thus, it is determined whether a drawing mode for printing predetermined image information is designated or a mark mode for printing a predetermined mark at a target position specified by latitude and longitude is selected. When the drawing mode is selected, a printing start operation is performed by the input unit 5,
In addition, when the scanning sensor 2a detects that the main body 1 is scanning on the print target P, the memory 11 is stored in the memory 11 based on the current position information and the moving direction detected by the GPS processing unit 3. The image data corresponding to the current position is specified from the stored image information and output to the print control unit 13. Then, when the input means 5 performs an operation for terminating printing, the processing is terminated.

On the other hand, when the mark mode is selected, the arithmetic processing unit 15 determines the latitude and longitude specified by the input unit 5 based on the current position information detected by the GPS processing unit 3 and the moving direction. When the target position specified by the above is made to correspond to the reference point of the mark, the printing area specified by the size of the mark to be printed is recognized, and it is detected that the main body 1 is located in this printing area. At this time, image data corresponding to the current position is specified from image information representing a predetermined mark (for example, an X mark) and output to the print control unit 13. Then, when the input means 5 performs an operation for terminating printing, the processing is terminated.

The arithmetic processing unit 15 adjusts the output timing of the image data to the print control unit 13 based on the moving speed of the main body 1 detected by the GPS processing unit 3,
The printing timing is adjusted according to the moving speed so that predetermined image data is printed according to the current position of the main body 1.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Now, for example, it is assumed that an image displayed on a display screen of an external device (not shown) is printed on a print target P using the manual printing device 100.

First, the operator operates the external device to transmit image information on the display screen by wireless communication.

On the other hand, in the manual printing apparatus 100, this is received by the wireless communication section 4, and the received image information is stored in the memory 11.

When the operator operates the input means 5 and selects the drawing mode, the arithmetic processing unit 15
The process proceeds from step S1 in FIG. 3 to step S2.

Then, the operator places the main body 1 at a desired print position on the print target P, performs an operation of inputting a reference point by the input means 5, and when two points are input as reference points, step S2. From step S3, the position information of these two reference points is obtained from the GPS processing unit 3, and the first input first reference point is located at the upper left position on the display screen of the external device. The straight line direction connecting the reference point of the above with the second reference point input next is made to correspond to the horizontal direction of the display screen, and the image information on the print target P is printed based on the preset print magnification. The print area is recognized as the print area, and the print area is associated with the image information on the display screen.

Next, the operator performs a printing start operation by the input means 5, and places the main body 1 at a desired printing position on the printing target P with the running direction of the running roller 2 in a desired scanning direction. When scanning is performed in the state, step S4
Then, the process proceeds to step S5, where the main body 1 is scanned and the traveling roller 2 rotates, and this is detected by the scanning sensor 2a. Therefore, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S6. Then, based on the correspondence between the current position information acquired by the GPS processing unit 3 and the scanning direction which is the moving direction thereof, and the correspondence between the print region and the image information specified in step S3, The image data specified by the current position, the scanning direction thereof, and the area printable by the print head 7 is specified from the image information, and is output to the print control unit 13.

In response, the print control unit 13 specifies the color information and the like based on the image data, and operates the print head 7 in accordance with the information to perform color printing.

Thus, an image on the display screen corresponding to the position of the main body 1 in the print area when the print area and the display screen are associated is printed on the print target P.

When the operator further scans the main body 1 from this state, the processing of steps S5 and S6 is repeated, and an image on the display screen corresponding to the current position of the main body 1 is displayed on the print target P. Printed. When the main body 1 goes out of the print area, no printing is performed because there is no corresponding image data.

Then, the operator sets the main body 1 to be printed P
When it is lifted from the position, the traveling roller 2 stops traveling, so that it is detected that the scanning is not performed by the scanning sensor 2a. Accordingly, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S7, and it is determined whether or not the printing end operation is performed by the input unit 5. judge. When the printing end operation is not performed, the process returns to step S5.

Then, when the operator places the main body 1 again in the printing area and scans it, the same operation as described above is performed.
The process proceeds from step S5 to step S6, and based on the current position information and the scanning direction detected by the GPS processing unit 3,
Image data corresponding to the current position is specified, and printing is performed based on the image data.

Then, the operator scans the main body 1 in the printing area while viewing the printed image, and the printing is performed in the entire printing area. Is detected and the process is terminated.

As described above, the current position of the main body 1 and the scanning direction thereof are detected by the GPS processing section 3 and the corresponding image data is specified from the image information. An image corresponding to the position can be printed. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to perform printing in line units, and the printing start position or the printing end position can be freely set. There is no need to perform scanning, and printing can be performed by freely scanning within the printing area without any restrictions.

At this time, the input of the reference point only requires operating the input means 5, so that the reference point can be easily set.

Next, when a mark is to be printed at a target position specified by latitude and longitude by the manual printing apparatus 100, first, a mark to be printed (for example, an X mark or a O mark) is printed by an external device (not shown). ) Is transmitted by wireless communication.

In the manual printing apparatus 100, this is received by the wireless communication unit 4 and stored in the memory 11.

When the operator operates the input means 5 to select the mark mode and inputs the target position for printing the mark in latitude and longitude, the processing section 15 shifts from step S1 to step S11. The input target position is displayed in a predetermined area of the position display panel 6. As a result, the current position detected by the GPS processing unit 3 and the input target position are displayed on the position display panel 6.

When the operator operates the input means 5 to perform a printing start operation and moves the main body 1, the current position detected by the GPS processing unit 3 is displayed on the position display panel 6. The main body 1 is moved so that the current position displayed on the display panel 6 matches the target position.

As a result, the arithmetic processing unit 15 shifts from step S11 to step S13 via step S12. Then, a print area specified by the size of the mark to be printed when the target position is made to correspond to the reference point of the mark is specified, and whether or not the main body 1 is located within this print area is detected. When the main body 1 is located within the print area of the mark and the main body 1 is being scanned, image data corresponding to the current position is obtained from image information representing a predetermined mark (for example, x mark) stored in the memory 11. And outputs it to the print control unit 13.

Thus, a part of the mark corresponding to the current position is displayed on the print target P. Then, by continuously scanning the main body 1 from this state, the mark is gradually printed so that the target position becomes the reference point of the mark.

Then, a predetermined mark is printed by the operator continuously scanning the main body 1 around the target position. Then, since the predetermined mark has been printed, when the operator lifts the main body 1 from above the printing target P, this is detected by the scanning sensor 2a, and step S14 is performed.
The process proceeds from step S16 to step S16, where the operator
When the print end operation is performed in step, the process ends.

Thus, the predetermined mark is printed so that the reference point and the target position match.

As described above, by detecting the position of the main body 1 by the GPS processing unit 3, a predetermined mark can be printed at the target position specified by latitude and longitude.
A predetermined mark can be easily printed at a desired position specified by latitude and longitude.

In particular, since the target position can be set by latitude and longitude, it is suitable, for example, when marking a target position specified by latitude and longitude at a construction site or the like.

Here, the print head 7 and the print control unit 13
Corresponds to the printing means, and when the input operation of the reference point is performed by the input means 5, the processing of acquiring the position information of the reference point from the GPS processing unit 3 in the processing of step S3 in FIG. Correspondingly, the processing of step S6 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the position detecting means and the control means, and the wireless communication unit 4 corresponds to the wireless means.

In the above embodiment, the print data that has already been printed may be deleted, and if the same position is scanned again, printing may not be performed. By doing so, it is possible to avoid printing on the same place a plurality of times, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of printing unevenness and the like.

In the above embodiment, the case where color printing is performed has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to the case where monochrome printing is performed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which whether or not scanning is performed based on the rotation of the traveling roller 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a sensor or the like that operates when the main body 1 is placed on the print target P is provided, and it is determined that scanning is performed when the sensor operates and the current position detected by the GPS processing unit 3 changes. In other words, it is only necessary to detect whether or not the main body 1 is being scanned.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the GPS processing unit using the GPS device is applied as the position detecting means, it can be realized wirelessly and is convenient. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Main body 1 using laser etc.
The relative position of the main body 1 may be detected.
Any means can be applied as long as the relative position with respect to the reference point can be detected.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the input of the reference point is performed by operating the input means 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the main body 1 is pressed against the print target P. A switch that operates when the switch is activated may be provided, and the position when the switch is activated may be recognized as the reference point.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which printing is performed at a preset magnification. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a print area is specified by designating four points. The printing may be performed at a magnification corresponding to the print area, or the magnification may be set and the printing may be performed according to the magnification.

At this time, even when the magnification is increased, the print head 7 is manually moved with respect to the print target P, so that even a large image can be printed. Since the position of the main body 1 is detected by the GPS processing unit 3, even when an image of 10 m or more is printed, the image can be easily printed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where two reference points are set in the drawing mode has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The upper left position and the scanning direction may be recognized as the horizontal direction of the display screen. Further, the upper left of the display screen is made to correspond to the input first reference point. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any position on the display screen can be made to correspond as the first reference point. In addition, regardless of the position on the display screen, for example, the image may be printed at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the first reference point. What is necessary is just to be able to correspond to information.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the image information is communicated as it is by radio. At this time, the image information may be encrypted and transmitted. Thus, even if image information is received by an unintended device having a wireless communication device, for example, it is possible to prevent the content from being decoded.

[0064]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the manual printing apparatus according to the above, the relative position of the printing means with respect to the reference point is detected by the position detecting means, and from the image information, the image data corresponding to the detected relative position is specified, and this is printed by the printing means. Since the printing is performed, by scanning the printing unit on the printing target, image data corresponding to the scanning position of the printing unit in the image information can be printed, and the image information can be printed on a desired printing target. It can be printed easily.

According to the manual printing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the position of the printing means when the predetermined reference point setting operation is performed is recognized as the reference point. The position can be easily set as a reference point.

According to the manual printing apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, since the relative position of the printing means is detected based on the position information detected by the GPS apparatus, the position is detected wirelessly. And the relative position can be easily detected even when the printing means is considerably moved.

According to the manual printing apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the reference point is set by latitude and longitude, the reference point is set to a position specified by the latitude and longitude. Printing can be performed easily.

Further, according to the manual printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the image information is received by wireless communication, the image information can be received by a drawing apparatus located at a position more distant from the manual printing apparatus. Even when the generated image information is printed, it can be easily printed.

Further, according to the manual printing apparatus of the present invention, since the image information is encrypted and transmitted, even if another apparatus receives this image information, the contents are transmitted. Can be prevented from being decrypted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating an example of a manual printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a system configuration of the manual printing apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of an arithmetic processing unit in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Running roller 2a Scan sensor 3 GPS processing part 4 Wireless communication part 5 Input means 6 Position display panel 7 Print head 13 Printing control part 15 Arithmetic processing part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing means for printing specified print data on a print target by manually scanning the print target, and a reference for specifying a print position of image information stored in a predetermined storage area Reference point setting means for setting a point; position detection means for detecting a relative position of the printing means with respect to the reference point; and a reference point set by the reference point setting means and a relative position detected by the position detection means. And control means for specifying image data corresponding to the current position of the printing means from the image information and designating the same as the printing data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reference point setting unit recognizes a position of the printing unit when a preset reference point setting operation is performed as the reference point. A manual printing device as described. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said position detecting means includes a GPS device, and detects a relative position of said printing means based on position information detected by said GPS device. 3. The manual printing device according to 1 or 2. 4. The manual printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said reference point setting means is configured to be able to set the reference point by latitude and longitude. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising wireless means capable of receiving information transmitted by wireless communication, wherein said image information is received by wireless communication.
A manual printing device according to any one of the above. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is transmitted after being encrypted, and the wireless unit has an encryption processing unit that converts the encrypted image information into image information that can be printed by the printing unit. The manual printing device according to claim 5.