JP2005297360A - Print system and method for specifying print sheet size - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system capable of lightening the work for measuring and inputting the size when a sheet not listed on the printable sheet size of a printer driver is printed and the work when that sheet size is used repeatedly, and to provide a method for specifying the print sheet size. <P>SOLUTION: The print system comprises a host computer 100, and a multifunction printer 105 connected with the host computer 100. The multifunction printer 105 transmits information of the width and length of a print sheet obtained by scanning the print sheet to a printer driver. The printer driver is arranged to display the received width and length of a print sheet, respectively, in the width input area 303 and the length input area 304 on a user definition sheet size specification screen 301, to request a user to confirm the sheet size and to input the sheet size name, and to add the inputted sheet size name and sheet size to a user definition sheet size list of the printer driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing paper size designation method, and more particularly to a printing system including an image reading apparatus and a printing paper size designation method that is not included in a list of printable paper sizes of a printer driver.

  In the conventional printer driver, when there is no paper size to be printed in the list of printable paper sizes of the printer driver, the user first measures the size of the paper to be printed, and then the printer driver can print. From the list of available paper sizes, you must select “User Defined Paper Items” and enter the paper length and width in the paper size specification window.

In addition, the paper size is measured by detecting the time taken to transport the paper from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the paper fed to the printing apparatus and the width of the paper, and the result is reflected in the paper size of the printer driver. There is a technology (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 11-301079 A

  However, the specification of the size by inputting the length and width of the paper is only once, and when printing on paper of a size not listed, it is necessary to input the size each time. For this reason, when the user frequently uses paper of a size not listed, the user must enter the size before printing work by measuring the size or making a note of the size each time it is used. .

  In printers capable of CD-R label printing, the printable area differs depending on the manufacturer of the CD-R, so if you want to print the printable area without excess or deficiency, the printer driver supports it. I had to use a CD-R from the same manufacturer.

  Further, when the paper size is measured, the paper size is measured only once, and cannot be used for a paper in which the size of the print area changes like CD-R.

  An object of the present invention is to reduce a work for measuring and inputting a size and a work for repeatedly using the paper size when printing on a paper that is not in the printable paper size list of the printer driver. And providing a printing paper size designation method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the printing system according to claim 1 is a printing system comprising: a printing apparatus having an image reading unit; and an information processing apparatus that controls the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication. Comprises detection means for detecting the size of the printing paper read by the image reading unit, and transmission means for transmitting the detected size of the printing paper to the information processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes storage means for storing printable paper size list information relating to the apparatus, and addition means for adding the detected print paper size to the printable paper size list information.

  The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the printing system includes an image reading device that reads an image on a printing paper, a printing device, and an information processing device that controls the image reading device and the printing device by bidirectional communication. The information processing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a size of the printing paper based on image data read by the image reading device, a storage unit that stores printable paper size list information regarding the printing device, and the detection And adding means for adding the size of the printed paper to the printable paper size list information.

  The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the printing head moves in the main scanning direction, and the printing apparatus moves the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and information for controlling the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication. In the printing system including the processing device, the printing device detects first width of the printing paper in the main scanning direction and length of the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction. A second detection unit; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the detected width and length of the print paper to the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus stores printable paper size list information relating to the print apparatus. Storing means for adding, and adding means for adding the detected width and length of the printing paper to the printable paper size list information.

  The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the printing apparatus includes a printing apparatus having an image reading unit and an information processing apparatus that controls the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication. Detecting the size of the printing paper read by the image reading unit, and transmitting the detected size of the printing paper to the information processing device. In the information processing device, printable paper size list information regarding the printing device is displayed. Storing, and adding the detected size of the print paper to the printable paper size list information.

  6. A printing paper size designation method according to claim 5, comprising: an image reading apparatus that reads an image on a printing paper; a printing apparatus; and an information processing apparatus that controls the image reading apparatus and the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication. In the printing paper size designation usage of the system, the information processing device detects the size of the printing paper based on image data read by the image reading device, and stores printable paper size list information regarding the printing device. The detected size of the printing paper is added to the printable paper size list information.

  The printing paper size designation method according to claim 6, wherein the printing head is moved in the main scanning direction and the printing paper is moved in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and the printing device is connected by bidirectional communication. In the printing paper size designation method in a printing system including an information processing device to be controlled, the printing device detects the width of the printing paper in the main scanning direction and the length of the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction. And detecting the width and length of the detected printing paper to the information processing device, storing printable paper size list information relating to the printing device in the information processing device, and detecting the detected printing The width and length of the paper are added to the printable paper size list information.

  According to the printing system according to claim 1 and the printing paper size designation method according to claim 4, in the printing apparatus, the size of the paper read by the image reading unit is detected, and the detected paper size is stored in the information processing apparatus. Since the information processing device adds the detected paper size to the printable paper size list information related to the printing device, when printing on paper that is not in the printable paper size list of the printer driver, It is possible to reduce the work for measurement and designation and the work for repeatedly using the paper size.

  According to the printing system according to claim 2 and the printing paper size designation method according to claim 5, the information processing apparatus detects the size of the printing paper based on the image data read by the image reading device, and relates to the printing device. Printable paper size list information is stored, and the detected print paper size is added to the printable paper size list information, so when printing on paper that is not in the printable paper size list of the printer driver, the paper size is measured. It is possible to reduce the work required for the designation and the work when the paper size is repeatedly used.

  According to the printing system according to claim 3 and the printing paper size designation method according to claim 6, in the printing apparatus, the width of the printing paper in the main scanning direction is detected and the length of the printing paper in the sub scanning direction is detected. And the detected width and length of the printing paper are transmitted to the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus stores printable paper size list information relating to the printing apparatus, and the detected width and length of the paper are determined. Since it is added to the printable paper size list information, when printing on paper that is not in the printable paper size list of the printer driver, it is possible to reduce the work for repeatedly using the paper size.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing system of FIG. 1 includes a host computer 100 and a multi-function printer 105 connected to the host computer 100 via an interface 106 capable of bidirectional communication.

  The host computer 100 includes a control board (not shown) connected to the interface 106, a control unit 102 having an FD drive and a CD-ROM connected to a bus on the control board, and a CRT connected to the control unit 102. A device 101, a keyboard 103, and a pointing device 104 are provided. The CRT device 101 can be replaced with an LCD device.

  The control unit 102 includes an external storage device such as a hard disk in which a print control program such as a printer driver is installed, and transfers print information to the multi-function printer 105 via the printer driver in accordance with a print request from an application.

  The multi-function printer 105 is a combination of a printer (printing apparatus), a scanner (image reading apparatus), and a communication apparatus, and has functions such as a scanner, a copy, and a fax in addition to functions as a printer.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the printing paper size designation process executed by the printing system 100 of FIG.

  In this process, a paper size that is not included in the paper size list of the printer driver is designated. The printing paper is set on the platen glass of the scanner unit of the multi-function printer 105, and a black paper larger than the printing paper is placed thereon and pressed by the platen cover. Since a black paper larger than the printing paper is placed on the printing paper, the size of the printing paper can be accurately measured.

  In FIG. 2, first, by selecting “detail setting” in the printer driver, the default size print setting screen 201 (FIG. 3) is displayed (step S201) (storage means), and the user-defined paper size on the print setting screen 201 is displayed. When “user-defined paper size” is selected from the list 202 and the user-defined paper size designation screen 301 (FIG. 4) is displayed (YES in step S202), the printer driver determines whether the “read” button 306 is selected. Is determined (step S203).

  If the “read” button 306 is selected as a result of the determination in step S203, a command for acquiring the size (width and length) of the printing paper set on the platen glass is transmitted to the multi-function printer 105. (Step S204).

  Upon receiving the above command, the multi-function printer 105 scans the printing paper based on a predetermined setting, and calculates the width and length of the printing paper for the white portion of the image information obtained by scanning (detecting means). ), And sends the calculated width and length information of the printing paper to the printer driver (transmission means).

  The method for calculating the width and length of the printing paper by the multi-function printer 105 differs depending on the information of the scanned image data. Any unit of the calculated width and length of the printing paper may be used as long as the multifunction printer 105 and the printer driver are consistent.

Next, the printer driver converts the received print paper width and length into units (millimeters, inches, etc.) designated on the user-defined paper size designation screen 301 (step S205), and converts them into user-defined paper sizes. Displayed in the width input area 303 and the length input area 304 on the designation screen 301 to confirm the paper size to the user,
Then, input of the paper size name is requested (step S206).

  In the subsequent step S207, it is determined whether or not the “Register ...” button is pressed on the user-defined paper size designation screen 301. When the “Register…” button is selected, the paper size to be registered is set as the user's size in the future. A paper size name input screen 401 (FIG. 5) to be displayed in the paper size list for selection in the defined paper size list (storage means) is displayed (step S208), and the acquired paper size is further defined by the user definition. It is determined whether or not an “OK” button permitting addition to the paper size list has been pressed (step S209).

  As a result of the determination in step S209, when the “OK” button is pressed, the paper size confirmed by the user, the input paper size name and the paper size are stored in a file such as user customization information, and the like. It adds to the user-defined paper size list of the printer driver (step S210) (addition means), and further changes the setting of the paper size to be used to the acquired paper size (step S211), and ends this processing.

  If the "Register ..." button has not been selected as a result of the determination in step S207, it is determined whether or not an "OK" button that permits setting change of the paper size to be used to the acquired paper size has been selected. If the “OK” button is selected (step S212), the size of the printing paper to be used is set to the acquired paper size without adding the acquired paper size to the user-defined paper size list (step S210). The setting is changed (step S211), and this process ends. On the other hand, when the “OK” button is not selected, the process immediately ends without executing the process of step S211.

  If the “OK” button is not selected as a result of the determination in step S209, the paper size to be used is changed to the acquired paper size without executing the processing in step S210 (step S211). The process ends.

  The paper size name added in step S210 is displayed in the user-defined paper size list 202 of the printer driver from the next time. If a paper size to be added later cannot be displayed in the user-defined paper size list 202 of the printer driver, it is registered when “user-defined paper size” is selected in the user-defined paper size list 202 of the printer driver. A window for displaying the user-defined paper size list 202 may be displayed. When the “OK” button 308 is selected on the user-defined paper size designation screen 301 and when the “Cancel” button 404 is selected on the name setting screen 401 for inputting the paper size name, the input paper size is changed. The user-defined paper size 202 is reflected in the paper size used for printing (step S211), but no information is stored.

  In the multi-function printer 105 capable of printing paper whose paper size cannot be represented by width and length, such as a CD-R label, in addition to the items that can be designated on the user-defined paper size designation screen 301, the shape of the printing paper And an area for inputting a value of a size (such as a radius of a hole inside the CD-R) used only for a special shape. In addition, when requesting the print paper size from the printer driver to the multi-function printer, the non-rectangular paper is given as additional information, and the multi-function printer scans the necessary size determined in advance according to the media shape. Obtained from the obtained image and transmits the value to the printer driver.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The configuration of the printing system 600 in FIG. 6 is basically the same as that of the printing system 100 in FIG. 1, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

  6 includes a scanner 605 connected to a control unit 602, and the printer 606 is a printer having at least a print function. The control unit 602 includes utility software that controls the scanner driver of the scanner 605 and the printer driver of the printer 606.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of user-defined paper size designation processing executed by the printing system 600 of FIG.

  This process designates a paper size that is not in the paper size list of the printer driver, and is executed by utility software that controls the scanner driver and printer driver of the control unit 102 in the host computer 101.

  The utility software is software that provides a copy function or the like that converts image data read from the scanner 605 into image data to be output to the printer 606 and outputs the image data to the printer driver.

  In FIG. 7, when the user selects the “user-defined paper designation function” (YES in step S701), by instructing the scanner 605 to read an image, the scanner 605 reads and transmits the image (step S702). The image data read by the scanner 605 is received (step S703), a white portion is detected from the received image data, and the width and length thereof are calculated (step S704) (detection means).

  Next, the obtained width and length of the white portion are converted into a unit 702 selected on the user-defined paper designation screen 701 shown in FIG. 8 (step S705), and the width input area 703 and the length on the user-defined paper designation screen 701 are converted. Displayed in the input area 704, the user is requested to confirm the paper size and input the paper size name (step S706).

  In the subsequent step S707, has the “OK” button permitted to register the acquired width and length of the white portion in the user-defined paper size list (storage means) of the printer driver selected on the user-defined paper designation screen 701? If the “OK” button is selected, the input paper size name and the acquired paper size are stored in a file such as user customization information and the printer driver After the addition to the user-defined paper size list (step S708) (adding means), if the “OK” button is not selected, this processing is immediately terminated.

  The added paper size name and size are displayed with the paper size name input by the user when the user next opens the user-defined paper size list of the printer driver.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  The configuration of the printing system 900 in FIG. 9 is basically the same as that of the printing system 100 in FIG. 1, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

  In the printing system 900 of FIG. 9, the printer is a single function printer 905.

  In FIG. 9, a single-function printer 905 has a sensor that can detect the presence or absence of paper on the carriage, and after the paper feeding operation, moves the printing paper to a printable position (the state where the printing paper is under the carriage). Then, the width of the printing paper is measured by detecting the movement distance of the carriage in the main scanning direction (first detection means). The single-function printer 905 has a sensor that detects the presence or absence of printing paper at a printable position, and determines the movement distance of the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction from when the presence of printing paper is detected until the printing paper runs out. By detecting, the length of the printing paper is measured (second detecting means).

  When the “read” button 306 is selected on the user-defined paper designation screen 301, the printer driver instructs the single function printer 905 to measure the paper size. The single-function printer 905 measures the width and length of the printing paper using the measurement method described above when feeding and discharging the printing paper set in the paper feed slot, and transmits the result to the printer driver. (Transmission means) The printer driver converts the received measurement result into the unit 302 selected on the user-defined paper designation screen 301 and displays it in the width input area 303 and the length input area 304 on the user-defined paper designation screen 301. After the size is determined by selecting the button 307, a window 401 for inputting a paper size name to be displayed in the user-defined paper size list is displayed so that the size can be selected in the user-defined paper size list (storage means) in the future. Display, prompt the user to confirm the paper size and input the paper size name, and select the “OK” button 403 to store the input paper size name and paper size in a file such as user customization information. Add to the user-defined paper size list of the printer driver (addition means).

  In the above embodiment, when the printer has a double-sided printing function, the printing is usually not performed during the operation for printing the front surface, but the width and length of the printing paper are measured and the back surface is printed. It is also possible to print a specified image during operation.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart of user-defined paper size designation processing executed by the printing system 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram used to explain a print setting screen 201 displayed in step S201 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram used to explain a user-defined paper size designation screen 301 displayed in step S202 of FIG. It is a figure used for demonstrating the input screen 401 displayed by step S205 of FIG. It is a figure which illustrates roughly the structure of the printing system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart of user-defined paper size registration processing executed by the printing system of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a diagram used to explain a user-defined paper size designation screen displayed in step S904 of FIG. It is a figure which illustrates roughly the structure of the printing system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

101 Display Device 102 Control Unit 103 Keyboard 104 Pointing Device 105 Multifunction Printer 106 Interface 201 Print Setting Screen 202 Paper Size List 203 OK Button 204 Cancel Button

Claims (6)

In a printing system comprising a printing apparatus having an image reading unit and an information processing apparatus for controlling the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication,
The printing apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects a size of a printing paper read by the image reading unit, and a transmission unit that transmits the detected size of the printing paper to the information processing device.
The information processing apparatus includes storage means for storing printable paper size list information relating to the printing apparatus, and addition means for adding the detected size of the print paper to the printable paper size list information. And printing system. In a printing system comprising an image reading device that reads an image on a printing paper, a printing device, and an information processing device that controls the image reading device and the printing device by bidirectional communication,
The information processing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a size of the printing paper based on image data read by the image reading device, a storage unit that stores printable paper size list information regarding the printing device, and the detection And a adding unit for adding the size of the printed paper to the printable paper size list information. In a printing system comprising: a printing apparatus that moves a recording head in a main scanning direction and moves printing paper in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction; and an information processing apparatus that controls the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication.
The printing apparatus includes: a first detection unit that detects a width of the printing paper in the main scanning direction; a second detection unit that detects a length of the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction; and the detection Transmitting means for transmitting the width and length of the printed paper to the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes storage means for storing printable paper size list information related to the printing apparatus, and addition means for adding the detected width and length of the print paper to the printable paper size list information. A printing system characterized by that. In a printing paper size designation method in a printing system comprising: a printing apparatus having an image reading unit; and an information processing apparatus that controls the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication.
Detecting the size of the printing paper read by the image reading unit, and transmitting the detected size of the printing paper to the information processing device;
In the information processing apparatus, printable paper size list information relating to the printing apparatus is stored, and the detected print paper size is added to the printable paper size list information. In a printing paper size designation method for a printing system comprising an image reading device that reads an image on a printing paper, a printing device, and an information processing device that controls the image reading device and the printing device by bidirectional communication,
In the information processing apparatus, the size of the printing paper is detected based on image data read by the image reading device, printable paper size list information regarding the printing device is stored, and the size of the detected printing paper is stored. Is added to the printable paper size list information. Printing in a printing system that includes a printing apparatus that moves the recording head in the main scanning direction and moves the printing paper in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, and an information processing apparatus that controls the printing apparatus by bidirectional communication. In the paper size specification method,
In the printing apparatus, the width of the printing paper in the main scanning direction is detected, the length of the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction is detected, and the detected width and length of the printing paper are determined. Sent to the information processing device,
In the information processing apparatus, printable paper size list information relating to the printing apparatus is stored, and a width and a length of the detected print paper are added to the printable paper size list information. Specification method.

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