JP4057202B2 - Output device having print data enlargement / reduction function and output method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an output device and an output method having a function of outputting print data in an enlarged / reduced manner .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of output device, there are a host computer connected to a printer, a printer, and a printer driver connected between the host computer and the printer. For example, in a printer, setting of enlargement or reduction printing is performed by designating a magnification on the host computer side from a user interface of an application operating on the host computer or a printer driver for an output device. The magnification set in this way may be printed when the print data magnification is changed by an application on the host computer side, or may be changed by the printer driver.
[0003]
When the enlargement / reduction ratio is set by the above application and the print data itself is also changed by the setting, the enlargement / reduction process is performed by the host computer application, so the printer driver and printer perform the enlargement / reduction process. Absent.
[0004]
However, if the application does not have a print data enlargement / reduction function, the print driver enlargement / reduction processing is performed by the printer driver or printer by setting the magnification using the printer driver.
[0005]
When the magnification is changed by the printer driver, enlargement / reduction processing is further performed in the printer driver, and the printer driver outputs an enlargement / reduction designation command to the printer and performs actual enlargement / reduction processing on the printer side. It is divided into cases.
[0006]
Such enlargement / reduction processing is performed to enlarge or reduce the print data uniformly including the margin portion, regardless of whether it is performed by an application of the host computer, a printer driver, or a printer.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the print data is uniformly enlarged / reduced, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the margin portion other than the image portion (print portion) (the upper and lower left and right margin portions of the print data for one page) is also enlarged. There is a problem that the position of the image portion in the printable area (area indicated by the dotted line in the figure) is shifted due to the reduction process.
[0008]
Further, when the print data is enlarged, the size of the enlarged image portion is within the printable area, but the position of the enlarged image portion is shifted, so that the print output is performed as shown in FIG. There is also a risk of protruding the possible area.
[0009]
Further, when the user of the printer sets enlargement / reduction of an image, there is a tendency that usually the user pays attention only to the image in the printable area and is not so careful about the margin portion. For this reason, the user has noticed that the printing position of the image portion has shifted after printing with the printer, and it has been troublesome in many cases to perform the print output again after setting for adjusting the printing position.
[0010]
Accordingly, the present invention is to scale the print data, only be a child scaling the part without changing the output starting position of the partial (image portion) except the margin portion of the print data Thus, it has a print data enlargement / reduction function that can widen the range that can be enlarged within the output possible area and that can reduce the troublesome operation of the margin part when enlarging / reducing only the image part. An output device and an output method are to be provided.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an output device having a function of enlarging or reducing print data and setting the setting means for setting enlargement or reduction of only an image portion excluding the margin portion of the print data, and an image by the setting means. when the enlargement or reduction of a portion only has been set, thereby enlarging or reducing the print data, the output starting position of only images portions of the print data after enlarged or reduced, before the enlargement before or reduction of the print data certain control means for printing start position of the image portion only of the decision at the same position in the output device provided.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a printer will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer according to the present embodiment. 1 is a CPU (central processing unit) constituting a control unit main body, and 2 is a ROM storing program data and the like for the CPU 1 to control each unit. (Read-only memory) 3 is an interface for receiving command data and print data from the host computer 4 connected by a communication cable, communication line, etc. 5 is a reception buffer for temporarily storing data received from the host computer 4 A memory area for storing video data (image data) obtained by analyzing the data stored in the reception buffer by the CPU 1 and developing an image; a RAM (random access memory) provided with a scaling flag 5a only for the image portion; Is an operation panel with keys and indicators for the user to perform various operations, Is a hard disk device (HDD), and 8 is a dedicated controller configured by an ASIC (specific application IC) that transmits video data stored in the RAM 5 to the printer engine 11 having a printing mechanism such as a print head via the video interface 9. is there.
[0013]
The CPU 1, ROM 2, interface 3, RAM 5, operation panel 6, HDD 7, dedicated controller 8, and video interface 9 are electrically connected by a bus line 12 such as a control bus, a system bus, and a data bus.
[0014]
Here, the configuration of data received by the printer will be described with reference to FIG.
When printing with the printer, the data from the host computer 4 is composed of print data following command data including a printer initialization command, a print condition setting command, and a print start position movement command.
[0015]
The print data includes a margin portion that is upper and lower margin portions (non-print portion) in one page and an image portion (print portion) for printing an image, characters, and the like excluding the margin portion.
[0016]
The printer initialization command is a command for initializing the printer such as initialization of the reception buffer. The print condition setting command is a command for setting print conditions such as printer resolution, number of printed sheets, paper feed tray selection, paper type, enlargement / reduction (scale), and the like. Therefore, the enlargement / reduction command is included in this print condition setting command.
[0017]
The print start position movement command includes a vertical direction move command for moving the print start position of the image portion of the print data in the vertical direction, and a horizontal direction for moving the print start position of the image portion of the print data in the horizontal direction. Consists of move commands. However, if the “print start position is not changed” check box, which will be described later, is checked, an image enlargement / reduction command for enlarging / reducing only the image portion of the print data is added before the vertical movement command. Note that the print start position movement command is always added before print data.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows that the printer setting tab is selected on the screen displayed on the host computer 4 when the user interface (program) of the device driver for the printer according to the present invention installed in the host computer 4 is started. It's time.
[0019]
In this printer setting, the enlargement / reduction ratio of the print data is input and set in the “scaling” portion of the layout (in FIG. 3, 120% enlargement is input). If you check the “Do not change print start position” portion of the layout, the print start position after enlargement / reduction will not be changed. If the check is removed, the print start position after enlargement / reduction will also be displayed in the same way as before. The setting is changed according to the setting. The former is effective when only the image portion of the print data is to be enlarged / reduced, and the latter is effective when the paper size is changed and printed at the same position.
[0020]
Based on these settings, each command shown in FIG. 2 is created and appended before the print data. For example, if “Do not change print start position” is checked, an enlargement / reduction command is added only to the image before the vertical movement command of the print start position movement command shown in FIG. 2, and “Print start position is not changed”. If is not checked, the enlargement / reduction command for only the image is not added.
[0021]
Here, the case where the setting of whether to change the enlargement / reduction ratio and the print start position is set by the user interface of the device driver for the printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the application (program) of the host computer is not necessarily limited thereto. It may be set or may be set by the operation panel 6 of the printer.
[0022]
Here, the operation from when the printer receives print data until it is actually printed will be described.
Information necessary for the printing processing operation and information to be actually printed are changed to data (command data, print data, etc.) that can be understood by the printer by the host computer 4 and received from the printer interface 3. Commands and print data received from the interface 3 are temporarily stored in the reception buffer of the RAM 5, analyzed by a part of the program of the ROM 2, the print data is expanded into video data, and stored again in the memory area of the RAM 5. Is done. At this time, the HDD 7 may be used instead of the RAM 5.
[0023]
The received command and print data are analyzed in accordance with a predetermined program processing method according to the initial setting in the printer. This initial setting is determined by a command from the host computer 4 or an operation from the operation panel 6 of the printer. It can be changed. When the processed print data (video data) stored in the RAM 5 or HDD 7 can start printing, the print data (video data) is transferred to the printer engine 11 via the video interface 9 under the control of the dedicated controller 8. As a result, the printer engine 11 prints on the paper based on the print data (video data).
[0024]
The CPU 1 performs the above processing based on print control as shown in FIG.
First, the CPU 1 waits for data reception from the host computer 4 in ST (step) 1. If it is determined in ST1 that data has been received, it is determined from the data analysis result whether the data received in ST2 is command data.
[0025]
If it is determined that the data received in ST2 is command data, it is determined in ST3 whether the command is an enlargement / reduction (scale) command of a printing condition setting command or a print start position shift. If it is determined that the command received in ST3 is an enlargement / reduction (scale) command, the enlargement / reduction ratio is stored (set) in the RAM 5 in ST4, and the process returns to ST1.
[0026]
If it is determined in ST3 that the command received is not an enlargement / reduction command, it is determined in ST5 whether or not the received command is an enlargement / reduction command for only an image portion. If it is determined in ST5 that only the image portion is an enlargement / reduction command, the scaling flag 5a is set only in the image portion of the RAM 5 in ST6 (setting means), and the process returns to ST1.
[0027]
If it is determined in ST5 that the command received is not an image portion enlargement / reduction command, it is determined in ST7 whether the received command is a print position movement command, that is, a vertical movement command or a horizontal movement command. If it is determined in ST7 that the received command is not a print position movement command, the corresponding command is processed in ST8, and the process returns to ST1.
[0028]
If it is determined in ST7 that the received command is a print position movement command, it is determined in ST9 whether the scaling flag 5a is set only for the image portion. If it is determined in ST9 that only the image portion has the scaling flag 5a set, the process proceeds to ST11. If it is determined that only the image portion has the scaling flag 5a not set, the enlargement stored in the RAM 5 in ST10. The movement amount of the print start position corresponding to the reduction magnification is calculated, and the process proceeds to ST11.
[0029]
In ST11, the print start position of the enlarged / reduced print data is determined, and the process returns to ST1. That is, when the scaling flag 5a is not set only for the image portion, the print start position is determined based on the print start position movement amount depending on the enlargement / reduction ratio. Thereby, the movement amount of the left margin portion (left margin) in the horizontal direction and the line feed amount in the upper margin portion (upper margin) in the vertical direction are changed according to the enlargement / reduction magnification stored in the RAM 5.
[0030]
On the other hand, when the scaling flag 5a is set only for the image portion, the printing start position is determined without depending on the enlargement / reduction ratio. The output start position of the portion (image portion) excluding the margin portion of the print data before enlargement or reduction is determined as it is as the print start position of the print data after enlargement or reduction (control means). Thereby, the movement amount of the left margin portion (left margin) in the horizontal direction and the line feed amount in the upper margin portion (upper margin) in the vertical direction are not changed.
[0031]
If it is determined that the data received in ST2 is not command data, it is determined whether the data received in ST12 is print data. If it is determined that the data received in ST12 is not print data, the print control is terminated. If it is determined that the data received in ST12 is print data, whether or not the enlargement / reduction ratio has been set in ST13. Judging. That is, it is determined whether or not the enlargement / reduction magnification is stored in the RAM 5.
[0032]
If it is determined in ST13 that the enlargement / reduction ratio has not been set, the process proceeds to ST15. If it is determined that the enlargement / reduction ratio has been set, the enlargement / reduction ratio stored in the RAM 5 is read in ST14. The process proceeds to ST15.
[0033]
Then, the print data received in ST15 is processed (control means), and the process proceeds to ST1. That is, when the enlargement / reduction ratio is not set, the print data is expanded as it is into video data and transferred to the printer engine 11 through the video interface 9 under the control of the dedicated controller 8. As a result, the printer engine 11 performs printing on the paper based on the print data (video data).
[0034]
On the other hand, if the enlargement / reduction ratio is set, the print data is enlarged / reduced based on the enlargement / reduction ratio read from the RAM 5 in ST14.
[0035]
The video data is developed so that the image portion is printed from the printing start position determined in ST11. That is, the print data is enlarged / reduced according to the enlargement / reduction ratio for the vertical line feed amount, but the horizontal movement amount indicating the left margin (left margin) is not dependent on the enlargement / reduction ratio. Enlarge / reduce. The developed video data is transferred to the printer engine 11 via the video interface 9 under the control of the dedicated controller 8. As a result, the printer engine 11 performs printing on the paper based on the print data (video data).
[0036]
In the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, when the enlargement / reduction magnification is set and enlargement / reduction is set only for the image portion, the processing of the enlargement / reduction command is performed for the image of the print data. The part is enlarged / reduced based on the enlargement / reduction ratio, and the print start position is determined so that the margin part of the print data does not depend on the enlargement / reduction ratio for the processing of the print start position movement command, Since the video data is expanded, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the image portion of the print data enlarged or reduced is printed from the print start position before the enlargement / reduction.
[0037]
As a result, when the print data is enlarged / reduced, only that portion of the print data excluding the margin portion (image portion) can be enlarged / reduced without changing the print start position. Therefore, since the print start position does not change, it is possible to obtain a print result of an image in which only the image portion is enlarged or reduced in appearance.
[0038]
Also, since the print start position does not change, the range that can be expanded within the printable area of the printer can be expanded. For example, although the enlargement magnification shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, the print start position is not moved, so that the enlarged image portion does not protrude the printable area.
Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the troublesome operation of the margin portion when enlarging / reducing only the image portion.
[0039]
In this embodiment, the output device is a printer and enlargement / reduction processing is performed on the printer side. However, the output device is the host computer 4 or printer device driver side, and the host computer 4 side or printer device driver side. The enlargement / reduction processing may be performed with
[0040]
Note that when enlargement processing is performed on the host computer 4 side or the printer driver side, the print data increases. Therefore, it is common that a large number of computers share one printer, particularly via a LAN (local area network). In recent office environments, the print data expansion process is not performed on the host computer side or the printer driver side in order to perform printing efficiently within the limited network bandwidth, but the communication time can be shortened by performing it on the printer side. Can be planned.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the print data is enlarged / reduced, only the image portion is enlarged / changed without changing the print start position of the portion (image portion) excluding the margin portion of the print data. Can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to widen the range that can be enlarged within the output possible region, and it is possible to reduce the troublesome operation of the margin portion when enlarging / reducing only the image portion.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure of data received by the printer in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a screen displayed on the host computer 4 when a user interface of the printer device driver is started in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing print control performed by the CPU shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printing result before and after enlargement when only an image portion of print data is enlarged in the printer according to the embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing result before and after reduction when only the image portion of the print data is reduced in the printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a printing result before and after enlargement when print data is enlarged in a conventional printer.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating print results before and after reduction when print data is reduced in a conventional printer.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... CPU
2 ... ROM
3 ... Interface 4 ... Host computer 5 ... RAM
5a Scaling flag (F) only for image part
6 ... Operation panel 8 ... Dedicated controller 9 ... Video interface 11 ... Printer engine

Claims (13)

In an output device having a function of enlarging or reducing print data,
Setting means for setting execution or non-execution of enlargement or reduction of only the image part excluding the margin part of the print data;
When execution of enlargement or reduction of only the image part excluding the margin part is set by the setting means, the print data is enlarged or reduced and output of only the image part of the print data after enlargement or reduction is started. Control means for determining the position at the same position as the print start position of only the image portion before enlargement or reduction of the print data;
An output device characterized by comprising: The output device according to claim 1.
The control device does not change a margin amount of a margin portion when enlargement or reduction of only an image portion excluding a margin portion of print data is set by the setting portion. The output device according to claim 1 or 2,
An output device characterized in that the margin portion is outside the printable area. In an output device having a function of enlarging or reducing print data,
Change setting means for setting whether or not to change the print start position of the print data; and
Setting means for setting a magnification for setting an enlargement or reduction magnification of the print data;
Wherein the changing setting means, when the non-implementation of the change of the print start position is set, enlargement or reduction of the setting of only the image portion excluding the marginal portions of the print data is permitted, the print data Control means for enlarging or reducing at a set magnification, and determining the print start position before enlargement or reduction of only the image portion as the print start position after enlargement or reduction as it is,
An output device characterized by comprising: The output device according to claim 4 , wherein
When the enlargement or reduction magnification of only the image portion of the print data is set by the setting means for setting the enlargement or reduction, the margin amount of the margin portion of the print data depends on the enlargement or reduction magnification. An output device characterized by not changing. The output device according to claim 4, wherein
When the change setting unit has set the execution of the print start position , the control unit prints the print data obtained by enlarging or reducing the margin portion and the image portion of the print data at a set magnification. An output device that newly determines a print start position of image data based on the image data . In an output device having a function of enlarging or reducing print data,
Change setting means for setting whether or not to change the print start position of the print data;
If the change setting unit is set to not change the print start position, only the image portion excluding the margin portion of the print data is enlarged or reduced, and the change setting unit performs printing. An output device characterized in that when execution of a change of the start position is set, both the margin portion and the image portion of the print data are enlarged or reduced . In an output device having a function of enlarging or reducing print data transmitted from a host computer,
If the print data received from the host computer is set not to change the print start position, and if enlargement or reduction of only the image portion excluding the margin portion is set, the received print data is There is provided control means for enlarging or reducing and controlling the printing start position of only the image portion of the print data after enlargement or reduction to coincide with the printing start position of only the image portion before enlargement or reduction of the print data An output device characterized by that. The output device according to claim 8 , wherein
The output device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not change a margin amount of the margin portion when an enlargement or reduction ratio of only the image portion of the received print data is set. The output device according to claim 8 , wherein
The control means further changes the print start position of the image portion in accordance with the magnification of the print data when the print start position is changed in the received print data. An output device characterized by. Set the implementation of enlargement or reduction of only the image portion excluding the marginal portions of the print data,
Then, enlarging or reducing the print data based on the setting,
Subsequently, the output start position of only the image part of the print data after enlargement or reduction is determined to be the same position as the print start position of only the image part before enlargement or reduction of the print data,
An output method characterized by outputting print data according to this determination. Set the non-implementation of the change of the print start position of the print data,
With this setting, the setting of enlargement or reduction of only the image part excluding the margin part of the print data is allowed,
The print data is enlarged or reduced based on the allowance of the enlargement or reduction setting, and the output start position of only the image portion of the print data after enlargement or reduction is set to the image portion before the enlargement of the print data or before the reduction. Is determined at the same position as the print start position ,
An output method characterized by outputting print data according to this determination. If the print start position is not changed in the received print data and enlargement or reduction of only the image part excluding the margin part is set, the received print data is enlarged or reduced and The print start position of only the image portion of the print data after reduction is determined to be the same position as the print start position of only the image portion before enlargement or reduction of the print data ,
An output method characterized by outputting print data according to this determination.

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