Abstract:
A user interface for a media processing apparatus is adapted to process image receiving media so as to determine a physical configuration of a media sheet. The user interface includes a screen, a controller adapted to receive image data specifying an image to be received on a sheet and to control the screen so as to display a preview showing the sheet with the image received thereon, an input section adapted to input preview editing commands, and an output section adapted to output set commands for the media processing apparatus. The controller is adapted to derive the set commands from the preview editing commands.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Application No. 12198048.6, filed in Europe on Dec. 19, 2012, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a user interface for a media processing apparatus adapted to process image receiving media so as to determine a physical configuration of a media sheet. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Background Art 
         [0005]    The media processing apparatus may, for example, comprise one or more reels on which the image receiving media are stored in the form of endless webs with different widths. Then, the apparatus will further comprise a drive mechanism for selectively driving the reels so as to pay out the desired web, and a cutting mechanism for cutting off a sheet with a desired length. The sheet may then be set to a print engine for printing an image thereon. 
         [0006]    Another example of a media processing apparatus to which the present invention is applicable is a folding machine that is used for folding a sheet in accordance with a certain folding pattern. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a user interface that facilitates the input of setting instructions that determine the physical configuration, e.g. the size or the folding pattern, of the media sheets. 
         [0008]    In order to achieve this object, the user interface according to the present invention comprises a screen; a controller adapted to receive image data specifying an image to be received on a sheet and to control the screen so as to display a preview showing the sheet with the image received thereon; an input section adapted to input preview editing commands; and an output section adapted to output set commands for the media processing apparatus, wherein the controller is adapted to derive the set commands from the preview editing commands. 
         [0009]    User interfaces capable of displaying a preview of an image to be printed are known already for printers that print on pre-cut media sheets in standard formats. Some of these user interfaces also offer a possibility to edit the preview, e.g. by scaling or rotating the image to be printed. 
         [0010]    Whereas, in the known user interfaces, the preview editing commands are used for determining the appearance of the image to be printed, the present invention proposes to use preview editing commands for determining the physical configuration of the media sheets. This offers a very easy and intuitive way of entering the settings for the media processing apparatus. 
         [0011]    The input section of the controller may comprise conventional input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse for controlling the position of a cursor on the screen, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the screen is a touch-sensitive screen, and the input section processes commands that are entered by touching the screen with one or more fingers and moving the finger or fingers over the screen, as is well known for touch screens of smart phones. In any case, the user may employ familiar input techniques for activating certain elements of the preview, e.g. an edge or a corner of the media sheet, and may change the physical configuration, e.g. the size of the sheet, by moving that element over the screen. The controller will translate these operations into set commands which determine the appropriate settings of the media processing apparatus, e.g. a command selecting a reel with an appropriate width and/or determining the cut position of the cutting mechanism. 
         [0012]    In another mode of operation, the width and/or length of the sheet may be determined implicitly by the size of the image to be printed. Then, the user may scale or rotate the image in the preview, and the size of the sheet will automatically adapt to the resulting size and posture of the image, possibly with the addition of blank edge margins or strips, the size of which may also be configured graphically on the preview screen. 
         [0013]    When the user has selected a mode of operation in which the size of the sheet is determined directly by manipulating the edges of the sheet, a manipulation of the image in the preview may have the effect that the image is moved relative to the sheet. In this mode of operation, the user may also select an option to scale the image such that it fits into the selected size of the sheet. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the controller is also adapted to show predefined standard formats for the sheet on the preview screen. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the user may select an option causing the edges of the sheet to snap-in at the sizes corresponding to the standard formats, so that an explicit or implicit manipulation of the sheet size by editing commands of the user causes the size of the sheet (in at least one dimension) to jump to the standard format that fits best to the input of the user. 
         [0015]    When the media processing apparatus is formed by or comprises a folding apparatus, the concepts outlined above apply equivalently to settings concerning the positions of fold lines that will be displayed on the preview screen. 
         [0016]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0017]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a printer having a media processing apparatus and a user interface according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a media storage section of the media processing apparatus, as seen in the direction of arrows II-II in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3 to 12  are simplified screen shots of a screen of the user interface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    As is shown in  FIG. 1 , an ink jet printer  10  and has a frame  12  (shown in phantom lines) which accommodates a media processing apparatus  14  adapted to feed a sheet  16  of a print medium (paper) to a print station  18  on the top side of the frame  12 . In the print station  18 , the sheet  16  is sucked against a flat top surface of a perforated sheet support plate  20  by means of a vacuum system. A carriage  22  is arranged to travel back and forth across the sheet  16  in the direction normal to the plane of the drawing in  FIG. 1  and carries at its bottom side a number of ink jet print heads  24  facing the sheet  16 . Thus, by energizing the print heads  24 , a swath of an image is printed in each pass of the carriage  22 . Then, the sheet  16  is advanced by a step of appropriate length in a direction indicated by an arrow A, so that the next swath can be printed. A discharge mechanism  26  discharges the sheet onto a tray  28  which, in the example shown, accommodates already a printed sheet  30 . 
         [0022]    The media processing apparatus  14  comprises three pairs of reels  32   a,    32   b,    32   c,  each providing a supply of printing paper in the form of an endless web  34 . The pairs of reels are arranged in three levels, and the web  34  from each reel is drawn-off by means of a respectively associated pair of transport rollers  36 . An arrangement of guide plates  38  defines a branched system of narrow feed paths  40 , which merge into a common feed path  42 . The transport rollers  36  are selectively driven to feed the web  34  from a selected one of the reels  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  to the common feed path  42 . It will be understood that the reels  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  may contain paper of different qualities and possibly also non-paper recording media such as plastic films or the like. 
         [0023]    From the common feed path  42 , the selected web is guided past a cutting mechanism  44  for cutting the web to the desired sheet length, and then the cut sheet  16  is guided over a system of deflection and tensioning rollers  46  and guide plates  48  to a feed roller  50  from which it is paid out onto the sheet support plate  20 . 
         [0024]    A user interface comprises a screen  52 , a touch screen in this example, and an interface controller  54  that has an input section  56  ( FIG. 2 ) connected to the screen  52  and an output section  58  connected to a sheet processing and print controller  60 . 
         [0025]    The media processing and print controller  60  controls a number of drive motors for the transport rollers  36  as well as the cutting mechanism  44 , and it further controls the print station  18 . 
         [0026]    From the output section  58 , the media processing and print controller  60  receives set commands which specify the width and the length of the sheet  16 . 
         [0027]    As is further shown in  FIG. 2 , the reels  32   a,    32   b,    32   c  have different widths. The two reels  32   a  in the top level accommodate a web with a width of about 210 mm, corresponding to the format A5-landscape and A4-portrait. The reels  32   b  accommodate webs with a width of approximately 420 mm corresponding to A3-landscape and A2-portrait. The reels  32   c  accommodate webs with a width of about 840 mm, corresponding to A1-landscape and A0-portrait. Thus, by controlling the print station  18  to print the image in an appropriate orientation, it is possible to cover all standard formats from A5 to A0. 
         [0028]    Dependent upon the set commands received from the output section  58 , the media processing and print controller  60  controls the drive motors for the transport rollers  36  that are associated with the reel that has the desired width. Further, the controller  60  controls the length of the web that is paid out before the web is stopped and the cutting mechanism  44  is activated. In this way, the length of the sheet  16  can be set to a value specified by the set command. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a screenshot of the screen  52  showing a preview  62  of an image  64  to be printed in association with an outline of the sheet  16 . Further, the preview includes a vertical line representing a cut line  66  along which the web will be cut by the cutting mechanism  44  in accordance with the current settings. Thus, the horizontal direction in  FIG. 3  is the lengthwise direction of the web, and the vertical dimension of the sheet  16  in  FIG. 3  corresponds to the width of the web. 
         [0030]    In the example shown, the image  64  does not fit into the area of the sheet  16 , so that the size of the sheet should be increased. In order to effect a corresponding change of the settings, the user may tip with his finger onto the position of the left edge of the sheet  16  or alternatively onto the cut line  66  in the preview. As a result, the edge and the cut line, respectively, are activated. This has been symbolized here by highlighting the left edge of the sheet  16  as a bold line. Then, as is symbolized by an arrow in  FIG. 3 , the user may move his finger to the left over the touch screen, whereupon the controller  54  animates a movement of the cut line  64  to the left. The result is shown in  FIG. 4 . When the user lifts his finger off the screen in this position, the cut line  66  will be set to the position shown in  FIG. 4 , and the cut sheet will accordingly have a greater length. 
         [0031]    In addition, as is shown in  FIG. 4 , the controller determines the position of the leftmost point of the image  64  and quantitatively indicates the distance between the cut line  66  and the boundary of the image  64  (45 mm in this example) so as to make it easier for the user to set the width of a blank strip at the leading edge of the sheet. As an alternative or in addition, although not shown in the drawings, the total width and length of the sheet  16  may be displayed. 
         [0032]    In the example shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the user has further specified a blank strip with a width of 10 mm at the leading edge of the sheet  16 . Accordingly, the image  64  has automatically been positioned such that the rightmost boundary of the image coincides with a strip line  68  that indicates the width of the trailing strip. When a user wants to change the width of the trailing strip, the procedure is analogous to the one for shifting the cut line  66 , i.e. the strip line  68  is activated with a finger tip and then moved horizontally across the screen to the desired new position. The position of the image  64  will adapt automatically, so that the user may then re-adjust the cut line  66 , if necessary. 
         [0033]    Optionally, the target positions of the cut line  66  for standard formats of the sheet  16  may also be displayed in the preview, as has been shown in  FIG. 5 . In this example, the user has further ticked (checked) an option “snap to standard” (activated by a finger tip on the corresponding tick box). This option causes the controller  54  to accept only standard sheet formats. For example, when the user has moved the cut line  66  to the position shown in  FIG. 5 , which is slightly beyond the mark for A4, then the cut line will automatically jump to a position  66 ′ that corresponds to the next larger standard format A3. 
         [0034]    In an alternative embodiment, the snap function may be implemented such that the cut line  66 , when moved with the finger tip of the user, will always snap-in at the mark (e.g. A4 or A3) which is closest to the finger tip of the user. However, the reason for shifting the cut line  66  at all will normally be that the image  64  does not fit into the area of the sheet, so that the sheet must be made larger. Thus, it is more convenient that the cut line jumps to the next larger standard format as soon as it has been moved beyond the mark for the smaller format. 
         [0035]    As has been illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a similar snap function is implemented for the width of the sheet  16 , i.e. the vertical dimension in the drawing. In this example, the width of the sheet  16  had initially been set to 210 mm, which is too small to accommodate the image  64 . In order to increase the width of the sheet, the user may for example tip onto the top or bottom edge of the sheet, with the result that both edges are activated (symbolized by bold lines in  FIG. 6 ). Then, when the user moves his finger upward as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 6 , the top edge will move upwards whereas the bottom edge moves downwards, and the width of the sheet  16  will automatically snap-in at the next available standard width which is 420 mm in this example. The reason for moving the top and bottom edge of the sheet  16  simultaneously and mirror-symmetrically is that, in this example, the default position of the image  64  is a position in which it is centered in height onto the horizontal (lengthwise) center line of the sheet. 
         [0036]    In a modified embodiment, the bottom edge of the sheet  16  (in the drawing) may be kept stationary, so that only the top edge can be moved in order to adjust the width of the sheet. Then, the controller may automatically animate a movement of the image  64  by a distance corresponding to one half of the displacement of the top sheet edge, so as to keep the image in the vertical center position of the sheet, thereby increasing the likelihood that the image will fit into the area of the sheet. 
         [0037]    It will be observed that, in  FIG. 6 , the option “snap to standard” has not been ticked (checked). It is convenient that the snap function for the width dimension of the sheet is always active, because, unlike the length of the sheet, the width cannot be selected freely, but is limited to the available widths of the webs on the reels  32   a,    32   b,    32   c.    
         [0038]      FIG. 7  shows the result of the increase of the width of the sheet  16 . It can be seen that, in this example, the image  64  still does not fit into the area of the sheet  16  because the length of the sheet (horizontal dimension in  FIG. 7 ) is too small. One remedy would be to move the cut line  66  to the left, as has been explained before. As an alternative, it could be tested whether the image would fit into the area of the sheet if it is rotated by 90°. In order to perform such a rotation of the image relative to the sheet, the user only needs to press with his finger onto a point  70 , which corresponds to the top left corner of the sheet  16 . This will cause the controller to automatically animate a rotation and re-centering of the image  64  as has been indicated in dashed lines in  FIG. 7 . It can be seen that the rotated image does indeed fit into the area of the sheet. 
         [0039]    In order to command a rotation of the image by 180°, the user would have to press onto the top left corner of the sheet  16  in  FIG. 7 , and in order to perform a 90° rotation in an opposite direction, he would have to press onto the bottom left corner of the sheet in  FIG. 7 . Generally, the image will always be rotated (in steps of 90°) such that the corner on which the user has pressed will be the bottom right corner of the image (the corner where normally the legend is found in technical drawings). 
         [0040]    Of course, the user may also command free rotations of the image  64  about any angle as well as movements of the image relative to the sheet  16  in the usual way, i.e. by activating the image (tipping with the finger into the image area) and then moving the finger over the desired distance in the desired direction or gesturing a rotation about the desired angle by rotating two finger tips on the touch screen. Similarly, the image  64  may be scaled by spreading the two finger tips after the image has been activated (similar to scaling a map on a smartphone). In the modes of operation that have been described so far, such manipulations of the image  64  will have no effect on the configuration of the sheet  16 . 
         [0041]    Other useful gestures involve a wiping movement with the finger over the screen. For example, if the user wants to align the leftmost boundary of the image with the cut line  66  (if no strip line has been defined for that edge of the sheet), then he may simply wipe with his finger to the left. As another example, if the user has moved the image  64  to the center of the sheet  16  in  FIG. 4 , and he wants to re-align the rightmost boundary of the image with the strip line  68 , this may be achieved simply by wiping over the screen in the rightward direction. Analogously, vertical wiping movements may align the image with the upper or lower edge of the sheet  16 , and diagonal wipes may align a corner of a bounding rectangle of the image  64  with the corresponding corner of the sheet (or the central part of the sheet, except the blank strips or margins, respectively). It will be understood that blank margins at the lengthwise edges of the sheet (top and bottom edges in the drawings) may be defined and configured in the same way as the strips at the leading and trailing edges. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 8 , the user has activated an option “synchro” by pressing onto an associated tick (check) box. This switches the controller  54  into a different mode of operation. In this mode, the movements of the cut line—and optionally also the changes of the sheet width—are synchronized with manipulations, especially scaling and rotation, of the image  64 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example where the user has defined strip lines  68  symmetrically for both the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet, in the manner that has been described before. Then, in the synchro-mode, the controller will automatically place the image  64  such that its right boundary coincides with the right strip line  68 , and the cut line  66  will automatically be placed such that its distance from the left strip line  68  corresponds to the specified strip width. Optionally, in this mode, the image  64  may automatically be centered onto the sheet  16  in a vertical direction, and the vertical dimension (width) of the sheet may automatically be selected such that it corresponds to the smallest web width in which the image  64  will fit. 
         [0044]    When, now, the user wants to rotate or scale the image  64 , he will activate the image by tipping with his finger into the image area. As a result, a highlighted (bold lines) bounding rectangle  72  for the image  64  will be shown, as has been illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Then, the user may command a scaling or rotation of the image with the usual two-finger gestures. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  illustrates a rotation of the image. It can be seen that the preview  62  automatically adapts such that the rightmost corner of the bounding rectangle  72  is kept on the right strip line  68 , whereas the cut line  66  is shifted so as to keep its distance from the left strip line  68 . 
         [0046]    In the example shown, the image  64  still fits into the width of the sheet  16  (although the bounding rectangle does not), so that the width of the sheet  16  does not need to be altered. If the image  64  exceeds beyond the top or bottom edge of the sheet  16 , a web with the next higher width would automatically be selected, and the image of the sheet  16  in the preview would be adapted accordingly. 
         [0047]    In an alternative embodiment, the controller  54  may be configured such that, instead of keeping the rightmost corner of the bounding rectangle  72  on the strip line  68  (or on the trailing edge of the sheet  16 ), it would be the rightmost point of the image  64  itself that is kept on this strip line or edge while the cut line  66  follows the position of the leftmost point of the image. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate an example where the image  64  is scaled rather than being rotated. As is common practice for technical drawings, the scale ratio (M1:10) of the drawing has been indicated (and will be printed) in the image. The user has activated the image and then spreads his fingers in diagonal direction as has been indicated by arrows in  FIG. 10  so as to enlarge the image  64 . Then, as is shown in  FIG. 11 , the preview  62  is automatically adapted such that the rightmost edge of the image  64  is kept on the strip line  68  and the cut line  66  keeps its distance from the left strip line  68 . Again, the width of the sheet  16  may also be adapted, if necessary. 
         [0049]    In the example shown, the print station  18  is further controlled such that the corrected scale ratio (M1:7.7 in this example) is automatically printed in the image. 
         [0050]    In the examples described in conjunction with  FIGS. 9 to 11 , it is a manipulation of the image  64  that controls the change of the configuration of the sheet  16 . However, the synchro-mode may also operate in the inverse direction. Then, the user activates and shifts the cut line  66  and/or the top and bottom edges of the sheet  16  as in  FIGS. 4 to 6 , and the image  64  will automatically be scaled such that it fits into the area of the sheet  16  (or the area left between the strip lines  68 , respectively). 
         [0051]    Further, it will be understood that the option (snap to standard) is also available in the synchro-mode, with the only reservation being that the widths of the strips that are delimited by the strip lines  68  must be understood as minimum widths. 
         [0052]      FIG. 12  is a screen shot for an example where the printer  10  is combined with a folding apparatus (not shown) that is also controlled by the media processing and print controller  60 . The preview  62  shown in  FIG. 12  includes the image  64  and the sheet  16  and, in addition, a pattern of fold lines  74 ,  76  and  78  overlaid on the screen. These fold lines indicate the lines along which the sheet  16  will be folded in the folding apparatus. In the example shown, the sheet would first be folded along a vertical fold line  74 , the folded package would then be folded along a horizontal fold line  76 , and, finally, this package would again be folded along fold lines  78  which, due to the first folding step, would be superposed one upon the other. As a default setting, the positions of the fold lines may be specified such that they divide the area of the sheet into a number of rectangles with equal shapes and equal sizes (if the sheet is of standard format) or, if the sheet is not of a standard format, into a number of rectangles with standard format and a remainder of smaller rectangles. 
         [0053]    Since the preview  62  shows the image  64  together with the fold lines  74 - 78 , the user may check whether a fold line or a crossing of fold lines would compromise the visibility or clarity of a critical detail in the image. Then, the user may choose to shift the image relative to the sheet and, accordingly, relative to the fold lines. In the present embodiment, however, the user also has the option to change the settings of the folding apparatus such that the fold lines are shifted relative to the sheet. The corresponding set commands are entered following the principles that have been described above for the positioning of the cut line and the strip lines. For example, in order to shift the main fold line  64  to the left, the user may activate this fold line on the touch screen and move it to the left as indicated by an arrow. In the same way, the horizontal fold line  76  may be moved upwardly or downwardly. In case of the fold lines  78 , the user may activate any of these and move it in the desired direction, with the consequence that the other fold line  78  will be moved symmetrically with respect to the main fold line  74 . 
         [0054]    The user may further change the configuration of the folded package by deleting fold lines. This may be done by activating the fold line to be deleted and then pressing a delete button (not shown) or by “whiping the fold line away.” 
         [0055]    Conversely, the user may change the folding pattern by adding fold lines. For example, when no fold lines are defined initially, the user may press a button  80  for adding a first vertical fold line  74  to be formed in a first folding step. If the folding apparatus is capable of making a plurality of parallel folds in one folding step (e.g. in leporello style), the button  80  may be pressed several times for adding a plurality of vertical first fold lines, which may then be positioned as desired. Similarly, a first horizontal fold line  76  may be added by pressing a button  82 . A button  84  will add fold lines  78  to be folded after the first vertical folds have been made, and a button  86  will add horizontal fold lines to be made after the first horizontal folding step(s) (fold line  76 ) has been made. 
         [0056]    In this embodiment, the “snap to standard” option may be used to assure that the folded package will be in a standard format. 
         [0057]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.