JPH08197786A - Image forming method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image forming apparatus min. in the capacity of a memory means for storing image data. CONSTITUTION: An image forming apparatus is equipped with input parts 102, 109, 103 inputting image data and the time erasing the image data, a memory part 111 storing the image data and the erasing time thereof, a present time measuring part 121 and erasing parts 103, 109 erasing the image data stored in the memory part 111 when the present time measured by the present time measuring part 121 becomes equal to or larger than the erasing time stored in the memory part 111.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming method and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly to a storage control method of image data for forming an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are the following conventional printer devices. There are only two methods for registering data such as forms, fonts, macro data, etc .: permanent registration that is not deleted even when the power is turned off and primary registration that is deleted when the power is turned off.

[0003]

However, the conventional printer device has the following problems because it has only two registration methods, permanent registration and primary registration, as means for registering data. (1) If the data used when re-registering the power supply is the primary registration data, it cannot be used.

(2) If only permanent registration data is used, the memory in the printer will be pressed. The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method and an apparatus thereof in which the capacity of a storage unit for storing image information is minimum.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming method and apparatus of the present invention have the following constitutions. That is, input means for inputting image information and a time for erasing the image information, storage means for storing the image information and an erasing time for erasing the image information, current time measuring means for measuring a current time, and current time And an erasing means for erasing the image information stored in the storage means when the current time measured by the time measuring means is equal to or larger than the erasing time stored in the storage means.

Another aspect of the present invention is an input step of inputting image information and a time for erasing the image information, a storage step of storing the image information and an erasing time for erasing the image information in a storage means, and If the current time measuring step of measuring time and the current time measured in the current time measuring step are equal to or larger than the erase time stored in the storage means in the storing step, the storing in the storing step is performed. An erasing step of erasing the image information stored in the means.

[0007]

In the above structure, the input means inputs the image information and the time to erase the image information, the storage means stores the image information and the erase time to erase the image information, and the present time measuring means. However, if the erasing means measures the current time and the current time measured by the current time measuring means is equal to or larger than the erasing time stored in the storage means, the image stored in the storage means Erase information.

Another aspect of the invention is to input the image information and the time for erasing the image information, store the image information and the erasing time for erasing the image information in a storage means, measure the current time, and When the measured current time is equal to or larger than the erase time stored in the storage means, the image information stored in the storage means is erased.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a controller unit in the laser beam printer of this embodiment. The laser beam printer according to the present embodiment includes a reception buffer 102 that receives image data and commands from a host computer 101 and temporarily holds them, as shown in FIG. Receive buffer 1
02 holds image data and commands stored in the CPU 10.
9 is input.

In response to the input command, the CPU 109 executes processing for image data based on a control program stored in the ROM 103. R
The control program stored in the OM 103 includes a command analysis program 104, a drawing memory creation program 105, a rasterization processing program 106, and a degraded rasterization processing program 107.

The drawing memory creation program 105 is a program for creating a drawing object from the received image data and storing the created drawing object in the drawing memory 112 of the RAM 111. The rasterization processing program 106 rasterizes the drawing object stored in the drawing memory 112, and RA
This is a program for storing the band in the band rasterizing memory 113 of M111 in units of bands. Here, rasterization refers to a process of expanding various drawing objects (font, graphics, etc.) into desired bitmap data.

Degradation rasterization processing program 1
Reference numeral 07 is a program for rasterizing the drawing object stored in the drawing memory 112 after being processed by the resolution conversion unit 108 and storing the rasterized band in the degraded band rasterization memory 114 of the RAM 111 in units of bands. Here, the term "degrade" means to reduce the resolution of the drawing object and perform rasterization when the bitmap data that has been rasterized and expanded cannot be stored in a band.

The resolution conversion unit 108 converts the resolution of a drawing object when it is created. R
A drawing object created based on the drawing memory creation program 105 is stored in the drawing memory 112 of the AM 111. The image data that has been subjected to predetermined processing by the CPU 109 is sent to the engine transfer unit 110. Then, the engine transfer unit 110 transfers the sent image data to an engine unit, which will be described later, that prints on the print medium.

The panel i / f unit 115 performs interface processing between the CPU 109 and a panel unit (not shown) for inputting various commands and data. Next, the operation of the laser beam printer in this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller unit (FIG. 1) of the laser beam printer.

In step S201, a registration command from the host computer 101 is input to make various preparations for registering the form. Here, the form indicates a background image pattern of a screen to be printed. In step S202, the registration method of the form is input from the host computer 101.

In step S203, the entered registration method is checked. If it is permanent registration or primary registration, the process proceeds to step S208 and the host computer 10
The form transferred from 1 is stored in the form memory 120 of the RAM 111, and the process ends. If it is semi-permanent registration, the process proceeds to step S204. Step S20
In 4, the form deletion date is input from the panel 115 or the host computer 101 and stored in the RAM 111.

In step S205, it is checked whether or not the setting of the deletion date of the input form has been changed.
If there is any change, the process returns to step S204, the form deletion date is re-input, and the contents of the RAM 111 are changed and stored. If there is no change, the process proceeds to step S206. In step S206, the current date is input from the date timer and compared with the form deletion date set in the 121RAM 111. If the current date is past the form deletion date, step S2
Proceed to 07. On the contrary, if not too much, step S20
Return to 5.

In step S207, the stored form is deleted from the form memory. Although the drawing data memory is the RAM in the present embodiment, basically any type of memory may be used as long as it is a rewritable memory. Next, the configuration of the engine unit of the laser beam printer will be described below. [Description of Engine Unit of Laser Beam Printer] The configuration of the engine unit of the laser beam printer to which this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) of the embodiment.
The BP can register the character pattern transferred from the engine transfer unit in FIG. 1 and the affiliation form (form data 9). In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores print information (character code, etc.) supplied from an externally connected host computer, form information, macro commands, etc., and responds in accordance with those information. A character pattern, a form pattern, etc. are created, and an image is formed on a recording medium which is a recording medium. 300
Is an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 101 is a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 100 and analyzing character information supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 101 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 102.

The laser driver 102 is the semiconductor laser 10.
3 is a circuit for driving the laser beam 3, and the laser beam 1 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 according to the input video signal.
Switch 04 on / off. This laser beam 104 is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 105, and the electrostatic drum
06 is exposed by scanning. As a result, the electrostatic drum 106
An electrostatic latent image of a character pattern will be formed on the top. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 107 arranged around the electrostatic drum 106, and then transferred to a recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 108 mounted on the LBP 100, and a sheet feeding roller 109 and a conveying roller 110
11 and the electrostatic drum 10 is taken into the apparatus.
6. Although the printer device is a laser beam printer in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and is an inkjet printer, a dot matrix printer, a thermal transfer printer (including a sublimation type), an LE.
It goes without saying that it can be applied to a D printer, a liquid crystal shutter printer, and the like. The configuration of the inkjet printer will be described below. <Schematic Description of Apparatus Main Body> FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an inkjet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has pins (not shown). Then, it is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. 500
A paper pressing plate 2 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. 5007,50
Reference numeral 08 denotes a photo coupler, which is home position detecting means for confirming the presence of the lever 5006 of the carriage in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head.
The suction recovery of the recording head is performed via. Reference numeral 5017 is a cleaning blade, and 5019 is a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by a main body support plate 5018. Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Reference numeral 5012 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which is a cam 50 that engages with the carriage.
The movement of the driving motor is controlled by movement of the driving force of the driving motor by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example. <Description of Control Configuration> Next, a control configuration for executing the recording control of the above-described apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure showing the control circuit, 1
Reference numeral 700 denotes an interface for inputting a recording signal, 170
Reference numeral 1 is an MPU, 1702 is a program ROM for storing a control program executed by the MPU 1701, and 1703 is a dynamic ROM for storing various data (the above-mentioned recording signals and recording data supplied to the head).
A gate array 1704 controls the supply of print data to the print head 1708.
It also controls data transfer between the 700, MPU 1701, and RAM 1703. Reference numeral 1710 is a carrier motor for carrying the recording head 1708, and 1709 is a carrying motor for carrying the recording paper. Reference numeral 1705 is a head driver for driving the head, and 1706 and 1707 are motor drivers for driving the carry motor 1709 and the carrier motor 1710, respectively.

The operation of the above control structure will be described. When a recording signal is input to the interface 1700, the gate array 1
A recording signal is converted between the 704 and the MPU 1701 to print data for printing. And the motor driver 1
The recording heads 706 and 1707 are driven, and the recording head is driven according to the recording data sent to the head driver 1705 to perform printing.

It is obvious that the constituent elements of the present invention can be incorporated in the control structure of the ink jet printer as described above, and the present invention can be applied not only to the laser beam printer but also to the above ink jet printer and the like. The present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to the printer apparatus of the present embodiment, the registration data is semi-permanently registered, whereby it is possible to prevent the registration data from accumulating and pressing the memory in the printer. .

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the capacity of the storage means for storing image information can be minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a controller unit in a laser beam printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of form registration and deletion processing in the laser beam printer according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an engine unit of the laser beam printer of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an inkjet printer of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a control configuration for executing print control of the inkjet printer of the present embodiment.

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting image information and a time for erasing the image information, a storage unit for storing the image information and an erasing time for erasing the image information, and a current time measuring unit for measuring a current time. And erasing means for erasing the image information stored in the storage means when the current time measured by the current time measuring means is equal to or larger than the erasing time stored in the storage means. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is image data for forming an image. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image data is background image data for forming an image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is information specifying a format of image data to be image-formed. 5. The recording head for recording an image on a recording medium is further provided, and the recording head is an inkjet recording head for recording by ejecting ink.
The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 6. The recording head is a recording head that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is an inkjet recording head that includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. Item 5
The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 7. The recording head according to claim 6, wherein the thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter causes a state change in the ink, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port based on the state change. The image forming apparatus described. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a laser beam printer of a type that forms an image using laser light. 9. An input step of inputting image information and a time to erase the image information, a storage step of storing the image information and an erase time to erase the image information in a storage means, and a current time measuring step. If the time measuring step and the present time measured in the present time measuring step are equal to or larger than the erasing time stored in the storing means in the storing step, they are stored in the storing means in the storing step. And an erasing step of erasing the image information. 10. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the image information is image data for forming an image. 11. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein the image data is background image data for forming an image. 12. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the image information is information specifying a format of image data to be image-formed. 13. The image forming step of forming an image by using a recording head for recording an image on a recording medium, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head for recording by ejecting ink. The image forming method described in 1 .. 14. The recording head is a recording head that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is an inkjet recording head that includes a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 14. The image forming method according to Item 13. 15. The recording head according to claim 14, wherein the thermal energy applied by the thermal energy converter causes a state change in the ink, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port based on the state change. The image forming method described. 16. The image forming method according to claim 9, wherein the image forming method is a laser beam printer of a type that forms an image using laser light.