JPH10226117A - Printer and method for controlling printing thereby - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a method for controlling printing by the printer capable of readily performing the printing by a method wherein a removable external memory medium in which data made by a PC, an electric note, a digital camera or the like is stored is connected to the printer. SOLUTION: A printing controller 2 performs controlling of printing by transmitting printing data or only printing data having a printing request mark which is stored in a PC card 5 to a printing section body 1. A printing instruction script containing descriptions as to which printing data is to be transmitted to the printing section body and what sort of printing specification is used in the printing is read from the PC card 5 and the operation along the description is executed. When the printing data includes image information of a character, the image of the character is converted to a character code, the character code chain is stored in the PC card 5 and the data including the character code chain is transmitted to the printing section body 1, then the controlling of printing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing control method for the printing apparatus, and more particularly, to an interface (hereinafter abbreviated as I / F) for extending the function of a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC). ), Electronic organizer, digital camera, etc., and removable external storage media,
I / O provided to connect with a communication unit etc.
An I / F of the same standard as F is provided in the printing apparatus main body, and data created by a PC, an electronic organizer, a digital camera, etc.
After transferring and saving the data to a removable external storage medium via F, and connecting the removable external storage medium to the I / F of the printing apparatus main body, it is suitable for controlling so that the data can be printed out. The present invention relates to a simple printing apparatus and a printing control method in the printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when printing data such as a document created on a PC connected to a printer via a dedicated cable or a network, it is necessary to transfer the data to a printer for printing. In contrast, when printing data created on a PC that is not connected to a printer via a dedicated cable or network,
It is necessary to newly connect a PC to the printer with a dedicated cable or a network, or to connect a removable external storage medium storing data to the PC to which the printer is connected to perform printing.

On the other hand, a system has been developed in which a PC can easily communicate with a printer via infrared rays or radio waves. Also, connect an electronic organizer or digital camera to the printer,
There is a way to print out data created with an electronic organizer or images taken with a digital camera. Further, there is also a method of printing out, for example, fax data in which a notebook PC or an electronic organizer receives character information via a fax modem, or character image data in which character information is captured and captured using a digital camera.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. In other words, when printing data created on a PC that is not connected to a printer via a dedicated cable or network, a new PC can be connected to the printer via a dedicated cable or network, or a removable device in which data is stored can be used. There is a problem in that complicated work occurs, such as printing must be performed by connecting an external storage medium to a PC to which the printer is connected, and that the PC outputting and printing is occupied by the work.

Further, even in a system in which a PC can easily communicate with a printer by infrared rays or radio waves, there is a problem that the PC is occupied by printing work, and if the PC is a notebook PC, it cannot be carried and moved. . Further, in the case of an electronic organizer or the like, the same problem as that of the notebook PC has occurred.

Since a digital camera is also used in ordinary households, a key operation is performed after connecting the digital camera to a PC or an external storage device storing image data to the PC as in the present case. Is difficult to use for ordinary home users.

On the other hand, for example, fax data in which a notebook PC or an electronic organizer receives character information via a fax modem, and character image data in which character information is captured and captured using a digital camera are clearly printed as they are. There were problems such as being unable to print, having a larger storage capacity than character information, and being unable to be referred to as character information.

Further, if the above-mentioned received fax data or character image data is subjected to character recognition in an electronic organizer or digital camera, the cost is increased due to an increase in program capacity, and the character recognition processing is performed in real time in the digital camera. In such a case, there is a problem that an increase in the processing time restricts the interval of pressing the shutter.

A first object of the present invention is to connect a removable external storage medium storing data created by a PC, an electronic organizer, a digital camera or the like to a printing apparatus main body. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method in the printing apparatus, which can easily execute printing.

A second object of the present invention is to convert character image data on a removable external storage medium connected to a printing apparatus main body into a character code, and convert the character image data into character code which can be used for reference. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method in the printing apparatus, which are capable of obtaining a high-quality character print output while storing the print data in a printing apparatus.

A third object of the present invention is not to limit the function of converting character image data to character code to data on a removable external storage medium, but to perform the function.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method in a printing apparatus that can execute the processing on data input through another input I / F and output the data to a specified I / F.

[0012]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having an interface capable of accessing a removable external storage medium. It is characterized by having control means for controlling data to be transferred to the printing apparatus main body so as to perform print output.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the control means prints only print data to which a print request mark has been added among print data stored in the removable external storage medium. It is characterized in that it is controlled so that it is transferred to the main body and printed out.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the control means transmits which print data among print data stored in the removable external storage medium to the printing apparatus main body, A print command script describing whether to perform printing with print specifications is read from the removable external storage medium and executed.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the control means determines that the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is data including character image information. Converting an image of a character into a character code, storing the character code string in the removable external storage medium, and transferring the data including the character code string to a printing apparatus main body to perform printing. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 has a detecting means for detecting connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface, and the control means controls the removable device for the interface by the detecting means. When the connection of the external storage medium is detected, control is performed so that the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to the main body of the printing apparatus and printed out.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the control means identifies that the print data received from the outside is data including character image information, the control means converts the character image into a character code. And outputting the character code string to the outside via a specified interface, and transferring the data including the character code string to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 7 is characterized in that the removable external storage medium is used as external storage means of an electronic device such as a personal computer, an electronic organizer, and a digital camera.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method for a printing apparatus having an interface capable of accessing a removable external storage medium, wherein the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is The image processing apparatus further comprises a control step of performing control so that the image data is transferred to the printing apparatus main body and printed out.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, only the print data to which a print request mark is added among the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is printed by the printing apparatus. It is characterized in that it is controlled so that it is transferred to the main body and printed out.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, which of the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to the printing apparatus main body and A print command script describing whether to perform printing with print specifications is read from the removable external storage medium and executed.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to an eleventh aspect is characterized in that, in the control step, when it is determined that the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is data including character image information, Converting an image of a character into a character code, storing the character code string in the removable external storage medium, and transferring the data including the character code string to a printing apparatus main body to perform printing. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 12 has a detecting step of detecting the connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface, and in the controlling step, the detecting step includes the step of detecting the connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface. When the connection of the external storage medium is detected, control is performed so that the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to the main body of the printing apparatus and printed out.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, when the print data received from the outside is identified as data including character image information, the character image is converted to a character code. And outputting the character code string to the outside via a specified interface, and transferring the data including the character code string to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output. .

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[1] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. The printing system according to the first embodiment includes a printing unit main body 1, a print control device 2, a print command key 3, and a PC card slot (PC card I / F) 4.
And a PC card 5.

The printing unit 1 performs a printing process under the control of the printing control device 2. The printing control device 2 controls each part of the printing system. The print command key 3 is pressed when the operator issues a print command to the printing system. The PC card slot (PC card I / F) 4 is an interface for connecting the printing system body and the PC card 5. The PC card 5 is a removable external storage medium that is detachably connected to the PC card slot 4.
Print data is stored.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print control device 2 of the print system according to the first embodiment. The print control device 2 includes a CPU 10, a first I / F (interface) 20, a second I / F (interface) 21, and a third I / F (interface) 22.
, A fourth I / F (interface) 23, and a ROM
30, a RAM 31, and a bus line 40.

The CPU 10 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor, for example, a clock pulse generating circuit,
It is configured in the form of a sequential circuit having a delay circuit, a gate circuit, other logic circuits, and the like. First I / F 20
Is an input I / F for receiving a signal from the print command key 3 in FIG. The second I / F 21 corresponds to FIG.
This is an input / output I / F for transmitting print data by connecting to the printing section main body 1 and receiving various information from the printing section main body 1.

The third I / F 22 receives print data and various command control signals transmitted from a host computer (not shown) via a cable, and receives input signals for transmitting various control signals to the host computer. Output I / F
It is. The fourth I / F 23 is the PC card 5 shown in FIG.
1 is an input / output I / F for calling print data stored in the printer and transmitting various control signals.
It is connected to a C card slot (PC card I / F) 4.

The ROM 30 is a read-only memory, and includes a group of micro-instructions necessary for sequentially informing the CPU 10 of control signals when the CPU 10 supplies control signals to the respective units, and a flowchart shown in FIGS. A control program for executing processing is stored. RA
M31 is a readable and writable random access memory, which has an area for storing the operation state of each device,
It has an area for storing input print data. When the power is turned on, the contents of the RAM 31 are all "0". The bus line 40 is connected to the CPU 10 and the first I / F 20
To the fourth I / F 23, the ROM 30, and the RAM 31, which are used to transfer memory addresses and data.

Although the print control device 2 has the above-described configuration, in the present embodiment, the print unit main body 1, the print control device 2, the print command key 3, the PC card slot (PC card slot) The I / F 4 is housed in one housing and functions as one printing device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the printing section main body 1 of the printing system according to the first embodiment. The printing unit main body 1 includes an operation panel 700, a printer control unit 701, a laser driver 702, a semiconductor laser 703, a rotating polygon mirror 705, a reflecting mirror 714,
Electrostatic drum 706, developing unit 707, paper cassette 708, paper feed roller 709, delivery rollers 710, 71
1, a fixing device 712 and a paper discharge roller 713 are provided.

The apparatus main body 740 including the above-described units inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from the externally connected host computer via the print control apparatus 2. At the same time, a corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created in accordance with the information, and an image is formed on a recording paper as a recording medium.

The function of each part in the apparatus main body 740 will be described in detail. The operation panel 700 is provided with switches for operation by an operator and display means such as an LCD display. The printer control unit 701 controls the entire apparatus main body 740 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer, and corresponds to the print control apparatus 2 described above. The printer control unit 701 mainly converts a character pattern corresponding to character information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 702.

The laser driver 702 includes the semiconductor laser 7
03 is a circuit for driving the laser beam 704, which switches on and off a laser beam 704 emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 in accordance with an input video signal. Semiconductor laser 703
Emits a laser beam 704 toward a rotating polygon mirror 705. The rotating polygon mirror 705 oscillates the laser light 704 emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 in the left-right direction. Mirror 714
Reflects the laser light 704 oscillated by the rotating polygon mirror 705 and makes the laser light 704 incident on the electrostatic drum 706.

The electrostatic drum 706 is scanned by a laser beam 704 incident via a rotary polygon mirror 705 and a reflecting mirror 714. Thereby, on the electrostatic drum 706,
An electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed. The developing unit 707 is provided around the electrostatic drum 706,
The electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic drum 706 is developed. After the electrostatic latent image is developed, it is transferred to recording paper. For example, a cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The paper cassette 708 stores cut sheet recording paper.

Paper feed roller 709, delivery rollers 710, 7
Numeral 11 fetches cut sheet recording paper from the paper cassette 708 into the apparatus and conveys it to the electrostatic drum 706 side.
As a result, the electrostatic drum 7 is
The toner image adhered on the sheet 06 is transferred to the cut sheet recording paper that has been conveyed. The fixing device 712 fixes the toner image on the cut sheet recording paper that has been conveyed. The paper discharge roller 713 guides the cut sheet recording paper on which the toner image has been fixed, and discharges it to the outside.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show examples of a memory map of the PC card 5, in which print data is stored. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the print procedure command script PRTSCRIPT.PGM shown in FIG. Print procedure command script PRTSCRIP
The T.PGM describes a print procedure command which print data of the print data is transferred to the printing apparatus main body and which print specifications are used for printing.

Next, an example of a control procedure of the printing system according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to a memory map of a PC card shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a print procedure command script shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the print control processing according to the first aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This will be described with reference to the memory map of the PC card. In the printing system according to the present embodiment, the control is performed in a state where the PC card 5 having the memory map of FIG. 4 is connected to the PC card slot 4, but when the print command key 3 is pressed by the operator, Control is started when the signal is input to the first I / F 20 on the print control device 2.

That is, the host computer or PC card 5
It is determined whether there is print data in the print buffer PBUF of the RAM 31 for storing the print data transferred from the printer (step S1). Print buffer PBUF
If there is print data in the area, it is determined whether or not the operator has pressed the print command key (PC card print command key) 3 (step S2). If the print command key 3 is depressed during the execution of the process of repeating the processes of steps S1 and S2, step S3
The processing shifts to.

When the print command key 3 is pressed, it is determined whether there is data to be printed in the PC card 5 (step S3). The print data SAMPLE1.PS.OK and S are stored in the PC card 5 as shown in the memory map of FIG.
Since AMPLE2.PS is stored, these print data are transferred to the print buffer PBUF (step S4). That is, the data file SAMPLE1.P
Since the extensions of S.OK and SAMPLE2.PS include “PS” indicating that the data is described in the page description language PostScript (a computer language developed by Adobe in the United States). Are determined to be printable data and transferred to the print buffer PBUF.

After the transfer of the print data, the type of the print data in the print buffer PBUF is checked (step S).
5). Since the PostScript data is stored as described above, the PS interpreter is started, and the print unit 1 prints the print data SAMPLE1.PS.OK (step S7), and then deletes this data from the print buffer PBUF. I do. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1 to determine whether there is data in the print buffer PBUF. Since the print data SAMPLE2.PS is still stored in the print buffer PBUF,
The same processing as the above-mentioned processing of the data file SAMPLE1.PS.OK is performed, and the printing data S
AMPLE2.PS is printed (step S6).

Next, the print control processing according to the second aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11 and the PC of FIG.
This will be described with reference to the memory map of the card. In this case as well, the control is performed in a state where the PC card 5 having the memory map of FIG. 4 is connected to the PC card slot 4, as in the print control processing according to the first aspect of the present invention.
The control is started when the operator presses the print command key 3 and the signal is input to the first I / F 20 on the print control device 2.

That is, the host computer or PC card 5
It is determined whether there is print data in the print buffer PBUF of the RAM 31 that stores the print data transferred from the printer (step S11). Print buffer PBU
If there is print data in F, it is determined whether or not the operator has pressed the print command key (PC card print command key) 3 (step S12). Step S1 above
If the print command key 3 is pressed during the execution of the process of repeating Steps 1 and S12, the process proceeds to Step S13.

When the print command key 3 is pressed, it is determined whether or not there is print data with a print request mark in the PC card 5 (step S13). As shown in the memory map of FIG.
Since AMPLE1.PS.OK includes the extension “PS” indicating that it is a PostScript file and the print request extension “OK”, the print data with the print request mark added is transferred to the print buffer PBUF. (Step S14).

The subsequent processing is performed according to the same control procedure as the control procedure shown in FIG.
Only PLE1.PS.OK is printed. That is, the type of print data in the print buffer PBUF is checked (step S15). If the code is a printer-specific code, printing is executed by the printing unit 1 (step S16). If the code is a PS code, the PS interpreter is started. Printing unit body 1
Is executed (step S17).

Next, the print control processing according to the third aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12, the memory map of the PC card of FIG.
This will be described with reference to RTSCRIPT.PGM. In this case as well, the PC card 5 having the memory map of FIG.
The control is performed in a state where the card is connected to the card slot 4, and the print command key 3 is pressed by the operator, and the signal is input to the first I / F 20 on the print control device 2, whereby the control is performed. Be started.

That is, the host computer or PC card 5
It is determined whether there is print data in the print buffer PBUF of the RAM 31 that stores the print data transferred from the printer (step S21). Print buffer PBU
If there is print data in F, it is determined whether or not the operator has pressed the print command key (PC card print command key) 3 (step S22). Step S2 above
If the print command key 3 is depressed during the execution of the process of repeating Steps 1 and S22, the process proceeds to Step S23.

When the print command key 3 is pressed, it is determined whether a print command procedure script is stored in the PC card 5 (step S23). In the PC card 5,
Since the print procedure command script PRTSCRIPT.PGM is stored as shown in the memory map of FIG.
Move to step S24.

That is, the contents “SAMPLE1.P” of the print procedure command script PRTSCRIPT.PGM shown in FIG.
S, A4, 2S, 2P, FD "are read, and the print file name = SAMPLE1.PS and the print paper size = A, respectively.
4. It interprets that it is designation of double-sided printing, two-copy printing, and face-down discharge, sends each control command to the print control device 2, and then transfers the designated print file SAMPLE1.PS to the print buffer PBUF (step S24) ).

The subsequent processing is performed in the same control procedure as the control procedure shown in FIG.
PLE1.PS is printed according to the above printing specifications. That is, the type of the print data in the print buffer PBUF is checked (step S25).
26) In the case of a PS code, the PS interpreter is activated and printing is executed by the printing unit main body 1 (step S).
27).

Next, the print control processing according to the fourth aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
This will be described with reference to the memory map of the PC card. In this case as well, the PC card 5 having the memory map of FIG.
The control is performed in a state where the printer is connected to the C card slot 4, and the print command key 3 is pressed by the operator and the signal is input to the first I / F 20 on the print control device 2. Is started.

That is, the host computer or PC card 5
It is determined whether there is print data in the print buffer PBUF of the RAM 31 that stores the print data transferred from the printer (step S31). Print buffer PBU
If there is print data in F, it is determined whether or not the operator has pressed the print command key (PC card print command key) 3 (step S32). Step S3 above
If the print command key 3 is pressed during the execution of the process of repeating the processes of Step 1 and Step S32, the process proceeds to Step S33.

When the print command key 3 is pressed, it is determined whether there is data to be printed in the PC card 5 (step S33). Character image data SAMPLE1.C is stored in the PC card 5 as shown in the memory map of FIG.
Since the IMG is stored, the character image data is transferred to the print buffer PBUF (step S).
34), and proceed to step S35.

After the transfer of the character image data, the type of the print data in the print buffer PBUF is checked (step S35). Since the character image data SAMPLE1.CIMG is stored in the PC card 5, the character recognition program is executed to execute the character image data SAM.
After converting PLE1.CIMG into a character code string, a text file is created by adding a line feed code or a page break code according to the layout of the character image, and SAMP
It is stored in the PC card 5 with a file name of LE1.TXT (step S37). Then, a printer-specific code is created from the created text file SAMPLE1.TXT, and printing is executed by the printing unit body 1 (step S38).

In step S35, if the character image data SAMPLE1.CIMG is not stored in the PC card 5, the control in steps S37 and S38 is not performed, and printing is executed directly by the printing unit 1 (step S35). Step S36).

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the print control device 2 of the printing system transfers the print data stored in the PC card 5 to the printing unit main body 1 and performs print output. Control, the PC card 5 storing data created by a personal computer, an electronic organizer, a digital camera or the like can be connected to the printing system to supply the printing data to the printing system. Printing can be performed.

The print control device 2 controls only the print data, to which the print request mark is added, of the print data stored in the PC card 5 to be transferred to the printing unit main body 1 to perform print output. Therefore, as described above, printing can be performed more easily than in the past.

The print control device 2 transmits a print command describing which print data of the print data stored in the PC card 5 is to be transferred to the printing unit main body 1 and what print specifications are to be used for printing. Since the script is read from the PC card 5 and executed, the printing can be executed more easily than in the related art, as described above.

When the print control device 2 identifies that the print data stored in the PC card 5 is data containing character image information, the print control device 2 converts the character image into a character code and outputs a character code string. Is stored in the PC card 5, and the character image data of the PC card 5 connected to the printing system is converted into a character code in order to transfer the data including the character code string to the printing unit main body 1 and control the printout. It can be converted and printed out based on the character code data, or output to the PC card 5 or other interface, so that high quality character printout can be performed and character image data can be referred to as character code. It can be used.

[2] Second Embodiment FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to a second embodiment. The printing system according to the second embodiment includes a printing unit main body 51, a print control device 52, and a PC.
A card sensor 53, a PC card slot (PC card I / F) 54, and a PC card 55 are provided. Second
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
The point is that a PC card sensor 53 is provided instead of the print command key 3.

The printing section main body 51 performs a printing process under the control of the printing control device 52. The printing control device 52 controls each part of the printing system. The PC card sensor 53 detects connection of the PC card 55 to the printing system main body. The PC card slot (PC card I / F) 54
An interface for connecting the printing system body and the PC card 55. The PC card 55 is a removable external storage medium that is detachably connected to the PC card slot 54, and stores print data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the print control device 52 of the print system according to the second embodiment.
The print control device 52 includes a CPU 10 and a first I / F 20.
, A second I / F 21, a third I / F 22, a fourth I / F 23, a ROM 30, a RAM 31, and a bus line 40.

The CPU 10 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor, for example, a clock pulse generating circuit,
It is configured in the form of a sequential circuit having a delay circuit, a gate circuit, other logic circuits, and the like. First I / F 20
Is an input I / F for receiving a signal from the PC card sensor 53 of FIG. The second I / F 21 is an input / output I / F for connecting to the printing unit main body 51 shown in FIG. 9 to transmit print data and to receive various information from the printing unit main body 51.

The third I / F 22 receives print data and various command control signals transmitted from a host computer (not shown) via a cable, and receives input signals for transmitting various control signals to the host computer. Output I / F
It is. The fourth I / F 23 is the PC card 5 shown in FIG.
An input / output I / F for calling out print data stored in the printer 5 and transmitting various control signals is connected to the PC card slot (PC card I / F) 54 shown in FIG.

The ROM 30 is a read-only memory, and executes a micro-instruction group necessary for sequentially informing the CPU 10 of control signals when the CPU 10 supplies the control signals to each unit, and executes a process shown in a flowchart of FIG. A control program to be executed is stored. RAM 31
It is a readable and writable random access memory that has an area for storing the operation state of each device and an area for storing input print data. When powering up,
The contents of the RAM 31 are all "0". The bus line 40 is connected to the CPU 10 and the first I / F 20 to the fourth I / F 20.
F23, ROM30, RAM31 are electrically connected,
Used to transfer memory addresses and data.

Although the printing control device 52 has the above-described configuration, in the present embodiment, the printing unit main body 51, the printing control device 52, the PC card sensor 53,
The PC card slot (PC card I / F) 4 is housed in one housing and functions as one printing device.

The configuration of the printing section main body 51 of the printing system according to the second embodiment is similar to the configuration of the printing section main body 1 of the printing system according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). ), And the description is omitted because it has been described in detail in the first embodiment.

Next, the control procedure of the printing system according to the second embodiment configured as described above, that is, the print control processing corresponding to the fifth aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This will be described with reference to the memory map of the PC card. In the printing system according to the present embodiment,
The PC card 55 shown in FIG.
4, the connection is detected by the PC card sensor 53, and the signal is output to the first I
The control is started by being input to / F20.

That is, the host computer or PC card 5
It is determined whether or not there is print data in the print buffer PBUF of the RAM 31 that stores the print data transferred from the server (step S41). Print buffer PBU
If there is print data in F, the PC card sensor 53
Detects whether the PC card 55 is connected to the PC card slot 54 (step S42). If the connection of the PC card 55 is detected during the execution of the process of repeating the processes of steps S41 and S42, the process proceeds to step S43.

The subsequent processing is performed in the same control procedure as the print control procedure in the print control processing corresponding to the first embodiment of the present invention described in the first embodiment.
MPLE1.PS.OK and SAMPLE2.PS are printed.

That is, when the connection of the PC card 55 is detected,
It is determined whether there is data to be printed in the PC card 55 (step S43). The print data SAMPLE is stored in the PC card 55 as shown in the memory map of FIG.
Since 1.PS.OK and SAMPLE2.PS are stored, these print data are stored in the print buffer PBUF.
(Step S44).

After the transfer of the print data, the type of the print data in the print buffer PBUF is checked (step S).
45). Since the PostScript data is stored as described above, the PS interpreter is started, and the print unit main body 51 prints the print data SAMPLE1.PS.OK (step S47), and then deletes this data from the print buffer PBUF. I do. Thereafter, the process returns to step S41 to determine whether or not data exists in the print buffer PBUF. Since the print data SAMPLE2.PS is still stored in the print buffer PBUF, the above data file SAMPLE1.PS.O
The same processing as the processing of K is performed, and the printing data SAMPLE2.PS is printed by the printing unit main body 51 (step S).
46).

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the connection of the PC card 55 to the PC card slot 54 is detected by the PC card sensor 53, the print control device 52 of the printing system In order to control the print data stored in the card 55 to be transferred to the printing unit main body 51 and to perform printout, a simple operation of connecting the PC card 55 to the PC card slot 54 can be performed by a personal computer, an electronic Print data can be supplied to the printing system from the PC card 5 storing data created by a notebook, a digital camera, or the like, and printing can be executed more easily than in the past.

[3] Third Embodiment The overall configuration of the printing system, the configuration of the printing control device of the printing system, and the configuration of the printing unit main body of the printing system according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. (See FIGS. 1 to 3 above), and a description thereof will be omitted.

The print control processing by the print system according to the third embodiment corresponds to the invention of claim 6. In the first embodiment, an example in which a character image is converted into character code data and stored in the PC card 5 again has been described. However, in the third embodiment, an arbitrary external I / O
It is characterized by recognizing character image data input from the F, and outputting the converted character code data to an external device via an arbitrary external I / F.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the print control device 2 of the printing system identifies that the print data received from the outside is data including character image information, Is converted into a character code, the character code string is output to the outside through a specified interface, and data including the character code string is transferred to the printing unit main body 1 so as to perform control so as to perform print output. The function of converting the character image data into the character code can be executed not only for the data of the PC card 5 but also for the data inputted through another interface. Can be output to the interface.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0085]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus having an interface capable of accessing a removable external storage medium, print data stored in the removable external storage medium is printed. Since it has a control means for controlling the data to be transferred to the apparatus main body so as to perform a print output, a removable external storage medium storing data created by, for example, a personal computer, an electronic organizer, a digital camera or the like is connected to the printing apparatus to print data. Can be supplied to the printing apparatus, and printing can be performed more easily than in the past.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means transfers only the print data to which the print request mark is added among the print data stored in the removable external storage medium to the printing apparatus main body. Since control is performed so that print output is performed, printing can be performed more easily than in the related art, similarly to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means transfers which print data of the print data stored in the removable external storage medium to the printing apparatus main body and prints with what print specifications. Since the print command script describing whether to execute the print command is read out from the removable external storage medium and executed, the print can be executed more easily than in the related art, as in the first aspect of the present invention.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the control unit identifies that the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is data including character image information, the control unit converts the character image into a character image. Convert to code
The character code string is stored in the removable external storage medium, and the data including the character code string is transferred to the printing apparatus main body so as to perform printout. Character image data can be converted to character codes and printed out based on the character code data, or output to a PC card or other interface. Data can be referenced and used as character codes.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided detecting means for detecting connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface, and the control means controls connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface by the detecting means. Is detected, control is performed to transfer the print data stored in the removable external storage medium to the printing apparatus main body and perform printout. Therefore, a simple connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface is performed. By operation, for example, print data can be supplied to a printing apparatus from a removable external storage medium storing data created by a personal computer, an electronic organizer, a digital camera, etc., and printing can be performed more easily than before. .

According to the invention of claim 6, when the control means identifies that the print data received from the outside is data including character image information, the control means converts the character image into a character code. The character image data is converted to character codes in order to output the character code strings to the outside through a designated interface and to control the data including the character code strings to be transferred to the printing apparatus main body and to perform print output. This function can be executed not only for data on a removable external storage medium but also for data input via another interface, and can be output to a specified interface.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the removable external storage medium is used as external storage means of an electronic device such as a personal computer, an electronic organizer and a digital camera.
In a case where data created by an electronic device such as a digital camera is printed out from a printing device or a character code string is output to the electronic device, the same effects as those of the first to sixth aspects can be obtained. it can.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in a print control method for a printing apparatus having an interface capable of accessing a removable external storage medium, the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to the printing apparatus main body. To control the print output to perform, for example, a personal computer,
By connecting a removable external storage medium storing data created by an electronic organizer, a digital camera, or the like to the printing apparatus, the print data can be supplied to the printing apparatus, and printing can be performed more easily than before.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, only the print data to which the print request mark is added among the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to the printing apparatus main body. Since control is performed so as to perform print output, printing can be performed more easily than in the related art, similarly to the above-described invention.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, of the print data stored in the removable external storage medium, which print data is transferred to the printing apparatus main body, and what print specifications are used for printing. Since the print instruction script describing whether to perform the operation is read out from the removable external storage medium and executed, the print can be executed more easily than in the related art, similarly to the invention of the eighth aspect.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the control step, when the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is identified as data including character image information, the character image is converted to the character image. It is connected to a printing device to convert the character code string into a code, store the character code string in the removable external storage medium, and transfer the data including the character code string to the printing apparatus main body to perform printout. Character image data in a removable external storage medium can be converted to character codes and printed out based on the character code data, or output to a PC card or other interface, enabling high-quality character print output. In addition to this, character image data can be referred to and used as a character code.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting step for detecting the connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface, and in the control step, the connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface in the detecting step. Is detected, control is performed to transfer the print data stored in the removable external storage medium to the printing apparatus main body and perform printout. Therefore, a simple connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface is performed. By operation, for example, print data can be supplied to a printing apparatus from a removable external storage medium storing data created by a personal computer, an electronic organizer, a digital camera, etc., and printing can be performed more easily than before. .

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the control step, when the print data received from the outside is identified as data including character image information, the character image is converted into a character code. Output the character code string to the outside through the specified interface,
In order to control the data including the character code string to be transferred to the printing apparatus main body and to perform the print output, the function of converting the character image data into the character code is not limited to the data of the removable external storage medium. , Can be executed on data input through another interface, and can be output to a specified interface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control device of a printing system according to a first embodiment, a second embodiment, and a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printing unit main body of a printing system according to a first embodiment, a second embodiment, and a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a memory map of a PC card showing a configuration according to the first embodiment and a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the PC card according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a memory map of the PC card according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the PC card according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a print procedure command script according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control procedure of the printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 51 printing unit main body 2, 52 print control device 3 print command key 4, 54 PC card slot 5, 55 PC card 53 PC card sensor

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having an interface capable of accessing a removable external storage medium, wherein the control is such that print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to a printing apparatus main body and printed out. A printing apparatus comprising: 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers only print data to which a print request mark is added among print data stored in the removable external storage medium to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing is performed. 3. A print command describing which print data among print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to a printing apparatus main body and what print specifications are to be printed, wherein the control command is a print command. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a script is read from the removable external storage medium and executed. 4. When the control means identifies that the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is data including character image information, the control means converts the character image into a character code, and converts the character image into a character code. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a code string is stored in the removable external storage medium, and data including the character code string is transferred to a printing apparatus main body to perform printing. 5. A detecting means for detecting a connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface, wherein the control means detects a connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface by the detecting means. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is controlled to be transferred to a printing apparatus main body and printed out.
The printing device according to the above. 6. When the control unit identifies that the print data received from the outside is data including character image information, the control unit converts the character image into a character code, and specifies the character code string. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus outputs the data including the character code string to an outside of the printing apparatus via an interface and performs printing output by transferring the data to the printing apparatus main body. 7. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the removable external storage medium is used as external storage means of an electronic device such as a personal computer, an electronic organizer, and a digital camera. The printing device according to the above. 8. A print control method in a printing apparatus having an interface capable of accessing a removable external storage medium, wherein the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output. A print control method for a printing apparatus, the control method comprising: 9. In the control step, only print data to which a print request mark is added among print data stored in the removable external storage medium is transferred to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output. 9. The printing control method in a printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: 10. The print command which describes which print data of the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is to be transferred to a printing apparatus main body and what print specifications are to be used for printing in the control step. 9. The print control method in a printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a script is read from the removable external storage medium and executed. 11. In the control step, when the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is identified as data including image information of a character, the image of the character is converted into a character code, and 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a code string is stored in the removable external storage medium, and data including the character code string is transferred to a printing apparatus main body to perform printing.
A printing control method in the printing apparatus described in the above. 12. A detecting step for detecting a connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface, wherein in the controlling step, when the connection of the removable external storage medium to the interface is detected in the detecting step, 9. The print control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the print data stored in the removable external storage medium is controlled to be transferred to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output. 13. In the control step, when the print data received from the outside is identified as data including character image information, the character image is converted into a character code, and the character code string is designated. 9. The print control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein data is output to the outside via an interface, and the data including the character code string is transferred to a printing apparatus main body to perform print output.