JPH11105367A - Form overlay printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a form overlay printer in which print processing is performed efficiently according to print conditions using a print data obtained through single reception processing especially when printing is applied to the same form data under different print conditions (attribute conditions). SOLUTION: A print data delivered from a host computer 1 is analyzed at a command control section 7 and a form data is registered in a form image buffer 8 while a formed data is registered in a formed image butter 9. When printing is performed by generating a plurality of registered forms for a formed data, print color of the formed data is altered automatically at a data transfer section 12 according to a designated formed print color before form overlay printing is carried out. When printing is performed by generating a plurality of registered forms for a formed data, switching is made automatically to a paper feed port corresponding to a designated recording paper before form overlay printing is carried out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a form overlay for performing print processing corresponding to print conditions by using print data obtained by one reception processing when printing different print conditions on the same form data. Related to a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In today's form printing processing, form overlay printing is performed in which form data such as ruled lines are registered in advance in order to perform processing at high speed, form data is supplied later, and both data are combined and printed. Has been widely adopted. In such form overlay printing,
The printing process is performed according to the attribute information defined in either the form data to be combined or the form data.

For example, when printing is performed in a predetermined color, information on the print color is defined and transmitted when, for example, the form data is transmitted. Further, when the print color information is defined in the form data and transmitted, for example, all the print colors based on the form data are the colors defined in the form data.

Similarly, for example, when printing form data on various types of recording paper, information specifying the type of recording paper in the form data or form data, or information about a paper feed port for placing the recording paper is used. Define and perform print processing using recording paper according to this information.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional form overlay printing, printing is performed using only print information defined in one of designated form data and form data. For this reason, it is not possible to perform printing in accordance with print information (print conditions) not specified in either the form data or the form data.

Here, it is assumed that writing is performed on a preprinted sheet of a plurality of sheets, for example, as performed by a non-impact printer. At this time, if different colors of carbon paper are inserted between the preprint papers, the information written on the uppermost preprint paper is copied as it is to the lower layer preprint paper, but the information The colors represented are specified by the carbon paper placed on each preprint paper.

However, when the above-described printing process is performed by a non-impact printer, it is possible to specify the color attribute of the data to be formed at the time of registering the form with the conventional form overlay function as described above. When printing the form data, it is necessary to register the data by the number of colors or to resend the form data every time the color is changed without specifying the attribute in the form.

[0008] The above description is based on the fact that the same form data is transferred to different types of recording paper (for example, plain paper, thick paper, OHP).
The same problem occurs when printing on paper, etc.). The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, when performing printing under different printing conditions on the same form data,
Using print data obtained by one reception process, a print process corresponding to a print condition is efficiently performed.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a form overlay printing apparatus for synthesizing and printing form data and form data in a form overlay printing apparatus, wherein printing conditions for each print of the same form data are stored. This can be attained by providing a form overlay printing apparatus having a storage unit for performing the printing process according to the printing conditions stored in the storage unit.

[0010] Here, the same form data refers to specific data such as numerical values and characters written in form data (form image) such as a form, for example. Perform print processing while updating form data. However, according to the present invention, even when the form data is the same data, the printing conditions of the form data are changed, and the same content is printed, for example, the printing color is changed, or the type of recording paper is changed, and the printing process is performed. Is what you do.

With this configuration, it is possible to execute the printing process according to the printing conditions stored in the storage means and to efficiently execute the necessary printing process only by inputting the form data once.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the printing condition is, for example, a printing color. This embodiment is characterized in that the printing condition is to change the printing color on the recording paper. That is, the printing process is performed by changing the printing of the same form data for each sheet. For example, the same printing process can be performed as in the case where the printing is performed by changing the color on a plurality of preprinted sheets.

With such a configuration, for example, a non-impact printer can efficiently perform printing of a slip or the like, similarly to an impact printer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the printing condition is, for example, a recording paper feed port. In this example, as a printing condition, for example, the paper feed port of the recording paper is changed for each print processing of the form data. For example, plain paper, thick paper, OHP paper, colored paper,
When printing the same form data on recording paper such as the above, the above-described different paper is arranged in each paper feed port, and the print processing is performed by selecting the paper feed port for each print process.

With this configuration, it is possible to perform efficient printing processing when printing the same form data on different recording paper such as plain paper, thick paper, OHP paper, and colored paper. is there.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the system configuration of a form overlay printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, print data and control codes transmitted from a host computer 1 are processed by an interface controller (hereinafter, referred to as an I / F controller) 2.
It is sent to the printer engine 3 in the form of a control signal and a video signal, and is obtained as a print result 4.

Inside the I / F controller 2, a data receiving unit 5 for receiving print data and control codes from the host computer 1, a received data buffer 6 for storing received data, and sequentially reading data from the received data buffer 6. A command control unit 7 for performing analysis and drawing, a form image buffer 8 for storing image data of one drawn page as a form, a form image buffer 9 for storing a form image, and print control information for writing information relating to printing. Unit 10, a print control unit 11 for controlling the above-described printer engine 3, an image data transfer unit 12, which receives print control information, synthesizes an image, and transfers the image to the printer engine 3, and a display device such as an LCD or an LED. Operation panel 15 consisting of a panel switch and the operation panel Made from the operation panel control unit 16 for controlling the 5. The image data transfer unit 12 includes a color conversion control unit 13 for changing colors, and a form synthesizing unit 1 for synthesizing form data and form data.
4 inclusive.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the data structure of page information and color attribute information contained in the above-described print control information section 10. FIG. 7A shows page information, and FIG. 7B shows color attribute information.

First, the page information shown in FIG. 1A includes a page number 10a and a page information table 10b. This page information structure uses one block of the page information table 10b for each sheet, and specifies information such as an image to be printed on the sheet, a form specification, a sheet feeding port, resolution, and whether or not a smoothing process is performed. Written. In particular, the image and form are specified as follows.

That is, the command control section 7 gives a unique number (page n shown in the page information table 10b) to each page to be formed at the time of completion of drawing of one page of the form data, and assigns this to the page. Write to the "form number" area of the information table. When a different form is combined with one form to be printed on a plurality of sheets, the block number is changed for each sheet and the form number is written in each block.

Each form has a unique number (or name) defined at the time of registration. It is sufficient to write the generated form number in the block. However, in order to allow a plurality of forms to be superimposed on one sheet, they are described in the order of generation in the “form number string” area.

On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows the color attribute information as described above, and the color attribute information includes a registered number 10c and a color attribute information table 10d. The color attribute information table 10d is a block having, when printing the same form data a plurality of sheets, an area for specifying whether or not the color of the form data is changed for each sheet, an area for specifying what color is changed to what color, and the like. It is configured. If the number of registered pages is "0", all pages are printed in the default designated color of the form data. With this state as an initial value, for example, the command control unit 7 analyzes the content input by a key operation on the operation panel 15 and performs a set / reset process of color attribute information as necessary. The processing operation of this example in the form overlay printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described below. It is assumed that form data has already been registered in the form image buffer 8 described above, and for example, different form data is registered in the form image buffers (1), (2),....

First, as described above, the host computer 1
Supplies print data and control codes (form data) to the reception data buffer 6 via the data reception unit 5. When a predetermined amount of data is stored in the reception data buffer 6, the received data is analyzed under the control of the command control unit 7. For example, a character code is converted into bitmap data by a character generator (not shown). For the control code, a process specified by the code is executed.

The bit-mapped form data thus created is developed in the form image buffer 9. After that, the print information control unit 10 issues a print start instruction. The print start instruction is generated by sending print control information to the image data transfer unit 12. At this time, the command control unit 7 registers the page number in the page information table 10b.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the image data transfer section 12 in particular.
To explain the processing after the instruction to start printing is issued from. First, the image data transfer unit 12 determines whether the page number of the passed print control information has been updated (step (hereinafter, referred to as S) 1). If the page number has not been updated, the process waits for the update of the page number (S1 is N (No), S2).

Thereafter, when the page number is updated (S1)
Is Y (yes)), and reads the block indicated by the page number in the page information table 10b (S3). next,
The previously printed form number stored in, for example, the work area in the image data transfer unit 12 is compared with the currently designated form number (S4). For example, in the present example, the print processing of the form data of the third page has been performed so far, and when the process proceeds to the print processing of the form data of the fourth page, the form number is not the same as the previous time. ,
The determination (S4) is N (No). In the above example, if the printing process of the form data of the third page is still performed, the determination (S4) is Y (Yes).

Here, the case of shifting to the fourth page will be described. In this case, the form number storage value is updated (S5). That is, the form number is rewritten, and at the same time, the form print number counter (hereinafter abbreviated as a counter)
Is returned to the first sheet (S6).

Next, the value indicated by the counter is compared with the value of the registered number 10c of the color attribute information (S7). If the value of the counter is large, it is assumed that the setting for changing the color of the form has not been made. Then, synthesis with the form and video output are performed without performing the color change processing (S8). In this case, since the registered number is the initial value (0), the value of the counter (1 or more) is always larger, so that the color change processing is not performed. The above-mentioned counter is incremented every time one sheet is printed (S9).

On the other hand, in the case of a printing process for a form spelled out with a plurality of sheets, since the printing process of the form data is performed by changing the color, the number of registrations is two or more. N (No). Therefore, in this case, the second sheet of color attribute information is read from the color attribute information table 10d (S10). That is, the presence / absence of a print color change and the changed color information when the print color is changed are read from the corresponding block. For example, when the first sheet (cover) of the form is black-printed and the second sheet is red-printed, the print color is changed and the print color is changed to red (S1).
1). Also, the first sheet (cover) of the form is black-printed,
When the sheet is printed in blue, the print color has been changed, and the print color is changed to blue (S11).

The above processing is repeated until the judgment (S7) becomes Y, that is, until the registered number 10c shown in FIG. 2B coincides with the counter value to be sequentially counted up. According to the above-described processing, when printing a form with a plurality of sheets spelled on a form, the form data is transmitted from the host only once, and printing is performed while automatically changing colors for each sheet. be able to. <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the above-described embodiment, the print color is changed for the same form data. In the present embodiment, the same form data is printed on different types of recording paper. For this reason, in this example, a table of paper feed attribute information is provided to perform printing processing on a specified type of recording paper.

FIG. 4 shows the data structure of the paper feed attribute information table included in the print control information section 10 described above. The paper feed attribute information has the same configuration as the color attribute information shown in FIG. 2B described above, and includes a registered number 10e and a paper feed attribute information table 10f. The paper feed attribute information table 10f includes:
When printing the same form data on a plurality of sheets, it is used to specify a paper feed port for each type of recording paper, and the number of blocks registered in FIG.

For example, when the number of registered sheets is "0", all sheets are sucked in from the default sheet feeding port of the data to be formed. With this state as an initial value, the command control unit 7 analyzes the contents input by the key operation of the operation panel 15 and sets / resets the sheet feed attribute information as needed. Hereinafter, the processing operation of this example will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of this embodiment. Also in this example, it is assumed that form data is already registered in the form image buffer 8, and for example, the form image buffers (1), (2),
.. Have different form data registered. The print information output from the host computer 1 is received by the data receiving unit 5 and temporarily stored in the reception buffer 6.
The processing of analyzing by the command analysis unit 7 and storing the form data in the form image buffer 9 and storing the form data in the form image buffer 10 is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

When the drawing of one page is completed in the image buffer 9 to be formed, the command control unit 7
The page information at that time is written to an empty block of the page information table 10b, and the number of the block is written to the page number area. Then, the image data transfer unit 12 waits until the page number is updated, and reads out the block indicated by the page number in the page information table 10b (hereinafter, referred to as ST) 1 to 3. Next, the previously printed form number stored in the work area in the image data transfer unit 12 is compared with the form number designated this time (ST).
4) If the form numbers are different, the form numbers are rewritten (ST5), and the counter is set to the first sheet at the same time (ST6).

Next, the value indicated by the counter is compared with the value of the registered number 10e of the color attribute information (ST7). If the value of the counter is larger, the paper feeding port of the recording paper is set to the default (ST7: Y). , ST8). On the other hand, if the value of the counter is small, the paper feed port of the recording paper is read from the table (ST
7 is N, ST9). If the registered number is “0”,
Since the value of the counter (1 or more) is always larger, the processing for changing the paper feed port is not performed.

When the paper feed attribute information is set, for example, the number of registered sheets is 2, the first block of the paper feed attribute table is default “0”, and the block of the second edition is the second block “2”. When the setting is made, if the counter is 1 (new form), the default paper feed port (for example, the first row) described in the page information table is designated as the paper feed port, and the counter is set to 2 (the same Printing of the second sheet of the form)
Then, the settings described in the paper feed attribute table (select the second row) become valid.

If the paper feed port determined by the above processing is different from the paper feed setting state set in the printer engine 3 at that time (if different from the paper feed port used for the immediately preceding printing), The control unit 11 instructs the printer engine 3 to change the paper feed port (ST10 to S10).
T12). Thereafter, when one-sheet printing is completed, a count-up process is performed (ST13).

In the case where the above processing is repeated to print on a multi-sheet spelled form, the form data is transmitted from the host only once, and the paper feed port is automatically set for each sheet. The printing can be performed while switching.

That is, in this example, an arbitrary paper feed port can be set for each number of prints of the same form data, so that printing can be performed sequentially on different papers (plain paper, thick paper, OHP sheet, colored paper, etc.). In this case, there is an advantage that a trouble such as combining paper in advance and setting the paper in the paper feeder can be omitted, and the paper feeder can be set for each paper.

In the above description of the embodiment, the setting of the color information and the setting of the paper feed port are performed by operating the operation panel 15. However, the setting is performed by the control code output from the host computer 1. May be configured.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, the form data is transmitted only once from the host device.
Printing can be performed while automatically changing the color for each sheet, and extremely efficient printing processing can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform printing while automatically changing the recording paper for each sheet only by transmitting the data to be formed once from the host device. It can be carried out.

Further, according to the present invention, the printing process according to the printing conditions can be performed extremely efficiently by transmitting the form data to the host device only once.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a form overlay printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the data structure of page information and color attribute information included in a print control information section. FIG. 2A shows page information, and FIG. 2B shows color attribute information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing of an image data transfer unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a paper feed attribute information table according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host computer 2 I / F controller 3 Printer engine 4 Print result 5 Data receiving part 6 Received data buffer 7 Command control part 8 Form image buffer 9 Formed image buffer 10 Print control information part 11 Print control part 12 Image data transfer part 12 13 color conversion control unit 14 form synthesis unit 15 operation panel 16 operation panel control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A form overlay printing apparatus for synthesizing and printing form data and form data, comprising: storage means for storing printing conditions for each print of the same form data; and printing in accordance with the printing conditions stored in the storage means. A form overlay printing apparatus, comprising: a print processing unit that performs processing. 2. The form overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition is a printing color. 3. The form overlay printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing condition is a paper feed port for recording paper.