JP2686741B2 - Margin area setting device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet margin area setting device for a page printer such as a laser printer, and more particularly, for each page.
In addition to the upper and lower margins, if necessary, an intermediate margin is provided, and in each text writing area sandwiched between the respective margins (margins), an image is transferred to the video memory one scanning line at a time in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal. The present invention relates to a margin area setting device used in a page printer configured to print out data. "Prior art" In order to increase the printing speed and resolution in the past, image information equivalent to one page is stored as image data in the memory such as video RAM, and each page is stored. A page printer such as a laser printer, which is configured to print out based on each print command, is known. In this type of page printer, the paper is generally irrespective of the presence or absence of upper and lower or left and right margins. Of the entire recordable area of the image data is stored as image data, in other words, together with the area portion to be recorded as image information,
In order to adopt the configuration that stores the margin setting area as well,
A memory having a capacity corresponding to the maximum recordable area of the paper must always be prepared, which causes a problem of cost increase. In order to prevent such a defect, for example, JP-A-61-167277.
In the memory, the upper margin setting area is not stored, only the actual image information is stored as image data, and instead, the print start signal is output only for the upper margin setting. There has been proposed an upper margin setting circuit configured to output the data in the memory and print it when the sheet is conveyed with a delay and when the sheet is conveyed by an amount corresponding to the upper margin setting area. In order to easily set the configuration based on FIG. 5, the present setting circuit includes an upper margin setting register 101 and a counter 102 that subtracts the data set in the register 101 in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls. And a signal detection circuit 103 for detecting that the paper starting end to be printed out has been conveyed to a predetermined position, and initializes the upper margin value of the upper margin setting register 101 in synchronization with the detection signal, The setting data in the counter 102 is subtracted in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal Ls indicating the start of one scanning line of the printer, and when the setting data in the counter becomes 0, the print start signal Ps is output. It is the one that is configured. "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" In such a conventional technique, the setting data in the counter 102 is subtracted based on a detection signal from a signal detection circuit 103 that detects that the leading edge of the sheet has been conveyed to a predetermined position. Since it is configured, it is not possible to set the margins other than the upper margin, and the versatility is extremely poor. That is, in the normal print format, in addition to the upper margin, when the text is printed out on the upper and lower sides of the figure, photograph, etc. printed in advance on the paper, or when the text ends halfway, the page at the lower end side is printed. In many cases, such as in the above-mentioned prior art, it is impossible to set such a margin, and therefore it is necessary to store the entire area of the margin together with the image information as image data in the memory. Yes, and still requires a large amount of memory. In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technique, the present invention makes it possible to store the margin area in the memory in the memory even when the margin (intermediate margin) is provided between the upper margin, the lower margin, and the clause (text writing area). It is an object of the present invention to provide a margin area setting device capable of storing only actual image information as image data and thereby avoiding an increase in image memory capacity. "Means for Solving Problems" The object of the present invention is to provide an upper margin and a lower margin and, if necessary, an intermediate margin on a corresponding page,
Set the margin area used for the page printer configured to print out the image data expanded in the video memory for each scan line in synchronization with the horizontal sync signal in each text writing area sandwiched between the margins. It is a device. That is, there are multiple margins on the corresponding page, or
Also, the present invention is applied to a printer process having a plurality of document writing areas sandwiched between margins. The present invention has an interrupting means for determining whether or not each of the text writing areas is printed out and receiving an interrupt of the horizontal synchronizing signal during non-printing, in other words, during non-printing such as margin setting. Incidentally, the interrupting means receives a print end signal at a time other than the time for accepting the interrupt of the horizontal synchronizing signal,
It is preferable to be configured to transmit to the CPU side which is a part of the control means described later. Such interrupt means is composed of, for example, an interrupt priority circuit 3 configured to receive an interrupt of the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls only in a predetermined time region by using an AND circuit 10 and a latch circuit 14 as described later. A counter is provided for counting based on the horizontal synchronizing signal received by the interruption means. It is preferable that such a counter is formed in an external memory together with a margin area setting register described later. When the data counted by the counter coincides with the setting data written in the margin area setting register, the image data of the next text writing area is output, and the image data of each text writing area is output. A control means for changing the setting data written in the margin area setting register for the next margin area setting at the same time as the output of the image data of the corresponding text writing area during the output is completed. To do. It should be noted that such control means is composed of a CPU (central processing unit) incorporated in a controller as shown in an embodiment described later, a printer, and various control circuits for video data. In a preferred embodiment, the interruption means accepts the output end signal of the image data of the corresponding text writing area by using a time other than the time for accepting the interruption of the horizontal synchronization signal, and based on the output end signal, It is recommended to change the setting data written in the margin area setting register. [Operation] The present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, has blank areas A1, B1, C1.
The text forming areas A to C including the area are divided into blocks, and the blank areas A1 to C1 are set and the text is written for each of the blocks A to C. That is, for each block A to C,
First, there are blank areas A1 to C1 (of course, there may be no blank areas A1 to C1 at all, so in this case, enter a numerical value of 0 or 1 in the setting data in the blank area setting register. , It is considered as if the blank areas A1 to C1 exist.) Next, the text writing areas A2 to C2 exist (the blank area C1 as the page number also exists when the page number is entered, and the page Even if there is no number, the page break signal etc. can be used.) Next, the operation of the present invention will be performed based on the control circuit shown in FIG. 1, the flow chart shown in FIG. 2 and the time chart shown in FIG. B. Setting the upper margin A1 (text formation of the first block A) First, after inputting the upper margin data (STEP1) to the margin area setting register 8, the memory 2 (video RAM) based on a command from the host computer not shown. After the image data for one page is stored therein, the printer drive signal Pr is output. (STEP2) Then, the printer drive signal Pr is sent to the printer control circuit 5
(STEP3) If the print is possible by this detection, the paper is moved to a predetermined position based on a signal from the printer control circuit 5, and once the predetermined position is reached, the paper movement is stopped and the print waiting period is reached. After setting the state, the print start request signal Vr is transmitted from the printer control circuit 5 to the CPU 4, and the printer control circuit 5 waits until the output of the print start signal Vs from the CPU 4 is detected. If the CPU 4 can start printing, the print start signal Vs is output. By detecting this, the printer control circuit 5 outputs the image data developed in the video memory one scan line in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal. In order to print on paper, paper feed is started by outputting paper feed signal Ys, and the scanning beam optically scanned by laser diode 11 and polygon mirror 12 driven via video data control circuit 6 is scanned line by line. Then, the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls is detected by the signal detecting means 1 and output through the AND circuit 10 so that it is output to the interrupting means only when the print start signal Vs is output. In this state, the synchronizing signal Ls is accepted because it is in the non-printing state (margin setting state), and is counted up in the counter 7 based on the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls (STEP6), and the counted up data is When it matches the setting data written in the margin area setting register 8, the print start signal Vs is output OFF (STEP7), and the text in the first text writing area A2 stored in the memory 2 is printed. At the same time, the interruption means 3 rejects the interruption of the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls and allows the pre-finish signal to be accepted. (STEP8) B, Setting of the intermediate margin (margin B1) (text formation of the second block B) At the same time as the printing of the text in the first text writing area A is completed, the end signal is video-transmitted while the paper is being conveyed. It is transmitted to the CPU 4 side via the data control circuit 6 (STEP 9), and based on this signal, the host computer side changes the input of the setting data written in the margin area setting register 8 to the intermediate margin data (STEP 10, 1) is performed and the counter 7 is initialized (STEP 11), the print start signal Vs is output, and the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls is set to be able to receive an interrupt. , The horizontal synchronizing signal Ls is output to the interruption means 3 side, and thereafter, similarly to the above, the counter 7 is counted up based on the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls to set the intermediate margin areas A1 to C1 and the second text writing area. Statements in B2 The chapter is printed. C. Setting of lower margin C1 (formation of text of third block C) The setting of lower margin C1 is basically the same as the above because there is a third chapter writing area C2 called page-cutting. , Memory 2 (video
This can be realized by not outputting the image data when the output of the image data for one page in the RAM) is completed. As is clear from the above description, the print start signal
Vs is an output start signal of image data in the video RAM 2 in the text writing areas A2 to C2, and functions as an output prohibition signal of image data in the blank areas A1 to C1. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the constituent parts described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention thereto only unless there is a specific description, and are merely illustrative examples. Nothing more than. 1 to 4 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer, FIG. 1 is a block diagram mainly showing a control circuit in a controller, FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing its operation procedure, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a layout relationship between a text writing area on a sheet and a margin position, and FIG. 4 is a time chart diagram. Since the operation procedure of this embodiment has already been described in the section of the above-mentioned action, the circuit configuration will be mainly described. In FIG. 1, a portion "A" shown by an imaginary line in the drawing is a printer main body, and if a laser beam oscillated by a laser diode 11 is deflected to a main scanning direction by a polygon mirror 12, a portion on a photosensitive drum (not shown) While scanning the light, the photodiode 1 (signal detection means) arranged on the turning start position of the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls for each scanning (dot) line is passed through the amplifier 13 to the AND circuit on the controller side by the amplifier 13.
The optical scanning system for transmitting to 10 and the latent image written on the photoconductor drum by the optical scanning is developed, and the toner image is transferred and fixed on the paper conveyed to the transfer position to thereby perform a predetermined image recording. An electrostatic photography section (not shown) is used, but since such a structure is not a main part of the present invention, its detailed description is omitted. On the other hand, the part "B" shows the internal configuration of the controller, and the CPU 4 that performs a predetermined process based on a command from the host computer and the printer control circuit 5 and the video data control circuit 6 that constitute the control means including the CPU 4. An external memory 9 in which a margin area setting register 8 and a counter 7 are formed, an interrupt priority circuit 3 configured to receive an interrupt of a horizontal synchronizing signal Ls only in a predetermined time period using an AND circuit 10 and a latch circuit 14, and image data Is stored as image data, a serial register 15 for converting the image data into serial data, and an interface 16. Next, in order to explain in detail the operation of each of these elements as a circuit, first, after inputting the upper margin data to the margin area setting register 8, one page is stored in the video RAM 2 based on a command from a host computer (not shown). After storing the minute image data, the printer drive signal Pr is output. Then, the printer drive signal Pr is sent to the printer control circuit 5
Is detected, and if printing is possible by this detection, the paper is moved to a predetermined position based on a signal from the printer control circuit 5, and once the predetermined position is reached, the movement of the paper is stopped and the print waiting state is set. Above, the print start request signal Vr is transmitted from the printer control circuit 5 to the CPU 4, and the printer control circuit 5 waits until it detects the print start signal Vs output from the CPU 4. If the CPU 4 can start printing, the print start signal Vs is output and the printer control circuit 5
In order to print on the paper by detecting this, the paper feed signal Ys is output to start the paper feed, and the laser diode 11 and the polygon mirror 12 which are driven via the video data control circuit 6 perform optical scanning. While the beam is further deflected in the main scanning direction while optically scanning the photosensitive drum (not shown), the photodiode 1 arranged at the deflection start position causes the horizontal synchronization signal for each scanning (dot) line. Ls via amplifier 13
Send to the AND circuit 10. The AND circuit 10 latches the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls only when the printer drive signal Pr is input from the CPU 4.
It is transmitted to the interrupt priority circuit 3 via 14. In the interrupt priority circuit 3, the CPU 4 sends the print start signal Vs
Only when the low signal is output, in other words, in the non-printing state, the interrupt of the synchronization signal Ls is accepted and the signal is transmitted to the external memory 9 via the CPU 4. In the external memory 9-, a counter 7 is provided together with the margin area setting register 8 and is provided with the horizontal synchronizing signal.
The counter 7 is counted up based on Ls and compared with the setting data in the margin area setting register 8 set in advance by the host computer via the CPU 4. During this time, the paper is continuously conveyed as the photoconductor drum (not shown) rotates, and the margin area A1 (upper margin)
Is formed. When the value of the counter 7 is counted up until it coincides with the setting data, the priority of the interrupt priority circuit 3 is changed by the rise of the print start signal Vs to prohibit the horizontal sync signal Ls from interrupting, and the print instruction signal Pr Is transmitted to the video data control circuit 6 via the print control circuit 5, the image information data in the video RAM 2 is converted into serial data by the serial register 15, and then the laser beam of the laser diode 11 is modulated via the video control circuit 6. Then, the image is written on a photosensitive drum (not shown), and the image is sequentially transferred to the first text writing area A2 on the paper after the margin area Al (upper margin) is formed at the transfer position of the photosensitive drum, Print a given text or image. Simultaneously with the end of writing A1 of the text in the first text writing area A, the end signal is transmitted to the CPU 4 side through the video data control circuit 6 while the paper is being conveyed, and based on the signal. From the host computer side, the setting data written in the margin area setting register 8 is input and changed to the intermediate margin data, the counter 7 is initialized, the print start signal Vs is output, and the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls is divided. Is set so as to receive the signal, the photodiode 1 detects it for each line scanning, and outputs the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls to the interrupt means 3 side. Then, in the same way as described above, the counter 7 is stored in the counter 7 based on the horizontal synchronizing signal Ls. Is counted up and the intermediate blank area B1 is set and the text in the second text writing area B2 is printed. The same applies to the setting of the lower margin C1, and after the page is finished, the sentence formation of the next page is performed by the same operation procedure. According to this embodiment, the operation of the present invention described above can be achieved smoothly. [Advantages of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a page printer that outputs a horizontal synchronization signal is configured to accept an interrupt of the horizontal synchronization signal only during non-printing (when setting a margin), and during printing. Or when the margin data (intermediate margin) is provided between the upper margin, the lower margin, and the clause (text writing area) because the setting data written in the margin area setting register can be changed at the end of printing. Also, it is possible to store only the actual image information as image data without storing the blank area between them in the memory, which makes it possible to avoid the increase of the image memory capacity and various other remarkable effects. Have

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer, FIG. 1 is a block diagram mainly showing a control circuit in a controller, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the arrangement relationship between the text writing area on the paper and the margin position, and FIG. 4 is a time chart. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an upper margin setting circuit according to the prior art.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] On the corresponding page, an upper margin and a lower margin as well as an intermediate margin are provided as needed, and a video memory is provided for each scanning line in each text writing area sandwiched by each margin (margin) in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal. In the margin area setting device used for the page printer configured to print out the image data expanded in the above, it is determined whether or not the image is printed out in each of the text writing areas, and the horizontal synchronization signal interrupts at the time of non-printing. Interrupting means for accepting, a counter for counting based on the horizontal synchronizing signal accepted by the interrupting means, and when the data counted by the counter coincides with the setting data written in the margin area setting register. The image data of the next text writing area is output and the image of each text writing area is output. A control means for changing the setting data written in the margin area setting register for the next margin area setting during the output of data or the output of the image data of the corresponding text writing area is completed. Characteristic margin area setting device 2. The interruption means accepts the output end signal of the image data of the corresponding text writing area by using a time other than the time of accepting the interruption of the horizontal synchronizing signal, and writes it in the margin area setting register based on the output end signal. The margin area setting device according to claim 1, wherein the stored setting data is changed.