JP2731315B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer connected to an electronic computer. While printing the print data sent from the processing device by the printer device,
When a paper jam or an abnormality in the printer mechanism is detected, printing must be stopped urgently. When such a situation occurs, the printer mechanical unit is urgently stopped, and the occurrence of the error is notified from the printer device to the processing device.

[0002] When an error such as an emergency stop occurs, the print result cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, when notifying the occurrence of an error, “page information” including information such as how many pages of data can be guaranteed / how many pages of data cannot be guaranteed is sent to the processing device. I do.

[0003] When an error is recovered from the printer, the processing apparatus determines which print data should be retransmitted by referring to "page information" when reprinting. Therefore, if the "page information" can be correctly notified, the operator only needs to restore the printer device, and does not need to count the number of pages to be retransmitted, and restart printing from the next page that has been normally printed. Can be.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, "page information" refers to the guaranteed number of prints representing the number of pages normally printed from the start of printing until the occurrence of an error. The printer simply resets the internal counter at the start of printing, and thereafter counts up the internal counter every time a sheet is ejected. If an error occurs, the value of the internal counter at that time is notified to the processing device as “page information”.

[0005] The processor receiving the notification of the "page information" performs a recovery process of re-transmitting the print data of the "page information" + the first page after the error is recovered. Therefore, the processing apparatus has a mechanism for holding all print data from the print data of the first page to the print data of the last page until a "print completion notification" indicating that all the prints have been completed is received from the printer apparatus. I have.

On the other hand, the interface of the printer is
It is as follows. That is, the printer device receives as much print data as can be received from the processing device on the one hand, and performs printing one by one on the other. Each time printing of one sheet is completed, the completed print data is deleted from the buffer, and the next print data is newly stored in a vacant place.

When calculating "page information" when an error occurs, the following processing is performed. That is, the beginning of printing is recognized by the “print control command (POC: printout control command)” notified from the processing device immediately after the start of printing of one document, and the internal counter is cleared. When an error occurs, information such as the number of normal prints notified from the printer mechanism is processed as "page information" to be sent to the processing device.

[0008] In the print control system having such a configuration,
If the document amount is small, no problem occurs, but if the document amount is large, there is a problem because the consumption of memory resources / disk resources increases. This is because, even if the printing progresses to near the last page, the processing device must hold all the print data from the first page to the last page without deleting them.

Incidentally, the maximum value of the number of sheets whose print result cannot be guaranteed when an error occurs is determined by the mechanical structure of the printer device. Therefore, a "return page" indicating the number of pages of print data that have been traced back from the print data page received by the printer device at the time of occurrence of an error after the recovery processing is notified as "page information". With this method, consumption of memory resources / disk resources can be suppressed.

More specifically, the maximum value of the number of sheets whose print result cannot be guaranteed is X, and if the current processing device sends out the print data of the Y-th page, the print data up to the Y-X page is processed. It need not be held in the device. Subsequently, when the processing device sends out the print data of the (Y + 1) th page, it is not necessary for the processing device to hold the print data up to the (Y + 1−X) th page.

In a method of notifying a "return page",
The printer detects “POC” immediately after the start of printing and clears the internal counter. Then, every time you receive print data that may cause a page break condition,
Once the interface is buffer full. During this time, data expansion is performed without receiving any more print data.

As a result of the data expansion, if the page break condition has not occurred, the buffer full state of the interface is released, and the next print data is received. If a page break condition has occurred, the internal counter counts up. After the count-up, transfer to printing paper is performed. Then, when the transfer processing is completed, the buffer full state of the interface is released, and the print data of the next page is received.

Normally, the above processing is repeated. When an error occurs, the printer mechanism is inquired as to how many pages have been normally printed / discharged, the number of normal printed sheets is subtracted from the value of the internal counter, and the page information is notified to the processing device. Is calculated.

On the other hand, the processing device always keeps track of the number of pages of the print data currently being sent to the printer. Regarding the data that has been sent, the printer is notified when an error occurs in the printer device. Only the print data for the number of pages for which the print result may not be guaranteed is left, and the print data after that is deleted. . By doing so, consumption of memory resources / disk resources is suppressed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a conventional technique. Conventionally, the operation of the printer device is configured such that data development is performed each time one unit of print data is received, as shown in FIG. When a page break does not occur, a response is immediately returned, and when a page break occurs, a response is returned after data printing is completed.

[0016]

As shown in FIG. 21,
Conventionally, “receiving operation”, “decompression operation”, and “printing operation” are serially processed. That is, each time the printer device receives data that may cause a page break condition, the interface is once set to the buffer full state, so that the communication operation in the interface and the data expansion operation in the printer device are processed in series. Was.
For this reason, there is a problem that printing takes time.

In view of such a conventional problem, the present invention processes the "reception operation", "development operation", and "print operation" in the printer apparatus in parallel instead of in series, thereby increasing the speed of the print processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer device having a print control system capable of improving and simplifying page management on the processing device side.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the above objects are achieved by the means as set forth in the appended claims.

That is, according to the present invention, in a printer device which receives print data from a processing device, and performs data expansion and data printing, when print data is received, when there is no data in a reception buffer, the received data is stored. A means for returning a response immediately after execution, and a means for storing the received data and returning a response after the data expansion processing is completed and the reception buffer becomes empty when there is data in the reception buffer. Non-implemented address of memory even if required memory is not available
Detect page boundaries by expanding data for
A printer apparatus for and a that means.

[0020]

The printer apparatus according to the present invention returns a response unconditionally when one print data is received. However, when two or more print data are accumulated, the expansion processing of the previously received print data is completed. Refrain from returning a response until.
Also, at this time, a data provisional development function capable of detecting a page break condition is added even if the bitmap memory required for the development processing cannot be used because of printing and transfer.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the data receiving operation can be continuously performed even if the data expanding operation and the data printing operation are being performed. Further, the data development operation can be performed in the form of temporary development even during data printing. Then, since the processing device performs page management based on the “return page”, the page management can be simplified.

[0022]

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 2, the printer 1 is connected to a processing device. The data transmitting / receiving unit 3 communicates with the processing device, and stores received data in the data buffer 6. The data analysis unit 4 takes out the print data from the data buffer 6, performs a process of developing the data in the bitmap memory 7, and prompts the print control unit 5 to start printing.

The print control unit 5 controls the printer mechanism 9 and uses the DMA 8 to control the bitmap memory 7.
Is transferred to the printer mechanism 9. The functions of the data transmission / reception unit 3, data analysis unit 4, and print control unit 5 described above are realized by the CPU 2 in this embodiment.

The bitmap memory 7 stores print data in the form of a dot image, and has a storage capacity for one page. The DMA 8 controls data transfer between the bitmap memory 7 and the printer mechanism 9 independently of the operation of the CPU 2, and is a so-called channel device.

The processing device and the printer device 1 are both interfaces for transmitting and receiving. When data is transferred from the processing device to the printer device 1 and the printer device 1 does not return a response, the processing device does not recognize that the data transfer to the printer device 1 has been completed. . The data transmitted from the processing device to the printer device 1 can be roughly classified into the following three types.

1) Print control command (POC): The user sets the size of paper to be printed / printing direction, etc., and is notified at the beginning of printing one document. 2) Print data: A page break designation (FF) may be added to the data.

3) Print wait command (CLRPR)
T): Print all the data received by the printer,
Command to wait for paper ejection. This itself is also a page break specification.

In the case of printing, each section of the CPU 2 operates as follows. (A) When receiving the POC, the data transmitting / receiving unit 3 notifies the data analyzing unit 4 that the POC has been received. As a result, the data analyzer 4 resets the internal counter. When this is completed, a response is returned to the processing device.

When data is received, before storing the data in the data buffer 6, the data buffer
Check if there are any undeployed data in. If there is undeployed data in the data buffer 6, the storage is waited until the data is exhausted. If not, the data is stored as it is, and a response is returned to the processing device.

When a CLRPRT is received,
An inquiry is made to the data analysis unit 4 to check whether all print data has been printed and ejection has been completed. When completed, return a response to the processing unit. If it is not completed, it will wait.

(B) Data analysis unit 4 When the bitmap memory 7 is not in use, that is, one page of print data is incomplete, or data is transferred from the bitmap memory 7 to the printer mechanism 9. When there is no data, if there is data in the data buffer 6, the data is taken out and developed in the bit map memory 7.

Here, if a page break condition occurs,
At the same time as deleting the data for the page from the data buffer 6, the print controller 5 is instructed to print the page. At this time, if the page has already been counted up in the temporary development described later, the internal counter is not operated. If the count-up has not been performed yet, the page is counted.

If there is no data in the data buffer 6, it is checked whether CLRPRT has been notified. If it has been notified, a page break condition will occur, so that processing is performed.

When the bitmap memory 7 is in use, for example, when data is being transferred from the bitmap memory 7 to the printer mechanism 9, if there is data in the data buffer 6, the data is taken out, and a virtual bitmap memory which is not mounted is taken out. Expand print data for. This is called temporary development. If a page break condition occurs as a result of the temporary expansion, the internal counter is counted up.

(C) Print control unit 5 Upon receiving a print instruction from the data analysis unit 4, the print control unit 5 notifies the printer mechanism 9 of the start of printing. After that, it waits for a transfer completion notification from the printer mechanism 9 indicating the completion of the data transfer from the bitmap memory 7 to the printer mechanism 9. When printing is started, the printer mechanism 9
And the bit map memory 7 are connected via the DMA 8, so that print data is transmitted and received regardless of the CPU 2.

When the transfer end is notified from the printer mechanism 9, the print control unit 5 resumes the operation and notifies the data analysis unit 4 of this. When an abnormality occurs in the printer mechanism 9, the print control unit 5 inquires the printer mechanism 9 about the number of normal prints and notifies the data analysis unit 4 of this. Thereby, the data analysis unit 4 calculates a “return page”.

Next, the operation flow of the printer device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 3 to 8 are diagrams showing a basic sequence when the development is fast. In FIG. 3, first, when the POC is received, the internal counter is reset. Next, upon receiving the first data, the printer device stores it in the data buffer and returns a response immediately.

The data analyzer takes out data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. When the next data is received, the expansion of the data analysis unit has been completed, so that the data is stored and a response is returned as shown in FIG.
The data analysis unit takes out data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. The same applies to data.

Here, the data is as shown in FIG.
A page break condition is generated. At this time, the internal counter is counted up and printing is started for the printer mechanism. During the transfer of data, the actual development cannot be performed because the bitmap memory is used. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Expansion is performed for a bitmap memory that does not actually exist.

In FIG. 5, a page break condition is detected during the temporary expansion of data. At this time, the internal counter counts up, and the data and data extracted earlier are returned to the data buffer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the next data is always stored after waiting for the end of the transfer process. Further, the fact that a page break condition is detected during the temporary development is stored using a flag.

When the transfer process is completed, data and data are taken out and actual development is performed. here,
Although a page break condition occurs, since this has already been detected in the previous temporary development, the counter is not operated. After the actual development of data and data is completed, printing activation of the second page is applied to the printer mechanism.

In FIG. 7, CLRPRT is received.
At this time, the page break condition is not detected in the temporary expansion of the data, but the page break occurs due to the reception of the CLRPRT. The response to the CLRPRT is performed after the printing of the last page and the discharge of the sheet are performed.

If the printing and the transfer are completed during the temporary development, the temporary development is terminated at that time, the extracted data is returned to the buffer, and then the actual development is performed. As is clear from the above description, the data transfer on the processing device side and the data development on the printer side are performed in parallel.

FIGS. 9 to 14 are diagrams showing a basic sequence when development is slow. In FIG. 9, first, when the POC is received, the internal counter is reset. Next, upon receiving the first data, the printer device stores it in the data buffer and returns a response immediately.

The data analyzer takes out data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. When the next data is received, the development of the data analysis unit has not been completed yet, so the data is stored after waiting for the completion of the development, and a response is returned. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the data analysis unit fetches data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. The same applies to data.

Here, the data generates a page break condition as shown in FIG. At this time, the internal counter is counted up and printing is started for the printer mechanism. During the transfer of data, the actual development cannot be performed because the bitmap memory is used. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the data is expanded in a bitmap memory that does not actually exist.

In FIG. 11, a page break condition is detected during the temporary expansion of data. At this time, the internal counter is counted up,
Returns data to the data buffer. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the next data is always stored after waiting for the end of the transfer processing. Further, the fact that a page break condition is detected during the temporary development is stored using a flag.

When the transfer process is completed, data and data are taken out and actual development is performed. here,
Although a page break condition occurs, since this has already been detected in the previous temporary development, the counter is not operated. After the actual development of data and data is completed, printing activation of the second page is applied to the printer mechanism.

In FIG. 13, CLRPRT is received. At this time, the page break condition is not detected in the temporary expansion of the data, but the page break occurs due to the reception of the CLRPRT. The response to the CLRPRT is performed after the printing of the last page and the discharge of the sheet are performed.

FIGS. 15 to 17 are diagrams showing a jam sequence when deployment is slow. In FIG. 9, first, PO
When C is received, the internal counter is reset. Next, upon receiving the first data, the printer device stores it in the data buffer and returns a response immediately.

The data analyzer takes out data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. When the next data is received, the development of the data analysis unit has not been completed yet, so the data is stored after waiting for the completion of the development, and a response is returned. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 16, the data analysis unit retrieves data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. The same applies to data.

Here, the data generates a page break condition as shown in FIG. At this time, the internal counter is counted up and printing is started for the printer mechanism. During the transfer of data, the actual development cannot be performed because the bitmap memory is used. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, the data is expanded in a bitmap memory that does not actually exist.

In FIG. 17, a jam is detected during the temporary expansion of data. At this time, the print control unit notifies the data transmission / reception unit of the occurrence of the error. on the other hand,
The data analysis unit continues to take out data from the data buffer and temporarily expand the data. Then, when the data buffer becomes empty, the number of pages of the entire received data is calculated. This is notified to the processing device as a “return page”.

FIGS. 18 to 20 are diagrams showing a jam sequence when the development is fast. In FIG. 18, first, P
When the OC is received, the internal counter is reset. Next, upon receiving the first data, the printer device stores it in the data buffer and returns a response immediately.

The data analyzer takes out data from the data buffer and starts data development. When the next data is received, the development of the data analysis unit has been completed, so that the data is stored and a response is returned as shown in FIG. The data analysis unit takes out data from the data buffer and starts data expansion. The same applies to data.

Here, the data causes a page break condition as shown in FIG. At this time, the internal counter is counted up and printing is started for the printer mechanism. During the transfer of data, the actual development cannot be performed because the bitmap memory is used. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, the data is developed in a bitmap memory that does not actually exist.

In FIG. 20, a jam has been detected after the data is temporarily expanded. At this time, the print control unit notifies the data transmission / reception unit of the occurrence of the error. on the other hand,
The data analysis unit continues to take out data from the data buffer and temporarily expand the data. Then, when the data buffer becomes empty, the number of pages of the entire received data is calculated. This is notified to the processing device as a “return page”.

As another embodiment, the same effect can be obtained by using a "special development routine" for detecting only a page break condition instead of performing temporary development.
For a printer device having two or more bitmap memories, the same effect can be obtained by using the other bitmap memory for the actual development using the temporary development shown in the previous embodiment.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Data transfer to and from the processing device and data expansion in the printer device can be performed in parallel. Therefore,
There is an advantage that a quick recovery process can be performed by notifying the "return page" without lowering the printing performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic sequence when development is fast.

FIG. 4 is a view following FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view following FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view following FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view following FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a basic sequence when deployment is slow.

FIG. 10 is a view following FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a diagram following FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view following FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view following FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view following FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a jam sequence when deployment is slow.

FIG. 16 is a view following FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a diagram following FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a jam sequence when the deployment is fast.

FIG. 19 is a view following FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a view following FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer apparatus 2 CPU 3 Data transmission / reception part 4 Data analysis part 5 Print control part 6 Data buffer 7 Bit map memory 8 DMA 9 Printer mechanism

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In a printer device which receives print data from a processing device and performs data expansion and data printing, when print data is received, if there is no data in a reception buffer, the received data is stored. A means for returning a response immediately, and a means for returning a response by storing received data after the data expansion processing is completed and the reception buffer becomes empty when there is data in the reception buffer, and a means for returning data. Even if the memory to be used cannot be used , data
And a means for detecting a page boundary .