JP2816166B2 - Character direction control method for print control device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a character direction control method of a print control device,
In particular, when printing a plurality of sheets, even if a portrait / horizontal document (hereinafter, such a document is referred to as a portrait document) and a landscape / horizontal document (hereinafter, such a document is referred to as a landscape document) are mixed, The present invention relates to a character direction control method of a print control device that controls the direction of characters so that the binding directions of printed documents are aligned.

[Conventional technology]

As word processor printing devices, wire-dot printers with automatic paper feeding and laser printers that already have a built-in automatic paper feeding function are becoming widespread, and these are particularly advantageous when printing multiple documents. It has been known.

However, when there are a plurality of documents, a portrait document and a landscape document are often mixed in a print document. Now, the printing control is performed such that a sheet is set in the longitudinal direction with respect to the sheet discharging direction of the printing apparatus (hereinafter, setting in such a direction is referred to as a longitudinal direction setting) and a portrait document is printed. Considering the case where the apparatus is used, in order to print a landscape document, a sheet is set in advance in a short direction with respect to the paper discharge direction of the printing apparatus (hereinafter, setting in such a direction is referred to as a non-longitudinal direction set). ) And need to print. For this reason, if the operator resets the paper every time, the high speed of the printing apparatus cannot be utilized. Therefore, a high-performance printing control device determines whether a document is a portrait document or a landscape document when printing, and in the latter case, the direction of the character is changed so that the character is rotated 90 ° and printed. The automatic control allows the operator to perform high-speed printing without resetting the paper. For an example of this type, refer to the Hitachi Japanese Word Processor Word Pal 860 Operation Manual.
It is described on page 18 (issued on April 20, 1987).

Further, a method of printing simply by rotating the character direction is described in, for example, JP-A-60-52345 and JP-A-63-39350.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the above-mentioned Hitachi Japanese word processor, the paper setting direction is fixed in the longitudinal direction (portrait direction), and as shown in Table 1, the direction of characters is changed according to the type of document, and printing is performed. Thus, a printed document as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.

The advantage that the paper setting direction is the longitudinal direction is as follows.
It is possible to print on paper of a larger size than in the non-longitudinal direction. For example, if printing can be performed up to the sheet size A4 in the non-longitudinal direction, printing can be performed up to A3 in the longitudinal direction.

However, the disadvantage is that when printing the same size paper,
This means that printing takes a longer time in the paper discharging direction because the paper is longer. For example, when printing on paper size A4, It takes printing time.

Therefore, if the setting direction of the paper is not fixed and the printing speed is increased in the longitudinal direction when the paper is large and in the non-longitudinal direction when the paper is small, the usability of the printing apparatus is improved.

For this reason, when trying to print on paper in the non-longitudinal direction, the orientation of the characters of the landscape document does not need to be rotated. It is necessary to rotate 90 degrees to the left or 90 degrees to the right as shown in Table 3.

Then, in the printed document, Table 2 is as shown in FIG. 4 and Table 3 is as shown in FIG. 5, but in the printed document as shown in FIG. 4, the binding directions of the sheets are not aligned. On the other hand, according to FIG. 5, the binding directions of the sheets are aligned, and the usability of the printing apparatus is improved.

However, the above-mentioned prior art has not recognized that printing is performed by setting a sheet in a non-longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, JP-A-60-52345 and JP-A-63-39350
In this publication, a method of simply rotating a character direction for printing is disclosed, and a control method regarding a binding direction when a plurality of portrait documents and landscape documents are mixed and printed is considered. Never

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to support both the longitudinal and non-longitudinal paper set directions, and even if a portrait document and a landscape document are mixed in a print document, the binding direction of the print document is aligned. An object of the present invention is to provide a character direction control method for a printing apparatus that controls the direction of a character.

[Means for solving the problem]

The object is to determine whether the paper direction set in the printing apparatus is a longitudinal direction setting or a non-longitudinal direction setting, a means for determining whether the type of a printed document is a portrait document or a landscape document, When the combination of the orientation and the type of the printed document is the same as the binding direction for the longitudinal set portrait document and the binding direction for the longitudinal set landscape document, the non-longitudinal set
This is achieved by controlling the binding direction of a portrait document and the binding direction of a non-longitudinal set landscape document.

[Action]

Thus, according to the present invention employing the above control method,
When the paper direction set in the printing apparatus is set in the longitudinal direction, the binding direction of the portrait document and the binding direction of the landscape document are aligned. Also, when the paper direction set in the printing device is set in the non-longitudinal direction, the binding direction of the portrait document and the binding direction of the landscape document are aligned, and thus the paper direction set in the printing device is The binding direction of the printed document is the same regardless of the longitudinal set or the non-longitudinal set.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG.
Referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 2 receives character codes and control codes from a word processor, develops characters in a bit map memory based on these codes, reads data from the bit map memory, and reads data from the bit map memory. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the entire print control device for sending to a printer.

Thus, in FIG. 2, the CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the entire print control device. The word processor interface 2 is a port for receiving a character code and a control code from the word processor. Font ROM3
Is a read-only memory for storing character fonts. The program ROM is a read-only memory that stores a program for controlling the entire print control apparatus in the CPU 1. The work RAM 5 is a readable and writable random access memory used by the CPU 1 as a work area. The bit map memory 6 is a readable and writable random access memory in which the bits of the memory 6 correspond to the dots of the laser printer on a one-to-one basis. The laser printer interface 7 is a port for receiving operation status data from the laser printer. The read circuit 8
This is a circuit for reading data from the bit map memory 6 and sending it to the laser printer. Font rotation circuit 9 can write 90 ° left or 90 ° right if character font data is written.
This is a circuit capable of reading out data of a rotated font (a latch circuit is arranged in a matrix).

In this embodiment, the laser printer is a model capable of printing up to a sheet size A3 when the sheet direction is set in the longitudinal direction. The bit map memory 6 also has a development area so that printing can be performed up to A3. If the character font in the font ROM 3 is directly developed in the bit map memory 6,
It is assumed that a portrait document of paper size A3 as shown in FIG. 6 is printed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 1 with reference to FIG. 2. When printing, the CPU 1 first prints out the word processor interface. 2, the control code from the word processor is received, and the type of the document (portrait document or landscape document) is determined.

On the laser printer side, as shown in FIG.
Paper is stored in a cassette, and on the side of the cassette,
A detachable pin is located, and the size and direction of the sheet stored in the cassette are represented by the presence or absence of the pin. That is, the laser printer can determine the paper size and paper direction of the set cassette by detecting the presence or absence of the pin.

Then, data of the operation state of the laser printer is received through the laser printer interface 7 to determine the paper direction (longitudinal set or non-longitudinal set) set in the laser printer.
Based on the above conditions, the direction of the character is determined according to Table 4 (steps 101 to 103 in FIG. 1).

Next, the character code from the word processor is received through the word processor interface 2, and the character font in the font ROM 3 is expanded in the bit map memory 6 accordingly. Here, when it is necessary to rotate the direction of the character, the character font in the font ROM 3 is temporarily written into the font rotation circuit 9 and the character is turned 90 ° left or 90 ° right.
After being rotated by .degree., It is read out and expanded in the bit map memory 6 (104-117). When one page has been developed in this way, the data in the bit map memory 6 is read out through the readout circuit 8 and sent to the laser printer for printing (117). The printed document obtained at this time is shown in FIG. 6 for a paper size A3, longitudinal set portrait document, and FIG. 7 for a paper size A3, longitudinal set landscape document, and a paper size A4, longitudinal set.・ Portrait document Fig. 8, paper size A4
FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal set landscape document, FIG. 10 shows a paper size A4, non-longitudinal set portrait document, and FIG. 11 shows a paper size A4, non-longitudinal set landscape document.

According to this embodiment, when the paper direction set in the laser printer is set in the longitudinal direction, the binding direction of the portrait document is on the left side with respect to the discharge direction of the laser printer, and the binding direction of the landscape document is Is also on the left. When the paper direction set in the laser printer is set in the non-longitudinal direction, the binding direction of the portrait document is on the upper side with respect to the discharge direction of the laser printer, and the binding direction of the landscape document is also on the upper side. As described above, the binding direction of the printed document is the same whether the paper direction set in the laser printer is the longitudinal direction or the non-longitudinal direction, whereby the binding direction of the printed document is realigned after printing. Without binding.

When a laser printer which cannot obtain the set paper direction information through the laser printer interface 7 is used, the operator inputs the paper direction information from a word processor keyboard or the like, and the word processor interface is used. Sent to the print controller through Face 2
Thus, even if control for determining the paper direction is performed, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

Here, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. This embodiment also has a print control device as shown in FIG. However, the readout circuit 8 is a circuit which can read out both from the beginning and the end of the bit map memory 6 and sends it out to the laser printer, and has a higher function than that of the first embodiment. . The font rotation circuit 9 is a circuit capable of reading out the data of the character font rotated by 90 degrees to the left by writing the data of the character font, and does not need to be rotated by 90 degrees to the right as compared with the first embodiment. .

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 12 with reference to FIGS. 2 and 13. First, in printing, the CPU 1 first prints a word. The control code from the word processor is received through the processor interface 2, and the type of the document (portrait document or landscape document) is determined. Then, data of the operation state of the laser printer is received through the laser printer interface 7 to determine the paper direction (longitudinal set or non-longitudinal set) set in the laser printer. The direction of the character is determined according to Table 5 (201 to 203 in FIG. 12).

Next, the character code from the word processor is received through the word processor interface 2, and the character font in the font ROM 3 is expanded in the bit map memory 6 accordingly. Here, when it is necessary to rotate the direction of the character, the character font in the font ROM 3 is written into the font rotation circuit 9 once, the character is rotated 90 degrees to the left, read out, and developed in the bit map memory 6 ( 204-211). When one page has been developed in this way, the reading circuit 8 is set to read from the top or bottom of the bit map memory 6 according to Table 6 below.

Thereafter, the data in the bit map memory 6 is read out through the readout circuit 8 and sent to the laser printer for printing (212 to 215). Note that the relationship between the print document obtained at this time and the bit map memory 6 is determined by the first
Taking the printed documents from FIG. 6 to FIG. 11 of the embodiment as an example, they are the same except for FIG. 10 (paper size A4, non-longitudinal set portrait document). Figure 10 (paper size A4
In the case of (non-longitudinal set portrait document), this embodiment is as shown in FIG. However, the read circuit 8
Is read from the end of the bitmap memory 6,
The binding direction of the printed document is on the upper side with respect to the paper discharge direction of the laser printer, and the same printed document as in FIG. 10 is obtained.

According to this embodiment, the readout circuit 8 has a higher function than the first embodiment. However, the program relating to the rotation of the character and the coordinate management program associated therewith require the rotation of the character by 0 ° and the left. Only the 90 ° rotation is required, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained without the necessity of the program for the right 90 ° rotation.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when the paper direction set in the printing apparatus is set in the longitudinal direction, the binding direction of the portrait document and the binding direction of the landscape document are aligned.
Also, when the paper direction set in the printing device is set in the non-longitudinal direction, the binding direction of the portrait document and the binding direction of the landscape document are aligned, and thus the paper direction set in the printing device is Regardless of the longitudinal setting or the non-longitudinal setting, the binding direction of the printed document is aligned, so that after printing, the printed document can be bound without realigning the binding direction, and the usability of the printing apparatus can be improved. It can be improved than before.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart showing an embodiment in which the character direction of a print control device is controlled by the method of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the print control device used for carrying out the method of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a printed document of a portrait document and a landscape document when a sheet is set in the longitudinal direction according to Table 1, and FIG. 4 is a sheet of paper according to Table 2. When the is set in the non-longitudinal direction,
FIG. 5 shows an example of a printed document of a portrait document and a landscape document. FIG. 5 shows an example of a printed document of a portrait document and a landscape document when a sheet is set in a non-longitudinal direction according to Table 3. FIG. 6 to FIG.
6 shows examples of various print documents according to the processing flow shown in FIG.
The figure shows an example of a printed document in the case of a paper size A3 / longitudinal set / portrait document.
FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a printed document in the case of a landscape set document in the longitudinal direction. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a printed document in the case of a portrait document, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a printed document in the case of a paper size A4 / longitudinal set / landscape document, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a printed document in the case of a non-longitudinal set portrait document. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a printed document in the case of a paper size A4, non-longitudinal set landscape document.
FIG. 12 is an operation flowchart showing another embodiment in which the character direction of the print control device is controlled by the method of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a view showing an expanded state of the bit map memory 6 in the case of a paper size A4, a non-longitudinal set, and a portrait document according to the processing flow of FIG. 12, and FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a paper storage cassette for a laser printer. It is. 1 ... CPU, 2 ... Word processor interface, 3
... Font ROM, 4 ... Program ROM, 5 ... Work RAM,
6 bit map memory, 7 laser printer interface, 8 readout circuit, 9 font rotation circuit.

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 2/485 B41J 5/30 B41J 21/00 G06F 3/12 B41J 13/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] In a character direction control method of a printing control device, a paper direction set in the printing device is set in a longitudinal direction with respect to a paper discharging direction of the printing device (longitudinal set).
Means to determine whether the document has been printed or set in the short direction (non-longitudinal direction setting).
Means for determining whether the document is a horizontal document (portrait document) or a landscape / horizontal document (landscape document);
Set the binding direction and longitudinal direction for portrait documents.
A printing method for controlling the binding direction of a landscape document and the binding direction of a non-longitudinal set portrait document with the binding direction of a non-longitudinal set landscape document. A character direction control method of the control device. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sheet direction set in the printing apparatus is set in a longitudinal direction with respect to a sheet discharging direction of the printing apparatus (longitudinal set).
Means to determine whether the document is set in the short direction (non-longitudinal direction setting) and whether the type of mixed print document is portrait / horizontal document (portrait document) or landscape / horizontal document (landscape document) Means that the combination of the paper direction and the type of the printed document is the same as the binding direction when the longitudinal set portrait document is combined with the binding direction when the longitudinal set landscape document is combined.
A character direction control method for a print control device, comprising: performing control to align a binding direction for a non-longitudinal set portrait document with a binding direction for a non-longitudinal set landscape document. 3. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bit map memory in which the bits correspond to the dots of the printing apparatus in a one-to-one correspondence. Determined in advance, and according to this, the character is rotated and developed in the bit map memory, and the binding direction for the longitudinal set portrait document and the binding direction for the longitudinal set landscape document are aligned, A character direction control method for a print control device, comprising: performing control to align a binding direction for a non-longitudinal set portrait document with a binding direction for a non-longitudinal set landscape document. 4. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bit map memory in which bits correspond one-to-one with respect to dots of the printing apparatus, and the direction of characters is determined by a combination of a paper direction and a type of a printed document. According to this, the characters are rotated by 0 °, 90 ° left, and 90 ° right, and expanded in the bit map memory, and the binding direction and the longitudinal set in the case of a portrait / portrait document are set. -The control is performed so that the binding direction of a landscape document is aligned, and the binding direction of a non-longitudinal set portrait document is aligned with the binding direction of a non-longitudinal set landscape document. A character direction control method for a print control device. 5. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bit map memory in which bits correspond one-to-one with respect to the dots of the printing apparatus, and the direction of a character is determined by a combination of a paper direction and a type of a printed document. According to this, a character is rotated and expanded in the bit map memory according to this, and then a selection is made as to whether to read from the top of the bit map memory or to read from the end of the bit map memory by the above combination, The binding direction for longitudinal set portrait documents and the binding direction for longitudinal set landscape documents are aligned, and the binding direction for non-longitudinal set portrait documents and non-longitudinal set landscape documents A method for controlling the character direction in the print control apparatus, wherein the control is performed to align the binding direction at the time of (1). 6. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bit map memory in which the bits correspond one-to-one with respect to the dots of the printing apparatus, and the direction of the character is determined by a combination of the paper direction and the type of the printed document. According to this, the character is rotated by 0 ° and rotated by 90 ° to the left, and expanded in the bit map memory, and then read from the top of the bit map memory or read from the end of the bit map memory according to the above combination. The binding direction for a longitudinal set portrait document is aligned with the binding direction for a longitudinal set landscape document, and the binding direction and non-longitude for a non-longitudinal set portrait document. A character direction control method for a print control device, comprising: performing control to align a binding direction in a direction set landscape document.