JP3003639B2 - Color printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a color printer.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a color printer that inputs a color printer description language and outputs color image data based on the printer description language .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional color printer, a color printer disclosed in JP-A-9-95015 is known. As shown in FIG. 6, the color printer 100 includes a print data storage device 200 that stores one page of color print data for each color ink component as bitmap data, and a color data component for each color ink component based on each bitmap data. A print data conversion device 300 that sequentially outputs the color image data, a head unit 400 that prints each page based on each color image data,
The printer includes a printer engine controller 500 that controls the head unit 400, a print data storage device 200, a print data conversion device 300, and an image processing device 600 that controls the printer engine controller 500.

With such a configuration, the image processing apparatus 600
Stores color print data for one page as bitmap data for each color ink component in the print data storage device 200, and stores color image data for each color ink component based on each bitmap data in the print data conversion device 300. Output sequentially. Then, color printing based on each color image data is performed for each page via the printer unit controller 500 by the head unit 40.
0 is performed.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional color printer, color image data for each color ink component is sequentially generated. For example, in order to sequentially generate cyan data, and then sequentially process magenta, yellow, and black, each color ink component has to wait until another color ink component finishes generating color image data. For this reason, it takes time until the generation of all the color image data is completed, and the work efficiency at the time of color printing is not good.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a color printer capable of improving work efficiency in color printing.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus, comprising: a calculating means for inputting a color printer description language and outputting color image data based on the printer description language . A color printer, wherein the calculating means has the same number as the color ink components;
One of them as a master and the other as a slave
The master computing means converts the printer description language into
Output in printer description language for
Both printers apply to the separated color ink components
Executes the interpretation of one of the description languages and
The operation means is separated and output by the master operation means.
Of the printer description language for each color ink component
A printer description language solution for a single color ink component.
It is configured to execute a dip process .

That is, each color ink component is individually provided.
The obtained computing means is the printer description of the input color.
Language is separated into printer description languages for each color ink component
And the same printer description for each color ink component.
Language interpretation processing to execute
Output color image data. This calculation means
It is only necessary to be provided separately for each ink component.
The means are separately structured or linked to each other
Are included.

[0008] Then , the calculation means for the predetermined color ink component is made dependent on the calculation means for the other color ink components. The master only needs to have a configuration in which the slave is subordinate. For example, when the master copies the color printer description language input to the master, passes it to the slave, and separates and interprets the same printer description language. Is included. In addition, the arithmetic means only needs to be able to separate the input color printer description language into the printer description language for each color ink component and execute the interpretation process. Therefore, as an example of the configuration of the operation means, the invention according to claim 2 is a color printer according to claim 1 ,
The arithmetic unit of the master is configured to execute an analysis process of separating and outputting the CMYK color components for each printer description language.

That is, the arithmetic unit executes an interpretation process for each of the CMYK color components for writing the input color printer description language, and outputs color image data based on the printer description language. The CMYK color components only need to be components that can express four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and include those in which each color ink component is composed of a primary color component, one that is composed of a light color component, and the like. . The invention according to claim 3 is, as an example of the latter case composed of light color components, according to claim 1.
Alternatively, in the color printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, the arithmetic means is configured such that a light color component is individually provided for each color ink component.

That is, the computing means executes an interpretation process by separately separating the input color printer description language also for the light color component for each color ink component,
It outputs color image data based on the printer description language. It is only necessary that the light color component can be interpreted separately from the printer description language by the arithmetic means. As an example of the configuration of the printer description language, the invention according to claim 4, said claims 1 to 3
In the color printer described in any one of the above, the printer description language is configured such that a light color component is also described.

That is, the computing means separates the printer description language, which also describes the light color components, into the light color components for each color ink component, executes the interpretation process, and executes the interpretation process based on the printer description language. Output color image data. As an example of realizing the idea of the present invention, when the software of the above-described color printer is used, the software naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded and is used.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the color printer according to the present embodiment. The host computer 10 includes a host RAM 11 and the like, and when printing characters, graphics, and the like, print data based on the characters, graphics, and the like is stored in the host RAM 11 and transferred. On the other hand, the printer cable 2 is connected to the host computer 10.
The color printer 30 connected via the CPU 0 is an arithmetic processing board (master) 31 with one master firmware.
An arithmetic processing board (slave) 32 with three slave firmware independent of the master 31; and a printing mechanism (not shown) for performing color printing based on print image data created by the master 31 and the slave 32. ing.

[0013] separately these master 31 and slave 32, respectively, ROM that records the data processing program
And an independent board having a CPU that activates the data processing program to process print data and a RAM that stores the print data and functions as a work area for the CPU. In order to transfer the print image data composed of the four primary color ink components, the color printer 30 includes one arithmetic processing board for one color and performs data processing. That is, the assigned color is determined in advance so that the master 31 processes data of the cyan component, and each slave 32 performs data processing of the magenta component, the yellow component, and the black component, respectively. Also, the CPU provided in the master 31
(Master CPU) is a CP provided in each slave 32.
It is connected to U (slave CPU) to perform inter-CPU communication.

[0014] With this configuration, the host RAM11
Is transferred to a RAM (master RAM) 31a provided in the master 31. Then
The master CPU activates a data processing program recorded in a ROM (master ROM) provided in the master 31 to analyze the print data, and determines a corresponding one of the analyzed print data. The data is transferred to each slave 32 by CPU communication. And the master CPU
When each of the slave CPUs performs a process of interpreting the print data for each color ink component to generate print image data, the printing mechanism performs color printing based on the print image data.

[0015] Incidentally, the printing mechanism is provided with a color ink of four primary colors of CMYK, and for color printing based on the print image data composed of four primary components of the CMYK created the master 31 in each slave 32 . Here, the master 31 and the slave 3 when the print data related to the bitmap image is transferred from the host computer 10
2 will be described with reference to FIG. Host RAM 11 to printer cable 20
The print data transferred via the master RAM 31a
Is stored in Then, the master CPU analyzes the print data described in the printer description language by the color processing unit 40.

[0016] The color processing unit 40 includes a color command analysis processing unit 41 is constituted by a color division processing unit 42, representative colors corresponding to set the brush type and color required to render the print data Is transferred to each slave 32 having. The color command analysis processing unit 41 selects the type of brush for drawing figures and characters, and sets the color of the brush with the density value of each of the four primary color components. The brush is provided with a text, a pen, and a fill.

The color division processing unit 42 reads information on the selected brush and the set density value of each color component from the color command analysis processing unit 41, and reads color information assigned to each slave 32, and The color information including the density value of the color component corresponding to the assigned color and the type of the brush is transferred to each slave 32 by communication between CPUs. Since each slave 32 has a brush density storage area for storing a density value for each type of brush, it selects a corresponding brush density storage area based on the color information and stores the density value.

At this time, print data relating to the four primary color components of CMYK has been transferred from the host computer 10 to the color printer 30. However, CMY, RGB, X
Even when print data for three primary color components such as YZ is transferred, if the color conversion processing is incorporated into the color division processing unit 42 to process the color data from three primary color components to four primary color components, It is also possible to perform data processing in each slave 32 corresponding to the four primary color components of CMYK.

[0019] Therefore, the master 31 to be transferred to each slave 32 a corresponding separated for each color ink components with analyzing the print data stored in the master RAM31a
And each slave 32 which interprets the transferred print data individually to create print image data.
Constitutes an arithmetic means in this sense. In the present embodiment, the print data of the bitmap image transferred from the host computer 10 is composed of multivalued data indicating the density value of the color component for each pixel by a value such as 0 to 255. Further, the printing mechanism is configured by a multi-level printing mechanism.

[0020] Therefore, as shown in (A) of FIG. 3, the color dividing unit 42 provided in the master 31 is to divide the multi-valued data transferred from the host computer 10 to the respective color ink components of the CMYK Transfer to each slave 32.
At this time, since the multi-valued data for each color ink component is based on image data adjusted to the resolution of the host computer 10, each slave 32 converts the multi-valued data into colors according to the resolution of the color printer 30 itself. Perform conversion processing. Then, the multi-valued data whose resolution has been converted for each color is transferred to the printing mechanism and printed.

[0021] Of course, not necessarily as described above, it is not necessary to configure the printing mechanism with that of the multi-level response, it is also possible to constitute a two value correspondence of the printing mechanism. The flow of print data in this case will be described with reference to FIG. As in the case of the multi-value compatible type described above, the color division processing unit 42 provided in the master 31 divides the multi-value data transferred from the host computer 10 into CMYK color ink components, and Forward. Then
Each slave 32 converts the multi-valued data for each color ink component into binary data so as to correspond to the printing mechanism. At this time, the slave 32 changes the resolution of the binary data to the same color printer 30 as in the case described above.
The conversion processing is performed in accordance with itself, and the binary data is transferred to the printing mechanism to be printed.

Further, even when the print data of the bitmap image transferred from the host computer 10 is constituted by binary data indicating one pixel by one bit of 0 or 1, the printing mechanism corresponding to the multi-valued printing mechanism is used. Can be applied to the color printer 30 including The flow of the print data at this time will be described with reference to FIG. The color division processing section 42 provided in the master 31 divides the binary data transferred from the host computer into CMYK color ink components and transfers the CMYK color ink components to the slaves 32. In this case, since the print data transferred from the host computer 10 is binary data, it is not necessary to perform the resolution conversion as described above. Therefore, each slave 32
The transferred binary data is transferred to the printing mechanism as it is for printing processing.

When performing rectangular drawing or character drawing without the need to select a brush, the color processing unit 50 does not perform data processing and the color-specific operation processing unit 50
Are transferred to the color-specific data storage buffer provided in the printer, and the drawing processing is performed by a predetermined brush. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, data processing is performed on the four primary color ink components of CMYK, but it is not always necessary to subject only such primary color components to the same data processing. As shown in FIG. 4, the present invention can be applied to a case where each of the CMY color components has a light color component. Therefore, a case will be described with reference to FIG. 5A in which an arithmetic processing board for the light color component is provided.

At this time, the color printer 30 has a single master 3 configured in the same manner as in this embodiment.
1 and seven slaves 32. With this configuration, CMYK transferred from the host computer 10
, Light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), and light yellow (LY), the bitmap image print data based on a total of seven color ink components is drawn by the color command analysis processing unit 41 to render the print data. And the color of the necessary brush are set, and are divided into the respective color ink components by the color division processing unit 42 and transferred to the corresponding slave 32 for each color ink component.

[0025] need not print data itself of the bitmap image that has been transferred from the host computer 10 is configured based on the color ink components of the seven colors, for example, as shown in (B) of FIG. 5, 3 The print data based on the primary color components can be analyzed by the color division processing unit 42 and divided into the seven color ink components. As described above, by using the light color component, the color reproducibility during color printing can be improved.

Next, the color printer 30 according to this embodiment, the operation will be described when performing color printing based on the print data transferred from the host computer 10. When print data for the four primary color components of CMYK is transferred from the host RAM 11 via the printer cable 20, the master CPU stores the print data in the master RAM 31a. The master CPU activates a data processing program recorded in the master ROM, selects a brush type based on the print data described in the printer description language in the color command analysis processing unit 41, and sets the brush type. The color is set by the density value of each of the four primary color components.

The CPU reads out the density value of each color component is set as information of the selected brush with a color division processing unit 42, and transfers the charge color information corresponding respectively with the communication between the CPU for each slave 32 . Then, each slave 3
2 selects a corresponding brush density storage area based on the color information, stores the density value, and creates print image data. The printing mechanism performs color printing using four primary color inks of CMYK based on the print image data created by each slave 32.

[0028] Thus, the print data based on the printer description language to the master 31, which is provided from the host computer 10 to the color printer 30 are transferred, the master CPU by dividing the print data for each color ink components When transferred to the slaves 32, each slave 32 creates and transfers the print image data separately, so that the work efficiency during color printing can be improved.

[0029]

As described above, the present invention can provide a color printer capable of improving work efficiency in color printing.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 2, C
Separate printer description language for each MYK color component and output
Output color image data that has been analyzed
be able to. According to the third aspect of the present invention,
Interpretation processing can be executed separately for the printer description language for the light color component.

[0031] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
Printer description language that describes the color components
Outputs color image data that has been interpreted and processed
can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a color printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a data processing procedure in the color printer.

FIG. 3 is a data flow diagram showing a flow of print data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a data processing procedure in a color printer according to a modification.

FIG. 5 is a data flow diagram showing a flow of print data in a color printer according to a modification.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a color printer according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Host computer 30 ... Color printer 31 ... Master 31a ... Master RAM 32 ... Slave 32a ... Slave RAM 40 ... Color processing part 41 ... Color command analysis processing part 42 ... Color division processing part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification symbol FI H04N 1/46 H04N 1/40 D 1/60 1/46 Z (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/30 B41J 2/525 B41J 29/38 G06F 3/12 H04N 1/23 101 H04N 1/46 H04N 1/60

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A color printer comprising an operation means for inputting a color printer description language and outputting color image data based on the printer description language, wherein the operation means has the same number of color ink components. ,
One of which is the master, and multiple operators other than this master
Each of the stages is a slave, and the arithmetic means of the master converts the printer description language into each color.
Separately output to printer description language for ink components
And the pre-applied to each separated color ink component.
Executing an interpretation process of one of the slave description languages, wherein the arithmetic means of the plurality of slaves execute arithmetic processing of the master.
For each color ink component output separately
One of the input color ink components in the linter description language
A color printer which executes interpretation processing of such a printer description language . 2. The color printer according to claim 1, wherein said master arithmetic means includes a pre- processing unit for a CMYK color component.
A color printer that executes an analysis process of separating and outputting the data for each printer description language . 3. The color printer according to claim 1, wherein said calculating means comprises a light color component for each color ink component.
Color printer characterized that you have provided separately also. 4. The color printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer description language also describes a light color component.
What is described is a color printer.