JP3400844B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises, for example, an external device and an image forming device such as a laser printer which receives image data from the external device and prints a recorded image on a sheet from the received data. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used in an image forming system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image data from an external device is received, the received data is expanded into bit image data (bitmap data), and then the printing unit (engine unit).
Therefore, an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer for printing a recorded image on a sheet has been put into practical use.

In such an image forming apparatus, font data corresponding to data (macro data) such as a company mark (logo), a fixed figure, etc. and a character is read-only memory (ROM) mounted by a user or an external device. It is transmitted (input) by the (host) and stored in a volatile memory (internal RAM of the device).

Bit image data is generated by reading the corresponding macro data or font data (character shape data) from the read-only memory or the volatile memory from the image data as print data, and the generated bit image data. Is printed on the paper.

The above read-only memory has the advantage that it is non-volatile and macro data and font data are not lost when the power is cut off, but if different macro data and font data are needed, the ROM must be replaced. There is.

The volatile memory is readable and writable, and has the advantage that various macro data and font data can be printed by repeatedly downloading and erasing various macro data and font data from an external device. However, since the macro data and the font data are lost when the power is turned off, it is necessary to download the data when the power is turned on, and there is a drawback that it takes a long time to start printing.

[0007]

As described above, according to the present invention, when different macro data and font data are required, the ROM needs to be replaced, or the download must be performed when the power is turned on. This was done in order to eliminate the disadvantage that the startup time before printing becomes longer, and when different macro data or font data is needed, it is not necessary to replace the ROM, and download is inevitable when the power is turned on. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can eliminate the conventional load.

[0008]

An image forming apparatus of the present invention
Receives image data from an external device, or
Data, font data, or macro
Data, determine whether or not a font data write command has been received
The first determination means and the print mode that stores the print dot data.
Data memory and the macro data received from the external device.
Macro data memory that records font data
Non-volatile to record the above macro data and font data
ROM as a memory of the above, the first judgment above
When the image data is received by the means,
Second, to determine whether to use font data
Macro data by the judging means and the second judging means,
When you decide to use the font data,
The corresponding macro data and font data are
Dot read from ROM and converted from the above image data
Generates print dot data by combining with image data
Store in the print dot data memory and
First processing means for forming an image on the image carrier and the second processing means.
Use macro data and font data according to the judgment method
When the dot is not judged, the dot converted from the above image data
Print dot data is generated from image data and printed
Image data from the print dot data
Second processing means formed on the carrier and the first judgment
Determining reception of macro data and font data by means
When received, this received macro data, font data
And a third processing means for recording in the macro data memory,
Macro data and font data by the first judging means
When the reception of the write command of
Macro data and font data recorded in memory
The fourth is to rewrite the recorded contents of the flash ROM with
And processing means.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving image data, macro data, font data, and a write command thereof from an external device, a flash ROM for recording the macro data and font data, and the receiving means. Read means for reading the macro data and font data corresponding to the image data received by the flash ROM from the flash ROM, the macro data read by the read means,
Generating means for generating bit image data from the font data, image forming means for forming the bit image data generated by the generating means on the image carrier, and checking whether the flash ROM has invalid data when the power is turned on. Judgment means for judging, recording means for extracting and recording only valid data of the flash ROM when this judgment means judges that there is invalid data, and valid data recorded in this recording means It is composed of rewriting means for rewriting all recorded contents.

The image forming apparatus of the present invention can be operated from an external device.
Image data, macro data, phone
Data is received, or macro data or font data is received.
First judging means for judging whether or not a data write command is received
And a print dot data memo that stores print dot data
The macro data and font data received from the external device.
The macro data memory for recording data and the macro data
As a non-volatile memory that records font data
Image by the flash ROM and the first judging means
When it is judged that data has been received, macro data and font data
Second determining means for determining whether or not to use the data
Macro data and font data by the second determining means of
When you decide to use, the macro corresponding to the above image data
Read data and font data from the flash ROM
Dot image data obtained by converting the above image data
And are combined to generate print dot data and
Data in the image memory.
By the first processing means and the second judgment means described above.
Do not judge whether to use macro data or font data
Dot image data converted from the above image data
Print dot data is generated by
Stored in the memory and form this print dot data on the image carrier
By the second processing means and the first judging means.
When you decide to receive data and font data,
Received macro data and font data are macro data
Third processing means for recording in the memory and the first judging means
Depending on the stage, the command to write macro data and font data
When the reception is judged, the empty area of the flash ROM above
Larger amount of macro data and font data than amount
And a third judging means for judging whether or not
Depending on the number of steps,
When the amount of black data and font data is large,
Determine if there is invalid data in flash ROM
The fourth judgment means and the invalid data by the fourth judgment means.
When it is determined that there is data, the effective data of the flash ROM is
A first recording means for extracting and recording only the data;
The valid data recorded in the recording means of No. 1 causes the above-mentioned flag.
Rewriting means to rewrite all the recorded contents of the shrom
In the flash ROM rewritten by the rewriting means,
The macro data recorded in the macro data memory
And a second recording means for recording font data.
Is made.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving image data, macro data, font data, and a writing command from an external device, a flash ROM for recording macro data and font data corresponding to the image data, Macro data and font data corresponding to the image data received by the receiving means are flash RO
Reading means for reading from M, macro data read by this reading means, generating means for generating bit image data from font data, and image forming means for forming the bit image data generated by this generating means on an image carrier. When the power is turned on, a first judging means judges whether or not the capacity of the empty area of the flash ROM is less than or equal to a predetermined capacity, and the capacity of the empty area of the flash ROM is less than or equal to the predetermined capacity by the first judging means When it is determined that there is invalid data in the flash ROM, the second determining means determines whether only valid data in the flash ROM exists when the second determining means determines that there is invalid data. All the contents recorded in the flash ROM are rewritten by the recording means for extracting and recording and the effective data recorded in the recording means. It consists of rewriting means.

[0012]

The present invention has the above-mentioned structure,
Receive image data from the device, or
Data, font data, or macro data,
First determination means for receiving a font data write command
The image data is judged by this first judging means.
When judging the reception, the macro data and font data are used.
Whether or not to use is judged by the second judging means, and this second
Use macro data and font data according to the judgment method
, The macro data corresponding to the above image data
Data and font data from the above flash ROM
The dot image data obtained by converting the above image data
To generate print dot data and print dot data
Stored in memory, print dot data on image carrier
The macro data and the fo
If you do not decide to use the
Print dot data by converting the dot image data
Data is generated, stored in the print dot data memory, and printed
Dot data is formed on the image carrier, and the first judgment procedure described above is performed.
Whether the macro data or font data is received depends on the level
The received macro data and font data
It is recorded in the macro data memory and is recorded by the first judging means.
Receive macro data and font data write commands
When judged, it is recorded in the above macro data memory.
Flash RO with macro data and font data
The recorded contents of M are rewritten.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming system according to the present invention. A printer such as a laser printer which receives print data from a host device 1 as an external device and prints a recorded image on a sheet from the received data. (Image forming apparatus) 2.
The laser printer 2 includes an image forming unit (generation unit) 3, a printing unit (image forming unit) 4, and a data cartridge 5. The data cartridge 5 is a flash RO
It is composed of M (non-volatile write / read memory), and has a recording element that stores macro data and font data in a resin case and has a structure that can be attached to and detached from the printer body.
The flash ROM of the data cartridge 5 is non-volatile and retains data even after the power is turned off.
Not in bytes, but in blocks (4K-1
It can be electrically erased in units of 6 Kbytes, and if different macro data or font data is required, it can be rewritten by the data from the host device 1, eliminating the load forced to download at power-on. be able to.

The structure of the image forming section 3 will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the image forming unit 3 includes the CPU 11, the program ROM 12, the program RAM 13, the host interface 14, the macro data memory 15, the print dot data memory 16, and the cartridge interface 1.
7 and a bus 18.

The CPU 11 has a program ROM 12
The overall control of the image forming unit 3 is performed according to the control program. The program RAM 13 temporarily stores image data sent from the host device 1 and temporarily records macro data and font data of the data cartridge 5.

The host interface 14 transfers image data, macro data, font data and data such as commands between the host device 1 and the image forming section 3.

The macro data memory 15 stores macro data and font data received from the host device 1 by the host interface 14. The print dot data memory 16 stores image data developed into a bit image, that is, bitmap data generated by macro data or font data supplied from the data cartridge 5, and this output is output to the printing unit 4. Supplied.

The cartridge interface 17 sends and receives data between the data cartridge 5 and the image forming section 3, and has a write signal line WT, a read signal line RD, an address bus AB, and a bidirectional data bus D.
B is connected to the data cartridge 5. The cartridge interface 17 outputs the macro data and font data downloaded from the host device 1 together with the write signal to the data cartridge 5, and the bus 18 connects the CPU 11 and the program RO.
It is a bus for exchanging data among the M12, the program RAM 13, the host interface 14, the macro data memory 15, the print dot data memory 16, and the cartridge interface 17.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data structure of the data cartridge 5 includes a cartridge header portion 21 and
.. and a plurality of data header parts 22, .. The cartridge ID, the cartridge capacity, and the head data address are recorded in the cartridge header portion 21. A data type, a data name, a next data header address, a data address, and a valid / invalid flag are recorded in the data header section 22. Macro data and font data as print data are recorded in the data section 23.

In the case of "FRASH", the cartridge ID means a cartridge in which data is recorded,
"FFFFF" means an unrecorded cartridge in which no data is recorded.

As the cartridge capacity, "1000000" is recorded in the case of 1 megabyte (MB), and "2000000" is recorded in the case of 2 megabyte (MB).

The valid / invalid flag indicates invalid (erase mark) when "00" and valid when "FF". For example, a recording example of the 1 megabyte (MB) data cartridge 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The cartridge header 21 has a cartridge ID "FR".
ASH ", the cartridge capacity is" 100000 "
“0” and “000100” are recorded as the head data address. In the first data header section 22, the data type is “MACRO” and the data name is “00”.
1 ”and“ 00100 ”as the next data header address
0 ”,“ 000200 ”as data address, valid /
“00 (Invalid)” is recorded as the invalid flag. Macro data as print data is recorded in the first data section 23. In the second data header section 22, the data type is "FONT" and the data name is "C.
"OURIER" and "00" as the next data header address
1500 ”, the data address is“ 001100 ”,
“FF (valid)” is recorded as the valid / invalid flag. Font data as print data is recorded in the second data section 23. Third data header part 2
2, the data type is "MACRO", the data name is "001", the next data header address is "002400", and the data address is "00160".
“0” and “FF (valid)” are recorded as a valid / invalid flag. Macro data as print data is recorded in the third data section 23.

If the data corresponding to the next data header address in the data header section 22 is "FFFFF", the data immediately before that is the final data. This next data header address and the cartridge header portion 21
The empty capacity is calculated from the capacity of the cartridge inside.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. That is, the print data sent from the host device 1 is sent to the CPU 11 via the host interface 14. The CPU 11 determines whether it is print data, and if it is print data, it converts it to dot image data that can be printed by the printing unit 4, and transfers it to the print dot data memory 16.

The CPU 11 further detects whether the printing unit 4 is in a printable state by a printing unit interface (not shown), and if printing is possible, prints a start signal, etc., to the dot data memory 16 and prints a dot on the printing unit 4. Instruct to send data.

When the data received from the host device 1 by the CPU 11 is macro data (font data) instead of print data, the CPU 11 determines that the macro data memory 1
Store it in 5. When the data indicating that the macro data is used is input from the host device 1, the CPU 11 reads the macro data of the corresponding name from the data cartridge 5 or the macro data memory 15, interprets the contents, creates print data, and print dot data. Send to memory 16. C
When the data received from the host device 1 is a macro data save command, the PU 11 records the corresponding macro data in the data cartridge 5 via the cartridge interface 17. At this time, the data header portion 22 is generated and recorded on the data cartridge 5 by the data type and data name received from the host device 1 together with the CPU 11 and its data, the data address of the data cartridge 5 and the next data header address of the data. To do.

At this time, the CPU 11 checks whether or not the macro data of the same name exists in the data cartridge 5, and if it exists (because it cannot be overwritten), the old macro in the data cartridge 5 is detected. The invalid flag “00” is recorded in the data header portion 22 corresponding to the data,
Record new macro data in the empty area.

As described above, by using the data cartridge composed of the flash ROM, the data can be retained and the macro data and the font data can be rewritten even after the power is turned off.

As a result, when different macro data and font data are required, it is not necessary to replace the ROM, and the load forced to be downloaded when the power is turned on can be eliminated.

Next, with respect to the processing for dealing with the shortage of the space for recording the data of the data cartridge 5, the following three embodiments will be described. First, as the first embodiment, the warm-up time at power-on is used to
A process of rewriting the data of the data cartridge 5 to only valid data (editing process; garbage collection) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, when a power supply (not shown) is turned on, the power is supplied to the CPU 11 and the execution of the program is started. First, the CPU 11 uses the cartridge interface 17 to read the cartridge ID recorded in the cartridge header portion 21 of the data cartridge 5, and when "FLASH" is read as the cartridge ID, determines the mounting of the data cartridge 5 and When "FFFFF" is read as the ID, it is determined whether or not the unrecorded data cartridge 5 is mounted. In other cases, it is determined that the data cartridge 5 is not mounted.

When the CPU 11 determines that the unrecorded data cartridge 5 is mounted, the CPU 11 performs a normal warm-up operation, and when it determines that the data cartridge 5 is not mounted, it notifies the data cartridge 5 that the data cartridge 5 is not mounted by a display (not shown). To do.

When the mounting of the data cartridge 5 is determined, the CPU 11 uses the cartridge interface 17 to read the valid / invalid flag recorded in each data header portion 22, ... Check for the presence of certain data (invalid data).

If there is no invalid data as a result of this check, the CPU 11 performs a normal warm-up operation. If there is invalid data as a result of the above check, the CPU 11 causes the cartridge interface 17
When the cartridge capacity recorded in the cartridge header portion 21 of the data cartridge 5 is read by using, and when the cartridge capacity "1000000" is read, it is determined that the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 1 megabyte, and the cartridge capacity " 2000000 "
Is read, it is determined that the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 2 megabytes.

As a result of this judgment, the CPU 11 secures an area of 1 megabyte in the program RAM 13 when the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 1 megabyte, and 2 megabytes in the program RAM 13 when the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 2 megabytes. Secure an area.

After that, the CPU 11 reads only the valid data recorded in the data cartridge 5 and records it in the area secured in the program RAM 13. That is, only the valid data having the valid / invalid flag “FF” recorded in the data header portion 23 for each print data is recorded in the program RAM 13. At this time, the cartridge ID recorded in the cartridge header portion 21, the cartridge capacity, and the data header portion 2 for each print data
Data type, data name, valid /
The invalid flag is also recorded in the program RAM 13.

After reading all the recorded contents of the data cartridge 5, all the data in all areas of the data cartridge 5 are erased. Next, the CPU 11 is a program RAM
The recording contents (valid data etc.) of the data cartridge 5 recorded in 13 are recorded in the data cartridge 5.
At this time, the head data address in the cartridge header section 21, the next data header address for each data header section 22, and the data address are updated and recorded according to the recorded contents.

After that, the CPU 11 performs a normal warm-up operation. As described above, data that has been invalidated in the past in the data cartridge 5 (that is, cannot be read with an erase mark) remains between valid data. If this is completely erased and effective data is filled, an empty area is generated and the data cartridge 5 can be used again. As a result, it is possible to prevent a recording (writing) error when the space for recording data in the data cartridge 5 is insufficient.

Further, the work conventionally performed manually can be performed by a program in the printer without human intervention. Furthermore, without causing a recording error, the cartridge data can be rewritten by using the warming-up time when the power is turned on, which does not bother the user.
It does not keep the user waiting.

Next, as a second embodiment, a process (editing process; garbage collection) of rewriting the data of the data cartridge 5 to only valid data when the data cartridge 5 is full will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. explain.

That is, the CPU 11 writes the data in the data cartridge 5 before recording the data in the data cartridge 5.
The size of the data to be recorded is compared with the empty area inside. The empty area in the data cartridge 5 is obtained by subtracting the address in which “FFFFFF” is recorded from the cartridge capacity in the cartridge header 21 at the address corresponding to the next data header address in the data header section 22.

When the empty area is smaller and data cannot be recorded, the CPU 11 uses the cartridge interface 17 to read the valid / invalid flag recorded in each data header portion 22, ... Of the data cartridge 5 and erase mark. Check if there is any data (invalid data).

If there is no invalid data as a result of this check, the CPU 11 causes the data cartridge 5 of the data.
It is determined that the recording to the data cartridge is impossible, and the data cartridge 5 currently used is removed, and a message prompting the mounting of the data cartridge 5 which is not newly recorded is displayed on the display section of the operation panel (not shown). Display and wait for mounting of new data cartridge 5.

If there is invalid data as a result of the above check, the CPU 11 causes the cartridge interface 17
When the cartridge capacity recorded in the cartridge header portion 21 of the data cartridge 5 is read by using, and when the cartridge capacity "1000000" is read, it is determined that the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 1 megabyte, and the cartridge capacity " 2000000 "
Is read, it is determined that the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 2 megabytes.

As a result of this judgment, the CPU 11 secures an area of 1 megabyte in the program RAM 13 when the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 1 megabyte, and 2 megabytes in the program RAM 13 when the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 2 megabytes. Secure an area.

After that, the CPU 11 sequentially reads the recorded contents of the data cartridge 5 and records only the valid data in the area secured in the program RAM 13. That is, only the valid data having the valid / invalid flag “FF” recorded in the data header portion 23 for each print data is recorded in the program RAM 13. At this time, the cartridge ID recorded in the cartridge header portion 21,
The cartridge capacity, the data type recorded in the data header portion 23 for each print data, the data name, and the valid / invalid flag are also recorded in the program RAM 13.

After reading all the recorded contents of the data cartridge 5, all the data in all areas of the data cartridge 5 are erased. Next, the CPU 11 is a program RAM
The recording contents of the data cartridge 5 recorded in 13 are recorded in the data cartridge 5. At this time, the head data address in the cartridge header section 21, the next data header address for each data header section 22, and the data address are updated and recorded according to the recorded contents.

Next, the CPU 11 again judges the capacity of the empty area of the data cartridge 5 and judges whether the judged capacity of the empty area is larger than the data to be recorded.

As a result, when the CPU 11 determines that the capacity of the empty area is smaller than the data to be recorded, it is determined that the data cannot be recorded in the data cartridge 5, and the data cartridge currently in use. Data cartridge 5 with no new recording made by removing 5
A message prompting the mounting of the new data cartridge 5 is displayed on the display section of the operation panel (not shown), and the mounting of a new data cartridge 5 is waited.

As a result of the above, when the CPU 11 determines that the capacity of the empty area is larger than the data to be recorded,
The data is recorded on the data cartridge 5. As described above, when recording data on a data cartridge, if there is not enough free space, check for invalid data, and if there is invalid data, check the valid data to secure a free space. The data is recorded on the data cartridge 5. As a result, it is possible to suppress the rewriting of the flash ROM as the data cartridge to a necessary minimum, extend its life, and suppress the occurrence of a recording error when the space for recording the data is insufficient.

Next, as a third embodiment, when the power is turned on, the empty capacity of the data cartridge 5 is checked, and when the empty capacity becomes equal to or less than a predetermined capacity, the warm-up time is used to read the data of the data cartridge 5. The process (editing process; garbage collection) that rewrites only the valid data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, when a power source (not shown) is turned on, the power source is supplied to the CPU 11 to start executing the program. First, the CPU 11 uses the cartridge interface 17 to read the cartridge ID recorded in the cartridge header portion 21 of the data cartridge 5, and when "FLASH" is read as the cartridge ID, determines the mounting of the data cartridge 5 and When "FFFFF" is read as the ID, it is determined whether or not the unrecorded data cartridge 5 is mounted. In other cases, it is determined that the data cartridge 5 is not mounted.

When the CPU 11 determines that the unrecorded data cartridge 5 is mounted, it performs a normal warm-up operation, and when it determines that the data cartridge 5 is not mounted, it informs the data cartridge 5 that the data cartridge 5 is not mounted by a display (not shown). To do.

When it is determined that the data cartridge 5 is mounted, the CPU 11 uses the cartridge interface 17 to read the valid / invalid flag recorded in each data header portion 22, ... Check for the presence of certain data (invalid data).

If there is no invalid data as a result of this check, the CPU 11 performs a normal warm-up operation. If there is invalid data as a result of the above check, the CPU 11 causes the cartridge interface 17
When the cartridge capacity recorded in the cartridge header portion 21 of the data cartridge 5 is read by using, and when the cartridge capacity "1000000" is read, it is determined that the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 1 megabyte, and the cartridge capacity " 2000000 "
Is read, it is determined that the capacity of the data cartridge 5 is 2 megabytes.

Next, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the empty area in the data cartridge 5 has a predetermined capacity (100 Kbytes) or more. The empty area in the data cartridge 5 is obtained by subtracting the address in which “FFFFFF” is recorded from the cartridge capacity in the cartridge header 21 at the address corresponding to the next data header address in the data header section 22.

As a result of the above judgment, the CPU 11 performs the normal warming-up operation when the empty area is equal to or larger than the predetermined capacity. As a result of the determination, the CPU 11 sets the area corresponding to the entire capacity of the data cartridge 5 to the program RAM when the empty area is less than or equal to a predetermined capacity.
Secure at 13.

After that, the CPU 11 sequentially reads the recorded contents of the data cartridge 5 and records only the valid data in the area secured in the program RAM 13. That is, only the valid data having the valid / invalid flag “FF” recorded in the data header portion 23 for each print data is recorded in the program RAM 13. At this time, the cartridge ID recorded in the cartridge header portion 21,
The cartridge capacity, the data type recorded in the data header portion 23 for each print data, the data name, and the valid / invalid flag are also recorded in the program RAM 13.

After reading all the recorded contents of the data cartridge 5, all the data in all the areas of the data cartridge 5 are erased. Next, the CPU 11 is a program RAM
The recording contents of the data cartridge 5 recorded in 13 are recorded in the data cartridge 5. At this time, the head data address in the cartridge header section 21, the next data header address for each data header section 22, and the data address are updated and recorded according to the recorded contents.

After that, the CPU 11 performs a normal warm-up operation. The rewriting process of the data of the data cartridge 5 after the completion of the warming up is the same as the case of the second embodiment. However, when the free capacity of the data cartridge 5 becomes less than a certain level, garbage collection is performed when the power is turned on, so that the probability of garbage collection during operation decreases, and the possibility of a long waiting time during system operation decreases.

As described above, when the power is turned on, the empty capacity of the data cartridge 5 is checked, and when the empty capacity becomes less than the predetermined capacity, the warm-up time is used to make the data of the data cartridge 5 only valid data. When rewriting and recording data on the data cartridge, if the empty area is insufficient, check the presence of invalid data, and if there is invalid data by this confirmation, fill the valid data to secure the empty area, The above data is recorded in the data cartridge 5.

As a result, the rewriting of the flash ROM as the data cartridge can be suppressed to the necessary minimum, the life of the flash ROM can be extended, and a recording error can be suppressed when the space for recording the data is insufficient. it can. Furthermore, the probability of rewriting the flash ROM during operation is reduced, and the possibility of a long waiting time during system operation can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where the removable data cartridge is used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a non-removable data cartridge may be used.

[0064]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
If different macro data or font data is required, R
It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that does not require replacement of the OM and can eliminate the load forced to be downloaded when the power is turned on.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data configuration of the data cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration of the data cartridge of FIG.

4 is a flow chart for explaining a data cartridge editing operation in the image forming system of FIG. 1. FIG.

5 is a flowchart for explaining a data cartridge editing operation in the image forming system of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a data cartridge editing operation in the image forming system of FIG.

7 is a flowchart for explaining a data cartridge editing operation in the image forming system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Host device (external device) 2 ... Image forming unit 3 ... Printing department 4 ... Printing unit (image forming means) 5 ... Data cartridge 11 ... CPU 14 ... Host interface 15 ... Macro data memory 16 ... Print dot memory 17 ... Cartridge interface

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-5-273959 (JP, A) JP-A-6-20487 (JP, A) JP-A-6-32014 (JP, A) European Patent Application Publication 548564 (EP, A1) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 5/44 B41J 21/00 G06F 12/00 542 G06F 12/00 597 G06F 12/02 530

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for receiving image data from an external device,
Receives macro data, font data, or
Received a command to write macro data and font data
And a print dot data memory for storing print dot data
And the macro data and font data received from the external device
Macro data memory to record and non-volatile to record the above macro data and font data
Of the flash ROM as the memory and the first judging means judges the reception of the image data.
At this time, whether to use macro data or font data
The second judging means for judging, and the macro data and the font data by the second judging means.
When you decide to use the
Data and font data from the flash ROM
Dot image data obtained by reading and converting the above image data
Data and print dot data to generate print dot data.
Data in the image memory.
Macro data and font data are formed by the first processing means formed above and the second judging means.
If you decide not to use
Generates print dot data from the dot image data
The print dot data is stored in the memory and the print dot data is stored.
The second processing means for forming the data on the image carrier and the first judging means for the macro data and the font data.
Received macro data,
The third method for recording font data in the macro data memory
Macro data and font data are processed by the processing means and the first judging means.
When it is determined that a write command for
Macro data and font data recorded in the
4) Rewrite the contents of the flash ROM
An image forming apparatus characterized by including a processing means. 2. A receiving means for receiving image data, macro data, font data, and a writing command thereof from an external device, a flash ROM for recording the macro data and font data, and image data received by the receiving means. Reading means for reading macro data and font data corresponding to the above from the flash ROM, generating means for generating bit image data by the macro data and font data read by the reading means, and a bit image generated by this generating means. An image forming means for forming data on the image carrier, a judging means for judging whether or not there is invalid data in the flash ROM when the power is turned on, and a judgment means for judging existence of invalid data. , A recording means for extracting and recording only valid data in the flash ROM An image forming apparatus comprising: a rewriting unit that rewrites all the recorded contents of the flash ROM with the valid data recorded in the recording unit. 3. Whether image data is received from an external device
Receives macro data, font data, or
Received a command to write macro data and font data
And a print dot data memory for storing print dot data
And the macro data and font data received from the external device
Macro data memory to record and non-volatile to record the above macro data and font data
Of the flash ROM as the memory and the first judging means judges the reception of the image data.
At this time, whether to use macro data or font data
The second judging means for judging, and the macro data and the font data by the second judging means.
When you decide to use the
Data and font data from the flash ROM
Dot image data obtained by reading and converting the above image data
Data and print dot data to generate print dot data.
Data in the image memory.
Macro data and font data are formed by the first processing means formed above and the second judging means.
If you decide not to use
Generates print dot data from the dot image data
The print dot data is stored in the memory and the print dot data is stored.
The second processing means for forming the data on the image carrier and the first judging means for the macro data and the font data.
Received macro data,
The third method for recording font data in the macro data memory
Macro data and font data are processed by the processing means and the first judging means.
Flash R
Macro data, font data rather than the capacity of the empty area of OM
A third judging means for judging whether or not the capacity of the flash ROM is large, and the empty area of the flash ROM by the third judging means.
The capacity of macro data and font data is larger than the capacity of the area.
When it is large, there is invalid data in the flash ROM.
Whether there is invalid data is judged by the fourth judging means for judging whether or not there is
When extracting, extract only the valid data of the flash ROM
First recording means for recording, said by the first valid data recorded in the recording means
Rewriting means for rewriting all the recorded contents of the flash ROM
And the flash ROM rewritten by this rewriting means
The macro data recorded in the macro data memory.
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a second recording unit for recording font data and font data . 4. Receiving means for receiving image data, macro data, font data and a write command thereof from an external device, flash ROM for recording macro data and font data corresponding to the image data, and receiving by said receiving means. Read means for reading macro data and font data corresponding to the image data from the flash ROM, generating means for generating bit image data from the macro data and font data read by the reading means, and the generating means. Image forming means for forming bit image data on the image carrier, first judging means for judging whether or not the capacity of the empty area of the flash ROM is equal to or less than a predetermined capacity when the power is turned on, and the first judging means. If the capacity of the empty area of the flash ROM is less than or equal to a predetermined capacity by the judging means. When judging, it is judged whether there is invalid data in the flash ROM. Second
And a recording means for extracting and recording only valid data of the flash ROM when the presence of invalid data is determined by the second determining means, and the valid data recorded in the recording means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a rewriting unit that rewrites all the recorded contents of a flash ROM.