JP3457555B2 - Printer device and printer system - 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 device having a function of receiving image information from a host device and printing a table including characters and ruled lines, and a printer system including the printer device and the host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer device having a function of receiving image information from a host device and printing a table including characters and ruled lines corresponding to the image information has been used. For example,
As a line printer having a surface printing function and performing dot printing line by line, there is a printer device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-25312. The printer device disclosed in the above publication is provided with a line head having a plurality of printing elements arranged in a straight line so as to perform dot printing line by line. A drive circuit is connected to the line head, and selectively drives the printing elements according to print dot data for each line. A print memory is connected to the drive circuit. The print memory has an address corresponding to the print element, stores print dot data for each line, and sends the print dot data to the drive circuit in synchronization with the line sequential timing.

Further, at least one ruled line memory is provided, and the ruled line memory has an address corresponding to the printing element and stores ruled line dot data representing a ruled line to be printed. The ruled line memory is controlled by a control circuit. That is, the control circuit executes writing and erasing of ruled line dot data, and superimposes the written ruled line dot data on the print memory in synchronization with the line sequential timing. The print element of the line head is selectively driven according to print dot data sent from the print memory to perform dot printing. At this time, the print dot data transmitted in synchronization with the line-sequential timing for each line is a combination of character dot data representing a character image and ruled line dot data representing a ruled line image. Therefore, in response to the print dot data for each line, the character image and the ruled line image are simultaneously printed in the line, and only the ruled line image is printed because there is no character dot data between the lines. As a result, the line printer can continuously print desired ruled line images regardless of the space between lines, and can perform front face printing.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional printer device, in order to print the characters and ruled lines of the table,
It is necessary for the host device to calculate the width, height, line width, etc. of the ruled line for each printing of one line and to instruct the printer device. Therefore, the amount of calculation of the host device and the amount of data input from the host device to the printer device become extremely large.
There is a problem that the load of the host device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device and a printer system capable of reducing the load on the host device.

[0006]

A printer device according to the present invention receives image information, generates corresponding print data by a print data generating means, and responds to the print data by a head driving means to drive a print head. A printer device having a function of printing a table on a print sheet by driving includes storage means for storing at least table number and column width of the table, and the print data generation means stores the table information in the storage means. The print data is generated based on the stored table information and the image information. The print data generation unit generates and outputs print data based on at least the table information and the image information regarding the number of columns and the width of the table stored in the storage unit. The head driving means drives the print head in response to the print data to print on the print paper.

The table information can be further configured to include at least one of a table registration number, a ruled line width, and information about a space between a character and a ruled line. Further, the table information input means for inputting the table information and storing it in the storage means may be provided. The printer system of the present invention is configured to include each of the printer devices and a host device that transmits the image information and at least table information relating to the number and width of columns of the table to each of the printer devices. You can Further, the table information may be configured to further include at least one of a table registration number, a ruled line width, and information about a space between a character and a ruled line.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a line thermal printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a central processing unit (CPU) 1 which constitutes print data generating means and which receives image information representing information on a table consisting of characters and ruled lines from a host device (not shown) 1
A random access memory (RA) 01 includes a head unit 102, a keyboard 103 that constitutes table information input means, and a storage means that stores table information and the like as described later.
M) 110 and a read-only memory (ROM) 111 for storing the processing program of the CPU 101 are connected. The RAM 110 can also be configured by a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM.

The head unit 102 has a line head 106 which constitutes a print head, and the line head 106 is constituted by a thermal line head. The line head 106 has a plurality of printing elements 1061 arranged in a straight line in order to perform the dot printing for each line by selectively energizing the drive has been line-sequentially The printing element 1061 is constituted by a heating element ing. Line head 106
A drive circuit 107 is connected to the. Drive circuit 10
7 has a plurality of switching elements 1071 connected corresponding to the printing element 1061, and the latch register 1
In accordance with the print dot data for each line latched in 08, the switch is selectively turned on to drive the print element 1061.

The drive circuit 107 includes a latch register 108.
Are connected. The latch register 108 has the number of bits corresponding to the print element 1061, latches the print dot data for each line registered in the shift register 109 in response to the latch signal 1, and switches the print dot data to the corresponding switching. It outputs to the element 1071. A shift register 109 is connected to the latch register 108. The shift register 109 is the latch register 108
Has a number of bits corresponding to, and print dot data for each line is registered from the print memory 105 in response to the shift register transfer signal 2.

On the other hand, the CPU 101 has a row buffer memory 104 for storing image information and a row buffer memory 104.
And a print memory 105 connected to. The print memory 105 has a storage area corresponding to each print element 1061, stores print dot data for each line, and transfers the print dot data to the shift register 109 in synchronization with the strobe signal 3. The drive circuit 107, the latch register 108, and the shift register 109 form a head drive unit.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a registration process of the CPU 101 when registering table information such as the number of columns of a table from the host device. First, the symbols used below will be explained in advance.
+ "T"), print table mode execution command (DC3 + "
t "), a registration number assigned corresponding to each of a plurality of tables having different styles, b a ruled line width representing the number of dots corresponding to the width of the ruled lines forming the table, and k the number of columns per row. , A space representing the number of dots between the upper and lower edges of the characters in the table and the horizontal ruled line, and a space representing the number of dots corresponding to the space between the left edge of the character and the vertical ruled line, e The start position representing the number of dots corresponding to the start position is n0, k
The column width indicating the number of dots corresponding to the column width of the column is nk, and the width of the table is Th (= b * (k + 1) + n1 + n2 + ... + n
k). However, since a = 0 is used in the table mode cancellation command of the printing process described later, a is a number other than 0.

Returning to FIG. 2 again, the signal received from the host device is a registration table mode execution command (DC3).
+ "T") (step S201), and in the case of the registration table mode execution command, the input registration number a
Is within the range that can be registered, that is, whether the registration number a is within the parameter range (step S202). If it is within the range, the RAM 11 of FIG.
A memory area for storing the parameters (a, b, k, e) in 0 is secured (step S203), and the registration number a
Is stored (step S204). Next, it is determined whether or not the ruled line width b is the number of dots within a predetermined range, that is, whether the ruled line width b is within the parameter range (step S205),
If it is within the range, the ruled line width b is stored in the RAM 110 (step S206).

Next, whether or not the number of columns k is within a predetermined range,
That is, it is determined whether or not the number of columns k is within the parameter range (step S207), and if it is within the range, the number of columns k is determined.
Is stored in the RAM 110 (step S208). Next, a memory area for storing the parameters n0 to nk is secured in the RAM 110 (step S209), and it is determined whether or not the space e is within a predetermined range, that is, whether or not it is within the parameter range. (Step S210),
If it is within the range, the space e is stored in the RAM 110 (step S211).

Next, m = 0 is set (step S21
2) Then, it is determined whether or not the start position n0 is within the parameter range (step S213), and if it is within the range, the start position n0 is stored in the RAM 110 (step S2).
14). Next, after setting m = m + 1 (step S21
5), it is determined whether or not m exceeds k (step S
216), if it does not exceed, the process returns to step S213 to repeat the above processing until nk, and sequentially start position n
0, the first column width n1, the second column width n2, ..., k
The column width nk of the column is stored in the RAM 110. When m exceeds k, the processing is terminated.

The signal received from the host device in step S201 is the registration table mode execution command (DC3
+ "T"), and steps S202 and S2
In 05, S207, S210, and S213, when it is not within the parameter range, the instruction is ignored and the process ends (step S217). As described above, each parameter of the table information is associated with the registration number and registered in the RAM 110 of the printer device. Registration of each of the above parameters,
Although it can be performed from the host device as described above, it can also be performed using the keyboard 103.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing of the CPU 101 when the printer apparatus side prints the image information input from the host apparatus. In FIG. 3, when a print table mode execution command (DC3 + “t” + a) specifying a registration number a other than 0 is input from the host device (step S301), the table with the registration number a is already registered. It is determined whether or not (step S302), and if not registered, the process ends. If the registration number a is registered, then it is determined whether or not the received data is character data (step S303), and if it is character data, it is sequentially stored in the row buffer 104 of FIG. (Step S304). When one line of character data is stored in the line buffer 104 (step S305), the ruled line 1
Printing process (step S310), ruled line 2 printing process (step S311), ruled line 3 printing process (step S31)
2) After performing each process of the ruled line 2 printing process (step S313), it is determined whether the received data is a table mode release command (DC3 + “t” + 00h) indicating the end of the table printing (step S314). , Table mode release command (DC3 + "
In the case of t ″ + 00h), the ruled line 1 printing process is performed (step S315), and the process ends.

If one line of character data is not stored in step S305, or if the data received in step 314 is the table mode execution command (DC3 + "t").
If not + 00h), the process returns to step S303 to repeat the above process. On the other hand, if the received data is not character data in step S303, it is determined whether or not it is a carriage return (CR) (step S3).
06), if CR, the process moves to step S310 and the ruled line 1 printing process is performed. If it is not CR in step S306, it is determined whether or not it is a tab (TAB) (step S307). If it is not TAB, the command is ignored (step S308), the process proceeds to step S303, and T
In the case of AB, after moving the column position to the next column (step S309), the process proceeds to step S303.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing details of the ruled line 1 printing process. In FIG. 4, first, m = 0 is set (step S401), it is determined whether the ruled line width b is 1 or more (step S402), and if the ruled line width b is less than 1, the process ends. When the ruled line width b is 1 or more, m = m
When it is set to +1 (step S403), it is painted out from the start position n0 by the width Th of the table and one dot line is printed (step S404). Next, it is determined whether or not m is equal to the ruled line width b (step S405), and if equal, that is, the width T
If the horizontal line for h has been printed by the ruled line width b, the process is ended, and if they are not equal, the process returns to step S403 and is repeated until the line having the ruled line width b is printed. As a result, horizontal ruled lines corresponding to the width of the table are printed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of the ruled line 2 printing process. In FIG. 5, first, m = 0 is set (step S501), it is determined whether or not the space e is 1 or more (step S502), and if the space e is less than 1, the process ends. When the space e is 1 or more,
As m = m + 1 (step S503), start position n0
From b to black, the next n1 dot to white, the b dot to black again, the nk dots to white, and then b
The print data in which the dots are black is printed by one dot line (step S504). Next, it is determined whether or not m is equal to the space e (step S505), and if they are equal, that is, the ruled line of the width b that divides each column is vertically spaced by the space e.
If the length is printed, the process is terminated, and if they are not equal, the process returns to step S503 to repeat the process until a line equal to the space e is printed. As a result, the vertical ruled line corresponding to the space e is printed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing details of the ruled line 3 printing process. In FIG. 6, first, m = 0 is set (step S601), it is determined whether or not the character height is 1 or more (step S602), and if it is less than 1, the process ends. When the character height is 1 or more, m = m + 1 is set (step S603), and the character data of the m-th dot line is written in the print memory 105 (step S604).
The superposition mode is determined (step S605). When the logical sum (OR) process is selected as the superposition mode, the b dot is made black from the start position n0, the next n1 dot is made white, and the b dot is made black again.
A one-dot line in which nk dots are white and b dots are black is OR-processed and written in the print memory 105 (step S606). On the other hand, when the exclusive OR (XOR) process is selected as the overlay mode, the b dot from the start position n0 is black, the next n1 dot is white, and the b dot is black again. A 1-dot line in which nk dots are white and b dots are black is XORed and written in the print memory 105 (step S60).
7).

At this time, the print memory 105 stores dot data obtained by superimposing character dot data representing a character image and ruled line dot data representing a ruled line image. Next, after performing 1-dot line printing (step S60
8) It is determined whether or not m is equal to the character height (step S609). If they are not equal, the process returns to step S603, and if they are equal, the process ends. Thereby, the vertical ruled lines corresponding to the characters and the character heights are printed in the selected overlay mode. If the height of the row of the table is changed according to the size of the character in this way, it is not necessary to specify the height of the row, and the setting becomes easy.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the horizontal ruled line on the upper side of the character is printed by the width Th of the table by the ruled line 1 printing process of step S310, and is equivalent to the upper space e of the character by the ruled line 2 printing process of step S311. The vertical ruled line is printed, and the character and the vertical ruled line are overprinted by the ruled line 3 printing process in step S312. At this time, if the OR process is performed, the character and the ruled line are simply overlapped and printed, but if the XOR process is performed, the intersecting portion of the character and the ruled line is blank printed. Next, step S313.
The vertical ruled line corresponding to the lower space e of the character is printed by the ruled line 2 printing process of 1., and the horizontal ruled line corresponding to the width Th of the table is printed under the character by the ruled line 1 printing process of step 315. With the above, the front printing is completed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of printing by the printer device according to the present embodiment. A print start command from the host device to the printer device, and a registration number of the table when a plurality of tables are registered. The print processing is performed by transmitting a character to be printed, a line feed command, and a print end command. Figure 7
The following is the signal input from the host device to the printer device when printing is performed. "DC3 +" t "+ n +" ABC "+ TAB +" DE
F "+ CR + LF +" GHIJKL "+ CR + LF + C
R + LF + DC3 + “t” + 00h ”That is, select the table format with the registration number n, first specify the character“ ABC ”, move to the second column with the tab (TAB), and then enter“ DEF ”in the second column. Specify and print with line feed (CR + LF) in the table format. Then, in the first column, the letters "GH
IJKL "is specified, and line feed (CR + LF) is used to actually print in the table format. Next, since there is no character specified and only line feed is entered, print the empty table without characters,
The printing process ends (DC3 + “t” + 00h). As described above, the table shown in FIG. 7 is printed. Note that b, e, n0, and n1 in FIG. 7 are the ruled line widths described above,
A space, a start position, and a column width of the first column are shown.

As described above, the printer according to the present embodiment is based on at least the RAM 110 that stores table information relating to the number of columns and the width of columns, and the information stored in the RAM 110 and the image information received from the host device. A CPU 101 for generating print data according to the print data, and a drive circuit 107 for driving the line head 106 according to the print data.
Since it is characterized by including a latch register 108 and a shift register 109, by registering table information such as the number of columns of the table in advance, the registration number of the table can be specified and the character to be printed on each line. The table can be printed by a simple process of simply transmitting data from the host device to the printer device.

Therefore, since the processing amount of the host device and the amount of data input from the host device to the printer device can be greatly reduced, the load on the host device can be greatly reduced. The table information may further be configured to include at least one of the registration number of the table, the ruled line width, and information about the space between the character and the ruled line. This makes it possible to easily print various types of tables. In addition, the upper and lower spaces e of the characters can be easily set, the width of each column can be specified in dot units, and the value of each parameter can be set easily, so that various types of table printing can be easily performed. Become.

Further, the table information is input to the RAM 110.
By providing the keyboard 103 stored in the table, it becomes possible to input table information with the printer device. Also,
By configuring the system by each of the printer devices and the host device that transmits at least table information regarding the number of columns and the column width of the table to each of the printer devices, the entire printer system including the host device and the printer device It is possible to improve the printing speed. The table information can be printed if there is at least the number of columns and the width of the table, and at least the registration number of the table,
If one of the information about the ruled line width and the space between the character and the ruled line is included, various table printings are possible.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the throughput of the host device,
Since the amount of data input from the host device to the printer device can be significantly reduced, it is possible to significantly reduce the load on the host device and also to reduce the printing speed of the entire system including the host device and the printer device. It is possible to improve. Further, it becomes possible to easily perform various types of table printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a registration process of the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a printing process of the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a printing process of the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing process of the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a printing process of the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a printing mode by the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... CPU configuring print data generating means 102 ... Head unit 103: keyboard constituting table information input means 104 ... Row buffer memory 105 ... Print memory 106. Line head that constitutes a print head 107 ... Drive circuit constituting head drive means 108 ... Latch register forming head driving means 109 ... Shift register constituting head driving means 110 ... RAM as storage means 111 ... ROM

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 3/12 B41J 2/485 B41J 21/00 B41J 29/26 G06F 17/21 566

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A print data generating unit receives image information from a host device to generate corresponding print data, and a plurality of heat generating elements are linearly arranged by a head driving unit in response to the print data. In a printer equipped with a function to print a table on print paper by driving the thermal line head line by line, the registration number of the table is stored and at least the number of columns and width of the table and ruled line width are stored. , A storage means for storing and registering table information consisting of parameters relating to spaces between characters and ruled lines in association with the registration number, and corresponding to horizontal ruled lines corresponding to the width of the table and spaces between characters and the horizontal ruled lines For each line while making either of the vertical ruled lines to be displayed or the combination of vertical ruled lines and characters corresponding to the character height correspond to the image information. To printing, the print data generating means, and the parameters of the table information selected by specifying the registration number that has been registered in advance in the storage means, tabs instructions and line feed is received from the host device By order
A printer device for automatically arranging characters to be printed in each column of the table sequentially to generate the print data line by line. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising table information input means for inputting the respective parameters of the table information and storing the parameters in the storage means. 3. The printer device according to claim 1 or 2, and for the printer device, from the image information and at least each parameter relating to the number of columns and column width of the table, ruled line width, and space between characters and ruled lines. A printer system comprising a host device for transmitting the following table information.