JPH01100625A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print and output stored data at the time of an ON-line mode for plural times by providing an external storage to temporarily store the data to be printed and outputted, and a control panel to input printing control information. CONSTITUTION:Character data to be inputted are printed and outputted to an external host system 17 as they are by the ON-line mode and using a printing mechanism 15 through the operation of the control panel at the time of the ON-line, or the character data to be inputted are once stored into the external storage 5 added by data numbers. The character data stored in the external storage 5 are printed and outputted based on printing information set in the control panel to the external host system 17 at the time of an OFF-line mode, and the same data are printed and outputted for plural sheets as needed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer that is connected online to an external host system and prints out data sent from the external host system.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a printer incorporated in a data processing system such as a computer has been given only the function of a computer terminal. In other words, it is connected to an external host system such as a computer via a transmission path,
When data to be printed is input from an external host system, the data is printed out as is by the printing mechanism. In this case, print control information such as the number of print sheets, print format, print start command, etc. is also sent from the external host system at the same time. Therefore, the printer is equipped with only the minimum operating mechanisms such as a power switch and an emergency button that forcibly stops the printing operation in case of an emergency such as a paper jam.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as described above, printers that operate only by commands from an external host system have the following problems. That is, if, for example, the same data is to be printed out on multiple sheets, the external host system must send the same data to the printer multiple times. As a result, the processing efficiency of the external host system for other tasks is significantly reduced.

Furthermore, it is necessary to start and operate the external host system only when it is necessary to print out the same data again. Therefore, in order to operate the external host system, complicated operations that are not directly related to printer operations must be performed on the external host system, which not only makes the operation troublesome but also raises the possibility of operational errors. .

By providing an external storage device that temporarily stores data to be printed and an operation panel for inputting print control information, the present invention allows data to be printed with simple operations even if the external host system is offline. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can output data, thereby reducing the burden on an external host system and improving operability.

[Means for solving the problems] As shown in FIG.
The interface circuit B includes an interface circuit B that receives data transmitted from the interface via a transmission path.
In a printer that prints out data input via a printing mechanism C, an external storage device stores data to be printed out by the printing mechanism C, and print control information for printing out the data by the printing mechanism C. an operation panel E having a display section and a keyboard for inputting data; a data storage means G for storing data input through an interface circuit B in an external storage device during online mode F for the external host system A; It is provided with a stored data print output means J which prints out data stored in an external storage device at 18 in the offline mode for the system A by a printing mechanism C based on input print control information.

[Function] A printer configured in this way is equipped with an external storage device and an operation panel equipped with a display and a keyboard, so data input from an external host system during online mode can be stored in the external storage. It becomes possible to once store the data in the device and then print out the data stored in the external storage device, for example, multiple times based on print control information input from the operation panel during offline mode.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the printer of the embodiment.

A main body cover 2 is attached to the top surface of a housing 1 housing a printing mechanism, and an operation panel 3 is provided on the front surface.

Further, a power switch 4 is provided on the side. Furthermore, an external storage bag @5 consisting of, for example, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive (FDD) is attached to this side.

On the operation panel 3, there is a keyboard 9 consisting of a print start key 6, a print stop key 7, a numeric key 8 for inputting print control information such as a print format for outputting data by a print mechanism, and A display unit 10 formed of, for example, a liquid crystal display is provided for checking print control information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer.

In the figure, 11 is a CPU (central processing unit) that executes various information calculation processes, and this CPU 11 is connected to a data bus 12.
RO that stores fixed data such as control programs through
M13. A RAM 14 that temporarily stores variable data such as input character data and print control information. A printing mechanism 15 that prints out the display unit 10 and keyboard 99 character data etc. attached to the operation panel 3. An interface circuit 16 for writing and reading data to and from the external storage device 5. It controls an interface circuit 19 and the like for exchanging data to be printed and various control commands with an external host system 17 via a transmission line 18.

A storage medium such as a floppy disk of the external storage device 5 stores a plurality of data input from the external host system 17 via the interface circuit 19 and stores data to be finally printed out by the printing mechanism 15. A region is formed. A data number is assigned to each data stored in each data area. This data number is used when reading data.

When the power switch 4 of this printer is turned on, the CPU 11 is programmed to execute the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the power switch 4 is turned on, the display section 10 and each interface circuit 16
．． A series of initial processing such as initialization of 18 is executed when the power is turned on. After that, the interface circuit 19 is installed at Pl.
The external host system 17 is checked to see if it is in online mode or offline mode. If the printer is in the online mode, the operation status of the numeric keys 8 on the operation panel 3 is monitored at P2, and if a code indicating a storage command to the external storage device 5 is not input, the printer is connected to the external host system 17. It is determined that it functions as a terminal device. The process then proceeds to P3, where the character data input from the external host system 17 via the interface circuit 19 is printed out as is by the printing mechanism 15. In this case, print control information such as print format and number of print sheets is also sent to the external host system 1 at the same time.
Specified from 7.

At P2, when the code for storing the command to the external storage device 5 is input from the operation panel 3, at P4, after inputting the data number using the numeric key 8, the data number is input to the external host system 17.
The character data input through the interface circuit 19 is written into the data area of the external storage device 5 with the corresponding data number through the interface circuit 16.

Further, if the interface circuit 19 is in offline mode with respect to the external host system 17 at Pl,
At P5, the output format (print format) of the character data already stored in the external storage device 5 is determined from the operation panel 3.
Determine whether data for setting has been input. When data for setting the output format (print format) is input, this data is stored in the RAM 14 as print control information in P6. Note that this print control information also includes the data number described above.

If the data for setting the output format (print format) is not input in P5, the R
The character data of the data number designated by the print control information set in AM14 is read from the external storage device 5 via the interface circuit 16. Then, the read character data is printed out by the printing mechanism 15 based on the printing control information.

With a printer configured in this manner, input character data can be printed out as is by the printing mechanism 15 in the online mode by operating the operation panel 3 for the external host system 17 in the online mode. Alternatively, it is also possible to temporarily store the input character data in the external storage device 5 with a data number assigned thereto.

Then, when the external host system 17 is in offline mode, the character data stored in the external storage device 5 can be printed out based on the print control information set on the operation panel 3.

Therefore, for example, if it is necessary to print out the same data on multiple sheets of slip paper, the character data input from the external host system 17 during the online mode is temporarily stored in the external storage device 5 (. The data can be read from the external storage device 5 in offline mode and printed out by the printing mechanism 15 for the required number of sheets.In this case, the external host system 17 must send only the character data corresponding to the first sheet to the printer. For example, since there is no need to transmit the character data for the second and subsequent pages, the burden on the external host system 17 can be significantly reduced.

Moreover, since the printing control information when the character data stored in the external storage device 5 is to be printed out by the printing mechanism 15 can be specified from the operation panel 3, the external host system 17 does not need to be bothered. Therefore, the operability of the printer can be greatly improved.

Also, when inputting print control information from the operation panel 3,
Since the printing control information entered manually is displayed on the display unit 10, it is possible to enter the printing control information manually while checking the printing control information, and erroneous settings can be prevented.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, a floppy disk drive device (FDD) is used as the external storage device 5, but other storage devices using, for example, an IC card or the like may be used.

Further, the data printed out by the printing mechanism 15 may be data written on a floppy disk by a storage device other than this printer.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the printer of the present invention is provided with an external storage device for temporarily storing data to be printed and an operation panel for inputting print control information. Therefore, even if the external host system is offline, data can be printed out with a simple operation.

As a result, the burden on the external host system can be reduced and the operability of this printer can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the present invention, Fig. 2 is an external view showing a printer according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is the same. It is a flow chart showing operation of an example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Housing, 3...Operation panel, 4...Power switch, 5...External storage device, 8...Number key, 9...
...Keyboard, 10...Display section, 11...CPL
J, 15... Printing mechanism, 17... External host system, 18... Transmission line, 19... Interface circuit. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printer that has an interface circuit that receives data sent from an external host system via a transmission path, and uses a printing mechanism to print out the data input through this interface circuit, the printing mechanism should print out the data. an external storage device for storing data; an operation panel having a display section and a keyboard for inputting print control information for printing out data with the printing mechanism; data storage means for storing input data in the external storage device; and data storage means for storing the data input in the external storage device in the offline mode for the external host system, in the printing mechanism based on the input printing control information. A printer characterized in that it is equipped with a storage data printout means for printing out data.