JPH02150377A - Mode setting change device in printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the setting and change of a mode by a method wherein a non-volatile memory is provided in a controller of a printer, and with a mode setting status request command, mode setting information is read form the non-volatile memory, returned to a host device, and indicated on a printer using a display. CONSTITUTION:In the case of a mode setting command, according to the command, mode setting information is stored in a non-volatile memory 214. In the case of a mode setting status request command, mode setting information is read from the non-volatile memory 214 and transmitted to a host device 20 through a host interface 216. Then, a mode setting transfer is completed. On the side of the host device 20, the mode setting information is visually imparted through a display part of a panel operation part 25 by both the returned mode setting information and a software with a display indication function. On the user side, a user can recognize the mode setting information at a glance by referring to a display indication.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a mode setting changing device for a printer.

(Prior Art) FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a laser printer in which the present invention is implemented. Briefly explaining the operation of this laser printer, the recording paper 2 is fed in the direction of the arrow by the paper feed roller 17 from the paper feed device 1 set in the printer main body 10, and is timed by the registration roller pair 3. The image is then conveyed to a latent image carrier consisting of a drum-shaped photoreceptor 4.

The photoreceptor 4 is rotationally driven in a clockwise direction, and at this time, the surface of the photoreceptor 4 is charged by a V electric charger 5, and is irradiated with laser light from a laser optical system 6 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor.

This latent image is made visible by toner when passing through the developing device 7, and this visible image is transferred to the recording paper 2 conveyed to the photoreceptor 4.
A transfer charger 8 transfers the visible image onto the recording paper, and a fixing device 9 fixes the transferred visible image on the recording paper.

Then, the recording paper that has left the fixing device @9 is discharged by a paper discharge roller 18 to a discharge section 11 in the direction of arrow B.

On the other hand, residual toner is removed from the photoreceptor 4 after the visible image has been transferred by a cleaning device 13 having a cleaning blade 12 , and the charge is removed by a charge removal brush 14 .

The toner removed from the photoreceptor is collected by the first collection roller 16 into the toner collection chamber 15 and stored there.In order to operate the laser printer, source data (font data of characters, image data, etc.) and , Creates video data, which is bitmap information, in memory using page data (host device, etc.), reads out the video data, and prints it on recording paper.

In this case, the number of mode setting items that printers have tends to increase gradually, and the only way to change the mode settings is by the user using the panel operation section or by sending a command from the host device. It was complicated for users to change settings.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) It would be very convenient if the user could perform the complicated operation to change the mode setting of the printer while looking at the display that the user is accustomed to using. However, such means have not yet been realized.

An object of the present invention is to display such complicated mode settings on a display via a host device, thereby enabling mode settings that are easy for users to handle. .

(Structure and Operation) In order to achieve the above object 1), the present invention provides an interface means having a bidirectional function connected to a host device, capable of setting a plurality of modes, and capable of responding to requests from the host device. Means for returning mode setting information in response to the above, and means for changing the mode setting according to an instruction from the host device? It is characterized by being equipped.

The present invention allows data sent from a host 1-device to be
The data is stored in a storage area in M, and the RAM sequentially retrieves and processes the data using a command processing program in the ROM, or the printer judges various commands before proceeding to the command processing. If it is a mode setting command, the mode setting information is stored in the nonvolatile memory according to the instruction. If it is a mode set status request command, mode set information is read from the nonvolatile memory and the information is returned to the host device. The host device uses software to display the returned mode set information and display function on the printer's display, and the user performs mode setting while viewing this.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 20 is a host device, 21 is a printer controller, and a control unit (CPU) 211. ROM212. RAM
213. Non-volatile memory 214. Option interface (I/F') 215. Host interface (T
/F)216. Engine interface (I/F
)217. Panel interface (I/F) 21
8 and these buses 219.

The CPU 211 processes data from the host device 2° and performs other controls in accordance with the program in the ROM 212 and the data in the nonvolatile memory 214. ROM212
stores a control program for the controller 21 and pattern data such as characters and symbols to be searched by the printer engine 22. The RAM 213 is a work memory for processing by the CPU 211, an input buffer for temporarily storing data from the host device 20, and a print engine 2.
It is used as a bitmap memory, etc. to develop the video data to be output to 2 into a bitmap. Non-volatile memory 21
Reference numeral 4 denotes an additional device unique to this embodiment, which is used as a memory for printer mode set information, etc. Further, the option interface (I/F) 215 has a read/write cartridge 23 and the ROM cartridge 24, the host interface (I/F) 216 has the hosts 1 to 20, and the engine interface (I/F) 217 has a printer. The engine 22 is connected to the panel interface (I/F) 218, and the panel operation section 25 is connected to the engine 22 and the panel interface (I/F) 218, respectively.

The bus 219 connects the CPU 211 to the non-volatile memory 214.
It is a collection of data, Atnos, and signal lines that connect each interface (I/F) 215 to 218.

The above-mentioned read/write cartridge 1-ridge 23 has a RAM 21
It consists of a RAM cartridge etc. that expands the capacity of 3.

The ROM cartridge 24 is a ROM of the controller 21.
This is a font cartridge used when you want to print using characters and symbols other than those built into the 212, or an emulation card used when you want the printer to perform other functions (emulation of other printers).

The panel operation unit 25 also switches the display unit that shows the status of the printer, the printer mode set, character symbols, etc.
It has keys and switches for selection.

Next, the operation will be explained by referring to FIG. 2, which shows a flowchart of the command processing system in the printer, and FIG. 3, which shows a flowchart of the relationship between the host device 20 and the printer's controller 2. A display example (FIG. 5) will be explained.

First, the data sent from the host device d20.

It is stored in the storage area in RAM M213 in Figure 1,
In the AM, data is sequentially retrieved and processed by the command processing program in the ROM 212 (Fig. 2 (1)).
), the following judgments are made within the printer before proceeding to process the command.

(a) Is it a mode setting command, which is a mode set change request command (Figure 2 (2))? (b) A mode set status request command, which is a command to send back one piece of information on the mode to the host device? (Figure 2 (3)
)) (c) Is it another command (Figure 2 (4))?
(d) Is it print data? (Figure 2 (5)) In the above case, if it is a mode setting command in (a), the mode set information is stored in the non-volatile memory 214 in Figure 1 according to the instruction ( Figure 2 (6)).

In addition, in the case of the mode set status request command in (b), the mode set information is read from the nonvolatile memory 214 in Fig. 1 ((7) in Fig. 2), and the information is sent to the host interface (I/F ) 216 to the host device 20 ((8) in FIG. 2), and the mode set transfer is completed ((9) in FIG. 2).

To explain this in detail, as shown in Figure 3, when the software is started on the host device 20 side, a mode status request command is sent from the host device to the printer (controller 21) (Figure 3 (:30)). Upon receiving the command, the printer side prints the contents of each item (ITEM) and menu (MENU) as shown in Figure 4.
That is, the printer sends information to the currently selected mode cellar 1 to the host device 20, and the bidirectional host interface (
I/F) 21.6 (Figure 23 (:(l)
)...equivalent to Figure 2 (8)).

The host device 20 side uses both the returned mode set information and software with a display display function to display the fifth
As shown in the figure, mode set information (the shaded area is an example) is visually given ((32) in FIG. 3).

On the user side (printer side), the mode set information can be recognized with the negative eye by looking at the display display as shown in FIG.

Next time you want to change the mode setting on the user side.

The items and menus shown in FIG. 4 are selected via the display using the keys and switches of the panel operation section 25 (FIG. 3 (33)). Finally, when the mode setting change is confirmed ((34) in FIG. 3), the host device 20
A mode setting command is sent from the printer to the printer ((35) in FIG. 3), and the printer receives it and changes the mode setting ((36) in FIG. 3).

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention provides a non-volatile memory for storing mode setting information in the printer controller,
In the case of Mode Sera 1-Stitas request command,
The mode set information is read from the non-volatile memory, sent back to the host device, and displayed on the display from the device to the host 1 to the printer (user side), so the user can read it and get used to it. Modes can be easily set and changed by operating the keys and switches on the panel operation section.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a flowchart of the command processing system in the printer.
4 is an example of mode setting, FIG. 5 is an example of a display displayed on the printer, and FIG. 6 is a laser printer in which the present invention is implemented. FIG. 20... Host device, 21... Printer controller, 211... Control unit (CPU), 212... R
OM, 213... RAM, 214... Non-volatile memory, 215... Option interface (I/F), 216... Host 1-interface (
I/F), 217...Engine interface (I/F), 217...Engine interface (I
/F), 218...Panel interface (I/F), 218...Panel interface (I/F)
), 22... Printer engine, 23... Read/write cartridge, 24... ROM cartridge,
25...Panel operation section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] an interface means connected to a host device and having a bidirectional function; a means capable of setting a plurality of modes and returning mode setting information in response to a request from the host device; and an instruction from the host device. A mode setting changing device for a printer, comprising: means for changing the mode setting.