JPH02190359A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable gradation data to be printed even with a printer capable of only monochrome density dot printing by performing pseudo gradation printing by a method wherein the gradation data is converted to a monochrome density image data of a dot density conformed to its density. CONSTITUTION:A data received from an external interface is received via a receiving part 1 and is analyzed with an analytic part 2. For the data of which analysis is ended, editing for printing is performed with an editing part 3. For a character data, the data which has been converted to an image is read from a character pattern generation part 4, and is sent to an image data conversion part 5. For an image data, it is sent as it is to the image data conversion part 5. Then, when the sent image data is not a gradation data, it is sent as it is to a printing part 7 to perform printing. In the case of the gradation data, a mask pattern data is selected from a mask pattern data store part 6 conforming to its density. After performing AND processing with the original image data, a processed pseudo gradation image data is sent to the printing part 7, and printing is performed with the printing part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer that converts gradation data into image data and prints with a monochrome ribbon.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in a printer that has a monochrome ribbon and performs dot printing with a single density, the gradation control hood cannot be identified even when gradation data is received, so all gradation data is printed at the same density.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The conventional printers described above have the disadvantage that the gradation data of all densities are printed in a single density, so the density of the image pattern cannot be distinguished from the print result. Printers that do this have the disadvantage of not being able to properly print gradation data.

[Means to solve the problem]

The printer of the present invention includes a receiving section that receives print data from an external interface, an analyzing section for the received data, an editing section for gradation data, a converting section that converts the gradation data into image data, and a converting section that converts the gradation data into image data. It has a printing section that prints data with a single color ribbon.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of internal processing of a printer that is an embodiment of the present invention. Data received from an external interface is received via a receiving section 1 and analyzed by an analyzing section 2. The data that has been analyzed is edited for printing in the editing section 3, and in the case of character data, the data converted to an image is read out from the character pattern generation section 4 and sent to the image data conversion section 5. is sent as is to the image data converter 5.

In the image data conversion section 5, if the image data sent is not gradation data, it is sent as is to the printing section 7 for printing.If it is 6 gradation data, it is masked from the mask pattern data storage section 6 according to the density. After selecting the pattern data and performing AND processing with the original image data, the processed pseudo gradation image data is sent to the printing unit 7.
Print on the printing section.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of printing processing.

After receiving the data, analyze and edit it, and in the case of gradation data, select a pattern that matches the density from among mask patterns A, B,...N, and AND it with the original image pattern.
After processing, print is performed.

Figure 3 shows an example of converting gradation data into print data for this printer, where mask pattern A converts gradation data with a density of 25%, mask pattern B converts gradation data with a density of 50%,
Mask pattern C shows the case where gradation data with a density of 75% is converted into image data that becomes print data for this printer.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the printer of the present invention can perform pseudo gradation printing by converting gradation data into monochromatic density image data with a dot density that matches the density. This has the effect that even printers that can only print can print gradation data.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing print processing, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing conversion from gradation data to print data. l... Receiving section, 2... Analysis section, 3...
...Editorial department, 4...Character pattern generation department,
5... Image data conversion section, 6...
Mask pattern data storage section, 7...Printing section. Agent Patent Attorney Shinno Uchihara

Claims (1)

[Claims] A dot printer that prints with a single color ribbon includes a receiving unit that receives print data from an external interface, an analysis unit that analyzes the print data, an editing unit that edits gradation data in response to the analysis unit, and the gradation data. A printer comprising: a converting section that converts data into image data; and a printing section that prints the converted image data with a monochrome ribbon.