JPH02245822A - Page printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To considerably shorten printing speed by storing bit data changed from one degree code data into a second storage means. CONSTITUTION:A bit image generated in a bit image generation part 2 is stored in a first storage means 3 as image information at every page, is transmitted to a video signal generation part 4, and the content of a first storage means 3 is transferred to a second storage means 9. The second storage means 9 stores the bit image by several pages and it stores bit data converted from one degree code data. Thus, it is unnecessary to convert into bit data from code data, and the printing speed can considerably be shortened if the second storage means 9 is accessed and bit image is taken out.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a page printer.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art Page printers, such as digital copiers and digital facsimiles, are already known as image forming apparatuses that use bit image data.

In conventional page printers, there is DM between the manual means for reading the image and the output means for printing out the image.
Data was transferred directly using A transfer.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in a conventional page printer, data sent from a host computer 6 is sent to a controller section via a host interface 7, and the CPU of a part of the controller and the bit image generation section 2 are used to generate printed paper. Generated as a bit image per page, R
Stored in AM3.

The bit image stored in the RAM 3 is converted by the video signal generator 4 into a serial video signal that causes the writing light source to blink. The serial video signal generated in this way is sent to the printing process sequence control section (printer control section) 5 of the engine section via the interface 8, and forms an image on paper via a predetermined control section.

In conventional page printers, data sent from a host computer is not stored inside the printer after printing is performed. Therefore, if an attempt is made to print previous data after printing other data, it is necessary to send the print data from the host computer 6 again.

In data processing (particularly in graphic mode) of a page printer, it takes time to convert data into a bit image for each page, so the advantage of the high printing speed of a page printer cannot be fully utilized.

For example, if a host computer and a printer are connected via a serial interface and data is transferred at a transfer rate of 9600 baud, the bit image for one page of A4 size printing paper is generally 2400 x 3400 bits (81
60,000 focus), so A4 size printing paper 1
It takes 8160000 for all page information to be transferred.
(bits) / 9600 (baud) = 850 (seconds) - 14
It takes (minutes).

Furthermore, when using a serial printer in emulation mode, problems with the transfer sequence on the application software side slow down the processing speed.

[Problem B to be Solved by the Invention] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a printer that can sufficiently increase the printing speed of the printer.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention solves the above problem by providing means for storing a bit image with a first storage means connected between a bit image generation section and a video signal generation section, and a data bus. The problem was solved by a page printer characterized by having a second storage means connected to the first storage means and capable of transferring the contents of the first storage means.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, the bit image created by the bit image generation section is stored in the first storage means as image information for each page and sent to the video signal generation section, and further the contents of the first storage means are stored in the second storage means. is transferred. The second storage means stores several pages worth of bit images. Since the second storage means stores bit data once converted from code data, there is no need to convert code data to bit data, and printing speed can be increased by accessing the second storage means and retrieving the bit image. will be significantly shortened.

〔Example〕

The details of the present invention will be explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

In FIG. 2, the page printer has a controller section and an engine section, and the controller section is provided with a CPUI, a bit image generation section 2, a first storage means 3, a video signal generation section 4, and a second storage means 9. . A printer control section 5 is provided in the engine section.

Data is sent from the host computer 6 to the bit image generating section 2 of the controller section via the host interface 7. The data is converted from code data to bit data by the CPU 1 and the bit image generator. The bit image created by the bit image generating section 2 is stored in the first storage means 3 as image information for each page.

A second storage means 9 is connected to the first storage means via an interface IO, and the contents of the first storage means are transferred to the second storage means. The second storage means 9 can also be directly connected to the first storage means by a DMA bus.

The second storage means 9 stores bit images for each page for several pages depending on the storage capacity.

When printing the contents of the second storage means 9, the CPUI accesses the first storage means 3 during normal printing and accesses the second storage means 9 in the same way as when extracting a bit image.

Control of the page printer is performed, for example, according to the flows shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the control of storing the bit image in the second storage means, as shown in FIG. 3, it is checked whether bit image bank up is to be executed, if NO, normal processing is performed, and if YES, code data is received from the host computer, The code data is converted into bit data, the bit data is stored in the first storage means, the bit data is further stored in the second storage means, and the first storage means outputs it to the video data generation section for printing processing.

In 'PIIW' to print the focus data of the second storage means, as shown in FIG. to read the bit data,
Outputs bit data to the video generator and performs normal printing processing.

The second storage means 9 can be built into a part of the controller like the first storage means 3, but it can be formed as a separate device and fixed within the printer main body 11 as shown in FIG. 10 (FIG. 2) to a DMA bus. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, a second storage means 12' formed as a separate device is disposed outside the printer main body II as an external device, and the second storage means 12' is formed as a separate device.
It is also possible to configure the connection by using Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a second
It can also be designed as a storage means 12''.

As the second storage means, a battery bank up RAM,
Any one of an EEPROM, an optical disk device, a magnetic disk device, etc. can be used.

〔effect〕

According to the present invention, the bit data that has been changed from the code data once is stored in the second storage means, and there is no need to convert the code data to bit data again, making it possible to significantly reduce the printing speed.

By making the second storage means a built-in type, it is possible to provide a reliable device without being subjected to inadvertent impacts during use.

According to the present invention, the second storage means can be installed externally, the external size of the printer body can be reduced, and if the architecture of the connection interface is made public, it can be supplied by a third party.

According to the present invention, by making the second storage means removable, when transporting a large amount of printed paper to a remote location, as long as the corresponding printer is installed at the destination, it is only necessary to transport the storage means. There is no need to carry large amounts of paper, and if the architecture of the connection interface is made public, it can be supplied by third parties.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional page printer, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the page printer of the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 are control flow charts, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the page printer main body showing a modified example of the second storage means. 1... CPU 2... Bit image generation section 3... First storage means 4... Video signal generation section 5... Printer control section 6... Host computer 9... Second storage means

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A means for storing bit images in a page printer equipped with a function of receiving print data from a host computer and converting the data into a bit image for each page of printing paper, and means for storing the bit image. a first storage means connected between the bit image generation section and the video signal generation section; and a second storage means connected to the first storage means by a data bus and capable of transferring the contents of the first storage means. A page printer characterized by having: (2) The page printer according to claim 1, wherein the second storage means is formed as a device that can be detached from the main body of the page printer. (3) The page printer according to claim 1, wherein the second storage means is formed as an external device and is connected to the page printer main body by a connection code.