JPH03164283A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize an overlay print even in the case of using a control program of a command system by setting a down load of overlay information, storing the information from a host system in an overlay information memory, and further setting an overlay print. CONSTITUTION:A down load of overlay information is set to store form information as the overlay information to be sent from a host system 1 in a microfile 22e used also as the overlay information memory, and further an overlay print is set to superpose the overlay information on the layout information on a page buffer 22c as an image output memory to be combined, video data is formed based on it, sent to an engine 3, which executes an overlay print. Accordingly, even if a control program of a command system which cannot receive a control code for instructing the overlay print from the host system is used, the overlay print is realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to various printer devices such as laser printers.

[Conventional technology]

In printer devices such as laser printers, overlay information is used to store overlay information (mainly form information) such as vertical and horizontal ruled lines and mesh among the print information sent from host systems such as word processors, office computers, and personal computers. The overlay information is read out from the overlay information memory each time it is printed, superimposed on the information in the image output memory, and synthesized, and then printed. Some printers have an overlay printing function (for example, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-42791).

According to such a printer device, for example, when printing repeatedly by changing only the character information in a fixed form, the form data required as overlay information is sent once from the host system and stored in the overlay information memory. Once you do that, you only need to send text information, which reduces the load on the host system.

Conventional printer devices that are capable of such overlay printing have been able to perform overlay printing by accepting a dedicated control code transferred from a host system.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in recent years, printer devices equipped with multiple types of printer control programs with different command systems have been developed, but depending on the command system, a dedicated control code is sent from the host system to instruct overlay printing. However, some printers cannot accept this and cannot support the function for performing overlay printing, resulting in the problem that the functions of the printer may not be fully utilized.

This invention has been made in view of the above points, and is intended to enable overlay printing even when using a control program with a command system that cannot accept control codes instructing overlay printing from a host system. The purpose is to

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printer device having an overlay printing function as described above.
means for setting downloading of overlay information; and overlay information downloading means for storing overlay information in an overlay information memory when overlay information is sent from the host system while downloading is set by the means; and a means for setting overlay print, and only when overlay print is set by the means, superimposing the overlay information on the information in the image output memory sent from the host system to the composition means. It is designed to perform compositing processing.

[For production]

According to the printer device configured in this way, by setting overlay information download, overlay information from the host system can be stored in the overlay information memory, and by further setting overlay print, it can be subsequently downloaded from the host system. Overlay printing can be performed by superimposing the overlay information on the sent information and storing it in the image output memory.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a laser printer system which is an embodiment of the present invention.

This system includes a host system 1, a controller 2, a print engine (hereinafter simply referred to as the "engine") 3, and so on. A host interface 4 and a laser printer video interface (hereinafter referred to as rLPVIJ) connect these.
(abbreviated as ) 5. Note that each part except the host system 1 constitutes a laser printer (printer device).

The host system 1 is a host machine such as a word processor, office computer, or personal computer that sends 215 print information such as character information, image information, and overlay information.

The controller 2 is an image processing device that receives text information and image information from the host system 1 and generates image information (video data) for each page of print paper.

The print engine 3 is an image forming device that prints image information generated by the controller 2 onto paper.

The host interface 4 is an interface for connecting the host system 1 and the controller 2, and the R
S 2 3 2C, St. Nixue/F, etc. are well known.

LPVI5 is a standard interface that connects the controller 2 and engine 3, and it unifies the video interface hardware, which was previously determined individually for each engine (model), so that it is not influenced by the engine's functions. be.

FIG. 3 shows the hardware structure of the controller 2 in the laser printer.

As shown in the figure, the controller 2 includes a cPU 20, a program ROM 21, a RAM 22, a font RoM 25, an inactive RAM: 24, and an m-production panel 25. Option interface 27, video control unit 28, engine interface 2, and the aforementioned host interface 4 and LP
From the controller side part of VI5, each has a CPU
connected by bus.

The CPU 20 is a central processing unit that centrally controls the entire controller 2, and uses a general-purpose 16-bit or 32-bit CPU.

The program ROM 2 1 stores microcode (program) for controlling the CPU 20 .

RAM22 is a large capacity random access memory,
It is mainly used for the following purposes.

(a) System memory (b) Input buffer (C) Page buffer (d) Font file (e) Macro file (f) Image file (g) Print control file (h) Video buffer Process flow and this RAM 2 2
This shows the relationship between each buffer and file in the file.

Information sent from the host system 1 is stored in the input buffer 22b via the host interface 4.

The data stored in this input buffer 22b is
A page buffer 22c, a font file 22d, a macro file 22e, an image file 22f, a print control file 22g,
be registered in either.

That is, print sequence control data (specifying paper transport path, number of print sheets, etc.) is stored in the print control file 22g, page layout information (relationship between print data and print position, etc.) is stored in the page buffer 22C,
Image information is stored in the image file 22f, downloaded fonts are stored in the font file 22d, overlay information, etc. is stored in the macro file 2 containing memory for overlay information.
2e respectively.

Also, although the details will be explained later, the macro file 22
The set form information among the form information (information such as a fixed frame included in the overlay information) registered in g is superimposed and synthesized with the layout information for one page on the page buffer 22Q.

The image information processing unit 202 expands the contents of the image file 22f, font file 22d, and font ROM 23 into the video buffer 22h according to the contents of the page buffer 220.

and. When the printing data for one page is completed in the video buffer 22h, the print control unit 203 starts the engine 3 via the LPVI 5 according to the contents of the print control file 22g, and when the engine 3 reaches the image recording timing, the video buffer 22h The developed video data is sent to the engine 3 via the LPVI 5.

The engine 3 prints the video data sent through the LI) VI 5 on paper.

In addition, the font file 22d, the image file 22
f, page buffer 22c, and video buffer 22h
The memory for image output is configured as follows.

Returning to FIG. 3, the font ROM 2 stores font data for converting character information sent from the host system 1 via the host interface 4 into image information.

The nonvolatile RAM 24 is a memory that stores information for controlling the operating state of the printer after the power is turned on, and mainly stores the following items.

(a) Print direction (b) Font (c) Character size (d) Line spacing (e) Paper feed slot (f) Paper output slot (g) Host interface (h) Forms overlay Memory in this non-volatile RAM 24 The contents are on the operation panel 25.
Updated from.

The appearance of the operation panel 25 is shown in FIG. The operation of updating the storage contents of the nonvolatile RAM 24 using the operation panel 25 is called a mode set.

This operation panel 25 includes an LCD display 250, f for displaying the printer status and mode set contents in text.
Power LED 251 that lights up when the FI source is ON, Online LED 252 that indicates the printer's online status, Attention L that lights up or flashes when the printer is abnormal.
ED25;, Data LED 254 indicating that there is print information (print data) in the printer, Online switch 255 for switching the printer online/offline, To print data in the printer when the data LED 254 is lit. form feed (
a test switch 257 for starting the printer's self-diagnosis test function, etc., a reset switch 258 for resetting the printer, and switches 25A and 25 for mode setting operation.
Consists of B, 25C, and 25D.

As for the contents of the mode set, set items are arranged in a hierarchical manner as shown in FIG.

Then, in the offline state, press the upward arrow mode switch 2
By pressing 5A, the mode is set, and the "print direction" of the first level is selected. If you want to select another item on this first level, use the left and right arrow switches 25B or 2
Operate 5C.

Every time you press the right arrow switch 25G, the set items are ``Harm'', ``Character size'', ``Line spacing'', ``Paper feed slot'', ``Paper output slot'', ``Host interface'', and ``Forms overlay''.
It's going to change.

On the other hand, each time you press the left arrow switch 25B, you can switch from "Forms Overlay" to "Host Interface" in the opposite direction.
The set item changes to "Paper output slot".

If the item to be set is "Typeface", select "Harm" with the right arrow switch 25C, and then press the down arrow enter switch 25D to move the hierarchy to the second hierarchy.

Then, one of the three fonts in the second hierarchy, ie, Courier, Elite, and Gothic, is selected using the left and right arrow switches 25B or 25C.

For example, to select "Elite" and set it, press the down arrow enter switch 25D, and "Elite" will be registered in the non-volatile RAM 24. That is, by pressing the enter switch 25D at the lowest level, the registered contents of the nonvolatile RAM 24 are updated.

In other set items on the first layer, "Print direction" is set to vertical and horizontal, "Character size" is set to 8 points, 10 points, 12 points, and "Line spacing" is set to 3LPI (Line/Inch).
), 6 LPI, 8 LPI as "paper feed slot"
indicates upper paper feed cassette, lower paper feed cassette, bulk paper feed unit, and "paper output" indicates upper paper output tray, side paper output tray,
The "host interface" uses Centronics and RS-232C, and the "forms overlay" directly related to this invention uses the form ID, form download, overlay print, and erasing functions as second units.
You can select by hierarchy.

Furthermore, RS-232 is used as a “host interface”.
If you select C, you can select and set the parity check type and baud rate (communication speed) on the third layer.

Furthermore, if a form ID is selected as "Forms Overlay", the ID (identification number) of the form information to be registered, printed, or deleted is set to 1 in the third layer.
-N can be arbitrarily selected and set.

Also. If you select form download or overlay print, the respective settings (
It can be set by selecting (on) or canceling (on).

If deletion is selected, the ID can be deleted by pressing the enter switch 25D shown in FIG. 5 only if an ID to be deleted has been set.

Returning to FIG. 3 again, the host interface 4 is . Two interfaces, Centronics-compliant parallel and RS-232C, are prepared as interfaces for connecting the host system 1 and the controller 2, and are selected by the mode set described above.

The option interface 27 is an interface for externally supplying fonts and programs to expand functionality, and can handle two IC cards 6 in this example.

The IC card 6 is a commercially available one, and depending on the type of data stored, there are cards that store a font card, a program card, or both, but they are physically the same.

The video control unit 28 serially converts the video data stored in the video buffer 22h in FIG. 4 with the bus width (16 bits or 32 bits) of the CPU 20, and
It is sent to engine 3 via PVI5.

The engine interface 2 has a serial communication (transmission/reception) function that detects the state of the engine, including its resolution, using bidirectional serial signals via the LPVI 5, and controls the engine 3 by sending commands.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, the setting procedure for downloading form information from the host system 1 will be explained using the operation panel 25 shown in FIG.

It is assumed that the online LED 252 in FIG. 5 is lit and is in an online state. From this state, perform the following operation.

■ Go offline.

Operation: Press online switch 255 once.

Online LED252; off ■ Put into mode set state.

Operation: Press mode switch 25A once.

LCD display: ``Printing Direction'' (see Figure 6) Select the ``Forms Overlay'' item.

Operation: Press the left arrow switch 25B once.

LCD display: “Forms Overlay” “Form ID
Select item J.

Operation: Press the enter switch 25D once (No. 2 in Fig. 6)
).

LCD display; “Form ID” ■ For example, “5” as the ID of the form information to be registered.
Set.

Operation: Press the enter switch 25D once (3 in Fig. 6)
).

LCD display; “Form ID” 1” Operation: Press right arrow switch 25G four times.

LCD display; “Form ID” “5” Operation: Press enter switch 25D once (registration).

LCD display: “Form Download”■ ■ If you want to register more than one type of form information, select the form ID item again (here, press the left arrow switch 25B once) and check the information that has not yet been set. Set a new ID and repeat this operation.

■ Set up form information download.

Operation: Press enter switch 25D I times.

LCD display; “Form download” “OFF” Operation: Press right arrow switch 25C twice.

LCD display: “Form download” “ON” Operation: Press enter switch 25D l times.

LCD display; “overlay print” ■ Cancel the mode set state.

Operation: Press mode switch 25A once.

■ Go online.

Operation: Press online switch 255 once.

Online LED 252: Lighting When the operator completes this operation, he causes the host system 1 to send out the desired form information. Thereby, the CPU 20 in FIG. 3 executes the process shown in FIG. 1 surrounded by a broken line. That is, after inputting print information from the host system 1, that is, storing the print information in the input buffer 22b via the host interface 4 as shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not form download is set. Discern.

At this time, form download has been set by the above operation, so the input print information (data) is analyzed, and if it is not form information, it is left as is, and if it is form information, it is set by the above operation. After assigning the form ID and registering it in the macro file 22e, the process returns to the first step and repeats this process.

Note that when the operator completes the above processing by sending form information from the host system 1,
Repeat the operations from ■ to ■ above to display the LCD display 250.
``Forms Overlay'' is displayed on , and then the form download setting is canceled by operating the enter switch 25D and right arrow switch 25C (``Form Download''``OFF'')L, and the form information from the host system 1 is displayed. After prohibiting downloading, perform the operations ① to ② above to return to the online state.

Next, the setting procedure for overlay printing will be explained using the operation panel 25 shown in FIG.

First, perform the operations from ■ to ■ above to display the LCD display 25.
0 to display the "form ID" and move on to the next operation.

■ As the ID of the form information to be printed, for example, "
8”.

Operation: Press enter switch 25D once.

LCD display: “FORMED IT 14 l I+
Operation: Press right arrow switch 25C 7 times.

LCD display: “Form ID” 8” Operation: Press enter switch 25D once.

LCD display: ``Form download'' If you wish to print other form information at the same time, select the form ID item again and set the desired ID.

■ Select the "Overlay Print" item.

Operation: Press the right arrow switch 25C l times.

LCD display; “overlay print” ■ Set up overlay print. Operation: Press enter switch 25D once.

LCD display: "Overlay print" OFF operation: Press right arrow switch 25C l times.

LCD display; “Overlay print” ON operation;
Press enter switch 25D once.

LCD display: "Erase" After that, perform the above operations to return to the online state.

Note that if the form download setting has not been canceled, the above procedure will also cancel it. After this operation is completed, when print information is sent from the host system 1, the CPU 20 in FIG. 3 executes the process shown in FIG. 1.

That is, after inputting print information from the host system 1, it is determined whether or not form download is set.

Since the form download setting has been canceled at this time, the input print information is analyzed and each data other than the form information is transferred to the corresponding files and page buffer 22c in Figure 4. Register each.

After that, when the layout information for one page is registered on the page buffer 22Q, it is determined whether or not overlay print is set. ID
The form information is read from the macro file 22e indicated by and registered in the page buffer 22G. That is, in the layout information on the page buffer 22c,
Macro file 22. The form information read from is superimposed and synthesized.

Then, the contents of each file (excluding the macro file 22e) are expanded onto the video buffer 22h and outputted to the engine 3 as video data. Thereby, engine 3 executes overlay printing.

If overlay printing is not set, the contents of each file are developed on the video buffer 22h according to the normal layout information on the page buffer 22c,
By outputting it to the engine 3 as video data, the engine 3 executes normal printing.

Next, the setting procedure for deleting form information will be explained using the operation panel 25 shown in FIG.

If, for example, you want to delete form information that is rarely used due to memory limitations, etc., first perform the operations ① to ② above to display the "form ID" on the LCD display 250, and then proceed to the next operation. .

■ For example, use "7" as the ID of the form information to be deleted.
Set.

Operation: Press enter switch 25D once.

LCD display: "Form ID""Enter" operation: Press right arrow switch 25C 6 times.

LCD display: “Form ID” “7. Operation: Press enter switch 25D l times.

LCD display: "Form download"' If you wish to delete other form information at the same time, select the form ID item again and set the desired ID.

■ Select the "Erase" item.

Operation: Press the right arrow switch 25C twice.

LCD display: ``Erase'' ■ Execute deletion of form information.

Operation: Press enter switch 25D once.

Thereby, the CPU 20 in FIG. 3 erases the form information on the macro file 22e indicated by the ID set by the above operation.

After that, perform each of the operations described above to return to the online state.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by setting downloading of overlay information, form information as overlay information sent from the host system 1 can be stored in the macro file 22e that also serves as an overlay information memory, and furthermore, By setting overlay print, the page buffer 22c can be used as image output memory.
The engine 3 executes overlay printing by superimposing and compositing the overlay information on the above layout I information, creating video data based on it, and sending it to the engine 3. Even when using a control program with a command system that cannot accept control codes instructing overlay printing, overlay printing can be achieved.

Although an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer has been described, the present invention is applicable not only to other optical printers such as LED printers and liquid crystal printers, but also to dot printers such as wire dot printers, thermal printers, and inkjet printers. It is applicable to various printer devices including .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the printer device according to the present invention, by setting the download of overlay information, overlay information from the host system can be stored in the overlay information memory, and further by setting the overlay print. , the overlay information can be superimposed and synthesized on the information in the image output memory, so even when using a control program with a command system that cannot accept control codes that instruct overlay printing, Overlay printing can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a flow diagram showing the processing operation of the CPU shown in Fig. 3 according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a laser printer system which is an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a similar laser printer. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the controller 2 in the controller 2, and FIG.
5 is an external view showing a specific example of the operation panel 25 in FIG. 3, and FIG. It is an explanatory view shown separately. 1...Host system 2...Controller 3
Print engine 20...Central processing unit (CPU) 21...Program ROM 22...RAM22
8... Macro file (including memory for overlay information) 22c... Page buffer (memory for image output) 22
h...Video buffer (image output memory) 24...
・Nonvolatile RAM 25...Operation panel 25A-
D...Switch for mode set operation 252...Online LED 255...Online switch Fig. 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An overlay information memory that stores overlay information among the print information sent from the host system, an image output memory that stores other information, and the information on the image output memory that stores the above information. A printer device comprising a compositing means for overlaying and composing overlay information, and printing the information composited by the compositing means; When overlay information is sent from the host system in a state where overlay information is sent from the host system, overlay information download means stores the overlay information in an overlay information memory, means for setting overlay print, and setting of overlay print by the means. The printer apparatus is characterized in that the compositing means performs a process of superimposing and compositing the overlay information on the information on the image output memory only when the image output memory is being used.