JPH0357678A - Interface device of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily change over a plurality of controllers having different printing data processing systems at the time of use by providing one identification code to each of the controllers and providing function selecting the controller having the identification code coinciding with the code which is set to a printer in the printer. CONSTITUTION:For example, ID number setting switches, 6, 7, 8 are provided to three controllers 2, 3, 4 connected in parallel. An ID number setting switch 9 is provided to a printer 5. The printer 5 issues a command to the respective controllers to enter a controller selecting mode. Herein, the collation of ID numbers is performed and the controller 2 having the ID number coinciding with the ID number set to the printer 5 is selected and the transmission of a raster image to the printer 5 is permitted and, at the same time, the reception of the printing data from a higher rank apparatus 1 also becomes possible. When the ID number does not coincide, the reception of the printing data becomes impossible. By this method, the printing data from the higher rank apparatus 1 is processed by the controller 2 and the raster image after processing is sent out to the printer 5 to be printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an interface system, and particularly to an interface system between a printer that receives a raster image as input and a controller that processes print data sent from a host device and converts it into raster image data. Regarding the interface method.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of printer interface system, the controller did not have an identification code, and the printer side did not have a function to select the input destination of raster image data based on the identification code. Therefore, the controller and printer were connected one-to-one. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional printing interface system described above, the controller does not have an identification code, and the printer also does not have a function to select the controller to which raster image data is input based on the identification code. Although the interface between the printer and the controller is the same, when there are several controllers that process print data sent from the host device in different ways, it is necessary to turn off the power once to use the desired controller. The disadvantage is that it takes time and effort to disconnect the currently connected controller and connect the desired controller to the printer.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the printer interface system of the present invention, the controller has a unique and one identification code, and the printer selects the controller with the identification code that matches the identification code set for the printer. It has a function to enable and print raster image data from the controller. [
Embodiments Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. This example shows an example where three controllers are connected. Also, a number is used as an identification code, and this will be called an ID number.

1 is a host device, 2, 3.4 are three controllers connected in parallel, and each controller has an I
Equipped with D number setting switches 6, 7, and 8. 5 is a printer, which also has an ID number setting switch 9.

Next, the process by which the printer 5 selects a controller will be described. In this example, it is assumed that the controller 2 has an ID number of 0, the controller 3 has an rD number of 1, the controller 4 has an ID number of 2, and the printer 5 has an ID number of 10.

First, the printer 5 issues a command to each controller and enters the controller selection mode. Here I
The D number is verified and the I number set in the printer is checked.
The controller with the ID number matching the D number, controller 2 in this example, is selected and allowed to send the raster image to the printer 5. At the same time, it is also possible to receive print data from the host device 1. The controllers 3 and 4 whose ID numbers do not match are unable to transmit raster images, and at the same time are also unable to receive print data from the host device 1.

In this way, the print data from the host device W1 is processed by the controller 2, and the processed raster image is sent to the printer 5 and printed.

When you want to change the controller, set the ID number setting switch 9 attached to the printer 5 to the ID number of the controller you want to select, and the controller will be selected using the same procedure. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention has a function of selecting a controller having an identification code that is unique to the controller and that matches one identification code, so that it is possible to process different print data in different formats. This has the effect of allowing you to easily switch between multiple controllers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 1... Host device, 2... Controller, 3...
Controller, 4... Controller, 5... Printer, 6... ID number setting switch, 7... ID
Number setting switch, 8... ID number setting switch, 9
...ID number setting switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An interface method between a printer that receives raster image data as input and prints an image represented by the raster image data, and a controller that processes the print data sent from a host device, converts it into a raster image, and sends it to the printer. , the controller has only one identification code, and the printer selects the controller with the identification code that matches the identification code set in the printer, and validates the raster image data from the selected controller. , a printer interface method characterized by printing.