JPH05193201A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To omit an image drawing memory clear processing by providing a means in which printing data inputted by a printing data input means is developed to a dot image and stored in an image drawing memory without conducting a data processing. CONSTITUTION:Whether a printing data command is received is identified. If a printing data command is received, printing data, such as characters, bar codes, lines, and patterns, is developed to a dot image and stored in an image drawing memory. Next, data representing an image drawing completion is written in an image drawing completion flag provided in a RAM. A printer is brought to a standby state until data representing a printing completion is written in a printing completion status provided in the RAM. After the data representing a printing completion is written in the printing completion status, the data stored in the image drawing memory is cleared. After the data in the image drawing memory is completely cleared, the image drawing completion flag is cleared, and this image drawing processing is finished.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer which prints based on a dot image stored in a drawing memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer, printing is performed in accordance with the timing shown in FIG. That is, first, at the timing of the received command in FIG. 5A, a command for printing is input from the host computer, the keyboard, or the like. The command for printing includes a clear command A for the drawing memory, a print data command B, and a print command command C. The first clear command A for the drawing memory erases the data already stored in the drawing memory. An area for storing the dot image in which the print data included in the print data command B to be subsequently supplied is expanded is secured. The print data included in the next print data command B is developed into a dot image and stored in the drawing memory. The last print command command C gives an instruction to start the printing process.

At the timing of the drawing process of FIG. 5B, a clear process D for erasing the data stored in the drawing memory is performed by a clear command A of the drawing memory. When the clearing process D is completed, the print data command B causes the print data of the print data command B to be expanded into a dot image, and the drawing process E in which the expanded dot image is stored in the drawing memory is performed.

At the timing of the printing process of FIG. 5C, when the drawing process E in the drawing process is completed, the printing operation F for printing on the paper is performed based on the dot image stored in the drawing memory. When the printing operation F is completed, a discharging operation G for discharging the printed paper to the outside of the apparatus is performed.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional printer, the clear processing for deleting the data stored in the drawing memory before the print information is expanded into the dot image and stored in the drawing memory. D was taking place. Therefore, the drawing time is the sum of the time to clear the drawing memory after giving the print issuance instruction to the device and the time to execute the drawing process to expand the print information into a dot image and store it in the drawing memory. There was a problem that it was needed as time.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the clearing process of the drawing memory before storing the dot image in the drawing memory can be omitted, so that the drawing time can be shortened and the overall processing speed can be further increased. The purpose is to provide a printer.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing means, a drawing memory for storing a dot image, a print data inputting means for inputting print data, and a process for erasing data stored in the drawing memory. Without performing the above, the drawing control means for expanding the print data input by the print data input means into a dot image and storing it in the drawing memory, and the printing means for printing a predetermined paper on the predetermined paper based on the dot image stored in the drawing memory. A print control unit for performing printing and a printed dot image erasing unit for erasing the dot image stored in the drawing memory used for printing after the printing by the print control unit is completed are provided.

[0008]

In the present invention having such a structure, the print data is input by the print data input means, and the drawing control means does not perform the process of erasing the data stored in the drawing memory. The input print data is expanded into a dot image and stored in the drawing memory.

The printing control means prints on a predetermined paper on the basis of the dot image stored in the drawing memory, and after completion of this printing, the printed dot image erasing means stores it in the drawing memory used for printing. The dot image that has been erased is erased.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a label printer that prints and issues labels or tags one by one. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CPU constituting a control unit main body.
(Central processing unit). A ROM (read o) in which program data for processing performed by the CPU 1 is stored
RAM (random memory) in which areas of various memories used when the CPU 2 and the CPU 1 perform processing are formed.
access memory 3 is connected to the CP via the system bus 4.
It is connected to U1.

A keyboard 5 on which various input operations are performed
A communication interface 8 connected via a line to a keyboard controller 6 for controlling the computer and a host computer 7 as a print data input means is also connected to the CPU 1 via the system bus 4. The communication interface 8 is controlled by the CPU 1 to receive the transmission data from the host computer 7, and analyzes the received transmission data as a function-based command such as a print data command and a print command command.

Further, a drawing controller 10 for carrying out drawing processing on the drawing memory 9, a head driver 12 for driving a print head 11 as a printing means, a feed motor 13 for supplying paper to the print head 11, and an ink ribbon. The motor driver 15 for driving the ribbon motor 14 for supplying the print head to the print head is also connected to the CPU 1 via the system bus 4.

FIG. 2 shows the flow of drawing processing performed by the drawing controller 10 when the print data command controlled by the CPU 1 and analyzed by the communication interface 8 is input to the drawing controller 10.

In FIG. 2, first, it is confirmed whether or not a print data command is received, and if the print data command is received, the print data such as characters, bar codes, lines and patterns is developed into a dot image, This dot image is stored in the drawing memory 9. (Drawing control means)

When the dot image is stored in the drawing memory 9, data indicating the completion of drawing is written in the drawing completion flag formed in the RAM 3 and the print end status formed in the RAM 3 is cleared to complete the print. A standby state is entered until data indicating the end of printing is written in the status.

When the data indicating the end of printing is written in the print end status, the data stored in the drawing memory 9 is cleared (printed dot image erasing means). When the process of clearing the data in the drawing memory is completed, the drawing completion flag is cleared and the drawing process is completed. FIG. 3 shows the flow of the printing process performed by the CPU 1.

First, the printer is in a standby state until a print command command is received from the host computer 7 via the communication interface 8. When the print command command is received, data indicating the drawing completion is written in the drawing completion flag. It will be in a standby state until it is plugged in.

When the data indicating the drawing completion is written in the drawing completion flag, the print head 11, the feed motor 13 and the ribbon motor 14 are driven to print on the paper. (Print control means)

When the printing is completed, the data indicating the completion of the printing is written in the printing completion status, and the paper for which the printing is completed is discharged. When this discharging process is completed,
This printing process is completed.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, data instructing printing is transmitted from the host computer 7, and the transmitted data is received by the communication interface 8. The communication interface 8 analyzes the transmitted data as function-specific commands such as a print data command and a print command command. The analyzed print data command is transferred to the drawing controller 10, and the CPU 1 confirms the reception of the print command command.

Upon receipt of the print data command, the drawing controller 10 develops the print data of the print data command into a dot image and stores it in the drawing memory 9, and R
Data indicating the drawing completion is written in the drawing completion flag formed in AM3.

When data indicating the completion of drawing is written in the drawing completion flag, the CPU 1 prints on a predetermined paper by a print head or the like based on the dot image stored in the drawing memory 9. When the printing is completed, the data indicating the completion of the printing is written in the printing completion status formed in the RAM 3, and the paper for which the printing is completed is discharged.

When the data indicating the print end is written in the print end status, the drawing controller 10 performs a clear process to erase the dot image stored in the drawing memory 9.

That is, as shown in the timing of the reception command of FIG. 4A, the print data command B and the print command are included in the function-specific command obtained by analyzing the transmission data from the host computer 7 by the communication interface 8. The command C is included, but the clear command for the drawing memory 9 is not included.

As shown in the timing of the drawing process of FIG. 4B, the drawing process E is performed as soon as the print data command B shown in FIG. 4A is received. This drawing process E
When is completed, the printing operation F is performed as shown in the timing of the printing process of FIG. When the printing operation F is completed, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, a discharging operation G of the printed paper is performed in parallel with the clearing process D of the drawing memory 9.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the printing is completed, the CPU 1 writes the data indicating the completion of the printing in the printing completion status and the data indicating the completion of the printing in the printing completion status, the printing is completed. In parallel with the finished sheet discharging process G, the drawing memory controller 10 can perform a clearing process D for erasing the dot image stored in the drawing memory 9 used for printing. Therefore, the drawing memory clearing process performed before storing the dot image in the drawing memory can be omitted. Therefore, the drawing time can be shortened by the time required for the drawing memory clearing process. Can be faster.

[0027]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A clearing process of the drawing memory performed before storing the dot image in the drawing memory can be omitted, so that the drawing time can be shortened and the overall processing speed can be increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of essential parts of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of a drawing process performed by the drawing controller of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a printing process performed by the CPU of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing timings of a reception command, a drawing process, and a printing process of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a timing of a received command, a drawing process, and a printing process in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU, 7 ... Host computer, 9 ... Drawing memory, 10 ... Drawing controller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printing means, a drawing memory for storing a dot image, a print data inputting means for inputting print data, and a process for erasing data stored in the drawing memory without performing the printing data. Drawing control means for expanding the print data input by the input means into a dot image and storing it in the drawing memory, and printing for printing on a predetermined paper by the printing means based on the dot image stored in the drawing memory A printer provided with a control means and a printed dot image erasing means for erasing the dot image stored in the drawing memory used for the printing after the printing by the printing control means is completed.