JPH05221076A - Control of printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure that data can be printed in the framework of a sheet by calculating the width and page length of data after development of received data, then developing data at a maximum reduction rate in the framework of a sheet designated by a user, and also printing the data on a sheet of minimum size based on data in the size of an existing sheet. CONSTITUTION:The subject printing device is equipped with sheets of various sizes and a bit map reduction mechanism. CPU 1 calculates data width and page length of data after development of received data and further calculates a minimum reduction rate at which data is entered in the framework of a sheet designated by a user or selects a sheet of minimum size in which data can be entered based on data in a sheet of such size as is available. Then data is finally printed on either a designated sheet or a selected sheet. Consequently, if data which exceeds the size of a sheet is received, the data is entered in the framework of a designated sheet without failure. It is also possible to print data which cannot be entered in the framework of a default sheet, positively in the framework of a sheet by automatic conversion of the sheet size.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control method for a data size compatible printing apparatus such as a laser printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a multifunction laser printer system, for example, at a printing speed of 40 sheets per minute / A4, the maximum A
It was possible to print on a wide variety of papers up to 3 sizes (for example, "RICOH TECHNICAL REP
ORT NO. 16, 1987, pp.65-69). Multifunctional laser printer system LP-H ₁ described in the above document.
Then, depending on the pixel density required by the customer, it is possible to deal with three types from 240 DPI to 400 DPI by partially changing the optical writing unit. You can select any combination of three types of paper feed ports and paper discharge ports, and the capacity of the paper feed side 30
Since it is a large quantity of 00 sheets and 3950 sheets on the paper discharge side, unmanned operation for a long time is possible.

[0003]

However, in the conventional printing apparatus, the received data is forcibly printed with the paper size preset by the user. With this method, if the data exceeds the paper size, the printing will be cut off halfway or a line feed will occur automatically, and the expected printing result cannot be obtained, resulting in a completely different result. There were times when it happened. An object of the present invention is to solve the above conventional problems and to provide a method of controlling a printing apparatus that can obtain all print results on the same sheet and obtain print results at the magnification of the received data itself. To provide.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the control method of a printing apparatus according to the present invention is: (a) receiving in a printing apparatus having a plurality of sizes of paper and having a bitmap reduction function. Calculate the data width after data expansion and the page length of the data, and calculate the minimum reduction ratio that can be accommodated on the paper specified by the user, or from the paper sizes held. It is characterized in that the smallest paper in which the data can be stored is selected and printing is performed using the designated paper or the selected paper. Further, in a printer having a (b) bitmap reduction function, the received data is pre-checked and expanded in another memory area, and then the data width and data after expansion of the received data are obtained. -Calculate the page length of the data, calculate the minimum reduction ratio that the data can fit on the paper set by the user, expand the data on the bitmap of the memory area with the reduction ratio, and -There is also a feature in printing data. Furthermore, (c) In a printing apparatus having a plurality of sheets of paper, the received data is pre-checked and expanded in another memory area, and then the expanded data width and page length of the data. Is also calculated, and the smallest paper in which the data can be stored is selected from the paper sizes held, and printing is performed using the paper.

[0005]

In the present invention, first, the reception data is temporarily
The maximum width and the maximum length after expansion of the data are calculated by storing the data in the storage device. (A) After that, printing is performed at the maximum reduction ratio that fits in the paper size set by the user. However, reduction printing is performed only when the data exceeds the paper size. As a result, the user can obtain all print results on the same sheet. That is, unlike the conventional case, the data will not be cut in the middle of the data and the line will not be changed arbitrarily. (B) After that, the data is not reduced, and printing is performed with the smallest paper that the device can hold. As a result, the user can obtain the print result at the magnification of the received data itself.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the print control unit. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CP that controls the entire print control unit.
U, 2 are ROMs for storing programs, and 3 is a character generator (C) for converting a code into a character pattern.
G), 4 is a dynamic RAM for expanding a character pattern in a dot matrix, 5 is a static RAM for storing other data, and 6 is an external interface (I / F) connected to a communication line. , 7 is a video interface, and 8 is a printer engine. CPU1 is ROM
The program in 2 is read and executed. The data received by the external interface (for example, Centronics I / F) 6 is converted into a character pattern by accessing the CG 3 after the code conversion, and the converted pattern dot is stored in the DRAM 4. It is expanded on the bitmap of. It is pre-checked before it is developed on the bitmap, and the 1-row data width and 1-page data length are calculated during this check.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the reduction ratio calculation method according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a format diagram of the reception data, and FIG. 4 is a view showing the operation of the cell on the bit map. is there. It is assumed that a part of the reception data has a format as shown in FIG. Where ~ is a horizontal movement command,
~ "Is a font selection command, ~" is an image width / height command, ~ "is an image data, is a return command,
Is a line feed command. Then, it is assumed that the movement of the cell on the bit map by the data operates as shown in FIG. That is, the horizontal movement command causes the cell to move to the right from the position of the coordinate value (0,0) at the specified dot (provisionally,
After moving x ₁ dot), write the character "A" (width x ₂ dots), move x ₃ dots further to the right, and then write an image with width x ₄ dots. By the same kind of operation, go to the x ₅ dot the right direction, to write the letter "I" of the width of the x ₆ dots, was further moved x ₇ dot, Ime of the width of the x ₈ dot - and those that write di To do. If the cell moves from (0,0) to (a, 0) by this series of operations, the result is a = x ₁ + x ₂ + x ₃ + ... + x ₈ (dots). Here, the data from the host side is αDP
Assuming that the data is for I (dots / inch) and the resolution of the printing apparatus is βDPI, the actual line width Dx is expressed by the following equation.

[Equation 1]

When the cell is moved to the left end by the return command and is moved downward by C by the line feed command, the set value and the number of the line feed command until the end of one page or the movement amount by the vertical movement command. Etc. c = y ₁ + y ₂ + y ₃
+ ... + yn, the actual vertical movement width Dy
Is expressed by the following equation. Note that the end of one page includes, for example, a case where a page feed code is received and a case where the data is not transmitted from the host side even if the reception data has passed a certain time.

[Equation 2] When Dx and Dy take values exceeding the paper sizes Px and Py, the reduction ratio satisfying the two conditions shown in FIG. 2 is calculated and the reduction is executed. That is, when the received data size is Dx × Dy and the designated paper size is Px × Py, the following 1.2. The maximum reduction ratio that satisfies the two equations is automatically calculated. 1. Dx × δ ₁ ≦ Px 2. Dy × δ ₂ ≦ Py (3) where δ ₁ and δ ₂ are holding reduction rates. It should be noted that although the above description is for one line, in practice, the value of the line width a of one line or the actual line width Dx is temporarily stored, and each time a line feed or return command is received. , That value is compared with the stored value, and the larger value is updated and stored again. This operation is repeated until the end of one page. As a result, when the final decision is made at the end of the page,
That is, the maximum line width and page length are stored. And these values are 0 before the initial value and the expansion of the next page.
Shall be cleared.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a paper size calculation method in the case of having a plurality of paper sizes. If you have multiple paper sizes and want to print the received data at the same size, perform the same calculation as the above method to determine the actual line width Dx,
An actual movement width Dy in the height direction is obtained, a paper size that satisfies the two conditions shown in FIG. 5 is selected, and printing is executed. That is, Px ₁ ≤Px ₂ ≤Px ₃ ... Py ₁
When a plurality of sheets 1, 2, 3, ... With conditions of ≤Py ₂ ≤Py ₃ ... are held, a reduction rate that satisfies the following conditional expression is calculated. , Perform reduction. 1. Dx ≦ Pxn (n: 1, 2, 3, ...) 2. Dy ≦ Pyn (4) In the reduction processing in FIGS. 4 and 5, the data after the precheck is not immediately expanded on the bitmap, but once, It needs to be expanded to another memory area. It may be changed to an intermediate code or it may be expanded immediately without change. Next, after the reduction rate is determined, the reduction rate is expanded again on the bitmap.

FIG. 6 shows a processing flow chart in the print control section.
It is First, a buffer for storing the maximum data width (ML-w) and height (ML-h) within a page and the data for each line are stored.
The contents of the buffer for storing the data width (Lw) and page length (height) (Lh) are cleared (step 101). In this state, it waits for data reception (step 10).
2). The data received from the host first determines whether it is a page break code (step 103). If it is not a page feed code, it is next determined whether or not it is a line feed code (step 104). If it is a line feed code, the L-w buffer is cleared (step 105) and the data reception waits again (step 102). If it is not a line feed code, vertical and horizontal displacement amounts dx, dy of the received data (see FIG. 3).
(Movement amount in step 1) is calculated (step 106), and the current values of Lw and Lh added by dx and dy are newly stored in the buffer as Lw and Lh (step 107). . After that, ML-w, ML-h and L-
By comparing w and L-h (steps 108 and 110), the maximum data width and height within the page are always calculated as ML-w and ML-h.
Update the buffer as shown by (step 10
9, 111). In this state, the reception of data is awaited again (step 102). After this process is repeated, if a page feed code is received (step 103), the process proceeds to the reduction rate selection routine. First, the specified paper widths and heights P-w and P-h are divided by the maximum data widths and heights ML-w and ML-h, and the reduction ratios N-x and N-, respectively.
-Y is calculated (steps 112 and 113). After that, the minimum reduction rate that satisfies both Nx and Ny is selected from the reduction rates (114) of the printing apparatus, and printing is performed at that reduction rate. Finally, if the data overflows the paper even at the maximum reduction ratio, some method
After notifying the paper size over, a larger paper is requested, or the currently specified paper is forcibly printed at the maximum reduction ratio.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are processing flowcharts in the print control section showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the reduction ratio calculation when holding a plurality of sheets is performed. First, the buffer for storing the maximum data width and height within a page and the buffer for storing the data width and page length (height) of each line are cleared (step 101). In this state, the reception of data is awaited (step 102). The data received from the host is first judged whether it is a page break code (step 103). If it is not a page feed code, it is next determined whether or not it is a line feed code (step 104). If it is a line feed code, the L-w buffer is cleared (step 105) and the data reception waits again (step 102). If it's not a newline code,
Vertical and horizontal displacements dx and dy of the received data (see FIG. 3) are calculated (step 106), and the current Lw and L- are calculated.
The value obtained by adding dx and dy to the h value is newly added to Lw,
It is stored in the buffer as Lh (step 107).
After that, ML-w and ML-h are compared with Lw and Lh (steps 108 and 110), and the maximum data in the page is always displayed.
The buffer is updated in advance so that the data width and height are indicated by ML-w and ML-h (steps 109 and 111). In this state, the data reception waits again (step 10).
2). After this process is repeated, when a page feed code is received (step 103), the process proceeds to the paper size selection routine. First, the smallest paper size is selected from the paper sizes set in the device, and the paper width and height P-w are selected.
1, P-h1 and maximum data width and height ML-w of page,
The magnitude of ML-h is compared (steps 115 and 11).
6). If one of the widths or heights of the paper is overwritten, the second smallest paper size is selected and a similar determination is made (steps 118, 1).
19). In this way, when a paper size that fits both the width and height is selected, the paper becomes the smallest paper size that the received data fits (steps 117 and 12).
0, ...). Finally, if the data is over even with the maximum paper size (step 121), the paper size over is notified by some method (step 124). , Requesting a larger paper size, or forcibly printing with the largest paper size currently set (step 123). Further, the data can be stored in the paper by reducing the data.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method of calculating dx and dy. Even if the received data such as font data and image data are different, the values of dx and dy can be calculated from the position designation and the size (area) of the data. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, x (width direction) and y
When moving from a certain coordinate (Lw, Lh) in (height direction) to a new coordinate, the new coordinate is (Lw + dx, L).
-H + dy).

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By automatically reducing the data, even if the data exceeds the paper size, you can always get a print result that fits on the specified paper, so you do not have to simply consider the character size or image data size. In addition, it is extremely convenient for a user who expects a print result of a single paper size. Also, in the case of having a plurality of paper sizes, it is possible to store the same size data as the received data in the paper by automatically selecting the optimum paper from the received data sizes. By automatically changing the paper size of data that does not fit in the user-specified paper or the default paper size of the apparatus, it is possible to reliably print the data on the paper.

[0014]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus to which a control method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a reduction rate calculation method showing the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format configuration example of reception data.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing movement of cells on a bitmap.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another reduction rate calculation method showing the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a processing flow chart in a print control unit showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is another part of the processing flow chart in the print control unit as in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a processing flow chart in the print control unit showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a method for calculating dx and dy.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 CG 4 DRAM 5 SRAM 6 External interface 7 Video interface 8 Printer engine 10 Bus Dx Line width of received data Dy Height of received data Px Line width of designated paper Py specified Paper height width

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having a plurality of sizes of paper and having a bitmap reduction function, calculates a data width after development of received data and a page length of the data, -Calculate the minimum reduction ratio that can be accommodated in the paper specified by the user, or select the smallest paper that can hold the data from the paper sizes that you have, and select the specified paper or the selected paper. A method for controlling a printing apparatus, wherein printing is performed using paper. 2. A printing apparatus having a bitmap reduction function, pre-checks received data, expands it in another memory area, and then expands the received data to obtain the data width and data. -Calculate the page length of the data, calculate the minimum reduction ratio that the data can fit on the paper set by the user, and expand the data on the bitmap of the memory area at the reduction ratio. And then printing the data. 3. A printing apparatus having a plurality of sizes of paper, pre-checks received data, expands it in another memory area, and then expands the data width and the page length of the data. Is calculated, and the
A method for controlling a printing apparatus, which comprises selecting the smallest sheet of paper that can accommodate the data and printing using the sheet.