JPH06238958A - Card type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a card type printer comprising an off-line print function capable of printing out various information by the printer side independently of a host computer. CONSTITUTION:A soft card 2 is detachably loaded to a slot 1a in a printer 1. In the soft card 2, data of a program for printing on a post card, a post card printing format, an illustration, various fonts and the like is stored in a ROM therein and data of an address, a sender, a user document format, addressing date and the like which are inputted from an operation panel 1b by a user, is stored in a RAM therein. A CPU in the printer 1 reads the program in the ROM and executes a self print operation original to the printer 1 on the basis of various data in the ROM and RAM independently of a host computer by being interactive with an operator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card type printer which executes a specific information printing processing operation even when offline.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus (printer)
Is connected to the host computer and performs printing operation simply according to the print designation information sent from the host computer, or the print information once sent from the host computer is stored in the storage device and printed from the operation unit on the printer side. 2. Description of the Related Art A printer or the like having a local print function is known in which a desired number of copies is designated and printing is performed only on the printer side.

In any case, the information to be printed is generated on the host computer side, and the printer simply receives the generated information, converts it into corresponding image data, and prints the image data on paper. It had only that function.

Although it is known that the printing operation can be performed offline by simply disconnecting the connection with the host computer and operating the operation panel on the printer side, printing in this case is copy printing or limited character printing. Is a test print in a specific form and is not a print of arbitrary complicated data.

[0005]

As described above, since the printer has only a passive function, the printer alone would be useless without a large-scale system such as a host computer. That is, unless application software compatible with the host computer is prepared, desired print data is created using the application software, and the print data is sent to the printer side, the printer side cannot perform print processing at all. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to print using the printer, and the use of the printer is limited. As described above, if the use of the printer is limited, the printer is also an expensive device, and there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with the use, and some improvement in usability has been demanded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to have an ordinary page printer function for connecting to a host computer to perform a printing process, and at the same time, to execute the printing from the host computer. It is to provide a printer having an off-line printer function in which the printer can independently print out information regardless of information, and more specifically, it is stored in a card memory that is detachably attached to the printer body. To provide a card-type printer that can automatically print the specified information and a card-type printer that can read and process external data such as an electronic notebook using the application software stored in the card memory and print it. Is.

[0007]

In the card type printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the memory card has a built-in battery backup SRAM or the like, for example, and is detachably attached to the printer body.

The ROM is arranged in the memory card and stores a control program for executing a specific information print processing operation. Further, for example, as described in claim 2, fixed format data is stored in addition to the control program. Memorize

The central processing means is composed of, for example, a CPU (central processing unit), is arranged in the printer main body, and prints out the print information stored in the memory card by executing the control program.

According to another aspect of the card type printer of the present invention, in addition to the memory card, the ROM, and the central processing means, the input means includes, for example, an operation panel for inputting data by a key. As described in claim 9, it comprises a reading device or the like connected to the card type printer. Then, the means specifies, by inputting, a designation condition necessary for executing a specific information print processing operation. The specified condition is, for example, fixed format data or the like as set forth in claim 8, and the fixed format data is read from an electronic notebook or the like by the reading device, for example.

The display means is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays guidance for inputting the specified conditions. Then, the central processing means causes the display means to display the guidance for inputting the specified condition by executing the control program, and executes the control program in accordance with the specified condition input from the input means.

Further, the central processing means stores the variable data information inputted from the input means in a memory card by executing the control program, for example, as described in claim 4. Further, for example, by executing the control program, the fixed format data and the variable data stored in the memory card are read out and combined, and the combined data is printed out. Further, for example, by executing the control program as described in claim 6, variable data of a specified condition is searched from a plurality of variable data stored in the memory card, and the variable data obtained by the search is searched. Is combined with the fixed format data and printed out. Furthermore, for example, as described in claim 7, by executing the control program, desired fixed format data is stored in the memory card.

As a result, the card-type printer capable of automatically printing the information stored in the card memory which is detachably attached to the printer body by the printer and the application software stored in the card memory. It is possible to provide a card type printer that can read external data such as an electronic notebook, process it, and print it by using wear.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a card type printer according to an embodiment. As shown in the figure,
The printer 1 is provided with two upper and lower card slots 1a on the right side of the front surface of the apparatus. Into these card slots 1a, a soft card (memory card) 2 for detaching the printer 1 from the host computer and independently performing special printing is detachably mounted. Further, the printer 1 is provided with an operation panel 1b, which will be described in detail later, on the upper front portion thereof. The user can key-in the data such as the address and the user format from the operation panel 1b to register the data in the installed soft card 2, and by inputting the instruction key, the printer 1 can be registered.
Can print desired data. Further, the printer 1 is provided with a paper cassette insertion opening 1c for mounting a paper cassette (not shown) in the center of the front surface, a paper ejection roller 1d for ejecting printed paper in the rear of the upper part of the apparatus, and a paper ejection roller 1d in front of it. It is provided with a paper discharge tray section 1e on which printed paper to be discharged is placed. Although not particularly shown, the inside of the apparatus is provided with a printing unit including a paper feeding device, a printing device, a conveying device, a fixing device, and the like, and a control unit described later. The printer 1 performs predetermined printing on the paper stored in the paper cassette, and ejects the printed paper to the paper ejection tray unit 1e by the paper ejection roller 1d.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the operation panel 1b. As shown in the figure, the operation panel 1b is provided with a horizontally long display 1b-1 at the upper part, a power key part 1b-2 and an instruction key part 1b-3 at the center, and on the left side below the center. The character key portion 1b-4 is provided with a ten-key portion 1b-5 on the right side thereof.

The display 1b-1 is of an interactive type and displays an answer corresponding to an information input operation of each key arranged in the central portion and the lower central portion of the operation panel 1b. As a result, the print information to be output by the printer 1 can be specified externally by a key input operation.

The "ON" key of the power supply key section 1b-2 turns on the power when operated, and the "OFF" key of the same section turns off the power when operated. "O" of the instruction key portion 1b-3
The N-LINE "key switches the connection with the host computer alternately on and off each time it is operated.

When operated, a "MENU" key of the same section is used to select an operation of the printer 1, for example, a telephone,
Menus such as business cards, memos, schedules, and calendars are displayed on the display 1b-1.

The "SELECT" key in the same section switches the card printer mode alternately on and off each time it is operated. However, if the soft card 2 is previously installed in the card slot 1a when the power is turned on, the printer 1 recognizes this and automatically sets the card printer mode.

The "GO" key in the same section is a key for executing the operation of the printer 1 based on the information input from the operation panel 1b. When the "STOP" key of the same section is operated, the operation of the printer 1 currently being executed is interrupted.

The "←", "→", "↑", and "↓" keys in the same section are used to move a cursor for instructing a menu or the like displayed on the display 1b-1 or scroll the display. Is the key.

The character key portion 1b-4 is provided with kana character keys of the Japanese syllabary for inputting phonetic characters, and each key is changed into an alphabetic character and a symbol input key by operating the "alphabet" key described later. The function switches. It is also possible to input Roman characters by using the English character and symbol input keys.
The shift key at the lower left end of the same portion is a key for selecting the function of an instruction key which will be described later and has the same color as this key.

The numeric keypad section 1b-5 has "0", "1"-
A numeric keypad such as "9", "・", "=" is provided in the center,
Surrounding them, from the lower left to the lower right, clockwise, "release", "quarter corner", "alphabet", "hirakata", "time date", "function", "symbol", "Character memory", "Single Kanji", "No conversion", "Conversion", "-",
It is provided with 13 instruction keys of "execute". Most of the instruction keys have at least two types of functions. For example, the function of the “non-conversion” key is switched to the “katakana conversion” key by operating the shift key described above.
Furthermore, the "no conversion", "conversion", "-", and "execute" keys are "÷" when calculating with the numeric keypad,
The function is switched to each of the "x", "-" and "+" keys.

The "cancel" key cancels the input of input information, the "1/4" key is a readable lowercase letter, the "alphabet" key is a switch from the Japanese syllabary key to the alphabet and symbol input keys, and " The "hirakata" key is a key for instructing the alternate switching of the hiragana and katakana characters.

The "time date" key is a key for setting the date and time, and by the setting, the date and time of the day is automatically displayed when the menu of the schedule or the calendar is selected. . The "function" key is a key for displaying a more detailed function menu when executing the selected menu. The "symbol" key is a key for calling an external character and various symbols. "Character memory" is a key for calling a user-registered short sentence. The “single kanji” is a key for displaying and selecting a single kanji corresponding to the reading. The "non-conversion" key is a key for fixing the input reading as it is as a kana character. The “conversion” key is a key for converting the input phonetic characters into batch kanji.

When the "-" key is operated, a hyphen is displayed for an alphabetic character, and a long sound symbol is displayed by operating the shift key in Japanese display. And the "Run" key
It is a key for confirming the input information.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer 1. In the figure, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1f is composed of a microprocessor or the like. The CPU 1f is connected to the card slot 1a shown in FIG. 1, and the card slot 1a is connected to a soft card 2. It is installed. Soft card 2 is ROM2a
And a RAM 2b. The ROM 2a stores an application program for the printer 1 to perform special print processing independently without using a host computer. The RAM 2b stores information that is created in advance by the user by operating the keys on the operation panel 1b and that is used in the print processing unique to the printer 1 described above.

Further, the CPU 1f has the operation panel 1 described above.
b is connected via a panel I / F 1b '(I / F: interface, the same applies hereinafter). Operation panel 1
b outputs operation information key-inputted to execute various print processes to the CPU 1f, and displays information to be notified to the operator in response to the above operation under the control of the CPU 1f.

In addition to the above, the CPU 1f has a system R
The printer engine 1p is connected via the OM 1g, the system RAM 1h, the reception buffer 1i, the parallel I / F 1j ', the serial I / F 1k', the CG memory 1m, the FRAM 1n, the printer I / F 1p ', and the printer I / F 1p'. .

The system ROM 1g stores a basic program for operating the printer 1 normally in cooperation with the host computer. The CPU 1f sends the program from the host computer based on the program read from the system ROM 1g. The print processing is controlled based on the print information.

The system RAM 1h has a storage area used as a work area, and temporarily stores intermediate data and the like generated during the processing by the CPU 1f. Further, the system RAM 1h further includes a page buffer area, and memory to be accessed in order to read out individual process designation information, that is, print pattern data, which is executed based on a result obtained by analyzing print information by the CPU 1f ( Processing designation information called an intermediate code (or an internal code) composed of the addresses of the ROM 2a or the RAM 2b) is accumulated and stored page by page in the printing order. Further, it further has an application program area, and temporarily stores the application program read from the ROM 2a of the soft card 2 until the end of the special printing process unique to the printer.

The reception buffer 1i temporarily stores and stores print information input from the host computer during normal print processing based on print information sent from the host computer. The CPU 1f uses the reception buffer 1i
Print information is sequentially read from each processing unit, analyzed,
The intermediate code is generated and sequentially stored in the page buffer area of the system RAM 1h described above.

The parallel I / F 1j 'is an interface used in a normal printing process based on the print information sent from the host computer, and is configured in accordance with the Centronics specification capable of transmitting and receiving parallel data. It The host computer connected to this interface is the personal computer 3 or a large computer (not shown).

Similarly, the serial I / F 1k 'is also an interface used in the normal print processing based on the print information sent from the host computer, and is composed of the RS-232C standard capable of transmitting / receiving serial data. . A small host computer is mainly connected to this.

The CG memory 1m is a ROM that stores character pattern data (character data or font data) corresponding to the character code included in the print information input from the host computer, and stores various font data. The CG memory 1m is detachably attached to the printer 1, a plurality of types are prepared, different font data are stored therein, and a large number of variations of print fonts can be obtained by exchanging the font data.

The FRAM 1n is a frame memory having a capacity for accumulating pattern data for one sheet. C
When the PU 1f recognizes that the FRAM 1n is in the pattern data expandable state, the above-mentioned stem RAM 1
The intermediate code is read from the page buffer area of h, analyzed, and the pattern data is generated by the CG memory 1m based on the obtained result.
The data is sequentially written and developed on a predetermined address of M1n.
When the developed pattern data reaches the amount to be printed, the printer engine 1 is sent via the printer I / F 1p '.
transfer to p.

The printer engine 1p drives a print head such as an LED print head or a laser print head according to the transferred pattern data to generate optical writing information, and the optical writing exposes the photosensitive member to expose the photosensitive member. An electrophotographic printing process in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image, the toner image is transferred to a sheet, and the toner image on the sheet is thermally fixed to perform printing. It is composed of parts.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are schematic diagrams showing the internal structure of the soft card 2. As shown in FIG. Soft card 2 is the same figure
ROM (read only memory) 2a shown in (a) and RAM (random access memory) shown in FIG.
It consists of 2b.

In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the ROM 2a includes an application program 2a-1, which is a program dedicated to postcard printing, and the application program 2a.
-1 application data 2a-2 consisting of data in New Year's card format and hot summer greetings format and illustration data used in these formats, multiple types of fonts such as brush font, Mincho font, Gothic font for printed documents Data such as font data 2a-3 made up of data, data search table 2a-4 made up of initial data of the selected data and its storage address, etc. are stored.

In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the RAM 2b stores data such as an address, a sender, a user format, a sender date, etc., which the user inputs and registers in advance from an operation panel described later. The RAM 2b is composed of an EEPROM, a general non-volatile RAM, or a battery backup type SRAM (Static RAM) which consumes a large amount of power but does not require a clock or refresh.

Next, the print processing operation in the card printer mode according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The flowchart of FIG. 5 and the flowchart of FIG. 6 indicate that they are connected to each other by the symbols A and B, respectively. In this process, the "ON-LINE" key of the instruction key unit 1b-3 of the operation panel 1b shown in FIG. 2 is operated to turn off the connection with the host computer, and then the instruction key unit 1 is also operated.
When the "SELECT" key of b-3 is operated to enter the card printer mode, or the soft card 2 is already installed in the card slot 1a and the card printer mode is automatically set when the power is turned on. At this time, the CPU 1f shown in FIG.
In this process, the application program stored in the ROM 2a is read out, and the self-printing process unique to the printer 1 independent of the host computer is executed based on this program without using the information from the host computer. Further, in this process, the application program stored in the ROM 2a of the software card 2 is assumed to be the software dedicated to postcard printing illustrated in FIG. Also, the RAM 2b of the soft card 2
In this case, it is assumed that the print information created by the user input has already been registered by the processing described later.

In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, first, the mounting state of the soft card 2 is determined (step S1). If not installed, another processing program such as inquiry display processing to the operator and normal printing is executed.

When the soft card 2 is installed, the application program stored in the ROM 2a of the soft card 2 is read out and execution of the application program is started (step S2).

Then, the liquid crystal display panel 1b-1 of the operation panel 1b shown in FIG. 2 is subjected to display processing for requesting input of designation of the printing surface (step S3). This process
This is a process of displaying a display screen for allowing the operator to select whether to print on the front surface or the back surface of the postcard in the postcard printing, or to perform other processing described later.

Then, the operator waits for a key input operation for setting a postcard by an operator who specifies printing on the front or back of the postcard (step S4). As a result, the operator makes a key input for menu selection on the display screen. With this key input, the operator may input the menu number on the display screen to select it, or may select it by operating the cursor key and the execution key.

If the operator's key input is to print the front side of the postcard, the fact that the print processing on the front side of the postcard will be executed is displayed on the display screen to inform that the address printing mode has been entered. (Step S5).

Then, a display process for requesting input of not only the address data but also the sender data is printed on the front surface of the postcard (step S6). In this process, for example, "Yes",
A message such as "No" is displayed.

Then, the operator waits for a key operation for designating (selecting) "yes" or "no" (step S7). Also in this case, the operator can perform a key operation for selection as in the case of step S4.

After confirming the key input by the operator, a display process is performed to allow the operator to specify which range to search for and print out the address data (step S8). In this process, the selection designation contents, for example, the Japanese syllabary indicating the initials of phonetic or the classification by occupation are displayed.

Then, the operator waits for key input (step S9). Also in this case, the operator can perform a key operation for selection as in the case of step S4. And after confirming the key input by the operator,
Next, a display process is performed to allow the operator to specify the type of font used for printing (step S10),
The operator waits for a font designation input (step S11).

Steps S4, S7, S9 and S11
The designation data by the operator confirmed in step 1 is stored and stored in the system RAM 1h, respectively, and the following process is continuously executed based on the stored designation contents.

First, based on the search range condition designated in step S8, a search process for detecting desired address data from the search designated range of the registered data in the RAM 2b is executed (step S12).

Then, the address of the RAM 2b in which the print information detected by this search processing is stored is output (step S13). In this process, the standard print information such as “Den” and “Sama” is stored in the form data area of the ROM 2a of the soft card 2, while the user can replace these “Den” and “Sama”. If you create the print information by yourself, the print information is stored in the RAM2 of the soft card 2.
It is stored in b. Either is step S8 or S
The print is designated in No. 10, and the ROM is based on the designation.
The print information of 2a or the RAM 2b is searched, and the address of the ROM 2a or the RAM 2b in which the print information is stored is output. If printing of the sender data on the front surface of the postcard is designated in step S6,
Also in this case, the sender data area of the RAM 2b is searched,
The address where the print information of the sender data is stored is output.

Next, the output addresses are sequentially written in predetermined positions in the page buffer area of the system RAM 1h (step S14). Subsequently, the system RAM
The pattern data of the print information is generated based on the addresses sequentially read from the page buffer area of 1h, the pattern data is sequentially expanded in a predetermined area of the FRAM 1n corresponding to the print position, and after the expansion is completed, the expanded pattern data is printed by the printer. The data is transferred to the engine 1p and the printing process is executed (step S15).

Then, it is judged whether or not the print processing of all the address data within the search designated range designated in step S8 has been finished (step S16), and if finished, the processing is finished immediately. If not completed, the process returns to step S12, and steps S12 to S16 are executed until the printing process of all the address data within the search designated range is completed.
repeat.

If printing of the backside of the postcard has been designated in step S4, the process proceeds to step S17 to display on the display screen that the printing of the backside of the postcard will be executed, and the backside printing mode will be executed. I will inform you that it has become.

Then, a display process for requesting whether or not to print the sender data on the back side of the postcard is performed (step S18). This process is similar to step S6 described above.

Then, the operator waits for a key operation of either "Yes" or "No" (step S1).
9) Confirm the key input by the operator, and then search the standard format data for backside printing stored in the ROM 2a shown in FIG. 4A or the self-made format data registered in the RAM 2b. Based on the search, display processing is performed to allow the operator to specify a desired format (step S20). In this process, a list of selection designation contents, for example, a plurality of standard format names such as New Year's cards, summer greeting cards, greeting cards, and self-made format names is displayed.

Then, the operator waits for key input by the operator (step S21), confirms the key input, and then performs a display process for allowing the operator to specify and input the type of font used for back side printing and the number of prints. After performing (step S22), the operator waits for a key input for designating the font type and the number of prints (step S23).

Also in this case, the above steps S4, S19,
The designation data by the operator whose input is confirmed in S21 and S23 are respectively stored and stored in the system RAM 1h, and the following process is continuously executed based on the stored designation contents.

First, in step S24, RO is detected in order to detect the format data designated in step S20.
Standard format data stored in M2a or RAM2b
The search processing of the self-made format data registered in is executed (step S24).

Then, the address of the ROM 2a or RAM 2b in which the format data detected by this search processing is stored is output (step S25). In this process,
When it is specified in step S18 to print the sender data on the back side of the postcard, the RAM 2b is searched and the address of the RAM 2b in which the sender data is stored is output.

Next, the output address is sequentially written in a predetermined position of the page buffer area of the system RAM 1h (step S26), and then the system RAM is used.
The pattern data of the print information is generated based on the addresses sequentially read from the page buffer area of 1h, the pattern data is sequentially expanded in a predetermined area of the FRAM 1n corresponding to the print position, and after the expansion is completed, the expanded pattern data is printed by the printer. The data is transferred to the engine 1p and the printing process for the back side of the postcard is executed (step S27).

Then, it is determined whether or not the print processing of the number of sheets designated in step S22 has been completed (step S28), and if it is completed, the processing is immediately ended. Returning to S24, steps S24 to S28 are performed until the print processing for the designated number of sheets is completed.
repeat.

In this way, the special printing process can be executed by the printer 1 shown in FIG.
Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, in the step S3, a display for prompting the operator to specify the front and back of the postcard printing surface and a display for selecting whether to execute printing or register print information are also displayed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing when the operator selects registration of print information in response to the display made in step S3. The print information registration process will be described below.

Step S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
And S2 are steps S1 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
And S2, respectively. In the display processing for selecting the registration of the print information in step S3, "initialization", "address data", "sender data",
The processing items such as "user format data" and "delivery date data" are displayed. Also in this case, the operator may select the processing item by inputting the menu number on the display screen with the ten keys, or may select the processing item by operating the cursor key and the execution key.

Next, in step S4, the key input by the operator is discriminated, and if the selected processing item is "initialize", the process proceeds to step ST5 to initialize and finish the process. This process is a process in which the print information already registered in the RAM 2b in the software card 2 is erased so that the print information can be newly input and registered. In this process, all registration data (print information) in the RAM 2b may be erased, or an erase range may be designated and erased.

If the selected process item is "address data" in the determination of the key input in step S4, the process proceeds to step ST6, and the address data key-input from now is a new registration or Display processing is performed to let the operator specify whether the registration is additional registration.

In step ST7, the operator waits for a key input, and when it is determined that the new registration is selected by the key input, the search code of the new registration data to be subsequently key-input by the operator and the search code The storage start address of the registration data is set in the address pointer, and these search codes and addresses are stored in the RAM 2b.
Registered in the search table memory area of step ST8
Then, display processing is performed to permit the input of new registration data.

When it is determined in step ST7 that the additional registration is selected by the key input, the RAM 2b is searched based on the search code of the registration data to be added which is subsequently key-input by the operator. The table memory area is searched, the old registration data is checked, the subsequent write address where the registration data is registered is detected, this address is set as the write start address of the additional data in the address pointer, and the same steps as above are performed. The process proceeds to ST8, and in this case, a display process for permitting the input of additional registration data is performed.

In any of the above cases, the address data is keyed in from the operation panel 1b by the operator in response to the input permission display. In step ST9, the process of writing the key-in address data into the address indicated by the address pointer in the RAM 2b is executed.

Subsequently, in step ST10, display processing is performed to indicate that one new (or additional) registration of address data has been completed, and display processing for confirming whether the registration processing is completed or continued. .

When the operator designates the continuation of the registration process, the process returns to the step ST6 and the step S is performed again.
The processing from T6 to ST10 is executed. On the other hand, when the end of the registration process is designated, the process ends immediately.

By the way, if the selected processing item is "from data" in the determination of the key input in step S4, the process proceeds to step ST11. Here again, a display process is performed which causes the operator to specify whether the sender data key-inputted from now on is new registration or additional registration.

Step ST11 and subsequent steps ST1
In the processes up to 5, only the registered data to be processed becomes the sender data in place of the above-mentioned address data, and the subsequent processes are the same as the case of the registration process in steps ST6 to ST10 described above.

If the selected process item is "user format data" in the determination of the key input in step S4, the process proceeds to step ST16. This step ST1
In the processing from 6 to step ST20, the registration data to be processed is only user format data, and the subsequent processing is the registration processing of the address data in steps ST6 to ST10 described above or the registration of the sender data in steps ST11 to ST15. It is similar to the case of processing.

The user format data is registered, for example, when a fixed document such as “Happy New Year” is added by inputting from the operation panel or the like with the designation of the character type and the like, and when it is connected to the printer device (not shown). There is a case where an original image created by a user is read as graphic data using a reading device (scanner) and registered in a predetermined area of the RAM 2b.

Finally, in the determination of the key input in step S4, the selected processing item is "sending date data".
When it is, it progresses to step ST21. In the following series of registration processing of the submission date data, it is not necessary to distinguish between new and added data, so that the key input permission display processing of the registration data is immediately performed. That is, in the processing from step S21 to step S23, the registered data to be processed is only the offer date data, and the subsequent processing is the registration processing of the address data in steps ST8 to ST10 described above, step ST13. It is the same as the sender data registration process in ST15 to ST15 or the user format data registration process in steps ST18 to ST20.

When inputting data such as the address data, the operation panel 1b shown in FIG. 2 of the printer 1 shown in FIG.
Character key section 1b-4 and numeric keypad section 1b-5 provided in the
A kanji dictionary memory is provided internally so that input data can be registered as kanji data by operating each key. These are constructed using well-known word processing technology.

In the above embodiment, ready-made fixed data is stored in the ROM 2a in advance and variable data is stored in the operation panel 1.
Although the key input from b is made to be stored in the RAM 2b, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reading device is connected to the operation panel 1b so that fixed data such as format data and variable data can be automatically read and the soft card is used. 2 RAM2b
You may make it memorize | store in.

Further, the application program in the ROM 2a of the soft card 2 is once loaded into the application program area of the system RAM 1h, and then the application program is read from the system RAM 1h to execute the processing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the processing may be executed while directly accessing the ROM 2a.

Further, the ROM 2 storing application programs and fixed data in the same software card 2
a and a RAM2b, which is a non-volatile memory for storing variable data created by the user, are incorporated, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the ROM2a and the RAM2b are independent of each other and provided in separate software cards 2. You may arrange | position each, respectively. With this configuration, it is possible to manage the data for each individual on a card-by-card basis, and to distinguish the cards according to the types of destinations, thereby facilitating the classification-based management of the data. Although the application program is for postcard printing processing, it is not limited to this.
It may be used for print processing of ready-made document data or graphics data, and desired data may be selected from a plurality of ready-made data to be printed, and various applications are conceivable.

For example, as ready-made data to be stored in the soft card 2, various information data such as lyrics, specific document, guide map, score, form paper, etc. are prepared, and printing processing is performed using the soft card in which these are stored. If this is done, a wide variety of printing operations can be performed extremely easily without a host computer.

By combining ready-made fixed data and user-created variable data and printing them out,
It is possible to easily realize a user's unique and diversified printed matter creation work.

[0086]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, by inserting a soft card which is detachably attached to the card type printer main body into the card type printer, the special special information desired by the card type printer can be obtained. Since it is possible to easily realize an inexpensive and multifunctional printing system that prints out, it is not necessary to operate the host computer for the printing process. Therefore, the printing cost can be reduced without using an expensive host computer that is too high in performance. Power consumption is also reduced. In addition, a wide variety of changes in print processing can be handled by simply replacing the software card installed in the card-type printer body, so there is no need to use difficult software for the host computer, and therefore printing work is troublesome. It is convenient and does not take.

Further, since the soft card which is detachably attached to the card type printer main body stores all the information to be printed by the card type printer and the control information for selectively printing the information, The newly developed function can be easily supported by simply installing the soft card of, and thus the printer function is infinitely expanded, which improves the cost performance of the printer. In addition, the contents of the print processing card or data card dedicated to a specific print job are created in an arbitrary form by arranging a non-volatile memory in the soft card so that the fixed format data can be stored / deleted. It becomes possible easily. Further, by making it possible to store / delete variable data by the non-volatile memory provided in the soft card, the contents of the print processing card or data card dedicated to a specific print job can be created in an arbitrary form. Is easily possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printer.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a data configuration of a ROM in the soft card, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a data configuration of the same RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 1) for explaining a processing operation by the CPU based on an application program in a soft card.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (No. 2) for explaining the processing operation by the CPU based on the application program in the soft card.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (No. 3) for explaining the processing operation by the CPU based on the application program in the soft card.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 1a Card Slot 1b Operation Panel 1b 'Panel I / F 1b-1 Display 1b-2 Power Supply Key Section 1b-3 Indication Key Section 1b-4 Character Key Section 1b-5 Numeric Keypad Section 1c Paper Cassette Insert 1d Discharge Roller 1e Paper ejection tray section 1f CPU (central processing unit) 1g System ROM 1h System RAM 1i Receive buffer 1j 'Parallel I / F 1k' Serial I / F 1m CG memory 1n FRAM 1p 'Printer I / F 1p Printer engine 2 Soft Card (Memory Card) 2a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2a-1 Application Program 2a-2 Application Data 2a-3 Font Data 2a-4 Data Search Table 2b Nonvolatile RAM (Random Access Memory)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A memory card that is detachably attached to a printer body, a ROM that is disposed in the memory card and that stores a control program for executing a specific information print processing operation, and a printer card that is installed in the printer body. A card type printer, comprising: a central processing unit which is arranged and prints out print information stored in the memory card by executing the control program. 2. The card type printer according to claim 1, wherein the ROM stores fixed format data in addition to the control program. 3. Further comprising: an input unit for inputting and designating a designated condition necessary for executing the specific information print processing operation; and a display unit for displaying a guide for inputting the designated condition. The central processing means causes the display means to display guidance for inputting the specified condition by executing the control program, and executes the control program in accordance with the specified condition input from the input means. The card type printer according to claim 1, wherein the card type printer is a card type printer. 4. The central processing means stores the variable data information input from the input means in the memory card by executing the control program. Card printer. 5. The central processing means executes the control program to read and combine fixed format data and variable data stored in the memory card, and print out the combined data. The card type printer according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4. 6. The central processing means executes the control program to search for variable data of a specified condition from a plurality of variable data stored in the memory card, and the variable obtained by the search is searched. 6. The card type printer according to claim 1, wherein the data is combined with the fixed format data and printed out. 7. The central processing means stores desired fixed format data in the memory card by executing the control program.
The card type printer according to 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. 8. The fixed format data is input by using the input means.
The card type printer according to 4, 5, 6 or 7. 9. The card type printer according to claim 1, wherein the fixed format data is input from a reading device connected to the card type printer. .