JPH07152512A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decide whether the main body of a printing device should be used as a router or as a printing device based on the command sent from a host computer. CONSTITUTION:The data commands are read out of the host computers 1 and 2 via an interface part 11 and then analyzed by a command analyzing part 17. When the analyzed commands request the print functions, these functions are extended in dots by a pattern extending part 13 and outputted to an output part 18. Meanwhile two networks of different protocols are connected to each other via a network connecting part 12 if the analyzed commands request the router functions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of printing characters, graphics, raster images, etc. based on information from a host apparatus via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, data is output to a printing apparatus via a special connection device such as a router in order to exchange data between networks having different protocols on two or more networks having different protocols.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, a special connecting device such as a router is required when the printing device is connected to two or more networks having different protocols.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus with improved convenience for the operator.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing apparatus connected on a network having two or more different protocols, the connection means for connecting the networks, and the two means by the connection means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a selecting means for selecting one of a connection function for connecting one or more networks and a printing function.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a printing apparatus according to this embodiment.

This embodiment comprises host computers 1 and 2 and a printer main body 5. Further, two or more network cables 3 and 4 having different protocols are connected to the printing apparatus main body 5 according to this embodiment. The host computers 1 and 2 send print-related information such as print data and print commands to the printing device 5 via the cables 3 and 4, and cause the printing device main body 5 to perform printing processing. The printer body 5 is
It has a microprocessor system including read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM).

The printing apparatus main body 5 is functionally composed of the following circuit components. Two or more different protocols are used in the printing apparatus main body 5 depending on the interface unit 11 for exchanging data with the host computers 1 and 2, a command sent from the host computers 1 and 2, or a command from the operation panel 14. A network connection unit 12 for connecting a network, a pattern expansion unit 13 for expanding data such as characters and figures in a memory, an operation panel 14 that can be used for setting various parameters for controlling printing, a data bus 15, and general devices. The printing apparatus main body 5 includes a control unit 16 for controlling the above, print data and print command analysis unit 17 from the host computers 1 and 2, and an output unit 18 for forming a permanent visible image on the developed data on a sheet by, for example, a laser printer. Be prepared for.

The control unit 16 includes a central processing unit (CP).
U) and R storing the CPU control procedure as shown in FIG.
It has an OM and a RAM with a work area for the CPU.
The control unit 16 controls the operation of the entire apparatus such as information read / write processing with respect to each of the constituent units 11 to 14, 17, and 18.

The pattern expansion unit 13 is used as a readable / writable memory such as a random access memory (RAM). The command analysis unit 17 is expressed in hardware, but in this embodiment, the command analysis is performed by software processing of the control unit 16. A decoder (signal decoder) can be used instead of software processing. Output part 1
A printer 8 is used.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the format of the raster image command used when outputting the data sent from the host computers 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of the CPU in the control unit 16 until the data sent from the host computers 1 and 2 are processed and output.

First, in step S11, a data command is read from the host computers 1 and 2 via the interface section 11, and in the following step S12, the read command is analyzed. Then, in step S13, it is determined whether the command analyzed in step S12 is a print function, and if so, step S14
Then, the pattern development unit 13 performs dot development. Next, the dot data developed in step S14 is output to the output unit 18. In the following step S16, it is determined whether or not there is data for dot expansion, and if so, the process returns to step S14, and if there is no data for dot expansion, the process ends. If the result of determination in step S13 is that the command requires a router function, the process proceeds to step S17, and the network connection unit 12 starts the router function. In the following step S18, two networks having different protocols are connected, and if the data communication is not completed in the next step S19, the process returns to step S18, and if the data communication is completed, the process is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
By the command sent from the host computer,
You can choose whether to use the printer itself as a router or as a printer.

<Other Embodiments> In the above-described embodiments, the command sent from the host computer selects whether the printing apparatus main body is used as a router or a printing apparatus. By providing the operation panel with means for selecting whether the printer body is used as a router or a printer, it is possible to select whether the printer body is used as a router or a printer.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the operation panel 14 on the printer main body 5. The operation panel 14 is provided with a key 14A corresponding to a command for selecting whether to use the printing apparatus main body as a router or a printing apparatus, and the control unit 16 operates in the same manner as above based on an input from the key 14A. To do.

The output unit 18 may be an ink jet printer, a thermal transfer printer, etc. in addition to the laser printer. Further, it can be similarly applied when performing color printing. Further, the printer is not limited to the binary output printer, and may be a multi-value output printer.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a printing device with improved convenience for the operator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a function selecting command.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 host computer 3, 4 network cable 5 printer main body 11 interface section 12 network connection section 13 pattern development section 14 operation panel 15 data bus 16 control section 17 command analysis section 18 output section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus connected on a network having two or more different protocols, and a connection means for connecting the networks, and a connection function and a printing function for connecting the two or more networks by the connection means. And a selection means for selecting any one of the above.