JPH07327117A - Image recording device and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the image recording device and its control method in which image transfer is not limited to band image data, a time of communication hand-shake is reduced while utilizing effectively a memory or the like thereby recording image at a high speed. CONSTITUTION:When this copying machine is operated as a printer for an external device, print data are received via an interface 113, and an idle capacity of a frame memory 110 is informed to the external device prior to the reception of data. The external device transfers image data whose capacity is according to the informed capacity to the copying machine in the lump. Plural band image data are generated according to image data to be transferred and a printer section 3 prints out the data in the unit of bands repetitively. When no data to be recorded are in existence in the frame memory, the vacant capacity is informed again to the external device so as to allow the external device to transfer remaining image data to the copying machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and a control method therefor, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus which scans a recording head to record an image in band units and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus such as a printer which receives image data from an external device such as a computer which holds image data and forms an image on a recording medium. In the printer device having such a configuration, the image data sent from the external device is received by the interface control unit 401 and stored in the frame memory 402 under the control of the memory controller 403. The image data stored in the frame memory 402 is further converted into a print image by the image generation unit 404 and stored in the output buffer 406. The printer control unit 405
Under the control of (1), the data is transferred from the output buffer 406 to the printer unit 407 in synchronization with the printing operation of the printer unit 407 and printing is performed.

When an image larger than the memory size of the memory controller is to be printed with such a configuration, the memory of the memory controller is used as an output buffer, and the output image is formed by repeating the image transfer and the image printing. Was there.

[0004]

In the case of printing a one-band image on a recording medium in such a conventional example, image transfer from an external device is limited to one band. For this reason,
The communication handshake time that occurs when the image data of each band is transferred is the cause of slowing the printing speed.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example,
An image recording apparatus and a control method therefor capable of reducing the time for communication handshake and effectively recording an image while effectively utilizing a memory or the like, not limited to image transfer for one band. It is what

To solve this problem, for example, the image recording apparatus of the present invention has the following structure. That is, an image recording apparatus that receives print data from a higher-level device, scans a recording head, and records image data based on the print data in band units, and stores image data for at least a plurality of bands. Storage means, input means for receiving image data corresponding to an allowable range of the storage means from the host device, and storing the image data in the recording means, and band image data based on the image data input by the input means. Recording means for generating and recording by moving the recording head by scanning, and when the recording of the image based on the image data stored in the storage means by the recording means is completed, the input means is urged, And a control means for controlling to record the next image.

Here, it is preferable that the input unit notifies the upper level device of the usable capacity of the storage unit and receives the image data of the notified amount after the notification process. As a result, the amount of information to be transferred can be grasped in advance on the host device side, so that high-speed transfer such as DMA can be performed.

In addition, second input means for inputting resolution information of image data to be recorded from the upper device,
When the determination means determines whether or not the resolution according to the input resolution information is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and when the determination means determines that the resolution is less than or equal to the predetermined value, while the print head is returned to the home position, It is desirable to provide a switching means for switching to receive the image data of the band. According to this, when the resolution is low,
This is because the number of dots forming one band image is reduced, so that the transfer time and the like can be shortened and absorbed during returning to the home position of the recording head.

Further, it is desirable that the recording head is an ink jet recording head for ejecting ink to perform recording, and in particular, a recording head for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy. This makes it possible to record the scanning motion at high speed and with high quality.

[0010]

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

In this embodiment, an image forming apparatus using an ink jet recording method will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various printing methods such as a thermal transfer method and a wire dot method can be used. It can also be applied to the image forming apparatus used.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, each of the control units 102, 111, 121 and 112 includes a scanner unit 1, a controller unit 2, a printer unit 3 and a frame memory controller unit 4.
And a ROM such as a microcomputer for storing a control program executed by the CPU, a data memory, and a communication circuit. These control units 102, 111, 12
When a color copying machine is operated by connecting a communication circuit between 1 and 111, a so-called master / slave control mode in which the control units 102, 121 and 112 operate according to an instruction from the control unit 111 is adopted. ing.

Further, various commands and data (including data to be written in a frame memory described later) from a host machine (not shown) are input through the parallelless interface section 113, and various commands and data are input based on the data and commands. In the remote mode (described later) in which the operation of (1) is performed, the control unit 112 serves as a master and gives each instruction to the control unit 111.
21 is instructed. Such a shift to the remote mode is performed by an instruction from the host machine or an operation of a key switch of the scanning unit 10.

When operating as a color copying machine, the control unit 111 operates according to an input instruction from the operation unit 10 or the digitizer 114. The operation unit 10 uses, for example, liquid crystal as a display unit and is provided with a touch panel made of a transparent electrode on the surface thereof, thereby making it possible to perform instruction selection such as designation regarding color and designation of editing operation. Frequently used keys such as operation-related keys such as a start key for instructing the start of copying operation, a stop key for instructing to stop copying operation, a reset key for returning the operation mode to the display state, and a project key for selecting a project. Are provided independently. The digitizer 114 is for inputting positional information necessary for trimming, masking processing, etc., and is connected as an option when complicated editing processing is required. Further, the control unit 111 includes a multi-value synthesizing unit 106 and an image processing unit 10 that perform various types of processing on image data.
It also controls the binarization processing unit 108 and the binary synthesis unit 109.

The control unit 102 controls the mechanical drive unit 105 that controls the drive of the mechanism of the scanner unit 1, and controls the exposure control unit 104 that controls the exposure control unit 103 that controls the exposure when reading an original by reflected light. I do. The control unit 102
Also controls the analog signal processing unit 100 and the input image processing unit 101 that perform various kinds of processing related to images.

The control unit 121 absorbs variations in the mechanical operation time of the printer unit 3 and the mechanical drive unit 105 that controls the mechanical drive of the printer unit 3 and the recording heads 117 to 120.
The control is performed with the synchronous delay memory 115 that performs the delay correction of the recording timing according to the arrangement of the mechanism.

Next, the operation of the image processing block in FIG. 1 will be described along the flow of image data.

The image formed on the CCD 16 is the CCD
It is converted by 16 into an analog electric signal. The converted image signal is input to the analog signal processing unit 100 that is serially processed in the order of red (R) → green (G) → blue (B). In the analog signal processing unit 100, red,
After performing sample & hold, dark level correction, dynamic range control, etc. for each color of green and blue, the image signal is analog / digital converted (A / D converted),
It is converted into a serial multi-value (in this embodiment, 8-bit length for each color) digital image signal and output to the input image processing unit 101. In the input image processing unit 101, necessary correction processing such as CCD correction and γ correction for an image signal obtained by reading an original image is performed on a serial digital image signal.

The multi-level synthesis section 106 of the controller section 2 is
This is a circuit block for selecting and synthesizing a serial multi-valued digital image signal sent from the scanner unit 1 and a serial multi-valued digital signal sent from the frame memory 110. The image data selectively synthesized by the multi-level synthesis unit 106 is sent to the image processing unit 107 as it is as a serial multi-level digital image signal. The image processing unit 107 performs smoothing processing, edge enhancement, black extraction, and masking processing (including conversion of RGB → YMCK) for color correction of recording ink used by the recording heads 117 to 120. The serial multi-value digital image signal output is input to the frame memory 110 via the binarization processing unit 108 and the input image data processing unit 123. Binarization processing unit 1
Reference numeral 08 denotes a circuit for binarizing a serial multi-valued digital image signal, and it is possible to select a simple binarization process by a fixed slice level, a pseudo intermediate process by an error diffusion method, or the like.

The binarization processing unit 108 modulates the serial multivalued digital signal into a binary parallel image signal of four colors. Image data of four colors is sent to the binary synthesis unit 109, and image data of three colors is sent to the frame memory 110. Binary synthesis unit 1
09 is the two colors of three colors sent from the frame memory 110.
The value parallel image signal and the binary parallel image signal of four colors sent from the binarization processing unit 108 are selected or combined and output as a binary parallel image signal of four colors.

The control unit 112 of the frame memory control unit 4
Controls the input / output of the frame memory 110, outputs the image data stored in the frame memory 110 at a predetermined combining position by adjusting the timings of the multi-value combining unit 106 and the binary combining unit 109. In addition, the original image sent from the scanner unit 1 remains multivalued and the image processing unit 10
7 or input from the binarization processing unit 108 and written in the frame memory 110 in the form of binary data. As will be described later, the input image data processing unit 123 performs enlargement processing, logarithmic conversion, palette conversion, etc. according to an instruction from the control unit 112. Further, the control unit 112 is an IEEE-488, so-called GPI.
It also controls a general-purpose parallel interface unit 113 such as a B interface or a SCSI interface. Through this interface unit 113, input / output of image data with the host computer and remote control by the host computer can be performed.

The synchronous delay memory 115 of the printer unit 3 is
It also absorbs the time variation of the mechanical operation of the printer unit 3 and generates the timing necessary for driving the recording heads 117 to 120. The head driver 116 includes the recording heads 117 to 12
It is an analog drive circuit for driving 0, and internally generates a signal capable of directly driving the recording heads 117 to 120. The recording heads 117 to 120 are cyan,
An image is formed on a recording paper by ejecting magenta, yellow, and black inks.

When the copying machine of the embodiment operates as a printer of an external device, the data received via the interface 113 is sequentially stored in the frame memory,
If it is multi-valued data, the output image data processing unit 1
The data is output to the multi-level synthesis unit 106 via 24. At this time,
The multi-level synthesis unit 106 continues to select the data from the frame memory 110. When the binary image is sent from the external device, it is output to the binary synthesizing unit 109 via the output image processing unit 124. At this time, the binary synthesizing unit 109
Then, the data from the binarization processing unit 108 is deselected, and the data from the output image data processing unit 124 continues to be selected. The control of each of the multi-level synthesis unit 106 and the binary synthesis unit 109 is performed by the corresponding control unit 111, but the instruction is performed by the control unit 112.

Next, the structure of the frame memory controller 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the frame memory 110 and the control unit 112 in more detail.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 303 denotes a CPU, which is a known microprocessor in this embodiment. Thirty
4 is a ROM for storing programs, and 305 is a CPU 303
R used as a work area when executing processing
AM. A GPIB controller 308 and a SCSI controller 309 exchange data with an external device (not shown).
07 through the frame memories 300 to 302 (11
Data can be transferred to and from 0). Reference numeral 320 denotes a mailbox for communicating with the control unit 111, which exchanges various kinds of information by a known dual port RAM. In addition, each of the frame memories 300 to 302,
This embodiment has a memory capacity of 4 Mbytes.

A 24-bit address bus is required to cover each memory area of the frame memories 300 to 302, but the CPU 303 used in this embodiment is required.
Since the DMA controller 307 has only 16 bits as an address bus, the missing address bits are generated by using the bank register 306. The bank register 306 can be set with an address value and other control information by the CPU 303.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a digital color copying machine to which this embodiment is applied. The entire copier can be divided into two parts.

The upper part of FIG. 3 performs a color image scanner unit 1 (scanner unit 1) for reading a document image and outputting digital color image data, and various image processing of the digital color image data built in the scanner unit 1. At the same time, the controller unit 2 has a processing function such as an interface with an external device. The scanner unit 1 has a built-in mechanism for reading a three-dimensional object or a sheet original placed below the original holder 11. In addition, the operation unit 1
Reference numeral 0 is connected to the controller unit 2 and is for inputting various information as a copying machine. The controller unit 2 gives an operation instruction to the scanner unit 1 and the printer unit 3 according to the input information. When it is necessary to perform more complicated editing processing, a sophisticated processing becomes possible by attaching a digitizer or the like instead of the document holder 11 and connecting it to the controller unit 2.

The lower part of FIG. 3 shows a printer section 3 for recording the color digital image signal output from the controller section 2 on a recording sheet. In this embodiment, as described above, the printer unit 3 is a full-color inkjet printer using an inkjet recording head.
The scanner unit 1 and the printer unit 3 described above are separable from each other, and can be installed at distant places by extending the connection cable.

Image data transfer control between the printer unit 3 and an external device (host computer or the like) in this embodiment is realized by the frame memory control unit 4 described above, and the control program is stored in the program ROM 304. ing. Details of the control will be described below. As described above, in this embodiment, the GPIB interface 30 is used as an interface with the external device.
8, equipped with a SCSI interface 309,
One is selected according to the external device used. This selection is instructed by a switch (not shown) provided in the frame memory control unit 4. That is, the CPU 303 detects the state of this switch and determines which interface to use. In this way, the external device executes the transfer of the image data and the transfer of the image layout information via this interface. The details will be described below according to the respective flowcharts. FIG. 5 is a flowchart dual showing a control process when the image print process is executed.

First, in step S1, the external device notifies the frame memory control unit 4 of the following information regarding the image data to be recorded (or registered) prior to the transfer of the image data to be recorded or registered.

(1) Image type In this embodiment, it is possible to handle three types of RGB 8-bit color image data, binary bit map image, and 8-bit palette color image, and the type of image to be registered. To notify.

(2) Image size The width and height of the image to be registered are notified in pixel units.

(3) File Name In this embodiment, since the image data is managed as a file, a file name (ASCII character string) unique to each image data is notified. When registering an image to be combined with the original image, the external device sends out the file name (in order to cope with the case where a plurality of files are registered and one of them is selected and combined and output). In the case of simply recording, that is, when it is not necessary to store and retain the data after the recording is completed, such a file name becomes unnecessary. Such type may be dealt with by sending it together with the image type information.

Upon receipt of the above notification, the frame memory control unit 4 calculates the required memory capacity based on the image type and image size, and if it can be registered in the frame memories 300 to 302, the initial setting such as memory mapping is performed. After executing, the response signal (ACK) is notified to the external device (step S2). The external device starts the transfer of the image data by using this ACK notification as a trigger (step S
3).

In step S4, the frame memory is
It is detected that there is no full image or an image transferred from an external device, and any one of these is used as a trigger for step S5.
1 band printing is started. This one-band printing is repeated a plurality of times until the image in the memory is divided into bands and transferred to the printer unit, and all the images in the frame memory are printed (step S6).

In step S7, if there is still an image to be printed from the external device, the processing from step S1 is repeated.

Next, regarding the printing operation described above, the flow of commands and data in the three parts of the external device, the frame memory control section, and the printer section will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the image process after the print command is issued. The external device issues a print command (step S61).

After issuing the print command, the external device acquires image information (GET IMAGE INFO) to the frame memory control unit.
RMATION) command is issued (step S62).

After receiving the command, the frame memory control unit executes various settings for image data transfer and then transfers the transfer size (GET DATA BUFFER) of the image data to be transferred.
Is notified (step S63). Issued the first time
The GET DATA BUFFER size matches the frame memory size. However, when some images are already registered in the frame memory, the registered amount is subtracted.
As a result, since the amount of data that can be transferred on the external device side is known in advance, it is not necessary for this device to transfer data if it confirms whether or not it can be received. It becomes possible to do it.

The external device starts image transfer for the designated size by using this GET DATA BUFFER as a trigger (step S64).

When the frame memory control unit receives the image data of the designated transfer size, the frame memory control unit subjects the image data to image processing, and then creates a band information table in step S65.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the band information table.

The band information table is created for each band, and the image identification number and the pointer pointing to the corresponding attribute information table are set. When outputting a plurality of images in one band, the corresponding information is set from the beginning of the band information table in the order in which the external device transfers the image data.

In the attribute information table, the image type, the image size (W, H), the enlargement / reduction ratio (1 to 2,000%), the output area of the corresponding band, and the pointer indicating the image processing table are set. The output area of the corresponding band is area information in each band created based on the area information notified from the external device. As shown in an example in FIG. 9, the offset A is an offset value from the upper end of the band, Offset B indicates an offset value from the lower end of the band, offset C indicates an offset value from the side end of the band, and D width indicates an output width.

The image processing table is created on the basis of the image processing information, and the image processing code and the parameters determined for each image processing are set. When a plurality of image processes are designated for one image data, the above-mentioned information is set in the table in a linked form as shown in FIG. If no image processing is designated, for example, "0" is set in the pointer field of the attribute information table.

When the band information table is set, the frame memory control unit issues a printer start request to the printer unit (step S66).

The printer unit issues a print completion message to the frame memory control unit each time one band printing is completed (step S67). If an image exists in the frame memory, the frame memory control unit again returns to the band information table. Is created (step S68), and a printer activation request (step S67) is issued.

When issuing a printer start request for printing the last one band of the image on the frame memory,
The frame memory unit issues an image data end command to the printer unit (step S70). When printing the last one band, the printer unit notifies the frame memory of the completion of image data printing (step S71).

After the above printing operation is completed, if an image from the external device still exists, the external device again GET IM.
AGE INFORMATION is issued to the frame memory control unit, and the above processing is repeated until the transfer of the image data to be transferred from the external device is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the recording device for recording an image in band units, image data is collectively received from an external device and the received image data is stored as long as the frame memory permits. An image for each band is formed based on the above. Then, when there is no more data to be recorded in the frame memory, the transfer of the remaining image data is requested, and the above processing is repeated.

Therefore, the number of processes for handshaking with an external device during image recording and the number of procedural processes required therefor is reduced, and as a result, images can be recorded at high speed.

The amount of image data received collectively is
If it is not an integral multiple of the band image, the last band image stored in the frame memory is in an incomplete state. Therefore, in this case, the subsequent image data is received, the band image is completed, and the image is recorded.

<Description of Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The device configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and its operation will be described below.

FIG. 8 is a time chart when an image with extremely low resolution (meaning that the number of dots to be recorded is small) is printed in the second embodiment. Indicates that the print head of the printer is printing one band of image data.
“Can” indicates a state in which printing of one band is completed and the print head of the printer is about to return to the home position. In FIG. 8, a process of dividing an image into bands and transferring the images will be described.

Incidentally, the designation of the resolution relating to the printing is notified to this apparatus before the external apparatus sends the print data (image data).

As shown in this figure, the time required for the back scan is Tb, the time required for the communication handshake time (including the data transfer time from the external storage device) is Th, and the data transfer time for the recording unit is Tp. In this case, when there is a relationship of Tb> (Th + Tp) (1), the image divided into each band is back-scanned rather than collectively transferring the image data to the frame memory as in the first embodiment. The transfer speed will be faster if you use and transfer. Therefore, the frame memory control unit in the first embodiment uses (1)
If it is judged that the formula holds, GET DATA BUF in Fig. 6
The image size divided into each band by FER (step S63) is requested to the external device.

Since image transfer and printing are repeated for each band, the image data end command (step S70) is sent to the band printer section.

The other controls are similar to those of the first embodiment, and can be easily conceived from the above description.

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in an ink jet type recording head and a recording apparatus for recording by forming flying droplets by utilizing thermal energy among the ink jet recording systems.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
What is done using the basic principles disclosed in 796 is preferred. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but especially in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. Since heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) corresponding to this drive signal in a one-to-one correspondence can be formed. It is valid. Liquid (ink) flows through the ejection openings due to the growth and contraction of these bubbles.
To form at least one drop. When this drive signal is pulsed, the growth and contraction of the bubbles are performed immediately and appropriately, so the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness is used.
It is more preferable that the discharge can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, Other configurations may be adopted, including US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose a configuration in which the heat acting surface is arranged in a bending region.

In addition, JP-A-59-123670 discloses a structure in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and a pressure wave of thermal energy is absorbed. It is also possible to adopt a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461, which discloses a configuration in which the opening corresponds to the ejection portion.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum recording medium width that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification provides the length. Either of the structure satisfying the requirement or the structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, by being mounted on the apparatus main body, it can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by a replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. . Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or absorbing means for the recording head, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, or preheating means by a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode only for the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally formed or a plurality of combinations may be used. Alternatively, the device may be provided with at least one of full-color mixed colors.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and that softens at room temperature or is a liquid, or the above-mentioned ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is adjusted within the range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. Anything can be used.

In addition, the temperature rise due to the thermal energy is positively prevented by using it as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink is solidified in the left state for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink. In some cases, such as ink that is liquefied by being applied with heat energy according to a recording signal and ejected as a liquid ink, or one that has already started to solidify when it reaches a recording medium. The use of an ink that has the property of being liquefied only by heat energy is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is retained as a liquid or solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260. It may be configured to face the electrothermal converter. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as a form of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the copying apparatus combined with the reader or the like as described above, it is integrated or separately as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a word processor or a computer. It may be in the form of a device provided on the body or a facsimile device having a transmission / reception function.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the communication handshake time and record an image at high speed while effectively utilizing the memory and the like.

[0076]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a frame memory control unit of the copying machine of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a digital color copying machine of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a conventional image output device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of print processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating communication when a print command is issued.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a band information table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing operation timing of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner Section 2 Controller Section 3 Printer Section 4 Frame Memory Control Section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G06F 3/12 B

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image recording device for receiving print data from a higher-level device and recording image data based on the print data in band units by scanning a recording head, the image data for at least a plurality of bands. Based on the image data input by the input means, the storage means for accumulating the image data, the input means for receiving the image data corresponding to the allowable range of the storage means from the host device, and storing the image data in the recording means. Recording means for generating band image data and performing scanning movement of the recording head to record, and when the recording means completes the recording of the image based on the image data stored in the storage means, the input means is provided. An image recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the recording medium to generate a next image. 2. The input unit notifies the host device of the usable capacity of the storage unit, and receives the image data of the notified amount after the notification process. The image recording apparatus described. 3. Further, second input means for inputting resolution information of image data to be recorded from the higher-level device, judgment means for judging whether or not the resolution according to the input resolution information is below a predetermined level, 7. When the determination means determines that the resolution is lower than a predetermined level, the switching means switches to receive the image data of the next band while returning to the home position of the recording head. The image recording apparatus according to item 1. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is an inkjet recording head that ejects ink to perform recording. 5. The recording head is a recording head for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with a heat energy converter for generating heat energy applied to the ink. The image recording device according to item 4. 6. A method of controlling an image recording device, which receives print data from a higher-level device and records the image data based on the print data in band units by scanning a recording head and moving the image data. Of the image data corresponding to the allowable range of the storage means for accumulating the image data of the above is received from the host device and stored in the recording means, and band image data is generated based on the input image data. A recording step in which the recording head is scanned to perform recording, and by repeating the recording step, when the recording of the image based on the image data stored in the storage means is completed, the input means is energized, And a step of controlling to record the image. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein in the input step, the usable capacity of the storage means is notified to a host device, and the notified amount of image data is received after the notification processing. A method for controlling the image recording apparatus described. 8. A second input step of inputting resolution information of image data to be recorded from the higher-level device; a determining step of determining whether or not the resolution according to the input resolution information is less than or equal to a predetermined value. If the resolution is determined to be less than or equal to a predetermined level in the determination step, a step of switching to receive image data of the next band while returning to the home position of the recording head is provided. Item 7. A method for controlling an image recording device according to item 6. 9. The method of controlling an image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head is an ink jet recording head that ejects ink to perform recording. 10. The recording head is a recording head for ejecting ink by utilizing thermal energy, and is provided with a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy applied to the ink. Item 9. A method for controlling an image recording apparatus according to Item 9.