JPH0751369B2 - Page printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] A page printer that expands and holds print data and has a memory capacity of one page or less, and a printer that performs print processing in page units is processed in a print processing format. When printing data (bit data) is stored in a memory with a capacity of less than 1 page, printing process is divided into several times to reduce the printing process efficiency. Whether or not all the corresponding bit data can be written is determined, and if not, the bit data is divided into predetermined bit units, and continuous writing is performed as soon as the memory capacity becomes available during printing processing for one page. The configuration enables efficient printing processing. [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a page provided with a memory having a print data storage capacity of one page or less of paper. Regarding the jiprinter.

A printer (also referred to as a page printer) that stores print data processed for print processing in a memory having a capacity for one page of paper, reads the print data from the memory, and sets the print data in the print head (also referred to as a page printer) It is used.

On the other hand, as printers are used for all purposes, there are strong demands for higher-speed, higher-performance printers and more inexpensive printers.

In order to realize the above-mentioned high-speed, high-performance, and low-priced printer, there is one that has a memory capacity of one page or less (this is also called a band buffer). Is required.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a data expansion situation in the conventional example.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the configuration of the page printer. The configuration is such that it receives data (print code) transferred from an unillustrated host device (for example, host device) and The data input section 1 that interfaces with the print code and the data such as the print position corresponding to the print code by subjecting the print code to predetermined processing (for example, processing the print position and the order relationship from the print image of the print code). A print data processing control unit 2 which is sent together with the print data, a print data storage unit 3 which stores the data sent from the print data processing control unit 2, and a print character corresponding to the print data is taken out and written to the bit data storage unit 5. And a print data writing control unit 4 for controlling the print data, and a bit data storage unit having a capacity of one page or less of paper and developing and holding print characters as bit data. And a video output unit 6 which reads out print characters from the bit data storage unit 5 and sets them in the print control unit 7 by a start signal from the print start control unit 8, and controls the print processing of the print characters set from the video output unit 6. And a print start control unit 8 that is accessed when the print code is fetched by the print data processing control unit 2 and that activates the print data write control unit 4 and the video output unit 6. It is configured.

The print data processing control unit 2 takes out the print code from the data input unit 1 and sends the print image of the print code to the print position control circuit 23, and at the same time, activates the print start control unit 8 and the like. A print data control circuit 22 that writes the print code and the print position associated with the print code, information about the sequence relationship, etc. to the print data storage unit 3, and a print position that determines and controls the print position relationship from the print image of the print code. And a control circuit 23.

The print data write control unit 4 also includes a bit data write circuit 41 that writes data to the bit data storage unit 5.
And a character generator (hereinafter, referred to as CG) 42 which has various print character patterns built therein in advance and generates a print character pattern corresponding to a print code.

The print codes input to the data input unit 1 are stored in the data processing circuit 12 in the order in which they are input by the print data processing control unit 2, and after the storage is completed, the print position control circuit 23 uses the print image of each print code. , The printing position and the order relation are rearranged and stored in the print data storage unit 3 under the control of the print data control circuit 22.

Next, the print data writing control unit 4 operates the print data storage unit 3
Take in the data stored in, read the print character pattern from CG42 at the address corresponding to the print code,
The print format is set and developed in the bit data storage unit 5.

The video output unit 6 sets the print character expanded in the bit data storage unit 5 in the print control unit 7, and when the setting of one print character is completed, the print data write control unit 4 is accessed to write the next print character. Promote bit data expansion.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the print characters for one page, for example, the print characters "ABCD to HIJK" as shown in FIG. 5 (this is the case where one print character consists of ABCD, EFG, HIJK (For example), the bit data storage unit 5 of this example does not have the capacity to store all one print character, so that, for example, a state in which all of "HIJK" cannot be expanded may occur. There is.

In this case, "AB
After the print characters up to CD, EFG "have been printed and processed, the new print character of" HIJK "is expanded and the print process is started.

In the case of this print processing method, an empty area is generated in the bit data storage unit 5, and moreover, the print processing of the print characters corresponding to one page is processed over a plurality of print processing steps, so that the print processing time is long, etc. The problem of occurs.

Incidentally, FIG. 5 (A) shows the expansion status of the print characters up to "ABCD, EFG", and FIG. 5 (B) shows the expansion status of the remaining "HIJK" print characters.

[Means for solving problems]

 FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

A print character is expanded as bit data in the bit data storage unit 5 having a capacity for storing bit data of less than one page, and the bit data is sequentially read from the bit data storage unit 5 to print one page. When the page printer stores one print data in the bit data storage unit 5 based on the print position information obtained by processing the print code input through the data input unit 1 and the order relationship, the page printer stores all of the print data. It is determined whether bit data can be written in the bit data storage unit 5, and the determination result, the print position information, and the order relationship are written in the print data storage unit 3 in correspondence with the print code. When the determination result read from the process control unit 20 and the print data storage unit 3 determines that the writing is possible, the print data storage unit 3 When 1 print data is written in the bit data storage unit 5 based on the print code, print position information, and order relation read from the same, and if the determination result indicates that writing is not possible, the corresponding 1 print data The bit data for partial writing is created and registered in the print data storage unit 3, and the write position of the bit data for partial writing in the bit data storage unit 5 is designated to specify the bit data storage unit. 5 is provided with a print data writing control unit 40 that executes the writing of the remaining portion after the writing of the partially writable portion is performed when an empty area occurs in the bit data storage unit 5. The bit data partially written in the bit data storage unit 5 is stored in the print data storage unit 3 when an empty area is generated in the bit data storage unit 5. By writing the rest with the registered bit data, to complete the writing of a 1 print data.

[Action]

Whether or not all bit data corresponding to one print code can be written is determined. If not, the bit data is divided into predetermined bit units, and the bit data storage unit 5 is operated during the printing process for one page.
By configuring such that continuous writing is performed as soon as a free space is available, efficient and high-speed printing processing becomes possible.

〔Example〕

The gist of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data expansion situation in the embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals denote the same objects throughout the drawings.

The print data processing control unit 20 in this embodiment sends the print position information sent from the print data control circuit 22 to the data processing circuit 21, print data control circuit 22 and print position control circuit 23 described in FIG. Therefore, a print position judging circuit 24 for judging whether or not the bit data of one print character corresponding to the print code can be written is added.

Further, the print data write control unit 40 also designates a partial write sent from the bit data write circuit 41 based on the result of judgment by the bit data write circuits 41, CG42 and the print position judgment circuit 24, which are also explained in FIG. Create bit data for partial writing by the signal,
A partial write control circuit 43 for re-registering in the print data storage unit 3 and designating a position for the bit data storage unit 5
It has and.

When the print code corresponding to one print character is input, the print position determination circuit 24 determines from the number of print codes input so far that one print character corresponding to the print code (for example, corresponds to "HIJK" shown in FIG. 3). It is determined whether or not all bit data of (1) can be expanded, and the result information is sent to the print data storage unit 3 together with other position information.

The print data writing control unit 40 reads the data in the print data storage unit 3, fetches the development possibility determination result information of the print code and all the bit data thereof, and outputs the bit data of the print character corresponding to the print code from the CG 42. At the same time, the partial writing instruction of the print character is sent to the partial writing control circuit 43.

The partial write control circuit 43 divides the bit data of the print character according to the empty area of the bit data storage unit 5. The division is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, divided into upper half and lower half bit data of "HIJK" corresponding to one print character, and "HIJK" corresponding to the number of bits in the empty area of the bit data storage unit 5. "Write only the upper half.

Next, the remaining lower half of "HIJK" is partially printed as soon as "ABCD" corresponding to the first print character has been printed and an empty area has been created in the bit data storage unit 5, that is, during the printing process of the next character. Partial writing is performed in the bit data storage unit 5 by an access (position designation and data transfer instruction) from the write control circuit 43.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention as described above, there is an effect that efficient and high-speed printing processing can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a data expansion situation in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Is a block diagram for explaining a conventional example, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a data expansion situation in the conventional example. In the figure, 1 is a data input unit, 2 and 20 are print data processing control units, 3 is a print data storage unit, 4 and 40 are print data write control units, 5 is a bit data storage unit, 6 is a video output unit, 7 Is a print control unit, 8 is a print start control unit, 21 is a data processing circuit, 22 is a print data control circuit, 23 is a print position control circuit, 24 is a print position determination circuit, 41 is a bit data writing circuit, 42 is a CG, Reference numeral 43 denotes a partial write control circuit, respectively.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A print character is expanded as bit data in a bit data storage section (5) having a capacity for storing bit data of less than one page, and the bit data storage section (5) is developed.
Is a page printer for sequentially reading the bit data from 1 to 1 for printing one page, wherein one print data is stored in the bit data storage unit based on the print position information and the order relation obtained by processing the input print code. In the case of storing in (5), it is determined whether all bit data of the one print data can be written in the bit data storage section (5), and the determination result and the print position information and the order relation are A print data processing control unit (2 that writes in the print data storage unit (3) corresponding to the print code.
0), and when the determination result read from the print data storage unit (3) determines that writing is possible, the print code and print position information read from the print data storage unit (3) are in an order relationship. Based on the above, one print data is written in the bit data storage unit (5), and when the determination result indicates that writing is not possible, bit data for partial writing of the corresponding one print data is created. Register the print data in the print data storage section (3), and specify the write position of the bit data for performing the partial write in the bit data storage section (5). After writing the writable part, the remaining part is written with the print data writing control part (40) which is executed when an empty area occurs in the bit data storage part (5). The bit data partially written in the bit data storage unit (5) remains by using the bit data registered in the print data storage unit (3) when an empty area occurs in the bit data storage unit (5). A page printer characterized in that the writing as one print data is completed by writing the portion of.