JPH0761722B2 - Image recording device control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for an image recording device that records an image, and in particular, controls output of graphic data generated by a computer (host computer) to the image recording device. Control device.

[Conventional technology]

In general, as an image recording apparatus for recording graphic data (vector data) transferred from a computer (host computer) that generates and supplies graphic data as an image, an electrostatic latent image of an image is formed on an electrostatic recording paper, An electrostatic plotter that applies development processing to this electrostatic latent image to output an image, or an image is once formed as an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and this electrostatic latent image is visualized by subsequent development processing. , A so-called Xerography plotter that outputs an image on plain paper (hereinafter simply referred to as an XP plotter) is known.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional image recording system for controlling the output of the above-mentioned image recording apparatus.

The graphic data (vector data) generated and transferred by the host computer 1 is converted into raster image data by the data conversion device 2, and the converted image data is sequentially transferred to the image recording device 3 such as an XP plotter. An image (visible output) is output by the image recording device 3. Since the image recording device 3 described above also outputs a long image, the data conversion device 2 converts the graphic data transferred from the host computer 1 into raster image data for each small area and transfers the raster image data to the image recording device. I am trying.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned conventional image recording system, the host computer 1 monitors the operating state of the image recording device 3 and controls the output of the image recording device 3. Therefore, when the image recording device 3 is to output the image data for a unit drawing a plurality of times, for example N times (that is, when the image data for a unit drawing corresponds to one sheet, When outputting N sheets to the image recording device 3), the operator operates the host computer 1 again each time the image recording device 3 finishes outputting the image data corresponding to the unit drawing, and records the image data corresponding to the unit drawing as an image. The work of transferring to the apparatus 1 was repeated N times.

Note that reference numerals A and B in FIG. 4 indicate physical I / O interfaces.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, according to the conventional image recording system described above,
Since the host computer 1 controls the output to the image recording device 3, when the graphic data for the unit drawing is output a plurality of times, that is, when the re-drawing is repeated, the operator is required to output the drawing for the unit drawing each time. Then, the host computer 1 is operated again, and the image data corresponding to the unit drawing is transferred to the image recording device 3.
There is a problem that the operation of drawing out the image becomes complicated because the operation of transferring to is required to be repeated. Further, while the host computer 1 repeats the above-described work of transferring the graphic data for redrawing, the host computer 1 cannot execute any job other than the request for drawing out. There was also a drawback that it could not be used effectively.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for an image forming apparatus, in which redrawing work for a unit drawing is simple and the effective utilization efficiency of a host computer is improved.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the control device of the present invention, the transfer destination of the image data corresponding to the unit drawing of the input data and the number of times the image data corresponding to the unit drawing is transferred to the image recording device. Input control means for specifying the transfer destination of the output control data including the data, the image storage means for storing the image data for the unit drawing transferred from the input control means, and the image control means for transferring from the input control means. Output control data that stores the output control data and transfers the image data corresponding to a unit drawing from the image storage device to the image recording device a specified number of times based on the designated transfer number of the output control data to the image recording device. With this, regarding the redrawing of the drawing, the output of the image recording apparatus is controlled without operating the host computer each time. Than it is.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the control device according to the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image recording system using the control device according to the present invention, and the same portions as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The graphic data (vector data) generated and transferred by the host computer 1 is converted into raster image data by the data conversion device 2, and the converted image data is transferred to, for example, XP via the control device 4 according to the present invention.
The image is transferred to the image recording device 3 such as a plotter, and the image recording device 3 outputs an image (visible output). Note that reference numerals A, B, and C in FIG. 2 indicate physical I / O interfaces.

On the other hand, as shown in the detailed block diagram of FIG. 1, the control device 4 described above monitors the host computer 1 and outputs unit data of the data transferred from the host computer 1 by the data conversion device 2. The input control means specifies the transfer destination of the minute image data and the output control data for the image recording device 3 transferred from the host computer 1, that is, the transfer destination of the data such as the number of times of transfer of the image data of the unit drawing. The input control unit 5, an image memory unit 6 which is an image storage unit for temporarily storing the image data for unit drawing transferred from the input control unit 5, and detailed information of the image recording device 3 (of the image recording device 3). (Operation information, output completion information, etc.) and monitor the input controller 5
The output control unit 7 stores the output control data transferred from the image storage unit 6 and transfers the image data from the image memory unit 6 to the image recording device 3 for each unit drawing based on the output control data.
It consists of and. The input control unit 5 and the output control unit 7 described above are composed of a CPU (central processing unit), a peripheral circuit having a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device as main components, and the image memory unit 4 is a RAM. It is configured.

Next, the operation of the control device 4 described above will be described, and the configuration will be described in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the control device 4 described above.

The input control unit 5 monitors the host computer 1 (step 100), and when the data transferred from the host computer 1 is detected (step 101), the output control of the image recording device 3 among the input data is performed. Data such as the number of times of transfer of image data corresponding to unit drawing, which is data, is transferred to the output control unit 7 (step 102), and the image data corresponding to unit drawing converted into raster image data by the data converter 2 is output. The data is transferred to the image memory unit 6 (step 103). In addition, the input control unit 5 determines whether or not the data output end notification for the unit drawing output from the host computer 1 is detected (step 104), and if it is determined that the data output end notification is detected, the output is performed. Control unit 7
Report that the output end notification has been detected to (step
105).

On the other hand, the output control unit 7 monitors the detailed information of the image recording device 3 and the input control unit 5, and when receiving a report from the input control unit 5 indicating that the data output end notification for the unit drawing is detected, The output control data stored in an auxiliary storage device (not shown), that is, the data of the number of transfers relating to the image data for the unit drawing is read, and the image data is read from the image memory unit 6 for each unit drawing based on the data. The data is transferred to the image recording device 3 (step 106). Next, the output control unit 7 determines whether or not an abnormality of the image recording device 3 is detected during the transfer of the image data (step 107). When the output control unit 7 determines that the abnormality of the image recording apparatus 3 is not detected, the number of transfers specified by the output control data is based on the output completion report for the unit output notified by the image recording apparatus 3 next. Then, it is determined whether or not the image data for the unit drawing is transferred (step 108). And the output control unit 7
When it is determined that the number of transfers has not reached the number of transfers specified by the output control data, the processing from step 106 is repeated until the number of transfers specified by the output control data is reached. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 108 that the output control unit 7 has transferred the image data for the unit output for the number of times specified by the output control data, the image data for the unit output stored in the image memory unit 6 is output. It erases and sets to the input standby state of the image data for the new unit drawing (step 109). After that, the input control unit 5 returns to the monitor state of the host computer shown in step 100, and the output control unit 7 returns to the monitor state of the input control unit 5 and the image recording apparatus 3.

On the other hand, in step 107, the output control unit 7 notifies the abnormal state of the image recording device 3 during the transfer of the image data for the unit drawing (the image recording device 3 notifies due to the power-off of the image recording device 3, the cable disconnection, etc. When it is detected that the output completion report for the unit output cannot be expected), the transfer of the image data from the image memory unit 6 to the image recording device 3 is stopped (step 110). Next, the output controller 7 determines whether or not the normality of the image recording device 3 is detected (step 11
1) If it is determined that the normality of the image recording device 3 is detected, the process returns to step 106 and thereafter, and the image data for the unit drawing is again transferred to the image recording device 3 from the beginning. After detecting the normality of the image recording device 3 in step 111, if the processes of step 106 and thereafter are performed again,
The output control unit 7 outputs the image data corresponding to the unit drawing to the image recording apparatus 3 the designated number of times other than the number of times the figure has been normally completed.

According to the control device 4 having the above-described configuration, the control device 4 independently manages the output of the image recording device 3 based on the graphic and the output control data transferred from the host computer 1. After the figure and the output control data are transferred, the operator does not need to operate the host computer 1 again for the output control of the image recording device 3, that is, the redrawing of the image data of the unit drawing. Further, according to the control device 4 having the above-described configuration, after transferring the graphics and the output control data for the unit drawing, the host computer 1 stores the transferred image data for the unit drawing, and further outputs the image recording device 3. Since the control relating to this is also unnecessary, the host computer 1 can be made to execute other jobs thereafter.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, since the control device according to the present invention temporarily stores the image data for the unit output image and manages the image recording device independently based on the output control data of the host computer, In the case of re-drawing the image data of (1), the operator does not need to operate the host computer each time, so that it is possible to provide an image recording system in which the drawing operation is simple. In addition, after detecting the output completion report for the unit drawing of the image recording device, the image data for the unit drawing is transferred again from the beginning, so the number of drawings is missing, the drawing of unfinished drawings, etc. The phenomenon described above is eliminated, and therefore, the operation required for the operator to redraw can be further reduced. Further, the host computer is released from the job relating to the transferred image data of the unit drawing after transferring the figure and the output control data of the unit drawing, so that the load on the host computer is reduced, and after that, the host computer Other jobs can be given to the computer, and thus the utilization efficiency of the host computer can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image recording system using the control device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an image recording system using the conventional control device. It is a block diagram. 3 ... Image recording device, 4 ... Control device, 5 ... Input control means (input control part), 6 ... Image storage means (image memory part), 7 ... Output control means (output control part).

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display area H04N 1/40

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A control device of an image recording device for controlling the output of an image recording device, wherein a transfer destination of image data of a unit drawing out of input data and image data of the unit drawing out of the image data. Input control means for respectively designating a transfer destination of output control data including data of the number of times of transfer to the recording device; image storage means for storing the image data of the unit drawing transferred from the input control means; The output control data transferred from the input control means is stored, and the image data corresponding to a unit drawing from the image storage means is specified to the image recording device based on the designated transfer count to the image recording device by the output control data. A control device for an image recording device, comprising: an output control means for transferring only the data.