JPH079742A - Page printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable proper printing output even when a printing specified range exceeds a printable area. CONSTITUTION:In a page printer receiving image data and character data from a host device 5 to perform the printing processing of a paper one page unit in an engine part 2, a CPU 10 compares the printing specified range indicated from the host device 5 with the printable area to paper and, when the printing specified range exceeds the printable area, this state is displayed on the display part of an operation panel 3 and an operator selects proper printing output.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a page printer which receives various data and performs printing processing for each sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a page printer which receives image data and character data from a host device such as a personal computer, processes the data in page units based on the data, and prints out the data.

[0003]

When data is output from the host device to the printer, the range designated by the operator for printing does not match the printable area of the paper size selected by the printer, and If the specified print range exceeds the printable area and is printed, the print output will differ from the print output desired by the operator, and the operator must repeat the print operation many times until the desired print output is obtained. It was

It is an object of the present invention to provide a page printer which enables proper print output even when the designated print range exceeds the printable area.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a page printer which receives image data and character data and performs a printing process for each sheet, with a specified print designation range. When the printable area on the paper in the printer is compared with the printable area and the printable area exceeds the printable area, the display means displays a display indicating that the printable area has exceeded the printable area. To do.

In the page printer, the display means capable of displaying a part of the print contents is compared with the print designation range designated for printing and the printable area on the paper in the printer. Last one of the print contents of
And a control unit for displaying the line on the display unit.

Further, in the page printer, the printing means capable of reducing print output processing is compared with the print designation range designated for printing and the printable area on the paper in the printer, and the print designation range is printed by the print. And a control unit for causing the printing unit to perform a reduced print output process so as not to exceed the feasible area.

[0008]

In the page printer having the above-described structure, when the designated print range exceeds the printable area, the fact is displayed on the display unit, so that the operator can confirm the excess by the display. Can be selected to start.

Further, before starting the printing operation, the last one line of the printable area is displayed on the display means, and the operator confirms by the display whether or not the desired print output can be obtained. An appropriate print output can be selected and started.

When the printable range exceeds the printable area, the reduced printout process is automatically performed so that the printable area is within the printable area.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller portion in an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 is a printer controller of a page printer, 2 is an engine section which is a printing means for performing actual printing, and 3 is An operation panel 4 provided with an operating means for setting various modes and a display means including an LCD for displaying the setting mode or a printable state as described later, 4 is a disk device which is an external storage device such as a hard disk drive, Reference numeral 5 is a host device such as a personal computer.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an interface (engine I / F) between the printer controller 1 and the engine section 2, and reference numeral 7 denotes an interface between the printer controller 1 and the operation panel 3.
(Panel I / F), 8 is an interface (disk I / F) between the printer controller 1 and the disk device 4, and 9 is an interface (host I / F) between the printer controller 1 and the host device 5.

A CPU 10 sends and receives data to and from each of the printer constituent parts and controls each part as described later.
(Central processing unit), 11 is NVRAM (non-volatile memory) for storing the contents of various setting mode instructions, 12 is a program ROM storing the control program of the printer controller 1, and 13 is font data. Font RO
M and 14 are memories (RAM) for the CPU 10, and 15 is a data bus.

The printer controller 1 receives image data and character data from the host device 5 via the host I / F 9, and performs data processing such as print processing for each sheet and reduced / enlarged print output, The engine unit 2 prints on the paper.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the printing process in the present embodiment. Before the printing operation is started in the engine unit 2, the printing designation range designated by the operator by the host device 5 and the engine unit 2 are selected. The printable area for the existing paper size is compared by the CPU 10 with the range data and area data from the engine unit 2 and the host device 5, and if the printable range is specified without exceeding the printable area (S1 NO), printing is performed within a predetermined area of the paper (S2).

However, when the designated print range exceeds the printable area (YES in S1), the CPU 10 changes the printer controller 1 from ON LINE to OFF LINE (S3), and the printable range is set in the printable area. The display related to the fact that the value exceeds the limit is displayed on the display means of the operation panel 3, or the last one line of the print content in the printable area is displayed on the display means of the operation panel 3 (S4). From this display, it can be judged that the printing within the specified printing range will not be performed, and if the operator judges that printing is to be performed in this state, OFF LINE is set to ON LINE (YES in S5), No printing is done,
Printing is performed within the printable area (S2).

If the operator determines not to print from the above display, the status is OFF LINE.
(NO in S5) and reset (YES in S6). Furthermore, if you want to print out the entire range of specified printouts, perform data processing for reduced printouts (S7) and then print (S2).
Is also possible.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart according to another example of the print processing. When the print designation range is designated beyond the printable area (YES in S10), the CPU 10 performs data processing of reduced print output. Is set to (S11), and the print output of the entire print designation range is automatically performed (S12).

[0020]

As described above, according to the page printer of the present invention, when the designated print range exceeds the printable area, it can be displayed on the display means. The appropriate print output can be selected quickly and reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, whether or not the designated print range exceeds the printable area can be easily determined by the last one line of the printable area displayed on the display means. Print output can be selected quickly and reliably.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the designated print range exceeds the printable area, the reduced print output processing is automatically performed, so that the print output of the entire designated print range can be easily performed. Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a controller portion in an embodiment of a page printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a printing process in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to another example of print processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Printer controller, 2 ... Engine part, 3
... Operation panel (display means), 5 ... Host device, 10 ... C
PU (central processing unit).

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A page printer that receives image data and character data and performs printing processing for each sheet of paper, compares the specified print designation range with the printable area on the paper in the printer, and A page printer, comprising: a control unit that causes a display unit to display an indication when the designated print range exceeds the printable area. 2. A page printer which receives image data and character data and performs printing processing for each sheet of paper, a display unit capable of displaying a part of print contents, a print designation range designated for printing, and a printer. A page printer comprising: control means for comparing the printable area on a sheet with the last one line of the print content in the printable area on the display means. 3. A page printer that receives image data and character data and performs printing processing for each sheet of paper, a printing means capable of reduced print output processing, a designated printing range designated for printing, and printing on paper in the printer. And a control unit that causes the printing unit to perform reduced print output processing so that the designated print range does not exceed the printable region.