JPH08216475A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To execute an overlay print for printing by superposing a rule on print data without altering the program of a host system by a simple operation. CONSTITUTION: Form data memory means 28 stores form data FD1 to FDn for printing lateral rules. A CPU 21 selects the pattern of the form data based on the set state of form select switches SW1 to SWn of an operating unit 23. When print data is received from a host system 10, selected form data is read from the means 28, combined with the print data, developed in a frame memory 27, and printed by a printing mechanism 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer which develops image data corresponding to print data sent from a host device on a frame memory and performs a printing operation based on the developed image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a relatively large amount of data such as list data is printed on a form sheet (including a single cut sheet) by a printer, ruled lines are printed in advance as shown in FIG. It is common to use the prepared form paper P1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, since the ruled line L1 is printed between the rows, the data printed on the rows adjacent to each other can be distinguished without confusion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), when using a blank form sheet P2 on which no ruled lines or the like are printed, if it is printed as it is, the data printed on adjacent lines can be distinguished. Is difficult. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the printing based on the original print data is performed, the ruled lines L2 are printed at the same time, or the halftone printing is performed on every other line. It is desirable to obtain the same print result as the form paper that has been printed in advance. In this way, form overlay printing is performed in which, in addition to the original printing of printing data, printing such as ruled lines and half-tone dot printing is performed so that the form of the form paper is adjusted and printed.

When performing such form overlay printing, the host device (host) has the above-mentioned horizontal ruled lines and the above-mentioned horizontal ruled lines in addition to the existing (made-up) print processing program that generates print data to be output to the printer. A program is required to generate additional data for printing shades.
Therefore, the user has to create such a program separately, which is a heavy burden.

If the additional data sent from the host device to the printer is in the form of image data, the amount of data to be processed becomes enormous, so that the data transfer process requires a long time, which in turn results in a huge amount of data. There is a problem that the throughput of the printing operation is reduced.

On the other hand, when the additional data sent from the upper device to the printer is indicated by a predetermined command, and the printer has a function of printing a ruled line or a mesh according to the command, Unlike the above case, since the amount of data to be processed by the host device is reduced, the throughput of the printing operation does not decrease. However, it is necessary for the host device to create a processing program for generating a command that specifies a ruled line, a shaded printing position, etc., and add this to the existing print processing program, which the user does. It was difficult.

In order to solve the above problem, a technique has been proposed as follows in which the upper device does not generate the additional data but the printer side generates the additional data. That is, image data (hereinafter referred to as form data) for performing the ruled line or halftone printing is registered in advance in the storage means of the printer, and the host device specifies the registered form data to the printer. After that, by sending the original print data, the printer combines the original print data and the form data to perform form overlay printing.

[0008]

However, the storage means (frame memory) for registering the form data (image data) needs to be constantly refreshed like a DRAM or the like. Therefore, unlike a SRAM or the like, a battery backup is required. I can't. Therefore, every time the power of the printer is turned off, the registered contents of the storage means are erased. Therefore, each time the power is turned on, the form data must be registered again as an initial setting. In order to avoid such re-registration work of form data, the power of the printer must be turned on at all times, which not only increases the power consumption of the printer but is not realistic. Further, it is not easy to add a form reference command issued from a higher-level device to the printer to specify the form data registered in the storage means of the printer to the existing print processing program. Need to issue the above-mentioned form reference command for each page, which causes a problem that the throughput of the printing operation decreases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to eliminate the need for modifying an existing print processing program in a host device, and to perform a form overlay by simply performing a printer operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that can perform printing and that does not affect the throughput of printing operation at that time.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a printer for expanding image data corresponding to print data sent from a higher-level device on a frame memory and performing a printing operation based on the expanded image data. Form data storage means for storing a plurality of patterns of form data used as image data for performing form overlay printing of ruled lines or shading when performing printing based on the print data; Form data selecting means for designating a pattern of the form data stored in the form data storing means, and reading the form data designated by the form data selecting means from the form data storing means, and the read form data and the Print data sent from the host device Is characterized by having a form overlay deployment means for deploying the image data corresponding synthesized and on the frame memory to.

[0011]

The form data storage means stores the form data required for printing horizontal ruled lines and halftone dots in several types of patterns. The form data selecting means selects one of the above patterns based on a predetermined operation performed by the operator prior to printing. The form overlay expanding means reads out the form data selected by the form data selecting means from the form data storing means, combines this with the print data from the upper apparatus, and expands it on the frame memory. Form overlay printing is performed based on the image data developed on the frame memory. Therefore, it is not necessary to modify the existing print processing program that generates the original print data. Form overlay printing can be performed based on a predetermined operation. Further, at this time, since the higher-level device does not participate in the control of the form overlay printing, it does not affect the throughput of the printing operation.

[0012]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the printer of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the flow of data processing of form overlay printing.

In FIG. 1, print data and the like are sent from a host computer 10 or other higher-level device 10 to a printer 20 via data DL. The printer 20 controls data communication between a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) 21 that controls each unit described below and the host device 10.
/ F means 22, a display device DS for displaying the operating state of the printer and other necessary displays, and a form selection switch SW1 to be operated when the operator specifies the form data.
An operation unit 23 including SWn, a printing mechanism 24 that prints on a medium such as form paper, a program memory 25 that stores an operation program of the CPU 21, and a communication buffer 26.
a work memory 26 having an area for a, a frame memory 27 for expanding image data, a form data storage unit 28 in which predetermined form data is registered for a plurality of patterns, and a host device 10 to the ASCC.
A character generator 29 for generating image data corresponding to the character data transmitted in the form of I code or the like. CPU 21 and each section 22 described above
.About.29 are connected by a bus B.

In the form data storage means 28, a plurality of patterns of form data FD1 to FDn, which are image data necessary for printing ruled lines and halftone dots, are registered. The form data storage means 28 may be any storage element or storage device whose stored contents are not erased even when the power of the printer 20 is turned off, and is, for example, a ROM, a magnetic disk, or an IC card equipped with a ROM.

Form selection switch SW1 of operation unit 23
To SWn are provided corresponding to each pattern of the above-mentioned form data FD1 to FDn, and are provided on the operation panel or the like of the printer 20. Therefore,
The operator can specify the form data by setting ON the form selection switches SW1 to SWn corresponding to the desired form data FD1 to FDn.

The communication buffer 26a is for temporarily storing the character data received from the host device 10. The CPU 21 reads out the image data corresponding to the character data stored in the communication buffer 26 a from the character generator 29 and expands it on the frame memory 27.

The CPU 21 is a form selection switch SW.
When the setting state of 1 to SWn is read, the form data of the pattern corresponding to the setting state is selectively read from the form data storage means 28 and developed as image data on the frame memory 27.

Next, the operation of performing form overlay printing of the form data selected as the print data will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 and the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the operator selects the form selection switches SW1 to SW of the operation unit 23 of the printer 20 prior to printing.
A switch corresponding to a desired pattern of form data is selected from Wn and a setting operation is performed (step S1).

The CPU 21 reads the setting state of the form selection switch on the operation unit 23 (step S
2) The pattern of form data to be read from the form data storage means 28 is determined (step S3).

Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the I / F means 22 has received print data from the higher-level device 10 (step S4). If the determination result is negative ("N"), this step S4 is executed. Repeatedly waiting for transmission of print data, and if the determination result is affirmative (“Y”), I / F means 2
The print data received by No. 2 is stored in the communication buffer 26a of the work memory 26 (step S5).

A predetermined amount of print data is stored in the communication buffer 26a.
When stored in the character generator 2, the CPU 21 stores image data corresponding to the stored print data.
The data is read from the memory 9 and loaded in the frame memory 27 (step S6). At this time, the image data for one page, which is a printing unit, is expanded in the frame memory 27.

The CPU 21 follows the step S6, and then the form data FD1 to F determined in the step S3.
Any image data of Dn is read from the form data storage means 28 and expanded in the frame memory 27 (step S7). At this time, the frame memory 2
Similar to the image data of the above-mentioned print data, the image data for 7 becomes image data for one page which is a print unit. By executing steps S6 and S7, both print data and form data for one page are combined and developed as image data on the frame memory 27. The order of steps S6 and S7 may be reversed.

The CPU 21 transfers the image data expanded on the frame memory 27 to the printing mechanism 24 to execute printing. As a result, any of the form data FD1 to FDn selected by the operator in step S1 is combined with the print data and printed. That is, form overlay printing is executed (step S8).

Upon completion of the printing operation, the CPU 21 determines whether or not print data to be printed subsequently is stored in the communication buffer 26a (step S9). If the determination result is affirmative ("Y"). In step S6, the printing operation for the next page is executed, and if the determination result is negative ("N"), the printing operation ends.

As described in detail above, according to the printer of this embodiment, it is not necessary to modify the existing print processing program for generating the original print data. Form overlay printing can be performed by simply performing a simple operation on the form selection switch of the operation unit 23 of the printer 20. Further, at this time, since the higher-level device 10 does not participate in the creation of the form data related to the form overlay printing, there is an advantage that the throughput of the printing operation is not affected.

Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 21 controls the frame memory 27, the form data storage means 28, and the character generator (C).
G) The structure is such that data is directly transferred to or controlled by the device 29, but a structure as shown in FIG. 3 can also be adopted. That is, the image processing unit 30 which is a sub CPU dedicated to image processing for high-speed image processing is connected to the bus B, and the local bus BL controlled by the image processing unit 30 is connected to the frame memory 27 and the form data storage unit 28. , And the character generator 29 are connected, and the image processing unit 30 performs data transfer and control for these respective units. In this case, since the amount of data to be processed by the CPU 21 is reduced, there is an advantage that the data processing of the CPU 21 can be speeded up.

The correspondence between the above-described embodiment and the claims will be described. The form data storage means 28 storing the form data FD1 to FDn constitutes the form data storage means. The CPU 21 that performs the operation of reading the form selection switches SW1 to SWn of the operation unit 23 and the setting state thereof (FIG. 2: step S2) and determining the form data pattern (FIG. 2: step S3).
And form a form data selection means for designating a pattern of form data according to a predetermined operation. Also,
The form data FD1 to FDn designated by the form selection switches SW1 to SWn are read from the form data storage means 28, the image data corresponding to the print data sent from the higher-level device 10 is read from the CG 29, and both the image data are framed. Memory 2
Operation for synthesizing and expanding on 7 (FIG. 2: Steps S6, S
The CPU 21 that performs 7) constitutes a form overlay expanding means.

It should be noted that the form data storage means may be fixedly registered in advance with frequently used form data, but if the user needs to create and register form data arbitrarily, A writable ROM may be used as the storage means.

[0030]

As described above in detail, according to the printer of the present invention, the form data necessary for printing horizontal ruled lines and halftone dots can be obtained by designating the form data pattern by a predetermined operation of the operator. Is read from the form data storage means, is combined with the print data from the higher-level device, is expanded on the frame memory, and form overlay printing is performed based on the image data expanded on the frame memory. Therefore, unlike a conventional printer, it is not necessary to modify an existing print processing program that generates original print data, and form overlay printing can be performed by only performing a simple operation on the printer. Further, at this time, since the upper device does not participate in the control of the form overlay printing, there is an advantage that the throughput of the printing operation is not affected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of data processing of form overlay printing in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing printing on a form sheet on which ruled lines are printed in advance.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing printing on a form sheet on which ruled lines and the like are not printed in advance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 host device 20 printer 21 CPU 22 I / F means 23 operation part SW1 to SWn form selection switch 24 printing mechanism 25 program memory 26 work memory 26a communication buffer 27 frame memory 28 form data storage means FD1 to FDn form data 29 character generator ( CG)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A printer that expands image data corresponding to print data sent from a higher-level device on a frame memory and performs a printing operation based on the expanded image data, and performs printing based on the print data. Form data storage means for storing a plurality of patterns of form data used for form overlay printing of ruled lines or shading as image data, and stored in the form data storage means according to a predetermined operation. Form data selecting means for specifying the pattern of the form data, and the form data specified by the form data selecting means are read from the form data storing means, and the read form data and the print data sent from the host device Image day corresponding to Printer according to claim, having a form overlay deployment means for deploying the door synthesized and on the frame memory.