JPH0825325B2 - Color printer text and image overlay printing processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [Table of Contents] Outline Industrial field of application Conventional technology (Fig. 4) Problem to be solved by the invention Means for solving the problem (Fig. 1) Operation Example (a) One Description of Embodiments (FIGS. 2 and 3) (b) Description of Other Embodiments [Effect of the Invention] [Overview] Regarding a superimposition printing processing method for superimposing characters and image data on a color printer, At the time of, the character color and the image color do not mix,
In addition, in a color printer having a color printing section capable of color printing of a plurality of colors and a control section for transferring color data of each color to the color printing section according to received data and performing color printing for the purpose of reducing the printing time. The control unit has a color buffer for each color, a character buffer, and a processing unit. The processing unit stores character pattern data corresponding to the received character code in the character buffer and also receives each color. Image data of the character buffer is stored in the corresponding color buffer, and the color buffer of the same color as the character pattern data of the character buffer is ORed with the image data of the character pattern data and the image data of the color buffer To the buffer, there is a comparison between the inverted data of the character pattern data and the image data of the color buffer. The logical product is written and the contents of the color buffer for each color are transferred to the color printing unit.

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a superimposition printing processing method for superimposing characters and image data on a color printer.

With the progress of information processing systems, colorization of output is required.

For this reason, not only single-color printing but also colorful printing in which a plurality of colors are combined is required in the printer device, and various color printers have been developed.

On the other hand, the host sends, as color print data, code that can be coded and code data that cannot be coded as raw data to reduce transfer time and transfer load.

That is, characters and the like are transferred as character codes, and images are transferred as image data.

Therefore, when printing a character and an image in a superimposed manner, such as when adding a background color to the character, the colors of the character and the image are mixed, and this must be avoided.

[Conventional technology]

 FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the wire dot printer, for example, the color printing unit 1 has a yellow (Y), a magenta (M), and a cyan (M) with respect to the wire dot head 10 movable in the space direction SP. The ink ribbon 11 having the ribbon regions of four colors of C) and black (B) is shifted in the ribbon shift direction IS, and the desired four colors are printed on the paper PP.

In such a color printer, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the character code and the image data of each color are sent separately in superposition printing, so that the control unit 2 receives the character code for one line. Then, the character pattern is converted and the character is printed in the color designated by the color printing unit 1, then the image data from the host is received, and the image data is superimposed and printed on the character.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the conventional technique has the following problems.

In the related art, since the image is printed by superimposing it on the character, the character color and the image color are mixed.

Since the image data is received and the image data is printed after printing the characters, the total printing time becomes long.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of superimposed printing of characters and images of a color printer, which does not mix the character color and the image color during the superimposed printing and can shorten the printing time. .

[Means for solving the problem]

 FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

The present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), is a color printing unit 1 capable of color printing of a plurality of colors, and a control unit for transferring color data of each color to the color printing unit 1 in accordance with received data for color printing. 2 includes a color printer 22 and a color buffer 22a to 22d for each color,
It has a character buffer 22e and a processing unit 20, and is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the processing unit 20 stores the character pattern data corresponding to the received character code in the character buffer 22e, and also stores the received image data of each color in the corresponding color buffers 22a to 22d. Character buffer 22
To the color buffer of the same color as the character pattern data of e,
The logical sum of the character pattern data and the image data of the color buffer is written to the color buffer of a color different from that of the character pattern, and the logical data of the inverted data of the character pattern data and the image data of the color buffer is written. The contents of the color buffers 22a to 22d are transferred to the color printing unit 1.

[Action]

In the present invention, the color buffers 22a to 22d for each color and the character buffer 22e are provided, the character pattern corresponding to the character code received by the processing unit 20 is expanded in the character buffer 22e, and the received image data is stored in the corresponding color buffer.
Store in 22a-22d.

Then, the processing unit 20 writes the contents of the character buffer 22e into the color buffers 22a to 22d.

At this time, in the color buffer of the same color as the character pattern,
The logical sum is written and the logical product of the inverted data of the character pattern and the image data of the color buffer is written in the different color buffer.

Therefore, the character pattern is written in the color buffer having the same color as the character pattern, and the character pattern is omitted in the different color buffer.

If this is sequentially transferred to the color printing unit 1, superimposition printing of characters and images is performed.

In the color buffers of different colors, character patterns are extracted from the image data, so that color mixing does not occur.

Further, since the data is received, edited, and then printed, the printing is performed only once, and the printing time is shortened.

〔Example〕

 (A) Description of an Embodiment FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are represented by the same symbols, and 3 is a host device,
Print data such as character codes and image data is transferred to the printer.

21 is a CGROM, a memory (ROM) that stores a character pattern corresponding to a character code, 22 is a RAM (random access memory), and color buffers 22a to 22
d, character save buffer 22e, etc., 23 is RA
A processing unit that is M and consists of a CPU (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 20
Is a memory as an address space, and is provided with a print buffer 23a for expanding print data for one line, a work area for storing attribute information (character color, etc.) of character data, and the like.

Reference numeral 24 is an interface circuit for exchanging data with the host device 3, 25 is a transfer circuit for transferring color data of each color to the printer mechanism unit 1, 26 is a bus, CPU20, CGROM21, RAM2
2, 23, the interface circuit 24, and the transfer rotation 25 are connected to exchange data.

 FIG. 3 is a processing flow chart of an embodiment of the present invention.

 Character data is transmitted from the host device.

When the interface circuit 24 receives the character data, CP
Notify U20 and CPU20 uses the character code of the character data
The ROM 21 is accessed, the character pattern is extracted, expanded in the print buffer 23a, and the attribute information of the character data is stored in the work area 23b.

One line of character data is transmitted from the host 3, and the CPU 20 performs the above-described operation every time the character data is received.

The CPU 20 receives the image data,
The contents of the print buffer 23a in which the character patterns for the lines are expanded are saved in the character save buffer 22e of the RAM 22.

After transmitting the character data for one line, the host 3 sequentially transmits the image data for one line of each color (Y, M, C, B).

The interface 24 receives this, the CPU 20 stores the received image data in the print buffer 23a in the address space, and then the color buffers 22a to 22d of the corresponding colors of the RAM 22.
The contents of the print buffer 23a are saved to.

Next, the CPU 20 writes the contents of the character save buffer 22e into the color buffers 2a to 22d.

Therefore, the CPU 20 takes out the character pattern from the character save buffer 22e and takes out the character color from the work area 23b.

Next, the CPU 20 checks the character color, and for the color buffer of the same color as the character color, reads the image data in the area where the character pattern of the color buffer is written, and the logic of the character pattern data and the image data is read. Take the sum and write the logical sum (OR).

As a result, the character pattern is written in the color buffer having the same color as the character pattern.

For color buffers of different color from the character color, the image data of the area where the character pattern of the color buffer is written is read, the character pattern data is inverted, and the logical product (AND ) Is taken and the logical product is written.

As a result, the character pattern is removed from the image data in the color buffer having a color different from that of the character pattern.

The CPU 20 executes all the character patterns for one line of the character save buffer 22e.

When the CPU20 finishes all the characters of one line,
The data in each color buffer 22a to 22d is transferred to the character buffer 23a.
Transfer to

The data in the print buffer 23a is transferred from the transfer circuit 25 to the printer mechanism unit 1 by the CPU 20 as the printer mechanism unit 1 operates.
Then, the printing operation is performed by the printer mechanism unit 1.

For example, taking the color printing unit 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 4A as an example, the data in the yellow color buffer 22a is transferred to the print buffer 23a, and the yellow ink is transferred to the print head 10 by the ribbon shift mechanism. The ribbon 11 shifts and faces.

The CPU 20 transfers the data in the print buffer 23a to the print head 10 in accordance with the operation of the print head 10 in the space direction, and drives the print head 23 to print one line of yellow.

Next, while transferring to the data print buffer 23a of the magenta color buffer 22b, the magenta ink ribbon 11 is shifted and opposed to the print head 10, and the print head 10 is driven by the data of the print buffer 23a in the same manner as described above. Print magenta color for lines.

Similarly, the data of the cyan color buffer 22c is printed and the data of the black color buffer 22d is printed.

As a result, the color printing for one line is completed, the paper PP is sent for one line, and the control unit 2 receives the data for the next line.

In this way, when the character and the image are superimposed and printed, the character data and the image data are received without taking the sequence of receiving the character data, printing, and receiving and printing the image data, and the color buffers 22a to 22d, The data is saved in the character save buffer 22e, the character pattern of the character save buffer 22e is written in each of the color buffers 22a to 22d, the data of each color is edited, and the data of each color is printed.

As a result, color mixture of characters and images can be prevented, and since the printing operation only needs to be performed once, the printing time can be shortened.

In addition, in this embodiment, the superimposing printing can be executed without changing the transmission sequence on the host side, and the evacuation buffer can be used.
There is an advantage that it can be realized by providing 22a to 22e and saving and editing data.

(B) Description of Other Embodiments In the present invention, the following modifications are possible in addition to the above-described embodiments.

In the above-described embodiment, the color printing section is described as an example of a wire dot printer, but it can be applied to other color serial printers such as a thermal transfer serial printer and a color inkjet serial printer having inkjet heads of each color.

Similarly, although one print head has been described as an example, the present invention may be applied to one having print heads of respective colors, and the print head is not limited to a serial printer head and may be a line print head.

Although data is received and printed line by line, data may be received and printed page by page.

Further, it may be applied to an electrophotographic printer having an exposure system for each color and a developing device.

Although four colors have been described, any number of colors may be used as long as the colors are two or more.

Although it is the superimposed printing of characters and images, it can be applied to the superimposed printing of characters, ruled lines and images by adding ruled lines to it.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention can be variously modified according to the gist of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the present invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention has the following effects.

In a device using a color ink ribbon, when superimposing printing of characters and images, for image data of each color,
Since the character pattern is edited and written, it is possible to prevent mixing of the character color and the image color and to prevent the color ribbon from being soiled.

In the color printer using the color ink ribbon, after receiving the character data and the image data of each color, the data of each color is edited and the data of each color is created, and each color is sequentially printed in synchronization with the shift of the ink ribbon. It only needs to be printed once, and printing time can be shortened.

Since the host only has to transfer the character code and the image data separately, the load on the host side does not increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a process flow chart of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique. In the figure, 1 ... Color printing unit, 2 ... Control unit, 20 ... Processing unit, 22a to 22d ... Color buffer, 22e ... Character buffer.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A dot printing element which moves in the space direction, and a color ink ribbon in which a plurality of ribbon regions of respective colors are arranged in the space direction, and the color ink ribbon is shifted so that the dot printing element can move once. A color printing unit (1) that prints one color by scanning and prints a plurality of colors, and a control unit (2) that transfers the color data of each color to the color printing unit (1) according to the received data to perform color printing. ) And a color printer (22a to 22d) for each color.
And a character buffer (22e), a print buffer (23a),
A processing unit (20), the processing unit (20) stores character pattern data corresponding to the received character code in the character buffer (22e), and receives the image data of each color in a corresponding color buffer. (22a to 22d), and to the color buffer of the same color as the character pattern data of the character buffer (22e), the logical sum of the character pattern data and the image data of the color buffer The logical product of the inverted data of the character pattern data and the image data of the color buffer is written in the buffer, and the color of each color is synchronized in synchronization with the shift operation of sequentially facing the ribbon area of each color to the dot printing element. Buffer (22
a to 22d) contents are sequentially transferred to the print buffer (23a) to drive the dot printing element, and a method of superimposed printing of characters and images of a color printer.