JPH08292848A - Print processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To store data required for an actuated emulator through simple processing. CONSTITUTION: The data which are essential for the emulator and data which become unnecessary when the emulator is switched are separately stored. A RAM 38 is provided with a system essential memory area 60 wherein the data essential for the execution by the system are stored, a page memory extension memory 62, a font cache memory 64, receiving buffers 66N1-66N3, and user definition areas 68M1-68M3. In fixed areas (74M1-74M3) and user definition areas (68M1-68M3), sources such as downloaded font data and macroprograms required for a started print mode are saved. In a temporary information storage area 72, data which are erased when the print mode is switched and become necessary when each print mode is executed are stored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print processing device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a print processing apparatus including a plurality of emulators that perform different processes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an emulator having a plurality of programs (emulators) for analyzing character data and a plurality of commands transmitted from a host computer and selected by an operation panel designation or a command transmitted from the host computer. There has been proposed a print processing apparatus that executes the above, for example, a laser printer.

Such a laser printer is further provided with
As shown in FIG. 11, the storage area of the RAM as a work area is a system area SA for controlling each unit executed by the CPU, a user area UA for downloading font data and the like when executing the emulator, and the download. A laser printer has been proposed which is divided into a data save area DS for saving font data and the like when the emulator is switched (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-5272).
7 publication).

This laser printer is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), an emulator, for example, EMU
-1 to EMU-2, the font data 90EM1 downloaded to the user area UA is saved in the data save area DS, and when the EMU-2 to EMU-1 is switched again, the data save area D
The font data 90EM1 saved in S is returned to the user area UA, and the font data 90EM2 downloaded in the user area UA is saved in the data save area DS.

In this way, the storage area of the RAM is divided into the system area SA, the user area UA and the data save area DS, and when the emulator is switched,
Since the font data downloaded to the user area UA is stored in the data save area DS, the application program can be immediately executed without downloading the font data again.

[0006]

However, in the above laser printer, the font data is transferred from the user area UA to the data save area DS or from the data save area DS to the user area UA every time the emulator is switched.
Since it has to be rewritten to, processing becomes complicated.

Further, the laser printer shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), when EMU-2 is switched to EMU-3 after switching from EMU-1 to EMU-2, data is saved in the data save area DS when switching from EMU-1 to EMU-2. Font data 90EM
1 may be erased by saving the font data 90EM2 in the data save area DS when switching from EMU-2 to EMU-3. In such a case, a new process is required so that the font data saved in the data save area DS is not erased by switching the emulator, and the process becomes more complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a print processing apparatus capable of storing data required for an activated emulator by a simple process.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a print processing apparatus comprising a plurality of emulators that respectively perform different processes, and is switched to any one of the plurality of emulators. A switching unit, a first storage area for storing first data necessary for the emulator switched and activated by the switching unit, and not necessary when the emulator being executed and the emulator being executed are switched And a work area in which a storage area is divided into a second storage area for storing second data, and an execution of executing the switched emulator using the first storage area and the second storage area. And means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the first storage area is a third storage area whose storage capacity cannot be changed, and the fourth storage area whose storage capacity is changeable. It is characterized in that it is any one of an area and a fifth storage area composed of the third storage area and the fourth storage area.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the storage capacity of the fourth storage area can be changed within a predetermined changeable range.

The invention according to claim 4 is the same as the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:
The storage capacity of the storage area is equal to or more than the maximum value of the second data required for the emulator to be executed among the plurality of emulators.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print processing apparatus including a plurality of emulators that respectively perform different processes.

The plurality of emulators are switched to any one by the switching means. The switching of the plurality of emulators can be performed by, for example, a command from a host computer (others such as a personal computer) connected to the print processing apparatus or a user's instruction.

Further, the print processing apparatus includes a work area, and the storage area of this work area is a first storage area for storing first data necessary for the emulator activated by switching by the switching means, It is divided into a second storage area for storing second data which is necessary for the emulator being executed and is unnecessary when the emulator being executed is switched. Therefore, the first storage area is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of emulators.

Here, in the first storage area, for example, a third storage area whose storage capacity cannot be changed, and a fourth storage area whose storage capacity can be changed, as in the second aspect of the present invention. And a fifth storage area composed of the third storage area and the fourth storage area. The storage capacity of the fourth storage area may be changeable within a predetermined changeable range as in the third aspect of the invention.

The storage capacity of the second storage area may be equal to or larger than the maximum value of the second data required for the emulator to be executed among the plurality of emulators.

The executing means executes the switched emulator using the first storage area and the second storage area. That is, the execution means executes the switched emulator using the first storage means and the second storage area provided corresponding to the emulator. Therefore,
The second storage area is common to a plurality of emulators.

As described above, since the first storage area is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of emulators and the second storage area is common to the plurality of emulators, the first data is stored even if the emulator is switched. Is stored in a first storage area provided corresponding to the emulator, and the first data is not erased by the first data of the emulator to be switched and executed next. Since it is not necessary to change the storage position of the data of 1, the first data can be saved by a simple process.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the print processing device 11 includes
The recording unit 12 that exclusively records an image and the image supply unit 13 that supplies the image to the recording unit 12 are provided with a predetermined alternating current from a power supply unit 14 connected to a commercial power supply (not shown). It is being supplied. An operation panel 15 is arranged on the front surface of the main body of the print processing apparatus 11, and the operation panel 15 is connected to the image supply unit 13.

In this print processing device 11, print data such as a bar code to be recorded can be input from an external device through two systems. One of them is through a communication cable and machine interface terminals 17N1 to 17N3 from a plurality of host computers (not limited to three in this embodiment (not limited to three in this embodiment)) (not shown), which may be personal computers. The other is a system for inputting from a plurality of workstations connected to a network (not shown) via the network and the network interface terminal 18. For the latter network,
Digital network such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and LAN such as Ethernet
(Local Area Network), etc. As described above, the print processing apparatus 11 can receive print data from the information processing apparatus such as various host computers or workstations via the machine interface terminals 17N1 to 17N3 or the network interface terminal 18.

By the way, there are many types of the above information processing devices, and the control data transmitted by them are not necessarily unified. For example, even if the control data transmitted by one information processing device is designed to finely specify the size of the paper to be printed, the size of characters, etc., the control data of another information processing device may specify such detailed designations. It may not be possible. Therefore, in this print processing device 11,
The user can input necessary instruction information 19 regarding recording from the operation panel 15, and the instruction information 19 can be transmitted to the image supply unit 13. When the image supply unit 13 normally receives the instruction information 19, the image supply unit 13 returns to the operation panel 15 the response information 21 for notifying that the instruction information 19 has been normally received. As a result, a message indicating that the instruction information 19 has been normally transmitted to the image supply unit 13 is displayed on the operation panel 15, and the user can confirm that the input of the instruction information 19 has been normally completed.

The recording unit 12 is composed of, for example, a laser printer, performs various recording operations by exchanging various signals with the image supply unit 13, and ejects the recording paper 23 having one side or both sides recorded. It is like this. In addition, the recording unit 12 includes, for example, how the recording paper is stored in a cassette tray (not shown) equipped in the recording unit 12, and whether a fixing unit (not shown) has reached a fixing temperature. Status signal 2 indicating various status
4 is transmitted to the image supply unit 13. In addition, the recording unit 12
A synchronization pulse 25 for synchronizing the image transfer with the image supply unit 13 is also transmitted to the image supply unit 13. On the other hand, the image supply unit 13 sends various operation command signals 26 and an image signal 27 representing image data to be recorded to the recording unit 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image supply unit 13 includes a CPU 31 which performs a central function of various controls in the print processing apparatus 11, and the CPU 31 has various circuits which will be described later via a system bus 32. Mutually connected to the device. Of these, the panel interface (I / F)
The circuit 33 is a circuit for interfacing with the operation panel 15 shown in FIG.
When the keyboard 5 is operated, an instruction signal corresponding to the key operation is output by the panel interface circuit 33 and transferred on the system bus 32. In addition, a liquid crystal display (LC
Instruction information for displaying predetermined information on the D: Liquid Crystal Display) 15N1 (see FIG. 3) is transferred to the panel interface circuit 33 via the system bus 32, and is operated by the panel interface circuit 33.
An instruction signal for displaying predetermined information is output to 5.

Machine interface (I / F) circuit 34
N1 to 34N3 are connected to the machine interface terminals 17N1 to 17N3 and the network interface terminal 18 shown in FIG. 1, respectively, and have a function of interfacing with the information processing apparatus such as the above-mentioned host computer or workstation. These machine interface circuits 34N1 to 34N3 have a circuit configuration that receives, for example, print data input from a host computer based on the RS232C standard or Centronics standard.

Non-volatile storage device (NVM: Non-Volatile)
A memory) 37 is a storage device backed up by a battery (not shown) and can retain the stored data even when the power supply of the print processing device 11 itself is turned off. The RAM 38 as a work memory is a working memory, and data required for performing various controls of the print processing apparatus 11 and the machine interface circuit 34.
The print data and the like input from are temporarily stored. The program memory 39 is used by the print processing device 1
It is a memory that stores various programs for performing the control of 1.

The character pattern memory 41 is a so-called font memory, and stores a character pattern for printing out. For example, a code font that consists of pattern font data that represents the shape of a character or symbol as a dot pattern as shown in the image, outline font (vector font) data that represents only the outline of a character, or compressed font data that shortens the data length. There is data and.

A part of the RAM 38 serves as a page memory 76 (see FIG. 4) for editing image data to be recorded, as will be described later. In the page memory 76, the generated character pattern, By sticking a figure or the like to one page of the recording sheet, the image data to be recorded is electronically edited.

Recording interface (I / F) circuit 43
Forms an image signal 27 indicating the image data from the image data that has been electronically edited in the page memory 76, and transmits the image signal 27 to the recording unit 12 shown in FIG. The recording unit interface circuit 43 is an interface circuit for the image supply unit 13 to transmit / receive other various signals 24 to 26 shown in FIG. 1 to / from the recording unit 12. The bitmap controller 44 is connected to both the page memory 76 and the recording unit interface circuit 43, and is configured to perform control relating to transfer of image data between the page memory 76 and the recording unit interface circuit 43. .

Since the print processing device 11 can be connected to various information processing devices as described above, programs and character patterns corresponding to various print data and control data transmitted from these various information processing devices are generated. Needed. Therefore, in addition to the standard-equipped program memory 39 and character pattern memory 41 described above, a program memory 46 and a character pattern memory 47 storing programs and character patterns corresponding to various print data and control data are installed. Program memory 4
6 and the character pattern memory 47 are both removable ICs
A ROM in a card format or a SIMM format, which is selectively connected to the print processing device 11 in order to satisfy special specifications at the time of recording a barcode or to add / change a program or a character pattern in the future. It is like this.

Further, in the image supply unit 13, a machine interface (I / F) circuit can be added and data to be recorded can be input from a plurality of information processing devices at the same time.
Further, a hard disk 48 as a large-capacity non-volatile storage device can be connected to the system bus 32. The hard disk 48 can be used to add character patterns, save form data and logo data, hold input data from the host computer, etc. Can be used for.

Next, the operation panel 15 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 15 includes a liquid crystal display 15N1 for visually confirming the processing status and keys 15N2 to 15N2 for giving a user predetermined instruction information.
N10 is provided. Menu keys 15N2, up key 15N3, first instruction key 15N4, and down key 15 are keys for the user to give a predetermined instruction.
There are N5, second instruction key 15N6, setting key 15N7 and EMU key 15N8. In addition, this operation panel 15
Is provided with a paper size change key 15N9 and a character size change key 15N10. That is, as described above, even when the size of the paper or the size of the characters to be printed is specified by the control data from the information processing apparatus side, the user can change the contents specified by the control data to the paper size change information. Key 15N9 and character size change key 1
It is also possible to create the instruction information 19 by changing 5N10. In addition, L corresponding to the size of the paper and the size of the character specified or changed in this way
The ED 15N91 and 15N101 are turned on. In addition, it is also possible to give priority to the contents designated by the control data from the information processing apparatus side, and it is also possible to give priority to a person who gives an instruction later in time. Although not shown, this operation panel 1
5 is also provided with a small speaker that emits a sound such as an alarm sound.

Next, the data storage area of the RAM 38 will be described. That is, in the storage area of the RAM 38, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a system essential memory area 60 for storing data essential for the execution of this system is provided. In more detail, the system essential memory area 60 is provided with a page memory 76. This page memory 76 is for A4 paper size 1
It has a capacity that can store the data for one surface.

In the system essential memory area 60, fixed areas 74M1 to 74M1 each having a fixed capacity (predetermined for each mode) capable of storing data are fixed.
M3 is provided. In this way, the fixed areas 74M1 to 74M3 are provided in this embodiment because they have three types of print modes (emulators) for analyzing character data and a plurality of commands transmitted from the host computer. This is for storing downloaded font data and the like corresponding to these three types of print modes. Further, the system essential memory area 60 is provided with a temporary information storage area 72 as a second storage area commonly used when each mode is executed. The memory capacity of the temporary information storage area 72 is set to a capacity that can cover the data amount of the print mode that requires the largest amount of data when using the area among the three types of print modes described above. ing.
Then, the temporary information storage area 72 stores second data which is necessary for the print mode being executed and is unnecessary when the print mode being executed is switched. That is, the temporary information storage area 72 is
The function differs depending on the mode to be executed. For example, in the case of wired, it becomes a line buffer and print data is stored. In addition to this, another area 78 for storing data essential for the system to execute is provided.

In addition to the system essential memory area 60, a page memory expansion area 62 and a font cache memory 64, which will be described later, are provided in the storage area of the RAM 38. The page memory expansion area 62 is used as a page memory, the details of which will be described later. Further, the font cache memory 64 is used as an area in which font conversion processing is performed, for example, by using a waiting time before starting a print operation, and the code font data is converted into pattern font data in advance and stored. It

Further, the storage area of the RAM 38 includes reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3 and a user-defined area 68.
M1-68M3 are provided. Receive buffer 66N
1 to 66N3 are, for example, machine interface terminals 17N1 to 17N from a corresponding host computer or the like.
3 is an area for temporarily storing the print data received via 3 before storing it in the page memory 76. The user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3 are areas corresponding to the print motes 1 to 3 and having a variable capacity by the user. The font cache memory 64 and the reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3 described above are also areas whose capacity can be changed by the user.

The fixed area and the user-defined area constitute the first storage area of the present invention, and the fixed area and the user-defined area have data necessary for the activated print mode, such as download font data and macros. Sources such as are saved.

Next, each area 64, 66N1 to 66N
3, the memory capacity values of 68M1 to 68M3 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the memory capacity value described below is
It is stored in the nonvolatile storage device 37.

Here, the reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3
Among them, the reception buffer 66N1 for storing the data received from the machine interface terminal 17N1 is a standard reception buffer and the other machine interface terminal 17N1.
The receiving buffers 66N2 and 66N3 for storing the data received from 2, 17N3 are optionally added.

Further, among the print modes 1 to 3, the print mode 1 is a standard mode, and the other print modes 2 and 3 are options added. Therefore, of the user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3, the user-defined area 68M1 (the fixed area 74M1 is also the same) is the standard area, and the user-defined area 68 corresponding to the print modes 2 and 3 that are added as an option.
M2 (the same applies to the fixed area 74M2) and user-defined area 68M3 (the same applies to the fixed area 74M3) are optional areas.

Each of these areas 64, 66N1 to 66N
The standard memory capacity values of 3, 68M1 to 68M3 are the factory-shipped values shown in FIG. Further, each area 64, 66N1 to 66N3, which can be changed by the user,
The range of the memory capacity values of 68M1 to 68M3, that is,
The minimum value and the maximum value are also the values shown in FIG. In addition,
Areas 64, 66N1 to 66N3, 68M1 to 68M
Within this range, the memory capacity value of 3 is increased or decreased for each set unit (z ₀ described later).

Next, the menu displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 15N1 will be described. That is, the screen of the liquid crystal display 15N1 normally displays "printing information" as shown in FIG. 6 to indicate that printing is possible. Where, for example,
As will be described later, when changing the capacity of the user-defined area, the menu key 15N2 is pressed. As a result, the "communication port setting", "setting for each print mode", "print utility", and "maintenance mode" menus are displayed. That is, the structure of each menu is the tree structure shown in FIG. 7, and the root is "Print Dexmas", and the layers below it are "Communication port settings", "Settings for each print mode", "Print utility" and "Maintenance mode" is located.

Here, the above-mentioned "communication port setting" is
This is a menu for setting parameters such as the communication method of each host interface. Further, "setting for each print mode" is a menu for setting a paper size and a discharge destination tray number. Further, the "print utility" is a menu for displaying a list of setting values and communication port setting values for each print mode. And
"Maintenance mode" is a menu for changing the memory capacity. The above menu is the up key 15N
3. The cursor is moved by pressing the down key 15N5, and the cursor is selected by pressing the first instruction key 15N4.

Next, the menu displayed when the "maintenance mode" is entered will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, when the "maintenance mode" is entered,
"Font cache", "Jushin buffer memory"
And "User memory" are displayed.

Here, "font cache" is a menu for changing the memory capacity value of the font cache memory 64, and "jushin buffer memory" is a menu for changing the memory capacity value of the receiving buffers 66N1 to 66N3. Is. The "user memory" changes the memory capacity values of the user-defined areas 68M1 to M3 corresponding to the designated modes 1 to 3 within the above-described range (the range of the minimum value and the maximum value (see FIG. 5)). Is. In addition, these menus are the up key 15N
3. The cursor is moved by pressing the down key 15N5, and the cursor is selected by pressing the first instruction key 15N4.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First,
User-defined area 6 corresponding to designated modes 1 to 3
A processing routine for changing the memory capacity values of 8M1 to 8M3 will be described with reference to FIG.

As described above, the menu key 15N2 is pressed from the "Print key" to display the "communication port setting", "print mode setting", "print utility" and "maintenance mode" menus. Then, the cursor is moved by pressing the up key 15N3 and the down key 15N5, and the first instruction key 15N4 is pressed.
When "Maintenance mode" is selected by pressing
"Font cache", "Jushin buffer memory"
And "User memory" are displayed. Then, as described above, when the "user memory" is selected, the print modes 1 to 3 are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 15N1.

Here, for example, when the print mode 1 is selected, this routine is started, and step 102
To display the free space value x (for example, 12089K),
In step 104, the set capacity value y * (for example, 64K
*) Is displayed. Note that these values are read from the non-volatile storage device 37 and displayed. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (a), print mode 1, space 1208
9K and 64K * are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 15N1.

Here, the free capacity value x is the memory capacity value of the page memory expansion area 62. The set capacity value y is the memory capacity value set in the user-defined area 68M1 because the print mode 1 is selected. It is the memory capacity value set in the user-defined area 68M2 when the print mode 2 is selected, and the memory capacity value set in the user-defined area 68M3 when the print mode 3 is selected.

In step 106, it is determined whether or not a key (increase key) for increasing the memory capacity value of the user-defined area has been input. That is, the down key 15N7
Judges whether or not was pressed. When the down key 15N7 is pressed, in step 108, the setting unit z ₀ (32K) of the user-defined area 68M1 corresponding to the selected print mode 1 from the current free space value x.
B) is subtracted to obtain a free capacity value x, and step 110
Then, in step 110, the setting unit z ₀ is added from the current set capacity value y to obtain the set capacity value y.
Go to step 116.

On the other hand, if the ascending key 15N3 is depressed instead of the descending key 15N7, in step 112,
From the current free space value x, the setting unit z ₀ of the user-defined area 68M1 corresponding to the selected print mode 1
(32 KB) is added to obtain a free capacity value x, and the procedure proceeds to step 114. At step 114, the setting unit z ₀ is subtracted from the current set capacity value y to obtain the set capacity value y, and the procedure goes to step 116. move on.

In step 116, the capacitance values x and y thus changed are displayed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, the print mode 1, the space 12057K and 96K are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 15N1.

When the user confirms the displayed capacitance values x and y and the changed capacitance value is not satisfactory, the user again presses the up key 15N3 or the down key 15
N5 is pushed down. In this case, the determination in step 118 is denied, the process returns to step 106, and the above processing (steps 106 to 118) is repeated.

On the other hand, the capacitance values x and y thus displayed are
After confirming, the user depresses the setting key 15N7 when the changed capacity value is satisfactory. Therefore, in this case, the determination at step 118 is affirmative, and at step 120, * is added and displayed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9B, print mode 1, space 120
57K and 96K * are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 15N1.

In step 122, the non-volatile storage device 37
The previously stored capacitance values x and y are rewritten to the newly set capacitance values x and y. Then, in order to return to the initial state, in step 124, it is determined whether or not the menu key 15N2 is pressed, and if the determination is affirmative,
In step 126, the system is reset and the present process ends.

Thus, when the system is reset,
Next, in order to diagnose the memory capacity, a memory allocation processing routine (see FIG. 10) is executed. It should be noted that this routine is executed not only when the system is reset but also when the power is turned on. Further, since the addition of an option is performed by turning off the power supply, this processing is executed even when the option is added and the power supply is thus turned on. As described above, when adding more host computers (when a new receive buffer is needed) or when adding a print mode (fixed area and user-defined area are newly added). If you need to).

That is, first, in step 132, the usable memory is calculated. That is, the usable memory is the total memory capacity value of the RAM 38. The reason why the usable memory is calculated each time this routine is executed is that the total memory capacity value itself is changed by the addition of the optional memory.

At step 134, the changeable capacity value, that is, the allocatable memory capacity value M is obtained by subtracting the memory capacity value of the system essential memory 60 from the usable memory, and at step 136, the font cache 64, It is determined whether the total memory capacity values of the reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3 and the user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3 exceed the allocatable memory capacity value M. When the determination is negative (when the memory capacity is sufficient), the process proceeds to step 148.

On the other hand, if the determination at step 136 is affirmative (when the memory capacity is insufficient), at step 138, the memory capacity value of each of the user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3 is set to the minimum value (see FIG. 5). ), And again in step 140, the font cache 64, the reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3, and the user-defined area 68M.
It is determined whether or not the total memory capacity value of 1 to 68M3 exceeds the allocatable memory capacity value M. If the judgment is denied (when the memory capacity is sufficient),
Proceed to step 148.

When the determination at step 140 is affirmative (when the memory capacity is insufficient), the memory capacity value of each of the reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3 is set to the minimum value (see FIG. 5), In step 144, the font cache 64 and the receiving buffers 66N1 to 66N are again used.
3 and user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3 determine whether the total memory capacity value exceeds the allocatable memory capacity value M. When the determination is negative (when the memory capacity is sufficient), the process proceeds to step 148.

When the determination at step 146 is affirmative (when the memory capacity is insufficient), the memory capacity value of the font cache 64 is set to the minimum value (see FIG. 5) and the routine proceeds to step 148.

In step 148, the memory capacity value of the page memory expansion area 62 is set to the allocatable memory capacity value M.
From the font cache 64, receive buffer 66N1
~ 66N3 and user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3 are reset to a value obtained by subtracting the total memory capacity value, and step 15
At 0, the previous capacity value stored in the non-volatile storage device 37 is rewritten to the newly set capacity value, and this processing is ended.

Next, the print mode switching process will be described. In this embodiment, the print mode is switched based on the print mode switching command from the host computer. The instructions on the operation panel (EM
The print mode may be switched by pressing the U key 15N8).

For example, when the print mode 1 is operated, the host computer sends the machine interface terminal 17
As a result of analyzing the data stored in the reception buffer 66N1 via N1, the data is, for example, print mode 2
It is assumed that the command is to switch to. In this case, the command is compared with the print mode 1, and if the same mode is selected, the command is ignored and the print mode 1 is continued.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the comparison result of the command and the print mode 1 is different, first, after stopping the data transfer from the reception buffer 66N1, the page memory 76 or the like is still printing. Judge whether there is no print data. When the determination is affirmative, the print data is sent to the recording unit 12. As a result, the recording unit 12 performs print processing.

After that, when the print end signal is detected from the recording unit 12, the print mode 1 which has been operated until now is stopped and the information in the temporary information storage area is erased. The fixed area 74M1 and the user-defined area 68
The font data downloaded to M1 is saved as it is. Then, the print mode 2 is operated, and the data in the reception buffer 66N3 is instructed to be transferred.

In the embodiment described above, the fixed area and the user-defined area are provided corresponding to each of the print modes 1 to 3, and the temporary information storage area is common to each of the print modes 1 to 3. Even when the print mode is switched from the print mode 1 to the print mode 2, the download font data is stored in the fixed area and the user-defined area provided corresponding to the print mode 1, and the stored download font data is
Even if the print mode 1 is switched to the print mode 2 and then the print mode 2 is switched to the print mode 3, it is not erased, and it is not necessary to change the storage position of the downloaded font data by switching the print mode. Downloaded font data can be saved by simple processing.

In the embodiment described above, the memory capacity value of the font cache 64 is set to the minimum value (step 14
6) and proceed to step 148 (Fig. 1
0), the present invention is not limited to this and may be as follows. Ie adding options, for example
When a large number of print modes are added, even if the memory capacity value of the font cache 64 is set to the minimum value (step 146), the font cache
4, the total memory capacity value of the reception buffers 66N1 to 66N3 and the user-defined areas 68M1 to 68M3 may exceed the allocatable memory capacity value M.
Therefore, a process similar to that of step 144 is added between step 146 and step 148, and when the determination is affirmative, the host computer to be connected is only the standard host computer. Therefore, the machine interface terminal 17N1 is the only machine interface terminal connected to the host computer. In addition, the print mode is limited to the standard mode (print mode 1 in this embodiment). As a result, the reception buffer only has the reception buffer 66N1 and the fixed area and the user-defined area are only the fixed area 74M1 and the user-defined area 68M1. This process is executed so that the process proceeds to step 148.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the fixed area and the user-defined area are provided corresponding to each print mode, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixed area and the user-defined area are fixed. Only the area may be provided, or only the user-defined area may be provided corresponding to a certain print mode.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the first storage area is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of emulators and the second storage area is common to the plurality of emulators, the emulators are switched. However, the first data is stored in the first storage area provided corresponding to the emulator, and the first data is erased by the first data of the emulator to be switched and executed next. Since there is no need to change the storage position of the first data, there is an effect that the first data can be saved by a simple process.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image supply unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an operation panel.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a memory area of a RAM.

FIG. 5 is a table in which memory capacity values (standard values, changeable minimum and maximum values) and the like of each area are described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen of a liquid crystal display of an operation panel.

FIG. 7 is a tree structure diagram of a menu of a screen of a liquid crystal display.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing routine for changing a memory capacity value according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen of a liquid crystal display on which a memory capacity value is displayed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a memory allocation processing routine.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional work memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

38 RAM (work memory) 72 1 Temporary information storage area (second storage area) 74M1, 74M2, 74M3 Fixed area (first storage area) 68M1, 68M2, 68M3 User-defined area (first storage area)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A print processing apparatus comprising a plurality of emulators that respectively perform different processes, the switching means switching to any one of the plurality of emulators, and the emulator activated by being switched by the switching means. Storage area for storing first data and a second storage area for storing second data required for the emulator being executed and not needed when the emulator being executed is switched A print processing apparatus comprising: a work area divided into sections; and an execution unit that executes the switched emulator by using the first storage area and the second storage area. 2. The first storage area is a third storage area whose storage capacity cannot be changed, a fourth storage area whose storage capacity can be changed, and the third storage area and the fourth storage area. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print processing apparatus is any one of a fifth storage area configured by an area. 3. The print processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage capacity of the fourth storage area can be changed within a predetermined changeable range. 4. The storage capacity of the second storage area is greater than or equal to the maximum value of the second data required for the emulator to be executed among the plurality of emulators. The print processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.