JPH09164732A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the time required for a printing operation without adoping an expensive CPU in a recording device. SOLUTION: This recording device is equipped with an ASIC circuit 2 consisting of a controller 35, a data register 40, and a transfer frequency counter 41. In addition, a controller 35, based on a specified command from a single-chip microcomputer, writes print data received from a host computer to image memory, and transfers the print data to each of the areas an image memory. The processing load of the single-chip microcomputer is mitigated by the undertaking of the above jobs by the controller 35.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus applied to an ink jet printing recording apparatus or the like for ejecting ink droplets for printing, and more particularly, to receiving print information composed of dot data from a host computer, The present invention relates to a recording device that writes dot data in a storage unit, reads the written data as needed, and prints the data with a print head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus which moves a printing mechanism such as an ink jet head in a row direction and prints print data of height of ink jet nozzle row × row length in one printing operation, To buffer the print data received from the host computer line by line, start the print operation when the print data for one line is completed, and to improve the processing capability of the recording device during this print operation. There has been proposed a recording device capable of writing a part of the print data for the next line in the storage means.

The storage means of this recording device has a storage area in which print data for one line to be printed by one printing operation is written and a temporary storage area for writing a part of print data in the next row. It is provided. By providing this temporary storage area, even while the print data written in the storage area is being printed, a part of the print data of the next line can be written in the temporary storage area. When the printing operation for half the raster of the print data in the storage area is completed, the print data for the next line that has not been written in the temporary storage area is written to the print data for which printing has finished. Overwrite the existing storage area. After that, when printing of the print data for the remaining raster in the storage area is completed, the print data of the next line written in the temporary storage area is transferred to the storage area, and the print of the next line already written in the storage area is performed. The print data for one line is completed together with the data, and the printing operation for this line is started. In this way, the print data is efficiently received from the host computer and the printing capability of the recording device is improved.

[0004]

However, in the conventional recording apparatus as described above, the writing of the print data received from the host computer to the storage means and the transfer processing in the storage means are mainly performed by the recording apparatus. Since the CPU was in charge, naturally the CPU cannot perform other processes while the CPU is performing these processes. As a result, there is a problem that the printing time is significantly increased. Here, although it is possible to employ a CPU having a high processing speed, this is not appropriate as a solution because the manufacturing cost increases as the CPU becomes expensive. The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that reduces the time required for a printing operation without employing an expensive CPU.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to the invention described in claim 1 receives print data required for one printing operation from a host computer and writes the print data in a storage means. A recording device capable of writing at least a part of print data to be printed next time or later into the storage device during printing by a print head based on the print data written in the storage device. A CPU that program-controls the operation, a print head driver that converts the print data read from the storage means into data for driving the print head, and the CPU and the storage means are interposed between the CPU and the storage means, and based on a predetermined command from the CPU. ,
A hardware having a controller unit for transferring print data written in the storage means to be printed after the next time to other areas in the storage means so as to complete the print data necessary for one printing operation. It has a logic circuit.

In the above structure, based on a predetermined command from the CPU, the print data written in the storage means to be printed after the next time is completed into print data necessary for one printing operation. In addition, since the hard logic circuit having the controller unit for transferring to another area in the storage means is provided, the CPU does not have to be in charge of this transfer processing, and only a predetermined command is given to the hard logic circuit. Since it is good, the load on the CPU is reduced, and the printing process is speeded up as a whole.

The recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the predetermined command from the CPU is printed after the next time written in the storage means. Specifies the number of transfer data, transfer source address, and transfer destination address of print data to be
The hard logic circuit counts the number of transfer data, a read address register that stores a transfer source address, a write address register that stores a transfer destination address, and print data at an address designated by the write address register. It has a data register for temporarily storing the contents of print data for transfer.

In the above arrangement, the CPU specifies to the hard logic circuit the number of transfer data, the transfer source address, and the transfer destination address of the print data written in the storage means and to be printed after the next time. When a command is given, the values are set in the transfer number counter, read address register, and write address register in the hard logic circuit, and the controller unit performs print data transfer processing via the data register based on these values. Therefore, the load on the CPU is reduced, and the printing process is speeded up as a whole.

A recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, in which the controller section directs a direct memory access (DMA) command from the CPU. Based on the above, the print data from the host computer is directly transferred to the storage means.

In the above configuration, since the hard logic circuit for directly transferring the print data from the host computer to the storage means based on the DMA command is provided, C
The load on the PU is reduced, and the printing process is accelerated as a whole.

A recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the storage means writes the print data necessary for one printing operation.
And a second area smaller than the first area in which a part of the print data to be printed next time is written, and the controller section writes the print data in the second area to the first area. The data is transferred to the area 1 and the print data necessary for one printing operation is completed together with the rest of the print data to be printed next time and thereafter.

In the above structure, the controller section is
By transferring the print data in the second area to the first area, the print data necessary for one printing operation is completed together with the rest of the print data to be printed next time. Compared with the case of writing the print data necessary for the next printing operation, the printing can be completed in a shorter time.

A recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the controller section is configured to perform the first operation during the printing operation of the print data in the first area. The print data to be printed from the next time onward is written in the printed area of the second area, and the second data transferred to the first area is written.
The print data necessary for one printing operation is completed together with the print data in the area.

In the above configuration, during the printing operation of the print data in the first area, the print data to be printed in the next time or later is written in the printed area in the first area. Since it does not take time only for writing the print data to be performed, the time required for that can be reduced and the printing process can be speeded up.

A recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the controller section further stores specific data in a predetermined area of the storage means. And a block copy function for transferring data in a predetermined area in the storage means to another area.

In the above configuration, the memory fill function and the block copy function can be achieved by using the above-mentioned function for transferring the print data by the control unit.

A recording apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the print head ejects ink droplets for printing. Type print head.

In the above construction, since the print head is an ink jet type print head, C having a high processing capacity is used.
The inkjet printing operation can be performed at high speed without using the PU.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a printer 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a printing mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism, a purging device and the like. The printing mechanism 2 includes a head unit 6 having an inkjet print head 5, and a print head 5.
Consists of an ink cartridge 7 that supplies ink to the
The head unit 6 and the ink cartridge 7 are mounted on the carriage 8. Here, the carriage 8 is driven by a carriage motor 10 via a belt 9, and moves horizontally along a carriage shaft 11. The print head 5 has a plurality of nozzles, and ejects ink from the nozzles in accordance with the movement of the carriage 8.

The paper feed mechanism 3 moves the print paper supplied from the paper feed cassette or the manual paper feed unit while facing the print head 5, and includes a platen roller 12, a pressure roller 13, and a line feed ( LF) Motor 31
(See FIG. 2) and the like. The printing paper supplied from the paper feeding cassette or the like is held in pressure contact with the platen roller 12 and the pressure roller 13, and the line feed motor 31
Moved according to the rotation of.

The purging device 4 eliminates the occurrence of ejection failure due to the generation of bubbles inside the print head 5 and the deposition of ink droplets on the ejection surface, thereby achieving a good ejection state. It is a device for recovery. A cap 14 is provided at the tip of the purging device 4, and when the print head 5 is covered with the cap 14, a negative pressure is generated by a pump to suck the defective ink inside the print head 5. The print head 5 is recovered.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram showing a control system of the printer 1. An image memory (storage means) 21 for temporarily storing print data and an ASIC (application. Application) for executing data access to the image memory 21.
A specific integrated circuit) circuit 22 and a one-chip microcomputer 23 which is a CPU for controlling each part of the printer are shown. 1-chip microcomputer 23
Is connected to the ASIC circuit 22, the ROM 24, the RAM 25, the operation panel 26, the motor drivers 27 and 28, the paper sensor 29, and the origin sensor 30, and exchanges data with each unit as necessary. The motor driver 27 drives the carriage motor 10, and the motor driver 28 drives the line feed motor 31. The paper sensor 29 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of printing paper, and the origin sensor 30 is a sensor that detects that the print head 5 is at the origin position.

The ASIC circuit 22 is, for example, a hard logic circuit such as a gate array (G / A) or a standard cell, and is connected to a host computer 33 via an interface unit, for example, a Centro IF unit 32. The Centro IF unit 32 uses the Centronics standard specifications to send 8-bit print data to the ASIC circuit 22.
To send to. The ASIC circuit 22 is also connected to a print head driver 34 that drives the print head 5, and print data 34a that is serial data, a transfer clock 34b that takes a transfer timing of the print data, and a print timing of the print head 5 are set. The print clock 34c is output.

The ASIC circuit 22 has an address bus 23a.
And a one-chip microcomputer 23 via a data bus 23b. The ASIC circuit 22 receives the print timing signal 23d from the one-chip microcomputer 23, while
An interrupt signal 23c is supplied to the chip microcomputer 23. The print timing signal 23d is a signal notifying that the carriage 8 has reached the print start point in the constant speed area, and the interrupt signal 23c is a signal related to DMA (direct memory access) processing by the ASIC circuit 22. is there.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing the internal structure of the ASIC circuit 22 shown in FIG. AS shown
The IC circuit 22 is a controller 35 that controls each part of the circuit.
And a print data transfer unit 37 for sending the print data 34a and the like to the print head driver 34. The controller 35 outputs a control signal 21a for controlling data writing (WR) and reading (RD) of the image memory 21, and also an address value of a read address register 38 that determines a read address (read address) of the image memory 21, Also, the address value of the write address register 39 that defines the write address (write address) is incremented at a predetermined timing.

The controller 35 outputs a data latch signal 35a to a data register 40 for temporarily storing (latching) print data for transfer of the print data,
A transfer number counter 41 for counting the number of transfer rasters of print data is decremented at a predetermined timing. The initial values of the read address register 38, the write address register 39, and the transfer number counter 41 are set by the one-chip microcomputer 23. Further, the controller 35 receives the strobe (stb) signal 32b output from the centro IF (interface) unit 32, detects the reception timing of the data 32c, and prohibits the AND gate 44 receiving the same strobe signal 32b from interrupting. The signal 44a is output.

The print data transfer unit 37 is a circuit that receives print data from the image memory 21 and sends it to the print head driver 34, and operates based on a control signal 37a from the controller 35. Control signal 37
a is a command corresponding to the print timing signal 23d indicating the print start timing, and the print data transfer unit 37
After receiving the control signal 37a, the print clock 34c is output based on the encoder signal of the carriage 8 to eject ink from the print head 5 in accordance with the traveling of the carriage 8. Further, the print data transfer unit 37 serially transfers the print data 34a for 64 nozzles required for one printing to the print head driver 34.

The interface control section 45 is a section for receiving the data 32c transferred from the Centro IF section 32 on the host computer side, and transfers the received data 32c to the one-chip microcomputer 23. The interface control unit 45 is controlled by a control signal 32a such as ACK or BUSY, and receives the data 32c from the centro IF unit 32 in synchronization with the strobe signal 32b. The address decoder 46 is the one-chip microcomputer 23.
It is a circuit that decodes the address signal sent from to select the corresponding register, and sets the data (register value and command contents) sent to the data bus 23b to each selected register.

FIG. 4 shows the print head driver 3 shown in FIG.
4 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of No. The print head driver 34 is a circuit that drives the print head 5 based on the print data 34a sent from the print data transfer unit 37, and includes a parallel conversion unit 47, an AND gate array 48, and a driver 49. There is. Parallel conversion unit 47
Print data 34a which is serially transferred in synchronization with the transfer clock 34b and converts serial data for 60 bits into parallel data.
Is a circuit for driving the print head 5 based on the parallel conversion section 47, the AND gate array 48, and the driver 49.
It is composed of The parallel conversion unit 47 is a circuit that takes in the print data 34a that is serially transferred in synchronization with the transfer clock 34b and converts the serial data of 60 bits into parallel data. And
The parallel data for one raster is printed by the print clock 34.
In synchronism with c, it is transmitted to the driver 49 through the AND gate array 48, and ink is ejected from the print head 5 in a corresponding dot pattern.

Next, the expansion of print data in the image memory 21 and the like in the printer 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the image memory 21, and FIGS. 6A to 6C and 7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining the operation of the image memory 21. In the image memory 21, a 32 kbyte memory area is divided into blocks as shown in FIG. In this figure, a region A is a line buffer, that is, a print data storage region (first region), and has a capacity for one line (60 rasters) for printing in one printing operation. The remaining area B excluding the area A is used as a temporary storage area (second area), and the area B has a buffer area having a capacity (31 rasters) of about half of one row.

The area A is divided into 31 rasters on the upper side and the remaining 29 rasters on the lower side in raster units, and these areas are divided into two in the row direction to set the areas A1 to A4 (see FIG. 5). . Here, area B is divided into 31 rasters.
This is because the area equal to is acquired in the area A. As will be described later, since the area B may store print data for one line together with the half of the area A, the area B may have half the capacity of the area A.

In the initial state, both areas A and B are unused, but when the reception of the print data is started, as shown in FIG. 6A, 60 rasters are sequentially provided from the first raster of the area A. Print data is created.

When the print data for one line, that is, 60 rasters, is completed in the area A, the controller 35 receives the print data from the area A via the data bus 21c to start the printing operation in accordance with the print timing signal 23d. It is sent to the print data transfer unit 37. When the print data transfer unit 37 outputs the print clock 34c to the print head driver 34,
The print head driver 34 drives the print head 5 based on the print data 34a to perform printing. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6B, in the area B, print data for 31 rasters of the print data for the next row is created.

When the printer 1 is printing from left to right, printing of A1 and A3 in the front half of the area A (A2 and A4 and so on when printing from right to left) is completed (FIG. 6). (See (c)), the remaining 32nd to 60th rasters of the print data of the next line are overwritten on A1 and A3. However, since each of the areas A1 and A3 has only half of the row, the front half and the rear half of each raster are divided into two dot rows and written as shown in FIG. 7A. This area A
The print data is written in the areas A2 and A4.
This is completed by the time the printing operation of the print data of 1 is completed and the carriage 5 stops.

When the printing of the print data in the latter half areas A2 and A4 is completed, the print data in the areas A1 and A3 are transferred by the controller 35 as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, data for only 29 rasters are written in the areas A1 and A3. Therefore, the data of the 60th raster is written in the 57th to 58th dot rows of the area A3, and the lower 2 dot rows of the area A3 are vacant. As a result, upon transfer, the data of the 57th dot row in the area A3 is stored in the 60th dot row of the same area and the data of the 58th dot row is stored in the area A 3.
4 to the 60th dot row.
Similarly, the first half of each raster is transferred to the area A3 and the second half is transferred to the area A4 from the bottom.

In this way, when the print data in the areas A1 and A3 are transferred to the areas A3 and A4, the areas A1 and A2 become empty. Since the area B and the areas A1 and A2 have the same capacity, the print data of the area B is set to the area A as shown in FIG.
1, A2 can be directly transferred. As a result, one line of print data is completed in the areas A1, A2, A3, A4. Then, the printing operation is started in the same manner as above from the end of the new line from the five current positions of the print head, whichever is closer. The above operation is continued until the printing of the print data of all lines is completed. As a result, the print data is efficiently received from the host computer 33, and the printer 1
The printing ability of can be improved.

The writing of the print data in the image memory 21 as described above is realized by the one-chip microcomputer 23 and the controller 35 performing the following control. First, the control performed by the one-chip microcomputer 23 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the processing in the above control by the one-chip microcomputer 23. When writing the print data to the image memory 21, an operation (fill mode) of directly writing the print data received from the host computer 33 to the image memory 21 by the DMA is performed, or the print data is already stored in the image memory 21.
It is determined whether or not the operation (copy mode) of transferring the print data written in to the other area in the image memory 21 is performed (S1).

If the fill mode is determined in S1, 1
The chip microcomputer 23 stores in the write address register 39,
An address (write address) for writing the print data is set (S2), and the print data to be written is temporarily set in the data register 40 (S3). Then, after setting the number of bytes of print data to be written in the image memory 21 in the transfer number counter 42 (S4), a fill command is given to the controller 35 (S5). The one-chip microcomputer 23 gives the above-mentioned commands to the controller 35, and causes the controller 35 to write the print data from the host computer 33 to the image memory 21.

If the copy mode is determined in S1, 1
The chip microcomputer 23 stores in the read address register 38,
The transfer source print data address (read address) is set (S6), and the transfer destination address (write address) is set in the write address register 39 (S7). Then, after setting the number of bytes of the print data to be transferred to the transfer number counter 42 (S8), the controller 3
A copy command is given to 5 (S9). One-chip microcomputer 2
3 gives the above-mentioned command to the controller 35, and causes the controller 35 to transfer the print data in the image memory 21.

Next, the control performed by the controller 35 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows the controller 35
FIG. 4 is a state transition diagram when the above control is performed. In the initial state, the controller 35 is in the standby state (STφ). When the controller 35 receives the fill command from the one-chip microcomputer 23, the process proceeds to ST3, and the write address already set in the write address register 39 by the one-chip microcomputer 23 is enabled. Then, unconditionally transiting to ST4, the 1-chip microcomputer 2 has already been
The contents of the data register 40 set by 3 are written in the portion designated by the write address. After that, the value of the transfer number counter 41 is decremented by 1 in ST5, and if the transfer counter ≠ φ, the process proceeds to ST6 and the value of the write address register 39 is incremented by 1.
By repeating this series of operations until the value of the transfer number counter 41 becomes 0, the same print data is written in the image memory 21.

When the controller 35 is in the standby state (STφ) and the copy command is received from the one-chip microcomputer 23, the process proceeds to ST1 and the read address already set in the read address register 38 by the one-chip microcomputer 23 is read. Enabled The contents of the print data designated by the read address are latched in the data register 40 in ST2. Next, transition to ST3, where 1 is already
Write address register 3 by chip microcomputer 23
Enable the write address set to 9, and set S
Transition to T4, and the contents of the data register 40 are written in the portion specified by this write address. Then, the value of the transfer number counter 41 is decremented by 1 in ST5, and if the transfer counter ≠ φ, the process proceeds to ST6 and the value of the write address register 39 is incremented by 1 in the read address register 38 and ST7. By continuing this series of operations until the value of the transfer number counter 41 becomes 0, the print data in the image memory 21 is transferred.

As described above, according to the printer 1 of this embodiment, when the print data received from the host computer 33 is written in the image memory 21, the ASIC is used.
Since the controller 35 in the circuit 22 directly transfers the print data to the image memory 21, the load of processing performed by the one-chip microcomputer 23 is reduced. Further, the one-chip microcomputer 23 gives the controller 35 a value of the read address, the write address, the number of transfer data, a fill command, a copy command, etc. ~ A
4, the print data is transferred between the areas B and the print data for one line to be printed by one printing operation is completed, so that the 1-chip microcomputer 23 does not have to perform the processing such as the transfer and the like. The load on the microcomputer 23 is reduced.

While the print data for the area A is being printed, about half of the print data for the next line is written in the area B, and the print operation for half the print data for the area A is performed. When the printing is finished, the remaining half of the print data of the next line is written in the area A where the printed print data is written. Therefore, it takes time to write the print data of the next line. Never. Further, the print data required for one printing operation of the next line can be completed by transferring about half the print data of the next line written in the area B to the area A. Completion can be completed in a shorter time than in the case where print data necessary for one printing operation of the next line is newly written from 33.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, when half of the print data written in the area A of the image memory 21 has been printed, the area A where the print data that has been printed is written from the host computer 33. Although the rest of the print data of the next line is written, in this case, after waiting for the printing of all the print data of the area A to be completed, the area B is added to the areas A1 and A2.
It is also possible to directly transfer the print data of No. 3 and write the rest of the print data of the next line from the host computer 33 directly to the areas A3 and A4.

Further, according to the present invention, the control unit uses the above-mentioned function of transferring print data to write a specific data in a predetermined area of the image memory 21, a memory fill function, and a data in a predetermined area of the image memory 21. The block copy function of transferring to another area can be achieved. This function can be used for checking the image memory 21 when the printer is started.

[0046]

As described above, according to the recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the controller section in the hard logic circuit is written in the storage means based on a predetermined command from the CPU. Since the print data to be printed after the next time is transferred to another area in the storage means so as to complete the print data necessary for one printing operation, CP
Since the U does not have to be in charge of this transfer process and only needs to give a predetermined command to the hard logic circuit, the load on the CPU is reduced and the printing process is speeded up as a whole.
Therefore, the printing operation can be performed at high speed without using an expensive CPU having a high processing capacity.

According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the CPU causes the controller section to transfer the number of rasters of the print data written in the storage means and to be printed after the next time. , If a command specifying the transfer source address and the transfer destination address is given, the values are set in the transfer number counter, read address register, and write address register in the hard logic circuit,
Since the controller unit transfers the print data via the data register based on the value, the load on the CPU is reduced and the print process is speeded up as a whole.

Further, according to the recording apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, since the hard logic circuit for directly transferring the print data from the host computer to the storage means based on the DMA command is provided, this processing is performed. About CP
The load on the U is reduced, and the printing process is speeded up as a whole.

According to the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the controller section transfers the print data of the second area to the first area so that the print data to be printed next time or later. Since the print data necessary for one print operation is completed together with the rest of the data, the print data required for the next print operation can be completed in a shorter time than when the print data is newly written from the host computer.

According to the recording apparatus of the fifth aspect, during the printing operation of the print data in the first area,
Since the print data to be printed after the next time is written in the printed area of the first area, it does not take time just to write the print data to be printed after the next time. The time can be reduced and the printing process can be speeded up.

According to the recording apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the controller section further has a memory fill function of writing specific data in a predetermined area of the storage means, and a data of the predetermined area in the storage means to another area. Since it has the block copy function to transfer to the area, the controller section uses the above-mentioned function to transfer the print data,
A block copy function can be achieved.

According to the recording apparatus of the seventh aspect of the invention, since the print head is an ink jet type print head, the ink jet type printing operation can be performed without using a CPU having a high processing capacity. It can be done at high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a printer which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram showing a control system of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram showing an internal configuration of the ASIC circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 illustrates an internal configuration of the print head driver shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image memory.

6A to 6C are diagrams for explaining the operation of the image memory.

7A to 7C are diagrams for explaining the operation of the image memory.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process in control performed by a one-chip microcomputer for expanding print data in an image memory.

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram of the controller when the controller controls to expand the print data in the image memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 2 Printing Mechanism 5 Print Head 21 Image Memory 22 ASIC Circuit 23 1 Chip Microcomputer 33 Host Computer 34 Print Head Driver 35 Controller 37 Print Data Transfer Section 38 Read Address Register 39 Write Address Register 40 Data Register 41 Transfer Number Counter

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A printer receives print data required for at least one printing operation from a host computer, writes the print data in a storage means, and prints the print data based on the print data written in the storage means by a print head after the next printing. In a recording device capable of writing at least a part of print data to be stored in the storage means, a CPU that program-controls the operation of each part of the device, and the print data read from the storage means into print head driving data. It is interposed between the print head driver for conversion and the CPU and the storage means, and based on a predetermined command from the CPU, the print data to be printed after the next time written in the storage means
A recording apparatus comprising a hard logic circuit having a controller section for transferring to another area in the storage means so as to complete as print data necessary for one printing operation. 2. The predetermined command from the CPU specifies a transfer data number, a transfer source address, and a transfer destination address of the print data to be printed next time and written in the storage means. The hard logic circuit includes a transfer number counter for counting the number of transfer data, a read address register for storing the transfer source address, a write address register for storing the transfer destination address, and the write address register. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data register that temporarily stores the contents of the print data in order to transfer the print data to a designated address. 3. The controller unit directly transfers print data from the host computer to the storage unit based on a direct memory access (DMA) command from the CPU. Alternatively, the recording device according to claim 2. 4. The storage means writes a print data necessary for one print operation in a first area and a part of print data to be printed next time, and the first area is more than the first area. And a small second area, wherein the controller unit transfers the print data of the second area to the first area, and once with the rest of the print data to be printed next time or later. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing data necessary for the printing operation is completed. 5. The controller unit writes the print data to be printed next time or later into the printed area of the first area during the printing operation of the print data of the first area, 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print data necessary for one printing operation is completed together with the print data in the second area transferred to the area. 6. The controller section further has a memory fill function of writing specific data in a predetermined area of the storage means, and a block copy function of transferring data of a predetermined area in the storage means to another area. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print head is an inkjet print head that ejects ink droplets to print.