JPH0958063A - Page printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the control of font to be newly created proper and improve the efficiency of use by providing a means for deleting new font which keeps only the newly created font which is used last among the sets of newly created font stored in a storage means and deletes all the other sets of font, when ending the printing. SOLUTION: When receiving print data from a host computer 17, the print data is stored in a receiving buffer 13a, and data is analyzed based on the data from the receiving buffer 13a. If it is found as a result of the data analysis that the font is for changing the symbol set of CGROM(character generator read only memory) 14, font required as appropriate for all characters included in the symbol set is created in accordance with the font for changing the symbol set of CGROM, and is stored in newly created font memory. Next, the data is printed by developing an image based on the newly created font. After the end of printing out data equivalent to a single page, all the sets of newly created font are deleted out of a memory unit 15a excepting only the font used last to be left undeleted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a page printer which receives data for one page and prints page by page.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Today's page printers are generally provided with a large number of fonts in order to achieve high quality printing results. For example, it is possible to print in accordance with all kinds of conditions such as the type of characters such as Gothic and Mincho, the size and orientation, and the resolution. These fonts are usually composed of image data and stored in advance in a CGROM (Character Generator Read On Memory) (fixed holding of fonts).

Then, the image data corresponding to the character data received from the external device such as the host computer is taken out from the CGROM and developed into an image R.
Store in AM. Printing is performed based on the image data from this image RAM (random access memory).

However, if all the fonts of the image data as described above are stored in the CGROM, a very large memory capacity is required.
It becomes impossible to downsize the device and reduce the cost.
Also, even if many fonts are held, memory will be wasted if they are not used.

To solve this problem, CGROM
It is thought that you should reduce the fonts stored in
By doing this, the number of fonts that can be printed will decrease,
The function will deteriorate.

Therefore, conventionally, only the most general basic font is stored in the CGROM, and the other fonts are stored in the CGROM.
I'm going to create what I need from this basic font (dynamic retention of fonts). For example, a font of any size is created from a basic font, and the necessary fonts are created by vertical / horizontal conversion.

[0007]

However, even such a page printer still has a problem that it requires a large memory storage capacity. That is, CGRO
Although the storage capacity of M itself can be reduced, the capacity of the memory for storing the newly created font must be increased. This makes it impossible to reduce the total memory capacity.

Moreover, if the created fonts are not used again, the newly created fonts will increase and the usage efficiency will deteriorate.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by appropriately managing the newly created font, it is possible to improve the use efficiency of the memory and reduce the required memory capacity, and further, maintain the font function at a high level. It intends to provide a page printer that can.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in a page printer which receives data for each page, develops an image, and prints based on the image data, the received data is temporarily stored. The receiving buffer, the basic font storing means that stores only the predetermined basic font, and the data stored in the receiving buffer is taken out and analyzed, and the font necessary for printing the data changes the predetermined basic font. If the font determination means for determining whether or not the font necessary for printing the data does not change the basic font, the data is developed based on the basic font in the basic font storage means. The basic font expansion means and the font required for the font judgment means to print the data are the basic fonts. If it is determined that is to change the door, and new font creation means for newly created based on the font base font basic font storage means,
New font storage means for storing the newly created font created by this new font creation means, new font expansion means for developing the image of the data based on the newly created font from this new font storage means, and at the end of printing. A new font deleting means is provided for deleting all the newly created fonts last used among the newly created fonts stored in the new font storage means.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration.
1 is a CPU (central processing unit) that constitutes the main body of the control unit, 1
2 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores program data for the CPU 11 to control each unit; 13 is a RAM (random access memory) that is provided with a memory used by the CPU 11 for data processing; Reference numeral 14 is a CGR used when converting character data from the host computer 17 into image data.
OM, 15 is an image RAM for storing image data of a font in which character data is expanded,
Reference numeral 16 is an interface for connecting a host computer 17 via a communication line, and 18 is a mechanical system 1 having a printing mechanism.
9 is a mechanical controller that drives and controls 9.

Although the mechanical system 19 differs depending on the printing method, the present invention can be applied to various page printers. For example, in the case of an electrophotographic printer, it is a photosensitive drum, an exposure section, a development section, a transfer section, etc. A printer or the like includes a print head that prints out on paper based on image data, a transport mechanism that transports the paper to the print head, and the like.

CPU 11 and ROM 12, RAM 1
3, the CGROM 14, the image RAM 15, the interface 16, and the mechanical controller 18 are connected to the bus line 20.
Are electrically connected.

The CGROM 14 stores in advance image data (symbol set) of a generally used predetermined basic font. This symbol set is
For example, a plurality of characters are included with a set of ASCII code strings of commonly used characters as one unit.

The CPU 11 creates a necessary font from the symbol set of the CGROM 14 to generate an image R.
It is designed to develop images for AM. For example, a font of any size is created from a basic font, and the necessary fonts are created by vertical / horizontal conversion.

The RAM 13 has an interface 15
A reception buffer 13a is provided for temporarily storing print data (characters) received from the host computer 16 via the. Further, the image RAM 14 is provided with a new font memory 15a for storing a new font newly created by the CPU 11 from the symbol set.

The CPU 11 is adapted to perform print control as shown in FIG. 2 when performing printing. In ST (step) 1, it is judged whether or not a transmission start command of data (character data) to be printed is received from the host computer 17. At this time, if there is a transmission start command, the data from the host computer 17 is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 13a in ST2.

Subsequently, in ST3, the print information such as the font and resolution necessary for taking out the data from the receiving buffer 13a and printing it out is analyzed. Then, in ST4, it is determined whether or not the font is a font whose symbol set is changed (font determining means).

At this time, when it is determined that the font is one whose symbol set is changed, in ST5, a necessary font corresponding to all the characters included in the symbol set from the CGROM 14 is created in accordance with the font (new. Font creation means), new font memory 15
Stored in a. Then, in ST6, new font memory 1
Image data corresponding to the character data received based on the newly created font 5a is stored in the image RAM 15 (new font developing means), and the process proceeds to ST8.

On the other hand, when it is determined in ST4 that the font does not change the symbol set, in ST7, the image data corresponding to the character data received based on the symbol set is stored in the image RAM 15 (basic font). (Developing means), and the process proceeds to ST8.

Then, in ST8, it is determined whether or not the data analysis for one page is completed. At this time, if it is determined that the data analysis for one page is completed, the process returns to ST3. If it is determined that the data analysis for one page is not completed yet, the image from the image RAM 15 is read at ST9. Based on the data, the mechanical system 19 is controlled via the mechanical controller 18 to print out.

Subsequently, in ST10, it is determined whether or not printing for one page is completed. When it is determined that the printing for one page is not completed yet, the process returns to ST9, and when it is determined that the printing for one page is completed,
In ST11, only the font used at the end of one page is left and all other newly created fonts are deleted from the new font memory 15a (new font deletion means), and ST
Return to the process of 3.

The reason why only the font used at the end of one page is left in this way is that the font used at the end of a page is likely to be used in the next page.

In the embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, when print data (character data) is received from the host computer 17, this is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 13a. Then, this reception buffer 13
Data analysis is performed based on the data from a. As a result of this data analysis, if the font is not the one that changes the symbol set of the CGROM 14, the image development is performed based on the font of this symbol set.

On the other hand, as a result of data analysis, CGRO
In the case of a font for changing the symbol set of M14, a necessary font corresponding to all the characters included in this symbol set is created according to the font and stored in the new font memory 15a.

For example, when the symbol set is a vertical character font and a horizontal character font obtained as a result of data analysis is required, all vertical characters in the symbol set are rotated to create a horizontal font. The horizontal font is stored in the new font memory 15a. And
Image development based on this newly created font,
Printing is performed based on this image data.

As described above, by creating a new font, the capacity of the CGROM 14 can be reduced, and more fonts can be printed as before.
The font function can be maintained at a high level.

All fonts other than the symbol set used in one page are stored in the new font memory 15a as newly created fonts. Therefore, if there are multiple fonts other than the symbol set on one page,
Since the image can be developed from the newly created font that has already been created, the data processing can be speeded up compared with the case where new fonts are created sequentially.

When the printing output of one page is completed, only the font used at the end of one page is left and all other newly created fonts are new font memory 15a.
Remove from. In this way, the new font memory 15 is organized by arranging unnecessary newly created fonts every time printing of one page is completed and managing the newly created fonts appropriately.
The capacity of a can be saved. Therefore, the required storage capacity of the entire memory can be reduced.

Further, since only the font used at the end of one page is left, it is not necessary to recreate the font even when the font is used for printing the next page, so that the memory usage efficiency is improved. In addition, the data processing can be speeded up, and the overall throughput can be improved.

[0032]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the management efficiency of newly created fonts can be optimized, and the efficiency of memory usage can be improved and the required memory capacity can be reduced. Moreover, it is possible to provide a page printer that can maintain the font function at a high level.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing print control performed by the CPU of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... CPU 13a ... Reception buffer 14 ... CGROM 15a ... New font memory (font storage means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A page printer that receives data for each page, develops an image, and prints based on the image data. A receive buffer for temporarily storing the received data and a predetermined basic font. A basic font storage means for storing only the data and a font judgment for extracting the data stored in the reception buffer and analyzing the data to judge whether or not the font necessary for printing the data is to change a predetermined basic font. And a basic font expanding means for expanding the image of the data based on the basic font of the basic font storing means when the font judging means judges that the font required for printing the data does not change the basic font. , The font determining means changes the basic font as the font required for printing the data. When it is determined that the font is a new font creating means for creating a new font based on the basic font of the basic font storing means, and a new font storage for storing the newly created font created by the new font creating means. Means, a new font developing means for developing an image of the data based on the newly created font from the new font storing means, and a newly created last used newly created font stored in the new font storing means at the end of printing. A page printer provided with a new font deleting means for deleting all but the fonts.