JPH10138610A - Method and apparatus for forming image, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To conform each end point processing at a host side and a printer side. SOLUTION: When the printing device 1000 receives printing data from a host computer 3000, it determines whether the data is a plotting command or not at a command determination part 1102. When it is a plotting command, it is converted to an intermediate code at an analyzer part 1103 and then sent to a command execution part 1104. When it is a set command of the end points, the set value is stored in an EP storing part 1104a. In the command execution part 1104, in reference to the number of end points to be blackened stored in the EP storing part 1104a, the end points of developed image data are blackened so as to make images thick. Besides, a value to be stored in the EP storing part 1104a is available to be a value set previously in accordance with the program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and method for forming and outputting an image in accordance with print information from an external device, and a printing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus, a figure is printed by mapping a coordinate value designated by a control command transmitted from a printer driver to a memory area called a page memory or a band memory. Here, from a mathematical point of view, the coordinate value is a grid in an infinitely small coordinate space, but the grid inside the printer has a physical size of a dot due to a restriction of a printing mechanism. For this reason, as a method of expressing mathematical (no size) coordinate points as physical (large) coordinate points,
Generally, there are two methods. The first is that the coordinate points
One method is to take the contact point of one dot, and the other is to take the coordinate point at the center of the dot. In the former method and the latter method, even if the same coordinates are specified, the drawing result is different at the end of the figure. For example, point A (0,0) and point B
When a rectangle is drawn by designating two vertices (6, 6), the drawing result by the former method is a 5 × 5 dot rectangle as shown in FIG. 12A, and the drawing result by the latter method is It is a 6 × 6 dot rectangle as shown in FIG.
In other words, a difference of one dot occurs depending on whether the dot at the end of the rectangle is painted or not painted. In this manner, the end dot of the figure (the dot forming the outline of the figure and having the same y-coordinate value or y-coordinate value among the dots having the same x-coordinate value or y-coordinate value) ends. A method of indicating a coordinate point as a contact point of four dots as shown in FIG. 12A is a method of not painting an end point, and a method of indicating a coordinate point as a dot center as shown in FIG. This is called the method of painting points.

In a conventional printing apparatus, which method to use for expressing coordinate points, that is, whether or not to paint an end point, is determined in advance depending on the type of control language of the printer.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional example, when the handling of the endpoint is different between the host and the printer, the printer driver on the host that transmits the print data to the printer uses the OS or the application. It was necessary to process the coordinate values received from the company and adjust them to the printer side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example. By dynamically switching the processing of an endpoint on the printer side, the handling of the endpoint is synchronized between the host side and the printer side, thereby improving the efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, a method, and a printing system that enable efficient printing.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on received print data, a receiving unit that receives the print data, a storage unit that stores the number of endpoints to be filled, and a print data that is received by the receiving unit. Image developing means for expanding the image by making the image thicker by the number of endpoints stored in the storage means.

Alternatively, in an image forming method for re-forming an image based on received print data, a receiving step of receiving print data, and determining whether the received print data is the number of endpoints to be filled are determined. A storage step of storing the number of endpoints if necessary, and an image expansion step of expanding the image based on the print data received in the reception step and expanding the image by the number of endpoints stored in the storage step And

Alternatively, in a printing system, a generating means for generating print data expressing an image in a predetermined coordinate expression, and a first means for transmitting data indicating the predetermined coordinate expression
A host device comprising: a transmitting unit; and a second transmitting unit that transmits the print data generated by the generating unit;
Receiving the data transmitted by the first transmitting means,
The printing apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image based on the print data transmitted by the second transmitting unit, and a printing device that includes a unit that prints out the image formed by the image forming unit.

Alternatively, there is provided a computer-readable memory for storing a program for re-forming an image based on received print data, wherein a code of a receiving step for receiving the print data and the number of endpoints to be filled with the received print data are provided. Is determined, and if the number of endpoints is equal to the number of endpoints stored based on the code of the storing step for storing the number of endpoints and the print data received in the receiving step, and the number of endpoints stored in the storing step. And a code for an image developing step for developing the image.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment <Configuration of Printing System> Before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, a configuration of a laser beam printer (hereinafter, referred to as “LBP”) suitable for applying the present embodiment will be described. 1 will be described.

The printer to which this embodiment is applied is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that a printer of another printing method may be used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer applied to this embodiment.
Can register a character pattern or a fixed format (form data) from a data source (not shown). In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and responds according to the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, and the like are created, and an image is formed on a recording paper as a recording medium. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LED display are arranged, and 1001 denotes a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 1000 and analyzing character information supplied from a host computer. This control unit 1001
Mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on and off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal.

A laser 1004 is swung right and left by a rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan on an electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper. The cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 1008 mounted on the LBP 1000, is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 1009 and transport rollers 1010 and 1011 and is transferred to an electrostatic drum 1006. Supplied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the printing apparatus 1000. In FIG. 2, the host 300
Data received from 0 is temporarily stored in the reception buffer 1101 via the interface 1200. The stored data is determined by the command determination unit 1102 as to whether it is a print control command. The print control command is analyzed by the command analysis unit 1103, converted into an intermediate code, processed by the command execution unit 1104 such as drawing, and the developed image is stored in the page memory 1105.
Is stored in This image is printed out from the printer engine unit 1400 under the control of the output control unit 1300.

Commands other than the print control command are directly processed by the command execution unit. Among them, the endpoint setting command described later stores the number of endpoints associated with the command in the EP storage unit 1104a, and is referred to when the image is developed.

Each functional block of the printing apparatus 1000 can be realized by executing a predetermined program by the CPU 12 of the printing apparatus 1000 in FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printer control system according to the present embodiment. Here, a laser beam printer (FIG. 1) will be described as an example.

In FIG. 10, reference numeral 3000 denotes a host computer, which is used to store figures, images, characters,
The system includes a CPU 1 that executes document processing in which tables (including spreadsheets and the like) are mixed, and the CPU 1 comprehensively controls each device connected to the system device 4. Also, this RO
The control program of the CPU 1 and the like are stored in the program ROM of the M3, the font data and the like used in the above document processing are stored in the font ROM of the RAM 3,
The data ROM of the OM3 stores various data used when performing the above-described document processing and the like.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a RAM, which functions as a main memory of the CPU 1, a work area, and the like. A keyboard controller (KBC) 5 controls a key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a CRT controller (CRTC), and a CRT display (CR
T) Control the display of 10. A memory controller (MC) 7 controls access to an external memory 11 such as a hard disk (HD) or a floppy disk (FD) for storing a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edited files, and the like. .
Reference numeral 8 denotes a printer controller (PRTC), which is connected to the printer 1000 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21 and executes communication control processing with the printer 1000.

The CPU 1 executes a process of rasterizing the outline font into the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, for example,
YSIWYG is possible. Further, the CPU 1
Various registered windows are opened based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on the RT 10,
Perform various data processing.

In the printer 1000, reference numeral 12 denotes a printer CPU, and various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program or the like stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program or the like stored in the external memory 14. And outputs an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected via a printing unit interface 16. The program R in the ROM 13
The OM may store a control program of the CPU 12 or the like as shown in the flowchart of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used for generating the output information. The data ROM of the ROM 13 has a host ROM for a printer without an external memory 14 such as a hard disk. It stores information used on the computer. C
The PU 12 is capable of performing communication processing with the host computer via the input unit 18, and is configured to be able to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer and the like.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like of the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an extension port (not shown). Note that RAM1
Reference numeral 9 denotes an output information development area, an environment data storage area, and the like. In the first embodiment, an NVRAM (non-volatile R) for storing printer setting information described later is used.
AM) 191.

The external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) or an IC card is provided with a memory controller (M
C) Access is controlled by 20. External memory 14
Is connected as an option, and stores font data, an emulation program (including a procedure shown in a flowchart described later), form data, and the like. 18
Are switches and LE for operation on the operation panel described above.
A D display and the like are provided. The above-mentioned external memory is not limited to one. At least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in fonts, an optional font card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different language systems can be connected. It may be configured. <Description of Print Control Procedure> Next, the overall print control processing procedure in the printing apparatus thus configured in the present embodiment will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. This flowchart corresponds to the RO of FIG.
M13 or the external memory 14 and the RAM 19
2 shows the procedure of a program loaded by the CPU 12 and executed by the CPU 12.
100. S301 to S306 in FIG. 3 and S401 to S306 in FIG.
408 indicates each processing step.

FIG. 3 shows that the printing apparatus 1000 is a host 3000
3 shows a main process from the start of an operation after receiving a print control command from the printer to the end thereof. The print control commands include an end point designation command, a paper ejection command, a drawing command including image data, and the like. First, in step S301, the host computer 300
0, and receives the print data sent from
1101 is stocked in the reception buffer in M19. Next, in step S302, the print data stored in the reception buffer 1101 is read, and in step S303, it is determined whether the print control command being processed is an end point designation command. The endpoint designation command is described, for example, as follows.

{Ep {0} IS2} This command is a command for painting zero endpoints, that is, setting for not painting the endpoints. In this case, the image is drawn as shown in FIG. The end point is set in the first parameter {} following the command "ep", and is usually set to 1 when painting. {IS2} is a separator indicating the command delimiter 3. When the end point is 1, FIG.
The image is drawn as shown in FIG. As the value of the endpoint, two or more values can be set.

If it is an end point notification command, the flow advances to step S304. The specified endpoint,
That is, the number of dots of the end point to be painted (usually 0 or 1) is set in the RAM 19 or the EP storage unit 1104 a provided in the external memory 14. EP set
The number is referred to when drawing a figure. On the other hand, step S303
If the received command is not an end point designation command, the process directly proceeds to step S305 to perform drawing processing, and then, in step S306, whether a print end command has been received or whether print data has ended. Is determined, and if printing is completed, the printing operation ends. If the printing is not completed, the processing from step S301 is repeated.

FIG. 4 shows the drawing process used in FIG. This process is a process for actually performing a printing process. First, in step S401, it is checked whether the received print control command is a discharge command. If the print control command is a discharge command, the process advances to step S406 to perform processing. The paper ejection command in this printer is 0C (hexadecimal).

If it is determined in step S401 that the command is not a paper ejection command, it is determined whether or not the command is a command for expanding processing to a page memory such as printing or drawing a figure (step S402).
Go to 05 to execute the command immediately.

Steps S402 to S4
When the process proceeds to 03, an intermediate code in a form that facilitates command execution processing is generated. For example, a rectangle drawing command “{ec} R <X coordinate 1>;<Y coordinate 1>;<X coordinate 2
>;<Y coordinate 2>"is a command for drawing a rectangle having the position (<X coordinate 1>, <Y coordinate 1>) and the position (<X coordinate 2>, <Y coordinate 2>) as diagonals. However, this rectangle is represented by (<X coordinate 1>, <Y coordinate 1>) and (<X coordinate 1>, <
Y coordinate 2>) (<X coordinate 1>, <Y coordinate 2>) and (<X coordinate 2>, <
(Y coordinate 2>) (<X coordinate 2>, <Y coordinate 2>) and (<X coordinate 2>, <
(Y coordinate 1>) (<X coordinate 2>, <Y coordinate 1>) and (<X coordinate 1>, <
It is described by an intermediate code as four vertical / horizontal lines having both ends at Y coordinate 1>).

For example, (<X coordinate>, <Y coordinate>)
When the character print command “コ ー ド ec @ P <X coordinate>;<Ycoordinate> A” for drawing the character “A” is received at the position No conversion.

In response to the intermediate code, the command execution unit 1104 performs a process of developing a bitmap image in the page memory 1105 (step S404).

Here, the E set in step S304
The value in the P storage unit 1104a is referred to. In other words, when the bitmap image data is expanded, the value of the endpoint is referred to, and the dot formed in the direction in which the coordinate value is increased by the value of the endpoint with respect to the image formed by the method in which the endpoint is not painted. Fill and thicken the image. For example, consider a print control data image in which an image as shown in FIG. 7A is developed when the end point is set to 0. In this case, when the end point is set to 1, the set end point value, that is, the one-dot image is thickened in the direction in which the coordinate value increases, and as a result, the image of FIG. You.

After the development processing is completed, step S302 in FIG.
And repeat the data analysis process. Step S40
1, the output control unit 1
In step 300, the contents of the page memory 1105 are converted into a video signal for the printer engine unit 1400 and the image is transferred and output (step S406). The printer engine unit 1400 forms a permanent visible image on the recording paper based on the received video signal and performs printing (step S407). When the result printed in step S408 is discharged, the print control process for one page ends.

As described above, in the printer according to the present embodiment, the end point to be filled is specified in advance by the host, so that the host can determine the coordinate point even if it is at the dot contact point. Even in the center, any case can be handled, and an image as intended by the host side can be formed and printed out. [Second Embodiment] <Configuration of Functional Block of Printer> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus 1000 according to a second embodiment by functional blocks. This configuration,
While the printing apparatus 1000 in FIG. 10 is represented by blocks of hardware resources, the configuration of the printing apparatus 1000 is shown as blocks for each function realized by a program executed by the CPU 12. Therefore, the printing apparatus of the present embodiment can be shown with the same configuration as the printing apparatus 1000 of FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 3000 denotes a printing apparatus 100.
0, which is a host computer connected to the printing apparatus 100 and prints information including print data and control codes.
0 is output. The printing apparatus 1000 is roughly divided into a formatter control unit 1100, an interface 1200, an output control unit 1300, and a printer engine unit 1.
400. Formatter control unit 110
0 indicates the reception buffer 1101, the command discrimination unit 110
2. Command analysis unit 1103, command execution unit 110
4. Page memory 1105, data format determination unit 1106
It is composed of Further, the command analysis unit 1103
Is the application list 1103a and the OS list 1
103b. The reception buffer 1101 is a storage unit that temporarily stores print information received from the host computer 3000. Command discriminator 1102
Is for determining each print control command, and the print data is analyzed by the command analysis unit 1103 according to each command. The command analysis unit 1103 analyzes each print control command.

When the command determining unit 1102 receives the application name, the application name is sequentially compared with the application list 1103a. The application list 1103a is a table in which an application name and endpoint information for each application are described.
Stored by downloading from. Similarly, when the command determination unit 1102 receives the OS name, the OS name is sequentially compared with the OS list 1103b. The OS list 1103b is a table describing OS names and endpoint information for each OS. The OS list is stored in advance similarly to the application list. If a name matching the OS list or the application list is found, the image is developed according to the corresponding endpoint information.

If the received command is a command related to image drawing, the command analyzed by the command analysis unit 1103 is an intermediate result obtained by analyzing the print data, and is processed by the command execution unit 1104. It is converted into an intermediate code in a format that is easy to use. Command execution unit 1
At 104, each command is executed by the intermediate code, and commands related to drawing and printing are stored in the page memory 11.
It is developed sequentially to 05.

On the other hand, if the command analysis unit 1103 determines that the data is a simple bitmap, the bitmap image data is directly expanded in the page memory 1105. In general, the formatter control unit 110
Reference numeral 0 denotes a computer system using a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, which is configured as shown in FIG.
The output control unit 1300 converts the content of the page memory 1105 into a video signal, and
Perform image transfer to The printer engine unit 1400 is a printing mechanism unit for forming a permanent visible image of the received video signal on recording paper.

FIG. 6 shows the main processing from the start to the end of the operation of the printing apparatus 1000. S5 in FIG.
01 to S509 indicate each processing step. Note that the drawing processing in FIG. 6 is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

First, in step S 501, print data sent from the host computer 3000 is received and stored in the reception buffer 1101. Next, in step S502, the command string stored in the reception buffer is read, and in step S503, it is determined whether or not the command is an OS name notification command. The OS notification command is described as follows, for example.

{Os \ IS1 \ XXOS v1.00 {IS2} This command is the name and version of the OS "XXOS v1.XX" as parameters following the command "os".
00 ". {IS1} and {IS2} are separators indicating a delimiter.

If the received command is an OS name notification command, the flow advances to step S505 to enter the notified OS name into the OS list 11.
03b sequentially. If it is determined in step S506 that the notified OS name is present in the OS list, the process proceeds to step S507, in which the number of endpoints corresponding to the OS name is extracted from the OS list 1103b and set in the EP storage unit 1104a. It proceeds to S511. Here, 0 (do not paint) or 1 (paint) is assigned to the number of endpoints depending on whether the OS constituting the environment in which the image is created in the host is a method in which the endpoint is not painted or a method in which the endpoint is painted. I have.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S503 that the command is not an OS notification command, the flow advances to step S504 to determine whether the command is an application name notification command. The application notification command is described, for example, as follows.

{Ap @ IS1} Application AAA v1.00 {IS2} This command includes the application name and version “Ap” as parameters following the command “ap”.
application AAA v1.00 ". {IS1} and {IS2} are separators indicating a delimiter.

If the command is an application name notification command, the flow advances to step S508 to sequentially compare the notified application name with the application list 1103a. If it is determined in step S509 that the notified application name does not exist in the application list, the process proceeds to step S510, and the number of endpoints corresponding to the relevant application name is set in the application list 110.
After taking out from 3a and setting it to an external variable, the process proceeds to step S511. Similarly to the OS list, 0 (do not paint) or 1 (paint) is assigned to the number of endpoints depending on whether the application that created the image on the host does not paint the endpoint or paints the endpoint. .

If the received command is not an application notification command in step S504, the process directly proceeds to step S511. In step S511, actual drawing processing is performed. In step S512, it is determined whether a print end command has been received or whether print data has ended. If printing has ended, the printing operation ends. If the printing is not completed, the processing from step S501 is repeated.

The drawing process in step S511 is the same as the procedure shown in FIG. If it is a drawing command, in step S404, the number of endpoints set in the EP storage unit 1104a in step S507 or S510 in FIG. The dots are painted in the direction in which the coordinate value increases by the value of the point, and the image is fattened.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the difference in the drawing result due to the switching of the end point. 7A and 7B, a rectangle drawing command having vertices of point A (0, 0), point B (7, 5), point C (8, 6), and point D (15, 10) respectively. Is drawn with. (A) is a drawing result when the value of the EP storage unit 1104a is set to 1 and the endpoint is “painted”, and (b) is a value where the value of the EP storage unit 1104a is set to 0 and the endpoint is set to “ This is the drawing result when “not painted”. In the present embodiment, when the designation of the OS name or the application name is received from the host, a drawing method according to the OS or the application is automatically selected.

FIG. 8 is an example of an OS list and an application list. FIG. 8A shows an OS list.
A name and an endpoint are created as a pair as one record, and this record is listed on the table. FIG. 8B shows an application list, which is listed in a similar format. In steps S905 and S909, the number of endpoints is set with reference to these lists.

As described above, the processing method of the endpoint can be set in accordance with the application and the operating system. Therefore, if the list is stored in advance, the original processing can be performed without the user being conscious. Mr. K
At S, the processing of the end point is performed, and an image is formed. [Third Embodiment] In the second embodiment, the OS list and the application list are built in advance.
These contents can be added by downloading from the host 3000.

FIG. 9 shows the main processing from the start to the end of the operation of the printing apparatus 1000 in this embodiment. S901 to S914 in FIG. 9 indicate each processing step. Note that the drawing processing in FIG. 9 is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

First, in step S 901, print data sent from the host computer 2000 is received and stocked in the reception buffer 1101. Next, in step S902, the command sequence stored in the reception buffer is read, and in step S903, it is determined whether or not an OS list addition designation has been made. The OS list addition designation is described, for example, as follows.

OS {1} XXOS v1.00 {IS2} In the above command, the first following the command name “OS”
Parameter {1} is the number of endpoints to be set. The following “XXOS v1.00” is the name of the corresponding OS, and {IS2} is a separator indicating a command delimiter.

If the OS list is specified, the process advances to step S905 to determine whether the notified OS name exists in the OS list. If it exists in the OS list, the process proceeds to step S906, and the number of endpoints of the corresponding OS is updated to the specified number.

If it is determined in step S905 that the OS name does not exist in the OS list, the process proceeds to step S9.
07, and stores the notified OS record in the memory
It is determined whether it can be added to the S list. If it cannot be added due to lack of memory, the process proceeds to step S913,
Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S908. Step S9
At 08, a record of the designated OS name and the number of endpoints is created and added to the OS list as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the OS list addition has not been designated in step S903, it is determined in step S904 whether or not the application list addition has been designated. The application list addition designation is described, for example, as follows.

AP {1} Application AAA v1.00 {IS2} In the above command, the first following the command name “AP”
Parameter {1} is the number of endpoints to be set. The following "Application AAA v1.0
"0" is the name of the corresponding application.
2 @ is a separator indicating a command break.

If it is the application list addition designation, the flow advances to step S909 to determine whether the notified application name exists in the application list. If it exists in the application list, the process proceeds to step S910, and the number of endpoints of the corresponding application is updated to the specified number. Step S
If it is determined in step 909 that the application does not exist in the list, the process advances to step S911 to determine whether the record of the notified application can be added to the application list on the memory. If the notification cannot be made due to lack of memory, the process proceeds to step S913; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S912. Step S912
Then, a record of the designated application name and the number of endpoints as shown in FIG. 8B is created and added to the application list.

If it is determined in step S904 that application list addition has not been designated, the flow directly advances to step S913. In step S913, actual drawing processing is performed. In step S914, it is determined whether a print end command has been received or whether print data has ended. If printing has ended, the printing operation ends. If the printing is not completed, the processing from step S901 is repeated.

As described above, it is possible to set the processing of the end point specific to the application or the operating system from the host, and to cause the printer to perform the drawing processing according to the processing. Therefore, as long as the user only knows the end point processing in the application or operating system being used, the user can set the processing method of the printer to a desired method and form an image in the original way. [Other Embodiments] In the first embodiment, the specification of the endpoint may be performed by command transfer from the host or by the operation panel of the printer.

Further, in the second embodiment, the OS name list and the application list are built in the printer, but these may be built in the printer driver of the host. The printer in this case can be realized by the operation of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, an example of rectangular drawing has been described. However, if the figure is a figure whose outline is specified by coordinate values, it can be applied to other figures such as line drawing and polygons. It can be controlled in the same way as a rectangle.

The present invention can be applied not only to the laser beam printer but also to the ink jet printer shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA to which the present invention can be applied. In the figure, the carriage HC that engages with the spiral groove 5004 of the lead screw 5005 that rotates via the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in conjunction with the forward and reverse rotation of the drive motor 5013 has a pin (not shown). And arrows a and b
It is reciprocated in the direction. An ink jet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. 50
A paper pressing plate 02 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. 5007,5
Reference numeral 008 denotes a photo coupler, which is a lever 5006 of the carriage.
Is a home position detecting means for confirming the existence in this area and switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013. Reference numeral 5016 denotes a member for supporting a cap member 5022 for capping the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 denotes suction means for suctioning the inside of the cap.
3, the suction recovery of the recording head is performed. Reference numeral 5017 denotes a cleaning blade. Reference numeral 5019 denotes a member that enables the blade to move in the front-rear direction.
These are supported. It goes without saying that the blade is not limited to this form and a known cleaning blade can be applied to this example. Reference numeral 5021 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery.
020, and the driving force from the driving motor is controlled by known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The present invention can be applied to various printers other than the ink jet system.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile machine) composed of a single device. Device).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Each module shown will be stored in a storage medium.

That is, at least the code of the receiving step for receiving the print data and the number of the end points to be filled with the received print data are determined. The program code of each module, which is based on the print data received in the receiving step and is expanded based on the number of endpoints stored in the storing step, and is used in an image developing step for developing an image, is stored in a storage medium. Just store it.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By dynamically switching the processing of the endpoint on the printer side, the endpoint is handled in the same way as the handling of the endpoint in the environment where the image to be printed was created, such as multiple operating systems and applications. The image can be formed by processing and printed.

[0075]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a laser beam printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration based on functional blocks of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a print control procedure according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a drawing process illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration based on functional blocks of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print control procedure according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a printing result by the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an OS list and an application list according to the second and third embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a print control procedure according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a host and a printing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional perspective view showing a structure of an ink jet printer to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of expressing coordinates in a printing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram of a memory map when a program according to the present invention is stored.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1012 Operation panel 1100 Formatter control unit 1101 Receive buffer 1102 Command discrimination unit 1103 Command analysis unit 1104 Command execution unit 1104a EP storage unit 1105 Page memory 1200 Interface 1300 Output control unit 1400 Printer engine unit 1500 Secondary storage device 3000 Host computer

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus that prints out an image based on received print data, comprising: a receiving unit that receives print data; a storage unit that stores the number of endpoints to be filled; An image forming apparatus comprising: an image developing unit that expands an image based on the received print data and corrects the image by the number of endpoints stored in the storage unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints an image expanded by the image expansion unit. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image developing unit expands the image as fat by the number of endpoints stored in the storage unit as an image correction. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit that sets an end point number stored in the storage unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit stores the number of endpoints received from the external device by the receiving unit in the storage unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the setting unit includes an operation panel, and is set by an operator. 7. A second storage means for storing a name of a program which created print data to be developed into an image and an end point number set corresponding to the program, and print data received by the receiving means. Search means for searching the program name stored in the second storage means from the program name stored in the second storage means, and when a program is found as a result of the search, an end stored corresponding to the program name is provided. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of points is stored by the storage unit. 8. The image according to claim 7, further comprising: a unit for receiving a pair of a program name and an endpoint from an external device and updating contents stored in the second storage unit. Forming equipment. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the program name includes an operating system name and an application program name. 10. An image forming method for re-forming an image based on received print data, comprising: a receiving step of receiving print data; and determining whether the received print data is the number of endpoints to be filled. A storage step of storing the number of endpoints if the number is equal to the number of endpoints; and an image development step of developing an image based on the print data received in the receiving step and correcting the number of endpoints stored in the storage step by the number of endpoints. An image forming method comprising: 11. The image forming method according to claim 10, wherein, in the image developing step, the image is expanded and fattened by the number of stored endpoints as an image correction. 12. The image forming method according to claim 10, further comprising a setting step of setting the number of endpoints stored in said storing step. 13. The image forming method according to claim 12, wherein in the setting step, the number of endpoints received from an external device in the receiving step is stored in the storing step. 14. The image forming method according to claim 13, wherein an end point number is set by an operator in the setting step. 15. The print data received by the receiving means from a storage means for storing the name of a program which created print data to be developed into an image and the number of endpoints set corresponding to the program. 11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising a search step of searching for a program name, wherein, when a program is found as a result of the search, the number of endpoints stored corresponding to the program name is stored in the storage step. 2. The image forming method according to 1., 16. The image according to claim 15, further comprising a step of receiving a pair of a program name and an end point from an external device and updating contents stored in said second storage means. Forming method. 17. The image forming method according to claim 15, wherein the program name includes an operating system name and an application program name. 18. A generation unit for generating print data representing an image in a predetermined coordinate expression, a first transmission unit for transmitting data indicating the predetermined coordinate expression, and print data generated by the generation unit A host device comprising: a second transmitting unit that transmits the data; receiving data transmitted by the first transmitting unit;
A printing apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image based on print data transmitted by the second transmitting unit; and a unit that prints out an image formed by the image forming unit. A printing system characterized by the following. 19. The first transmitting means transmits data indicating whether or not to paint an endpoint, and the image forming means paints the endpoint according to the data transmitted by the first transmitting means. 19. The printing system according to claim 18, wherein an image is formed by determining whether or not the printing is performed. 20. The host device stores a program name executed by the device and endpoint data indicating whether or not to paint an endpoint when print data created by the program is developed as an image. The printing apparatus further includes a third transmission unit that transmits a pair, and the printing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores a pair of a program name and endpoint data transmitted by the third transmission unit; Transmitting means for transmitting a program name as data, the image forming means searches for the program name from the storage means, and if found, ends according to endpoint data stored corresponding to the program name. The printing system according to claim 18, wherein an image is formed by filling points. 21. When the program name and the end point data are transmitted by the third transmission unit, if the program name is already stored in the storage unit, the printing apparatus transmits the corresponding end point data. 21. The printing system according to claim 20, wherein the information is updated by the received endpoint data, and newly stored if not stored. 22. A computer-readable memory storing a program for re-forming an image based on received print data, the code for a receiving step of receiving print data, and the number of endpoints to be filled with the received print data. Is determined, and if the number of endpoints is equal to the number of endpoints stored in the storage step, based on the code of the storage step for storing the number of endpoints and the print data received in the receiving step. Computer-readable memory, comprising: a code for an image developing step of developing an image by using a computer.