JPH10244715A - Printer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer apparatus which can quickly simultaneously process and print a plurality of pages of print data sent from a host apparatus, and moreover detect whether or not the plurality of pages printed simultaneously are proper, thereby preventing the printing process from being stagnant. SOLUTION: When a judgment part 6 confirms that an intermediate code conversion for a next page is completed from page information from an intermediate code conversion part 3, the part 6 waits for a bit map development part 4 to develop a bit pattern of the next page onto a bit map memory 5, and then continuously prints a plurality of pages including the next page. If the part 6 confirms that the intermediate code conversion for the next page is not completed, since it probably takes time to develop the bit pattern of the next page, thereby delaying a printing process by a printer engine 7 in the meantime, pages already stores in the bit map memory 5 are printed independently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for forming an image on a recording sheet in accordance with print data sent from a host device or the like, and more particularly to a printer for shortening a processing time when a plurality of pages are continuously printed. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer device, in order that print data, which is a language unique to the host device, continuously transmitted from the host device, can be handled by the printer device.
An intermediate code, which is a language of a virtual printer device, is defined in advance, and the transmitted print data is converted into the intermediate code. Then, for example, by turning on / off a bit of a bitmap memory in accordance with the converted intermediate code for each page unit, a bit pattern for each page corresponding to a dot of an image to be printed is developed and stored. The image data is created in accordance with the bit pattern of the unit, and is sent to the printer engine to print the image on the recording paper in units of one page.

[0003]

Since the print data sent from the host device is printed in units of one page as described above, for example, a printer device capable of printing A3 size print data is provided. Even when A4 size print data is sent, printing is performed one page at a time. Therefore, printing efficiency is poor when a plurality of A4 size print data are sent in succession. It took a lot of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a disadvantage, and prints print data sent from a host device for a plurality of pages at the same time to speed up the printing process and to print the data. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer device that can determine whether or not simultaneous printing is appropriate and can prevent print processing from being stagnated.

[0005]

A printer device according to the present invention has an intermediate code conversion unit, a bitmap development unit, a bitmap memory and a judgment unit, and the intermediate code conversion unit continuously transmits from the host device. The print data for each page is converted into a plurality of intermediate codes and sent to a bitmap developing unit, and each page information indicating whether or not the conversion to the intermediate code is completed is sent to a determining unit, and the bitmap is developed. The part develops the bit pattern on the bit map memory according to the transmitted intermediate code, the bit map memory stores the developed bit pattern, and the determination part finishes the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page according to the transmitted page information. Check if the conversion has not been completed, and if the conversion has not been completed, the image data is It was created, wherein the sending by creating image data to the printer engine according to the bit pattern comprising the next page stored in the bit map memory is when the conversion is completed.

The intermediate code conversion unit converts print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device into a plurality of intermediate codes and sends the intermediate codes to a bitmap developing unit, and the bitmap developing unit converts the print data into a bit pattern. The page information indicating the number of intermediate codes that have not been expanded is sent to the determination unit, and the determination unit determines whether the number of intermediate codes that have not been expanded into the bit pattern of the next page is greater than a predetermined threshold based on the transmitted page information. If it is larger than the threshold, the image data is created according to the bit pattern of the page already stored in the bitmap memory, and if smaller than the threshold, the image data is created according to the bit pattern including the next page stored in the bitmap memory And send it to the printer engine.

Further, the printer has a table for storing a threshold value previously set for each paper size,
The intermediate code conversion unit converts the print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device into a plurality of intermediate codes and sends them to the bitmap developing unit, and the intermediate code not developed into the bit pattern by the bitmap developing unit. The number and the page information indicating the paper size of each page are sent to the determination unit, and the determination unit calculates the number of intermediate codes that are not expanded into the bit pattern of the next page by the sent page information.
Check if it is larger than the threshold of the corresponding paper size stored in advance in the table, and if it is larger than the threshold, create the image data according to the bit pattern of the page already stored in the bitmap memory. It is preferable to create image data in accordance with the bit pattern including the next page stored in the memory and send it to the printer engine.

The table stores a threshold value set in advance for each number of colors used in a page, and the intermediate code conversion unit converts print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device into a plurality of intermediate codes. And sends the page information indicating the number of intermediate codes and the number of colors used in the page that have not been developed into a bit pattern by the bitmap developing unit to the determining unit. It is checked whether the number of intermediate codes not expanded to the bit pattern of the next page by the page information is larger than the threshold value of the corresponding color number stored in the table in advance, and if it is larger than the threshold value, it is already stored in the bitmap memory. Creates image data according to the bit pattern, and if less than the threshold, includes the next page stored in the bitmap memory Create an image data may be transmitted to the printer engine according Ttopatan.

Further, the above-mentioned table stores a weight value T previously determined for each information type including text and graphics of an intermediate code, and the intermediate code conversion section transmits print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device. Is converted to a plurality of intermediate codes and transmitted to the bitmap developing unit, and each page information indicating the information type of the intermediate code that is not developed into the bit pattern by the bitmap developing unit is transmitted to the determining unit. The corresponding weight value T is selected from the table according to the information type of the intermediate code which is not developed into the bit pattern of the next page according to the obtained page information, and is added to calculate the total weight value W. The calculated total weight value W Is greater than a predetermined threshold. Create an image data according to the bit patterns stored, it is desirable when less than the threshold value to be sent by creating image data to the printer engine according to the bit pattern comprising the next page stored in the bit map memory.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printer device according to the present invention forms an image on a recording sheet in accordance with print data sent from a host device or the like, and has a total processing time for continuously printing a plurality of pages. In order to reduce the time, an intermediate code conversion unit, a bitmap development unit, a bitmap memory, a determination unit, and a printer engine for printing an image on recording paper are provided. The intermediate code conversion unit converts the print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device into a plurality of intermediate codes and sends them to the bitmap developing unit, and indicates whether the intermediate code conversion is completed in page units. Each page information is sent to the determination unit. The bitmap developing unit develops a bit pattern in page units by turning on / off bits in the bitmap memory according to the transmitted intermediate code. The bitmap memory stores the bit pattern in page units developed by the bitmap developing unit.

When the determination section confirms that the intermediate code conversion of the next page, for example, two pages, has been completed based on the page information sent from the intermediate code conversion section, the bitmap development section stores the two pages in the bitmap memory. After the bit pattern is developed, image data is created in accordance with the bit patterns of one page and two pages stored in the bit map memory, and is sent to the printer engine.
Make the page and two pages print continuously. Also, if it is confirmed from the page information sent from the intermediate code conversion unit that the intermediate code conversion of the next page, for example, two pages, has not been completed, the bitmap expansion unit sets the time required to develop the bit pattern of the two pages. Printing process by the printer engine during that time,
Image data is created according to, for example, a bit pattern of one page already stored in the bitmap memory, and sent to the printer engine to print one page independently.

As described above, when the intermediate code conversion of the next page is completed, a plurality of pages including the next page are continuously printed after the bit pattern of the next page is developed in the bit map memory. This improves the efficiency of the printing process, and prevents the stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine by printing the page already stored in the bitmap memory alone when the intermediate code conversion of the next page is not completed. As a result, the total print processing time can be reduced.

Further, in the above, it is determined whether or not the printing of the page already developed into the bit pattern is to be performed alone by checking whether or not the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page is completed. Further, the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed in the bit pattern of the next page may be checked to determine whether or not to print the page alone. In this case, in addition to sending the plurality of converted intermediate codes to the bitmap developing unit, the intermediate code converting unit transmits page information indicating whether the conversion of the intermediate code of each page is completed, The page information indicating the number of intermediate codes not subjected to pattern expansion is sent to the determination unit.

When the determination unit confirms the end of the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page, for example, two pages, based on the transmitted page information, the number of intermediate codes of the two pages that have not been subjected to bit pattern expansion by the transmitted page information is further determined. Is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold. If the bit pattern is smaller than the threshold value, the process waits until a bit pattern of two pages is developed in the bit map memory.
The efficiency of the printing process is increased by continuously printing pages and two pages. Further, when the value is larger than the threshold value, the expansion time for the intermediate code that has not been expanded into the bit pattern of the two pages by the bitmap expansion unit becomes longer, and the printing process by the printer engine may stagnate during that time. By printing one page, for example, stored in the memory alone, stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine is prevented.

In the above, it is determined whether or not the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed into the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not A3 or A4
By having a table storing threshold values set for each size of recording paper to be used, the intermediate code conversion unit sends page information indicating the page paper size to the determination unit,
The determination unit selects a corresponding threshold set for each size of the recording paper used in the page from the table based on the sent page information, and checks whether the number of intermediate codes sent is larger than the selected threshold. That is, since the time for developing the bit pattern of the intermediate code in the bitmap developing unit is variable for each paper size, it is determined whether the time required for developing the bit pattern of the next page using the threshold value set for each paper size is long. Check. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not to print a page that has already been developed into a bit pattern independently, regardless of the paper size of the page.

Also, in the above, it is checked whether or not the number of intermediate codes not developed in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a threshold value set for each size of recording paper. Although it is determined whether or not to perform print processing independently, a threshold set in advance for each color number such as cyan or cyan and yellow used for a page is stored in a table, and the intermediate code conversion unit uses the threshold for a page. By sending each page information indicating the number of colors to the determination unit, the determination unit uses a threshold set for each number of colors used for printing to determine whether the time required for the bit pattern expansion processing of the next page is long. Confirm. Thereby, it is accurately determined whether or not the page already developed into the bit pattern is to be independently printed, regardless of the number of colors used in the page.

In the above, it is checked whether the number of intermediate codes not developed in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a threshold value determined for each number of colors used in the page. It is determined whether or not to perform the printing process.However, a weight value T set in advance for each information type such as a text of an intermediate code, for example, a text consisting of a character string or a graphic consisting of a straight line, a curve, or the like is stored in a table, By causing the determining unit to send the page information indicating the information type of the intermediate code not expanded to the bit pattern by the intermediate code conversion unit, the determining unit indicates the information type of the intermediate code not expanded to the bit pattern of the next page. According to the page information, the corresponding weight value T is selected from the table and added, thereby calculating the total weight value W. Then, by comparing the calculated total weight value W with a predetermined threshold value, it is confirmed whether or not the time required for the bit pattern expansion processing of the next page is long. Thus, it is accurately determined whether or not the page that has already been developed into the bit pattern is to be independently printed, regardless of the image to be printed on the page.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the printer device 1 forms an image on a recording sheet in accordance with print data sent from, for example, the host device 9 and the like, in order to reduce the entire processing time when printing a plurality of pages continuously. To
An interface unit 2 connected to a host device 9 for receiving print data for each page transmitted continuously, an intermediate code conversion unit 3, a bitmap development unit 4, a bitmap memory 5, a determination unit 6, and an image recording paper And a printer engine 7 for printing on the printer.

The intermediate code conversion unit 3 converts the print data for each page received by the interface unit 2 into a plurality of intermediate codes and sends the intermediate data to the bit map development unit 4. Further, as shown in the schematic diagram showing an example of the page information in FIG. 2, the page information 31 indicating whether or not the intermediate code conversion for each page Pn has been completed is sent to the determination unit 6. The bitmap development unit 4 develops and stores a bit pattern in page units by turning on and off bits in the bitmap memory 5 according to the intermediate code sent from the intermediate code conversion unit 3.

As shown in a schematic diagram showing an example of the bit map memory of FIG. 3, for example, when the printer 1 of the present invention handles A3 size and A4 size recording paper, the bit map memory 5 determines the number of vertical bits. n, the capacity area of n × m bits for A4 size, where n is the number of horizontal bits
1 and 52, and two capacity areas 51 and 52 are combined to be used as a capacity area of A3 size. If the page to be printed is A3 size, the bit pattern developed in the capacity areas 51 and 52 by the bitmap development unit 4 is stored. For example, if the first page is A4 size, the bit pattern developed in the capacity area 51 is stored. Store the pattern, A
If it is the second page which is the next page of the 4 size, the bit pattern developed in the capacity area 52 is stored.

The judging unit 6 checks whether or not the intermediate code conversion of the next page has been completed based on the page information 31 sent from the intermediate code conversion unit 3. If the intermediate code conversion of the next page has been completed, Waits for the bitmap development unit 4 to develop the bit pattern of the next page in the capacity area 52 of the bitmap memory 5, for example, according to the bit pattern including the next page stored in the capacity areas 51 and 52 of the bitmap memory. Image data, which is data, is created and sent to the printer engine 7 so that a plurality of pages including the next page are continuously printed. If the intermediate code conversion for the next page has not been completed, the bit map developing unit 4 determines that the interface unit 2 is in the process of receiving the print data of the next page sent from the host device 9. Since the time for developing the pattern becomes longer and the printing process by the printer engine may be stagnated during that time, the image data is created according to the bit pattern of the page already stored in, for example, the capacity area 51 of the bitmap memory 5, and the printer engine 7, the page is printed independently.

In the facsimile apparatus configured as described above, for example, an operation of forming an image on a recording sheet in accordance with print data over a plurality of pages sent from the host apparatus 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. I do.

The intermediate code conversion unit 3 converts the print data for each page received by the interface unit 2 into a plurality of intermediate codes and sends them to the bit map developing unit 4, and determines whether the conversion into the intermediate codes is completed. The indicated page information 31 is sent to the determination unit 6 (step S1). Judgment unit 6
Checks whether the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page, for example, two pages, has been completed based on the page information sent from the intermediate code conversion unit 3. If the two-page intermediate code conversion has been completed (step S2), the process waits until the bitmap memory 5 stores the two-page bit pattern developed by the bitmap developing unit 4 (step S3). Then, image data is created according to the bit pattern including two pages stored in the bitmap memory 5 and sent to the printer engine 7 to print one and two pages continuously (step S4). If the intermediate code conversion for the next page, for example, two pages, has not been completed (step S2), the printer engine 7 creates image data in accordance with the bit pattern of one page already stored in the bitmap memory 5, and sends it to the printer engine 7. By sending it, one page is printed alone (step S
5). Then, these printing processes are performed on the print data of all the pages sent from the host device 9, and the operation ends (steps S1 to S6).

As described above, when the intermediate code conversion of the next page has been completed, a plurality of pages including the next page are continuously printed after the bit pattern of the next page is developed in the bit map memory 5. By doing so, the efficiency of the printing process is increased, and when the intermediate code conversion of the next page is not completed, the page already stored in the bitmap memory 5 is printed alone, thereby preventing the stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine 7. Since this is prevented, the total print processing time can be reduced.

In the above, it is determined whether or not the printing of the page already developed into the bit pattern is performed independently by checking whether or not the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page is completed. The number of intermediate codes that are not developed in the bit pattern of the page may be checked to determine whether to print the page alone.

In this case, the intermediate code conversion unit 3 sends the plurality of converted intermediate codes to the bitmap development unit 4, and determines whether the conversion of the intermediate code of each page is completed as shown in FIG. The page information 31 indicating the number of intermediate codes that have not been expanded into a bit pattern by the bitmap expansion unit 4 is transmitted to the determination unit 6. The number of intermediate codes only needs to indicate the data amount of the intermediate code. For example, the number of bytes or the number of code pairs of the intermediate code that is not developed into a bit pattern is used. The determination unit 6 determines whether the page information 31 sent from the intermediate code conversion unit 3 is correct.
When the end of the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page is confirmed, it is further confirmed by the transmitted page information 32 whether or not the number of intermediate codes not expanded into the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a predetermined threshold value. And
If it is smaller than the threshold value, the printer engine 7 waits until the bit pattern of the next page is developed in the bitmap memory 5 and continuously prints a plurality of pages including the next page, thereby increasing the efficiency of the printing process. Also, if the value is larger than the threshold value, the development time for the intermediate code that has not been developed into the bit pattern of the next page by the bitmap development unit 4 becomes longer, and the printing process by the printer engine 7 may stagnate during that time. By printing the page stored in the bitmap memory 5 alone, stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine 7 is prevented.

In the printer 1 constructed as described above, as shown in the flowchart of the second embodiment of FIG. 5, an image is formed on a recording sheet in accordance with print data over a plurality of pages sent from the host device 9, for example. In this case, the intermediate code conversion unit 3 sends the converted intermediate code to the bitmap development unit 4 and also outputs the page information 31, 3
2 is sent to the determination unit 6 (step S10). Judgment unit 6
When it is confirmed from the page information 31 sent from the intermediate code conversion unit 3 that the conversion of the next page, for example, the intermediate code of two pages, has been completed (step S11), the bit pattern of two pages is further determined by the page information 32 sent. It is determined whether or not the number of intermediate codes that have not been expanded is larger than a predetermined threshold (step S12). Then, when the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed in the bit pattern is smaller than the threshold value, the process waits until the two-page bit pattern is developed in the bit map memory 5 (step S1).
3) For example, one page and two pages are printed continuously (step S14). If the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed into a bit pattern is larger than the threshold value, for example, one page already stored in the bitmap memory 5 is printed alone (step S15).

As described above, when the completion of the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page is confirmed, it is further confirmed whether or not the number of intermediate codes not expanded in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a predetermined threshold. If it is smaller, it waits for the bit pattern of the next page to be developed in the bitmap memory 5 and continuously prints a plurality of pages including the next page to increase the efficiency of the printing process. Since the stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine 7 is prevented by printing the page already stored in the bitmap memory 5 independently, the total printing process time can be further reduced.

Also, in the above, it is determined whether the number of intermediate codes not developed in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a predetermined threshold value, and whether the page already developed in the bit pattern is printed alone. Although it is determined whether or not the processing time for developing the intermediate code in the bitmap developing unit 4 into a bit pattern varies depending on the paper size of the page, an appropriate threshold value determined according to the paper size is used. It is possible to accurately determine whether or not to print a page that has already been developed into a bit pattern alone.

In this case, a table 8 is provided in the printer 1 as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, and the table 8 is, for example, A3 or A4 or A4 as shown in a schematic diagram showing an example of the table of FIG. Thresholds 81 to 83 set for each size of recording paper, such as A4R, which is landscape orientation of A4, are stored. When the printing process is performed in accordance with the print data sent from the host device 9 as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the intermediate code conversion unit 3 sends the converted intermediate code to the bitmap development unit 4 and also outputs And the page information 33 indicating the paper size of the page Pn are sent to the determination unit 6 (step S1).
0). When the judging unit 6 confirms that the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page, for example, two pages, is completed by the page information 31 sent from the intermediate code converting unit 3 (step S11), the sent page information 32 is further sent. , 33, it is checked whether or not the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed into the two-page bit pattern is larger than the corresponding paper size thresholds 81 to 83 stored in the table 8 in advance (step S12).

As described above, the threshold value set in advance for each page paper size is stored, and it is confirmed whether or not the number of intermediate codes not developed in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than the corresponding paper size threshold value. When the threshold value is smaller than the threshold value, the efficiency of the printing process is increased by continuously printing a plurality of pages including the next page. When the threshold value is larger than the threshold value, the page already stored in the bitmap memory 5 is printed alone. Since the stagnation of print processing by the engine 7 is prevented, the total print processing time can be further reduced regardless of the page paper size.

In the above, it is determined whether the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed into the bit pattern of the next page is greater than a predetermined threshold value. However, since the processing time for developing the intermediate code into a bit pattern performed by the bitmap developing unit 4 varies depending on the number of colors used for the page, a threshold determined according to the number of colors used for the page is used. Thus, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not to print a page that has already been developed into a bit pattern by itself.

In this case, the table 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in, for example, C (cyan) or C (cyan) and Y (yellow) or C (cyan) and M (magenta), etc.
Threshold value 84 set in advance for each number of colors used for the page
To 86 are stored. When the printing process is performed in accordance with the print data sent from the host device 9 as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate code converting unit 3 sends the converted intermediate code to the bitmap developing unit 4 and also as shown in FIG. As described above, the page information 31 and 32 and the page information 34 indicating the number of colors used in the page are sent to the determination unit 6 (step S1).
0). When the judging unit 6 confirms that the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page, for example, two pages, is completed by the page information 31 sent from the intermediate code converting unit 3 (step S11), the sent page information 32 is further sent. , 34, it is checked whether or not the number of intermediate codes that have not been developed into the two-page bit pattern is larger than the corresponding color number thresholds 84 to 86 previously stored in the table 8 (step S12).

As described above, the threshold values set in advance for the number of colors used in the page are stored, and it is determined whether or not the number of intermediate codes not expanded in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than the threshold value of the corresponding number of colors. When the value is smaller than the threshold value, the efficiency of the printing process is increased by continuously printing a plurality of pages including the next page, and when the value is larger than the threshold value, the page already stored in the bitmap memory 5 is printed alone. As a result, the stagnation of print processing by the printer engine 7 is prevented, so that the total print processing time can be further reduced regardless of the number of colors used in a page.

Also, in the above, it is checked whether or not the number of intermediate codes not developed in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a threshold value determined for each number of colors used in the page. It is determined whether or not print processing is performed alone. However, the bitmap development processing time of the bit pattern in the bitmap development unit 4 is, for example, text composed of character strings or graphics composed of straight lines and curves, etc. , That is, an image to be printed on a page.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6C, for example, the table 8 has weight values set in advance for each information type of intermediate code such as Line (straight line), Curve (curve) or Text (character string). T1-T3
Is stored. When the printing process is performed in accordance with the print data sent from the host device 9 as shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate code converting unit 3 sends the converted intermediate code to the bitmap developing unit 4 and also as shown in FIG. As described above, the page information 31 and the page information 35 indicating the information type of the intermediate code not expanded into the bit pattern are transmitted to the determination unit 6 (step S10). When the judging unit 6 confirms the completion of the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page, for example, two pages, based on the transmitted page information 31 (step S11), the intermediate code which has not been further developed into the transmitted bit pattern of two pages According to the page information 35 indicating the information type of
The total weight value W is calculated by selecting and adding the corresponding weight values T1 to T3 stored in the table 8, respectively. Then, it is determined whether or not the calculated total weight value W is larger than a predetermined threshold value (step S1).
2). That is, by selecting and adding the corresponding weight values T1 to T3 for each information type of the intermediate code, for example, the total weight value W, which is the processing time for developing the intermediate code of the next page into a bit pattern, is calculated. By comparing with a predetermined threshold value, it is confirmed whether or not the time required for the bit pattern expansion processing of the next page is long.

As described above, the total weight value W is calculated by adding the corresponding weight value T according to the information type of the intermediate code which is not developed into the bit pattern of the next page, and the calculated total weight value W is determined in advance. It is checked whether the threshold value is greater than the threshold value. If the threshold value is less than the threshold value, the efficiency of the printing process is increased by continuously printing a plurality of pages including the next page. Since the stored pages are printed alone to prevent stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine 7, it is possible to reliably reduce the entire printing processing time regardless of the image to be printed on the page.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the intermediate code conversion of the next page has been completed, the process waits for the bit pattern of the next page to be developed in the bit map memory, and then returns to the bit map memory. Printing efficiency is improved by printing pages continuously, and when the intermediate code conversion of the next page has not been completed, printing by the printer engine is performed by printing the page already stored in the bitmap memory alone. Since the stagnation of the processing is prevented, the total print processing time can be reduced.

When it is confirmed that the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page has been completed, it is further confirmed whether or not the number of intermediate codes not expanded in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than a predetermined threshold. Waits for the bit pattern of the next page to be developed in the bit map memory, and continuously prints a plurality of pages including the next page to improve the efficiency of the printing process. Since the stagnation of the printing process by the printer engine is prevented by printing the page stored in the memory alone, it is possible to further reduce the total printing process time.

Further, a threshold value set in advance for each page paper size is stored, and it is determined whether or not the number of intermediate codes not developed in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than the threshold value of the corresponding paper size. When the size is smaller, the efficiency of the printing process is increased by continuously printing a plurality of pages including the next page, and when the size is larger than the threshold value, the page already stored in the bitmap memory is printed alone, thereby printing by the printer engine. Since the stagnation of the processing is prevented, the total printing processing time can be further reduced regardless of the page paper size.

Also, a threshold value set in advance for each number of colors used in the page is stored, and it is confirmed whether or not the number of intermediate codes not expanded in the bit pattern of the next page is larger than the threshold value of the corresponding number of colors. When the value is smaller than the threshold value, the efficiency of the printing process is increased by continuously printing a plurality of pages including the next page, and when the value is larger than the threshold value, the page already stored in the bitmap memory is printed alone, thereby enabling the printer engine to print. Is prevented from stagnation of the printing process, the total printing process time can be further reduced regardless of the number of colors used in the page.

Further, the total weight value W is calculated by adding the corresponding weight value T according to the information type of the intermediate code which is not developed into the bit pattern of the next page, and the calculated total weight value W is determined by a predetermined threshold value. Check if it is larger than the threshold, and if it is smaller than the threshold, increase the efficiency of the printing process by continuously printing a plurality of pages including the next page. Since the print processing by the printer engine is prevented by printing alone,
Regardless of the image to be printed on the page, the total print processing time can be reliably reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of page information.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a bitmap memory.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a table.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer device 2 Interface part 3 Intermediate code conversion part 4 Bitmap development part 5 Bitmap memory 6 Judgment part 7 Printer engine 8 Table

Claims (5)

[Claims] An intermediate code conversion unit, a bitmap development unit, a bitmap memory and a judgment unit, wherein the intermediate code conversion unit converts print data for each page continuously transmitted from a host device into a plurality of intermediate codes. And sends it to the bitmap developing unit, and sends each page information indicating whether or not the conversion to the intermediate code has been completed to the judging unit. The bitmap developing unit stores the page information in the bitmap memory according to the sent intermediate code. The bit map memory stores the developed bit pattern, and the determination unit checks whether or not the conversion of the intermediate code of the next page has been completed based on the transmitted page information. If not, the image data is created according to the bit pattern of the page already stored in the bitmap memory. A printer device that creates image data in accordance with a bit pattern including a next page stored in a memory and sends the created image data to a printer engine. 2. The intermediate code conversion unit converts print data for each page continuously transmitted from a host device into a plurality of intermediate codes, sends the intermediate codes to a bitmap development unit, and converts the print data into a bit pattern by the bitmap development unit. The page information indicating the number of intermediate codes that have not been expanded is sent to the determination unit, and the determination unit determines whether the number of intermediate codes that have not been expanded into the bit pattern of the next page is greater than a predetermined threshold based on the transmitted page information. If it is larger than the threshold, the image data is created according to the bit pattern of the page already stored in the bitmap memory, and if smaller than the threshold, the image data is created according to the bit pattern including the next page stored in the bitmap memory 2. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the printer device sends the data to a printer engine. 3. A printer according to claim 1, wherein said printer device has a table for storing a preset threshold value for each paper size, and said intermediate code converting section converts the print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device into a plurality of intermediate codes. And sends it to the bitmap developing unit, and also sends the number of intermediate codes not expanded to the bit pattern by the bitmap developing unit and each page information indicating the paper size of each page to the determining unit, and the determining unit sends Check whether the number of intermediate codes that are not expanded into the bit pattern of the next page by the page information is larger than the threshold of the corresponding paper size stored in the table in advance, and if it is larger than the threshold, it is already stored in the bitmap memory Image data is created in accordance with the bit pattern of the specified page. 3. The printer device according to claim 2, wherein image data is created according to the bit pattern including the next page stored and sent to the printer engine. 4. The table stores a threshold value set in advance for each number of colors used in a page, and the intermediate code conversion unit converts print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device into a plurality of intermediate codes. And sends the page information indicating the number of intermediate codes and the number of colors used in the page that have not been developed into a bit pattern by the bitmap developing unit to the determining unit. It is checked whether the number of intermediate codes not expanded to the bit pattern of the next page by the page information is larger than the threshold value of the corresponding color number stored in the table in advance, and if it is larger than the threshold value, it is already stored in the bitmap memory. Create image data according to the bit pattern,
4. The printer device according to claim 3, wherein when the value is smaller than the threshold value, the image data is created in accordance with the bit pattern including the next page stored in the bitmap memory and transmitted to the printer engine. 5. The table stores a weight value T previously determined for each information type including text and graphics of an intermediate code, and the intermediate code conversion unit prints the print data for each page continuously transmitted from the host device. Is converted to a plurality of intermediate codes and transmitted to the bitmap developing unit, and each page information indicating the information type of the intermediate code that is not developed into the bit pattern by the bitmap developing unit is transmitted to the determining unit. The corresponding weight value T is selected from the table according to the information type of the intermediate code which is not developed into the bit pattern of the next page according to the page information obtained, and is added to calculate the total weight value W.
It is checked whether the calculated total weight value W is larger than a predetermined threshold. If the calculated total weight value W is larger than the threshold, image data is created according to the bit pattern already stored in the bitmap memory. 5. The printer device according to claim 4, wherein image data is created in accordance with the stored bit pattern including the next page and sent to the printer engine.