JPH1058762A - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operating efficiency under the condition that a trouble develops in a printing equipment by a method wherein printing data are expanded into a plurality of colors and then housed in a bit map memory so as to cut off the printing mechanism, with which a specified color is printed and in which a non-printability is detected, in order to continue the printing with other mechanism. SOLUTION: A controlling part 3 receives printing data from a host 1 and expands and houses them in a bit map memory(BMM) of respective colors 33. When a non-printability develops during printing, the printing data, in which the non-printability develops, are preserved so as to restart printing with another printing mechanism 41 by cutting off the printing mechanism 41 of the color, of which non-printability develops, no the basis of the preserved printing data when printing becomes possible. Accordingly, even when a trouble generates in a printing equipment, the restarting of printing and the like can be possible by changing a printing equipment, printing with a usable printing mechanism 41 or a substitute printing mechanism or continuing with discontinued page or the like. Thus, the operating efficiency of the printing equipment 2 or the like can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for developing print data into a plurality of colors for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when print data is output from a host to a printer and printed, as shown in FIG. 16, when a failure occurs in the printer, the printer is stopped and an error is notified to the host. , Commands from the host could not be accepted. Then, the operator is repaired and notified of the restoration.
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of FIG. 16 will be briefly described.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the prior art. FIG.
In step S101, the host outputs one page of data to the printer.

In step S102, the control unit of the printer that has received the data output in step S101 requests the mechanical unit to perform printing. In step S103, a failure occurs in the mechanical unit, and the controller is notified of the failure.

In step S104, the control unit notifies the host of the error. Then, in S105, job (print job)
Stop output. At this time, the operator is notified of the need for repair.

In step S106, the operator repairs the mechanical unit by turning off the power. In step S107, the control unit is notified that the mechanical unit has been repaired and restored. S108 notifies the host that the control unit has recovered. Then, the host resumes printing.

[0007]

As described above, conventionally, a printer device that has received a print request from a host, if any failure occurs, puts the device into a halt state, and accepts subsequent commands from the host to perform printing. There was a problem that it was not possible. In particular, even if a printing mechanism for one color fails and a printing mechanism for another color prints, as in a color printer, the entire apparatus is stopped, and printing can be performed using only a printing mechanism capable of printing. There was no problem.

[0008] The present invention solves these problems,
Change the printer device even if the printer device fails,
An object of the present invention is to improve the operation efficiency of a printer device by performing printing using an available mechanism or an alternative mechanism and resuming from the continuation of a suspended page.

[0009]

Means for solving the problem will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a host 1
Performs various kinds of processing such as transmitting print data to the printer device 2 and transmitting printable print data by storing unprintable colors of the printer device 2 to the printer device 2.

The printer device 2 prints based on print data received from the host 1, and includes a control unit 3, a mechanical unit 4, and the like. Control unit 3
Is for causing the mechanical unit 4 to print based on the received print data, and includes a data receiving unit 31, an expansion processing unit 32,
It is composed of the MM 33 and the like.

The data receiving section 31 receives print data from the host 1. The expansion processing unit 32 outputs a BMM (bitmap memory) 3 for each color based on the print data.
3

The BMM 33 is a bit map memory provided for each color. The mechanical section 4 prints based on the dot data developed in the bitmap memory 33, and has a printing mechanism 41 for each.

Next, the operation will be described. Data receiving unit 31
Receives the print data from the host 1, and the expansion processing unit 32 expands the print data into a plurality of colors and
3 and the printing mechanism 41 prints in each color. At this time, when the control unit 3 detects that the printing mechanism 41 that prints a specific color is unprintable, the printing mechanism 41 that cannot print is separated and the other printing mechanisms 41 are separated.
To continue printing.

Further, in response to the transmission of only the printable print data, the print mechanism 41 of the unprintable color is separated and the other print mechanism 41 performs printing. Further, the control unit 3 stores the print data in the host 1 when the printing is disabled by the printer device 2, and receives the print data after the print data of the unprintable portion when the printing is enabled. Printing is restarted.

The control unit 3 receives the print data from the host 1 and saves the print data that has become unprintable when printing becomes impossible during printing. Printing is restarted based on the data.

Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the printer device 2, the printer device 2 can be changed or the usable printing mechanism 4 can be used.
By using the 1 or the alternative mechanism 41 to print, or to resume from the continuation of the interrupted page, it is possible to improve the operation efficiency of the printer device 2.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments and operations of the present invention will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a host 1 sequentially transmits print data for one page to a printer device 2 or transmits print data to a printer device 2 that stores colors that cannot be printed by the printer device 2 and that can print. And when the printer device 2 becomes unable to print, saves the print data after the improper printing,
When printing becomes possible, transmission of print data is restarted. Although not shown, a plurality of printers 2 are connected to the host 1 via a LAN.

The printer device 2 performs color printing based on print data received from the host 1, and includes a control unit 3, a mechanical unit 4, and the like. The control unit 3 performs various kinds of communication and control such as transmission and reception of various data with the host 1, expansion of received print data and printing by the printing mechanism 41 of the mechanical unit 4, and the like. Data receiving unit 31, expansion processing unit 32, BM
M33, memory 34, panel 35 and the like.

The data receiving section 31 receives print data from the host 1. The rasterization processing unit 32 generates a BMM (bitmap memory) 33 of a color corresponding to the printing mechanism 41 based on the print data received by the data reception unit 31.
It expands to.

The BMM 33 is a bit map memory, and is provided for print data for each color. The memory 34 stores various data, and stores the printing mechanism 41 of a color that cannot be printed, a printing mechanism of an alternative color when printing is not possible, and the like.

The panel 35 is used by the operator to input various settings and display the contents of the setting. For example, the panel 35 is used to set a color that substitutes for a color that cannot be printed or to display the contents of the setting. belongs to.

The mechanism section 4 prints based on the dot data developed in the bit map memory 33,
A printing mechanism 41 corresponding to each color such as four or eight colors for color printing is provided. In the figure, four printing mechanisms 1, 2, 3, and 4 (for example, four colors of YMCK) are shown, but in addition, eight colors shown in FIG. Provide any number of printing mechanisms.

The printing mechanism 41 prints on paper in a predetermined color, and may be provided independently as shown in the drawing, or may be provided so as to sequentially print in each color. The printing mechanism 4 for each color has a mechanism for printing each color. If one color printing mechanism 4 cannot be used and cannot be printed, printing can be performed by another color printing mechanism. In the present invention, printing is performed using a printing mechanism of a printable color, printing is performed by replacing a non-printable color with a printing mechanism of another printable color, or by adding density. Hereinafter, the operation will be sequentially described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 1) for explaining the operation of the present invention. In FIG. 2, S1 receives one page of data from the host. In this case, one page of print data is received from the host 1 in FIG. 1 by the data receiving unit 31 constituting the control unit 3 of the printer device 2.

In step S2, the data is expanded into BMMs for every four colors. Here, based on the print data received in S1, for example, the print data of FIG.

In step S3, a color to be used is determined. For example, the printing mechanism 41 that prints each color is determined, for example, a black printing mechanism 41 is determined for black, and a magenta and yellow printing mechanism is determined for red.

In step S4, an instruction is issued to the printing mechanism of the mechanical unit. In step S5, it is determined whether an error has occurred. This corresponds to the issuance of an instruction (print instruction) to the printing mechanism 41 of the mechanical unit in S4, and it is determined whether or not an error has occurred due to some failure. In the case of YES, an error has occurred and it has been determined that the printing mechanism 41 for that color cannot be used.
After a reset instruction is issued to the mechanical unit in step 7, the host is notified in step S8. In response to this, the host 1 causes another printer device 2 to print. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S5, since it is determined that the printing mechanism 41 of each color is normal, a printing instruction is issued to the mechanical unit in S9, and the printing mechanism 41 of each color prints in each color in S10 and performs color printing. .

As described above, the host 1 transmits the print data to the printer device 2, and the printer device 2 develops the print data in the bit map memory 33 for each color and allows the predetermined print mechanism 41 to print. At this time, when a failure occurs in the printing mechanism 41 of a specific color and printing is not possible, the host 1 is notified and printing can be performed by another printer device 2.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart (part 2, host) for explaining the operation of the present invention. This is an operation of the host 1 corresponding to the operation of the printer device 2 in FIG. In FIG. 3, S11 issues print data. The issued print data is received by the printer device 2 in S1 of FIG.
The processing after S12 is performed.

In step S12, it is determined whether an error has occurred in the printing mechanism. In step S11, the print data is transmitted to the printer device 2, and it is determined whether or not the printer device 2 has notified the host in step S8 of FIG. 2 that an error has occurred in the printing mechanism 41 of the specific color. In the case of YES, the output destination printer is changed in S13, and S11 and the subsequent steps are repeated. On the other hand, S12
If NO, the process proceeds to S14.

In S14, it is determined whether the page is the last page. YES
In step S15, it is determined that the print job (print data print job) has ended in step S15, and the process ends. In the case of NO, the process of issuing the next one page of print data to the printer device 2 in S11 is repeated.

As described above, when the host 1 transmits print data to the printer device 2 and the printer device 2 notifies the printing mechanism 41 of a specific color that an error has occurred and that printing is not possible, the other printers The changed print data can be transmitted to the device 2 and printed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 3) for explaining the operation of the present invention. In FIG. 4, S21 receives one page of data from the host. In this case, one page of print data is received from the host 1 in FIG. 1 by the data receiving unit 31 constituting the control unit 3 of the printer device 2.

In step S22, the data is expanded into BMMs for every four colors. Here, based on the print data received in S21, for example, the print data of FIG.

In step S23, a color to be used is determined. For example, the printing mechanism 41 that prints each color is determined, for example, a black printing mechanism 41 is determined for black, and a magenta and yellow printing mechanism is determined for red.

In step S24, an AND operation is performed between the color of the print data and the color that can be used by the printing mechanism. This is because the print data is developed in the bitmap memory 33 for each color, and the developed color is AND-operated with the printable color by the printing mechanism 41. In this case, the result is 1 (both are the same). Color), and decide to print.

In step S25, an instruction is issued to the printing mechanism of the mechanical unit. In step S24, a printing instruction is issued to the printing mechanism 41 for the color of the print data and for the color printable by the printing mechanism 41.

In step S26, printing is performed. As described above, the host 1 transmits the print data to the printer device 2, the printer device 2 develops the print data in the bitmap memory 33 for each color, and makes the print mechanism 41 capable of printing the color of the print data print. Even if printing cannot be performed by the printing mechanism 41 of some colors, printing can be performed by the printing mechanism 41 of the remaining colors.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 4, host) for explaining the operation of the present invention. This is an operation of the host 1 corresponding to the operation of the printer device 2 in FIG. In FIG. 5, S31 issues print data. The issued print data is received by the printer device 2 in S21 of FIG. 4, and the processes in and after S22 are performed.

In step S32, it is determined whether an error has occurred in the printing mechanism. In S31, the print data is transmitted to the printer device 2, and it is determined whether or not the printer device 2 has notified the host 1 that an error has occurred in the printing mechanism 41 of a specific color. In the case of YES, the process proceeds to S33. In the case of NO, it is determined in S39 whether it is the last page, and in the case of YES, S4
If 0, the print job is ended. On the other hand, if NO, the process returns to S31 and repeats the issuance of print data for the next one page.

In step S33, the color in which the error has occurred is stored in the color management table. This is for the printing mechanism 41 of the color in which an error has been notified from the printer device 2 in S32.
It is stored in a color management table of FIG. 7 described below in association with the printer name. As a result, the printing mechanism 41 of a color that cannot be printed is registered in the color management table for each printer device 2, and the print data is issued to the printer device 2 that can print the color of the print data from the next time. I have.

In step S34, a cancel is issued to the printer in which the error has occurred. This issues a cancellation of the already issued print data for a printer device that has been notified that printing is not possible for a color in the print data.

A step S35 changes the output destination printer. This changes the output destination printer in response to the issuance of the cancel in S34. In step S36, a printer device capable of printing the color of the print data is selected.
This refers to the color management table of FIG. 7 and selects one printer device 2 that can print for a color in the print data.

In a step S37, it is determined whether or not the selection has been made. YES
In the case of, the process returns to S31 and is repeated. In the case of NO, since the printer device 2 capable of printing could not be selected, S3
At 8, the printing is completed.

As described above, the host 1 transmits print data to the printer device 2 and responds to the notification from the printer device 2 that there is a print mechanism 41 that cannot print a color in the print data. Printing mechanism 41
Is registered, and the printer device 2 capable of printing other print data colors can be selected and the print data can be transmitted.

FIG. 6 shows an example of print data of the present invention.
This is an example of print data transmitted from the host 1 to the printer device 2 in units of one page, and is data in which a plurality of sets are set for the following items shown in the figure.

Color designation: black Data FIG. 7 shows an example of the color management table of the present invention. this is,
The host 1 manages printable colors of the printing mechanism 1 of the printer device, and here, the following eight colors (white, blue, cyan, and red) shown in FIG. , Magenta, green, yellow, and black).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 5) for explaining the operation of the present invention. In FIG. 8, S41 sets the replacement information input from the panel in the color conversion table. This is because the color replacement information input by the operator from the panel 35 of FIG. 1 is set as shown in the color conversion table of FIG. 9 described later, for example, the “yellow” printing mechanism 4.
1 is set to be replaced with the “black” printing mechanism 41.

In step S42, one page of data is received from the host. In this case, one page of print data is received from the host 1. S43 is expanded to BMM. S42
The print data for one page received in step (1) is developed in the bitmap memory 33.

In step S44, a color to be used is determined. S4
Step 5 determines whether or not there is an unprintable color among the colors to be used. That is, it is determined whether or not the printing mechanism 41 to be used has a printing failure for the color of the printing data. In the case of YES, S46
Then, a replacement instruction is issued to the mechanical unit while viewing the color conversion table, and printing is performed using the printing mechanism 41 of the replaced color in S47. For example, when the printing mechanism 41 for yellow cannot print, the mechanical unit is instructed to print using the printing mechanism 41 of “black” of the color to be replaced with reference to the mark conversion table of FIG. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S45, since it is determined that the printing mechanisms 41 of all the colors of the print data are printable, printing is performed in S47.

As described above, the operator inputs the color of the printing mechanism 41 to be replaced when the printing mechanism 41 is unavailable from the panel 35 and sets the color in the color conversion table of FIG. When there is a color that cannot be printed, printing can be performed by the printing mechanism 41 of the color to be replaced with reference to the color conversion table, and printing can be performed when the printing mechanism 41 of a part of the print data is unavailable. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the printer device disappears and to use the printer device efficiently.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a color conversion table according to the present invention. In this color conversion table, the replacement printing mechanism name is set as shown below in association with the printing mechanism name as shown.

Printing mechanism name Replacement printing mechanism name Printing mechanism Y (yellow) Printing mechanism K (black) Printing mechanism M (magenta) Printing mechanism K (black) FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating the operation of the present invention. . This is an example of a method for resuming an interrupted print job (print job).

In FIG. 10, S111 is a print job.
Outputs 1. As a result, the print data is transmitted to the printer device 2 and, as described above, the print data is developed in the bitmap memory 33 and is to be printed.

In step S112, the printer device 2 notifies the host 1 of a print failure error due to color. In step S113, the host 1 is notified of the number of pages lost by the printer device 2.
The notified number of lost pages is stored in the memory 34 as job1 interruption information.

In step S114, the printer 2 is notified that the printing mechanism 41 has been restored. In step S115, the host 1 retrieves the job1 interruption information stored in the memory 34, and outputs job1 from the resume page. As a result, the print data can be transmitted to the printer device 2 from the next interrupted page, and printing can be resumed.

As described above, while the host 1 is transmitting print data to the printer 2, the printer 2 stores a print-disabled page when the printer 2 notifies the printer 2 of a color-disabled error. The print data of the next page can be transmitted to the printer device 2 based on the information stored when the printer 41 has spread the mechanism 41 from the host to the printer device 2 to resume printing. .

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (part 6) for explaining the operation of the present invention. In FIG. 11, in S51, the host 1 issues print data to the printer device.

In step S56, print data for one page is received from the host. This is the print data received by the printer device 2 from the host 1 in S51.
In step S57, the image data is developed into a BMM for each four colors.

In step S58, a color to be used is determined. S5
9 issues an instruction of the printing mechanism to the mechanical unit. S60 is
Determine if an error has occurred. In the case of YES, a reset instruction is issued to the mechanical unit in S61, and an error is notified in S62. On the other hand, if NO in S60, printing is performed in S63.

In step S52, the host 1, which has received the notification of the occurrence of the error from the printer device 2 in step S62, determines whether a printing mechanism error has occurred. Here, since it is YES, S53
Proceed to. If NO, the process ends.

In step S53, the number of pages having a printing mechanism error is stored in the page number table. For example, as shown in FIG. 12 described later, the number of interrupted pages is stored in association with the job name.

Step S54 waits until the operation becomes possible. OK
If it becomes, the process proceeds to S55. If NG, wait. In the step S55, the print data after the interrupted page is issued from the page number table. Since the printer 2 has been restored in S54, the print data after the interrupted page is issued to the printer 2 with reference to the page number table. Then, the process proceeds to S56 and subsequent steps.

As described above, the host 1 is connected to the printer 2
The host 1 saves the number of interrupted pages in the page number table when receiving an error notification from the printer 2 and responds to the notification from the printer 2 that the printer 2 has been restored. The print data can be transmitted to the printer device 2 from the page following the interrupted page stored in the page number table, and printing can be resumed.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a page number table according to the present invention. The page number table is job as shown below.
The number of interrupted pages is stored in association with the name. Job name Number of interrupted pages job1 10 pages job2 page 15 FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention (part 7).
Is shown.

In FIG. 13, in S71, the host 1 issues print data to the printer device 2. In S72, the printer device 2 receives one page of print data from the host.

In step S73, the data is expanded into BMMs for every four colors. S
74 determines the color to be used. A step S75 issues a print mechanism instruction to the mechanical unit.

A step S76 decides whether or not an error has occurred. This is in response to issuing a print instruction to the printing mechanism 41 of the mechanical unit 4, and it is determined whether any error has occurred. Y
In the case of ES, the process proceeds to S77. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S76, it is determined that it is normal, so printing is performed in S80.

In step S77, since it is determined that an error has occurred in any of the printing mechanisms and printing is not possible, the print data is stored and saved in the auxiliary storage device. A step S78 waits until an operation is possible. In the case of OK, the printing mechanism 41 in which the error has occurred
, The suspended print data is retrieved from the auxiliary storage device in S79, and printing is resumed in S73 and thereafter.

As described above, when the print data received from the host 1 is developed in the bit map memory 33 and the printing mechanism 41 for each color tries to print, if any of them is determined to be unprintable, the auxiliary storage device The print data can be saved from the auxiliary storage device automatically when the print data is restored, and printing can be resumed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention (part 2).
Is shown. In FIG. 14, in step S121, the host 1 performs job output to the printer device 2. S122 and S123 are
The page data in job is sequentially output to the printer device 2.

In step S124, the control unit 3 develops the print data output in steps S122 and 123 in the bitmap memory 33 as described above, and requests the printing mechanism 41 of the mechanical unit 4 to perform printing.

A step S125 detects that an error has occurred in any of the printing mechanisms 41. In step S126, the print data is transferred to and stored in the auxiliary storage device. In S127, the printing mechanism 41 of the mechanical unit 4 is restored.

In step S128, the control unit 3 is notified that it has become widespread in step S127. In step S129, the print data is extracted from the auxiliary storage device and restored. S130 requests printing,
The printing mechanism 41 resumes color printing from the interrupted page.

As described above, when an error occurs when the printer 2 attempts to print the print data received from the host 1 by the printing mechanism 41, the print data is stored in the auxiliary storage device, and the printing mechanism 41 Upon recovery, it is possible to retrieve print data from the auxiliary storage device and resume printing.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart (8) for explaining the operation of the present invention. In FIG. 15, S81 notifies a print color. This means that the host 1 notifies the printer device 2 of a print color used in the print data before transmitting the print data.

In step S91, it is determined whether or not the printer 2 can print using the printing mechanism 41 for the print color notified in step S81. In the case of YES, a response indicating that printing is possible is returned to the host, and the flow proceeds to S82. In the case of NO, an unprintable color is returned to the host, and the flow advances to S83.

In S82, since the printer 2 has returned a response indicating that printing is possible, the host 1 issues print data to the printer 2, and the process proceeds to S92. In S92, the printer device 2 receives one page of data from the host.

In step S93, the data is expanded into BMMs for every four colors. S
94 determines the color to be used. A step S95 issues an instruction of the printing mechanism to the mechanical unit.

In step S96, printing is performed. On the other hand, S83
In the case of NO at 91, the host 1 that has received the reply of the color that cannot be printed selects the usable printer device by looking at the color management table. This selects a usable printer device with reference to the color management table of FIG.

In step S84, the color management table is updated.
This is to update the color of the printer in the color management table to unprintable for the unusable color notified from the printer 2 in S91 NO. Then, the process returns to S81 and is repeated.

As described above, before the host 1 transmits the print data, the host 1 notifies the printer 2 of the print color to be used in the print data, and when there is a response indicating that the print is possible, the print data is transmitted and printed. On the other hand, if there is a response indicating that printing is not possible, a printer capable of printing is selected by referring to the color management table, and the same is repeated for the printer, and the color management table is updated. As a result, it is possible to cause a printer capable of printing the colors used in the print data to print, and even if the printing mechanism 51 for one color is out of order, printing is performed in another color without using that color. At this time (when printing is possible), the print data can be transmitted to the printer device 2 and printed.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if a failure occurs in the printer device 2, the printer device 2 can be changed, the usable printing mechanism 41 or the alternative mechanism mechanism 4 can be used.
1 and printing is resumed from the continuation of the interrupted page, so that the operation efficiency of the printer device 2 can be improved. Accordingly, (1) Even if the printing mechanism specific to each color breaks down or consumables run out and printing becomes impossible for only the color concerned, printing can be performed only by the printing mechanism capable of printing, and the operation efficiency of the printer device can be improved. . (2) When the printing mechanism specific to each color breaks down or the consumables run out, printing can be continued with the printing mechanism of an alternative color, and the operation efficiency of the printer device can be improved. (3) If the printing mechanism specific to each color fails or printing becomes impossible due to running out of consumables, printing can be resumed from the continuation of the interrupted page, and printing halfway through will not be wasted. The cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart (part 1) for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 2, host) for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 3) for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (No. 4, host) for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of print data of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a color management table of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 5) for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a color conversion table of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention (part 6).
It is.

FIG. 12 is an example of a page number table according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart (part 7) for explaining the operation of the present invention.
It is.

FIG. 14 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart (part 8) for explaining the operation of the present invention.
It is.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Host 2: Printer device 3: Control unit 31: Data receiving unit 32: Expansion processing unit 33: BMM (bitmap memory) 34: Memory 35: Panel 4: Mechanical unit 41: Printing mechanism

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer device which develops print data into a plurality of colors and prints the data, wherein the print data is developed into a plurality of colors and stored in a bitmap memory; And printing means for performing printing of the specific color, and, when detecting that printing of the printing mechanism that prints the specific color is not possible, disconnecting the printing mechanism that cannot print and continuing printing with another printing mechanism. A printer device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. A printer apparatus for developing print data into a plurality of colors and printing the print data, storing the print data in a plurality of colors in a bitmap memory, and storing each of the colors in the bitmap memory. Each printing mechanism that prints the print data, receives the notification of the color to be used for printing prior to the print data, and notifies when the printing is not possible, and receives the transmission of the print data when the printing is possible. Means for cutting off when a print mechanism of a color that cannot be printed exists and performing printing by another print mechanism. 3. The print data is stored in the host when the printing is disabled by the printer device, and when the printing is enabled, the print data is transmitted after the print data of the unprintable portion is received. 3. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising a restart unit. 4. When print data is received from a host and printing becomes impossible during printing, the print data that cannot be printed is stored, and when printing becomes possible, the stored print data is used based on the stored print data. 4. A printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for restarting printing.