JPH11188934A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save and load a print environment setting content data easily. SOLUTION: In response to save request from an operating panel 8, a setting content control section 13 saves a print environment setting content data stored in an RAM 9 onto a floppy disc through a floppy disc I/F 10. In response to load request from the operating panel 8, the setting content control section 13 loads the print environment setting content data stored on the floppy disc to an NVRAM 3 and the RAM 9 through the floppy disc I/F 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a method for changing the setting of a printing environment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When changing the settings of a printing environment of a printing apparatus, there is a method of changing settings using an operation panel. When the setting is changed using the operation panel, it is immediately reflected in the internal storage device that the changed contention does not conflict. The setting contents can be confirmed by a print function of the setting contents provided in the printing apparatus.

Here, when it is desired to return to the previous settings, for example, when the settings are changed by mistake, it is necessary to change the settings from the operation panel while referring to the paper on which the previous settings are printed. In addition, multiple same printing devices were introduced,
In order to make the settings of each printing apparatus the same, it is necessary to change the settings for each printing apparatus from the operation panel.

On the other hand, for example, in a printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-186460, a control means for storing data stored in an input buffer in a memory card in response to a storage instruction command to a memory card is provided. Normal print data, macros, form overlay font download commands, and environment setting commands can be stored and read on a memory card that can be attached to and detached from the printing apparatus main body. Make it available.

In the printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-15911, the print environment is changed and reproduced by printing the setting contents of the print environment together with a bar code on a sheet.

[0006]

However, in the printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-186460, since the setting contents of the printing environment are stored in the memory card, it is necessary to save the setting contents of the printing environment and the like. An expensive memory card must be used to reset the printing environment and the like, and it is preferable to use a more general storage medium.

Further, when a memory card is used, it is necessary to mount the memory card on a printing apparatus in order to check the contents stored in the memory card, and it is necessary to take the printing apparatus offline to check the contents. there were.

In the printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-15911, in order to change and reproduce the printing environment,
A barcode reader that is unnecessary in normal operation is required, and the device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such disadvantages, and saves or restores the contents of a print environment using a floppy disk, which is a general storage medium, so that the print environment settings and the like can be saved. The purpose is to make it easier.

[0010]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention stores print environment setting data in a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory, and stores the data in a nonvolatile manner in response to a save request from an external interface such as an operation panel. Saves the print environment setting data stored in the memory or volatile memory to a floppy disk via the floppy disk interface, and sets the print environment stored in the floppy disk in response to a load request from an external interface such as an operation panel. The content data is loaded into the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory via the floppy disk interface, so that the setting content data of the printing environment can be easily saved and loaded.

Further, when the print environment setting content data stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory is saved on a floppy disk, the format of the print environment setting content data stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory is changed. It is converted into a text format and saved on a floppy disk so that the settings of the printing environment saved on the floppy disk can be confirmed and changed using a commercially available computer device.

Further, when loading the setting contents data of the printing environment stored on the floppy disk into the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory, the setting contents data of the printing environment in the text format saved on the floppy disk is read out,
The setting contents in the floppy disk are converted into the format of the setting contents data of the printing environment stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory, loaded into the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory, and changed using a commercially available computer device or the like. Make data easy to load.

Further, in response to a request from an external interface such as the operation panel or the like, the setting contents data of the printing environment in a text format saved on a floppy disk is read, and the setting contents of the printing environment stored in a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory. A data inconsistency error when converting to a data format is detected, and the detected data inconsistency error content is displayed or printed out so that a description error in the setting content can be easily confirmed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing apparatus according to the present invention is directed to a printing apparatus which stores setting contents data of a printing environment in a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory provided therein, and operates according to the stored setting contents data. The setting contents can be easily saved and loaded, and the setting contents can be easily confirmed and changed. Here, the printing environment is
It refers to operating conditions and operating environments that determine the operation of the device.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes, for example, a host interface (hereinafter, referred to as a "host I / F"), an image developing unit, a bitmap memory, a printing unit, an operation panel,
RAM, floppy disk interface
It is called "Floppy disk I / F". A) a setting content control unit, a format conversion unit, and an error content output control unit. The host I / F is a part that communicates with the host device, and receives print data from the host device. The image developing unit develops the print data into bitmap data in page units and stores the bitmap data in the bitmap memory. The printing unit prints out based on the bitmap data stored in the bitmap memory. The operation panel displays operation guidance and inputs settings of the printing environment and the like. The RAM stores print environment setting content data and the like. The floppy disk I / F is a floppy disk controller (hereinafter, referred to as a floppy disk controller).
It is called "FDC". ) And a floppy disk drive (hereinafter referred to as "FDD") for reading data from the floppy disk and writing data to the floppy disk.

The setting content control unit saves the setting content data of the printing environment stored in the RAM to a floppy disk via a floppy disk interface in response to a save request from the operation panel. The setting content control unit loads the setting content data of the printing environment stored in the floppy disk into the RAM via the floppy disk interface in response to a load request from an external interface such as an operation panel.

The format conversion unit converts the format of the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM into a text format when the setting content control unit saves the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM to a floppy disk. To save to floppy disk. Also, when loading the setting data of the printing environment stored on the floppy disk into the RAM, the format conversion unit reads the setting data of the printing environment in text format saved on the floppy disk, and sets the printing environment stored in the RAM. It is converted into the format of the content data and loaded into the RAM. As a result, the settings of the printing environment saved in the floppy disk can be confirmed and changed using a commercially available computer device. This eliminates the need to take the printing device offline to check or change the settings of the printing environment saved in the floppy disk,
The operation rate of the printing apparatus can be increased.

The error content output control unit is generated when the format conversion unit reads out the text format print environment setting content data saved on the floppy disk and converts it into the format of the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM. The error details of the data incompatibility are displayed on the operation panel or printed out from the printing unit. Thereby, the user can easily confirm the description error of the setting content.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
1, ROM 2, NVRAM 3, host I / F 4, image development unit 5, bit map memory 6, printing unit 7, operation panel 8, RAM 9, floppy disk I / F 10, setting content control unit 13, format conversion unit 14, and error content An output control unit 15 is provided.

The CPU 1 reads programs and the like stored in the ROM 2 and controls the entire printing apparatus. RO
M2 stores a control program of the printing apparatus and various reference data. The NVRAM 3 stores print environment settings that determine the operation of the printing apparatus. Here, the print environment settings stored in the NVRAM 3 are copied to the RAM 9 and
9 determines the operation of the printing apparatus.

The host I / F 4 is a host device (not shown)
And print data and the like from the host device. The image developing unit 5 develops the print data into bitmap data in page units and stores the bitmap data in the bitmap memory 6. The printing unit 7 performs print output based on the bitmap data stored in the bitmap memory 6. The operation panel 8 displays operation guidance and the like, and inputs print environment settings and the like. The RAM 9 stores print environment setting data. Here, the change of the print environment setting input from the operation panel 8 changes the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM 9 and is saved in the NVRAM 3.

The floppy disk I / F 10 is an FDC
11 and a FDD 12 for reading data from a floppy disk (not shown) and writing data to the floppy disk. FDC1
1 controls the FDD 12, which drives the floppy disk and reads and writes data from and to the floppy disk.

The setting contents control unit 13 responds to a request for saving the setting contents of the printing environment inputted from the operation panel 8 in accordance with the RA.
The print environment setting content data stored in M9 is saved to a floppy disk via the floppy disk I / F10. Further, the setting content property control unit 13 responds to a load request of the setting content of the printing environment input from the operation panel 8,
The setting contents data of the printing environment stored in the floppy disk is loaded into the RAM 9 and the NVRAM 3 via the floppy disk I / F 10.

The format converter 14 converts the format of the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM 9 into a text format when the setting content controller 13 saves the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM 9 to a floppy disk. Convert and save to floppy disk.
Further, the format conversion unit 14 stores the text-format print environment setting content data saved on the floppy disk when loading the print environment setting content data stored on the floppy disk into the RAM 9. Convert to data format, RA
Load to M9.

The error content output control unit 15 reads the text format print environment setting content data saved on the floppy disk by the format conversion unit 14,
The error contents of the data inconsistency at the time of conversion into the format of the setting contents data of the printing environment stored in the NVRAM 3 are displayed on the operation panel 8 or printed out from the printing unit 7.

FIG. 2 shows the operation of the printing apparatus having the above configuration.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When a save request for print environment settings is input from the operation panel 8 (step S1), the settings controller 13 checks whether a floppy disk is inserted in the FDD 12. If a floppy disk is inserted into the FDD 12 (step S2), the format conversion unit 14 reads the print environment setting content data stored in the RAM 9, and converts the format of the data into a text format (step S3). Setting content control unit 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a floppy disk I / O which converts the print environment setting data converted to the text format by the format converter 14.
The data is saved on the floppy disk via F10 (step S4). As described above, since the setting contents data of the printing environment is converted into the text format and saved on the floppy disk, the setting contents data of the printing environment can be easily backed up, and for example, by using a commercially available computer device or the like. The setting contents can be searched and changed.

On the other hand, when a request for loading the setting contents of the printing environment is input from the operation panel 8 (step S).
5), the setting control unit 13 checks whether a floppy disk storing the setting data of the printing environment is inserted into the FDD 12. When the floppy disk storing the print environment setting data is inserted (step S6), the setting control unit 13 reads the print environment setting data from the floppy disk via the floppy disk I / F 10 (step S6). S7). The format conversion unit 14 converts the format of the printing environment setting content data read from the floppy disk by the setting content control unit 13 into the format of the printing environment setting content data stored in the RAM 9 (step S8).

If a data inconsistency error occurs when the format conversion unit 14 converts the format of the print environment setting content data read from the floppy disk (step S9), the error content output control unit 15 converts the error content. Display output from the operation panel 8 and
The contents of the error are developed into a bitmap by the image development unit 5, stored in the bitmap memory 6, and printed out from the printing unit 7 (step S10). As a result, the user confirms the content of the error, corrects the error location using, for example, a commercially available computer device (step S11), and repeats from the roller request for the set content again (steps S5 to S5).
9). Here, while the error portion is corrected, the printing apparatus can be used as usual, and the operating rate of the printing apparatus can be prevented from lowering.

If the format conversion unit 14 converts the format of the setting data of the printing environment read from the floppy disk and does not cause a data inconsistency error, the setting content control unit 13 sets the format-converted settings required. The data is loaded into the RAM 9 and the NVRAM 3, and the setting change of the printing environment or the restoration of the setting of the printing environment ends.

As described above, since the setting contents data of the printing environment can be easily saved and loaded, the setting of the printing environment can be easily changed and the printing environment can be easily restored.

In the above embodiment, the setting data of the printing environment stored in the NVRAM 3 is copied to the RAM 9.
Although the operation is determined based on the setting content data stored in the RAM 9, the setting content data of the printing environment stored in the NVRAM 9 may be directly referred to. Alternatively, the setting content data of the standard printing environment may be stored in the ROM 2, the data may be copied to the NVRAM 3, and the data copied to the NVRAM 3 may be referred to.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the print environment setting data is stored in a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory provided therein, and is stored in a nonvolatile memory in response to a save request from an external interface such as an operation panel. Saves the print environment setting data stored in volatile memory or volatile memory to a floppy disk, and stores the print environment setting data stored in the floppy disk in a nonvolatile manner in response to a load request from an external interface such as the operation panel. Since the data is loaded into the memory or the volatile memory, the setting contents data of the printing environment can be easily saved and loaded.

Further, when the print environment setting content data stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory is saved to the floppy disk, the format of the print environment setting content data stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory is changed to a text format. Since the data is converted into the format and saved on the floppy disk, the settings of the printing environment saved on the floppy disk can be confirmed and changed using a commercially available computer device or the like.

Further, since the setting contents of the printing environment saved on the floppy disk can be confirmed and changed using a commercially available computer device or the like, the setting contents of the printing environment saved on the floppy disk can be checked and changed without taking the printing apparatus offline. Changes can be made.

Further, when loading the setting contents data of the printing environment stored on the floppy disk into the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory, the setting contents data of the printing environment in the text format saved on the floppy disk is read out.
The print environment setting data stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory is converted into the format of the setting content data and loaded into the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory, so that the print environment in the floppy disk changed using a commercially available computer device or the like. Can be easily loaded into the printing apparatus.

Further, in accordance with a request from an external interface such as an operation panel, the setting contents data of the printing environment in the text format saved on the floppy disk is stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory. A data inconsistency error when converting to a format is detected, and the detected data inconsistency error content is displayed or printed out, so that a description error of the setting content can be easily confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 NVRAM 7 printing section 9 RAM 10 floppy disk I / F 13 setting content control section 14 format conversion section 15 error content output control section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which stores setting contents data of a printing environment in a non-volatile memory or a volatile memory and operates in accordance with the stored setting contents data, comprising a floppy disk interface, and an external interface such as an operation panel. The print environment setting data stored in the non-volatile memory or the volatile memory in response to a save request from the user is saved on a floppy disk via a floppy disk interface, and in response to a load request from an external interface such as an operation panel, A printing apparatus characterized by loading setting data of a printing environment stored in a floppy disk into a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory via a floppy disk interface. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting contents data of the printing environment stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory is saved on a floppy disk. Converted to text format and saved to a floppy disk, and loaded to the floppy disk when loading the print environment setting data stored on the floppy disk into nonvolatile or volatile memory. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus reads the data, converts the data into a format of print environment setting content data stored in a nonvolatile memory or a volatile memory, and loads the format into the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory. 3. A text-format print environment setting content data saved on a floppy disk in response to a request from an external interface such as the operation panel,
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: detecting a data inconsistency error when converting the data into a format of the print environment setting content data stored in the nonvolatile memory or the volatile memory; and displaying or printing out the detected data inconsistency error. Printing device.