JPH11305976A - Computer, printer, printer system therewith and medium for recording printing control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To immediately print the same data when the printed result is defective. SOLUTION: This concerns a printing system with which print data D1 outputted from a host computer 10 and recognizable by a printer 20 are transformed to driving data D2 of a printing mechanism, inputted to a printing mechanism 24 and printed out. This system is provided with a storage part 25 for storing intermediate data on the way from the print data D1 to the driving data D2 after the drive data D2 are inputted to the printing mechanism 24 and printed out, and with an output energizing means 26 for transforming the intermediate data to the drive data D2 and outputting these data from the storage part 25 in order to input them to the printing mechanism 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer, a printer, a printer system using the same, and a medium in which a print control program is recorded. The present invention relates to a printer system or the like that obtains a print output by converting into a print mechanism and inputting it to a print mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printer system, when a host device requests printing of data displayed on an editor (word processing software or the like), the host device generates print data recognizable by the printer device. It is input to the printer device. In a printer device, print data is converted into drive data of a printing mechanism (for example, video data in the case of a page printer) and input to a printing mechanism unit to obtain a print output. When the output of the print data to the printer device ends normally, the host device deletes the print data. Further, in the printer device, when the printing output from the printing mechanism section ends normally, the data used for the printing is erased.

[0003]

However, in the above conventional example, when printing is performed on a sheet of an unexpected size due to faint printing due to lack of toner or use of a manual feed tray, or when the sheet is misaligned. However, even if the printing is performed by the printer, the printing apparatus treats the printing as being normally completed, and erases the print data and drive data used for the printing. For this reason, if the operator intends to print the same data again, it is necessary to make a print request again from the computer application and perform the processing from the generation of the print data to the conversion to the drive data again. It was uneconomical electrically.

In particular, when a computer that issues a print request, such as a network printer, is away from the printer device, it is necessary to confirm the failure of the print result and then return to the computer that issues the print request and perform the operation again.
It was very inconvenient.

[0005]

An object of the present invention is to improve the disadvantages of the prior art, and in particular, a computer, a printer, a printer system, and a printer capable of immediately reprinting the same data when a printing result is defective. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medium in which a control program is recorded.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer device which converts print data recognizable by a printer device output from a host computer into drive data and outputs the drive data to a printing mechanism. It has a function to input and print out. A storage unit for storing intermediate data from the print data to the drive data even after the drive data is input to the print mechanism unit and printed out,
Output biasing means for converting intermediate data into drive data and outputting the data from the storage unit for input to the printing mechanism unit.

Here, the "intermediate data" includes print data and drive data. The “drive data” includes video data in an electrophotographic printer, hammer drive data in a dot impact printer, and the like.

[0008] In the system according to the second aspect, the storage unit is provided in a host computer and stores print data, and the output urging unit detects a predetermined key input of the computer and stops the storage from the storage unit. It is designed to output data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the storage unit is provided in the printer device and stores drive data, and the output urging means is provided for inputting a predetermined one of operation keys attached to the printer device. Is detected, intermediate data is output from the storage unit.

In the printer system according to the present invention, the storage unit has a function of storing a plurality of intermediate data, and the output urging means has a function of selecting the intermediate data to be output from the storage unit in response to a predetermined key operation. Has been adopted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer which converts display data into print data recognizable by a printer device and outputs the print data to the printer device. The print data is stored after output to the printer device. A configuration is provided in which a storage unit and output urging means for outputting print data of the storage unit to the printer device when a predetermined key input is detected are provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the storage unit has a function of storing a plurality of print data, and the output urging means selecting a print data to be output from the storage unit in response to a predetermined key operation. Is adopted.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer device for converting print data received from a host computer into drive data, inputting the drive data to a printing mechanism, and printing out the print data. A storage unit that stores the intermediate data even after the drive data is input to the printing mechanism unit and printed out, and an output that is output from the storage unit so that the intermediate data is converted into drive data and input to the printing mechanism unit And a biasing means.

In the printer device according to the present invention, the storage unit stores the drive data, and the output urging unit detects the input of a predetermined operation key among the operation keys attached to the printer device. , Which outputs intermediate data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the storage unit has a function of accumulating a plurality of intermediate data, and an output urging means for selecting intermediate data to be output from the storage unit in response to a predetermined key operation. Has been adopted.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medium for generating print data recognizable by a printer, and sequentially accumulating the generated print data in an area of a storage unit which is not erased even after output to the printer. A print control program is recorded that receives a predetermined key operation and causes a computer to execute a process of selecting print data in a storage unit in accordance with the key operation and a process of outputting the selected print data to a printer device.

Thus, the above-mentioned object is achieved.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a printer system including a computer 10 and an electrophotographic printer device 20.

The computer 10 has a function of generating and outputting print data D1. The print data D1 output from the computer 10 is received by the receiving unit 21 of the printer device 20, converted into video data D2 by the data processing unit 22, and then stored in the frame buffer 23. The video data D2 accumulated for one page in the frame buffer 23 is output to the printing mechanism unit 24, and a print output by an electrophotographic process is obtained. Here, the video data stored in the frame buffer 23 is updated for each page, so that the video data D
2 does not remain in the frame buffer 23. Therefore, a video data storage unit 25 is provided in the frame buffer 23, and when one page of video data is accumulated in the frame buffer 23, the control unit 26a copies the video data to the video data storage unit 25. It has become.

The control unit 26a includes a video data storage unit 25
And manages video data copied one page at a time on a file-by-file basis. At this time, the control unit 26a assigns the file name received together with the print data D1 from the host computer 10 to the video data in file units as an identifier. Here, a sufficient storage capacity for storing video data for a plurality of files is secured in the video data storage unit 25.

The control section 26a includes an operation section 26b having a plurality of operation keys and a display section 26 having a liquid crystal display.
c. The output urging unit 26 includes the operation unit 26b, the display unit 26c, and the control unit 26a. The control unit 26a has a function of selecting video data to be output from the video data storage unit 25 for each file or each page in response to a key input from the operation unit 26b, and a function of selecting the selected video data from the video data storage unit 25. It has a function of outputting to the frame buffer 23 and a function of erasing the contents of the video data storage unit 25.
Further, the control unit 26a has a function of displaying the file name of the video data stored in the video data storage unit 25 on the display unit 26c when selecting the data in the video data storage unit 25, and a function that is currently selected. It has a function to highlight the file name. Furthermore, when an arbitrary file name is selected, a function is provided for receiving designation of whether to output all or a part of the corresponding video data.

If the print result of the print data output from the computer 10 is defective, the operator operates the operation unit 26b.
Is operated to display the file name of the video data stored in the video data storage unit 25. And
Further, a file name of data to be reprinted is selected by a key operation. Further, the user designates whether to reprint all or a part of the pages or, if it is a part, which page to reprint, and inputs an enter key. The control unit 26 a that has received the input of the enter key sends out all or the specified page of the video data corresponding to the selected file name to the frame buffer 23. When one page of video data is stored in the frame buffer 23, the video data is output to the printing mechanism unit 24 and printed again. Here, if the operator can obtain a good print result, the operation unit 26b may be operated to delete the data that has just been printed out from the video data stored in the video data storage unit 25. .

According to this, the video data can be stored in the storage unit, and when the printing result is defective, the video data can be read directly from the storage unit and reprinted. It is economical in terms of time and electricity, since there is no need to emit the electricity. In particular, since the video data immediately before input to the printing mechanism is stored in the storage unit, the time required for converting the print data into video data can be saved, which is much larger than when a print request is issued again from a host computer. You can save time. Further, since reprinting can be executed from the printer device itself, there is no need to return to the location of the computer that issues a print request for reprinting. In particular, the result of reprinting can be obtained using a printer device used in a network environment. Convenient to get. In addition, since a plurality of video data can be stored in the video data storage unit and reprinting can be selectively performed from among the plurality of video data, for example, a computer that issues a print request moves to a printer device and performs printing. Even a printer apparatus that receives and processes other print data one after another until the result is confirmed can reliably perform necessary reprinting.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a printer system including the computer 30 and the printer device 40.

The computer 30 includes a CPU 31, an input unit 32 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display unit 3 such as a CRT.
3, a memory 34, and a printer interface (printer I / F) 36 are provided on the bus. A print data storage unit 35 is provided on the bus. This print data storage unit 35 may be a part of the memory area,
It may be a part of a storage area such as D.

In the CPU 31, an application 31a such as word processor software and a print control program 31b are activated. The print control program 31b converts document data and image data to be printed into print data recognizable by the printer device 40 when a print request is received from the application 31a, and converts the print data from the printer I / F 36 to the printer device. The process of outputting the print data to the print data storage unit 40 and the process of storing the print data in a free area of the print data storage unit 35
31. Further, when a predetermined key input is made from the input unit 32, a list of file names of print data stored in the print data storage unit 35 is displayed on the display unit 33, and reprinting is performed based on the displayed file names. The CPU 3 performs a process of receiving selection of desired print data and a process of receiving designation of reprinting all or a part of print data corresponding to the selected file name.
Let 1 run. Further, a process for receiving designation of a page to be printed when a part is to be printed, and a process for sending all or part of the designated print data from the print data storage unit 35 to the printer I / F 36 and outputting the same to the printer device 40 Are executed by the CPU 31. In addition, a function of causing the CPU 31 to execute a process of deleting a part or all of the print data stored in the print data storage unit 35 in response to a predetermined key operation may be provided. This print control program may be read from a computer-readable medium. By executing the print control program, the CPU 31 causes the print data storage unit 3
5 functions as output urging means for outputting predetermined print data.

When the operator issues a print request from the application 31a, the print control program 31b is started, and the CPU 31 converts document data or image data to be printed into print data recognizable by the printer device 40. Then, the print data is transferred to the printer I / F3.
6 and stores the same data in the print data storage unit 35.
Accumulates in the free space. The print data sent to the printer I / F 36 is input to the printer device 40 to obtain a print output. Each time there is a print request from the application 31a, the print data is sequentially accumulated in the empty area of the print data storage unit 35. Here, when the print data with the same file name is already stored in the print data storage unit 35 May store the newly generated print data in the print data storage unit 35 by overwriting the data.

The operator inputs a reprint request key from the input section 32 when the result of the print output obtained earlier is defective. Upon detecting this input, the CPU 31 causes the display unit 33 to list the file names of the print data stored in the print data storage unit 35. The operator operates a predetermined key such as a cursor key and selects a file name of print data desired to be reprinted from the list. Further, the user inputs a designation of reprinting the entire print data or only a part thereof. Further, when only a part of the reprint is designated, the designation of the page desired to be reprinted is input. Then, the enter key is input. When the CPU 31 detects the input of the enter key, the CPU 31 transfers all or a specified portion of the selected print data from the print data storage unit 35 to the printer I / F 36 and outputs it to the printer device 40. In the printer device 40, a print result of a portion related to the received print data is obtained. When a good print result is obtained by reprinting, all or part of the print data stored in the print data storage unit 35 may be deleted by performing a predetermined key operation.

As described above, in this embodiment, the print data storage section is provided in the host computer, and after the print data is output to the printer device, the print data is stored in the print data storage section. Since an operation is accepted and predetermined print data can be read out from the print data storage unit and output to the printer device, when reprinting document data or the like with a bad print result is desired, a print request is issued from the application again. There is no need to do so, so that the process of converting display data to print data can be omitted, and reprinting can be performed relatively quickly. In particular, even when a print request is issued once and the application is terminated with peace of mind, reprinting can be performed without restarting the application.

Here, in each of the above embodiments, the print data of the host computer or the video data of the printer device is stored in the storage unit and retained after the printout. Any data may be used as long as it stores intermediate data up to the data in the storage unit and retains the data even after print output. In the above embodiment, a page printer is described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to a dot impact printer, an ink jet printer, and the like.

[0031]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to this, a storage unit is provided which stores and retains intermediate data from print data to drive data of the printing mechanism even after print output. By operating the output urging means, it is possible to read out the intermediate data in the storage unit and execute reprinting. Therefore, in reprinting, print data is generated from data on the application and converted into drive data of the printing mechanism. In the process, processing up to the generation of the intermediate data held in the storage unit can be omitted, which is economical in terms of time and electricity. Further, even when a print request is issued once and the application is terminated with ease, there is an effect that reprinting can be performed without re-starting the application.

In particular, in the invention according to claim 3 or 8,
The drive data of the printing mechanism is stored in the storage unit, and when the printing result is bad, the drive data can be read directly from the storage unit and reprinted, so the time until the print data is converted into the drive data Can be omitted, and time can be saved significantly as compared with issuing a print request again from a host computer. Further, since reprinting can be executed from the printer device itself, there is no need to return to the location of the computer that issues a print request for reprinting. In particular, the result of reprinting can be obtained using a printer device used in a network environment. Convenient to get.

According to the fourth, sixth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of video data can be stored in the storage unit, and reprinting can be selectively performed from among the plurality of video data. It is possible to provide a computer, a printer device, a printer system using the same, and a medium in which a print control program is recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 30 computer 20, 40 printer device 21 receiving unit 22 data processing unit 23 frame buffer 24 printing mechanism unit 25 video data storage unit (storage unit) 26 output urging means 26a display unit 26b operation unit 31 CPU 31a application 31b print control Program 32 Input unit (output urging means) 33 Display unit 34 Memory 35 Print data storage unit 36 Printer I / F D1 Print data D2 Video data

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A printer system for converting print data recognizable by a printer device output from a host computer into drive data for a print mechanism, inputting the print data to a print mechanism section, and printing out the print data. A storage unit for storing the intermediate data until the drive data is input to the printing mechanism unit and printed and output, and a storage unit for converting the intermediate data into the drive data and inputting the data to the printing mechanism unit. And an output urging means for outputting the data from the storage unit. 2. The storage unit is provided in the host computer and accumulates the print data. The output urging unit, when detecting a predetermined key input of the computer, outputs intermediate data from the storage unit. 2. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein the printer system outputs the data. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is provided in the printer device and stores the drive data, and the output urging unit detects an input of a predetermined operation key among operation keys attached to the printer device. 2. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein intermediate data is output from said storage unit. 4. The storage unit has a function of accumulating a plurality of the intermediate data, and the output urging unit has a function of selecting intermediate data to be output from the storage unit in response to a predetermined key operation. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A computer for converting display data into print data recognizable by a printer device and outputting the print data to the printer device, a storage unit for storing the print data even after outputting the print data to the printer device, And output output means for outputting the print data of the storage unit to a printer device upon detection of the key input of the computer. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit has a function of storing a plurality of the print data, and the output urging unit has a function of selecting print data to be output from the storage unit in response to a predetermined key operation. The computer according to claim 5, characterized in that: 7. A printer device for converting print data received from a host computer into drive data for a print mechanism, inputting the print data to a print mechanism unit, and printing out the print data. A storage unit for storing the drive data even after it is input to the printing mechanism unit and printed out, and outputting the intermediate data to the drive mechanism unit to convert the intermediate data into the drive data and output the data to the printing mechanism unit A printer device comprising: an output urging unit. 8. The storage unit stores the drive data, and the output urging unit, when detecting an input of a predetermined one of operation keys provided to a printer device, stores intermediate data from the storage unit. 8. The printer device according to claim 7, wherein the printer device outputs the output. 9. The storage unit has a function of accumulating a plurality of the intermediate data, and the output urging unit has a function of selecting intermediate data to be output from the storage unit in response to a predetermined key operation. The printer device according to claim 7, wherein: 10. A process for generating print data recognizable by a printer device, a process for sequentially storing the generated print data in an area of a storage unit which is not erased even after output to the printer device, and accepting a predetermined key operation. A computer-readable medium storing a print control program including a process of selecting print data in the storage unit in response to the key operation and a process of outputting the selected print data to a printer device.