JPS60176138A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the recovery of an error without requesting retransmission while high speed print is attained by transferring the next data after a print data is edited and storing the edited data to a memory after the print of the edited data is finished. CONSTITUTION:When the reception of a print data for one page is finished, a processor 20a edits a print code according to the print format and stores it to an area A. Then the print data of the next page is transferred from a host and also the print of the edited data is started. If an error such as paper jam takes place during print, the processor 20a receives it from a mechanism control section 20e so as to stop the operation of a print mechanism. When the error is restored, the processor 20a starts the print of jammed parts. That is, a video signal is generated from a video generating section 20d based on the print data of the area A of the memory 20c and written to a photosensitive drum 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a printer device that receives print data from a host and prints on a medium according to the data, and in particular, relates to a printer device that receives print data from a host and prints on a medium according to the data. The present invention relates to a printer device that can perform printing without involving host processing.

[Technology background]

In information processing systems, it is necessary to output predetermined data, and printers are widely used in addition to displays as output means. Improving the printing speed is a challenge for such printers, and efforts are being made to improve the printing speed along with improving the data processing speed of the host computer.

[Prior art and problems]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a general host and printer.
Printer 2 is connected to host 1 via a line, and host 1
Acts as a receiving printer to print data. host 1
From there, the print data existing in the file 10 is read page by page by the host computer 11 and sent to the printer 2 via the line. In the printer 2, the control unit 20
receives this page-by-page print data, creates a video signal corresponding to the print data, sends it to the drive unit 21α, and controls the light emission of the laser diode (light source) 21h. Shi = The Daioh 1″ 21h light is rotating mirror 21C
and reaches the rotating photosensitive drum 22 via the lens 21d. Since the photosensitive drum 22 is charged by a charger 23α operated by a high-voltage source 23b, nine turns of charge are created according to the video signal by the light of the laser diode 21h, and developed by the developer 24. On the other hand, the paper on the Hotsunoq (cassette) 28 is sent toward the photosensitive drum 22, and the developed image on the photosensitive drum 22 is transferred to the fixing roller 26 (L, 26h).
It is sent to the stacker 27 while being fixed. The photosensitive drum 22 is cleaned by a cleaner 25,
Prepare for next use.

In this way, the print data sent from the host 1 is printed using the electrophotographic process. As methods for exchanging data between the host 1 and the printer 2, the acknowledgment method shown in FIG. 2 and the retransmission request method shown in FIG. 3 are conventionally known.

In the confirmation response method, as shown in FIG. 2, data is transferred from the host 1, received by the printer 2, and then the control unit 20 of the printer 2 edits the received contents, such as character pitch, line spacing, etc. After editing it into the specified print format and writing it to the internal memory, the contents of the internal memory are read out, patterns of characters, symbols, etc. are generated, a video signal is created, and the video signal is written to the photosensitive drum 22. (printing), and further performs development, transfer, and fixing to print the content corresponding to the print data on the paper, completing the printing of one page.

When it is confirmed that the paper is normally ejected to the stacker 27 in this way, the host 2 is notified of the normal completion and the print data for the next page is transferred.

With this type of acknowledgment method, the average printing speed will be slow for printers such as electrophotographic printers that have a high /Q speed in the printing process, and the time required to print multiple pages will be particularly long. increases operator effort.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the retransmission request method receives the print data from the host 1, edits it, writes it to memory, and then notifies the host 1 of an end signal and sends the next print data to the host 1. The host 1 starts to transfer the print data for the page, starts printing, performs a printing process, prints on paper, and sends it to the stacker 27. In this method, reception, printing, and ejection are performed in parallel, whereas the above-described acknowledgment method performs reception, printing, and ejection in parallel, so that the average printing speed can be improved.

However, with this retransmission request method, if an error such as a paper jam or power cut occurs during printing or the printing process, it is necessary to remove the failure (error) and then perform the same printing operation again. Therefore, it is necessary to request the host 1 to transfer data back to the previous page. For this reason, the host 1 side must always store the necessary amount of transfer method print data, and a transmission method that not only issues a response but also requests retransmission from the host 1 side is required. . In particular, since the receiving printer does not have a transmission means for such a retransmission request, it was necessary to provide a special one.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer device that is capable of high-speed printing and that can perform error recovery processing without requiring a retransmission request.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a printing mechanism that prints on a medium, a non-volatile memory that can store print data for multiple pages, and a print data that is transferred page by page from a host. and a control unit that receives, edits, and stores in the memory, and provides the contents of the memory to the printing mechanism to perform a printing operation, and starts transferring the next print data to the editing mantissa host of the print data. At the same time, the edited print data is printed, and the edited print data is held at least in the memory until the printing mechanism finishes printing.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the printing mechanism is based on an electrophotographic process.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail according to examples.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, showing details of the control section 20 configured in FIG. 1. In the figure, 20 (Z is a processor, which is composed of a microprocessor, etc., and controls the entire printer device 2 by executing a program, and 20h is a line control unit, which receives print data from the host 1. , one that transmits a response signal, 2
0C is a non-volatile memory, which is made up of, for example, a magnetic disk, and can store print data for multiple pages (three pages in the figure). 20d is a video generator that stores characters, symbols, etc. , those that generate dot patterns such as graphs, 2
0e is a mechanical control unit that controls the printing mechanism - (photosensitive drum 22, developer 24, charger 23α, cleaner 25, feed (fixing) rollers 26α, 26h);
20f is a nomas that connects these.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configuration shown in FIG. 4 will be explained based on the 51st operation diagram.

■ When the second page of print data is transferred from host 1,
The line control unit 20h receives this, provides it to the processor 20α via the node 20f, and stores it in the internal memory of the processor 20α (receiving operation).

■ When the reception of one page of print data is completed, the processor 20α reads the print data from the internal memory and converts the print code in the print data according to the print format based on the print command (line spacing, character pitch, etc.) in the print data. (
After editing one or several lines (character code, etc.), the data is stored in area A of the memo IJ 20C via the path 20f (editing, memory storage).

(2) When the editing and memory storage for one page are completed, the processor 20α gives a response signal indicating normal reception from the line control unit 20b to the host 1 via the path 20f. As a result, the transfer of print data for the next page (FL+1st page) from the host 1 is started.

■ Along with this, the processor 20α is the video generator 20
d, the video generating unit 20d sequentially reads out the print data in the area A of the memory 200 via the path 20f,
It generates three turns, creates a video signal, and outputs it to the drive unit 21α in synchronization with the operation of the rotating roller 210. As a result, a latent image is formed on the rotating photosensitive drum 22 (printing operation). When this latent image formation for one page is completed, the first latent image reaches the developing device 24, and the developing device 24
The latent image is developed. The mechanical control unit 20e drives the paper feeding mechanism in synchronization with these, and the paper (
The developed image is transferred. After that, the paper is transferred to the fixing roller 26a.

26b, where it is fixed, and ejected to the stacker 27, completing the printing process.

■ On the other hand, during the execution of step ■, the operation of receiving the print data of the (n+1)th page transferred in step ■ is performed in step ■
Further, the editing of the print data of the (rL+1)th page and the memory storage operation are also performed in the same manner as in step (2). In this case, the (FL+1)th page of edited print data is stored in area B of the memory 201'. Therefore, the second page print data in area A of memo IJ 200 is not lost.

■ Upon completion of editing this (+z+1) negative print data, a normal reception response signal is given to the host 1 in the same way as in step ■, and the transfer of the (rL+2) page print data from the host 1 is thereby started. .

This is during the printing process of the second page, and the video generator 20d outputs a video signal corresponding to the print data of the (rL+l)th page in the area B of the memory 20C, and the video signal is placed on the photosensitive drum 22 in the same manner as in step (2). Writing and formation of a latent image are performed. Then, the (rL+1)th page is also printed on the next sheet by the printing process in the same manner as described above, and is ejected to the stacker 27.

■ This (rL+l) negative printing, during the printing process,
The received operation, editing, and memory storage operation of the transferred (n+2)th page are performed, and the page is stored in area C of memo IJ 20C. Therefore, the n-th negative print data in area A and the (rL+1) page print data in area B of the memory 20C are not lost.

Thereafter, similarly, the (r+3)th page reception, editing, and memory storage operations and the (rL+2)th page printing and print process operations are performed in parallel. Therefore, the print data for ■ is the -(FL+3)th page print data in the memory 20C.
It disappears only when it is stored in area l of , and is retained until at least the end of n-th printing (ejection of paper).

Next, for example, if an error such as a power cut or a paper jam occurs during the n-th printing or printing process, the operation of the apparatus is stopped and error recovery processing is performed. When a paper jam occurs, the processor 20α sends the paper jam to the mechanical control unit 20ε.
, and stops the operation of the printing mechanism. Next, when the operator releases the device based on the jam detection, removes the jammed paper, returns the device to its original state, and presses a specific key from the operation panel (not shown), the processor 2
Step a starts printing in the state where there is a jam. That is,
Similar to step (3), the video generating section 20d generates a revideo signal based on the print data in the area A of the memory 20C, and writes it onto the photosensitive drum 22, and then the printing process is performed in the same manner. On the other hand, when the power is cut off,
Perform the same process when power is restored.

In the above description, a printing mechanism using a process for the electronic copy 5 has been described as an example, but other types of printing mechanism having a relatively long printing process may be used.

Although the present invention has been described above using one embodiment, the present invention can be modified in various ways according to the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, there is provided a printing mechanism that prints on a medium, a nonvolatile memory that can store print data for multiple pages, and a print data that is transferred page by page from a host. and a control unit that receives, edits, and stores the data in the memory, and provides the contents of the memory to the printing mechanism to perform a printing operation, and starts transferring the next print data to the host after editing the print data. At the same time, the edited print data is printed, and the edited print data is retained at least in the memory until the printing mechanism finishes printing, so that the data of the next page cannot be received or edited. Since the printing operations for the current page can be performed in parallel, the printing speed is improved, and
Even if they are operated in parallel, when an error occurs, the print data that is being printed remains in the memory, that is, the memory acts as an error recovery memory, so the host is requested to resend when an error is recovered. There is also the advantage that this is not necessary, thus reducing the burden on the host, and furthermore, the printer itself can perform the recovery process without complicating the transmission means. Furthermore, it has the advantage that it can be realized by adding a simple means such as a memory, and allows a receiving printer having only such a simple transmission means to perform parallel processing and perform high-speed printing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a general host and printer.
3 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of interaction between a conventional host and a printer, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation in the configuration shown in FIG. In the figure, 2... printer device, 20α...
・Processor (control unit), 20C...Non-volatile memory, 20b...Line control unit, 20d...
...Video generation section, 20t... Mechanical control section. Patent applicant Fujitsu Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Akira Yamatani

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A printing mechanism that prints on a medium, a nonvolatile memory that can store print data for multiple pages, and a print data that is transferred page by page from the host, edited, and stored in the memory. and a control unit that provides the contents of the memory to the printing mechanism to perform a printing operation, and after editing the print data, causes the host to start transmitting the next print data and also transfers the edited print data. A printer device that performs printing and retains the edited print data in at least the memory until the printing mechanism finishes printing. (2) The printer device according to claim (1), wherein the printing mechanism is based on an electrophotographic process.