JPS61177255A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the image to be outputted in the desired form without sending a control command from a host computer 201 or the like, by removably providing a control command generating device producing a control command indicating the form of the image to be outputted. CONSTITUTION:In a laser beam printer or the like, a control command generating device 205 consisting of ROM, etc. is of removable cartridge type and permits direct access of a CPU203 through a bus 206b. The initial value of the device is set in a printing control parameter table 210. The CPU203 reads an identifier in 301 to identify the pressure of a control command sequence and when identifying an identifier 1, the CPU203 reads the number of control command sequence in 302 to set the number on a counter. The CPU203 reads the control command to write into the appropriate portion on the printing control parameter table 210. The above process is repeated until the count on a counter is reduced to 'zero' one by one. The required printing control parameter is set on the table by setting the cartridge 205 and supplying the power or pushing a reset switch.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image output device that outputs an image according to a control command indicating the format of the image to be output.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, image output devices such as laser beam printers are configured to operate in accordance with commands from a host computer or in accordance with switches attached to the device. 1st
Figure (a) shows an example of parameters necessary to control printing (recorded images), and the output form of the image is determined by these parameters. FIG. 1(b) is a diagram for explaining the meaning of each parameter, and FIG. 1(a) and
Each reference numeral in Figure (b) corresponds to the other. 101 indicates the character spacing, and when this is determined, the number of characters that can be printed in one line is determined. Further, 102 is a line spacing, which determines the number of lines that can be printed on one page. 103 is the margin,
It is used to determine how much margin to leave on the left, right, top and bottom of the transfer paper. 104 is a character set (for example, indicates a group of characters and symbols in different fonts such as italics and boldface), and in a device where multiple character sets can be selected, it is specified which character set is used for printing. It is something to do. These printing control parameters are necessary for proper printing, and therefore it is necessary to send control commands specifying these from the host computer prior to printing. Alternatively, it was necessary to set the above-mentioned parameters by changing a setting switch or the like attached to the device. However, there is a risk that the operator will make a mistake when changing the switches, and if the host computer is a large computer (hereinafter also referred to as the host), various image output devices are connected to the large computer. However, it is very difficult to send different control commands to each image output device, and if the connected image output device changes to a different device, the entire program on the host side must be changed. there were.

[Purpose] The present invention was developed in view of the drawbacks mentioned above, and it is to provide an image output device capable of outputting an image in a desired form without transmitting control commands from a host computer or the like. The purpose is to

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image output device with excellent functions that can output a desired image with a simple device configuration.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 shows a control circuit diagram for character pattern generation in this embodiment, in which character code data and control commands sent from a host computer are input to a page printer such as a laser beam printer. Indicates when recording a character pattern. In the figure, 201 is a computer (host computer) that generates character code data, 202 is an input buffer that temporarily stores character code data, 203 is a CPU consisting of a general-purpose microprocessor, and 204 is a character driver I according to character code data. - Built-in character generator that generates patterns (symbols and the like are also referred to as characters in this embodiment); 205 is a cartridge-style removable control command generator, which is composed of a ROM (read-only memory) and the like; There is. Further, 206 is a socket for connecting the control command generating device 205, 207 is an output page buffer consisting of a RAM having the number of dots for one page, and 208 is an output page buffer that maintains an interface with the printer. A printer interface section 207 generates a video signal from dot information, a page printer 209 is an output device that receives the video signal and actually records an image, and a page 210 sets print control parameters as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a RAM is used. 21
1 is an attachment/detachment signal indicating whether or not the control command generation device 205 is connected to the socket 206, 212 is a form generation RAM, and 214 is a CPU board.

The control command generation device 205 is a removable cartridge type device, and the CPU'203 can be directly accessed from the bus 206b. FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of data stored in the control command generation device 205. In the figure 3
01 is an identifier, which is used to identify the currently installed cartridge since the control command generating device (cartridge) 2o5 is used for multiple purposes. Here, an identifier 1 indicating that a control command sequence is included is written. 302 is the number of control command sequences indicating the number of control commands, 303 is a control command sequence, and 303a to 3
03h indicates each control command.

Next, the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 2 will be explained in detail according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the flowchart in FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU 203. The flowchart in FIG. 4 is executed when the device is powered on or when a reset switch (not shown) attached to the device is pressed.

Further, an initialization command is sent from the host and executed even after the current printing operation is completed.

First, in step 401, initial values of the device are set in the print control parameter table 210. Next, in step 402, the cartridge attachment/detachment signal 211 is sensed, and the cartridge 2
05 is connected.

At this point, if no cartridge is connected, the process ends. If it is connected, the process advances to step 403, and it is checked by reading the identifier 301 whether there is a control command sequence.

If it is another identifier, execute the corresponding program. When it is recognized that the identifier is 1, it is set to 30 in step 404.
Read the number of control command sequences in step 2 and set that number in the counter. Next, in step 405, one control command is read, and in step 406, it is confirmed whether or not it is a correct control command. If not correct, skip and proceed to step 409. If correct, the control command is analyzed in step 407. Then, in step 408, the analysis result is written into the corresponding part of the print control parameter table 210. Thereafter, in step 409, the counter is decremented by one, and in step 410, the counter is
'0'°, that is, whether all control commands have been read is determined, and if not, step 40
Return to step 5 and repeat the above operation.

By configuring as shown below, the user can install the cartridge 205, turn on the power, or press the set switch even if the user does not have to configure the host to send control commands or cannot send control commands. When pressed, the desired print control parameters are set in the table. Therefore, just by sending only the print data (character code) from the host, the desired printing can be performed.

Note that even if a control command (control command) is sent from the host side, this device performs normal operation.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a laser beam printer to which the present invention is applicable.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 21 is an exposure device equipped with a scanner and a laser unit. 22 is a developing unit that visualizes the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 23. 23
24 is a photosensitive drum, 24 is a paper feed cassette, and 5 is a paper feed roller that feeds sheets of paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 24 to the conveying roller 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a registration shutter, and the paper conveyed via the conveyance roller 6 is temporarily stopped by this registration shutter 7, and the projection of the laser beam, the rotational operation of the photosensitive drum 23, and the paper feeding are synchronized. Be taken. Reference numeral 8 denotes a feed roller for feeding the paper to the transfer section 9. 10 is a fixing section that fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet of paper, and 11 is a stacker section that receives the stacked sheets. Further, as mentioned above, 205 is a detachable character generator, 206 is a socket, and 214 is a CPU 2.
03, a CPU board to which an output buffer 207 and the like are attached.

In the laser beam printer configured in this way,
A sequence controller 13 controls a series of operation timings such as conveyance of paper and development. Additionally, this laser beam printer has a printer interface section 208.
A visible image is formed on the photosensitive drum 23 by turning on/off the laser beam according to the video signal output from the photosensitive drum 23.

In this embodiment, control commands for setting print control parameters were stored in the cartridge 205 and read out for use. However, by storing other control commands in the cartridge 205, the apparatus can be It is possible to expand the functions. An example is shown below.

(1) When a form creation control command string is stored.

For example, control commands for generating ruled lines, characters representing items, patterns representing company marks (logos), patterns representing signatures, etc. are stored in the cartridge 205, and these data are read out as described above. A desired form (hereinafter referred to as a form) can be obtained by registering it in the form generation RAM 212 as, for example, a dot pattern. That is, the character generator 204 generates a character pattern according to the sent character code, and the form generation RAM 212 generates a form pattern, so both patterns are overlapped on the output page buffer 207, and the characters are inserted. A form is formed. Therefore, by changing the cartridge 205, the user can output a desired form together with print data.

(2) When character code (including control commands) strings are stored.

Normally, an image output device cannot print anything other than test prints for self-diagnosis unless a character code (print data) is sent from the host. Therefore, print data is stored in the cartridge 205 together with control commands, and as described above, these data are read out and processed and printed as if the print data were sent from the host computer.

Therefore, it is possible to print with just this device without a host computer, which is very useful when demonstrating a product. In particular, if the cartridge 205 includes a character generator that generates a character pattern in a desired font, it is possible to generate a character pattern suitable for the demonstration.

Further, in this embodiment, the cartridge 205 is used for reading only, but a non-volatile memory or the like that is writable and stores the contents as the memory of the cartridge i-Ridge is used to read data sent from the host. The control command may be written and saved in its original format.

As a result, images can be output in the desired format from next time onwards without the need to send control commands.

[Effects] As explained above, according to the present invention, an image in a desired form can be output without sending a control command from a host computer or the like.

Further, according to the present invention, since the control command generating means is made removable, the user can easily select a control command suitable for the purpose of use without changing the program of the host computer or the like. With this, a desired output image can be easily obtained. Furthermore, by storing form creation commands, print data, etc. in the control command generation means, it is possible to register forms and output desired images only on the apparatus side.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(a) is a diagram showing an example of parameters necessary for printing control, FIG. 1(b) is a diagram for explaining each of the parameters, FIG. 2 is a control circuit diagram in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a data configuration diagram of a detachable control command generation device, FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the circuit shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration of a laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied. It is a diagram. Here, 201 is a calculator, 202 is an input buffer, 203
204 is a built-in character generator, 205 is a removable control command generator, 206 is a socket, 207 is an output page buffer, 208 is a printer interface unit, 209 is a page printer, 210 is a RAM for print control parameter table , 211 is an attachment/detachment signal, and 212 is a form generation RAM. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image output device that outputs an image according to input information, comprising a control command generation means for generating a control command instructing the format of the image to be output, the control command generation means being detachable. Output device.