JPS61271534A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To register the external data directly through a printer device with no intervention of a host computer by providing an input device to the main body of the printer device connected to the host computer or at the periphery of the printer device. CONSTITUTION:An image input part 4 is set to a printer device main body or at the periphery of this printer device. Then a laser printing device is switched to a down-load input mode when an image is supplied through the part 4. Thus an image pattern is supplied and registered to a memory 15 in a laser printer device. While an operating panel is used to call out the registered pattern to a display part 3 for decision of the printing position. Thus the registered pattern can be printed on a medium regardless of the presence or absence of a print instruction given from a host computer 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a printer device such as a laser printer that is connected to a host computer and prints in response to a print command from the host computer.

Conventional dot impact printer, thermal dot printer,
For printer devices such as laser printers that combine thin dot pixels to output characters and graphics, if you want to print characters other than those registered in the built-in character generator, you must register the character image from the host computer in advance. I needed to keep it. Therefore, when registering a character image.

It was necessary to design a bit image using application software on the host computer, convert it into data, and send it to the printer.

This procedure has the problem of being very time-consuming.

I] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that allows external data to be registered in a printer connected to a host computer without going through the host computer.

The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

1”! Provide an input bag on or around the printer body,
The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with means for loading data from the input device into a memory built into the main body of the printer and printing out the data in response to a command from a host computer.

The configuration of the present invention will be explained below along with examples.

In addition, in all the figures for explaining an example.

Components having the same function are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer device, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic system configuration of a control device for the laser printer device. be.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a laser printer device, 2 is an operation panel, and 3 is a display section consisting of a liquid crystal display panel and the like.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an image input section 1, which uses, for example, a tablet for inputting external data. This tablet can print external data such as image patterns using a tablet pen to the laser printer i! 1 is input to the built-in memory. Note that the host computer is not shown. Further, the image input section 4 is used to display data such as input images on the display section 3 as needed, and to display a layout for printing out on the display section 3.

In FIG. 2, a computer 11 serves as a host computer for the laser printer device 1. In FIG.

12 is an input/output port (I10 port) provided within the laser printer device 1;

13 is a central processing unit built into the laser printer device 1; 14 is a RAM connected to the central processing unit 13 and also connected to the input/output port 12;

15 is a ROM connected to the central processing unit 13 and to the input/output port 12; 16 is a print data processing section connected to the input/output port 12.

Next, the laser printer equipment of this embodiment ff! ! The operation of 1 will be explained using FIG.

In FIG. 2, the image input unit 4 captures the bit image into the RAM 14, and the captured bit image is sent to the programmable character generator within the ROM 15.

The data input to this programmable character generator is always backed up and sent to the display section 3 and print data processing section 16 as necessary.

Note that a device for inputting images may be provided in the laser printer device Wl itself, and the display section 3 is not limited to being attached to the main body of the laser printer device 1, but may be provided separately from the main body. good.

When the user inputs an image using the image input section 4, the user first operates the operation panel 2 to print the laser printer t! 1 is switched to the mode for download input.0 Next, an image pattern is input using the image input section 4. Here, if necessary, the image pattern is corrected while looking at the pattern displayed on the display section 3. When the input is completed, the size of the pattern to be registered, the ASCII code, etc. are determined and registered in the memory within the laser printer device 1.

In addition, by calling up the registered pattern on the display unit 3 by operating the operation panel 2 and determining the printing position, all printouts can be printed out regardless of whether there is a printing command from the host computer. The registered pattern can be printed on a medium such as paper. In this way, by providing the image input unit 4 in the laser printer device 1, users can easily input their own handwritten signatures, company logos, etc. without using a computer, which takes time and effort to read data. It becomes possible to register in the laser printer device 1. Therefore, even if such pattern data is not on the computer 11 side, it is possible to print it out at a desired position by operating only the laser printer device 1.

The present invention has been specifically explained above using examples, but
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

Effects As can be seen from the above explanation, the following effects can be obtained by the present invention.

(1) By providing an input device in or around the printer body connected to the host computer, it is possible to input an image pattern into the printer device without using the host computer.

Ru.

(2) According to (1) above, image patterns can be easily printed out by the host computer (regardless of the presence or absence of instructions).

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer device, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic system structure 1 of a control device for the printer device. In the figure, 1... laser printer device, 2... operation panel;
3...Display section, 4...Image input section, 11.
...: Computer, 12...I10 port, 13...
・Central ring part, 14...RAM, 15...ROM,
16... Mark data processing section. f 1st chart 2! Guan]

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printer device that prints out information from a host computer, an input device is provided in or around the printer device body, data is read from the input device into the memory built into the printer device body, and the data is sent to a command from the host computer. A printer device characterized in that it is provided with means for printing out.