JPS6131884B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information processing output device, and particularly to a data suppression system in an electrophotographic printer or an inkjet printer that prints characters in the form of dot matrices.

Conventional impact-type printers usually use a method of making copies using back carbon paper or the like on which a book front format is preprinted. In this method, by partially removing the back carbon, even if printing is done on the same part of another sheet, printing will not be done on the surface of the book that is in contact with the part where the back carbon has been removed. I can do things.

However, with so-called non-impact printers using electrophotographic methods that have been put into practical use in recent years, it is not possible to make copies using carbon paper, so printing is performed on the same page repeatedly as a substitute for copying. This type of printer can print not only characters but also lines, figures, etc., so it is possible to use blank output paper by printing titles, ruled lines, etc. that correspond to the book format at the same time as the printed characters. In addition, when printing is suppressed on copy pages using partial carbon paper, which is done with impact printers, and when printing part of the form format is removed or added depending on the type of form, the print data of the suppressed part is not output to the printer when printing repeatedly. This is possible by partially deleting or adding the form format.

Of the above two methods, the former is called form overlay, and the latter method required for form overlay is called data suppression.

Conventionally, control of form overlay and data suppression has been extremely complex and has often been left to so-called output editing programs on computers. However, performing this control at the output editing stage not only wastes a large amount of computer processing time, but also has many restrictions on form overlay data creation because output editing can only be performed in character code units. In addition, the print data itself cannot be completely independent from the form overlay data, resulting in many inconveniences. Also, when realizing data suppression, there is a method of replacing part of the print data itself with a space, or when one print data is used for several types of printing, complex data suppression information including time information is replaced with the print data. Since this was done by inserting data into the print data, it was necessary to perform complicated processing such as replacing print data or inserting data suppression instruction information every time the print data changed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that prints characters composed of dot matrix.
An object of the present invention is to provide a data suppression method that allows data suppression to be easily instructed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a data suppression method that reduces restrictions on form overlay data creation.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention divides all data into a data group that is subject to data suppression and a data group that is not subject to data suppression, and takes print data as the former and form overlay data including data suppression instruction data as the latter. Data suppression is performed by inserting instruction codes for starting and ending data suppression into this form overlay data.

That is, according to the present invention, first data includes character data and a first data end instruction code, and includes a data suppression start instruction code, replacement character data, a data suppression end instruction code, and a second data end instruction code. second data and
a conversion means for converting character data included in the first and second data into a character pattern; and a conversion means for storing the character pattern at a position specified by an address counter and reading out the content stored up to that point at the time of data writing. a first storage means that operates in a first mode in which new data is written after reading the data and a second mode in which the contents are erased after reading the data; and data read from the first storage means in the first mode. a second storage means for storing the data, a means for combining data from the second storage means and data from the conversion means and providing it to the first storage means, and a means for detecting the data suppression start signal. means for suppressing data from the second storage means to the first storage means from the time when the data suppression ends to the detection of the data suppression end signal, the storage means corresponding to the character data in the first data. After storing the character pattern in the first storage means, the first data end instruction code returns the address counter to the first storage address of the first storage means to read the data in the first mode. At the same time, the read data and the character pattern corresponding to the second data are combined and stored in the first storage means again, and when the second data end instruction code is detected, the first A data suppression method is obtained, characterized in that the storage means is switched to the second mode and the data stored in the first storage means is read out.

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

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

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is assumed to be immediately after reading out a print image signal.
The following will be explained using FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,
Symbols a, b, c...k common to both figures represent various signals described later. In the present invention, as described above, the data used is divided into print data that is subject to data suppression and form overlay data that is not subject to data suppression (including data that instructs data suppression). The former print data is code-expressed character data “A”,
It consists of "B"..."F" and a data end instruction code _DE , and is stored in the first code buffer 11 in the form of "ABCDEFD _E ". The latter form overlay data is character pattern data (space code) that represents a blank space (printing suppression).
△, data suppression start instruction code S _S , character pattern data "X" and "Y" to be replaced, data suppression end instruction code S _E , and data end instruction code D _E , and a second code buffer. 12 “△△S _S XY△S _E D
It is remembered in the form of _"E ".

The dot line image buffer 13 operates in a first mode in which, when a write is instructed, it reads out the previously stored data and then writes new data to the address, and in a first mode, when a read is instructed, it reads out the previously stored data. It operates in one of two modes: a second mode in which it erases all its own contents after sending out the data (printed image). This mode instruction signal is transmitted from the signal line C from the data group selection control circuit 14.
given by. In the following description, it is assumed that the dot line image buffer 13 has finished operating in the second mode. Therefore, its contents are all erased and become all "0".

Immediately after reading out the print image signal, that is, at the left end in FIG. 2, the data group selection control circuit 14
is in a reset state, the code register 15 is set to "1" as the first read control signal a, the second read control signal b is set to "0", and the dot line image buffer 13 is set to read the printed image. The control signal c is "0". Therefore, code data is read out from the first code buffer 11 into the code register 15, and the dot line image buffer 13 is in the first mode.

First, character data "A", which is the first data, is read from the first code buffer 11 and stored in the code register 15. code register 1
The output of 5 is the character pattern generation circuit 16, and the first decoding circuit 1 generates the decoding signal d only when the input is the data suppression start instruction code S _S
7. A second decode circuit 18 that generates a decode signal e only when the input is the data suppression end instruction code S _E , and a third decode circuit 18 that generates the decode signal f only when the input is the data end instruction code D _E. It is connected to the decoding circuit 19. Since "A" stored in the code register 15 is character data, none of the decoded signals becomes "0" and becomes input data valid only for the character pattern generation circuit 16. Character pattern data is outputted from and becomes input data to the OR circuit 20.

At this time, the dot line image buffer 13
is the first mode, i.e. address counter 2
1, the mode is in which the data from the signal line j is written after reading the contents of the memory. The data read from the buffer 13 is stored in the dot image register 22, but since all the contents have been erased after reading the previous print image signal, all "0" corresponding to a blank pattern is stored in the register 22. be done. Next, the dot line image buffer 13 changes from the read state to the write state, and the dot image register 22
Since the flip-flop 23 is ON, the output passes through the AND circuit 24, and becomes an input to the OR circuit 20 together with the character pattern "A" which is the output of the character pattern generation circuit 16, and the combined output is the dot image. The data is written to the address indicated by the address counter 21 of the buffer 13.

That is, the dot line image buffer 13
The logical sum of the previously held pattern data and the newly input pattern data of the character "A" is written to , but since the pattern before writing is all "0", the pattern of the character "A" is Equivalent to if only data was written. When writing of the character pattern data "A" is completed, the dot line image buffer 13 increments the contents of the address counter 21 by a control line (not shown), and also increments the contents of the address counter 21 from the first code buffer 11 via the code register 15. Send character data “B”. Character data "B" is processed simultaneously with character data "A". Similarly, character data up to "F" are processed.

Next, the data end instruction code D _E is read into the code register 15 and stored. In this case, the third decode signal f from the third decode circuit 19
becomes "0", the address counter 21 is reset, and the mode of the data group selection control circuit 14 is updated, and the first read control signal a becomes "0" and the second read control signal b becomes "1". Become.
The control signal c is kept at "0".

Next, the code register 15 reads out the first character data "△" from the second code buffer 12 and stores it. At this time, the address counter 21 is "0"
Therefore, the counter 21 specifies the address in the dot line image buffer 13 where the pattern of the letter "A" is written. Therefore, when the first mode operation is performed at this address, the character "A" is stored in the dot image register 22.
pattern is read and stored. Furthermore, the output of the dot image register 22 is output to an AND circuit 24.
The signal passes through and becomes an input to the OR circuit 20. On the other hand, the character data “△” from the second code buffer 12
The output from the character pattern generation circuit 16 for the character pattern generation circuit 16 also serves as an input to the OR circuit 20. At this time, the character pattern data "△" from the character pattern generation circuit 16 are all "0", so the data j written to the dot line image buffer 13 is first read into the dot image register 22 and the data of the character "A" is read. Equal to pattern data.

Next, the character data “△” is stored in the code register 15.
is read and processed in the same manner as described above, character pattern data "B" is read from dot line image buffer 13, and character pattern data "B" is written to dot image register 22.

When the data suppression start code _Ss , which is the third code data in the second code buffer 12, is read into the code register 15, the decode signal d from the first decode circuit 17 becomes "0", and the flip-flop 23 Turns off (OFF).

Next, character data "X" is read into the code register 15 and stored. At this time, the pattern data of the letter "C" is read into the dot image register 22 from the dot line image buffer 13, but since the flip-flop 23 is OFF, it does not pass through the AND circuit 24, and is sent to the OR circuit 20.
The output j is only the pattern data of the character "X" and is written into the dot line image buffer 13. That is, the character pattern data "C" already written in the dot line image buffer 13 is erased, and the character pattern data "X" is newly written. Similarly, character pattern data "D" is also replaced by character pattern data "Y". Furthermore, character pattern data “E”
is replaced by character pattern data “△” (space).

When the data suppression end instruction code S _E , which is the seventh data of the second code buffer 12, is read into the code register 13, the second decode signal e from the second decode circuit 18 becomes "0".
Therefore, the flip-flop 23 is turned on. The next character data “△” is processed in the same way as the first data in the second code buffer 12, and the character pattern data “F” is read out from the dot line image buffer 13. It is written to the dot image register 22.

Next, the data end instruction code D which is the final data
When _E is read into the code register 15, the third
The decode signal f from the decode circuit 19 becomes "0", the address counter 21 is reset, and the data group selection control circuit 14 is updated, the second read control signal b becomes "0", and the print image read signal c becomes "1", and the dot line image buffer 13 operates in the second mode. That is, from the image buffer 13, character pattern data "A", "B", "X", "Y", "△", "F" are sent as print image signal data k.
” and then all the contents of the dot line image buffer 13 are erased (blank pattern).
be done. At this time, a reset signal g is generated from the address counter 21, and the data group selection control circuit 14
Reset.

Furthermore, as can be seen from the above explanation, the OR circuit 2
0, flip-flop 23 and OR circuit 24
Collectively, they form a data suppression control section. Furthermore, the signal waveforms of the signals h, i, and j shown in FIG. 2 are the output signal of the code register 15, the output signal of the dot image register, and the logical The output signals of the circuit 20 are respectively shown. Further, in the above explanation, one row of data was used, but in the case of multiple rows, the above-mentioned operation is repeated the same number of times as the number of rows. Furthermore, although the above embodiment describes the case where the character pattern data "CDE" of the print data is replaced with "XY", if "CDE" is simply deleted instead of being replaced, the character pattern data "X" , "Y" can be replaced by three space codes Δ.

In addition, in the present invention, two code buffers are used: a first code buffer representing print data and a second code buffer representing form overlay data. However, a plurality of code buffers corresponding to the latter are provided, and printing is performed in combination with the first code buffer. By doing so, it is possible to print a plurality of sheets in which the printing data is suppressed at different positions. In the above explanation, the code buffer has been divided into several parts, but this only means that they are separated functionally, and there is no need to physically separate them.In extreme terms, the code buffer that represents print data and form overlay data can be separated. All the represented code buffers may be combined into one code buffer.

According to the present invention, as explained above, it is possible to suppress print data using the data suppression instruction information in the form overlay data, and simultaneously print the form overlay format using the normal overlay data of the form overlay data. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. Explanation of symbols: 11 is the first code buffer, 1
2 is a second code buffer, 13 is a dot line image buffer, 14 is a data group selection control circuit, 15 is a code register, 16 is a character pattern generation circuit, 17 is a first decoding circuit, and 18 is a second decoding circuit. , 19 is a third decoding circuit,
21 is an address counter, 22 is a dot image register, 23 is a flip-flop, 25 is data suppress control means, a is a first read control signal, b is a second read control signal, c is a print image read control signal, and h is a print image read control signal. In the read code data, i represents dot image register read data, j represents dot image buffer write data, and k represents output print image signal data.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. first data including character data and a first data end instruction code; second data including a data suppression start instruction code, replacement character data, a data suppression end instruction code, and a second data end instruction code; a conversion means for converting character data included in the first and second data into a character pattern; and a conversion means for storing the character pattern at a position specified by an address counter and reading out the content stored up to that point at the time of data writing. a first storage means that operates in a first mode in which new data is written after reading the data and a second mode in which the contents are erased after reading the data; and data read from the first storage means in the first mode. a second storage means for storing the data, a means for combining data from the second storage means and data from the conversion means and providing it to the first storage means, and a means for detecting the data suppression start signal. means for suppressing data from the second storage means to the first storage means from the time when the data suppression ends to the detection of the data suppression end signal, the storage means corresponding to the character data in the first data. After storing the character pattern in the first storage means, the first data end instruction code returns the address counter to the first storage address of the first storage means to read the data in the first mode. At the same time, the read data and the character pattern corresponding to the second data are combined and stored in the first storage means again, and when the second data end instruction code is detected, the first A data suppression method characterized in that the storage means is switched to the second mode and data stored in the first storage means is read out.