JPS6149871A - Printing-controlling method for page printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an inexpensive processor with low processing speed to be used, by a method wherein a full-bit mapped memory is divided into several blocks, and the block having data completely printed out is immediately loaded with character patterns for the next page. CONSTITUTION:A page buffer 2 comprises buffers for two pages, one of the buffers being 2a and the other 2b. The full-bit mapped memory 4 is divided into four blocks 4a-4d. When a one-page amount of printing data are completely received from a host CPU (a) into the page buffer 2a, an editing processor 3 reads the contents of the buffer 2a, and loads them into the memory 4a. Similarly, the memories 4b-4d are also loaded. On the other hand, a main processor starts printing when loading into the memory 4a is completed. Accordingly, the period of time required for loading data into the full-bit mapped memory by the processor 3 can be set to be at least 4 times as long as that in a conventional system, so that the processing speed of the processor 3 can be low.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing control method for a page printer.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a conventional printing control method for a page printer. FIG. 2 shows the timing chart.

The page printer has a main processor that controls the entire page printer,
Edit processor that controls printing.

There are 3. When the main processor 1 receives one page of print data from the host OPU in a page format, the main processor 1 outputs a paper feed start signal from the fart boat 6. The pickup roller 7 rotates in response to a paper feed start signal, and the printing paper is conveyed. At the same time, the edit processor 3 loads the print pattern for one page into the full bitmap memory 4 based on the print data in the page memory 2. If the print data is character printing, the edit processor 3 reads the character pattern from a font memory (not shown), loads the character pattern into the full bitmap memory 4, and prints the print pan for one page. create. On the other hand, when the conveyed printing paper comes above the print start detection sensor 8, a print start signal is output, and the parallel/serial conversion circuit 5 reads the print pattern from the full bitmap memory 4 and converts it into a serial signal, and converts it into a serial signal. Generate a signal. The video signal causes the laser 9 to turn on and off, and the laser light generated by the laser 9 is scanned by a mirror motor IOK and irradiated onto the photosensitive drum n. The photosensitive drum H is irradiated with laser light.
creates an electrical latent image. Development tdk1 for electrical latent image
2, the toner is applied and a visible image is formed. This toner is transferred onto the conveyed printing paper by a transfer corotron B,
Printing is done.

In this control method, when continuous printing is performed, the time chart shown in FIG. 2 shows. The printing pattern for one page must be completely loaded into the full bitmap memory 4 within time t1. In the case of a cut paper laser beam page printer with a printing speed of 5 sheets and 7 sheets, the bitmap memory capacity is about 1.3 Mbytes for A3 paper, and tl is about 0.9 seconds. In order to process 1.3 Mbytes in 0.9 seconds, the edit processor 4 must have a high processing speed, which also increases the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and to provide a control method that is low in cost and that does not reduce the printing speed even when a processor with a slow processing speed is used.

In the present invention, character patterns are loaded into the full bitmap memory using the full bitmap yt-r:v.

Focusing on the fact that the print line is read from the smaller address to the larger address, and the print line is read from the smaller address to the larger address in the full bitmap memory, the full bitmap memory is divided into several blocks, and the printed block is The next page's blank character pattern is loaded immediately.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the print control section of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows its timing chart.

Page buffer 2 generally has a memory capacity that can receive two or more pages, but here, for convenience, it is assumed that it has a two-page page buffer, one of which is page buffer A, 2α, and the other is page buffer B, 2b. shall be.

Full bit memory 4 shall be divided into 4 blocks,
Full bitmap memories 1 to 4 are used, respectively. The first print data from the host CPU is sent to page buffers A and 2.
received at a. When the print data for one page has been received into the page buffer AXb, the edit processor 3 reads the page buffer A1, reads the character pattern from the font memory M according to its contents, and stores the full bitmap memory 1, 4cL. , load that character pattern into . In the same way, full bitmap memory 2 to 4
The character pattern is also loaded.

On the other hand, the main processor l is full pit map mesori 1
, 4a, the printing paper is conveyed. When a print start signal is generated by the print/print start detection sensor 8, the parallel/serial conversion circuit 5 converts the full bit memory 1
, 4a, performs serial conversion, generates a video signal, and performs printing. In this way, the first page is printed.

In the case of continuous printing, after the print data of the first page is received in the page buffer A, %, the print data of the next page is immediately received in the page buffer B, 21). The print data received in the page buffer BX2'b has already been loaded into the full bitmap memories 1 and 4c for the first page.
Since printing of L has been completed, character patterns for the next page are loaded into the full bitmap memories 1 and 4α. Character patterns are similarly loaded into full bitmap memories 2-4. On the other hand, the character pattern of the next page of main processor 1 is full bitmap memory 1.
4a, a paper feed start signal for the next page is generated and printing is performed. In this way, printing can be performed without slowing down the printing speed.

In the embodiment, the paper feed start signal is generated when the character pattern is completely loaded into the full bitmap memory 1.44, but the paper feed start signal is generated when the loading is completed in any of the full bitmap memories 2 to 4. The same effect can be obtained.

According to the present invention, the time it takes for the edit processor to load the full bitmap memory can be approximately four times longer than in the conventional example, so the processing speed of the edit processor does not need to be slow, resulting in low-cost printing. control method.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a page printer according to the prior art;
FIG. 3 shows a timing chart thereof, FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a print control section of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a timing chart thereof. In the figure, l is the main processor, 2 is the page buffer, 3 is the edit processor, 4 is the full bitmap memory, 5 is the parallel/serial conversion circuit, 6 is the 10 port, 7 is the pickup roller, and 8 is the print start detection sensor. , 9 is a laser, phantom is a mirror motor, 11 is a photosensitive drum, ν is a developer, n is a transfer corotron, and 14 is a font memory Name of the patent applicant Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. Riki 1
Illustration of Yinba 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a page printer having a memory for storing print data from a host CPU, a processor for controlling printing, and a memory for storing print patterns of one or more pages, the memory for storing print patterns of one or more pages is divided into n blocks. A page printer print control method characterized by dividing the block and storing a print pattern for the next page from the block that has been printed.