JPS62204949A - Word processor with multicolor printing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain word processor capable of multicolor printing by providing a printing control means which reads data from a date memory means sequentially, prints only data corresponding to printing colors designated by a printing color designation means and skips printing data which corresponds to other colors. CONSTITUTION:When a certain area in a data memory means 1 is printed, the area is provided with data having a plurality of colors, and a printable color by a printing control means is assumed as red. A printing color designation means 2 designates red, and the printing control 3 selects only data containing red from among data which are read out of the data memory means 1 as printing data for printing. Data containing other colors are treated as 'untransmitted data' and a portion for this 'untransmitted data' is skipped. Thus printing of data designated for 'printing in red' is completed. If a ribbon is replaced by the user and printing in green is made possible by the printing control means, the printing color designation means 2 designates green and printing is performed, thus recording red and green color data. Simultaneously all color data stored in the data memory means 1 are recorded and recording paper is printed in multicolors.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] This invention relates to a word processor with multicolor printing a waterfall, and is particularly suitable for printing devices that can only be used with a fixed number of printing ribbons at a time, especially for monochrome printing mechanisms. Suitable for word processors with print bindings.

[Summary of the Invention] This invention provides a word processor equipped with a printing device that can print in only a limited number of colors at once. It extracts and prints the data corresponding to the available colors), making it possible to print a series of multi-color data in several print cycles.

[Prior Art] Conventional word processors are limited to high-end models because multicolor printing is performed in one print cycle, and printing devices have complicated mechanisms.

On the other hand, in low-priced models that attempt multi-color printing, the printing device itself is a single-color printing mechanism, typically only one print ribbon cartridge can be installed at a time, requiring manual ribbon replacement. A print stop code is set in the data array in the text memory, and when this code is read during printing, printing is temporarily stopped. During this time, the user can replace the ribbon with a different color and then issue a command to resume printing using key manual input. The system uses a method that allows printing to continue by doing so.

[Problem to be solved by the invention 1 However, in this conventional method, a print stop code is set in the text memory at every place where the font color changes, and each time a print stop code is detected during printing, the user pulls the ribbon. The present invention was made in view of these circumstances, and reduces the burden on the user under conditions where there are restrictions on the W4 mechanism. The purpose is to provide a word processor that can print in multiple colors.

[Configuration for Solving Problems] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an unreleased IJJ. In the figure, 1 is a data storage means for storing data specifying a print color, 2 is a print color specifying means for specifying a print color, and 3 is a data storage means 1 for sequentially reading data from the print color specifying means. This is a print control means that prints only data corresponding to a designated print color and skips printing data of other colors.

[Function] The present invention will be explained in detail. Now, when printing a certain area in the data storage means l, the first partial area of this area (data array) contains data for which the first printing color, for example, red printing is specified, and the second It is assumed that there is data having a plurality of colors, such as data specifying a second printing color, for example, green printing, in the partial area.

It is now assumed that the color that can be printed by the print control means 3 is red. In this case, the print color designating means 2 designates red as the current print color. Then, in the current print cycle, the print control means 3 selects only the data having the red color currently specified by the print color specifying means 2 out of the data read from the data storage means 1 as print data, and printing is performed.
Data with other colors becomes jump feed data, and printing of that part is skipped.By 0 or more, printing of data specified for red printing is completed.0Next, the ribbon is converted via the user.1For example, green It is assumed that the printing of the following is enabled by the print control means. Then, the print color designating means 2 designates green as the print color. Thereafter, green data is printed in the same manner, and red and green data are recorded on the recording paper. Thereafter, by similarly performing the above processing for all color data in the data storage means 1, multicolor printing is completed on the recording paper.

The above operation can also be extended to the case where the print control means 3 can print two colors at once. In this case, the print color designating means 2 designates two colors at a time.

[Example] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

The configuration of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, and the external appearance of the word processor used in this embodiment is shown in FIG. . The order of printing colors is predetermined, and the character ridge automatically returns to the top position of the page after printing one color, so the user only needs to change the ribbon twice to print three colors. You can take the print bartcoby.

In Figures 2 and 3, 10 is a key input section, which includes various character keys, control keys, and keys used during printing, such as a print mode key for specifying the print mode, and a print mode key for specifying the print mode, and printing after replacing the ribbon. A print start key is provided for instructing the start of printing.

11 is a CPU that controls the whole, and the key input section 1
0, various peripheral devices, memories, etc.

Reference numeral 12 controls the printing, head position, and paper feed for the printer 13 based on information sent from the CPU II.The arrow head 13c is movable in the arrow direction (digit direction) in FIG. A spatula 13H is supported on the holder, and a printing ribbon cartridge 13R is removably attached thereto. 13P uses a platen roll to feed the paper,
Used for paper return.

14 is a group of registers related to printing; CL is a print color register that specifies a print color; Y is a line register that holds a print line number; and X is a digit register that holds a print digit number in the current line. In this example, print color register C
L is initialized to a specific color code by inputting the print mode key, and is thereafter refreshed each time printing is completed in that color.

15 holds text data edited in a text memory.

An example of the structure of this text memory 15 is shown in FIG. 4. In this example, each character code has a color code attached to it.
By reading the paired color code and character code, the CPU II can identify the color of the character code. The color code assigned to each character code can be freely set when editing text.

Returning to FIG. 2, numeral 16 is a work memory for developing one print line.

17 is a memory (ROM) that holds the print processing program
It is.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a display section for displaying data and messages, and during multicolor printing, messages for ribbon replacement are displayed at appropriate times.

The operation of the embodiment constructed as above will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The number of colors is 3 colors, red, green,
The following explanation assumes that the color is blue and one page is to be printed from the text memory 4.

After setting paper in the printer 13, the user operates the print mode key. This allows the CPU
The operation of II enters the flow shown in FIG. First, as an initial setting, the printing color is set to the first color in step SL. Also, set the print line number to the first line (step S
2) In step S3, set 12 dots 13H to the left end of the printer.

In step S4, a message is displayed on the display unit 18 instructing the user to set the ribbon cartridge 13R of the color to be printed (red ribbon here) in the carriage 13C and press the print start key, and in step S5. The S6 key enters the state of waiting for human power. Here, when the user loads the red ribbon cartridge 13R into the carriage 13C and presses the print start key, the process moves to step 57 and subsequent steps.

In step S7, data 1 of the current row indicated by row register Y is
Retrieve lines from text memory 15 and work memory 1
6 Expand upward. As a result, one line of character data string is arranged in the work memory 16 in a format in which color information is attached to each character data (see Figure 4).In step S8, the leftmost or first digit is stored in the digit register X. After setting, print processing for one line is performed.

That is, the color information C is read from the character data at the position of the row and digit registers x and Y (step S9), and it is determined whether it matches the value of the print color register CL (step 310), and if it matches, the character is Step sty is used to output and print. If there is a discrepancy, nothing is done, and the digit register and printer head 13H are updated in step S13 for the next character data printing process, and the process returns to step S9 to complete the printing process for one line. Once confirmed in step S12, the process advances to step S24, where the print line number Y is updated. and,
In step 515, it is determined whether or not the value exceeds the last line. If not, in step 316, the printer head 13H is returned to the left end in order to print the first line, and in step S17, the paper for one line is printed. Then, the process from step 37 onwards is repeated.

If the value of Y exceeds the last line, printing of the first color, red, indicated by the print color register CL is completed, and the next print color is specified in step 318.

At this point, only the character data to which red is assigned among the three-color character data in the text memory 15 is printed on the paper, as illustrated in the first printing result in FIG.

Now, after specifying the second printing color (green in this case) in step 518, it is confirmed in step 319 that the three-color printing has not yet been completed, and in order to start the second printing process, step In S20, the paper is back-feeded to the first line, and then the steps from step 52 described above are executed.

In this way, when the second printing process is finished, the green characters are added to the red characters and printed, as shown in the second printing result in Figure 5, and the third printing process is started in the same way. When the process is completed, blue characters are printed as shown in the third printing result in FIG. 5, and color printing for three colors is completed. Here, in step 319, CL>3 is established, and the flow exits from the three-color printing process.

As explained above, this embodiment has a pack feed function that automatically returns the carriage 13C to the paper printing start position for the next printing process at the end of each printing process. By simply exchanging the ribbon as many times as the specified number of colors in the single-color printer 13, it is possible to achieve desired color printing.

[Modifications] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible.

For example, in the above embodiment, color information is physically assigned to each character code in a one-to-one correspondence on the text memory 15, but any other assignment is possible. As schematically illustrated in Figure 7, color information may be placed on the text memory at the position where the color is switched, and each character code may be processed to have the color indicated by the first color information preceding it. ,or,
A mode for specifying the printing range of the same color may be provided, and the printing range of each color may be stored in a memory separate from the text memory. In this case, when printing, the character code read from the text memory may be It is determined whether or not to print by determining whether or not it is entered. With this configuration, only a memory for specifying the print range for each color is required, so the storage capacity can be reduced. However, if you edit the text again, you will need to reset the print range for each color.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment assumes printing in three colors, it can be easily modified to perform printing in any number of colors. Further, the color to be printed in each printing process may be automatically identified according to which color ribbon is loaded in the printer.
As shown in the figure, each ribbon cartridge 13R has 13
Protrusions as shown by X are provided at different positions for each color of ribbon, and on the other hand, on the carriage 13C on the printer side.

A glossy groove 13Y that cannot be engaged with the protrusion of each ribbon cartridge 13R may be formed on the mounting surface, and a ribbon color detection sensor or switch for detecting this engagement state may be provided.

Wataru Shiran ・Also, it may be possible to easily change the color information once assigned to two-character data0 For example, as shown in the text memory in Figure 9, the character data group in the area with ■ as the head is Assume that the character data is assigned to the first color, the character data group in the area having a square symbol as the head is assigned the second color, the character data group in the area having the square symbol as the head is the third color, and so on. In this case, as shown in "Color Allocation Change", it is possible to arbitrarily specify the actual printing color codes R, G, and B for ■, ■, and ■.

That is, document areas that will be the same color are determined, and then the actual printing color of each document area is set to a desired color.

Furthermore, the data to be printed is not limited to character data, and graphic data may also be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, only the day corresponding to the color of the printing ribbon currently loaded in the printing device is selected from a series of data having multiple colors. Because the ribbon is extracted and printed, even when applied to a low-cost printing device with a single-color printing mechanism, the ribbon can be replaced as many times as the number of colors set in the series of data to be printed. It is possible to complete color printing of a series of data, and it is much easier to operate than before.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a mechanical block diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic external view of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure on a text memory. : Figure 55 is a diagram showing an example of three-color printing in this embodiment, Figure 6 is a flowchart of the operation of this embodiment, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of another modification, and Figure 8 is yet another modification. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of yet another modification. 11...CPU, 13...Printer,
15...Text memory, 17...Processing program memory, CL...Print color register. Patent applicant: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.;・-42,□-; Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Fig. 2 Fig. 7 Hest Main vessel Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Data storage means for storing data in which a print color is designated; a print color designation means for designating a print color; and a method for sequentially reading data from the data storage means and specifying the print color designation means. 1. A word processor having a multi-color printing function, comprising: a print control unit that prints only data corresponding to a printing color and skips printing data corresponding to other colors.