JPS6260996B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for editing type array data for an impact type line printer, which allows a high printing speed to be maintained regardless of the type of characters on a type carrier.

As is well known, the type conveyor includes a print band, a print drum, a print train, a print chain, etc., and the print band will be described below as an example.

Print bands generally have 384 characters per rotation, and the types of characters that can be printed include 48, 64,
There are 96 and 128 character types. That is, it is equipped with a type set of 8 blocks for 48 characters, 6 blocks for 64 characters, 4 blocks for 96 characters, and 3 blocks for 128 characters.

Also, in some line printers, one revolution
Using a printed band with 240 types, 30
8 blocks for each character type, 5 blocks for 48 character types, 60
Some are equipped with a type set of 4 blocks for character types and 2 blocks for 120 character types.

There are two methods for storing type array data that indicates the order of the type characters on the print band: one is to write and store the type array data in advance in a memory such as a ROM (read-only memory) in a line printer, and the other is to store the type array data in advance in a memory such as a ROM (read-only memory) in a line printer. The type layout data transferred from the channel is transferred to the universal character set buffer in the line printer.
There is a method of writing and storing data in the Character Set Buffer (hereinafter referred to as UCSB). In the former case, it is necessary to replace the memory every time the print band is replaced, but in the latter case, even if the print band is replaced, there is no need to replace the memory, that is, the former UCSB, and it corresponds to the type on the print band replaced from the channel. All you need to do is have the type layout data transferred to you.

The number of type arrangement data transferred from the channel varies depending on the type of line printer connected, and is 240 bytes for a line printer using a print band with 240 characters, and 240 bytes for a line printer using a print band with 384 characters. If you use a line printer, it is 384 bytes. Further, the number of transferred data remains constant unless the software controlling the computer system is changed. In other words, if a computer system is connected to a line printer that uses a print band with 240 characters, the number of data transferred is 240 bytes, and if a computer system is connected to a line printer that uses a print band with 384 characters, the amount of data transferred is 240 bytes. For example, the number of transferred data is 384 bytes.

In a computer system in which a line printer using a print band with 240 characters per rotation is connected and character arrangement data is transferred from the channel to the UCSB in the line printer, only the line printer has 384 characters per rotation. There were many requests to replace the printer with a line printer that used a print band with type.

However, since the number of type array data is different, it is not possible to simply replace the line printer, and as mentioned above, there is a problem in that the number of transferred type array data must be changed by changing the software. In other words, it is necessary to change the software of the computer system, which has a transfer data count of 240 bytes, to change the transfer data count to 384 bytes, but there is a problem in that changing the computer system software is not easy.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and to make it possible to replace only a line printer without changing the software that determines the number of data to be transferred, and to maintain a high printing speed. .

In the present invention, a predetermined number of blanks including 0 or dummy characters that do not contribute to printing are provided in the type set of each block to provide 32, 48, 64, or 128 character types, and two UCSBs are provided. Type layout data transferred from one channel
write and store the UCSB, and then write the address of said one UCSB to the address of the other UCSB having a number of addresses at least equal to the number of type characters on the type carrier.
It is characterized by sequentially writing and storing the type|mold arrangement data stored in . In addition, in order to make the type arrangement data written and stored in the other UCSB completely correspond to the type on the type carrier, the character type on the type carrier is determined and a predetermined number of addresses including 0 are blanked or meaningless. This feature is characterized in that it prevents half-blocks from appearing by writing data with no blanks, thereby maintaining a high printing speed.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a print band used in the present invention, in which a is a print band 1 of 32 character types, b and c are 64 character types, and d is a print band 1 of 128 character types. The 48 character types are omitted because they are exactly the same as the conventional print band.

The 32 character type print band 1 shown in Figure 1a consists of 30 types of type characters 2 used for printing, followed by two blank types or two dummy types 3 that do not contribute to printing.
There are 32 character types, 12 blocks of type are set for these blocks, and 384 type 2 including 24 dummy type 3 are installed. Furthermore, type 2
Below the dummy type characters 3, type marks 4 are provided in one-to-one correspondence.

The 64-character type print band 1 shown in Fig. 1b has 60 types of type characters 2 used for printing, and four blank or dummy type characters 3 are provided next to the 64 character types.
There are 6 type sets of these blocks.
It is equipped with 384 types 2. As shown in Figure 1c, 64 character type print band 1 consists of two sets of 30 characters consisting of different character types in one block of type set.
Two dummy characters 3 may be provided next to the seed type 2 and each type 2.

The 128 character type print band 1 shown in Fig. 1d consists of 120 types of type 2 used for printing, followed by 8 blank or dummy type 3 to make 128 character types, and 3 blocks of type sets of these blocks. It is equipped with 384 types 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration in which 240 typeface arrangement data transferred from the channel (not shown) is converted into 384 typeface arrangement data and stored.

The 240 type layout data from the channel is transferred to the interface BUS, bus buffer 2.
0 and is written to the first UCSB 14 via the DATA BUS. The method of writing to UCSB14 is to directly write external data to the memory of a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as microcomputer).
Since this method is the same as the well-known method called "Memory Access", its explanation will be omitted.

The 240 typeface array data written to the first UCSB 14 are converted into 384 typeface array data by the CPU 11, which constitutes the microcomputer together with the I/O ports 12, 13 and memories such as ROM RAM (not shown). 2nd UCSB via port 13
15, which will be explained in detail below.

The CPU 11 selects the print band 1 based on the character type identification data taken in from the I/O port 12.
, i.e., 32, 48, 64, or 128 character types. The character type identification data is, for example, data obtained by the identification method proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 141874/1987 filed earlier by the present applicant.

Assume that print band 1 has 48 character types.
(240 = 48 × 5) and (384 = 48 × 8), so the 240 type array data written in UCSB14 are sequentially written to UCSB15 from address 0 to address 239, and the address of UCSB15 is
From address 240 to address 383, it is sufficient to write the type arrangement data from address 0 to address 143 of UCSB14. UCSB14 using the above writing method
An example of the data written in and 15 is shown in FIG. 3, and its flowchart is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Next, assume that print band 1 has 64 character types. (240=60×4) and (384=60×6+24)
Therefore, convert it in the same way as the 48 character types above.
If you write to UCSB15, a half block of 24 characters will appear, resulting in an extremely slow print speed. For this reason, the type arrangement data in the UCSB 15 must be made to correspond to the type arrangement of the print band 1 shown in FIG. 1b. That is, UCSB14
Data from address 0 to address 59 of
Write to address 0 to address 59 of UCSB15, and then write a blank (space) code or a meaningless code to address 60 to address 63 of UCSB15. From now on UCSB14
The data from address 60 to address 119, address 120 to address 179, address 180 to address 239, address 0 to address 59, and address 60 to address 119 of UCSB 15 are transferred from address 64 to 123, address 128 to address 187, respectively.
Write from address 192 to address 251, address 256 to address 315, and address 320 to address 379, and then write from address 124 to address 127, address 188 to address 191, address 252 to address 255, address 316 to address 319, and address 380 of UCSB15. Just write a blank (space) code to address 383. As a result, the type arrangement of print band 1 and UCSB15
The type layout data stored in is exactly the same,
Since no odd blocks occur, the printing speed does not decrease. UCSB by such conversion writing method
An example of the data written in 14 and 15 is shown in the 6th
The flowchart is shown in FIG.

We believe that the conversion writing method for print band 1 of 32 character types and 128 character types can be easily understood from the above-mentioned conversion writing method of 64 character types, so we will omit the explanation and only the flowcharts will be shown in Figures 8 and 9, respectively. As shown in the figure. The conversion writing method for the print band 1 of 64 character types shown in FIG. 1c is the same as the flowchart of FIG. 8, so the explanation and flowchart will be omitted.

The type layout data stored in the UCSB 15 is transferred from the channel via the bus buffer 21 to the print line buffer (hereinafter referred to as PLB).
The comparator 17 compares the print data stored in the print data 16 with the print data stored in the print data 16, and if they match, the comparator 17 generates a print command signal and drives a print hammer (not shown) via a print hammer drive circuit (not shown). Print. In addition, 18 and 19 are UCSB15 and
These are a UCSB counter and a PLB counter that generate an address signal for accessing the address of the PLB 16.

Note that if there is a half-edge block in print band 1, and the type block before the half-edge block is in the printing position when printing starts, when printing characters that are not in the half-edge block, the type block after the half-edge block will be in the print position. Printing may have to wait until this point is reached, which may reduce printing speed. On the other hand, in the present invention, the printed band 1 and the
Since no irregular blocks occur in the 2UCSB15, there is no such drop in printing speed, and a high printing speed can be maintained.

As described above, according to the present invention, the type arrangement data transferred from the channel is converted into type arrangement data of a number equal to the number of type characters on the type carrier at least to the UCSB than the number of type characters loaded on the type carrier. Since the data can be written and stored, only the line printer can be replaced without changing the computer system software that determines the number of data to be transferred. In addition, a predetermined number of blanks containing 0 corresponding to the character type or dummy characters that do not contribute to printing are provided in each block constituting each type set on the type carrier to prevent odd blocks from occurring and to store them in the UCSB. Since the printed character arrangement data completely corresponds to the character arrangement on the type carrier, there is no fear that the printing speed will decrease, and a high printing speed can be maintained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view showing a print band for each character type used in the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration for writing and storing data in UCSB. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data written and stored in UCSB for 48 character types, Figs. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of the conversion writing method, and Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the conversion writing method.
An explanatory diagram showing an example of data written in UCSB for 64 character types, and FIGS. 7 to 9 are flowcharts showing an example of a conversion writing method for each character type. In the figure, 1 is a type carrier, 2 is a type, 3 is a dummy type, 4 is a type mark, 11 is a CPU, 1
2 and 13 are I/O ports, 14 and 15 are UCSB,
16 is a PLB, 17 is a comparator, 18 and 19 are counters, and 20 and 21 are bus buffers.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A type carrier having K sets of L character types and carrying N (N=L×K) type characters is used, and one of the plurality of type carriers having different character types is selectively selected. The number of type characters N that can be used for and loaded on the type carrier
A type layout data editing method for a line printer connected to a computer system that transfers type array data of a smaller number M (M=P×Q, where P is the number of character types and Q is the number of sets of character types), the computer system A first step of writing and storing the M type array data transferred from the first universal character set buffer into the first universal character set buffer; A second step of converting the data into a number N of typefaces equal to the number of typefaces mounted on the carrier and writing and storing the data in a second universal character set buffer. How to edit line printer type layout data. 2. The second step is a step of writing and storing the M type character arrangement data stored in the first universal character set buffer in a second universal character set buffer; A number (N
- M) reading the character arrangement data on the first universal character set buffer and further writing and storing it in the second universal character set buffer. A method for editing type arrangement data for a line printer according to item 1. 3. The second step is a step of reading P out of the M type layout data stored in the first universal character set buffer and writing and storing them in the second universal character set buffer. performing the step of writing and storing (LP) space codes or meaningless data codes in the second universal character set buffer based on the result of identifying the character type of the type carrier, which is stored in the second universal character set buffer; 2. A method for editing type array data for a line printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the method is carried out by: 4 The second step is performed by selecting P/(2R)(R) of the M type layout data stored in the first universal character set buffer.
is an integer of 1, 2, etc.) and writes and stores it in the second universal character set buffer.From the result of identifying the character type of the type carrier used, (L-P)/ Claim 1, characterized in that the step of writing and storing (2R) space codes or meaningless data codes in the second universal character set buffer is carried out by performing (2RK) times. Method of editing type layout data for line printers as described in Section 1.