JPS6359575A - Test printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable test printing to be performed even during printing process without damaging a printing pattern which is developed in a bit map memory by expanding a test pattern in a small empty region of the bit map memory, reading this test pattern and instructing a sequence. CONSTITUTION:If a processor 1 receives an instruction for test printing, it allows a test pattern stored in the empty region of a bit map memory 7 to be read according to the contents of a table 3, and transmits the test pattern to a printer control circuit 8 to cause a printer 9 to perform printing. Consequently expanded data in the bit map memory 7 need not be left in a buffer and test printing can be performed without damaging a developed printing pattern in the bit map memory 7.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] In a printer that develops a print pattern in a bitmap memory and reads and prints this print pattern by raster scanning, when a test print is performed in the middle of printing, the This prevents the print pattern from being destroyed, eliminates the need to leave expanded data in the buffer, and enables test printing even during printing.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a printer device equipped with a bitmap memory, and more particularly to a test print method that makes it possible to perform test printing without destroying the print pattern developed on the bitmap memory.

A printer such as a laser printer that prints characters, images, etc. using a collection of dots converts data received from a host device into a print pattern, and then develops this print pattern for one page on a bitmap memory. The printing pattern is sequentially printed by raster scanning the bitmap memory.

Therefore, the size of the bitmap memory area that expands this data corresponds to the size of the paper to be printed.
Usually, only an area corresponding to the size of paper that can be printed by a printer is prepared. Therefore, when printing multiple pages of the same data, the data developed in the bitmap memory must be saved until printing is completed.

By the way, there is a desire to perform a test print while data is being printed, but even when performing a test print, it is necessary to develop a test print pattern on the bitmap memory. At this time, it is necessary that the data being printed does not disappear.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, printers that print data developed as dots on a bitmap memory, as described above, only have enough space to develop the buyer's data, and when performing a test print, the test print pattern is stored in the bitmap memory. Since the print pattern is developed, if a test print is performed even during printing, the print pattern developed on the bitmap memory will be destroyed.

That is, for example, if data received from a host device and expanded into bitmap memory is to be printed on 10 pages, and after 5 copies have been printed, the operator stops the printer and instructs a test print, and the printer transfers the test pattern to the focus map. Since the data is expanded to memory, the print pattern that is being printed is destroyed, making it impossible to print the remaining five sheets.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, conventionally, when a test print is performed, the data that is being printed disappears, so the following two methods can be considered for processing the remaining prints.

(1) If a test print is performed during printing, the remaining prints are not guaranteed.

(2) The data expanded to the bitmap memory is left in a buffer, and after the test print is completed, the data is expanded again to the bitmap memory. This is because the data received from the host device is usually coded, and this is stored in a buffer, converted to a pattern, and then expanded to the bitmap memory, so the coded data is left in this buffer. .

Method (1) does not allow for the consent of the user. Method (2) requires storing the expanded data in the bitmap memory until printing is completed in the buffer, and the data to be expanded next cannot be stored in the bitmap memory.
There is a problem that printing efficiency decreases.

[Means for solving problems]

-a, a simple printing pattern is sufficient for the test print, such as a checkered pattern.

When a simple pattern like this is broken down line by line,
Since a lattice pattern can be classified into two types of patterns, this pattern is expanded into an empty area for two lines in the bitmap memory, and the patterns read from the area for two lines are combined and test printed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit showing one embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a processor that controls the entire device, and 2 is an RA that stores data and tables that instruct the operations of processor 1.
3 is a table for instructing how to perform a test print; 4 is a ROM for storing a program for instructing the operation of the processor 1; and 5 is an interface circuit for controlling the interface with a host device.

6 is a printer control circuit that converts coded data into a pattern, and 9 is a printer.

When the processor 1 receives a test print instruction, the processor 1 reads out the test pattern stored in the free area of the bitmap memory 7 according to the contents of the table 3, sends it to the printer control circuit 8, and causes the printer 9 to print it. .

[Effect]

With the above configuration, the processor 1 reads out the test pattern developed in the free area of the bitmap memory 7 according to the contents of the table 3, and writes the developed data into the bitmap memory 7 in order to print it on the printer 9. There is no need to leave the print pattern in the buffer, and test printing can be performed without destroying the print pattern being developed on the bitmap memory 7.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the table 3.

In FIG. 1, a processor 1 reads a program stored in a ROM 4 and operates. Print data is input from the host device via the interface circuit 5. The processor 1 stores this data in the buffer area of the RAM 2, and instructs the drawing circuit 6 to transfer this data to the bitmap memory 7.
developed as a printed pattern.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), the bitmap memory 7 is divided into, for example, an area (■) for developing printing patterns of -position, an area (■) for storing character patterns, and a buffer area (■) for storing overlay data, etc. ing.

Each area ■■■ divides the area of the bitmap memory 7 so that it can be easily managed, so the character pattern storage area ■ becomes vertically long, and for example, there is a small amount of free space below the print pattern development area ■. Even if an area is created, do not interrupt the buffer area (■) or character pattern area (■).

The present invention utilizes such a small free area to provide areas (2) and (2) in which test patterns are developed.

When the processor 1 finishes developing the first printing pattern in the area ■ of the bitmap memory 7, the processor 1 controls the printer control circuit 8.
The print pattern is read line by line from the bitmap memory 7 and the printer 9 prints it.

When an operator instructs a test print via an operation panel (not shown), the processor 1 refers to the contents of the table 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the table 3 specifies the order in which areas ``2'' and ``2'' of the bitmap memory 7 in which the pattern to be test printed on paper is developed are sequentially printed.

Further, in area (2) of the bitmap memory 7, a pattern for printing horizontal lines in a checkered pattern is developed, and in area (2), a plurality of dots for printing vertical lines in a checkered pattern are developed.

According to the contents of table 3, processor 1 instructs printer control circuit 8 to successively print out area (2) of bitmap memory 7 on first print line 1, and causes printer 9 to print. On the next printing line 2, the area 2 of the bitmap memory 7 is successively printed, and on the next printing line 3, the area 2 of the bitmap memory 7 is also sequentially printed.

Here, if you want to print a horizontal line every 24 dots, for example, after printing the area (2) of the bitmap memory 7 one after another in the same manner as above up to the printing line 24, the area (2) of the bitmap memory 7 is printed again at the printing line 25. Read and print.

Then, printing of area (2) is performed from line 26 to line 48, area (2) is printed from line 49, and area (2) is printed from line 50. By continuing this operation, a checkered pattern can be printed on the paper as shown in FIG. 2(b).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, it is only necessary to develop a test pattern in a small free area of the bitmap memory and to instruct the order in which the test patterns are to be successively printed, so that it is not necessary to destroy the print pattern developed in the bitmap memory. Without,
Test printing can be performed even during printing.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the operation of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining an example of the table 3. In the figure, 1 is a processor and 2 is a RAM. 3 is a table, 4 is a ROM. 5 is an interface circuit, 6 is a drawing circuit, 7 is a bitmap memory, 8 is a printer control circuit, and 9 is a printer. Fig. 1 ('b) Fig. 2 illustrating the operation of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 illustrating an example of table 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A print pattern is developed in a bitmap memory (7), this bitmap memory (7) is raster-scanned to read out the print pattern, and the printer for printing reads out the print pattern in the test pattern storage area provided in the bitmap memory (7). A table (3) for instructing the scanning order is provided, and when a test print is instructed, the test pattern storage area of the bitmap memory (7) is raster-scanned in the scanning order indicated by the table (3), and the test pattern is printed. A test print method characterized by reading out and printing.