KR0125481B1 - The method of reprinting the final page data in image shaping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for reprinting last page of the transmitted data in laser printers is provided to simplify printing operation of the personal computer. The method comprises the steps of storing the last page data temporarily in the input buffer after completion of full-document printing operation; and reprinting the stored last page data in response to a command for printing the last page received from either the personal computer or a specific key of the control panel provided in the printer.

Description

Reprinting of the last page data in the image forming apparatus

1 is a connection diagram of a general image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied;

2 is a harom diagram for reprinting the last received page in accordance with the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

2: PC (Personal Computer) 4: PC Interface

6: O P panel 8: Input buffer

10: central control device l2: e-e-pirom

14: program ROM 16: print buffer

l8: engine interface 20: engine

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for printing data on a page-by-page basis, and more particularly, to a method of reprinting data of a final printed page.

An image forming apparatus that prints data in page units includes a page printer, a multifunction printer, and a facsimile machine.

In order to reprint a page printed by such a page printer, the data corresponding to the printed page must be selected and resent from the computer connected to the printer. On the other hand, in the case of printing in the changed font or printing in the changed paper direction, after changing the printer's state setting, the data corresponding to the printed page from the computer must be selected and resent. In addition, when the printer's status is set incorrectly and unwanted printing is performed, the printer's status must be changed and the data corresponding to the printed page from the computer must be selected and resent.

In order to reprint the printed pages as described above, a troublesome sound has to be retransmitted from the computer after selectively changing the printer's state setting. In addition, when retransmitting data from a computer, it takes time to store the data again. On the other hand, if you can reprint the data corresponding to the final printed page without performing all of these procedures, you will be able to provide a much simpler printing operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for simply reprinting data of a final page printed in an image forming apparatus.

According to the above object, the present invention is directed to a method for reprinting the stored data in response to the input of a specific selection key or a specific command after storing the data of the last page of the data of the page unit input from the computer.

Also, in a printer that receives data for printing and prints the data in units of pages, the printing method includes a final page data which temporarily stores data of the last page among multiple pages of data after sequentially printing the data of a plurality of pages for printing. And a final page data reprinting process for reprinting the data of the last stored page in response to a command signal for reprinting the data of the last page.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a page printer which is a representative image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the following, the operation according to the present invention will be described by taking a page printer having the configuration as shown in FIG. 1 as an example, but it should be noted that the present invention is also applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a multifunction apparatus or a facsimile, and the same operation is performed.

The PC 2 is a personal computer that transmits data for printing to the printer in units of pages, and the PC interface unit 4 is generally installed inside the printer to interface the PC 2 with the printer control unit. Instructs the printer control section by generating an interrupt (INTR) when data is sent. In FIG. 1, the rest of the part except the PC 2 and the PC interface unit 4 is a printer control unit.

The central processing unit 10 controls the overall printing operation of the printer. The input buffer 8 stores 1 page of data of the page unit data input from the PC 2 via the PC interface unit 4. The OP panel 6 enables the user to set a predetermined printing operation, and thus the printing state of the printer can be changed. E-PROM I2 stores various states of the printer set by the user in the OP panel 6. The program ROM 14 stores a program for performing an overall printing operation of the printer. The print buffer 16 prints a page of data stored in the interlock buffer 8 suitable for the state of the printer currently set by the control of the central processing unit 10 and the e-epirom 12. Save this converted data when it is converted to the format you want. The engine unit 20 including the engine control unit and the print engine unit actually prints the data transmitted from the print buffy 16. The engine interface unit 18 interfaces the print buffer 16 and the engine unit 20.

2 shows a flow of operation according to the present invention, in which data of the final page printed after being received from the PC 2 is reprinted.

Hereinafter, a method of reprinting final page data according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Note that the following description will be given by taking an example in which 5 pages of data are input from the PC 2 and reprinting the data of the fifth page which is the last page data.

When data for printing is input from the PC 2, these input data are printed in units of pages. After all the inputted data has been printed, the input buffer 8 remains the data of the last page of the printed data. At this time, if a `` reprint '' command is input from the PC 2 or if the reprint selection key on the OP panel 6 is pressed by the user while the printer is in the online state, the CPU 10 receives an input buffer ( 8) the data frame of the last page stored in 8) is converted according to the printer status value stored in the e-pirom 12, and the data to be actually printed in the print buffer 16 is stored. It is to be printed via the engine 20.

First, we describe in detail the operation of printing five pages of data for printing.

When the printer is powered on, the CPU 10 initializes the printer in step 30 and then enters the standby state in step 32. Next, in steps 34 and 36, it is checked whether or not the reprint selection key on the OP panel 6 is pressed. If it is confirmed in step 36 that the reprint selection key is not pressed, the CPU 10 proceeds to step 38 to check whether the interrupt signal INTR is input. At this time, if data is input from the PC 2, in step 38, the central processing unit 10 confirms that the data is input to the printer through the interrupt signal INTR generated by the PC interface unit 4. The interrupt signal INTR generated by the PC interface unit 4 is due to input of data for printing from the PC 2. When the interrupt signal INTR is generated, the CPU 10 receives data from the PC 2 in step 40. At this time, since the data of the first page of the five-page data for printing from the PC 12 to the printer is input, the central processing unit 10 proceeds to steps (42) and (44). In step (44), it is checked whether data corresponding to a FORM FEED command, which is a command sent from the PC 2, when data transmission of one page is completed. However, since the data of the first page for printing is input, go to step 52 to check whether the start flag is set to 1. The start flag is set to zero at initialization of the printer and to the beginning of printing, and to 1 '' after the data is finally printed. That is, since the start flag is set to 1 only when the data of the last printed page is stored in the input buffer 8, the central processing unit 10 checks only the state of the start flag so that the data of the last printed page is entered. It is possible to check whether or not it is stored in (8). Since the data of the first page for printing is input, the central processing unit 10 confirms that the state of the start flag is '0' in step 52 and proceeds to step 56 to input data of the first page into the input buffer 8. Write on Next, the central processing unit 10 reads the data of the first page written to the input buffer 8 in step 58, and stores the read data in the E-e-pirom 12 in step 60. After converting the bitmap data according to the printer status value, the converted data is written to the print buffer 16 in step 62. Finally, the central processing unit 10 reads the data written in the print buffer 16, transmits the data to the engine unit 20 via the engine interface unit 18, and then prints the data of the first page in step 66. . The operation of writing data to the input buffer 8 and the print buffer 16 or reading data tuples written to the input buffer 8 and the print buffer 16 is performed by the write signal WR of the central processing unit 10 and The control is performed by the read signal RD.

After the printing of the data of the first page is completed, the flow proceeds to step 44. At this point, the form transfer command signal is transmitted from the PC 2, so that the CPU 10 proceeds to step 46. To perform subsequent operations. In step (46), the central processing unit 10 checks whether the interrupt signal INTR is generated in the PC interface unit 4. Since the data of the second page for printing is being input, the interrupt signal INTR is generated. ) Is confirmed. The generation of such an interrupt signal INTR occurs due to the continuous input of data of the next page for printing. After confirming the occurrence of the interrupt signal INTR in step 46, the CPU 10 reads the data of the first page printed in step 48 so that the data of the second page can be written from the start area of the input buffer 8. Initializes the I / O buffer 8 stored therein. After initializing the input buffer 8, the central processing unit 10 returns to the previous step (40), and the steps (42), (44), and (52). In step) and (56) to (66), data of the second page for printing is printed. This series of processes is performed in the same manner when printing the data of the third page, the data of the fourth page, and the data of the fifth page. That is, if the above process is repeated five times, a five-page data for printing is printed. If the data for printing is 10 pages, 10 pages of data are printed by repeating the above procedure 10 times.

On the other hand, after the data of the fifth page which is the last page for printing through the above process is printed, the generation of the interrupt signal INTR is no longer confirmed in step 46. Therefore, the central processing unit 10 preserves the data of the last printed fifth page stored in the input buffer 8 as it is, and sets the start flag to l in step 50. The start flag is set to 'l', meaning that when the data for printing is continuously input from the PC (2), the input buffer (8) stores the data of the already printed page. In order to do this, the input buffer 8 must be initialized. That is, if data of a new page for printing from the PC 2 is input again, the input data is not a reprint command signal or a form transfer command signal, and thus the central processing unit l0 is in the state of the start flag in step 52. The start flag is set to l, so the CPU 10 initializes the input buffer 8 to print the newly input page data, sets the start flag to 0, The data of the page newly input from the start area of the input buffer 8 is written to the input buffer 8. However, if the data is input as multiple pages in succession, the input buffer 8 is initialized in step 48, Since the start flag is not set to '1', data of multiple pages which are continuously input is sequentially written to the input buffer 8 in step 56. In this way, the input buffer 8 is sequentially written to the input buffer 8. The stored multipage data is read in step 58, and then converted into bitmap data according to the printer status value stored in the E-E-ROM 12 in step 60, and then converted in step 62. The data is written to the print buffer 16. Next, the central processing unit 10 reads the data written to the print buffer 16 in step 64 and transmits the data to the engine unit 20. This prints multiple pages of data.

Next, the operation of reprinting data of the last page, the fifth page, will be described.

After the data of the fifth page is printed, the data of the fifth page is stored in the input buffer 8, and the start flag is set to 1 in the step (50). At this time, if the reprint selection key on the OP panel 6 is input in step 36 or the reprint command is input from the PC 2 in step 42, the central processing unit 10 returns to (68). Proceed to step. In step 68, the data of the last printed fifth page stored in the input buffer 8 is read. Next, in step 70, the central processing unit 10 converts the data of the fifth page read into bitmap data according to the printer status value stored in the E-PI-ROM 12, and in step 72 Writes the converted data as bitmap data in the print buffer 16. As a result, when the central processing unit l0 reads the data written in the print buffer 16 in step 74 and transmits it to the engine unit 20, in step 76, the data of the previously printed page is returned. Printed.

The method of reprinting the final waste paper data according to the present invention can be modified as well as the embodiments described above. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data of the last page stored in the input buffer is converted into bitmap data and then reprinted by the engine through the print buffer. Data can also be sent directly to the engine for reprinting. This reprinting method is useful when you want to get the same printing result as the data of the last page printed previously, and can make the reprinting speed much faster. In addition, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the input buffer is initialized in both the steps (48) and (54), but steps (48) and (52) may be omitted and the input buffer may be initialized only in step (54). You can implement a method of reprinting the data on a previously printed page.

As described above, there is an advantage in that the data of the last page can be simply reprinted by printing and storing the data of the last page among page data input from the computer, and then inputting a specific selection key or a specific command.

Claims (9)

A printing method of an image forming apparatus that receives data for printing and prints the data in units of pages, wherein after printing data of a plurality of pages input for printing sequentially, the data of the last page of the plurality of pages is temporarily printed. A final page data storing step of storing the last page data, and a last page data reprinting step of reprinting the data of the last stored page in response to a command signal for reprinting the last page data. . 2. The reprinting method of claim 1, wherein the reprinting of the last page data reprints data of the stored last page in response to a reprinting command signal from a computer to reprint the data of the last page. Printing method. The reprinting method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the last page data reprinting process reprints the data of the last stored page when a reprinting selection key is selected in an operation panel installed on the image forming apparatus. . First storage means for storing data input from a computer, means for converting the stored data according to a preset print state value, second storage means for storing the converted data, and means for printing the converted data. A printing method of an image forming apparatus comprising: converting and printing the input data, storing the input data in the first storage means, and storing the converted data in the second storage means; In response to a reprint command signal for reprinting the input data, reconverts the input data stored in the first storage means to the set print state value, and stores the converted input data in the second storage. Reprinting method characterized in that consisting of the process of reprinting after restoring in the means. 5. The reprinting method according to claim 4, wherein said reprint command signal is input from a computer connected to said image forming apparatus. 5. The reprinting method according to claim 4, wherein said reprint command signal is input from an operation panel provided on said image forming apparatus. Storage means for storing data input from a computer, means for converting the stored data according to a preset print state value, second storage means for storing the converted data, and means for printing the converted data. A reprinting method of an image forming apparatus, comprising: converting and printing the input data, storing the input data in the first storage means, and storing the converted input data in the second storage means. And reprinting the converted input data stored in the second storage means in response to a reprint command signal for reprinting the input data. 8. The reprinting method according to claim 7, wherein said reprint command signal is input from a computer connected to said image forming apparatus. 8. The reprinting method according to claim 7, wherein said reprint command signal is input from an operation panel provided in said image forming apparatus.