JPH05274094A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer capable of executing dump print even when a signal to instruct the deletion of data received from a host computer or the one to instruct the initialization of a device is sent. CONSTITUTION:When the device is set in a dump print mode by operating a control panel 15, the signal to instruct the deletion of reception data or the initialization of the device such as an input prime signal is received on the middle way of the data sent from the host computer is neglected and the dump print is executed even when such signal is sent. Also, the signal itself to instruct the deletion of the reception data or the initialization of the device can be separated visually at a recording part 12, and it is printed in time series with the data arriving before and after the signal is sent.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a dump function, and more particularly to a dump printing mode, in which the data sent from a host computer is printed out. The present invention relates to a printing device that can perform printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many printing apparatuses are connected to a host computer such as a computer or a word processor,
The data to be output from now on is printed out. At this time, on the host computer side, not only is the character code transmitted, but the type of character font is specified and various instructions such as line breaks and page breaks are issued.
The printing apparatus interprets such data sent from the host computer and prints.

When the data sent from the host computer is printed out in this way, an unintended print result may be obtained on the receiving side.
In such a case, it is necessary to analyze whether the printing apparatus itself has failed or whether the data itself sent has a problem. Conventionally, in such a case, the data transferred from the host computer is
It was done to print out and analyze with a hexadecimal or binary code.

[0004]

An input prime signal may be received from the host computer during such dump printing. Here, the input prime signal is one of a group of signals sent from the host computer via an interface generally called Centronics. It is necessary to discard the received data and return the inside of the device to the initial state. This is a signal to instruct. Conventionally, the printing apparatus which has received the input prime signal has stopped the printing operation of the data being printed out according to the instruction of the signal, and has also initialized the apparatus. Therefore, when this input prime signal is received, there is a problem that it is not possible to check the code information in the surroundings.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of executing a dump print even when a signal for discarding received data such as an input prime signal or an instruction for initializing the apparatus is sent from a host computer. To provide.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mode setting means for setting a dump print mode for printing data sent from a host computer in a binary or hexadecimal code, and a host. A discard instruction signal detecting means for detecting a discard instruction signal for instructing the discard of the received data sent from the computer, and a signal ignoring means for ignoring the instruction of this signal when the discard instruction signal is received in the dump print mode. When the discard instruction signal is received in the dump print mode, the signal is visually distinguishable, and the printing device is provided with a printing means for printing in chronological order together with the data before and after the signal.

That is, according to the first aspect of the invention, on condition that the dump print mode is set, when the discard instruction signal for instructing the discard of the received data is received, this is ignored and the discard is not performed. To do so. Then, in order to enable analysis of the signal states before and after the discard instruction signal, the discard instruction signal can be visually distinguished and printed in time series together with the data that arrives before and after the discard instruction signal.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mode setting means for setting the dump print mode for printing the data sent from the host computer in the binary or hexadecimal code, and the initialization of the apparatus. An initialization instruction signal detecting means for detecting an initialization instruction signal to instruct, a signal ignoring means for ignoring the instruction of this signal when the initialization instruction signal is received in the dump print mode, and this initialization in the dump print mode. When the instruction signal is received, the printing device is provided with a printing means for visually distinguishing the signal so as to print in chronological order together with the data before and after the signal.

That is, according to the second aspect of the invention, on condition that the dump print mode is set, when the initialization instruction signal for instructing the initialization of the apparatus is received, this is ignored and the initialization is performed. Do not do it. Then, in order to enable analysis of the signal states before and after the initialization instruction signal, the initialization instruction signal can be visually distinguished so that it is printed out in time series together with the data that arrives before and after this.

[0010]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of an image recording apparatus as an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. The image recording apparatus 11 includes a recording section 12 as a printer section that exclusively records an image and an image supply apparatus 13 that supplies an image to the recording section 12, and a commercial power source (not shown) A predetermined direct-current or alternating-current power is supplied from the power supply unit 14 connected to (AC). The image supply device 13 is connected to an operation panel 15 arranged on the front surface of the device body (not shown).

In this image recording apparatus 11, print data to be recorded can be input in two systems. One is a method of inputting print data from a host computer (not shown) via a host interface (I / F) terminal 17, and for example, print data is input to the image recording device 11 from a personal computer (not shown) via a dedicated cable. Is supplied. Another method is a local area network (L
This is a method of inputting print data from (AN) through the input terminal 18. In the latter case, a plurality of devices on the local area network may serve as the print data supply source.

As described above, the image recording apparatus 11 of this embodiment
Is the host interface terminal 17 or the input terminal 1
The print data can be supplied from various information processing devices such as a host computer and a workstation through 8. There are many types of information processing apparatuses, and the control data sent by these are not necessarily unified. That is, the control data sent by a certain device is designed to finely specify the size of the recording paper, the size of characters, etc., but the control data of other devices cannot do such designation. Therefore, this image recording apparatus 1
1 is necessary instruction information 1 for recording from the operation panel 15
9 can be input and can be sent to the image supply device 13. The image supply device 13 returns the response information 21 in response to this.

Since the image recording apparatus 11 is provided with the operation panel 15, even when the size of the paper or the size of the characters to be recorded is designated as the control data on the information processing apparatus side, the operation panel 15 is used. It is possible to input the instruction information 19 from. In such a case, it is possible to always give priority to the instruction from the information processing device side,
The input on the operation panel 15 side can be prioritized. It is also possible to give priority to those who give instructions later in time.

In the image recording apparatus 11 of this embodiment, the recording unit 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes, for example, a laser printer, which exchanges various signals with the image supply device 13 to perform a recording operation, and ejects the recording paper 23 having one side or both sides recorded. .. That is, the recording unit 12 includes what kind of recording paper is stored in the cassette tray (not shown) provided therein, and its fixing unit (not shown).
Various status signals such as whether or not the fixing temperature has reached the fixing temperature 2
4 is sent to the image supply device 13. A sync pulse 25 for synchronizing the transfer of the image with the recording unit 12 is also sent to the image supply device 13. In response to this, the image supply device 13 supplies various operation command signals 26 and an image signal 27 as recording contents to the recording unit 12.

FIG. 2 shows a main part of a circuit configuration of such an image recording apparatus. The image recording device 11
A CPU (central processing unit) 31 that performs the central functions of various controls is provided. The CPU 31 has a CPU bus 32.
Through various circuit devices. Of these, the panel interface circuit 33 is a circuit for interfacing with the operation panel 15 shown in FIG. For example, when the operator of this device operates the operation panel 15, an instruction signal corresponding to this is output and the CPU bus 32
Will be transferred over.

The host interface circuit 34 is a circuit for interfacing with a host such as a host computer. As an example, the host interface circuit 34 has a circuit configuration for receiving print data input from the host based on the RS232C standard. The non-volatile memory (NVM) 35 is a memory backed up by a battery (not shown),
Necessary data can be held even when the power of the image recording apparatus 11 itself is turned off. Programmable
The timer counter (PTC) 37 is a kind of known counter circuit, and performs processing such as time measurement and timing generation. The RAM 38 is a working memory, and temporarily holds data necessary for performing various controls of the image recording apparatus and print data input from the host interface circuit 34. The program memory 39 is a memory that stores a program for controlling the image recording apparatus. The character pattern memory 41 is a so-called font memory, and stores a character pattern for printing out. The bit map memory 42 is a memory for pasting the generated character pattern in correspondence with one page of the recording paper and performing electronic editing. Recording interface circuit 4
3 supplies the bit data expanded in the bit map memory 42 to the image signal 27 as raster data to the recording unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 and various other signals 24 to 26 shown in FIG. An interface circuit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the recording unit 12. Bitmap controller 4
The control unit 4 controls the transfer of such images.

Since this image recording apparatus can be connected to various hosts as described above, a program or character pattern corresponding to print data or control data sent from these may be required in some cases. Both the program memory 46 and the character pattern memory 47 are removable cartridge-type read-only memories, and are selectively used in order to correspond to these various hosts or to realize special functions required by an operator. It is designed to be connected to.

FIG. 3 shows the construction of the operation panel of this image recording apparatus. A display unit 50 is arranged above the operation panel 15, and eight keys 5 are provided below the display unit 50.
2 to 59 are arranged. Display unit 50 is 16 characters x 2
It has a display area of rows. In the online mode in which data can be sent to and received from the host computer, this display area is divided into the following seven display areas 61 to 67. The seven display areas are an original selection display area 61 for displaying the size of the selected original, a determination result display area 62 for displaying a determination result as to whether or not printing can be performed at the designated magnification, and a tray accommodated in the selected tray. Paper display area 63 for displaying the size of the selected paper, copy number display area 64, paper orientation display area 65, paper position display area 66, and emulation display area 67 for displaying the device name to be emulated.
Is.

The contents of the eight keys 51 to 58 are as follows. The mode key 51 is for switching between an online mode in which data can be sent and received to and from the host computer and an offline mode in which data can be sent and received to and from the host computer. The manuscript selection key 52 is for selecting the size of the manuscript in the online mode. Each time the manuscript is pressed, "A3", "B4",
The document size is switched in order such as "A4" .... The size of the original document selected by the original document selection key 52 is displayed in the original document selection display area 61. The original selection key 5
In 2, the size can be set independently of the actual size of the original. The menu that can be selected with the document selection key 52 also includes an instruction for equal-size printing, and when this is selected, "TOWBY" is displayed in the document selection display area 61. The tray selection key 53 is for selecting the size of the paper to be printed by selecting the tray accommodating the paper in the online mode. Each time it is pressed, the "top tray", "lower tray", " The paper size is switched to "manual feed" in order, and the size of the paper stored in the selected tray is displayed in the paper selection display area 63. Therefore, the image recording device 1
You cannot select a size that is not actually set to 1.
The two keys 54 and 55 are for selecting the number of copies in the online mode. When the upper key 54 is pressed, the number of copies is increased, and when the lower key 55 is pressed, the number of copies is decreased. The selected copy number is displayed in the copy number display area 64. The memory key 56 is for storing items set for a specific application in the offline mode. The key 57 serves as a key for selecting whether the paper orientation is portrait or landscape in the online mode, and the selected paper orientation is displayed in the paper orientation display area 65. In the online mode, the key 58 serves as a key for selecting the position on which the paper is to be placed from among, for example, “left” and “center”, the selected paper position is displayed in the paper position display area 66, and is input in the offline mode. It is a key to set items. If the keys 51 and 56 are pressed at the same time, the setting items are reset.

(Setting of dump print)

In this image recording apparatus, the data sent from the host computer can be printed out in hexadecimal or binary code by setting the dump print mode. In order to set this mode, this image recording apparatus must first be set to a mode called the utility mode.

FIG. 4 is also for explaining the operation procedure in the utility mode. The operation panel 15 shown in FIG. 3 has a display unit 50 and eight keys 51 to 5
The character "Ready to print" is printed between 8 and 8, and the lamp 59 is arranged on the left side thereof. When the lamp 59 is turned on, it is displayed that printing is possible. The CPU 31 shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not is in the printable state (step S101), and in this state, the pressed states of the keys 51 to 58 are monitored. If the mode key 51 is pressed under this monitoring (step S102; Y),
The device shifts to the “utility mode” and the display unit
Is displayed to that effect (step S103). On the other hand, when another key is pressed in step S102 (step S104; Y), the work assigned to each key is executed online.

When the "utility mode" is displayed on the display unit 50, the operator presses the up key 54 or the down key 55 to set the desired mode in this state (steps S105 and S106). .. Up key 5
When 4 is pressed (step S105; Y), the utility mode is counted up to one of a predetermined number of modes (step S107), and the content of the mode is displayed on the display unit 50 (step S108). When the down key 55 is pressed (step S106; Y), it is counted down to one of the predetermined number of modes in the utility mode (step S109), and the content of the mode is displayed on the display unit 50 (step S10). Similarly, each time the up key 54 or the down key 55 is pressed, the contents of the mode are counted up or down and displayed one by one. In this way, by pressing the up key 54 or the down key 55 as appropriate, the display unit 5
The character "Dump print mode" for performing the dump print can be displayed in the upper display area of 0. It should be noted that in this device, the plurality of modes that can be selected in the utility mode are cyclically displayed one by one. Therefore, even when the desired mode is overlooked, the up key 54 or the down key 55 is pressed. By repeatedly pressing the button, the desired mode can be displayed again.

FIG. 5 shows the display contents of the display section when the dump print mode is set. The letters "Dump print mode" are displayed in the upper part of the display unit 50. Further, the characters “hexadecimal” and the characters “binary” are displayed in the lower row. This is to select whether to display the dump print in hexadecimal or binary. When the operator operates the document selection key (left direction key) 52 or the tray selection key (right direction key) 53 (step S111; Y), the cursor 71 is moved and displayed in the left or right direction accordingly ( Step S112). Then, when the operator presses the setting key 58 in a state where the cursor 71 is present at a desired position in "hexadecimal" or "binary" (step S113; Y), it is set to print out with the code. (Step S114), dump print is started.

FIG. 6 shows the state of print control in dump printing. In the image recording apparatus of this embodiment, when the character code, the control code or the input prime signal is received in the dump print mode, the CPU 31 (FIG. 2) is notified by the interrupt process. Therefore, the CPU 31 waits for interrupt reception (step S201), and when an interrupt occurs (Y), determines whether the input prime code (signal) or not (step S202). If it is an input prime code (Y), it is converted into an asterisk (*) code (step S203). Then, this asterisk code is converted into a dot pattern for printing (step S204). On the other hand, if it is not the input prime code (step S20)
2; N), the code is converted into a corresponding dot pattern and printed (step S204). Thus, when the input prime code arrives between the character codes and the control code, these are printed out as visible data in time series.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are for explaining the state of the dump print thus performed.
Of these, FIG. 7 shows an example of the relationship between the data sent from the host computer and the reception timing of the input prime code. Character codes are sent from the host computer in the order of "1", "2", "3", "4", ... Of which, input is made at time t between the character codes "3" and "4". It is assumed that the prime code is received.

In this case, as shown in principle in FIG. 8, the data after the character code "3" is also targeted for printing. Then, an asterisk * indicating the input prime code is printed between the printing of the character code "3" and the next character code "4". As a result, the operator can not only check the reception status of data in time series, but also analyze the data printed before and after the reception of the input prime code.

FIG. 9 shows another example of the time when the input prime code is received. In this case, the character code "4" immediately after the input prime code is received is underlined. In addition to this, it is also possible to perform various processing such as black-and-white inversion of the character immediately after or immediately before the reception, or inserting a special character at the reception position and printing.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the state where the dump print mode is set, even if a signal for instructing the discard of received data, such as an input prime signal, arrives, it is discarded. Since the above is not performed, there is an effect that the received data can be reliably analyzed.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in the state where the dump print mode is set, the initialization is not performed even when a signal such as an input prime signal for instructing the initialization of the apparatus arrives. Therefore, there is an effect that the dump print can be continued and the received data can be printed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image recording apparatus as an embodiment of a printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a circuit configuration of this image recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel of this image recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure in a utility mode in the device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the display contents of the display unit when the dump print mode is set in the apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing how print control is performed in dump printing by the apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship between the data sent from the host computer and the reception timing of the input prime code.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents printed under the reception conditions shown in FIG. 7 by the apparatus of this embodiment.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of contents printed under the reception condition shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Image recording device, 12 ... Recording unit, 15 ... Operation panel, 31 ... CPU, 34 ... Host interface circuit 3
4, 38 ... RAM, 39 ... Program memory, 41 ... Character pattern memory, 50 ... Display unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A mode setting means for setting a dump print mode for printing data sent from a host computer with a binary or hexadecimal code, and an instruction to discard received data sent from the host computer. The discard instruction signal detection means for detecting the discard instruction signal, the signal ignoring means for ignoring the instruction of this signal when the discard instruction signal is received in the dump print mode, and the discard instruction signal for the dump print mode are received. And a printing means for printing this signal in time series together with the data that came before and after this signal so that this signal can be visually distinguished. 2. A mode setting means for setting a dump print mode for printing data sent from a host computer in a binary or hexadecimal code, and an initialization instruction signal for instructing initialization of the apparatus. The initialization instruction signal detection means for activating the signal, the signal ignoring means for ignoring the instruction of this signal when the initialization instruction signal is received in the dump print mode, and the signal ignoring means when the initialization instruction signal is received for the dump print mode. A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints the signals in time series together with data that arrives before and after the signals so that the signals can be visually distinguished.