JPH05294014A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain print output in regular page order at faceup designation of paper discharge output mode. CONSTITUTION:When an input section 11 receives printing information at page unit, an expand section 13 analyzes the received printing information so as to expand to bit map data and store in a page storing section 14 in order of inputting page. When bit map data of the last page is stored, transferring order of pages of the bit map data, which is in a data storage means stored in order of inputting page, to a print means is controlled by a controller 16 in accordance with paper discharge output mode designation state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which receives data from an external device such as a host computer and prints in page units.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of device, when a printed sheet is ejected, face-up is performed so that the printed surface is the front side as shown in FIG. It is configured so that the face-down for discharging the paper can be selected and performed so as to be the back side. At this time, when face-down is selected, print processing is performed in the order of pages received from the host, so that a printed material stacked on regular pages can be obtained.

[0003]

However, in a printing apparatus that selects face-up or discharges only face-up output, pages transmitted in the order of A, B, and C from an external device such as a host computer. However, since the pages are stacked in the order of C, B, and A as shown in FIG. 15, that is, the top output page is the bottommost page, the pages are stacked in the reverse order of the regular page output. Therefore, at the time of face-up, there is a problem that the collation work of rearranging the pages of the output paper sheets in the regular page order is inevitable, and the post-processing load after the output is heavy.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and discharges papers by controlling the order of output pages of bitmap data transferred to the printing means based on the discharge output mode designation state. (EN) It is possible to obtain a printing apparatus that can obtain print output in which regular output is arranged in order of pages when the output mode is designated as face-up.

[0005]

A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a data receiving unit for receiving input print information in page units, and analyzing the print information received by the data receiving unit into bitmap data. Expanding means for expanding, data storing means for storing bitmap data for a plurality of pages sequentially expanded by the expanding means, and printing means for performing printing based on the bitmap data stored in the data storing means, And a control means for controlling the transfer output page order of the bitmap data stored in the data storage means in the page order to the printing means based on the discharge output mode designation state.

Further, a data receiving unit for receiving the input print information in page units, a storage unit for analyzing the print information received by the data receiving unit and storing predetermined page output information in page order, and the storing unit. Expansion means for expanding the bitmap data based on the page output information stored in the means,
The printing means for printing based on the bit map data output from the developing means, and the transfer output page order of the page output information stored in the storing means in the page order to the developing means are based on the discharge output mode designation state. And control means for controlling.

Further, a data receiving section for receiving the input print information page by page, and a converting means for analyzing the print information received by the data receiving section and converting the print information into bitmap data to generate compressed data. Storage means for storing the compressed data compressed by the conversion means, decompression means for decompressing the compressed data stored in the storage means into bitmap data, and decompression means for decompressing the bitmap data And a control means for controlling the transfer output page order of the compressed data stored in the storage means in page order to the decompression means based on the discharge output mode designation state.

[0008]

In the present invention, when the data receiving section receives the print information in page units, the expanding means analyzes the received print information and expands it into bitmap data, and stores it in the data storing means in the order of input pages. When the bitmap data of the last page is stored, the control means controls the transfer output page order of the bitmap data stored in the data storage means in the order of input pages to the printing means based on the discharge output mode designation state. Thus, it is possible to obtain a print output in a regular page order in a face-up state.

When the data receiving unit receives the print information page by page, the storage unit stores the page output information obtained by the analysis of the print information in the order of input pages, and when the page output information of the final page is stored. The control means controls the output page order of the page output information stored in the storage means in the page order to the expansion means based on the discharge output mode designation state, thereby managing the input print information with a small memory. In addition, it is possible to obtain a print output in a regular page order in a face-up state.

Further, when the data receiving unit receives the print information in page units, the converting unit analyzes the print information received and converts it into bitmap data to generate compressed data, which is stored in the storing unit in the order of input pages. When the compressed data of the final page is stored, the control means controls the transfer output page order to the expansion means of the compressed data stored in the storage means in the input page order based on the discharge output mode designation state. The print information with a large number of pages to be input can be managed with a small memory, and it is possible to obtain a print output in which the pages are arranged in a regular page order in a face-up state.

[0011]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the essential parts showing an example of a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer main body which processes data transferred from a host computer 2 as an external device and prints output information while organizing an input page into an output page. An input unit 11 receives data transferred from the host computer 2. An analysis unit 12 analyzes whether the input data received by the input unit 11 is related to job start / end or character print position or size designation. Reference numeral 13 is a development unit, which creates bitmap data for one page based on the input data. A page storage unit 14 is a page storage unit for storing a plurality of pages of bitmap data expanded by the expansion unit 13. Reference numeral 15 is a printing unit, which is a page storage unit 1.
The bitmap data in 4 is printed on the printing paper. 16
Is a control unit that comprehensively controls the printing apparatus main body 1 based on various control programs, which will be described later, stored in storage means such as a ROM and a RAM (not shown).

In the printing apparatus configured as described above,
When the data receiving unit (input unit 11) receives the print information page by page, the expansion means (expansion unit 13) analyzes the received print information and expands it into bitmap data, and the data storage unit (page storage unit 14). When the bitmap data of the last page is stored in the input page order, the control means (control section 16) transfers the bitmap data stored in the data storage means in the input page order to the printing means and outputs the output page order. It is possible to obtain a print output in a regular page order in a face-up state by controlling the sheet discharge output mode based on the designated state.

The first page organization output processing operation of the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In the following description, a face-up output printer is taken as an example, but it goes without saying that it may be configured to determine in advance whether to switch modes.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a first page organization output processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (8) indicate each step. Further, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus main body 1 outputs in JOB (work unit).

First, a data input routine for receiving the transmission data from the host computer 2 by the input unit 11 is executed (1). Here, the input data is a command to start / end JOB (work unit) and various print controls for forming character data or a print page (for example, designation of print position, print direction on print paper, character Size, line spacing, page breaks, etc.). The above command has a form as shown in FIG.
a, a parameter 3b, and a terminator 3c. Normally, the command byte 3a indicates the type of command, the parameter 3b specifies detailed information about the command, and the terminator 3c indicates the end of the command. As shown in FIG. 4, one work unit is usually followed by data of a plurality of pages 1 to n after the JOB start command, and the JOB end command for indicating the end of the work is transferred last.

Next, the analyzing unit 12 analyzes the input data (2). Then, the analysis result of the input data is JOB.
It is judged whether or not the command specifies the end (3). If NO, it is judged whether or not the input data specifies a page break (end of page) (4). The bitmap data of the most suitable form for the printing unit 15 to print based on the analysis result is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the bitmap expansion processing routine formed on the page storage unit 14 is executed (5), and the process returns to step (1).

On the other hand, if the determination in step (4) is YES, the address of the bitmap data storage unit that stores the bitmap data of the page in the stack in the page storage unit 14 of the form shown in FIG. Execute PUSH processing to the output stack that pushes the pointer (6), and step
Return to (1). The stack is a LIFO (lastin
fast out).

When the start of the next page is designated, the area for storing the bitmap data is changed to the next block (the area indicated by the page 2 pointer) as shown in FIG.
Proceed to.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the input data is a command designating the end of JOB, POP of the address pointer is performed from the stack in the page storage unit 14 (7). The stack is LIFO (las
Since it takes the form of (t in fast out), POP is sequentially performed from the last PUSHed pointer.
The printing unit 15 prints for printing based on the bitmap data in the page storage unit 14 pointed to by the address pointer (8). One job is completed through the above flow.

In the above embodiment, after the bit map of the input data received in the page storage unit 14 is expanded and then output in the page order opposite to the input data receiving page order, the page output order at the face-up output is made normal. Although the case of reorganizing and outputting is explained, the input data before bitmap expansion is temporarily stored in the intermediate table, and at the start of printing, the intermediate table is accessed in the page order opposite to the input page order, and bitmap expansion processing is performed. May be configured to execute. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the essential arrangement of an example of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 21 is a page information storage unit,
An intermediate table in which the print information before bitmap expansion analyzed by the analysis unit 12 is processed in page units is stored. As shown in FIG. 8A, the intermediate table has a paper size “A
4 ", print direction" vertical ", print character" p ", print character output position" 200mm, 100mm ", typeface" Gothic ", size" 20 points ", etc.
Information defined for each of the characters "1" and "A" is stored page by page, and its position is managed by the stack pointers of the intermediate tables 1 to n in the page information storage unit as shown in FIG.

In the printing apparatus constructed as above,
When the data receiving unit (input unit 11) receives the print information page by page, the storage unit (page information storage unit 21) stores the page output information obtained by the analysis of the print information in the order of the input page, and the final page When the page output information is stored, the control unit (control unit 16) transfers the page output information stored in the storage unit in the order of pages to the expansion unit (expansion unit 13) based on the discharge output mode designation state. The input print information can be managed with a small memory and the print output in the regular page order can be obtained in the face-up state.

The second page organization output processing operation of the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an example of the second page organization output processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.
Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step. Further, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus main body 1 outputs in JOB (work unit).

First, a data input routine for receiving the transmission data from the host computer 2 by the input unit 11 is executed (1). Here, the input data is a command to start / end JOB (work unit) and various print controls for forming character data or a print page (for example, designation of print position, print direction on print paper, character Size, line spacing, page breaks, etc.). The above command has a form as shown in FIG.
a, a parameter 3b, and a terminator 3c. Normally, the command byte 3a indicates the type of command, the parameter 3b specifies detailed information about the command, and the terminator 3c indicates the end of the command. As shown in FIG. 4, one work unit is usually followed by data of a plurality of pages 1 to n after the JOB start command, and the JOB end command for indicating the end of the work is transferred last.

Next, the analyzing unit 12 analyzes the input data (2). Then, the analysis result of the input data is JOB.
It is judged whether the command is to specify the end (3). If NO, it is judged whether the input data specifies a page break (end of page) (4). If NO, the intermediate data shown in FIG. Execute the intermediate table processing routine to create the table (5) and return to step (1). The intermediate table is used by the host computer 2 to print the print data “pag”.
“P” of “e” is 200 mm wide and 100 mm long on the printed page
When it is specified to print in Gothic at position
The fact is described in the intermediate table.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the page is a page break, the page information storage unit that stores the intermediate table of the page in the stack in the page information storage unit shown in FIG. PUSH the address pointer of.
The stack is a LIFO (last in fast)
out). If the start of the next page is instructed, the area for creating the intermediate table is advanced to the next block (the area indicated by the intermediate table 2 pointer shown in FIG. 8A).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (3) that the input data is a command for designating the end of JOB, POP of the intermediate table address pointer is performed from the stack in the page information storage section (7). Then, the expansion unit 13
According to the information of the intermediate table, the printing unit 15
Performs bitmap expansion processing for forming bitmap data in a form most suitable for printing as shown in FIG. 8 (b) (8). Printing is performed (9), one intermediate job is completed by popping all the intermediate tables from the stack in the page information storage unit, developing and printing. As a result, if the one-page bitmap expansion memory is provided, it is possible to inexpensively output the bit image of the input data in the reverse order of the page order of the input data.

In the above embodiment, the case where the expansion unit 13 expands the input data into bitmap images and stores the bitmap data in page units has been described. However, after the input data is analyzed, it is expanded into bitmap data. Further, the bitmap data may be compressed page by page, and the compressed data may be managed to output the bit image of the input data in the reverse order of the page order of the input data, which will be described in detail below. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the essential arrangement of an example of a printing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 31 is a conversion unit, which generates bit map data as shown in FIG. 12B based on data designated by a command from the host computer 2 and then executes run length compression processing. And then Figure 1
2 (a), it is converted into 2-byte unit run-length compressed data (the first byte indicates the number of repeated bytes, and the next byte indicates the data) and stored in the storage unit 32. The data compression process is not limited to the run-length compression process, and any compression system such as MMR system or JPEG system may be used.

The compressed data storage position of each page is shown in FIG.
It is managed by stack pointers of compressed data 1 to n in the page information storage unit as shown in FIG.

In the printing apparatus constructed as above,
When the data receiving unit (input unit 11) receives the print information page by page, the converting unit (converting unit 31) analyzes the print information received and converts the print information into bitmap data to generate compressed data, in the order of input pages. When the compressed data of the final page is stored in the storage means (storage unit 32), the control unit (control unit 16) expands the compressed data stored in the storage unit in the order of input pages (decompression unit 13). By controlling the order of output pages to be output based on the output output mode specified state, print information with a large number of pages to be input can be managed with a small memory, and in a face-up state, regular page order is arranged. It is possible to obtain a good print output.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a third page organization output processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.
Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step. Further, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus main body 1 outputs in JOB (work unit).

First, a data input routine for receiving the transmission data from the host computer 2 by the input unit 11 is executed (1). Here, the input data is a command to start / end JOB (work unit) and various print controls for forming character data or a print page (for example, designation of print position, print direction on print paper, character Size, line spacing, page breaks, etc.). The above command has a form as shown in FIG.
a, a parameter 3b, and a terminator 3c. Normally, the command byte 3a indicates the type of command, the parameter 3b specifies detailed information about the command, and the terminator 3c indicates the end of the command. As shown in FIG. 4, one work unit is usually followed by data of a plurality of pages 1 to n after the JOB start command, and the JOB end command for indicating the end of the work is transferred last.

Next, the analyzing unit 12 analyzes the input data (2). And the analysis result of the input data is JOB
It is judged whether or not the command designates the end (3). If NO, it is judged whether or not the input data designates a page break (end of page) (4). (5) and return to step (1).

The compressed data shown in FIG. 12 (a) is obtained by the converter 31 after generating bit map data as shown in FIG. 12 (b) and then performing run length compression. This compressed data is stored in the storage unit 32.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the page is a new page, the page information storage storing the compressed data of the page is stored in the stack in the page information storage unit in the form shown in FIG. PUSH the address pointer of the copy
(6). The stack is a LIFO (last in f
ast out). If the start of the next page is instructed, the area where compressed data is to be created is moved to the next block (compressed data 2 shown in (a) of FIG. 12).
Move to the area indicated by the pointer).

On the other hand, when it is judged in the step (3) that the input data is a command designating the end of JOB, the compressed data address pointer is POPed from the stack in the page information storage section (7). Next, the decompression unit 13 executes a bitmap decompression process for forming the bitmap data of the most suitable form for the printing unit 15 to print based on the information of the compressed data as shown in FIG. 12B. (8) After the expansion is completed, the printing unit 15 prints on the printing paper (9), and POPs all the compressed data from the stack in the page information storage unit, expands and prints to complete one job. .. As a result, the bit image of the input data can be output at a low cost in the reverse order of the page order of the input data only by managing the compressed data of the input data for a plurality of pages.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the data receiving section receives the print information page by page, the expanding means analyzes the received print information and expands it into bitmap data.
When the final page bitmap data is stored in the data storage means in the order of input pages, the control means removes the output page order of the bitmap data stored in the data storage means from the input page order to the printing means. Since the control is performed based on the designated state of the paper output mode, it is possible to obtain the print output in a regular page order in the face-up state.

When the data receiving unit receives the print information page by page, the storage unit stores the page output information obtained by the analysis of the print information in the order of input pages, and when the page output information of the final page is stored. Since the control means is configured to control the output page order of the page output information stored in the storage means in the page order to the expansion means based on the discharge output mode designation state, the input print information is stored in a small memory. It is possible to obtain a printout in which the pages are arranged in a regular page order in a face-up state.

Further, when the data receiving unit receives the print information page by page, the conversion unit analyzes the print information received and converts it into bitmap data to generate compressed data, which is stored in the storage unit in the order of input pages. When the compressed data of the final page is stored, the control means controls the transfer output page order of the compressed data stored in the storage means in the input page order to the decompressing means based on the discharge output mode designation state. Since the configuration is adopted, print information having a large number of pages to be input can be managed with a small memory, and print output in a regular page order can be obtained in a face-up state.

Therefore, when face-up is designated in the paper discharge mode, it is possible to easily obtain the print result in the intended order, and also to reduce the post-processing load for page organization after print output as in the conventional case. It has the effect of being able to significantly reduce it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main configuration of an example of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a first page organization output processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an input command sequence in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a JOB processing state in the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

5 is a schematic diagram showing a bitmap data expansion state in the page storage unit shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a schematic diagram showing management information of bitmap data in the page storage section shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a main part configuration showing an example of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a diagram showing an example of data in an intermediate table in the page information storage section shown in FIG.

9 is a schematic diagram showing management information of an intermediate table in the page information storage unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a second page organization output processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a main part configuration showing an example of a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a diagram showing a relationship between bitmap data and compressed data of the conversion unit shown in FIG.

13 is a schematic diagram showing management information of compressed data in the storage section shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of a third page organization output processing procedure of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a face-up output state in a conventional printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer main body 2 Host computer 11 Input section 12 Analysis section 13 Development section 14 Page storage section 15 Printing section 16 Control section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A data receiving unit that receives input print information in page units, and a developing unit that analyzes the print information received by the data receiving unit and develops it into bitmap data.
Data storing means for storing the bitmap data for a plurality of pages sequentially developed by the developing means, printing means for printing based on the bitmap data stored in the data storing means, and pages in the data storing means And a control unit that controls the transfer output page order of the bit map data stored in order to the printing unit based on a discharge output mode designation state. 2. A data receiving unit that receives input print information in page units, a storage unit that analyzes print information received by the data receiving unit and stores predetermined page output information in page order, and the storage unit. Developing means for developing bit map data based on the page output information stored in the means, printing means for printing based on the bit map data output from the developing means, and page order stored in the storing means And a control means for controlling the order of output pages of the page output information transferred to the developing means, based on a designated state of the discharge output mode. 3. A data receiving unit that receives input print information in page units, and a conversion unit that analyzes the print information received by the data receiving unit and converts the print information into bitmap data to generate compressed data. Storage means for storing the compressed data compressed by the conversion means, decompression means for decompressing the compressed data stored in the storage means into bitmap data, and decompression means for decompressing the bitmap data A printing means for performing printing by means of a printing means, and a control means for controlling the output page order of the compressed data stored in the storing means in the page order to the decompressing means based on the discharge output mode designation state. Printing device.