JPH079706A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Printing using an external font can be easily performed based on a control program input from the outside. When the font data or the control program is received from the outside via the input circuit 104, the CPU 105
The writing mechanism unit 109 writes or reads the font data or the control program received by the non-volatile memory 107, and the printing mechanism unit 109 performs the printing process based on the control program or the font data written in the non-volatile memory 107. .

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 carries out a printing process based on print data sent from a host computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus for printing print data from a host computer has a memory for a printing apparatus internal operation program and a font memory, and operates according to the program and font.

Further, in the conventional printing apparatus, it has been customary to turn on / off the power supply thereof with a manual switch or the like.

[0004]

Since the conventional printing apparatus is configured as described above, since the operation program and fonts are stored in the ROM inside the printing apparatus, the operation program and usable fonts are stored in the ROM. It is limited to the content.

Further, when a plurality of operating programs and fonts are provided inside the printing apparatus, there is a problem that the memory capacity increases and a mounting space is required.

Further, as described above, the power source is manually turned on.
If the power-off operation is neglected after N, various controls for keeping the printer in a printable state at all times, especially in the case of the printer that executes an electrophotographic process, high temperature and high pressure Since the control is executed, there is a problem that a large amount of power is consumed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and stores font data or a control program stored in an external storage device in a nonvolatile storage medium in a printing device via a host computer. As a result, printing using an external font can be easily performed based on the control program input from the outside, and by monitoring the input to the host computer and controlling the power supply / shutdown to the printing device, An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of significantly reducing power consumption by externally managing the power supply state to the printing apparatus.

[0008]

A first printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a receiving means for receiving font data or a control program input from a host computer, and the font data or control received via this receiving means. It has a control means for writing or reading the program in the non-volatile storage medium, and a printing means for performing a printing process based on the control program or font data written in the non-volatile storage medium.

A second printing apparatus according to the present invention detects a state of input to a host computer capable of communicating with the printing unit, and supplies power to the printing unit based on the detection result of the detecting unit. And a power supply control means for shutting off the power supply after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the power supply.

[0010]

In the first aspect of the invention, when the font data or the control program is received from the outside through the receiving means, the font data or the control program received by the control means is written or read in the non-volatile storage medium, and the non-volatile Since the printing means performs the printing process based on the control program or the font data written in the storage medium, the control program or the font data input from the outside is held in the non-volatile storage medium and the control program or the font data can be reproduced with good reproducibility. It becomes possible to use font data.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the power supply control means supplies power to the printing means and shuts off the power after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the power supply based on the detection result of the detection means. It becomes possible to externally manage the power supply of the printing apparatus depending on the above.

[0012]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an external storage device in which font data such as characters is stored, and is readable and writable on a storage medium such as a floppy disk. Reference numeral 102 is a host computer, and 103 is a printing apparatus, which is configured to be communicable with the host computer 102 via an interface with the input circuit 104.

Reference numeral 105 is a CPU for controlling data exchange inside the main body 103, 106 is a control program ROM in which a program for operating the CPU 105 is stored, and 107 is an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory. It consists of flash memory. 1
Reference numeral 08 is an image signal generation unit that generates an image signal from print data sent to the main body 103, and 109 is a printing mechanism unit that prints the image signal on a predetermined sheet.

When the font data or the control program is externally received via the input circuit 104 in the first printing apparatus having the above-described configuration, the CPU 105 writes the received font data or the control program into the non-volatile memory 107. Since the printing mechanism unit 109 performs the reading process and performs the printing process based on the control program or font data written in the nonvolatile memory 107, the control program or font data input from the outside is held in the nonvolatile storage medium. The control program or font data can be used with good reproducibility.

The operation of each unit will be described below.

The font data stored in the external storage device 101 is read by the host computer 102 and transmitted to the main body 103. In response to this, the main body 103
Receives the transmitted font data by the input circuit 104. CPU 105 is a control program ROM 106
The font data received by the input circuit 104 is written in the electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory 107. When the print data is transmitted from the host computer 102, the print data is transmitted to the CPU 105 through the input circuit 104, and the CPU 105 interprets the print data and stores the font data (bit data in this embodiment) in the nonvolatile memory 107. (Corresponding to both map fonts and outline fonts) to generate an image signal while developing a bitmap based on (). The image signal generation unit 108 outputs the obtained image signal to the printing mechanism unit 109.
The printing mechanism unit 109 prints an image on a predetermined sheet based on the image signal.

In the above embodiment, a non-volatile memory 107 for storing fonts is provided inside the printer, and the control program R
The font data sent from the host computer 102 is read into the OM 106, and the nonvolatile memory 10
By providing a program to be written in 7, the printing apparatus 103 can print using external font data stored in the non-volatile memory 107.

Since it is the non-volatile memory 107,
Since the downloaded font data is retained even when the power of the printing apparatus 103 is turned off, the font data once stored in the main body 103 can be used any number of times thereafter.

Since the flash memory is electrically rewritable, a font different from the font already written in the non-volatile memory 107 can be downloaded from the host computer 102 and used.

As a result, it is possible to print using a different font without providing a mounting space for another font memory. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 201 is a printing device, and 202 is an external storage device capable of reading and writing to a storage medium such as a floppy disk. The printing device main body 201 stores a program for interpreting print commands and generating image signals. ing. Reference numeral 203 is a host computer, and 204 is an input circuit, which is connected to the host computer 203 via a predetermined interface, and is used for data and external storage device 20.
2 receives the program stored in 2. 205 is C
The PU controls a device connected to the bus based on a program that controls the printing process of the main body 201 and the download process of the program. 206 is the program RO
M stores a program for controlling download processing of the program stored in the external storage device 202.
A font ROM 208 stores outline or bitmap font data. An image signal generation unit 209 generates an image signal from a bitmap developed based on the print data sent to the main body 201. A printing mechanism unit 210 prints on a predetermined sheet based on the generated image signal. Reference numeral 207 is a non-volatile memory.

The operation of each unit will be described below.

The CPU 205 is initially the program ROM 2
The external storage device 202 operates according to the program No. 06.
It waits until the external printing device control program stored in is written in the non-volatile memory 207. The external printing device control program is read from the external storage device 202 by the host computer 203 and transmitted to the main body 201. The transmitted external printing apparatus control program is received by the input circuit 204. The CPU 205 reads the received external printing apparatus control program and writes the program in the nonvolatile memory 207. After that, the external printing apparatus control program becomes operable and the font RO is read from the print data from the host computer 203.
Image processing is executed using M208 or the like, the image signal is sent from the image signal generation unit 209 to the printing mechanism unit 210, and the image is printed on a predetermined sheet.

In this embodiment, the program R is stored in the main body 201.
By providing the OM 206 and the non-volatile memory 207 for storing the external printing device control program, the printing device 2
01 is capable of performing image processing operation (additional function processing operation) based on the external printing apparatus control program 202 and printing.

Since the program stored in the non-volatile memory 207 is retained even when the power of the main body is turned off, the printing operation can be executed thereafter by the stored external printing device control program. It will be possible.

Further, since the non-volatile memory 207 is electrically rewritable, it may be used while being rewritten with a new external printing device control program different from the already written external printing device control program. It will be possible.

In this case, another conventional mounting space for the print control program memory is unnecessary, and it is possible to operate with a different printer control program without increasing the memory capacity. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 301 is a printing device, and 302 is a first external storage device, which stores a printing device control program for interpreting a print command and generating an image signal. A second external storage device 303 stores font data. A host computer 304 is connected to the input circuit 305 of the printing apparatus main body 301 via a predetermined interface. 306 is a CPU, and the main body 3
01 is controlled comprehensively. 307 is a program ROM
Then, a program for writing the data input to the input circuit 305 into the flash memory is stored. A first non-volatile memory 308 stores the external printing device control program stored in the first external storage device 302. Thirty
A second non-volatile memory 9 is a second external storage device 30.
The font data stored in 3 is stored. An image signal generation unit 310 generates an image signal from the print data sent from the main body 301. A printing mechanism unit 311 prints the generated image signal on a predetermined sheet.

The operation of each unit will be described below.

The CPU 306 first operates according to the program in the program ROM 307 for writing to the flash memory, and writes the data input to the input circuit 305 to the first or second non-volatile memory 308, 309. The external printing device control program stored in the first external storage device 302 and the font data stored in the second external storage device 303 include an identification code indicating which of the data contents is included. Is added, C
The PU 306 determines whether the data sent from the host computer 304 is an external printing device control program or font data based on the identification code.

For example, the external printing device program stored in the first external storage device 302 is the host computer 30.
When the input circuit 305 of the main body 301 receives the read data, the CPU 306 first reads the identification code and recognizes that the transmitted data is the external printing apparatus control program. In response to this, the writing program stored in the program ROM 307 is activated, the received external printing device control program is read, and the program is written in the first non-volatile memory 308 for storing the control program.

If the data sent from the host computer 304 is font data, the CPU 30
6 reads the identification code of the font data and recognizes that it is font data. After recognition, program ROM
The writing program stored in 307 is activated to read the received font data and write it in the second non-volatile memory 309.

In this way, when the data is written in the first non-volatile memory 308 for storing the control program and the non-volatile memory 309 for storing the font, the printer 30
1 is in a state in which a printing operation can be performed, the print data from the host computer 304 is subjected to image processing, for example, rasterization processing, based on the font data of the second non-volatile memory 309 for storing fonts, and an image signal An image signal is sent from the generation unit 310 to the printing mechanism unit 311 to print an image on a predetermined sheet.

In the above embodiment, the printing device 301 includes the first non-volatile memory 308 and the second non-volatile memory 3.
09 and a program ROM 307 for storing a program for writing predetermined data in these memories, the printing apparatus 301 stores an external printing apparatus control program and font data in the main body 301, and stores the program and font. It becomes possible to print the data received from the host computer 304 by utilizing the image processing operation.

The nonvolatile memories 308 and 309 are also provided.
Always retains its contents even after the power is turned off. Therefore, when the power is turned on after that, the printing process should be executed with good reproducibility based on the printer control program and font data that have been registered. Is possible.

Further, the nonvolatile memories 308, 30
Since 9 is electrically rewritable, it is possible to rewrite and use the printer control program and fonts already stored. In this case, another printing device control program and a mounting space for the font memory are not necessary, the printer device can be operated by a different printing device control program without increasing the memory capacity, and it has a slot corresponding to an external font card. It is possible to perform print processing using different fonts (fonts that the host computer 304 can transfer to the printing apparatus 301) without using them. [Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 401 is a printing device, 402 is a host computer, and 403 is a phone card, which is a mask RO for supplying font data to the printing device 401.
Equipped with M. 404 is the host computer 40
2 is a host interface circuit for exchanging print data with the printer 2, 405 is an input circuit for inputting the data of the font card 403, 406 is a CPU for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus 401, and 407 is for operating the CPU 406. A control program ROM in which a program is stored also stores a program for writing the data taken in by the input circuit 405 into the nonvolatile memory 408. Reference numeral 409 is an image signal generation unit that generates an image signal from the print data sent to the printing apparatus 401, and 410 is a printing mechanism unit that prints the obtained image signal on a predetermined sheet.

The operation of each unit will be described below.

The CPU 406 is a control program ROM 40.
7 and the input circuit 405.
The font data in the font card 403 is read from and the font data is written in the non-volatile memory 408 in the printing device 401. When the font data is written in the nonvolatile memory 408, the printing device 401 can print using the font.

When the print data is transmitted from the host computer 402, the print data is received by the host interface circuit 404, and the CPU 406
Interprets the print data, and based on the font data written in the non-volatile memory 408, the image signal generation unit 4
At 09, an image signal is generated and sent to the printing mechanism unit 410,
Print an image on a given sheet.

In the above embodiment, the input circuit 405 allows the CPU 406 of the printing device 401 to directly read the font data in the font card 403, and the font data of the font card 403 is stored in the non-volatile memory 408. It becomes possible to use it.
Therefore, once the font data of the font card 403 is written in the non-volatile memory 408, the font card 403 becomes unnecessary in the printing device 401, and the memory space of the font card 403 is used as an area for other font cards or emulation cards. Will be available as.

It is also possible to use the font card 403 in another printing device. [Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 501 is a printer, 502 is a host computer, and print data 503 is stored in the printer 5.
Send to 01. 504 is the host computer 50
2, a keyboard 505 for inputting data to the host computer 5 when a key on the keyboard 504 is pressed.
02 is a key input signal transmitted to 02, and 506 is a controller for performing image processing on the print data 503 and performing video processing on the video signal 50.
7 is generated. Reference numeral 508 is a printing mechanism unit for printing the obtained video signal 507 on a predetermined sheet by using an electrophotographic process, and 509 is whether or not a key input signal 505 is continuously input from the keyboard 504 to the host computer 502 by software polling. When a key input is detected by the key input state monitoring circuit for monitoring the key input signal, a key detection signal 510 is sent. 511 is a power control signal 51 for turning on / off the power supplied to the printing mechanism unit 508.
The power supply control circuit for the printing mechanism that is controlled by 2.
A timer 513 notifies the printing mechanism power supply control circuit 511 of a time-out signal 514 when a predetermined time, for example, one hour has passed.

In the second printing apparatus thus constructed, the printing mechanism section power supply control circuit 51 causes the printing mechanism section 50 to operate based on the detection result of the key input state monitoring circuit 509.
8 and the power supply is shut off after a predetermined time has passed from the start of the power supply.
It becomes possible to externally manage the power supply of the printing device depending on the input to the printer.

The operation of each part will be described below.

The power supply to the printing device 501 is turned on / off by a manual switch or the like, and the power supply to the circuits constituting the controller 506, the key input state monitoring circuit 509, the printing mechanism power control circuit 511 and the timer 513 is switched. If is ON, it is always supplied.

In this state, the key input state monitoring circuit 509
Is the polling by the software, and the key input signal 50 from the keyboard 504 is always sent to the host computer 502.
Monitor if 5 is sent. When there is a key input,
The key input state monitoring circuit 509 displays the key input detection signal 510.
To activate the printing mechanism power control circuit 5
11 and the time 513 is notified that there is a key input. The timer 513 starts measuring time when the key input signal 505 becomes active, and sends a timeout signal 514 to the printing mechanism power control circuit 511 when one hour has elapsed. Next active key input signal 505
Timer, the timer count is cleared and "0" is returned.
Start measuring time from. Therefore, if the time from key input to the next key input is less than 1 hour, the timeout signal 514 is not transmitted.

On the other hand, the printing mechanism section power supply control circuit 5
11 activates the power supply control signal 512 when the first key input detection signal 510 becomes active.
8, and the power of the printing mechanism unit 508 is turned on.

While the user is doing some work including printing by the host computer 502, that is,
The power of the printing mechanism unit 508 is ON while there is a key input, the print data 503 transmitted from the host computer 502 is subjected to image processing in the controller 506, and a video signal 507 is sent to the printing mechanism unit 508 to print on a predetermined paper. The image can be printed.

When one hour has passed after the first key input, that is, the user inputs the host computer 502.
When one hour has passed since the state of not being operated, the timer 513 sends a time-out signal 514 to the printing mechanism section power supply control circuit 511. When the printing mechanism power control circuit 511 receives the time-out signal 514, it sends the power control signal 112 to the printing mechanism 508 to turn off the power of the printing mechanism 508.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the key input state monitoring circuit 509 and the printing mechanism power control circuit 51 are provided.
1 and a timer 513, the keyboard 504 of the host computer 502 is operated to turn on the power of the printing mechanism unit 508,
When there is no input from 4 for a certain period of time, that is, when the printing operation is not required, the power of the printing mechanism unit 508 is turned off.
It becomes possible to do F.

Therefore, when printing is not executed after the power is turned on, the current consumption in the printing mechanism unit 508, which consumes a large amount of current, can be minimized and the power consumption can be reduced. [Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 601 is a printing device, 602 is a host computer, and print data 603 is sent to the printing device 6.
Send to 01. A keyboard 604 is used to input data or a cursor movement instruction to the host computer 602. Reference numeral 605 is a key input signal transmitted to the host computer 602 when a key on the keyboard 604 is pressed, 606 is a controller for performing image processing on the print data 603 and generating a video signal 607, 608.
Is a printing mechanism that prints the obtained video signal 607 on a predetermined sheet using an electrophotographic process, 609 is a key input detection circuit that detects a change in the electrical signal of the key input signal 605, and 610 is a key input. When detected, a remote key input detection signal transmitted from the key input detection circuit 609 to the printing device 601 remotely, 611 is the printing device 601.
When the remote key input detection signal recognition unit recognizing the remote key input detection signal 610 detects the remote key input detection signal 610, the key input recognition signal 612 is sent to the printing mechanism power supply control circuit 613. The printing mechanism power control circuit 613 controls ON / OFF of the power supplied to the printing mechanism 608 by a power control signal 614. A timer 615 notifies the printing mechanism power supply control circuit 613 by a time-out signal 616 that a predetermined time, for example, 30 minutes has elapsed.

The operation of each unit will be described below.

The power supply to the printing device 601 is turned on / off by a manual switch or the like, and the controller 606, the key input detection circuit 609, and the key input detection signal recognition unit 61.
1, printing mechanism power supply control circuit 613, timer 6
Power is supplied to the circuits constituting 15 at all times if the switch is ON.

The key input detection circuit 609 is the keyboard 6
It is attached to a cable or the like to which a key input signal 605 is transmitted from 04, and detects a change in an electrical signal in the cable caused by pressing a key.

When a key input is detected, the key input detection circuit 609 transmits a remote key input detection signal 610 using infrared rays as a medium to the printing device 601. The key input detection signal recognition unit 611 includes a sensor for detecting the infrared ray, recognizes the transmitted remote key input detection signal 610, and causes the printing mechanism unit 608, the printing mechanism unit power supply control circuit 613, and the timer 615 to operate. On the other hand, the key input recognition signal 612 is activated to notify that there is a key input. The timer 615 starts measuring time when the key input recognition signal 612 becomes active, and when 30 minutes have elapsed, sends a time-out signal 616 to the printing mechanism unit power supply control circuit 613.

On the other hand, within 30 seconds, the next key is pressed and the active key input recognition signal 612 is transmitted to the timer 6
When it is sent to 15, the timer count is cleared, and time counting is started from "0".

Therefore, when the time from key input to the next key input is less than 30 minutes, the time-out signal 616 is not sent.

Printing mechanism power supply control circuit 613
First, when the key input recognition signal 612 becomes active, the power supply control signal 614 is sent to the printing mechanism unit 608 to turn on the printing mechanism unit 608.

As a result, while the user is doing some work including printing by the host computer 602, that is, while the change in the electrical signal due to the key input is continuously detected by the key input detection circuit 609. Is
The power of the printing mechanism unit 608 is ON, the print data 603 transmitted from the host computer 602 is subjected to image processing by the controller 606, and the video signal 607 is output.
Is sent to the printing mechanism unit 608, and an image can be printed on a predetermined sheet.

After the last key input, 30
If minutes have passed, that is, 30 minutes have passed since the user stopped operating the host computer 602,
The timer 615 sends a timeout signal 616 to the printing mechanism power supply control circuit 613. Upon receiving the time-out signal 616, the printing mechanism section power supply control circuit 613 sends a power supply control signal 614 to the printing mechanism section 608 to turn off the printing mechanism section 608.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the key input detection circuit 6 detects the change in the electrical signal in the cable to which the key input signal 605 of the keyboard 604 is transmitted.
09, a key input detection signal recognition unit 611 for recognizing a key input, and a printing mechanism power supply control circuit 6
13 and the timer 615, when the key on the keyboard 604 of the host computer 602 is pressed, the power of the printing mechanism unit 608 is turned on, and when there is no key input from the keyboard 604 for a certain period of time, that is, the printing operation is performed. When it is not necessary, the power of the printing mechanism unit 608 can be turned off. Therefore, it is possible to reduce current consumption in the printing mechanism unit 608 while the key is not operated. [Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 701 is a printing device, 702 is a host computer, and print data 703 is sent to the printing device 7.
Send to 01. Reference numeral 704 is an input device such as a keyboard or pointing device, 705 is a CRT output signal that the host computer 702 outputs to the CRT display device 706, the result of the input by the input device 704, and 709 is an image processing for the print data 703, and a video Signal 708
Is printed on a predetermined sheet using an electrophotographic process, 710 is an image output detection circuit that detects changes in the electrical signal of the CRT output signal 705, and 711 is the C
When a change in the electrical signal of the RT output signal 705 is detected, the image output detection circuit 710 transmits the image remotely, and the image output detection circuit 710 transmits the remote image output detection signal remotely. When the image output detection signal recognition unit 712 that recognizes the remote image output detection signal 711 in the device 701 recognizes it, it sends an image output recognition signal 713. Reference numeral 714 is a printing mechanism power control circuit for controlling ON / OFF of power supplied to the printing mechanism 709 by a power control signal 715, reference numeral 716 is a controller power supplied from the printing mechanism 709 to the controller 707, and 717. Is a timer that informs the printing mechanism section power supply control circuit 714 by a time-out signal 718 that a predetermined time, for example, 15 minutes has elapsed. 707 is a controller.

The operation of each unit will be described below.

The power supply to the printer 701 is turned on / off by a manual switch or the like, and the image output detection circuit 71
0, the image output detection signal recognition unit 712, the power supply control circuit 714 of the printing mechanism unit, and the power supply circuit to the timer 717 are always supplied when the switch is ON.

In this state, when something is input to the host computer 702 by the input device 704, the host computer 702 outputs the input information to the CRT display device 706 by using the CRT output signal 705. The image output detection circuit 710 detects the CRT output signal 705 which changes as a result of the input by the input device 704. The change in the electric signal of the CRT output signal 705 detects the input to the host computer 702, and the remote image output detection signal 711 is transmitted to the printing apparatus 701.
The image output detection signal recognition unit 712 recognizes the transmitted remote image output detection signal 711, activates the image output recognition signal 713 to the printing mechanism power supply control circuit 714 and the timer 717, and activates the host computer 70.
Notify that there was an input to 2. The timer 717 starts measuring time when the image output recognition signal 713 becomes active, and when 15 minutes have elapsed, the time-out signal 71
8 is sent to the printing mechanism section power supply control circuit 714. 1
If there is input from the input device 704, the CRT output signal 705 changes, and the image output recognition signal 713 becomes active within 5 minutes, the timer count of the timer 717 is cleared and the time is measured from "0". Begin to. Therefore, if the time from the change of the CRT output signal 705 as a result of the input to the change of the CRT output signal 705 by the next input is less than 15 minutes, the timeout signal 718 is not sent.

First, the print mechanism power supply control circuit 7
When the image output recognition signal 713 becomes active for the first time, the power supply controller 14 sends the power control signal 715 to the printing mechanism unit 70.
9, and the power of the printing mechanism unit 709 is turned on. Then, while the user is working by giving some input to the host computer 702 by the input device 704 (this work includes printing, of course), some input is made on the CRT display device 706. The result is output, and the CRT output signal 705 changes each time there is an input. Therefore, during this period, the image output detection circuit 710 continues to detect the input to the host computer 702, the power of the printing mechanism unit 709 is ON, and the controller 707 also has the printing mechanism unit 7 710.
Power is supplied from the controller power supply 716 from 09. Accordingly, the print data 703 transmitted from the host computer 702 is subjected to image processing in the controller 707, the video signal 708 is sent to the printing mechanism unit 709, and the image can be printed on a predetermined paper.

Then, when 15 minutes have elapsed since the CRT output signal 705 changed due to the last input, that is,
When 15 minutes have passed since the user stopped operating the host computer 702, the timer 717 sends a time-out signal 718 to the printing mechanism power control circuit 714. Upon receiving the time-out signal 718, the printing mechanism unit power supply control circuit 714 sends a power supply control signal 715 to the printing mechanism unit 709 to turn off the printing mechanism unit 709.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
A CR that outputs the result input from the input device 704 to the host computer 702 to the CRT display device 706.
The image output detection circuit 710 detects a change in the electrical signal of the T output signal 705, and the image output detection signal recognition unit 712 of the printing apparatus 701 recognizes that the host computer 702 has received an input. By providing the printing mechanism power supply control circuit 714 and the timer 717, the host computer 702 receives an input,
When the CRT output signal 705 changes, the printing mechanism unit 709
CRT display device 7 when the power of the
If the image on 06 does not change at all for a certain period of time, that is, if the printing operation is not required, the power of the printing mechanism unit 709 can be turned off. Therefore, it is possible to reduce current consumption in the printing mechanism unit 709.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, since the controller 707 is powered by the controller power source 716 from the printing mechanism unit 709, it is possible to reduce current consumption in the controller 707.

The structure of the ink jet printing apparatus to which this embodiment is applied will be described below with reference to FIG. In addition,
The printing apparatus includes the non-volatile storage medium shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and is configured to be able to store a control program or font loaded from a host computer as an external device.

FIG. 8 is an external view for explaining the structure of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and shows the case of an ink jet recording apparatus (IJRA), for example.

In the figure, a spiral groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005 that rotates via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with forward and reverse rotations of a drive motor 5013.
The carriage HC that engages with is a pin (not shown)
And is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which confirm the existence of the lever 5006 of the carriage HC in this area,
It functions as home position detection means for switching the rotation direction of the drive motor 5013 and the like. 5016 is a cap member 5022 for capping the entire surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 is a member for supporting the inside of the cap, which is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap. A cleaning blade 5017 can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. 5
Reference numeral 018 denotes a main body supporting plate, which is a cleaning blade 501.
7. Support the member 5019. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage HC, and is driven by the drive motor 50.
The movement of the driving force from 13 is controlled by the cultivated land transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage HC reaches the home position side area. It may be configured to perform a desired operation at the timing.

Further, the structure of the laser beam printer to which this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In addition,
The printing apparatus includes the non-volatile storage medium shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and is configured to be able to store a control program or font loaded from a host computer as an external device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view for explaining the structure of a laser beam printer to which the present embodiment is applied, which is constructed so that a character pattern and a fixed form (form data) can be registered from a data source (not shown). There is.

In the figure, reference numeral 1500 denotes a laser beam printer (LBP) main body (hereinafter simply referred to as a main body),
Character information (character code) supplied from an external device, such as the host computer shown in FIG. 2, which is connected to the outside, form information, macro commands, etc. are input and stored, and corresponding characters are also stored according to the information. A pattern, a form pattern, etc. are created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet which is a recording medium. Reference numeral 1501 denotes an operation panel provided with an LED display or an LCD display for displaying switches for operation and printer status, and 1000 a printer for controlling the entire LBP 1500 and analyzing character information and the like supplied from the host computer. It is a control unit. The printer control unit 1000 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1502. Laser driver 1
Reference numeral 502 denotes a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1503, which corresponds to the semiconductor laser 15 depending on the input video signal.
The laser beam 1504 emitted from 03 is switched on / off. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1506.

This latent image is developed by a phenomenon unit 1507 around the electrostatic drum 1506 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet is a sheet cassette 15 attached to the main body 1500.
08, and the electrostatic drum 15 is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 1509 and the transport roller 1511.
06.

[0080]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when font data or a control program is received from the outside through the receiving means, the font data or the control program received by the control means is nonvolatile. Writing or reading to the non-volatile storage medium, and the printing means performs the printing process based on the control program or the font data written in the non-volatile storage medium. Therefore, the control program or the font data input from the outside is stored in the non-volatile storage medium. , And the control program or font data can be used with good reproducibility. Further, by rewriting the contents of the non-volatile storage medium, it is possible to use a plurality of control programs or font data input from the outside.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the power supply control means supplies the power to the printing means and shuts off the power after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the power supply based on the detection result of the detection means. The power supply of the printing apparatus can be externally managed depending on the input.

Therefore, printing using an external font can be easily performed based on the control program input from the outside, and the power supply state to the printing apparatus main body can be managed from the outside to greatly reduce the power consumption. Has the effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a laser beam printer to which this embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 External Storage Device 102 Host Computer 103 Printer Main Body 104 Input Circuit 105 CPU 106 Control Program ROM 107 Nonvolatile Memory 108 Image Signal Generation Unit 109 Printing Mechanism Unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving font data or a control program input from a host computer,
Control means for writing or reading the font data or control program received through the receiving means to or from the non-volatile storage medium, and printing processing based on the control program or font data written to the non-volatile storage medium A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit. 2. A detection means for detecting an input state to a host computer capable of communicating with the printing means, power supply to the printing means based on a detection result of the detection means, and a predetermined time from the start of the power supply. A printing apparatus comprising: a power supply control unit that shuts off the power supply later.