JPH10207663A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To prevent image data once printed under a desired printing condition from being reprinted under a printing condition different from the printing condition. When image data is held in a frame memory when setting content of a printing condition is changed (in a printing condition setting mode), the setting content before the change is temporarily saved. . Thereafter, when a command for reprinting is received before new image data is created, the saved settings are temporarily reflected in the current printing conditions. Alternatively, when changing the settings of the printing conditions,
When image data is held in the frame memory, the image data may be cleared.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to various printing machines such as printers, digital copiers and facsimile machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing machine as described above has a frame memory sufficient to hold a plurality of pages of image data. After printing one image data, the printing machine waits until the next new image data is created. In some cases, printed image data is held in a frame memory, and when a reprint (replot) command is received, the image data in the frame memory is reprinted.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional printing machine, for example, as shown in FIG. 13A, the setting contents of the printing conditions are stored in a state where the printed image data is held in the frame memory. When a command for reprinting is received before the change and new image data is created, for example, if the item of the changed print condition is a margin or a resolution, the image on the frame memory is changed with the changed print condition. Since the data is reprinted, FIG.
Alternatively, as shown in (c), the same print result as in (a) cannot be obtained, and there is a problem that resources (paper) are wasted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and prevents image data once printed under desired printing conditions from being reprinted under printing conditions different from those printing conditions, thereby wasting resources. The purpose is not to be used.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a frame memory sufficient to hold a plurality of pages of image data, prints some image data, and then prints the next new image data. The following means is provided in a printing machine for holding printed image data in a frame memory until image data is created, and reprinting the image data in the frame memory when a command for reprinting is received. Is provided.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, when image data is held in a frame memory when setting content of a printing condition is changed, a means for temporarily saving the setting content before the change is provided. After the processing by the means is performed,
When a command for reprinting is received before new image data is created, there is provided means for temporarily reflecting the saved settings in the current printing conditions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when image data is held in the frame memory when changing the set contents of the printing conditions, means for clearing the image data is provided. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing press according to the second aspect, further comprising means for displaying as a message that the image data has been cleared.

In the printing press according to the first aspect of the present invention, when changing the setting contents of the printing conditions, if the image data is held in the frame memory, the setting contents before the change are temporarily saved. After that, when a reprint command is received before new image data is created, the saved settings are temporarily reflected in the current print conditions, so printing was performed once under the desired print conditions. Image data is not reprinted under printing conditions different from the printing conditions, and resources are not wasted.

In the printing press according to the second and third aspects of the present invention, when changing the setting contents of the printing conditions, if the image data is held in the frame memory, the image data is cleared. Even if a reprint command is received before the file is created, reprinting is not performed. Therefore, the image data once printed under the desired printing conditions is not reprinted under the printing conditions different from the printing conditions as in the above-described case, and the resources are not wasted.

In this case, if a message indicating that the image data has been cleared is displayed as a message, the image data for reprinting is cleared, and the image data once printed under the desired printing conditions differs from the printing conditions. The user (user) can be notified that reprinting is not performed under the printing conditions.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a printing machine embodying the present invention, and includes a controller 1, an operation unit 2, and a printing unit 3. Host 4
Is a host device such as a personal computer or a word processor.

The controller 1 has a program memory (R)
OM) 11, CPU 12, data memory (RAM) 1
3, frame memory (RAM) 14, operation unit I / F1
5, a printing unit I / F 16, a host I / F 17, and the like.
The program memory 11 is a read-only memory storing a control program (firmware) of the controller 1.
Memory.

The CPU 12 is a central processing unit that controls the entire controller 1 in accordance with a control program in the program memory 11, a mode instruction from the operation unit 2, and a command from the host 4. The data memory 13 includes the CPU 1
2, a work buffer for data processing, a receiving buffer (input buffer) for temporarily storing data received from the host 4, a printing condition setting area for constantly storing the setting contents of the printing conditions, and a second buffer for temporarily storing the setting contents of the printing conditions. First, a memory used as a second print condition save area.

The frame memory 14 is a data memory 13
This is a memory sufficient to hold image data (image data) created based on data (character codes and the like) stored in the reception buffer of a plurality of pages. Operation unit I
/ F15 is an operation unit 2 for notifying the user of the current status of the printer and instructing the setting contents of the printing conditions.
This is an interface that communicates commands and status with the server.

The printing unit I / F 16 is an interface for communicating commands, statuses, and image data with the printing unit 3 for printing image data on paper. The host I / F 17 is an interface for communicating commands, statuses, and image data with the host 4.

When each section of the printing machine changes the setting contents of the printing conditions, if the image data is held in the frame memory 14, the setting contents before the change are temporarily stored. Means for evacuating, and means for temporarily reflecting the evacuated setting contents to current printing conditions when a reprint command is received after the processing is performed and before new image data is created. Serve as a function.

Alternatively, when image data is held in the frame memory 14 when changing the setting contents of the printing conditions, the function as a means for clearing the image data is performed. In this case, it is also possible to function as a means for displaying on the display unit of the operation unit 15 a message that the image data has been cleared.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process corresponding to FIG. This routine starts when a signal or a command is received from the operation unit 2 or the host 4. First, in step 1, it is determined whether or not a printing condition setting mode for changing the setting contents of the printing conditions is determined. If there is, it is determined in step 2 whether or not the image data is held in the frame memory 14.

If the image data is not stored in the frame memory 14, the process immediately proceeds to step 5, but if the image data is stored, the data memory 13 is stored in step 3 as shown in FIGS. Print condition setting area 13a
Is temporarily saved in the first print condition save area 13b of the data memory 13 before the changed (current) print condition is stored in the first print condition save area 13b of the data memory 13, and then the print condition temporary save flag is set to "1" in step 4. set.

Next, at step 5, a process for changing the setting contents of the printing conditions is performed according to an instruction from the operation unit 2, and at step 6, the changed setting contents are reflected on the current printing conditions. For example, as shown by hatching in FIG. 4C, the print condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13 is displayed.
The margin and resolution of the print condition items 1 and n stored in. After the process is completed, the print condition setting mode is canceled in step 7 and the process returns to step 1.

On the other hand, when the mode is not the printing condition setting mode,
In step 8 of FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not data is stored in the reception buffer of the data memory 13. If not, another process is performed in step 18 and the process is terminated. In step 9, the command in the data is analyzed and processed, and in step 10, it is determined whether the command is a command for reprinting (replotting).

If the analyzed and processed command is not a reprint command, another process is performed in step 18 and the process is terminated. For example, in the case of a command for normal printing, the next new image data is created based on the data (character code or the like) stored in the reception buffer of the data memory 13 and held in the frame memory 14. Is printed under the current printing conditions stored in the printing condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13.

If the analyzed and processed command is a reprint command, it is determined in step 11 whether or not image data is held in the frame memory 14. Then, the other process is performed and the process is terminated. However, if it is held, it is determined in step 12 whether or not the print condition temporary setting flag is set to "1", and it must be set to "1". For example, in step 19, the image data on the frame memory 14 is reprinted under the current printing conditions stored in the printing condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13.

If the print condition temporary setting flag has been set to "1", then in step 13 (a) of FIG.
As shown in (b), the changed (current) printing condition stored in the printing condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13 is stored in the second printing condition save area 13 of the data memory 13.
After having been temporarily evacuated to step (c), step (c) of FIG.
As shown in (d), the setting contents of the printing condition before the change saved in the first printing condition saving area 13b of the data memory 13 are stored in the printing condition setting area 13a as the current printing condition setting contents. Restore temporarily.

Then, in step 15, the frame memory 1
4 is reprinted under the print condition before the change, and is saved in the second print condition save area 13c of the data memory 13 in step 16 as shown in FIGS. The print condition setting area 13a uses the changed print condition setting contents as the current print condition setting contents.
, The printing condition temporary setting flag is reset to “0” in step 17, and the process returns to step 8.

As described above, when image data is held in the frame memory 14 when changing the setting content of the printing condition, the setting content before the change is temporarily saved, and then the new setting is changed. When a reprint command is received before the image data is created, the saved settings are temporarily reflected in the current printing conditions,
Image data that has been printed once under desired printing conditions is not reprinted under printing conditions different from those printing conditions, and resources are not wasted.

For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, while the image data printed is held in the frame memory 14, the setting contents of the printing conditions are changed, and the reprinting is performed until new image data is created. Is received, for example, even if the item of the changed printing condition is a margin or a resolution, the image data on the frame memory 14 is not reprinted with the changed printing condition as in the related art. The same print result as in FIG. 13A can be obtained.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process corresponding to FIG. This routine also starts when a signal or command is received from the operation unit 2 or the host 4. First, at step 21, it is determined whether or not the printing condition setting mode is set. It is determined whether or not is held.

If the image data is not stored in the frame memory 14, the image data is cleared as shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. Performs processing for changing the setting contents of the printing conditions in accordance with the instruction from the operation unit 2, and
In step 25, the changed settings are reflected in the current printing conditions. For example, as shown by hatching in FIG. 4C, the margin and resolution of the print condition items 1 and n stored in the print condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13 are changed. Thereafter, the print condition setting mode is canceled in step 26, and the process returns to step 21.

On the other hand, when the mode is not the print condition setting mode,
In step 27 of FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not data is stored in the reception buffer of the data memory 13. If not, another process is performed in step 32 and the process is terminated. In step 28, the command in the data is analyzed and processed, and in step 29, it is determined whether the command is a command for reprinting (replotting).

If the analyzed and processed command is not a reprint command, another process is performed in step 32 and the process is terminated. For example, in the case of a command for normal printing, the next new image data is created based on the data (character code or the like) stored in the reception buffer of the data memory 13 and held in the frame memory 14. Is printed under the current printing conditions stored in the printing condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13.

If the analyzed and processed command is a command for reprinting, it is determined in step 30 whether or not image data is held in the frame memory 14. The other process is performed in step S3, and the process is terminated. If the image data is stored, the image data is reprinted in step S31 under the current print condition stored in the print condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13, and step S27 is performed. Return to

As described above, when the setting contents of the printing conditions are changed, if the image data is held in the frame memory 14, the image data is cleared.
Even if a reprint command is received before new image data is created, reprinting is not performed. Therefore, the image data once printed under the desired printing conditions is not reprinted under the printing conditions different from the printing conditions as in the above-described case, and the resources are not wasted.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing an example of the processing corresponding to claim 3 by the printing machine. This routine also starts when a signal or command is received from the operation unit 2 or the host 4. First, in step 41, it is determined whether or not the printing condition setting mode is set. It is determined whether or not is held.

If the image data is not held in the frame memory 14, the image data is cleared as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b) in FIG. After setting the image data clear flag to "1", a process for changing the setting contents of the printing conditions in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 2 is performed in step 45, and the changed setting contents are changed to the current printing conditions in step 46. In step 47, the print condition setting mode is released, and the process returns to step 41.

On the other hand, when the mode is not the printing condition setting mode,
In step 48 of FIG. 11, it is determined whether or not the image data clear flag is set to "1". If it is not set to "1", the process proceeds to step 51. If it is set to "1", the process proceeds to step 51. At 49, a message that the image data has been cleared is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 2 as a message (for example, see FIG. 12), and then at step 50, the image data clear flag is reset to "0".

Thereafter, in step 51, the data memory 13
It is determined whether or not the data is stored in the reception buffer of step S5. If the data is not stored, another processing is performed in step 56 and the processing is terminated.
In step 2, the command in the data is analyzed and processed, and in step 53, it is determined whether the command is a command for reprinting (replotting).

If the analyzed and processed command is not a command for reprinting, another process is performed in step 56 and the process is terminated. For example, in the case of a command for normal printing, the next new image data is created based on the data (character code or the like) stored in the reception buffer of the data memory 13 and held in the frame memory 14. Is printed under the current printing conditions stored in the printing condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13.

If the analyzed and processed command is a reprint command, it is determined in step 54 whether or not the image data is stored in the frame memory 14. The other process is performed at step 51, and the process is terminated. If it is held, the image data is reprinted at step 55 under the current print conditions stored in the print condition setting area 13a of the data memory 13 at step 55. Return to

As described above, when the setting contents of the printing conditions are changed, if the image data is held in the frame memory 14, the image data is cleared.
Even if a reprint command is received before new image data is created, reprinting is not performed. Therefore, the image data once printed under the desired printing conditions is not reprinted under the printing conditions different from the printing conditions as in the above-described case, and the resources are not wasted.

By displaying a message on the display unit of the operation unit 2 that the image data has been cleared, the image data for reprinting is cleared, and the image data once printed under the desired printing conditions is displayed. The user can also be notified that reprinting is not performed under printing conditions different from the printing conditions.

[0042]

As described above, according to the printing press of the present invention, image data once printed under desired printing conditions is not reprinted under printing conditions different from those printing conditions, and resources are saved. Useless use can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a process corresponding to claim 1 by the printing press shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a subsequent process.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a printing machine embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a save process and a change process of setting contents of a printing condition before reprinting (replotting) in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a save process and a return process of setting contents of a printing condition at the time of reprinting in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a process of restoring print condition settings after reprinting;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing corresponding to claim 2 by the printing press shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the subsequent processing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a process of clearing image data according to a change in printing conditions in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing corresponding to claim 3 by the printing press shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the subsequent processing.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a message display example in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a problem caused by reprinting after changing printing conditions in a conventional printing press.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Controller 2: Operation unit 3: Printing unit 4: Host 11: Program memory 12: CPU 13: Data memory 13a: Printing condition setting area 13b: First printing condition saving area 13c: Second printing condition saving area 14 : Frame memory 15: Operation unit I / F 16: Printing unit I / F 17: Host I / F

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus includes a frame memory sufficient to hold image data of a plurality of pages, and prints image data after printing one image data until the next new image data is created. In a printing machine that holds the image data in the memory and reprints the image data in the frame memory when receiving a command for reprinting, when changing the setting contents of the printing conditions, the image data is stored in the frame memory. Is held, a means for temporarily saving the setting contents before the change, and a command for reprinting after processing by the means and before new image data is created. And a means for temporarily reflecting the saved setting contents in the current printing conditions when the printer is received. 2. A printer having a frame memory sufficient to hold image data of a plurality of pages, and after printing one image data, the printed image data is stored in the frame until the next new image data is created. In a printing machine that holds the image data in the memory and reprints the image data in the frame memory when receiving a command for reprinting, when changing the setting contents of the printing conditions, the image data is stored in the frame memory. Wherein the printer is provided with means for clearing the image data when the image data is held. 3. A printing press according to claim 2, further comprising means for displaying as a message that said image data has been cleared.