JPH0573234A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the misacquisition of data even with exhaustion of the forms by converting the print data received from a host machine of a higher order into the data of a printer internal command form and storing this converted data in a flexible magnetic disk FD different from that used for print with the normal forms. CONSTITUTION:The print data inputted through an interface (I/F) part 2 of a higher order are edited into the data of a printer internal command form by an editing part 3. These edited data are stored in an internal memory 5 or an FD unit 6 based on the set-up of an external SW 4. Therefore the print data received from a host machine of a higher order in an on-line state can be stored in the unit 6 different from that used for print with the normal forms. Then the print data read out of the unit 6 are evolved into a dot image by a drawing part 7 and printed with start of a printer device 9 under the control of a print part 8. Thus it is possible to prevent the misacquisition of data even with exhaustion of the forms.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device,
In particular, it relates to a printer device that performs online printing and offline printing with the same device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional printers have mainly realized on-line printing for receiving data from a host machine and printing on paper. Currently, most of small printers connected to personal computers, word processors, etc. are online printers. In a large printer connected to a large computer of a mainframe, output data is rarely stored in an MT or the like and collectively printed by an offline printer.

However, there has been no apparatus that realizes offline printing by storing data in an external storage medium in a printer internal format that has been edited through a printer editing section.

[0004]

In the conventional online printer, printout on paper is indispensable, so there is no means for storing and holding data sent online in the case of paper exhaustion, toner exhaustion, and the like. .

Further, the data printed on the paper has a problem of bulkiness in terms of storage / transportation due to the nature of the paper, and is not considered in OA where paperless progresses.

Further, the print data sent online is currently dependent on the type of host machine (PC,
Data is not compatible, so it is necessary to prepare a printer according to the command of the host machine. Especially in the case of off-line printing, a printer capable of processing the data to be printed must be selected.

[0007]

A printer device according to the present invention includes a host interface unit that receives print data from a host device, and print data received by the host interface unit that is edited and output as printer internal command format data. An editing unit, an internal memory for storing the output data of the editing unit, a flexible magnetic disk control unit for storing the output data of the editing unit on an externally removable flexible magnetic disk, and output data of the editing unit. Output selecting means for selecting whether to store the data in the internal memory or the flexible magnetic disk control means, and an input for selecting whether to read the stored data from the internal memory or the flexible magnetic disk control means. The selection means and the data read according to this input selection means A drawing unit to expand the bets image, and a printing means for printing the dot image which is developed in the drawing unit to the paper.

[0008]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Each block is under the control of the CPU 1. The print data input through the upper interface (I / F) unit 2 is edited by the editing unit 3 into printer internal command format data. Data edited in the internal command format can be set by an external switch (S
W) 4 is stored in the internal memory 5 or stored in the flexible magnetic disk (FD) by the FD unit 6. Also, when printing out, external S
Based on the setting of W4, the data is read from the internal memory 5 and the print data is converted into a dot image by the drawing unit 7, or the print data of the flexible magnetic disk (FD) is read from the FD unit 6 and the drawing unit 7 is used. Whether to draw a dot image is selected. The dot image developed by the drawing unit 7 is printed on the actual paper by starting the printer device 9 under the control of the printing unit 8.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of print data under the control of the CPU 1. The operation will be described in detail with reference to this figure.

When print data is received by the upper I / F unit 2 (step 100), the CPU 1 activates the editing unit 3,
The received data is converted into internal command format data (step 101). At this time, the setting of the output selection SW of the external SW 4 is confirmed, and the storage location of the converted data is determined (step 102). If SW has selected the memory, use the memory write routine to
Data is written to (step 103). If the SW has selected the FD, it is converted into a data format that matches the format format of the FD to be written using the FD writing routine, and is written on the floppy disk through the FD unit 6 (step 104). After storing the converted data in the memory or the FD, the CPU 1
The setting of the input selection SW of the external SW 4 is confirmed, and the read source of the data to the drawing unit 7 is determined (step 105).
If the SW has selected the memory, the data is read from the internal memory 5 using the memory reading routine (step 106), and the drawing unit 7 develops it into a dot image (step 108). If the SW has selected the FD, the FD reading routine is used to read the data from the floppy disk via the FD unit 6 and delete the header of the FD format format (step 107), and the drawing unit. Output to 7 and develop into a dot image (step 108). When the drawing unit 7 finishes developing the dot image, the printing unit 8 controls the printing, outputs the developed dot image to the printer device 9, and prints it on paper (step 109).

The CPU 1 performs the above-mentioned processing upon reception of the upper I / F unit 2, but always monitors the input selection SW of the external SW 4 during the idle time, and when it is set to FD, the FD is sent to the drawing unit 7.
The data is read from the unit 6 and printed.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the print data received from the host machine in the online state in the printer is converted into the printer internal command format data, and the flexible magnetic recording is performed separately from the printing on the normal paper. Since the data is stored in the disk (FD), online data can be stored without being stripped even when the paper runs out. In addition, since the print data is stored in the FD in the internal command format, it is possible to print in off-line printing without considering the host type. further,
Since the print data can be stored and transported by the FD, there is an advantage that the processing can be performed without paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing of print data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 Upper interface (I / F) section 3 Editing section 4 External switch (SW) 5 Internal memory 6 FD unit 7 Drawing section 8 Printing section 9 Printer device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An upper interface unit for receiving print data from an upper device, an editing unit for editing the print data received by the upper interface unit and outputting it as data in a printer internal command format, and output data of the editing unit. A flexible magnetic disk control means for storing the output data of the editing section on a flexible magnetic disk which is detachable from the outside, and an output data of the editing section for storing the internal memory or the flexible magnetic disk control means. Output selection means for selecting which of the internal memory and the flexible magnetic disk control means to read the stored data, and an input selection means for reading the stored data. The drawing part that expands the data that was created into a dot image and this drawing A printer device, comprising: a printing unit that prints a dot image developed by a printing unit onto a sheet.