Quick edit and speed print capability for a stand-alone ink jet printer
View Patent ↗Printer ( 1 ) is provided with a mode to edit and print forms without reference to or interruption of a host computer and with immediate printing of one or more of the forms. Page data for the forms is preferably stored in flash memory ( 21 ) in a high level printer language. Preferably, at initiation of the forms mode at least the first listed document is immediately prepared by the control data processor ( 17 ) of the printer in bit mapped form for printing. Documents can be listed on the control panel by name for ready selection for printing.
1. A stand-alone printer comprising:
(a) imaging means to print an image of data from a bit map of the image;
(b) non-volatile electronic memory to store information to be printed;
(c) transfer means for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be printed and for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(d) electronic data processing means to control printing of the printer, the electronic data processing means having a selectable first mode to print documents from data received from a personal computer after selection of the first mode, having a selectable second mode to print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory, and having a selectable third mode to edit and print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(e) mode selection means to select the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode;
(f) document selection means operative in the second mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory to be printed by the printer,
(g) document selection and editing means operative in the third mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory and to permit editing of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory with the printer;
(h) edited document printing means for allowing documents which are retrieved from the non-volatile electronic memory and edited to be printed by the printer; and
(i) edited document storing means for allowing documents which are retrieved from the non-volatile electronic memory and edited to be stored in edited form in the non-volatile electronic memory for later access by the printer.
2. A stand-alone printer comprising:
(a) imaging means to print an image of data from a bit map of the image;
(b) non-volatile electronic memory to store information to be printed;
(c) transfer means for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be printed and for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(d) electronic data processing means to control printing of the printer, the electronic data processing means having a selectable first mode to print documents from data received from a personal computer after selection of the first mode, having a selectable second mode to print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory, and having a selectable third mode to edit and print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(e) mode selection means to select the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode;
(f) document selection means operative in the second mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory to be printed by the printer,
(g) document selection and editing means operative in the third mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory and to permit editing of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory with the printer; and
(h) edited document printing means for allowing documents which are retrieved from the non-volatile electronic memory and edited to be printed by the printer;
wherein the document selection and editing means permit editing of text in documents in the non-volatile electronic memory with the printer.
3. A stand-alone printer comprising:
(a) imaging means to print an image of data from a bit map of the image;
(b) non-volatile electronic memory to store information to be printed;
(c) transfer means for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be printed and for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(d) electronic data processing means to control printing of the printer, the electronic data processing means having a selectable first mode to print documents from data received from a personal computer after selection of the first mode, having a selectable second mode to print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory, and having a selectable third mode to edit and print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(e) mode selection means to select the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode;
(f) document selection means operative in the second mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory to be printed by the printer,
(g) document selection and editing means operative in the third mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory and to permit editing of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory with the printer; and
(h) edited document printing means for allowing documents which are retrieved from the non-volatile electronic memory and edited to be printed by the printer,
wherein documents are stored on the personal computer, the non-volatile electronic memory stores information regarding documents stores on the personal computer; and further comprising computer control means on the printer for causing the printer to retrieve documents from the personal computer and print the documents which are retrieved.
4. A stand-alone printer comprising:
(a) imaging means to print an image of data from a bit map of the image;
(b) non-volatile electronic memory to store information to be printed;
(c) transfer means for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be printed and for electronically transferring documents from a personal computer to the printer to be stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(d) electronic data processing means to control printing of the printer, the electronic data processing means having a selectable first mode to print documents from data received from a personal computer after selection of the first mode, having a selectable second mode to print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory, and having a selectable third mode to edit and print documents from data stored in the non-volatile electronic memory;
(e) mode selection means to select the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode;
(f) document selection means operative in the second mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory to be printed by the printer,
(g) document selection and editing means operative in the third mode to permit selection of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory and to permit editing of documents in the non-volatile electronic memory with the printer; and
(h) edited document printing means for allowing documents which are retrieved from the non-volatile electronic memory and edited to be printed by the printer, wherein the document selection and editing means permit editing of text in text documents in the non-volatile electronic memory with the printer.
5. The printer of claim 4 , comprising an ink jet printer.
6. The printer of claim 4 , further comprising edited document storing means for allowing documents which are retrieved from the non-volatile electronic memory and edited to be stored in edited form in the non-volatile electronic memory for later access by the printer.
7. The printer of claim 4 , wherein the document selection and editing means comprises an LCD and control console on the printer.
8. The printer of claim 4 , wherein documents are stored on the personal computer, the non-volatile electronic memory stores information regarding documents stored on the personal computer; and further comprising computer control means on the printer for causing the printer to retrieve documents from the personal computer and print the documents which are retrieved.