Patent ID: 6371668
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A61P,B41J,G06K

Abstract:
A method for transferring print data from a controller to a carriage via a cable in a printing apparatus which performs printing while moving the carriage bi-directionally over a sheet of paper, said carriage carrying thereon a plurality of print heads each having a plurality of dot printing elements;wherein said cable comprises at least a signal line via which serial print data to be supplied to said plurality of print heads is transferred in a predetermined order, a signal line via which a clock signal corresponding to individual bits of the serial print data is transferred, and signal lines via which a signal indicating which print head corresponds to which print data included in the serial print data is transferred, said method comprising the steps of: dividing one slice section into a plurality of sections, said slice section corresponding to a time slot required to transfer a unit of print data corresponding to the plurality of dot printing elements of the plurality of heads and further dividing each divided section into a number of subsections, said number being equal to the number of said print heads; assigning the different subsections of each divided section to said plurality of print heads; dividing the unit of print data for each print head into the number of the plurality of divided sections; and starting a transfer of the print data of each print head independently of the print data of other print heads, beginning with any one of the plurality of subsections assigned to that particular print head in one divided section.