Patent ID: 8467097

Claim:
A method for sorting pixel data in a print data stream, wherein each pixel data respectively has n bits, the pixel data in the print data stream are arranged in an order with which they should be printed side by side in a print line, a print head having pixel generation elements that are arranged in m rows in the print head and are respectively spaced identically apart from one another within the m rows, said spacing corresponding to m pixels in a print line to be printed on a recording material, and the pixel generation elements of different rows being respectively offset relative to one another so that each of the pixel generation elements of all of the rows of the print head is respectively associated with a different pixel in the print line, comprising the steps of: storing the pixel data in a data sorting memory that has memory cells arranged in columns and rows at least in a logical two-dimensional array, wherein each memory cell respectively has n memory units to store a respective pixel data and m memory cells are arranged in each column; writing the pixel data into one of the respective memory cells, wherein the pixel data are written into the columns with the same order as in the print data stream; and when all memory cells of a column have been completely written to, writing additional pixel data into a column adjacent to said column previously written into, wherein upon reading the pixel data said pixel data are read out along the rows of the memory cells.