JP2009039973A - Heat transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately control the number of revolutions of a cooling fan by a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The heat transfer printer has an electronic switch 18 which sets one voltage applied to a DC motor 171 from among a plurality of preset voltages. A CPU 31 has a temperature detecting section 311 which detects temperature near a printing head, and a voltage control section 312 which is configured so as to control the number of revolutions of a cooling fan by instructing the electronic switch 18 to apply the one voltage to the DC motor 171, based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting section 311. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer that includes a cooling fan driven by a direct current motor and forms an image on a recording sheet via a print head.

  As a thermal transfer printer, a thermal melting printer that forms an image on recording paper using an ink ribbon in which a hot melt ink is applied to a base film such as a plastic film, and an ink in which a heat sublimation ink is applied to the base film A sublimation printer that forms an image on recording paper using a ribbon is known.

  In the sublimation type printer, the amount of ink transferred to the recording paper can be controlled by adjusting the sublimation amount of the heat sublimable ink by controlling the energy applied to the print head. Therefore, since the density of the image on the recording paper can be adjusted, a high-quality full-color recorded image comparable to a silver salt photograph can be obtained by using a dedicated paper that has been surface-treated as the recording paper. For this reason, sublimation printers have come to be used as high-quality photo printers and the like.

  On the other hand, when a high-density recorded image is obtained in a sublimation printer, the energy applied to the heating element of the print head needs to be several times the energy applied to the hot melt printer. In such a case where a large amount of recording energy is required, when a plurality of sheets are continuously recorded, an ink ribbon is used between immediately after the start of recording and immediately before the end of recording when sufficient recording energy is supplied and stored in the print head. There was a difference in the degree of sublimation of the ink applied to the ink, and the recording density was sometimes different.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, for example, the first recording mode in which recording by hot melt transfer is performed on paper such as plain paper using a hot melt ink ribbon, or thermal sublimation transfer to a dedicated paper using a heat sublimation ink ribbon. A thermal printer that determines whether the recording mode is the second recording mode in which recording is performed and in the second recording mode is controlled to increase the amount of air blown by the heat dissipating fan has been proposed.
JP 10-52927 A

  However, although the thermal printer is controlled so that the amount of air blown by the heat dissipating fan is increased in the second recording mode, it is even better in the second recording mode (or the first recording mode). In order to stably form an image with high image quality, it may be necessary to appropriately control the air flow rate of the fan according to the heat storage state of the print head. That is, in order to stably form an image with better image quality, it is necessary to control the degree of sublimation of the ink applied to the ink ribbon within a predetermined range. It is necessary to appropriately control the blown air amount (= rotation speed) of the fan according to the state.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a thermal transfer printer that can appropriately control the number of rotations of a cooling fan with a simple configuration.

  In order to achieve the above object, the thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 is a thermal transfer printer that includes a cooling fan driven by a DC motor and forms an image on a recording sheet via a print head, wherein the print head Temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature in the vicinity, voltage switching means for setting one voltage value to be applied to the DC motor from a plurality of preset voltage values, and temperature detected by the temperature detecting means And a voltage control means for controlling the number of revolutions of the cooling fan by instructing the voltage switching means with the voltage value of 1.

  The thermal transfer printer according to claim 2 is the thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, further comprising voltage value storage means for storing a plurality of temperature ranges in association with the plurality of voltage values, and the voltage control. The means reads out a voltage value corresponding to a temperature range including the temperature detected by the temperature detection means from the voltage value storage means, and instructs the voltage switching means as the first voltage value. It is said.

  A thermal transfer printer according to a third aspect is the thermal transfer printer according to the first or second aspect, wherein the voltage switching unit is applied with a voltage corresponding to the plurality of voltage values, and a plurality of applied voltage is applied. An electronic switch is provided that outputs one of the voltages based on an instruction from the voltage control means.

  The thermal transfer printer according to claim 4 is the thermal transfer printer according to claim 3, wherein the voltage switching unit has a predetermined voltage value supplied from a DC power source and a resistance connected in series. A voltage generation circuit that generates a voltage corresponding to the plurality of voltage values by dividing the voltage via the voltage generation circuit, and the electronic switch applies a voltage corresponding to the plurality of voltage values from the voltage generation circuit. It is a feature.

  According to the thermal transfer printer of claim 1, the temperature in the vicinity of the print head is detected, and one voltage value to be applied to the DC motor is selected from a plurality of preset voltage values based on the detected temperature. Is set and the rotation speed of the cooling fan is controlled, so that the rotation speed of the cooling fan can be appropriately controlled with a simple configuration.

  According to the thermal transfer printer of claim 2, the voltage value storage means stores a plurality of temperature ranges and a plurality of voltage values in association with each other in advance, and the detected temperature is included in the temperature range. Since the corresponding voltage value is read from the voltage value storage means and set as one voltage value to be applied to the DC motor, the rotation speed of the cooling fan can be appropriately controlled with a simpler configuration.

  According to the thermal transfer printer of claim 3, the electronic switch to which voltages corresponding to a plurality of voltage values are applied outputs one voltage to be applied to the DC motor from among the plurality of applied voltages. Therefore, the rotational speed of the cooling fan can be controlled appropriately with a simpler configuration.

  According to the thermal transfer printer of claim 4, the voltage generation circuit divides a predetermined voltage value supplied from the DC power supply through a resistor connected in series, thereby a plurality of voltages. Since the voltage corresponding to the value is generated, the rotational speed of the cooling fan can be appropriately controlled with a simpler configuration.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a sublimation photo printer according to the present invention. A sublimation type photo printer 100 (corresponding to a thermal transfer printer) includes an apparatus main body 1 and a recording paper cassette 2. The recording paper cassette 2 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1, and a sheet-like recording paper 22 is stacked and placed inside a cassette housing 21.

  A display unit 11 and an operation unit 12 are disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a cooling fan 17 is disposed on the rear side (side away from the recording paper cassette 2). The display unit 11 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays various information such as guidance information. The operation unit 12 receives various operations from the user.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA showing an example of the apparatus main body 1 shown in FIG. The apparatus main body 1 includes a print head 13, an ink sheet cartridge 14, a paper feed unit 15, a paper discharge roller 16, and a cooling fan 17. Further, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a control unit 3, an electronic switch 18, and a stepping motor 19 (not shown) which will be described later with reference to FIG. The print head 13 thermally transfers a sublimation ink (or overcoating agent) applied to an ink sheet 142, which will be described later, onto the recording paper 22, and includes a support shaft 131, an arm portion 132, a head portion 133, And a thermistor 134.

  The support shaft 131 supports the arm part 132 in a freely rotatable manner. One end (left end in the figure) of the arm part 132 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 131, and the head part 133 is locked to the other end (right end in the figure). The head unit 133 includes a plurality of heating elements (not shown) arranged in one example at predetermined intervals, and a heat sublimation ink (or an overcoating agent) applied to an ink sheet 142 described later by heat from the heating elements. ) On the recording paper 22.

  Here, the thermistor 134 (corresponding to a part of the temperature detecting means) is disposed on the side of the arm portion 132 that is separated from the head portion 133 (upper side in the drawing), and detects and detects the temperature in the vicinity of the print head 13. The signal is output to a CPU 31 described later.

  The ink sheet cartridge 14 slides a belt-shaped ink sheet 142 on the lower surface of the head portion 133 in the right direction in the figure, and includes a take-up bobbin 141 and a supply bobbin 143. The take-up bobbin 141 takes up the ink sheet 142 supplied from the supply bobbin 143 in a state where a preset tension is applied. The supply bobbin 143 has a belt-shaped ink sheet 142 having a predetermined length wound thereon in advance, and supplies the ink sheet 142 toward the take-up bobbin 141.

  The ink sheet 142 is coated with Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) heat sublimation inks. The sheet portion and the overcoat portion to which the overcoating agent is applied are sequentially and repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction at predetermined lengths.

  The paper feed unit 15 conveys the recording paper 22 placed in the recording paper cassette 2 shown in FIG. 1 to the lower surface side of the ink sheet 142 facing the head unit 133. A paper guide 152, a feed roller 153, and a platen roller 154 are provided. The paper feed roller 151 conveys one sheet of recording paper 22 placed at the top of the recording paper cassette 2 to the feed roller 153 via the paper feed guide 152.

  The paper feed guide 152 guides the recording paper 22 transported from the paper feed roller 151 between the upper and lower guides to the feed roller 153 during paper feed (when transported from the right side to the left side in the figure). At the time of paper discharge (when transported from the left side to the right side in the figure), the recording paper 22 transported from the feed roller 153 is passed through the upper surface side of the upper guide and guided to the paper discharge roller 16. To do.

  The feed roller 153 transports the recording paper 22 transported from the paper feed roller 151 via the paper feed guide 152 to the platen roller 154 and discharges it during paper feeding (when transporting from the right side to the left side in the figure). When paper is fed (when transported from the left side to the right side in the figure), the recording paper 22 transported from the platen roller 154 is transported to the paper discharge roller 16 via the paper feed guide 152.

  The platen roller 154 is disposed at a position facing the head portion 133, and when forming an image, the upper surface of the recording paper 22 conveyed from the feed roller 153 is pressed against the head portion 133 (ink sheet 142) so as to face left in the figure. It is to be slid. The platen roller 154 conveys the recording paper 22 on which image formation has been completed to the feed roller 153.

  The paper discharge roller 16 discharges the image-formed recording paper 22 conveyed from the feed roller 153 via the paper feed guide 152 to the outside of the apparatus main body 1. The cooling fan 17 is driven by an unillustrated DC motor 171 (see FIG. 3) and is a fan for lowering the ambient temperature inside the apparatus main body 1. The DC motor 171 is rotationally driven in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 3 to be described later with reference to FIG.

  Here, the outline of the operation of the sublimation type photo printer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the recording paper 22 placed in the recording paper cassette 2 is supplied to the platen roller 154 via the paper supply roller 151, the paper supply guide 152, and the feed roller 153. Then, the recording paper 22 is slid between the platen roller 154 and the head portion 133 with the ink sheet 142 sandwiched on the upper surface side, and the heat generating member (not shown) disposed on the head portion 133 causes the ink sheet 142 to move to the ink sheet 142. The applied Y color, M color, and C color sublimation inks are sequentially thermally transferred onto the recording paper 22.

  After the color image is formed on the recording paper 22, the recording paper 22 is slid between the platen roller 154 and the head portion 133 with the ink sheet 142 sandwiched on the upper surface side, and is disposed on the head portion 133. The overcoating agent applied to the ink sheet 142 is thermally transferred onto the recording paper 22 by the generated heating element (not shown). Next, the overcoated recording paper 22 is discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 (= on the recording paper cassette 2) through the platen roller 154, the feed roller 153, the paper feed guide 152, and the paper discharge roller 16.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the apparatus main body 1. As shown in the figure, the apparatus main body 1 includes an electronic switch 18, a stepping motor 19, and a control unit 3. The electronic switch 18 (corresponding to a part of the voltage switching means) supplies a predetermined driving voltage to the DC motor 171 that drives the cooling fan 17 based on an instruction from the control unit 3 (CPU 31). It is. The stepping motor 19 rotationally drives the paper feed roller 151, the feed roller 153, the platen roller 154, the paper discharge roller 16 and the like shown in FIG. 2 based on an instruction from the control unit 3 (CPU 31).

  The control unit 3 controls the operation of the entire apparatus body 1 and includes a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a ROM 33, an A / D conversion unit 34, a head controller 35, and a motor controller 36. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 receives image data from the outside and controls the operation of the entire apparatus body 1 to form an image on the recording paper 22 placed in the recording paper cassette 2 shown in FIG. To do.

  A RAM (Random Access Memory) 32 stores various data in a rewritable manner. A ROM (Read Only Memory) 33 stores a control program for operating the CPU 31 and the like.

  The A / D converter 34 performs A / D conversion on a signal from the thermistor 134 disposed in the arm 132 of the print head 13 shown in FIG. The head controller 35 outputs various instruction signals to the print head 13 shown in FIG. 2 to form an image on the recording paper 22 based on instructions from the CPU 31. The motor controller 36 outputs various instruction signals to the stepping motor 19 in order to drive the paper feed roller 151, the feed roller 153, the platen roller 154, the paper discharge roller 16, etc. based on instructions from the CPU 31. is there.

  FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the sublimation type photo printer 100 according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the electronic switch 18 is supplied with a DC power supply having a predetermined voltage (for example, 5 V) set in advance, and this DC power supply is supplied via the voltage dividing resistors R1 and R2. This DC power is supplied through voltage dividing resistors R3 and R4. The voltage dividing resistors R1, R2, R3, and R4 are resistors having resistance values of 10 kΩ, 10 kΩ, 30 kΩ, and 10 kΩ, respectively.

  That is, the voltage of 2.5V is supplied to the electronic switch 18 through the voltage dividing resistors R1 and R2, and the voltage of 1.25V is supplied through the voltage dividing resistors R3 and R4. Yes. Based on an instruction from the CPU 31, the electronic switch 18 outputs any voltage of 5 V, 2.5 V, and 1.25 V supplied from the DC power source to the DC motor 171 that drives the cooling fan 17 in a switchable manner. Is. The voltage dividing resistors R1, R2, R3, and R4 correspond to the voltage generation circuit in the present invention.

  The CPU 31 functionally includes a temperature detection unit 311 and a voltage control unit 312, and the RAM 32 functionally includes a voltage value storage unit 321. Here, the CPU 31 reads out and executes a control program stored in advance in the ROM 33 or the like shown in FIG. 3, thereby functioning as functional units such as the temperature detection unit 311 and the voltage control unit 312, and the RAM 32 with the voltage value. It functions as a functional unit such as the storage unit 321.

  Further, among the various data stored in the RAM 32 and the ROM 33 shown in FIG. 1, data that can be stored in a removable recording medium is, for example, a hard disk drive, optical disk drive, flexible disk drive, silicon disk drive, cassette medium reader, etc. In this case, the recording medium is, for example, a hard disk, an optical disk, a flexible disk, a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a semiconductor memory, or the like.

  The voltage value storage unit 321 (corresponding to the voltage value storage means) stores a plurality of temperature ranges in advance in association with the plurality of voltage values. The voltage value stored in the voltage value storage unit 321 is read by the voltage control unit 312.

  FIG. 4B shows an example of the temperature range and voltage value stored in the voltage value storage unit 321. As shown in the figure, when the temperature T detected by the temperature detector 311 is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature T1 (for example, 60 ° C.), a voltage having a voltage value V1 (for example, 5 V) is supplied to the DC motor 171. Accordingly, the temperature range that is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T1 (for example, 60 ° C.) and the voltage value V1 (here, 5V) are stored in the voltage value storage unit 321 in association with each other.

  Similarly, the temperature range in which the temperature T is lower than the threshold temperature T1 (for example, 60 ° C.) and is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T2 (for example, 40 ° C.) is associated with the voltage value V2 (for example, 2.5V), and the voltage value It is stored in the storage unit 321. Furthermore, the voltage range is stored in association with the temperature range in which the temperature T is lower than the threshold temperature T2 (for example, 40 ° C.) and is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T3 (for example, 20 ° C.) Stored in the section 321. In addition, a temperature range in which the temperature T is lower than a threshold temperature T3 (for example, 20 ° C.) and the voltage value “0V” are stored in the voltage value storage unit 321 in association with each other.

  Returning to FIG. 4A again, the configuration of the main part of the sublimation type photo printer 100 will be described. The temperature detection unit 311 (corresponding to a part of the temperature detection means) detects the temperature T in the vicinity of the print head 13 via the thermistor 134 every predetermined period (for example, 1 second) set in advance. .

  The voltage control unit 312 (corresponding to a voltage control unit) controls the number of rotations of the cooling fan 17, and sets a voltage value corresponding to a temperature range including the temperature T detected by the temperature detection unit 311 to a voltage. The electronic switch 18 is instructed to read from the value storage unit 321 and output a voltage corresponding to the read voltage value to the DC motor 171.

  Specifically, when the temperature T detected by the temperature detection unit 311 is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature T1 (for example, 60 ° C.), the voltage control unit 312 supplies a voltage value V1 (for example, 5 V) to the DC motor 171. The electronic switch 18 is instructed to supply this voltage. In addition, the voltage control unit 312 determines that the temperature T detected by the temperature detection unit 311 is less than the threshold temperature T1 (for example, 60 ° C.) and is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T2 (for example, 40 ° C.). The electronic switch 18 is instructed to supply a voltage having a voltage value V2 (for example, 2.5 V).

  Further, the voltage control unit 312 determines that the temperature T detected by the temperature detection unit 311 is less than the threshold temperature T2 (for example, 40 ° C.) and is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T3 (for example, 20 ° C.). The electronic switch 18 is instructed to supply a voltage having a voltage value V3 (for example, 1.25 V). In addition, when the temperature T detected by the temperature detector 311 is lower than a threshold temperature T3 (for example, 20 ° C.), the voltage controller 312 is configured to switch off the voltage supply to the DC motor 171. Is directed to.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the sublimation type photo printer 100 according to the present invention. First, the temperature detection unit 311 determines whether or not a predetermined period (here, 1 second) has elapsed (S101). If it is determined that the predetermined period has not elapsed (NO in S101), the process is set to a standby state. If it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in S101), the temperature detection unit 311 detects the temperature T in the vicinity of the print head 13 via the thermistor 134 (S103).

  Then, the voltage control unit 312 determines whether or not the temperature T detected in step S103 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T1 (S105). If it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T1 (YES in S105), the voltage of the voltage value V1 is supplied to the DC motor 171 via the electronic switch 18 (S107), and the process is returned to step S101. The processes after S101 are repeatedly executed.

  When it is determined that the temperature is not equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T1 (= lower than the threshold temperature T1) (NO in S105), the temperature T detected in step S103 by the voltage control unit 312 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T2. Is determined (S109). If it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T2 (YES in S109), the voltage V2 is supplied to the DC motor 171 via the electronic switch 18 (S111), and the process returns to step S101. The processes after S101 are repeatedly executed.

  When it is determined that the temperature is not equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T2 (= lower than the threshold temperature T2) (NO in S109), the temperature T detected in step S103 by the voltage control unit 312 is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T3. Is determined (S113). When it is determined that the temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T3 (YES in S113), the voltage of the voltage value V3 is supplied to the DC motor 171 via the electronic switch 18 (S115), and the process is returned to step S101. The processes after S101 are repeatedly executed. When it is determined that the temperature is not equal to or higher than the threshold temperature T3 (= below the threshold temperature T3) (NO in S113), the voltage supplied to the DC motor 171 via the electronic switch 18 is cut off (S117), and the processing is performed. Is returned to step S101, and the processing after step S101 is repeatedly executed.

  In this way, the temperature T in the vicinity of the print head 13 is detected, and based on the detected temperature T, a plurality of preset voltage values (here, 5V, 2.5V, 1.25V, 0V) are obtained. Since the voltage value of 1 applied to the DC motor 171 is set from the inside and the rotational speed of the cooling fan 17 is controlled, the rotational speed of the cooling fan 17 can be appropriately controlled with a simple configuration.

  The voltage value storage unit 321 stores a plurality of temperature ranges and a plurality of voltage values in association with each other in advance, and the voltage value corresponding to the temperature range including the detected temperature T is stored in the voltage value storage. Since it is read from the unit 321 and set as a voltage value of 1 to be applied to the DC motor 171, the rotational speed of the cooling fan 17 can be appropriately controlled with a simpler configuration.

  Further, the electronic switch 18 to which a voltage corresponding to a plurality of (here, three) voltage values (here, 5V, 2.5V, 1.25V) is applied is selected from among the plurality of applied voltages. Since 1 voltage applied to the DC motor 171 is output, the rotational speed of the cooling fan 17 can be appropriately controlled with a simpler configuration.

  In addition, a predetermined voltage value (here, 5 V) supplied from the DC power supply is divided by the voltage generation circuit through the resistors R1 to R4 connected in series, so that a plurality of (here Then, since voltages corresponding to three voltage values (here, 5V, 2.5V, and 1.25V) are generated, the rotational speed of the cooling fan 17 can be appropriately controlled with a simpler configuration. Can do.

The present invention can also be applied to the following forms.
(A) In the present embodiment, the case where the thermal transfer printer is the sublimation type photo printer 100 has been described. However, another type of thermal transfer printer (for example, a thermal melting printer or the like) may be used.

  (B) In the present embodiment, the case where the CPU 31 functionally includes the temperature detection unit 311 and the voltage control unit 312 has been described. However, at least one functional unit of the temperature detection unit 311 and the voltage control unit 312 is included. It may be configured by hardware such as a circuit.

  (C) Although the voltage control unit 312 has read the voltage value corresponding to the temperature range including the temperature T from the voltage value storage unit 321 and instructs the electronic switch 18 in the present embodiment, A voltage value may be obtained by calculation based on T and instructed to the electronic switch 18.

  (D) In the present embodiment, the case where the voltage corresponding to the three-stage voltage value is applied to the electronic switch 18 has been described. However, the voltage corresponding to the two-stage voltage value is applied to the electronic switch 18. The form may be sufficient and the form to which the voltage corresponding to the voltage value of four steps or more is applied to the electronic switch 18 may be sufficient. As the voltage value applied to the electronic switch 18 increases in number, fine control can be performed.

These are perspective views showing an example of a sublimation photo printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an AA cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the apparatus main body illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical configuration of the apparatus main body 1. These are the block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the principal part in the sublimation type photo printer which concerns on this invention, and the chart which shows an example of the temperature range and voltage value which were stored in the voltage value memory | storage part. These are the flowcharts which show an example of operation | movement of the sublimation type photo printer which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Thermal transfer printer 1 Apparatus main body 13 Print head 133 Head part 134 Thermistor (a part of temperature detection means)
17 Cooling fan 171 DC motor 18 Electronic switch (part of voltage switching means)
2 Recording paper cassette 3 Control unit 31 CPU
311 Temperature detection part (part of temperature detection means)
312 Voltage control unit (voltage control means)
32 RAM
321 Voltage value storage unit (voltage value storage means)
R1 to R4 voltage dividing resistors (voltage generation circuit: part of voltage switching means)

Claims (4)

A thermal transfer printer comprising a cooling fan driven by a direct current motor and forming an image on a recording sheet via a print head,
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the print head;
Voltage switching means for setting one voltage value to be applied to the DC motor among a plurality of preset voltage values;
Voltage control means for controlling the number of rotations of the cooling fan by instructing the voltage switching means on the voltage value of 1 based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means;
A thermal transfer printer comprising: Voltage value storage means for storing a plurality of temperature ranges and the plurality of voltage values in association with each other in advance,
The voltage control means reads a voltage value corresponding to a temperature range including the temperature detected by the temperature detection means from the voltage value storage means and instructs the voltage switching means as the first voltage value. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1.   The voltage switching means includes an electronic switch to which a voltage corresponding to the plurality of voltage values is applied, and outputs one voltage among the plurality of applied voltages based on an instruction from the voltage control means. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2. The voltage switching means generates a voltage corresponding to the plurality of voltage values by dividing a predetermined voltage value supplied from a DC power supply through a resistor connected in series. With
The thermal transfer printer according to claim 3, wherein the electronic switch is applied with voltages corresponding to the plurality of voltage values from the voltage generation circuit.

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