EP0409243A2 - Apparat und Verfahren zum Aufzeichnen - Google Patents

Apparat und Verfahren zum Aufzeichnen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0409243A2
EP0409243A2 EP90113870A EP90113870A EP0409243A2 EP 0409243 A2 EP0409243 A2 EP 0409243A2 EP 90113870 A EP90113870 A EP 90113870A EP 90113870 A EP90113870 A EP 90113870A EP 0409243 A2 EP0409243 A2 EP 0409243A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
recording
image
recording medium
ink sheet
ink
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP90113870A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0409243B1 (de
EP0409243A3 (en
Inventor
C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ono Takeshi
Satoshi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Wada
Makoto C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Kobayashi
Takehiro C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Yoshida
Tomoyuki C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Takeda
Yasushi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Ishida
Minoru C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Yokoyama
Akihiro C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Tomoda
Masakatsu C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Yamada
Takashi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Awai
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP18434590A external-priority patent/JP2848573B2/ja
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Publication of EP0409243A2 publication Critical patent/EP0409243A2/de
Publication of EP0409243A3 publication Critical patent/EP0409243A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0409243B1 publication Critical patent/EP0409243B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/38—Preheating, i.e. heating to a temperature insufficient to cause printing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium and a recording method.
  • the recording apparatus includes, e.g., those in the form of a facsimile apparatus, an electronic typewriter, a copying machine, a printer apparatus, and the like.
  • a thermal transfer printer employs an ink sheet in which a hot melt (or thermal sublimation) ink is coated on a base film.
  • the ink sheet is selectively head by a thermal head in correspondence with an image signal, and a melted (or sublimated) ink is transferred onto a recording sheet, thereby performing image recording.
  • a time interval between recording operations for two adjacent lines is often prolonged.
  • so-called auxiliary recording is proposed. That is, the thermal head is heated so as not to perform transfer recording while recording data of the thermal head remains the same.
  • the auxiliary recording will be described below with reference to Fig. 7.
  • Fig. 7 shows image recording timings by a line type thermal head.
  • Timings T101 to T104 correspond to output timings of a print command for instructing start of printing and trigger timings of a recording sheet convey motor.
  • timings 70 to 73 indicate actual recording timings for one line. During this interval, a recording sheet is conveyed by one line, and one-line recording is performed. As indicated by the timings 71 and 72, when recording for the next line is instructed during recording for the present line, recording processing for the next line is started immediately after recording for the present line is completed. However, when a recording interval must be set until recording for the next line, auxiliary recording operations are executed, as indicated by timings 74 to 76.
  • a thermal transfer printer employs an ink sheet in which a hot melt (or thermal sublimation) ink is coated on a base film.
  • the ink sheet is selectively heated by a thermal head in correspondence with an image signal, and a melted (or sublimated) ink is transferred onto a recording sheet, thereby performing image recording.
  • an ink of the ink sheet is normally completely transferred to a recording sheet by a single image recording operation (i.e., a so-called one-time sheet)
  • the ink sheet is conveyed by a length corresponding to a recording length after recording of one character or one line is completed, and a non-used portion of the ink sheet must be reliably conveyed to the next recording position. For this reason, an amount of use of the ink sheet is increased, and running cost of the thermal transfer printer tends to be higher than that of a conventional thermal printer for recording an image on a heat sensitive sheet.
  • an ink sheet which can perform an image recording operation a plurality of (n) times (so-called multi-print sheet) is known.
  • a convey length of the ink sheet conveyed upon completion of or during image recording can be smaller than the length L (L/n : n > 1).
  • a use efficiency of the ink sheet can be n times that of a conventional apparatus, and a decrease in running cost of a thermal transfer printer can be expected.
  • This recording method will be referred to as a multi-print method hereinafter.
  • an ink in an ink layer of the ink sheet is separately heated n times.
  • a shearing force is generated between a melted (or sublimated) ink and a non-melted (or non-sublimated) ink, thereby transferring an ink onto a recording sheet.
  • a shearing force between the melted and non-melted ink portions is increased, and the ink sheet and the recording sheet are not easily separated from each other.
  • This phenomenon typically occurs when one-line recording data includes much black information, and poses a serious problem when a time interval between the present line and the next line is not constant and is relatively long.
  • the present applicant proposed a thermal transfer recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus using the same (Japanese Patent Application No. 63-281375 filed on November 9, 1988).
  • a recording operation is interrupted for a predetermined period of time or more, a recording means is heated until the next recording operation to improve quality of a recorded image, and to facilitate separation between an ink sheet and a recording medium.
  • the present invention is made by further developing the above invention.
  • a recording means such as a thermal head is heated using the same image data at predetermined time intervals until the next recording is started, thus suppressing a decrease in temperature of a heating element of, e.g., the thermal head and eliminating recording density nonuniformity on the recording medium.
  • Figs. 1 to 4 show a thermal transfer printer using an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing electrical connections between a control unit 101 and a recording unit 102 of the facsimile apparatus
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an arrangement of the facsimile apparatus
  • Fig. 3A is a side sectional view of the facsimile apparatus
  • Fig. 3B is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of the facsimile apparatus
  • Fig. 4 is a view showing a convey mechanism of a recording sheet and an ink sheet.
  • a reading unit 100 photoelectrically reads an original and outputs a digital image signal to a control unit 101 of its own apparatus (in a copy mode) or of another apparatus (in a facsimile mode).
  • the reading unit 100 comprises an original conveying motor, an image sensor such as a CCD, and the like.
  • the arrangement of the control unit 101 will be described below.
  • a line memory 110 stores image data for one line. When original image data is transmitted (in a facsimile mode) or is copied (in a copy mode), the line memory 110 stores image data for one line from the reading unit 100, and when image data is received, it stores received image data for one line which is decoded. The stored data is output to a recording unit 102, thus performing image formation.
  • An encoding/decoding unit 111 encodes image data to be transmitted based on, e.g., MH coding, and decodes received encoded image data to convert it into image data.
  • a buffer memory 112 stores encoded image data to be transmitted or received encoded image data.
  • These units of the control unit 101 are controlled by a CPU 113 comprising, e.g., a microprocessor.
  • the control unit 101 comprises a ROM 114 for storing a control program of the CPU 113, and various data, a RAM 115 for temporarily storing various data as a work area of the CPU 113, and the like in addition to the CPU 113.
  • the recording unit 102 comprises a thermal line head, and performs image recording on a recording sheet by a thermal transfer recording method.
  • An operation unit 103 includes various function instruction keys such as a transmission start key, telephone number input keys, and the like.
  • a switch 103a is used to instruct a type of ink sheet 14 to be used. When the switch 103a is ON, it indicates that a multi-print ink sheet is loaded; otherwise, it indicates that a normal ink sheet (one-time ink sheet) is loaded.
  • An indicating unit 104 is normally arranged adjacent to the operation unit 103, and indicates various functions and states of an apparatus.
  • a power source unit 105 supplies an electric power to the entire apparatus.
  • a modem 106 modulates/demodulates a transmission/reception signal.
  • a network control unit (NCU) 107 performs communication control with a line.
  • a telephone set 108 comprises, e.g., a telephone dial.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B The arrangement of the recording unit 102 will be described below with reference to Figs. 3A and 3B.
  • the same reference numerals in Figs. 3A and 3B denote the same parts as in Fig. 2.
  • a sheet roll 10 is obtained by winding a recording sheet 11 as normal paper in a roll shape.
  • the sheet roll 10 is rotatably stored in the apparatus so that it can feed the recording sheet 11 to a thermal head unit 13 upon rotation of a platen roller 12 in a direction of an arrow.
  • a sheet roll loading unit 10b detachably loads the sheet roll 10.
  • the platen roller 12 conveys the recording sheet 11 in a direction of an arrow b , and presses an ink sheet 14 and the recording sheet 11 between itself and a heat generating resistor or member 132 of the thermal head 13.
  • the recording sheet 11 on which an image is recorded upon heating of the thermal head 13 is conveyed toward exhaust rollers 16 (16a and 16b) upon further rotation of the platen roller 12, and is cut into pages upon meshing of cutters 15 (15a and 15b) after image recording for one page is completed. Then, the recording sheet is exhausted.
  • the ink sheet 14 is wound around an ink sheet feed roller 17.
  • the ink sheet fed from the roller 17 is taken up by an ink sheet take-up roller 18 in a direction of an arrow a .
  • the roller 18 is driven by an ink sheet convey motor (to be described later).
  • the ink sheet feed roller 17 and the ink sheet take-up roller 18 are detachably loaded in an ink sheet loading unit 70 in the apparatus main body.
  • a sensor 19 detects a remaining amount and a convey speed of the ink sheet 14.
  • An ink sheet sensor 20 detects the presence/absence of the ink sheet 14.
  • Springs 21 are arranged to press the thermal head 13 against the platen roller 12 through the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14.
  • a recording sensor 22 detects the presence/absence of the recording sheet.
  • the arrangement of the reading unit 100 will be described below.
  • a light source 30 illuminates an original 32.
  • Light reflected by the original 32 is incident on a CCD sensor 31 via an optical system (mirrors 50 and 51, and a lens 52), and is then converted into an electrical signal.
  • the original 32 is conveyed by convey rollers 53, 54, 55, and 56 driven by an original convey motor (not shown) in correspondence with its reading speed.
  • a plurality of originals 32 placed on an original table 57 are separated one by one upon cooperation of the convey roller 54 and a pressing separation segment 58 while being guided along a slider 57a. The separated original is fed to the reading unit 100, and is then exhausted onto a tray 77 after reading.
  • a control board 41 constitutes the principal part of the control unit 101.
  • the control board 41 outputs various control signals to respective units of the apparatus.
  • the facsimile apparatus also includes the power source unit 105, the modem board unit 106, and the NCU board unit 107.
  • Fig. 4 shows in detail a convey mechanism of the ink sheet 14 and the recording sheet 11.
  • a motor 24 drives the platen roller 12 to convey the recording sheet 11 in a direction of an arrow b opposite to the direction of the arrow a .
  • a motor 25 is used to convey the ink sheet 14 in the direction of the arrow a .
  • Transmission gears 26 and 27 transmit rotation of the motor 24 to the platen roller 12.
  • Transmission gears 28 and 29 transmit rotation of the motor 25 to the take-up roller 18.
  • Fig. 1 shows electrical connections between the control unit 101 and the recording unit 102 in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, and the same reference numerals in Fig. 1 denote the same parts as in other figures.
  • the thermal head 13 is a line head (having a heat generating element over the recording width).
  • the thermal head 13 comprises a shift register 130 for receiving serial recording data for one line from the recording unit 101 and a shift clock 43, a latch 131 for latching data of the shift register 130 in response to a latch signal 44, and a heat generating element 132 comprising a heat generating resistor for one line.
  • the heat generating resistor 132 is driven while being divided into m blocks, as indicated by 132-1 to 132-m.
  • a temperature sensor 133 is attached to the thermal head 13 to detect a temperature of the thermal head 13.
  • An output signal 42 from the temperature sensor 133 is A/D-converted by the control unit 101, and the digital signal 42 is input to the CPU 113.
  • the CPU 113 can detect the temperature of the thermal head 13, and changes a pulse width of a strobe signal 47 or a driving voltage of the thermal head 13, thereby changing an energy applied to the thermal head 13 according to characteristics of the ink sheet 14.
  • the CPU 113 sets measurement times in programmable timers 116 and 117, and instructs them to start time measurement.
  • the programmable timers 116 and 117 output interrupt signals, time-out signals, or the like to the CPU 113 every instructed time.
  • the type (characteristic) of ink sheet 14 is instructed upon a manual operation of the switch 103a of the operation unit 103 described above by an operator.
  • a mark printed on the ink sheet 14 may be automatically detected to discriminate its type.
  • a mark, a notch, a projection, or the like provided to a cartridge of an ink sheet may be automatically detected to discriminate the type of an ink sheet.
  • a driving circuit 46 receives a driving signal of the thermal head 13, and outputs the strobe signal 47 for driving the thermal head 13 in units of blocks. Note that the driving circuit 46 can change a voltage to be output to a power source line 45 for supplying a current to the heat generating element 132 of the thermal head 13 to change an energy to be applied to the thermal head 13.
  • a driving circuit 36 drives the cutters 15 to mesh with each other, and includes a motor for driving the cutters.
  • a motor 39 rotates the exhaust rollers 16 to exhaust a sheet.
  • Driver circuits 35, 31, and 32 respectively rotate the motors 39, 24, and 25. Note that these motors 39, 24, and 25 comprise stepping motors in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, these motors may comprise, e.g., DC motors.
  • Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing recording processing for one page in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment.
  • a program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 114 of the control unit 101.
  • step S1 This processing is started when image data for one line is stored in the line memory 110 and the apparatus is ready to start a recording operation.
  • step S1 recording data for one line are serially output to the shift register 130.
  • the latch signal 44 is output in step S2 to store the recording data for one line in the latch circuit 131.
  • step S3 the recording sheet 11 is conveyed by one line.
  • This one-line length corresponds to a length of one dot recorded by the thermal head 13.
  • the number of steps required for conveying the recording sheet 11 by one line is one.
  • step S5 one of the blocks of the heat generating resistor 132 is energized to record an image, and it is checked in step S6 if energization of all the blocks is completed. If it is determined in step S6 that energization of all the blocks is not completed and recording for one line is not completed, the flow returns to step S5, and the next block is energized. If recording for one line is completed, the flow advances from step S6 to step S7 to check if a print command for the next line is input. If YES in step S7, the flow returns to step S1, and image recording processing for the next line is started without performing auxiliary recording. Note that an energization time of each block of the thermal head is about 0.6 ms, and a time required for recording for one line is about 2.5 ms.
  • step S7 i.e., if the print command for the next line is not input (e.g., when recording processing for one page is completed, and when recording operations for lines are intermittently executed while being speed-adjusted according to a transmission speed or a decoding time of image data)
  • step S8 the flow advances to step S8 to check if recording processing for one page is completed. If YES in step S8, the flow advances to step S9, and the recording sheet 11 is cut into a page by the cutter 15. The cut recording sheet on which an image has already been recorded is conveyed toward the exhaust rollers 16, and is exhausted outside the apparatus.
  • step S8 the flow advances to step S10, and the heat generating element 132 of the thermal head 13 is energized without conveying the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14, thus performing an auxiliary heat operation.
  • the heat generating element 132 of the thermal head 13 is heated with a pulse width which is shorter than that in a normal image recording mode and which does not cause transfer recording (in this embodiment, an energization time is set to be about 0.2 ms per block).
  • step S11 Upon completion of the auxiliary heat operation in step S11, the flow advances to step S12, and a time T1 (e.g., 5 ms) is set in the timer 116. The flow then advances to step S13 to check if the print start command for the next line is input like in step S7. If YES in step S13, the flow advances to step S14, the timer 116 is reset, and the flow returns to step S1. However, if no print command for the next line is input in step S13, the flow advances to step S15 to check based on a signal from the timer 116 if the time T1 has passed (in this embodiment, T1 is set to be about 5 ms).
  • T1 is set to be about 5 ms.
  • step S15 If NO in step S15, the flow returns to step S13; otherwise, the flow advances to step S16, and the auxiliary heat operation is executed again to heat the thermal head 13.
  • the auxiliary heat time may or may not be the same as that in step S10.
  • the flow Upon completion of the auxiliary heat operation in step S17, the flow returns to step S12, and the time T1 is set in the timer 116 again to repeat the above-mentioned processing.
  • the thermal head 13 when a recording interval is prolonged, the thermal head 13 is energized in a predetermined cycle (e.g., 5 ms) to generate heat, thereby preventing a decrease in heat accumulation amount of the thermal head 13.
  • a predetermined cycle e.g., 5 ms
  • data used in the auxiliary heat mode may be recording data of the immediately preceding line or may be all black data.
  • Fig. 6 is a timing chart showing image recording timings of the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment.
  • timings 60 to 63 indicate image recording timings of corresponding lines.
  • Timings T1 to T4 indicate input timings of a print command for the next line and convey timings of the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14 in steps S3 and S4 shown in Fig. 5.
  • Timings 64, 67, and 69 indicate auxiliary heat timings executed in step S10 shown in Fig. 5 when a print start command for the next line is not input upon completion of recording for one line. These timings also correspond to the conventional auxiliary heat timings shown in Fig. 7.
  • Timings 65, 66, and 68 indicate auxiliary heat timings in this embodiment. When a time interval until the recording for the next line exceeds a predetermined period of time, the auxiliary heat operation is executed in a predetermined cycle until the print start command for the next line is input (step S16 in Fig. 5).
  • the auxiliary heat operation in this embodiment is executed to assist heat accumulation of the thermal head.
  • the present invention is not limited to this.
  • an energy which is high enough to record data at the same position again may be applied, or a lower energy which does not cause recording may be applied.
  • the thermal head is heated using the same recording data as in the immediately preceding line.
  • data is not limited to the same recording data as in the immediately preceding line.
  • the thermal head may be heated using all black data.
  • an energy may be adjusted not only by changing a pulse width to be energized but also by changing an application voltage.
  • the thermal head when a recording interval exceeds a predetermined period of time, the thermal head is energized and heated in a predetermined cycle until the next recording operation is started.
  • a constant heat accumulation state can be kept regardless of a recording cycle, and density nonuniformity of a recording image can be eliminated.
  • the auxiliary heat operation in this embodiment is effective in a recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, in which an interval between image data for lines is nonuniform and is prolonged.
  • the thermal head when no print start command for the next line is input upon completion of recording for a certain line, the thermal head is heated again for every predetermined period of time until the next recording operation is started.
  • a decrease in temperature of the heat generating element of the thermal head is suppressed, thereby eliminating recording density nonuniformity on the recording medium.
  • a thermal head when a predetermined period of time (AT1) has passed after image recording, a thermal head is heated, and thereafter, when a predetermined period of time ( ⁇ T2) has passed, the thermal head is heated again. This operation is repeated until the next recording operation is started.
  • a motor 24 for conveying a recording sheet rotates a platen roller 12 to convey the recording sheet 11 in a direction of an arrow b opposite to a direction of an arrow a .
  • a motor 25 is used to convey the ink sheet in the direction of the arrow a by a capstan roller 71 and pinch rollers 72.
  • Transmission gears 26 and 27 transmit rotation of the motor 24 to the platen roller 12.
  • Transmission gears 73 and 74 transmit rotation of the motor 25 to the capstan roller 71.
  • the convey mechanism shown in Fig. 8 includes a sliding clutch unit 75.
  • a gear ratio of the gear 74 to the clutch unit 75 is set so that the length of the ink sheet 14 taken up by a take-up roller 18 upon rotation of a gear 75a is longer than the length of an ink sheet conveyed by the capstan roller 71.
  • the ink sheet 14 conveyed by the capstan roller 71 is reliably taken up by the take-up roller 18.
  • a difference between a take-up amount of the ink sheet 14 by the take-up roller 18 and a feed amount of the ink sheet 14 fed by the capstan roller 71 is absorbed by the sliding clutch unit 75.
  • a variation in convey speed (amount) of the ink sheet 14 due to a variation in take-up diameter of the take-up roller 18 can be suppressed.
  • Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing recording processing for one page in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment.
  • a control program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 114 of the control unit 101.
  • This processing is started when image data for one line is stored in the line memory 110 and the apparatus is ready to start a recording operation.
  • the control unit 101 determines based on the switch 103a that the multi-ink sheet 14 is loaded.
  • step S1 recording data for one line is serially output to the shift register 130.
  • a latch signal 44 is output in step S2 to store the recording data for one line in the latch 131.
  • step S3 the motor 25 is driven to convey the ink sheet 14 by 1/n lines.
  • step S4 the recording sheet 11 is conveyed by one line.
  • the one-line length is set to be about (1/15.4) mm in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment. Convey amounts of the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14 can be respectively set by changing energization pulse counts of the motors 24 and 25.
  • step S5 one of blocks of the heat generating resistor 132 is energized to record an image, and it is checked in step S6 if energization of all the blocks is completed. If NO in step S6, the flow advances to step S7 to check if recording data for the next line is ready. If YES in step S7, the flow advances to step S8, and the recording data for the next line are sequentially transported to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13. During data transportation to the thermal head 13, it is checked in step S9 if an energization time of one block has passed.
  • step S9 If it is determined in step S9 that the energization time (about 600 ⁇ s) does not pass, the flow returns to step S7; otherwise, the flow returns to step S5 to execute energization processing for the next block.
  • the thermal head 13 is divided into four blocks, and is energized in units of these blocks.
  • a time required for recording for one line is about 2.5 ms (600 ⁇ s x 4 blocks).
  • step S6 If it is determined in step S6 that energization of all the blocks is completed and recording for one line is completed, the flow advances to step S10, and a predetermined time (in this case, 20 ms) is set in the timer 116 to start measurement of time by the timer 116. The flow then advances to step S11 to check if image recording for one page is completed. If NO in step S11, a heat generation count n of the thermal head 13 is set to be an initial value, i.e., 1 in step S12, and the flow advances to step S13 to check if all the image data for the next line are transported to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13.
  • a predetermined time in this case, 20 ms
  • the thermal head 13 is heated using the same data but the same data need not be used.
  • the flow advances to step S20, and a new predetermined time ⁇ T n is set in the timer 117.
  • ⁇ T n is a longer than the immediately preceding predetermined time ⁇ T n-1 ( ⁇ T n > ⁇ T n-1 ).
  • step S20 Upon completion of step S20, the flow returns to step S13.
  • step S21 After image data for the next line to be recorded are transported to the thermal head 13 in step S13, the flow advances to step S21 to check if the timer 116 is time-out, e.g., 20 ms have passed. If NO in step S21, the flow returns to step S2, and the recording data for the next line are latched in the latch 131. The above-mentioned image recording processing is then executed.
  • step S21 the flow advances to step S22, and the thermal head 13 is energized in units of blocks.
  • step S22 since data in the latch 131 of the thermal head 13 are equal to the immediately preceding image data for one line which have been recorded, the same image data is recorded again.
  • energization processing to the thermal head 13 in step S22 is executed after the recording data for the next line are transported to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13, it is executed at a timing immediately before recording processing for the next line. As a result, this processing also serves as a pre-heat operation for the thermal head 13.
  • the "timing immediately before the next recording processing" corresponds to a delay time by the processing time in steps S22 to S5.
  • An energization time of the thermal head 13 in step S22 may be the same as that in step S5 or may be shorter than it.
  • step S11 Upon completion of image recording for one page in step S11, the flow advances to step S23, and the recording sheet 11 is conveyed toward exhaust rollers 16a and 16b by a predetermined length.
  • step S24 cutters 15a and 15b are driven to mesh with each other, thereby cutting the recording sheet 11 into a page.
  • step S25 the motor 24 is reversed to return the recording sheet 11 by a distance corresponding to an interval between the thermal head 13 and the cutter 15, thus executing cutter processing of the recording sheet 11.
  • step S20 a predetermined period of time to be set in the timer 117 is increased, thus preventing heat accumulation on the thermal head 13.
  • an application energy to the heat generating element 132 may be decreased to be smaller than that in an actual recording mode.
  • the thermal head is driven in step S22, the same recording data as in the immediately preceding line is used, and the heat generating resistor 132 corresponding to some black dots is energized to prevent solidification of an ink.
  • Fig. 10 is a timing chart showing energization timings of the thermal head 13 in the image recording processing of this embodiment.
  • the heat generating resistor 132 of the thermal head 13 is energized while being divided into four blocks.
  • Strobe signals 1 to 4 correspond to energization signals of the four blocks of the heat generating resistor 132.
  • a time interval 60 indicates an actual energization time of the thermal head 13 executed in step S22 immediately before actual recording processing 61.
  • a timing T1 indicates a timing at which all the recording data for the next line are transported to the thermal head 13, and the recording for the next line is ready.
  • an auxiliary recording operation is executed twice during a time interval 62 (step S18). If a time elapsed after the auxiliary recording operation during the time interval 62 reaches ⁇ T1, energization during a time interval 63 for heating the thermal head 13 in step S18 is executed.
  • the next predetermined time is set in the timer 117. When the timer 117 is time-out, energization during the time interval 63 is executed again. This processing is repeated until recording data for the next line are transported to the thermal head 13 and recording for the next line is ready at a timing T2.
  • the energization times of the blocks of the thermal head 13 during these time intervals 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67 are about 1/4 of the energization time 61 in the actual recording mode.
  • the same data is recorded again after recording is completed, and when a recording time interval until the beginning of the next recording exceeds a predetermined period of time, the image of the line is recorded again immediately before the next recording processing.
  • a sufficient image density can be obtained, and image recording quality can be improved.
  • easy separation between the ink sheet and the recording sheet is allowed.
  • This embodiment is particularly effective in a recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, in which an interval between image data for lines is nonuniform and is prolonged.
  • the same data is recorded after recording while the recording medium stands still.
  • a recording means is driven after a lapse of a predetermined period of time, thereby improving recorded image quality, and allowing easy separation between the ink sheet and the recording medium.
  • the predetermined time is prolonged ( ⁇ T n-1 ⁇ ⁇ T n ), thus preventing heat accumulation of a recording medium.
  • a recording means is controlled to be heated based on all black data or data having a predetermined black ratio (an energy to be applied to each block of a head by a pre-heat operation is the same if either data is selected) without conveying a recording medium after image recording by the recording means.
  • the recording means is driven while changing pre-heat data according to the recording cycle (a black ratio is decreased when a recording cycle is short) without conveying a recording medium.
  • the thermal head 13 comprises a shift register 130 for receiving serial recording data for one line and a shift clock 43, a pre-heat data shift register 134 for receiving pre-heat data, a latch 131 for latching data of the shift register 130 in response to a true latch signal 44, and for latching data of the pre-heat data shift register 134 in response to a pre-latch signal 44a, and a heat generating element 132 comprising a plurality of heat generating resistors for one line.
  • Fig. 12 is a flow chart showing recording processing for one page in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment.
  • a control program for executing this processing is stored in the ROM 114 of the control unit 101.
  • This processing is started when image data for one line is stored in the line memory 110 and the apparatus is ready to start a recording operation.
  • the control unit 101 determines based on the switch 103a that the multi-ink sheet 14 is loaded.
  • the control waits after the pre-heat operation is completed until the motors are started (in this embodiment, a wait time is assumed to be zero), and then starts recording for the next line.
  • a wait time is assumed to be zero
  • a pre-heat operation is performed using all "1" (all black) data as pre-heat data after the phases of the motors for conveying the recording sheet and the ink sheet are switched.
  • the control waits after the pre-heat operation is completed until the motors are started (in this embodiment, a wait time is assumed to be zero), and then starts recording for the next line.
  • pre-heat data is changed according to a time after the actual recording operation is completed until the end of data transportation for the next line. More specifically, when a time until the end of data transportation for the next line is long, the black ratio of the pre-heat data is increased. A pre-heat width is fixed.
  • pre-heat data having a black ratio of 50% is used.
  • pre-heat data having a black ratio of 100% is used.
  • An energy applied to each dot by the pre-heat operation at the black ratio of 50% can be the same by repetitively using data ⁇ AAH and ⁇ 55H. More specifically, the pre-heat data are cyclically used, so that an energy applied to each dot of the heat by the pre-heat operation can be identically controlled.
  • the black ratio is changed to 0%, 50%, and 100% but may be changed more finely.
  • Fig. 13 shows switching of motor phases and strobe waveforms.
  • a timing (1) phases of the motors for the recording sheet and the ink sheet are switched.
  • a pre-heat operation using all "1" data is performed.
  • an actual recording operation is executed.
  • the actual recording operation is executed without performing the pre-heat operation.
  • the pre-heat operation is performed using data 55H and then, the actual recording operation is performed. Since data transportation for the next line is completed after the lapse of the predetermined time b or more (timing (6)) from the end of the actual recording operation (timing (5)), the pre-heat operation is performed using all "1" (all black) data, and the actual recording operation for the next line is executed. Since data transportation is completed within a time equal to or longer than the predetermined time a and shorter than the predetermined time b after the actual recording operation is completed (timing (8)), the pre-heat operation is performed using data AAH.
  • the pre-heat data is changed according to a time from the end of the actual recording operation until the end of data transportation for the next line, all "1" (all black) data may be used for all the above cases.
  • all "1" (all black) data may be used for all the above cases.
  • This control example is shown in Fig. 15 (in this control, steps S0, S15, S16, and S17-1 are omitted from Fig. 12).
  • steps S0, S15, S16, and S17-1 are omitted from Fig. 12.
  • an energy must be increased at the isolated point. Since information of the immediately preceding line of the isolated point is white, it is not effective to record the preceding line as pre-heat data.
  • the actual recording operation is performed at a timing when the motors are started in practice after the phases of the motors for conveying the recording sheet and the ink sheet are switched.
  • a melted ink or sublimated ink depending on a type of ink
  • an ink can be more efficiently transferred by performing a moving write operation (recording).
  • a recording interval after the motor phases are switched exceeds a predetermined period of time (e.g., 10 ms or more)
  • the thermal head 13 is heated to perform a pre-heat operation, and an ink is heated during this interval.
  • Fig. 14 shows switching of the motor phases, conveyance of recording sheet and the ink sheet, and actual recording timings.
  • a pre-heat operation is performed for 1.5 ms by the thermal head 13 after the phases of the motors 24 and 25 are switched, and thereafter, an actual recording operation is performed for 2.5 ms.
  • step S0 data 134 used for the pre-heat operation is stored in a register PRI-DATA when a time until the end of transportation for the next line is equal to or longer than the predetermined time a and shorter than the predetermined time b after the completion of the actual recording operation.
  • the predetermined time a is set to be 5 ms
  • the predetermined time b is set to be 10 ms.
  • step S1 recording data for one line are serially transported to the shift register 130. Upon completion of transportation of recording data for one line, all "1" data is transferred to the pre-heat data shift register in step S2.
  • step S3-1 the pre-latch signal 44a is output to store the pre-heat data 134 for one line in the latch 131.
  • step S3-2 the motor 25 is driven to convey the ink sheet 14 by 1/n lines.
  • step S3-3 the recording sheet 11 is conveyed by one line.
  • the one-line length is set to be about (1/15.4) mm in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, and convey amounts of the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14 can be respectively set by changing energization pulse counts of the motors 24 and 25.
  • step S3-4 blocks of the heat generating resistors 132 are energized.
  • the energization time of each block is set to be, e.g., 0.2 ms.
  • step S5 one block of the heat generating resistors 132 is energized to record an image. It is then checked in step S6 if all the blocks of the thermal head 13 is energized. If NO in step S6, the flow advances to step S7 to check if recording data for the next line is ready. If YES in step S7, the flow advances to step S8, and the recording data for the next line are sequentially transported to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13. During data transportation to the thermal head 13, it is checked in step S9 if an energization time of one block has passed.
  • step S9 If it is determined in step S9 that the energization time (about 600 ⁇ s) does not pass, the flow returns to step S7; otherwise, the flow returns to step S5 to execute energization processing for the next block.
  • the thermal head 13 is divided into four blocks, and is energized in units of these blocks.
  • a time required for recording for one line is about 2.5 ms (600 ⁇ s x 4 blocks).
  • step S6 If it is determined in step S6 that energization of all the blocks is completed and recording for one line is completed, the flow advances to step S10, and time measurement of the timer 116 is started. The flow advances to step S11 to check if image recording for one page is completed. If NO in step S11, the flow advances to step S12 to check if all the image data for the next line are transported to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13. If NO in step S12 and if it is determined in step S13 that the data for the next line is ready, data transportation processing for transporting data to the thermal head 13 is executed.
  • step S14 After the image data for the next line to be recorded are transported to the thermal head 13 in step S12, the flow advances to step S14 to check if the predetermined time a has passed in the timer 116. If NO in step S14, the flow advances to step S17-2, and the motor 25 is driven to convey the ink sheet 14 by 1/n lines. In step S17-3, the recording sheet 11 is conveyed by one line. In step S17-4, the control waits until the motors 24 and 25 are started. In step S17-5, the true latch signal 44 is output to cause the latch 131 to store recording data for one line.
  • step S15 the flow advances to step S15 to check if the predetermined time b has passed. If YES in step S15, the flow advances to step S2; otherwise, the PRI-DATA is rotated by one bit (step S16), and a pattern of PRI-DATA for one line is output as the pre-heat data 134 (step S17-1).
  • step S11 Upon completion of image recording for one page in step S11, the flow advances to step S18, and the recording sheet 11 is conveyed toward the exhaust rollers 16a and 16b by a predetermined amount.
  • step S19 the cutters 15a and 15b are driven to be meshed with each other, thereby cutting the recording sheet 11 into a page.
  • step S20 the motor 24 is reversed to return the recording sheet 11 by a distance corresponding to an interval between the thermal head 13 and the cutter 15, thus executing cutter processing of the recording sheet 11.
  • the thermal head 13 since the thermal head 13 is heated after the lapse of a predetermined period of time from switching of phases of the motors 24 and 25 for conveying the ink sheet and the recording sheet, transfer efficiency of an ink onto the recording sheet 11 can be further increased.
  • a recording means is driven using all black pre-heat data.
  • sticking of the ink sheet is prevented, and an isolated point can be clearly recorded.
  • image recording quality can be improved, and easy separation between the ink sheet and the recording sheet can be attained.
  • a black ratio of pre-heat data is changed according to a recording time until the beginning of the next recording after completion of recording (a black ratio is increased when the period is long), thus preventing heat accumulation.
  • This embodiment is particularly effective in a recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, in which an interval between image data for lines is nonuniform and is prolonged.
  • Fig. 16 shows an image recording state when the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14 are conveyed in opposite directions like in the above embodiments.
  • the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14 are clamped between the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 13, and the thermal head 13 is pressed against the platen roller 12 by the springs 21 at a predetermined pressure.
  • the recording sheet 11 is conveyed at a speed V P in the direction of the arrow b upon rotation of the platen roller 12.
  • the ink sheet 13 is conveyed at a speed V I in the direction of the arrow a upon rotation of the motor 25.
  • a portion of the ink sheet 14 indicated by a hatched portion 91 is heated.
  • Fig. 16 illustrates a base film 14a of the ink sheet 14, and an ink layer 14b of the ink sheet 14.
  • An ink in the ink layer portion 91 heated upon energization of the heat generating resistor 132 is melted, and a portion 92 is transferred to the recording sheet 11.
  • the transferred ink portion 92 corresponds to about 1/n of the ink layer.
  • a shearing force for an ink When an ink is transferred, a shearing force for an ink must be generated at a boundary line 93 of the ink layer 14b to transfer only the portion 92 onto the recording sheet 11.
  • the shearing force varies depending on the temperature of the ink layer, and as the temperature of the ink layer is higher, the shearing force tends to decrease.
  • the shearing force in the ink layer is increased. Therefore, the relative speed between the ink sheet 14 and the recording sheet 11 is increased, so that the ink layer to be transferred can be reliably peeled from the ink sheet 14.
  • a heat time of the thermal head 13 in the facsimile apparatus is as short as about 0.6 ms, the ink sheet 14 and the recording sheet 11 are conveyed in opposite directions, thereby increasing the relative speed between the ink sheet 14 and the recording sheet 11.
  • Fig. 17 is a sectional view of an ink sheet used in a multi-print mode of this embodiment.
  • the ink sheet is constituted by four layers.
  • a second layer is a base film serving as a support of the ink sheet 14.
  • an aromatic polyamide film or condenser paper is preferable.
  • a conventional polyester film can be used. The thicknesses of these films are decreased as much as possible in terms of printing quality, and preferably falls within the range of 3 to 8 ⁇ m in terms of a mechanical strength.
  • the third layer is an ink layer which contains an ink which can be transferred onto a recording sheet several times.
  • Major components e.g., a resin such as EVA as an adhesive, carbon black or nigrosine dye used for coloring, a carnauba wax or paraffin wax as a binding material, and the like are mixed to withstand a several times of use at an identical position.
  • a coating amount of an ink layer preferably falls within a range of 4 to 8 g/m2.
  • a sensitivity and a density can be varied depending on the coating amount, and the coating amount can be arbitrarily selected.
  • the fourth layer is a top coating layer for preventing an ink in the third layer from being transferred to a recording sheet under pressure in a non-printing portion, and comprises, e.g., a transparent wax. Thus, only the transparent fourth layer is transferred under pressure, and background contamination of a recording sheet can be prevented.
  • the first layer is a heat-resistant coating layer for protecting the base film as the second layer from heat of the thermal head 13. This layer is suitable for the multi-print mode in which a heat energy for n lines may be applied to an identical position (when black information continues), but can be selected as needed.
  • the first layer is effective for a base film formed of a polyester film having a relatively low heat resistance.
  • the ink sheet 14 is not limited to that of this embodiment.
  • the ink sheet may be constituted by a base layer and a porous ink holding layer containing an ink and formed on one side of the base layer.
  • the ink sheet may be constituted by a base film, and a heat-resistant ink layer having a microporous net-like structure and formed on the base film, the ink layer containing an ink.
  • the material of the base film may be a film formed of, e.g., polyamide, polyethylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, triacetyl cellulose, nylon, or the like, or may be paper.
  • the material of the heat-resistant coating layer includes a silicone resin, a fluoroplastic, ethrocellulose, or the like although it need not always be formed.
  • an ink sheet having a thermal sublimation ink As an example of an ink sheet having a thermal sublimation ink, the following ink sheet is known.
  • a coloring material layer containing spacer particles formed of a guanamine resin and a fluoroplastic and a dye is formed on a base formed of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, an aromatic polyamide film, or the like.
  • a heating method in a thermal transfer printer is not limited to a thermal head method using the thermal head described above, but may be an energization method or a laser transfer method.
  • This embodiment exemplifies a case wherein the thermal line head is used.
  • the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the present invention may be applied to a so-called serial thermal transfer printer.
  • the multi-print sheet has been exemplified.
  • the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the present invention may be applied to normal thermal transfer recording using a one-time ink sheet.
  • the present invention is applied to the facsimile apparatus as a thermal transfer printer.
  • the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the present invention is applicable to a wordprocessor, a typewriter, a copying machine, or the like.
  • a recording medium is not limited to a recording sheet.
  • the recording medium may comprise a fabric, a plastic sheet, or the like as long as an ink can be transferred thereon.
  • the ink sheet is not limited to a sheet roll exemplified in the above embodiment.
  • an ink sheet cassette may be employed. In this case, ink sheets may be stored in a cassette detachable to the recording apparatus main body, and the cassette is attached/detached to/from the main body.
  • the thermal head has been exemplified as a recording means.
  • an ink-jet head for injecting an ink to perform recording on a recording medium may be adopted as a recording means.
  • the ink-jet head comprises very small liquid injection ports (orifices), a liquid flow path, an energy application section arranged in a portion of the liquid flow path, and an energy generating means for generating a liquid droplet formation energy to be applied to the liquid in the energy application section.
  • an energy generating means for radiating an electromagnetic wave such as a laser beam so that a liquid absorbs the electromagnetic wave to generate heat, and liquid droplets are injected and flied by the heat generation operation, an energy generating means for heating a liquid by an electro-thermal converter to inject a liquid, and the like are known.
  • a bubble-jet head is particularly effective for performing high-resolution recording since injection ports can be arranged at a high density.
  • a drive signal for giving an abrupt temperature rise exceeding nuclear boiling is applied to an electro-thermal converter to cause it to generate a heat energy, and a heat application surface of the heat is caused to perform film boiling, thereby forming bubbles in an ink.
  • ink droplets are injected through injection ports.

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  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
EP19900113870 1989-07-19 1990-07-19 Apparat und Verfahren zum Aufzeichnen Expired - Lifetime EP0409243B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP184412/89 1989-07-19
JP18441289 1989-07-19
JP19826989 1989-07-31
JP19826889 1989-07-31
JP198269/89 1989-07-31
JP198268/89 1989-07-31
JP184345/90 1990-07-13
JP18434590A JP2848573B2 (ja) 1989-07-19 1990-07-13 記録装置及びファクシミリ装置

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EP0409243A2 true EP0409243A2 (de) 1991-01-23
EP0409243A3 EP0409243A3 (en) 1993-06-09
EP0409243B1 EP0409243B1 (de) 1998-01-14

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EP0689935A1 (de) * 1994-05-30 1996-01-03 Riso Kagaku Corporation Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Steuerung eines Thermokopfes zur Herstellung einer Originalschablone
CN1964853B (zh) * 2003-09-12 2010-12-15 Hid环球公司 倒像标识卡打印机
CN104129168A (zh) * 2009-11-02 2014-11-05 精工爱普生株式会社 热敏打印机及其通电控制方法
CN114536972A (zh) * 2020-11-26 2022-05-27 佳能株式会社 记录设备

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101670714A (zh) * 2009-09-18 2010-03-17 陈东 具有特定打印介质可多次反复使用功能的打印机

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0689935A1 (de) * 1994-05-30 1996-01-03 Riso Kagaku Corporation Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Steuerung eines Thermokopfes zur Herstellung einer Originalschablone
US5963241A (en) * 1994-05-30 1999-10-05 Riso Kagaku Corporation Thermal head control method and device for making a stencil master plate
CN1964853B (zh) * 2003-09-12 2010-12-15 Hid环球公司 倒像标识卡打印机
CN104129168A (zh) * 2009-11-02 2014-11-05 精工爱普生株式会社 热敏打印机及其通电控制方法
CN104129168B (zh) * 2009-11-02 2016-05-18 精工爱普生株式会社 热敏打印机及其通电控制方法
CN114536972A (zh) * 2020-11-26 2022-05-27 佳能株式会社 记录设备
US11718092B2 (en) 2020-11-26 2023-08-08 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Recording apparatus

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EP0409243B1 (de) 1998-01-14
EP0409243A3 (en) 1993-06-09
DE69031927T2 (de) 1998-07-09
DE69031927D1 (de) 1998-02-19

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