JP2001096840A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance print quality at a banding part to the same level as other parts. SOLUTION: A plurality of adjacent print lines 31 on a recording sheet 1 can be printed and overcoated. First print line 31, e.g. the first row, on the recording sheet 1 is overcoated such that the end part on the second print line 31 side is separated in the direction of the first print line 31 from the banding part 33 to the second print line 31, e.g. the second row, contiguous to the first print line 31 and printed later.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing on a recording medium based on image information and performing overcoating on the printing medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of image pickup devices such as digital cameras, demands for printers capable of printing image information in a photograph-like state have been increasing.
Among such printers, there is a serial printer that performs printing in line units by moving a print head in a main scanning direction with respect to a recording medium. In actual printing, printing is performed while overlapping a part of the adjacent printing lines so that no gap is generated between the printing lines of each line, and the printing is resistant to glossy scratches such as photographs. In order to finish the printing, a printing line is overcoated with a coating resin such as an acrylic resin for each printing of each line.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b), one line of a printing line 53 is printed while moving the printing head 52 in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording paper 51. Is performed, a coating resin is applied to the entirety of the printing line 53 so that the printing line 53 is
Overcoat. Next, the recording paper 51 is sent out in the sub-scanning direction so that a part of the print line 53 and a part of the next line of the print line 53 overlap with each other. And the overcoat of the coat layer 54 is performed. By repeating such a printing operation, the printing line 53 of each line is
Are overlapped to form a print image corresponding to all image information, and the entire print image is overcoated with the coat layer 54.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, after the entire printing line 53 is overcoated with the coat layer 54, printing is performed while the next printing line 53 is overlapped. The banding portion 55, which is a joint between the two, is printed on the coat layer 54. At this time, since the ink used for printing is set so as to exhibit a good printing state on the recording paper 51, it is used as printing on the coat layer 54 having different properties from the recording paper 51. In this case, an insufficient printing state occurs due to factors such as a decrease in transferability. As a result, the print quality of the banding unit 55 is lower than that of the other parts, so that when viewed as a whole print image, the banding unit 55 of each row becomes streaky and conspicuous.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a printer which can improve the print quality in the banding section to the same extent as other sections.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer capable of performing printing on a plurality of mutually adjacent areas on a recording medium and overcoating the same. First on recording medium
In the overcoat on the area, the position adjacent to the first area and the second area where printing is performed later than the first area is separated from the boundary in the direction of the first area. It is characterized in that it is performed so as to be the end on the second region side. According to the configuration, the end of the overcoat on the first region on the second region side is separated from the boundary between the first region and the second region in the direction of the first region. Therefore, even when a banding portion for printing on the first area and the second area occurs, it is possible to prevent the printing on the second area and the overcoat on the first area from overlapping. . Therefore, the print quality in the banding section is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the overcoat on the second area is:
The overcoating to the first region is performed such that a position separated in the direction of the first region from an end of the overcoat on the second region is an end on the first region side. Features. According to the above configuration, the end of the overcoat to the second region on the first region side is closer to the first region than the end of the overcoat to the first region on the second region side. The recording medium is covered by the overcoat, including the vicinity of the boundary between the first area and the second area, so that the printed image can be uniformly glossy. In addition, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being damaged.

The invention according to claim 3 is the printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after printing on the first area, overcoating is performed on the first area, and thereafter, the first area is overcoated. The printing of the second printing area and the overcoating of the second printing area are performed. According to the above configuration, after printing and overcoating on the first area, printing and overcoating on the second printing area are performed. It can be used effectively.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the printer according to the second or third aspect, which is a serial printer. According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve the print quality of a serial printer in which a plurality of lines are continuously printed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the fourth aspect, a position of an end of the overcoat to the first area on the second area side and the second area are provided. The position of the end of the overcoat on the first area side is controlled by changing the number of dots used by the print head. According to the above configuration, the position of the end of the overcoat to the first region on the second region side and the position of the end of the overcoat to the second region on the first region are: Since control is performed by changing the number of dots used by the print head, there is no need to perform complicated control such as moving the recording medium.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the fourth aspect, a position of an end portion of the overcoat on the first area on the second area side and the second area are provided. The position of the end of the overcoat on the first area side is controlled by moving the recording medium relative to a print head. According to the above configuration, the position of the end of the overcoat to the first region on the second region side and the position of the end of the overcoat to the second region on the first region are: Since the control is performed by moving the recording medium relative to the print head, it is effective when the control by changing the number of dots used by the print head cannot be performed or is difficult.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The printer according to the present embodiment is a serial printer that performs printing in line units such as one line unit and two line units, for example, as shown in FIG.
A pair of guide shafts 2 arranged in parallel with the recording paper 1.
2 and a carriage 3 movably supported by the guide shafts 2. The carriage 3 is connected to a carriage transport mechanism (not shown). The carriage transport mechanism moves the carriage drive motor 16 and the transport belt shown in FIG. 5 to move the carriage 3 forward and backward in the arrow direction Y1 (main scanning direction). Have.

On the upper surface of the carriage 3, a ribbon cassette 4 is detachably mounted. The ribbon cassette 4 includes a rectangular box 5 and an ink ribbon 6 for color printing accommodated in the box 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the ink ribbon 6 includes ink regions 6a to 6c provided with heat transferable yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) inks, and a coating resin (OK). An overcoat area 6d provided for thermal transfer is repeatedly provided in this order with a constant area length L. Incidentally, the ink ribbon 6 may be added with a black ink area as needed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the box body 5 has a concave fitting portion 5a formed on the front side facing the recording paper 1.
A pair of penetrating portions 5b, 5b penetratingly formed from the lower surface to the upper surface on the carriage 3 side at the sending side position of the ink ribbon 6, and formed on the lower surface on the rear side to indicate the type of the ribbon cassette 4. And a marker 5d in which a plurality of recesses 5c are combined. In the fitting portion 5a,
The thermal head 7 is fitted, and a pair of guide members 11a and 11b are arranged at both ends. The light-emitting element 8a and the light-receiving element 8b of the color detection sensor 8 used for detecting the end of the ink ribbon 6 and the color are fitted into the penetrating parts 5b.
An opening 5e is provided on the side wall 5b facing each other so that the detection light travels from the light emitting element 8a to the light receiving element 8b.
5e is formed. In addition, a marker detecting sensor 9 for detecting the presence or absence of each recess 5c is disposed opposite to the marker 5d. The thermal head 7, the color detection sensor 8 and the marker detection sensor 9 are provided on the carriage 3, respectively, and move forward and backward in the arrow direction Y1 (main scanning direction) together with the ribbon cassette 4.

The unused ink ribbon 6 provided in the ribbon cassette 4 is wound around a delivery reel 10a rotatably provided on the box 5. Ink ribbon 6
Is one of the guide members 1 passing between the through holes 5b.
After being bent in the direction 1a and positioned between the thermal head 7 and the recording paper 1 between the guide members 11a and 11b, the leading end is connected to the take-up reel 10b. The take-up reel 10b is connected to the reel drive motor 12 shown in FIG. 5 after penetrating the box 5 and the carriage 3, and the reel drive motor 12 controls the moving speed of the thermal head 7 (carriage 3). The ink ribbon 6 is wound around the winding reel 10b at the synchronized winding speed.

The above-mentioned thermal head 7 is pivotally supported by the carriage 3 so as to be rotatable around the upstream end of the ink ribbon 6 in the moving direction. During printing, the thermal head 7 is rotated so that the recording surface at the leading end thereof contacts the recording paper 1 as shown by a two-dot chain line in the drawing, and when the thermal head 7 returns to the printing start position, it is shown by a solid line in the drawing. Is rotated so that the recording surface is separated from the recording paper 1 as described above.
As shown in FIG. 6, on the recording surface of the thermal head 7, a large number of heating dots 7a are arranged in a line or in a staggered manner in the width direction (sub-scanning direction) of the ink ribbon 6.

Each of the heating dots 7a can be independently supplied with electric power in the form of a pulse voltage that repeats on and off from a power supply unit (not shown) provided in the thermal head 7. The power supply unit is provided with each heating dot 7
It has an output terminal capable of outputting a pulse voltage corresponding to a, and an output time setting unit for setting the output time of the pulse voltage at each output terminal based on the applied time data t0 to t63. Each of the heating dots 7a to which the pulse voltage is applied from the power supply unit generates heat with power (energy) corresponding to the application time of the pulse voltage, and melts the ink of the ink ribbon 6 by a melting amount corresponding to the heat generation amount. Let's record paper 1
Heat transfer. Therefore, for example, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
When “a” generates heat, the pixels 15 (dots) having the first dot diameter d1 are formed on the recording paper 1 as shown in FIG. 10D, whereas as shown by the dotted line in FIG. When heat is generated with the electric energy of the second supply time Q1 longer than the first supply time Q1, the amount of ink melted increases, and as shown in FIG. 10 (d), the first dot diameter d1 larger than the first dot diameter d1 is increased. A pixel 15 having a two-dot diameter d2 is formed on the recording paper 1.

The recording paper 1 on which ink is thermally transferred by the thermal head 7 is sandwiched between a driving roller 13a of a transport roller 13 and a driven roller 13b, as shown in FIG. The transport roller 13 is arranged so as not to interfere with the carriage 3 and the ribbon cassette 4 that move forward and backward. The drive roller 13a of the transport roller 13 is connected to a transport mechanism (not shown). The transport mechanism is shown in FIG.
By rotating the roll drive motor 14 forward and backward, the recording paper 1 can be sent out in the sub-scanning direction by an arbitrary amount and pulled back.

The operation of the printer having the above configuration is controlled by the control device 21 as shown in FIG. The control device 21 includes a central control device (hereinafter referred to as a CPU), a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as a ROM),
It has a built-in readable / writable memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM). The control device 21 includes a keyboard 22 as an input device, a character generator memory (CG-ROM) 23 used for displaying and printing characters and the like,
A liquid crystal display (LCD) 24 as a display device;
A motor drive circuit 25 for supplying drive power to a drive motor group 26 such as the reel drive motor 12;
And sensors 27 including a color detection sensor 8 and the like, a power supply 28 for driving a printer, and a communication unit (not shown) capable of transmitting and receiving image information to and from an image processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a digital camera. Have been.

The keyboard 22 includes an editing key 22b such as an execution key and a cancel key, in addition to a plurality of keys 22a for inputting hiragana and katakana. The keyboard 22 includes various keys 22a and 2a.
2b, a signal such as data input through the control device 21
To send and receive. The motor drive circuit 25 is a circuit for driving the drive motors 12, 14, 16 of the drive motor group 26, and moves the carriage 3 in the main scanning direction based on the motor control signal input from the control device 21. The recording paper 1 is transported by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction by the rotation of the transport roller 13, or the take-up reel 1
The ink ribbon 6 is transported by a predetermined amount by the rotation of 0b.

The sensors 27 detect the presence or absence of the ribbon cassette 4 and the type of the recording paper 1 in addition to the color detection and the end detection of the ink ribbon 6, and send the detection signal to the control device 21. Send out. The CG-ROM 23 is a character generator for generating image data at the time of displaying or printing a character or the like, and converts data representing a character or the like into image data and sends it to the control device 21. The liquid crystal display (LCD) 24 displays image information such as characters, marks, and photographs input from the keyboard 22 or an image processing device (not shown) as image data over a plurality of lines on the screen.

Various data storage areas functioning as a display buffer, a print buffer, and the like are formed in the RAM built in the control device 21. The print buffer is set so as to store at least image information of one line (one line) of the recording paper 1.
Is yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C)
In the case of having the ink areas 6a to 6c, print buffers corresponding to the respective ink areas 6a to 6c are secured. On the other hand, a drive control routine for the drive motor group 26, a display control routine for displaying image information on the liquid crystal display (LCD) 24, and a pseudo-gradation by a dither method or the like are recorded in the ROM built in the control device 21. Various programs such as a necessary pseudo gradation routine and a print control routine of FIG. 7 described later are stored.

Further, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, the overlap area W1 (see FIG. 11)
Data table in which the density data 0 to 32 of the first density data group D1 for use with the density data 0 to 63 of the second density data group D2 for the non-overlap area W2 (see FIG. 11) are stored. As shown in FIG. 10B, the density data 0 to 32.0 to 63 of the first and second density data groups D1 and D2 and the application time of the pulse voltage to each heating dot 7a are set as shown in FIG. Application time data t0 to be set
A DT data table that associates 〜t63 with ｔt63 is stored. Note that the DD data table and the DT data table do not necessarily need to be stored in the ROM, and may be stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk.

In the above configuration, the operation of the printer will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
Note that steps in the flowchart are abbreviated as S.

As shown in FIG. 5, after the power supply 28 of the printer is turned on and the control device 21 is operated, when a printing start signal is input from the keyboard 22 to the control device 21, the control device 21 reads out the first print control routine of FIG. 7 stored in the ROM and executes the one-line printing process (S1).

That is, first, as shown in FIG. 4, a detection signal from the marker detecting sensor 9 which has detected the concave portion 5c of the marker portion 5d in the ribbon cassette 4 is taken in, and the combination of the concave portions 5c is determined based on the detected signal. By recognizing the type, the type of the ribbon cassette 4 is specified (S1). As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the ribbon cassette 4 accommodates the ink ribbon 6 having the three ink regions 6a to 6c of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C). If it is determined that the printing has been performed, print buffers corresponding to the ink areas 6a to 6c are respectively secured. The CG-ROM 23 is stored in these print buffers.
And print data as image information of each color component input from the image processing apparatus for one line or more.

Next, the print buffer to be read is specified (S12), and as shown in FIG. 9, print data for the print range H1 of the thermal head 7 is read from this print buffer (S13). Note that the printing range H1 is a portion where the ink is thermally transferred to the recording paper 1 by the heating dots 7a of the thermal head 7, and the upper overlapping range Hw and the lower overlapping range Hw ′ are provided at both ends of the printing range H1. Is set. Further, in the following description, the area of the thermal head 7 where all the heating dots 7a are present is defined as the entire head range H0 (final overcoat range H3), the lower overlap range Hw 'side print range H1 to the upper overlap range. The range up to one end of the entire head range H0 on the range Hw side is referred to as an intermediate overcoat range H2.

When the print data of the print range H1 is read, it is determined whether or not the current print of one line is the print of the first line (S14).
4, YES), the heating dots 7a in the lower overlapping range Hw 'are driven to generate heat for the application time for overlap, and the heating dots 7a for the remaining printing range H1 are driven for heating in the application time for non-overlapping. I do. And FIG.
As shown in (1), the pixels 15 for one column in the first printing line 31 are formed on the recording paper 1 (S15).

That is, after the print data for the print range H1 is divided into print data for the lower overlap range Hw 'and print data for the non-overlap range excluding this range Hw', FIG. As shown in a), for print data in the lower overlap range Hw ', density data 0 to 32 corresponding to each print data are obtained from the first density data group D1 in the DD data table. On the other hand, for print data in the non-overlapping range, density data 0 to 63 corresponding to each print data is obtained from the second density data group D2 in the DD data table. After this, FIG.
As shown in (b), the application time data t0 to t63 corresponding to the density data 0 to 63 are obtained from the DT data table, and each of the application time data t0 to t63 is obtained.
Output to

Next, as shown in FIG. 10C, the thermal head 7 applies a pulse voltage to each heating dot 7a within the printing range H1 for an application time according to the application time data t0 to t63. As a result, each heating dot 7a generates heat with an amount of power corresponding to each application time to melt the ink, and as shown in FIG. 10D, pixels 15 (dots) having different dot diameters become recording paper. 1 is formed. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Dot diameter D6 formed in the non-overlap area W2
Even if the print data is the same as the pixel 15 of D7, in the lower overlap area W1 ', a pixel 15 of a small dot diameter D4 is formed based on the density data 0 to 32 of the first density data group D1. Will be done.

On the other hand, if the printing of the current printing line 31 is not the printing of the first line (S14, NO), it is determined whether or not the current printing is the last line (S16). If it is not the last line (S16, NO), as shown in FIG. 9, the heating dots 7a in the upper overlapping range Hw and the lower overlapping range Hw 'are driven to generate heat with the application time for overlap, and the remaining. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating dots 7a in the printing range H1 are driven by the non-overlapping application time to generate the pixels 15 of one column in the printing line 31 of the intermediate line such as the second line. Recording paper 1
(S17). On the other hand, if it is the last line (S16, YES), as shown in FIG. 9, the heating dots 7a in the upper overlapping range Hw are driven to generate heat with the application time for the overlap, and the remaining printing range H1 is driven. By driving the heating dots 7a to generate heat for the non-overlapping application time, as shown in FIG. 3, the pixels 15 for one column in the last printing line 31 are formed on the recording paper 1 (S18).

By executing the steps S15, S17 and S18 as described above, when the thermal head 7 forms one row of pixels 15 in the printing range H1 on the recording paper 1, for example, as shown in FIG. It is determined whether printing of the minute has been completed (S19). If printing for one line has not been completed (S19, NO), the process is re-executed from S13, the print data for the next print range H1 is read from the print buffer to be read, and the thermal head 7 is moved in the main scanning direction. At the same time, the ink ribbon 6 is synchronized with this movement.
To form pixels 15 for the next column at a position separated by a predetermined pitch.

By repeating such an operation, pixels 15 for one column are formed in order at a predetermined pitch, and when printing for one line is completed (S1
9, YES), the thermal head 7 is returned to the printing start position, and it is determined whether or not printing of all the print buffers corresponding to the ink areas 6a to 6c has been completed (S).
20). If the printing of all the print buffers has not been completed (S20, NO), S12 is executed again, the next print buffer to be read is specified, and printing in this print buffer is performed. On the other hand, when printing of all the print buffers is completed (S20, YES), one line of three color pixels of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is superimposed. Since the printing line 31 has been completed,
After ending this routine, the process returns to the first print control routine of FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not the printing line 31 printed by the one-line printing process is the last line printing (S
2). If the print line 31 is not the last print line (S2,
NO), an intermediate overcoat process is performed. That is, after confirming that the ink ribbon 6 is in the overcoat area 6d, as shown in FIG. 9, the thermal head 7 is moved in the main scanning direction while heating the heating dots 7a in the intermediate overcoat range H2 of the thermal head 7. Move to
At this time, the intermediate overcoat range H2 is set to a region from the printing range H1 near the lower overlapping range Hw 'to one end of the entire head range H0 on the upper overlapping range Hw side. Thus, when the heating dots 7a in the intermediate overcoat range H2 are heated to melt the coating resin, as shown in FIG.
The portion excluding the lower overlap region W1'1 and a part of the non-overlap region W2 is covered with the coat layer 32 in the intermediate overcoat range H2 (S3).

Thereafter, the recording paper 1 is transported in the sub-scanning direction,
The lower overlap area W1 'of the current print line 31
And the upper overlap area W1 of the next print line 31 are set so as to overlap (S4). Then, the process is re-executed from S1 to print one line of the next line and perform the above-described intermediate overcoat process. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the lower overlap area W1 'of one of the print lines 31 to be printed first is located between the adjacent print lines 31 as in the relationship between the first and second rows. The banding portion 33 in which the upper overlap area W1 of the other print line 31 to be printed later overlaps with the other print line 31 after the pixels 15 of both overlap areas W1 ′ and W1 are directly formed on the recording paper 1. Of the print line 31 is covered with the coat layer 32 by the intermediate overcoat process.

Accordingly, the transferability is deteriorated as in the conventional case where the pixels 15 of the other printing line 31 to be printed later are formed on the coat layer 32 of the one printing line 31 to be printed first. There is no problem caused by the above.
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the banding unit 33 includes a pixel 1 having a smaller dot diameter than the non-overlap area W2.
Therefore, even if the number of pixels per unit area is larger than that of the non-overlapping region W2, the density difference does not stand out when viewed as an entire image. As a result, the print quality in the banding unit 33 is improved to the same extent as the other parts.

Thereafter, by repeatedly executing the one-line printing process and the intermediate overcoating process, the printing lines 31 of each line are sequentially formed while being covered with the printing lines 31, and as shown in FIG. Is completed on the last line (S2, YES), a final overcoat process is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, by moving the thermal head 7 in the main scanning direction while generating the heat-generating dots 7 a in the final overcoat range H3 (the entire head range H0) in the thermal head 7, the entire print line 31 is formed. Is coated with a coat layer 32 (S5). Then, in this way, a printed image in a finished state in which only the surface of each printing line 31 from the first line to the last line is covered with the coating layer 32 is obtained.

As described above, the printer of this embodiment is
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, printing on a plurality of printing lines 31 (areas) adjacent to each other on the recording paper 1 (recording medium) and overcoating thereof can be performed. Overcoating the first printing line 31 such as the first line on the paper 1 is performed by the first printing line 3
1 and a position adjacent to this and separated from the banding portion 33 (boundary) of the second printing line 31 such as the second line on which printing is performed later in the direction of the first printing line 31. Is made to be the end on the second print line 31 side.

Thus, the end of the overcoat on the first printing line 31 on the side of the second printing line 31 is
The first printing line 31 and the second printing line 31 are located at positions separated from the banding portion 33 of the first printing line 31 and the second printing line 31 in the direction of the first printing line 31.
Even when the banding section 33 for printing on the printing line 31 of the first printing line occurs, the printing on the second printing line 31 and the first
And the overcoat on the printing line 31 can be prevented from overlapping. As a result, the banding unit 33
Can be improved to the same extent as the other portions, so that when viewed as a whole print image, the banding portion 33 of each row does not have a streak-like shape and does not stand out.

In this embodiment, the recording paper 1 is exemplified as a recording medium, but a resin film or the like can be applied as the recording medium. In the present embodiment, a case is described in which the present invention is applied to a thermal transfer type printer using the thermal head 7 and the ink ribbon 6, but the present invention is applied to an ink jet type printer which performs printing by ejecting ink droplets. You can also. Further, in the present embodiment, a case is described in which the present invention is applied to a serial printer that continuously prints a plurality of lines while moving the thermal head 7 forward and backward in the main scanning direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the banding section 33 exists, a print head such as a thermal head or an inkjet head having a print width of one line
It is also possible to apply the present invention to a line printer that is arranged in the width direction and performs printing while conveying the recording paper 1.

In the present embodiment, the overcoating on the second printing line 31 is performed on the first printing line 31.
The position of the overcoat to the first print line 31 away from the end on the second print line 31 side is the first position.
Of the print line 31 area side. Thereby, the end of the overcoat on the second print line 31 on the first print line 31 side is
Since the overcoat on the first print line 31 is located at a position separated from the end of the overcoat on the second print line 31 side in the direction of the first print line 31, the recording paper 1 is separated from the first print line 31. The overcoat including the vicinity of the boundary with the second print line 31 is covered with the overcoat, so that the printed image can be made evenly glossy, and thus the recording medium can be prevented from being damaged. .

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the position of the end of the overcoat on the first print line 31 on the side of the second print line 31 and the position of the second print line 31 First printing line 3 for overcoating
A configuration in which the position of the end on the first side is controlled by changing the number of dots used (the number of heat generating dots 7a existing in the print range H1, the intermediate overcoat range L2, and the final overcoat range L3) of the thermal head 7. Has been. Thereby, the position of the end of the overcoat on the first printing line 31 on the side of the second printing line 31, and
Since the position of the end portion of the overcoat on the second printing line 31 on the first printing line 31 side is controlled by changing the number of dots used by the thermal head 7, the recording paper 1 is moved. There is no need to perform complicated control.

However, the printer has a first printing line 31
The position of the end of the overcoat on the second print line 31 side and the position of the end of the overcoat on the second print line 31 on the first print line 31 are the recording paper 1.
May be controlled by relatively moving the print head relative to the thermal head 7, and in this case as well, the finished state of the printed image is the same as when printing is performed while changing the number of dots used. This is particularly effective when control by changing the number of dots used by the thermal head 7 is impossible or difficult.

The operation of the above printer will be specifically described. The configuration such as the arrangement of each component is the same as the configuration for changing the number of dots used by the thermal head 7, except that the second print control routine in FIG. 12 can be executed. The description is omitted. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the control device 21 reads the second print control routine of FIG. Then, the printing of the print line 31 by the one-line printing process is performed by executing the one-line printing process routine of FIG. 8 (S31).
In executing the one-line print processing routine, it is assumed that the print range H1 is the same as the entire head range H0. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, one print line 31 (first line) formed in a print range H1 (entire head range H0) in which pixels of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are superimposed. 14), the recording paper 1 is pulled back so that the end of the upper overlap area W1 of the next print line 31 is located within the non-overlap area W2 of the current print line 31, as shown in FIG. (S
32).

Thereafter, an intermediate overcoating process is performed, and the thermal head 7 is moved in the main scanning direction while causing the heating dots 7a of all the head areas L0 to generate heat. A portion excluding W1 ′ and a part of the non-overlapping region W2 is covered with the coat layer 32 (S33).

Next, it is determined whether or not the current print line 31 is the last line (S34). If it is not the last print line 31, as shown in FIG. 15, (S34, N
O), the recording paper 1 is fed in the sub-scanning direction so that the lower overlap area W1 'of the current print line 31 and the upper overlap area W1 of the next print line 31 match (S35). Then, the process is re-executed from S31 to form the next print line 31, and then, as shown in FIG. 16, the coat layer 32 is formed by the intermediate overcoat process.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17, when the print line 31 is the last line (S34, YES), the non-overlap region W2 near the lower overlap region W1 'of the last line print line 31 is selected. The recording paper 1 is sent out so that the end of the entire head range H0 of the thermal head 7 is located within (S32). Then, after confirming that the ink ribbon 6 is in the overcoat area 6d, as shown in FIG. 18, heat generation within the range covering the lower overlap area W1 'from the end of the entire head area H0 of the thermal head 7 is performed. By moving the thermal head 7 in the main scanning direction while causing the dots 7a to generate heat, the lower overlap area W1 'of the last row is overcoated (S37).

In the above embodiment, the case where overcoating is performed over the entirety of the first and last printing lines 31 has been described. However, the overcoating is performed at both ends of the first and last printing images. When the printer is configured to cut the print line 31, it is sufficient that only the border (banding section 33) of each line is overcoated.

[0049]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer capable of performing printing on a plurality of areas adjacent to each other on a recording medium and performing overcoating thereof, wherein the overcoating is performed on the first area on the recording medium. Is a position adjacent to the first area and adjacent to the second area where printing is to be performed later, and is separated in the direction of the first area from the boundary of the second area. This is a configuration that is performed so as to be the end of the above. According to the configuration, the end of the overcoat on the first region on the second region side is separated from the boundary between the first region and the second region in the direction of the first region. Therefore, even when a banding portion for printing on the first area and the second area occurs, it is possible to prevent the printing on the second area and the overcoat on the first area from overlapping. . Therefore, there is an effect that the print quality in the banding section is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the overcoat on the second area is:
The overcoating for the first region is performed such that a position separated in the direction of the first region from an end of the overcoat on the second region is an end on the first region side. is there. According to the above configuration, the end of the overcoat to the second region on the first region side is closer to the first region than the end of the overcoat to the first region on the second region side. The recording medium is covered by the overcoat, including the vicinity of the boundary between the first area and the second area, so that the printed image can be uniformly glossy. This has the effect of preventing the recording medium from being damaged.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first or second aspect, after printing on the first area, overcoating is performed on the first area, and thereafter, the first area is overcoated. In this configuration, printing on the second print area and overcoating on the second area are performed. According to the above configuration, after printing and overcoating on the first area, printing and overcoating on the second printing area are performed. The effect that it can be exhibited effectively is produced.

The invention according to claim 4 is the printer according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the printer is a serial printer. According to the above configuration, it is possible to improve the print quality of a serial printer in which a plurality of lines are continuously printed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the fourth aspect, a position of an end of the overcoat on the first area on the second area side and the second area are provided. The position of the end portion of the overcoat on the first area side is controlled by changing the number of dots used by the print head. According to the above configuration, the position of the end of the overcoat to the first region on the second region side and the position of the end of the overcoat to the second region on the first region are: Since the control is performed by changing the number of dots used by the print head, there is an effect that there is no need to perform complicated control such as moving the recording medium.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the fourth aspect, a position of an end of the overcoat on the first area on the second area side and the second area are provided. The position of the end of the overcoat on the first area side is controlled by moving the recording medium relative to a print head. According to the above configuration, the position of the end of the overcoat to the first region on the second region side and the position of the end of the overcoat to the second region on the first region are: Since the control is performed by moving the recording medium relative to the print head, the present invention is effective when control by changing the number of dots used by the print head cannot be performed or is difficult. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a first print line is printed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a second print line is printed.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a last print line is printed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an ink ribbon is sent out from a ribbon cassette and printing is performed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a printer centering on a control device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an ink ribbon and a thermal head.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a first print control routine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a one-line print processing routine.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing each range of the thermal head.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory diagrams showing states of respective parts in a process of forming a pixel, wherein FIG. 10A shows a state of a DD data table;
(B) shows the state of the DT data table, (c) shows the state of the pulse voltage, and (d) shows the state of the pixel.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing states of pixels in an overlap area and a non-overlap area.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a second print control routine.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a first print line is printed.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an overcoat is applied to a first print line.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a second print line is printed.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a second print line is overcoated.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the last print line is printed.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an overcoat is applied to the last print line.

FIG. 19 shows a conventional example, and is an explanatory view showing a state in which a print line is overcoated.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 recording paper 2 guide shaft 3 carriage 4 ribbon cassette 5 box 6 ink ribbon 7 thermal head 9 marker detection sensor 12 reel drive motor 13 transport roller 14 roll drive motor 15 pixel 16 carriage drive motor 31 print line 32 coat layer 33 banding Department

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AQ04 AQ05 AS11 BB19 CK02 2C065 AA01 AA02 AC04 AE04 DA08 DA23 2C066 AA05 AB07 AC05 AD01 CD05 CD07 CD12 CD14 CD21 CD23

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printer capable of printing and overcoating a plurality of mutually adjacent areas on a recording medium, wherein the overcoating on a first area on the recording medium is performed on the first area. And a position adjacent to and adjacent to the second region on which printing is performed later and separated from the boundary in the direction of the first region by the end of the second region. A printer characterized by being performed. 2. The overcoat on the second region,
The overcoating to the first region is performed such that a position separated in the direction of the first region from an end of the overcoat on the second region is an end on the first region side. The printer according to claim 1, wherein: 3. After printing on the first area, overcoating on the first area is performed, and then printing on the second printing area and overcoating on the second area are performed. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printing is performed. 4. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the printer is a serial printer. 5. A position of an end of the overcoat on the first region on the second region side and a position of an end of the overcoat on the second region on the first region side. 5. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the printer is controlled by changing the number of dots used by the print head. 6. A position of an end of the overcoat on the first region on the second region side and a position of an end of the overcoat on the second region on the first region side. Is controlled by moving the recording medium relative to a print head.
Printer according to.