JP2002086775A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a thermal printer using a thermal sheet developing two colors of red and black depending on the applying thermal energy in which vertical relation of print colors can be set easily. SOLUTION: The thermal printer equipped with a thermal head developing different colors in a thermal sheet depending on the thermal energy being applied to the head comprises a section 2 for setting a color order signal indicative of the priority of print colors, a main control section 1 outputting the print data of each print color, a data control section 3 generating a print color overlap detection signal based on the print data, and a conduction pulse control section 5 for controlling the conduction pulse of print data for each color being fed to the thermal head 6 based on the color order signal and the overlap detection signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal printing apparatus, and more particularly to a thermal printing apparatus using thermal paper which develops two or more colors due to a difference in applied thermal energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As thermal paper which develops into two or more colors due to the difference in applied thermal energy, for example, thermal paper which develops into two colors of red and black or blue and black is commercially available. When printing is performed by supplying independent print data for each color using such a thermal paper, the part where the printing of multiple colors overlaps will be a mixed color of multiple colors or a color that develops with the highest thermal energy. Color develops.

[0003]

In the above prior art,
For example, due to the difference in applied heat energy, two colors of red and black
When printing using thermal paper that develops a color, black is printed on red (for example, black characters are printed on a red ground pattern), and red is printed on black ( For example,
In the case of printing a red stamp on a black character), it is necessary to supply print data to the print head in consideration of the upper and lower print colors, which complicates the print data generation process. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a thermal printing apparatus capable of easily setting the upper and lower relations of printing colors.

[0004]

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.

A color order setting unit for setting a color order signal indicating a priority order of printing colors in a thermal printing apparatus provided with thermal heads for coloring thermal paper in different colors depending on the amount of thermal energy applied to the head. A main control unit that outputs print data for each print color, a data control unit that generates an overlap detection signal indicating overlap of print colors based on the print data, and an energization pulse control unit. The unit controls a power supply pulse of print data for each color to be supplied to the thermal head based on the color order signal and the overlap detection signal.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a thermal printing apparatus according to the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit which outputs dot print data (PDR, PDBU, PDBK) of each print color of red, blue, and black;
2 is 2 out of each printing color of red, blue and black as shown in FIG.
A color order setting unit for presetting color order signals (S0, S1, S2) representing the order of colors to be printed with priority when colors or more overlap, and 3 for printing three colors of red, blue and black Data is converted from parallel to serial and serial output (SDR,
SBU, SDBK), and at the same time, detects the duplication of the print data of each color and outputs the duplication detection output (E0, E1, E
A data control unit for generating 2), an energization pulse control unit for generating energization pulses (P61, P62, P63) for driving the thermal head 6 based on the outputs of the data control unit 3 and the color order setting unit 2, 6 denotes transistors 61a and 61
b, 61c via the heating resistors 62a, 62b, 62c
Is a thermal head that supplies a current to the thermal paper and supplies thermal energy of the heating resistor to the thermal paper.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a pulse control unit for generating three basic conduction pulses (P0, P1, P2) of red, blue, and black; 51, an overlap detection output (E0, E1, E2) and a color order signal (S0, S1, S2), the basic energizing pulse (P0,
P1, P2) and select the energizing pulse (PR, PBU,
PBK), 52 is a selection energizing pulse (PR, PBU, PBK) and a serial output (SD
R, SBU, SDBK) are drive units that generate energizing pulses (P61, P62, P63) for driving the thermal head 6.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the color order signals (S0, S1, S2). As shown in the figure, when the highest priority printing color of dots to be printed is “red” and the second priority printing color is “blue”, the color order signals (S0, S1, S2) are set to (0, 0,
Set to 0).

FIG. 4 shows an overlap detection output signal (E0, E1, E
FIG. As shown in the figure, when the printing color in which the duplication is detected is “red and blue two colors”, the duplication detection output (E
(0, 0, 1) is generated as (0, E1, E2).

Next, the operation of the thermal printing apparatus shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When the main controller 1 receives the print start instruction signal, the main controller 1 prints dot print data (PD) for each of the red, blue, and black print colors.
R, PDBU, PDBK) and the transfer pulse C0 are output (step 1). The color order setting unit 2 outputs a preset color order signal (S0, S1, S2) (step 2). The pulse controller 50 receives the transfer pulse C0 received from the main controller 1 as a start instruction, and supplies heat energy sufficient to cause the thermal paper to develop into red, blue, and black to each of the heating resistors of the thermal head 6. Basic pulse, that is, red energizing basic pulse P0, blue energizing basic pulse P
1 and a black energization basic pulse P2 are generated (step 3). The data control unit 3 receives print data (PDR, PDBU, PDBK) and a transfer pulse C0 from the main control unit 1.
Is received, the print data (P) is synchronized with the transfer pulse C0.
DR, PDBU, PDBK) from parallel to serial, and print data (SDR, SBU, SD) of serial output
BK) (steps 4 to 6). Further, based on the logical product of the print data (PDR, PDBU, PDBK) of each color, an overlap detection output signal (E0, E1, E2) representing the overlap of the dot print data of each color is generated (Steps 7 to 8).

The selector section 51 obtains, for example, information on print colors (two colors of red and blue) shown in FIG. 4 based on the duplication detection output signals (E0, E1, E2) received from the data control section 3, The color order signal (S0, S
The highest priority printing color information (the highest priority color is “red”) is obtained based on (1, S2) (step 9). Next, based on these information, when the printing colors overlap, the energizing basic pulses (P0, P1, P2) corresponding to the overlapping dot portion are invalidated to generate the selective energizing pulses (PR, PBU, PBK). (Steps 10 and 11).

For example, the duplicate detection output signals (E0, E1,
E2) is (0, 0, 1) and the color order signals (S0, S1, S
When 2) is (0, 0, 1), the dot printing colors are two colors, red and blue, and the priority order can be identified as “red”>“black”> “blue”, so the priority printing color is “red”. judge. Therefore, the “blue” energization basic pulse is cut, and “red” and “black” energization pulses are selectively output. When the overlap detection output signal (E0, E1, E2) is (0, 0, 0), the color of the print data can be identified as a single color. Therefore, in this case, the selected energizing pulses (PR, PBU, PBK) are not changed without invalidating the basic energizing pulses (P0, P1, P2).
Output as

The drive unit 52 receives the serial output print data (SDR, SBU, SDB) received from the data control unit 3.
K) is subjected to serial / parallel conversion, and the converted parallel signals are aligned for one line and latched (steps 12 and 13). Next, the latched signal and the selector 5
1 selected energizing pulse (PR, PBU, PB
K) Calculate the logical product of the signals for each color. Next, the logical sum of each color is calculated, and the calculation result is indicated by the energizing pulses (P61, P6).
(2, P63) to the thermal head 6 to execute printing (steps 14 to 17).

FIG. 7 shows a color order signal (S0, S1, S2).
Is (0,0,0) (the highest priority printing color is "red",
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation waveform when the priority printing color is “blue”. In the figure, (a) is a transfer pulse C0, (b) is red print data SDR, (c) is blue print data SDBU,
(D) shows the black print data SDBK, (e) shows the basic energizing pulse cut by the selector section, and (f) shows the developed color of the thermal paper.

For example, in the period t1, the print data is only the black print data SDBK. At this time, the duplication detection output signal is (0, 0, 0) representing a single color, and the selector unit does not invalidate the basic energizing pulses (P0, P1, P2), and directly selects the energizing pulses (PR, PBU, PBU, PBU).
PBK). Therefore, the thermal paper develops “black”. In the period t2, the print data is the blue print data SDBU and the black print data SDBK.
At this time, the overlap detection output signal is (0, 1, 1) indicating the overlap of blue and black, and the selector unit selects the energization pulses (PR, PBU) in which the black of the energization basic pulse (P0, P1, P2) is invalidated. , PBK). Therefore, the thermal paper develops a "blue" color. In the period t3, the print data includes the red print data SDR and the black print data SD.
BK. At this time, the overlap detection output signal is (0, 1, 0) indicating the overlap of red and black, and the selector unit selects the energization basic pulses (P0, P1, P2) with the selection energization pulses (PR, PBU) in which the black color is invalidated. , PBK).
Therefore, the thermal paper develops a "red" color. In the period t4, the print data is the red print data SDR, the blue print data SDBU, and the black print data SDBK. At this time, the duplication detection output signal is (1, 0, 0) representing the duplication of red, blue and black, and the selector section is a selective energizing pulse in which the black and blue of the basic energizing pulses (P0, P1, P2) are invalidated. (PR, PBU, PBK). Therefore, the thermal paper develops a "red" color. That is,
The selector section supplies the basic energizing pulse (P
0, P1, P2) are output as selection energizing pulses (PR, PBU, PBK) in which the designated color is invalidated.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a print result. The color order signal (S0, S1, S2) in the above example is (0,
(0,0) (when the highest priority printing color is “red” and the second priority printing color is “blue”), the priority order is “red”>“blue”>
Printing is performed in the order of “black”.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a thermal printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, print data (SDR, SBU, SDBK) is input to the sector portion 51a instead of the basic energizing pulses (P0, P1, P2). The drive unit 52a also has print data (SDR, SB
U, SDBK) instead of the basic energizing pulses (P0, P1,
P2) is input. In the drawing, the same portions as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the thermal printing apparatus shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

Upon receiving the print start instruction signal, the main controller 1 prints dot print data (PD) for each of the red, blue, and black print colors.
R, PDBU, PDBK) and the transfer pulse C0 are output (step 1). The color order setting unit 2 outputs a preset color order signal (S0, S1, S2) (step 2). The pulse controller 50 receives the transfer pulse C0 received from the main controller 1 as a start instruction, and supplies heat energy sufficient to cause the thermal paper to develop into red, blue, and black to each of the heating resistors of the thermal head 6. Basic pulse, that is, red energizing basic pulse P0, blue energizing basic pulse P
1 and a black energization basic pulse P2 are generated (step 3). The data control unit 3 receives print data (PDR, PDBU, PDBK) and a transfer pulse C0 from the main control unit 1.
Is received, the print data (P) is synchronized with the transfer pulse C0.
DR, PDBU, PDBK) are converted from parallel to serial, and print data (PDR, PDBU, PD
BK). (Steps 4 to 6).
Overlap detection output signals (E0, E1, E2) representing the overlap of the serial print data (SDR, SBU, SDBK) obtained by the parallel-serial conversion and the dot print data of each color generated based on the result of the logical product operation. Is output (step 7).

The selector unit 51a acquires, for example, information on the printing colors (two colors of red and blue) shown in FIG. 4 based on the duplication detection output signals (E0, E1, E2) received from the data control unit 3, The color order signal (S0, S
Based on (1, S2), the highest priority print color information (the highest priority color is "red") is obtained (step 8). Next, based on these information, if the printing colors overlap, the printing data (SDR, SDBU, SDBK) corresponding to the overlapping dot portion
Invalidate and select print data (PR, PBU, PBK)
Is generated (steps 9 and 10). The selected print data (PR, PBU, PBK) of the serial output received from the drive section 52a selector section 51a is subjected to serial / parallel conversion, and the converted parallel signals are aligned and latched for one line (steps 11 and 12). Next, the logical product of the latched signal and the selection energizing pulse (P0, P1, P2) signal received from the pulse controller 50 is calculated for each color. Next, the logical sum of each color is calculated, and the calculation result is supplied to the thermal head 6 as a conduction pulse (P61, P62, P63) to execute printing (steps 13 to 1).
6).

The thermal printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a first
As in the case of the thermal printing apparatus according to the embodiment, the selector section supplies the basic energizing pulse (P0, P0,
Instead of outputting the selection energizing pulses (PR, PBU, PBK) that invalidate the designated color of P1, P2), the color order signals (S0, S1, S2) and the overlap detection output signals (E0, E1, E2) ) Based on the print data (SDR,
The print data (PR, PBU, PBK) in which the overlapping portion of SBU, SDBK) is invalidated is sent to the drive unit 52a.
The drive unit 52a drives the thermal head based on the basic energization pulses (P0, P1, P2) and the print data (PR, PBU, PBK).

The thermal head 6 can incorporate selector units 51 and 51a and drive units 52 and 52a. Further, a data control unit 3 can be incorporated. As described above, by incorporating the selector unit, the driving unit, or the data control unit in the thermal head unit, the apparatus can be reduced in size at low cost.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an application example of the thermal printing apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is an input unit for inputting a color order setting signal for setting a color order, 20 is a display unit for displaying the input color order, 30 is an interface, and 200 is a higher-level device. The host device 200 has an interface 30
, A color order setting signal can be input. The color order setting unit 2 can set the color order based on the input color order setting signal.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, the upper and lower relations of the printing colors can be easily set, and the print content can be provided with expandability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a thermal printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining overlapping of printing colors.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a color order signal.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overlap detection output signal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the thermal printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the thermal printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing operation waveforms of the thermal printing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a printing result.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a thermal printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the thermal printing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the thermal printing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an application example of a thermal printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part 2 Color order setting part 3 Data control part 5 Energization pulse control part 6 Thermal head 10 Input part 20 Display part 30 Interface 50 Pulse control part 51, 51a Selector part 52, 52a Drive part 100 Thermal printing device 200 Host device 61a, 61b, 61c Transistor 62a, 62b, 62c Heating resistor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A color order setting for setting a color order signal indicating a priority order of a printing color in a thermal printing apparatus provided with a thermal head for coloring thermal paper in different colors depending on the amount of thermal energy applied to the head. A main control unit that outputs print data for each print color; a data control unit that generates an overlap detection signal indicating overlap of print colors based on the print data; and the color rank signal and the overlap detection signal A thermal printing apparatus comprising an energizing pulse control unit for controlling an energizing pulse of print data for each color to be supplied to the thermal head based on the information. 2. The printing head according to claim 1, wherein the print head includes a heating unit for each print dot, and the energizing pulse control unit supplies the heating unit to each heating unit based on the color order signal and the color overlap signal. A selector unit that generates a signal representing an energizing pulse to be provided, and a driving unit that supplies an energizing pulse to a heating unit for each print dot based on the signal representing the energizing pulse and a signal representing print data. Characteristic thermal printing device. 3. The printing head according to claim 1, wherein the print head includes a heat generating unit for each print dot, and the energizing pulse control unit performs a control based on the color order signal, the color overlap signal, and a signal representing print data. A selector section for generating a color print signal,
And a drive unit for supplying an energizing pulse to the heat generating unit for each print dot based on the color printing signal and a signal indicating an energizing pulse to be supplied to each of the heat generating units.