JP2002086778A - Recording control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a good record of an image by removing a black line and a white line resulting from the line feed error of a sheet. SOLUTION: Sheet feed correction information 11 is determined by measuring the sheet feed variation information previously through a sheet feed mechanism 16. When recording operation is started, the sheet feed mechanism 16 is located at an initial position and the correction information 11 is judged at the time of recording. Record data 12 is then corrected based on correction processing information matching the correction information 11 and recording is performed by controlling conduction of heating elements 14 based on recording data 12 subjected to correction processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording control method, and more particularly to a recording control method capable of obtaining a good image by removing a black line or a white line caused by an error in the amount of paper fed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a recording head and an ink ribbon coated with a desired ink are supported in front of a platen, and a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements as a recording head are arranged and arranged. While moving along the platen together with the carriage, the heating elements arranged on the thermal head are selectively heated based on the recording data to transfer the ink of the ink ribbon, thereby forming desired characters and the like on paper. 2. Description of the Related Art Thermal transfer printers for recording images are frequently used as output devices such as computers and word processors for reasons such as high print quality, low noise, low cost, and ease of maintenance.

When the recording of one line is completed, the thermal transfer printer feeds the sheet by one line by the paper feed mechanism, feeds the line, and then records the next line.

However, in such a thermal transfer printer, when an error occurs in the amount of paper fed by a paper feed mechanism when printing on paper, there has been a problem in printing at a boundary portion before and after a line feed. That is, when the paper feed amount is smaller than the set line feed amount reference value, a black line, which is a line of dark horizontal stripes generated when ink overlaps as shown in FIG. When the value is larger than the reference value, a white line which is a line of a gap generated when the image is not recorded as shown in FIG. 8 is conspicuous, so that a good image cannot be recorded.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem caused by an error in the amount of paper transported, the accuracy of the paper transport mechanism has been improved. For example, a paper feed detection roller is provided so as to be in contact with a part of the paper, and a paper feed amount of the paper is detected by detecting a detected portion that rotates coaxially with the detection roller,
A paper feed motor that controls the amount of paper sent,
There is a method in which a correction value for the number of steps of the paper feed motor is obtained in advance, and the paper feed motor is drive-controlled based on the correction value for the number of steps to control the amount of paper to be fed.

[0006]

However, as described above, in the conventional thermal transfer printer, the amount of line feed largely depends on the mechanical processing accuracy of the paper feed mechanism. There is a limit to always maintaining the required predetermined paper feed amount. Therefore, it is difficult to remove a black line or a white line that occurs at a boundary portion before and after a line feed when obtaining a record only by improving the processing accuracy of the paper feeding mechanism, and therefore, it is possible to obtain a good image record. Had the problem of not being able to.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of these points, and by correcting the error of the paper feed amount by controlling the energization of the heating element to remove the black line and the white line, it is possible to obtain a good image. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording control method capable of obtaining an image recording.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a recording control method according to the present invention obtains correction information of a paper feed amount by measuring variation information of the paper feed amount by a paper feed mechanism in advance. At the start of recording based on the recording data, the paper feeding mechanism is arranged at an initial position, the recording apparatus determines the correction information at the time of recording, performs correction processing of the recording data based on the correction processing information that matches the correction information, and performs the correction. The recording is performed by controlling the energization of the heating elements based on the processed recording data.

According to the recording control method of the present invention,
The paper feed amount variation information is obtained in advance as correction information, and the paper feed amount error is corrected by controlling the power supply to the heating element using the recording data that has been subjected to the correction processing based on the correction information. Therefore, it is possible to remove a white line, a black line, and the like generated in the recording of the boundary portion before and after the line feed.

[0010] Another recording control method according to the present invention includes:
The paper feed amount variation information is measured for each line to determine paper feed amount correction information, the correction information is determined for each line, and recording data correction processing is performed based on the correction information. It is characterized by.

According to another recording control method of the present invention, by performing an appropriate correction process for each line, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that occurs in the recording of the boundary portion before and after the line feed for each line.

Further, in another recording control method according to the present invention, in the correction processing, a standard energized dot range is set by leaving an upper few dots behind all the dots of the heating element, and the correction information is fed. If the amount is larger than the reference value, a correction process is performed so that power is supplied to a predetermined dot located in a portion that fills a gap among the remaining upper dots. If the number is smaller than the value, the correction process is performed so that the predetermined dots located in the overlapping portion of the standard energized dot range are not energized, and the paper feed amount of the correction information matches the reference value. In this case, the correction process is performed so that power is supplied within the range of the standard power supply dot.

According to the another recording control method of the present invention, even when the paper feed amount is larger than the reference value, a predetermined dot is added to a gap between borders before and after a line feed. Thereby, the white line can be made inconspicuous. Further, even when the paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value, the black line can be made inconspicuous by thinning out predetermined dots in the overlapping portion of the boundary before and after the line feed.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer printer used in the present embodiment includes at least a print data processing unit 1, a line feed position determining unit 2, a correction information determining unit 3,
A control unit 9 including a recording data correction processing unit 4, a power supply control unit 6, a drive control unit 7, and the like is provided. The control unit 9 is provided with a memory 10 formed of a ROM, a RAM or the like having an appropriate capacity. The memory 10 is information necessary for the correction information determination unit 3 to determine the correction information 11. Correction information 11 indicating whether the sheet feed amount is larger, smaller, or equal to the reference value is stored. Further, the memory 10 needs to correct the recording data 12 in the recording data correction processing unit 4.
If the paper feed amount is larger than the reference value, information that fills the gap that is not recorded before and after the line feed. If the paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value, the information before and after the line feed Recording data correction processing information 13 is stored as information for thinning out the overlapping dots, and information for energizing within the standard energizing range when the paper feed amount is equal to the reference value.

Here, the recording data processing unit 1 inputs the recording data 12 and outputs the recording data 12 to the line feed position determining unit 2.
Further, a process of inputting the recording data 12 on which the correction process has been performed and outputting the data to the energization control unit 6 and the drive control unit 7 is performed. The line feed position determining unit 2 determines a line feed position based on the recording data 12 input from the recording data processing unit 1. The correction information judging section 3 is configured to record the recording data 1 input from the line feed position judging section 2.
2 and the memory 10 based on the information of the line feed position.
, The correction information 11 is extracted, and the correction information 11 is determined. The recording data processing unit 1 extracts the recording data correction processing information 13 from the memory 10 based on the correction information 11 input from the correction information determination unit 3 and the line feed position and the recording data 12, and
Is performed. The energization control unit 6 is configured to input the recording data 12 that has been subjected to the correction processing, and perform control to selectively energize the heating element 14 based on the recording data 12. The drive control unit 7 also controls the paper feed mechanism 16 based on the input recording data 12.
, And feeds the paper 17.

Next, a description will be given of a method of measuring the fluctuation information of the paper feed amount stored in the control section of the thermal transfer printer and storing it as correction information with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the initial position of the motor of the paper feed mechanism 16 is set (ST1), and the paper feed mechanism 16
To the record start line.

Next, recording of one line of the test recording pattern is performed (ST2).

When recording for one line is completed, the paper feed mechanism 1
Then, the sheet is sent by the line No. 6 to start a new line, and the second line is recorded (ST3). Then, the variation information of the sheet feed amount of the second line after the new line is measured (ST4).

The measurement of the variation information of the paper feed amount is performed by using a device capable of reading an image such as a CCD camera, and the paper feed amount of each line of the test recording pattern being recorded is measured by a thermal transfer printer used. Whether the amount is larger, smaller, or equal to the reference value set as the reference sheet feed amount is determined.

If the measured value of the paper feed amount is larger than the reference value of the paper feed amount, the variation information of the paper feed amount that the paper feed amount of the second line is larger is corrected information 11. (ST5). More specifically, the paper feed amount in the second line is compared with the reference value in dot units such as two dots larger than the reference value, or in length units such as 5 μm larger than the reference value. The correction information 11 in the case of a large number is stored in the memory 10 of the thermal transfer printer.

When the measured value of the paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value of the paper feed amount, the paper feed amount fluctuation information indicating that the paper feed amount of the second line is smaller than the reference value. Correction information 1
1 (ST6). More specifically, 2
The correction information 11 when the paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value by a dot unit such as 3 dots smaller than the reference value or by a length unit such as 8 μm smaller than the reference value.
Is stored in the memory 10.

Further, if the measured value of the paper feed amount is not large or small with respect to the reference value and is equal to the reference value, the paper feed amount that the paper feed amount in the second line is equal to the reference value Is stored in the memory 10 as correction information 11 (ST7).

When the measurement of the variation information of the paper feed amount on the second line and the storage of the correction information are completed, the paper is fed by the paper feed mechanism 16 to record a new line (ST).
3) Next, is the paper feed amount in the third line larger than the reference value?
The fluctuation information is measured whether it is small or equal to the reference value (ST4). Then, if the measured sheet feed amount of the third line is larger than the reference value, the correction information 11 indicating how many dots are larger is stored (ST5), and if smaller than the reference value, the correction information 11 is saved. Then, the correction information 11 indicating how many dots are smaller is stored (ST6), and when it is equal to the reference value, the correction information 11 indicating that it is equal to the reference value is stored (ST7).

As in the case of the second and third lines, the measurement of the variation information and the storage of the correction information 11 are also performed on the paper feed amounts of the remaining lines of the page to be recorded, so that test recording for one page is performed. The measurement and storage of the paper feed amount of the pattern are completed.

Next, an image recording method will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the paper feed mechanism 16 is arranged at an initial position (ST11).

When recording is started, as shown in FIG.
First, the recording data 12 of the first line is output to the recording data processing unit 1 of the control unit 9, and the paper 17 is fed to the recording start line by controlling the driving of the paper feeding mechanism 16, and the heat is generated based on the recording data 12. The recording of one line is performed on the paper 17 by controlling the energization of the element 14 (ST1).
2).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording data 12 of the second line output to the recording data processing unit 1 of the control unit 9 is output to the line feed position determining unit 2, and the set reference line feed is output. The position is determined (ST13). Then, the recording data 12 and the information on the line feed position are output to the correction information determining unit 3.

Next, the correction information judging section 3 judges the paper feed amount of the second line in which the correction information 11 is pulled out from the memory 10 and line feed is started (ST14). This correction information 11
It is stored in the memory 10 of the thermal transfer printer in advance. For example, the paper feed amount in the second line is larger than the reference value, and the paper feed amount in the third line is smaller than the reference value. Correction information 11 indicating that the amount of paper fed is equal to the reference value is stored.

Then, the information on the determined line feed position, the recording data 12 and the information on the paper feed amount are output to the recording data correction processing unit 4. The recording data correction processing unit 4 fetches the recording data correction processing information 13 stored in advance from the memory 10 based on the line feed position information, the recording data 12, and the paper feed amount information, and retrieves the recording data in the second line. Is performed.

Regarding the correction processing of the recording data 12, if the determined paper feed amount is larger than the reference value,
The following processing is performed to make the white line inconspicuous. That is, by adding a predetermined dot to a gap portion where a boundary portion before and after a line feed is not recorded,
A shape similar to a dot combination shape (shown in FIG. 4) in a case where a combination of dots transferred onto the sheet 17 is obtained based on the recording data 12 while maintaining a sheet feeding amount equal to the reference value. (ST1)
5). More specifically, the standard energizing dot range is set by leaving a few upper dots out of all the dots of the heating element 14, and, for example, when the paper feed amount is two dots larger than the reference value, As shown in FIG. 5, a process is performed to energize two predetermined dots located in the gap portion of the surplus upper dots to add dots to fill the gap portion.

When the determined paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value, the following processing is performed to make the black line inconspicuous. That is, by thinning out predetermined dots in the overlapping portion of the boundary portion before and after the line feed, the combination shape of the dots transferred onto the sheet 17 is recorded based on the recording data 12 while maintaining the sheet feeding amount equal to the reference value. Dot combination shape obtained (Fig. 4
Is performed (ST).
16). Specifically, for example, when the paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value by three dots, as shown in FIG. 6, one of the dots located in the overlapping portion in the standard energized dot range By energizing the predetermined dot of the eye, the predetermined dot of the fourth dot, and the predetermined dot of the fifth dot, a process of thinning out the predetermined dot at the overlapping position is performed.

If the determined paper feed amount is equal to the reference value, the process of correcting the recording data 12 when the determined paper feed amount is equal to the reference value is performed (ST17). More specifically, a process of energizing the heating element 14 within the range of the standard energizing dot is performed.

Then, the recording data 12 subjected to the correction processing
Is output to the print data processing unit 1, the print data 12 is output to the power supply control unit 6, and based on the information, the heating element 14 is selectively energized and the print data 1 is output.
2 is output to the drive controller 7, and the paper 17 is fed by the paper feed mechanism 16 based on the information. As a result, 2
The recording of the line is performed (ST18).

Next, the line feed position of the recording data 12 of the next line is determined (ST13), and the paper feed amount of the next line is determined based on the correction information 11 (ST14). The record data 1 is based on the determined line feed position of the next line and the paper feed amount of the next line.
2 (ST15, ST16, ST1).
7) The print data 12 subjected to the correction processing from the print data processing unit 1 is output to the power supply control unit 6 and the drive control unit 7, and the heating element 14 is energized and the paper 17 is fed by the paper feed mechanism 16, The next line is recorded (ST18).

In the other lines, similarly to the second and third lines, the recording data is subjected to the correction processing based on the correction information of the paper feed amount and is recorded, thereby recording the image of one page of the paper. Ends.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the variation information of the paper feed amount of the paper 17 of the thermal transfer printer is measured in advance, and the variation information of the paper transport amount is stored as correction information. The recording is performed by correcting the recording data 12 based on the information and controlling the heating element 14 based on the recording data 12 on which the correction processing has been performed. For this reason, even if the paper feed amount fluctuates compared to the set paper feed amount reference value, it is possible to perform recording in accordance with the paper feed amount, thereby obtaining a good image. Records can be obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, the variation information of the paper feed amount is measured for each line and stored as correction information. When recording, the correction process is performed for each line by the correction information suitable for the line. Since the correction is performed appropriately for each line, a better image can be recorded.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the paper feed amount is larger than the set reference value of the paper feed amount, a process of adding a dot is performed, and the paper feed amount is compared with the reference value. If the number is small, a process of thinning out dots is performed.

Therefore, the white line can be made inconspicuous when the paper feed amount is large. In addition, when the paper feed amount is small, the black line can be made inconspicuous. Thereby, better image recording can be obtained.

Note that the correction information of the recording data is not limited to the present embodiment, but can be changed depending on the difference of each element such as the dither pattern, the recording color, and the like. May be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

[0045]

As described above, according to the recording control method of the present invention, the information on the variation of the paper feed amount is obtained in advance as the correction information, and the recording data subjected to the correction processing based on the correction information is used. Since the error of the paper feed amount is corrected by controlling the power supply to the heating element, it is possible to remove a white line, a black line, and the like generated in the recording of the boundary portion before and after the line feed.

Therefore, even if the paper feed amount fluctuates as compared with the set paper feed amount reference value, the recording data is corrected so that the recording suitable for the paper feed amount is performed. This has the effect that good image recording can be obtained.

According to another recording control method of the present invention, by performing an appropriate correction process for each line, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that occurs in the recording of the boundary portion before and after the line feed for each line. This has the effect that a better image recording can be obtained.

Further, according to another recording control method according to the present invention, even when the paper feed amount is larger than the reference value, a predetermined dot is added to a gap between borders before and after a line feed. Thereby, the white line can be made inconspicuous. Further, even if the paper feed amount is smaller than the reference value, the black line can be made inconspicuous by thinning out predetermined dots in the overlapping portion of the boundary portion before and after the line feed. This has the effect that an image can be recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a control unit of a thermal transfer printer used in a recording control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating measurement of information on a paper feed amount in the recording control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an image recording method in a recording control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of dots in a case where recording is performed using the recording control method according to the present invention when a paper feed amount is equal to a reference value.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of dots in a case where recording is performed using the recording control method according to the present invention when the paper feed amount is larger than a reference value.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a dot in a case where recording is performed when a paper feed amount is smaller than a reference value.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of dots in a case where recording is performed using a conventional method when a paper feed amount is smaller than a reference value.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of dots in a case where recording is performed using a conventional method when a paper feed amount is larger than a reference value.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control unit 2 data processing unit 3 recording data 4 line feed position determination unit 6 correction information determination unit 7 paper feed amount correction information 9 memory 10 recording data correction processing unit 11 print data correction processing information 12 power supply control unit 13 heating element 14 drive control Unit 16 Paper feed mechanism 17 Paper

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A method for obtaining correction information of a paper feed amount by previously measuring fluctuation information of a paper feed amount by a paper feed mechanism,
At the start of recording based on the recording data, the paper feeding mechanism is arranged at an initial position, the recording apparatus determines the correction information at the time of recording, performs correction processing of the recording data based on the correction processing information that matches the correction information, and performs the correction. A recording control method, characterized in that recording is performed by controlling energization of a heating element and driving control of a paper feed mechanism based on processed recording data. 2. A method for measuring paper feed amount variation information for each line to obtain paper feed amount correction information, determining the correction information for each line when recording, and based on the correction information. 2. The printing control method according to claim 1, wherein the printing data is corrected for each row. 3. In the correction processing, a standard energizing dot range is set by leaving a few upper dots behind all the dots of the heating element, and when the paper feed amount of the correction information is larger than a reference value, Performs a correction process so as to energize predetermined dots located in a portion filling the gap among the remaining upper dots, and when the paper feed amount of the correction information is smaller than a reference value, the standard process is performed. Correction processing is performed so as not to energize predetermined dots located in the overlapping portion of the energized dot range, and if the feeding amount of the correction information matches the reference value, energization is performed within the standard energized dot range. 3. The recording control method according to claim 1, wherein a correction process is performed to perform the correction process.