JP2004155150A - Thermosensitive recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a character printed on a printing medium from being thinned by a method wherein recording energy to be applied to a recording head is enlarged when conveyance of the printing medium having a desired character or the like printed by the recording head is stopped in order to cut the printing medium so that the printing on the printing medium is secured. <P>SOLUTION: A tape printer 1 performs the printing on a film tape 32 through a thermal ink ribbon 34 according to recording energy applied to the thermal head 11. In the case where the conveyance of the film tape 32 is stopped in order to cut it by means of a cutter mechanism 55 provided at the downstream side of the thermal head 11, the recording energy applied to the thermal head 11 is controlled to be greater than usual when the printing is performed on portions of the film tape 32 at the front and rear of the stopped position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal recording device for performing a recording operation on a printing medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a thermal recording apparatus, for example, in a thermal recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 below, a printing mechanism including a thermal head or the like that prints characters and the like via an ink ribbon on a tape fed by a tape feeding mechanism. And a tape cutter mechanism disposed downstream of the printing mechanism in the tape feed direction. In the case of a tape printer equipped with a tape cutter mechanism, there is a certain distance between the print mechanism and the tape feed mechanism. Will inevitably occur in a blank space portion where no is printed.
Therefore, from the printing start position of the tape, a front margin of a predetermined length is set in a direction opposite to the printing direction, and the tape cutter mechanism is driven when the tape is fed to the end of the set front margin. It has become.
In the case of the tape as the print target medium shown in FIG. 8, the printing operation is performed while the tape is fed from the printing start position IS of the tape, and when the tape is fed by a predetermined amount (distance D1), the tape feeding is stopped and the tape becomes full. A cut is made. When the tape is further fed by a predetermined amount (distance D2), the tape feeding is stopped, and the tape is cut half.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-251439 (FIGS. 1 and 2, pages 3 to 5)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-38854 (FIGS. 1 and 2, pages 3 to 5)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the tape is fed by a predetermined amount (distance D1) from the print start position IS of the tape to stop the tape feeding, and further fed by a predetermined amount (distance D2) to stop the tape feeding, before and after the tape feeding stop position. However, there is a problem in that the printed characters and the like at the point (1) have blurring (white portions that occur in portions that should be printed and become characters and the like).
The following are considered as causes of the blur. In other words, in the printing portion after the tape feed stop position, the temperature of the thermal head for printing decreases, the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head also decreases, and the ink in the ink ribbon does not melt sufficiently. Therefore, it is considered that the printing on the tape via the ink ribbon is insufficient, and the characters or the like printed on the tape are blurred. In addition, with regard to the print portion in front of the tape feed stop position, when printing is performed on the tape via the ink ribbon, an inadvertent force is applied to the transported ink ribbon and the tape, and the ink ribbon is removed. It is considered that the printing on the tape via the tape becomes insufficient and characters or the like printed on the tape are blurred.
In this case, the inadvertent force applied to the transported ink ribbon and the tape is, for example, to prevent a so-called white line generated by pulling out the tape pulled by cutting the tape, when performing reverse control of the tape, Occurs. As a result of the force generated by the reverse feed control being applied to the ink ribbon and the tape being conveyed, slack occurs in the ink ribbon, and the printing on the tape via the ink ribbon becomes insufficient, and characters printed on the tape, etc. It is considered that blur occurs in the image.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention is applied to the recording head when the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped to cut the recording medium on which the desired characters or the like are printed by the recording head in order to solve the above-described problem. Provided is an excellent thermosensitive recording apparatus that can increase the recording energy to sufficiently print on a print-receiving medium and prevent characters and the like printed on the print-receiving medium from causing blurring. Aim.
[0006]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal recording apparatus for printing on a printing medium based on recording energy applied to a thermal head. Transport means for transporting the medium, transport control means for stopping the transport means when the print medium is cut by a cutter mechanism disposed downstream of the thermal head, and the print medium based on the transport control means And recording control means for controlling the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be larger than the normal recording energy when printing is performed after the stop of the conveyance.
[0007]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the transport unit transports the print medium for printing by the thermal head, and the transport control unit stops transporting the print medium for cutting by the cutter mechanism, the thermal print medium is stopped. When the head prints on the medium to be printed, the recording control means controls the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be larger than the normal recording energy, so that the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head increases, It is possible to prevent the printing on the print-receiving medium from being sufficiently performed, thereby preventing the characters or the like printed on the print-receiving medium from being blurred.
Here, the normal recording energy is defined as a recording energy that does not cause blurring of characters and the like printed on the print medium when the thermal head performs printing on the print medium while transporting the print medium. Say. When the normal recording energy is applied to the thermal head in this manner, the temperature of the thermal head is reduced in the print portion after the stop position of the print medium feeding, and the heat generated on the thermal head is reduced. Since the temperature of the element also becomes low, and printing on the print-receiving medium becomes insufficient, blurring occurs in printed characters and the like. However, when a recording energy larger than the normal recording energy is applied to the thermal head, the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head increases, and the printing on the print-receiving medium becomes sufficient, and the printed characters are blurred. Does not occur.
[0008]
According to the invention according to claim 2, in a thermal recording apparatus that performs printing on a print-receiving medium via an ink ribbon based on recording energy applied to a thermal head, the print-receiving medium is used for printing by a thermal head. Transport means for transporting the ink ribbon in an overlapped manner, transport control means for stopping the transport means when cutting the medium to be printed by a cutter mechanism arranged downstream of the thermal head, and transport control means And recording control means for controlling the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be larger than the normal recording energy when printing is performed before and after the conveyance of the print-receiving medium based on the recording medium. I do.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the conveying means conveys the print medium and the ink ribbon in an overlapping manner for printing by the thermal head, and the conveyance control means conveys the print medium for cutting by the cutter mechanism. Is stopped, printing is performed before the conveyance of the print medium and after the conveyance of the print medium is stopped, and the recording control means controls the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be larger than the normal recording energy. Therefore, even if the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head becomes high and an inadvertent force is applied to the conveyed ink ribbon and the printing medium, printing on the printing medium becomes sufficient and the printing medium becomes It is possible to prevent blurring of characters or the like printed thereon.
In addition, for the print portion before the tape feed stop position, when printing on the tape via the ink ribbon, the above-described careless force is applied to the ink ribbon and the tape being conveyed, It is considered that the printing on the tape via the ink ribbon becomes insufficient, and characters or the like printed on the tape are blurred. However, when a recording energy larger than the normal recording energy is applied to the thermal head, the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head increases, and the printing on the print-receiving medium becomes sufficient, and the printed characters are blurred. Does not occur.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the thermal recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the thermal recording apparatus further includes a print medium detection unit that detects a type of the print medium, and detects the print medium detection unit. The recording control means determines whether the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy.
[0011]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the recording energy applied to the thermal head becomes larger than the normal recording energy or the normal recording energy depends on the type of the printing medium detected by the printing medium detecting unit. Although the energy is energy, depending on the type of the print medium, if the characters printed on the print medium are blurred, the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy. It is possible to prevent the temperature of the heat generating element from becoming high and the printing on the print-receiving medium to be sufficient, thereby preventing the characters or the like printed on the print-receiving medium from being blurred.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the thermal recording apparatus according to any one of the second and third aspects, the thermal recording apparatus further includes an ink ribbon detection unit that detects a type of the ink ribbon, and the detection of the ink ribbon detection unit is performed. The recording control means determines whether the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy.
[0013]
According to the invention according to claim 4, the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy, or is the normal recording energy, depending on the type of the ink ribbon detected by the ink ribbon detecting means. However, if characters or the like printed on the print-receiving medium are blurred due to the type of the ink ribbon, the recording energy applied to the thermal head becomes larger than the normal recording energy. And printing on the print-receiving medium via the ink ribbon becomes sufficient, and it can be prevented that characters or the like printed on the print-receiving medium are blurred.
[0014]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the thermal recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the thermal recording apparatus further includes a temperature detection unit that detects an environmental temperature, and the recording is performed based on the detection of the temperature detection unit. The control means determines whether or not the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy.
[0015]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy or is the normal recording energy depending on the environmental temperature detected by the temperature detecting means. If the characters printed on the print medium are blurred due to the environmental temperature, the recording energy applied to the thermal head becomes larger than the normal recording energy, and the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head increases. In addition, it is possible to prevent the printing on the print-receiving medium from being sufficiently performed, and to prevent the characters and the like printed on the print-receiving medium from being blurred.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the thermal recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the recording control unit is configured to perform a predetermined range from a stop of the transport of the print-receiving medium by the transport control unit. It is characterized in that printing is controlled so that recording energy is made larger than normal recording energy.
[0017]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the recording energy applied to the thermal head for printing in a predetermined range from the stop of the conveyance of the print medium becomes larger than the normal recording energy. As a result, the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head becomes high for printing within a predetermined range after the conveyance of the printing medium is stopped, and printing on the printing medium becomes sufficient, and characters and the like printed on the printing medium are printed. Can be prevented from being generated. Furthermore, for printing within a predetermined range from the stop of transport of the printing medium, only a recording energy larger than the normal recording energy is applied to the thermal head, and no extra recording energy is applied to the thermal head. The above-mentioned heat generating element can prevent the ink ribbon from being melted excessively, thereby causing blurring of characters and the like printed on the print-receiving medium.
[0018]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the thermal recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the recording control unit may set a plurality of set values corresponding to recording energy applied to the thermal head. It is characterized by comprising a setting value storing means for storing, and a selecting means for selecting a setting value corresponding to a recording energy larger than the normal recording energy based on the setting value corresponding to the normal recording energy.
[0019]
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the set value storing means stores a plurality of set values corresponding to the recording energy applied to the thermal head, and the selecting means stores the set value corresponding to the normal recording energy. , The setting value corresponding to the recording energy larger than the normal recording energy can be selected, so that the selection of the setting value becomes easy.
[0020]
Embodiment
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tape printing apparatus with the storage cover of the tape cassette storage section opened. In FIG. 1, a character input key 2 for inputting characters and the like, a print key 3, a front margin setting key 4 for setting a front margin of a tape described later, and a rear margin setting key for setting a rear margin are provided in a tape printer 1. A keyboard 6 provided with various function keys 5 and the like, a liquid crystal display 7 for displaying characters and the like input from the keyboard 6, and a cassette storage section 8 for storing a tape cassette 30 described later are provided.
[0021]
Further, a ribbon take-up shaft 9, which is rotated and driven by a tape feed motor 75, described later, rotates the ribbon take-up spool 38 of the tape cassette 30 to take up the thermal ink ribbon 34, is provided upright in the cassette housing portion 8. Further, a tape feed roller shaft 10 for rotating a tape feed roller 43, which will be described later, is rotatably driven by a pulse motor via an appropriate transmission mechanism, and is provided obliquely forward (on the keyboard 6 side). Have been. Further, a thermal head 11 for performing printing on a later-described film tape 32 via a thermal ink ribbon 34 is fixedly provided in front of the cassette housing portion 8.
[0022]
A tape type detector 13 having four photo sensors is provided at the rear of the cassette accommodating section 8, and the tape type detector 13 is a film tape 32 as a print-receiving medium accommodated in a tape cassette 30. And the type of the thermal ink ribbon 34 is detected. Here, each photosensor is formed of a known photocoupler having a light emitting element and a light receiving element as a pair, and a shielding plate 63 protruding from a lower case 31 of the tape cassette 30 described below enters each photosensor. Is detected, and the type and width of the thermal ink ribbon 34 and the film tape 32 are detected based on the combination of the ON / OFF signals. The tape type detector 13 may use a mechanical sensor such as a micro switch, a magnetic sensor, or the like in addition to the photo sensor. The tape type detector 13 corresponds to a print medium detection unit and an ink ribbon detection unit.
The cassette storage unit 8 is opened and closed by a storage cover 12 pivotally supported behind the tape printer 1, and the tape cassette 30 is replaced in an open state.
[0023]
Next, the configuration of the tape cassette 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where the tape cassette 30 is housed in the cassette housing section 8 (the tape cassette 30 is shown excluding an upper case), and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a part of the tape cassette 30 in an enlarged manner. is there.
In these figures, a tape spool 33 around which a transparent film tape 32 is wound, a ribbon spool 35 around which a thermal ink ribbon 34 is wound, and a double-sided adhesive tape 36 with a release paper are provided in the lower case 31 with the release paper side. An adhesive tape spool 37 wound around the outside is provided, and these spools 33, 35, and 37 are rotatably supported in cooperation with a support portion provided on the lower surface of an upper case (not shown). I have.
A ribbon take-up spool 38 is similarly rotatably supported between the spools 33, 35, and 37. The ribbon take-up spool 38 meshes with the ribbon take-up shaft 9 and Drives the thermal ink ribbon 34 used for printing.
[0024]
A shielding plate 63 is provided on a bottom wall of the lower cover 31. The shielding plate 63 has a plurality of projecting pieces (up to four), and the projecting pieces project from the back surface of the lower cover 31. Each of the projecting pieces corresponds to the photo sensor of the tape type detector 13 provided in the cassette storage section 8 when the tape cassette 30 is mounted on the apparatus 1. The shielding plate 63 indicates the type of the tape cassette 30 by the pattern of the presence or absence of the protruding piece, and causes the tape printer 1 to recognize the type, tape width, and the like of the thermal ink ribbon 34 and the film tape 32 stored in the cassette. It is. Here, as the tape cassette 30, a laminated tape cassette is taken as an example, but in addition, various types of cassettes containing printing tapes such as heat-sensitive tapes, lettering tapes, and receptor tapes are prepared. On the bottom wall of the cassette 30, a shielding plate 63 provided with different combinations of projecting pieces is provided.
[0025]
Further, the above-described thermal head 11 is disposed in a concave portion 39 provided in the lower case 31, and a platen roller 40 rotatably supported by a roller holder H described later is disposed opposite to the thermal head 11 in a pressure-contact state. I have. The thermal head 11 has a large number of heating elements, and prints characters and the like on the film tape 32 via the thermal ink ribbon 34. In this case, the ink of the thermal ink ribbon 34 is transferred to the film tape 32 by melting the thermal ink ribbon 34 due to the heat generated by the heat generating element. After the ink ribbon 34 and the film tape 32 advance straight ahead by a predetermined distance toward the downstream side of the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 40, the thermal ink ribbon 34 is peeled away from the film tape 32. The thermal head 11, the platen roller 40, and the like correspond to a printing mechanism.
[0026]
A tape pressing roller 42 is rotatably supported in the vicinity of a tape discharge section 41 (lower left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the lower case 31. The tape pressing roller 42 is rotatable by a roller holder H described later. The supported tape feed rollers 43 are opposed to each other in a pressed state.
In the cassette storage section 8, a roller holder H is pivotally supported by a support shaft 44 in front of the tape cassette 30 (the lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2). The print position and the release position can be switched by a mechanism (FIGS. 1 and 2 both show a state where the print position is switched to the print position).
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the roller holder H is provided with the platen roller 40 and the tape feed roller 43 described above so as to be rotatable and pressed against the thermal head 11 and the pressure roller 42, respectively.
That is, the platen roller 40 is rotatably supported about a rotating shaft 46 erected on the holder member 45, and the holder member 45 is inserted between the holder member 45 and the rear wall R of the roller holder H. The elastic head 47 is pressed against the thermal head 11.
[0028]
The tape feed roller 43 is rotatably supported about a rotation shaft 49 erected on a holder member 48, and the holder member 48 is inserted between the tape feed roller 43 and the rear wall R of the roller holder H. It is disposed so as to be pressed against the pressing roller 42 by the elastic spring 50. The tape feed roller 43 is driven to rotate by the above-described tape feed roller shaft 10, and at the same time, the pressing roller 42 is driven to rotate in conjunction with the tape feed roller 43 by a gear mechanism (not shown).
[0029]
Further, an intermediate roller 51 is rotatably supported by a holder member 52 via a rotation shaft 53 so as to contact both the platen roller 40 and the tape feed roller 43, and the holder member 52 is connected to the rotation shaft 46. 2 and can be rotated coaxially with the holder member 45, and is always counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by the action of the tension spring 54 inserted between the rear end of the holder member 52 and the roller holder H. Has been energized. Thus, the intermediate roller 51 is in contact with both the platen roller 40 and the tape feed roller 43.
[0030]
The intermediate roller 51 has the function of transmitting the rotation of the tape feed roller 43 to the platen roller 40, and the feed force of the tape feed roller 43 is reduced when the produced film tape 32 is fed in the forward direction. Since the intermediate roller 51 acts to separate the platen roller 43 from the platen roller 43 against the urging force of the spring 54, the intermediate roller 51 exerts only a slight rotational transmission force. Since the rotational force of the feed roller 43 rotates the intermediate roller 51 in the direction of the urging force of the pull spring 54, the intermediate roller 51 bites between both the tape feed roller 43 and the platen roller 40 and has a sufficient rotational force on the platen roller 40. Can be transmitted. The tape feed motor 75, the tape feed roller shaft 10, the tape feed roller 43, the tape pressure roller 42, the intermediate roller 51, and the platen roller 40 constitute a tape feed mechanism and a transport means for transporting a print medium.
[0031]
Further, a cutter mechanism 55 is disposed in the vicinity of the tape discharge unit 41 on the downstream side of the thermal head 11 along the feeding direction of the film tape 32. The cutter mechanism 55 is configured similarly to a known scissors, and includes a fixed blade 56 and a movable blade 57. The movable blade 57 is fixed to a rotation lever 59 that rotates about a pivot shaft 58. The rotation lever 59 is fixed to a drive shaft 61 </ b> A of a DC motor 61 via a gear mechanism 60. 62.
[0032]
Accordingly, the movable blade 57 opens and closes with the pivot shaft 58 as a fulcrum via the pinion 62, the gear mechanism 60, and the rotation lever 59 with the forward / reverse rotation of the drive shaft 61A of the DC motor 61. The film tape 32 is cut in cooperation with the fixed blade 56 in accordance with the operation.
The tape pressure roller 42 and the tape feed roller 43 cooperate with each other to apply the adhesive surface of the double-sided adhesive tape 36 to the film tape 32 on which characters and the like are printed by the thermal head 11 via the thermal ink ribbon 34. The film tape 32 is formed by pressure bonding.
[0033]
After the film tape 32 is finally produced, the film tape 32 is cut by the cutter mechanism 55, but is pulled by the cutter mechanism 55 by cutting the film tape 32. Line occurs. Thereby, in order to prevent such a white line, the reverse feed control of the film tape 32 is performed for a distance corresponding to several dots. However, when the reverse feed control is performed, a force is applied to the thermal ink ribbon 34 and the film tape 32 being conveyed, and the thermal ink ribbon 34 becomes slack, and printing on the film tape 32 via the thermal ink ribbon 34 is performed. This becomes insufficient, and characters or the like printed on the film tape 32 tend to be blurred. Therefore, in the case of the invention of this embodiment, when the transport of the film tape 32 is stopped by the cutter mechanism 55 to cut the film tape 32, and when printing is performed before and after the stop, recording applied to the thermal head 11 is performed. By controlling the energy to be greater than the normal recording energy, as described later, the temperature of the heating element on the thermal head 11 increases, and printing on the film tape 32 becomes sufficient. It is possible to prevent characters or the like printed on the film tape 32 from being blurred.
[0034]
Next, a control system of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the tape printing apparatus, which is configured with a control device (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) 70 as a core. In FIG. 4, a keyboard 6 is connected to a CPU 70 via an input / output interface IF, and the CPU 70 controls a character input signal input from the character input key 2 of the keyboard 6, a print key 3, margin setting keys 4, 5, and the like. Of the various function input signals input from the function keys of FIG.
The cassette type detecting device 13 is connected to the CPU 70, and the CPU 70 receives a pattern signal indicating the presence or absence of the protruding piece of the shielding plate 63 detected by the photo sensor, and recognizes the type of the tape cassette 30 mounted therefrom.
Further, a thermistor 69 as temperature detecting means for detecting the environmental temperature is connected to the CPU 70 via the input / output interface IF, and the CPU 70 can detect the environmental temperature.
[0035]
In addition, a CGR0M78 is connected to the CPU 70. The CGR0M78 is a display character generator for generating characters and the like printed by the thermal head 11 and for generating characters and the like displayed on the liquid crystal display 7. R0M71 is connected to CPU70. The R0M71 includes a recording control program for applying recording energy to the thermal head 11, a margin creation control program for creating a margin on the film tape 32, a conveyance control program for conveying the film tape 32 by a predetermined amount, and other tapes. Various programs necessary for controlling the printing apparatus are stored.
[0036]
The RAM 72 connected to the CPU 70 temporarily stores various data, such as data for setting a rank-up area (rank-up area data), temperature threshold data (described later), In addition to storing the rank-up data, the RAM 72 registers a print buffer, a display buffer, and other external character pattern data in which data such as characters read from the character generator is expanded into print data or display data and stored. It has a memory such as an external character pattern buffer for storing. When the print data is developed and stored in the print buffer, the CPU 70 determines the feed amount of the film tape 32 from the stop position where the cutter mechanism 55 stops the conveyance of the film tape 32 in order to cut the film tape 32. Since the relationship between the heat generation timing of the heating elements of the thermal head 11 and the recording energy to be applied to the heating elements of the thermal head 11 can be determined. I can figure it out. Accordingly, the CPU 70 sets the recording energy applied to the heating element of the thermal head 11 to be smaller than the normal recording energy for printing in a predetermined range L1 (for example, 10 mm to 20 mm) before and after the tape feed stop position in a manner described later. Can be larger.
[0037]
The RAM 72 has a table (see FIG. 5) for storing set values corresponding to the recording energy applied to the thermal head 11 for each rank, and the CPU 70 can appropriately select the set value corresponding to the recording energy. As shown in FIG. 5, the table includes ranks 1 to 15 in which the resistance values of the heating elements of the thermal head 11 are classified into 15 levels, and rank coefficients A1 to A15 corresponding to the resistance values of the heating elements. Thus, the recording energy applied to the heating elements of the thermal head 11 increases from the rank coefficient A1 to the rank coefficient A15. Therefore, by knowing in advance the resistance values of the heating elements of the thermal head 11, predetermined rank coefficients A1 to A15 are determined, and normal recording energy applied to the thermal head 11 is set. The table shown in FIG. 5 functions as a set value storage unit that stores a plurality of set values corresponding to the recording energy, and the CPU 70 functions as a selection unit that selects the set value corresponding to the recording energy larger than the normal recording energy.
[0038]
Then, in order to increase the recording energy applied to the thermal head 11, the CPU 70 appropriately selects a set value corresponding to the recording energy so as to be a higher rank coefficient A1 to A15. Using rank-up number data, for example, rank coefficients A1 to A15 higher by three can be selected. By performing such rank-up, it is possible to prevent a character or the like printed before and after the tape feed stop position from being blurred (a white portion generated in a portion that should be printed and become a character or the like). .
[0039]
Further, the liquid crystal display 7 is connected to the CPU 70 via a liquid crystal display driving circuit (LCDC) 73 and an input / output interface IF, and the CPU 70 drives the liquid crystal display driving circuit 73 based on the display data stored in the display buffer of the RAM 72. Then, the input characters and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display 7. Further, a tape feed motor 75 is connected to the CPU 70 via a pulse motor drive circuit 74 and an input / output interface IF, and the CPU 70 drives the pulse motor drive circuit 74 based on a program stored in the ROM 71 to drive the tape feed motor 75. Is controlled, and thereby the feeding control of the film tape 32 is performed. In this case, when the film tape 32 is conveyed by a predetermined amount and the cutter mechanism 55 cuts the film tape 32, the CPU 70 stops the driving of the tape feed motor 75, and the tape feed roller shaft 10, the tape feed roller Since the rotation of the tape pressing roller 43, the intermediate pressure roller 51, the intermediate roller 51 and the platen roller 40 is stopped, the CPU 70 constitutes a conveyance control means for controlling the conveyance means.
[0040]
Similarly, a DC motor 61 is connected to the CPU 70 via a DC motor drive circuit 76 and an input / output interface IF. The CPU 70 drives the DC motor drive circuit 76 based on a program stored in the ROM 71, thereby The motor 61 is controlled.
Further, the thermal head 11 is connected to the CPU 70 via a thermal head driving circuit 77, and the CPU 70 drives the thermal head driving circuit 77 based on the print data stored in the print buffer of the RAM 72. 77 applies a predetermined recording energy to the thermal head 11 so that the thermal head 11 prints characters and the like on the film tape 32.
[0041]
Next, the operation of the tape printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 shows a table for storing set values corresponding to the recording energy applied to the thermal head 11 stored in the RAM 72 for each rank, FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of a print control program, and FIG. 7 schematically shows a print state. FIG.
[0042]
In the case of the film tape 32 as the print medium shown in FIG. 7, the printing operation is performed while the tape is fed from the printing start position IS of the film tape 32, and the tape feeding is stopped when a predetermined amount (distance D1) has been fed. Then, the full cut of the film tape 32 is performed. Further, when a predetermined amount (distance D2) has been fed, the tape feeding is stopped, and the half cut of the film tape 32 is performed.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, when the tape feed is stopped at a position advanced by a predetermined amount (distance D1) from the print start position IS of the film tape 32 and at a position further advanced by a predetermined amount (distance D2). Since the characters printed before and after the stop position of the tape feed cause blurring (white portions that occur in portions that should be printed and become characters, etc.), the predetermined range L1 (for example, before and after the stop position of the tape feed) For printing within 10 mm to 20 mm), the recording energy is set to a rank-up applicable range in which the recording energy is made larger than the normal recording energy. For printing outside the applicable range, printing is performed with the normal recording energy (hereinafter, the normal recording energy). Printing with it is called normal printing). When the rank-up is applied, the environmental temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (temperature threshold data is, for example, 15 degrees), the film tape 32 is, for example, a laminate tape, and the thermal ink ribbon 34 is, for example, a gold color. Or only when white.
[0043]
In FIG. 6, first, it is determined whether or not the film tape 32 and the thermal ink ribbon 34 determined by the tape type detector 13 in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 are of a specific type.
In this case, the specific type of the film tape 32 and the thermal ink ribbon 34 means, for example, a case where the film tape 32 is a laminate tape and the thermal ink ribbon 34 is gold or white. If the film tape 32 and the thermal ink ribbon 34 are not of a specific type (S1: NO), normal printing is performed on the entire printing of the film tape 32 (S2). This is because, when the film tape 32 and the thermal ink ribbon 34 are not of a specific type, even if normal printing is performed, characters or the like printed before and after the tape feed stop position are unlikely to be blurred.
Next, it is determined whether or not the temperature range detected by the thermistor 69 is an applicable range for rank-up (S3). That is, it is determined whether or not the environmental temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (for example, the temperature threshold is 15 degrees). If the temperature range is not within the rank-up applicable range (S3: NO), normal printing is performed on the entire printing of the film tape 32 (S2). This is because, when the temperature range is not within the applicable range of the rank-up, even if normal printing is performed, characters or the like printed before and after the tape feeding stop position are unlikely to be blurred.
[0044]
If the temperature range is within the rank-up applicable range (S3: YES), it is determined whether the line currently being printed is within the rank-up applicable range using the rank-up area data stored in the RAM 72. (S4). If the line currently being printed is not within the rank-up applicable range (S4: NO), normal printing is performed on the film tape 32 (S5). This is because, if the rank is not within the applicable range, even if normal printing is performed, characters or the like printed before and after the tape feed stop position are unlikely to be blurred.
If the line currently being printed is within the rank-up applicable range (S4: YES), printing is performed by rank-up by the designated amount (S6). When printing is performed with the rank increased in this way, characters or the like printed before and after the tape feed stop position are less likely to be blurred.
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the entire printing is completed (S7). If the entire printing is not completed (S7: NO), the process returns to S4.
[0045]
As described above in detail, according to the invention according to the present embodiment, based on the recording energy applied to the thermal head 11, tape printing for printing on the film tape 32 as the medium to be printed via the thermal ink ribbon 34. In the apparatus 1, a tape feeding mechanism for feeding the film tape 32 via the tape feeding motor 75, a printing mechanism for printing characters and the like on the film tape 32 sent by the tape feeding mechanism, and a tape feeding mechanism for feeding the tape by the tape feeding mechanism A cutter mechanism 55 disposed downstream of the printing mechanism along the direction, a cassette type detecting device 13 for detecting the tape type of the film tape 32 and the thermal ink ribbon 34 stored in the tape cassette 30; The cutting is performed by the cutter mechanism 55 provided on the downstream side of the thermal head 11. A transport control unit for stopping the transport of the film tape 32, and a recording energy applied to the thermal head 11 when printing is performed before and after the transport of the film tape 32 is stopped based on the transport control unit. The recording energy applied to the thermal head 11 becomes larger than the normal recording energy in accordance with the detection result by the cassette type detecting device 13 and the thermistor 69, and the heat generated on the thermal head 11 Since the temperature of the element becomes high, the characters and the like printed on the film tape 32 by the thermal head 11 via the thermal ink ribbon 34 are sufficiently printed, and the characters and the like printed on the film tape 32 are blurred. Can be prevented from occurring.
Further, only the recording energy larger than the normal recording energy is temporarily applied to the thermal head 11, but the large recording energy is not always applied to the thermal head 11. Since no extra recording energy is applied to the thermal head 11 in this manner, the heating element of the thermal head 11 at a temperature higher than normal melts the thermal ink ribbon 34 transiently to form characters or the like printed on the film tape 32. The occurrence of bleeding can be prevented.
[0046]
The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and can be applied to various forms. For example, in the embodiment, printing within a predetermined range L1 (for example, 10 mm to 20 mm) before and after the tape feed stop position is configured to be a rank-up applicable range in which recording energy is made larger than normal recording energy. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the predetermined range after the tape feed stop position can be larger than the range before the stop position.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tape printer in which a storage cover of a tape cassette storage section according to the present embodiment is opened.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where a tape cassette is stored in a cassette storage section of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a state where a tape cassette is stored in a cassette storage section of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the tape printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a table stored in a RAM of the tape printer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a print control program according to the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a tape printed by the tape printer of the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged tape printed by a conventional tape printing apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Tape printing device (thermal recording device)
4 Front margin setting key
5 Rear margin setting key
6 Keyboard
7 Liquid crystal display
8 Cassette storage section
10 Tape feed roller shaft
11 Thermal head
30 tape cassette
32 film tape
33 tape spool
40 Platen roller
42 Tape pressure roller
43 Tape feed roller
51 Intermediate roller
55 cutter mechanism
56 fixed blade
57 movable blade
58 pivot
59 Rotating lever
61 DC motor
70 CPU
71 ROM
72 RAM
74 pulse motor drive circuit
75 Tape feed motor
76 DC motor drive circuit
77 Thermal head drive circuit

Claims (7)

Based on the recording energy applied to the thermal head, in a thermal recording apparatus that prints on a print target medium,
Conveyance means for conveying the medium to be printed for printing by a thermal head,
Conveyance control means for stopping the conveyance means when cutting the print-receiving medium by a cutter mechanism disposed downstream of the thermal head,
And recording control means for controlling the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be greater than normal recording energy when printing is performed after the conveyance of the print medium is stopped based on the conveyance control means. Thermal recording device. Based on the recording energy applied to the thermal head, a thermal recording apparatus that performs printing on a print-receiving medium via an ink ribbon,
Conveyance means for superimposing and conveying the print medium and the ink ribbon for printing by a thermal head,
Conveyance control means for stopping the conveyance means when cutting the medium to be printed by a cutter mechanism disposed downstream of the thermal head,
When printing is performed before and after the conveyance of the print-receiving medium based on the conveyance control means, and printing is performed after the conveyance is stopped, recording control means for controlling the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be larger than normal recording energy is provided. Thermosensitive recording device. The thermal recording device according to claim 1 or 2,
A print medium detection unit configured to detect a type of the print medium, and based on the detection of the print medium detection unit, the recording control unit sets the recording energy applied to the thermal head to be larger than a normal recording energy. A thermosensitive recording device, which determines whether or not the recording is performed. The thermal recording device according to any one of claims 2 and 3,
An ink ribbon detection unit for detecting the type of the ink ribbon, and based on the detection of the ink ribbon detection unit, the recording control unit determines whether the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than a normal recording energy. A thermosensitive recording device characterized by determining. The thermal recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Temperature recording means for detecting an environmental temperature, wherein the recording control means determines whether or not the recording energy applied to the thermal head is larger than the normal recording energy based on the detection of the temperature detection means. Thermal recording device. The thermal recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The thermal recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit controls the recording energy to be larger than the normal recording energy for printing in a predetermined range from the stop of the transport of the print medium by the transport control unit. The thermal recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The recording control unit, a set value storage unit that stores a plurality of set values corresponding to the recording energy applied to the thermal head,
Selecting means for selecting a set value corresponding to a recording energy larger than the normal recording energy based on the set value corresponding to the normal recording energy.

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