JP2006069128A - Control method of optical fixing device, and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control method of suppressing heat generation of an optical fixing device using many light emitting elements. <P>SOLUTION: When a print command is given, a frame memory is referred to; image data on an image subjected to the print command is analyzed for each of the images of Y, M and C; and the presence or absence of an image of white, yellow, or a color, wherein yellow and magenta are mixed together and which does not include cyan, is checked. When a white peripheral part of color thermal recording paper is transferred downward to a fixing light source for Y after the completion of thermal recording of an yellow image, an LED for Y is set not to emit light. When a personal image passes below, only the LED for Y, which is positioned above the personal image, emits the light, so that optical fixing can be performed. Similarly, when the peripheral part of the color thermal recording paper is carried downward to a fixing light source for M after the completion of the thermal recording of a magenta image, an LED for M is set not to emit the light. When the personal image passes below, only the LED for M, which is positioned above the personal image, emits the light, so that optical fixing can be performed. Subsequently, a cyan image is thermally recorded and output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fixing device control method and printer using a plurality of light emitting elements.

  At least first to third thermosensitive coloring layers different in color to be developed are laminated, the lower the thermosensitive coloring layer, the lower the thermal sensitivity, and the first thermosensitive coloring layer on the uppermost layer on the surface side and the first thermosensitive coloring layer below it. For the thermosensitive color developing layer 2, a color thermosensitive printer is known in which a color thermosensitive recording paper provided with photofixability to ultraviolet rays in a specific wavelength range is used to obtain a full color print.

  As an optical fixing device used for such a color thermal printer, an ultraviolet lamp has been used for a long time. A device in which elements (LEDs) are constituted by fixing light sources arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows along the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is proposed (Patent Document 1).

  However, when a light fixing device in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged is used in a color thermal printer, the amount of heat generated from the large number of light emitting elements is large, so the light fixing device becomes hot and this heat is stored in the conveyance path. It was found that uneven printing occurs due to the influence of the color thermal recording paper that develops color by heating.

On the other hand, an LED lamp is known in which a high luminance LED chip and a general-purpose LED chip are mixed and arranged to suppress the amount of heat generated (Patent Document 2). In addition, it is known that a high-power LED lamp dissipates heat by providing a metal (heat sink) with high thermal conductivity around it, and cuts off heat using a ceramic container as a lamp socket (Patent Literature). 3).
JP 2003-145812 A JP 2003-273404 A Registered Utility Model No. 3092760

  The method of mixing different LED chips described in Patent Document 2 cannot be easily employed in a thermal printer that performs light fixing with light in a specific wavelength range. Moreover, the heat sink and the ceramic container described in Patent Document 3 have a drawback that the cost is significantly increased.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical fixing device control method and a printer that suppress heat generation of an optical fixing device using a large number of light emitting elements without using a heat sink or the like.

  The control method of the optical fixing device of the present invention is used for a printer that records an image on the surface of the recording paper, driven based on image data while the head moves relative to the recording paper, and has already been recorded. In the control method of the optical fixing device in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged at least in a direction orthogonal to the relative movement direction with respect to the recording paper as a light source for irradiating light onto the recording image, the image data Based on the recording paper, a fixing unnecessary portion that does not require light fixing is determined on the surface of the recording paper, and the light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is not lit when the recording paper passes through the irradiated area by the optical fixing device. Thus, the lighting / non-lighting of each light emitting element is controlled in synchronization with the relative movement with respect to the recording paper so that the light emitting elements corresponding to other portions are turned on.

  In addition, first to third coloring layers having different colors to be developed are sequentially provided, and at least the second and third coloring layers have photofixability by electromagnetic waves in a specific wavelength range, and the deeper the recording layer. Printer that uses color recording paper with low sensitivity and performs color recording on the color recording paper by performing recording and light fixing in order from the third color developing layer of the uppermost layer while relatively moving the head and the head. Used as a light source for photofixing the third color-developing layer, the first light-emitting element that emits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength region peculiar to the third color-developing layer at least in a direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction with the color recording paper Relative movement direction of at least a plurality of first light fixing devices and a second light emitting element that emits an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength region unique to the second coloring layer as a light source for performing light fixing of the second coloring layer. Direction perpendicular to In the method of controlling an optical fixing device that controls a plurality of second optical fixing devices, the surface of the color recording paper for both the second coloring layer and the third coloring layer or only the second coloring layer based on the image data. A fixing unnecessary portion that does not require light fixing is discriminated, and when the color recording paper on which the third coloring layer is recorded passes through the irradiated area by the first optical fixing device, the first fixing portion corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is detected. The lighting / non-lighting of each first light-emitting element is controlled in synchronization with the relative movement with the color recording paper so that the light-emitting elements are turned off and the first light-emitting elements corresponding to other portions are turned on. When the color recording paper on which the two color-developing layers are recorded passes through the irradiated area by the second optical fixing device, the second light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is not lit, and the second light emission corresponding to the other portion. Relative to the color recording paper so that the element is lit In synchronism with the movement to control lighting / non-lighting of each of the second light-emitting element.

  The printer of the present invention is driven based on image data, and moves in a direction orthogonal to at least the direction of relative movement between the head for recording an image on the surface of the recording paper while moving relative to the recording paper. In a printer having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged and a light fixing device for irradiating light onto a recorded recording paper to perform light fixing of a recorded image, the recording paper is formed on the surface of the recording paper based on the image data. A discriminating unit that discriminates a fixing unnecessary portion that does not require light fixing, and a light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is not lit when the recording paper passes through an irradiated area by the light fixing device, and corresponds to other portions. And a controller for controlling lighting / non-lighting of each light emitting element in synchronization with the relative movement with the recording paper so that the light emitting element to be turned on is provided.

  In addition, first to third coloring layers having different colors to be developed are sequentially provided, and at least the second and third coloring layers have photofixability by electromagnetic waves in a specific wavelength range, and the deeper the recording layer. Using color recording paper with low sensitivity, and moving the head and the head relative to each other, recording and photofixing are performed in order from the third color developing layer, which is the uppermost layer, and color images are recorded on the color recording paper. A plurality of first light-emitting elements that emit electromagnetic waves in a wavelength region unique to the third color-developing layer as light sources for photofixing the third color-developing layer, arranged in a direction orthogonal to at least the relative movement direction with the color recording paper The first light fixing device and a second light emitting element that emits an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength region peculiar to the second coloring layer as a light source for performing the light fixing of the second coloring layer is at least relative to the direction of relative movement with the color recording paper. Arranged in the orthogonal direction In the printer using the second optical fixing device, fixing that does not require optical fixing on the surface of the color recording paper for both the second coloring layer and the third coloring layer or only the second coloring layer based on the image data. When the color recording paper on which the third color forming layer is recorded passes through the irradiated area by the first optical fixing device, the first light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is turned off, A color in which the second color-developing layer is recorded by controlling the lighting / non-lighting of each first light-emitting element in synchronization with the relative movement with the color recording paper so that the first light-emitting elements corresponding to other portions are turned on. When the recording paper passes through the area irradiated by the second optical fixing device, the second light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is turned off, and the second light emitting elements corresponding to the other portions are turned on. , Synchronized with the color recording paper Characterized in that a control unit for controlling the lighting / non-lighting of the second light emitting device.

  According to the present invention, since the light emitting element corresponding to the portion of the thermal recording paper that does not require light fixing is turned off, the lighting of the light emitting element can be limited to the minimum necessary, and the heat generation of the light fixing device can be reduced. Can be suppressed.

  In FIG. 1 showing the configuration of a color thermal printer which is an embodiment of the present invention, a long color thermal recording paper 12 is used as a recording medium. The color thermal recording paper 12 is set in a color thermal printer in the form of a recording paper roll 14 wound in a roll.

  A paper feed roller 16 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the recording paper roll 14 and is driven by a drive motor 18. When the paper feed roller 16 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure, the recording paper roll 14 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, and the color thermal recording paper 12 is sent out from the recording paper roll 14. Conversely, when the paper feed roller 16 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure, the recording paper roll 14 is rotated clockwise in the figure, and the color thermal recording paper 12 is rewound onto the recording paper roll 14.

  In the vicinity of the recording paper roll 14, a pair of conveying rollers 20 is disposed that sandwiches and conveys the color thermal recording paper 12. The conveying roller pair 20 includes a capstan roller 20a that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 18 and a pinch roller 20b that is in pressure contact with the capstan roller 20a, and the color thermal recording paper 12 is fed to the right in the drawing direction. And reciprocatingly conveyed in the rewinding (printing) direction on the left side of the drawing.

  As is well known, the color thermosensitive recording paper 12 has a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer sequentially provided on a support. The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, which is the uppermost layer, has the highest thermal sensitivity and develops yellow with a small amount of heat energy. The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, which is the lowermost layer, has the lowest thermal sensitivity and develops cyan with large heat energy.

  The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, which is the first thermosensitive coloring layer, loses its coloring ability when irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays of 420 nm. The magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, which is the second thermosensitive coloring layer, develops magenta with intermediate heat energy between the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer and loses the coloring ability when irradiated with 365 nm ultraviolet rays. . The color thermosensitive recording paper 12 may have a four-layer structure by providing, for example, a black thermosensitive coloring layer.

  A thermal head 22 and a platen roller 24 are arranged on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction of the pair of conveyance rollers 20 so as to sandwich the conveyance path of the color thermal recording paper 12. The thermal head 22 is disposed above the conveyance path of the color thermal recording paper 12, and includes a heating element array 26 in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a line along the main scanning direction. Further, a head cover 28 for guiding the color thermal recording paper 12 toward the heating element array 26 and a heat radiating plate 30 for cooling the thermal head 22 are attached to the upper and lower portions of the thermal head 22.

  The platen roller 24 is disposed below the conveyance path at a position facing the heating element array 26. Further, the platen roller 24 is movable in the vertical direction by a shift mechanism such as a cam or a solenoid, and is urged in a direction in which the platen roller 24 is pressed against the thermal head 22 by a spring (not shown). The platen roller 24 is lowered by a shift mechanism at the time of paper supply and paper discharge, and forms a gap with the thermal head 22.

  The thermal head 22 sandwiches the color thermal recording paper 12 with the platen roller 24 when the color thermal recording paper 12 is conveyed in the rewind direction by the conveying roller pair 20, and brings the heating element array 26 to a predetermined temperature. By generating heat, each thermosensitive coloring layer of the color thermosensitive recording paper 12 is colored. The platen roller 24 rotates following the conveyance of the color thermal recording paper 12.

  On the downstream side of the thermal head 22 in the paper feeding direction, an optical fixing device 32 is disposed facing the recording surface of the color thermal recording paper 12. The optical fixing device 32 emits near-ultraviolet light having an emission peak of 420 nm to light-fix the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer (hereinafter referred to as Y-fixing light source) 34, and emits ultraviolet light having an emission peak of 365 nm. And a magenta fixing light source (hereinafter referred to as M fixing light source) 36 for light-fixing the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer.

  On the downstream side in the paper feeding direction of the optical fixing device 32, a cutter 38 that cuts the recorded color thermal recording paper 12 into a sheet shape at a predetermined position, and the sheet-shaped color thermal recording paper 12 is discharged from the discharge port 40. A paper discharge roller pair 42 is arranged. The paper discharge roller pair 42 is driven by a drive motor 44.

  In FIG. 2 showing the electrical configuration of the color thermal printer, a controller 50 controls the entire printer. Image data to be printed is taken into the frame memory 56 from the memory card 52 via the memory card slot 54. When the controller 50 receives a print command from the operation unit 58, the image data is transferred from the frame memory 56 to the line memory 60 line by line. The image data is converted into drive data by the drive data generator 62 and sent to the thermal head 22.

  The drive motors 18 and 44 are driven by the controller 50 via motor drivers 64 and 66, respectively. The Y fixing light source 34 and the M fixing light source 36 are controlled by the controller 50 via LED drivers 68 and 70, respectively. The control of the Y fixing light source 34 and the M fixing light source 36 will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 3 showing the state when the optical fixing device 32 is viewed from below, the Y fixing light source 34 is a yellow light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as Y LED) 72 that emits near ultraviolet rays having an emission peak of 420 nm. Are arranged on the substrate 74 in a lattice pattern in a plurality of columns (30 columns in the present embodiment) along the main scanning direction and in a plurality of rows (four rows in the present embodiment) along the sub-scanning direction. 50 controls the lighting / non-lighting of the individual Y LEDs 72 via the LED driver 68.

  Similarly to the Y fixing light source 34, the M fixing light source 36 includes a magenta light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as M LED) 76 that emits ultraviolet light having an emission peak of 365 nm along the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction. The LEDs are arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, and lighting / non-lighting of each M LED 76 is controlled via the LED driver 70.

  When there is a print command from the operation unit 58, the controller 50 first analyzes each of the Y, M, and C images constituting the image data with reference to the frame memory 56, and analyzes all of the Y, M, and C images. A portion to be recorded, a Y image is recorded, but a portion in which both M and C images are not recorded, and a portion in which Y and M images are recorded but a C image is not recorded are determined.

  The portion where all of the Y, M, and C images are not recorded is a white portion, and there is no need for light fixing. Further, the portion where the Y image is recorded but not both the M and C images is a yellow portion, and the M and C images are not overwritten on the recorded Y image, so there is no need for light fixing. That is, for the white portion and the yellow portion, neither of the LEDs 72 and 76 needs to be lit. The portion where Y and M images are recorded but C image is not recorded is a red system color portion in which yellow and magenta not containing cyan are mixed, and the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer needs to be light-fixed. Since there is no need to light-fix the thermosensitive coloring layer, the Y LED 72 needs to be lit, but the M LED 76 need not be lit.

  In the present embodiment shown in FIG. 3, since the peripheral portion 79 excluding the parent-child person image 78 recorded on the color thermal recording paper 12 is white, that is, the background color of the color thermal recording paper 12, Y, M , C images are not recorded, and it is not necessary to perform photofixing. Since the distance from the heating element array 26 of the thermal head 22 to each of the Y LED 72 and the M LED 76 is constant, the image thermally recorded by the heating element array 26 reaches the Y LED 72 and the M LED 76 when. This is determined by the conveyance speed of the color thermal recording paper 12. Accordingly, after recording the Y image for the person image 78, the controller 50 irradiates only the person image 78 with near-ultraviolet rays of 420 nm and does not irradiate other portions in synchronization with the conveyance of the color thermal recording paper 12. Then, control is performed to select the Y LED 72 to be lit. In FIG. 3, the Y LED 72 that is lit is hatched. The same applies to the lighting control of the M LED 76.

  Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When a print start operation is performed in the color thermal printer, the controller 50 first analyzes the image data of the image instructed for printing with reference to the frame memory 56 for each of the Y, M, and C images to obtain white, yellow, Also, the presence / absence of an image of the red color portion is checked (st1).

  On the other hand, the feed roller 16 starts to rotate by driving the drive motor 18. The paper feed roller 16 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and feeds the color thermal recording paper 12 from the recording paper roll 14. The color thermal recording paper 12 sent out from the recording paper roll 14 is sent between the capstan roller 20a and the pinch roller 20b of the conveying roller pair 20 arranged on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction.

  When a sensor (not shown) detects that the color thermal recording paper 12 is inserted between the capstan roller 20a and the pinch roller 20b of the conveying roller pair 20, the pinch roller 20b is moved away from the capstan roller 20a. The drive of the shift mechanism consisting of the cam and solenoid that has been moved is stopped, and the pinch roller 20b sandwiches the color thermal recording paper 12 with the capstan roller 20a by the bias of the spring.

  The capstan roller 20a of the conveyance roller pair 20 is rotated in the paper feeding direction by the drive motor 18, and pulls out the color thermal recording paper 12 from the recording paper roll 14 and conveys it in the paper feeding direction. When the color thermal recording paper 12 having a length equal to or longer than one print is conveyed in the paper feeding direction, the conveyance of the color thermal recording paper 12 by the conveyance roller pair 20 is temporarily stopped.

  After the conveyance of the color thermal recording paper 12 is stopped, the platen roller 24 is raised and the color thermal recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the thermal head 22. Next, the conveyance roller pair 20 conveys the color thermal recording paper 12 in the rewind direction at a printing conveyance speed slower than the conveyance speed at the time of paper feeding.

  When the leading end of the recording area of the color thermal recording paper 12 reaches the heating element array 26, the thermal head 22 causes the heating element array 26 to generate heat according to the yellow image, and thermally records the yellow image on the yellow thermal coloring layer (st2). . The color thermal recording paper 12 being conveyed in the rewind direction is rewound onto the recording paper roll 14 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 16.

  When the thermal recording of the yellow image is completed, the conveyance in the rewind direction by the conveyance roller pair 20 is stopped, the platen roller 24 is lowered, and the nipping of the color thermal recording paper 12 is released. The transport roller pair 20 transports the color thermal recording paper 12 again in the paper feed direction at the paper feed speed.

  At this time, the controller 50 turns on / off each Y LED 72 of the Y fixing light source 34 via the LED driver 68 in synchronization with the conveyance of the color thermal recording paper 12 based on the analysis result of the image data. To control. That is, while the white peripheral portion 79 passes through the ultraviolet irradiation region below the Y fixing light source 34, the Y LED 72 is not lit and the person image 78 passes below the Y fixing light source 34. In this case, only the Y LED 72 positioned above the person image 78 is lit and irradiated with near ultraviolet rays having a light emission peak of 420 nm, and only the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer on which the person image 78 is thermally recorded is photofixed. (St3). In this way, since the Y LED 72 that is lit changes as the size of the person image 78 that passes below the Y fixing light source 34 changes, the number and time that the Y LED 72 illuminates decreases, and the Y LED 72 illuminates. The amount of heat generated due to this is greatly reduced.

  The conveyance roller pair 20 stops conveyance of the color thermosensitive recording paper 12 in the paper feeding direction when the light fixing of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer is completed. While the color thermal recording paper 12 is stopped, the platen roller 24 rises and sandwiches the color thermal recording paper 12 with the thermal head 22. The conveyance roller pair 20 starts conveyance of the color thermosensitive recording paper 12 in the rewind direction. When the leading end of the recording area reaches the thermal head 22, the thermal head 22 generates heat in accordance with the magenta image of the heating element array 26, and thermally records the magenta image on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer (st4).

  When the thermal recording of the magenta image is completed, the conveyance in the rewind direction by the conveyance roller pair 20 is stopped, and the platen roller 24 is lowered to release the color thermal recording paper 12 from being nipped. Next, the color thermal recording paper 12 is transported in the paper feeding direction, and the M fixing is performed via the LED driver 70 in synchronization with the transport of the color thermal recording paper 12 in the same manner as the lighting / non-lighting control of the Y LED 72. Lighting / non-lighting of each M LED 76 of the light source 36 is controlled, and only the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer on which the person image 78 is thermally recorded is photofixed (st5). As a result, the number and time of lighting of the M LED 76 are reduced, so that the amount of heat generated due to the lighting of the M LED 76 is greatly reduced.

  When the light fixing of the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is completed, the conveyance of the color thermosensitive recording paper 12 is stopped, and the color thermosensitive recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the platen roller 24 and the thermal head 22. The color thermosensitive recording paper 12 is conveyed again in the rewinding direction, and a cyan image is thermally recorded on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer by the thermal head 22 (st6).

  When the cyan image thermal recording is completed, the conveyance roller pair 20 conveys the color thermal recording paper 12 in the paper feeding direction, and feeds the leading end of the color thermal recording paper 12 from the discharge port 30. Then, when the predetermined amount is sent out, the cutter 38 is operated to make the color thermal recording paper 12 into a sheet shape, and this color print is discharged from the discharge port 30 to the outside tray by the discharge roller pair 42 (st7).

  As the fixing light source, a general LED with a lead wire may be used, but it is preferable to use a chip-shaped LED mounted on a substrate in a grid pattern. Also, the Y fixing light source and the M fixing light source are provided separately. However, the Y LED and the M LED are mixedly mounted on the same substrate, and each LED is selectively emitted to fix the yellow fixing light source. A light source and a magenta fixing light source may be formed. Further, although the LEDs are arranged in a lattice pattern, they may be arranged in a staggered manner in the main scanning direction so as to be staggered in the sub-scanning direction.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment was a color thermal printer which uses a long color thermal recording paper and cut | disconnects after printing and produces a sheet-like color print, it prints on a sheet-like color thermal recording paper It can also be used in color thermal printers. The present invention can also be applied to a color thermal printer that performs thermal recording by winding a color thermal recording paper around a large-diameter platen drum.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a color thermal printer according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a color thermal printer. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the image thermally recorded, and LED of a fixing light source. It is a flowchart which shows the sequence of a color thermal printer.

Explanation of symbols

12 color thermal recording paper 22 thermal head 32 optical fixing device 34 fixing light source for Y 36 fixing light source for M 50 controller 72 LED for Y
76 M LED

Claims (4)

The head is driven based on the image data while moving relative to the recording paper, and is used in a printer that records an image on the surface of the recording paper. In a control method of an optical fixing device in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a direction orthogonal to at least a relative movement direction with respect to a recording paper as a light source for performing
A light-emitting element corresponding to the fixing-unnecessary portion when the recording paper passes through the irradiated area by the optical fixing device by determining a fixing-unnecessary portion that does not require light fixing on the surface of the recording paper based on the image data The light fixing device is characterized by controlling the lighting / non-lighting of each light emitting element in synchronization with the relative movement with the recording paper so that the light emitting element corresponding to the other part is turned on. Control method. First to third color developing layers having different colors to be developed are sequentially provided. At least the second and third color developing layers are provided with photofixing property by electromagnetic waves in a specific wavelength range, and the deeper the recording sensitivity is. Used in a printer that uses a lowered color recording paper and performs color recording and color fixing on the color recording paper by performing recording and light fixing in order from the third color developing layer as the uppermost layer while relatively moving the head and the head. And a plurality of first light emitting elements that emit electromagnetic waves in a wavelength region peculiar to the third color developing layer as light sources for photofixing the third color developing layer in a direction orthogonal to at least the relative movement direction with the color recording paper. A first light-fixing device arranged and a second light-emitting element that emits an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength region peculiar to the second color-developing layer as a light source for light-fixing the second color-developing layer at least relative to the direction of relative movement with the color recording paper Multiple in the orthogonal direction The control method of the optical fixing unit for controlling the second optical fixing unit arranged,
Based on the image data, both the second color development layer and the third color development layer or only the second color development layer are discriminated from the surface of the color recording paper where no fixing is required, and the third color development layer is recorded. When the printed color recording paper passes through the area irradiated by the first optical fixing device, the first light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is turned off, and the first light emitting elements corresponding to the other portions are turned on. As described above, the lighting / non-lighting of each first light emitting element is controlled in synchronization with the relative movement with the color recording paper, and the color recording paper on which the second color-developing layer is recorded passes through the irradiated area by the second optical fixing device. In this case, the second light emitting elements corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portions are not lit, and the second light emitting elements corresponding to the other portions are lit, in synchronization with the relative movement with the color recording paper. Controlling lighting / non-lighting of two light emitting elements The method of the fixing device. A head that is driven based on the image data and records an image on the surface of the recording paper while moving relative to the recording paper, and a plurality of light emitting elements at least in a direction perpendicular to the relative movement direction of the recording paper. In a printer provided with an optical fixing device arranged and optically fixing a recorded image by irradiating the recorded recording paper with light,
A discriminating unit for discriminating a fixing unnecessary portion that does not require light fixing in the surface of the recording paper based on the image data;
When the recording paper passes through the irradiated area by the optical fixing device, the light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is not lit, and the light emitting elements corresponding to other portions are lit. A printer comprising: a control unit that controls lighting / non-lighting of each light emitting element in synchronization with movement. First to third color developing layers having different colors to be developed are sequentially provided. At least the second and third color developing layers are provided with photofixing property by electromagnetic waves in a specific wavelength range, and the deeper the recording sensitivity is. Using the lowered color recording paper, the head and the head are moved relative to each other, and recording and light fixing are performed in order from the third color developing layer of the uppermost layer to color-record the color image on the color recording paper. A plurality of first light-emitting elements that emit electromagnetic waves in a wavelength region peculiar to the third color developing layer as light sources for performing light fixing of the three color developing layers are arranged in a direction orthogonal to at least the relative movement direction with the color recording paper. A first light-fixing device and a second light-emitting element that emits an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength region specific to the second coloring layer as a light source for performing light fixing of the second coloring layer is orthogonal to at least the relative movement direction with the color recording paper. Arranged in multiple directions In printers using a two optical fixing device,
A discriminating unit that discriminates a fixing unnecessary portion that does not require light fixing in the surface of the color recording paper for both the second coloring layer and the third coloring layer or only the second coloring layer based on the image data;
When the color recording paper on which the third color-developing layer is recorded passes through the area irradiated by the first optical fixing device, the first light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary portion is not lit, and the first light emission corresponding to the other portion is performed. The lighting / non-lighting of each first light emitting element is controlled in synchronization with the relative movement with the color recording paper so that the element is turned on, and the color recording paper on which the second coloring layer is recorded is obtained by the second optical fixing device. When passing through the irradiated area, the second light emitting element corresponding to the fixing unnecessary part is not lit, and the second light emitting element corresponding to the other part is lit. And a control unit that controls lighting / non-lighting of each second light emitting element in synchronization.

Images