JP2008221558A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can reduce the maximum power consumption, the apparatus size, and the cost, and to provide a printing method. <P>SOLUTION: Based on print data printed on a reversible theromosensitive recording medium 1-1, a control section 5 operates the rate of printing on the reversible theromosensitive recording medium 1-1. The control section 5 judges whether the rate of printing thus operated is more than a threshold or not. If it is less than the threshold, a print section 3 performs printing on the reversible theromosensitive recording medium 1-1. At the same time, an erasing section 2 erases characters printed on the reversible theromosensitive recording medium 1-2. If the rate of printing is more than the threshold, the print section 3 performs printing on the reversible theromosensitive recording medium 1-1. Subsequently, the erasing section 2 erases characters printed on the reversible theromosensitive recording medium 1-2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus and a printing method capable of simultaneously executing printing and erasing on a reversible thermosensitive recording medium.

  Conventionally, an erasing process for erasing characters transferred to a reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, and a reversible thermosensitive recording by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium. 2. Description of the Related Art A rewritable printer that can simultaneously execute a printing process for printing characters on a medium is known.

  In such a rewritable printer, the power required for the printing process differs depending on the printing rate. For example, when printing with a high printing rate is performed, the printing process requires a large amount of power.

Therefore, a conventional rewritable printer is equipped with a power supply with a margin so as to sufficiently guarantee the general required power in consideration of the printing rate most frequently used in practice. Further, Patent Document 1 describes a printer device capable of changing the printing speed depending on the printing rate and reducing the maximum power consumption. Further, Patent Document 2 describes a printer device that can supply power according to the maximum power consumption by mounting an optional power supply depending on the printing rate.
JP-A-5-533 JP-A-8-142366

  However, when a power source with a margin added to the necessary power source capacity is mounted, there is a problem that the size of the power source increases and the cost also increases.

  In addition, when the technique of Patent Document 1 is applied to a rewritable printer, the printing speed is changed depending on the printing rate, and therefore it is necessary to select a motor that can be used in a low speed to high speed area for speed switching. Further, there is a need for a reversible thermosensitive recording medium that appropriately develops color from a low speed to a high speed range and appropriately discolors. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost is increased as compared with the case of using a motor that is assumed to be used at a constant speed or a reversible thermosensitive recording medium that is assumed to be colored or decolored in a constant speed region. .

  In addition, when the technique of Patent Document 2 is applied to a rewritable printer, there is a problem that the cost increases because a plurality of power supplies must be prepared to switch the power supply depending on the printing rate.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer apparatus and a printing method that can reduce the maximum power consumption, reduce the apparatus size, and reduce the cost.

  An erasing unit that performs an erasing process on characters transferred to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, and the reversible by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium. Printing means for performing a printing process for printing characters on a heat-sensitive recording medium, a simultaneous process for simultaneously performing the printing process and the erasing process, and a sequential process for sequentially performing the printing process and the previous erasing process And a control unit that selects according to the rate.

 An erasing step of erasing characters transferred to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium; and applying the heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium, Control for selecting a printing step for printing characters on a thermal recording medium, simultaneous processing for simultaneously performing the printing step and the erasing step, and sequential processing for sequentially performing the printing step and the erasing step according to the printing rate A printing method comprising: a step.

  According to the present invention, when the printing rate is high and the power used in the printing process is large, the erasing process and the printing process are performed in order, so that the necessary power can be supplied in order in the printing process and the erasing process. The maximum power consumption can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a rewritable printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Recording media 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 are reversible thermosensitive recording media capable of repeatedly performing printing and erasing with heat. The erasing unit 2 is an erasing unit that performs an erasing process on characters transferred to the recording media 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. The erasing unit 2 is provided with an erasing thermal head 2-1, a platen roller 2-2, and a conveying motor 2-3. The printing unit 3 is a printing unit that performs a printing process for printing characters on the recording media 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. The printing unit 3 is provided with a printing thermal head 3-1, a platen roller 3-2, and a transport motor 3-3. The data storage unit 4 is a storage unit that stores data to be printed by the printing unit 3. Further, the control unit 5 calculates a printing rate from the data to be subjected to the printing process in the printing unit 3, and performs a simultaneous process for simultaneously performing the printing process and the erasing process, and a sequential process for sequentially performing the printing process and the erasing process. Control means for selecting according to the printing rate. Further, performing the processing in order means that the next processing is performed after the previous processing is completed. A conveyance path 6 is a conveyance path for the recording media 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. A conveyance direction P indicates the conveyance direction of the recording media 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3.

  Next, a recording medium erasing process and a printing process in this embodiment will be described. As an example, a case where printing is continuously performed on three recording media 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 will be described. FIG. 2 shows the procedure of the erasing process and the printing process of the recording medium, which will be described with reference to FIG. 2 as appropriate.

  First, the data storage unit 4 transfers print data to be printed on the first recording medium 1-1 to the control unit 5 (step S201). The control unit 5 calculates a printing rate for printing on the first recording medium 1-1 based on the printing data (step S202). The controller 5 determines whether or not the printing rate calculated in step S202 is greater than or equal to a threshold value (step S203). If the printing rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S204 in order to perform sequential processing for erasing the second character after printing the first character. On the other hand, if the printing rate is less than the threshold value, the process advances to step S215 to perform simultaneous processing for simultaneously printing the first character and erasing the second character.

  If the printing rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value in step S203, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the first recording medium 1-1 (step S204). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the first recording medium 1-1. At the same time, the data storage unit 4 transfers print data to be printed on the second recording medium 1-2 to the control unit 5 (step S205). The controller 5 calculates the printing rate for printing on the second recording medium 1-2 based on the transferred print data (step S206). Subsequently, the control unit 5 determines whether or not the printing rate calculated in step S206 is equal to or greater than a threshold value (step S207). If the printing rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S208 in order to perform a sequential process of erasing the third character after printing the second character. On the other hand, if the printing rate is less than the threshold value, the process advances to step S212 in order to perform simultaneous processing for simultaneously printing the second character and deleting the third character.

  If the printing rate is greater than or equal to the threshold value in step S207, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the second recording medium 1-2 (step S208). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the second recording medium 1-2. At the same time, the data storage unit 4 transfers the print data to be printed on the third recording medium 1-3 to the control unit 5 (step S209). Subsequently, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the third recording medium 1-3 (step S210). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the third recording medium 1-3 (step S211). This completes the printing of three sheets.

  If the printing rate printed on the second recording medium 1-2 determined in step S207 is less than the threshold value, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the second recording medium 1-2. (Step S212). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the second recording medium 1-2. At the same time, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the third recording medium 1-3. At the same time, the data storage unit 4 transfers print data to be printed on the third recording medium 1-3 to the control unit 5 (step S213). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the third recording medium 1-3 (step S214). This completes the printing of three sheets.

  If the printing rate printed on the first recording medium 1-1 determined in step S203 is less than the threshold value, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the first recording medium 1-1. (Step S215). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the first recording medium 1-1, and the erasing unit 2 simultaneously erases characters printed on the second recording medium 1-2. At the same time, the data storage unit 4 transfers print data to be printed on the second recording medium 1-2 to the control unit 5 (step S216). The control unit 5 calculates the printing rate based on the printing data to be printed on the second recording medium 1-2 (step S217). The controller 5 determines whether or not the printing rate calculated in step S217 is greater than or equal to a threshold value (step S218). If the printing rate is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S219 in order to perform a sequential process of erasing the third character after printing the second character. On the other hand, if the printing rate is less than the threshold value, the process advances to step S223 to perform simultaneous processing for simultaneously printing the second character and erasing the third character.

  Subsequently, when the printing rate is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the second recording medium 1-2. At the same time, the data storage unit 4 transfers the print data to be printed on the third recording medium 1-3 to the control unit 5 (step S219). Subsequently, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the third recording medium 1-3 (step S220). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the third recording medium 1-3 (step S221). This completes the printing of three sheets.

  If the printing rate for printing on the second recording medium 1-2 determined in step S218 is less than the threshold value, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the second recording medium 1-2. At the same time, the erasing unit 2 erases the characters printed on the third recording medium 1-3. At the same time, the data storage unit 4 transfers print data to be printed on the third recording medium 1-3 to the control unit 5 (step S222). Subsequently, the printing unit 3 prints characters on the third recording medium 1-3 (step S223). This completes the printing of three sheets.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the printing rate printed by the printing unit 3 is high and the power used by the printing unit 3 is large, the characters are erased by the erasing unit 2 and the characters are printed by the printing unit 3. By performing printing in order, the maximum power consumption can be reduced. Further, by reducing the maximum power consumption, the power source can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration and method are not limited to this embodiment, and the design, method, and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included. included.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a rewritable printer apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the continuous issue process by embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1-1 to 1-3 ... recording medium, 2 ... erasing section, 2-1 ... thermal head for erasing, 2-2,3-2 ... platen roller, 2-3,3- DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Motor for conveyance, 3 ... Printing part, 3-1 ... Thermal head for printing, 4 ... Data storage part, 5 ... Control part, 6 ... Conveyance path

Claims (2)

An erasing unit for performing an erasing process of characters printed on the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium;
Printing means for performing printing processing for printing characters on the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium;
A control means for selecting a simultaneous process for performing the printing process and the erasing process at the same time, and a sequential process for sequentially performing the printing process and the erasing process according to a printing rate;
A printer apparatus comprising: An erasing step of erasing characters printed on the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium;
A printing step of printing characters on the reversible thermosensitive recording medium by applying heat to the reversible thermosensitive recording medium;
A control step of selecting, according to a printing rate, simultaneous processing for simultaneously performing the printing step and the erasing step, and sequential processing for sequentially performing the printing step and the erasing step;
A printing method characterized by comprising:

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