JP2009148948A - Thermal printer and its controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal printer and its controlling method, on the thermal printer for executing printing by applying heat to every one of a plurality of printing regions from printing data and its controlling method of which the printing quality can be furthermore improved. <P>SOLUTION: In the thermal printer, in which heat is applied to every one of a plurality of the printing regions from the printing data for executing printing, thermal heads for applying heat to a plurality of the printing regions and warming patterns for applying heat to the thermal heads in response to printing data are set and, in addition, the thermal printer has a driving means for driving the thermal head from the warming pattern. Further, the driving means can make a batch warming pattern for applying heat collectively to a plurality of the printing regions changeable into a fractionated warming pattern, which apply heat en bloc to a plurality of the printing regions in every one of a plurality of periods obtained by partitioning the predetermined period within the warming pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal printer and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a thermal printer that performs printing by applying heat to each of a plurality of print areas based on print data and a control method thereof.

  A thermal head used in a line thermal printer has a structure in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a line, and a current is supplied according to a print image to generate heat. The thermal head is divided into a plurality of blocks and is driven for each printing block (see, for example, Patent Documents 1-3). The printing block is obtained by dividing a large number of heating elements arranged in a line for each predetermined number of heating elements.

  By dividing the heating element of the thermal head into a plurality of printing blocks and driving the printing blocks while shifting the heating time, the total current flowing through the thermal head can be suppressed when the printing energy is large.

  In such a thermal printer, printing is performed by supplying current to the heating element of the thermal head in synchronism with the paper feeding step and causing the heating element to generate heat. At this time, a current can be supplied to each printing block based on a predetermined heat application pattern.

    FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a heat application pattern of an example of a conventional thermal printer. In the figure, the satin portion shows a period during which heat is applied.

  The heat application pattern is mainly divided into a first heat application pattern and a second heat application pattern. The first heat application pattern is a pattern that allows heat to be applied simultaneously to the first to fourth print blocks B1 to B4.

  The second heat application pattern includes a two-divided pattern, a three-divided pattern, and a four-divided pattern. The two-division pattern allows heat to be applied simultaneously to the first and second printing blocks B1 and B2 in the first and second step periods S1 and S2, and the third and fourth printing blocks B3, In this pattern, heat can be applied to B4 simultaneously in the third and fourth step periods S3 and S4.

  The three-division pattern allows heat to be applied to the first print block B1 during the first step period S1, allows heat to be applied to the second print block B2 during the second step period S2, In this pattern, heat can be applied simultaneously to the fourth printing blocks B3 and B4 in the third and fourth step periods S3 and S4.

The quadrant pattern allows heat to be applied to the first print block B1 during the first step period S1, allows heat to be applied to the second print block B2 during the second step period S2, and the third print block B3. In this pattern, heat can be applied in the third step period S3, and heat can be applied to the fourth printing block B4 in the fourth step period S4.
JP-A 61-235167 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-19171 JP 2001-191573 A

  In a thermal printer that applies energy by dividing it into any number of print blocks according to the print density, when performing continuous batch printing and continuous multi-division printing, print at a relatively high quality It can be performed. On the other hand, when multi-division and batch printing are performed alternately, a space of 1 dot line at the maximum is left between the print block to which energy is applied last in the print line of multi-division printing immediately after batch printing and all lines. For example, when printing as shown in FIG. 2 is performed, printing degradation as indicated by arrows in FIG. 3 occurs. This is because the blank space becomes larger on the side of the fourth printing block B4 to which heat is applied in the last step period, and the width of the blank portion becomes wider.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a thermal printer and a control method thereof that can further improve the printing quality.

  The present invention is a thermal printer that performs printing by applying heat to a plurality of print areas based on print data, a thermal head that applies heat to the plurality of print areas, and a thermal head according to the print data A heat application pattern for applying heat to the print head and driving means for driving the thermal head based on the heat application pattern. The drive means collects a plurality of print areas within a predetermined period of the heat application pattern. Thus, the collective heat application pattern for applying heat can be switched to a divided heat application pattern for applying heat collectively to a plurality of printing areas for a plurality of periods obtained by dividing a predetermined period.

  Further, the plurality of periods are periods obtained by dividing the predetermined period into two, three, or four parts. Furthermore, heat is applied uniformly in each divided period.

  Furthermore, one period constituting the plurality of periods is a period corresponding to a paper feeding step. Further, heat is applied evenly in each divided period.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides a thermal printer control method for performing printing by driving a thermal head based on print data and applying heat to each of a plurality of print areas by the thermal head within the predetermined period. Before or after the first heat application pattern that collectively applies heat to the plurality of print areas, a second heat application that applies heat to the plurality of print areas in different periods within the predetermined period. When there is a pattern, in place of the first heat application pattern, a third heat application pattern that applies heat to the plurality of print areas in a plurality of periods collectively in the predetermined period. The thermal head is driven based on the above.

  According to the present invention, a pattern for applying heat to a thermal head that applies heat to a plurality of print areas is set according to print data, and printing is performed by driving the thermal head based on the set heat application pattern. In the thermal printer to perform, before or after the first heat application pattern for applying heat to the plurality of print areas at once within a predetermined period, for each of the plurality of print areas within a predetermined period When there is a second heat application pattern for applying heat, instead of the first heat application pattern, heat is applied to a plurality of print areas in a predetermined period and divided into a plurality of periods. By driving the thermal head based on the third heat application pattern, it is possible to reduce the period during which no heat is applied in the heat application pattern that requires continuous application of heat. Without lowering it can further improve print quality.

  FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

  The information processing system 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a host device 101, a printing device 102, and an interface cable 103. The host apparatus 101 and the printing apparatus 102 are connected via an interface cable 103, and data communication is performed via the interface cable 103.

  Data such as documents and charts created by the host apparatus 101 is transmitted via the interface cable 103 and provided to the printing apparatus 102. The printing apparatus 102 analyzes and processes the data from the host apparatus 101, develops it into an image, and prints it on a recording medium such as paper.

  The host device 101 is composed of a computer system.

  FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the host device 101.

  The host device 101 includes a CPU 111, a recording device 112, a memory 113, an interface circuit 114, an input device 115, and a display device 116.

  The CPU 111 executes processing based on a document creation program or the like installed in advance in the recording device 112 or the like.

  The recording device 112 is, for example, a hard disk drive or the like, in which a program to be processed by the CPU 111 is installed and processed data is stored. The memory 113 is, for example, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and is used as a working storage area for the CPU 111 and stores a BIOS and the like.

  The interface circuit 114 is connected to the interface cable 103 and performs data communication with the printing apparatus 102 via the interface cable 103.

  The input device 115 includes, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and a user inputs a document, issues a command, and the like.

  The display device 116 includes, for example, a CRT, an LCD, and the like, and displays data processed based on a program, print information, and the like.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus 102.

  The printing apparatus 102 includes an interface circuit 121, a microcomputer 122, a flash ROM 123, a RAM 124, an operation panel 125, a driver 126, a printing mechanism 127, an analog / digital conversion circuit 128, and a power source 129.

  The interface circuit 121 is connected to the interface cable 103, receives print data supplied from the host device 101 via the interface cable 103, and supplies the print data to the microcomputer 122.

  The microcomputer 122 executes print processing based on a print processing program installed in the flash ROM 123 in advance. The printing process executed by the microcomputer 122 generates various drive signals for driving the printing mechanism 127 via the driver 126 based on the print data supplied from the host apparatus 101.

  The flash ROM 123 is, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and stores a print processing program executed by the microcomputer 122, various setting values, a maximum address value of the stack area, and the like.

  The RAM 124 is used as a working storage area of the microcomputer 122, a bit image expansion area where a bit image is expanded, an effective data storage area that stores valid data among print data supplied from the host apparatus 101, and And an invalid data storage area for storing invalid data.

  The operation panel 125 includes operation keys, a status display device, etc., and performs on / off of the power source 129, a reset operation when an error occurs, and displays the status of the device.

  The driver 126 generates a drive signal for driving the printing mechanism 127 based on the print data supplied from the microcomputer 122 and supplies the driving signal to the printing mechanism 127.

  The printing mechanism 127 is a mechanism that drives each unit according to a driving signal supplied from the driver 126 and performs printing on a recording medium, for example, printing paper. For example, the thermal head 131, the paper feeding mechanism 132, the sensor 133, and the like. It is set as the structure containing.

  The thermal head 131 has a structure in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a line, and a current is supplied according to the print image to generate heat. The thermal head 131 can be driven for each print block. The printing block is obtained by dividing a large number of heating elements arranged in a line for each predetermined number of heating elements.

  By driving the thermal head 131 for each printing block, for example, the heating element can be driven with a time shift for each printing block, and the current flowing through the thermal head 131 can be suppressed even when the printing energy is large. It becomes like this.

  The paper feed mechanism 132 includes a stepping motor and the like, and moves printing paper of a predetermined length for each step.

  The sensor 133 is a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the thermal head 131, a sensor that detects that there is no printing paper, a sensor that detects that a cover member that covers the thermal head 131, the paper feed mechanism 132, and the like is in an open state. The detection result is supplied to the analog-digital conversion circuit 128.

  The analog-digital conversion circuit 128 converts various detection signals detected by the sensor 133 into digital data and supplies the digital data to the microcomputer 122. The microcomputer 122 detects the state of the printing apparatus 102 according to the data from the analog-digital conversion circuit 128, for example, permits printing if it is in a normal state and prohibits printing if it is in an error state. The status of the printing apparatus 102 is displayed at 125 or the like.

  The power source 129 includes a battery, a power circuit, and the like, and supplies power to the internal circuit of the printing apparatus 102.

  Next, the print control operation will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows a process flowchart of the printing process by the microcomputer 122.

  When the microcomputer 122 receives the print data in step S1-1, the microcomputer 122 analyzes the print data received in step S1-2, and sets a heat application pattern based on the analysis result of the print data in step S1-3.

  Next, the microcomputer 122 detects a portion of the heat application pattern set in step S1-4 that transitions from the first heat application pattern to the second heat application pattern. If there is a part where the microcomputer 122 transitions from the first heat application pattern to the second heat application pattern in the heat application pattern set in step S1-4, the microcomputer 122 applies the first heat application of that part in step S1-5. The pattern is replaced with the third heat application pattern.

  In step S1-6, the microcomputer 122 drives the paper feed mechanism 132 and drives the thermal head 131 with the set heat application pattern to print on the printing paper.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a heat application pattern of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A shows an example of a basic pattern, and FIG. 8B shows an example of a heat application pattern.

  The first heat application pattern is a pattern that allows heat application to the first to fourth printing blocks B1 to B4 of the thermal head 131 simultaneously. One printing block is composed of 50 to 80 heating elements, for example.

  The second heat application pattern is composed of a two-divided pattern, a three-divided pattern, and a four-divided pattern.

  The two-division pattern includes, for example, the first and second printing blocks B1 and B2 in the first and second step periods S1 and S2, and the third and fourth printing blocks B3 and B4 in the third and fourth step periods S3, In this pattern, heat can be applied simultaneously in S4.

  The three-division pattern includes, for example, the first printing block B1 in the first step period S1, the second printing block B2 in the second step period S2, the third and fourth blocks in the third and fourth step periods S3 and S4. This is a heat application pattern that enables heat application.

  In the quadrant pattern, the first printing block B1 is in the first step period S1, the second printing block B2 is in the second step period S2, the third printing block B3 is in the third step period S3, and the fourth printing block B4 is It is the heat application pattern which enables heat application in 4th step period S4.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B, the first heat application pattern arranged before and after the second heat application pattern is replaced with the third heat application pattern, as shown in FIG. 8C. Such a heat application pattern is obtained.

  Thus, for example, the period Δt1 during which no heat is applied as shown in FIG. 8B can be shortened to the period Δt11 as shown in FIG. 8C.

  Next, a description will be given of a printing result when printing is performed using a heat application pattern in which the first heat application pattern before and after the second heat application pattern is replaced with the third heat application pattern.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the printing result of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a printing result when printing is performed using a heat application pattern obtained by replacing the first heat application pattern before the second heat application pattern with a third heat application pattern. In the printing result shown in FIG. 9, the blank is emphasized from the actual printing result in order to show the effect of this embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment, the period during which no heat is applied can be shortened by replacing the first heat application pattern arranged before and after the second heat application pattern with the third heat application pattern. The width d4 of the blank portion generated in the fourth print block B4 shown can be significantly reduced compared to the width of the blank portion of the fourth block B4 shown in FIG. Further, the difference from the width d1 of the blank portion of the first print block B1 indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9 is also reduced. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the print quality.

  In addition, although the present Example demonstrated the example which divided the heat application period of the 1st heat application pattern into 1st, 2nd step period S1, S2, and 3rd, 4th step period S3, S4. The dividing method is not limited to the above method.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a first modification of the third heat application pattern.

  In the third heat application pattern of the present modification, the heat application period is divided into two in the first to third step periods S1 to S3 and the fourth step period S4. According to this modification, when the third heat application pattern of this modification is arranged before the second heat application pattern, the maximum period during which no heat is generated is shown in FIG. 8 as indicated by Δt2 in FIG. This can be further shortened compared to the third heat application pattern.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a second modification of the third heat application pattern.

  In the third heat application pattern of the present modification, the heat application period is divided into two in the first step period S1 and the second to fourth step periods S2-S4. According to this modification, heat can be applied with a heat application pattern close to the first heat application pattern.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a third modification of the third heat application pattern.

  In the third heat application pattern of this modification, the heat application period is divided into three parts by the first step period S1, the second step period S2, the third and fourth step periods S3, S4. According to this modification, the heat application period can be dispersed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a fourth modification of the third heat application pattern.

  In the third heat application pattern of this modification, the heat application period is divided into three parts by the first step period S1 and the second, third step period S2, S3 and the fourth step period S4. According to this modification, the heat application period can be dispersed.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a fifth modification of the third heat application pattern.

  The third heat application pattern of the present modification is obtained by dividing the heat application period into three parts by the first and second step periods S1, S2, the third step period S3, and the fourth step period S4. According to this modification, the heat application period can be dispersed.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining a sixth modification of the third heat application pattern.

  In the third heat application pattern of this modification, the heat application period is divided into four parts by the first step period S1, the second step period S2, the third step period S3, and the fourth step period S4. According to this modification, the heat application period can be dispersed.

  In addition, in the set heat application pattern, when the two-part second heat application pattern continues, either one of the two-part second heat application patterns may be replaced with the fourth heat application pattern. Good.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the fourth heat application pattern.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the fourth heat application pattern is collectively applied in the first and second step periods S1 and S2 of the first and second print blocks B1 and B2 in the second heat application pattern. The pattern is divided and applied in the first step period S1 and the second step period S2, and is applied in the third and fourth step periods S3 and S4 of the third and fourth printing blocks B3 and B4. This is a heat application pattern in which the pattern is divided and applied in a third step period S3 and a fourth step period S4.

  In the present embodiment, the heat application pattern is divided into two for the step period, but may be divided into four for the step period.

  FIG. 17 is a view for explaining a modification of the fourth heat application pattern.

  The fourth heat application pattern of the present modification is a pattern in which the first and second printing blocks B1 and B2 are applied together in the first and second step periods S1 and S2 among the second heat application patterns. 1--fourth step periods S1-S4 are applied in four divisions, and the third and fourth printing blocks B3, B4 are applied collectively in the third, fourth step periods S3, S4. It is a heat application pattern applied in four divisions in the fourth step period S1-S4.

  According to this modification, the heat application pattern can be dispersed.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the 3rd or 4th heat application pattern which divided | segmented the 1st heat application pattern according to the heat application pattern was employ | adopted, the heat application period of the 1st heat application pattern was made into application energy. Accordingly, the first heat application pattern may be divided.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the first heat application pattern.

  The first heat application pattern of this modification example is composed of heat application patterns P1 to P4.

  The heat application pattern P1 is a pattern in which heat is applied collectively in the first to fourth application blocks B1 and B4 in the first to fourth step periods S1 to S4. The heat application pattern P2 is divided into two parts by the first and second step periods S1 and S2 and the third and fourth step periods S3 and S4, and heat is collectively applied to the first to fourth application blocks B1 and B4. This is a pattern to be applied.

  The heat application pattern P3 is divided into three parts by the first step period S1, the second step period S2, the third and fourth step periods S3 and S4, and the first to fourth application blocks B1 and B4 are collectively heated. Is a pattern to apply. Note that the heat application pattern P3 is divided into three parts by the first and second step periods S1, S2, the third step period S3, and the fourth step period S4, and collectively into the first to fourth application blocks B1 and B4. The pattern in which heat is applied, the first step period S1 and the second, the third step period S2, the S3 and the fourth step period S4 are divided into three and collectively into the first to fourth application blocks B1 and B4. A pattern in which heat is applied, a pattern in which heat is applied to the first to fourth application blocks B1 and B4 in three parts by the second step period S2, the third step period S3, and the fourth step period S4. Either may be sufficient.

  Further, the heat application pattern P4 is divided into four parts by the first step period S1, the second step period S2, the third step period S3, and the fourth step period S4, and the first to fourth application blocks B1. In this pattern, heat is applied collectively to B4.

  The heat application patterns P1 to P4 are applied based on the applied energy obtained from the ambient temperature, applied voltage, printing speed, and the like. For example, when the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a first threshold temperature, the heat application pattern P1 is used, and when the ambient temperature is higher than the first threshold temperature and equal to or lower than the second threshold temperature, the heat application pattern P2 is used. Is higher than the second threshold temperature and lower than or equal to the third threshold temperature, the heat application pattern P3 is used, and when the ambient temperature is higher than the third threshold temperature, the heat application pattern P4 is used.

  Further, when the voltage applied to the thermal head 131 is equal to or lower than the first threshold, the heat application pattern P1 is used. When the voltage applied to the thermal head 131 is higher than the first threshold and equal to or lower than the second threshold, heat is applied. When the pattern P2 is used and the voltage applied to the thermal head 131 is greater than the second threshold value and less than or equal to the third threshold value, the heat application pattern P3 is used and the voltage applied to the thermal head 131 is greater than the third threshold value. Sometimes, the heat application pattern P4 is used.

  Further, when the printing speed is equal to or lower than the first threshold value, the heat application pattern P4 is used, and when the printing speed is higher than the first threshold value and equal to or lower than the second threshold value, the heat application pattern P3 is used. When the printing speed is greater than the third threshold, the heat application pattern P1 is used when the print speed is greater than the third threshold.

  Further, the applied energy may be obtained by combining the ambient temperature, the applied voltage, the printing speed, etc., and the heat application patterns P1 to P4 may be selected according to the applied energy.

  In this embodiment, the thermal head divided into four printing blocks has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a thermal head having two printing blocks or more. In addition, although one heat application pattern is expressed in the four-step period, it is needless to say that it can be applied as long as one heat application pattern is expressed in two or more step periods.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It cannot be overemphasized that a various modified example can be considered in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

It is a figure for demonstrating the heat application pattern of an example of the conventional thermal printer. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing result by the conventional heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing result by the conventional heat application pattern. It is a system configuration figure of one example of the present invention. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a host device 101. FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the printing apparatus 102. FIG. 5 is a process flowchart of a printing process of a microcomputer 122. It is a figure which shows the heat application pattern of one Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the printing result of one Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st modification of a heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd modification of a heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the 3rd modification of a heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the 4th modification of a 3rd heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the 5th modification of a 3rd heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the 6th modification of a 3rd heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating a 4th heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of a 4th heat application pattern. It is a figure for demonstrating the 5th heat application pattern.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Information processing system 101 Host apparatus, 102 Printing apparatus 111 CPU, 112 Recording apparatus, 113 Memory, 114 Interface circuit 115 Input apparatus, 116 Display apparatus 121 Interface circuit, 122 Microcomputer, 123 Flash ROM
124 RAM, 125 operation panel, 126 driver, 127 printing mechanism 128 analog-digital conversion circuit, 129 power supply 131 thermal head, 132 paper feed mechanism

Claims (14)

A thermal printer that performs printing by applying heat to each of a plurality of print areas based on print data,
A thermal head for applying heat to the plurality of print areas;
A heat application pattern for applying heat to the thermal head according to the print data, and driving means for driving the thermal head based on the heat application pattern;
The driving means is configured to apply a batch heat application pattern for applying heat to the plurality of print areas in a predetermined period of the heat application pattern for each of a plurality of periods obtained by dividing the predetermined period. A thermal printer that can be switched to a divided heat application pattern that applies heat to the entire area. The driving means replaces the collective heat application pattern when there is a heat application pattern for applying heat in different periods for each of the plurality of print regions within the predetermined period before or after the collective heat application pattern. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal head is driven based on the divided heat application pattern. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of periods are periods obtained by dividing the predetermined period into two, three, or four. 4. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of periods is a period corresponding to a paper feeding step. 5. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is divided into a plurality of equal periods. 6. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit switches the collective heat application pattern to the divided heat application pattern based on heat application patterns before and after the collective heat application pattern. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit switches the collective heat application pattern to the divided heat application pattern in accordance with heat applied during the predetermined period. A method of controlling a thermal printer that performs printing by applying heat to each of a plurality of print areas based on print data,
A batch heat application pattern that collectively applies heat to the plurality of print areas within the predetermined period among the heat application patterns is collectively collected in the plurality of print areas for each of a plurality of periods obtained by dividing the predetermined period. A control method for a thermal printer that can be switched to a divided heat application pattern for applying heat. Before or after the collective heat application pattern, when there is a heat application pattern for applying heat in a different period for each of the plurality of printing regions within the predetermined period, the divided heat application is performed instead of the collective heat application pattern. The thermal printer control method according to claim 8, wherein heat is applied to the plurality of regions based on a pattern. 10. The thermal printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of periods are periods obtained by dividing the predetermined period into two, three, or four. 11. The thermal printer control method according to claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of periods is a period corresponding to a paper feeding step. The thermal printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined period is divided into a plurality of equal periods. The thermal printer control method according to claim 8, wherein the collective heat application pattern is switched to the divided heat application pattern based on heat application patterns before and after the collective heat application pattern. The thermal printer control method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the collective heat application pattern is switched to the divided heat application pattern in accordance with heat applied during the predetermined period.

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