JP2012035472A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer in which temperature of a thermal head is made to greatly contribute to improvement of printing quality even if a printing cycle is varied.SOLUTION: First, a basic energizing pulse is determined based on the detected temperature of the thermal head (S102, S104 and S105). Next, the printing cycle is determined based on the determined basic energizing pulse and predetermined time (S110). Thereafter, a history correction pulse is determined based on a history correction factor corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energizing pulse (S111 and S112). The printing cycle is switched to the determined one, and history control is performed so as to use either the determined history correction pulse or the determined basic energizing pulse based on the printing history (S113 and S114).

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer using a thermal head.

  Conventionally, in a printer using a thermal head, the printing quality may not be maintained when the printing speed is variable. For example, if a table required for so-called history control that adjusts applied energy in consideration of the effect of heat storage due to past printing is used for high-speed printing, dots may be difficult to appear during low-speed printing. On the other hand, when the history table is adjusted for low-speed printing, dots may become too dark during high-speed printing.

  In this regard, the printer described in Patent Document 1 described below can achieve high-quality printing regardless of high-speed printing or low-speed printing according to the type of medium. Therefore, in the printer described in Patent Document 1 below, the printing speed is switched according to the reference set temperature corresponding to the set printing density and the temperature information detected from the thermal head, and the printing drive time is set according to the switched printing speed. The history control is performed so that the set print drive time is corrected based on the history table corresponding to the switched print speed and the print history.

Japanese Patent No. 3304046

However, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, the thermal control of the thermal head is performed in the order of the following (1) and (2).
(1) First, the printing speed is switched by “temperature data relating to the thermal head” composed of the reference set temperature corresponding to the set printing density and the temperature information detected from the thermal head.
(2) Next, after setting the print drive time according to the switched print speed, the print drive time is corrected based on the history table corresponding to the print speed and the print history.

  Accordingly, the “temperature data relating to the thermal head” is directly taken into account when switching the printing speed. Next, “temperature data related to the thermal head” must be “corresponding to the switched printing speed” or “corresponding to the switched printing speed” when setting / correcting the printing drive time. Is considered indirectly. That is, the influence of the “temperature data relating to the thermal head” is greater when the print speed is directly linked to the print processing time than when the print drive time is directly set and corrected for the print quality.

  Therefore, it can be said that the thermal control of the thermal head performed by the printer described in Patent Document 1 gives priority to the switching of the printing processing time over the printing quality. That is, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, as described above, even if it is possible to realize high-quality printing regardless of high-speed printing or low-speed printing according to the type of medium, It is thought that there is a certain limit to the height of the quality.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that greatly contributes to improving the print quality by the temperature of the thermal head even when the print cycle is variable. .

  The invention according to claim 1 made to solve this problem is a printer, a means for detecting a temperature of a thermal head, a means for determining a basic energization pulse based on the detected temperature, A means for determining a printing cycle based on the determined basic energization pulse and a predetermined time, and a history correction pulse is determined based on the history correction coefficient corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energization pulse. Means for switching to the determined printing cycle, and means for controlling the history to use either the determined history correction pulse or the determined basic energization pulse based on the printing history. Provided.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the printer according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a voltage, and the means for determining the basic energization pulse is detected in addition to the detected temperature. The basic energization pulse is determined based on the voltage.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of divisions is based on the maximum number of on dots per line and the number of on dots per line corresponding to the power capacity. Means for determining the print cycle, wherein the means for determining the print cycle determines the print cycle based on the determined number of divisions in addition to the determined basic energization pulse and the predetermined time. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the print density setting means and a density correction coefficient corresponding to the set print density. And means for determining an energization pulse after density correction based on the determined basic energization pulse, and means for determining the printing cycle, means for determining the history correction pulse, and means for controlling the history The determined energization pulse after density correction is used in place of the determined basic energization pulse.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided the printer according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the medium detecting unit, the medium correction coefficient corresponding to the detected medium, and the medium are detected. Means for determining an energization pulse after medium correction based on the determined basic energization pulse, the means for determining the printing cycle, the means for determining the history correction pulse, and the means for controlling the history, The determined medium energization pulse is used instead of the determined basic energization pulse.

  That is, in the printer according to the first aspect of the invention, first, the basic energization pulse is determined based on the detected temperature of the thermal head, and then the print cycle is determined based on the determined basic energization pulse and the predetermined time. decide. Thereafter, a history correction pulse is determined based on the history correction coefficient corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energization pulse, and the determined history correction pulse or the determined basic is determined by switching to the determined printing cycle. History control is performed so that any one of the energization pulses is used based on the print history. Therefore, the influence of the detected temperature of the thermal head is more in the determination / correction of the basic energization pulse (determining the history correction pulse) directly related to the print quality than in the determination of the print cycle directly related to the print processing time. Is bigger. In other words, the thermal control of the thermal head prioritizing the printing quality over the switching of the printing cycle is performed, so even when the printing cycle is varied, the temperature of the thermal head can greatly contribute to the improvement of the printing quality. .

  In the printer according to the second aspect of the invention, since the basic energization pulse is determined based on the detected voltage in addition to the detected temperature of the thermal head, the temperature of the thermal head is added even when the printing cycle is varied. Even the voltage can greatly contribute to the improvement of printing quality.

  In the printer of the invention according to claim 3, after determining the division number based on the maximum number of on dots per line and the number of on dots per line corresponding to the power capacity, the determined basic energization pulse and The printing cycle is determined based on the determined number of divisions in addition to the predetermined time. Therefore, the history correction pulse determined based on the history correction coefficient corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energization pulse is affected by the number of divisions. That is, even when the printing cycle is varied, it is possible to contribute to the improvement of the printing quality suitable for the number of divisions.

  In the printer of the invention according to claim 4, the energization pulse after density correction is determined based on the density correction coefficient corresponding to the set print density and the determined basic energization pulse, and then the printing cycle is determined. When determining the history correction pulse and controlling the history, the determined energized pulse after density correction is used instead of the determined basic energized pulse. Therefore, even when the print cycle is varied, the print density set in addition to the temperature of the thermal head can greatly contribute to the improvement of print quality.

  In the printer of the invention according to claim 5, after determining the energization pulse after the medium correction based on the medium correction coefficient corresponding to the detected medium and the determined basic energization pulse, When determining the history correction pulse and controlling the history, the energized pulse after the medium correction determined instead of the determined basic energization pulse is used. Therefore, even when the printing cycle is varied, the detected medium as well as the temperature of the thermal head can greatly contribute to the improvement of the printing quality.

  In particular, since the detected medium has an appropriate print density, the fact that the detected medium is used for improving the print quality means that the print density is indirectly used for improving the print quality. Is equal.

1 is an external perspective view of a tape printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the top view which showed the cassette storage part periphery of the same tape printer. It is the figure which expanded and showed the thermal head of the same tape printer. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the tape printer. It is the flowchart figure which showed the printing control program for carrying out 1st drive control of the thermal head of the same tape printer. It is the figure which showed an example of the temperature-voltage table. It is the figure which showed an example of the medium correction table. It is the figure which showed an example of the density | concentration correction table. It is the figure which showed an example of the log | history correction table. It is the figure which showed an example of the temperature table. It is the figure which showed the example of electricity supply of a thermal head.

[1. External configuration of the present invention]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a tape printer 1 according to an embodiment of a “printer” of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the tape printer 1. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the vicinity of the cassette housing portion of the tape printer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the tape printer 1 is a printer that performs printing on a tape that is ejected from a tape cassette 5 (see FIG. 2) built in the housing. And a liquid crystal display 4. Similarly, a cassette housing portion 8 (see FIG. 2) for housing the tape cassette 5 having a rectangular shape in plan view is disposed on the upper surface of the housing so as to be covered with a housing cover 9. A control board (not shown) is disposed below the keyboard 3. Further, a tape discharge port 10 through which a printed tape is discharged is formed on the left side surface portion of the cassette housing portion 8. A connection interface (not shown) is disposed on the right side surface of the tape printer 1. This connection interface is used when making a wired or wireless connection with an external device (for example, a personal computer). Therefore, the tape printer 1 can also print the print data transmitted from the external device.

  The keyboard 3 includes a plurality of types of input keys such as a character input key 3A, a print key 3B, a cursor key 3C, a power key 3D, a setting key 3E, and a return key 3R. The character input key 3A is used for character input when creating text composed of document data. The print key 3B is used when instructing printing of print data composed of created text or the like. The cursor key 3C is used when the cursor displayed on the liquid crystal display 4 is moved up, down, left and right. The power key 3D is used when turning on or off the power of the apparatus main body. The setting key 3E is used when performing various settings (print density setting, etc.) of the tape printer 1. The return key 3R is used when a line feed command, execution of various processes, or selection determination is commanded.

  On the other hand, the liquid crystal display 4 is a display device that displays characters such as characters over a plurality of lines, and can display print data and the like created by the keyboard 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tape printer 1 is configured such that the tape cassette 5 can be attached to the internal cassette housing portion 8. Further, a tape cutting mechanism including a tape drive printing mechanism 16 and a cutter 17 is disposed inside the tape printer 1. The tape printer 1 can perform printing based on desired print data on the tape drawn from the tape cassette 5 by the tape drive printing mechanism 16. The tape printer 1 can cut the printed tape by the cutter 17 of the tape cutting mechanism. The cut tape is discharged from a tape discharge port 10 formed on the left side surface of the tape printer 1.

A cassette housing frame 18 is disposed inside the tape printer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the tape cassette 5 is detachably attached to the cassette housing portion frame 18.
The tape cassette 5 includes therein a tape spool 32, a ribbon supply spool 34, a take-up spool 35, a base material supply spool 37, and a joining roller 39, and each is rotatably supported by a shaft. A surface tape 31 is wound around the tape spool 32. The surface layer tape 31 is a transparent tape made of a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film or the like. An ink ribbon 33 is wound around the ribbon supply spool 34. The ink ribbon 33 is coated with ink that is melted or sublimated by ink heating to form an ink layer. The take-up spool 35 takes up the ink ribbon 33 used for printing. A double tape 36 is wound around the base material supply spool 37. This double tape 36 is configured by attaching a release tape to one side of a double-sided adhesive tape having the same width as the surface tape 31 and having an adhesive layer on both sides. Further, the double tape 36 is wound around the base material supply spool 37 so that the peeling tape is located outside. The joining roller 39 is used when the double tape 36 and the surface tape 31 are overlapped and joined.

As shown in FIG. 2, an arm 20 is disposed in the cassette housing frame 18 so as to be swingable about a shaft 20A. A platen roller 21 and a transport roller 22 are pivotally supported at the tip of the arm 20 so as to be rotatable. Each of the platen roller 21 and the conveying roller 22 has a flexible member such as rubber on the surface.
When the arm 20 swings most clockwise, the platen roller 21 presses the surface tape 31 and the ink ribbon 33 against a thermal head 41 described later. At this time, the conveying roller 22 presses the surface tape 31 and the double tape 36 against the joining roller 39.

A plate 42 is erected on the cassette housing frame 18. A thermal head 41 is disposed on the side surface of the plate 42 on the platen roller 21 side. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 41 disposed on the plate 42 includes one (for example, 1024 or 2048) heating elements 41 </ b> A in the same direction as the width direction of the surface tape 31 and the double tape 36. It is composed of a line head 41B arranged in a line.
That is, the direction in which the heating elements 41A are arranged in one line is the main scanning direction D1 of the thermal head 41. On the other hand, the sub-scanning direction D2 of the thermal head 41 coincides with the direction in which the surface tape 31 and the ink ribbon 33 move on the thermal head 41.
Returning to FIG. 2, when the tape cassette 5 is mounted at a predetermined position, the plate 42 is fitted into the recess 43 of the tape cassette 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a ribbon take-up roller 46 and a joining drive roller 47 are erected on the cassette housing unit frame 18. When the tape cassette 5 is mounted at a predetermined position, the ribbon take-up roller 46 is inserted into the take-up spool 35 of the tape cassette 5. Similarly, the joining driving roller 47 is inserted into the joining roller 39 of the tape cassette 5.

In addition, a tape transport motor 2 (see FIG. 4 described later) is disposed in the cassette housing unit frame 18. The driving force by the tape transport motor 2 is transmitted to the platen roller 21, the transport roller 22, the ribbon take-up roller 46, the joining drive roller 47, and the like via a gear train arranged along the cassette housing section frame 18. Is done.
Therefore, when the rotation of the output shaft of the tape transport motor 2 is started by supplying power to the tape transport motor 2, the take-up spool 35, the joining roller 39, the platen roller 21, and the transport roller 22 also start to rotate in conjunction with each other. . Thus, the surface layer tape 31, the ink ribbon 33, and the double tape 36 in the tape cassette 5 are unwound from the tape spool 32, the ribbon supply spool 34, and the base material supply spool 37, respectively, in the downstream direction (tape discharge port 10, It is conveyed in the direction of the take-up spool 35).

  Thereafter, the surface tape 31 and the ink ribbon 33 pass between the platen roller 21 and the thermal head 41 after being overlapped with each other. Therefore, in the tape printer 1, the surface tape 31 and the ink ribbon 33 are conveyed while being sandwiched between the platen roller 21 and the thermal head 41. At this time, a large number of heating elements 41A arranged in the thermal head 41 are selectively and intermittently energized by the control unit 60 (see FIG. 4) based on a print control program described later.

  Here, each heating element 41A generates heat when energized, and melts or sublimates the ink applied to the ink ribbon 33. Therefore, the ink of the ink layer formed on the ink ribbon 33 is applied to the surface tape 31 in dot units. Transcribed. As a result, a dot image desired by the user based on the print data is formed on the surface tape 31 as a mirror image.

  Thereafter, the ink ribbon 33 passes through the thermal head 41 and is taken up by the ribbon take-up roller 46. On the other hand, the surface tape 31 is overlapped with the double tape 36 and passes between the conveying roller 22 and the joining roller 39. At this time, the surface tape 31 and the double tape 36 are pressed against each other by the conveying roller 22 and the joining roller 39 to form a laminated tape 38. Here, the laminated tape 38 is firmly overlapped with the double tape 36 on the printing surface side of the surface tape 31 on which dot printing has been performed. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the normal image of the print image from the back side of the print surface of the surface tape 31 (that is, the front side of the laminated tape 38).

Thereafter, the laminated tape 38 is conveyed further downstream of the conveying roller 22 and reaches a tape cutting mechanism including the cutter 17. The tape cutting mechanism includes a cutter 17 and a cutting motor 72 (see FIG. 4). The cutter 17 includes a fixed blade 17A and a rotating blade 17B, and is a scissors-type cutter that shears the object to be cut by rotating the rotating blade 17B with respect to the fixed blade 17A. The rotating blade 17B is disposed so as to be reciprocally swingable around a fulcrum by a cutting motor 72. Therefore, by driving the cutting motor 72, the laminated tape 38 is sheared by the fixed blade 17A and the rotating blade 17B.
The cut laminated tape 38 is discharged to the outside of the tape printer 1 through the tape discharge port 10. And the said laminated tape 38 can be used as an adhesive label which can be affixed on arbitrary places, if the peeling paper of the double tape 36 is peeled and an adhesive bond layer is exposed.

[2. Internal configuration of the present invention]
Next, the control configuration of the tape printer 1 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the tape printer 1.
A control board (not shown) is disposed in the tape printer 1. On this control board, a control unit 60, a timer 67, a head drive circuit 68, a cutting motor drive circuit 69, and a transport motor. A drive circuit 70 and a voltage detection circuit 74 are provided.

The control unit 60 includes a CPU 61, a CG-ROM 62, an EEPROM 63, a ROM 64, and a RAM 66. The control unit 60 is connected to a timer 67, a head drive circuit 68, a cutting motor drive circuit 69, a transport motor drive circuit 70, and a voltage detection circuit 74. Further, the control unit 60 is also connected to the liquid crystal display 4, the cassette sensor 7, the thermistor 73, the keyboard 3, and the connection interface 71.
The CPU 61 is a central processing unit that plays a central role in various controls in the tape printer 1. Therefore, the CPU 61 controls each peripheral device such as the liquid crystal display 4 based on an input signal from the keyboard 3 or the like and various control programs described later.

The CG-ROM 62 is a character generator memory that stores image data of characters and symbols to be printed in correspondence with code data in a dot pattern. The EEPROM 63 is a non-volatile memory in which stored contents can be written / erased, and stores data indicating user settings and the like in the tape printer 1.
The ROM 64 stores various control programs and data for the tape printer 1. Therefore, a print control program to be described later and each table to be described later are stored in the ROM 64.

The RAM 66 is a storage device that temporarily stores calculation results and the like in the CPU 61. The RAM 66 also stores print data generated by input from the keyboard 3 and print data fetched from the external device 78 via the connection interface 71.
The timer 67 is a time measuring device that times the predetermined period when the control of the tape printer 1 is executed. Specifically, the timer 67 is referred to when the start / end of energization or the like to the heating element 41A of the thermal head 41 is determined. The thermistor 73 is a sensor for detecting the temperature of the thermal head 41 and is attached to the thermal head 41.

  The head drive circuit 68 is a circuit that controls the drive state of the thermal head 41 by supplying a drive signal to the thermal head 41 based on a control signal from the CPU 61 and based on a print control program to be described later. At this time, the head drive circuit 68 controls whether or not each heating element 41A is energized based on the strobe signal associated with the strobe number associated with each heating element 41A, thereby generating heat in the entire thermal head 41. Control aspects. The cutting motor driving circuit 69 is a circuit that controls the driving of the cutting motor 72 by supplying a driving signal to the cutting motor 72 based on a control signal from the CPU 61. The transport motor drive circuit 70 is a control circuit that supplies a drive signal to the tape transport motor 2 based on a control signal from the CPU 61 and controls the drive of the tape transport motor 2.

The cassette sensor 7 is a sensor for detecting the type of the tape cassette 5 as “medium”, and corresponds to “medium detecting means”. The type of the tape cassette 5 is configured by the type of ink, the type of ink transfer object, and the like. Ink types include black, white, and gold. Types of ink transfer objects include PET film, urethane sheet, thermal paper, copy paper, and the like.
In the present embodiment, the type of ink ribbon 33 in the tape cassette 5 is detected by the cassette sensor 7 as the type of ink. At the same time, the cassette sensor 7 detects the type of the surface tape 31 in the tape cassette 5 as the type of ink transfer object.
The cassette sensor 7 has a detection principle in which, for example, a plurality of protruding pieces protruding from the tape cassette 5 mounted on the cassette housing frame 18 are detected, and the tape cassette is based on a combination of the detected plurality of protruding pieces. There are those that detect five types.

  The voltage detection circuit 74 is a circuit for detecting the power supply voltage of the tape printer 1.

[3-1. First operation of the present invention]
Next, the first drive control of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a print control program for performing the first drive control of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1. Note that the print control program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is stored in the ROM 64 or the like and executed by the CPU 61.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the first drive control of the thermal head 41, first, in S101, the CPU 61 performs a print start process. Specifically, when the CPU 61 receives a signal indicating that the print key 3B has been pressed from the keyboard 3, the process proceeds to S102.

  In S102, the CPU 61 performs a thermal head temperature reading process. Specifically, the CPU 61 acquires the temperature of the thermal head 41 based on the signal received from the thermistor 73. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S103.

  In S103, the CPU 61 performs a power supply voltage reading process. Specifically, the CPU 61 acquires the power supply voltage of the tape printer 1 based on the signal received from the voltage detection circuit 74. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S104.

In S104, the CPU 61 performs temperature-voltage table reading processing. Specifically, the CPU 61 stores a temperature-voltage table from the ROM 64 to the RAM 66. An example of the temperature-voltage table is shown in FIG. In the temperature-voltage table shown in FIG. 6, basic energization pulses are arranged in a grid pattern in association with temperatures and voltages.
If the temperature-voltage table is already stored in the RAM 66, the CPU 61 does not need to perform S104. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S105.

  In S105, the CPU 61 performs basic energization pulse determination processing. Specifically, the CPU 61 uses the temperature of the thermal head 41 acquired in S102 and the power supply voltage of the tape printer 1 acquired in S103, and then uses the temperature-voltage table read in S104 as a basis. Determine the energization pulse. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S106.

In S106, the CPU 61 performs a medium correction table reading process. Specifically, the CPU 61 stores the medium correction table from the ROM 64 to the RAM 66. An example of the medium correction table is shown in FIG. In the medium correction table shown in FIG. 7, medium correction coefficients are arranged in association with “medium”.
If the medium correction table is already stored in the RAM 66, the CPU 61 does not need to perform S106. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S107.

In S107, the CPU 61 performs processing for determining energized pulses after medium correction. Specifically, the CPU 61 first acquires “medium” based on a signal from the cassette sensor 7. In the medium correction table shown in FIG. 7, “medium” includes black ribbon, white ribbon, gold ribbon, thermal paper, and copy paper. Next, the CPU 61 uses the acquired “medium” to acquire a medium correction coefficient from the medium correction table read in S106. If the acquired “medium” does not match any “medium” in the medium correction table shown in FIG. 7, “1” is acquired as the medium correction coefficient. Then, the CPU 61 calculates the energized pulse after the medium correction by the following formula.
Energized pulse after medium correction = basic energized pulse × medium correction coefficient The basic energized pulse determined in S105 is used as the basic energized pulse. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S108.

  In S108, the CPU 61 performs print data reading processing. Specifically, the CPU 61 divides the print data read from the RAM 66 into data printed by the energization pulse A and data printed by the energization pulse B based on the thermal history (see FIG. 11 described later). Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S109.

In S109, the CPU 61 performs a division number determination process. Specifically, the CPU 61 calculates the number of divisions by rounding up after the decimal point using the following equation.
Number of divisions = number of on dots per line / maximum number of on dots Here, the number of on dots per line is acquired from the print data read in S108. The maximum number of on dots corresponds to the power supply capacity of the thermal head 41. The number of dots refers to the number of heating elements 41A. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S110.

In S110, the CPU 61 performs a printing cycle determination process. Specifically, the CPU 61 calculates a printing cycle using the following equation.
Printing cycle = energized pulse after medium correction × number of divisions + predetermined number Here, the energized pulse after medium correction determined in S107 is used as the energized pulse after medium correction. As the number of divisions, the number of divisions determined in S109 is used. In the present embodiment, 300 μs is used as the predetermined number. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S111.

In S111, the CPU 61 performs a history correction table reading process. Specifically, the CPU 61 stores the history correction table from the ROM 64 to the RAM 66. An example of the history correction table is shown in FIG. In the history correction table shown in FIG. 9, history correction coefficients are arranged in association with printing cycles.
If the history correction table has already been stored in the RAM 66, the CPU 61 does not have to perform S111. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S112.

In S112, the CPU 61 performs history correction pulse determination processing. Specifically, the CPU 61 first acquires a history correction coefficient from the history correction table read out in S111 using the printing cycle determined in S110. Next, the CPU 61 calculates a history correction pulse using the following equation.
History correction pulse = energized pulse after medium correction × history correction coefficient Here, the energized pulse after medium correction determined in S107 is used as the energized pulse after medium correction. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S113.

  In S113, the CPU 61 sets the division number, the energization pulse, and the printing cycle in the printing control unit. Specifically, the CPU 61 sets the number of divisions determined in S109 and the printing cycle determined in S110 in the head driving circuit 68 as a print control unit. Further, the CPU 61 sets the history correction pulse determined in S112 and the energized pulse after medium correction determined in S107 as the energization pulse in the head drive circuit 68 serving as a print control unit. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S114.

  In S114, the CPU 61 performs a printing process. Specifically, the CPU 61 ends the print control program after creating the cut laminated tape 38 as described above. At this time, the head drive circuit 68 controls the heat generation mode of the entire thermal head 41 based on the number of divisions, the energization pulse, the printing cycle, etc. set in S113. Specifically, the history correction pulse determined in S112 is used as the energization pulse for the heating element 41A that has been turned on (energized) in the past for one line. On the other hand, for the heating element 41A that has not been turned on (energized) in the past for one line, the energized pulse after medium correction determined in S107 is used as the energized pulse.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of energization of the thermal head 41. In the energization example shown in FIG. 11, the number of divisions is “3”. The energization pulse 1, the energization pulse 2, and the energization pulse 3 are applied in succession. The energization pulse 1, the energization pulse 2, and the energization pulse 3 are either after the history correction pulse determined in S112 or after the medium correction determined in S107 depending on whether or not the line has been turned on (energized) in the past. An energization pulse is used. Further, the energization pulse 1, the energization pulse 2, and the energization pulse 3 are divided into an energization pulse A and an energization pulse B. The energization pulse A or the energization pulse B is applied according to the result of dividing the print data in S108.

[3-2. Second operation of the present invention]
Next, the second drive control of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1 will be described. In the second drive control, in the first drive control shown in FIG. 5, the energized pulse after density correction is used instead of the energized pulse after medium correction.

  For this purpose, in S106 of FIG. 5, the CPU 61 performs “density correction table read processing” instead of the medium correction table read processing. Specifically, the CPU 61 stores the density correction table from the ROM 64 to the RAM 66. An example of the density correction table is shown in FIG. In the density correction table shown in FIG. 8, the density correction coefficient is arranged in association with the print density. If the density correction table is already stored in the RAM 66, the CPU 61 does not need to perform S106. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S107.

Further, in S107 of FIG. 5, the CPU 61 performs “process of determining the energized pulse after density correction” instead of the process of determining the energized pulse after correcting the medium. Specifically, the CPU 61 first acquires the print density set by the setting key 3E based on a signal from the keyboard 3. In the density correction table shown in FIG. 8, there are 10 print density levels from “0” to “9”. That is, the print density that can be set by the setting key 3E has 10 levels from “0” to “9”. Next, the CPU 61 acquires a density correction coefficient from the density correction table read out in S106 using the acquired print density. Then, the CPU 61 calculates the energized pulse after density correction by the following equation.
Energized pulse after density correction = basic energized pulse × density correction coefficient Here, the basic energized pulse determined in S105 of FIG. 5 is used as the basic energized pulse. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S108.

  Thereafter, the CPU 61 uses the energized pulse after the density correction instead of the energized pulse after the medium correction. Specifically, in S110, S112, S113, and S114 of FIG. 5, the energized pulse after density correction is used instead of the energized pulse after medium correction.

  Others are the same as those in the first drive control, and the description regarding the second drive control is omitted.

[3-3. Third operation of the present invention]
Next, the third drive control of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1 will be described. In the third drive control, S106 and S107 are deleted in the first drive control shown in FIG. 5, and the process proceeds from S105 to S108. Therefore, the CPU 61 uses the basic energization pulse instead of the energization pulse after the medium correction. Specifically, in S110, S112, S113, and S114 of FIG. 5, a basic energization pulse is used instead of the energization pulse after medium correction.

  Others are the same as those in the first drive control, and the description regarding the third drive control is omitted.

[3-4. Fourth operation of the present invention]
Next, the fourth drive control of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1 will be described. In the fourth drive control, S103 is deleted in the first drive control shown in FIG. 5, and the process proceeds from S102 to S104. Further, in S104 of FIG. 5, the CPU 61 performs “temperature table read processing” instead of the temperature-voltage table read processing. Specifically, the CPU 61 stores the temperature table from the ROM 64 to the RAM 66. An example of the temperature table is shown in FIG. In the temperature table shown in FIG. 10, the basic energization pulses are arranged in association with the temperature.
If the temperature table is already stored in the RAM 66, the CPU 61 does not need to perform S104. Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S105.

  Further, in the fourth drive control, in S105 of FIG. 5, the CPU 61 uses the temperature of the thermal head 41 acquired in S102 of FIG. 5 to determine the basic energization pulse from the temperature table read in S104. . Thereafter, the CPU 61 proceeds to S108.

  That is, in the fourth drive control, S106 and S107 are deleted in the first drive control. Therefore, the CPU 61 uses the basic energization pulse instead of the energization pulse after the medium correction. Specifically, in S110, S112, S113, and S114 of FIG. 5, a basic energization pulse is used instead of the energization pulse after medium correction.

  Others are the same as those in the first drive control, and the description regarding the fourth drive control is omitted.

[4. Summary]
That is, in the fourth drive control of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, first, the basic energization pulse is determined based on the temperature of the thermal head 41 detected by the thermistor 73 (S102, S104, S105), and then The printing cycle is determined based on the determined basic energization pulse and the predetermined time (S110). Thereafter, a history correction pulse is determined based on the history correction coefficient corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energization pulse (S111, S112), and the determined printing cycle is switched to the determined printing cycle. Alternatively, history control is performed so that one of the determined basic energization pulses is used based on the print history (S113, S114). Therefore, the influence of the temperature of the thermal head 41 detected by the thermistor 73 is determined / corrected for the basic energization pulse directly related to the print quality (S110) rather than when the print cycle directly related to the print processing time is determined (S110). (S105, S112) is larger when the history correction pulse is determined. That is, since the thermal control of the thermal head 41 is prioritized over the printing quality over the switching of the printing cycle (S113, S114), the temperature of the thermal head 41 can be improved even when the printing cycle is varied. Can greatly contribute to.

  Further, in the third drive control of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the temperature of the thermal head 41 detected by the thermistor 73, based on the power supply voltage of the tape printer 1 detected by the voltage detection circuit 74. Therefore, the basic energization pulse is determined (S102, S103, S104, S105). Therefore, even when the printing cycle is varied, not only the temperature of the thermal head 41 but also the power supply voltage of the tape printer 1 can improve the printing quality. It can make a big contribution.

  In addition, in the 3rd drive control of the tape printer 1 which concerns on this embodiment, there also exists the said effect in 4th drive control.

  In the third or fourth drive control of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, based on the maximum number of on dots per line corresponding to the power supply capacity of the thermal head 41 and the number of on dots per line. After determining the number of divisions (S109), the printing cycle is determined based on the determined number of divisions in addition to the determined basic energization pulse and the predetermined time (S110). Therefore, the history correction pulse determined based on the history correction coefficient corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energization pulse is affected by the number of divisions of the thermal head 41. That is, even when the printing cycle is varied, the number of divisions of the thermal head 41 can contribute to the improvement of printing quality.

  In the second drive control of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the energization pulse after density correction based on the density correction coefficient corresponding to the print density set by the setting key 3E and the determined basic energization pulse. Is determined instead of the determined basic energization pulse when determining the printing cycle (S110), determining the history correction pulse (S112), and controlling the history (S113, S114). Use the energized pulse after density correction. Therefore, even when the print cycle is varied, the print density set by the setting key 3E in addition to the temperature of the thermal head 41 can greatly contribute to the improvement of the print quality.

  In addition, in the 2nd drive control of the tape printer 1 which concerns on this embodiment, there also exists said each effect in each 3rd or 4th drive control.

  In the first drive control of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the energization after the medium correction is performed based on the medium correction coefficient corresponding to the “medium” detected by the cassette sensor 7 and the determined basic energization pulse. After the pulse is determined (S106, S107), when the print cycle is determined (S110), the history correction pulse is determined (S112), and the history is controlled (S113, S114), it is determined instead of the determined basic energization pulse. The energized pulse after the corrected medium is used. Therefore, even when the printing cycle is varied, the “medium” detected by the cassette sensor 7 in addition to the temperature of the thermal head 41 can greatly contribute to the improvement of the printing quality.

  In particular, since the “medium” detected by the cassette sensor 7 has an appropriate print density, the print density can be greatly contributed to the improvement of the print quality.

  In the first drive control of the tape printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the above-described effects in the third or fourth drive control are also exhibited.

[5-1. Others]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, as the [fifth operation of the present invention], there is a fifth drive control of the thermal head 41 of the tape printer 1. In the fifth drive control, in each of the first to fourth drive controls, S109 in FIG. 5 is deleted, and the process proceeds from S108 in FIG. 5 to S110 in FIG. That is, in the fifth drive control, the number of divisions is not used. Therefore, the CPU 61 thereafter sets the number of divisions = “1”. Specifically, the division number is set to “1” in S110, S113, and S114 of FIG. Alternatively, the CPU 61 may not handle the division number itself in S110, S113, and S114 of FIG.
Others are the same as the first to fourth drive controls, and thus the description of the fifth drive control is omitted.

[5-2. Others]
The voltage detection circuit 74 may be a circuit for detecting the voltage of the thermal head 41 instead of detecting the power supply voltage of the tape printer 1. However, in this case, the voltage and the basic energization pulse in the temperature-voltage table shown in FIG. 6 must be for the voltage of the thermal head 41.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tape printer 3 Keyboard 3B Print key 3E Setting key 7 Cassette sensor 31 Surface layer tape 33 Ink ribbon 41 Thermal head 60 Control part 61 CPU
64 ROM
66 RAM
68 Head Drive Circuit 73 Thermistor 74 Voltage Detection Circuit

Claims (5)

Means for detecting the temperature of the thermal head;
Means for determining a basic energization pulse based on the detected temperature;
Means for determining a printing cycle based on the determined basic energization pulse and a predetermined time;
Means for determining a history correction pulse based on the history correction coefficient corresponding to the determined printing cycle and the determined basic energization pulse;
Means for switching to the determined printing cycle;
And a history control means for using either the determined history correction pulse or the determined basic energization pulse based on a printing history. The printer according to claim 1,
Means for detecting the voltage,
The printer characterized in that the means for determining the basic energization pulse determines the basic energization pulse based on the detected voltage in addition to the detected temperature. The printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Means for determining the number of divisions based on the maximum number of on dots per line and the number of on dots per line corresponding to the power capacity;
The printer is characterized in that the means for determining the printing cycle determines a printing cycle based on the determined number of divisions in addition to the determined basic energization pulse and the predetermined time. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Means for setting the print density;
Means for determining an energization pulse after density correction based on the density correction coefficient corresponding to the set print density and the determined basic energization pulse;
The means for determining the printing cycle, the means for determining the history correction pulse, and the means for controlling the history use the determined energized pulse after density correction instead of the determined basic energized pulse. A featured printer. A printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Means for detecting the medium;
Means for determining an energization pulse after medium correction based on the medium correction coefficient corresponding to the detected medium and the determined basic energization pulse;
The means for determining the print cycle, the means for determining the history correction pulse, and the means for controlling the history use the determined energization pulse after medium correction instead of the determined basic energization pulse. A featured printer.

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