JP2018051832A - Printer, control method of printer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the lowering of a detection temperature resulting from the elongation of a distance between a temperature sensor and a heat generation element which is high in a frequency of electricity-carrying, in a printer, a control method of the printer, and a program.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: a thermal head 10 having a plurality of heat generation elements 10a, and applying printing to a printed medium M10; a thermistor 13 (temperature sensor) arranged at the thermal head 10, and detecting a temperature of the thermal head 10; and a control part 5 for controlling the heat generation of a plurality of the heat generation elements 10a. When applying printing having a printing pattern P10 to the printed medium M10 by using the thermal head 10, the control part 5 carries electricity to the heat generation element 10a which is located near the thermistor 13 rather than the heat generation element 10a located in a printing region 10a-1, and applying printing to the printed medium M10, and does not apply printing to the printed medium M10, and controls the heat generation element 10a to generate heat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that performs printing on a printing medium, a control method for the printing apparatus, and a program.

  Conventionally, in a label printer using a thermal head, when the printing is continuously performed, heat is accumulated in the thermal head, and print quality may be deteriorated. In order to eliminate such heat storage in the thermal head, a printing apparatus has been proposed in which a thermistor is attached to the thermal head and the energization time to the heating element is changed based on the temperature of the thermal head acquired by the thermistor (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2006-192756 A JP 2001-293894 A

  By the way, the printing medium on which printing is performed by the thermal head may be transported after being aligned with the center of the thermal head in the width direction, or may be transported to one end in the width direction of the thermal head. In these cases, the plurality of heating elements of the thermal head are frequently energized to the heating elements located at the center or one end in the width direction.

  It is desirable that the thermistor is provided in the vicinity of a heat generating element that is frequently energized to detect the temperature of the heat generating element. However, for the convenience of thermal head design, the thermistor may not be mounted at a desired position. is there. In this case, the detection temperature becomes uncertain, for example, the detection temperature decreases due to an increase in the distance between the thermistor and the heat generating element frequently energized.

  Even when the energization of the heating element is not controlled based on the temperature of the thermal head, for example, the temperature of the thermal head can be acquired in order to determine whether the temperature of the thermal head is within the guaranteed operating temperature. Conceivable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a program capable of suppressing a decrease in detected temperature caused by an increase in the distance between a temperature sensor and a heat generating element frequently energized. It is.

  In one aspect, a printing apparatus includes a plurality of heating elements, a thermal head that performs printing on a printing medium, a temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head and detects the temperature of the thermal head, and the plurality of the heating devices. A control unit that controls the heat generation of each of the heat generating elements, and the control unit performs printing on the print medium when printing a print pattern on the print medium with the thermal head. The second heating element of at least one of the plurality of heating elements that is located closer to the temperature sensor than the first heating element of at least one of the heating elements and does not print on the print medium. The element is controlled to generate heat.

  In another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling a printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus has a plurality of heat generating elements and performs printing on a printing medium, and is provided in the thermal head. A temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the print medium, and when the print pattern is printed on the print medium by the thermal head, at least one of the plurality of heating elements that prints on the print medium. Control is performed so that at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements, which is located closer to the temperature sensor than the first heating element and does not print on the printing medium, generates heat.

  In another aspect, the program is a program executed by a computer that controls a printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus includes a thermal head that has a plurality of heating elements and performs printing on a printing medium; A temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head and detects the temperature of the thermal head, and the program causes the computer to print the print pattern on the printing medium using the thermal head. Among the plurality of heating elements that print on a medium, are located closer to the temperature sensor than the first heating element of at least one of the plurality of heating elements, and do not print on the printing medium. The at least one second heating element is controlled to generate heat.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the fall of the detection temperature resulting from the distance between a temperature sensor and the heat generating element with much electricity supply frequency becoming long can be suppressed.

1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the cassette accommodated in the printing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the cassette storage part of the printing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the printing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment. It is a control block diagram which shows the printing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment. It is explanatory drawing (the 1) for demonstrating the several heat generating element in one Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing (the 2) for demonstrating the several heat generating element in one Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) for explaining a control method of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) for describing a control method of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) for describing the control method of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment; FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (part 4) for describing the control method of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment;

Hereinafter, a printing apparatus, a printing apparatus control method, and a program according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The printing apparatus 1 is a printing apparatus that includes a thermal head that performs printing on a printing medium M, and is, for example, a label printer that performs printing by a single pass method. Hereinafter, a thermal transfer type label printer using an ink ribbon will be described as an example, but the printing method is not particularly limited. For example, a printing apparatus that performs printing on thermal paper may be used. The print medium M is, for example, a tape member having a base material having an adhesive layer and a release paper that is attached to the base material so as to be peelable so as to cover the adhesive layer. The print medium M may be a tape member without release paper, or may be a print medium without an adhesive layer.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes an apparatus housing 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4, an opening / closing lid 18, and a cassette storage unit 19. An input unit 3, a display unit 4, and an opening / closing lid 18 are disposed on the upper surface of the apparatus housing 2. Although not shown, the apparatus housing 2 is provided with a power cord connection terminal, an external device connection terminal, a storage medium insertion port, and the like.

  The input unit 3 includes various keys such as an input key, a cross key, a conversion key, and a determination key. The display unit 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and displays a selection menu for various settings, messages related to various processes, and the like corresponding to characters input from the input unit 3. Further, during printing, contents such as characters and graphics instructed to be printed on the printing medium M (hereinafter referred to as a print pattern) may be displayed, and the progress of the printing process may be displayed. The display unit 4 may be provided with a touch panel unit. In that case, the display unit 4 may be regarded as a part of the input unit 3.

  The opening / closing lid 18 is disposed on the upper portion of the cassette housing 19 so as to be opened and closed. The opening / closing lid 18 is opened by pressing the button 18a. The opening / closing lid 18 is formed with a window 18b so that it can be visually confirmed whether or not the cassette 30 (see FIG. 2) is housed in the cassette housing portion 19 even when the opening / closing lid 18 is closed. Yes. A discharge port 2 a is formed on the side surface of the apparatus housing 2. The printing medium M on which printing has been performed in the printing apparatus 1 is discharged out of the apparatus from the discharge port 2a.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cassette 30 housed in the printing apparatus 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cassette storage unit 19 of the printing apparatus 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the printing apparatus 1.

  The cassette 30 shown in FIG. 2 is detachably stored in the cassette storage unit 19 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cassette 30 is stored in the cassette storage unit 19. As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 30 includes a cassette case 31 that accommodates a printing medium M and an ink ribbon R in which a thermal head insertion portion 36 and an engagement portion 37 are formed.

  Further, the cassette case 31 is provided with a tape core 32, an ink ribbon supply core 34, and an ink ribbon winding core 35. The print medium M is wound around a tape core 32 inside the cassette case 31 in a roll shape. In addition, the thermal transfer ink ribbon R is wound around the ink ribbon supply core 34 inside the cassette case 31 in a state where the leading end of the ink ribbon R is wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette housing part 19 of the apparatus housing 2 is provided with a plurality of cassette receiving parts 20 for supporting the cassette 30 at a predetermined position. The cassette receiving unit 20 is provided with a tape width detection switch 24 for detecting the width of the printing medium M. The tape width detection switch 24 detects the width of the printing medium M based on the shape of the cassette 30 (uneven shape provided on the cassette 30), and outputs a sensor signal indicating the detected width of the printing medium M. Output.

  The cassette housing 19 further includes a thermal head 10 having a plurality of heating elements 10a for printing on the printing medium M, a platen roller 21 for conveying the printing medium M, a tape core engaging shaft 22, and an ink ribbon. A winding drive shaft 23 is provided. Further, a thermistor 13 that outputs a sensor signal indicating the temperature of the thermal head 10 is embedded in the thermal head 10. The platen roller 21 is an example of a transport unit that transports the printing medium M. The thermistor 13 is an example of a temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head 10 and detects the temperature of the thermal head 10.

  In the state where the cassette 30 is stored in the cassette storage unit 19, as shown in FIG. 4, the engaging unit 37 provided in the cassette case 31 is supported by the cassette receiving unit 20 provided in the cassette storage unit 19. The thermal head 10 is inserted into a thermal head insertion portion 36 formed in the cassette case 31. Further, the tape core 32 of the cassette 30 is engaged with the tape core engaging shaft 22, and the ink ribbon winding core 35 is engaged with the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23. In each of the plurality of cassettes 30, the tape core 32 engages with the tape core engagement shaft 22, and the ink ribbon winding core 35 engages with the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23.

  When a printing instruction is input to the printing apparatus 1, the printing medium M is fed out from the tape core 32 by the rotation of the platen roller 21. At this time, the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23 rotates in synchronization with the platen roller 21, whereby the ink ribbon R is fed out from the ink ribbon supply core 34 together with the printing medium M. As a result, the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R are conveyed in an overlapping state. When the ink ribbon R is heated by the thermal head 10 when passing between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21, the ink is transferred to the printing medium M and printing is performed.

  The used ink ribbon R that has passed between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 is wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35. On the other hand, the printed medium M that has passed between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 is cut by the half-cut mechanism 16 and the full-cut mechanism 17 and discharged from the discharge port 2a.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram showing the printing apparatus 1.
In addition to the input unit 3, display unit 4, thermal head 10, thermistor 13, half-cut mechanism 16, full-cut mechanism 17, platen roller 21, and tape width detection switch 24, the printing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 5, A ROM (Read Only Memory) 6, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 7, a display drive circuit 8, a head drive circuit 9, a transport motor drive circuit 11, a stepping motor 12, a cutter motor drive circuit 14, and a cutter motor 15 are provided. . Note that the control unit 5, the ROM 6, and the RAM 7 constitute a computer of the printing apparatus 1.

  The control unit 5 includes a processor 5a such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 5 controls the operation of each unit of the printing apparatus 1 by developing and executing a program stored in the ROM 6 in the RAM 7. For example, the control unit 5 controls energization of the heating element 10 a included in the thermal head 10 via the head drive circuit 9. Further, the control unit 5 controls the platen roller 21 via the transport motor drive circuit 11 and the stepping motor 12. Furthermore, the control unit 5 controls the half-cut mechanism 16 and the full-cut mechanism 17 via the cutter motor drive circuit 14 and the cutter motor 15.

  The ROM 6 stores a printing program for printing on the printing medium M and various data (for example, fonts) necessary for executing the printing program. The ROM 6 also functions as a storage medium in which a program that can be read by the control unit 5 is stored.

  The RAM 7 functions as an input data memory for storing information about printing (hereinafter referred to as print information). The RAM 7 also generates data (hereinafter referred to as print data) indicating a print pattern (for example, a print pattern P20 made up of characters “ABCDE” shown in FIG. 11) to be formed on the print medium M, which is generated based on the print information. It also functions as a print data memory. Further, the RAM 7 also functions as a display data memory that stores display data generated based on the print information. Note that the printing apparatus 1 may receive print information or print data from a separate computer.

  The display unit drive circuit 8 controls the display unit 4 based on the display data stored in the RAM 7. For example, the display unit 4 may display the print pattern in a manner in which the progress of the printing process can be recognized under the control of the display unit driving circuit 8.

  The head drive circuit 9 energizes the plurality of heating elements 10a based on the print pattern during the period when the strobe signal is ON. The thermal head 10 has a plurality of heating elements 10a arranged in the main scanning direction. The controller 5 selectively energizes the heating element 10a by the head drive circuit 9 according to the print data. Accordingly, the thermal head 10 performs printing on the printing medium M line by line by thermal transfer in which the heating element 10a heats the ink ribbon R during the energization period of the strobe signal supplied from the control unit 5.

  The conveyance motor drive circuit 11 drives the stepping motor 12. The stepping motor 12 drives the platen roller 21. The platen roller 21 is rotated by the power of the stepping motor 12 and conveys the printing medium M in the longitudinal direction (sub-scanning direction) of the printing medium M.

  The cutter motor drive circuit 14 drives the cutter motor 15. The half-cut mechanism 16 and the full-cut mechanism 17 operate by the power of the cutter motor 15 and half-cut or full-cut the print medium M. The full cut is an operation of cutting the base material of the printing medium M along the width direction together with the release paper, and the half cut is an operation of cutting only the base material along the width direction.

6 and 7 are explanatory views for explaining a plurality of heating elements 10a.
As shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of heating elements 10a of the thermal head 10 are arranged in the arrangement direction B, which is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction A and the thickness direction of the printing medium M1, on the substrate 10b. The thermistor 13 is provided on one end side in the arrangement direction B of the thermal head 10. In addition, since many heat generating elements 10a are arranged in the arrangement direction B, they are not individually illustrated.

  6 and 7, P1 indicates a print pattern printed on the print medium M1, P2 indicates a print pattern printed on the print medium M2, and FIG. The case where the width | variety of P1 is the same as the width | variety of the arrangement | sequence of the several heat generating element 10a of the thermal head 10 is shown. In this case, printing is performed by controlling all of the plurality of heating elements 10a to be energized by the control unit 5 described above. In addition, the area | region which prints to the printing pattern P1 among several heat generating elements 10a is described as the printing area | region 10a-1, and is painted black and illustrated. In the example of FIG. 6, since all of the plurality of heating elements 10a are located in the printing region 10a-1, the whole of the plurality of heating elements 10a is shown in black.

  On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a case where the width of the print pattern P2 printed on the print medium M2 is shorter than the width of the array of the plurality of heating elements 10a in the array direction B. In this case, only a part of the plurality of heating elements 10a is controlled by the control unit 5 so that energization is performed. In addition, the area | region which does not print on the to-be-printed medium M2 is described as non-printing area | region 10a-2, 10a-3.

  In the example of FIG. 7, in the arrangement direction B, the print medium M2 is conveyed in the conveyance direction A so that the center in the width direction of the print medium M2 coincides with the center of the arrangement of the plurality of heating elements 10a. Therefore, when printing is performed on the printing medium M2 whose width in the arrangement direction B is narrower than the arrangement width of the plurality of heating elements 10a as in the printing medium M2 shown in FIG. The heating element 10a closest to the thermistor 13 is located in the non-printing area 10a-2. Accordingly, the thermistor 13 detects the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element 10a that does not generate heat, and a temperature lower than that in the case of detecting the temperature in the vicinity of the printing region 10a-1 is detected. Here, in the conveyance direction A, there is a distance between the thermistor 13 and the heating element 10a. With respect to this distance, the control unit 5 acquires a temperature lower than the actual detection temperature of the thermistor 13 according to the distance. You may make it do. When the printing medium M2 is transported while being moved toward one end in the width direction of the transport path, the thermistor 13 may be positioned even if the position of the thermistor 13 in the arrangement direction B is the same as the center of the plurality of heating elements 10a. The heating element 10a closest to 13 may be the non-printing area 10a-2.

  Hereinafter, the heating element 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2 closer to the thermistor 13 than the printing area 10a-1 among the plurality of heating elements 10a is energized based on the dummy pattern D (D10, D20). A characteristic configuration in the embodiment will be described.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is an example of a process for performing energization control based on the dummy pattern D performed by the control unit 5 described above.
First, the control unit 5 determines whether the heating element 10a closest to the thermistor 13 is located in the printing region 10a-1 (step S1). In other words, the controller 5 prints the print medium M when the thermal head 10 prints the print pattern P on the print medium M, and prints the print medium M at least one first of the plurality of heating elements 10a. At least one second heating element (non-printing area 10a) of the plurality of heating elements 10a that is located closer to the thermistor 13 than the heating element (printing area 10a-1) and does not print on the printing medium M. -2) Determine whether there is any.

  If the controller 5 determines that the heating element 10a closest to the thermistor 13 is located in the printing region 10a-1 as shown in FIG. 6 (step S1: YES), the control unit 5 ends the process without printing the dummy pattern D. To do. Thereafter, the control unit 5 prints the print pattern P1 on the print medium M1 by controlling the heat generation of each of the plurality of heat generating elements 10a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the control unit 5 determines that the heating element 10a closest to the thermistor 13 is not located in the printing region 10a-1 (step S1: NO), the thermistor 13 is more than the printing region 10a-1. It is determined whether or not the width W11 of the non-printing area 10a-2 located near is greater than or equal to the width W12 of the printing pattern P10 (step S2).

  If the control unit 5 determines that the width W11 of the non-printing area 10a-2 is equal to or larger than the width W12 of the printing pattern P10 (step S2: YES), as shown in FIG. 9, the dummy pattern D10 is set as the printing pattern P10. Control is performed to energize at least some of the heating elements 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2 (step S3). The energization control based on the dummy pattern D10 may be performed on the heating element 10a including the heating element 10a whose position in the arrangement direction B is the same position as the thermistor 13 in the non-printing region 10a-2.

  When the control unit 5 determines that the width W21 of the non-printing area 10a-2 is narrower than the width W22 of the printing pattern P20 (step S2: NO), as shown in FIG. 10, a part of the printing pattern P20 is extracted. It is then determined whether or not dummy data D20 is set to be generated (step S4). For example, when it is determined that the width W21 of the non-printing area 10a-2 is narrower than the width W22 of the printing pattern P20 (step S2: NO), the user setting is made on the display unit 4 shown in FIG. It may be set by a user's operation on the input unit 3 or the like by performing a display to be accepted, or may be set in advance. The dummy data D20 generated by extracting a part of the print pattern P20 is an example of dummy data generated based on the print pattern P20.

  If the control unit 5 determines that the dummy data D20 is set to be generated by extracting a part of the print pattern P20 (step S4: YES), for example, as shown in FIGS. Among them, a part of the center in the arrangement direction B is extracted to generate a dummy pattern D20, and the heater element 10a is energized based on the dummy pattern D20 (step S5). The position where the dummy pattern D20 is extracted from the print pattern P20 is not limited to the center in the arrangement direction B. For example, the position where the heat generation amount of the heat generating element 10a is the largest (the portion with the largest number of dots) is used. There may be. Further, the width in the arrangement direction B for extracting the dummy pattern D20 from the printing pattern P20 may be the same as the width W21 of the non-printing area 10a-2, or a predetermined distance from the thermistor 13 in the non-printing area 10a-2. Only the inner portion may be narrower than the width W21, and is not particularly limited.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 5 determines that the dummy data D20 is not set to be generated by extracting the print pattern P20 (step S4: NO), a new dummy pattern D20 different from the print pattern P20 is generated (step S4: NO). Step S6). This dummy pattern D20 is merely an example, but even if it is a dummy pattern (an example of a dummy pattern generated based on the print pattern P20) obtained by compressing the print pattern P20 in the arrangement direction according to the width of the dummy pattern D20. It may be a dummy pattern selected from a plurality of candidate patterns according to the heat generation amount of the heat generating element 10a corresponding to the print pattern P20, or a dummy pattern generated based on the heat generation amount. May be.

  Further, the control unit 5 may perform control so that the heating element 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2 is energized so that the energization is repeatedly turned on / off at an arbitrary timing, for example. Alternatively, the heating element 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2 may be controlled to be energized so that energization is randomly turned on / off part by part. Even in this case, control based on the heat generation amount of the heat generating element 10a corresponding to the print pattern P20 may be performed. As described above, the control unit 5 may perform control so that the heating element 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2 is energized without being based on the dummy pattern D20.

  Further, for example, the control unit 5 performs printing on the printing medium M by the ink ribbon R described above with respect to the heating element 10a facing the outer margin of the printing pattern P20 in the printing medium M20 shown in FIG. You may make it energize so that it may generate | occur | produce the heat | fever which is not broken. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 5 also includes the print pattern P1 in the wide print medium M1 in which all of the plurality of heating elements 10a face the print pattern P1, particularly in the vicinity of the thermistor 13. In the case where there is a region where printing is not performed in this area, the region may be energized so as to generate heat to the extent that printing is not performed on the printing medium M.

  In the present embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1 includes the thermal head 10, the thermistor 13 that is an example of a temperature sensor, and the control unit 5. The thermal head 10 has a plurality of heating elements 10 a and performs printing on the printing medium M. The thermistor 13 is provided in the thermal head 10 and detects the temperature of the thermal head 10. The controller 5 controls the heat generation of each of the plurality of heat generating elements 10a. In addition, when the printing unit P prints the print pattern P (P10, P20, etc.) on the print medium M by the thermal head 10, the control unit 5 prints at least the plurality of heating elements 10a that print on the print medium M. It is located closer to the thermistor 13 than one first heating element 10a, and does not print on the printing medium M, so that at least one second heating element 10a among the plurality of heating elements 10a generates heat. Control.

  Therefore, even if the thermistor 13 cannot detect the temperature in the vicinity of the heat generating element 10a that is frequently energized, the control unit 5 performs control so that the second heat generating element 10a is energized. Thus, the thermistor 13 can detect the temperature in the same manner as when the thermistor 13 detects the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element 10a that is frequently energized. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the detected temperature due to an increase in the distance between the temperature sensor (thermistor 13) and the heat generating element 10a that is frequently energized.

  In the present embodiment, the first heat generating element 10a is positioned in the print area 10a-1 where printing is performed on the printing medium M, and the second heating element 10a is not printing on the printing medium M. It is located in the non-printing area 10a-2. For this reason, when energizing the heating element 10a facing the margin of the printing area 10a-1 facing the printing medium M10, M20, the heating element 10a generates heat with a heat generation amount that does not allow printing. However, the heat generation amount can be increased for the heating element 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2. Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the decrease in the detection temperature.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 5 energizes the second heating element 10a (for example, the heating element 10a located in the non-printing area 10a-2) based on the predetermined dummy patterns D10 and D20. Thus, the second heating element 10a is controlled to generate heat. Therefore, the control can be simplified by performing energization control of the heating element 10a based on the dummy patterns D10 and D20.

  In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 5 determines that the width W11 of the non-printing area 10a-2 is equal to or larger than the width W12 of the printing pattern P10 (step S2 in FIG. 8: YES). Further, the dummy pattern D10 is made the same as the printing pattern P10, and the second heating element 10a is controlled to generate heat. Therefore, since the thermistor 13 can detect the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element 10a whose energization is controlled based on the dummy pattern D10 that is the same as the printed pattern P10 that is actually printed, the detection temperature can be reduced by simple control. Can be further suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the control unit 5 performs a dummy pattern when the width W21 of the non-printing area 10a-2 is smaller than the width W22 of the printing pattern P20 (step S2: NO). D20 is generated based on the printing pattern P20, and the second heating element 10a is caused to generate heat. Therefore, since the thermistor 13 can detect the temperature in the vicinity of the heating element 10a whose energization is controlled based on the dummy pattern D20 generated based on the actually printed print pattern P20, the detection is performed by simple control. A decrease in temperature can be further suppressed.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention includes the invention described in the claim, and its equivalent range. The invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the filing of the present application will be appended.

[Appendix 1]
A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and printing on a print medium;
A temperature sensor provided on the thermal head for detecting the temperature of the thermal head;
A control unit for controlling the heat generation of each of the plurality of heating elements,
The control unit prints on the print medium when printing a print pattern on the print medium with the thermal head, than the at least one first heat generating element among the plurality of heat generating elements. Control is performed so that at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements that is located near the temperature sensor and does not print on the printing medium is heated.
A printing apparatus characterized by that.

[Appendix 2]
The first heating element is located in a print area where the printing is performed on the printing medium,
The second heating element is located in a non-printing area where the printing is not performed on the printing medium.
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein

[Appendix 3]
The controller is configured to energize the second heat generating element based on a predetermined dummy pattern to control the second heat generating element to generate heat;
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein

[Appendix 4]
The control unit, when the width of the non-printing area is equal to or larger than the width of the printing pattern, the dummy pattern is the same as the printing pattern, and the second heating element is controlled to generate heat;
The printing apparatus according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein

[Appendix 5]
The control unit generates the dummy pattern based on the printing pattern when the width of the non-printing area is narrower than the width of the printing pattern, and controls the second heating element to generate heat.
The printing apparatus according to appendix 3 or 4, characterized in that:

[Appendix 6]
A method for controlling a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a thermal head that has a plurality of heating elements and performs printing on a printing medium; and a temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head and detects the temperature of the thermal head.
When printing a print pattern on the printing medium by the thermal head, printing is performed on the printing medium, and is closer to the temperature sensor than at least one first heating element of the plurality of heating elements. And controlling to heat at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements that does not perform printing on the printing medium.
A control method for a printing apparatus.

[Appendix 7]
A program executed by a computer that controls a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a thermal head that has a plurality of heating elements and performs printing on a printing medium; and a temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head and detects the temperature of the thermal head.
The program is
In the computer,
When printing a print pattern on the printing medium by the thermal head, printing is performed on the printing medium, and is closer to the temperature sensor than at least one first heating element of the plurality of heating elements. And at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements that is not printed on the printing medium is controlled to generate heat.
A program characterized by that.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus, 5 ... Control part, 10 ... Thermal head, 10a ... Heating element, 13 ... Thermistor, D10, D20 ... Dummy pattern, M (M1, M2, M10 , M20) ... Print medium, P (P10, P20) ... Print pattern

Claims (7)

A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and printing on a print medium;
A temperature sensor provided on the thermal head for detecting the temperature of the thermal head;
A control unit for controlling the heat generation of each of the plurality of heating elements,
The control unit prints on the print medium when printing a print pattern on the print medium with the thermal head, than the at least one first heat generating element among the plurality of heat generating elements. Control is performed so that at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements that is located near the temperature sensor and does not print on the printing medium is heated.
A printing apparatus characterized by that. The first heating element is located in a print area where the printing is performed on the printing medium,
The second heating element is located in a non-printing area where the printing is not performed on the printing medium.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The controller is configured to energize the second heat generating element based on a predetermined dummy pattern to control the second heat generating element to generate heat;
The printing apparatus according to claim 2. The control unit, when the width of the non-printing area is equal to or larger than the width of the printing pattern, the dummy pattern is the same as the printing pattern, and the second heating element is controlled to generate heat;
The printing apparatus according to claim 3. The control unit generates the dummy pattern based on the printing pattern when the width of the non-printing area is narrower than the width of the printing pattern, and controls the second heating element to generate heat.
The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. A method for controlling a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a thermal head that has a plurality of heating elements and performs printing on a printing medium; and a temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head and detects the temperature of the thermal head.
When printing a print pattern on the printing medium by the thermal head, printing is performed on the printing medium, and is closer to the temperature sensor than at least one first heating element of the plurality of heating elements. And controlling to heat at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements that does not perform printing on the printing medium.
A control method for a printing apparatus. A program executed by a computer that controls a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes a thermal head that has a plurality of heating elements and performs printing on a printing medium; and a temperature sensor that is provided in the thermal head and detects the temperature of the thermal head.
The program is
In the computer,
When printing a print pattern on the printing medium by the thermal head, printing is performed on the printing medium, and is closer to the temperature sensor than at least one first heating element of the plurality of heating elements. And at least one second heating element of the plurality of heating elements that is not printed on the printing medium is controlled to generate heat.
A program characterized by that.