JP2021154585A - Printing device and printing control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printing device that prevents a bias of a printing region in a width direction of a printing medium without shifting the printing medium.SOLUTION: A printing device includes: transportation means for transporting a long printing medium; printing means for performing printing on the printing medium that is transported by the transportation means; and control means for controlling the printing means to shift a printing region on the printing medium within a width relative to a transportation direction of the printing medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of printing on a long printing medium and a printing control method.

In a conventional thermal transfer printer using a thermal head, as described in Patent Document 1, when continuous printing is performed using the thermal transfer printer, if the printing position is constant and a fixed pattern is present, the thermal head is specified. A larger number of pulses will be sent to the heat generating element in comparison with other regions. In a thermal head used in a thermal transfer printer or the like, a plurality of heat generating elements are arranged in a row, and the life of the thermal head generally changes depending on the number of times a pulse is applied to the heat generating element.

Therefore, when continuous printing is performed as described above, the frequency of use of the same heat generating element in the thermal head increases, and the life is shortened as compared with other regions. When the life of some of the heat generating elements has expired, that part will not be printed (so-called missing dots), and the thermal head will become unusable.

Patent Document 1 describes that the print data is shifted along the direction in which the heat generating elements of the thermal head are arranged, and the print medium is also shifted in the same manner.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-39180

However, in Patent Document 1, in order to shift the print medium, it is necessary to provide a thermal head and a transport path that can handle the width of the print medium or more.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem. In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method for preventing bias of a printing area in the width direction of a printing medium without shifting the printing medium.

In order to solve the above problems, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that prints on a long printing medium, and is a conveying means for conveying the printing medium and the printing conveyed by the conveying means. It is characterized by including a printing means for printing on a medium and a control means for controlling the printing means so as to shift a printing area on the printing medium within a width with respect to a transport direction of the printing medium.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the print area from being biased in the width direction of the print medium without shifting the print medium.

It is a figure which shows the appearance of the printing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a printing apparatus. It is a figure which shows the image of the printable area of the print medium M used in a printing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the process which controls the setting of a print reference position. It is a figure for demonstrating the shift of a print area. It is a flowchart which shows the process which controls the setting of a print reference position. It is a figure for demonstrating the shift of a print area. It is a flowchart which shows the process which controls the setting of a print reference position. It is a figure for demonstrating the shift of a print area.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same or similar configuration will be given the same reference number, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printing device 1 can print arbitrary characters, symbols, and the like on a long printing medium such as a tube or tape. The printing device 1 is a thermal transfer type printing device using a thermal head. The printing device 1 includes an input unit 11, a display unit 12, and a cutter unit (cutting unit) 15. The input unit 11 is composed of a keyboard or the like, and can receive instructions such as input of characters and the like and execution of printing. The display unit 12 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays a display of characters input by the input unit 11 and the state of the device, and a screen on which an operation instruction can be input to an operator (user). The cutter portion 15 includes a platen roller 13, a thermal head 14, and a cutter portion 15 for cutting a long print medium. Note that FIG. 1 shows a state in which a tube is attached as a long print medium M (hereinafter, print medium M). Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the long print medium M will be described as a tube.

At the time of printing, the thermal head is pressed against the print medium M with the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cassette sandwiched, and the ink of the ink ribbon is melted by selectively heating the heat generating element configured in the thermal head 14, and the ink of the ink ribbon is melted. Print characters etc. on. When printing is performed by the thermal head 14, the print medium M is conveyed to the downstream side, and the print medium M is cut to a length desired by the operator by driving the cutter unit 15. In the printing apparatus 1, since the print medium M is regulated by the attachment 16 so as to be closer to one side of the transport path, the reference position for transport is always fixed regardless of the size of the print medium M.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing apparatus 1. The power supply unit 20 includes, for example, a power switch, and supplies electric power to the printing apparatus 1. The control unit 19 is a computer system that comprehensively controls the printing device 1, and includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, and a ROM 203. The ROM 203 stores the basic program and data of the printing device 1. Further, the ROM 203 stores information about the print medium, for example, information in which the diameter information of the tube and the product information are associated with each other. The RAM 202 operates as, for example, the main memory of the CPU 201. The control unit 19 is connected to the input unit 11, the display unit 12, the printing unit 14, the driving unit 17, and the sensor group 18 by, for example, a bus configuration. The printing unit 14 corresponds to the thermal head 14 described above. As a result, the control unit 19 can send and receive data and signals to and from each unit. For example, the control unit 19 controls the transfer of the print medium M by controlling the drive unit 17 that can drive the motor M such as a transfer motor. Further, for example, the control unit 19 receives a signal from the sensor that detects the position of the print medium M included in the sensor group 18. The sensor group 18 includes, for example, a presence / absence detection sensor for detecting the head position of the print medium M and a registration sensor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image of a printable area of the print medium M used in the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the printing medium M has a cylindrical shape before being installed in the printing apparatus 1, and is sandwiched between rollers and the like when being conveyed along the conveying path, and is in a crushed state. The area 302 in FIG. 3 is a printable area on the print medium M, and the diameter 301 is the inner diameter of the print medium M.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a print control process for controlling the setting of the print reference position in the present embodiment. The process of FIG. 4 is realized, for example, by the CPU 201 reading and executing the program stored in the ROM 203.

In S101, the CPU 201 determines whether the print medium installed by the operator is a tube, a label, or the like other than the tube. For example, the determination of S101 may be performed based on the setting contents input by the input unit 11. If it is determined that the tube is not a tube, normal printing is performed in S109. If it is determined in S101 that it is a tube, the process proceeds to S102.

In S102, the CPU 201 acquires information on the tube diameter X. For example, the CPU 201 acquires information on the tube diameter X based on the setting contents input by the input unit 11 and the designated product information. Here, the tube diameter X corresponds to the diameter 301 in FIG.

In S103, the CPU 201 acquires the printable area Y based on the information of the tube diameter X acquired in S102. Here, the tube diameter X may be acquired as the printable area Y. In S104, the CPU 201 acquires the print size Z. The print size Z is, for example, information that determines the area of use of the heat generating element configured in the thermal head 14, and may be acquired from the print data.

In S105, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the number of prints S is one. For example, when continuous printing is not performed, such as for one unit page, the number of prints S is determined to be one, and when continuous printing is performed, it is determined that the number of prints is not one. .. If it is determined that the number of prints S is one, normal printing is performed in S109. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of prints S is not one, the process proceeds to S106.

In S106, the CPU 201 compares the printable area Y with the print size Z, and determines whether or not the comparison result satisfies the condition. For example, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the condition that the print size Z is 1/2 or less of the printable area Y is satisfied. If it is determined that the conditions are not satisfied, that is, if the print size Z is larger than 1/2 of the tube diameter X, normal printing is performed in S109. On the other hand, if it is determined that the condition is satisfied, that is, if the print size Z is 1/2 or less of the tube diameter X, the process proceeds to S107. In S107, the CPU 201 alternately prints with the lower limit and the upper limit of the printable area Y as the print reference position. After S107, the process of FIG. 4 ends.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams for explaining the shift of the print area in S107. 5 (a) and 5 (b) correspond to the case where it is determined in S106 that the condition is satisfied, and the case where it is determined in S106 that the condition is not satisfied is also shown as a hatching region. That is, the hatched region corresponds to the case where normal printing is performed in S109 of FIG. 4, and a heat generating element in a region of print size Z centered on the center line 501 is used.

FIG. 5A shows a case where the print size Z is 1/2 of the printable area Y, and numbers 1 to 5 represent the number of prints S. That is, in the first printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area (printing area) corresponding to the print size Z whose print reference position is the lower limit (boundary) of the printable area Y is used. Further, in the second printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z whose print reference position is the upper limit (boundary) of the printable area Y is used. Further, in the third printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z in which the lower limit of the printable area Y is the print reference position is used. Further, in the fourth printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z whose print reference position is the upper limit of the printable area Y is used. Further, in the fifth printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z with the lower limit of the printable area Y as the print reference position is used.

When it is determined in S106 that the condition is not satisfied, the frequency of use of the heat generating element corresponding to the hatched region corresponding to the print size Z is the frequency 502. Further, the frequency of use of the heat generating element corresponding to the region other than the hatched region becomes zero, and the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 is greatly biased.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S106 that the condition is satisfied, the frequency of use becomes as shown in frequencies 503 and 504, and the frequency is reduced by 505 and 506 minutes as compared with the case where it is determined in S106 that the condition is not satisfied. In addition, the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 varies as a whole in the width direction with respect to the transport direction of the print medium. As a result, it is possible to prevent a sharp decrease in the service life of the thermal head 14 itself due to an uneven use frequency of the heat generating element.

FIG. 5B shows a case where the print size Z is 1/2 or less of the printable area Y, and numbers 1 to 5 represent the number of prints S. That is, in the first printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z with the lower limit of the printable area Y as the print reference position is used. Further, in the second printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z whose print reference position is the upper limit of the printable area Y is used. Further, in the third printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z in which the lower limit of the printable area Y is the print reference position is used. Further, in the fourth printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z whose print reference position is the upper limit of the printable area Y is used. Further, in the fifth printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z with the lower limit of the printable area Y as the print reference position is used.

When it is determined in S106 that the condition is not satisfied, the frequency of use of the heat generating element corresponding to the hatched region corresponding to the print size Z is the frequency 502. Further, the frequency of use of the heat generating element corresponding to the region other than the hatched region becomes zero, and the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 is greatly biased.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S106 that the condition is satisfied, the frequency of use becomes as shown in frequencies 513 and 514, and the frequency is reduced by 515 and 516 minutes as compared with the case where it is determined in S106 that the condition is not satisfied. Moreover, the concentration of the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 is improved within the width of the print medium. As a result, it is possible to prevent a sharp decrease in the service life of the thermal head 14 itself due to an uneven use frequency of the heat generating element.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a print control process for controlling the setting of the print reference position in the present embodiment. The process of FIG. 6 is realized, for example, by the CPU 201 reading and executing the program stored in the ROM 203.

In S201, the CPU 201 determines whether the print medium installed by the operator is a tube, a label, or the like other than the tube. For example, the determination of S201 may be performed based on the setting contents input by the input unit 11. If it is determined that it is not a tube, normal printing is performed in S208. If it is determined in S201 that it is a tube, the process proceeds to S202.

In S202, the CPU 201 acquires information on the tube diameter X. For example, the CPU 201 acquires information on the tube diameter X based on the setting contents input by the input unit 11 and the designated product information. Here, the tube diameter X corresponds to the diameter 301 in FIG.

In S203, the CPU 201 acquires the printable area Y based on the information of the tube diameter X acquired in S202. Here, the tube diameter X may be acquired as the printable area Y. In S204, the CPU 201 acquires the print size Z. The print size Z is, for example, information that determines the area of use of the heat generating element configured in the thermal head 14, and may be acquired from the print data.

In S205, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the number of prints S is one. For example, when continuous printing is not performed, such as for one unit page, the number of prints S is determined to be one, and when continuous printing is performed, it is determined that the number of prints is not one. .. If it is determined that the number of prints S is one, normal printing is performed in S208. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of prints S is not one, the process proceeds to S206.

In S206, the CPU 201 compares the printable area Y with the print size Z, and determines whether or not the comparison result satisfies the condition. For example, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the condition that the print size Z is 1/2 or less of the printable area Y is satisfied. If it is determined that the conditions are not satisfied, that is, if the print size Z is larger than 1/2 of the tube diameter X, normal printing is performed in S208. On the other hand, if it is determined that the condition is satisfied, that is, if the print size Z is 1/2 or less of the tube diameter, the process proceeds to S207. In S207, the CPU 201 evenly divides the printable area Y according to the number of prints S, and prints in order with each divided position as a print reference position. After S207, the process of FIG. 6 ends.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the shift of the print area in S207. FIG. 7 corresponds to the case where it is determined in S206 that the condition is satisfied, and the case where it is determined in S206 that the condition is not satisfied is also shown as a hatching region. That is, the hatched region corresponds to the case where normal printing is performed in S208 of FIG. 6, and a heat generating element in a region of print size Z centered on the center line 501 is used.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the number of prints S is 5 (numbers 1 to 5). At that time, five print reference positions are set so that the area of the print size Z is evenly shifted over five times. That is, in the first printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z with the lower limit of the printable area Y as the print reference position is used. Further, in the second printing, of the area of the thermal head 14, the area corresponding to the print size Z whose print reference position is the position shifted by the area 701 minutes from the lower limit of the printable area Y is used. Further, in the third printing, the area corresponding to the print size Z in which the position shifted by 701 minutes in the area of the thermal head 14 is set as the print reference position is used. Further, in the fourth printing, an area corresponding to the print size Z in which the position shifted by 701 minutes in the area of the thermal head 14 is set as the print reference position is used. Further, in the fifth printing, an area corresponding to the print size Z in which the position shifted by 701 minutes in the area of the thermal head 14 is set as the print reference position is used. As described above, in the present embodiment, the print area is sequentially shifted from one boundary of the printable area Y toward the other boundary.

When it is determined in S206 that the condition is not satisfied, the frequency of use of the heat generating element corresponding to the hatched region corresponding to the print size Z is the frequency 502. Further, the frequency of use of the heat generating element corresponding to the region other than the hatched region becomes zero, and the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 is greatly biased.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S206 that the condition is satisfied, the frequency of use becomes as shown in frequencies 523 and 524, and the frequency is reduced by 525 and 526 minutes as compared with the case where it is determined in S206 that the condition is not satisfied. Moreover, the concentration of the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 is improved within the width of the print medium. As a result, it is possible to prevent a sharp decrease in the service life of the thermal head 14 itself due to an uneven use frequency of the heat generating element.

[Third Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the differences between the present embodiment and the first and second embodiments will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a print control process for controlling the setting of the print reference position in the present embodiment. The process of FIG. 8 is realized, for example, by the CPU 201 reading and executing the program stored in the ROM 203.

In S301, the CPU 201 determines whether the print medium installed by the operator is a tube, a label, or the like other than the tube. For example, the determination of S301 may be performed based on the setting contents input by the input unit 11. If it is determined that the tube is not a tube, normal printing is performed in S309. If it is determined in S301 that it is a tube, the process proceeds to S302.

In S302, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the number of prints S is one. For example, when continuous printing is not performed, such as for one unit page, the number of prints S is determined to be one, and when continuous printing is performed, it is determined that the number of prints is not one. .. If it is determined that the number of prints S is one, normal printing is performed in S309. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of prints S is not one, the process proceeds to S303.

In S303, the CPU 201 acquires the information of the tube diameter X and sets it as the printable area Y. For example, the CPU 201 acquires information on the tube diameter X based on the setting contents input by the input unit 11 and the designated product information. Here, the tube diameter X corresponds to the diameter 301 in FIG.

In S304, the CPU 201 compares the ratio of the print size Z and the printable area Y, and determines whether or not the comparison result satisfies the first condition. The first condition is, for example, a condition that the print size Z is 2/3 or more of the printable area Y. When it is determined in S304 that the first condition is satisfied, in S305, the CPU 201 aligns the lower limit of the print size Z and the lower limit of the printable area Y, sets the combined position as the print reference position, and performs printing. .. After that, the process of FIG. 8 is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S304 that the first condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S306.

In S306, the CPU 201 determines whether or not the above comparison result satisfies the second condition. The second condition is, for example, a condition that the print size Z is 1/3 or more and less than 2/3 of the printable area Y. When it is determined in S306 that the second condition is satisfied, in S307, the CPU 201 aligns the center of the print size Z with the center of the printable area Y, sets the aligned position as the print reference position, and performs printing. .. After that, the process of FIG. 8 is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S306 that the second condition is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S308.

The case of proceeding to S308 is, for example, a case where the print size Z is less than 1/3 of the printable area Y. In that case, in S308, the CPU 201 aligns the upper limit of the print size Z and the upper limit of the printable area Y, sets the combined position as the print reference position, and performs printing. After that, the process of FIG. 8 is completed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the shift of the print area in the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, the printable area Y1 corresponds to the printable area Y when it is determined in S304 that the first condition is satisfied. The printable area Y2 corresponds to the printable area Y when it is determined in S306 that the second condition is satisfied. The printable area Y3 corresponds to the printable area Y in S308. Further, the hatched portion in each of the printable areas Y1 to Y3 represents the area of the print size Z.

In the printable area Y1, the lower limit of the printable area Y1 and the lower limit of the print size Z area are aligned with each other in the printable area Z. Further, in the printable area Y2, the printable area Z is aligned with the center 901 of the printable area Y2 and the center of the printable size Z area. Further, in the printable area Y3, the upper limit of the printable area Y3 and the upper limit of the print size Z area are matched in the printable size Z area.

As shown in FIG. 9, by shifting the print area based on the ratio of the print size Z and the printable area Y, the frequency of use of the heat generating element of the thermal head 14 is concentrated within the width of the print medium. It will be improved. As a result, it is possible to prevent a sharp decrease in the service life of the thermal head 14 itself due to an uneven use frequency of the heat generating element.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention.

1 Printing device: 11 Input unit: 12 Display unit: 13 Platen roller: 14 Thermal head: 15 Cutter unit: 19 Control unit: 201 CPU: 202 ROM: 203 RAM

Claims (11)

A printing device that prints on a long printing medium.
The transport means for transporting the print medium and
A printing means for printing on the printing medium conveyed by the conveying means, and
A control means for controlling the printing means so as to shift the print area on the print medium within a width with respect to the transport direction of the print medium.
A printing apparatus comprising. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the printing means so as to shift the printing area within the width as the printing medium is conveyed. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means controls the printing means so as to shift the printing area in the printable area on the printing medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means controls the printing means so that the printing area alternately touches two boundaries in the width direction of the printable area. The claim is characterized in that the control means controls the printing means so as to shift the print area from one boundary of two boundaries in the width direction of the printable area toward the other boundary. Item 3. The printing apparatus according to item 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the printing means so as to shift the printing area within the width based on the length of the printing medium in the width direction. The control means controls the printing means so as to shift the print area within the width based on the ratio of the length of the print area in the width direction to the length of the print medium in the width direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 6. As the ratio becomes smaller, the control means shifts the print area from one of the two boundaries in the width direction of the printable area on the print medium toward the other boundary. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the printing apparatus is controlled. The printing means includes a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating elements within the width.
1. The control means is characterized in that the printing means is controlled so as to shift the printing area within the width by making the heat generating element corresponding to the printing area different from the plurality of heat generating elements. 8. The printing apparatus according to any one of 8. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the printing medium is a tube. A print control method executed in a printing apparatus that prints on a long print medium.
The transport process for transporting the print medium and
A printing process for printing on the printing medium transported in the transporting step, and a printing process for printing on the printing medium.
A control step that controls the printing process so as to shift the printing area on the printing medium within a width with respect to the transport direction of the printing medium.
A print control method comprising.

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