JP3619690B2 - Thermal paper printing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal paper printing method, and more particularly to a thermal paper that performs two-color printing by generating heat with a thermal head and controlling the amount of heat generated with respect to a label on which two heat-sensitive color former layers having different colors are formed. It relates to a printing method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some thermal labels, which are two-color printing with a single thermal head, use thermal papers with different colors depending on the amount of heat. For example, two color thermal colorant layers are applied and formed on two layers. Is done. The thermal label in which the red heat-sensitive color former layer is formed on the surface side and the black heat-sensitive color developer layer is formed on the red lower layer is printed in red when the thermal head generates heat for a certain period of time, Printed in black.
[0003]
Conventionally, when performing two-color printing with this thermal label, first, a print image for red printing and a print image for black printing are created, and printing is performed for each color based on the respective print images. It was.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional printing method has a drawback that it takes time to create two color print images.
In addition, since two print image memories are secured, the printable area cannot be expanded by simple memory expansion.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a thermal paper printing method capable of shortening a print image creation time and expanding a printable area by simple memory expansion. Objective.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides first and second thermal paper on which a first color is developed by at least a first amount of heat and a second color is formed by a second amount of heat greater than the first amount of heat. In the thermal paper printing method for printing the print image of the second color, when storing the print data corresponding to the first and second colors as dot data corresponding to the print image in a single memory, The dot data for one line of the print image corresponding to the color of the image is stored in every other line in the memory, and the dot data for one line of the print image corresponding to the second color is stored in the memory every two lines. The data is stored as the same dot data, the print data is read out line by line from the memory, a pulse is applied to the heating element of the corresponding thermal head based on the print data, and the second color is developed. Energization is characterized by one line that relatively moving the thermal paper and the thermal head every time ends.
[0007]
According to the present invention, when the print data corresponding to the first and second colors is stored in the memory as dot data corresponding to the print image, the dot data for one line of the print image corresponding to the first color is stored. Are stored in every other line in the memory, and the dot data for one line of the print image corresponding to the second color is stored in the memory as the same dot data every two lines. The print data is read line by line from the memory, the pulsed current is applied to the heating element of the corresponding thermal head based on the print data, and the thermal paper is printed for one line each time the pulse energization for developing the second color is completed. Move relative to the thermal head. In this way, by storing the print data in each row of the memory according to the color to be printed, it is not necessary to create separate print images of two colors as in the prior art, and the print image can be easily created in a short time. be able to. Further, when the print area is expanded, it can be realized by simply adding a memory in the address progression direction.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a thermal paper printing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where two-color printing of red and black is performed on a thermal label will be described.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a thermal label.
[0009]
As shown in the figure, the thermal label 10 is composed of a surface layer 12 and a heat-sensitive color former layer 14, and is temporarily attached to a belt-like mount 18 via an adhesive layer 16. A red thermal color former layer 20 is formed on the surface side of the thermal color former layer 14, and a black thermal color former layer 22 is formed on the lower layer. When the thermal label 10 generates heat from the surface as a heating element of the thermal head, the surface layer 12 and the red heat-sensitive color former layer 20 are melted and printed in red. Further, when the heat is generated for a certain time, the black heat-sensitive color former layer 22 is melted and printed black.
[0010]
FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing a printing result. Each horizontal line in the figure is composed of 10 dots, and each dot corresponds to 10 heating elements. Among the dots, ▲ indicates a dot printed in red, and ■ indicates a dot printed in black. Further, □ indicates a dot that is not printed. In the example shown in the figure, “A” is printed in red on the left half of the thermal label 10 and “B” is printed in black on the right half.
[0011]
FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a print image created for printing as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, each line in FIG. 2A corresponds to the two columns in FIG. 2B in order, for example, the first line in FIG. 2A corresponds to the upper two columns in FIG. . In the figure, ■ indicates dots that generate heat, and □ indicates dots that do not generate heat. The dots printed in red generate heat only in the first column of the two columns, and the dots printed in black generate heat in the second column. Therefore, since each dot “A” shown in FIG. 2 is printed in red, heat is generated only in the first row, and each dot “B” is printed in black, so heat is generated in the second row.
[0012]
FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the heat generation for each dot and the conveyance timing of the stepping motor. As shown in the figure, non-printing dots do not always generate heat, and for dots printed in red, heat is generated only in the first of the two columns corresponding to each line, and dots printed in black Heat is generated in the first and second rows. The stepping motor conveys the label at the same time as the heat generation of the two rows corresponding to each line is completed, and stops when one line is conveyed. As the conveyance of the stepping motor stops, the heating element starts to generate heat in the next line. Further, the heat generation time of the first row of each line is T1, and the heat generation time of the first row is T2.
[0013]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the thermal head.
The thermal head 30 includes a plurality of heating elements 32, 32,... Arranged in one row, transistor arrays 34, 34,... For driving each heating element, and a latch circuit that latches print data for one row. 36 and a serial / parallel converter 38 for inputting print data (serial data) for one column and converting it into parallel data.
[0014]
When printing is performed, first, the print data of the first line of the first line is input to the serial / parallel converter, where it is converted into parallel data.
After the print data is input, the parallel data of the first row converted by the serial / parallel converter by the latch signal is latched in the latch circuit.
After the print data is latched by the latch signal, the print data of the first row is added to the base of the transistor array by a strobe signal having a predetermined pulse width, and the transistor corresponding to the print data is turned on.
[0015]
Thus, the reference voltage is applied to the heating element of the thermal head corresponding to the print data by the pulse width of the strobe signal, and the first line is printed in red.
Next, the print data of the second line of the first line is input to the serial / parallel converter, where it is converted into parallel data.
After the print data is input, the parallel data in the second row converted by the serial / parallel converter using the latch signal is latched in the latch circuit.
[0016]
After the print data is latched by the latch signal, the print data of the second row is added to the base of the transistor array by a strobe signal having a predetermined pulse width, and the transistor corresponding to the print data is turned ON.
As a result, the reference voltage is applied to the heat generating element of the thermal head corresponding to the print data by the pulse width of the strobe signal, and printing in black on the first line is performed.
[0017]
After the printing of the first line is completed, the paper is fed only by one line by the step motor of the paper feeding device.
The same procedure is repeated for the second and subsequent lines, and all lines are printed.
Next, the operation of the above printing method will be described.
[0018]
First, a print image is created according to the dot and color to be printed. For example, when printing “A” in red on the left half of the thermal label 10 and “B” in black on the right half as shown in FIG. 2A, each line as shown in FIG. Create a print image corresponding to the column. At this time, for dots printed in red, heat is set only in the first row corresponding to each line, and for dots printed in black, heat is generated in two rows corresponding to each line. Set. In this way, by setting a column that generates heat according to the color to be printed, in the present invention, it is not necessary to create two color print images separately, and a print image can be created easily in a short time.
[0019]
When the print image is created, two-color printing is performed based on the created print image. In order to print the first line of dots in FIG. 2A, first, the dot designated to generate heat is designated as the thermal head in the first column of the print image, and the dots are heated and printed in red. When the red printing is completed, the second row of the print image is designated as the thermal head, and the dots set to generate heat are heated and printed in black.
[0020]
When printing of the first line is completed, one line is conveyed by the stepping motor and printing of the second line is performed. By repeating this, all lines are printed.
In the present invention, the memory address corresponding to the print coordinates and the pattern data of the character to be printed are obtained only once, and thereafter, every other unit based on the font unit or only two units are continuously arranged on the memory. And can be processed at high speed.
[0021]
In addition, when there are two print images on the memory as in the past, in order to expand the printable area, it is necessary to expand the exclusive area on each memory. By alternately arranging N-byte data corresponding to the heating element on the thermal head as one unit, the printable area can be expanded by simply adding a memory in the address progression direction.
[0022]
In the present embodiment, the case of printing on a thermal label has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any thermal paper that can be printed in at least two colors may be used. Further, the color to be printed is not limited to red and black.
In the present embodiment, the method of transferring the print image of the second column to the serial / parallel converter after the heat generation of the first column is completed has been described. However, in order to efficiently use the control time, The print image of the second row may be transferred to the serial / parallel converter while the eyes are heated.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the thermal paper printing method of the present invention, the print data is stored in each line of a single memory every other line or in two lines according to the color to be printed. It is not necessary to create two color print images separately, and a print image can be created easily in a short time. Further, when the print area is expanded, it can be realized by simply adding a memory in the address progression direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a thermal label. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a printing result and a printing image. FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing timing of heat generation for each dot and conveyance of a stepping motor. Block diagram showing head configuration 【Explanation of symbols】
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Thermal label 12 ... Surface layer 14 ... Thermal color former layer 16 ... Adhesive layer 18 ... Band-shaped mount 20 ... Red thermal color former layer 22 ... Black thermal color former layer 30 ... Thermal head 32 ... Heating element

Claims (1)

Thermal that prints first and second color print images on thermal paper on which the first color is developed by at least the first amount of heat and the second color is formed by the second amount of heat greater than the first amount of heat. In the paper printing method, when storing print data corresponding to the first and second colors in a single memory as dot data corresponding to the print image, one line of the print image corresponding to the first color is stored. Dot data is stored every other line in the memory, and dot data for one line of the print image corresponding to the second color is stored as the same dot data in two lines in the memory. The print data is read line by line, and the corresponding thermal head heating element is pulse-energized on the basis of the print data. Each time the pulse energization for developing the second color is completed, one line is printed. Only method of printing thermal paper, characterized in that for relatively moving the thermal paper and the thermal head.

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