JP5431086B2 - Thermal printer and thermal printer control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal printer and a method for controlling a thermal printer.

  While printing a document, a thermal printer may cause one or more types of printing errors. For example, the printer may print the type of information being printed very lightly or very darkly. Furthermore, in the case of a thermal printer that prints on both sides of a document, the power distribution of the thermal print head may become non-uniform while the printer is printing on both sides simultaneously.

  For example, travel documents such as aircraft boarding passes or car rental coupons typically include printed text, traveler personal data, flight or car rental data and / or machine readable data such as barcodes. It is out. Thermal printers may print these data very thinly. If the travel document is a double-sided printed document, the back or second side may contain roadmaps, driving directions data, or a company logo, but all these data are clearly segmented Printed, that is, a solid print area. The printer may print these solid print areas very darkly. Both overly thin and overly dark prints make the printed document difficult to read.

  To control thermal printers that control print quality based on the type of information being printed and prevent uneven distribution of power in the thermal print head when printing on both sides This method is advantageous.

This method, by a processor of Therma pulp printer, receiving a Lud chromatography data is printed on both sides of the thermal print media from the computer, by the processor, to determine the different types of data to be printed by different print densities , and analyzing the data by Thermal pulp printer, by the processor, determining an average printing density of different print densities, by the processor, and determining the average printing density is greater than a predetermined average printing density, Determining a power level required to print data by the processor; and a predetermined upper power level when the power level required for printing is simultaneously printed on both sides of the thermal print medium by the processor. If it is determined that a higher, by the processor, the first thermal print Head to substantially supply all of the available power is instructed to perform the printing of only the first surface of the thermal print media, the movement of the thermal print media after printing of the first surface is completed Is reversed to move the thermal printing medium to a position where printing of the second side of the thermal printing medium begins and supplies substantially all available power to the second thermal print head to provide the second side. Instructing to perform only printing.

1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary printing system. 2 is an exemplary document from the printer of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary printer 10 includes a direct thermal printer. The illustrated printer 10 can be used to print on both sides of a thermal printing medium 28. However, a direct thermal printer that prints on only one side of the thermal printing medium 28 can also be used with the present invention.

  The exemplary printer 10 includes rotating platens 20 and 22 on opposite sides of the thermal printing medium 28. The motor 38 rotates the platens 20 and 22 by gears attached to the platens 20 and 22, for example, to feed the print medium 28. It is also possible to use another motor for driving the platen 20 separately.

  The exemplary printer 10 further includes opposed thermal print heads 24 and 26 on opposite sides of the thermal print media 28.

  The power circuit 34 supplies power to the thermal print heads 24 and 26. Alternatively, other power circuits can be used to power the thermal print head 26 separately.

  Direct thermal printing of the thermal printing medium 28 can be performed in one pass when the transaction is completed, such as when a receipt or ticket is issued. Alternatively, direct thermal printing can be performed by two or more pass processes. In this case, for example, while the thermal printing medium 28 is moving in the first direction, an image is formed by one or both of the thermal print heads 24 and 26, and then the first or second Along with the thermal printing medium 28 moving in the reverse direction, one or both of the thermal print heads 24 and 26 are retracted for further imaging. When printing is complete, the thermal print media 28 may be manually or automatically made into individual receipts, tickets or other documents, depending on its format (eg, roll, fan-folded sheet, individual sheet, etc.). Can be cut or cut.

  Thermal printing medium 28 includes thermal paper, such as thermal paper having a cellulose or polymer substrate sheet and a thermal die. If a base sheet having sufficient heat resistance that thermal printing on one side of the thermal printing medium 28 does not affect the color on the opposing side of the thermal printing medium 28 is used, the thermal printing medium 28 faces the thermal printing medium 28. Surface printing can be easily performed.

  The thermal printing medium 28 is a paper that can print graphics or text or both on one or both sides of the thermal printing medium 28, for example to supply gift certificates, coupons, receipts, tickets or other articles or documents. It can be supplied in the form of rolls, fan-folded stacks, individual sheets and the like.

  The exemplary printer 10 further includes a control circuit 30 that controls printing by the thermal print heads 24 and 26, including the power supplied by the power circuit 34 and the speed of the motor 38.

  The control circuit 30 is like a processor or CPU 40, memory 42, POS terminal, travel kiosk computer, or other self-service or auxiliary service terminal for inputting data to the printer 10 and outputting data from the printer 10. Communication port 44 for communicating with one or more hosts or auxiliary computers 12.

  The processor 40 executes printer control software 46 that analyzes the preformatted print data from the computer 12 and controls the density of print information on the print medium 28 based on the analysis. Print density is a measure of print quality and can be defined as the relative darkness or print contrast of the print on the page. Optimal print density results in clean, easy-to-read documents that can easily read letters, numbers, and / or graphics that do not contain blurred prints or unwanted grayscale characters or graphics. .

  For example, a barcode reader measures the difference between narrow and wide areas of the barcode and dark and thin areas. Bar code readers may not be able to successfully recognize or decode bar codes printed with insufficient contrast. Therefore, there is a limit on how much barcode contrast can be processed during printing, and the barcode is still easier to read.

  The communication port 44 is, among other things, between the printer 10 and the computer 12 in the form of RS-232 serial, parallel, universal serial bus, Ethernet and / or wireless communication (eg, 802.11, 802.15 and IR). Can support communication. The communication may be one-way communication or two-way communication.

  Data for printing is usually supplied by the computer 12. The computer 12 includes a processor or CPU 50, a memory 52, and a normal port 54. The processor 50 executes an operating system 56 and a printer driver 58. An exemplary operating system 56 is a windowing operating system such as the Microsoft operating system.

  The computer 12 can include a host POS terminal, kiosk, or other self-service or auxiliary service terminal that communicates with the printer 10. Among other things, supplementary data for printing, such as product and / or discount coupon information, instructions, roadmap, way-finder data or company logo can also be printed directly on the printer 10 or on the host POS terminal, It can be supplied by a network server providing data indirectly through a kiosk or other self-service or auxiliary service terminal. Auxiliary data for printing may vary depending on the goods or services sold or supplied.

  The printer driver 58 converts the information to be printed into a format and / or language that the printer 10 can understand. For example, the printer driver 58 can convert information to a raster graphics format. The printer driver 58 may also configure the printer 10 based on selections that are available to the operator through a graphic user interface (GUI) associated with the printer driver 58.

  The printer driver 58 may be independent of or part of the operating system 56 or may be an application program that operates with the operating system 56. An exemplary printer driver 58 may be supplied with the printer 10 by the manufacturer of the printer 10.

  Printer 10 and computer 12 may be independent of each other or may be combined in a single enclosure, such as a kiosk enclosure.

  The computer 12 can further include peripheral devices that support the purpose, or can be connected to such peripheral devices. For example, if the computer 12 is part of a travel kiosk, the computer 12 can be coupled with a bar code reader, a passport reader, and a card reader. As another example, if the computer 12 is part of a self-service or supplementary service checkout station, the computer 12 may be connected to a bar code reader, produce scale, card reader, cash acceptor and / or Or it can be combined with a dispenser, or cash drawer and personal identification number (PIN) keypad.

  More particularly, the printer control software 46 allocates and distributes the necessary thermal print head power from the power circuit 34 and drives the drive motor 38 speed throughout the printing operation based on the average print density of the information being printed. To change. The printer control software 46 determines the average print density in the print data received from the printer driver 58, for example, in a raster graphics format.

  In the case of duplex printing, the printer driver 58 transmits the first information printed on the first surface separately from the second information printed on the second surface of the medium 28. Printing the first and second sides of the media 28 can occur during one printing cycle or two consecutive printing cycles. For each side of the information, the printer control software 46 determines the average print density and the power required for printing.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the printer control software 46 has three ranges of average print densities: (a) less than about 30%, (b) greater than about 30% but less than about 39%, ( c) including an average print density of greater than about 40%, including (i) less than about 80% of available power, or (ii) greater than about 80% of available power, including the required power.

  If the average print density is 30% or less, the printer control software 46 prints both sides at a power or platen speed that is not different from the normal power and speed.

  If the average print density is greater than 30% but less than 40%, the printer control software 46 prints both sides at normal power but at the same time with reduced platen speed.

  If the average print density is greater than 40% and the power required for printing is less than 80% of all available power, the printer control software 46 will be at normal power but the platen speed will be reduced. Print both sides at the same time.

  If the power required for printing exceeds 80% of all available power, the printer control software 46 ensures that only one print head, such as the print head 24, supplies energy. Printing is performed once and all available power is supplied to only one print head.

  After printing the first side, the printer control software 46 interrupts printing and then automatically moves the media 28 until the leading edge is properly positioned at the position for printing the second side. Invert. Next, the printer control software 46 prints the second side. During the printing of the second side, the printer control software 46 prints the second side, eg, the print head 26, to ensure that the information on the second side is printed at an appropriate print density. Controls the power to the print head to perform.

  Alternatively, the printer 10 may locate which print head is physically closer to the paper source to minimize overall paper length movement and paper jam. Thus, the second side can be printed first and the first side printed last. After both printing cycles are complete, the printer control software 46 moves the media 28 to a position for feeding, cutting with a knife, or subsequent mechanical transport.

  2A and 2B show two sides 62 and 72 of a double-sided thermal document 60 in the form of a travel document containing a boarding pass.

  The first surface 62 requires different types of information printed at different density levels. For example, the face 62 includes a text 64 printed in a font thicker than the text 66, “Boarding Pass”. The surface 62 further includes a bar code label 68 and a graphic box 70 that include bars of different thicknesses.

  The second surface 72 includes an advertisement. Like surface 62, surface 72 includes different types of text 74 and 76. Surface 72 further includes a hotel logo 78 in the advertisement.

  For surfaces 62 and 72, printer control software 46 determines that the average print density is 30% or less and that the power required for printing is 80% or less of the available power. Therefore, the printer control software 46 prints both sides 62 and 72 simultaneously.

  Other types of documents 60 may include other types of information related to the related transaction. For example, this information may include, among other things, laws such as other or duplicate transaction information, coupons (shown), discount or contest information, serial comics, sales terms, document images, advertisements, security features, ticket information, abandonment, guarantees, etc. Information can be included. In addition, this information can be targeted based on recipient or buyer identification, transaction data, transaction details, store inventory or bargains, manufacturer inventory or bargains, etc. Random selection from the database is also possible.

  Conveniently, this print control method improves the readability and readability of the document. This print control method further extends the life of the print head power circuit by necessarily limiting the power supplied to the thermal print heads 24 and 26 to within the range recommended by the manufacturer. If this print control method is used, printing can be performed more quickly and documents can be supplied more quickly. Printing the first and second surfaces separately at the required printing power and full platen forward / reverse speed allows faster printing than when printing at the lowest acceptable speed and reduced printing power. Finally, if this printing control method is used, the reading rate of the first pass of the printed barcode can be made faster.

  Although several embodiments have been described with particular reference, various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

The processor of Therma pulp printer, receiving a Lud chromatography data is printed on both sides of the thermal print media from the computer,
To determine the different types of data to be printed by different print densities by said processor, and analyzing by the Thermal pulp printer, the front Kide over data,
Determining an average print density of the different print densities by the processor;
Determining by the processor that the average print density is greater than a predetermined average print density;
Determining by the processor a power level required to print the data;
By the processor, if the power level required for the printing is determined to be higher than a predetermined upper limit of the power level at the time of simultaneous printing on both sides of the thermal print media, by the processor, the first thermal Instructing the print head to supply substantially all available power to perform printing on only the first side of the thermal printing medium, and after the first side has been printed, the thermal printing Reversing the movement of the medium to move the thermal print medium to a position where printing of the second side of the thermal print medium begins and supplying substantially all available power to the second thermal printhead method of controlling a thermal printer comprising the steps of: instructing to execute printing of only the second surface Te. The thermal printer control method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal print medium becomes a boarding pass after printing. The thermal printer control method according to claim 1, wherein the thermal print medium is a receipt after printing. Before Kide over data comprises a bar code, the control method for a thermal printer according to claim 1. Before Kide over data comprises coupon, control method for a thermal printer according to claim 1. Before Kide over data includes a map, control method for a thermal printer according to claim 1. Before Kide over data comprises a company logo, a control method for a thermal printer according to claim 1. A first thermal print head for printing on a first side of a thermal printing medium;
A second thermal print head for printing on the second side of the thermal print medium;
First and second drive platens for moving the thermal print medium during printing;
To determine the different types of data from the computer receives Lud chromatography data is printed on the first surface and the second surface of the thermal print medium is printed in different print densities, before Kide chromatography Analyzing the data, determining an average print density of the different print densities, determining that the average print density is greater than a predetermined average print density, determining a power level required to print the data, If it is determined that the power level required to do so is higher than a predetermined upper limit power level for simultaneous printing on both sides of the thermal print medium, substantially all of the first thermal print head can be used. To instruct to execute printing only on the first side of the thermal printing medium by supplying a sufficient power, and after the printing on the first side is completed, the movement of the thermal printing medium is reversed to To the position to start printing of the second surface of the print medium is moved the thermal print medium, printing of only the second surface by supplying substantially all of the available power to the second thermal print head A processor instructing to execute
Thermal printer equipped with.

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