JP5653094B2 - Print processing apparatus and method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing processing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium for transferring a hot-melting special color ink onto a protective layer without ribbon defects.

  In recent years, digital cameras (imaging devices) that can take an image with a simple operation and convert the taken image into digital image data have been widely used. As a general method of printing an image taken with a digital camera to make a photograph, there is a method using a personal computer (PC) and a color printer. That is, digital data of a photographed image (hereinafter referred to as “image data”) is fetched from a digital camera to a PC and subjected to image processing, and then print data is output to a color printer or the like to perform photo printing.

  On the other hand, recently, a printing system has been developed that performs photo printing by directly transmitting image data from a digital camera to a color printer without using a PC. In addition, since image data of images taken with a digital camera is often stored on a memory card that can be attached to and detached from the digital camera, the memory card is directly attached, and the image data is pulled out from the memory card for photo printing. A color printer has also been developed.

  As one of the photographic printing methods, there is a so-called thermal transfer method in which a thermal melting or sublimation ink on an ink ribbon (ink sheet) is transferred to an image receiving paper (printing paper) using a line thermal head. In the thermal transfer method, the amount of heat-meltable ink dissolved or sublimation ink sublimation is controlled by individually energizing (power supply) the heat-generating resistor elements that make up the line thermal head to control the amount of heat generated. By controlling the amount, the area and density of the ink to be transferred can be adjusted.

  Sublimable ink has drawbacks such as being weak against oils and plastics such as fingerprints and plasticizer, fading easily due to ultraviolet rays, and causing the ink on the image receiving paper to be sublimated due to heat. A so-called overcoat technique in which a heat-meltable transparent ink (protective layer) is transferred onto the image receiving paper is known as a technology for compensating for such drawbacks and protecting the image printed on the image receiving paper. As a method for forming the protective layer without any problem, a filler or an adhesive layer for forming the surface of the protective layer is used so that the dynamic friction coefficient between the surface of the protective layer and the image forming surface of the protected image is 0.33 or less. A method of containing silicone oil has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a technology for transferring a heat-meltable special color ink (for example, gold, silver, etc.) that cannot be expressed with a dye (for example, yellow [Y], magenta [M], cyan [C]) onto a protective layer. It has been known. The spot color ink is used for decoration, for example, in frame printing in which a plurality of images are superimposed and printed. The thermal transfer film (ink ribbon) for transferring the special color ink is formed by laminating a release layer, a special color ink layer and an adhesive layer on the base film in order, and the special color ink is applied to the surface of the image receiving paper. It is transferred via an adhesive layer onto the protective layer that is formed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-207465

  However, when the special color ink is transferred onto the protective layer, there is a difference in the magnitude of the frictional force generated between the area where the special color ink is transferred and the area where the special color ink is not transferred, resulting in ribbon wrinkles. There is a problem. For example, the ribbon wrinkle causes a so-called color loss phenomenon (transfer defect) in a special color layer formed by transferring special color ink.

  As a method for solving this problem, a method of adjusting the dynamic friction coefficient by designing the material of the special color ink, as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, can be considered. However, this method has a problem that the material must be strictly controlled from its composition, and the cost increase cannot be avoided.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a print processing apparatus and method, a program, and a storage medium that can transfer a special color ink satisfactorily with a wide margin for variation in characteristics of the special color ink and the protective ink. The purpose is to do.

The print processing apparatus according to the present invention is a print processing apparatus that performs printing by transferring each ink of an ink ribbon to which color ink, protective ink, and special color ink are applied to image receiving paper by heat, the color ink, Printing means having a thermal head for transferring each ink to the image receiving paper in the order of protective ink and the special color ink; and control means for controlling transfer of the protective ink by the printing means, the control means , for the protective layer formed by transfer of the protective ink than said transfer area of said color ink is transferred onto the protective layer, non-transfer territory the spot color ink on the front Symbol protective layer is not transferred towards the frequency is, the concave convex surface prior Symbol protective layer is characterized that you control the energy supplied to the thermal head so greatly.

  According to the present invention, the special color ink can be satisfactorily transferred onto the protective layer formed on the image receiving paper by the control of the thermal head. In addition, since the margin for the characteristic variation of the special color ink and the protective ink in the ink ribbon can be widened, the cost increase of the ink ribbon can be suppressed.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system having a print processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the print processing apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the imaging device of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the mode of the progress of the printing process by the printing processing apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the thermal head with which the printing processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is provided. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic external structure of a media cassette used in the print processing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the ink ribbon stored in the media cassette of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the structure after completion | finish of printing of an image receiving paper. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a printing process performed by the printing processing apparatus in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart of a method for forming a protective layer by the print processing apparatus of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a thermal head in the print processing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a figure which illustrates typically the surface form of the protective layer at the time of performing the process of the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of voltage pulses applied to a thermal head included in the print processing apparatus of FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart showing another method for forming a protective layer by the print processing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the formation process of the protective layer performed by step S1404 of FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing still another method of forming a protective layer by the print processing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is the top view and sectional drawing for demonstrating the generation | occurrence | production principle of ribbon wrinkles. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the color defect in the special color layer formed in the ribbon ridge and the image receiving paper.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
[Schematic configuration of printing system]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system having a print processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this printing system, a print processing apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “printing apparatus”) 100 and an imaging apparatus 101 are connected by an interface cable 131 via an interface 111 on the printing apparatus 100 side and an interface 121 on the imaging apparatus 101 side. It is configured.

  The interface connection between the printing apparatus 100 and the imaging apparatus 101 conforms to a standard called PictBridge officially released from CIPA, for example. Thus, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, image data is sent from the imaging apparatus 101 to the printing apparatus 100 through the interface cable 131, and the printing apparatus 100 can print an image.

  The printing apparatus 100 includes a memory card slot 112, an operation button 113, an execution button 114, a power switch 115, a display device 116, a status lamp 117, a media cassette attachment / detachment hole 118, a paper discharge port 119, and a paper feed cassette 120.

  The printing apparatus 100 has a function of reading out image data from a memory card and printing a photo when a memory card (not shown) storing image data is inserted into the memory card slot 112. However, this function is not used in this embodiment. Since there are a plurality of types of memory cards such as an SD memory card and a CF memory card, for example, the printing apparatus 100 may include a plurality of memory card slots according to the standard of each memory card.

  The display device 116 includes an LCD for displaying a thumbnail of an image to be printed and a GUI (graphic user interface) such as an operation menu of the printing device 100. The operation button 113 has a cross button for operating the GUI displayed on the display device 116. The execution button 114 is a button for instructing the start of printing under conditions determined by operation of the user interface, and the power switch 115 is a switch for turning on / off a main power source for operating the printing apparatus 100. It is. The status lamp 117 is, for example, an LED, and indicates an error status or the like of the printing apparatus 100 by lighting or blinking.

  A media cassette attaching / detaching operation described later is performed through the media cassette attaching / detaching hole 118. The paper feed cassette 120 stores image receiving paper (printing paper) (not shown). When printing is started, the image receiving paper is conveyed one by one into the printing apparatus 100 by a conveyance mechanism (not shown). . The image-receiving paper for which printing has been completed is discharged from the paper discharge port 119 and placed on the paper feed cassette 120.

  The imaging device 101 includes a memory card slot 122, a power switch 123, a lens unit 124, a status lamp 125, and a display device (not shown). A memory card is inserted into the memory card slot 122. The power switch 123 is a switch for turning on / off a main power source for operating the imaging apparatus 101. The lens unit 124 constitutes the optical system of the imaging apparatus 101 and captures an optical image of the subject. The status lamp 125 is, for example, an LED, and indicates an error status or the like of the imaging device 101. The display device (not shown) is provided on a surface opposite to the surface on which the lens unit 124 is provided in the imaging device 101, and an LCD that displays a preview image being captured, a reproduced image, a GUI, and the like. have.

[Hardware Configuration of Printing Apparatus 100]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus 100. Among the constituent elements shown in FIG. 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are used for those overlapping with the constituent elements shown in FIG. 1, and description thereof is omitted.

  Overall control of the printing apparatus 100 is performed by the control unit 201. The control unit 201 includes a CPU 211, a RAM 212, and a ROM 213. The ROM 213 stores various programs executed by the printing apparatus 100, parameters, and the like. The RAM 212 is used as a work area for the CPU 211, and temporarily stores programs to be executed, image data, control parameters, and the like.

  The CPU 211 develops and executes a program read from the ROM 213 in the RAM 212 and generates a control signal for the processing unit, the driving unit, and the like constituting the printing apparatus 100, and the processing unit, the driving unit, and the like are generated according to the control signal. Each function is realized. For example, by executing a GUI which is an example of a program stored in the ROM 213, preview display on the display device 116, designation of the number of copies using the operation buttons 113, image processing such as N-UP and trimming can be designated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the interface 111 is used for connection with the imaging apparatus 101, but includes an interface used for connection with the memory card slot 112 and the PC 280 here. As described above, the printing apparatus 100 has a function of reading out image data from a memory card mounted in the memory card slot 112 and executing photo printing. The printing apparatus 100 can also be connected to the PC 280 and print image data transmitted from the PC 280.

  The reception buffer 207 stores image data acquired through the interface 111 (for example, image data in JPEG format). The image processing unit 202 preprocesses the image data stored in the reception buffer 207, such as resizing and rotation. Image data (image data for printing) after image processing by the image processing unit 202 is temporarily stored in the frame memory 203 or the RAM 212 of the control unit 201.

  The signal processing unit 204 converts the print image data into a format that can be directly interpreted by the printer engine unit 206 (for example, single-color image data of Y, M, and C), and the printer engine unit 206 in accordance with the paper feed timing. Send to. Image data that the user wants to save for reuse, template data downloaded from the PC 280, and the like are stored in a storage medium 221 such as a hard disk or an extended recording medium (removable disk) 222 via the storage medium control unit 205. . When an error occurs in the printing apparatus 100, the control unit 201 alerts the user by blinking the status lamp 117 or the like.

[Hardware Configuration of Imaging Device 101]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the imaging apparatus 101. Among the constituent elements shown in FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are used for those overlapping with the constituent elements shown in FIG. 1, and description thereof is omitted.

  Overall control of the imaging apparatus 101 is performed by the control unit 301, and the control unit 301 includes a CPU 311, a RAM 312, and a ROM 313. The ROM 313 stores various programs and parameters that are executed by the imaging apparatus 101. The RAM 312 is used as a work area for the CPU 311 and temporarily stores programs to be executed, image data, control parameters, and the like. The CPU 311 expands and executes the program read from the ROM 313 in the RAM 312 and generates a control signal for the processing unit, the driving unit, and the like constituting the imaging apparatus 101, and the processing unit, the driving unit, and the like are generated according to the control signal. Each function is realized.

  When an error occurs in the imaging apparatus 101, the control unit 301 alerts the user by blinking the status lamp 125 or the like. The operation button 302 is provided, for example, on the back surface of the imaging device 101 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the lens unit 124 is disposed in FIG. 1) and the like, and a setting menu displayed on the display device 303 or the like. It is used for GUI operation. A display device 303 is an LCD provided on the back surface of the imaging device 101, and displays a preview image being captured, a reproduced image, a GUI that can be operated with the operation button 302, and the like.

  The optical image incident through the lens unit 124 is formed on the surface of the CCD 308, and the digitally converted image data output from the CCD 308 is stored in the frame memory 305 or the RAM 312. The signal processing unit 304 executes processing such as image resizing and rotation. The control unit 301 executes red-eye correction processing or the like on the image data processed by the signal processing unit 304, and the processed image data is stored in the storage medium 321 or the extended storage medium 322 via the storage medium control unit 307. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the interface 121 is used for connection with the printing apparatus 100, and includes an interface used for connection with the memory card slot 122 and the PC 280 here. The image processing unit 306 converts the image data to be transmitted to the printing apparatus 100 into a format that can be interpreted by the printing apparatus 100, and the converted image data is transferred to the printing apparatus 100 via the interface 121 under the control of the control unit 301. Sent.

  Note that image data processed by the image processing unit 306 may be stored in a memory card inserted in the memory card slot 122, or image data stored in the storage medium 321 or the extended storage medium 322. May be stored. That is, as long as the image data stored in the memory card can be read normally by the device in which the memory card is mounted, the format of the image data stored in the memory card is not limited.

[Print processing by the print processing device]
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the progress of the printing process in the printing apparatus 100. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the image receiving paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 120 into the printing apparatus 100 by the paper feed roller 401.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image receiving paper and the ink ribbon are sandwiched between the thermal head 402 and the platen roller 403 in a superposed state. The ink ribbon is supplied from the feed side bobbin 411 and taken up by the take-up side bobbin 412. By controlling the drive of the thermal head 402 while feeding the image receiving paper in the same direction as the ink ribbon using the pinch roller 404, a monochrome image of Y is first printed on the image receiving paper. At this time, a part of the image receiving paper protrudes out of the body of the printing apparatus 100, but the pinch roller 404 pinches the image receiving paper and fixes the position of the image receiving paper. The detailed configuration of the ink ribbon will be described later.

  When the printing of the Y monochrome image is completed, the image receiving paper is returned to the position before the printing, the printing of the M monochrome image is started, and when the printing of the M monochrome image is completed, the image receiving paper is returned to the position before the printing. Then, the printing of the C single color image is started. When the printing of the monochrome image of C is completed, a protective layer is formed. When the printing of the special color layer is completed, the printing is finished. As shown in FIG. 4C, the image receiving paper is discharged by the discharge roller 405. It is discharged out of the printing apparatus 100 through the mouth 119.

[Configuration of thermal head]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic structure of the thermal head 402, FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating the schematic structure of the thermal head 402, and FIG. 5B is a diagram of a heating element on the surface of the thermal head 402. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning. A thermal energy amount corresponding to the number of input gradations is converted into a voltage pulse number and applied to the thermal head 402 and converted into heat in the heating resistor 502. The thermal head 402 includes a peeling plate 501 that is a protrusion for smoothly peeling the image receiving paper and the ink ribbon, and is designed to have an optimum size and angle.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, generally, the heating resistors 502 are arranged vertically in the paper feed direction (sub-scanning direction), and when viewed in the head direction (main scanning direction), the heat generation resistors 502 are heated. The part which the resistor 502 contacts and the part which does not occur generate | occur | produce. The heating resistor 502 may protrude from the surface of the thermal head 402, or may not protrude and the surface may be smooth.

[Schematic structure of media cassette]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic external structure of the media cassette. The media cassette 601 stores an ink ribbon, and includes a feed-side bobbin 411 that supplies an unused ink ribbon and a take-up bobbin 412 that winds up the used ink ribbon.

[Schematic structure of ink ribbon]
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the ink ribbon stored in the media cassette. The ink ribbon is coated with three colors of sublimable color inks (Y, M, C), protective ink, and special color ink that is heat-meltable color ink. Specifically, the ink ribbon includes a Y ink surface 701, an M ink surface 702, a C ink surface 703, and a protective ink surface to which Y ink, M ink, C ink, protective ink, and special color ink are respectively applied in this order. 704 and a special color ink surface 705. Each ink surface is divided by a ribbon marker (black line) 710, and two ribbon markers 710 for indicating the head of the surface are provided on one side of the Y ink surface 701 in the length direction of the ink ribbon. Yes.

[Schematic structure after printing of image-receiving paper]
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a schematic structure after completion of printing of the image receiving paper. In the image receiving paper, a dye receiving layer is provided on the surface side (print screen side) of the image receiving paper base, and the dye receiving layer is a sublimable dye, that is, sublimable color ink (Y, M, C). Accept. A protective layer formed by transferring the protective ink so as to cover the dye receiving layer is formed on the entire printing screen, and the special color layer formed by transferring the special color ink to a necessary portion on the protective layer. Is formed.

[Principle of Ribbon Wrinkles by Thermal Transfer]
Here, the principle of ribbon wrinkles that are likely to occur when a special color layer is formed on the image receiving paper will be described. FIG. 17 is a plan view (A) and a sectional view (B) for explaining the principle of ribbon wrinkle generation. In the special color ink surface 705, a release agent, a special color ink, and an adhesive are sequentially stacked and applied on the base film, and the special color ink is applied on the protective layer on which the image receiving paper is already formed. As a result, the spot color layer is formed.

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, when the special color ink is transferred to the image receiving paper, the ink ribbon and the image receiving paper are superposed on the thermal head 402 and the platen roller 403 (not shown in FIG. 17). Move while sliding in the gap. At that time, a frictional force is generated between the ink ribbon and the image receiving paper.

  The frictional force generated in the area where the special color ink is not transferred (hereinafter referred to as “non-transfer area”) is “μ1”, and the frictional force generated in the area where the special color ink is transferred (hereinafter referred to as “transfer area”) is “μ2”. , “Μ1 <μ2” is known. In other words, in the special color ink transfer region, which is a region where the special color ink is transferred and becomes a shell, the frictional force with the image receiving paper is larger than in the non-transfer region of the special color ink.

  Thus, when the difference in the frictional force generated in the same plane becomes large, ribbon slip occurs locally at the portion where the frictional force difference cannot be endured during transfer, and the ribbon breaks and ribbon wrinkles occur. When the ribbon ridge grows and becomes large and reaches a region of the special color film that does not pass through the thermal head 402, so-called color loss occurs at that portion when the special color ink is transferred by the thermal head 402.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ribbon wrinkles and the color loss in the special color layer formed on the image receiving paper. In the portion where the ribbon wrinkle is generated, the ink ribbon is folded as shown in FIG. 18, and a step is generated with respect to the surface in contact with the image receiving paper. When the special color ink is transferred in a state where the ink ribbon has a step as described above, the special color ink is not transferred at the stepped portion and falls out in a streak shape, and color loss occurs in the special color layer.

  When the special color ink is transferred to the image receiving paper, the base film in the special color ink transfer region is thermally contracted. When the heat-shrinkable region caused by this heat shrinkage continues in the sub-scanning direction, the transfer position shift in the main scanning direction with respect to the non-transfer region of the special color ink may become large. Ribbon wrinkles may occur in order to eliminate the transfer position shift at that time.

  In the printing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, control is performed to suppress the occurrence of color loss due to such ribbon wrinkles. Hereinafter, the details of the control will be described.

[Print Control]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic printing process performed by the printing apparatus 100. When the image data stored in the imaging apparatus 101 from the imaging apparatus 101 is taken into the printing apparatus 100, a thumbnail of the image is displayed on the display apparatus 116. When a user selects a thumbnail of an image to be printed by operating the operation button 113 (image selection), sets printing conditions, and presses the execution button 114, the monochrome image data for each of Y, M, and C, protective ink Transfer data is generated, and transfer to the image receiving paper is started. Further, not only an image to be printed but also a frame and a stamp to be printed by being combined with the image can be selected by operating the operation buttons. It is also possible to select a frame for special color ink or a stamp. When a special color ink frame or stamp is selected, in addition to single color image data and protective ink transfer data, special color ink transfer data corresponding to the selected frame or stamp is generated.

  Using the ink ribbon described with reference to FIG. 7, first, Y ink on the Y ink surface 701 is transferred to the image receiving paper based on the Y monochrome image data (step S91). Hereinafter, such processing is expressed as “printing of Y plane”. Subsequently, printing on the M surface (step S92) and printing on the C surface (step S93) are performed.

  Further, based on the transfer data of the protective ink, the protective ink on the protective ink surface 704 is transferred to the image receiving paper (hereinafter referred to as “printing of the protective surface”, and the “protective surface” is composed of a transfer area of the protective ink) (step). S94). Then, the special color ink on the special color ink surface 705 is transferred to the image receiving paper based on the transfer data of the special color ink (hereinafter referred to as “print of special color surface”, and the “special color surface” is composed of a transfer area and a non-transfer area of the special color ink). (Step S95). The image receiving paper that has been printed in this way is discharged out of the printing apparatus 100.

[Form of protective layer forming process]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the method for forming a protective layer according to the first embodiment, which is executed by the printing apparatus 100, and corresponds to a flowchart showing details of step S94 (printing of the protective surface) in FIG.

  When printing of the protective surface is started, first, reading of transfer data (hereinafter referred to as “transfer data of the special color surface”) when performing printing of the special color surface is started (step S1001). The transfer data of the special color surface read out here is the same as that actually used for the formation of the special color layer, that is, the printing of the special color surface (S95). The arrangement order and position of the pixels on the spot color plane completely match the arrangement order and position of the pixels on the protection plane. The pixel of the spot color plane is expressed by two gradations indicating whether to print or not, and the “two gradations” here may be expressed by ON / OFF or based on multi-level 256 gradations. It may be expressed by 0/255 level. Hereinafter, the two gradations are represented by ON / OFF.

  Next, the transfer data for one line of the special color surface is read to the first buffer (S1002). The first buffer 1 exists on the RAM 212, and a second buffer described later is also provided on the RAM 212. Subsequently, the spot color plane pixels in the first buffer are inspected, and specifically, it is determined whether the spot color plane pixels are ON or OFF (S1003). When the pixel on the spot color surface is ON (“YES” in S1003), the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is set to the normal energy for the pixel on the protective surface serving as the base of this pixel (step S1004). On the other hand, if the pixel on the spot color surface is OFF (“NO” in S1003), the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is increased with respect to the pixel on the protective surface serving as the base of this pixel (step S1005).

  The transfer data expressed in the energy for printing on the protection surface set in steps S1004 and S1005 is stored in the second buffer (step S1006). Then, it is determined whether the inspected spot color pixel is the last pixel in the first buffer (step S1007). If it is not the last pixel (“NO” in S1007), the process returns to step S1003. In the case of the last pixel, that is, when the inspection for one line is completed (“YES” in S1007), the process proceeds to step S1008.

  In step S <b> 1008, the protection surface transfer data for one line stored in the second buffer 2 is transmitted to the printer engine unit 206. Subsequently, it is determined whether the process of step S1008 is completed for the transfer data for the last line of the special color surface, that is, whether the processes of S1002 to 1008 are completed for all the transfer data of the special color surface ( Step S1009).

  If the process has not ended ("NO" in S1009), the process returns to step S1002. When the processing is completed (“YES” in S1009), the reading of the transfer data of the special color surface is completed (step S1010), and the protection surface printing (protection) is performed according to the transfer data expressed by the energy for printing the protection surface. Layer formation) is performed (step S1011). As described above, in this embodiment, the protective layer is formed by distinguishing the transfer area / non-transfer area of the special color ink.

[Thermal head control method]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a thermal head control method. When the printer engine unit 206 receives the transfer data expressed by the energy for printing the protective surface (step S1101), the printer engine unit 206 inspects the received transfer data pixel by pixel to check whether the energy has been increased (S1102). ).

  When the energy is increased (“YES” in S1102), the number of voltage pulses applied to the thermal head 402 is increased from the normal value (step S1103). On the other hand, when the energy is not increased (“NO” in S1102), the number of voltage pulses is maintained at a normal value (step S1104). Note that the number of voltage pulses to be increased in step S1103 is determined in advance according to the type of ink ribbon and the like. In this way, energy is supplied to the thermal head 402 with the number of voltage pulses set in steps S1103 and S1104, so that the thermal head 402 is driven and controlled (step S1105).

  FIG. 12 is a plan view schematically showing the surface form of the protective layer when the processing shown in FIG. 11 is executed. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the special color layer is formed in a U shape outside the image receiving paper. In this case, the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is maintained at a normal value for the pixel of the protective layer corresponding to the base of the pixel of the special color layer, and processing is performed. On the other hand, for the pixels of the protective layer that are not the base of the pixels of the special color layer, the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is increased (for example, twice the normal value), and the processing is performed.

  When the protective ink is transferred to the image receiving paper, thermal energy is applied from the thermal head 402 to the ink ribbon, and the thermal damage received on the surface of the protective layer varies depending on the magnitude of the applied thermal energy. The smaller the surface roughness, the smaller the surface roughness of the protective layer. Therefore, when the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is increased, the unevenness of the surface of the formed protective layer increases. For example, the uneven step is an actually measured value, and the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is 0.6 to 2 μm when the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is a normal value, but the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is twice the normal value. It changes to 4-6 micrometers.

  When the unevenness on the surface of the protective layer increases, the friction coefficient increases. That is, according to the control method of the thermal head 402 shown in FIG. 12, the surface state (friction coefficient) of the protective layer can be adjusted in units of pixels depending on whether or not it becomes the base of the transfer area of the special color layer. The unevenness of the protective layer may be in the main scanning direction or in the sub scanning direction.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of voltage pulses applied to the thermal head 402. While the image receiving paper and the ink ribbon are superimposed and conveyed at a constant speed, a voltage pulse is applied as energy to the thermal head 402 in synchronization with the movement of the image receiving paper. In order to execute the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure, the method of adjusting the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is roughly divided into a method of increasing the voltage value of the voltage pulse and a method of increasing the number of pulses.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, it is assumed that a voltage pulse (voltage pulse when ribbon ribbon countermeasures are not executed) normally used for printing on the protection surface is voltage: v0 and the number of pulses: t0. When executing the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure, the voltage value is increased from v0 to v1 (v1> v0) without changing the number of pulses, or the pulse number is changed from t0 to t1 (t1 without changing the voltage value). > T0) can be used. Note that both the voltage and the number of pulses may be increased.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 17, the cause of ribbon wrinkles is that the friction force generated in the non-transfer area of the spot color ink is smaller than the friction force generated in the transfer area of the spot color ink, and the difference is large. There is. On the other hand, as described above, according to the present embodiment, the friction coefficient in the special color ink transfer area is the same as the conventional one, and the friction coefficient in the non-transfer area can be increased. That is, the frictional force generated in the non-transfer area of the special color ink can be increased to approach the frictional force generated in the transfer area of the special color ink, and the difference can be reduced, thereby suppressing the occurrence of ribbon wrinkles. it can.

  As described above, in the printing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment, the occurrence of ribbon wrinkles can be suppressed only by changing the control of the thermal head 402 in the printing apparatus 100. Therefore, a wide margin (allowable range) for characteristic variations of the special color ink and the protective ink can be taken. In other words, even if the characteristic variations of the special color ink and the protective ink are large, the generation of ribbon wrinkles can be suppressed by controlling the thermal head 402, and the cost increase of the ink ribbon can be suppressed.

Second Embodiment
The occurrence frequency of the ribbon of special color ink depends on the type (form) of the transfer area of the special color ink. The main types of special color ink transfer areas include a frame type and a stamp type.

  The frame type is a pattern in which special color ink is transferred over a wide range on the input image. Examples of the frame type include a frame type and a U shape (see FIG. 12) surrounding the edge of the print area. Since the frame type has a characteristic that the transfer area of the special color ink is relatively wide, the occurrence frequency of the ribbon wrinkles is high, and therefore the countermeasure against the ribbon wrinkles described in the first embodiment is required.

  The stamp type is a pattern in which the spot color ink is locally transferred to be superimposed on the input image, and for example, there is a smile mark or a star mark. Since the stamp type has a feature that the transfer area of the special color ink is relatively small, the occurrence frequency of ribbon wrinkles is low, and therefore the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure described in the first embodiment is not necessarily required.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure is to be executed depending on whether the type of the special color ink transfer area is the frame type or the stamp type. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the protective layer forming method according to the second embodiment, which is executed in the printing apparatus 100.

  First, the type of the special color ink transfer area is inspected (step S1401). Specifically, in the inspection in step S1401, it is inspected whether the frame belongs to the frame type or the stamp type, and a spot color frame is selected by the user at the time of print setting or a spot color stamp is selected. It is determined. The inspection method is not limited to this, and the generated transfer data for the spot color is analyzed to determine whether the spot color ink is transferred to the image receiving paper as a whole or whether the spot color ink is transferred locally. Whether it is a frame type or a stamp type may be determined. Subsequently, it is determined whether the type of the special color ink transfer area inspected in step S1401 is a frame type (step S1402). In the case of the frame type (“YES” in S1402), since the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure of the first embodiment is necessary, the protection layer is formed by distinguishing the transfer area / non-transfer area of the special color ink (step S1403). In the case of the spot type (“NO” in S1402), the protective layer is formed without distinguishing the transfer area / non-transfer area of the special color ink (step S1404).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the protective layer forming process in step S1404 shown in FIG. 14, and the protective surface is printed without distinguishing the transfer area / non-transfer area of the special color ink. That is, first, transfer data for one line on the protective surface is read (step S1501). For all pixels, the energy supplied to the thermal head 402 is set to the normal energy (step S1502), and the transfer data expressed by the energy for printing the protective surface is stored in the buffer (S1503). The buffer exists on the RAM 212.

  Subsequently, the transfer data for one line of the protection surface stored in the buffer is transmitted to the printer engine unit 206 (S1504), and it is determined whether the transfer data of the protection surface stored in the buffer has reached the last line. (Step S1505). If not reached (“NO” in S1505), the process returns to Step 1501, and if reached (“YES” in S1505), a protective layer is formed (Step S1506), and then the process ends.

<Third Embodiment>
The frequency of occurrence of ribbon wrinkles changes according to the shape of the special color ink transfer region. For example, even with the frame type described above, ribbon wrinkles are unlikely to occur when the transfer area is small, and even with the stamp type, ribbon wrinkles are likely to occur when the transfer area is wide. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the shape of the special color ink transfer area is inspected to determine whether or not to take measures against ribbon wrinkles.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the protective layer forming method according to the third embodiment, which is executed in the printing apparatus 100. The transfer data of the spot color surface is read (step S1601), and the shape of the transfer area of the spot color ink is inspected (step S1602). Next, it is determined whether or not the inspected shape is a shape that easily causes ribbon wrinkles (step 1603). For example, even if it is a stamp type, if the ratio of the transfer area of the special color ink to the protective surface is a predetermined value or more, or if it includes a frame shape or a frame shape, ribbon wrinkles are likely to occur. Can be determined.

  If the shape is likely to cause ribbon wrinkles (“YES” in S1603), since a countermeasure against ribbon wrinkles is necessary, a protective layer is formed by distinguishing the transfer area / non-transfer area of the special color ink (step S1604). On the other hand, if the shape is such that ribbon wrinkles are unlikely to occur (“NO” in S1603), no protection against wrinkles is required, so that a protective layer is formed without distinguishing between the transfer area / non-transfer area of the special color ink (S Step 1605) is performed.

  In this embodiment, the shape of the special color ink transfer area is determined to determine whether or not to execute ribbon wrinkle countermeasures. On the other hand, when the size of the special color ink transfer area is larger than the predetermined size, the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure is executed, and when it is smaller than the predetermined size, the ribbon wrinkle countermeasure is not executed. You may do it.

<Other embodiments>
Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. Furthermore, each embodiment mentioned above shows only one embodiment of this invention, and it is also possible to combine each embodiment suitably.

  The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the print processing apparatus via a network or various storage media, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the print processing apparatus reads and executes the program code. It is processing to do. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Print processing apparatus 101 Imaging apparatus 111 Interface 201 Control part 206 Printer engine part 402 Thermal head

Claims (13)

A printing processing apparatus that performs printing by transferring each ink of an ink ribbon to which color ink, protective ink, and special color ink are applied to image receiving paper by heat,
Printing means having a thermal head for transferring each ink to the image receiving paper in the order of the color ink, the protective ink, and the special color ink;
Control means for controlling transfer of the protective ink by the printing means,
The control means includes
For the protective layer formed by transferring the protective ink, the non-transfer area where the special color ink is not transferred onto the protective layer is more than the transfer area where the special color ink is transferred onto the protective layer. A printing processing apparatus, wherein energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so that unevenness on a surface of the protective layer becomes large.   The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases a voltage value of a voltage pulse supplied to the thermal head when the protective ink is transferred to the non-transfer area.   The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit increases the number of voltage pulses supplied to the thermal head when the protective ink is transferred to the non-transfer area. A first determination unit for determining a shape of a transfer region to which the spot color ink is transferred;
When the first determination unit determines that the shape of the transfer region is a predetermined shape, the control unit may cause irregularities on the surface of the protective layer in the non-transfer region to prevent the protection in the transfer region. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so as to be larger than the unevenness of the surface of the layer. The image forming apparatus further includes a second determination unit that determines a size of a transfer region to which the spot color ink is transferred, and the control unit determines that the transfer region is larger than a predetermined size by the second determination unit. In this case, the energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so that the unevenness on the surface of the protective layer in the non-transfer area is larger than the unevenness on the surface of the protective layer in the transfer area. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1. The image forming apparatus further includes a second determination unit that determines a size of a transfer area to which the spot color ink is transferred, and the control unit determines that the transfer area is smaller than a predetermined size by the second determination unit. 5. The printing process according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that energy is supplied to the thermal head without distinguishing between the non-transfer area and the transfer area. apparatus. A third determination means for determining whether the type of transfer area to which the special color ink is transferred is a frame type or a stamp type;
When the control unit determines that the frame type is determined by the third determination unit, the unevenness of the surface of the protective layer in the non-transfer area is larger than the unevenness of the surface of the protective layer in the transfer area. The print processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so as to become. An image selecting means for selecting an image to be printed on the image receiving paper with the color ink in accordance with a user operation ;
Depending on the user's operation, further comprising a frame-stamp selection means for selecting frame or stamp is printed on the image receiving sheet by the special color ink,
The control unit, when transferring the color ink, based on a frame selected by the frame stamp selection means, unevenness of the surface of the protective layer before Symbol nontranscribed region wherein in the transfer region The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so as to be larger than the unevenness of the surface of the protective layer. A printing processing apparatus that performs printing by transferring each ink of an ink ribbon to which color ink, protective ink, and special color ink are applied to image receiving paper by heat,
Printing means having a thermal head for transferring each ink to the image receiving paper in the order of the color ink, the protective ink, and the special color ink;
Control means for controlling transfer of the protective ink by the printing means,
The control means includes
Inspection means for inspecting whether the type of transfer area to which the special color ink is transferred is a frame type or a stamp type;
When the inspection means determines that the type of the transfer region is the frame type, the protective layer formed by transferring the protective ink is transferred from the transfer region where the spot color ink is transferred onto the protective layer. The printing process is characterized in that the energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so that the unevenness of the surface of the protective layer becomes larger in the non-transfer area where the spot color ink is not transferred onto the protective layer. apparatus. A printing processing apparatus that performs printing by transferring each ink of an ink ribbon to which color ink, protective ink, and special color ink are applied to image receiving paper by heat,
Printing means having a thermal head for transferring each ink to the image receiving paper in the order of the color ink, the protective ink, and the special color ink;
Control means for controlling transfer of the protective ink by the printing means,
The control means includes
Inspection means for inspecting the shape of a transfer region to which the spot color ink is transferred;
The protective layer formed by transferring the protective ink when the shape of the transfer region inspected by the inspection means corresponds to a shape predetermined as a form in which a ribbon wrinkle is easily generated on the ink ribbon. The non-transfer area where the special color ink is not transferred onto the protective layer is larger than the transfer area where the special color ink is transferred onto the protective layer, so that the irregularities on the surface of the protective layer are larger. A print processing apparatus that controls energy supplied to a head. A print processing method for performing printing by transferring each ink of an ink ribbon to which color ink, protective ink and special color ink are applied to image receiving paper by heat,
A printing step of transferring each ink to the image receiving paper in the order of the color ink, the protective ink, and the special color ink;
A control step of controlling transfer of the protective ink in the printing step,
The control step includes
For the protective layer formed by transferring the protective ink, the non-transfer area where the special color ink is not transferred onto the protective layer is more than the transfer area where the special color ink is transferred onto the protective layer. A printing processing method, wherein energy supplied to the thermal head is controlled so that unevenness on a surface of the protective layer becomes large. A program for causing a computer to execute a print processing method for performing printing by transferring each ink of an ink ribbon to which color ink, protective ink and special color ink are applied to image receiving paper by heat,
The print processing method includes:
A printing step of transferring each ink to the image receiving paper in the order of the color ink, the protective ink, and the special color ink;
A control step of controlling transfer of the protective ink in the printing step,
The control step includes
For the protective layer formed by transferring the protective ink, the non-transfer area where the special color ink is not transferred onto the protective layer is more than the transfer area where the special color ink is transferred onto the protective layer. A program for controlling energy supplied to the thermal head so that unevenness on the surface of the protective layer becomes large.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 12.