JPH01157870A - Printer using thermal head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable ink processes to be switched as required by switchably mounting a plurality of ink sheets, and enabling an operating thermal energy of a thermal head to be switched according to the ink sheet selected. CONSTITUTION:A discriminator 12 is provided for discriminating a kind identification part 11 of an ink sheet 1 mounted in position. The discriminator 12 uses a plurality of optical sensors, and automatically discriminates a multiplicity of kinds of ink sheets based on the combinations of the sensors with printing positions of discrimination codes. Printing by a thermal head 6 is controlled based on the results of discrimination by the discriminator 12. The head 6 is supplied with operating power from a power supply 16. The power supply 16 and the head 6 are operated according to instructions from a controller 17, and the voltage of the power supply 16 can be switched according to an instruction from the controller 17. Inks used respectively in different modes are different in operating thermal energy, and the thermal energy is varied depending also on density. The thermal energy applied to the ink by the head 6 is determined by an operating voltage and an operating time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing device using a thermal head, and more particularly to a printing device using a thermal head such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc.

2. Description of the Related Art Printing devices using thermal heads are widely used in printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and the like. In printing using a thermal head, printing is performed by heating an ink sheet with the thermal head and pressing the ink sheet against a recording paper.

There are known ink sheets that use different ink processes, such as those that use melt ink, those that use sponge ink, and those that use sublimation ink.

Each ink process has its own characteristics; for example, melt ink is suitable for printing characters, but when printing images, it is difficult to print full-color images because it does not produce halftones, and sublimation ink has problems with halftones. Because it is easy to print out, it is suitable for printing full-color images, but due to the characteristics of the process, it takes time to develop color compared to melted ink, so it is not suitable for printing characters. have characteristics.

Conventional printing devices are configured to be suitable for one type of ink process, so printing devices are used for each purpose, and each printing device has a different interface and a different paper size. It was inconvenient to use because it changed.

Furthermore, among such recording apparatuses, a recording apparatus has been proposed in which ink sheets are made into cassettes, and the cassettes loaded with different types of ink sheets are used to perform printing control according to the type of ink sheet. For example, JP-A-60-2
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 30765, sublimation ink sheets for regular use, sublimation ink sheets for OHP, and the like are used as ink sheets for different types.

When using a cassette loaded with such an ink sheet, there is a disadvantage in that the cost of the cassette case itself is relatively high compared to the cost of the ink sheet, leading to an increase in printing cost. From this point of view, it is more advantageous in terms of cost to load the ink sheet itself into the main body of the recording apparatus, for example, as an ink sheet roll. However, in the past, there was no means to automatically determine the type of ink sheet. However, with this method, if the I setting is incorrect, there is a risk that another print control will be performed.

(2) An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a printing device that can switch between various ink processes as necessary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that can automatically determine the type of ink sheet and perform print control without error.

Structure In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured such that a plurality of ink sheets are installed in a switchable manner, and that the operating thermal energy of the thermal head is switchable depending on the selected ink sheet. It is characterized by

In order to further achieve the above object, the present invention provides a discriminating device that includes a 1fJWtm annex indicating the type of the ink sheet on the ink sheet or the winding core of the ink sheet, and that identifies the type identification portion in the loaded state of the ink sheet. It is characterized by comprising the following.

The structure and operation of the present invention will be explained in detail based on the embodiment shown in the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the ink sheet l is loaded into the recording apparatus main body 2 in the form of an ink sheet roll, extends from the supply roll 3 to the take-up roll 4, and is sequentially wound up. A platen 5 and a thermal head 6 are disposed facing each other with the ink sheet 1 in between in the middle of the travel path of the ink sheet 1, and the recording paper 7
is sent between the ink sheet 1 and the ink sheet 1 by the platen 4.

In the thermal head 5, a plurality of heating resistors are arranged in one row or other appropriate arrangement as is well known.

The ink sheet 1 is wound on a winding roll 4 through gears 9 and 10 by the driving force of a motor 8 shown in FIG. While such winding is being carried out,
Thermal transfer recording is performed on the recording paper 6 by a thermal head 6 that is in pressure contact with the platen 5 via the ink sheet 1 and the recording paper 6.

As the ink sheet 1, ink sheets having different coating materials and coating forms are selectively used. For example, a melting type ink sheet, a sublimation type ink sheet, a multi-gradation type ink sheet, etc. are used. The first two sides have different coating materials, and the latter example is a porous body coated on a substrate and impregnated with ink, and the coating forms are different.

The ink sheet selected from among these different types of ink sheets is switched to the printing position between the heat-sensitive disk 6 and the platen 5, and the print control according to the type of ink sheet is performed as described below. conduct.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the case of an ink sheet for color recording, the ink sheet 1 has a size corresponding to one page of each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, as shown by Y, M, C, and B, respectively. The inside layers are sequentially arranged, for example, for the first page. Three types of ink layers can be arranged without black. On the ink sheet, ink layers of three or four different colors are sequentially arranged for one page, and each page is arranged in order for a large number of pages. A type identification portion 11 indicating the type of the ink sheet is formed along the entire length of the ink sheet on the side edge side of the ink sheet other than the transfer area where the ink layer is located. As shown in FIG. 1, a recording device configured so that an ink layer of a corresponding color type of a corresponding page is sent to a printing position in response to a command signal of the recording device includes a type W4 of an ink sheet 1, as shown in FIG. A discriminating device 12 is provided for discriminating the discriminating section 11 in the loaded state of the ink sheet.

In the example of the ink sheet shown in FIG. 3, the type identification unit 11 may print a light/dark discrimination code as shown in the figure. For each type of type ink sheet, multi-gradation type ink sheet, etc., discrimination codes with different bright and dark arrangements can be formed as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (A), and 4 (B). . Note that a bar code or the like can also be used as the discrimination code.

As an example of the discrimination device 12 that detects the above discrimination code with the discrimination device 212 to discriminate the type of ink sheet,
An optical sensor or the like can be used, and in this example, the above-mentioned discrimination code is read optically.

In addition, in FIG. 3, the mark indicated by the reference numeral 13 is a mark for positioning for performing yellow transfer first.

It is also possible to use a plurality of optical sensors as the discrimination device 12 and automatically discriminate many types of ink sheets by combining these and the printing position of the discrimination code.
The type identifying section 11 may be any type as long as it can identify the type of ink sheet.

In the example shown in FIG. 5(A), a stepped portion 11 is provided on the outer periphery of the exposed portion of the ink sheet winding core 14 of the supply roll 3. This identification part 11 is formed by printing, for example, and has a different density or other aspects depending on the type of ink sheet, and this is optically detected by a discrimination device consisting of an optical sensor 12', and the ink sheet is automatically determines the type of

In the example shown in FIG. 5(B), the diameter d of the tip step portion 14a of the ink sheet winding core 14 is changed depending on the type of ink sheet, and the discriminating device consisting of a micro switch 15 as shown in the figure is Multiple (for example, as many types of ink sheets)
The type of ink sheet is automatically determined by arranging the ink sheets. In addition to changing the diameter d of the winding core 14 depending on the type of ink sheet, irregularities corresponding to the type of ink sheet are formed on the winding core 14, and this is determined by a discrimination device such as a micro switch or an optical sensor. It is also possible to make the determination.

Based on the determination result by the determination device 12, printing control of the thermal pad 6 is performed.

For example, a configuration as shown in FIG. 6 is used as a control device for controlling printing of the thermosensitive pad 5.

The thermal head (thermal head) 6 is supplied with operating power from a power source 16 . The static eliminating 'a 16 and the thermal head 6 are operated by a command from the controller 17, and the power source 16
The voltage can be changed according to a command from the controller 17.

The printing data signal is sent to a pulse width modulator (PWM) 19 through the interface 18, and the thermal head 6 can be actuated by the pulse signal which has undergone corresponding modulation according to commands from the controller 17.

The controller 17 is connected to a mode designation switch 20, and sends a command signal to one or both of the printing pulse signal modulator 19 and the operating power source 16 in response to instructions from the mode designation switch 20.

The inks in each mode have different operating thermal energy as shown in FIG. 7, and the thermal energy also differs depending on each density.

The thermal energy applied to the Ingu by the heat-sensitive heater 6 is determined by the operating voltage and operating time (pulse width).

Taking three types of ink modes as examples: melt ink, sponge ink, and sublimation ink, there is a difference between printing density and printing signal pulse width when the operating power supply voltage is kept constant.
The relationship shown in the figure is obtained.

In the case of molten ink, it is difficult to achieve an intermediate density because the fA image changes rapidly due to a slight change in pulse width, that is, a change in operating time, but in the case of sublimation ink, it is difficult to achieve a slight difference in density due to a considerable operating time. That is, the difference in the amount of thermal energy caused by a small difference in concentration is large,
Easy to achieve intermediate density.

Furthermore, by selecting the operating voltage for each ink mode as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to make the characteristic changes in each ink mode almost the same.

When using a molten ink sheet, the molten ink mode is selected using the mode designation switch 20.

Generally, a fused ink sheet is used for printing characters.

The printing data may be sent as binary data such as image presence/absence or black and white, and then the printing data is sent to the pulse width modulator 19, and the molten ink printing is performed according to instructions from the controller 17 as shown in FIG. 9(a). For example, 20V is set as the zero operating voltage that modulates the pulse width ty to provide thermal energy suitable for the thermal energy and sends the pulse signal to the thermal head 6.

When using a sponge ink sheet, the sponge ink mode is selected using the mode designation switch 20.

If we try to express the image density by dividing it into, for example, 32 gradations, the pulse signal as print data will be modulated into signals with 32 different widths.For example, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the pulse width t
Pulse width from the shortest pulse of xt@! 32 types of pulse signals with different pulse widths up to the longest pulse of pulse width tss are sent according to the density gradation. In other words, 0 to 32 data are sent as image signals. For example, IOV is set as the operating voltage.

When using a sublimation ink sheet, the sublimation ink mode is selected using the mode designation switch 20.

For example, the image can be formed so that 64 density gradations can be distinguished. Therefore, data from 0 to 64 is sent as image data. In order to indicate each density gradation, the signal time, that is, the pulse width, is changed to change the operating time depending on the density. First, if the minimum pulse width t IF+ is required to print an image, a signal with a pulse width L syl is sent as the first gradation signal, as shown in FIG. 9(c). .

From the second gradation onwards, the pulse width necessary to represent each gradation difference, for example, the pulse width of LsyZ, is increased sequentially.

In this way, the longest pulse width of the 64th gradation is 39. A signal having a pulse width corresponding to the density gradation is sent from the PWM 19 to the thermal head 6 up to a pulse signal having a pulse width of .

The operating voltage is set to 12V, for example.

When using the three types of ink sheets mentioned above, it is necessary to switch the ink sheet, change the operating voltage according to the ink sheet, and send a printing signal modulated to a pulse width according to the density gradation to the thermal head. You will need to send it. That is, the controller 17 switches the voltage of the power supply 16 in response to a signal from the mode designation switch 20, and modulates the pulse width of printing data using the PWM 19. In this way, three or more types of ink sheets can be freely switched and used.

Instead of switching the operating voltage according to the type of ink described above, the operating voltage can be kept constant regardless of the type of ink. In this case, it is necessary to modulate the pulse width according to the selected voltage. In other words, the ink type and density gradation can be switched only by the signal pulse width. In this case, the printing speed tends to be slow, so it can be used when the printing speed can be delayed.

It is also possible to keep the signal pulse width constant and change the operating voltage depending on the type of ink and density gradation.

According to the present invention, it has become possible to print with different types of ink sheets and with multiple printing devices.

According to the present invention, when characters and full-color images coexist, it is possible to print the characters with melt ink and print the full-color image with sublimation ink using a single printing device by operating a simple switch. Became.

According to the present invention, it is now possible to automatically determine the type of ink sheet by simply replacing the ink sheet, and it is also possible to execute appropriate print control according to the type of ink sheet without error. .

According to the present invention, characters are printed at high speed with molten ink to clearly produce halftones, and when the process can take a long time, sublimation ink is used, and when printing a certain limit of halftones and printing at high speed, sponge ink is used. This makes it possible to easily perform printing using appropriate ink using a common device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the printing structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an ink sheet provided with a separate part of the seed W41Il, and FIGS. 4 (A) and (B). ) are diagrams each showing an example of another type 1s identification section, FIGS. The figure is a circuit diagram of an example of a control device, and Figure 7 is a characteristic diagram of the relationship between pulse width and density, showing that printing thermal energy differs depending on the type of ink.
FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram of the relationship between pulse width and density when the voltage is constant, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the printing signal pulse, (a)
, (B), and (C) are diagrams each illustrating the difference in pulse width depending on the type of ink. l... Ink sheet 6... Thermal head 7...
Recording paper 11...Type identification unit 12...Discrimination device 14...Ink sheet winding core 16...Gill 17...Controller 19...PWM 20...Mode designation switch (1 other person) ) Figure 3 Figure 5 (A) (8) Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a printing device that has a thermal head in which a plurality of heating resistors are arranged and an ink sheet, the plurality of ink sheets are installed in a switchable manner, and the thermal head operates according to the selected ink sheet. A printing device using a thermal head, characterized in that the thermal energy can be switched. (2) A type identification section indicating the type of the ink sheet is provided on the ink sheet or the winding core of the ink sheet, and a discrimination device is provided for identifying the type identification section when the ink sheet is loaded. The printing device according to claim 1.