JPH02184471A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the quality of an image which utilizes the features of image information, character information by providing first imaging means for printing in high contrast on the basis of the character information and second imaging means for printing in multiple gradations on the basis of the image information. CONSTITUTION:Yellow, magenta and cyan colors are sequentially printed in multiple gradations on the surface of a recording sheet 13 by first, second and third printing mechanisms, 21, 23 and 25, respectively. In these cases, sheet detection sensors are provided immediately before color heads 33. When the recording sheet 13 arrives at a predetermined position, printings are sequentially started. Then, a reverse roller 51 is brought into pressure contact with a roller 53, and rollers 51, 53, 55 are rotated in a direction of an arrow to convey the recording sheet 13 downward. The recording sheet 13 is once held between the rollers 53 and 55 to be stopped, the reverse roller 51 is separated from the roller 53, and then brought into pressure contact with the roller 55. Thus, three color ink films 41, 43, 45 are used to print three times the same range of the surface of the recording sheet 13 to print in multigradation color with predetermined image information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer equipped with a plurality of different printing mechanisms.

<Prior art> Conventional printers equipped with a plurality of printing mechanisms include, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-192572 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 61-2.
One disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 02863 and the like is known.

In the former type of printer device, a set of recording heads are arranged so as to move synchronously with the recording paper in between, and recording is simultaneously performed on the front and back sides of the recording paper.

The latter printer device is a recording device in which a carrier carrying a recording head, a platen roller, and an ink ribbon is arranged facing each other on the front and back sides of recording paper, and these carriers synchronize to perform double-sided recording. . The recording head on one carrier and the recording head on the other carrier are respectively disposed facing each other on the front and back sides with the recording paper in between.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, with such conventional printers,
In either device, the two printing means had the same mechanism and were configured to print and create images based on one type of image information, so for example, image information containing a mixture of image information and character information There was a problem in that it was not possible to obtain image quality that took advantage of the characteristics of each.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that is equipped with a plurality of image forming means corresponding to different types of image information, and is capable of obtaining image quality corresponding to the information.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The first invention of the present application includes a first method for performing high contrast printing based on character information processed through a character generator, and an image means based on the image information. The printer is provided with a second image forming means that performs multi-gradation printing.

Further, the second invention of the present application provides a second memory for storing character information processed through a character generator, a second memory for storing image information, and an image in which character information and image information are mixed. A switching input means for selecting information according to the type of information and storing it in the first memory or the second memory, and performing high contrast printing based on the character information stored in the first memory. The printer includes a first image forming means and a second image forming means that performs multi-tone printing based on image information stored in the second memory.

<Operation> In the printer according to the first invention of the present application, the first image forming means performs high contrast printing based on character information processed through the character generator. The second image forming means performs multi-gradation printing based on the image information.

Therefore, printing corresponding to each image information is performed by these image forming means. in this case,
The respective imaging areas and ranges can be different.

Further, in the printer according to the second invention of the present application, image information in which character information and image information are mixed is selected by the switching input means according to the type of information, and is stored in the first memory or the second memory. Store it in memory. In this case, the first memory stores character information processed via the character generator, and the second memory stores image information. The first image forming means performs high contrast printing based on the character information stored in the first memory, and the second image forming means performs high contrast printing based on the image information stored in the second memory. Performs gradation printing. As a result, printing is performed with suitable image quality depending on the type of image information. At the same time, character information and image information are stored in separate memories, making it possible to perform printing processing at high speed.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal transfer color printer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main parts of the thermal transfer color printer according to the present invention. FIGS. 3A to 3H are schematic side views for explaining the respective operations of the printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control program in the device control section in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the same control program.

First, in Fig. 1, 11 is cut paper (recording paper) 13
15 is a paper discharge tray for the cut sheets 13 after printing.

Between the cassette 11 and the paper discharge tray 15, three sublimation printing mechanisms 21, 23, 25 and one melting printing mechanism 27 are successively arranged. This printing mechanism 27
constitutes a first image forming means that performs high-contrast printing, that is, binary printing, based on character information processed through a character generator, which will be described later. Further, the printing mechanism 21.degree. 23.25 constitutes a second image forming means that performs multi-gradation printing, that is, multi-value printing based on image information.

These printing mechanisms 21, 23, 25 and 27 each include a pair of upper and lower platen rollers 31 and a thermal head 3.
3, and the cut paper 13 and the ink film are inserted between these. 35 and 37 are supply rolls and take-up rolls for these ink films. A yellow sublimation thermal transfer ink film 41 is placed between the rolls 35 and 37 of the first printing mechanism 21 , a magenta sublimation thermal transfer ink film 43 is placed between the rolls 35 and 37 of the second printing mechanism 23 , and a magenta sublimation thermal transfer ink film 43 is placed between the rolls 35 and 37 of the third printing mechanism 25 . A cyan sublimation type thermal transfer ink film 45 is placed on it, and a black melting type thermal transfer ink film 47 is placed on that of the fourth printing mechanism 27.

Further, between the third printing mechanism 25 and the fourth printing mechanism 27, a reversing roller 51 for reversing the cut paper 13,
53.55 are arranged. First to third printing mechanisms 2
1, 23, and 25 on the front side of the cut paper 13, the fourth printing mechanism 27 prints on the back side thereof. Note that both the front and back surfaces of the cut paper 13 are made of a material capable of sublimation printing and melting printing, respectively.

Further, the vertical drive mechanism of each thermal head 33, the drive mechanism of each platen roller 31, etc. are omitted from illustration. Note that by arranging the platen roller 31, thermal head 33, etc. in the fourth printing mechanism 27 with their vertical positions reversed, the reversing roller mechanisms 51 to 5δ can be omitted.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the main parts of the thermal transfer color printer according to the present invention.

In this figure, reference numeral 61 denotes an image data source, which handles character data as well as multi-gradation image data from a host computer or the like.

Reference numeral 63 is an interface unit that connects the image data source 6
It receives the data transferred from 1 and sends it to the device control section 65.

Reference numeral 67 is an input panel that displays the status of the printer device and receives input from various switches. As this switch, for example, there is a switch that detects the conveyance timing, and detects various states of the printer such as cover open and paper empty.

The device control section 65 controls the entire printer apparatus, inputs and stores data from the interface section 63, monitors various switches, and controls the mechanical control section 69.

This mechanical control section 69 controls various drive motors and solenoids according to commands from the device control section 65. It also drives and controls each thermal head section 33 of each of the printing mechanisms 21 to 27.

71 is a character data storage section; 73 is a character data storage section;
indicate image data storage units, respectively. The character data storage section 71 stores character information (code data), and is stored in the ROM under the control of the device control section 65.
The data is transferred to the black ink thermal head unit 33 as recording data via a character generator 75 (character generator) while referring to the font in the image. Further, the image data storage unit 73 converts multi-gradation full-color image information into yellow, magenta, and cyan color data, stores the converted data, and transfers the data to each thermal head unit 33 as recording data under the control of the device control unit 65. It is something to do.

Note that 77 is a conveyance system constituted by the paper feed cassette 11, the paper discharge tray 15, the reversing rollers 51 to 55, and other conveyance rollers shown in FIG.

The device control unit 65 constitutes a switching input means that selects image information in which character information and image information are mixed, depending on the type of information, and stores it in the first memory 71 or the second memory 73. It is something.

It is also possible to have a configuration in which image information from the image data storage section 73 is supplied to the black thermal head section 33, which is suitable for emphasizing the shading of the image. In this case, for example, R and G from the image data storage section 73.

The B signal is input to the complementary color signal and black signal generation circuit,
Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color signals are supplied from this circuit to each head section 33 via a color correction circuit and a line buffer circuit. When it is desired to print image data and character data on the same surface, it is possible to omit the recording paper reversing operation using the reversing rollers 51, 52, and 53, and print the image data using the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black heads. It is possible.

In the color printer device having the above configuration, the conveyance of the recording paper 13 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3(A) to 3(H).

First, the recording paper 13 is conveyed one by one from the cassette 11 to the first printing mechanism 21 by the paper feed roller (see Fig. 3).
A)).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3(B), the first printing mechanism 21
At this time, yellow multi-gradation printing is performed on the surface of the recording paper 13. That is, the thermal head 33 is pressed against the platen roller 31, and the yellow ink film 41 is wound up in synchronization with the running of the recording paper 13.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3(C), the second and third printing mechanisms 23.25 print 11i-th gradations of each color of magenta and cyan on the recording paper 13.

In these cases, a paper detection sensor (not shown) is provided immediately in front of the spatula F33 of each color, and printing is started sequentially when the recording paper 13 reaches a predetermined position.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3(D), the reversing roller 51 comes into pressure contact with the roller 53 in the reversing section, and each roller 51
, 53 and 55 rotate once =12 in the direction of the illustrated arrow to convey the recording paper 13 downward.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5E, the recording paper 13 is sandwiched between the rollers 53 and 55 and once stopped, and the reversing roller 51 is separated from the roller 53 and comes into pressure contact with the roller 55.

As a result of the above, printing is performed three times on the same area of the surface of the recording paper 13 using the three-color ink films 41, 43° 45, and multi-gradation color printing is performed on the recording paper 13 according to predetermined image information. It is.

FIG. 3(F) shows the feeding of the recording paper 13 to the fourth printing mechanism 27 by the reversing roller 51. As a result,
High contrast printing is performed on the back side of the recording paper 13 using black ink. Finally, as shown in FIG. 3(G), the recording paper 13 after printing is discharged to the paper discharge tray 15.

Note that FIG. 3(H) shows a case where printing is performed on one side of the recording paper 13. When the recording paper 13 comes into contact with the reversing roller 55, the reversing roller 51 separates from the roller 53 and the roller 55
It is in pressure contact with the

FIG. 4 shows a control program in the device control section 65. That is, image data and character data are discriminated from image data from a single interface section 63 and stored in each memory 71 .corresponding to the child data.
This is to switch the human power to 73. In this case, different two-byte codes are attached to the beginning of the image data and character data, respectively. That is, esc, h is added as the information identification code for image information, and esc, s is added as character information.

Note that it is assumed that the input area in the memory and the number of data have been transferred in advance. For example, for image information, the number of pixels (number of data) is determined when the output area is determined, and character information consists of at least one byte to several pages worth of characters and control codes.

In step S1, it is determined whether or not data has been input. If not, the process returns to the main routine, and if so, it is determined whether or not the identification code esc is attached to the data (step S2). If not, the process returns to step S1. If the identification code esc is attached, it is determined in step S3 whether the code h is attached.

If the data is attached, it is determined that it is image data, and the process proceeds to step S4.
, and select the image data storage section 73. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S5 and it is determined whether the coat is S or not. If it is different, the process returns to step S1, and if so, it is character data, so the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the character data storage section 71 is selected.

After selecting the image data storage section 73 in step S4, the process proceeds to step S7, and the input data is written in the designated area. In step S8, it is checked whether all input data has been written, and in step S8, it is checked whether all input data has been written.
9 is page no.

and set the image (image data) full flag.

After this, the process returns to step S1.

From step S6, the process advances to step SIO, where the input data is decoded and written to the designated page in address order. Next, in step Sll, it is determined whether or not input data in money has been written, and in step S12, the page No.
, flags character data full. Then, the process returns to step S1. Since the page number, , is output for each data in this way, it is possible to connect the image data and character data from the host computer using this page number, .

In the above embodiment, the image information and character information are input through the same interface 63, but they may be input through separate interfaces. In this case, data can be sent from the host computer simultaneously, increasing transmission speed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program for determining image data and printing data in the printer device.

In step 5IOI, the printer control unit is initialized, and in step 5102, it is determined whether or not data has been input. The data in this case is image data or character data.

If data is input, step 5103 reads the data, and step 5104 determines whether it is image data. For example, it is determined based on an identification code written in the image data.

If it is image data, in step 5105, a memo 18 for image data, that is, image data storage section 73 is stored.
Write this image data to. Next, step 5
In step 106, it is determined whether or not the data has been completed manually. If the data input has not been completed, the process returns to step 5103; if the data input has been completed, the process returns to step 5102.

If it is determined in step 5104 that the data is not image data, the data is character data, so the process advances to step 5107 and the data is written in the character data memory 71. Next, in step 8108, it is determined whether the input of the data has been completed. If it is not completed, the process returns to step 5IO3, and after the process is completed, the process returns to step 5IO3.
Return to 102.

On the other hand, if no data is input in step 5102, the process advances to step 5109. In step 5109, it is determined whether the print switch of the printer is ON. If it is OFF, the process returns to step 5102.

If it is ON, it is determined in step 5110 whether there is a paper feeding command. If so, paper feeding processing is performed in step 5111, and then the process advances to step 5112.

These steps Sl 10.111 correspond, for example, to the operations shown in FIG. 3(A) above.

In step 5112, it is determined whether or not it is a yellow data processing command, and if there is a processing command, step 811
3, print the yellow data and step 51
Proceed to step 14. If there is no processing command, the process proceeds to step 5114 without printing in yellow. These steps 5112.
113 corresponds to the operating state shown in FIG. 3(B) above, for example.

In this step 5114, it is determined whether or not there is a magenta data processing command, and if there is a processing command, step 511
At step 16, magenta data is printed on recording paper, and the process advances to step 8116. If there is no processing command, magenta printing is not performed and the process advances to step 5116. These steps 5114.115 are performed, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(C) above.
This corresponds to the operating state shown in .

In the next step 5116, it is determined whether there is a cyan data processing command, and if there is a processing command, step 511
At step 7, cyan data is printed on the recording paper, and the process advances to step 8118. If there is no processing command, cyan printing is not performed and the process advances to step 5118. These steps S1]6.117 correspond to, for example, the operating state shown in FIG. 3(D).

In step 8118, it is determined whether there is a reversal instruction,
If there is a command, the recording paper 130 is reversed in step 5119. If there is no command, step 5120
Then, non-inversion processing is performed. This step 5119 corresponds to the operating states shown in FIGS. 3(D) to 3(F). Step S1.20 is shown in Figure 3 (
This corresponds to the state shown in H).

After these steps 5119 and 5120, the process proceeds to step 5121, where it is determined whether or not there is a black data processing command. If so, step 5122
When there is a black color data is printed, and the process proceeds to step 5123 as in the case where there is no black data. FIG. 3(F) corresponds to step 5122.

In this step 5123, it is determined whether or not there is a paper discharge command, and if there is a paper discharge command, the process returns to step 5110, and if so, the process proceeds to step 5124.

In step 5124, paper ejection processing is performed.

This corresponds to FIG. 3(G). Finally, in step 5125, it is determined whether or not printing has ended. If not, the process returns to step 5110, and if it has ended, the routine ends.

In the above flowchart, the capacity of each storage section varies depending on, for example, dot density and screen size, and can be set appropriately depending on these factors.

For example, assuming F6 plate, 10 lines/mm, 8 bits/color, 32 dots/character, the image data storage unit is 9M for 2 pages.
B. Character data storage area is 300K for 100 pages.
It is B.

Further, when the printer is used to print image data and character data on both sides of recording paper, the data is transferred for each print.

Furthermore, when used as a postcard printer, image data is transferred once, and character data is transferred with different data each time, thereby making it possible to print continuously on the front and back sides for 100 recipients.

When using this printer to print carts or certificates, since the output portion of image information is small, it is possible to print multiple pages in one transfer by dividing the image data storage unit into multiple parts. Can be done.

<Effects> As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain image quality that takes advantage of the characteristics of image information in which image information and character information are mixed. That is, image information is printed in multiple gradations, and character information is printed in high contrast.

For example, an image with good gradation reproduction,
High contrast and highly detailed images can be obtained as character images.

In the above embodiment, the image forming means for character information and image information includes a melt-type thermal transfer mechanism that enables high-contrast printing and a sublimation-type thermal transfer mechanism that enables multi-gradation printing. Therefore, the intermediate tones of image information can be easily controlled by temperature control. At the same time, character information can also be written on the printed portion.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal transfer color printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3(A) to 3(H) are schematic side views for explaining the respective operations of the printer, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control program in the device control section, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control program. 13 ・ 21° 27 ・ 65 ・ 71 ・ 73 ・ 75 ・ ・Recording paper, ・Second image forming means, ・First image forming means, ・Switching input means, ・First memory, ・Second memo 1H character generator. Patent applicant Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Agent
Patent attorney Kiyoshi Kuwai (and 1 other person) Figure 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Comprising a first image forming means that performs high-contrast printing based on character information processed through a character generator, and a second image forming means that performs multi-gradation printing based on image information. A printer characterized by: (2) A first memory that stores character information processed through a character generator, a second memory that stores image information, and image information in which character information and image information are mixed, and the types of that information. Select the first memory or the second memory according to the
a switching input means for storing the character information in the memory; a first image forming means for performing high contrast printing based on the character information stored in the first memory; and a first image forming means for performing high contrast printing based on the image information stored in the second memory. a second image forming means for performing multi-gradation printing.