JPH0267158A - Image recording apparatus using thermal transfer ink sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the consumption of an ink sheet and recording paper in large quantities by test printing by performing the heating due to the second heating means corresponding to a part of signal data selected by a signal selection means in the test recording of an image. CONSTITUTION:A large-sized printer 100 and a small-sized printer 200 are respectively loaded with ink sheets 30, 230 and recording papers 32, 232 are also set to the respective printers. When an image NTSC signal is inputted from a terminal 10, the image signal is converted to an RGB signal by a decoder 14 and an image is displayed on a CRT 46 through a frame memory 18, a D/A converter 43 and an encoder 44. When test printing indication is inputted from an input operation part 36 by an operator, a switch 54 is changed over to the small-sized printer 200 and the data of the RGB signal is successively read to form a signal for printing a small image through a color correction circuit 20 and a gradation control part 24 and respective color inks are superposed by a thermal head 228 to form a test image. Therefore, when a large size print is obtained, it can be prevented that the ink sheet and the recording paper are used in large quantities by test printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus using a thermal transfer ink sheet, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus capable of performing trial printing for checking the printing condition.

BACKGROUND ART An image recording apparatus has been proposed that receives a video signal representing a color image and records the color image on recording paper using ink sheets of three colors. This device receives a video signal representing, for example, a still image, separates it into three primary color components, and applies each of the color-separated video signals to a thermal head.

On the other hand, an ink sheet for printing is prepared by applying sublimation ink of three colors to three different areas. Video signals of each color component are sequentially applied to the thermal head, and the ink portions of the ink sheet corresponding to these signals are heated, thereby sublimation-transferring the ink on the ink sheet onto the recording paper. A color image is formed by sequentially applying three component video signals and sequentially transferring the three colors of ink on the ink sheet onto the same area of the recording paper in a superimposed manner.

In such devices, a CRT is usually provided in order to confirm the image represented by the input video signal. An operator who performs a printing operation displays an image on a CRT using an input video signal, and confirms the image to be printed by looking at the image. However, since the coloring conditions of the actually printed image when projected on a CRT and the coloring conditions of the ink applied to the ink sheet are different,
The color tone, gradation, etc. will be different from the image displayed on RT. Therefore, the operator actually prints onto the recording paper using the ink sheet, and if the desired color tone, gradation, etc. is not achieved, the operator instructs the device regarding the conditions for further necessary color correction, gradation correction, etc. After typing, I was getting the desired print. For this reason, there is a problem in that ink sheets and recording paper are wasted for test printing to determine one-tone gradation correction conditions and the like.

Since printing costs are high, especially for large-sized prints, it has been a problem that trial prints consume large amounts of ink sheets and recording paper.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art and provide an image recording device that can perform experimental printing with a reduced amount of ink sheets and recording paper consumed during printing. shall be.

According to the present invention, an image recording apparatus that receives a video signal representing a color image and records the color image represented by the video signal on a recording medium using a thermal transfer ink sheet receives the input video signal. a storage means for storing, a reading means for reading out the color component signals of the video signal from the storage means, a first heating means for heating the thermal transfer ink sheet according to the color component signals read by the reading means; a signal selection means for selecting part of the signal data from the read color component signal data; a second heating means for heating the thermal transfer ink sheet according to the signal data selected by the signal selection means; and a signal selection means. , a control means for controlling the first heating means and the second heating means, and the control means causes the first heating means to perform heating in normal image recording to record an image on the recording medium, In the experimental image recording, a small area image is recorded by heating the second heating means in accordance with a portion of signal data selected by the signal selection means.

Further, according to the present invention, an image recording device that receives a video signal representing a color image and records the color image represented by the video signal on a recording medium using a thermal transfer ink sheet stores the input video signal. a storage means, a reading means for reading color component signals of a video signal from the storage means, a heating means for heating a thermal transfer ink sheet according to the color component signals read by the reading means, and a color read by the reading means. It has a signal selection means for selecting part of the signal data from the component signal data, and a control means for controlling the heating means and the signal selection means. The heating means performs heating according to the component signal to record an image on the recording medium, and in the experimental image recording, the heating means performs heating according to some signal data selected by the signal selection means. By doing so, an image of a small area can be recorded.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of an image recording apparatus using a thermal transfer ink sheet according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. As schematically shown in FIG. 2, this apparatus is capable of performing large-size regular prints using a large-size printer 100 and small-size test prints using a small-size printer 200.

This device has an NTSC: input terminal 10 to which an NTSC signal is input, and an RGB input terminal 12 to which an RGB signal is input.
has. An input from the NTSC input terminal 10 is connected to a decoder 14. The decoder 14 creates RGB signals from the NTSC signals. The output of the decoder 14 and the input from the RGB input terminal 12 are connected to an An converter 16. The AD converter 16 converts the input color-separated video signal into a digital signal. To〇Converter 16
The output of the frame memory 18 is connected to the frame memory 18.

The frame memory 18 is composed of a RAM, etc., and stores input color-separated video signals and reads out these signals according to control signals from the control unit 40.The frame memory 18 stores video signals that have not been color-separated. is stored in the frame memory 1 according to a control signal from the control section 40.
The output of the frame memory 18, which may be read out for each color component, is connected to a color correction circuit 20.

The color correction circuit 20 follows the control signal from the control unit 40,
The output of the 0 color correction circuit 20 that corrects the input RGB @ color tone using the color correction data read from the color correction data storage section 22 is connected to the gradation control section 24 .

The gradation control section 24 includes a gradation control lookup table 2
6 and read out from the gradation control lookup table 26,
Converts any input ROB signal to a YMC signal for printing. The gradation control unit 24 also receives lookup table data from the gradation control lookup table 26 in accordance with a control signal sent from the control unit 40 in response to a gradation correction instruction input by the operator from the input operation unit 36. is read out, and gradation correction of the video signal is performed based on this.

The output of the gradation control section 24 is connected to a switch 54. The switch 54 selects the illustrated connection or the opposite connection to that illustrated in accordance with a control signal sent from the control unit 40 in response to an instruction input by the operator from the input operation unit 3B, and increases the output from the gradation control unit 24. The signal is output to the thermal head 28 of the size printer 100 or the signal selection section 260 of the small size printer 200.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printing mechanism section of the large size printer 100 including the thermal head 2 places a recording paper 32 on which an image is recorded and an ink sheet 30 for transferring ink to the recording paper 32 5 degrees above the platen drum. make contact with
A thermal radar 28 is arranged on the ink sheet 30 side. The recording paper 32 and the ink sheet 30 are each driven by the printer drive unit 34 shown in FIG. 1 so as to be moved in the directions of the arrows. As shown in FIG. 4, the ink sheet 30 is made by adhering sublimable ink 30b to a base 30a such as a polyester film, and when selected signal electrodes of the thermal heater 28 are energized and heated, , the ink 30b attached to the base 30a is transferred onto the recording paper 32. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the ink sheet 30 has three primary colors for printing, yellow (
Areas Y, M, and C to which three types of ink, Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are adhered, are sequentially formed. If the ink sheet 30 is stored in a cassette, for example, it can be easily handled.

The signal selection unit 260 of the small size printer 200 selects signals sent from the control unit 40 from among the signals sent from the gradation control unit 24 via the switch 54 in response to an instruction input by the operator from the input operation unit 36. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the operator instructs a reduced image of the original image, the signal selection section 280 selects a predetermined portion according to the control signal.
divides the frequency of the image signal sent from the gradation control section 24.

As a result, a signal is sent to the thermal head 28 to display a reduced image with pixels thinned out. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the operator specifies a partial image of the original image, the signal selection section 260 selects the specified image from among the image signals sent from the gradation control section 24. The signals of the pixels in the portion are selected and output to the thermal head 228.

The print mechanism section of the small size printer 200 has the same configuration as the print mechanism section of the above-described large size printer 100, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Returning to Figure 1, the output of the frame memory Oka is also: D
It is connected to the A converter 42. The DA converter 42 is
The ROB video signal output from the frame memory 1B is converted into an analog signal. The output of the DA converter 42 is connected to an encoder 44. The encoder 44 converts the input ROB signal into an NTSC signal and outputs it to the CRT.
Output to 4El. The image printed by this device is displayed on the CRT 4B.

The control unit 40 is a control unit that controls each functional unit of the present device, and is advantageously configured by a microprocessor.

The operation of this device will be explained.

Large size printer +00 and small size printer 200
The ink sheet 30.230 is loaded and the recording paper 32.232 is set. NTSC: Input terminal 1
When a video signal of an NTSC signal representing an image to be printed is input from 0, the video signal is input to a decoder 14, and the decoder 14 creates an RGB signal. RG
The B signal is sent from the decoder 14 to the AD converter 16,
AD converted. In addition, from RGB input terminal 12 to RG
When the B signal is input, the input RGB signal is sent as is to the AD converter 16, where it is AD converted.

The AD-converted ROB signal is sent to the frame memory 18, and RGB signals for one frame are stored. Control unit 4
The RGB signal read from the frame memory 18 by the control signal from 0 is D^ converted by the DA converter 42, encoded into an NTSC signal by the encoder 44, and then sent to the CRT.
The image to be printed is displayed on the CRT 48.

The operator looks at the image displayed on CRT 4B and
As shown in the figure or FIG. 8B, an image to be test printed is selected and an instruction thereof is inputted from the input operation section 36. 8th
When a part of the original image is extracted and printed as shown in Figure B, a part suitable for color tone determination is selected, such as a part of a person, as shown in the figure. A control signal is sent from the control unit 40 to the switch 54 in accordance with an operator's instruction.
, and the switch 54 is connected to the opposite state as shown.

The frame memory 18 is controlled by a control signal from the control unit 40.
The RGB signal data is sequentially read out from the 0 color correction circuit 20 and sent to the color correction circuit 20. The data of the ROB signal input to the 0 gradation control unit 24 is corrected and sent to the gradation control unit 24.
The data is converted into number data and sent to the switch 54.

At this time, the switch 54 is connected in the opposite state to that shown in the figure, so the signal from the gradation control section 24 is connected to the signal selection section 26.
Sent to 0. The image signal sent to the signal selection unit 260 is selected according to the operator's instruction as shown in FIG. 6A or 6B by the control signal sent from the control unit 40, and is used as a signal for printing a small image. becomes.

The recording paper 232 and the ink sheet 230 are driven by the printer drive section 234, and first the thermal head 228
The ink sheet 30
Transfer is performed using the yellow area Y of .

Next, as the platen drum 50 rotates, the recording paper 232 is set so that the ink is transferred again onto the area where the yellow image is formed.

The frame memory 18 is controlled by a control signal from the control unit 40.
A video signal corresponding to the magenta (M) component is read out from the color correction circuit 20 and the gradation control section 24 . The signal is sent to the thermal head 228 through the switch 54 and the signal selection section 280. At this time as well, a part of the image is selected by the signal selection unit 280 according to the operator's instructions, and the ink sheet 230 moves so that the next magenta area M comes into contact with the recording paper 232, so this time the magenta An image is formed using magenta ink superimposed on an image using yellow ink.

Further, in the same manner, the recording paper 232 is set so that the ink is transferred again so as to overlap the area where the image is formed with yellow and magenta ink. A cyan image signal is input to the thermal head 228 by the same operation as described above, and the ink sheet 230 moves so that the next cyan area C comes into contact with the recording paper 232, so that the image based on the cyan signal is changed to the cyan ink. Formed in a superimposed manner.

In this way, yellow, magenta, and cyan video signals are input to the thermal head 228, and the ink sheet 228 is
A test image is formed by superimposing inks of 30 colors of yellow, Y, magenta M, and cyan C on the same portion of the recording paper 232.

Through such operations, a reduced image or a partial image of the original image represented by the video signal is recorded on the recording paper 232, as shown in FIG. 6A or 6B.

The operator looks at this test image and confirms the image, and if necessary, further inputs an instruction for gradation correction from the input operation section 36 to perform gradation correction.

When a satisfactory print image is obtained, the operator inputs an instruction for regular printing by the large size printer 100 from the input operation section 3B. As a result, the switch 54 is connected to the state shown, and the signal from the 1st gradation control section 24 is input to the thermal head 28 of the large size printer 100. A control signal is sent from the control unit 40 to the printer drive unit 34 to drive the ink sheet 30 and the recording paper 32, and the large size printer 100 prints the regular size in the same manner as the small size printer 200 described above. be exposed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the image represented by the input video signal is reduced or a part of it is extracted and a trial print is performed, thereby improving the color tone, gradation, and brightness of the image. After checking the size, we print the original size. The trial prints will be made in small sizes, so
The amount of ink sheet 230 and recording paper 232 consumed is small. Therefore, the amount of ink sheet 230 and recording paper 232 consumed is smaller, compared to the conventional case of printing at a predetermined size and adjusting it by looking at it. And since recording paper can be saved, the total cost of printing can be lowered.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In this apparatus, the large size printer 100 and the small size printer 200 have the same printer IJII structure. That is, the thermal head 28, ink sheet 30, and recording paper 32 are commonly used in both printers. In this device, the output from the 1st gradation control section 24 is input to the thermal head drive section 58. The output of the thermal head drive section 56 is connected to the thermal head 2B.

The thermal head drive unit 5B includes a plurality of drivers (not shown), and can output signals from the gradation control unit 24 to only some electrodes of the thermal head 28 in response to control signals from the control unit 40. That is, the electrodes of the thermal head 28 are divided into a plurality of groups, and only one of them can be operated.

In this apparatus, when the operator inputs an instruction for test printing, the thermal head drive section 56 outputs image signals to only some electrodes of the thermal head 28 in response to a control signal from the control section 40 . As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, an image obtained by dividing the original image into 1/n parts in the vertical direction is printed on the recording paper. The operator looks at this, confirms the image, and inputs instructions for proper printing.

When a regular print instruction is input, the thermal head drive unit 56 outputs image signals to all electrodes of the thermal/rad 28 in response to a control signal from the control unit 40.
Operate all electrodes. As a result, regular printing is performed.

According to this apparatus, during test printing, image signals are output to only some electrodes of the thermal head 28, and only a part of the image is printed. Therefore, by using other portions of the ink sheet 30 in other test prints, the amount of ink sheet 30 used can be saved and the total cost of the print can be lowered.

Furthermore, since the printing mechanism section consisting of the thermal head 28, ink sheet 30, and recording paper 32 is common to the large size printer 100 and the small size printer 200, the apparatus can have a simple configuration.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In this device, the switch 54 is similar to the device shown in FIG.
A signal selection section 260 is connected to one terminal of the image forming apparatus 1, and a signal representing a reduced image or a part of the image for test printing is created in the signal selection section 260. Thermal head 2
8. The ink sheet 30 and the recording paper 32 are commonly used in the large size printer 100 and the small size printer 200, and are connected to one output of the switch 54 and the signal selection section 26.
All outputs from 0 are input to the thermal head 28.

In this device, when the operator first inputs a test print instruction, the switch 54 is connected to the opposite state as shown in the figure, similar to the device shown in FIG. 280. A reduced image or a part of the image is selected by the signal selection unit 260 according to an operator's instruction and sent to the thermal head 28. As a result, the reduced image or a portion of the image is printed on the recording paper 32.

Next, when the operator inputs a normal print instruction, the switch 54 is connected to the state shown in the figure, and the signal from the gradation control section 24 is inputted to the thermal head 28 as it is. As a result, regular printing is performed.

This device, like the device shown in Figure 1, prints small-sized images for test prints, so
The amount of ink sheet 30 and recording paper 32 used can be reduced, and the total cost of printing can be lowered. Moreover,
Thermal head 28, ink sheet 30 and recording paper 3
Since the print mechanism section consisting of 2 is commonly used for the large size printer 100 and the small size printer 200,
The device can have a simple configuration.

Note that in each of the above embodiments, the large size printer 10
Tone control section 2 common to 0 and small size printers 200
4, but the large size printer 100 and the small size printer 200 are each provided with a tone control section and a lookup table for tone control, and the corresponding image signal data is graded under the same conditions using the same lookup table data. Adjustment may also be made.

Effects According to the present invention, when each color component signal for printing is created from an input video signal and each created color component signal is input to the heating means to heat the ink sheet and obtain a print, the original Print a reduced image or a portion of the original image for testing purposes.

Accordingly, when obtaining large-sized prints, it is possible to prevent the use of large quantities of ink sheets and recording media through trial printing, and to perform printing at low cost. I can do it

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image recording apparatus using a thermal transfer ink sheet according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side view of the printing mechanism of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a view of an ink sheet used in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an image printed by the apparatus shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an image printed by the device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of an image recording apparatus using a thermal transfer ink sheet according to the present invention. 18°20°24°26°28.228. 30.230. 32.232. 54゜58゜ Code explanation for important parts, frame memory, color correction circuit, gradation control section, lookup table for gradation control, thermal head, ink sheet, recording paper, switch, thermal head drive section, large size Printer, small size printer 280 , , , , signal selection section M2 figure Patent applicant Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Agent Takao Katori Takao Kazan Figure 5 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An image recording device that receives a video signal representing a color image and records the color image represented by the video signal on a recording medium using a thermal transfer ink sheet, the device comprising: a storage means for storing a video signal of the video signal; a readout means for reading out a color component signal of the video signal from the storage means; and a readout means for heating the thermal transfer ink sheet according to the color component signal read by the readout means. 1 heating means; signal selection means for selecting part of the signal data from the color component signal data read out by the reading means; a second heating means for heating; and a control means for controlling the signal selection means, the first heating means, and the second heating means, and the control means controls the first heating means in normal image recording. recording an image on the recording medium by performing heating by the second heating means, and in the experimental image recording, heating by the second heating means according to the part of the signal data selected by the signal selection means. An image recording device using a thermal transfer ink sheet, which is characterized by recording an image in a small area by recording the image in a small area. 2. In an image recording device that receives a video signal representing a color image and records the color image represented by the video signal on a recording medium using a thermal transfer ink sheet, the device stores the input video signal. storage means; reading means for reading color component signals of the video signal from the storage means; heating means for heating the thermal transfer ink sheet in accordance with the color component signals read by the reading means; and the reading means. a signal selection means for selecting part of the signal data from the color component signal data read out by the controller; and a control means for controlling the heating means and the signal selection means; The heating means performs heating in accordance with the color component signals read out by the reading means to record an image on the recording medium, and in the trial image recording, the color component signals selected by the signal selection means are recorded on the recording medium. An image recording apparatus using a thermal transfer ink sheet, characterized in that an image of a small area is recorded by heating the heating means in accordance with a part of signal data.