JPH0336052A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform high speed recording by the min. electric energy by providing a time lag at every dot of a predetermined unit between the recording start times of recording elements and successively driving the recording elements for one line in a dot unit in a time series manner. CONSTITUTION:A recording head 111 is formed by arranging a large number of recording elements 110 in a line form along the lateral direction of a recording material. A memory means 101 stores the image data showing the presence of the recording of a dot corresponding to a recording position. A recording position indicating means 103 successively indicates the recording position in the unit of the number of dots inputted from an input means 102. A reading means 104 reads the image data at the recording position indicated by the recording position indicating means 103 from the memory means 101 and a change-over means 105 selectively changes over the recording element corresponding to the image data read by the reading means 104. A supply means 106 supplies the drive energy for recording based on the image data read by the reading means 104 to the recording element selected by said change-over means 105.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a dot matrix type recording device.

[Prior Art] Conventional dot matrix format recording devices include impact type, thermal type, and thermal transfer t11! Are recording devices such as these 2A devices known, regardless of Class I or B, that improve the recording speed by configuring the recording elements in a line so that multiple [] and rad recording heads can simultaneously record. Ta. In particular, in thermal type and thermal transfer type recording devices, it is easy to downsize the recording spatula L-, so a recording head capable of recording one line of dots on the same width of the recording paper is created and heated at the same time. , for example one 114
High-speed recording has become possible by recording lines simultaneously.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional recording devices, the energy for heating the heating element increases in proportion to the number of dots heated simultaneously, so when performing simultaneous recording for millimeter lines as described above, This requires a large-capacity power source, and a large current may flow especially during heating, resulting in a large power source, which leads to an increase in the size of the device. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the number of heating elements for the purpose of downsizing the power supply, but in this case, a scanning mechanism is required to move the print head in the main scanning direction, which complicates the device configuration. Another problem was that the recording speed was slow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned points, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that is capable of high-speed recording and that can have a smaller power supply.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a recording head l~ in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a line along the width direction of a recording material.・A storage means for storing image data in correspondence with recording positions without indicating whether or not dots are recorded; an input means for inputting the number of dots to be recorded; recording position specifying means for sequentially specifying a recording position in IP-th order of the number; reading means for reading image data at a recording position specified by the recording position specification -f stage from the storage means; switching means for selecting and switching the recording element corresponding to the image data read by the reading means, and applying driving energy to the recording element for recording based on the image data read by the reading means. It is characterized by comprising a supply means for supplying.

Furthermore, a recording head having a plurality of recording elements arranged in a line along the width direction of the recording material, a storage means for storing image data indicating whether or not dots are recorded in correspondence with recording positions, and a dot unit. recording position designating means for sequentially designating recording positions with , reading means for reading image data at the recording position designated by the recording position designating means from the storage means, and correspondence with the image data read by the reading means; a half-stage switching λ for selectively switching the recording element, and supply means for supplying driving energy for recording based on the image data read out by the reading means to the recording element. It is characterized by:

[Function] In the present invention, since a time difference is provided for each predetermined unit of dots in the recording start time of the recording element, it is possible to suppress the inrush current that flows to the recording element when recording starts, and to reduce the inrush current flowing through the recording element for one line. Since these are sequentially driven, the recording speed is higher than that of a conventional recording apparatus that uses a carriage or the like to perform recording scanning. Furthermore, by driving the recording elements in time series on a dot-by-dot basis, it is possible to perform faster recording than with a carriage-driven recording apparatus using a minimum amount of electrical energy.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1(A) shows the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1(8), 111 is a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements +10 are arranged in a line along the width direction of the recording material.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a storage means for storing image data indicating whether or not dots are recorded in association with recording positions.

102 is an input means for inputting the number of dots to be recorded.

Reference numeral 103 denotes recording position designating means for sequentially designating recording positions in units of the number of dots input from the input means.

+04 is a reading means for reading out image data at the recording position specified by the recording position specifying means from the storage means.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a switching means for selecting and switching the recording element corresponding to the image data read by the continuous outputting means.

Reference numeral 106 is a supply means for supplying driving energy for recording based on the image data read out by the reading means to the recording element.

FIG. 1(B) shows the basic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 ([1), 211 denotes a plurality of recording elements 21 along the width direction of the recording material with the same length as the maximum width of the recording material.
This is a recording head in which 0's are arranged in a line.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a storage means for storing image data indicating whether or not dots are recorded in correspondence with recording positions.

Reference numeral 202 denotes a recording position specifying means for sequentially specifying recording positions in units of dots.

Reference numeral 203 denotes a reading means for reading out image data at the recording position specified by the recording position specifying means from the storage means.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a switching means for selecting and switching a recording element corresponding to the image data read out by the reading means.

205 is a supply means for supplying driving energy for recording based on the image data read out by the reading means to the recording element, which is characterized by comprising:.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (CPU, reading means, recording position specifying means) which controls the operation of the entire system according to a system program stored in the system ROM Q. 2 is a keyboard (input means) for inputting instruction information for the CPt11.

3 is a display device for displaying various messages. 4 is C
This is a printer interface that transmits a recording instruction signal for each recording element from the PU 1 to the recording apparatus. 5 is 1
This is a main body of a printing apparatus that performs printing using a printing head consisting of heating elements for each line. 6 is a power supply control circuit that controls the output of a battery 7 as a power source. 8 is a memory (storage means) for storing character data to be recorded and calculation data used in CPt11, and is a random access memory fR.
A & I). 10 is written from the host computer 5
This is a communication port for receiving (M) Rf signals. - Each of the above-mentioned parts is connected to a bus and operates according to instructions from CPII 1.

FIG. 3 shows the appearance of the recording head.

In FIG. 3, 256 heating elements are arranged along the width direction of the recording paper 25. In FIG. These heating elements are driven by a heating element f drive circuit 20 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the heating element drive circuit shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 11 denotes a heating element, and by flowing an i current through the heating element, the heating element is heated to record one dot. A resistor 12 is connected in series with the heating element 11 and limits the current flowing to the heating element 11. Reference numeral 13 denotes a switching transistor (supply means) whose collector is connected to the resistor 12, which turns on and off according to the level of the output (No. 8) of the latch circuit 14, and controls on/off the current supplied to the heating element 11.

14 is a latch circuit that temporarily colors image f3 sent from ct'ut. Reference numeral 15 denotes an address decoder (switching means), which instructs the latch circuit 14 to color the image signal when the address designated by the CPII 1 matches the address assigned to the heating element.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, this decoder is composed of an AND circuit and an inverter, and the addresses 257, 2
58..., output terminals DI, D2, .

The operation of the recording apparatus with such a configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 and the timing chart of FIG. 8.

FIG. 7 shows a control procedure executed by cr'υ1 for drive control of the heating element.

In FIG. 7, one line of recording data (256 pieces) is received in advance via the communication boat 10, and the image data is stored in the memory 18 in the form of a dot-shaped image signal.

Next, CPIJ I accepts the number of dots to be recorded simultaneously input from the keyboard (step S1).

Next, an address "1" corresponding to the dot position in the first column to be recorded is set, and the corresponding image data is read out from the RAM 8 (step S5, timing TI in FIG. 8). An address 257 corresponding to this dot position is set, and the set address and the previously read image data are output to the decoder 15 (step S6, timing T2 in FIG. 8).

Thereafter, the reading of the image data and the transfer to the decoder 15 are repeated for the number of dots input. Next, start the timer and measure the heat generation time (step Sll ~ 512)
.

On the other hand, when the address 257 is specified in the decoder 15 (see FIG. 5), an on signal is sent from the D1 terminal to the latch circuit 14-.
1, and the image data of the first column being transferred to the data bus at this time is output and latched by the latch circuit 14-1. As a result, the transistor 13-1 turns on,
The heating element 11-1 generates heat.

The address below is 25816. Each time the image data at the next recording position is output from CPU I in the order of
In response to the instruction No. 5, the corresponding heating element is driven.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the timer counts down, the latch circuit 14 is sequentially set at the address of the recording position specified so far.
-1 (steps 514 to S16, timing T4 in FIG. 8). By the above procedure, recording of a predetermined number of dots, for example, 5 dots, is completed. Thereafter, the above-described procedure is repeated to record one line in units of five dots, such as dot recording from the 6th column to the 10th column.

Although the present embodiment shows an example in which dot recording is performed with a predetermined number of dots, recording may be performed one dot at a time. In this case, there is no need to specify the number of dots from the keyboard 2.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, since a time difference is provided for each predetermined unit of dots in the recording start time of the recording element, the inrush current flowing through the recording element at the start of recording can be kept small, and , l lives are sequentially driven, so the printing speed is higher than that of a conventional printing apparatus that uses a carriage or the like to scan printing. Furthermore, by driving the recording elements in time series on a dot-by-dot basis, it is possible to perform faster recording than a carriage-driven recording device with minimal electrical energy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 (^) is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 (B) is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the recording head according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the connection relationship between the heat generating element ffigJJ circuit and the heat generating element according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the heating element drive circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the decoder according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is the CPU according to the embodiment of the present invention FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the embodiment of the present invention. I... CPIJ, 2... Keyboard, 3... Display, 4... Printer interface, 5... Recording device main body, 6... Power control circuit, 7... Battery, 8... ...Memory, 9...System ROM. 10--Communication boat, 11--Heating element, 12--Current limiting resistor, 13--Switching transistor, 14--Latch circuit, 15--Address decoder. 1 Plot 7 Figure 2
Fig. 22 Era 5.1, No (25 works. □ 6, Honki B111 $ 1 Example Nori Ro Migashi Ho 1 Examination concavity Fig. 3 ", Gi (: Gi 5, Rin 1
Figure 4 shows the connection between 1 and the firing nose hand.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a line along the width direction of a recording material, and a memory that stores image data indicating whether or not dots are recorded in correspondence with recording positions. means for inputting the number of dots to be recorded; recording position specifying means for sequentially specifying a recording position in units of the number of dots input from the input means; and a recording position specified by the recording position specifying means. 1. A recording apparatus comprising: reading means for reading image data at a recording position from said storage means; and switching means for selecting and switching a recording element corresponding to the image data read by said reading means. 2) A recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a line along the width direction of the recording material, a storage means for storing image data indicating whether or not a dot is recorded in correspondence with a recording position, and a dot unit. recording position designating means for sequentially designating a recording position in the recording position; reading means for reading image data at the recording position designated by the recording position designating means from the storage means; and correspondence with the image data read by the reading means. a switching means for selectively switching the recording element, and a supply means for supplying driving energy for recording based on the image data read by the reading means to the recording element selected by the switching means. Characteristic recording device.