JPH0664208A - Recording method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the time required for the recording of one line by counting the number of dots to be recorded contained in the recording data of one line corresponding to the recording element blocks of a recording head and controlling the block division of the recording head corresponding to the count value. CONSTITUTION:In the recording part 102 controlled by the control part 101 in a facsimile device, the heating resistors 132 corresponding to one line of a thermal head 13 being a line head are divided into a plurality of blocks (four blocks in a drawing) and the numbers of black dots contained in serial recording data 43a at every blocks are counted by number-of-black dot counters 150-1-150-4. These count values are processed to control the current supply times and current supply timings of the respective blocks. Auxiliary recording again recording the same data is executed after the completion of recording at every lines and, when the time interval up to the recording of the next line becomes a predetermined time or more, the thermal head 13 is re-heated to enhance the recording grade of an image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording method and apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head based on recording data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a thermal recording apparatus using a line type thermal head, a heating element (recording element) of the thermal head is divided into a plurality of blocks, and the heating element is energized for recording in each block. It has been known. In such a method, since the recording data for one line is recorded by a plurality of divided heating elements, it is possible to reduce the number of heating elements that are energized at one time and reduce the power required for energization.
As a result, the power supply capacity can be reduced, the cost can be suppressed, and in the case of thermal transfer recording, for example, the number of dots that are melted at once in the ink sheet can be reduced, so that there is an advantage that the load of conveying the recording paper is reduced.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, such divided recording is always performed regardless of the recording data of one line, so that the total number of dots to be recorded in one line is, for example, the thermal head. Even if the number of heating elements in one block is less than or equal to 1, the heating resistor of the thermal head is divided into a plurality of blocks for energization / recording as described above. Therefore, there is a drawback that the time required for recording one line becomes longer than necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and the number of divisions of the recording elements of the recording head is controlled according to the number of dots to be recorded included in the recording data of one line, so that one line is recorded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method and apparatus that shorten the time required for recording.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention has the following constitution. That is,
A recording device for recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head, comprising recording means for recording by recording a recording element of the recording head by dividing it into a plurality of blocks and driving it.
Counting means for counting the number of recorded dots included in the recording data for a line corresponding to each of the blocks, and controlling block division of the recording head according to the number of dots counted by the counting means And control means.

In order to achieve the above object, the recording method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, in a recording method of recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head, a step of counting the number of recorded dots included in recording data for one line corresponding to each block of the recording head, Controlling the block division of the recording element of the recording head according to the counted number of dots and recording.

[0007]

With the above construction, the number of dots to be recorded included in the recording data for one line is counted corresponding to each of the blocks, and the block division of the recording head is performed according to the counted number of dots. Control. The recording elements of the recording head divided in this way are operated sequentially to perform recording.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical connection between a control unit 101 and a recording unit 102 of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3 and 4 are side sectional views of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a recording unit 102 according to the present embodiment.
3 is a perspective view showing a recording paper and ink sheet transporting mechanism in FIG.

First, the schematic construction of the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, 10
A reading unit 0 photoelectrically reads a document and outputs it as a digital image signal to the control unit 101, and includes a document feeding motor, a CCD image sensor, and the like (not shown). Next, the configuration of the control unit 101 will be described.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a line memory for storing image data of each line of the image data, which is stored as an image of one line from the reading unit 100 at the time of transmitting or copying an original, and is used for receiving the image data. At this time, 1-line data of the decoded received image data is stored. Then, the stored data is output to the recording unit 102 to form an image. An encoding / decoding unit 111 encodes image information to be transmitted by MH encoding or the like, and decodes the received encoded image data to convert it into image data. Further, reference numeral 112 is a buffer memory for storing the coded image data transmitted or received. Each unit of these control units 101 is controlled by a CPU 113 such as a microprocessor. This CPU 113 is provided in the control unit 101.
Besides, a ROM 114 for storing the control program of the CPU 113 and various data, a RAM 115 for temporarily storing various data as a work area of the CPU 113, and the like are provided.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a recording section which has a thermal line head and records an image on a recording sheet by a thermal transfer recording method. This configuration will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 103
Is an operation unit including various function instruction keys for starting transmission, an input key for a telephone number, etc., 103a is the ink sheet 1 to be used
Among the switches for instructing the four types, when the switch 103a is on, a multi-print ink sheet is attached, and when it is off, a normal ink sheet (one-time sheet) is attached. 104 is usually the operation unit 10
3 is a display unit provided adjacent to the display unit 3 for displaying various functions and device states. Reference numeral 105 denotes a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the entire device. Further, 106 is a modem (modulator / demodulator), 107 is a network control unit (NCU), and 108 is a telephone.

Next, the structure of the recording unit 102 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in FIG. 2 are indicated by the same drawing numbers.

In the figure, 10 is a recording paper 1 which is plain paper.
1 is a roll paper in which 1 is wound around a core 10a.
The roll paper 10 is rotatably housed in the apparatus so that the recording paper 11 can be supplied to the thermal head portion 13 by rotating the platen roller 12 in the direction of the arrow. In addition, 10b is a roll paper loading unit, and the roll paper 10 is removably loaded therein. Further, 12 is a platen roller, which conveys the recording paper 11 in the direction of the arrow b, and between the recording paper 11 and the heating resistor 132 of the thermal head 13,
The ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 are pressed.
The recording paper 11 on which an image has been recorded by the heat generated by the thermal head 13 is conveyed toward the discharge rollers 16 (16a, 16b) by the further rotation of the platen roller 12, and
When the image recording for the pages is completed, the cutter 15 (15a, 15a
It is cut in page units by the engagement of b).

Reference numeral 17 denotes an ink sheet supply roll around which the ink sheet 14 is wound, and 18 denotes an ink sheet take-up roll, which is an ink sheet conveying motor (25) described later.
The ink sheet 14 is wound in the direction of the arrow a by being driven by. In addition, this ink sheet supply roll 1
The ink sheet take-up roll 7 and the ink sheet take-up roll 18 are removably loaded in the ink sheet loading section 70 in the main body of the apparatus.
Further, 19 is a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of the ink sheet 14 and the conveyance speed of the ink sheet 14. Further, 20 is an ink sheet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the ink sheet 14, 21 is a spring for pressing the thermal head 13 against the platen roller 12 via the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14. Also, 2
Reference numeral 2 is a recording paper sensor for detecting the presence or absence of recording paper.

Next, the structure of the reading unit 100 will be described.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a light source for illuminating the original 32, and the light reflected by the original 32 is an optical system (mirror 5).
It is input to the CCD sensor 31 through 0, 51, lens 52) and converted into an electric signal. The original 32 is conveyed by rollers (conveyance rollers 53, 5) driven by an original conveying motor (not shown).
4, 55 and 56, the original 32 is conveyed at a reading speed. Reference numeral 57 denotes a document stacking table, and the plurality of documents 32 stacked on the stacking table 57 are separated one by one by the cooperation of the conveying roller 54 and the pressing separation piece 58, and the reading section 100 is provided. Be transported to.

Reference numeral 41 is a control board which constitutes a main part of the control section 101, and various control signals are output from the control board 41 to each section of the apparatus. Further, 106 is a modem board unit, and 107 is an NCU board unit.

Further, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the details of the transport mechanism for the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11.

In FIG. 4, 24 is the platen roller 12.
Is a rotation motor for conveying the recording paper 11 in the arrow b direction opposite to the arrow a direction (conveying direction of the ink sheet 14). Further, reference numeral 25 is an ink sheet conveying motor for conveying the ink sheet 14 in the direction of arrow a by the capstan roller 71 and the pinch roller 72. Further, 26 and 27 are transmission gears that transmit the rotation of the recording paper transport motor 24 to the platen roller 12, and 73 and 74 are transmission gears that transmit the rotation of the ink sheet transport motor 25 to the capstan roller 71.
Further, reference numeral 75 is a slip clutch unit.

Here, by rotating the gear 75a, the length of the ink sheet 14 wound around the winding roll 18 is
By setting the ratio of the gears 74 and 75 so as to be longer than the length of the ink sheet conveyed by the capstan roller 71, the ink sheet 14 conveyed by the capstan roller 71 is surely transferred to the take-up roll 18. Being rolled up. Then, the slip clutch unit 75 absorbs the amount corresponding to the difference amount of the ink sheet 14 wound by the take-up roll 18 and the ink sheet 14 sent by the capstan roller 71. As a result, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the transport speed (amount) of the ink sheet 14 due to fluctuations in the winding diameter of the winding roll 18.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical connection between the control unit 101 and the recording unit 102 in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment, and the portions common to other drawings are designated by the same drawing numbers. The thermal head 13 is a line head. Then, the thermal head 13 is
A shift register 130 for inputting serial recording data 43a for lines and a shift clock 43b, a latch circuit 131 for latching data of the shift register 130 by a latch signal 44, and a heating element 132 including a heating resistor for one line are provided. ing. Here, the heating resistor 1
32 is driven by being divided into m blocks (m = 4 in this embodiment) indicated by 132-1 to 132-m. Further, 133 is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the thermal head 13. This temperature sensor 133
The output signal 42 of A is D / A converted in the control unit 101 and input to the CPU 113. As a result, the CPU 113 detects the temperature of the thermal head 13 and changes the pulse width of the strobe signal 47 or changes the driving voltage of the thermal head 13 in accordance with the temperature to change the pulse width of the thermal head 13 according to the characteristics of the ink sheet 14. The applied energy to the thermal head 13 is changed. Reference numeral 116 is a programmable timer, which starts time counting when the time counting time is set by the CPU 113 and the start of time counting is instructed. Then, it operates so as to output an interrupt signal, a time-out signal, etc. to the CPU 113 at each designated time.

Reference numerals 150-1 to 150-4 denote black dot number counters, to which the serial recording data 43a and the shift clock 43b described above are input, and the counter selected by the enable signal of the signal line 155 becomes the serial recording data 43a. The number of black dots included is counted. As a result, each black dot number counter can count the number of black dots in each block. In the first embodiment, since the number of heating elements of the thermal head 13 is "2048", the number of heating elements in each block is "512". Therefore, each black dot number counter is composed of a 9-bit counter, and its output value is a value from "0" to "511". The signal line 152 indicates the output data of each counter, and the count value of the counter selected by the read select signal of the signal line 155 is output. The signal line 151 is a black dot number counter 150-output from the control unit 101.
The clear signal of 1-150-4 is shown. Reference numeral 155 indicates a control signal line composed of a plurality of bits.
Includes an enable signal for permitting counting, a select signal for instructing reading of the count value, and the like. In this way, these control signals are output from the control unit 101 to the respective black dot number counters, and the counters designated by the enable signals can input and count the serial recording data 43a and the clock 43b, and by this read select signal. Only the instructed counter can output the count value on the signal line 152.

The type (characteristic) of the ink sheet 14
May be determined by detecting the switch 103a of the operation unit 103 described above, a mark printed on the ink sheet 14, or the like, and the mark, cutout or protrusion attached to the ink sheet cartridge may be detected. It may be determined and performed.

Reference numeral 46 denotes the thermal head 1 from the control unit 101.
3 is a drive circuit that inputs the drive signal of No. 3 and outputs a strobe signal 47 that drives the thermal head 13 in units of blocks. The drive circuit 46 can change the voltage applied to the thermal head 13 by changing the voltage output to the power supply line 45 that supplies a current to the heating element 132 of the thermal head 13 according to an instruction from the control unit 101.
A drive circuit 36 drives the cutter 15 so as to mesh with it, and includes a motor for driving the cutter and the like. Reference numeral 39 denotes a paper discharge motor that rotationally drives the paper discharge roller 16. Three
5, 48 and 49 respectively correspond to the discharge motor 39,
This is a driver circuit that rotationally drives the recording paper transport motor 24 and the ink sheet transport motor 25. In particular, the driver circuit 48 inputs an excitation signal 153 and an excitation current control signal 154 from the control unit 101, and outputs the instructed excitation current. The carrying force of the recording paper carrying motor 24 can be changed according to the value. The paper discharge motor 39, the recording paper transport motor 24, and the ink sheet transport motor 25 are
In this embodiment, the stepping motor is used, but the invention is not limited to this, and may be a DC motor or the like. [Description of Recording Operation (FIGS. 1 to 10)] FIGS. 5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the recording process for one page in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment. The control program for executing this process is the control unit. It is recorded in the ROM 114 of 101.

This process is started when the image data for one line to be recorded is stored in the line memory 110 and the recording operation can be started, and the switch 103 indicates that the multi-ink sheet 14 is mounted.
It is assumed that it is determined by the control unit 101 based on a or the like.

First, in step S0, the recording data for one line is serially output to the shift register 130. At this time, first, an enable signal is output to the control signal line 155 so as to enable only the black dot number counter 150-1, and the sequential counters 150-2 and 150-3 are output every time the shift clock 43b is counted 512 times. In this way, the counter for counting is switched by the enable signal. As a result, black information (data to be recorded) in the serial recording data output to the shift register 130
Is the black dot number counter 150-
Counted from 1 to 150-4. When the output of the print data for one line is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S1 and the black dot number counters 150-1 to 150-4
The output value 152 of 1 is sequentially read and stored in the RAM 115. Also at this time, the counters are sequentially selected by the read select signal of the control line 155 and the count value of each counter is read. Then, the latch signal 44 is output and the recording data for one line is stored in the latch circuit 131.

Next, in step S2, the clear signal 15
1 is output and the black dot number counters 150-1 to 150
The value of -4 is reset to "0". Next, in step S3, the ink sheet transport motor 25 is driven to transport the ink sheet 14 for 1 / n (n> 1) lines. Next, in step S4, the exciting current control signal 154 is output to control the exciting current of the driver circuit 48 to convey the recording paper 11 for one line. The length of this one line is set to about (1 / 15.4) mm in the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment, and the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 are conveyed by the recording paper conveyance motor 24 and the recording paper conveyance motor 24, respectively. It can be controlled by changing the number of excitation pulses of the ink sheet conveying motor 25.

Next, in step S5, it is checked whether the total of the count values of the black dot number counters 150-2 to 150-4 is equal to or less than "512" dots which is the number of dots in one block. When the total of the count values is "512" or less, the process proceeds to step S6, and all blocks of the heating resistor 132 are simultaneously energized to record an image, as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in step S5, the total value is "512".
If it exceeds, the process proceeds to step S7, and the total value of the black dot number counters 150-1 and 150-2 is compared with the total value of the black dot number counters 150-3 and 150-4. When all of these total values are “512” or less, the process proceeds to step S8, and the block 132-1 of the heating element 132 is used.
And 132-22, and blocks 132-3 and 132-4 are paired, and the thermal head 13 is energized at the timing shown in FIG.

When either one of the total values becomes "512" or more in step S7, the process proceeds to step S9, and power is supplied to each block at the timing (normal power supply timing) shown in FIG.

Next, in step S10, it is checked whether energization of all blocks is completed. If the energization of all blocks of the thermal head 13 is not completed in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11 (FIG. 6) to check whether or not the recording data of the next line is ready. If it is ready, the process proceeds to step S12, and the print data of the next line is sequentially transferred to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13. Also in this case, as in the case of the step S0 described above, the black dot number counter is sequentially switched by the enable signal every time the shift clock 43b is counted by "512", and the black dot number corresponding to each block is changed by each counter. To count. As a result, the outputs of the black dot number counters 150-1 to 150-4 are determined as described above. Next, the process proceeds to step S13, and during the data transfer to the thermal head 13, it is checked whether or not the energization of one block started in the above step (any one of steps S6, S8 and S9) is completed. Energizing time here (about 6
00us) has not elapsed, the process returns to step S11, but if the energization time has elapsed, the process returns to step S5 and the energization process for the next block is executed as described above.
In this embodiment, the thermal head 13 can be driven up to 4 blocks by energization, and the time required for recording one line is about 2.5 ms (600 us × 600 ms).
4 blocks).

In step S10, when the energization of all blocks of the thermal head 13 is completed and the recording of one line is completed, the process proceeds to step S14, the timer 116 is set to a predetermined time (200 ms in this case), and the timer 116 operates. Start timing. Next, the process proceeds to step S15, and it is determined whether the image recording for one page is completed. If the image recording of one page has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S16, and it is determined whether all the image data of the next line has been transferred to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13. If it has not been transferred, the process proceeds to step S17, and if the data for the next line is ready, the data for one line to be recorded next is transferred to the thermal head 13. Also at this time, each of the black dot number counters 150-1 to 150-4 is counted, as in the case of step S0 described above.

Next, in step S18, the number of times of auxiliary recording is 2
It is checked whether it is the second time, and if it is not the second time, step S19.
Then, the auxiliary recording is executed for each block of the thermal head 13, and the process returns to step S16. This is to energize the thermal head 13 again with the same data (the content of the latch circuit 131 is already recorded image data), and the energizing time at this time is about 1/4 of the actual energizing time. As a result, it is possible to increase the print image density of the current line and prevent white lines and the like from occurring with the print data of the next line.

On the other hand, if auxiliary recording has already been performed twice in step S18, the process returns to step S16 to check whether all the recording data of the next line has been transferred. In this way, when the image data for one line to be recorded next is transferred to the thermal 13 in step S16, the process proceeds to step S20, and it is determined whether or not the timer 116 has timed out, that is, 20 ms has elapsed. If 20 m has not elapsed, the process returns to step S1, the number of black dots in each block is read, and the recording data of the next line is latched by the latch circuit 1.
Latch 31 and execute the above-described image recording process.

However, when 20 ms has elapsed in step S20, the process proceeds to step S21 and the thermal head 13
Energize in blocks. At this time, the data of the latch circuit 131 of the thermal head 13 is 1
Since it is equal to the line image data, the same image data is recorded again here. The energization process to the thermal head 13 in step S21 is executed after the print data of the next line is transferred to the shift register 130 of the thermal head 13, and therefore is executed immediately before the print process of the next line. As a result, the thermal head 13 also acts as preheating.
The term "just before this" means steps S21 to S5.
Corresponds to the delay due to the processing time up to. The energization time to the thermal head 13 in step S21 may be the same as the energization time in each of steps S6, S8, and S9, or may be shorter than that.

Next, when the image recording for one page is completed in step S15, the process proceeds to step S22, and the recording paper 11 is conveyed in the predetermined paper discharge rollers 16a, 16b direction. Then, in step S23, the cutters 15a and 15b are engaged with each other, and the recording paper 11 is cut in page units. Next, in step S24, the recording paper conveyance motor 24 is driven in reverse to drive the recording paper 11
Then, the cutter processing of the recording paper 11 is performed to return the recording sheet 11 by a distance corresponding to the distance between the thermal head 13 and the cutter 15.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, after the completion of the recording for each line, the auxiliary recording for recording the same data is executed again, and when the time interval until the recording of the next line becomes the predetermined time or more. , Thermal head 1 in step S21
3 is reheated to improve the recording quality of the image and reduce the shearing force between the inks in the ink layer, so that the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 are conveyed at the steps S3 and S4. And recording paper 1
The separation from 1 is improved.

Incidentally, step S19 and step S21
When the thermal bed 13 is driven to generate heat, the energy applied to the heating element 132 may be smaller than that during actual recording. In addition, the thermal head 1 in step S21
At the time of heat generation driving of 3, the same recording data as the previous line is used,
A heating resistor 132 corresponding to some of the black dots
The ink may be prevented from hardening by energizing the ink.

Further, although the number of times of auxiliary recording is set to a maximum of 2 in this embodiment, it is needless to say that it is not limited to this.

8 to 10 are diagrams showing the timing of energization of the thermal head 13 in the image recording process of the first embodiment. Here, the heating resistor 1 of the thermal head 13 is used.
32 is divided into four blocks and energized. In addition,
Each of the strobe signals 1 to 4 is applied to the thermal head 1
3 corresponds to the energization signal of each block of the heating resistor 132. [Description of Recording Principle (FIG. 11)] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an image recording state when an image is recorded by reversing the conveying directions of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 in the first embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 are sandwiched between the platen roller 12 and the thermal head 13, and the thermal head 13 is pressed by the spring 21 against the platen roller 12 with a predetermined pressure. There is. Here, the recording paper 11 is conveyed at a speed V _P in the direction of the arrow b by the rotation of the platen roller 12. On the other hand, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed at the speed V _I in the direction of arrow a by the rotation of the ink sheet conveying motor 25. Here, the transport speed V _P of the recording paper 11 and the transport speed V of the ink sheet 14
Relationship with _I is, V _I = - a (1 / n) V _P.

Now, the heating resistor 1 of the thermal head 13
When 32 is energized from the power source 105 and heated, the portion indicated by the hatched portion 81 of the ink sheet 14 is heated. Here, 14a is a base film of the ink sheet 14, and 14a.
Reference numeral b indicates the ink layer of the ink sheet 14. When the heating resistor 132 is energized, it is heated and the ink layer 8 is heated.
The ink of No. 1 melts, and the portion indicated by 82 is transferred to the recording paper 11. The transferred ink layer portion 82 corresponds to approximately 1 / n of the ink layer indicated by 81.

At the time of this transfer, it is necessary to generate a shearing force on the ink at the boundary line 83 of the ink layer 14b and transfer only the portion indicated by 82 to the recording 11. However, this shearing force tends to decrease as the temperature of the ink layer increases. Therefore, if the heating time of the ink sheet 14 is shortened, the shearing force in the ink layer becomes large. Therefore, if the relative speed between the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 is increased, the ink layer to be transferred becomes the ink sheet 1.
It can be reliably peeled off from No. 4.

According to this embodiment, since the heating time of the thermal head 13 in the facsimile apparatus is as short as about 0.6 ms, the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 are made to face each other by making the conveying directions face each other. 11
I try to increase the relative speed with. [Description of Ink Sheet (FIG. 12)] First, the second layer is a base film that serves as a support for the ink sheet 14. In the case of multi-printing, since heat energy is applied to the same place many times, an aromatic polyamide film or capacitor paper having high heat resistance is advantageous, but a conventional polyester film can also be used. From the viewpoint of recording strength, it is advantageous that the thickness of these layers is as thin as possible from the viewpoint of recording quality, but it is preferably 3 to 8 μm.

The third layer is an ink layer containing an amount of ink capable of being transferred n times onto a recording paper (recording sheet). This component is made of resin such as EVA as an adhesive, carbon black or nigrosine dye for coloring, carnauba wax as a binding material, paraffin wax, etc. as a main component and is used to withstand n uses at the same location. ing. The coating amount is preferably 4 to 8 g / m ^2, but the sensitivity and the density differ depending on the coating amount, and can be arbitrarily selected.

The fourth layer is a non-recording portion and is a top coating layer for preventing pressure transfer of the ink of the third layer onto the recording paper, and is composed of a transparent wax or the like. As a result, the pressure is transferred to the transparent fourth
Only the layer is provided, and the background stain of the recording paper can be prevented. The first layer is a heat-resistant coating layer that protects the base film of the second layer from the heat of the thermal head 13. This is suitable for multi-printing in which heat energy for n lines may be applied to the same location (when black information is continuous), but it can be appropriately selected whether or not to use. Further, it is effective for a base film having a relatively low heat resistance such as a polyester film.

The structure of the ink sheet 14 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be, for example, a base layer and a porous ink holding layer containing ink provided on one side of the base layer. Alternatively, a heat-resistant ink layer having a fine porous network structure may be provided on the base film, and the ink may be contained in the ink layer. Also,
The material of the base film may be, for example, a film or paper made of polyamide, polyethylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, triacetyl cellulose, nylon or the like. Further, the heat resistant coating layer is not always necessary, but the material thereof may be, for example, silicone resin, epoxy resin, fluorine resin, etrocellulose, or the like.

As an example of an ink sheet having a heat sublimation ink, a guanamine-based resin and a fluorine-based resin are formed on a substrate formed of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene aphthalate, an aromatic polyamide film or the like. An ink sheet provided with a color material layer containing spacer particles and a dye may be mentioned.

The heating method in the thermal transfer printer is not limited to the thermal head method using the above-mentioned thermal head, and for example, an energization method or a laser transfer method may be used.

In this embodiment, the case of multi-printing has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that it can be applied to the case of normal thermal transfer recording using a one-time ink sheet.

In the first embodiment, the combination of block 1 and block 2 and block 3 and block 4 was considered, but the number of black dots recorded by one energization is "512" or less. You can also think of any combination of blocks.

As described above, according to the first embodiment,
By counting the number of black information in the recording data of one line and changing the block division of the thermal head according to the counted value, the time required for recording one line can be shortened.

Next, the configuration of the drive circuit 46 of the second embodiment of the present invention for switching the strobe signal output in response to an instruction from the control unit 101 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention. The parts common to FIG. 1 of the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

When the control unit 101 outputs the strobe signals ST0 to ST3 (in this example, division of 4 blocks, each signal is a row true) corresponding to each block of the thermal head 13 at a low level, the drive circuit 46
The flip-flop 501 is cleared at the fall of the strobe signal ST0 and set at the rise of the strobe signal ST3. A selector 502 selects and outputs the A input when the select signal (SEL) is low level, and B when the select signal (SEL) is high level.
The input (Q output of the flip-flop 401) is selected and output.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing the output timing of the strobe signal in this embodiment.

As is apparent from FIG. 14, when the select signal (SEL) is at low level (the thermal head 13 is set to 4
When dividedly driven, the strobe signals (STB0 to STB3) to the thermal head 13 are output according to the strobe signals ST0 to ST3 from the control unit 101. On the other hand, when the select signal (SEL) is at a high level (when all the heat generating elements of the thermal head 13 are simultaneously driven), the strobe signal (STB) to the thermal head 13 is output at the timing of the Q output of the flip-flop 501.
0 to STB3) are output. Here, the control unit 101
By controlling the time from the fall of ST0 to the rise of ST3, it is possible to adjust the energization time when simultaneously driving all the heating elements.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining still another embodiment. Here, the AND circuit 503 calculates the logical product of the strobe signals (ST0 to ST3) from the control unit 101, and the output is the B of the selector 502. By inputting to the input terminal, strobe signals (STB0 to STB3) for simultaneously driving all the heating elements of the thermal head 13 can be output when the select signal (SEL) is at high level.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
Since the heating element of the thermal head can be switched between divided driving and simultaneous driving with a simple configuration, there is an effect that it can be applied to various thermal heads.

The number of divided blocks of the heating element of the thermal head or the switching of the recording mode in this embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program for implementing the present invention to a system or an apparatus. Also,
In the above-described embodiment, the case of the thermal transfer recording device has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an inkjet printer that drives a plurality of heating resistors to generate heat to eject ink, Of course, it can be applied to a thermal printer, a discharge printer having a plurality of recording elements, a wire dot printer, and the like.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention, 1
By controlling the number of divisions of the recording elements of the recording head according to the number of dots to be recorded included in the recording data of the line, there is an effect that the time required for recording one line can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electrical connection diagram of a control unit and a recording unit of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a structural cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a mechanical portion of the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a transport mechanism for an ink sheet and a recording sheet in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recording process in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a recording process in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a recording process in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the timing of energizing the thermal head in the recording process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the power supply timing to the thermal head in the recording process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the timing of energization of the thermal head in the recording process of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state of a recording paper and an ink sheet at the time of recording by the thermal transfer printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-ink sheet used in this example.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a drive circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing an example of signal timing in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Recording Paper 13 Thermal Head 14 Ink Sheet 17 Ink Sheet Supply Roll 18 Ink Sheet Take-up Roll 24 Recording Paper Conveying Roller 25 Ink Sheet Conveying Roller 100 Reading Unit 101 Control Unit 102 Recording Unit 103 Operation Unit 113 CPU 114 ROM 115 RAM 116 timer 150-1 to 150-4 black dot number counter

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Kamochi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head, comprising: recording means for recording by driving a recording element of the recording head by dividing it into a plurality of blocks; Counting means for counting the number of dots to be recorded included in recording data corresponding to each of the blocks, and control means for controlling block division of the recording head according to the number of dots counted by the counting means. A recording device comprising: 2. A recording method for recording an image on a recording medium by a recording head, wherein the number of dots to be recorded included in recording data for one line is counted for each block of the recording head. And a step of controlling the block division of the recording elements of the recording head to perform recording in accordance with the counted number of dots.