JPH0679906A - Correcting method for density of thermal head - Google Patents
Correcting method for density of thermal headInfo
- Publication number
- JPH0679906A JPH0679906A JP23324192A JP23324192A JPH0679906A JP H0679906 A JPH0679906 A JP H0679906A JP 23324192 A JP23324192 A JP 23324192A JP 23324192 A JP23324192 A JP 23324192A JP H0679906 A JPH0679906 A JP H0679906A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- heating
- heating resistor
- temperature
- thermal head
- resistors
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【産業上の利用分野】本発明はサーマルプリンタの印画
品質を向上させるためのサーマルヘッドの補正方法に関
するものである。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal head correction method for improving the printing quality of a thermal printer.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】サーマルヘッドの発熱抵抗体の抵抗値に
は、製造上の違いで多少の差はあるが、±５％〜±２０
％の抵抗値ばらつきがある。この抵抗値ばらつきは印画
濃度むらの主な要因の１つである。すなわち、各発熱抵
抗体に印加する電圧は全発熱抵抗体とも同じであるた
め、抵抗値が高い発熱抵抗体に印加されるエネルギーは
設定値より小さいため印画濃度値が小さくなり、逆に抵
抗値が小さい発熱抵抗体に印加されるエネルギーは設定
値より大きいため印画濃度値が大きくなってしまい、結
果的に印画濃度むらが発生するのである。2. Description of the Related Art The resistance value of a heating resistor of a thermal head is slightly different due to manufacturing differences, but is ± 5% to ± 20.
% Variation in resistance value. This variation in resistance value is one of the main causes of uneven print density. That is, since the voltage applied to each heating resistor is the same as that of all heating resistors, the energy applied to the heating resistor with a high resistance value is smaller than the set value, so the print density value becomes smaller, and conversely the resistance value Since the energy applied to the heating resistor having a small value is larger than the set value, the print density value becomes large, resulting in uneven print density.
【０００３】従来は、この解決方法としてサーマルヘッ
ドの各発熱抵抗体の抵抗値を抵抗値測定器で測定し、こ
の値を抵抗値補正データとしてＲＯＭなどのメモリに記
憶させ、印画の際必要に応じて読みだし、常に各発熱抵
抗体の抵抗値に対して適切なエネルギーが設定されるよ
うな方法がとられている。Conventionally, as a solution to this problem, the resistance value of each heating resistor of the thermal head is measured by a resistance value measuring device, and this value is stored in a memory such as a ROM as resistance value correction data, and is required for printing. A method is adopted in which appropriate energy is set for the resistance value of each heat generating resistor.
【０００４】[0004]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】上述した従来技術では
発熱抵抗体の抵抗値ばらつきに対する印画濃度むらの補
正は行えるが、各発熱抵抗体の熱特性に対する補正は行
なうことができない。すなわち、発熱抵抗体は、抵抗膜
と、該抵抗膜に通電パルスを供給するための電極から構
成されているが、抵抗膜及び電極の厚さが夫々の発熱抵
抗体によって異なるため、各発熱抵抗体の熱特性は夫々
固有の値を有している。従って、仮りに上述の補正によ
り見かけ上の抵抗値を同じにしても、発熱温度特性まで
補正することはできないのである。In the above-mentioned conventional technique, the print density unevenness can be corrected for variations in the resistance value of the heating resistors, but the thermal characteristics of the heating resistors cannot be corrected. That is, the heating resistor is composed of a resistance film and an electrode for supplying an energizing pulse to the resistance film, but since the thickness of the resistance film and the electrode are different for each heating resistor, each heating resistor is Each body thermal property has its own value. Therefore, even if the apparent resistance value is made the same by the above correction, the heat generation temperature characteristic cannot be corrected.
【０００５】また、サーマルヘッドは発熱抵抗体を搭載
したアルミナ基板をアルミ等の放熱板に接着するような
構造となっており、これらアルミナ基板と放熱板との間
には間隙材として蓄熱を抑えるために放熱性のグリース
などを充填して接着が行われている。しかし、アルミナ
基板と放熱板には数μｍ〜数百μｍの反りやうねりがあ
るため、接着むらが生じているのが現状である。そし
て、放熱グリース層が薄い箇所は厚い箇所に比べ放熱性
が悪いため蓄熱現象が著しく、その付近は印画濃度値が
大きくなってしまい、印画画質の劣化を引き起こしてい
る。この他にも様々な要因で発生する印画濃度むらがあ
る。Further, the thermal head has a structure in which an alumina substrate on which a heating resistor is mounted is adhered to a radiator plate made of aluminum or the like, and heat storage is suppressed as a gap material between the alumina substrate and the radiator plate. Therefore, heat-dissipating grease or the like is filled in and bonded. However, since there are warps and undulations of several .mu.m to several hundreds of .mu.m between the alumina substrate and the heat radiating plate, uneven bonding is presently occurring. Further, a heat storage phenomenon is remarkable in a portion where the heat radiating grease layer is thin as compared with a portion where the heat radiating grease layer is thick, and a print density value becomes large in the vicinity thereof, which causes deterioration of the print image quality. In addition to this, there are print density unevenness caused by various factors.
【０００６】従って、本発明の目的は製造上の歩留まり
を低下させることなく、発熱抵抗体の熱特性に応じた濃
度むら補正データを作成できるサーマルヘッドの補正方
法を提供することである。Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal head correction method capable of producing density unevenness correction data according to the thermal characteristics of a heating resistor without lowering the manufacturing yield.
【０００７】[0007]
【課題を解決するための手段】上記目的は、抵抗膜と、
該抵抗膜に通電パルスを供給するための電極から構成さ
れた複数の発熱抵抗体を搭載したサーマルヘッドにおい
て、該発熱抵抗体の温度をみて発熱量を調整し、全ての
発熱抵抗体が所定温度となるように補正することにより
達成される。The above object is to provide a resistive film,
In a thermal head equipped with a plurality of heating resistors composed of electrodes for supplying energizing pulses to the resistance film, the heat generation amount is adjusted by observing the temperature of the heating resistors so that all the heating resistors have a predetermined temperature. It is achieved by correcting so that
【０００８】更に言えば、上記目的は組み立てが完了し
たサーマルヘッドにおいて、全発熱抵抗体の抵抗値を測
定してそれらの平均抵抗値及びばらつき量を算出するス
テップと、印加電圧Ｐ0を設定し、該Ｐ0と前記データと
から各発熱抵抗体に印加する夫々の発熱抵抗体に固有の
初期電圧を算出するステップと、前記発熱抵抗体の１つ
を抽出して当該発熱抵抗体の初期電圧を所定時間印加
し、この時の発熱温度を測定するステップと、この温度
データから目標温度を設定するステップと、残りの補正
すべき夫々の発熱抵抗体に前記各発熱抵抗体に固有の初
期電圧を所定時間印加して、当該発熱抵抗体の温度が目
標温度になるまで温度調整するステップからなるサーマ
ルヘッドの濃度補正方法を提供することにより達成でき
る。[0008] More specifically, the above-mentioned object is to set the applied voltage P 0 in the step of measuring the resistance values of all the heating resistors and calculating the average resistance value and the variation amount thereof in the assembled thermal head. , A step of calculating an initial voltage specific to each heating resistor to be applied to each heating resistor from the P 0 and the data, and an initial voltage of the heating resistor by extracting one of the heating resistors. Is applied for a predetermined time, the step of measuring the heat generation temperature at this time, the step of setting the target temperature from this temperature data, and the initial voltage peculiar to each of the heat generating resistors to the remaining heat generating resistors to be corrected. Can be applied for a predetermined time to adjust the temperature of the heating resistor until it reaches the target temperature.
【０００９】[0009]
【作用】上記のようなサーマルヘッドの補正方法では、
サーマルヘッドを組み立てた後に各発熱抵抗体の発熱温
度を直接測定して濃度むら補正データを作成するため、
発熱抵抗体の抵抗値ばらつきによる濃度補正だけでな
く、各発熱抵抗体の熱特性を加味した適切な印画エネル
ギーを供給できるので、発熱抵抗体の抵抗値ばらつきや
蓄熱などの影響で発熱抵抗体の発熱温度が不均一になる
のを防ぐことが可能となり、濃度むらのない良好な印画
を得ることができる。In the correction method for the thermal head as described above,
After assembling the thermal head, the heating temperature of each heating resistor is directly measured to create density unevenness correction data.
Not only the concentration correction due to the resistance value variation of the heating resistors, but also the appropriate printing energy that takes into account the thermal characteristics of each heating resistor can be supplied, so that the variation of the resistance values of the heating resistors and the effect of heat accumulation can cause It is possible to prevent the heat generation temperature from becoming non-uniform, and it is possible to obtain a good print without uneven density.
【００１０】[0010]
【実施例】本発明のサーマルヘッドの補正方法は、サー
マルヘッドの発熱抵抗体を駆動するドライバＩＣを搭載
したアルミナ基板と放熱板の間隙に伝導性充填剤として
放熱グリースを充填し接着し、更に外部の制御回路から
ドライバＩＣを駆動させるための信号を伝えるフレキシ
ブル基板を固定した後に行われる。つまり、サーマルヘ
ッドとして組み立てられた後に発熱抵抗体の発熱温度を
均一にするための濃度むら補正データを作成するプロセ
スを実施する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method of correcting a thermal head according to the present invention is characterized in that a gap between an alumina substrate having a driver IC for driving a heating resistor of a thermal head and a heat radiating plate is filled with a heat radiating grease as a conductive filler and bonded, This is performed after fixing the flexible substrate that transmits a signal for driving the driver IC from the external control circuit. That is, a process of creating density unevenness correction data for making the heating temperature of the heating resistor uniform after being assembled as a thermal head is performed.
【００１１】以下、この発明の製造方法を図面を用いて
説明する。図１は本発明の構成図、図２は本発明を実施
したときの製造方法のフローチャート図、図３は本発明
を実施したときのタイミング図である。まず抵抗計５で
サーマルヘッド７の全発熱抵抗体の抵抗値を測定し、こ
の測定値から全発熱抵抗体の平均抵抗値と平均抵抗値に
対する各発熱抵抗体の抵抗値ばらつき量を演算部３で算
出する。次に、各発熱抵抗体に共通の印加電力Ｐ0を設
定し、このＰ0と各発熱抵抗体の抵抗値から各発熱抵抗
体に印加する初期電圧Ｖn（発熱抵抗体番号 ｎ＝１、
２、３・・・・）を求める。次に自動ステージ８によりサー
マルヘッドの１番目の発熱抵抗体を赤外線温度計等の温
度計１の温度測定部に移動し、初期電圧Ｖ1を印加して
ｔ秒後の発熱温度を測定する。この時の発熱温度を各発
熱抵抗体の目標温度Ｔ0に設定し、２番目の発熱抵抗体
から最終の発熱抵抗体までの発熱温度を目標温度Ｔ0に
調整する操作を行う。The manufacturing method of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a manufacturing method when the present invention is carried out, and FIG. 3 is a timing diagram when the present invention is carried out. First, the resistance values of all the heating resistors of the thermal head 7 are measured by the resistance meter 5, and the average resistance value of all the heating resistors and the variation value of the resistance values of each heating resistor with respect to the average resistance value are calculated from the measured values. Calculate with. Next, an applied power P 0 common to each heating resistor is set, and an initial voltage Vn (heating resistor number n = 1, applied to each heating resistor is set from this P 0 and the resistance value of each heating resistor.
2, 3, ... Next, the first heating resistor of the thermal head is moved to the temperature measuring portion of the thermometer 1 such as an infrared thermometer by the automatic stage 8 and the initial voltage V 1 is applied to measure the heating temperature after t seconds. The heat generation temperature at this time is set to the target temperature T 0 of each heat generation resistor, and the heat generation temperature from the second heat generation resistor to the final heat generation resistor is adjusted to the target temperature T 0 .
【００１２】２番目以降の発熱抵抗体の補正は、まずス
テージの移動により調整しようとするｎ番目の発熱抵抗
体を温度計１の温度測定部まで移動する。そして、発熱
抵抗体に初期電圧Ｖnを印加して発熱抵抗体を発熱さ
せ、印加時間ｔ秒後（遅延時間）の発熱温度を温度計１
で測定し、電圧の印加を停止する。この測定値が目標温
度Ｔ0より低い場合は印加電圧を増加し、高い場合は印
加電圧を減少させ、再び電圧の印加を開始し、遅延時間
経過後の発熱温度を温度計１で測定し、電圧の印加を停
止する。上記の操作は測定値が目標温度Ｔ0に達するま
で繰り返し行い、目標温度Ｔ0に達したとき、この時の
印加電圧を補正電圧データとして演算部３に取り込む。
そして、次の調整すべき発熱抵抗体を自動ステージで温
度測定部まで移動させ、最後の発熱抵抗体Ｎ番目まで上
記の操作を行い、各発熱抵抗体の補正電圧を求める。そ
して演算部３に取り込まれた補正電圧と初期電圧Ｖnと
遅延時間ｔから各発熱抵抗体の熱特性を含んだ抵抗値ば
らつき量を計算し、この値を濃度むら補正データとして
ＲＯＭ書き込み装置９でＲＯＭに記憶する。In the correction of the second and subsequent heating resistors, first, the n-th heating resistor to be adjusted by moving the stage is moved to the temperature measuring section of the thermometer 1. Then, the initial voltage Vn is applied to the heating resistor to heat the heating resistor, and the heating temperature after the application time t seconds (delay time) is measured by the thermometer 1.
Then, stop applying the voltage. When the measured value is lower than the target temperature T 0 , the applied voltage is increased, when the measured value is higher, the applied voltage is decreased, the application of the voltage is started again, and the heat generation temperature after the lapse of the delay time is measured by the thermometer 1, Stop applying voltage. The above operation is repeated until the measured value reaches the target temperature T 0, and when the measured temperature reaches the target temperature T 0 , the applied voltage at this time is taken into the arithmetic unit 3 as correction voltage data.
Then, the next heating resistor to be adjusted is moved to the temperature measuring section by the automatic stage, and the above operation is performed up to the final Nth heating resistor to obtain the correction voltage of each heating resistor. Then, a resistance value variation amount including the thermal characteristics of each heating resistor is calculated from the correction voltage, the initial voltage Vn, and the delay time t fetched by the arithmetic unit 3, and this value is used as density unevenness correction data by the ROM writing device 9. Store in ROM.
【００１３】図４に本発明の補正方法を行って印画した
ときの印画濃度むらの状態、図５に抵抗値ばらつきだけ
の濃度むら補正データで濃度補正を行って印画したとき
の印画濃度むらの状態、図６に濃度むら補正を行わない
ときの印画濃度むらの状態を示す。これらの図より、本
発明の濃度補正方法で濃度補正を行って印画すると印画
濃度むらが著しく低減され、その有効性が確認できる。FIG. 4 shows the state of print density unevenness when printing is performed by the correction method of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows the print density unevenness when printing is performed by performing density correction with density unevenness correction data having only resistance variation. FIG. 6 shows the state of print density unevenness when density unevenness correction is not performed. From these figures, when the density is corrected by the density correction method of the present invention and printing is performed, unevenness in printing density is remarkably reduced, and its effectiveness can be confirmed.
【００１４】[0014]
【発明の効果】本発明によればサーマルヘッドを駆動し
て各発熱抵抗体を発熱させ、その時の発熱温度を温度計
で測定しながら濃度むら補正データを作成するので、発
熱抵抗体の抵抗値がばらついていても、またアルミナ基
板と放熱板を接着する際、間隙に充填する放熱グリース
の厚さがばらついていてもサーマルヘッドの熱特性にあ
った濃度むら補正データを作成できる。According to the present invention, the thermal head is driven to cause each heating resistor to generate heat, and the density unevenness correction data is created while measuring the heating temperature at that time with a thermometer. Unevenness, or when the alumina substrate and the heat dissipation plate are bonded together, even if the thickness of the heat dissipation grease filling the gap varies, it is possible to create density unevenness correction data that matches the thermal characteristics of the thermal head.
【図１】 本発明の装置の構成図である。FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus of the present invention.
【図２】 本発明の濃度補正方法のフローチャートであ
る。FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a density correction method of the present invention.
【図３】 本発明を実施したときのタイミング図であ
る。FIG. 3 is a timing diagram when implementing the present invention.
【図４】 本発明の補正方法を行って印画したときの印
画濃度むらの状態を示すグラフである。FIG. 4 is a graph showing a state of print density unevenness when printing is performed by performing the correction method of the present invention.
【図５】 抵抗値ばらつきの補正のみを行って印画した
ときの印画濃度むらの状態を示すグラフである。FIG. 5 is a graph showing a state of print density unevenness when printing is performed by only correcting resistance value variations.
【図６】 補正を行なわないで印画したときの印画濃度
むらの状態を示すグラフである。FIG. 6 is a graph showing a state of print density unevenness when printing is performed without correction.
１は温度計、２は温度計制御部、３は演算部、４は制御
回路、５は抵抗計、６は電源、７はサーマルヘッド、８
はステージである。1 is a thermometer, 2 is a thermometer control unit, 3 is a calculation unit, 4 is a control circuit, 5 is an ohmmeter, 6 is a power supply, 7 is a thermal head, and 8
Is the stage.
Claims (2)
するための電極から構成された複数の発熱抵抗体を搭載
したサーマルヘッドにおいて、該発熱抵抗体の温度をみ
て発熱量を調整し、全ての発熱抵抗体が所定温度となる
ように補正することを特徴とするサーマルヘッドの濃度
補正方法。1. A thermal head equipped with a resistance film and a plurality of heating resistors composed of electrodes for supplying energizing pulses to the resistance film, wherein the amount of heat generation is adjusted by observing the temperature of the heating resistors. A density correction method for a thermal head, characterized in that all the heating resistors are corrected to a predetermined temperature.
するための電極から構成された複数の発熱抵抗体を搭載
したサーマルヘッドにおいて、該サーマルヘッドの組み
立て完了後に、全発熱抵抗体の抵抗値を測定してそれら
の平均抵抗値及びばらつき量を算出するステップと、印
加電圧Ｐ0を設定し、該Ｐ0と前記データとから各発熱抵
抗体に印加する夫々の発熱抵抗体に固有の初期電圧を算
出するステップと、前記発熱抵抗体の１つを抽出して当
該発熱抵抗体の初期電圧を所定時間印加し、この時の発
熱温度を測定するステップと、この温度データから目標
温度を設定するステップと、残りの補正すべき夫々の発
熱抵抗体に前記各発熱抵抗体に固有の初期電圧を所定時
間印加して、当該発熱抵抗体の温度が目標温度になるま
で温度調整するステップとからなるサーマルヘッドの濃
度補正方法。2. A thermal head equipped with a plurality of heating resistors each composed of a resistance film and electrodes for supplying energizing pulses to the resistance film. A step of measuring resistance values and calculating an average resistance value and an amount of variation thereof, setting an applied voltage P 0 , and applying to each heating resistor from the P 0 and the data, peculiar to each heating resistor. Of calculating the initial voltage, the step of extracting one of the heating resistors and applying the initial voltage of the heating resistor for a predetermined time, measuring the heating temperature at this time, and the target temperature from this temperature data. And a step of applying an initial voltage specific to each heating resistor to the remaining heating resistors to be corrected for a predetermined time, and adjusting the temperature until the temperature of the heating resistor reaches the target temperature. Density correction method for a thermal head consisting of-up.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP23324192A JPH0679906A (en) | 1992-09-01 | 1992-09-01 | Correcting method for density of thermal head |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP23324192A JPH0679906A (en) | 1992-09-01 | 1992-09-01 | Correcting method for density of thermal head |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPH0679906A true JPH0679906A (en) | 1994-03-22 |
Family
ID=16951985
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP23324192A Withdrawn JPH0679906A (en) | 1992-09-01 | 1992-09-01 | Correcting method for density of thermal head |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH0679906A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0835760A1 (en) * | 1996-10-09 | 1998-04-15 | Agfa-Gevaert N.V. | Correction of band-like print non-uniformities in a thermal printing system |
| JP2002347266A (en) * | 2001-05-28 | 2002-12-04 | Ricoh Elemex Corp | Method for shading correction |
-
1992
- 1992-09-01 JP JP23324192A patent/JPH0679906A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0835760A1 (en) * | 1996-10-09 | 1998-04-15 | Agfa-Gevaert N.V. | Correction of band-like print non-uniformities in a thermal printing system |
| JP2002347266A (en) * | 2001-05-28 | 2002-12-04 | Ricoh Elemex Corp | Method for shading correction |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| A300 | Withdrawal of application because of no request for examination |
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