JPH10226128A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal transfer recording device in which when a plurality of images are printed, recording sheets or ink films in use are not wasted. SOLUTION: In the recording device for forming images on recording sheets using ink films, when a plurality of prints are specified for one image data or the number of prints for a plurality of image data is specified, a plurality of images (D1-D3) are printed on the same recording sheet. Thus a plurality of images can be printed on one recording sheets, and hence waste of recording sheets or ink films can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer type recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermal transfer recording apparatus includes a platen roller,
On the other hand, there is provided a thermal head as a heating element capable of pressing and releasing the pressing, and the recording paper is fed between the platen roller and the thermal head. Between the recording paper and the thermal head, an ink film having one surface coated with, for example, a heat sublimable ink is conveyed. This ink film is unreeled from the supply reel and wound on the take-up reel.

[0003] When a color image is reproduced on recording paper by one thermal head, an ink film coated with an ink layer of each color such as yellow, magenta and cyan and an overcoat layer on the surface in this order if necessary is used. The color printing is performed by superimposing images of each color.

[0004] On the other hand, the recording paper is a fixed form paper, and one image is usually printed on one sheet of paper.

[0005]

In such a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, since one image data is printed on one recording paper, one screen of the ink film is printed on one recording paper. (Here, “printing” means not only characters but also all characters and images formed on recording paper, including images). Here, the ink film for one screen is the size of an ink film large enough to be printed on one fixed recording paper. Therefore, in the case of color printing, areas for three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and, when there is an overcoat layer, four areas including the overcoat layer are large enough to print on the entire surface of the recording paper. Now you need it.

By the way, the size of the image to be printed on the recording paper is various, and there is an image of the entire size of the recording paper, an image of about half the size of the recording paper, and even an image of about half the size of the recording paper. Some small images are less than enough. However, in the conventional recording apparatus, all of the images are printed on one recording sheet regardless of the size of the image. For this reason, even when printing a plurality of relatively small images,
There is a problem that one image is always one sheet, and recording paper and ink film are wasted.

Further, when an image is formed on one sheet of recording paper, an unnecessary portion of the recording paper may be cut. This is the case, for example, when making a print sample of a photograph, or making a so-called borderless sample with no blanks on the printed recording paper. In a conventional apparatus, two cuts are required before and after an image. When a plurality of images are recorded on one sheet of recording paper, two cut operations are required for each image, and the print operation is performed accordingly. There is also a problem that the time required for the entire process is long and the life of the cutter is short.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is, first, to provide a recording apparatus in which a plurality of images are printed so that recording paper or ink film used is not wasted. Secondly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus capable of reducing the number of times the recording paper is cut for one image, shortening the printing operation time, and extending the life of the cutter.

[0009]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for printing an image on recording paper using an ink film, wherein a plurality of images are recorded on a recording paper. A recording apparatus for printing a plurality of images on the same recording paper when the number of prints is specified or when the number of prints is specified for each of a plurality of image data. According to the present invention, when obtaining a plurality of prints for one image data, a plurality of images based on the plurality of the same image data are printed on the same recording paper, and a plurality of different image data are printed. In this case, the number of prints specified for each image data is
Since a plurality of images are printed on one sheet of recording paper, the recording paper and the ink film can be effectively used.

[0010] In this specification, "when a plurality of print numbers are designated for one image data" means that two, three, or four images of one image data are used. That is, it is designated to print a plurality of sheets. Therefore, in this case, in the present invention, a plurality of images based on the same image data are printed on the same recording paper. Also, “when the number of prints is specified for each of the plurality of image data” means that one print is specified for each of the plurality of image data,
For example, it is specified that one image of the image data A, one image of the image data B,... Is specified, and that one or more images are specified for each image data. .. Or two for image data B,... Or two for image data A, three for image data B,. Therefore, in this case, in the present invention, different images based on different image data are printed one by one or a plurality of each on the same recording paper.

The present invention according to claim 2 provides the above-mentioned claim 1.
In the above configuration, the ink film is characterized in that ink layers of a plurality of colors are repeatedly formed in order. According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce waste of the ink film when the ink film is for color.

The present invention according to claim 3 provides the above-mentioned claim 1.
Alternatively, in the configuration according to claim 2, the recording device includes:
Further, it is characterized by having a cutter for cutting the recording paper after image formation. According to the present invention, the number of cuts can be reduced when a so-called borderless print sample is obtained.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, the edge of the recording paper that is the leading end when the recording paper is discharged is referred to as the leading end of the recording paper. The illustrated thermal transfer recording device 10 is used for printing an image such as a photograph, for example. An image data output device (for example, a film scanner, a personal computer, etc.) outputs image data and an image size (image size) for the image from an unillustrated image data output device. And a control signal such as the number of prints, and prints out the received image on recording paper.

A lid member 12 is mounted on the upper surface of a housing 11 forming the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 so as to be openable and closable about a swing shaft 12a (see FIG. 2). With the lid member 12 opened, an ink film cassette is opened. Is the housing 11
It is designed to be loaded at a predetermined position in the inside. The front left side in the figure is the front surface of the apparatus 10. A paper discharge unit 22 (see FIG. 2) is provided on the front side, and a paper supply unit 21 is provided on the back side. The paper feed unit 21 is provided with a paper feed tray 14 that stores a plurality of recording papers in an inclined manner. Further, a cutter unit 23 (see FIG. 2) for cutting unnecessary portions of the recording paper (rear end and / or rear end portions of the recording paper) after reproducing the image is provided in the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10. A duster unit 24 for storing cut paper pieces is provided on the front side of the apparatus so as to be freely inserted and removed. The recording paper after cutting the unnecessary part
6, the paper is vertically discharged onto a paper discharge tray 17 integrally provided on the front surface of the duster section 24.

The thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment
In this method, an ink film coated with a heat sublimable ink is used, and a recording paper as an image receiving paper for trapping the sublimated ink is a thick (150) paper such as photographic paper.
〜250 μm).

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which a lid member of the thermal transfer recording apparatus is opened, FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which an ink film cassette is loaded in a main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and FIG. 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views schematically showing the operation states of the thermal transfer recording apparatus at the time of paper feeding, at the start of printing, and at the end of printing, respectively. FIGS. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an operation state of the thermal transfer recording device at the time of cutting.

The internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, a platen roller 25 is rotatably supported in a housing 11, and a cover member 12 is provided.
A head base 27 having a thermal head 26 as a heating element is attached to the inner surface side of the substrate so as to be able to move forward and backward with respect to the platen roller 25 by an interlocking member (not shown). When the head base 27 moves forward with respect to the platen roller 25, the thermal head 26 moves to a position where it comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 25. On the other hand, when the head base 27 moves backward with respect to the platen roller 25, the thermal head 26 makes pressure contact. Move to the position to release. The head base 27 is connected to the platen roller 25 by an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring.
2 is held in the position shown by the arrow R in FIG.

A drive shaft 28 rotatably mounted on the cover member 12 is brought into contact with a head base 27 to move the head base 27 forward, thereby pressing the thermal head 26 against the platen roller 25. 29 are fixed. By rotating the drive shaft 28, the eccentric cam 2
A thermal head drive motor M <b> 1 composed of a pulse motor is connected to the drive shaft 28 in order to rotate the drive 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, between the thermal head 26 and the platen roller 25, a belt-shaped ink film 32 which is fed from the supply reel 30 and wound on the take-up reel 31 is conveyed. It has become so. The ink film 32 is formed by applying a yellow ink layer, a magenta ink layer, and a cyan ink layer to a base film in this order. In some ink films, an overcoat layer is formed after the cyan ink layer.

The supply and take-up reels 30, 31
Are stored in the ink film cassette 33.
The ink film cassette 33 is detachable from the housing 11, and is set at a predetermined position by being set on a holding plate 34 mounted in the housing 11. Gear 35 attached to take-up reel 31
A part of the gear faces the opening formed in the ink film cassette 33. When the cassette is mounted, a driving gear 36 provided on the apparatus side meshes with the gear 35. The drive gear 36 is driven to rotate by a motor M2,
The fed ink film 32 is taken up on the take-up reel 31.

An ink film take-up roller 37 is provided near the platen roller 25 so as to form a conveyance path for the ink film 32 when the cassette is mounted. The ink film take-up roller 37 is normally free of rotation, but is driven by the ink film take-up motor M3 by engaging a clutch (not shown) only when it is desired to move the ink film 32 during non-printing. On the other hand, at the time of printing, the ink film 32 is sent out as the recording paper 18 is conveyed, and is sent to the ink film guide plate 38 provided at the tip of the thermal head 26 and the ink film take-up roller 37 in a free rotation state. It is guided and wound on the take-up reel 31.

The recording paper 18 is held on the paper feed tray 14 in an inclined state. In order to regulate the width direction of the recording paper 18, the paper feed tray 14 is provided with a width regulating plate 40. I have. The width regulating plate 40 is slidable in the width direction according to the size of the recording paper 18.

The recording paper 18 on the paper feed tray 14 is fed one by one by a paper feed roller 45 and a separating roller 46 arranged with a small gap from the paper feed roller 45. The sheet is conveyed while being guided by the guide member 47. The paper feed roller 45 is driven to rotate by a paper feed motor M4 composed of a pulse motor, but the separating roller 46 is not rotated.

On the upstream side of the platen roller 25, adjacent to the platen roller 25, a grip roller 50 and a pinch roller 5 which comes into contact with the grip roller 50 are disposed.
1 and the fed recording paper 18 is fed between the rollers 50 and 51. Grip roller 5
0 is a grip roller drive motor M composed of a pulse motor
5, the pinch roller 51 is driven to rotate as the recording paper is conveyed.

On the downstream side of the platen roller 25, in order to discharge the recording paper 18 onto the paper discharge tray 17, a first discharge roller pair 53 located on the paper discharge port 16 side and a platen roller 25 side. The second discharge roller pair 54 is attached at a predetermined distance. These discharge rollers 5
Reference numerals 3 and 54 are adapted to be rotationally driven by a transport motor M6 composed of a pulse motor.

Between the platen roller 25 and the discharge roller pair 54, there is provided a guide member 55 for guiding the conveyance of the recording paper 18 during the discharge processing. This guide member 55
A storage space 56 for storing the recording paper 18 when a printing operation is performed is formed below the space.

In the illustrated thermal transfer recording apparatus 10,
When reproducing a color image on the recording paper 18, first, FIG.
As shown in (1), the recording paper 18 is fed from the paper feed tray 14 and transported in the direction shown by the arrow P, and the recording paper 18 is stored in the storage space 56 as shown in FIG. . Next, from this state, a yellow image is formed while the recording paper 18 is returned and conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow Q. That is, the return printing method is used. After transferring the yellow image while returning and transporting the recording paper 18 (FIG. 4)
(See (3)), the recording paper 18 is transported forward in preparation for reproducing the next magenta image. In this way, a color image is formed on the recording paper 18 by transferring, for example, three color images in an overlapping manner by the frame sequential method. The thermal head 26 comes into pressure contact with the platen roller 25 only during return transport, and when the recording paper 18 is transported forward, the thermal head 26 is separated from the platen roller 25. When the return conveyance and the forward conveyance are repeated during the printing operation, the grip roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 keep nipping the recording paper 18 at all times.

Under the guide member 55, the recording paper 18 conveyed by the grip roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 is transferred to the paper discharge section 22 or the storage space 56 where the discharge roller pairs 53 and 54 are provided. A swing guide 58 is provided so as to be swingable about the support shaft 57 in order to selectively guide the swing guide 58 to one of them. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the swing guide 58 swings upward, the recording paper 18 conveyed by the grip rollers 50 and the like is stored in the storage space 56. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the swing guide 58 is swung clockwise about the support shaft 57 from the upper position to the lower position, the recording paper 18 is rotated.
Is conveyed toward the paper discharge unit 22.

In order to improve the print quality, it is necessary to prevent the recording paper 18 from being caught between the discharge roller pairs 53 and 54 at the time of printing. If the storage space 56 is formed at a position below the transport path to the paper section 22, the platen roller 25
And the distance between the discharge roller pair 53 and 54 can be reduced, and the floor area of the apparatus 10 can be reduced.

The cutter unit 23 provided between the first discharge roller pair 53 and the second discharge roller pair 54
It has a rotary cutter 60 and a receiving table 61 for cutting the recording paper 18 in cooperation with the cutter 60.
The non-printing area can be cut by the cutter unit 23, and the unnecessary cut pieces of paper fall into the duster portion 24 disposed below the cutter unit 23 by their own weight and are collected.

As shown enlarged in FIG. 6, a sensor S1 for detecting the leading edge of the recording paper at the time of paper feeding or the trailing edge of the recording paper at the time of printing is provided adjacent to the grip roller 50. The sensor S1 issues an ON signal when detecting the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording paper 18. Since the sensor S1 detects the trailing edge of the recording paper during printing, it will be referred to as a trailing edge detection sensor S1 in the following description for convenience.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cutter unit 2
3 is provided with a leading edge detection sensor S2 for detecting the leading edge of the recording paper. The leading edge detection sensor S2 issues an ON signal when detecting the leading edge of the recording paper 18. Based on the time when the leading edge detection sensor S2 detects the leading edge of the recording paper 18,
A pulse for driving the transport motor M6 is managed, and a leading end cut for cutting the recording paper 18 by a predetermined length from the leading end of the recording paper (see FIG. 5 (1)), and the recording paper 18 is cut by a predetermined length from the trailing end of the recording paper. A trailing edge cut (see FIG. 5B) is performed. The unnecessary portion to be cut is referred to as “before border” at the front end and “after border” at the rear end.
In the present embodiment, when a plurality of images are printed on one sheet of recording paper, the cutter unit 23 also cuts between the images.

Before the border, the thermal head 26 and the platen roller 25 do not come into direct contact (actually, the ink film 32 and the platen roller 25). This is a portion where margins occur because the leading end of the recording paper 18 cannot be printed because it is positioned. And this border front part is cut. Also, after the border,
Since a part of the paper is always gripped by the grip roller 50 to convey the recording paper during printing, printing is not performed, and this is a blank portion. This portion is unnecessary and is cut.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an ink film 32 used in the present apparatus. As shown in FIG. 6, a reading sensor S3 for detecting a cue mark 86 attached to the ink film 32 is provided adjacent to the ink film take-up roller 37. The respective sensors S1, S2,
Examples of S3 and S3 include a reflection type photosensor, but the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, a transmission type photosensor may be used.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cue mark 86 is imprinted on the head (winding side) of each yellow ink layer. The symbol “Y” in the figure is the yellow ink layer, “M”
Indicates a magenta ink layer, “C” indicates a cyan ink layer, and “O” indicates an overcoat layer, and printing is performed in this order. The overcoat layer is formed by thermally transferring an overcoat agent as a laminating resin onto a dye dye already transferred on the recording paper 18 in the final stage of printing in order to increase the durability of the printed portion and prevent fading or the like. To cover.

The cue of each screen of the ink film 32 is as follows.
This is performed by sending out the ink film 32 until the cue mark 86 is detected by the reading sensor S3 and then stopping it. After receiving a print command, the rear end of the fed recording paper 18 is detected by the rear end detection sensor S1. This is performed while the recording paper 18 is being conveyed forward until it is detected in step (1).

The cueing of the next color ink layer is performed by pulse counting the amount of the ink film 32 conveyed by an encoder (not shown) provided at one end of the ink film take-up roller 37.

As shown in FIG. 7, a film end mark 87a is provided near the cue mark 86 only on the last screen of the ink film 32, and the film end mark 87a is detected by the reading sensor S3. By doing so, it is possible to recognize that the printing is the last printing.

In the lower part of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a control unit 19 is provided. The control unit 19 includes a power supply unit for supplying external power, a CPU 90 as control means for controlling each unit in the apparatus, and various substrates. doing.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside the control unit 19.

The data received from the image data output device is sent to a data processing unit 82 via an interface (not shown).
Received by The received data is converted by the data processing unit 82 into data that can be handled by the thermal transfer recording device 10 and stored in the memory 83. The data stored in the memory 83 includes, in addition to the data of the image itself, line information (the number of lines), which is the size of the print area of the image, and information such as the number of prints such as the number of prints of the image. And this memory 83
Has a large storage capacity so that more image data can be stored than can be printed at one time. That is, a plurality of image data can be stored.

The CPU 90 reads out the image data stored in the memory 83, transmits a signal corresponding to the image data to the thermal head control unit 91, and sends a predetermined voltage from the thermal head control unit 91 to the thermal head 26. Is applied. In the case of color printing, image data (hereinafter also referred to as a print pattern) is created for each ink layer and overcoat layer of each color such as yellow, magenta, and cyan, and these ink layers and overcoat layers are sequentially formed. Printed.

The print pattern data is transmitted to the thermal head 26 via the thermal head controller 91.
The thermal head 26, which is a heating element, has a heating element (not shown) provided linearly in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording paper 18, and generates heat when energized in accordance with a print pattern to generate each color. Is printed.

The CPU 90 is connected to a grip roller drive motor M5 via a motor controller 81. The CPU 90 transmits a predetermined signal to the motor control unit 81 to rotate and drive the grip roller drive motor M5 to perform predetermined conveyance of the recording paper 18.

Further, the CPU 90 performs a process for efficiently printing a plurality of images on the same recording paper. This process is for printing a plurality of images on the same recording paper as much as possible.

Hereinafter, for example, as image data, D1,
For three pieces of image data D2 and D3, the number of lines of D1 is L1, the number of prints is three, the number of lines of D2 is L2, the number of prints is one, the number of lines of D3 is L3, and the number of prints is two. A procedure for receiving data and printing them will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the printing process in such a case. First, all the image data of D1 to D3 are received (S1). Then, all printing is performed in the order of reception (S2). That is, the number L of lines printed on one recording paper is L = 3 × L1 + L2 + 2 × L3
Becomes The image data printed in this manner is shown in FIG.
0 (a), all images (D1: 3 sheets, D
(2: 1 sheet, D3: 2 sheet) are printed on one sheet of recording paper.

Next, a cut m1 having a length corresponding to the size of the image before the border and the size of the image D1 is performed three times (S
3, see FIG. 10 (b)). Subsequently, a cut m2 having a length corresponding to the size of the image D2 is made once (S4, FIG. 10).
(C), and cut m3 having a length corresponding to the size of the image D3 is performed twice (S5, see FIG. 10D).

Thus, a plurality of images are formed on one and the same recording paper, so that the recording paper and the ink film are not wasted, and the utilization efficiency is improved. Also, the number of cuts is smaller than when one image is printed on one sheet of recording paper (one image requires two cuts, and therefore in the above example, six images require 12 cuts). (In the above example, 7 cuts for 6 images).

In the above example, a plurality of images requested to be printed are all contained on one sheet of recording paper. However, when a plurality of images are to be printed, the plurality of images are not necessarily one. In some cases, it may not fit on a single sheet of recording paper.

Hereinafter, a case where a plurality of images are printed in such a case will be described. Here, for the sake of explanation, 1
The maximum number of lines (image size) that can be printed on a sheet of recording paper is set to 25 lines (several hundred lines in an actual apparatus,
In some cases, the resolution of the image may exceed 1,000 lines).

The images to be printed include, for example, image D4: 7 lines, 3 printed sheets, image D5: 5 lines, 2 printed sheets, image D6: 2 lines, 2 printed sheets
The case of printing three images, that is, a total of 13 sheets and 47 lines will be described.

As described above, such images D4 to D6 are
When printing is performed in the order of D4 to D6, as shown in FIG.
Three D4 images (21 print lines) in the second print, two D5 images and seven D6 images (24 print lines) in the second print, D6 images in the third print One sheet (the number of printing lines is two) requires a total of three recording sheets.

However, when only the number of lines to be actually printed is viewed, since the total number of lines is 47, 25 lines can be printed on one sheet of recording paper. Therefore, efficient printing requires only two sheets of recording paper.

The procedure for such efficient image printing is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, from the image data output device, the images D4 to D4 are output.
6 is received (S10). Where IS
Is IS = D4 image data size + D5 image data size + D6 image data size.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the image data size IS can be stored (S11). At this time, if the IS data exceeds the storage capacity of the memory 83, a message indicating that these images cannot be printed is output (S16). For example, "Image data is too large", "It is impossible to print this image data", "Image data needs to be reduced to execute printing", and the like. Such a message may be displayed on the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 if a display is provided, or an indicator lamp indicating that printing is not possible may be turned on. further,
As long as bidirectional data can be exchanged with the image data output device, a message may be transmitted to the image data output device.

The reason why the transmitted image data is compared with the storage capacity of the memory is that, for example, the image data is received regardless of the storage capacity of the memory and the printing operation is directly performed. If the image data is larger than the storage capacity of the memory, a print result in which a part of the image is missing is prevented. Similarly, in the case of receiving a plurality of image data, if image data more than the storage capacity of the memory is received, image data is cut off from an intermediate image, which is prevented. Also,
Thus, between the image data output device and the recording device,
Image data larger than the storage capacity of the recording device is transmitted,
When receiving this message, a communication error may occur. By comparing the storage capacity of the memory with the image data as described above, the occurrence of such a communication error is prevented.

If the result of determination in step S11 is that all image data can be received, all image data is received (S12).

Next, the output order of the received image data is changed so that printing can be performed most efficiently (S13). The procedure of the replacement will be described later. Then, printing (S14) and cutting (S15) of the image data are executed.

FIG. 13 is a subroutine flowchart showing the procedure for determining the image printing order for changing the image output order.

First, the received image data is assigned a level (S20). This is because, in the processing described later, the image having the number of lines closest to the number of printable lines is preferentially printed, and the largest image is initially printed. In this example, as shown in Table 1 below, D4, D5, and D6 are in order, and the levels of I1 to I3 are assigned to each image data in the priority order.

[0063]

[Table 1]

Next, 1 is set to the variable K as the number of times of printing for the first printing (S21).

Next, the variables i, j, the number Q of printable lines, and the flag F are initialized (S2).
2). Here, the variable i is 1, 2, 3,... N, and n corresponds to the number of image data. Thus, in this example, n is
Since the number of image data is D4 to D6, n = 3. The variable j is 1, 2, 3,... N, and is a variable for counting the print order Pj described later. The number Q of printable lines is a variable indicating how much more can be printed on one sheet of recording paper. At first, the maximum number L of lines that can be printed on recording paper is entered as an initial value, and printing is performed as described below. It gradually decreases as the image data increases. Here, since L is the maximum number of printing lines per sheet, it is 25 in this embodiment. A flag F is a flag for determining whether or not the number of prints requested for all the images is all determined in the print order, and indicates that F = 0 is all achieved. .

After the initial setting, it is determined whether or not the number Mi of prints of the image data Ii having the priority order of the variable i has reached the number Ni to be printed (S23). At first, since the variable i contains 1, the number of prints N1 of the image D4, which is the priority level I1, and the number of prints M1 of the image D4 are compared.

Here, if Mi has not reached Ni,
Next, it is determined whether the line number Li of the variable i falls within the printable line number Q (S24). First, when i = 1, the line L1 (= 7) and L (= 25) of the image D4 are compared.

When Li is included in the comparison result Q, j is added by 1 (S25), and the image Ii of the i at that time is inserted into a variable Pj that determines the printing order (S26). Thus, the image to be printed in the print order Pj is determined. At first, the image D4, which is the image data of I1, is determined as the first print order P1.

Then, the number of lines Li that can be accommodated is subtracted from the number of printable lines Q (S27), the print decision variable Mi is increased by one (S28), and this operation is repeatedly executed until Mi = Ni or Li> Q. .

Then, in step S23, Mi = N
i, or L in step S24.
If i> Q, the process proceeds to step S30 to search for the next image. Note that in step S24, Li>
If it is determined to be Q, 1 is set to the flag F (S2
The process proceeds from step 9) to step S30.

In step S30, it is determined whether or not the variable i has reached n. If not, the variable i is increased by one (S31), and the flow returns to step S23 to return to step S2.
Perform steps 3 to 28.

On the other hand, when the variable i has reached n,
It is determined whether the flag F is 0 (S32). Where F =
If it is not 0, there is an image that could not be printed on one sheet of recording paper by one printing, so the printing number K is increased by one to determine the output order of the image on the next recording paper. do it,
It returns to step S22.

When the order of printing is determined for all the image data by the number of print requests, the flag F becomes 0, so that this subroutine ends and returns to the main routine.

Then, step S14 is executed, the determined image data is printed in the order of print order Pj (j = 1, 2, 3,...), And subsequently, cut in step S15.

FIG. 14 shows the result of printing the output order determined as described above. As the first printing, FIG.
As shown in (a), three images D4 are formed on one sheet of recording paper.
Subsequently, two images D6 are printed. This recording paper contains 25
Line printing is performed by one printing operation. And 2
In the second printing operation, as shown in FIG. 14B, two images D5 and then six images D6 are printed on one sheet of recording paper. On this recording paper, printing of 22 lines is performed by one printing operation. Accordingly, images of D4 to D6 are printed on two recording papers in a total of thirty-seven, forty-seven, 47 lines. Efficient use is possible.

[0076]

As described above, according to the recording apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of images are printed on the same recording paper, the margin on the recording paper is reduced. Further, the ink film for one screen to be used is also effectively used, and the use efficiency of the recording paper and the ink film is improved.

According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect, in the configuration of the first aspect, when the ink film is a color ink film in which a plurality of ink layers are continuous, the use efficiency of the ink film is improved and the waste of the ink film is reduced. Can be reduced.

According to the recording apparatus of the third aspect, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the use of the cutter is reduced when the so-called borderless image formation is performed by providing the cutter. Therefore, the life of the cutter is extended, and the number of cuts is reduced, so that the operation time for recording an image on recording paper is also reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which a lid member of the present apparatus is opened.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which an ink film cassette is loaded in a main body of the present apparatus.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation state of the apparatus at the time of paper feeding, at the time of starting printing, and at the time of ending printing.

FIGS. 5 (1) and (2) are cross-sectional views showing the operating state of the present apparatus at the time of cutting the front end and cutting the rear end.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of a printing unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an ink film used in the present apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a control system of the apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure in a case where a plurality of images are printed on one recording sheet in the order received by the apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a result of a printing process in a case where a plurality of images are printed on one recording sheet in the order received by the present apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another printing result when a plurality of images are printed on one recording sheet in the order received.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure for performing printing by changing the printing order of a plurality of images by the present apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a subroutine flowchart for determining the image printing order shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram showing a result of printing by replacing the printing order of a plurality of images by the present apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Thermal transfer recording device, 18 ... Recording paper, 23 ... Cutter unit, 32 ... Ink film, 83 ... Memory, 90 ... CPU.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for printing an image on recording paper using an ink film, wherein a plurality of print numbers are designated for one image data, or the number of prints is designated for each of a plurality of image data. A printing apparatus for printing a plurality of images on the same printing paper when the printing is performed. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink film is formed by repeatedly forming ink layers of a plurality of colors in order. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus further comprises a cutter for cutting recording paper after image formation.