JPS61173977A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the quality of printing and collector under a simple constitution by elongating an energization time of a thermal head to a thermal resistance element while being compared with ordinary character printing when collector is designated after distinguishing the operation between ordinary character printing and collector. CONSTITUTION:An input data identification part 1 inputs data output from a host computer and identifies which this data is, ordinary printing data or collective data. A head drive pulse synthesis part 5 synthesizes a head drive pulse with data output from a head output data creation part 4 and energization time set by a collector 2 and an ordinary printing energization time setting part 3. Then said synthesis part 5 outputs the pulse to a thermal head drive part 6. The thermal head drive part 6 is controlled on the input pulse to perform printing by a thermal head 7. A printing voltage setting part 25 sets a voltage applied to the thermal head 7. A mechanism control 8 drives a mechanism 10 by controlling a mechanism drive part 9.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device having a collect function in thermal transfer printing.

2. Description of the Related Art Hereinafter, a conventional printing device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional printing device, and FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing the drive pulse waveform applied to the heating resistor element and the temperature change of the heating resistor element in this printing device.

In the figure, 1 is an input data discrimination unit, which inputs output data from a host computer (not shown), etc., and discriminates whether the data is print data or collect data. The result is output to the mechanism control section 8, and the mechanism control section 8 outputs a signal to the mechanism drive section 9 which drives the mechanism section 10 according to the result of the determination of the input data.

Further, 4 is a head output data creation unit that inputs output data from a host computer etc. and converts it into output data according to the data, and 5 is a head output data creation unit that inputs output data from a host computer etc. and converts it into output data according to the input data, and 5 is a head output data creation unit that inputs output data from the output data creation unit 4 and converts it into an energization time setting unit 24. This head drive pulse synthesis unit synthesizes head drive pulses based on the energization time data set. Reference numeral 6 denotes a thermal head drive unit that drives the thermal head 7 based on the drive pulses output from the head drive pulse synthesis unit 5.

However, in the printing device with the above configuration, during normal printing,
During collect printing, the energization time setting data output from the energization time setting section 24 is constant, and the applied voltage set by the applied voltage setting section 25 is also constant, so the pulse waveform applied to the thermal head 7 is the energization time t, as shown in FIG. 8a. and applied voltage ■. is always a constant value, and therefore the heat generation temperature of the thermal head 7 is
As shown in the figure, it becomes a constant value Ta.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In general, the collect ink applied to the collect film ribbon is thicker than the printing ink applied to the print film ribbon. This is because correct ink covers the already printed characters and makes them invisible, and usually white ink is used, so the ink must be thick to cover the printed characters. It is. However, as mentioned above, when printing normal characters, 1. If the head is driven with the same applied voltage and the same energizing time during collection,
In order to improve printing quality, the applied voltage and energization time must match those required for normal character printing. Therefore, at the time of collection, the amount of heat generated by the heating resistor element in the thermal head is insufficient, and the collection ink is not sufficiently peeled off, resulting in printed characters. There were drawbacks such as the paper being visible through the cover, and the smoothness of the cover-wrapped surface being poor due to insufficient peeling, leading to deterioration of print quality when reprinting.

On the other hand, if values are fixed for the applied voltage and energization time required during collection, the amount of heat generated by the heating resistor during normal printing will be excessive, resulting in the printed characters being crushed, which will significantly deteriorate the printing quality. It had

The present invention has been made in view of the above drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can improve print quality and collector quality with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses normal character printing,
In order to distinguish between "collect" and "collect", the time during which electricity is applied to the heating resistor element of the thermal head is extended in the case of "collect" compared to normal character printing.

Function From now on, by using the above-mentioned means, by changing the energization time to the thermal head, the amount of heat generated by the heating resistor element can be changed, and sufficient shielding power and surface area can be obtained without degrading the printing quality of normal printing. Enables smooth collection.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the printing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an input data determining section which inputs output data output from a host computer and determines whether this data is for normal printing or collection. Based on the judgment of the input data discriminator 1, in the case of collection, the energization time setting section 2 for collection is activated to set the energization time for collection, and in the case of normal printing, the energization time setting section 3 for normal printing is activated. to set the energization time for normal printing. 4 is a head output data creation section which inputs output data from a host computer etc. and converts it into output data according to the data; 5 is a head drive pulse synthesis section; the head output data creation section 4 A head driving pulse is synthesized from the output data from the output data and the energizing time set by the collect and normal printing energizing time setting sections 2 and 3, and is output to the thermal head driving section 6.

The thermal head driving section 6 controls the thermal head driving section 6 based on the input pulses, and causes the thermal head 7 to perform printing. Note that 25 is an applied voltage setting unit connected to the thermal head and setting the applied voltage to the thermal head. A mechanism control section 8 drives the mechanism section 1o by controlling the mechanism drive section 9. Further, each means within the dotted line frame 11 is usually constituted by a microcomputer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram when realizing what is shown in FIG. 1, and shows the input data discriminator 1. Collect energization time setting section 21 Normal printing energization time setting section 3.
Head output data creation section 4° Head drive pulse synthesis section 5
．． As mentioned above, it is composed of a microcomputer. This microcomputer includes a microprocessor 11a that performs various calculations, and collects power supply time data.

It is composed of a ROM 11b (read-only memory) that stores various data such as energization time data for normal printing.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the mechanical part of the printing device of this embodiment, and 13 is a ribbon cassette for normal printing;
14 is a film ribbon for normal printing, 15 is a ribbon cassette for collection, and 16 is a film ribbon for collection, which is mounted on the carrier plate 1. Also, the printing operation is
Transfer the film ribbon in the ribbon cassette to thermal head 1.
8 onto the printing paper 2o on the platen 19,
This is done by generating heat from the thermal head, and in the case of normal printing, the ribbon cassette 13 for normal printing is placed opposite the head 18, as shown in FIG. Perform normal printing. In addition, in the case of collection, as shown in FIG. 3, a collection ribbon cassette 16 is placed opposite the head 18, and collection is performed using the collection film ribbon 16.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the procedure of the collect operation and reprinting at the collect position. In order to erase the printed character "H" shown in FIG.
1 by transferring the collect ink 22 onto the fourth
As shown in the figure, by cover-wrapping the already printed character "H" and reprinting, for example, "I" on top of it,
The printing ink 23 is transferred onto the collect ink 22 as shown in FIG. 4C.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the driving pulse waveform of the thermal head.
This will be specifically explained using FIG. 6, which shows the operation flow.

According to the flowchart in FIG. 6, first, when control data is input into the device (step 1),
to determine whether it is normal printing or correct printing (
step mouth). If it is determined that it is normal printing, Figure 6a
Set the voltage waveform (duty ratio 1/l) as shown in . Here, tl indicates the time for which electricity is applied to the thermal head 18, and t is the maximum temperature Ta as shown in Figure 5.
It rises with i. The temperature Ta is a temperature sufficient to melt the ink for normal printing, and the melting transfer of the ink for normal printing is performed (step entrance). On the other hand, if it is determined that collection is required at the step opening, the cassette is raised so that the collecting film ribbon faces the thermal head (step E). The state of the mechanism section at this time is as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the collect duty ratio is set to 1271 (12>11). When the thermal head 18 is driven with this driving pulse waveform, the temperature of the thermal head 18 rises as shown in FIG. 5d, and rises to the maximum temperature Tb. Here the temperature T
b is Tb)Ta, which is a temperature sufficient to melt the collection ink, thereby causing the collection ink to be transferred (stepped). After the collection is completed, the cassette is lowered so that the film ribbon for normal printing faces the thermal head 18 in preparation for normal printing (step 1). The state of the mechanism section at this time is as shown in FIG. 3a.

In this embodiment, the energization time was made variable by changing the duty ratio of the drive pulse of the head, but the duty ratio is the same as that during normal printing.

It is also conceivable to simply vary only the energization time as a common setting during collection. This can be expressed in the formula as follows.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, by changing the energization time of the drive pulse applied to drive the thermal head between normal printing and collect, normal printing, It is possible to create temperature conditions for optimal transfer for both collection and collection, and it is possible to perform high-quality collection with a simple configuration, making it extremely useful in practice.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an actual circuit block diagram, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the mechanism, Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the collection method, Fig. 5 6 is a flowchart showing the operation, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are block diagrams of a conventional printing device, and diagrams showing the thermal head drive waveform and temperature curve. . 1...Control code discrimination section, 2...Duty setting section for collect, 3...Duty setting section for normal printing, 4...Head output data creation Section, 6...Head drive pulse synthesis section, 6...
... Thermal head drive section, 7 ... Thermal head, 8 ... Mechanism control section, 9 ... Mechanism drive section, 1o ... Mechanism section, 11...
Microprocessor, 12...ROM, 13.
...Regular printing ribbon cassette, 14...
・Film ribbon for normal printing, 16... Ribbon cassette for collecting, 16... Film ribbon for collecting, 17-... Carriage, 18...
...Thermal head, 19...Platen, 20...
...Printing paper, 21...Normal printing ink,
22...Collect ink, 23...Reprinted normal printing ink, 24...Duty setting section. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao
1 Figure 13-1-11 Ribbon sword bit 1f--1 ... Film ribbon 17--Carriage f8--17-Full A 11゛tq-11 arateshizo-- - To the book for tpt 14 Figure 2f --- 4jli, SP Ink 22-11 Koshi 7 In 7 23-J Hard 8:! Figure 6 Figure 7 Computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] A thermal head equipped with a plurality of heating resistive elements, an input data discrimination unit that discriminates whether input data is normal print data or collect data, and a data detection unit that determines whether input data is normal print data or collect data, and when collecting data based on the judgment of the input data discrimination unit. A printing device comprising an energization time control means for lengthening the energization time to the thermal head compared to normal printing.