JPS6180957A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a thermal head which does not transfer unnecessary recording information by transferring only recording information of a heating area portion of a heating means having the possibility to be recorded at the same time, and heating the heating means, and executing the recording. CONSTITUTION:Recording information which is sent as a video signal is received by a video interface 11, and stored successively in a video RAM12 in accordance with control of a control part 10 and a video RAM controlling circuit 13. Subsequently, when recording data of one-string portion or more is collected, the recording data is read out successively from the video RAM12, supplied to a color selecting circuit 14, and in this circuit, each color signal of R, G and B in the video signal is converted to Y, M and C, and under control of a color section controlling circuit 15, recording color information is sent to a heating area control part 7. In the heating area control part 7, only the recording information corresponding to the number of dots heated at the same time is sent to a heating head 2, and recording is executed successively at every its area.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal printer, and particularly to a thermal printer that is equipped with a thermal ink ribbon in which at least two types of color sections are sequentially arranged at a constant distance, and that simplifies the heat generating head drive unit. The present invention relates to a thermal printer that has been designed with

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in response to a recording information signal, a group of heating elements that generate heat are arranged in a straight line, and this is run on a recording medium (paper) in a direction approximately perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the group of heating elements. A narrow heat-sensitive ink ribbon that faces the recording surface and runs in a direction oblique to the arrangement direction of the heating elements is interposed between the heating elements and the recording medium. A thermal printer has been proposed that is configured to cover the entire area in the arrangement direction of the heating element group.

It has also already been proposed to apply this technology to color thermal printers.

That is, by selectively and intermittently distributing and supplying the recording information signal S1 shown in FIG. 2 to the heating element group 1 via an appropriate heating area control means, the recording information signal S1 shown in FIG. As shown, heat-generating regions with a distance of 81 smaller than the distance giL of the color sections are formed in correspondence with each of the color sections on the heat-sensitive ink ribbon, and the heat-sensitive ink ribbon is used for one recording operation.
The ribbon is made to travel along the ribbon traveling line r by a distance aIl for each step, and each heat generating region is also made to travel a distance [by a distance [] along the recording line R accordingly. The positional relationship is always constant ゛(1) with respect to the interval, and each heat-generating area with a distance of 1 is formed into a color interval with a distance of ML, with a non-heat-generating clearance area of a distance of Δ1/2 at both ends. It is proposed that it be included within

In the above-mentioned proposed configuration, during a recording operation, the recording information signal S1 as an input signal is sent to a group of heating elements installed in one heating head 2 via an appropriate heating area control means 7, as shown in FIG. Each color is supplied to each heating element of 1, and each color is collectively heated and recorded on recording paper.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are recorded per step, and the recording operation of the first step is completed. Thereafter, each time one step is completed, the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 is run a distance l to the left (or right) along the ribbon running line r.

That is, as shown by T+) to T4) in FIG. 5(C), the recording medium 3 (corresponding to the entire area of the recording line R) is
On the recording surface of paper, there are three colors: yellow, magenta, and cyan.
Picture elements representing colors are arranged in a pattern specified according to the recording information signal S1 described above.

After the - period of recording operations, all points along the recording line on the recording medium 3 are given an opportunity to transfer and record any of the three colors. Next, recording medium 3
(paper) by one pitch upwards (or downwards), performs one cycle of recording operations in the same way as above, and by repeating this recording operation, color is printed on the recording surface of recording medium 3 (paper). Characters, figures, photographs, etc. are recorded using this method.

In such a thermal printer, the only part of the heating element group 1 that actually generates heat at one time is the heating area corresponding to the same color section among the heating areas of the heat-sensitive inkliner 6; The heating element group 1 is in a dormant state.

However, in conventional thermal printers, when recording a certain color in the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 on the recording paper 3, the recording information for the same color for one row is transferred to the heat-generating area control means each time. The means provides this recorded information to all the heating element groups 1, selects a heating area in one heating element group 1 that can be controlled to generate heat at the same time, and controls so that only this heating area generates heat.

For this reason, there was a lot of waste in the configuration, and a lot of time was also wasted in transferring recorded information.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention was made in view of the problems of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to transfer only the recorded information for the heat generating area of the heat generating means that may be recorded at one time. To provide an inexpensive thermal printer with a simple configuration in which unnecessary recorded information is not transferred by making a heating means generate heat according to the transferred recorded information and perform recording.

[Summary of the Invention] The thermal printer of the present invention has three types of picture elements: yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y), magenta (hereinafter referred to as M), and cyan (hereinafter referred to as C), which form a color interval of a certain width. Using a band-shaped heat-sensitive ink ribbon that is applied alternately to the heat-sensitive ink ribbon, a heat-generating head is formed in units of a distance A that is smaller than the distance L between each color section arranged on the heat-sensitive ink ribbon. When performing color recording by thermally transferring picture elements on an ink ribbon to recording paper, for example, if a distance of 81 is set so that (3XL) = (4 x 1), the heat generating area of the heat generating head corresponding to the color section will be the same as that of the heat generating head. Focusing on the point that is 1/4 of the total, the transfer of the recorded information to be recorded on the heat generating head is set as 1/4 of the total recorded information for one column, and the transferred recorded information is transferred to the heat generated by the heat generating head at any time. By distributing the information into areas and performing recording, the configuration is such that the recorded information is efficiently transferred and there is no waste.

[Example code] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to one drawing.

The recording section of this embodiment has a schematic structure similar to that shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a recording information processing section according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 2 is a heat generating head, 7 is a heat generating area control section, and includes a heat generating head drive section 7a. 10 is a control unit, 11 is a video interface, and 12 is a video RAM.
, 13 is a video RAM control circuit that controls reading/writing of the video RAM 12, 14 is a color selection circuit, 1
5 is a color interval control circuit.

Since the recording information for this embodiment is sent as a video signal, this is received by the video interface 11. For example, when recording a still image displayed on a CRT display device, the recording information for each horizontal scanning line of the CRT is Display information is received by the video interface 11, and the received recording information is sequentially stored in the video RAM 12 under the control of the control unit 1o and the video RAM control circuit 13.

When the recorded data for one column (one scanning line) or more is completed, the recorded data is sequentially read out from the video RAM 12.
The color selection circuit 14 selects R (red) and G (
Each color signal of Green), B (Bruni) is converted into Y, M, and C, and according to the control of the color interval control circuit 15, the recorded color information to be heated corresponding to the color interval of the thermal ink ribbon 6 is controlled by one heating area. Sent to Department 7.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed circuit of the heat generating area control section 7 and the positional relationship between the color sections of the thermal ink ribbon 6 and the heat generating areas of the heat generating element group 1 of the heat generating head 2.

Here, the color interval width of the thermal ink ribbon 6 and the heat generating area p
The relationship with 3L is set as 41, and the color interval is Y, M, and C repeating, and the heat generation area is N.
1, N2, N3, and N4 are repeated.

Furthermore, one heating area is composed of 24 heating elements (24 dots).

In FIG. 3, 20 is a driver for driving 24 heat generating elements (24 dots) in one heat generating area.

In this embodiment, the heat generating element group 1 of the heat generating head 2 does not generate heat at the same time for all the - rows, and if it has the relationship 3L=41, then the duty may be 1/4, which means that for each color section The reason why there is a clearance area in a non-heat generating state with a distance of ΔN/2 at both ends is because there is only one out of four heat generating areas.

Therefore, the shift register that holds the recorded information only needs to have a capacity of 1/4 of the total column recorded information, and the recorded information from this shift register (21-m) is controlled by the strobe signal (STR) from the control unit 10. Assign to any heat generating area among the four heat generating areas゛6°
, 2. .

-' Hereinafter, the recording control on the recording paper 3 in this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4(A) to 4(E).

4(A) to (E) are flowcharts showing color printing control for one row on the recording paper 3, and the video RAM 12
The recorded information of the relevant column in the print recorded information stored in is sequentially read out and recorded on the recording paper 3.

First, in step St, the control unit 10 controls the color interval control circuit 15.
Set “Y” (indication of color type Y) in the X register (not shown) that specifies the color type to be read from the video RAM 12 of Nl (N1 area driven by strobe signal 5TRA) is set in the Na register of .

Then, in step S2, the subroutine "'BUFSE
Call T”.

In the subroutine "BUFSET" shown in FIG. 4(D), information to be recorded is read from the video RAM 12,
First, in step 5100, the video RAM control circuit 13 stores the first Na of the video RAM 12 from the value set in the Na register.
Obtain the area read address and store it in the read address register (not shown)9For example, if one heating area has 24 dots, this address is 24 (a-1)+1=(24a-23) (where a is The value of the area (1 to 4) is used.

That is, N1...24X1-23=1 N2...24X2-23=25, and in the same way, N
3 = 49, Na = 73.

Then, in step 5101, 24 is set in the X register, and in subsequent step 5102, corresponding color data is read out from the video RAM 12 according to the value of the readout raretres register set previously.

The color interval control circuit 15 selects and generates predetermined color data from the color data read out from the video RAM 12 according to the color designation set in the X register, outputs it to the heat generation area control section 7, and simultaneously sets it in the shift register in step 5104. Output signal CLK and transfer this color data to shift register A.
21-i. This color data is sequentially sent from shift register A21-1 to shift register B21-2, shift register C21-3, and so on.

In the following step 5105, the read address register is set to 1.
The contents of the X register are incremented by one. Then, in step 5106, the X register is set to “O”.
'°, that is, whether the setting of data for one heat generating area Na has been completed. If the X register is not 0'', the process returns to step 3102 and the next data is read from the video RAMI 2.

When the X register is 0'' in step 3106, the process advances to step 5107, where the first address of the next Na area is generated and set in the address register. This is subtracted by adding 72, which is the address value for three heating areas, to the value of the current read address register.

Then, in step 5108, it is checked whether the value of the read address register exceeds the address range of the video RAM 12, that is, whether reading of all the color data to be recorded for one column has been completed, and if it has not been completed, the process returns to step 5101. Color data for the next heating area is read.

If the process has ended, the process returns to the main routine from this subroutine.

In this way, when the setting of the recording data to the shift register 21-m is completed in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, where the strobe signal 5TRA is turned on for the time required for thermal transfer, and the heat generating area N is made to generate heat. The heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 is moved according to the data held in the shift register 21-n.
The heat-sensitive ink is thermally transferred onto the recording paper 3. This completes the recording of the Y color data to the heat generating area N.

Next, in step S4, M° is set in the X register.
The color type is specified, the heat generating area N2 is set in the Na register, and the subroutine "FEED" is called in step S5.

In the "FEED" subroutine shown in FIG. 4(E), first, in step 3200, feeding of the thermal ink ribbon 6 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 is started. Then, in step 5201, the subroutine ``BUFSET'' shown in No. 41N (D) is called, and the color data specified by the X register is set in the shift register shown in FIG.
Monitor whether the feed amount has reached 4 ships. Here, Δ1 is assumed to be Δu=L−1.

As in this embodiment (if the relationship 3L=41, Δ1=
L-1=1/3 C41-31)=fl/3.

When the feed amount becomes Δ1 in step 5202, the process proceeds to step 5203, where the ribbon feed is turned off and the process returns.

The explanation here assumes that the execution time of the subroutine "BUFSET" is shorter than the feeding time of the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6, but the "BUFSET" processing and the ribbon feed processing are executed in parallel, and the ribbon If the processing time is shorter, use “'BUFSET
"Before the end of processing, step 7' 520 from step 5202
Proceed to step 3, stop ribbon feed, and press “B U F
Returns after the SET'' processing is completed.

In step S5, the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 is fed and M
After the data is set in the shift register 21, in step S6, the 5TRB signal is turned on for a period of time during which the heat generation head 1 should be reduced in heat, and M data in the heat generation area N2 is recorded.

Similarly, in steps 57 to S9, "'C" is set in the X register.
(cyan), set the heat generating area N3 in the Na register, call the subroutine "FEED", set the C data of the heat generating area N3 in the shift register 21, and record this on the recording paper 3 by turning on the 5TRC signal. do.

Similarly, in steps 510 to S12, the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 is fed back by Δ, 9 to the heat generating area N4.
°Y°° is recorded, and in steps SL3 to 515, the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 is fed by Δ to the heat generating area N1.
Mpa is recorded, and in steps S16 to S18, the heat generation area N2 is
C°'' is set in step S19-S20, °"Y'" is set in heat-generating region N3 in steps S19-S20, and °"Y'" is set in heat-generating region N4 in steps S19-S24.
"M" to the heat generating area N1 in steps 525 to S27.
Coo in the heat generating area N2 in steps 528 to S30.
°Y° is recorded in the heat generating area N3 in steps S31 to S33, and C11 is recorded in the heat generating area N4 in steps S31 to S36 after feeding the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 by a distance Δp. ′−)) ru.

Through the above processing, Y and M for one column of the recording paper 3 are printed.

Color printing using the three colors of C is completed.

Thereafter, the recording paper 3 is fed by the pitch, and the next column is printed in the same manner as above.

In the above explanation, the case where the relationship between the color interval distance L of the thermal ink ribbon 6 and the distance al111 of the heat generating area is 3L=41 has been explained as an example, but the relationship between the two is not limited to this, but can be an arbitrary ratio. The feeding distance of the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 6 and the heating area control using a shift register may be performed in a timely manner.

Furthermore, in the above explanation, the heat generating area N l + N2 +
An example has been described in which the drive distribution of N 3 + N 4 is performed using the 5TRA-STRD signal applied to the drive driver circuit 20, but instead of distribution among the 8 drive driver circuits, the output of the last register can be used as a simple driver. It is supplied to all the heat generating areas N1 to N4 through the heat generating area N
, -N4 may be of a diode matrix configuration, and one of the heat generating areas may be distributed among the heat generating areas by 5TRA to 5TRD.

By configuring as described above, the number of shift registers, which are the most expensive among the elements constituting the heat generating head, can be significantly reduced, resulting in a low cost heat generating head.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the storage capacity of the recorded information holding means can be minimized, and the amount of recorded data transferred to the recorded information holding means can also be minimized. fruit,
A very efficient and inexpensive thermal printer can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a recording information processing section according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a recording section of a thermal printer, and FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of a heat generating area control section of this embodiment. 4(A) to 4(E) are flowcharts showing color recording control for the heating head rows of this embodiment, and FIG. 5(A) to
(C) is a heat generating head in a conventional thermal printer.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing color printing control for columns. In the figure, 1... heating element group, 2... heating head, 6...
・Thermal ink ribbon, 7... Heat generating area control section, 7a・
...Heating head drive section, 10...Control section, 12...
Video RAM, 13... Video RAN control circuit, 14
... Color selection circuit, 15... Color interval control circuit, 20.
... Heating element driver, 21-n... Shift register,
L... Color interval width, i... Heat generating area width, Δ1... Non-heat generating area width, N1 to N4... Heat generating area. Patent applicant: Aimer Electronics Co., Ltd. Figure 4 (D) Figure 4 (E)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A heat generating means consisting of a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a straight line, and a first fixed distance along the heat generating means interposed between the heat generating means and the recording medium in response to heat from the heat generating means. a coloring means in which at least two types of color sections capable of recording picture elements of a specific color can be recorded on the recording surface of a recording medium are arranged alternately in sequence; and a second constant distance smaller than the first constant distance of the coloring means. a heat generation control means for selectively generating heat from a heat generating element of the heat generating means so as to form a plurality of heat generating area groups extending over a distance corresponding to each color section of the color generating means; and recording information to be supplied to the heat generating means. recorded information holding means that retains and supplies the heat generating area group formed by the heat generating control means of the recorded information of the color section of the same color of the coloring means; 1. A thermal printer characterized in that record information that can be simultaneously recorded is held in the printer, and the held record information is output to the heat generation control means so as to record the heat generation. (2) The coloring means is moved by a distance of (first fixed distance) - (second fixed distance) at the end of one heat generation recording on the recording medium, and the heat generation control means controls the coloring means after the movement. 2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein a heat generating area group is set corresponding to a color interval and recording is performed for the next color type.