JPS63166564A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable high-quality recording free of collapse of recorded images, by such a control that auxiliary thermal energy for recording dot information in a recording direction is not generated in the case of a pattern in which dot information is present at least on three peripheral sides. CONSTITUTION:In the case of a U-shaped dot control, a heating method based on AMA control comprising heating After data A before the actual CG (cartridge) data, thereby heating a head. In this case, heat flows in the directions of arrows, and in consideration of this, heating is not performed for the first A data (broken-line part) at the center when Main data M is present on the upper and lower side of the A data. Namely, after the control is started, the A data is turned OFF when the A data is present and the M data is present, whereby dots are securely printed in the U-shaped pattern (a). In the case of an inverted U-shaped (b) dot control, also, heat flows in the directions of arrows, and it is unnecessary to heat the A data (broken-line part). In addition, U-shaped and square-shaped (outline form) dot controls are performed similarly to the above.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to a recording unit capable of high-quality recording or a device equipped with the recording unit, and relates to a thermal transfer printer characterized by driving a thermal head.

[Prior art]

As a method for correcting thermal energy during recording in a thermal transfer printer, one pulse or two pulses with different widths are used in a heat cycle in which there is dot information to be recorded based on the on/off status of a dot pattern obtained from CG. A method has been considered in which the applied energy is changed by outputting , and as a result, the thermal energy is made uniform. However, the method of equalizing the thermal energy to the dot to be recorded within one heat cycle has the drawback that high-quality recording cannot always be obtained. In order to improve this problem, a method can be considered to equalize the thermal energy by applying preliminary heat even outside one heat cycle of the dot information to be recorded. However, when recording patterns such as those shown in Figures 20 and 21, for example, if you heat the broken line A data according to the method described above, the blank areas between the 1 and 1 squares may be crushed. Conceivable. [Purpose] From the above points, the pattern to be recorded is] the mouth. In the case of a 9-hole type, it is necessary to provide a thermal transfer printer that can always record high quality images, regardless of the pattern, by preventing the central preliminary heating from occurring. [Example] The drawings are shown below. Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Description of a typewriter main body> Figure 1 shows a thermal transfer printer to which the present invention can be applied.
1 is a diagram showing the appearance of an electronic typewriter. By operating the keys arranged on the keyboard unit 1, the thermal head 6 mounted on the carriage 5 of the printer unit 3 is pressed against the platen via an ink ribbon (not shown), and heat is applied to the platen using the ink contained in the ribbon. Print on the guided printing paper. It also includes an LCD liquid crystal display unit 2 for displaying the content to be printed and a platen knob 4 for manually feeding the printing paper. Note that the electronic typewriter (thermal transfer printer) of this embodiment can be equipped with multiple types of ribbons, including (normal) ink ribbon IR, which can print in one color at the same ribbon position;
Collectible ribbon that allows printing and erasing with the same ribbon (
Self-collection ribbon) CR, Dual color ribbon DR (Japanese Patent Application No. 59-260403, Patent Application No. 59-260403, Gansho 60-298831
The main unit can be identified by a sensor (not shown) or by an instruction from a key to confirm that the main unit is equipped with a device such as (see No. 1). FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the structure of the electronic typewriter. ■Printer unit 3 A printing device for an electronic typewriter that is equipped with a thermal head 6 and has a carriage 5 with a built-in drive motor. ■Keyboard unit 1 This is the human power section and has a key matrix.■LCD unit 2 The printout is for displaying information to be memorized, and an LCD liquid crystal display is used as the display surface.C
It has a controller and driver to display data from PU9 on LCD2. ■CPU unit 7 The human power source 8 includes an AC adapter, a nickel-powered battery, a dry battery, etc., and a power source (hereinafter referred to as Vcc) that operates the logic including CI'U9,
Create three power supplies: a power supply for the printer's motor (hereinafter referred to as V) and a power supply for thermal head application (hereinafter referred to as V11). As a control system, CPU9. ROM10. which contains the system program and CG which will be described later. Storage elements such as RAM II for work or text, and custom ICs as expansion input/output terminals and address decoders for the CPU9.
(Gate array 2 hereinafter referred to as GA12) is the main component. The RAM II has a character count section 23 that stores the width of characters from the CG necessary for control described later. As a result, temperature information from the temperature measurement circuit 13 is obtained, and data to be sent to the thermal head 6 of the printer is then transmitted to the thermal head driver through G and A. Furthermore, drive signals are sent from the CPU to each phase of the motor 22 through the motor driver 14 to the stepping motor, which is a printer motor. Next, this typewriter has an interface connector 15 built into the main body, which allows data from an external host to be sent to the typewriter via the Centronics interface 16 or R3-232C17. Only receive is possible so that it can be used as a printer. Furthermore, CG that has type character style as data
The main body also has a cartridge connector 20 into which a cartridge 18 and a RAM cartridge 19 for storing registered data can be inserted. Configuration of Thermal Head Driver> Next, FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the TH driver IC 21 for heating the thermal head shown in FIG. 2. Vccl, Vcc2: Terminals for inputting power for logic VDI, VD2: Power supply for driver to drive the thermal head GND 1-7: GND OUT 1-25: Open collector terminals corresponding to each dot of the head CK: Timing clock for data latch (from G, A12) D IN: Heat data input terminal (G
, from A12) CRX: Has a CR charging circuit outside the IC, and at the charging voltage level of C, when the EN terminal is High, it is possible to output a signal disabling the main power for printing of the thermal head regardless of the software. . EN: When the CRX terminal is Low, if High is input to this terminal, a printable signal is output, and when it is Low, a printable signal is output. In the above configuration, first, in order to send heat data to the D flip-flop inside the IC, parallel data from the CPU 9 is converted into serial data in G and Al1, and then transferred to the DIN terminal. The clock is also G, A1
2 to the T, H, and CK terminals of the driver 21. By repeating this 24 times, one batch of heat data is completely loaded into the IC. Next, in the process of sending heat data to the driver, the capacitor outside the CRX terminal is discharged by setting the EN terminal to Low using a software command, then the CRX terminal is set to Low, and the length of time for heating is set in the CPUQ. After setting it as , send a High signal to the EN terminal. From this time, heat starts according to the latched data, and the time set in the CPU is reached, and the EN terminal is set to Low.
The thermal head continues to heat up until the capacitor level of the CRX terminal exceeds the set value. As is clear from Fig. 3, the thermal head in this example has 25 heads from outl to 25 arranged in a vertical line.When recording the pattern shown in Fig. 5, for example, the left Recording is performed by heating each dot at a recording timing corresponding to each dot while the head moves from the dot to the right. Note that the shape of the head does not need to be limited to this. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the motor driver 14 for driving the motor of the printer. The signal line of the CPU 9 is directly connected to the input of the driver IC, and its output is directly connected to each phase of the motor 22, and two-phase excitation is performed by software instructions. As a result, the carriage 5 carrying the head 6 moves. Along with this movement, a standard interval called a "heat cycle (one recording timing)" as shown in FIG. 6 is defined according to the switching of each excitation in order to heat at a predetermined timing. Next, based on the above configuration, a detailed explanation of the present invention will be given with reference to the drawings. <Explanation of character font> Fig. 5 is an example of a character font stored in the ROM101 or CG cartridge 18 shown in Fig. 2. In this case, the letter "A" is represented by 24 vertical dots x 32 horizontal dots (○). It is something. Basically, the letter "A" is applied by heating the head in the part corresponding to O in time or position (any of outl to out25 in Figure 3) once within one heat pulse. . In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, the head is capable of printing 25 dots vertically from outl to out 25, and characters are printed by moving the head. Note that the configuration of the head does not need to be limited to this. A to F are part of patterns used below to explain the driving of the thermal head. Further, in FIG. 5, the horizontal direction represents a heat cycle, and the vertical direction represents dot rows (rows 1 to 25) corresponding to one vertical column of heads. Next, a detailed explanation of the heating of the thermal head of the present invention will be given. <AMA control> Figure 6 is a diagram showing the printing state of part A in Figure 5 using heat pulses and heat data, where the horizontal direction of one grid represents one heat cycle, and the vertical direction represents one heat cycle. It shows the distance (size) of the dots. The circle mark is heat data (corresponding to CG). The AMA control referred to in this embodiment is different from the data of the main dot within one heat cycle, after data (hereinafter referred to as A
Printing is controlled using two data: main data (called M data) and main data called M data, and the pulse width thereof. The pulse width and pulse position of M data and A data are the same regardless of which M data or A data is used. Note that for convenience of explanation, pulse position and pulse timing are used interchangeably. If you use the heat data marked with ○ and M-day heat, the printing will be uneven. In other words, if the heat pulse of the M data is long, heat will accumulate when the dots are continuous, and the energy will be higher if the dots are heated later. Furthermore, if the heat pulse is short, the energy of the dot that begins to heat is low. Therefore, in order to make the printing energy uniform, that is, to make the printing uniform, it is necessary to control with separate A data and M data, separate heat positions, and separate heat pulses. This AMA control is effective because the interval between 8 and the next M is short, so the heat heated by A decreases (especially at room temperature and low temperature (e.g. below 30 degrees Celsius), and is effective for producing high quality products. Printing is obtained. In AMA control, which will be explained in detail later, CG data is read in advance one dot before the start of heating, and if data exists, only A data is heated after M data in terms of position. This A The thermal head warmed by the data (the first A data of AMA) prints with the next (next recording timing) M data, and the subsequent A data reliably warms the head and ensures reliable printing. It also serves as a backup for the next M. However, the next dot (dots) can be printed only with M data as shown in Figure 6. <PPM control> Figure 7 shows the 6th dot. Similarly to the figure, this figure shows an explanation of PPM control using heat pulses and heat data when printing pattern A in Figure 5.The O mark is heat data.PPM control is based on M data called P data. Pre data is given before P.
In PM control, two P data (one is reserved and one is
The printing is controlled by the M data (which assists the M data in the heat cycle) and the M data. The same applies to the ★ data of M data and P data. The heat data marked with ○ and the M data have a one-to-one correspondence. Especially at high temperatures, if the first dot is corrected too much, the printing energy tends to increase, but in order to compensate for this,
''-° Printing energy can be made uniform by leaving an interval between the first P (preliminary) and the next P (auxiliary) and dispersing thermal energy between them. <P' PM Control> FIG. 8 shows printing of pattern A in FIG. 5 by P' PM control using heat pulses and heat data. The circle mark is heat data. P' PM control consists of Pre, dash data, P data, and M data, which have different pulse widths from P data and are also called P' data. Considering the control described above, it may be better to use APMPM control, but for convenience, P'P
I'll call it M. This P'PM control consists of three types of pulse widths and positions within one heat cycle. P
'PM control is used for printing with relatively long heat cycles. In other words, when the heat cycle is long, if A data is printed in the heat cycle before M data, and then M data is printed, A
If the interval between and M is too long, the heated head will cool down. Therefore, near the end of the heat cycle before the M data, the M
The heat pulse called P is inserted in front of P' PM.
It is control. As a result, the head warmed by P' data can print with P data and M data. Furthermore, the second and subsequent dots can be printed using only M data. This P' PM control is particularly effective at room temperature or high temperature, for example. <P' PM (3, 2, 1) control> Figure 9 shows pattern A in Figure 5 with P'PM (3° 2.1)
It shows heat pulses and heat data when printing under control. The circle mark is heat data. p′PM (
3,2,1) Control is performed using Pre d, called P' data.
Pre called ash data and P data
Main data called data and M data
It is composed of three data a and three types of heat pulse widths and positions. P' PM (3, 2, 1) control is used for printing with a relatively long heat cycle. For example, if P' PM control, which is effective at high temperatures and room temperatures, is used at low temperatures, the printing energy for the first and second dots may be too low. To avoid uneven printing due to this, P' PM (3, 2゜1) Perform control. This makes it possible to make printing energy uniform. In other words, the first dot is heated by the first P' data one heat cycle before, and is printed with P data, M data, and the next P' data within one heat cycle of M data (total of 3 pulses). The second dot is 1 of the second M data
During the heat cycle, printing is performed using P data and second M data (total of 2 pulses), and from the third dot onward, printing is possible using only M data (total of 1 pulse). This P' PM
The (3, 2, 1) control measures the concentration of energy applied to the first dot and the second dot. <P' MP Control> FIG. 10 shows how pattern A in FIG. 5 is printed by P' MP control using heat pulses and heat data. P' MP control is at room temperature. This is an application example of P' PM control, which is effective at high temperatures. In this example, the positions of P and M of P' PM are exchanged. <Control of AMA1> FIG. 11 shows pattern B in FIG. 5 using heat pulses and heat data. The O mark is heat data. At the first dot when there is no upper and lower heat data, heat tends to escape in the vertical direction (see FIG. 11(b)), making it difficult to print clearly. Therefore, for the first dot of a horizontal line where there are no other dots in the vertical direction like pattern B in Figure 5,
This can be prevented by slightly heating the upper and lower positions where heat escapes using A data. By doing so, the first dot can be reliably heated and high quality printing can be obtained. This AMA" control is especially suitable for high-speed printing. Furthermore, it is especially effective at room temperature in the above-mentioned AMA control. <A3MA control> As an application example of AMA3 control, pattern B in FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 12 as well as in FIG. A'' MA sub-control is shown. A” MA
This is a method to warm up the temperature around the dots to be printed before sub-control. <A2AM, A control> Similarly to FIG. 13, A2AM, A control for pattern B in FIG.
' Indicates AMA control. A' AMA control slowly warms up the head two dots before the dot to be printed. <A"MA" control FIG. 14 shows printing of pattern B in FIG. 5 under A"MA" control using heat pulses and heat data. The circle mark is heat data. At low temperatures, the 11th
Heat diffusion is also observed in the AMA'' control explained in the figure. Therefore, it is necessary to apply more energy than in the AMA'' control. Therefore, in A"MA" control, the temperature around the dots to be printed is raised in advance, and the positions where heat can escape are heated with A data, thereby reducing the
Dots can definitely heat up. <AΔ'MA control> As an application example of Δ'MA3 control, the fifth
AA"MAfl,ll911 for pattern B in the figure is shown. AA"MA sub-control warms the center and periphery of the print dot of the head two dots before the dot to be printed and increases the applied energy. <A"AMA'control> The area around the printing dot on the head is warmed and the applied energy is increased from two dots before the printing. <AM underline control> The underline is heated with two vertical dots in a row. At this time, When the AMA control shown in Figure 6 is used, heat is accumulated in the head.To improve this, it is necessary to reduce the average energy applied.However, data A,
Since the M data width also serves as heat for characters, the heat pulse width cannot be reduced. For this purpose, the applied energy is reduced by making the M data heat every other dot and deleting the A data behind the AMA control.
It suppresses heat accumulation. FIG. 17(b) shows the above-mentioned AM control. <A'M underline control> In the AM underline control, the underline from which heat storage has been removed is located at the first dot. In order to correct this, the pulse width of A in the AM underline control was increased and was designated as A', which was used as the preliminary heat for the first dot. This makes printing of the first dot of the underline more reliable. FIG. 17(a) shows A'M control. <Continuous horizontal one-dot control under AMA control> FIG. 18 shows printing of a continuous horizontal one-dot line under AMA control using heat data and heat pulses. O
The marks are heat data. When there is continuous heat data,
Usually only M data is heated. Therefore, especially when the temperature is low, heat escapes in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 18(b), and there is a possibility that the print may become thin or cut off. Therefore, in order to obtain sufficient heat energy even if the heat escapes, data A is added as shown in FIG. 18(a). Figures 19-1 to 19-3 are examples of this application. In FIG. 19-1, A data is added at intervals of one dot. In FIG. 19-2, data A is added to the lines above and below the line where dot information to be printed exists, that is, in the vertical direction from which heat escapes. FIG. 19-3 is a combination of the A data of FIG. 18a and FIG. 19-2 with one dot interval. V-shaped dot control> FIG. 20 shows how pattern D in FIG. 5 is printed with high quality using heat data and heat pulses. In the heating method using AMA control shown in Fig. 6, the A data is heated before the actual CG data to warm the head, but in the case of Fig. 20, the heat moves in the direction of the arrow. This is not necessary. Therefore, when there is M data in the vertical direction, the first A data in the middle (the broken line part) is not heated. <Mouth-type dot control> FIG. 21 shows how pattern E in FIG. 5 is printed. In this case as well, since the heat moves in the direction of the arrow, there is no need to heat the A data (dashed line portion). Note that there are also dot controls in the shape of a mu character, and even in the shape of a mouth (white inside), but these are not shown in the drawings. Box Control> FIG. 22 shows how pattern F in FIG. 5 is printed. In the figure, the dot in the middle is different from the shape of the mouth, and is the dot to be printed. The heat in the middle moves in three directions: up and down. Therefore, when M data is heated, heat energy is concentrated, which may cause uneven printing. However, printing cannot be done without heating, so by heating the A data to the extent that there are no white spots,
Reduces heat energy and equalizes the overall energy. <P'P'M Control> FIG. 23 shows printing of pattern B in FIG. 5 using heat pulses and heat data. The O mark is heat data. When there is no upper and lower heat data, the heat of the first dot is diffused in the vertical direction, making it difficult to print clearly. Therefore, by heating the position where heat escapes using P data, it is possible to prevent the spread of heat, and the first dot can be reliably heated. P and P' in this case are different during the pulse. This P'P"M control is suitable for low speed printing.
Effective at high temperature and room temperature under M control. <P'P'' M Control> As an application example of the P'P'' M control, P'' PM control is shown in FIG. 24. The P''' PM control is a method of warming the temperature around the dots to be printed in advance. <P'PMP'Control> FIG. 25 shows P'PMP' control. This is the 8th
By increasing the printing energy of the first dot in the P' PM control explained in the figure by the amount of the second P' data, it is possible to obtain high quality printing by dealing with the diffusion of the energy applied to the first dot. I can do it. <P'PMP'"control> FIG. 26 shows the P'PMP'" control. This is the 8th
The first dot M of P' PM control explained in the figure
P' PM is protected by preventing heat diffusion by placing two pieces of P' data around the upper and lower parts of the data. <P"P' PM Control> FIG. 27 shows P"P' PM control. This is P'
By adding two pieces of P data just before performing PM control,
Warming the head in advance (this has the effect of suppressing heat diffusion at the beginning of P'PM control. Printing at '3P' is shown using heat pulses and heat data. O mark is heat data. P' shown in Figure 9
In PM (3, 2, 1) control, the first dot when there is no upper and lower heat data diffuses heat in the vertical direction,
There may be cases where the printed characters are difficult to determine. Therefore, by heating the position where the heat diffuses using P data and P' data, the diffusion of heat can be prevented, and the first dot is heated more reliably. This P'P=MP's control is particularly suitable for low-speed printing. <P"l'MP'"control> As an application example of P"PMP'"control,P' is shown in Fig. 29.
``PMP'' 3 control is shown.The second time shown in Figure 9 increases the heat efficiency by preventing the heat diffusion of the M data. <P''P'PMP''control> Figure 30 shows the P2P control. 'PMP' control. This is the 9th
Before the first P' data heat in the P' PM (3, 2, 1) control shown in the figure, P data is preheated above and below it to bring the head temperature to an appropriate state, and then M
At P' immediately after data, printing energy is made uniform by heating P' upward and downward to prevent heat diffusion in the upward and downward directions. <PP"PMP'control> Figure 31 shows PP' and PMP' control. This is P'
P which is preliminary heat in PM (3,2,1) control
The heat of the 'data drops the efficiency due to thermal diffusion at the first dot at low temperature, so in order to restore this efficiency, heat the P data before that, and the P' data above and below. This prevents heat from spreading. <Continuous horizontal one-dot control in P' PM control> Part 3
FIG. 2 shows how pattern C in FIG. 5 is printed, using heat data and heat pulses. The circle mark is heat data. When there is continuous heat data, usually M
Heat only the data. Therefore, especially during low-speed printing at low temperatures, heat escapes particularly in the vertical direction, and there is a possibility that the print may become thin or cut off. Therefore, in order to obtain sufficient heat energy even if heat escapes, P data and P' data are added within the same heat cycle as M, as shown in the above-mentioned FIG. 32. Figures 33-1 to 33-5 are examples of this application. In FIG. 33-1, P data and P' data are added at one dot intervals (within one heat cycle) in the vertical direction from which heat escapes. Figure 33-2 shows 1 at the center of the dot where P data is to be printed.
The data is added at intervals of dots, and P' data is added at intervals of one dot in the vertical direction where heat escapes. In FIG. 33-3, P data is added to the center of the dot to be printed, and P' data is added at intervals of one dot. In FIG. 33-4, control is switched at three-dot intervals. First, it is heated with P data, M data, and P' data, then it is heated with P data, and M data, and the third dot is heated with only M data, and this process is repeated. Figure 33-5 shows P data and P data at the center of the dot to be printed.
'Data is added alternately. Next, each control detailed above will be explained with reference to a flowchart. In the flowchart below, data heat means applying a driving pulse, and whether or not printing is actually performed depends on whether or not the data is turned on when the pulse is applied. <AMA Control Flowchart> FIG. 34 is a control flowchart of the AMA control shown in FIG. 6. When printing is instructed from key 1 or the like shown in FIG. 1, printing is started and the AMA control routine is entered at step 81. The character width of the character to be printed in S2 (that is, the horizontal length shown in Fig. 5, here 32 dots) is determined by CG (R
OMIO or CG cartridge 18), and the RA
Set it in the character count section 23 in MII. Note that this character width is variable depending on the font, etc. In S3, in order to move the carriage 5 carrying the thermal head 6 by the motor 32 by one hit cycle, which is the width of one frame shown in FIGS. 6 to 33-5, the excitation phase of the motor is changed. Switch. In other words, one heat cycle carriage advances with one switching from 83 to S9. Next, in S4, the actual print data from the CG, that is, the ○ shown in FIG.
Obtain M data corresponding to the mark. Next, in a routine S5 for acquiring A data, which will be described later, A
Data is obtained. In S6, the M data actually obtained in 84 is heated, and in S7, the A data is heated. However, since there is no M data at first, it is controlled as M data heat (S6), but S6 of the next cycle is actually printed first. Next, in S8, the count data of the character count unit 23 is decremented by 1, and in S9, it is determined whether the character count is 0 or not. If it is 0, printing of the characters to be printed has been completed, and the process ends with SIO. <PPM Control Flowchart> FIG. 35 is a PPMPM control flowchart shown in FIG. Printing is started at S1, and at S2 the character width to be printed is acquired from the CG and set in the character count on the RAM. In S3, the excitation phase of the stepping motor is switched. In S4, M data is acquired from CG. The steps up to this point are the same as in FIG. 34. In S5, A (P) data is created from the previous M data, the current M data, and the next M data. This routine will be described later. However, for convenience of explanation, P is set to 8. In S6, the A (P) data obtained in 85 is heated. Heat the M data acquired in 84 in S7. S
At 8, the character count is decremented by 1. The character count is checked in S9, and if it is not zero, the process moves to S3. If it is zero, it means that printing of one character has been completed, and the process is ended with SIO. <1) 'I) M Control Flowchart> FIG. 36 is a flowchart of the P' PM control shown in FIG. 8. Since steps 81 to S4 are the same as those shown in FIGS. 34 to 36, their explanation will be omitted. In S5, P data is created from the previous M data and the current M data. This routine will be described later. In S6, the P data created in S5 is heated. In S7, the M data obtained in S4 is heated. In S8, P' data is created from the current M data and the next M data. This routine will be described later. In S9, the P' data obtained in S8 is heated. In S10, the character count is incremented by 1. Actually, P' is printed in the first cycle, and P and M are printed in the next cycle. In Sll, the character count is checked, and if it is not zero, the process moves to S3. If it is zero, it means that printing of one character has been completed, and the process ends in S12. <P' PM (3, 2, 1) control flowchart>
Figure 37 shows P' PM (3,2°1) shown in Figure 9.
It is a flowchart of control. 81 to S4 are the same as described above, and therefore will be omitted. In S5, the presence or absence of previous P' data is checked. If previous P' data exists, P data is turned on in S7. In other words, this indicates that the next time the P data is heated, it will be printed. Next, go to 88. If it does not exist, P data is created from the previous M data and the current M data in S6 (described later). S6 and S7 in S8
Heat the P data created. In S9, the M data acquired in S4 is heated. In SIO, P' data is created from the previous M data, the current M data, and the next M data (described later). Sll heats the P' data obtained by SIO. In S12, the character count is decremented by 1. In S13, the character count is checked, and if it is not zero, the process moves to S3. If it is zero, it means the end of one character. [ΔData Acquisition Control Flowchart] FIG. 38 is a flowchart of the A data acquisition portion of AMA control (FIG. 34, 85). When acquisition of A data starts in Sl, in S2 M data (abbreviated as
Check to see if there is any data (currently referred to as M data). If it exists, the process moves to S3, and it is checked whether previous M data (the dot immediately before the current printing position) exists. If it does not exist, A in S4
Turn on data. This ON means that the A data is actually printed by heat control in S7 of FIG. 34. Here, the latter A data of AMA is created. Also, if previous M data exists in S3,
Since the M data is continuous, the process moves to S7. Returning to the previous step, if the current M data does not exist in S2, the process moves to S5. In S5, the CG of the next dot is read in advance. This pre-read data is the next M data. In S6, the presence or absence of the next M data is checked. If the next M data exists, the A data is turned on in S4. The A data created here is the first A data of AMA. If the next M data does not exist in S6, the process moves to S7. In S7, the first dot is controlled (explained in FIG. 39). Further, in S8, control is performed to perform one continuous horizontal dot (this will be explained with reference to FIG. 42). In S9, U-shaped dot control is performed (explained in FIG. 43). The SIO performs mouth-shaped dot control (explained in FIG. 44). Sll controls the enclosure (explained in FIG. 45). Then, the process ends in S12. (First dot control flowchart in AMA control) FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the first dot control in AMA control. Control is started with S1.
The ambient temperature of the device is sensed by the temperature sensing circuit (Fig. 2-13) at 2. Check whether the temperature is low with S3. A3MA' with S5 at low temperature
Control goes to line control 6. AMA at S4 when the temperature is not low
Control is performed, and the control is ended in S6. (AMA" control flowchart) FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing AMA" control. Here, FIG. 11 is cited as an example. Control is started in Sl. In S2, the existence of M data is checked. If it does not exist goes to S6 (If they exist, check in S3 whether upper and lower M data exist. If either or both exist, go to S6. If neither exists, check for the existence of A data in S4. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, turn on the upper and lower A data in S5, and end the process in S6. (A"MA" control flowchart) Figure 41 is a flowchart showing A"MA" control. Here, we will refer to Fig. 14 as an example. Start control with Sl. Check the existence of M data in S2. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it does not exist, check the upper and lower M data in S'3. Check to see if it exists. If either or both exist, go to S7. If neither exists, check for the existence of A data in S4. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, go to S5 and check the existence of A data. Turn on the A data and go to S7. By the way, in 86, check the existence of upper and lower A data, and if they do not exist, go to S4. If they exist, go to S7 and end the control. Control flowchart] Fig. 42 is a flowchart showing the control of continuous one horizontal dot in AMA control. Fig. 18 is cited here as an example. Control is started with Sl. In S2, it is checked whether M data exists. .If it does not exist, move to S5.If it exists,
In S3, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked. If either or both of the upper and lower M data exist, S
Move on to 5. If neither coexists, move up and down (first
9-1 to 19-3)), turn on the A data,
The process ends in S5. [Control flowchart for U-shaped dot] FIG. 43 is a flowchart for controlling the U-shaped dot. The example is the second
As explained in Figure 0, control is started at Sl, and A is started at S2.
Check for existence of data. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, the existence of M data is checked in S3. If it exists, go to S6. If it does not exist, the existence of upper and lower M data is checked in S4. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, the A data is turned off in S5, and the control ends in S6. As a result, the A data in the dotted line portion shown in FIG. 20 is not printed, and the U-shape is surely printed. [Flowchart of mouth-shaped dot control] FIG. 44 is a flowchart of mouth-shaped dot control. An example is illustrated in FIG. Control starts at S1. In S2, the existence of current A data is checked. If it does not exist, go to Sll. If it exists, the existence of the current M data is checked in S3. If it exists, go to S11. S4 when it does not exist
Check the existence of previous M data. If it does not exist, go to Sll. If it exists, the existence of the above M data is checked in S5. If it does not exist, go to 310. If it exists, the presence of the M data below is checked in S6. If it exists, go to 311. If it does not exist, the next dot CG is read in advance in S7. In S8, the existence of M data of the next dot is checked, and if it does not exist, Sl
Go to l (. If it exists, turn off A data in S9 and
Go to (. By the way, in 810, check the M data below, and if it exists, go to S7. If it does not exist, control is ended with Sll. [Enclosure control flowchart] Figure 45 is a flowchart of enclosure control. An example is explained in Fig. 22. Control is started with Sl, and the existence of the current M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S9. If it exists, go to S3. In S3, the upper and lower M data are Check the existence of the data. If one or both of them are absent, go to S9. If both are present, go to S4 to check the existence of the previous M data. If not, go to S9. If it exists, go to S5 and proceed to the next step. Read ahead the dot CG. Check the existence of the next dot in S6. If it does not exist, go to S9. If it exists, turn off the M data in S7, turn on the A data in S8, and end the control in S9. .In other words, if there is M data surrounding the current M data checked in S2, turn off that M data.However, as it is, it will become a blank area, so to avoid concentration of thermal energy, only A data is turned off. CAM, A'M underline control] Fig. 46 is a flowchart of AM underline control and A'M underline control. Instructions for underlining etc. can be made by specifying the underlined mode using the key, or by It goes without saying that this is done by inputting the data of underlined characters, but control is started in Sl based on these instructions. In S2, it is checked whether it is the 0th dot. That is, the first dot of the underline is checked. Check whether it is a preliminary heat. If it is not a preliminary heat, go to S4. If it is a preliminary heat, heat A' (which means that the pulse width is different from A by one position) in S3, and go to S7 (. Check if it is an even numbered dot. If it is an even numbered dot, select S5.
Heat A and go to S7. S if it is an odd numbered dot
M is heated in step 6, and the control is ended in step S7. [P data acquisition flowchart] Figure 47 shows S in the P' PM control shown in Figure 36.
5 is a flowchart of the part of acquiring P data of No. 5. When acquisition of P data starts in Sl, it is checked in S2 whether current M data exists. If it does not exist, move to S5. If it exists, the existence of previous M data is checked in S3. If it exists, move to S5. If it does not exist, the P data is turned on in S4. In S5, the first dot is controlled (described in FIG. 50). In S6, one horizontal dot continuation control is performed (explained in FIG. 51). The process ends in S7. CP' data acquisition flowchart] FIG. 48 shows the P' PM explained in 88 of FIG.
12 is a flowchart of a part of control for acquiring P' data. When acquisition of P' data starts in Sl, it is checked in S2 whether current M data exists. If it exists, move to S6. If it does not exist, the next dot CG is read in advance in S3. This becomes the next M data. S
In step 4, the existence of the next dot (M data) is checked. If it does not exist, the process moves to S6. If it exists, the P' data is turned on in S5, and the process ends in S6. CP' PM (3, 2, 1) control flowchart 1.]
Figure 49 shows P' PM explained in Figure 37 SIO.
It is a flowchart of P' (3°2.1) data acquisition in (3,2,1) control. When the acquisition of P' (3, 2, 1) data starts in Sl, the existence of current M data is checked in S2. S when it exists
Move on to 6. If it does not exist, the next dot CG is read in advance in S3. In S4, the existence of the next dot (M data) is checked. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, P' in S5
(3, 2, 1) Turn on the data and go to S7 (By the way, in 86 check the existence of previous M data. If it does not exist, go to S5. If it exists, end the process in S7. CP' PM control 5th control of the first dot in
FIG. 0 is a flowchart showing control of the first dot in P'PM control. Control is started with Sl, and temperature sensing circuit (No. 2-1) is started with S2.
3) to sense the ambient temperature of the device. Check whether the temperature is low with S3. If the temperature is not low, P'P and M control are performed in S5 (explained in FIG. 51), and the process goes to S6. If the temperature is low, P' P and MP' are controlled in S4 (described in FIG. 52), and the process is ended in S6. CI)'P'MP' 3 Control Flow Chart] No. 5
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the P'P3Mpr s control shown at 84 in FIG. 50. Control is started at Sl, and the presence of M data is checked at S2. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, the presence of upper and lower M data is checked in S3. If M data exists in either or both of the upper and lower positions, the process goes to S7. If neither exists, the presence of P data is checked in S4. If it does not exist, go to S7. If it exists, the upper and lower P data are turned on in S5, the upper and lower P' data are turned on in S6, and the control is ended in S7. CP'P'' M control flowchart] Fig. 52 14
Figure 50 851. -Indication? :P'P" This is a flowchart of M control. Control is started with Sl, and the presence of M data is checked in S2. If it does not exist, go to S6. If it exists, check the existence of upper and lower M data in S3. .If it exists in one or both of the top and bottom, go to S6. If it does not exist in either, check the existence of P data in S4. If it does not exist, go to S6
go to If it exists, turn on the upper and lower P data in S5,
The control ends in S6. CP' Control flowchart for one horizontal dot in PM control] FIG. 53 shows P' explained in FIGS. 36 and 47.
7 is a flowchart showing continuous horizontal one-dot control in PM control. Control is started at Sl, and the presence of current M data is checked at S2. If it does not exist, go to S6 (. If it exists, check the existence of upper and lower M data in S3. If either or both exist, go to S6. If both do not exist, turn on P data in S4. S5
The P' data is turned on in step S6, and the control is ended in step S6. [System Flowchart] Above, we have explained the thermal head heat control method along with the patterns. Below, we will explain the overall system flowchart of the device when these control methods are switched as appropriate and high-quality printing is always performed. This will be explained with reference to FIG. First, when the power of the device is turned on in Sl, the RAMI is turned on in S2.
Performs initial processing of the entire device, such as various data in l. Note that in this example, a thermal printer is used as an example. This printer uses various ribbons, such as regular ink ribbon IR, collector ribbon CR that can print and erase with the same ribbon, and multiple ribbon layers (although not limited to this), and two-color ribbons. A dual color ribbon DR capable of printing in the above colors can be selectively mounted on the carriage 5. In S3, input from the keyboard 1 or data input from the I/F connector 15 is detected. If there is data to be printed, the process advances to S4, and it is determined whether or not the mounted ribbon is a CR ribbon. This determination is made based on data from a ribbon sensor (not shown) or data from a keyboard or the like, such as the two ribbon types and colors indicated by a signal from a signal generating means that generates a signal representing the ribbon. If the determination in S4 is negative, the process proceeds to S17, where it is determined whether the mounted ribbon is a DR ribbon. If the ribbon is determined to be CR in S4, the process advances to S5. S5
It is determined whether the input key is an erase key or not. If the erase key has been input, the process advances to S29 and an erase operation is performed. If not, proceed to S6. In S6, for example, 30
If it is determined that the temperature is higher than 0.degree. C., the PPMPM control described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 35 is selected in S7, and printing is performed in S28. Returning to S6, if the temperature is not high, the process proceeds to S8 and selects the AMA control explained in FIGS. 6 and 34. Furthermore, in S9, it is determined whether the temperature is low (for example, 14 degrees Celsius or lower).
Determine. Note that this 89 is the same as 83 in FIG. 39. When it is not low temperature, that is, room temperature (e.g. 14℃~30℃)
°C), proceed to SIO, perform the AMA" control explained in FIGS. 11 and 40, and proceed to S13. If it is determined that the temperature is low in S9, proceed to S11, and Perform the A”MΔ1 control as explained,
Proceed to step 512. In S12, the horizontal 1 in the AMA control shown in Fig. 18, Figs.
Controls dot continuity. S13. In S14, AM and A'M underline control shown in FIGS. 17 and 46 is performed. Next, at 815 and 816, FIGS. 20 to 22 are shown. Control is performed for the 9 holes of the 1st roller shown in FIGS. 43 to 45. Returning to S4, the process proceeds to S17 instead of the CR ribbon, and if it is determined that the DR ribbon is loaded, the process proceeds to S18, and in 318 it is determined whether or not there is a color specification by key input or color specification command data. . If a color is specified (for example, blue), that is, if the ink on the recording paper side of the ink layer is specified, the process advances to 325. When no color is specified, that is, the ink on the thermal head side of the ink layer (
If black) is specified, the process advances to S19. This 319 is the same as 83 in FIG. In S19, if the temperature is low based on the data from the temperature measuring circuit 13 of FIG. 2, the process advances to S22. If the temperature is not low, proceed to S20,
The P' PM control explained in FIGS. 8 and 36 is selected. In S21, the P'P3M control explained in FIGS. 23 and 52 is performed, and in S28, printing is performed. If it is determined in step 319 that the temperature is low, the process advances to S22 and the ninth
P′ PM (3, 2, 1
) control is selected, and the P'P"MP'" control shown in FIGS. 28 and 50 is performed in S23. Further, in S24, continuous horizontal one-dot control is performed in the P'PM control shown in FIGS. 32 and 53, and printing is performed in S28. Next, the process returns to 818 and if the DR ribbon is installed and the specified print color is blue, the process proceeds to S25. S25
The temperature is determined in the same manner as described above, and if the temperature is high, the PPMPM control described in FIGS. 7 and 35 is selected. If the temperature is not high, the AMA control described in FIGS. 6 and 34 is selected at 826, and printing is performed at 328. After S28 ends, the process returns to S31 to S83. r Erasure Control] Next, the erasure shown in FIG. 54 829 will be explained. Figure 55 (a), (b) i;! , (in ROM10) i:
This is an example of a stored photo pattern for erasing. In reality, it is a 24x8 dot pattern, which is used repeatedly. If you try to remove the recorded ink by heating all the patterns you want to erase, the thermal energy will accumulate, and there is a risk that the ribbon will stick to the paper or become smudged. (For MNN control, N is heated by reducing the heat pulse width of M at intervals of one dot horizontally. Furthermore, regarding the first dot, since the erase energy is low, heating is started two dots before the first dot. The erasing energy of the first dot increases and erasing becomes reliable. This can be achieved by using the pattern shown in Fig. 55 (a) or the pattern shown in Fig. 55 (b). Figure (a
) and (b) are staggered box fonts used when erasing. There are gaps of 1 dot in both the vertical and horizontal directions. In this example, the first erasing operation is performed in FIG. 55(a), but in order to ensure that the characters are erased, another erasing operation, that is, a second erasing operation is necessary. During this second erasure, Figure 55 (
Use the font b). The font in FIG. 55(b) is alternated from that in FIG. 55(a), and is erased with a shift compared to the first time. Needless to say, either order is fine. As described above, by using alternate fonts and erasing twice, characters can be surely erased. [Refer to manual] In automatic erasing, the erasing width was determined by the character width of the characters stored on the buffer. When this buffer is full of characters, the characters are deleted from the buffer one after another. When attempting to erase a deleted character from this buffer, there is no width data to be erased, so a manual erase mode is entered. For manual erasing, it is necessary to notify the operator that this mode is in progress and key in the character width of the character to be erased. The keyed-in character is the currently displayed font. The erasing width is obtained by the pitch (full width x 1 width). As a result, characters can be erased by the erase width obtained. In other words, the operator can freely select the erasing width and erase. [Erase (by staggered pattern) flowchart] FIG. 56 is a flowchart for erasing 329 in FIG. 54. Processing is started at S1, and dot pattern 1 of MN is set at S2. Here, the dots and heat pattern shown in FIG. 55(a) are meant. In S3, MN control (FIG. 57) is performed to perform the first erasing. In S4, the thermal head (carriage) 6 that has moved due to the erasing operation is returned to the first erasing start position. MN dot pattern 2 in S5
Set. Here, it means the dot and heat pattern shown in FIG. 55(b). MN control with S6 (Figure 57)
of? 1, the second erasing is performed, and the process ends in S7. In this embodiment, it is also possible to further change the thermal energy during the above-described erasing operation a plurality of times. If the heat pulse width is made smaller each time the heat accumulation in the head is taken into consideration, the thermal energy can be kept at a constant appropriate value each time. This is particularly useful with the CR ribbons mentioned above. [MN Control Flowchart] FIG. 57 is a flowchart of MN control. Control is started at S1, and at S2 the character width of the character to be erased is obtained from the CG and set in the character count section 23 on the RAM. In S3, the character count obtained in S2 is incremented by 2. This makes it possible to erase from two dots before the character. In S4, the excitation phase of the stepping motor is switched. In S5, the character count obtained in 82 and S3 is checked. If it is an odd number, go to S9. If the number is even, S
6 to obtain M data, S7 to obtain the heat pulse width of M data, and S8 to 86. Heat the M data obtained in S7 and proceed to S12 (. In S9, N data is obtained, in SIO the heat pulse width of N data is obtained, and in Sll, the N data obtained in S9 and S10 is
I heated up overnight and went to S12. At Sl2, the character count is decremented by 1. The character count is checked in S13, and if it is not zero, the process moves to S4. If it is zero, control ends in S14. [Manual Erase Flowchart] FIG. 58 is a flowchart of manual erase. Start processing with Sl. In S2, a message is displayed on the LCD to notify the operator that the manual erase mode has entered. In S3, it is checked whether a key has been input. If no input has been made, repeat S3 again. If a key is input, it is checked in S4 whether it is an end key. If it is the end key, the process moves to S8. If it is not an end key, it is checked in S5 whether it is a character key. If the key is not a character key, the key will wait for human power again in S3. If it is a character key, the character width corresponding to the input character is obtained from the CG in S6, and the erasing width is obtained. In S7, the erase operation is performed by the erase width obtained in S6, and the process moves to S3. At S8, the message on the LCD is cleared and the operator indicates that the manual erase mode has ended. When recording a 9-hole type pattern, by not performing preliminary heat for recording dots in the right direction, it has become possible to record with high quality without any distortion. As described above in detail, in the apparatus for recording dot information using thermal energy according to the present invention, there is provided a thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy, a reading means for reading out dot information representing a pattern to be recorded, and a device for recording dot information using thermal energy. If the read pattern is a pattern in which dot information exists in at least three surrounding directions, including dot information in the recording direction, measures are taken to prevent the generation of preliminary thermal energy for recording the dot information in the recording direction. It has now become possible to provide a thermal transfer printer characterized by having a control means for controlling the thermal energy generating means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an external view of an electronic typewriter, Figure 2 is a block diagram of the electronic typewriter, Figure 3 is a configuration diagram of a thermal head driver, Figure 4 is a diagram of a motor driver, and Figure 5 is a character font. 6 is an explanatory diagram of AMA control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing PPMPM control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. 5. 8 is an explanatory diagram of P' PM control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of P' PM control for heating the pattern A portion in FIG.
, 1) An explanatory diagram of the control, Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the P' MP control for heating the pattern A part in Fig. 5, and Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the P' MP control for heating the putter 28 part in Fig. 5. An explanatory diagram of the control, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the A' MA sub-control for heating the putter 28 part in FIG. 5, and FIG.
An explanatory diagram of MA control, Fig. 14 is the putter 2 in Fig. 5.
An explanatory diagram of A"MA" control for heating 8 parts,
Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the AA"MA sub-control for heating the putter 28 part in Fig. 5, and Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the A" AMA sub-control for heating the putter 28 part in Fig. 5.
"Explanatory diagram of control. Figure 17 is an explanatory diagram of AM, A'M underline control. Figure 18 is an illustration of continuous horizontal one-dot control in AMA control to heat the pattern C portion shown in Figure 5. Explanatory diagrams, Figures 19-1 to 19-3 are explanatory diagrams of the application example of Figure 18, and Figure 20 is an explanation of U-shaped dot control for heating the pattern 0 part of Figure 5. Figure 21 is an explanatory diagram of the dot control for heating the pattern E in Figure 5, and Figure 22 is an explanatory diagram of the box control for heating the pattern F in Figure 5. , FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of P'P3M control for heating the putter 28 portion of FIG. 5, FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of P''' PM control for heating the putter 28 portion of FIG. 5, FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of the P'PMP' control for heating the putter 28 portion of FIG. 5, and FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram of the P'PMP''' control for heating the putter 28 portion of FIG. 5. , Fig. 27 shows P'P' for heating the putter 28 part of Fig. 5.
An explanatory diagram of PM control, Fig. 28 is an explanatory diagram of P'P''MP''' control for heating the putter 28 part of Fig. 5, and Fig. 29 is an explanatory diagram of the P'P''MP''' control for heating the putter 28 part of Fig. 5. An explanatory diagram of P'``PMP''' control, Fig. 30 is a diagram showing P'``PMP''' control for heating the putter 28 part in Fig. 5.
``PMP'' ``Explanatory diagram of control, Figure 31 is PP for heating the putter 28 part of the jFS diagram.'' ``PM
An explanatory diagram of P' control, Fig. 32 is a continuous horizontal 1 in P' PM control for heating the pattern C part of Fig. 5.
Dot control, Figures 33-1 to 33-5 are diagrams showing application examples of Figure 32, Figure 34 is a flowchart of the AMA control shown in Figure 6, Figure 35 is shown in Figure 7. Figure 36 is a flow chart of P' PM control shown in Figure 8, Figure 37 is a flow chart of P' PM (3,2°1) control shown in Figure 9, Figure 38 is a flow chart of P' PM control shown in Figure 9. is a control flowchart of the part that acquires A data of AMA control, FIG. 39 is a control flowchart of the first dot in AMA control, FIG. 40 is a flowchart of AMA" control shown in FIG. 11, and FIG. Flowchart of the A"MA" control shown in Fig. 14, Fig. 42 is a control flowchart of continuous horizontal dots in the AMA control shown in Fig. 18, Fig. 43 is a control flowchart of U-shaped dots, Fig. 44 Figure 45 is a control flowchart for box-shaped dots, Figure 46 is a float yard for AM, A'M underline control, Figure 47 is a P data acquisition flowchart for P' PM control, Figure 48 The figure is a P' data acquisition flowchart in P' PM control, and Figure 49 is the P' data acquisition flowchart in P' PM (3, 2, 1) control.
' (3,2,1) Data acquisition flowchart, Figure 50 is a flowchart showing the control of the first dot in P' PM control, Figure 51 is P'P"MP'" control flowchart, Figure 52 is P 'P'M control flowchart, Figure 53 is a horizontal one-dot control flowchart in P' PM control, Figure 54 is a system flowchart, Figure 55 is an explanatory diagram of the erasing pattern, and Figure 56 is the erasure (staggered pattern). Figure 57 is a MN control flowchart, Figure 58 is a manual erase flowchart, 9...C
PU, 11...RAM, 10...ROM.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an apparatus for recording dot information using thermal energy, a thermal energy generating means for generating thermal energy, a reading means for reading out dot information representing a pattern to be recorded, and a pattern read by the reading means are dots in the recording direction. Control means for controlling the thermal energy generating means so as not to generate preliminary thermal energy for recording dot information in the recording direction when the pattern includes dot information in at least three surrounding directions; A thermal transfer printer characterized by having: