JPS637952A - Current supply recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a current supply recording apparatus capable of obtaining stable and uniform printing density, by a method wherein a large number of electrode needles are divided into small blocks and time sharing driving is performed at every small block and the width of a current supply pulse or the number of said pulses is made variable corresponding to the number of the electrode needles. CONSTITUTION:48 electrode needles 1 are divided into three blocks each consisting of 16 electrode needles and a printing cycle T is divided into three so that the blocks do not operate simultaneously. A current supply pulse with (t) is changed at every block and the length thereof is determined by how many electrode needles among 16 simultaneously receive the supply of a current. For example, when a current is simultaneously supplied to 16 electrode needles 1, a current is supplied at a pulse width of T/3 and, when a current is supplied to only one electrode needle, a current is supplied at a pulse width of T/6 and, by this way, when the pulse width (t) of a current supplied is set so as to become longer as the number of the electrode needles increase, a dot having definite density or a stable size is obtained regardless of the number of the electrode needles 1 simultaneously receiving the supply of a current.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to a current-carrying thermal or current-carrying recording device used in facsimiles, printers, and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional energization recording device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the recording principle of the current recording method. In FIG. 4, lO is the recording sheet and the grinding wheel 1) 1). It consists of a conductive layer 12 and an ink layer 13. 1
Reference numeral 6 designates an electrode needle (usually a plurality of electrode needles, but one needle is shown as a representative in the figure), 15 a recording signal source, 17 a return electrode, and 14 a recording paper. When the recording sheet (10) and the recording paper (14) are overlapped and the electrode needle (16) and the return electrode (17) are brought into contact with the resistance layer (1) and the recording signal source (15) is operated, the current flows along the path shown by the broken line, and the recording electrode needle The resistive layer 1) immediately below 16 generates heat, melting the ink layer 13 and transferring it to the recording paper 14 (another example of such energization recording is JP-A-59-79773, etc.) . FIG. 5 shows an equivalent circuit of the recording section shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, 22 is the resistance of the resistance layer 1) between the electrode needles 16 and the conductive layer 12 directly below the plurality of electrode needles 16, 23 is the resistance of the R conductive layer 12 between the electrode needles 16 and the return electrode 17, and 24 is the return train ff
1) The resistance of the resistive layer 1) between 7 and the conductive layer 12.

27 is a transistor for driving each electrode needle 16. Note that when each transistor 27, to which a constant voltage is applied between the terminal 25 and the ground, is operated in response to an image recording signal, a current flows through the corresponding resistor 22, causing the resistor 22 to heat up and cause the The ink layer 13 melts and the recording paper 1
Transferred to 4.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a conventional energization recording device, there are cases where only one of the resistors 22 directly below the electrode needle 16 is energized, and cases where a large number of electrode needles 16 are energized at the same time. Since the value of the current flowing through one resistor 22 is different between the two resistors 22 and the energization time is always constant, the amount of heat generated in each resistor 22 differs depending on the number of electrode needles 16 driven at the same time. As a result, there was a problem in that the density and size of the printed dots changed, making stable printing impossible. This is because as the number of resistors 22 that are energized at the same time increases, the combined resistance value of the resistors 22 decreases, the voltage applied to the resistors 22 decreases, and as a result, the current value flowing through each resistor 22 decreases. be.

In addition, as the number of resistors 22 that are energized at the same time increases, the resistance ratio of the common resistors 23 and 24 to the resistors 22 increases.
This has led to problems such as increased power consumption and decreased energy efficiency.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an energization recording device that reduces the energy required for printing and provides stable and uniform print density regardless of the number of electrode needles that are energized at the same time. It provides:

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the energization recording device of the present invention divides a plurality of electrode needles into small blocks, performs time-division driving for each small block, and simultaneously energizes each small block. The width (energization time) or the number of pulses to be energized can be varied depending on the number of electrode needles to be energized.

Function Since the present invention is configured to perform time-division driving, the number of electrode needles that are energized simultaneously can be reduced, and as a result, the resistance 2
3 and the resistor 24 can be reduced. Also, since the intensity or number of pulses to be energized is variable depending on the number of electrode needles energized simultaneously for each small block, il! When the number of electrode needles is large and the value of current flowing per needle is reduced, the current supply time can be lengthened to keep the amount of heat generated by the resistor 22 constant at all times, resulting in stable printing.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an energization recording apparatus according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of an energization recording apparatus according to the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of an energization recording apparatus in which the configuration of FIG. 1 is adapted to a serial printer. Figures 1 and 2
In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a recording sheet, and as in FIG. It is arranged as follows. 1 is the electrode needle 48
The book conductors are arranged in a line in a direction transverse to the tape-shaped recording sheet 10 to constitute a recording head 8.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a transistor for controlling energization to each electrode needle 1, and 3 a return electrode roller, which is grounded. 5
is a control circuit section that controls switching of each transistor 2; 19 is a carriage body, and a recording head 8. A return path electrode roller 3 and a recording sheet 10 are provided. The carriage 19 is configured to be guided by guide rails 31 and reciprocated along the platen 30. Note that a constant voltage is applied to the terminal 6.

When an input signal regarding an image or a character is input to the control circuit section 5, the control circuit section 5 controls each transistor 2 to turn on or off in accordance with the input signal. When the transistor 2 is turned on, the electrode needle 1 connected to it. Resistance layer 1
). Conductive layer 12. Resistance layer 1). A current flows through the path of the return electrode roller 3, and the resistance layer 1) directly below the electrode needle generates heat, melting the ink layer I3 and transferring the ink layer 13 onto the recording paper 14. The recording head 8 and the return electrode roller 3 hold the recording sheet 10 between them and press it against the platen 30, and while the energization state is sequentially controlled, they move to the right as the carriage 19 moves, and move to the right in response to human input signals. It is configured to record characters or image patterns.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the timing of the energizing operation of each transistor 2 by the control circuit section 5. In FIG. As shown in Fig. 3, the 48 TLPj needles are divided into three small blocks of 16 needles each, and the printing period T is divided into three to prevent each block from operating at the same time, so that they are sequentially driven. It is composed. In addition, the energization pulse width L (energization time) can be changed for each block, and the length of this energization pulse width t is determined by how many of the 16 electrode needles 1 are energized at the same time. Ru. For example, when energizing 16 wires at the same time, the pulse width is T/3, when 8 wires are energized the same amount, the pulse width is T/4, and when only one wire is energized, the pulse width is T/3.
The more electrode needles are energized, the longer the pulse width (such as the pulse width of 6), the longer the electrode needles 1 and 1 that are energized at the same time.
Stable dots with a constant density or size can be obtained regardless of the number of dots. It goes without saying that the optimum pulse width varies depending on the values of the resistance 22 in the heat generating part and the resistances 23 and 24 in the common part shown in FIG. The larger the value, the smaller the pulse width variable range.

In this embodiment, the width of the energizing pulse was made variable, but there is also a method of printing a single dot by applying pulses of a constant width multiple times, but in this case, it is necessary to increase or decrease the number of pulses to be applied. Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained.

In other words, since it is a constant voltage drive, as the number of electrode needles 1 that are energized at the same time increases, the current flowing through each electrode needle 1 decreases, so by increasing the energization time accordingly, the amount of heat generated in the resistor 22 is kept constant. This is the translation. Furthermore, in the examples, a method in which an ink layer is transferred to a recording paper is shown, but similar effects can be obtained with an electrically conductive coloring type recording method in which the recording sheet itself develops color. Recording sheet 1 shown in the example also in the recording method of
0 configuration, as well as those without conductive layer 12 and conductive WI
Needless to say, it is also applicable to those using an insulating base instead of 12, and those having a four-layer structure.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention reduces wasted energy that does not contribute to printing by dividing the plurality of electrode needles 1 into small blocks and performing time-division driving in which the timing is shifted for each block. At the same time, the variable width of the variable pulse width or number of pulses can be reduced.

In addition, since the energizing pulse width or number of pulses is varied according to the failure of the electrode needles 1 that are energized at the same time in each time-division block, the effect is that dots with a constant density or shape can always be printed regardless of the energizing conditions. be.

Note that when the recording sheet 10 has a tape-like structure, the resistance 23, 24 of the common part tends to be large, and as a result, uneven printing is likely to occur. Greater effects can be obtained if the present invention is applied to the serial printer used.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the energization recording device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the serial printer of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of energization operation of each electrode needle of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is energization A diagram explaining the principle of the recording method, FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the current circuit shown in FIG. 4. 1... Electrode needle, 2... Transistor,
3...Return electrode roller, 5...Control circuit section, 8...Recording head, 10...Recording sheet, 14...Recording Paper. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao 1 person 10-11 1 sheet 1) ---Senken layer 14--*W4'A 15-m-・irt> down

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of electrode needles that can be moved in contact with an energized recording material, a return electrode that comes into contact with the energized recording material, a driving means for moving the electrode needles relative to the energized recording material, and a drive means for moving the electrode needles relative to the energized recording material; and an energization control circuit means for selectively applying a recording voltage between each of the return electrodes, and the energization control circuit means time-divisionally drives the plurality of electrode needles for each small block, and for each time-division block. 1. An energization recording device characterized in that it is configured to print at a constant density by changing the energization pulse width according to the number of electrode needles that are simultaneously driven. (2) A patent in which a single dot is printed by repeatedly applying energizing pulses of a constant width, and the number of energizing pulses is changed according to the number of simultaneously driven electrode needles to print at a constant density. Claims No. (
The energization recording device described in item 1). (3) A carriage that moves along a printing line of an energized recording material, and a print head having a plurality of electrode needles on the carriage, and as the carriage moves, the print head sequentially records characters. An energization recording device according to any one of claims (1) and (2).