WO2010066162A1 - 一种热打印头检测装置、检测方法及其热打印机 - Google Patents

一种热打印头检测装置、检测方法及其热打印机 Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010066162A1
WO2010066162A1 PCT/CN2009/075124 CN2009075124W WO2010066162A1 WO 2010066162 A1 WO2010066162 A1 WO 2010066162A1 CN 2009075124 W CN2009075124 W CN 2009075124W WO 2010066162 A1 WO2010066162 A1 WO 2010066162A1
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Prior art keywords
thermal
print head
detecting
heating element
voltage
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PCT/CN2009/075124
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
谷长刚
徐志刚
胡广东
王玉国
杨现刚
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山东新北洋信息技术股份有限公司
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Application filed by 山东新北洋信息技术股份有限公司 filed Critical 山东新北洋信息技术股份有限公司
Priority to EP09831439.6A priority Critical patent/EP2360022B1/en
Priority to US13/139,104 priority patent/US8497890B2/en
Publication of WO2010066162A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010066162A1/zh

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B41J2/35—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads providing current or voltage to the thermal head
    • B41J2/355—Control circuits for heating-element selection

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a thermal print head detecting device, a detecting method and a thermal printer.
  • the application is filed on December 12, 2008, and the application number is 200810172780.2, and the invention name is "a thermal print head detecting device, a detecting method and a The priority of the Chinese Patent Application for Thermal Printers, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • This invention relates to thermal printer technology, and more particularly to a thermal printhead inspection apparatus.
  • the present invention also provides a detection method for detecting a thermal head using the thermal head detecting device.
  • the present invention also provides a thermal printer using the above thermal print detecting device and detecting method. Background technique
  • Thermal printheads are the main components of thermal printers and are used in thermal printers such as thermal printers and thermal transfer printers.
  • the thermal print head is provided with a heating element unit, and by controlling whether each unit is heated, a corresponding graphic or text is printed.
  • the thermal printer uses the thermal heat of the printed hair to chemically change the thermal layer on the surface of the printing paper to develop color and form characters or images.
  • the thermal transfer printer uses the heat of the printed hair to heat and melt the pigment material on the ribbon to the surface of the paper to form a text or image.
  • the heat generating unit of the thermal head used is a heat generating square, and one thermal head has 320 heat generating square points, each occupying an area of 0.25 mm x 0.25 mm.
  • the corresponding hot spots in the dot matrix are controlled to heat, and the printed content can be printed on any position of the thermal paper.
  • the above-described heating element unit exhibits electrical resistance in terms of electrical characteristics.
  • any one of the heating element units of the thermal print head will have an effect on normal printing when there is a malfunction such as an open circuit and cannot be normally heated.
  • the individual heat generating units of the thermal head cannot be normally heated.
  • the influence of the printing is often not immediately recognized by observing the printing effect, and such a failure may have an important influence on some printing occasions.
  • thermal printers are often used for bar code printing. Bar codes are made up of bars and spaces with different widths and different reflectivities according to certain coding rules. They can express a set of numbers or letters and symbols, etc., for various types of goods and prints. occasion.
  • the heat generating unit of the thermal head When printing on a thermal printer, according to the barcode encoding needs, It is controlled whether the heat generating unit of the thermal head is heated, and strips and spaces are formed on the printing medium. If a certain print hair hot unit is broken or damaged, the heat generating unit cannot generate heat after being energized, and the point corresponding to the heat generating unit cannot be colored. Thus, when the barcode is printed, the white strip generated by the corresponding position of the broken heat generating body changes the bar bar and the empty arrangement rule, resulting in data errors. Since the data information represented by the barcode is very important, the above-mentioned errors in printing are difficult to detect, so measures must be taken to avoid it.
  • thermal printers generally detect the heat generating unit of the thermal printhead. Print the resistance of the hair heat unit for detection. Since the periodic inspection does not reflect the hot and cold on-off state of the printed hair in time, and the print head needs to be disassembled, the operation is complicated, and therefore, the actual needs cannot be met.
  • Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2007-268918 discloses a thermal print head detecting device.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of a thermal head detecting device provided by the Japanese patent, and a control device for a thermal head detecting device includes a normal printing power source and an open circuit detecting power source 21.
  • the power switch 22 turns on the normal print power; when the printer receives the test command, the power switch 22 turns on the open circuit detection power supply 21.
  • the print hair heat unit HE is connected in parallel with the resistor 25, and one end of the parallel connection is connected to the output end of the power switch 22 via the resistor 23, and the other end is grounded.
  • the on-circuit detection power supply 21, the resistor 23, the heating unit HE, and the detection resistor 25 constitute a detection circuit.
  • detecting by detecting the voltage of the resistor 23, it is possible to determine whether or not the heating element unit HE is open. In this way, by switching the normal print power source and the open circuit detection point, the on-off state of the printed hair hot body can be detected online.
  • the above prior art has the disadvantage that it is necessary to separately set the normal printing power source and the print head detecting power source, and to set the power source switching switch for the above power source, and the circuit is complicated. Moreover, if the resistance of the resistor 23 is set too small, the resistance detection of the heating unit is not accurate, and the fault may not be found; the resistance of the resistor 23 is too large, and the power consumption of the resistor 23 is too large during normal printing. Print effect. Summary of the invention
  • the print head detecting device comprises a power source, a power switch, a power switch control circuit, a first detecting resistor, a second detecting resistor, and a print head to be detected and a print head control circuit thereof;
  • the power switch is connected to a common end of each of the heat generating body units of the print head, the first detecting resistor is connected in parallel with the power switch; the output end of the power switch control circuit is connected to the control end of the power switch;
  • One end of the second detecting resistor is connected to the common end of the heat generating unit, and the other end is grounded; and the print head control circuit controls the gating of each of the heat generating units in the print head. value. , ", , , , , resistance.
  • the resistance of the second detecting resistor is specifically more than 5 times of the resistance of the printed hair thermal unit.
  • the invention further provides a thermal print head detecting method, which is suitable for the thermal print head detecting device according to any one of the above preferred aspects, comprising: disconnecting the power switch, performing thermal print head resistance detection; closing the power switch The thermal print head performs the print job.
  • a certain heating element unit of the print head is strobed, and after the strobing, detecting a voltage U A of the common end of the printed hair heat body or a voltage or current of the first detecting resistor Or the voltage or current of the second detecting resistor, and using the detected value as a criterion, comparing it with the normal value obtained by the calculation, determining whether it is within the error range of the normal value, and if so, determining the heating element The resistance of the unit is normal. If not, it is judged that the resistance of the heating unit is abnormal. Repeat the above steps to detect the resistance of each heating unit one by one, and the resistance of the thermal head can be obtained.
  • the specific steps of detecting the resistance state of a heat generating unit are as follows:
  • Step one disconnecting the power switch
  • Step 2 strobing the heating unit to be detected
  • Step 3 measuring the voltage U A of the common end of the printed hair heat body
  • Step 4 The theoretical voltage value of the point when the measured voltage U A is gated with a heating element unit That is, the value range of the single-heating unit cell strobe voltage V TPH — ONE is compared, and it is judged whether it is within the numerical range. If yes, it is determined that the heating element unit resistance is normal; if not, it is determined that the heating element unit resistance is abnormal. .
  • the method further comprises the following steps:
  • the intermediate point detection voltage U A obtained by the detection and the predetermined heating element unit shutdown voltage are determined
  • V T PH_OFF The numerical range of V T PH_OFF is compared, and if it is within the numerical range, it is judged that the detected heating element unit is open.
  • the present invention also provides a thermal printer using the aforementioned thermal head detecting device; and a thermal printer using the above-described thermal head detecting method.
  • the thermal print head detecting device provided by the present invention is provided with a first detecting resistor in parallel with the power switch.
  • the first detecting resistor is short-circuited by the power switch, and does not function; when the hot-printing hair hot body unit is detected, the power switch is turned off, and the power source can only pass the first detecting resistor. Flow to the hot print hair unit.
  • the difference in current between the operating state and the printing state flow overheating print hair heat unit can be large.
  • it is not necessary to provide a dedicated power source so that the circuit of the detecting device is significantly reduced, thereby reducing the cost.
  • a second sense resistor having a resistance much greater than the resistance of the thermal print hair heat unit is selected.
  • the on-off of the print hair unit is affected by the voltage U A of the common end of the print hair heat body, or the voltage or current of the first detection resistor, or the voltage or current of the second detection resistor. Very large, easy to distinguish.
  • the resistance of the second detecting resistor is large, when the print head is operated, the current shunted by the second detecting resistor is small, so that the power consumed by the second detecting resistor is small, and no excessive invalidity is generated. Power consumption.
  • the first detecting resistor is used to be much larger than the resistance value of the printed hair unit, so that when detecting, a small detecting current can be used, and even a leakage current of the power source can be used. Effectively distinguishes the on and off of the print hair unit, and obtains the test result. This preferred method further reduces the current loss during the detection and avoids damage to the thermal unit of the print hair unit during detection.
  • the print head detecting method provided by the invention can effectively detect the printed hair by using the above device Whether the resistance of the hot body unit is normal or not, and a further preferred embodiment can further compare the voltage U A of the common end of the printed hair heat body with a predetermined value range of the heat generating unit turn-off voltage V TPH — OFF to further determine the print hair heat body. Whether the cell resistance is disconnected.
  • FIG. 1 is a thermal print head detecting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2007-268918;
  • FIG. 2 is a circuit schematic diagram of a thermal head detecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the thermal head detecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the power switch is turned off;
  • Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the steps of detecting the heating unit detection in the first embodiment of the present invention. detailed description
  • FIG. 2 there is shown a circuit diagram of a thermal print head detecting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that since the present invention only focuses on the detection problem of the thermal print head, the circuit shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as a circuit schematic of the thermal print head detecting device. In fact, the circuit simultaneously controls the normal operation of the thermal print head. .
  • the thermal head detecting device includes a power source 1, a print head 2, a print head control circuit 3, a power switch 4, a power switch control circuit 5, a first sense resistor Ra, and a second sense resistor Rb.
  • the power source 1 is used to supply a voltage required for the print head 2 to print normally, such as a 24v voltage. At the same time, the power source 1 also serves as a power supply voltage for detecting, that is, the present embodiment does not need to provide a detection power supply for detecting.
  • the print head 2 includes a row of heat generating bodies composed of a plurality of heat generating unit units. Since the apparatus is used to detect the operation of the heat generating unit, other parts of the print head 2 are not considered.
  • Each of the heating unit units is equivalent to a resistor, and the n heating unit units constituting the heating element have a common terminal N connected to each other, the common terminal N is connected to the positive pole of the power source, and the other end is referred to as a gate terminal, and the gate terminal is referred to as a gate terminal.
  • the grounding switch (not shown) corresponding to each of the heating element units is grounded.
  • Controlling the heating of the heating element unit during printing actually controls whether the heating element unit passes current by controlling the opening and closing of the respective switching switches respectively provided for the respective heating element units.
  • Connect the positive pole of the power supply The specific connection method is not substantially different here. This embodiment only describes the case where the common terminal N of the heating unit is connected to the positive pole of the power supply.
  • the print head control circuit 3 is connected to the print head 2 via a data bus DATA, a clock bus CLK, a strobe bus STROBE, and a data latch line LATCH.
  • the signal outputted by the print head control circuit 3 can control the on/off of the respective heat generating unit switching switches. When the corresponding one of the heating element units is turned on, the heating unit is said to be gated. Control of the printed content can be achieved by strobing different heating elements.
  • the power switch 4 is connected between the power output end of the power source 1 and the common end of the heat generating unit.
  • the power switch 4 has a control terminal, and by applying a high level or a low level to the control terminal, the power switch 4 can be controlled to be turned on and off.
  • the power switch 4 can be implemented by selecting a switch transistor, a thyristor, a relay, and the like.
  • An output end of the power switch control circuit 5 is connected to a control end of the power switch 4, and the power switch control circuit 5 receives a control signal sent by the printer control device, and accordingly outputs a corresponding high and low level from the output end thereof, and controls The power switch 4 is turned on or off.
  • the first detecting resistor Ra is connected between the power output terminal of the power source 1 and the common terminal of the heat generating unit, that is, in parallel with the power switch 4.
  • the second detecting resistor Rb is connected to the common end of the heating element unit, and the other end is grounded; the resistance of the second detecting resistor Rb is much larger than the resistance of the heating unit.
  • the so-called far greater than is that the bypass function of the second detecting resistor Rb to the heating unit is negligible, that is, it can be considered that the current output from the power source 1 flows through the heating unit to the ground.
  • the resistance of the second detecting resistor Rb is more than 10 times the resistance of the heat generating unit.
  • the control device of the printer issues an instruction to the power switch control circuit 5 instructing it to control the power switch 4 to be turned on.
  • the power switch control circuit 5 provides a high level (or low level) for controlling the power switch 4 to be turned on from its output terminal, so that the power switch 4 is turned on, and the voltage of the output end of the power source 1 passes through the power switch 4,
  • the first detecting resistor Ra is disconnected by the power switch 4, that is, the first detecting resistor Ra does not contribute to power supply to the print head, so that the device is Circuit It can be collapsed into the circuit shown in Figure 3.
  • the print head control circuit 3 strobes the heat generation unit that needs to generate heat through its four output lines in accordance with an instruction provided by the printer control device.
  • the voltage outputted from the power source 1 flows to the ground through all of the gated heat generating unit units, so that the heat generating body units generate heat by current, and finally a desired printing effect is achieved.
  • the second detecting resistor Rb is connected in parallel with the gate unit that is gated. Since the resistance of the second detecting resistor Rb is larger than the resistance of the heating unit, the second detecting resistor is passed. The current of Rb is small and does not cause a large loss of power.
  • the printer control device issues an instruction to the power switch control circuit 5 instructing it to control the power switch 4 to be turned off.
  • the second detecting resistor Rb is connected in parallel with the heating element unit, and is connected in series with the first detecting resistor Ra.
  • the first sense resistor Ra is set large enough so that a very small sense circuit current can be selected. The current passing through the gate unit that is gated during the detection is extremely small, and is insufficient to cause the heat generating body to generate heat.
  • the power source 1 is directly placed in a state of not supplying power to the outside, and only the leakage current is used, and detection can be realized.
  • the circuit of the device can be turned into the circuit shown in FIG.
  • the print head control circuit 3 sequentially strops the respective heat generating body units one by one in order by the four output lines thereof according to the instruction provided by the printer control device.
  • the current output by the power source 1 flows to the ground through the gated heat generating unit.
  • the second detecting resistor Rb corresponds to being connected in parallel with the gate unit that is gated. At this time, the voltage of the intermediate point A of the first detecting resistor Ra and the second detecting resistor Rb is detected.
  • the single heating element unit strobe voltage V TPH — ONE at the intermediate point A mainly depends on the The current heating element unit is detected, and the voltage is V TPH — ONE ⁇ V TPH — OTF compared with the heating element unit turn-off voltage V TPH — OFF at the intermediate point A when no heat generating unit is strobed. If the heating unit or the circuit supplying power to the heating unit fails, the resistance value of the heating unit is significantly different from that during normal operation. In the extreme case, the branch of the heating unit is completely non-conductive. . The detection voltage at the intermediate point A at this time is significantly different from the single-heating unit switching voltage VTPH.ONE during normal operation. Therefore, the condition of the currently generated heat generating unit can be judged based on the detected voltage of the intermediate point A.
  • a method of judging the condition of the heating unit based on the detection voltage of the intermediate point A is as shown in FIG. 5.
  • the numerical range of the heating element unit turn-off voltage VTPH_OFF and the single heat generating unit cell strobe voltage VTPH_ONE has been determined.
  • the values of the heating element unit turn-off voltage VTPH_OFF and the single heat generating unit cell strobe voltage VTPH_ONE may be determined according to actual detection results or theoretical calculations.
  • Step S501 start.
  • Step S502 disconnecting the power switch.
  • Step S503 the heat generating unit to be detected is gated by the print head control circuit 3.
  • Step S504 after strobing a heating element unit, measuring and obtaining a common end of the printed hair heat body
  • Step S505 comparing the measured voltage U A with the numerical range of the single heating element unit strobe voltage V TPH — ONE determined before the above step S501, and determining whether it is within the numerical range. If yes, it is determined that the corresponding heating element unit is working normally, and proceeds to the next step S507; if not, it is determined that the heating element unit is abnormal, and the process proceeds to the next step S506.
  • step S507 the detection result is recorded, and the next heating element unit is strobed, and the flow returns to step S504. Until all the heating element units have been tested.
  • step S505 if it is determined that the heating unit is abnormal, the measured voltage U A may be compared with the value range of the heating unit turn-off voltage V TPH — OFF determined before the above step S501; if the value range is within the value range Then, it is judged that the heating element unit is disconnected, and the process proceeds to step S507; if not, it is determined that the heating element unit has other abnormalities. By this judgment, the abnormal type of the heating unit can be determined, and more information is provided for repair.
  • all the heating element units of the heating element of the printing head 2 can be detected one by one, and the working state of each heating element unit can be obtained. After the test is completed, a test report can be generated based on the test results for printer maintenance.
  • the thermal head is detected by detecting the A-point detection voltage U A , it is actually possible to detect the voltage or current across the Ra to determine the state of the printed hair thermal unit.
  • the above-described thermal head detecting device is used in a printer such as a thermal printer or a thermal transfer printer, and an embodiment of a thermal printer using the thermal head detecting device can be obtained. Said.

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Description

一种热打印头检测装置、 检测方法及其热打印机 本申请要求于 2008 年 12 月 12 日提交中国专利局、 申请号为 200810172780.2、 发明名称为"一种热打印头检测装置、 检测方法及其热打 印机"的中国专利申请的优先权， 其全部内容通过引用结合在本申请中。 技术领域
本发明涉及热敏打印机技术， 尤其是涉及一种热打印头检测装置。 本 发明同时提供一种使用该热打印头检测装置对热打印头进行检测的检测方 法。 本发明还提供一种使用上述热打印检测装置和检测方法的热打印机。 背景技术
热打印头是热打印机的主要部件， 用于热敏打印机 ( Thermal printer ) 和热转印打印机 ( Thermal transfer printer )等热打印机。 热打印头上设有 发热体单元， 通过控制每一个单元是否发热， 从而打印出相应的图形或者 文字。 其中， 热敏打印机利用打印头发热体发热， 使打印纸表面的感热层 发生化学变化， 从而显色， 形成文字或者图像。 热转印打印机则是利用打 印头发热体发热， 将碳带上的颜料物质加热熔化到打印纸表面， 形成文字 或图像。
以最普遍的热敏打印机为例， 其使用的热打印头的发热体单元为可发 热方点，一个热打印头具有 320个可发热方点，每一点所占面积为 0.25mm x 0.25mm。 打印时， 根据需要打印的文字和图形， 控制点阵中相应的可发 热方点发热， 就可把打印内容打印在热敏纸的任意位置上。 上述发热体单 元在电器特性上表现为电阻。
显然， 热打印头的任何一个发热体单元出现断路等故障而不能正常发 热时， 都会对正常打印产生影响。 但是， 在通常情况下， 热打印头的个别 发热体单元不能正常发热对于打印的影响往往无法通过观察打印效果立刻 辨别， 而这种故障却可能在一些打印场合产生重要影响。 例如， 热打印机 常用于条形码的打印， 条形码由宽度不同、 反射率不同的条和空按照一定 的编码规则编制成， 可表达一组数字或字母符号等信息， 用于商品和印刷 品识别等各种场合。 在使用热打印机打印时， 根据条形码编码需要， 通过 控制热打印头的各个发热体单元是否发热，在打印介质上相应形成条和空。 如果某个打印头发热体单元断路或者损坏，该发热体单元通电后不能发热， 造成该发热体单元对应的点就不能显色。 这样， 在打印条形码时， 断路的 发热体对应位置生成的白条使条形码的条和空排布规则发生变化， 造成数 据错误。 由于条形码代表的数据信息非常重要， 而打印中出现的上述错误 却很难发觉， 因此必须采取措施避免。
由于上述原因， 热打印机一般都对热打印头的发热体单元进行检测。 打印头发热体单元的阻值进行检测。 由于定期检测不能及时反映打印头发 热体通断状态， 并且需要拆卸打印头， 操作复杂， 因此， 不能满足实际需 要。
公开号为 JP2007-268918 日本专利公开了一种热敏打印头检测装置。 图 1为该日本专利提供的热打印头检测装置的电路原理图， 热打印头检测 装置的控制装置包括正常打印电源和断路检测电源 21。 当打印机接收到打 印指令时， 电源切换开关 22导通正常打印电源； 当打印机接收到检测指令 时， 电源切换开关 22则导通断路检测电源 21。 打印头发热体单元 HE与 电阻 25并联，其并联的一端通过电阻 23连接在电源切换开关 22的输出端， 另一端接地。 上述导通断路检测电源 21与电阻 23、 发热体单元 HE、 检测 电阻 25构成检测电路， 在检测时， 通过检测电阻 23电压， 可判断发热体 单元 HE是否断路。 这样， 通过对正常打印电源和断路检测点原的切换， 可以在线检测打印头发热体通断状态。
上述现有技术的缺点在于， 需要分别设置正常打印电源和打印头检测 电源， 并为上述电源设置电源切换开关， 电路复杂。 并且， 如果电阻 23 阻值设置过小，发热体单元的阻值检测不精确，可能无法发现存在的故障； 电阻 23阻值过大， 正常打印时， 该电阻 23消耗的功耗过大， 影响打印效 果。 发明内容
针对上述缺陷， 本发明解决的技术问题在于， 提供一种结构筒单、 精 确度高、 可实时检测的热敏打印头的检测装置。 本发明提供的打印头检测装置， 包括电源、 电源开关、 电源开关控制 电路、 第一检测电阻、 第二检测电阻、 以及待检测的打印头及其打印头控 制电路； 所述电源的输出端通过所述电源开关连接到所述打印头的各个发 热体单元的共同端， 所述第一检测电阻与所述电源开关并联； 电源开关控 制电路的输出端连接所述电源开关的控制端； 所述第二检测电阻一端与所 述发热体单元共同端连接， 另一端接地； 所述打印头控制电路对所述打印 头中的各个发热体单元的选通进行控制。 值。 、 "、 、 、 、 阻值。
优选的， 所述第二检测电阻阻值具体是所述打印头发热单元阻值的 5 倍以上。
本发明还提供一种热打印头检测方法， 适用于上述任一优选方案所述 的热打印头检测装置， 包括， 断开所述电源开关， 执行热打印头阻值检测； 闭合所述电源开关， 热打印头执行打印工作。
优选的， 断开所述电源开关后， 选通打印头的某个发热体单元， 在选 通后，检测获得打印头发热体共同端的电压 UA、或者所述第一检测电阻的 电压或电流、 或者第二检测电阻的电压或电流， 并以该检测数值为判断标 准， 将其和经过计算获得的正常数值比较， 判断其是否在正常数值的误差 范围内， 如果是， 则判断该发热体单元阻值正常， 如果否， 则判断该发热 体单元阻值异常； 重复上述步骤， 逐个检测各个发热体单元的阻值状况， 即可获得该热打印头的阻值状况。
优选的， 其中以打印头发热体共同端的电压 UA为判断标准时， 检测 某一个发热体单元阻值状态的具体步骤如下：
步骤一， 断开所述电源开关；
步骤二， 选通待检测发热体单元
步骤三， 测量打印头发热体共同端的电压 UA;
步骤四， 将测量电压 UA与一个发热体单元选通时的该点理论电压值 即单发热体单元选通电压 VTPH— ONE的数值范围比较， 判断其是否在该数值 范围内， 若是， 则判断该发热体单元阻值正常； 若否， 则判断该发热体单 元阻值异常。
优选的， 还包括下列步骤：
将检测获得的中间点检测电压 UA与预先确定发热体单元关断电压
VTPH_OFF的数值范围比较， 若在该数值范围内， 则判断被检测的发热体单 元断路。
本发明还提供使用前述热打印头检测装置的热打印机； 以及使用上述 热打印头检测方法的热打印机。
与现有技术相比， 本发明提供的热打印头检测装置设置有与电源开关 并联的第一检测电阻。 当热打印头正常工作时， 该第一检测电阻被电源开 关短路， 不起作用； 当对热打印头发热体单元进行检测时， 所述电源开关 断开， 电源只有通过该第一检测电阻才能流向热打印头发热体单元。这样， 在提供相同电压的情况下， 工作状态和打印状态流过热打印头发热体单元 的电流差别可以很大。 现有技术下， 为了控制检测时流过发热体单元的电 流， 需要设置专用电源， 本发明则不需要设置专用电源， 使该检测装置的 电路显著筒化， 降低了成本。
在本发明的优选实施方式中， 选择阻值远大于热打印头发热体单元阻 值的第二检测电阻。 这样， 进行检测时， 打印头发热体单元的通断对作为 判断依据的打印头发热体共同端的电压 UA、或者第一检测电阻的电压或电 流、 或者第二检测电阻的电压或电流等影响很大， 便于进行区分。 同样由 于第二检测电阻的阻值 ί艮大， 使打印头工作时， 被该第二检测电阻分流的 电流很小，使该第二检测电阻消耗的功率很小， 不会产生过多的无效功耗。
在本发明的另一个优选实施方式中， 选用远大于打印头发热体单元阻 值的第一检测电阻， 这样， 进行检测时， 可以采用很小的检测电流， 甚至 使用电源的漏电流， 就可以有效区分打印头发热体单元的通断， 获得检测 结果。 这种优选方式进一步降低了检测中的电流损耗， 并可避免检测时打 印头发热体单元发热对其造成损伤。
本发明提供的打印头检测方法， 能够利用上述装置有效检测打印头发 热体单元阻值是否正常， 其进一步的优选方案则能够利用打印头发热体共 同端的电压 UA与预先确定的发热体单元关断电压 VTPH— OFF的数值范围比 较， 进一步判断打印头发热体单元阻值是否断开。 附图说明
图 1是公开号为 JP2007-268918日本专利公开的热敏打印头检测装置； 图 2是本发明第一实施例提供的热打印头检测装置的电路原理图； 图 3是本发明第一实施例提供的热打印头检测装置在电源开关导通时 的等效电路图；
图 4是本发明第一实施例提供的热打印头检测装置在电源开关断开时 的等效电路图；
图 5是本发明第一实施例进行发热体单元检测的检测步骤流程图。 具体实施方式
请参看图 2, 该图为本发明第一实施例提供的热打印头检测装置的电 路原理图。 应当说明， 由于本发明仅仅关注热打印头的检测问题， 因此将 图 2所示的电路称为热打印头检测装置的电路原理图， 实际上， 该电路同 时实现热打印头正常工作时的控制。
如图 2所示， 热打印头检测装置包括电源 1、 打印头 2、 打印头控制电 路 3、 电源开关 4、 电源开关控制电路 5 、 第一检测电阻 Ra和第二检测电 阻 Rb。
所述电源 1用于提供打印头 2正常打印所需的电压， 如 24v电压。 同 时， 该电源 1也作为进行检测时的供电电压， 即本实施例无需为进行检测 专门提供检测电源。
打印头 2包括一排由若干发热体单元组成的发热体。 由于本装置用于 实现对发热体单元的工作状况进行检测，因此不考虑打印头 2的其他部分。 每个发热体单元相当于一个电阻， 组成该发热体的 n个发热体单元具有一 个相互连接的共同端 N,该共同端 N连接电源正极，另一端则称为选通端， 该选通端通过对应各个发热体单元的选通开关 （图未示）接地。 打印时控 制所述发热体单元发热， 实际上就是通过控制上述对应各个发热体单元分 别设置的选通开关的开闭， 控制该发热体单元是否通过电流。 当然， 也可 接电源正极。 具体采用何种连接方法在此并无本质区别， 本实施例仅仅说 明发热体单元共同端 N连接电源正极的情况。
所述打印头控制电路 3通过数据总线 DATA、 时钟总线 CLK、 选通总 线 STROBE、 数据锁存线 LATCH与打印头 2连接。 该打印头控制电路 3 输出的信号可控制各个发热体单元选通开关的通断， 当某个发热体单元对 应的选通开关导通时， 称该发热体单元被选通。 通过选通不同的发热体单 元， 可以实现对打印内容的控制。
所述电源开关 4为连接在电源 1的电源输出端和所述发热体单元共同 端之间。 该电源开关 4具有控制端， 通过在该控制端施加高电平或者低电 平， 可以控制电源开关 4的导通和断开。 该电源开关 4具体可以选择开关 三极管、 晶闸管、 继电器等实现。
所述电源开关控制电路 5的输出端连接所述电源开关 4的控制端， 该 电源开关控制电路 5接收打印机控制器件发送的控制信号， 并据此从其输 出端输出相应的高低电平， 控制所述电源开关 4的导通或者断开。
所述第一检测电阻 Ra连接在电源 1的电源输出端和所述发热体单元共 同端之间， 即与所述电源开关 4并联。
所述第二检测电阻 Rb —端与所述发热体单元共同端连接， 另一端接 地； 该第二检测电阻 Rb 的阻值远远大于所述发热体单元的阻值。 所谓远 远大于， 是指第二检测电阻 Rb对发热体单元的旁路作用可以忽略不计， 即可以认为电源 1输出的电流全部通过发热体单元流向接地端。举例而言， 所述第二检测电阻 Rb的阻值为所述发热体单元阻值的 10倍以上。
以下说明上述装置的工作原理。
在打印机需要打印工作时， 打印机的控制器件向所述电源开关控制电 路 5发出指令， 指示其控制所述电源开关 4导通。 电源开关控制电路 5从 其输出端提供控制所述电源开关 4导通的高电平（或者低低电平），使所述 电源开关 4导通， 电源 1输出端的电压通过该电源开关 4, 提供给所述发 热体单元共同端 这种状态下， 所述第一检测电阻 Ra被所述电源开关 4 断路， 即该第一检测电阻 Ra对向打印头的供电不起作用，使该装置的电路 可以筒化为图 3所示的电路。 此时， 所述打印头控制电路 3则根据打印机 控制器件提供的指令， 通过其四个输出线， 选通需要发热的发热体单元。 由所述电源 1输出的电压通过所有被选通的发热体单元流向接地端， 使这 些发热体单元通过电流而发热， 最终实现所期望的打印效果。 所述第二检 测电阻 Rb在该状态下， 相当于与被选通的发热体单元并联， 由于该第二 检测电阻 Rb的阻值比发热体单元的阻值大， 所以通过该第二检测电阻 Rb 的电流很小， 不会造成很大的电能损耗。
需要检测热打印头检测装置时， 打印机控制器件向所述电源开关控制 电路 5发出指令，指示其控制所述电源开关 4断开。该电源开关 4断开后， 所述第二检测电阻 Rb与发热体单元并联后，与所述第一检测电阻 Ra串联。 第一检测电阻 Ra设置足够大， 这样， 可以选取非常小的检测电路电流。检 测时通过被选通的发热体单元的电流十分微小， 不足以引起发热体发热。 在所述第一检测电阻 Ra足够大的情况下，直接使电源 1处于不向外供电的 状态， 仅仅使用其漏电流， 即可实现检测。 在上述状态下， 该装置的电路 可以筒化为图 4所示的电路。 此时， 所述打印头控制电路 3根据打印机控 制器件提供的指令， 通过其四个输出线， 按顺序依次逐个选通各个发热体 单元。 由所述电源 1输出的电流通过被选通的发热体单元流向接地端。 所 述第二检测电阻 Rb相当于与被选通的发热体单元并联。 此时检测第一检 测电阻 Ra和第二检测电阻 Rb的中间点 A的电压。假设当前被检测的发热 体单元工作正常， 则由于发热体单元的电阻远远小于所述第二检测电阻 Rb , 所以， 中间点 A的单发热体单元选通电压 VTPH— ONE主要取决于该当前 被检测的发热体单元， 该电压与任何发热体单元都没有选通时的中间点 A 的发热体单元关断电压 VTPH— OFF相比， VTPH— ONE < < VTPH— OTF。 若发热体单 元或者向其供电的电路出现故障， 则该发热体单元被选通后， 其阻值与正 常工作时阻值有明显区别， 极端情况是该发热体单元的支路完全不导通。 此时的中间点 A 的检测电压明显与正常工作时的单发热体单元选通电压 VTPH.ONE存在很大区别。 因此， 根据中间点 A的检测电压可以判断当前被 检测的发热体单元的状况。
根据中间点 A的检测电压判断发热体单元状况的方法如图 5所示。 在 执行该判断之前，已经确定了发热体单元关断电压 VTPH_OFF和单发热体 单元选通电压 VTPH_ONE两个参数的数值范围。 具体可以根据实际检测 结果或者理论计算，确定所述发热体单元关断电压 VTPH_OFF和单发热体 单元选通电压 VTPH_ONE两个参数的数值。 另外， 还需要根据设计要求， 为上述两个参数设置合适的误差范围。 结合上述两个步骤的数据， 即可确 定这两个参数的数值范围。
步骤 S501 , 开始。
步骤 S502, 断开所述电源开关。
步骤 S503 ,通过所述打印头控制电路 3选通某个待检测的发热体单元。 步骤 S504, 在选通某个发热体单元后， 测量获得打印头发热体共同端
A的电压 UA。
步骤 S505 ,将所述测量电压 UA与上述步骤 S501之前确定的单发热体 单元选通电压 VTPH— ONE的数值范围比较， 判断其是否在数值范围内。若是， 则判断相应的发热体单元工作正常， 并进入下一步骤 S507; 若否， 则判断 该发热体单元工作异常， 进入下一步骤 S506。
步骤 S507,记录检测结果，并选通下一个发热体单元，返回步骤 S504。 直到所有发热体单元都被检测过。
在步骤 S505中，如果判断发热体单元工作异常，还可以将所述测量电 压 UA与上述步骤 S501之前确定的发热体单元关断电压 VTPH— OFF的数值范 围比较； 若在该数值范围内， 则判断该发热体单元断路， 进入步骤 S507; 若否， 则判断该发热体单元出现其他异常。 通过该判断， 可以确定发热体 单元的异常种类， 为进行修理提供更多的信息。
通过上述步骤， 可以逐个检测打印头 2发热体的所有发热体单元， 获 得各个发热体单元的工作状态情况。 检测完毕后， 可根据检测结果生成检 测报告， 供打印机维护之用。
上述实施例中虽然是通过检测 A点检测电压 UA对热打印头进行检测， 实际上也可以检测 Ra两端电压或者电流判断打印头发热体单元的状态。
将上述热打印头检测装置用于热敏打印机或者热转印打印机等打印 机， 就可获得使用本热打印头检测装置的热打印机的实施例， 在此不再赘 述。
以上所述仅是本发明的优选实施方式， 应当指出， 对于本技术领域的 普通技术人员来说， 在不脱离本发明原理的前提下， 还可以做出若干改进 和润饰， 这些改进和润饰也应视为本发明的保护范围。

Claims

权 利 要 求
1、一种热打印头检测装置， 包括电源、 电源开关、 电源开关控制电路、 第一检测电阻、第二检测电阻、 以及待检测的打印头及其打印头控制电路； 其特征在于， 所述电源的输出端通过所述电源开关连接到所述打印头的各 个发热体单元的共同端， 所述第一检测电阻与所述电源开关并联； 电源开 关控制电路的输出端连接所述电源开关的控制端； 所述第二检测电阻一端 与所述发热体单元共同端连接， 另一端接地； 所述打印头控制电路对所述 打印头中的各个发热体单元的选通进行控制。
2、根据权利要求 1所述的热打印头检测装置， 其特征在于， 所述第二
3、根据权利要求 1或 2所述的热打印头检测装置， 其特征在于， 所述
4、根据权利要求 1或者 2所述的热打印头检测装置， 其特征在于， 所 述第二检测电阻阻值具体是所述打印头发热单元阻值的 5倍以上。
5、 一种热打印头检测方法， 适用于权 1 -权 4任一项所述的热打印头 检测装置， 其特征在于， 断开所述电源开关， 执行热打印头阻值检测； 闭 合所述电源开关， 热打印头执行打印工作。
6、根据权利要求 5所述的热打印头检测方法， 其特征在于， 断开所述 电源开关后， 选通打印头的某个发热体单元， 在选通后， 检测获得打印头 发热体共同端的电压 UA、或者所述第一检测电阻的电压或电流、或者第二 检测电阻的电压或电流， 并以该检测数值为判断标准， 将其和经过计算获 得的正常数值比较， 判断其是否在正常数值的误差范围内， 如果是， 则判 断该发热体单元阻值正常， 如果否， 则判断该发热体单元阻值异常； 重复 上述步骤， 逐个检测各个发热体单元的阻值状况， 即可获得该热打印头的 阻值状况。
7、根据权利要求 6所述的热打印头检测方法， 其特征在于， 其中以打 印头发热体共同端的电压 UA为判断标准时， 检测某一个发热体单元阻值 状态的具体步骤如下：
步骤一， 断开所述电源开关； 步骤二， 选通待检测发热体单元
步骤三， 测量打印头发热体共同端的电压 UA;
步骤四， 将测量电压 UA与一个发热体单元选通时的该点理论电压值 即单发热体单元选通电压 VTPH— ONE的数值范围比较， 判断其是否在该数值 范围内， 若是， 则判断该发热体单元阻值正常； 若否， 则判断该发热体单 元阻值异常。
8、根据权利要求 7所述的热打印头检测方法， 其特征在于， 还包括下 列步骤：
将检测获得的中间点检测电压 UA与预先确定发热体单元关断电压 VTPH.OFP的数值范围比较， 若在该数值范围内， 则判断被检测的发热体单 元断路。
9、 一种热打印机， 其特征在于， 具有权利要求 1-4任一项所述的热打 印头检测装置。
10、一种热打印机， 其特征在于， 使用权利要求 4 - 8任一项所述的热 打印头检测方法。
PCT/CN2009/075124 2008-12-12 2009-11-25 一种热打印头检测装置、检测方法及其热打印机 WO2010066162A1 (zh)

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