WO2018180113A1 - Printer, printing system, print controlling method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Printer, printing system, print controlling method, and recording medium Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018180113A1
WO2018180113A1 PCT/JP2018/007130 JP2018007130W WO2018180113A1 WO 2018180113 A1 WO2018180113 A1 WO 2018180113A1 JP 2018007130 W JP2018007130 W JP 2018007130W WO 2018180113 A1 WO2018180113 A1 WO 2018180113A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
data
printing
interpolating
print data
print
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/JP2018/007130
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Hirokazu Hasegawa
Toshiaki Kanamura
Yoshimasa Yokoyama
Yasushi Murai
Original Assignee
Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Casio Computer Co., Ltd. filed Critical Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
Priority to CN201880014424.XA priority Critical patent/CN110366495A/zh
Publication of WO2018180113A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018180113A1/en

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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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B41J2/3551—Block driving
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printer, a printing system, a print controlling method, and a recording medium.
  • thermal head printers with a higher printing rate print data within a shorter period every line. This results in an inadequate period to cool the thermal heads during printing. As a result, the thermal heads are likely to be kept hot, precluding formation of fine printing dots.
  • a printer includes: a thermal head energizing heating elements for printing on a printing medium; and a processor, wherein the processor generates interpolating data close to at least one step in an image to be printed with a plurality of printing dots in accordance with first print data, adds the interpolating data to the first print data to generate second print data, and controls the thermal head to perform printing in accordance with the second print data, and the interpolating data are for printing an interpolating dot through energization during any of sub-energization periods, wherein an energization period for energizing the heating elements corresponding to the printing dots is divided into the sub-energization periods.
  • a printing system includes a printer and a print controller, wherein the printer comprises a thermal head and a processor, wherein the thermal head has heating elements and energizes the heating elements for printing on a printing medium, and the processor controls the thermal head for printing in accordance with the second print data, the print controller generates interpolating data close to at least one step in an image to be printed with a plurality of printing dots in accordance with first print data, the interpolating data being for printing an interpolating dot through energization during any of sub-energization periods, wherein an energization period for energizing the heating elements corresponding to printing dots is divided into the sub-energization periods, adds the interpolating data to the first print data to acquire second print data, and outputs the second print data to the printer.
  • a print controlling method includes: generating interpolating data close to at least one step in an image to be printed with a plurality of printing dots in accordance with first print data, the interpolating data being for printing an interpolating dot through energization during any of sub-energization periods, wherein an energization period for energizing heating elements corresponding to printing dots is divided into the sub-energization period, adding the interpolating data to the first print data to acquire second print data; and controlling a thermal head such that the heating elements are energized in accordance with the second print data for printing on a printing medium.
  • a recording medium containing a program instructs a computer in a printer having a thermal head to: generate interpolating data close to at least one step in an image to be printed with a plurality of printing dots in accordance with first print data, the interpolating data being for printing interpolating dots through energization during any of sub-energization periods, wherein an energization period for energizing heating elements corresponding to printing dots is divided into the sub-energization periods, add the interpolating data to the first print data to acquire second print data; and control the thermal head such that the heating elements are energized in accordance with the second print data for printing on a printing medium.
  • FIG.1 is a perspective view of a printer 1.
  • FIG.2 is a perspective view of a tape cassette 30 accommodated in the printer 1.
  • FIG.3 is a perspective view of a cassette chamber 19 in the printer 1.
  • FIG.4 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 1.
  • FIG.5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the printer 1.
  • FIG.6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 1.
  • FIG.7 is a timing chart of signals input to a head driving circuit 9.
  • FIG.8 is a flow chart of a printing process.
  • FIG.9 is a flow chart illustrating a data conversion process.
  • FIG.10A illustrates a method for generating divided data.
  • FIG.10B illustrates a method for generating divided data.
  • FIG.11A illustrates a method for generating interpolating data.
  • FIG.11B illustrates a method for generating interpolating data.
  • FIG.12 is a flow chart of a line printing process.
  • FIG.13A is an exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.13B is an exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.13C is an exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.13D is an exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.14A is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.14B is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.14C is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.14D is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.15A is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.15B is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.15C is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.15D is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.16A is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.16B is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.16C is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.16D is another exemplary printing process by the printer 1.
  • FIG.17 illustrates an exemplary printing system 100.
  • FIG.18 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing system 100.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer 1 according to a first embodiment.
  • the printer 1 is a single-pass label printer that includes a thermal head for printing on, for example, an elongated printing medium M.
  • a thermal-transfer label printer with an ink ribbon will be described.
  • a printer of any other type can also be used.
  • the printer may be of a thermal type using thermal paper.
  • the printing medium M is a tape member that includes, for example, a base having an adhesive layer and a release sheet releasably attached to the base so as to cover the adhesive layer.
  • the printing medium M may be a tape member without a release sheet.
  • the printer 1 includes a chassis 2, an input unit 3, a display 4, an openable cover 18, and a cassette chamber 19.
  • the input unit 3, the display 4, and the openable cover 18 are disposed on the top of the chassis 2.
  • the chassis 2 also includes a power code socket, an external device socket, and a recording medium inlet (not shown).
  • the input unit 3 has various types of keys, such as input keys, a cross-key, conversion keys, and an Enter key.
  • the display 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel to display characters entered through the input unit 3, selection menus for various settings, and messages on various processes. During printing, characters or drawings to be printed on the printing medium M (hereinafter referred to as “print content”) or the progress of the printing process may be displayed.
  • the display 4 may be a touch panel unit. In this case, the display 4 may be regarded as part of the input unit 3.
  • the display 4 may display a predetermined message to notify the user of the abnormal condition of the printer 1 in response to detection of an error in the printer 1.
  • the display 4 is a notifier that notifies the user of any abnormal condition of the printer 1.
  • the openable cover 18 is disposed on the cassette chamber 19.
  • the openable cover 18 opens when a button 18a is pressed.
  • the openable cover 18 is provided with a window 18b that allows the user to visually confirm that a tape cassette 30 (see FIG. 2) is accommodated in the cassette chamber 19 even when the openable cover 18 is closed.
  • the chassis 2 is provided with an outlet 2a on its side face. The printing medium M is discharged from the printer 1 through the outlet 2a after the print.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette 30 accommodated in the printer 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cassette chamber 19 of the printer 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 1.
  • the tape cassette 30 shown in FIG. 2 is detachably accommodated in the cassette chamber 19 shown in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the tape cassette 30 accommodated in the cassette chamber 19.
  • the tape cassette 30 includes a cassette case 31.
  • the cassette case 31 includes a thermal head chamber 36 and engaging members 37 and accommodates the printing medium M and an ink ribbon R.
  • the cassette case 31 is provided with a tape core 32, an ink ribbon feeding core 34, and an ink ribbon winding core 35.
  • the printing medium M is wound into a roll around the tape core 32 in the cassette case 31.
  • the ink ribbon R for thermal transfer is wound into a roll around the ink ribbon feeding core 34, with the leading end of the ribbon wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35, in the cassette case 31.
  • the cassette chamber 19 of the chassis 2 includes several cassette receivers 20 to support the tape cassette 30 at a predetermine position.
  • Each cassette receiver 20 is provided with a tape width detecting switch 24 to detect the width of the tape (the printing medium M) accommodated in the tape cassette 30.
  • the tape width detecting switch 24 detects the width of the printing medium M according to the shape of the cassette.
  • the cassette chamber 19 further includes a thermal head 10 having multiple heating elements for printing on the printing medium M, a platen roller 21 for transferring the printing medium M, a tape core engaging shaft 22, and an ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23.
  • the thermal head 10 has a built-in thermistor 13. The thermistor 13 measures the temperature of the thermal head 10.
  • the tape cassette 30 is accommodated in the cassette chamber 19.
  • the thermal head 10 is inserted in the thermal head chamber 36 of the cassette case 31 and the engaging members 37 in the cassette case 31 are supported by the respective cassette receivers 20 in the cassette chamber 19.
  • the tape core 32 of the tape cassette 30 engages with the tape core engaging shaft 22, while the ink ribbon winding core 35 engages with the ink ribbon winding drive shaft 23.
  • the platen roller 21 rotates to feed the printing medium M from the tape core 32.
  • the ink ribbon winding shaft 23 rotates in synchronization with the platen roller 21 to feed the ink ribbon R from the ink ribbon feeding core 34 together with the printing medium M. This results in transfer of the printing medium M and the ink ribbon R overlapping each other.
  • the ink ribbon R passages between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21 and is heated by the thermal head 10 to transfer the ink onto the printing medium M. Printing is thereby performed.
  • the ink ribbon R After the passage of the ink ribbon R and the printing medium M between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 21, the ink ribbon R is wound around the ink ribbon winding core 35, while the printing medium M is cut at a half-cut unit 16 or a full-cut unit 17 and discharged from the outlet 2a.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the printer 1.
  • the printer 1 further includes a processor 5, a read only memory (ROM) 6, a random access memory (RAM) 7, a display driving circuit 8, a head driving circuit 9, a transfer motor driving circuit 11, a stepping motor 12, a cutter motor driving circuit 14, a cutter motor 15, and a power supply circuit 40.
  • ROM read only memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • At least the processor 5, the ROM 6, and the RAM 7 configures a computer of the printer 1.
  • the processor 5 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU).
  • the processor 5 loads programs from the ROM 6 and executes them on the RAM 7 to control the operations of various units in the printer 1.
  • the processor 5 feeds, for example, control signals (a strobe signal, a latch signal, and a clock signal) and print data to the head driving circuit 9 and controls the thermal head 10 via the head driving circuit 9.
  • the processor 5 controls the motors (the stepping motor 12 and the cutter motor 15) via the motor driving circuits (the transfer motor driving circuit 11 and the cutter motor driving circuit 14).
  • the ROM 6 contains printing programs for printing on the printing medium M and various types of data (for example, fonts and an energization table) necessary to execute the printing programs.
  • the ROM 6 also functions as a storage medium containing programs readable by the processor 5.
  • the RAM 7 includes a print data storage containing data on print patterns (hereinafter referred to as “print data”).
  • the RAM 7 further includes a display data storage containing display data.
  • the display driving circuit 8 controls the display 4 in accordance with the display data stored in the RAM 7.
  • the display 4 may display print content such that the user can recognize the progress of the printing process under the control of the display driving circuit 8.
  • the head driving circuit 9 is a head driver that drives the thermal head 10 in response to control signals and print data fed from the processor 5 and includes a latch circuit 9a to retain print data.
  • the head driving circuit 9 controls energization or non-energization of the multiple heating elements 10a based on the print data output from the latch circuit 9a during an energization period, i.e., while a strobe signal is ON.
  • the thermal head 10 is a print head provided with the multiple heating elements 10a arrayed in the main scanning direction.
  • the head driving circuit 9 selectively feeds current to heating elements 10a during an energization period designated by a strobe signal output from the processor 5, depending on print data output from the latch circuit 9a.
  • the selected heating elements 10a heats the ink ribbon R. This allows the thermal head 10 to print content every line on the printing medium M by thermal transfer.
  • the printer 1 is a thermal line printer.
  • the transfer motor driving circuit 11 drives the stepping motor 12.
  • the stepping motor 12 rotates the platen roller 21.
  • the platen roller 21 is a transfer unit driven by the stepping motor 12 to transfer the printing medium M in its longitudinal (sub-scanning) direction.
  • the cutter motor driving circuit 14 drives the cutter motor 15.
  • the half-cut unit 16 and the full-cut unit 17 are driven by the cutter motor 15 to perform half-cut or full-cut of the printing medium M.
  • the “full cut” refers to cutting of the base of the printing medium M together with the release sheet in the width direction, while the “half cut” refers to cutting of only the base in the width direction.
  • the power supply circuit 40 generates power from DC voltage (for example, 24V) from an AC adaptor 50 to feed the power to various units in the printer 1.
  • DC voltage for example, 24V
  • FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 1.
  • FIG. 7 is a timing chart of signals input to the head driving circuit 9.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a functional configuration of the processor 5 in the printer 1.
  • the processor 5 includes a data converter 60 and a head controlling circuit 70.
  • the functions of the data converter 60 and the head controlling circuit 70 may be each implemented by a dedicated circuit or through execution of programs stored in the ROM 6 by the processor 5.
  • the data converter 60 converts print data for print content (hereinafter referred to as “first print data”) into print data(hereinafter referred to as “second print data”) which has a higher resolution in the transfer direction of the printing medium M than the first print data.
  • the steps in the first print data are interpolated in the second print data.
  • the first print data to be treated by the data converter 60 is read from the print data storage 7a of the RAM 7.
  • the “step” refers to a difference in the number of printing dots between adjacent lines, more specifically, a difference by a single printing dot.
  • “Interpolation of steps” refers to smoothing of steps by partially adding data to each step.
  • the data converter 60 generates divided data and interpolating data from the first print data and then generates second print data based on at least the divided data and the interpolating data.
  • the second print data may be generated from a logical sum of the divided data and the interpolating data for each dot.
  • the data converter 60 generates divided data, interpolating data, and preheating data from the first print data and then generates second print data based on the divided data, the interpolating data, and the preheating data.
  • a logical sum of the divided data and the interpolating data is acquired for each dot to generate main heating data and then generate second print data based on the main heating data and the preheating data.
  • the second print data generated by the data converter 60 may be stored in the print data storage 7a or output to the head controlling circuit 70.
  • the divided data, the interpolating data, and the preheating data will be explained in detail below.
  • the data converter 60 includes a divided data generator 61, an interpolating data generator 62, and a preheating data generator 63.
  • the divided data generator 61 divides an energization period for each dot in the first print data into several sub-energization periods to generate divided data containing divided dots.
  • the two sub-energization periods each have a half energization period, while the divided data has a double amount of information in the transfer direction.
  • the interpolating data generator 62 generates interpolating data based on the first print data.
  • the interpolating data has a resolution identical to that of the divided data and has a step formed by a single printing dot in the first print data interpolated. This allows the print content for the interpolating data to have a resolution substantially identical to that of the first print data.
  • “Generation based on the first print data” refers to generation directly from the first print data and generation based on, for example, the divided data generated from the first print data, in other words, generation indirectly from the first print data.
  • the interpolating data generator 62 identifies steps based on the first print data and then generates interpolating data to be added to the identified steps.
  • the interpolating data generator 62 may determine whether or not each dot corresponds to a step formed by a single printing dot, based on the states (for example, “ON”/”OFF” or “1”/“0”) of each dot and its surrounding eight dots in the first print data.
  • states for example, “ON”/”OFF” or “1”/“0”
  • the interpolating data generator 62 may determine whether or not a pattern formed by each dot and its surrounding eight dots matches any of these pre-registered ones.
  • the preheating data generator 63 generates preheating data based on the first print data.
  • the “preheating” refers to preheating of the thermal head 10 to an extent that no printing dots are formed on the printing medium M prior to main heating.
  • the preheating primarily intends to prevent sticking.
  • Preheating data is used to select dots to be preheated and has a resolution identical to that of the first print data.
  • the preheating data generator 63 may generate preheating data such that all the dots are in the ON state. This facilitates generation of preheating data.
  • the preheating data generator 63 may generate preheating data such that only the dots close to a dot to be printed are in the ON state. This can avoid useless heating of the thermal head 10 and reduce power consumption.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 at least outputs a strobe signal, a latch signal, and second print data to the head driving circuit 9.
  • the strobe signal is a first control signal to designate an energization period for applying voltage to the heating elements 10a of the thermal head 10.
  • the latch signal is a second control signal to direct switching of data retained in the latch circuit 9a.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 may further output clock signals to the head driving circuit 9.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 calculates energization periods (i.e. the energization period for preheating and that for main heating) based on energization period data read from an energization table storage 6a in the ROM 6 and the temperature of the thermal head measured by the thermistor 13.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 outputs a strobe signal that designates the calculated energization periods to the head driving circuit 9.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 For example, if the energization period for preheating is time T1 and the energization period for main heating is time T2, the head controlling circuit 70 generates a strobe signal SS designating an energization period of T1 + T2 and outputs the strobe signal SS to the head driving circuit 9, as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 outputs a latch signal to direct switching of data retained in the latch circuit 9a at the beginning of the energization period for preheating, at the beginning of the energization period for main heating, and during the energization period for main heating. If the divided data generator 61 has the number of divisions of 2, for example, the head controlling circuit 70 generates a latch signal LS to direct data switching at the beginning of the energization period for preheating, at the beginning of the energization period for main heating, and at the middle of the energization period for main heating and outputs the generated latch signal LS to the head driving circuit 9, as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the latch circuit 9a in the head driving circuit 9 causes the latch circuit 9a in the head driving circuit 9 to output preheating data to a driver IC of the head driving circuit 9 during a certain period from the start of energization, i.e., during the energization period for preheating, to selectively heat the heating elements 10a in accordance with the preheating data.
  • the latch circuit 9a outputs main heating data to the driver IC of the head driving circuit 9 during the energization period for main heating to selectively heat the heating elements 10a in accordance with the main heating data.
  • the latch circuit 9a sequentially outputs data on multiple dots in the second print data which correspond to data on a single dot in the first print data during the energization period for main heating in accordance with the latch signals.
  • the printer 1 having the above configuration can print the content for the second print data on the printing medium M.
  • the print content for the second print data has a higher resolution than that of the print content for the first print data and has steps interpolated.
  • the printer 1 can produce print content that has smoother steps than that based on the first print data, without reducing the printing rate.
  • the printer 1 thus can achieve compatibility between high speed and high resolution in printing.
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a printing process.
  • FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a data conversion process.
  • FIGS. 10A to 10B illustrates a method for generating divided data.
  • FIGS. 11A to 11B illustrates a method for generating interpolating data.
  • FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a line printing process. The printing process of the printer 1 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 12.
  • the printer 1 performs a data conversion process shown in FIG. 9 (Step S100) and then performs the line printing process shown in FIG. 12 (Step S200).
  • the data conversion process is performed by the data converter 60, while the line printing process is performed by the head controlling circuit 70.
  • the data converter 60 In the data conversion process, the data converter 60 generates divided data based on the first print data as shown in FIG. 9 (Step S101).
  • the divided data generator 61 divides each dot in the first print data into, for example, two parts in the transfer direction to generate divided data.
  • the first print data having a resolution of, for example, 400 dpi (in the vertical direction) ⁇ 200 dpi (in the horizontal direction), respectively, results in divided data having a resolution of 400 dpi ⁇ 400 dpi.
  • FIGS. 10A to 10B illustrate pre-division print data and post-division print data.
  • FIG. 10A illustrates a print content (hereinafter referred to as a “source image”) having a relatively high first resolution.
  • the source image partially has a boundary B sloping downward from left to right. If the source image is printed in accordance with the first print data having a second resolution lower than the first resolution (hereinafter referred to as the “printed image”), the boundary B of the source image results in an outline OL 1 of the printed image.
  • the printed image has a print content of PC1 representing the first print data, which consists of print contents for the lines L1 to L4.
  • the multiple printing dots d1 represent those in the ON state in the first print data. As shown in FIG.
  • the outline OL 1 has steps f1, f2, and f3, which do not reside in the source image because the second resolution of the first print data is lower than the first resolution of the source image.
  • steps f1, f2, and f3, which are formed due to the second resolution of the first print data being lower than the first resolution of the source image do not reside in the source image and should be interpolated to make them smooth.
  • the steps residing in both the source image and the printed image at the same positions should not be interpolated as they are not formed due to a difference in resolution.
  • the interpolation process according to the present invention using interpolating data should be performed on these steps that require interpolation.
  • FIG. 10B illustrates a print content PC2 representing divided data.
  • Multiple divided dots d2 represent those in the ON state in the divided data.
  • the first print data and the divided data also include dots in the OFF state, although not shown.
  • FIG. 10B shows an exemplary division into two divided dots d2 in the transfer direction for each line to clarify the correspondence between the source image and divided data, these two divided dots d2 are actually consecutive and thus combined into a single printing dot d1.
  • the data converter 60 generates interpolating data close to at least one step (Step S102).
  • the interpolating data generator 62 generates interpolating data based on the first print data.
  • the interpolating data has a resolution identical to that of the divided data and interpolates steps to be interpolated in the first print data. In other words, if the divided data has a resolution of 400 dpi ⁇ 400 dpi, the interpolating data also has a resolution of 400 dpi ⁇ 400 dpi.
  • the interpolating data generator 62 identifies steps to be interpolation based on the first print data and generates interpolating data to be added to part of each identified step to interpolate identified steps.
  • FIG. 11A illustrates steps ST identified by the interpolating data generator 62.
  • FIG. 11B illustrates a print content PC3 representing the divided data and the interpolating data.
  • Interpolating dots d3 represent multiple dots in the ON state in the interpolating data. As shown in FIG. 11B, each interpolating dot d3 is disposed in the corresponding step ST such that the interpolating dot d3 is in contact with the two adjacent divided dots d2, each being placed in one of the two adjacent lines.
  • the data converter 60 generates preheating data (Step S103).
  • the preheating data generator 63 generates preheating data having a resolution identical to that of the first print data based on the first print data. If the first print data has a resolution of 400 dpi ⁇ 200 dpi, the preheating data also has a resolution of 400 dpi ⁇ 200 dpi.
  • the data converter 60 then generates second print data based on the divided data, the interpolating data, and the preheating data generated through Step S101 to Step S103, respectively (Step S104).
  • the processes from Step S101 to Step S103 may be performed in any order or in parallel.
  • the generated second print data is stored in the print data storage 7a.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 starts the line printing process as shown in FIG. 12.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 receives data on the temperature of the thermal head 10 from the thermistor 13 (Step S201).
  • the head controlling circuit 70 receives an energization period from the energization table storage 6a of the ROM 6 (Step S202).
  • the head controlling circuit 70 receives an energization period (i.e. the energization period for preheating and that for main heating) based on the temperature of the thermal head with reference to an energization table in the energization table storage 6a.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 After receiving the energization periods, the head controlling circuit 70 receives second print data for a single line from the print data storage 7a in the RAM 7 (Step S203).
  • the second print data for a single line is hereinafter referred to as the “second print line data”.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 outputs the second print line data, a strobe signal (a first control signal), and a latch signal (a second control signal) to the head driving circuit 9 (Step S204).
  • the head controlling circuit 70 generates a strobe signal based on the energization period (determined by adding the energization period for preheating to that for main heating) received at Step S202 and outputs the generated strobe signal to the head driving circuit 9.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 also outputs a latch signal to direct switching of data stored in the latch circuit 9a at the beginning of the energization period for preheating, at the beginning of the energization period for main heating, and during the energization period for main heating. Furthermore, the head controlling circuit 70 sequentially outputs preheating data and main heating data contained in the second print line data synchronously with the latch signal.
  • the head driving circuit 9 then drives the thermal head 10 based on the second print line data and the control signals (the strobe signal and the latch signal).
  • the thermal head 10 prints a single line on the printing medium M.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 determines whether or not the second print line data received at Step S203 is that for a final line (Step S205). If the second print line data is final line data, the head controlling circuit 70 terminates the line printing process; otherwise, the head controlling circuit 70 repeats the process through Step S201 to S205 until the final line is determined.
  • FIGS. 13A to 16D illustrate exemplary contents printed by the printer 1.
  • FIGS. 13A to 14D illustrate a print content for each line decreasing by one dot at its upper or lower end as printing proceeds from the lines L1 to L4.
  • the steps in FIGS. 13A to 13D are reverse in orientation to those in FIGS. 14A to 14D.
  • FIGS. 15A to 16D illustrate a print content for each line increasing by one dot at its upper or lower end as printing proceeds from the lines L1 to L4.
  • the steps in FIGS. 15A to 15D are reverse in orientation to those in FIGS. 16A to 16D.
  • the printer 1 generates divided data representing a print content PC12 shown in FIG. 13B from the first print data representing a print content PC11 in FIG. 13A, adds interpolating data to the generated divided data to interpolate the steps, and generates second print data representing a print content PC13 shown in FIG. 13C.
  • the printer 1 thereby performs printing based on the generated second print data.
  • the heating elements 10a are heated for only part of the main heating time, more specifically, the second half.
  • the amount of heat transferred from the heating elements 10a to the ink ribbon R during that limited heating period alone is not enough to melt or sublimate the ink on the ink ribbon R.
  • the heat applied to form the printing dots d1 around the interpolating dots d3 is partially transferred to barely melt or sublimate the ink on the ink ribbon R. This results in thin deposition of ink onto the portions, adjacent to the printing dots d1, of the interpolating dots d3 to form fine dots d4, just as the three fine dots d4 shown in FIG. 13D.
  • FIGS. 14A to 16D illustrate similar results.
  • the printing results (PR23, PR33, and PR43) have an outline OL2 with smaller steps than those of an outline OL1 of the print contents (PC21, PC31, and PC41) representing the first print data.
  • an interpolating dot d3 corresponding to the first half of the main heating time is added to, for example, the line L2, which is adjacent to the line L1.
  • an interpolating dot d3 corresponding to the second half of the main heating time is added to, for example, the line L1, which is adjacent to the line L2.
  • the printing process shown in FIG. 8 allows the printer 1 to print the print content with an outline having small steps without a reduction in printing rate, making the steps less conspicuous.
  • the printer 1 can achieve compatibility between high speed and high resolution in printing.
  • FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary printing system 100 according to this embodiment.
  • FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printing system 100.
  • the printing system 100 includes a print controller 80 and a printer 1a.
  • the print controller 80 is a standard computer, such as a notebook personal computer, equipped with a processor, a memory, and a storage.
  • the printing system 100 differs from the printer 1 in that part of a process performed by the printer 1 according to the first embodiment is performed at the print controller 80.
  • the print controller 80 and the printer 1a may send and receive data via a wireless network, as shown in FIG. 17, or via a wired network.
  • the print controller 80 includes a data converter 90, which instructs a processor to execute programs.
  • the data converter 90 performs functions similar to those of the data converter 60 of the printer 1.
  • the data converter 90 includes a divided data generator 91, which performs functions similar to those of the divided data generator 61 of the printer 1, an interpolating data generator 92, which performs functions similar to those of the interpolating data generator 62, and a preheating data generator 93, which performs functions similar to those of the preheating data generator 63.
  • the print controller 80 converts the first print data into the second print data and outputs the second print data to the printer 1a.
  • the printer 1a differs from the printer 1 in that the printer 1a includes a processor 5b in place of the processor 5.
  • the processor 5b includes the head controlling circuit 70, but not the data converter 60.
  • the head controlling circuit 70 in the printer 1a reads the second print data from the print data storage 7a and outputs the data to the head driving circuit 9.
  • the second print data is output from the print controller 80 and stored in the print data storage 7a.
  • the printer 1a may include a determiner that determines whether or not print data read from the print data storage 7a is second print data.
  • the printing system 100 and the printer 1a according to this embodiment can achieve compatibility between high speed and high resolution in printing, like the printer 1.
  • the printing system 100 can reduce the operational load at the printer 1a to that of conventional printers because the data conversion process is performed at the print controller 80.
  • each dot in the first printing data is divided into two parts in the transfer direction.
  • the dot may be divided into three or more parts.
  • the interpolating data is generated such that one of multiple parts into which each dot is divided in the transfer direction of the steps is in the ON state.
  • any number of parts i.e., two or more parts may be in the ON state.
  • the main heating time is equally divided into the number of divisions identical to that of a dot.
  • the main heating time may be unevenly divided provided that the number of divisions of the main heating time is identical to that of dots.
  • the present invention is used to achieve compatibility between high speed and high resolution in printing.

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  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
PCT/JP2018/007130 2017-03-27 2018-02-27 Printer, printing system, print controlling method, and recording medium WO2018180113A1 (en)

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