JPH02273253A - Heat transfer and heat sensitive recording energy control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To always obtain a satisfactory image quality even in any of heat transfer recording and heat sensitive recording by controlling recording energies of lines in addition to the controls of recording speed and timing in a printer for automatically switching the heat transfer recording and the heat sensitive recording. CONSTITUTION:Heat transfer or heat sensitive recording is automatically detected, and record control information such as optimum recording speed, a recording timing, etc., is automatically selected. Optimum one is automatically selected from a plurality of recording energy control tables 9, 10 stored previously, application pulse width data of an optimum thermal head 7 is output based on a detection temperature at the time of recording and stored recording speed to control recording. Thus, a heat transfer/heat sensitive record detector 3 detects which of recording media is mounted at present, and sends a detection signal to a record controller 1. A memory 2 previously stores the tables 9, 10, one for heat sensitive recording and the other for heat transfer recording.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Table of contents] Overview Industrial field of application Conventional technology Problems to be solved by the invention Means for solving the problems (Fig. 1) Effects (Fig. 1) Examples (Fig. 2) ~Figure 6) Effects of the invention [Summary] Regarding the thermal transfer and thermal recording energy control system, thermal transfer recording and thermal recording are performed by automatic switching using one recording unit and the same recording parts and structure. In printers, etc., the purpose is to always obtain good image quality regardless of the recording method by controlling the recording speed, recording timing, etc., as well as the recording energy of each line. With a printer device that can record both thermal transfer recording and thermal recording, it automatically detects whether it is thermal transfer recording or thermal recording, and automatically selects the optimal recording control method for both thermal transfer recording and thermal recording. In the recording method, a temperature detection sensor detects the temperature of the thermal head;
A memory that stores multiple recording energy control chill pulses is provided, and a recording energy control table is selected based on the temperature of the thermal head and the stored recording speed, and the thermal head is adjusted so that the recording energy of each line is optimized. Configure it to control.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer and thermal recording energy control system,
More specifically, it is used to control the recording of printers and facsimile machines that can automatically switch between thermal transfer recording and thermal recording, and is particularly useful for recording images with a high black rate and halftone images such as photographs. , relates to a thermal transfer and thermal recording energy control system that enables faithful reproduction of fine characters, etc.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent facsimile machines and the like, there has been an increasing need for recording on plain paper, with emphasis placed on storage of recorded data, ease of writing, and the like.

In addition, for devices that require line-type recording such as facsimile machines, electrophotography was previously used as a plain paper recording technology, but it was expensive, so a technology common to thermal recording could be used. Thermal transfer recording methods have been attracting attention because of their ability to reduce equipment costs.

However, since the cost of consumables is higher in thermal transfer recording than in thermal recording, there is a demand for an apparatus capable of both thermal transfer recording and thermal recording, which can also be used for thermal recording when continuous paper is not required.

Conventional printers and facsimile machines often have separate devices for thermal transfer recording and thermal recording, so these recording units are optimized for thermal transfer and thermal recording in terms of parts used, structure, control method, etc. I was able to prepare things on my own.

In addition, in devices capable of both thermal transfer recording and thermal recording, in order to share the recording section, it has been common to use the same recording energy, recording control method, etc., and adjust them on the medium side.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above-mentioned conventional devices had the following drawbacks.

In other words, it is required to faithfully reproduce not only fixed characters like a facsimile machine, but also halftone images such as images with a high black ratio and photographs, and at the same time, it is also required to reproduce fine characters such as those found in newspapers. In the case of image recording printers such as However, it has been difficult to obtain good image quality for all types of images.

The present invention solves these conventional drawbacks and improves the recording speed in printers and the like that automatically switch between thermal transfer recording and thermal recording by using one recording unit and the same recording parts and structure. In addition to controlling the recording timing, etc., it also controls the recording energy of each line. 11, the purpose is to always obtain good image quality regardless of the recording method.

[Means to solve the problem]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, and the present invention will be explained in detail below based on this diagram.

In the figure, ■ is the recording controller section, 2 is the memory, and 3 is the recording controller section.
is a thermal transfer/thermal recording detection section, 4 is a motor drive section, 5 is a motor, 6 is a thermal head drive section, 7 is a thermal head, 8 is a temperature detection sensor, 9, IO is a recording energy control table, 11 is a recording image signal shows.

In the present invention, a printer device or the like that has one recording section, uses the same recording parts and structure, and performs thermal transfer and thermal recording,
It automatically detects whether it is thermal transfer or thermal recording, and automatically selects the optimal recording control information such as recording speed and recording timing for each.

Then, a plurality of pre-stored recording energy controls n
The optimum one is automatically selected from the table, and the optimum pulse width data to be applied to the thermal head is retrieved based on the detected temperature during recording and the recorded recording speed to perform recording control.

Therefore, the thermal transfer/thermal recording detection section 3 detects which recording medium is currently loaded, and sends a detection signal to the recording controller l.

Recording energy control tables 9 and 10 are stored in advance in the memory 2, one of which is used for thermal recording and the other for thermal transfer recording.

The above-mentioned recording energy control table 9.10 may be, for example, a recording pulse width table in which the temperature of the thermal head is used as a parameter and data on the relationship between the recording speed (recording M per I line) and the recording pulse width is set as a table. Use.

Further, various programs for control are also stored in advance in the memory.

[Effect]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

The thermal transfer/thermal recording detection unit 3 detects which recording medium is currently loaded, and the recording controller unit 1 uses the detection signal to provide control information such as recording speed and recording timing necessary for the optimal recording control method. Select in advance from memory 2.

Furthermore, a recording energy control table (9) is provided for detecting and storing the temperature of the thermal head 7 in past lines, storing the recording speed, and controlling the recording energy for each line based on these data. , (10)
is also selected from memory 2.

When the recording controller section 1 receives the recording image signal, the thermal head drive section 6
and controls the motor drive section 4 to control the motor 5 for feeding the recording paper.

At the same time, energy is applied to the thermal radar 7, and the motor 5 feeds the recording paper to record one page.

At this time, when recording each line, the past temperature of the thermal head 7 detected by the temperature detection sensor 8 is memorized, and when recording the current line, the temperature of the thermal head of the memorized past line and the current temperature are stored. The recording scan period (recording speed) of the line is known by referring to the recording energy control table (recording pulse width control table) 9 or 10.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of one embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine.

In the figure, 1 is a recording controller section, 2 is a memory, and 3 is a recording controller section.
is a thermal transfer/thermal recording detection unit, 4A is a recording paper feed motor drive unit, 5A is a recording paper feed motor, 6 is a thermal head drive unit, 7 is a thermal head, 8 is a temperature detection sensor, I2
is a facsimile control unit, 13 is a modem (modem/demodulator), 1
Reference numeral 4 indicates a restoring unit for recording unit code information, 15 indicates a buffer memory for recording angle code information, and 16 indicates a line buffer memory.

The thermal transfer/thermal recording detection section 3 detects whether the recording is thermal transfer recording or thermal recording and sends a signal to the recording controller section l.

The buffer memory 15 temporarily holds the recording part code information demodulated by the modem I3, and the line buffer 1
6 is for temporarily holding the recording unit code information restored by the restoring unit 14 (for several lines).

Furthermore, the memory 2 stores various recording energy control tables, control programs, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a mechanical explanatory diagram of the recording section in the above embodiment.

In the figure, 30 is a thermal transfer film, 31 is a take-up reel for the thermal transfer film 30, and 32 is the traveling direction of the thermal transfer film 30 during printing.

33 is a thermal transfer film roll, 34 is a recording paper, 35 is a recording paper roll, and 36 is a traveling direction of the recording paper.

37 is a recording platen roller, 38 is a thermal transfer film/recording paper peeling iron, 39 is a tension iron, and 7 is a thermal head.

FIG. 4 is a mechanical explanatory diagram of the thermal transfer/thermal recording detection section in the above embodiment.

In the figure, 7 is a thermal head, 30 is a thermal transfer film, 34 is a recording paper, 37 is a recording platen roller, 40 is a detection switch for a thermal transfer film cassette, 41 is a thermal transfer film cassette, and 42 is a paper feed drive for the thermal transfer film and recording paper. Show part.

The detection switch 40 is a thermal transfer film force set 1-
By switching the contact point between when 41 is attached and when it is not attached, it is possible to detect whether it is thermal transfer recording or thermal recording. It is also possible to perform the above detection by detecting the thermal transfer film itself.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the recording energy control table in the above embodiment, in which (A) is for thermal transfer recording;
CB) indicates heat-sensitive recording.

In the figure, the horizontal axis is the recording speed (1 line recording lap! 111),
The vertical axis indicates the applied pulse width, and the temperature (temperature of the thermal head) is used as a parameter.

The number of stages and set values for each variable of temperature, recording speed, and applied pulse width in this diagram should be arbitrarily set depending on the device-specific conditions such as the performance of the recording head and recording medium, and the memory capacity.

In the embodiment described above, thermal transfer recording and thermal recording are automatically detected, and the optimum recording control method for each recording method is selected and recorded.

Then, the temperature of the thermal radar 7 is detected by a temperature detection sensor 8.
and sends a detection signal to the recording controller section l.

Also, the recording speed (recording 'g1 per line) is
It is a certain set value and is stored in the memory (2) or the like. From this recording speed and the temperature of the thermal head, the pulse width of the application pulse to be applied to the thermal head 7 is determined by referring to the recording energy control table.

Since the voltage of the signal applied to the thermal radar 7 is constant, the voltage application time, that is, the pulse width of the applied pulse, can be varied to change the recording section. Do 1.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, since the relationship between the recording speed and the applied pulse width changes depending on the temperature, the temperature of the thermal head 7 is detected, and the applied pulse width corresponding to that temperature is taken out and recorded. It is for controlling.

FIG. 6 is a mechanical explanatory diagram of a serial printer in another embodiment.

In the figure, 34 is recording paper, 50 is a recording head unit, 51 is a ribbon cassette, 52 is a thermal head, and 53
Reference numeral 54 indicates an ink ribbon, and 54 indicates a timing belt for moving the recording head unit.

Even in such a serial printer, the ribbon cassette 51
If a switch is provided that is turned on when the recording medium is loaded, it is possible to detect whether thermal transfer recording or thermal recording is being performed, and the above invention can be applied.

It is also possible to detect whether thermal transfer recording or thermal recording is being performed by detecting the ink ribbon itself.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention has the following effects.

In printers that are capable of both thermal transfer recording and thermal recording, even if the same recording parts and structures are used, it is possible to print not only ordinary letters but also small letters on newspapers, images with high blackness, etc. Both recording methods can provide equally good image quality up to halftone images.

This greatly contributes to improving the performance of thermal transfer/thermal printer devices and facsimile devices.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the thermal transfer and thermal recording energy control system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism of the recording section in the above embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the recording energy control table in the above embodiment. FIG. 6 is a serial diagram in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism of the printer. 1 - Recording controller unit 2 - Memory 3 - Thermal transfer/thermal recording detection unit 4 - Motor drive unit 5 - Motor 6 - Thermal head drive unit 7 - Thermal head 8 - Temperature detection sensor 9, IO... - Recording energy control table

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A thermal transfer/thermal recording detection unit (3) that automatically detects whether thermal transfer recording or thermal recording is performed in a printer device or the like capable of recording both thermal transfer recording and thermal recording with the same device. of the thermal head (7), in which recording is performed by automatically selecting an optimal recording control method for each of thermal transfer recording and thermal recording based on the detection signal of the thermal transfer/thermal recording detection section (3). A temperature detection sensor (8) for detecting temperature and a memory (2) storing a plurality of recording energy control tables (9) and (10) are provided, and the temperature of the thermal head detected by the temperature detection sensor (8) is provided. Based on the stored recording speed, the recording energy control tables (9) and (10) are selected, and the thermal head (
7) A thermal transfer and thermal recording energy control method characterized by controlling.