JPH0482748A - recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that drives a platen with a step motor to feed paper, and performs recording by causing a heating element of a thermal head to generate heat.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, recording devices installed in facsimile machines, etc.
It is known that a step motor for line feed drives a platen to feed paper and generates heat in a thermal head to perform recording. This energizes the step motor using an energizing pulse that repeats energizing with a predetermined non-energizing time interval between energizing and energizing.
The platen is driven to feed recording paper such as thermal paper.

At the same time, based on recorded data having information such as which part of the color-forming layer formed on thermal paper or ink ribbon etc. is to be colored, the heating element of the thermal head is caused to generate heat, and the coloring layer is colored in a predetermined unit. Recording is performed line by line.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Generally, in such conventional recording devices, when the coloring layer melts due to electricity, the melted and colored portion sticks to the thermal head, causing the platen to move to the next position. When attempting to do so, a so-called sticking phenomenon occurs that acts to impede the movement of the platen. As the black rate increases, the sticking phenomenon becomes stronger and the actual bill may be recorded at almost the same position as the previous recording position.

At this time, for example, although the step motor is rotating, the platen is prevented from moving, so elastic deformation occurs in the drive transmission part from the step motor to the platen, or in the platen itself. When the elastic deformation becomes large, the platen will move abnormally, such as moving all at once.For example, if printing is performed line by line at regular intervals, characters, etc. should be formed by printing multiple lines. When the platen moves all at once, the distance between the lines printed before and after it becomes much wider than the normal regular distance.
When drawing a thick solid black line, a white space may appear in the middle of the thick line, resulting in poor recording quality and problems such as the recorded characters becoming illegible.

Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above problems,
To provide a recording device that can quickly eliminate the sticking phenomenon even if it occurs, prevent deterioration of recording quality, and perform good recording.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration as a means for solving the problems. That is, as illustrated in FIG. The step motor M1 is equipped with an energization control means M2 that energizes the step motor M1 using an energization pulse that is repeatedly energized. In the recording apparatus that generates heat based on the coloring layer to color the coloring layer and records every predetermined unit line, black rate calculation means M4 calculates the black rate of the coloring rate in the unit line based on the recording data. and determining means M5 for determining whether or not the black rate is greater than or equal to a predetermined value; and when the black rate is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, an energizing pulse having a second non-energizing time shorter than the normal non-energizing time is used. ,
This is a configuration of a recording apparatus characterized in that it includes a second energization control means M6 that energizes the step motor M].

[Operation] Recording device method black rate calculation means M4 of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration
calculates the black ratio of the color development ratio in the unit line based on the recording data, and the determining means M5 determines whether the black ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. If the black ratio is not equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the energization control means M2 energizes the step motor M with an energization pulse that is normally energized at intervals of non-energization time, so that the black ratio reaches the predetermined value. In the above case, the second energization control means M6 energizes the step motor M with an energization pulse having a second de-energization time shorter than the normal de-energization time to drive the paper feed mechanism and paper. Perform the sending. Then, the heating element of the thermal head is caused to generate heat based on the recording data, the coloring layer is colored, and recording is performed for each predetermined unit line.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a platen 2 and a thermal head 3 that are disposed facing each other between a pair of opposing frames [a] and 1b.

The platen 2 is fixed to a platen shaft 4 that is rotatably installed on the frames 1a and 1b, and is attached to a platen drive wheel 5 attached to one end of the platen shaft 4, and a platen drive wheel 5 that is attached to the platen drive wheel 5. It is driven by a step motor 7 fixed to the frame via a belt 6. Note that a paper feeding mechanism is constituted by the platen 2, the platen shaft 4, the platen driving wheel 5, the belt 6, and the like.

In use, thermal paper 8 is placed between platen 2 and thermal head 3. In this recording device, this thermal paper 8 is conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the platen shaft 4 by rotation of the platen 2, and is line fed to the thermal head 3.
Execute power supply control to record information.

Next, the electrical system of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 3, the step motor 7 of this embodiment is a four-phase step motor with two-phase excitation, and is equipped with stator windings 11, 12, 13, and A motor drive circuit 20 that excites the stator windings ]] to ]4 is connected in series to the stator windings 11 to ]4, and turns on voltage application to the stator windings 11 to ]4 individually.・Transistors 21 to 24 to be turned off,
So-called flyback diodes 26 to 29 are connected in parallel to the stator windings 11 to 14, respectively.

Then, the motor drive circuit 20 energizes the step motor 7 under control by the electronic control circuit 40 . This electronic control circuit 40 includes a well-known CPU 41, RAM 42,
A timer 44, an input/output port 45 for inputting/outputting external equipment, etc. are connected to each other via a common path 46.

Further, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4, the electronic control circuit 40 controls energization of the thermal head 3 based on the recording data via the recording control circuit 50, causes a heating element (not shown) to generate heat, and heats the thermal paper 8. The recording layer is configured so that recording can be performed by causing the coloring layer to develop color.

Next, the processing performed in the electronic control circuit 40 described above during operation of the recording apparatus of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, all four phases of the step motor 7 are turned off (step 100, hereinafter simply referred to as 5100).

Same below. ) Next, recording data having information regarding recording, such as which heating element of the thermal head 3 is to be caused to generate heat to color the coloring layer of the thermal paper 8, is set in the recording control circuit 50. At this time, the black ratio, which is the rate of color development in a unit line (one line in this embodiment) in which all the heating elements of the thermal head 3 can generate heat and color is calculated (S110). This can be calculated based on the proportion of the heat generating elements that generate heat among all the heat generating elements of the thermal head 3. Then, the shift register (not shown) of the electronic control circuit 40 is set to r99J (represented in binary form as rl). 0011001]) and reset a binary counter (not shown) (S120)
. The shift register has lower 4 bits and transistors 21~
24 bases are controlled, and a binary counter counts the 4 steps as 4 steps for feeding one line, and
This is for determining whether or not the line feeding has been completed.7 After the initial settings are completed in this way, the recording operation is started. First, it is determined whether the black rate calculated in step 5110 is 70 percent or more (S130).

If the black rate is less than 70%, the processing in steps 8140 and below is performed as energization control for normal paper feeding. First, shift the contents of the shift register to the left and call it rool
5140) and outputs the shifted contents (S150).

Then, after turning on the transistors 21 to 24 for the normal energization time Tal to energize the corresponding stator windings 11 to 14, all four phases of the step motor 7 are turned off (S160
).

After the step motor 7 is turned off, the binary counter is counted up after the normal de-energization time Ta2 has passed (5170).
Repeat the above steps S] 40 to 5170 four times until the value of the lower 2 bits of the binary counter becomes roOJ, and when it becomes "OO", the operation for 4 steps is performed] line Once the minute has been sent, it is considered complete and the process moves on to the next step. FIG. 5(a) shows how the step motor 7 is normally energized by the process 8140 and below.
It is expressed as a time chart showing the energization state to the four phases. As shown in this time chart, normal energization control is based on an energization pulse (2) in which energization is periodically repeated for a normal energization time Tal with an interval of a normal non-energization time Ta2, thereby energizing the step motor 7. be.

While the above-mentioned paper feed control process is being performed, the black ratio calculation process shown in FIG. 7 is executed as an interrupt process.

In this process, first, the heating element of the thermal head 3 is made to generate heat based on the recording data, and the coloring layer of the fed thermal paper 8 is colored, thereby recording every predetermined unit line as described above. Since the paper feed control uses 4-step line feed, the heating elements of the thermal head 3 are also divided into 4 groups and synchronized with the 4-step feed of the paper feed control.
Line recording is performed (S310). Then, the recording data of the next line (next line data) is sent to the recording control circuit 50.
and calculates the black rate of the next line (S
320').

In the paper feed control process, after the feed for the line described above is completed, it is determined whether or not the next line data is set (5190), and if it is set, the
Repeat the process below 130. Also, if it is not set, the S
200), if there is no end signal, return to 5190 again,
51902, the next line data is set or sorted,
The processes of 5190 and S200 are repeated until a termination signal is issued at 5200. If there is an end signal, the paper feed control process is temporarily ended.

On the other hand, if the black rate is 70% or more (S130)
, performs the processing from 5210 onwards as the second energization control. 52
The process of 10 is the above-mentioned S]4 in normal energization control.
This is the same as the processing for 0. Further, the processing at 5220 is similar to the processing at 5150 described above, and the contents are output. Then, the transistors 21 to 24 are energized for a second energization time T.
After turning on only BL and energizing the corresponding stator windings 11 to 4, all four phases of the step motor 7 are turned off (3
230). After the step motor 7 is turned off, the binary counter is counted up after the second de-energization time Tb2 has elapsed.
240), the above steps S2] 0 to 5240 are repeated 4 times, and when the lower 2 bits of the binary counter become "00" (S250), the operation for 4 steps is performed as in normal energization control. 1 line has been sent, and the process advances to 5190.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), this second energization control changes the energization time of repeated energization pulses to the normal energization time Tal.
The second energization time T bit is longer than the normal non-energization time Ta2, and the second non-energization time Tb is shorter than the normal non-energization time Ta2.
This has been changed to 2. In this embodiment, the repetition period of the energization pulse is the same as in normal energization control, and only the distribution of energization time and non-energization time is changed.

The graph of the two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 8 shows the platen 2 when sticking does not occur and the platen 2 moves normally.
It is a time chart showing the position of. ] The platen 2 moves to position x 1 by energization in the second step, moves by position x 21 by energization in the second step, and so on, and moves by a fixed amount in accordance with the energization in each step.

The circle indicated by the arrow E1mA indicates the recording position on the thermal paper 8 when the platen 2 normally moves from position x1 to position x5 in response to the step motor 7 being energized. This is what is shown. In this case, the characters and the like that are recorded at the correct positions at regular intervals are recorded in a clear and easy-to-read state.

The dotted lines in Figure 8 indicate cases where the black ratio is high (e.g., 70% or more) and a strong sticking phenomenon appears when normal energization control is performed, and platen 2 exhibits abnormal movement. 2 shows the position of the platen 2 and the recording position on the thermal paper 8 in this case. As shown in the graph indicated by the dotted line, when the energization of the fifth step is started, the platen moves all at once to the correct position corresponding to the rotation of the step motor at that time, that is, position x 5. Therefore,
As shown by the arrowhead, all the recording positions up to the 4th step are fixed near the position corresponding to position x 1,
There is an interval Ya between the recording positions of the 5th step and the 5th step.
As a result, there are areas where the recorded print cannot be read.The solid lines in Figure 8 are for the same black rate of 70% or more. 2 shows the position of the platen 2 and the recording position on the thermal paper 8 when the second energization control is performed. This second energization control is performed during the second non-energization time Tb2
is shorter than the normal non-energization time Ta2, and the second energization time Tbl
Since this is longer than the normal energization time Tal, the time during which the force for driving the platen 2 is applied is longer than in normal energization control. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the platen 2 was moved to the fourth step position x4.

In this way, as shown by arrow C in Figure 8, the recording position up to the third step is fixed near the position corresponding to position x 1, but the recording position at the fourth step corresponds to position x 4. Therefore, the interval is narrower than the interval Ya shown by the dotted line when recording with normal energization control h.Then, the unreadable parts of the recorded print etc. are considerably reduced, which is extremely However, there was no problem in reading the text.

Note that the processes 5140 to 5180 act as the energization control means M2, and the processes S]10 and 5320 act as the black rate calculation means M.
Work as 4. Further, the process at 5130 functions as the determining means M5, and the processes at 5210 to 5250 function as the second energizing means M5.
Work as 6.

In this way, when the black ratio is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (70% in this embodiment), the second
Since the step motor 7 is energized to drive the platen 2 and the paper is fed by a energizing pulse having a non-energizing time Tb2, the normal energizing time Tb2 occurs after the sticking phenomenon occurs.
Energization can be performed during the second energization time Tbl, which is longer than al. Therefore, the time during which the driving force is applied to the platen 2 becomes longer, and the platen 2 can be returned to the normal position according to the rotation of the step motor 7 at an early stage.

Then, deterioration of recording quality can be prevented and good recording can be performed.

Next, another example of the second energization control will be described. In this other embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(C), the second energization time Tc1l;i is the same as the normal energization time Tal.
The start timing of the energization in the third step is also the same as in the normal energization control shown in FIG. 5(a). However, since the second non-energizing time Tc2 between the second energizing time Tel of the step ] and the second energizing time Tel of the second step is shorter than the normal energizing time Tal, the energizing time for each step is shorter than the normal energizing time Tal. Although the time remains the same, the energization timing of the 2.4th step is earlier than in the normal energization control shown in FIG. 5(a). Therefore, if sticking is eliminated within the second energization time Tcl of the 2.4th step of the 1st yo in the paper feeding operation according to another embodiment of the second energization control, it is time for the platen 2 to move to the normal position. However, the speed is faster than the paper feeding operation using normal energization control.

In this way, as the second energization control, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the entire non-energizing time of the energizing pulse may be set as the second non-energizing time Tb2, which is shorter than the normal non-energizing time Ta2. , as shown in FIG. 5(C), a part of the non-energizing time is changed to a second non-energizing time T which is shorter than the normal non-energizing time Ta2.
It may also be c2. Further, in this embodiment, the standard for performing the second energization control is a black rate of 70 percent or more, but an optimal value may be set for each device.

The present invention is not limited to these embodiments in any way, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, the recording device of the present invention energizes the step motor with an energizing pulse having a second non-energizing time shorter than the normal non-energizing time when the black rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. Even if a sticking phenomenon occurs, the paper is fed by
This has the effect of quickly eliminating the sticking phenomenon, preventing deterioration of recording quality, and making it possible to perform good recording.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the recording device of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram showing the circuit configuration of the step motor of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram 1 and FIG. 5 (
a) is a time chart showing energization pulses during normal energization control, FIG. 5(b) is a time chart showing energization pulses during second energization control, and FIG. 5(C) is a time chart showing energization pulses during second energization control. A time chart showing energizing pulses during control in another embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of paper feed control processing executed by the control system of this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the rate calculation process, which shows the movement of the platen and the recording state on the thermal paper when the normal energization control and the second energization control of this embodiment are performed. M], 7...Step motor M2...Electrification control means M3...Paper feeding mechanism M4...Black rate calculation means M5--Judgment means M6...Second energization control means Ta2... Normal de-energization time Tb2. Tc2...Second non-energizing time 2...Platen 3...Thermal head 40...Control circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] The step motor is provided with an energization control means that energizes the step motor using an energization pulse that is repeatedly energized at intervals of non-energization time, and the step motor drives a paper feeding mechanism to feed the paper. , a recording device that records every predetermined unit line by causing a heat generating element of a thermal head to generate heat based on recording data to develop a color in a coloring layer, the coloring layer being black at a proportion of the unit line to be colored based on the recording data. black rate calculating means for calculating a black rate; determining means for determining whether the black rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; and when the black rate is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a second By energizing pulse with energizing time,
A recording device comprising: second energization control means for energizing the step motor.