The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2013-195308, which was filed on Sep. 20, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The disclosure relates to a color printer configured to perform color print by getting a thermosensitive medium through a thermal head only once (termed as one-pass operation, hereinafter), and a method for controlling heat pulse of a color printer.
Since establishment the conventional technique relating to one-pass operation for color print performed with a color printer and a method for controlling heat pulse of a color printer, respective heat elements constituting a thermal head have been distinguished between coloring heat elements which are to perform color print at a printing medium and non-printing heat elements which are not to perform color print thereat. Incidentally, in a conventional printer disclosed in JP Laid-open patent application publication No. 2012-76351, at the time of performing color print with a thermal head, color development heat is applied to coloring heat elements of the thermal head while auxiliary heat (not so hot for color printing at a printing medium) is applied to either non-printing heat elements or coloring heat elements depending on print speed.
The above conventional printer is configured to perform black-and-white print on a thermo sensitive medium and perform color print on a printing medium by transferring color of a colored ink ribbon to the printing medium. That is, one-pass operation disclosed in the above-specified publication is applicable to a printer which is configured to perform one-colored print by using the thermal head. Accordingly, the print technique of the printer disclosed in the above publication is not applicable to a color printer which performs multicolor print on a color thermosensitive medium as printing medium in one-pass operation by using a thermal head as well as a method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer.
Further, in the color printer and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer, a pattern of color development heat to be applied to coloring heat elements of the thermal head is made different for each color to be printed at a color thermosensitive medium as printing medium at the time of performing multicolor print with the thermal head in one-pass operation. Therefore, it is not preferable to apply auxiliary heat to some of or all of the non-printing heat elements of the thermal head at constant pattern regardless of colors to be printed on a color thermosensitive medium at the time of performing multicolor print by using the thermal head in one-pass operation.
The disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problem and has an object to provide a color printer and a method for controlling heat pulse of a color printer capable of improving color development properties when performing multicolor print on a color thermosensitive medium as printing medium by using a thermal head in one-pass operation.
To achieve the purpose of the disclosure, there is provided a color printer which is configured to perform color print by getting a color thermosensitive medium through a thermal head which consists of plural heat elements only once for color development at the color thermosensitive medium, wherein the color thermosensitive medium includes a base material and two or more of coloring layers laminated on the base material so that a topmost one of the coloring layers is put closest and the base material is put farthest with reference to the thermal head when the color thermosensitive medium is conveyed for multicolor print, wherein color development temperature is different by each of the two or more of coloring layers laminated on the base material, wherein, as lamination position gets closer to the base material among the two or more of coloring layers, color development temperature of a coloring layer at the lamination position is set lower and heat duration required for color development of a coloring layer at the lamination position is set longer, wherein, when getting color development at the color thermosensitive medium, all the plural heat elements of the thermal head are distinguished between coloring heat elements for performing color development at the color thermosensitive medium and non-printing heat elements for withholding color development at the color thermo sensitive medium, and wherein, when a color development heat pulse set for each one dot of an intended image is applied to a coloring heat element associated with the one dot of the intended image in the thermal head, an auxiliary heat pulse set for development of the intended image at the color thermo sensitive medium is applied to a non-printing heat element that adjoins to the coloring heat element associated with the one dot of the intended image with reference to a scanning direction of the thermal head.
Furthermore, according to another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling heat pulse of a color printer which is configured to perform color print by getting a color thermosensitive medium through a thermal head which consists of plural heat elements only once for color development at the color thermosensitive medium, wherein the color thermosensitive medium includes a base material and two or more of coloring layers laminated on the base material so that a topmost one of the coloring layers is put closest and the base material is put farthest with reference to the thermal head when the color thermosensitive medium is conveyed for multicolor print, wherein color development temperature is different by each of the two or more of coloring layers laminated on the base material, wherein, as lamination position gets closer to the base material among the two or more of coloring layers, color development temperature of a coloring layer at the lamination position is set lower and heat duration required for color development of a coloring layer at the lamination position is set longer, wherein, when getting color development at the color thermosensitive medium, all the plural heat elements of the thermal head are distinguished between coloring heat elements for performing color development at the color thermosensitive medium and non-printing heat elements for withholding color development at the color thermosensitive medium, and wherein, when a color development heat pulse set for each one dot of an intended image is applied to a coloring heat element associated with the one dot of the intended image in the thermal head, an auxiliary heat pulse set for development of the intended image at the color thermosensitive medium is applied to a non-printing heat element that adjoins to the coloring heat element associated with the one dot of the intended image with reference to a scanning direction of the thermal head.
There will be given a detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of a color printer and a method for controlling heat pulse of a color printer embodying the disclosure by referring to the accompanying drawings.
Firstly, there will be described on a color printer 101 and a method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment.
Here will be described on the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment by referring to
The thermistor 121 is mounted on the thermal head 102 so as to detect temperature of the thermal head 102. The temperature measuring device 122 is installed near the thermal head 102 in the main body 104 so as to detect temperature of the atmosphere near the thermal head 102. A color thermosensitive medium 1 is held between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, and conveyed by the rotation of the platen roller 103 in only one direction at the time of multicolor print. That is, the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment performs multicolor print in one-pass operation (in which the color thermosensitive medium 1 is conveyed in one direction only once).
The control unit 111 includes a CPU 112, a CG-ROM 113, an EEPROM 114, a ROM 115 and a RAM 116.
The CPU 112 is a central processing unit that is the nucleus of various controls in the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the CPU 112 controls the color printer 101 itself based on various control programs. The CG-ROM 113 is character generator memory in which image data of a character or symbol to be printed is related to code data and stored in the form of a dot pattern. The EEPROM 114 is non-volatile memory that allows writing and erasing of stored contents. The ROM 115 stores various control programs and data used at the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment. The RAM 116 temporarily stores a computation result by the CPU 112, or the like. The RAM 116 further stores data such as edited print data.
The control unit 111 is coupled to the head driving circuit 117 and the conveying motor driving circuit 118. The head driving circuit 117 is a circuit that supplies the thermal head 102 with a drive signal based on a control signal from the CPU 112 and controls the driving state of the thermal head 102. The conveying motor driving circuit 118 is a circuit that supplies the medium conveying motor 119 with a drive signal based on a control signal from the CPU 112 and controls the rotation of the platen roller 103 through the drive control of the medium conveying motor 119.
When being conveyed in one direction by the rotation of the platen roller 103 for multicolor print, the color thermosensitive medium 1 held between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103 is pressed against the thermal head 102 by the platen roller 103. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
At the time of multicolor print, the color thermosensitive medium 1 is conveyed in only one direction by the platen roller 103 in a state of being held between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103. While being conveyed in the state of being held between the thermal head 102 and the platen roller 103, the color thermosensitive medium 1 is pressed against the thermal head 102 by the platen roller 103.
Of the color thermosensitive medium 1, the side of the overcoating layer 6 laid over the cyan coloring layer 3 is pressed against the thermal head 102. That is, when seen from the side of the thermal head 102 in contact with the color thermosensitive medium 1 at the time of conveying the color thermosensitive medium 1, the cyan coloring layer 3, the magenta coloring layer 4, the yellow coloring layer 5 and the base material 2 are put even farther therefrom in this order.
The thermal head 102 generates color development heat which is heat energy for color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1. The thermal head 102 also generates auxiliary heat which is heat energy not so hot as the extent of causing color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1.
As already described, of the color thermosensitive medium 1, the overcoating layer 6 laid over the cyan coloring layer 3 is pressed against the thermal head 102. Therefore, heat energy (color development heat and auxiliary heat) generated by the thermal head 102 is given to the color thermosensitive medium 1 from the side of the overcoating layer 6 laminated over the cyan coloring layer 3.
At the time of multicolor print, the control unit 111 and the head driving circuit 117 control the thermal head 102 for proper color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1 in accordance with respective color development properties of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5.
The control unit 111 and the head driving circuit 117 control duration of drive voltage application to the thermal head 102 and drive voltage application timing in a print cycle (7000 μs, in the embodiment). Thereby, regarding each heat element 102A of the thermal head 102, a set of heat temperature and heat duration is controlled by selectively using two kinds of heat, namely, between color development heat and auxiliary heat depending on respective color development properties of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 of which colors are to get developed at the color thermosensitive medium 1.
Incidentally, all the heat elements 102A of the thermal head 102 for multicolor print are functionally distinguished between “coloring heat elements” and “non-printing heat elements”. More specifically, in the thermal head 102, the coloring heat elements are heat elements subject to receiving color development heat which is heat energy for color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1 while the non-printing heat elements are heat elements subject to receiving auxiliary heat. That is, auxiliary heat is given to a heat element 102A distinguished as a “non-printing heat element” which adjoins to a heat element 102A distinguished as a “coloring heat element”, with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102.
That is, depending on respective coloring properties of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 which are to get developed at the color thermosensitive medium 1, the control unit 111 and the head driving circuit 117 selectively apply color development heat pulses to “coloring heat elements” among the heat elements 102A while applying auxiliary heat pulses to “non-printing heat elements” adjoining to “coloring heat elements” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102. Incidentally, hatching for distinctively indicating cross-sections of the base material 2, the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 and the overcoating layer 6 is omitted in
As described in the above, each of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 has its own color development properties. The cyan coloring layer 3 is an uppermost coloring layer facing the thermal head 102 when the color thermosensitive medium 1 is conveyed, so that cyan starts coloring up relatively in a shorter period of time at higher temperature. The yellow coloring layer 5 is a bottommost coloring layer farthest from the thermal head 102 when the color thermosensitive medium 1 is conveyed, so that yellow starts coloring up relatively in a longer period of time at lower temperature. The magenta coloring layer 4 is a middle coloring layer between the uppermost and bottommost coloring layers, so that magenta starts coloring up in a medial period of time at medial temperature in comparison with the top and bottom coloring layers.
That is, each of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 has its own color development temperature. Color development temperature of the yellow coloring layer 5 put as bottommost coloring layer is lower than that of the magenta coloring layer 4 put as middle coloring layer. Color development temperature of the magenta coloring layer 4 is lower than that of the cyan coloring layer 3 put as uppermost coloring layer. For color development of the yellow coloring layer 5 as bottommost coloring layer, it is required that duration to heat the yellow coloring layer 5 be made longer than duration to heat the magenta coloring layer 4 as middle coloring layer. For color development of the magenta coloring layer 4 as middle coloring layer, it is required that duration to heat the magenta coloring layer 4 be made longer than duration to heat the cyan coloring layer 3 as the uppermost coloring layer.
In the first embodiment, five colors can get developed with the color thermosensitive medium 1 by combining coloring layers to get developed on the white-colored base material 2 from among three coloring layers, namely, the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5. The five available colors are yellow (shortened as “Y”, herein after), red (shortened as “R”), blue (shortened as “B”), white (shortened as “W”) and black (shortened as “Bk”). “Y” is a single color that can color up from the yellow coloring layer 5. “R” is a synthetic color of the magenta coloring layer 4 and the yellow coloring layer 5. “B” is a synthetic color of cyan coloring layer 3 and the magenta coloring layer 4. “W” is a color obtained with getting developed none of the cyan coloring layer 3, the magenta coloring layer 4 and the yellow coloring layer 5. “Bk” is a synthetic color of the cyan coloring layer 3, the magenta coloring layer 4 and the yellow coloring layer 5.
As the color development heat pulse table of
Further, the indication of “500+40/80*40” means that a color development heat pulse of “500+40/80*40” is applied to a heat element 102A distinguished as a “coloring heat element” for coloring up “Bk”. For coloring of “W”, application of a color development heat pulse to a “coloring heat element” is not performed; instead, there is performed application of an auxiliary heat pulse to an “non-printing heat element” which adjoins to the “coloring heat element” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102 in accordance with the auxiliary heat pulse table shown in
As the auxiliary heat pulse table of
Here will be described on how to read the auxiliary heat pulse table shown in
It is to be noted that a heat element 102A designated as “non-printing heat element” may be present so that both sides thereof should adjoin two heat elements 102A designated as “coloring heat elements” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102. In that case, different color development heat pulse may be given to the two “coloring heat elements” for development of different colors at the sides of the “non-printing heat element”. In the case of developing different colors at both sides of the “non-printing heat element” (namely, at the color thermosensitive medium 1), an auxiliary heat pulse of higher priority ranking one between the two different colors is selected (refer to
Further, an auxiliary heat pulse of “20/240*21” is set for “W” and given to a heat element 102A distinguished as “non-printing heat element” in the thermal head 102 for coloring up of “W”. The color development heat pulse table shown in
Next, there will be described on the flow chart of print by the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment. The ROM 115 stores programs related to the flow charts shown in
Next, a table data selecting process for dots constituting one line shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In a case where the “target dot x” is a print dot (S41: Yes), the process shifts to S42. At S42, a color development heat pulse for the print dot of the intended color (including color tone level) is selected from the color development heat pulse table (refer to
In a contrary case where the “target dot x” is not a print dot (S41: No), the process shifts to S44. At S44, it is determined whether or not either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is a “Y”-coloring print dot. It is to be noted that the determination process at S44 is carried out based on the one line of image data transferred at S11 shown in
In a case where either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is a “Y”-coloring print dot (S44: Yes), the process shifts to S45. At S45, an auxiliary heat pulse of “Y” for “Y”-coloring print dot is selected from the auxiliary heat pulse table (refer to
In a contrary case where both the “adjoining dot y” and the “adjoining dot z” are not a “Y”-coloring print dot (S44: No), the process shifts to S46. At S46, it is determined whether or not either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is an “R”-coloring print dot. It is to be noted that the determination process at S46 is carried out based on the one line of image data transferred at S11 shown in
In a case where either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is an “R”-coloring print dot (S46: Yes), the process shifts to S47. At S47, an auxiliary heat pulse of “R” for “R”-coloring print dot is selected from the auxiliary heat pulse table (refer to
In a contrary case where both the “adjoining dot y” and the “adjoining dot z” are not an “R”-coloring print dot (S46: No), the process shifts to S48. At S48, it is determined whether or not either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is a “W”-coloring print dot. It is to be noted that the determination process at S48 is carried out based on the one line of image data transferred at S11 shown in
In a case where either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is a “W”-coloring print dot (S48: Yes), the process shifts to S49. At S49, an auxiliary heat pulse of “W” for “W”-coloring print dot is selected from the auxiliary heat pulse table (refer to
In a contrary case where both the “adjoining dot y” and the “adjoining dot z” are not a “W”-coloring print dot (S48: No), the process shifts to S50. At S50, it is determined whether or not either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is a “Bk”-coloring print dot. It is to be noted that the determination process at S50 is carried out based the on one line of image data transferred at S11 shown in
In a case where either the “adjoining dot y” or the “adjoining dot z” is a “Bk”-coloring print dot (S50: Yes), the process shifts to S51. At S51, an auxiliary heat pulse of “Bk” for “Bk”-coloring print dot is selected from the auxiliary heat pulse table (refer to
In a contrary case where both the “adjoining dot y” and the “adjoining dot z” are not a “Bk”-coloring print dot (S50: No), the process shifts to S52. At S52, an auxiliary heat pulse of “B” for “B”-coloring print dot is selected from the auxiliary heat pulse table (refer to
Reverting to
In a contrary case where the variable x is not under 540 (S34: No), the process shifts to S35 so as to terminate the table data selecting process for dots constituting one line. That is, the table data selecting process for dots constituting one line is to complete a data table which stores either data of color development heat pulse or data of auxiliary heat pulse to be applied to each of the five hundred and forty heat elements 102A constituting the thermal head 102.
Thereafter, the process shifts to S15 in
At S18, a value of the variable n is incremented by 1. At S19, it is determined whether or not a value of the variable n is under 540. In a case where the value of the variable n is under 540 (S19: Yes), the process returns to S17 and the series of steps to follow S17 is repeated.
In a contrary case where the value of the variable n is not under 540 (S19: No), the process shifts to S20. At S20, a value of the variable m is incremented by 1. At S21, it is determined whether or not a value of the variable m is under 700. In a case where the value of the variable m is under 700 (S21: Yes), the process returns to S16 and the series of steps to follow S16 is repeated.
In a contrary case where the value of the variable m is not under 700 (S21: No), the process shifts to S22. At S22, the head driving circuit 117 is controlled to perform latch, strobe and heating so as to terminate multicolor print for one line of image data (S23). By thus repeating each step indicated in the flow charts shown in
In the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, a color image gets developed at a color thermosensitive medium 1 in a manner of one-pass operation so that the printing medium 1 is conveyed only once in one direction in contact with the thermal head 102 consisting of plural heat elements 102A. When seen from the side of the thermal heat 102 in contact with the color thermosensitive medium 1, on the base material 2, the cyan coloring layer 3, the magnet coloring layer 4 and the yellow coloring layer 5 are laminated in this order.
In this connection, each of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 has its own color development properties. The cyan coloring layer 3 is an uppermost coloring layer facing the thermal head 102 when the color thermosensitive medium 1 is conveyed, so that cyan starts coloring up relatively in a shorter period of time at higher temperature. The yellow coloring layer 5 is a bottommost coloring layer farthest from the thermal head 102 when the color thermosensitive medium 1 is conveyed, so that yellow starts coloring up relatively in a longer period of time at lower temperature. The magenta coloring layer 4 is a middle coloring layer between the uppermost and bottommost coloring layers, so that magenta starts coloring up in a medial period of time at medial temperature in comparison with the uppermost and bottommost coloring layers.
That is, each of the cyan, magenta and yellow coloring layers 3, 4 and 5 has its own color development temperature. Color development temperature of the yellow coloring layer 5 put as bottommost coloring layer is lower than that of the magenta coloring layer 4 put as middle coloring layer. Color development temperature of the magenta coloring layer 4 is lower than that of the cyan coloring layer 3 put as uppermost coloring layer. For color development of the yellow coloring layer 5 as bottommost coloring layer, it is required that duration to heat the yellow coloring layer 5 be made longer than duration to heat the magenta coloring layer 4 as middle coloring layer. For color development of the magenta coloring layer 4 as middle coloring layer, it is required that duration to heat the magenta coloring layer 4 be made longer than duration to heat the cyan coloring layer 3 as the uppermost coloring layer.
All of the heat elements 102A of the thermal head 102 are functionally distinguished between “coloring heat elements” serving to color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1 and “non-printing heat elements” not serving to color development when getting color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1.
When a color development heat pulse for one dot of an intended image is applied to each “coloring heat element” among heat elements 102A constituting the thermal head 102, an auxiliary heat pulse which is not so hot as the extent of causing color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1 is applied to each “non-printing heat element” adjoining to the “coloring heat element” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102.
That is, absence or presence of a “non-printing heat element” which adjoins to a “coloring heat element” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102 brings influence on temperature level the “coloring heat element” is allowed to reach when color development heat is applied. Since influence on temperature level brought to the “coloring heat element” differs depending on color to get developed at the multicolor thermosensitve medium 1 by the said “coloring heat element”, there is applied to the “non-printing heat element” an auxiliary heat pulse appropriate to the intended color to get developed by the said “coloring heat element”.
Thereby, when color development heat of an intended color is applied to the “coloring heat element” for multicolor print on the multicolor thermosensitve medium 1 with thermal head 102 in accordance with one-pass operation, auxiliary heat temperature level of which is appropriate to the intended color is applied to the “non-printing heat element” adjoining to the said “coloring heat element” with reference to the main canning direction D of the thermal head 102.
Thereby, in the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, improvement can be achieved on color development properties of multicolor print performed on the color thermosensitive medium 1 by using the thermal head 102 in one-pass operation.
According to the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, in a case of coloring up “B” or “Bk”, for instance, there is necessity to color up the cyan coloring layer 3 at the uppermost position when seen from the side of thermal head 102 in contact with the color thermosensitive medium 1. In this connection, the cyan coloring layer 3 starts coloring up relatively in a shorter period time at higher temperature.
Therefore, there is necessity to give high heat to the color thermosensitive medium 1 by applying color development pulse having high amount of energy to a heat element 102A distinguished as “coloring heat element” at once.
In that case, heat temperature given to the “coloring heat element” is high. Therefore, in a case where it gets high with respect to amount of energy for an auxiliary heat pulse to be given to a heat element 102A distinguished as a “non-printing heat element” that adjoins to a “coloring heat element” in the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102, the “non-printing heat element” may get a color developed at the multicolor thermosensitve medium 1.
For that reason, a comparatively small amount of energy is set with respect to an auxiliary heat pulse to be applied to a “non-printing heat element” that adjoins to the “coloring heat element” for “B” or “Bk” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102 (refer to
Accordingly, in the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, the former is larger than the latter between the followings: an amount of energy for one dot of an auxiliary heat pulse to be given to a “non-printing heat element” adjoining to a “coloring heat element” for a color that get developed without coloring up of the cyan coloring layer 3 in the main scanning direction D; and an amount of energy for one dot of an auxiliary heat pulse to be given to a “non-printing heat element” adjoining to a “coloring heat element” for a color that get developed by coloring up the cyan coloring layer 3 in the main scanning direction D.
Thereby, in the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, improvement can be achieved on color development properties of multicolor print performed on the color thermosensitive medium 1 by using the thermal head 102 in one-pass operation.
According to the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, a color development heat pulse for one dot of an intended image is applied to a “coloring heat element” among heat elements 102A constituting the thermal head 102. At the same time, an auxiliary heat pulse is applied to a “non-printing heat element” adjoining to the “coloring heat element” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102, wherein the auxiliary heat pulse applied thereto is the one appropriate to the color the “coloring heat element” intends to get developed at the color thermosensitive medium 1.
For instance,
Further,
Thereby, in the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, improvement can be achieved on color development properties of multicolor print performed on the color thermosensitive medium 1 by using the thermal head 102 in one-pass operation.
According to the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, various auxiliary heat pulses are defined as shown in
Since various auxiliary heat pulses are thus defined, temperature of a “non-printing heat element” to which an auxiliary heat pulse is applied can be set to temperature appropriate to a color to get developed at the thermosensitve medium 1 by a “coloring heat element” adjoining to the said “non-printing heat element” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102.
Thereby, in the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment, improvement can be achieved on color development properties of multicolor print performed on the color thermosensitive medium 1 by using the thermal head 102 in one-pass operation.
Next, there will be described on a color printer and a method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer directed to the second embodiment.
The color printer and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer directed to the second embodiment are the same as the color printer 101 and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer 101 directed to the first embodiment. Accordingly, there will be omitted details about the color printer and flow charts thereof while there will be used numerical signs and step numbers the same as those used for describing the color printer 101 and the flow charts directed to the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, the color printer 101 uses a color thermosensitive medium 1001 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Of the color thermosensitive medium 1001, the side of the overcoating layer 6 laid over the cyan coloring layer 3 is pressed against the thermal head 102. That is, when seen from the side of the thermal head 102 in contact with the color thermosensitive medium 1001, the ovrcoating layer 6 is put closest and the cyan coloring layer 3, the magenta coloring layer 4 and the base material 2 are put even farther therefrom in this order.
The thermal head 102 generates color development heat which is heat energy for color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1001. The thermal head 102 also generates auxiliary heat which is heat energy not so hot as the extent of causing color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1001. As already described, of the color thermosensitive medium 1001, the overcoating layer 6 laid over the cyan coloring layer 3 is pressed against the thermal head 102. Therefore, heat energy (color development heat and auxiliary heat) generated by the thermal head 102 is given to the color thermosensitive medium 1001 from the side of the overcoating layer 6 laminated over the cyan coloring layer 3. At the time of multicolor print, the control unit 111 and the head driving circuit 117 control the thermal head 102 for proper color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1001 in accordance with respective color development properties of the cyan and magenta coloring layers 3 and 4.
The control unit 111 and the head driving circuit 117 control duration of drive voltage application to the thermal head 102 and drive voltage application timing in a print cycle (7000 μs, in the embodiment). Thereby, regarding each heat element 102A of the thermal head 102, a set of heat temperature and heat duration is controlled by selectively using two kinds of heat, namely, between color development heat and auxiliary heat depending on respective color development properties of the cyan and magenta coloring layers 3 and 4 which are to get developed at the color thermosensitive medium 1001.
Incidentally, all the heat elements 102A of the thermal head 102 for multicolor print are functionally distinguished between “coloring heat elements” and “non-printing heat elements”. More specifically, in the thermal head 102, the coloring heat elements are heat elements subject to receiving color development heat which is heat energy for color development at the color thermosensitive medium 1001 while the non-printing heat elements are heat elements subject to receiving auxiliary heat. That is, auxiliary heat is given to a heat element 102A distinguished as a “non-printing heat element” which adjoins to a heat element 102A distinguished as a “coloring heat element”, with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102.
That is, depending on respective coloring properties of the cyan and magenta coloring layers 3 and 4 which are to get developed at the color thermosensitive medium 1001, the control unit 111 and the head driving circuit 117 selectively apply color development heat pulses to “coloring heat elements” among the heat elements 102A while applying auxiliary heat pulses to “non-printing heat elements” adjoining to “coloring heat elements” with reference to the main scanning direction D of the thermal head 102. Incidentally, hatching for distinctively indicating cross-sections of the base material 2, the cyan and magenta coloring layers 3 and 4 and the overcoating layer 6 is omitted in
In the color printer and the method for controlling heat pulse of the color printer directed to the second embodiment, the color thermosensitive medium 1001 as shown in
It is to be noted that the disclosure is not restricted to aspects directed to the present embodiment and that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the gist of the disclosure.
While presently exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-195308 | Sep 2013 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4772874 | Hasegawa | Sep 1988 | A |
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20130033555 | Matsutani | Feb 2013 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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S60181815 | Sep 1985 | JP |
H05-16413 | Jan 1993 | JP |
H05-069579 | Mar 1993 | JP |
H07-109572 | Nov 1995 | JP |
2000-190548 | Jul 2000 | JP |
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2012-076351 | Apr 2012 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150085053 A1 | Mar 2015 | US |