JPH10138544A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a printer capable of printing an overcoat material to printing paper by detecting printing paper position relative to a thermal head, and supply the thermal head with an energy being variable in terms of the detected effects of position detecting means. SOLUTION: An initiation end of printing paper 11 is detected by an initiation end detecting sensor 21 arranged at the right side of an auxiliary roller 20. An auxiliary roller 22 arranged at the right side of the auxiliary roller 19 is connected to a motor by its rotating shaft via a rotating mechanism. An auxiliary roller 23 is disposed at the upside of the auxiliary roller 22 in a manner where its outer peripheral surface comes in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller, and is driven rotationally in communication with the rotation of the auxiliary roller 22. A thermal head 24 set on the upside of the platen roller 18 is driven in the direction of arrow Zn or Zd by the driving device. A heating-resistor 25 is furnished at the lower surface of the thermal head 24 to generate a heat of a calorific value in accordance with the pulse width of pulse voltage supplied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal transfer printer using an ink ribbon coated with sublimation ink has been known.
This type of printer includes a thermal head having a heating resistor that applies heat to the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head, a transport unit that transports printing paper and an ink ribbon, And a control unit for controlling each unit of the device.

Here, the structure of the ink ribbon is shown in FIG.
Shown in In this figure, an ink ribbon 1 is formed by repeatedly applying yellow ink Y, magenta ink M, cyan ink C, and overcoat material OC on a base film 2 from the right side of the figure. The yellow ink Y, the magenta ink M, and the cyan ink C are sublimation-based inks, and have a property of sublimating when heated to a certain temperature or higher. In addition, overcoat material OC
Is used for the purpose of protecting and glossing the surface of the printing paper 11 shown in FIG.

[0004] MY shown in FIG. 10 is a yellow mark MY used for detecting the head of yellow ink Y, and MM is a magenta mark MM used for detecting the head of magenta ink M. . Also, MC is
A cyan mark MC used when detecting the head of the cyan ink C, and MOC is an overcoat material mark used when detecting the head of the overcoat material OC. These are yellow mark MY, magenta mark MM, cyan mark MC and overcoat material mark MOC.
Is detected by a ribbon mark sensor (not shown).

In the above configuration, when the print data is supplied, the control unit controls the transport unit to transport the printing paper 11 shown in FIG.
Is moved. When the thermal head is located immediately above the print start position Ps shown in FIG. 12, the control unit controls the transport unit to stop the transport of the printing paper 11. When the yellow mark MY shown in FIG. 10 is detected by the ribbon mark sensor, the control unit controls the transport unit to stop the movement of the ink ribbon.

Next, the control unit controls the thermal head to print the yellow ink Y on the printing paper 11.
While supplying a pulse voltage, the transport unit is controlled to sequentially transport the ink ribbon 1 and the printing paper 11 one line at a time. As a result, the thermal head generates heat, and the yellow ink Y on the ink ribbon 1 shown in FIG.
Sublimates. Therefore, the yellow ink Y is sequentially printed on the printing paper 11 one line at a time.

When the printing of the yellow ink Y on the printing paper 11 is completed, the control unit controls the transport unit to reversely transport the printing paper 11 to the printing start position. An operation of printing the magenta ink M shown on 10 on the printing paper 11 is performed. When the printing of the magenta ink M on the printing paper 11 is completed, the control unit performs an operation of printing the cyan ink C shown in FIG.

When the printing of the cyan ink C on the printing paper 11 is completed, the control unit performs an operation of printing the overcoat material OC shown in FIG. That is, the thermal head is now
In the state immediately above the print start position Ps shown in FIG. 2, the control unit supplies the pulse voltage Vp to the thermal head at time 0 shown in FIG. In FIG. 11A, T is a time required to convey the printing paper 11 by one line, and is hereinafter referred to as a basic cycle. T100 is the pulse width of the pulse voltage Vp,
The period is smaller than the basic period T, and is hereinafter referred to as a 100% period.

When the pulse voltage Vp of the 100% cycle T100 is supplied to the thermal head, the thermal head generates heat of an amount corresponding to the energy given by the pulse voltage Vp (hereinafter referred to as 100% energy). Occur. As a result, the overcoat material OC shown in FIG.
Is melted, the printing start position Ps shown in FIG.
In the vicinity, one line of overcoat material OC is printed.

Hereinafter, the control unit supplies the pulse voltage Vp of 100% cycle T100 to the thermal head sequentially at times t1, t2,..., T7 shown in FIG. The printing paper 11 shown in FIG. 12 is sequentially conveyed line by line. As a result, in the printing paper 11 shown in FIG. 12, the overcoat material OC is sequentially printed one line at a time from the print start position Ps to the print end position Pe.

[0011]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional printer, when the overcoat material OC is printed, the printing paper 11 shown in FIG. 12 is moved from the printing start position Ps to the printing end position Pe. , Always, 100%
The overcoat material OC is printed with energy. However, the conventional printer described above has a drawback that the printed overcoat material OC is peeled off in the vicinity of the print start position Ps and the print end position Pe shown in FIG. This is shown in FIG.
In the printing start position Ps shown in FIG. 5, even if 100% energy is supplied to the thermal head, the thermal head is heated from the cooling state, and thus a heating failure occurs.
This is because fixing failure of the overcoat material OC on the printing paper 11 occurs. On the other hand, at the printing end position Pe shown in FIG. 12, since the energy supplied to the thermal head is suddenly reduced from 100% to 0%, the overcoat material OC is not stably fixed due to this sudden change. is there. The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of printing an overcoat material on printing paper with high quality.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal head which generates heat in accordance with an amount of supplied energy, and an ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head and coated with an overcoat material. A printer comprising: printing paper disposed below the ink ribbon; and transport means for sequentially transporting the ink ribbon and the printing paper line by line when printing the overcoat material on the printing paper. A position detecting unit for detecting a position of the printing sheet with respect to the thermal head; and a first detecting unit that detects a position of the printing sheet from a printing start position to a first position based on a detection result of the position detecting unit. Energy is supplied to the thermal head, and while the printing paper is between the first position and the second position, the energy of the first magnitude is reduced. The second energy is supplied to the thermal head, and the third energy that changes from the magnitude of the second energy to zero while the printing paper is in the printing position from the second position to the end position is supplied to the thermal head. Energy supply means for supplying to the thermal head.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the first energy is the second energy.
Is 1.5 times as large as the energy of

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal head which generates heat in accordance with a pulse width of a supplied pulse voltage;
An ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head and coated with an overcoat material, a print sheet disposed below the ink ribbon, and the ink ribbon when printing the overcoat material on the print sheet. A position detecting unit for detecting a position of the printing sheet with respect to the thermal head; and a printer configured to perform the printing based on a detection result of the position detecting unit. A pulse voltage having a first pulse width is supplied to the thermal head while the paper is between the printing start position and the first position, and while the printing paper is between the first position and the second position, The first
And supplying a pulse voltage having a second pulse width smaller than the pulse width to the thermal head, and changing from the second pulse width to zero while the printing paper is from the second position to the printing end position. And a pulse voltage supply means for supplying a pulse voltage having a third pulse width to the thermal head.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the third aspect, the first pulse width is equal to the second pulse width.
The pulse width is 1.5 times as large as the pulse width.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal head which generates heat in accordance with a magnitude of a supplied voltage, an ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head and coated with an overcoat material, and A printing sheet disposed below a ribbon, and when printing the overcoat material on the printing sheet, the ink ribbon and the printing sheet are separated by one.
In a printer having a transport unit that sequentially transports the print paper in line units, a position detection unit that detects a position of the printing paper with respect to the thermal head, and based on a detection result of the position detection unit, the printing paper is moved from a printing start position A first voltage is supplied to the thermal head while the printing paper is at the first position, and a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage while the printing paper is from the first position to the second position. To the thermal head, and a voltage to supply the thermal head with a third voltage that changes from the second voltage to zero while the printing paper is in the position from the second position to the printing end position. And supplying means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the fifth aspect, the first voltage is 1.5 times as large as the second voltage. .

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a printing unit of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes a paper cassette in which printing papers 11, 11,... Are stacked and housed. 12
Is a pickup roller having a substantially semicircular cross-section provided above the paper cassette 10 and having a central axis via a gear mechanism (not shown) including a gear, a clutch, and a belt.
It is connected to a motor (not shown). The pickup roller 12 feeds the top printing paper 11 in the paper cassette 10 by being rotationally driven in the direction of arrow Z1 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a transport roller disposed on the left side of the pickup roller 12;
Transports the printing paper 11 fed by the printer. The transport roller 13 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown) in the direction of arrow Z2 or Z3 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 14 denotes a roller, which is disposed above the transport roller 13 such that the outer peripheral surface thereof contacts the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes a roller, which is disposed below the transport roller 13 such that the outer peripheral surface thereof contacts the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 13.
These rollers 14 and 15 are transport rollers 13
It is driven to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a guide plate disposed on the left side of the transport roller 13, which guides the print paper 11 fed by the pickup roller 12 to the roller 14, and prints the print paper transported by the transport roller 13. The paper 11 is guided.
Reference numeral 17 denotes an end detection sensor 17 disposed on the left side of the transport roller 13 and the guide plate 16, and detects the end of the printing paper 11.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a platen roller disposed above and to the right of the transport roller 13, and its rotating shaft is connected to a motor (not shown) via a gear mechanism. The platen roller 18 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow Z4 shown in the figure when the motor is driven forward, and in the direction of arrow Z5 shown in the figure when the motor is driven in the reverse direction.

An auxiliary roller 19 is disposed on the right side of the platen roller 18 so that its outer peripheral surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the platen roller 18.
8 and is driven to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of 8. Reference numeral 20 denotes an auxiliary roller, which is disposed above the auxiliary roller 19 such that its outer peripheral surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller 19, and is driven to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the auxiliary roller 19. .

Reference numeral 21 denotes a starting end detecting sensor disposed on the right side of the auxiliary roller 20, and detects a starting end of the printing paper 11. Reference numeral 22 denotes an auxiliary roller disposed to the right of the auxiliary roller 19, and a rotation shaft thereof is connected to a motor (not shown) via a rotation mechanism. 23 is an auxiliary roller,
The outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller 22 is located above the auxiliary roller 22.
Are arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller 22, and are driven to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the auxiliary roller 22.

Numeral 24 denotes a thermal head disposed above the platen roller 18, which is driven by a driving device (not shown) in the direction of arrow Zu or Zd shown in FIG. A heating resistor 25 is provided on a lower surface of the thermal head 24, that is, a surface facing the platen roller 18, and the heating resistor 25 has a heat generation amount corresponding to a pulse width of a supplied pulse voltage. Occurs.

The ink ribbon 1 has the same structure as that shown in FIG. 10 described above. One end of the ink ribbon 1 is wound around a delivery reel 26 and the other end is a pulley 2.
It is wound on a take-up reel 30 via 7, 28 and 29. The take-up reel 30 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a gear mechanism (not shown), and is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow Z6 shown in FIG. That is, when the take-up reel 30 is driven to rotate, the ink ribbon 1 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow Z shown in FIG.
It is sent in seven directions, and the sending reel 26 is further driven to rotate in the direction of arrow Z8 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 31 denotes a ribbon mark sensor disposed between the auxiliary roller 20 and the ink ribbon 1, and detects a yellow mark MY, a magenta mark MM, a cyan mark MC and an overcoat material mark MOC shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the parts corresponding to those in FIG. Omitted. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 41 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) for controlling each unit of the apparatus.
Details of the operation of the PU 41 will be described later. 42 is R
It is an OM (Read Only Memory) in which a control program executed by the CPU 41 is stored. Reference numeral 43 denotes a readable and writable RAM (random access memory), which stores operation data and the like under the control of the CPU 41.

Reference numeral 44 denotes an interface for electrically matching between an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer and the line memory 45, and the print data D is supplied from the external device. The line memory 45 stores the print data D input through the interface 44,
Under the control of the CPU 41, each line is stored. 46
Is an I / O (Input / Output) port,
1 and the motor 47, the start end detection sensor 21, the end end detection sensor 17, and the ribbon mark sensor 31. The motor 47 is rotationally driven by a motor drive signal SM supplied from the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46. That is, the motor 47 is connected to the above-described FIG.
, The pickup roller 12, the transport roller 13, the platen roller 18, the auxiliary roller 22, and the take-up reel 30 are rotationally driven via a gear mechanism (not shown).

Further, the starting end detection sensor 21 shown in FIG.
When the printing paper 11 shown in FIG. 1 is detected, a paper detection signal S
s is output to the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46.
The end detection sensor 17 detects the printing paper 11 in the same manner as the start detection sensor 21 and outputs a paper detection signal Se.
To the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46. The ribbon mark sensor 31 is a yellow mark M shown in FIG.
When the Y, magenta mark MM, cyan mark MC or overcoat material mark MOC is detected, a mark detection signal SR is output to the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a pulse voltage generation circuit,
A pulse voltage Vp shown in FIG. 11B corresponding to the pulse width control signal Sp supplied from U41 is generated and output to the thermal head 24. The above pulse width control signal S
Details of p and the pulse voltage Vp will be described later.

Next, the operation of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 2, when print data D is output from an external device (not shown), the print data D is sequentially written to the line memory 45 via the interface 44 one line at a time. next,
The CPU 41 supplies a motor drive signal SM to the motor 47 via the I / O port 46. As a result, the motor 47
Is driven to rotate.

Next, when the clutch of the gear mechanism is engaged by the CPU 41, the pickup roller 12 shown in FIG.
Is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow Z1 shown in FIG.
The transport roller 13 is driven to rotate forward in the direction of arrow Z2 shown in FIG. In conjunction with the rotation of the transport roller 13, the roller 1
4 and 15 are respectively driven forward.

In addition, the platen roller 18 is driven to rotate forward in the direction of arrow Z4 shown in FIG. 2 in conjunction with the rotation of the transport roller 13, and the auxiliary rollers 19 and 20 are respectively linked in conjunction with the rotation of the platen roller 18. Drives forward. At the same time, the auxiliary rollers 22 and 23 are driven to rotate forward.

Further, the take-up reel 30 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow Z6 shown in the figure, and as a result, the ink ribbon 1 is fed in the direction of arrow Z7 shown in the figure, and the delivery reel 26 is moved in the direction of arrow Z6 shown in the figure. Rotate in the Z8 direction. When the outer peripheral surface of the pickup roller 12 comes into contact with the uppermost printing paper 11 in the paper cassette 10 as shown in FIG. 3, the printing paper 11 is fed in the direction of the conveying roller 13 as shown in FIG. Is done.

The yellow mark MY shown in FIG.
When located near the ribbon mark sensor 31 shown in FIG.
From the ribbon mark sensor 31 shown in FIG. 2, a mark detection signal SR is output to the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46. Thus, after recognizing that the ink ribbon 1 is at the printing start position of the yellow ink Y, the CPU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to stop the rotation of the take-up reel 30 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, when the starting end 11 s of the printing paper 11 is sandwiched between the transport roller 13 and the roller 15, the printing paper 11 is guided by the guide plate 16 by the transport roller 13 in the direction of the roller 14. Transported to When the start end 11 s of the printing paper 11 is located near the end detection sensor 17, a detection signal Se is output from the end detection sensor 17 shown in FIG.
Output to PU41.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the starting end 11s of the printing paper 11 passes over the platen roller 18 and is further sandwiched between the auxiliary rollers 19 and 20, and is located near the starting end detection sensor 21 shown in FIG. When it is positioned, the sheet detection signal Ss is output to the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46 from the starting end detection sensor 21 shown in FIG. Thereby, after recognizing that the printing paper 11 shown in FIG. 4 is at the printing start position, the CPU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to control the pickup roller 12, the transport roller 13, the platen roller 18, and the auxiliary roller 22. Stop rotation. At this time, the heating resistor 25 of the thermal head 24 shown in FIG.
It is located just above s.

Next, the CPU 41 drives the drive unit (not shown) to move the thermal head 24 in the direction of the arrow Zd shown in FIG. 5 as shown in FIG. As a result, the heating resistor 25 of the thermal head 24 is moved by the platen roller 18 via the ink ribbon 1 and the printing paper 11.
Press against

Next, the CPU 41 reads out the print data D relating to the yellow color of the first line from the line memory 45 shown in FIG. 2, and then outputs a pulse width control signal Sp having a pulse width corresponding to the print data D. Output to the voltage generation circuit 48. As a result, the pulse voltage generation circuit 48 outputs a pulse voltage Vp having a pulse width corresponding to the input pulse width control signal Sp to the thermal head 24.

As a result, the heating resistor 25 of the thermal head 24 generates heat having a heating value corresponding to the pulse width of the pulse voltage Vp. As a result, the yellow ink Y (see FIG. 10) of the ink ribbon 1 shown in FIG. 5 sublimates, and one line of yellow ink Y is printed on the printing paper 11.

Next, the CPU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to rotationally drive the transport roller 13, the platen roller 18, and the auxiliary roller 22 shown in FIG. 5 by a rotation angle corresponding to one line, and then again, as shown in FIG. Print data D relating to the yellow color of the second line from the line memory 45 shown in FIG.
Read. Next, the CPU 41 outputs a pulse width control signal Sp corresponding to the print data D of the second line to the pulse voltage generation circuit 48. As a result, a pulse voltage Vp corresponding to the pulse width control signal Sp is output from the pulse voltage generation circuit 48 to the thermal head 24.

Thus, similar to the operation described above,
The yellow ink Y (see FIG. 10) of the ink ribbon 1 shown in FIG. 5 sublimates, and the yellow ink Y is printed on the second line of the printing paper 11. Thereafter, the yellow ink Y is printed on the third and subsequent lines of the printing paper 11 by repeating the above-described printing operation.

Then, the printing of the yellow ink Y on the printing paper 11 proceeds, and as shown in FIG.
When the first end 11e of the first sheet passes near the end detection sensor 17, the output of the sheet detection signal Se output from the end detection sensor 17 shown in FIG. 2 is stopped. Thereby, C
After recognizing that the printing paper 11 is at the printing end position, the PU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to stop the rotation of the transport roller 13, the platen roller 18, and the auxiliary roller 22 shown in FIG. That is, now, the printing paper 11
Has been printed with yellow ink Y.
Further, the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 6 is located immediately above the printing end position Pe shown in FIG.

Next, the CPU 41 drives a driving device (not shown) to move the thermal head 24 from the pressure-contact state shown in FIG. 5 in the direction of arrow Zu shown in FIG. Thereby, the pressure contact with the ink ribbon 1, the printing paper 11, and the platen roller 18 is released.

Now, when the magenta mark MM shown in FIG. 10 is detected by the ribbon mark sensor 31,
From the ribbon mark sensor 31 shown in FIG. 2, a mark detection signal SR is output to the CPU 41 via the I / O port 46. Thereby, the CPU 41 sets the ink ribbon 1
Is recognized to be at a position where the magenta ink M can be discharged, the clutch of the gear mechanism is controlled, and the rotation of the take-up reel 30 is stopped.

Next, the CPU 41 inserts the printing paper 11 in FIG.
In order to reversely convey in the direction indicated by the arrow Z9, the clutch of the gear mechanism is controlled, and the conveying roller 13, the platen roller 18, and the auxiliary roller 22 are each driven to rotate in reverse. This allows
The printing paper 11 is reversely conveyed in the direction of arrow Z9 shown in the same figure, passes between the conveyance rollers 13 and the rollers 14, and is further conveyed backward while being guided by the guide plate 16 shown in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the leading edge 11s of the printing paper 11 is located near the leading edge detection sensor 21,
The output of the sheet detection signal Ss output from the starting end detection sensor 21 shown in FIG. 2 is stopped. This allows the CPU
41 recognizes that the starting end 11 s of the printing paper 11 is at the printing start position, and then controls the clutch of the gear mechanism,
The rotation of the transport roller 13 and the platen rollers 18 and 22 shown in FIG. 7 is stopped. Next, the CPU 41 drives a driving device (not shown) in the same manner as the printing operation of the yellow ink Y described above, and the thermal head 24 shown in FIG.
Is moved in the direction of arrow Zd shown in FIG. As a result, the platen roller 18 is pressed against the thermal head 24 via the printing paper 11 and the ink ribbon 1.

Next, the CPU 41 sets the magenta ink M
2 (see FIG. 10) is printed from the line memory 45 shown in FIG.
After reading the print data D for the line, a pulse width control signal Sp corresponding to the print data D is supplied to the pulse voltage generation circuit 48.

The pulse voltage generating circuit 48 generates a pulse voltage Vp having a pulse width corresponding to the pulse width control signal Sp and supplies the pulse voltage Vp to the thermal head 24 in the same manner as the operation described above. Hereinafter, in the same manner as the above-described operation at the time of printing the yellow ink Y, the printing paper 11 is conveyed by one line in the direction of arrow Z7 shown in FIG. ) Are sequentially printed one line at a time.

When the printing of the magenta ink M is completed, the printing paper 1 is printed in the same manner as described above.
1 is reversely conveyed from the print end position shown in FIG. 6 to the print start position shown in FIG. Then, the CPU 41 reads one line of the print data D for the cyan color from the line memory 45 shown in FIG. 2, and then sends the pulse width control signal Sp corresponding to the print data D to the pulse voltage generation circuit 4.
8 Thereafter, in the same manner as the above-described operation, the printing paper 11 is conveyed by one line in the direction of arrow Z7 shown in FIG.
(See FIG. 10) are sequentially printed for one line.

When the printing of the cyan ink C is completed, the printing paper 11 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
Are transported from the print start position shown in FIG. 7 to the print end position shown in FIG. Now, the printing of the yellow ink Y, the magenta ink M, and the cyan ink C has been completed.

Next, the CPU 41 performs an operation of printing the overcoat material OC shown in FIG. 10 on the printing paper 11 shown in FIG. 9 on which the yellow ink Y, the magenta ink M and the cyan ink C are printed. . Hereinafter, this operation will be described in detail. Now, as a premise of the operation, the overcoat material mark MOC shown in FIG. 10 of the ink ribbon 1 in FIG. 7 is located near the ribbon mark sensor 31, and the thermal head 24 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the sheet 11 is in pressure contact with the platen roller 18 via the sheet 11. It is also assumed that the heating resistor 25 of the thermal head 24 is located immediately above the print start position Ps shown in FIG.

In this state, the CPU 41 operates as shown in FIG.
At time 0 shown in (b), supply of the pulse width control signal Sp to the pulse voltage generation circuit 48 shown in FIG. 2 is started. As a result, the pulse voltage generation circuit 48
During the 150% cycle T150 minutes from time 0 shown in FIG.
The pulse voltage Vp that is “high” is output to the thermal head 24.

Here, in the 150% cycle T150, the period in which the pulse voltage Vp is "high" in the basic cycle T is 1.5 times as long as the 100% cycle T100 shown in FIG. It is length. That is, the above 150%
The pulse voltage Vp of the cycle T150 is 15 times larger than that of the conventional heating resistor for the heating resistor 25 of the thermal head 24.
It supplies 0% energy.

When the pulse voltage Vp of the 150% cycle T150 is supplied to the thermal head 24, the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG.
Generates twice as much heat. As a result, the overcoat material OC shown in FIG. 10 is melted, and the printing paper 11 shown in FIG.
In the vicinity of the print start position Ps, the overcoat material OC for one line is printed. At the time of this printing, the overcoat material OC is fixed on the printing paper 11 at a fixing rate 1.5 times that of the conventional printing paper.

Then, at the time t1 shown in FIG. 11B, the CPU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to
The platen roller 18 shown in FIG. 7 is driven to rotate forward by a rotation angle corresponding to one line. As a result, the printing paper 11 is conveyed by one line in the direction of arrow Z7 shown in FIG. At the same time, at time t1 shown in FIG. 11B, the pulse voltage generation circuit 48 shown in FIG.
The pulse voltage Vp which is “high” during the 150% cycle T150 is output to the thermal head 24.

Thus, similar to the operation described above,
When the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 7 generates heat at a heating value of 150%, the printing start position Ps shown in FIG.
The overcoat material OC (see FIG. 10) is printed on one line of the printing paper 11 in the range up to.

Then, at the time t2 shown in FIG. 11B, the CPU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to
The platen roller 18 shown in FIG. 7 is driven to rotate forward by one line. As a result, the printing paper 11 is conveyed by one line in the direction of arrow Z7 shown in FIG. Thus, the heating resistor 25 is located immediately above the position P1 shown in FIG.

At the same time, at time t2 shown in FIG. 11B, the pulse voltage generation circuit 4 shown in FIG.
8 outputs to the thermal head 24 a pulse voltage Vp which is "high" for a 100% period T100 from time t2. As a result, the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 7 generates heat at a heating value of 100%, so that one line of the overcoat material OC is printed on the printing paper 11 near the position P1 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the overcoat material OC is sequentially printed one line at a time with 100% energy on the printing paper 11 ranging from the position P1 to the vicinity of the position P2 shown in FIG.

Then, at time t4 shown in FIG.
Assuming that the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 7 is located immediately above the position P2 shown in FIG. 9, the pulse voltage generating circuit 48 shown in FIG.
The pulse voltage Vp that is “high” is output to the thermal head 24.

Here, in the 80% cycle T80, the period in which the pulse voltage Vp is "high" in the basic cycle T is 0.8 times that in the 100% cycle T shown in FIG.
It is twice as long. That is, the 80% cycle T80
The pulse voltage Vp supplies 80% of energy to the heating resistor 25 of the thermal head 24 as compared with a conventional printer.

Then, at time t5 shown in FIG.
Then, the CPU 41 controls the clutch of the gear mechanism to drive the platen roller 18 shown in FIG. 7 forward by one line. As a result, the printing paper 11 changes to the arrow Z shown in FIG.
One line is conveyed in seven directions.

At the same time, at time t5 shown in FIG. 11B, the pulse voltage generation circuit 4 shown in FIG.
8 outputs to the thermal head 24 the pulse voltage Vp which is "high" during the 60% cycle T60 from time t5. As a result, the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 7 generates heat at a heating value of 60%, so that one line of the overcoat material OC is printed on the printing paper 11. Hereinafter, the printing paper 11 shown in FIG.
11B, the printing paper 11 in the range from the position P2 shown in FIG. 9 to the vicinity of the printing end position Pe has 40% (see time t6) and 20 shown in FIG.
% (See time t7), the overcoat material OC is sequentially printed one line at a time with the decreasing energy.

Then, at time t8 shown in FIG.
7, the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 7 is located immediately above the printing end position Pe shown in FIG. 9, and the pulse voltage generating circuit 48 shown in FIG. 2 stops outputting the pulse voltage Vp.
Thus, all printing on the printing paper 11 is completed.

Next, the CPU 41 controls a clutch of a gear mechanism (not shown) to drive the transport roller 13, the platen roller 18 and the auxiliary roller 22 shown in FIG. 7 to rotate forward, respectively, so that the printing paper 11 is shown in FIG. It is transported in the direction of arrow Z7. When the conveyance of the printing paper 11 is completed, the CPU
41 stops the supply of the motor drive signal SM to the motor 47 shown in FIG. As a result, the motor 47 stops.

As described above, according to the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, when printing the overcoat material OC, between the printing start position Ps and the position P1, 150% Overcoat material O with energy
C is printed, the overcoat material OC is printed with 100% energy from the position P1 to the position P2, and the overcoat material OC is gradually reduced from 80% to 0% from the position P2 to the printing end position. Since the coating material OC is printed,
The printing start position P of the printing paper 11 as in a conventional printer
There is no occurrence of peeling of the overcoat material OC occurring near s and at the printing end position Pe. Therefore, according to the printer of the embodiment, an effect that high-quality printing can be performed is obtained.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the preferred embodiment, and design changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is also included in the present invention. For example, in the printer according to the above-described embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (b), an example has been described in which energy is supplied to the heating resistor 25 (see FIG. 1) in a distribution of 150%, 100%, and 80% to 0%, but is not limited thereto. Without any limitation. In short,
At the start of the printing of the overcoat material OC, 100% or more of the energy is supplied to the heating resistor 25, and at the end of the printing, the energy gradually reaching 0% may be supplied to the heating resistor 25. .

In the printer according to the above-described embodiment, as a method of controlling the energy supplied to the heating resistor 25 shown in FIG. 1, the pulse width of the pulse voltage Vp is controlled as shown in FIG. Although the method of performing the above has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the magnitude of the pulse voltage Vp may be controlled instead of the pulse width.

[0068]

According to the present invention, the energy supplied to the thermal head is defined as the first energy, the second energy and the third energy during the period from the start to the end of the printing of the overcoat material. , The fixing rate of the overcoat material to the printing paper is improved, and in particular, the fixing rate of the overcoat material at each of the printing start position and the printing end position of the printing paper is improved.
Therefore, according to the present invention, the effect that the overcoat material can be printed on the printing paper with high quality can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a configuration of a printing unit of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a method for printing an overcoat material OC on printing paper 11 in the printer according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a configuration of an ink ribbon 1 applied to a printer according to the related art and an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a waveform chart showing waveforms of a pulse voltage Vp used in a conventional printer and a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a printing operation on printing paper 11 in a conventional printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 ink ribbon OC overcoat material 11 print paper 17 end detection sensor 21 start detection sensor 24 thermal head 31 ribbon mark sensor 41 CPU 47 motor 48 pulse voltage generation circuit VP pulse voltage SP pulse width control signal

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A thermal head that generates heat in accordance with the amount of energy supplied, an ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head and coated with an overcoat material, and a print disposed below the ink ribbon A printer having a sheet and a transport unit for sequentially transporting the ink ribbon and the print sheet in units of one line when printing the overcoat material on the print sheet, wherein a position of the print sheet with respect to the thermal head is detected. Based on the detection result of the position detecting means, while supplying the first energy to the thermal head while the printing paper is between the printing start position and the first position, and While in the position from the first position to the second position, the first
And supplying a second energy smaller than the energy of the second energy to the thermal head, and changing the magnitude of the second energy from the magnitude of the second energy to zero while the printing paper is from the second position to the printing end position. And an energy supply unit for supplying third energy to the thermal head. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first energy is 1.5 times as large as the second energy. 3. A thermal head that generates heat in accordance with a pulse width of a supplied pulse voltage, an ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head and coated with an overcoat material, and disposed below the ink ribbon. Printed paper,
A position detecting unit that detects a position of the printing paper with respect to the thermal head, wherein the printing unit has a transport unit that sequentially transports the ink ribbon and the printing paper in units of one line when the overcoat material is printed on the printing paper. Means for supplying a pulse voltage having a first pulse width to the thermal head while the printing paper is from a printing start position to a first position, based on a detection result of the position detection means, Supplies a pulse voltage having a second pulse width smaller than the first pulse width to the thermal head while the printing paper is in the second position from the first position to the second position. A pulse voltage of a third pulse width varying from the second pulse width to zero while supplying the thermal head to the thermal head. Printer, characterized by comprising supply means. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein the first pulse width is 1.5 times as wide as the second pulse width. 5. A thermal head that generates heat in accordance with the magnitude of a supplied voltage, an ink ribbon disposed below the thermal head and coated with an overcoat material, and disposed below the ink ribbon. And a transport unit for sequentially transporting the ink ribbon and the print paper in units of one line when printing the overcoat material on the print paper, wherein the position of the print paper relative to the thermal head is provided. A first voltage is supplied to the thermal head based on a detection result of the position detecting means, while the printing paper is between a printing start position and a first position, based on a detection result of the position detecting means. While the sheet is between the first position and the second position, a second voltage smaller than the first voltage is supplied to the thermal head, and While the sheet is in the up printing end position from the second position, the third changing from the second voltage to zero
And a voltage supply means for supplying the voltage to the thermal head. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first voltage is 1.5 times as large as the second voltage.
Printer according to.