Printer

Abstract

To suppress occurrence of defect caused by tightly attaching a printing page to a heating element.SOLUTION: A printer comprises a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged side-by-side on a linear / straight line, and a platen roller that conveys a printing paper in a direction crossing a direction in which the heating elements are arranged, which performs printing on the printing paper arranged between the thermal head and the platen roller, by repeating a period of printing consisting of heating of the heating elements and one-pitch conveyance of the printing paper. The printer comprises a segmenting / printing mode in which printing is performed while making a length of one pitch of the period of printing shorter than a length in a conveying direction of the heating elements, in a state where the heating elements are arranged closer to a downstream side in the conveying direction of the printing paper than a normal position where the heating elements are energized toward a center of rotation of the platen roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a printer that suppresses sticking by intermittently energizing heating elements in a thermal head when printing paper is transported at a low speed, thereby suppressing the amount of heat generated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-093267 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such a printer, the heating elements are biased toward the center of rotation of the platen roller, and the printing paper is sandwiched between the heating elements and the platen roller. Therefore, for example, during normal transport in which the heating elements are continuously energized for a predetermined period of time, if the ink material of the ink ribbon or thermal paper softens and solidifies, the printing paper may adhere to the heating elements via the solidified ink material.

[0005] When the print paper is conveyed in the ejection direction, it is pulled away from the heating elements in the direction along the surface of the print paper. At this time, vibrations are generated in the print paper, which generates a loud printing noise. Also, when the ink material is peeled off from the print paper, missing parts are generated in the printed area.

[0006] In this manner, in a printer in which the printing paper is sandwiched between the heating elements and the platen roller, problems can occur due to the printing paper sticking to the heating elements.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of such technical problems, and has an object to make it possible to suppress problems caused by the adhesion of printing paper to heating elements. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer comprising a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a straight line, and a platen roller which transports printing paper in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the heating elements, and which prints on the printing paper arranged between the thermal head and the platen roller by repeating a printing cycle consisting of heat generation by the heating elements and transportation of the printing paper by one pitch, and which has a fragmented printing mode in which, when the heating elements are positioned downstream in the transport direction of the printing paper from the normal position in which the heating elements are biased toward the center of rotation of the platen roller, the length of one pitch of the printing cycle is made shorter than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the above aspect, in the segmented printing mode, the heating element is positioned downstream in the transport direction of the print paper from the normal position, and the print paper adhered to the heating element can be displaced in a direction away from the heating element.

[0010] As a result, the printing paper adhered to the heating element can be peeled off diagonally relative to the surface of the printing paper during transport, which makes it possible to reduce problems caused by the printing paper adhering to the heating element compared to when the printing paper is sandwiched between the heating element and the platen roller.

[0011] In addition, in the segmented print mode, the length of one pitch of the print cycle is made shorter than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction, so the colored parts produced by the heating elements can be overlapped. Therefore, even if the color of the colored parts becomes lighter by allowing the print paper to be displaced in a direction away from the heating elements, this printer makes it possible to suppress deterioration of print quality by overlapping the colored parts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a head unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing a main part of the thermal head. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of a thermal head in a normal printing mode. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of a thermal head in a divided printing mode. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of a thermal head in a divided print mode according to a first modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a signal output in a printing cycle in a normal printing mode. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing pattern in a normal printing mode. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing signals output in a printing cycle in a segmented printing mode. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an energization signal according to a second modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an energization signal according to a third modified example. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing pattern in a segmented printing mode. [Figure 13] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The embodiments described below are not limited to the drawings which are illustrated by the brief description of the drawings.

[0014] (1) One aspect of the present invention is a printer that includes a thermal head in which a number of heating elements are arranged in a straight line, and a platen roller that transports printing paper in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the heating elements, and that prints on the printing paper that is arranged between the thermal head and the platen roller by repeating a printing cycle consisting of heat generation by the heating elements and transportation of one pitch of the printing paper, and that has a fragmented printing mode in which, when the heating elements are positioned downstream in the transport direction of the printing paper from a normal position in which the heating elements are biased toward the center of rotation of the platen roller, the length of one pitch of the printing cycle is made shorter than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, in the fragmented printing mode, the heating element is positioned downstream in the transport direction of the print paper from the normal position, and the print paper adhered to the heating element can be displaced in a direction away from the heating element.

[0016] As a result, the printing paper adhered to the heating element can be peeled off diagonally relative to the surface of the printing paper during transport, which makes it possible to reduce problems caused by the printing paper adhering to the heating element compared to when the printing paper is sandwiched between the heating element and the platen roller.

[0017] In addition, in the segmented print mode, the length of one pitch of the print cycle is made shorter than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction, so the colored parts produced by the heating elements can be overlapped. Therefore, even if the color of the colored parts becomes lighter by allowing the print paper to be displaced in a direction away from the heating elements, this printer makes it possible to suppress deterioration of print quality by overlapping the colored parts.

[0018] (2) One aspect of the present invention is the printer described in (1), wherein, in the fragmented printing mode, the heating element contacts the print paper, and the platen roller does not contact the area on the back surface of the print paper that corresponds to the area on the front surface of the print paper with which the heating element contacts.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, the platen roller does not contact the area on the back surface of the print paper that corresponds to the area where the heating elements contact, so even if the platen roller is positioned below the print paper, the area where the heating elements contact the print paper is allowed to displace due to its own weight, making it possible to promote the movement of the print paper diagonally downward.

[0020] (3) One aspect of the present invention is the printer described in (1) or (2), wherein, in the divided printing mode, the pressure with which the heating element presses the printing paper is greater than the pressure with which the heating element presses the platen roller through the printing paper.

[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, the heating element can contact the print paper while holding the print paper together with the platen roller, thereby making it possible to print using the heating element while suppressing free rotation of the platen roller that may occur during transport of the print paper.

[0022] (4) One aspect of the present invention is a printer as described in any one of (1) to (3), which has a normal printing mode in which, with the heating elements positioned in the normal position, printing is performed with the length of one pitch in the printing cycle being equal to or greater than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction.

[0023] In a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in normal printing mode, the length of one pitch in the printing cycle is set to be equal to or greater than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction, which allows smoother transport of the print paper compared to when printing is performed with the length of one pitch in the printing cycle shorter than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction.

[0024] (5) One aspect of the present invention is the printer described in (4), in which when the length of one pitch of the printing cycle in the subdivided printing mode is set to 1 / N (N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) of the length of one pitch of the printing cycle in the normal printing mode, the amount of heat energy of the heating element that generates heat is equal when the printing cycle is repeated N times in the subdivided printing mode and when the printing cycle is performed once in the normal printing mode.

[0025] A printer according to one embodiment of the present invention is able to reduce power consumption compared to a case in which the amount of heat energy generated when a printing cycle is repeated N times in the subdivided printing mode is greater than the amount of heat energy generated when a printing cycle is performed once in the normal printing mode.

[0026] (6) One aspect of the present invention is a printer as described in (4) or (5), comprising a moving mechanism that moves the thermal head between an offset position where the heating elements are positioned in the subdivided printing mode and the normal position, and a detection unit that detects when the thermal head is positioned at the offset position, and the printer operates in the subdivided printing mode when the detection unit detects that the thermal head is at the offset position.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, the segmented printing mode can be executed when the movement mechanism has completed the movement from the normal position to the offset position, thereby making it possible to reliably prevent problems caused by the print paper sticking to the heating elements.

[0028] (7) One aspect of the present invention is the printer described in (6), in which the power supply time for which current is passed through the heating element in the subdivided printing mode and the power applied to the heating element are set so that the amount of heat energy of the heating element that generates heat is equal when the printing cycle is repeated N times in the subdivided printing mode and when the printing cycle is performed once in the normal printing mode.

[0029] According to one aspect of the present invention, by adjusting the energization time of the heating elements and the power supply to the heating elements, it is possible to set the amount of heat energy to be equal in the divided print mode and the normal print mode.

[0030] (8) An aspect of the present invention is the printer according to any one of (1) to (7), in which the power supply to the heating elements during the printing cycle is performed intermittently.

[0031] According to one aspect of the present invention, the amount of heat generated by the heating element can be suppressed by intermittently energizing the heating element, thereby making it possible to further suppress sticking.

[0032] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The printer 10 is a thermosensitive coloring printer that prints on thermal paper, i.e., printing paper M. The printer 10 has a normal printing mode 100 (see FIG. 7) in which printing is performed by repeating a printing cycle 140 consisting of heat generation by the heating elements 42 (see FIG. 3) and transport of the printing paper M. The printer 10 also has a segmented printing mode 102 (see FIG. 9) in which the transport amount of the printing paper M in a printing cycle 160 is smaller than that in the normal printing mode 100.

[0035] Examples of printing paper M that can be used include roll paper, roll labels formed by temporarily attaching multiple labels in succession at specified intervals to a strip-shaped backing, and linerless labels formed by rolling up strip-shaped labels with a release agent on their surface.

[0036] First, a description will be given of the configuration of the printer 10. The printer 10 includes a printing mechanism 20, a medium supply unit 22, a cutter 24, a controller 26, and a position detection sensor .

[0037] (printing mechanism) The printing mechanism 20 includes a head unit 30, a platen roller 32, and a platen drive motor 34, and is a mechanism for printing on the print paper M and transporting the print paper M.

[0038] The head unit 30 holds the thermal head 40 with the heating elements 42 (see FIG. 3) of the thermal head 40 exposed from the bottom surface. The platen roller 32 is disposed below the thermal head 40 and constitutes, together with the thermal head 40, the printing mechanism 20 that prints on the print paper M.

[0039] The head unit 30 is supported by a support shaft 44, and the head unit 30 is capable of swinging in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 relative to the housing of the printer 10. In addition, the free end of the head unit 30 is biased by a spring (not shown) so as to be displaceable downward a predetermined amount.

[0040] The head unit 30 can be moved to a head open position, shown by a dotted line in FIG. 1, where the thermal head 40 is separated from the platen roller 32, and a head closed position, shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, where the thermal head 40 can abut against the platen roller 32.

[0041] The platen drive motor 34 drives the platen roller 32 via a belt, gears, etc. The platen drive motor 34 is configured by, for example, a stepping motor. The platen drive motor 34 is connected to the controller 26.

[0042] The platen drive motor 34 operates in accordance with a drive signal from the controller 26. The controller 26 controls the transport amount of the print paper M transported by the platen roller 32 by controlling the drive signal that is output.

[0043] (Media supply section) The medium supply unit 22 holds the print paper M in a roll form to be supplied to the print mechanism 20. The print paper M is guided to the print mechanism 20 by a guide shaft 46 and set so as to pass between the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 32.

[0044] When electricity is applied to the heating elements 42 (see Figure 3) of the thermal head 40 while the printing paper M is sandwiched between the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 32, the heat from the heating elements 42 causes the printing paper M to develop color, and printing is performed on the printing paper M.

[0045] When the platen roller 32 is rotated forward by the platen drive motor 34, the print paper M is transported to the downstream side 48 in the transport direction H, and the print paper M is discharged from the discharge outlet 50 to the outside of the printer 10. A cutter 24 is provided near the discharge outlet 50, and can cut the continuously formed print paper M.

[0046] (position detection sensor) The position detection sensor 28 is a reflective photoelectric sensor that detects timing marks (not shown) that are pre-printed at a predetermined pitch on the printing paper M, thereby detecting the relative position of the printing paper M with respect to the printing mechanism 20 when continuously issuing prints.

[0047] (Head unit) Next, the configuration of the head unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0048] Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the head unit 30. Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the main part of the thermal head 40.

[0049] (Movement mechanism) As shown in FIG. 2, a unit housing 60 of the head unit 30 is provided with a movement mechanism 62 for moving the thermal head 40 .

[0050] The moving mechanism 62 includes a head support portion 64 that supports the thermal head 40 , a support block 66 that supports the head support portion 64 , and a moving mechanism portion 68 that moves the thermal head 40 .

[0051] The head support part 64 has a screw part 70 whose tip is fixed to the support block 66. A movable part 72 equipped with the thermal head 40 is fitted onto the screw part 70, and the movable part 72 is movable along the screw part 70. A coil spring 74 is disposed between a head 70A of the screw part 70 and the movable part 72, and the movable part 72 is biased towards the support block 66.

[0052] A nut portion 78 is provided on the end side of the movable portion 72 via a spacer 76. A female thread portion 78A of the nut portion 78 screws into a male thread portion 70B provided on the threaded portion 70. A gear portion 78B is formed on the outer periphery of the nut portion 78.

[0053] The movement mechanism 68 includes a servo motor 82 fixed to a fixed bracket 80 extending from the unit housing 60, and a drive gear 84 provided on the rotation shaft of the servo motor 82. The servo motor 82 includes a detection unit 86. The detection unit 86 is formed of, for example, an encoder.

[0054] The gear portion 84A of the drive gear 84 meshes with the gear portion 78B of the nut portion 78 of the head support portion 64. When the servo motor 82 rotates the drive gear 84, the nut portion 78 rotates. When the nut portion 78 rotates, the nut portion 78 moves along the threaded portion 70 together with the movable portion 72. Accordingly, the thermal head 40 provided on the movable portion 72 moves along the transport direction H of the print paper M.

[0055] The servo motor 82 is connected to the controller 26 (see FIG. 1). The servo motor 82 operates according to a movement signal from the controller 26. In response to the movement signal from the controller 26, the movement mechanism 68 moves the thermal head 40 to a normal position 90 (see FIG. 4) where the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are positioned directly above the rotation center C of the platen roller 32. In response to the movement signal from the controller 26, the movement mechanism 68 also moves the thermal head 40 to an offset position 92 (92A) (see FIGS. 5 and 6) where the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are positioned downstream 48 in the transport direction H of the print paper M from the normal position 90.

[0056] As a result, the moving mechanism 62 moves the thermal head 40 between the normal position 90 and the offset position 92 (92A) in accordance with a movement signal from the controller 26.

[0057] In this embodiment, the case where the thermal head 40 is moved by the servo motor 82 is described as an example, but the printer 10 of this embodiment is not limited to this configuration. The printer 10 of this embodiment may be configured to move the thermal head 40 between the normal position 90 and the offset position 92 by manual operation, for example.

[0058] (Normal position) FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the thermal head 40 in the normal print mode 100. As shown in FIG.

[0059] 4, in the normal position 90, the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are positioned directly above the center of rotation C of the platen roller 32. In this normal position 90, the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are urged toward the center of rotation C of the platen roller 32 by the force of the spring that urges the head unit 30 (see FIG. 1). As a result, the print paper M placed between the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 32 is sandwiched between the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 32.

[0060] (Offset position) Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the thermal head 40 in the divided print mode 102. Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the position of the thermal head 40 in the divided print mode 102 (102A) of the first modified example.

[0061] 5, the offset position 92 to which the heating element 42 is moved in the divided print mode 102 is set to an offset amount 110 away from the normal position 90, downstream 48 in the transport direction H. The offset amount 110 is set in the range of 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, assuming that the length 42A (see FIG. 3) of the heating element 42 in the transport direction H is 0.25 mm, for example.

[0062] At the offset position 92, the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 contact the print paper M. Also, at the offset position 92, the platen roller 32 does not contact a corresponding portion 114 on the back surface of the print paper M that corresponds to the contact portion 112 on the front surface of the print paper M with which the heating elements 42 contact.

[0063] As a result, the contact portion 112 of the print paper M that is in contact with the heating element 42 is allowed to be displaced downward, that is, in a direction away from the heating element 42.

[0064] Here, the positional relationship between the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 32 at the offset position 92 is not limited to this. The positional relationship between the heating elements 42 and the platen roller 32 may be, for example, a positional relationship as shown in a first modified example in FIG.

[0065] 6 shows another offset position 92A indicating the positional relationship between the heating elements 42 and the platen roller 32 in the divided printing mode 102A according to the first modified example. In this other offset position 92A in the divided printing mode 102A, the thermal head 40 is positioned with respect to the platen roller 32 so that the ends of the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 contact the platen roller 32 via the print paper M.

[0066] In this divided print mode 102A, the pressure P1 with which the heating elements 42 press the print paper M is greater than the pressure P2 with which the heating elements 42 press the platen roller 32 through the print paper M.

[0067] 1 and 2, the controller 26 acquires the position of the heating element 42 of the thermal head 40 by, for example, counting the detection signals from the detector 86 of the servo motor 82. This enables the controller 26 to determine whether the heating element 42 of the thermal head 40 is in the normal position 90 or the offset position 92 (92A).

[0068] In this embodiment, the case where the detector 86 is configured with an encoder will be described, but the embodiment is not limited to this. The detector 86 may be configured with, for example, a microswitch that comes into contact with the end of the movable part 72 and is turned on when the heating element 42 is placed at the offset position 92 (92A).

[0069] (Thermal head) 3, the thermal head 40 includes a plurality of heating elements 42. The heating elements 42 are formed, for example, of a rectangular heating resistor. The heating elements 42 are arranged side by side on an imaginary straight line K. The heating elements 42 are arranged side by side in a cross direction X that crosses the transport direction H of the print paper M transported by the platen roller 32.

[0070] Heating element 42 generates heat in response to energization signal 120 (see FIG. 7) being applied. Methods for changing the amount of heat generated by heating element 42 include changing the pulse width of energization signal 120, increasing or decreasing the number of pulses of energization signal 120, and increasing or decreasing the voltage of energization signal 120. The method of increasing or decreasing the voltage of energization signal 120 requires high-precision control of the voltage of energization signal 120.

[0071] (controller) The controller 26 controls the movement signal output to the servo motor 82 to control the position of the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 .

[0072] For example, when a segmented printing switch (not shown) provided on the printer 10 is turned off and a normal printing mode 100 is set, the controller 26 controls the movement signal to move the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 to the normal position 90. Also, when a segmented printing switch provided on the printer 10 is turned on and a segmented printing mode 102 (102A) is set, the controller 26 controls the movement signal to move the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 to the offset position 92 (92A).

[0073] The controller 26 also controls the energization signal 120 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) output to the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 to control the heat generation of the heating elements 42. Furthermore, the controller 26 controls the transport signal 126 (see FIGS. 7 and 9) output to the platen drive motor 34 to control the transport amount of the print paper M transported by the platen roller 32.

[0074] As a result, in the normal printing mode 100 and the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A), the controller 26 controls the heating time of the heating element 42 and the transport amount of the printing paper M in the printing cycles 140, 160 (see Figures 7 and 9) consisting of the heat generation of the heating element 42 and the transport of the printing paper M.

[0075] (Normal print mode) The normal print mode 100 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

[0076] 7 is an explanatory diagram showing signals output in a printing cycle 140 in the normal printing mode 100. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing pattern 146 in the normal printing mode 100.

[0077] The normal printing mode 100 is a mode in which printing is performed by repeating a printing cycle 140 consisting of heating of the heating element 42 and transport of the printing paper M for one pitch in a normal position 90 (see Figure 4) in which the heating element 42 of the thermal head 40 is biased toward the center of rotation C of the platen roller 32.

[0078] 7, in normal print mode 100, controller 26 turns on energization signal 120 output to heating element 42 in accordance with print data for normal heating time 122 to cause heating element 42 to generate heat. This causes the portion of print paper M in contact with heating element 42 to be heated for normal heating time 122.

[0079] Furthermore, after the heating element 42 generates heat, the controller 26 controls the conveyance signal 126 output to the platen drive motor 34 after a predetermined time 124 has elapsed, for a normal conveyance time 128, to drive the platen roller 32. As a result, the controller 26 conveys the print paper M toward the downstream side 48 by a normal conveyance amount 130 (see FIG. 8), which is one pitch.

[0080] Here, a normal transport amount 130 indicating the length of one pitch in the normal print mode 100 is set to be equal to or greater than the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the transport direction H (see FIG. 3).

[0081] In this embodiment, the normal conveying amount 130 is set to the same length as the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the conveying direction H. As an example, in this embodiment where the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the conveying direction H is 0.25 mm, the normal conveying amount 130 is set to 0.25 mm.

[0082] The controller 26 determines the period from when the heating elements 42 generate heat to when the print paper M is transported as a print cycle 140, and prints on the print paper M by repeating this print cycle 140 at predetermined intervals 142.

[0083] FIG. 8 shows an example of a print pattern 146 printed on the print paper M in the normal print mode 100.

[0084] On the print paper M, coloring sections 148 that develop color by the heat of each heating element 42 during a printing cycle 140 are arranged side by side in a cross direction X that crosses the transport direction H of the print paper M. Furthermore, by repeating each printing cycle 140, the coloring sections 148 formed on the print paper M are arranged side by side in the transport direction H of the print paper M. As an example, each coloring section 148 is shown as a rectangle.

[0085] One coloring portion 148A and the other coloring portion 148B formed every printing cycle 140 are formed at positions separated in the transport direction H by a normal transport amount 130. The normal transport amount 130 is the same as the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the transport direction H. As a result, one coloring portion 148A and the other coloring portion 148B formed every printing cycle 140 are continuous in the transport direction H.

[0086] (Subdivision printing mode) The divided print mode 102 (102A) will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

[0087] Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a signal output in a printing cycle 160 in the divided printing mode 102. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an energization signal 120 of a second modified example. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an energization signal 120 of a third modified example. Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing pattern 146 in the divided printing mode 102.

[0088] The segmented printing mode 102 (102A) (see Figures 5 and 6) is a mode in which printing is performed by repeating a printing cycle 160 consisting of heating of the heating element 42 and transport of the printing paper M for one pitch, with the heating element 42 positioned downstream 48 from the normal position 90.

[0089] In the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A), the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 160 is set shorter than the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the transport direction H. For example, the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 160 in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A) is set to 1 / N (N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) of the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 140 in the normal printing mode 100.

[0090] The value of "N" is preferably greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 5. In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the value of "N" is set to "3."

[0091] 9, in the segmented print mode 102 (102A), the controller 26 turns on the energization signal 120 output to the heating element 42 in accordance with the print data for the segmented heating time 150 to cause the heating element 42 to generate heat. As a result, the portion of the print paper M in contact with the heating element 42 is heated for the segmented heating time 150.

[0092] Here, the segmented heating time 150 in the segmented printing mode 102 (102A) is set to 1 / N of the normal heating time 122 in the normal printing mode 100. In this embodiment in which the value of "N" is set to "3", the segmented heating time 150 is set to 1 / 3 of the normal heating time 122.

[0093] Furthermore, after the heating element 42 generates heat, the controller 26 controls the conveyance signal 126 output to the platen drive motor 34 after a predetermined time 152 has elapsed, for a divided conveyance time 156, to drive the platen roller 32. As a result, the controller 26 conveys the print paper M to the downstream side 48 by a divided conveyance amount 158 ​​(see FIG. 12), which is one pitch.

[0094] Here, the subdivided transport amount 158, which is the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 160 in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A), is set to 1 / N of the normal transport amount 130, which is the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 140 in the normal printing mode 100. In this embodiment in which the value of "N" is set to "3", the subdivided transport amount 158 ​​is set to 1 / 3 of the normal transport amount 130.

[0095] As an example, in this embodiment where the normal transport amount 130 in the normal print mode 100 is 0.25 mm, the divided transport amount 158 ​​is set to approximately 0.083 mm.

[0096] The controller 26 determines the period from when the heating elements 42 generate heat to when the print paper M is transported as a print cycle 160, and prints on the print paper M by repeating this print cycle 160 at predetermined intervals 162.

[0097] The controller 26 performs printing for one line by repeating the printing cycle 160 three times, which is N times. Printing for one line means printing for the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the transport direction H.

[0098] Here, in the divided printing mode 102 (102A), the heating element 42 is positioned downstream 48 from the normal position 90. For this reason, in the divided printing mode 102 (102A), the color of the colored portion 148 heated by the heating element 42 and colored tends to be lighter, compared to the normal printing mode 100 in which the print paper M is sandwiched between the heating element 42 and the platen roller 32.

[0099] However, by repeating the above-mentioned printing cycle 160 three times in printing one line, the print paper M can be colored by the residual heat remaining during the divided heating time 150 of each printing cycle 160. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of print quality.

[0100] Furthermore, the total time of the segmented heating time 150 when the printing cycle 160 is repeated three times in the segmented printing mode 102 (102A) is equal to the normal heating time 122 when the printing cycle 140 is performed once in the normal printing mode 100. Furthermore, the voltage applied to the heating element 42 is the same in the normal printing mode 100 and the segmented printing mode 102 (102A). Therefore, the amount of heat energy generated by the heating element 42 when the printing cycle 160 is repeated three times in the segmented printing mode 102 (102A) is equal to that when the printing cycle 140 is performed once in the normal printing mode 100.

[0101] Furthermore, the predetermined time 152 in the subdivided print mode 102 (102A) is 1 / 3 of the predetermined time 124 in the normal print mode 100. Furthermore, the predetermined interval 162 between each print cycle 160 in the subdivided print mode 102 (102A) is 1 / 3 of the predetermined interval 142 between each print cycle 140 in the normal print mode 100. Therefore, the time to print one line in the subdivided print mode 102 (102A) is the same as the time to print one line in the normal print mode 100.

[0102] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, the segmented heating time 150 is set to 1 / 3 of the normal heating time 122 in the normal printing mode 100. This is configured so that the amount of heat energy generated by the heating element 42 is equal when the printing cycle 160 is repeated three times in the segmented printing mode 102 (102A) and when the printing cycle 140 is performed once in the normal printing mode 100.

[0103] However, the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. The printer 10 of the present embodiment may be configured as a first modified example shown in FIG.

[0104] That is, as shown in Fig. 11, in the first modified example, another divided heating time 200 of the energization signal 120 output to the heating element 42 is shorter than the divided heating time 150 shown in Fig. 9. Also, the voltage of the energization signal 120 output to the heating element 42 in the other divided heating time 200 is higher than the voltage of the energization signal 120 output to the heating element 42 in the above-mentioned divided heating time 150. As a result, the amount of heat energy of the generated heat element 42 is set to be equal when the printing cycle 160 is repeated three times in the divided printing mode 102 (120A) and when the printing cycle 140 is performed once in the normal printing mode 100.

[0105] In this way, by adjusting the segmented heating time 150 and the voltage that determines the power applied to the heating element 42, the amount of heat energy generated can be made equal when the printing cycle 160 is repeated three times in the segmented printing mode 102 (102A) and when the printing cycle 140 is performed once in the normal printing mode 100.

[0106] Furthermore, the printer 10 of this embodiment may be arranged to intermittently energize the heating elements 42 in each printing cycle 140, 160, as shown in FIG. 11, so that heating by the heating elements 42 is performed intermittently.

[0107] FIG. 12 shows an example of a print pattern 146 printed on the print paper M in the segmented print mode 102 (102A).

[0108] On the print paper M, in a printing cycle 160, coloring sections 148 that have developed color due to the heat of each heating element 42 are arranged side by side in a cross direction X that crosses the transport direction H of the print paper M. Furthermore, by repeating each printing cycle 160, the coloring sections 148 formed on the print paper M are arranged side by side in the transport direction H of the print paper M. As an example, each coloring section 148 is shown as a rectangle.

[0109] As a result, one coloring portion 148A and the other coloring portion 148B formed for each printing cycle 160 overlap each other in the transport direction H.

[0110] Specifically, 2 / 3 of coloring portion 148A printed in the first printing cycle 160 is overlapped with coloring portion 148B printed in the second printing cycle 160. 1 / 3 of coloring portion 148A printed in the first printing cycle 160 is overlapped with coloring portion 148B printed in the second printing cycle 160 and coloring portion 148C printed in the third printing cycle 160.

[0111] Here, the segmented heating time 150 in the segmented printing mode 102 (102A) is 1 / 3 of the normal heating time 122 in the normal printing mode 100, and the color of the colored portion 148 tends to be lighter. However, the overlapping portion of the colored portion 148A printed in the first printing cycle 160, the colored portion 148B printed in the second printing cycle 160, and the colored portion 148C printed in the third printing cycle 160 is colored in a dark color, so deterioration in print quality is suppressed.

[0112] (controller) The controller 26 is composed of one or more microprocessors, storage devices such as ROM and RAM, an input / output interface, a bus connecting these, etc. Print data from an external computer (not shown), a detection signal from the position detection sensor 28, etc. are input to the controller 26 via the input / output interface.

[0113] The controller 26 operates the printer 10 by executing various programs stored in a storage device using a microprocessor.

[0114] (Operation description) The operation of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0115] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer 10.

[0116] When the microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as the processor) of the controller 26 in the printer 10 operates according to a program stored in the memory device, the processor inputs, for example, the state of a fragmented printing switch (not shown) provided on the printer 10 (step S10) and determines whether the fragmented printing mode 102 (102A) is set (step S12).

[0117] If the subdivided printing switch is off and the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A) is not set in step S12, the processor controls the movement signal to the servo motor 82 to move the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 to the normal position 90 in order to print in the normal printing mode 100 (step S14), and proceeds to step S18. Note that in step S14, if the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are in the normal position 90, the processor does not move the position of the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40.

[0118] If the divided printing switch is on and the divided printing mode 102 (102A) is set in step S12, the processor controls a movement signal to the servo motor 82 to print in the divided printing mode 102 (102A). This causes the processor to move the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 to the offset position 92 (92A) (step S16). Note that in step S16, if the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are at the offset position 92 (92A), the processor does not move the position of the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40.

[0119] Next, the processor determines from the detection signal from the detector 86 whether the heating elements 42 of the thermal head 40 are in the normal position 90 located directly above the rotation center C of the platen roller 32 (step S18).

[0120] If it is determined in step S18 that the position is normal position 90, the processor executes printing in the normal print mode 100 described above (step S20), and then ends the process.

[0121] If it is determined in step S18 that the heating element 42 of the thermal head 40 is not in the normal position 90, the processor determines whether the heating element 42 of the thermal head 40 is in an offset position 92 (92A) downstream 48 of the normal position 90 based on the detection signal from the detection unit 86 (step S22).

[0122] If it is determined in step S22 that the position is not the offset position 92 (92A), the thermal head 40 is moving, so the processor branches to step S18 and repeats steps S18 and S22.

[0123] If it is determined in step S22 that the position is the offset position 92 (92A), the processor executes printing in the segmented print mode 102 (102A) described above (step S24). As a result, the printer 10 operates in the segmented print mode 102 (102A) when the detector 86 detects that the position is the offset position 92 (92A).

[0124] Then, when printing in the divided print mode 102 (102A) is completed, the processor ends the process.

[0125] (Action and Effects) The main effects of the printer 10 configured as above will now be described.

[0126] The printer 10 of this embodiment comprises a thermal head 40 in which a number of heating elements 42 are arranged side by side on a virtual straight line K, and a platen roller 32 which transports the print paper M in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the heating elements 42. The printer 10 prints on the print paper M arranged between the thermal head 40 and the platen roller 32 by repeating printing cycles 140, 160 consisting of the heating of the heating elements 42 and the transport of the print paper M for one pitch. The printer 10 is equipped with a fragmented printing mode 102 (102A) in which, when the heating elements 42 are positioned downstream 48 in the transport direction H of the print paper M rather than the normal position 90 where the heating elements 42 are urged toward the rotation center C of the platen roller 32, the fragmented transport amount 158 ​​as the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 160 is set shorter than the length 42A of the heating elements 42 in the transport direction H.

[0127] According to this, in the divided printing mode 102 (102A), the heating element 42 is disposed downstream 48 in the transport direction H of the print paper M from the normal position 90. Therefore, even if the print paper M adheres to the heating element 42 due to the ink material that has been softened and then solidified by the heating element 42, the print paper M can be displaced in a direction away from the heating element 42.

[0128] Then, the print paper M adhered to the heating elements 42 is peeled off in a diagonal direction relative to the surface of the print paper M during transport. Therefore, compared to the normal printing mode 100 in which the print paper M is sandwiched between the heating elements 42 and the platen roller 32, problems caused by the print paper M adhering to the heating elements 42 can be suppressed.

[0129] A specific description will be given of how to suppress problems caused by the adhesion of the print paper M. In normal print mode 100 in which the print paper M is sandwiched between the heating elements 42 and the platen roller 32, when the print paper M is transported in the discharge direction, the print paper M is peeled off from the heating elements 42 in a direction along the surface of the print paper M. At this time, large vibrations are generated in the print paper M, which generates a large printing sound.

[0130] However, in this embodiment, the print paper M fixed to the heating elements 42 is peeled off in a diagonal direction relative to the surface of the print paper M during transport. Therefore, the printer 10 of this embodiment can suppress vibrations generated in the print paper M, and can suppress printing noise, compared to when the print paper M is peeled off from the heating elements 42 in a direction along the surface of the print paper M.

[0131] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the print paper M can be peeled off in a diagonal direction relative to the surface of the print paper M, which suppresses peeling of the ink material formed on the print paper M compared to when the print paper M is peeled off in a direction along the surface of the print paper M. This makes it possible to improve print quality.

[0132] As described above, the printer 10 of this embodiment produces quiet printing noise and reduces peeling of the ink material, making it suitable for use in places where a quiet environment is required, such as hospitals and offices.

[0133] In addition, there are conditions under which sticking, which is a phenomenon in which the ink material peels off, is more likely to occur depending on the type of printing paper M, etc., and it is necessary to adjust the print format according to the conditions. However, the printer 10 of this embodiment does not require such adjustment work.

[0134] In the segmented print mode 102 (102A), the segmented transport amount 158 ​​as the length of one pitch of the print cycle 160 is set shorter than the length 42A of the heating elements 42 in the transport direction H, so that the color-developing portions 148 developed by the heating elements 42 can be overlapped. Therefore, in this printer 10, even if the color of the color-developing portions 148 becomes lighter by allowing the print paper M to be displaced in a direction away from the heating elements 42, the color-developing portions 148 can be overlapped to suppress deterioration in print quality.

[0135] In addition, in the printer 10 of this embodiment, in the fragmented printing mode 102 (102A), the heating element 42 contacts the print paper M, and the platen roller 32 does not contact the corresponding area 114 on the back side of the print paper M that corresponds to the contact area 112 on the front side of the print paper M with which the heating element 42 contacts.

[0136] According to this, the platen roller 32 does not come into contact with a corresponding portion 114 of the print paper M that corresponds to the contact portion 112 with which the heating element 42 is in contact. Therefore, even if the platen roller 32 is positioned below the print paper M, the portion of the print paper M where the heating element 42 is in contact is allowed to displace due to its own weight, making it possible to promote the movement of the print paper M diagonally downward.

[0137] In the printer 10 of this embodiment, in the divided print mode 102 (102A), the pressure P1 with which the heating elements 42 press the print paper M is greater than the pressure P2 with which the heating elements 42 press the platen roller 32 through the print paper M (see FIG. 6).

[0138] This allows the heating element 42 to contact the print paper M while pinching the print paper M together with the platen roller 32. This makes it possible to perform printing by the heating element 42 while suppressing idling of the platen roller 32 that can occur during transport of the print paper M.

[0139] In addition, the printer 10 of this embodiment has a normal printing mode 100 in which, with the heating element 42 positioned at the normal position 90, printing is performed with the normal transport amount 130, which is the length of one pitch in the printing cycle 140, being equal to or greater than the length 42A of the heating element 42 in the transport direction H.

[0140] According to this, in the normal printing mode 100, the printer 10 prints with the normal transport amount 130 as the length of one pitch in the printing cycle 140 being equal to or greater than the length 42A in the transport direction H of the heating elements 42. Therefore, compared to the case where printing is performed with the length of one pitch in the printing cycle 140 being shorter than the length of the heating elements 42 in the transport direction H, it is possible to transport the print paper M more smoothly.

[0141] In addition, in the printer 10 of this embodiment, when the subdivided conveying amount 158 ​​as the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 160 in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A) is set to 1 / N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) of the length of one pitch of the printing cycle 140 in the normal printing mode 100, the amount of heat energy of the heated heating element 42 is equal when the printing cycle 160 is repeated N times in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A) and when the printing cycle 140 is performed once in the normal printing mode 100.

[0142] This printer 10 is able to reduce power consumption compared to when the amount of heat energy generated when repeating the printing cycle 160 N times in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A) is greater than the amount of heat energy generated when performing the printing cycle 140 once in the normal printing mode 100.

[0143] In addition, the printer 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a moving mechanism 62 that moves the thermal head 40 between the normal position 90 and an offset position 92 (92A) where the heating element 42 is located in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A), and a detection unit 86 that detects when the thermal head 40 is located at the offset position 92 (92A), and operates in the subdivided printing mode 102 (102A) when the detection unit 86 detects that the thermal head 40 is at the offset position 92 (92A).

[0144] According to this, the divided printing mode 102 (102A) can be executed when the movement from the normal position 90 to the offset position 92 (92A) by the movement mechanism 62 is completed. This makes it possible to reliably suppress problems caused by the adhesion of the print paper M to the heating elements 42.

[0145] An embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the above embodiment merely illustrates one application example of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configuration of the above embodiment.

[0146] For example, in the above embodiment, the printer 10 is described as a device that uses a thermal coloring method, but the printer 10 may also be a device that uses a thermal transfer method, in which an ink ribbon is heated and the ink material on the ink ribbon is transferred to the printing paper M for printing.

[0147] Furthermore, the printer 10 may be configured to be able to connect to a cloud server on the Internet by providing a communication function in the controller 26. In this case, the cloud server may be the execution entity of each of the above-mentioned processes executed by the controller 26. [Explanation of symbols]

[0148] 10 Printers 20 Printing mechanism 22 Media supply section 24 Cutter 26 Controller 28 Position detection sensor 30 Head Unit 32 Platen roller 34 Platen drive motor 40 Thermal Head 42 Heating element 42A Length 44 Support shaft 46 Guide shaft 48 Downstream 50 Outlet 60 unit chassis 62 Moving mechanism 64 Head support 66 Support Block 68 Moving mechanism section 70 Threaded part 70A head 70B Male thread part 72 Moving parts 74 Coil spring 76 Spacer 78 Nut 78A Female thread 78B Gear section 80 Fixing bracket 82 Servo motor 84 Drive gear 84A Gear section 86 Detection unit 90 Normal position 92 Offset position 92A offset position 100 Normal print mode 102 Subdivision printing mode 102A Subdivision printing mode 110 Offset amount 112 Contact site 114 Corresponding Part 120 Power Signal 122 Normal heating time 124 Scheduled Time 126 Carrier Signal 128 Normal Transport Time 130 Normal conveyance amount 140 print cycle 142 Predetermined interval 146 Printing Pattern 148 Coloring section 148A Coloring section 148B Coloring section 148C Coloring section 150 subdivision heating time 152 Scheduled Time 156 Subdivision transport time 158 Subdivision transport volume 160 print cycle 162 Predetermined interval 200 subdivision heating time C Rotation center H Transport direction K Virtual line M Print paper P1 Pressure P2 Pressure X cross direction

Claims

1. A printer comprising a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a straight line, and a platen roller which transports a print paper in a direction intersecting the direction in which the heating elements are arranged, and which prints on the print paper arranged between the thermal head and the platen roller by repeating a printing cycle consisting of heating of the heating elements and transport of the print paper by one pitch, a segmented print mode in which printing is performed with the length of one pitch of the printing cycle being shorter than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction, in a state in which the heating elements are disposed downstream in the transport direction of the print paper from a normal position in which the heating elements are urged toward the rotation center of the platen roller, Printer.

2. 2. The printer of claim 1, In the divided print mode, the heating element contacts the print paper, the platen roller does not contact a portion of the back surface of the printing paper corresponding to a portion of the front surface of the printing paper that is in contact with the heating element; Printer.

3. 2. The printer of claim 1, In the divided print mode, a pressure with which the heating elements press the print paper is greater than a pressure with which the heating elements press the platen roller through the print paper. Printer.

4. 2. The printer of claim 1, a normal printing mode in which printing is performed with the heating elements disposed at the normal position and the length of one pitch in the printing cycle being equal to or greater than the length of the heating elements in the transport direction; Printer.

5. 5. The printer according to claim 4, when the length of one pitch of the printing cycle in the subdivided printing mode is set to 1 / N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) of the length of one pitch of the printing cycle in the normal printing mode, the amount of heat energy of the heating element that generates heat is equal when the printing cycle is repeated N times in the subdivided printing mode and when the printing cycle is performed once in the normal printing mode. Printer.

6. 5. The printer according to claim 4, a moving mechanism that moves the thermal head between an offset position where the heating elements are disposed in the divided print mode and the normal position; a detection unit that detects that the thermal head is placed at the offset position; Equipped with and operating in the divided print mode when the detection unit detects that the printer is in the offset position. Printer.

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