Thermal transfer printer

Abstract

To provide a thermal transfer printer that can efficiently a perform printing operation, while suppressing a printing operation time from being wasted.SOLUTION: A thermal transfer printer 1 comprises: a heating element 21; an ink ribbon R; an ink ribbon feeding / driving part 55; and a control part 10 that performs control so that a plurality of rows of printing patterns A is printed on matter F to be printed, at the same printing timing and controls the ink ribbon feeding / driving part 55 so that the ink ribbon R is fed in a feeding direction Q in order to perform subsequent printing, after executing a printing operation. The control part 10 controls the ink ribbon feeding / driving part 55 so that the ink ribbon R is fed to pass on at least a portion in an ink unused region Rb and not to overlap with an ink used region Ra, and repeatedly executes an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feeding / driving part 55 so that the ink ribbon R is positioned at positions shifted by the same distance in the feeding direction Q, in all operations of feeding the ink ribbon R after executing the printing operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5A

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a thermal transfer printer that prints a plurality of rows of print patterns arranged at equal intervals with a predetermined interval at the same printing timing (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the thermal transfer printer described in Patent Document 1, when printing, the ink of the ink ribbon is transferred to the print target by thermal transfer, so that a plurality of ink use areas are formed in a plurality of rows arranged at equal intervals with a predetermined interval in the feed direction of the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon with the ink use areas formed therein is fed in the feed direction for the next printing operation so as not to overlap the ink use areas. In the thermal transfer printer described in Patent Document 1, in order to suppress waste of the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is fed in a lump so that the area filled with the ink use areas is moved in a lump after repeating the operation of feeding the ink ribbon at a short pitch multiple times so as to fill the ink unused area of ​​the ink ribbon between adjacent ink use areas used in the printing operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-216723 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the ink ribbon is fed in a single batch after the ink ribbon is fed multiple times at a pitch shorter than the ink use area interval in order to reduce waste of the ink ribbon, time is required to feed the ink ribbon in a single batch, and printing cannot be performed while the ink ribbon is being fed in a single batch. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of efficient printing operations. Therefore, there is a demand for a thermal transfer printer that can efficiently perform printing operations while reducing waste of printing operation time by reviewing the ink ribbon feed control.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer that can perform printing operations efficiently while suppressing waste of printing operation time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a thermal transfer printer that prints a print pattern on a substrate by thermally transferring ink, comprising: a heating element; an ink ribbon, the ink of which is thermally transferred to the substrate by the heat of the heating element during printing; an ink ribbon feed drive unit that feeds the ink ribbon; and a control unit that controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to print a plurality of rows of print patterns arranged at equal intervals in the feed direction of the ink ribbon at the same printing timing when the ink of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the substrate by the heat of the heating element to print a print pattern, the plurality of rows of print patterns being arranged at equal intervals in the feed direction of the ink ribbon, at the same printing timing, and that controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to feed the ink ribbon in the feed direction for the next printing operation after a printing operation is performed, said control unit. the ink ribbon feed drive unit is controlled so as to feed the ink ribbon in the feed direction for the next printing so as to fill at least a part of the unused ink area between adjacent ink use areas among a plurality of rows of ink use areas formed in a row and spaced at equal intervals in the feed direction of the ink ribbon used when printing the plurality of rows of printing patterns, and so as not to overlap the ink use areas, and the ink ribbon feed drive unit is repeatedly controlled so as to position the ink ribbon at a position moved by the same distance in the feed direction in all ink ribbon feed operations after the execution of a printing operation.

[0007] In addition, it is preferable that the control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the distance between adjacent ink usage areas is the same when filling at least a portion of the unused ink area between adjacent ink usage areas of the multiple rows of ink usage areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation.

[0008] In addition, it is preferable that the control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit so as not to leave any unused ink area larger than the width of the ink used area in the feed direction of the ink ribbon between adjacent ink used areas of the multiple rows of ink used areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that, in the feed direction of the ink ribbon, the minimum width required for the ink using area is defined as a minimum ink using width Lfm, the number of columns of the multiple rows of ink using areas is defined as a number of ink using area columns N, the spacing between adjacent ink using areas among the multiple rows of ink using areas is defined as an ink using area spacing Lpitch, and the number of ink using areas is defined as a division number D, which is the integer part of a calculation of Lpitch / Lfm, and the control unit calculates a ribbon feed distance Lfeed by the following formula (1) under the condition that the number of ink using area columns N and the division number D are mutually prime, and repeatedly executes an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit so as to feed the ink ribbon the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of a plurality of feed operations of the ink ribbon. Ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) Equation (1)

[0010] In addition, when the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, it is preferable that the control unit adjusts at least one of the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D so that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime, and calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using the formula (1). Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer printer that can perform printing operations efficiently while suppressing waste of printing operation time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a thermal printer according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a four-row print pattern printed on a long film by the printing operation of a thermal printer. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing four rows of ink usage areas on an ink ribbon. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a region in which ink is used in multiple rows on an ink ribbon. [Figure 5A] 11A to 11E are diagrams illustrating operational states of the ink ribbon feeding operation in the first ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 5B] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing operational states (f) and (g) of the ink ribbon feeding operation in the first ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a feed operation of a first NG ribbon feed control example. [Figure 7A] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing operational states (a) to (c) of the feed operation in a second NG ribbon feed control example. [Figure 7B] 13A to 13G are diagrams showing operational states (d) to (g) of the feed operation in the second NG ribbon feed control example. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing a control flow for determining a ribbon feed distance after repeating adjustments until the number of columns N of ink use areas and the number of divisions D between the ink use areas become relatively prime. [Figure 9A] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating operational states (a) to (c) of the ink ribbon feeding operation in the second ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 9B] 13A to 13F are diagrams showing operational states (d) to (f) of the ink ribbon feeding operation in the second ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 10A] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating operational states (a) to (c) of the ink ribbon feeding operation in the third ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 10B] 13A to 13F are diagrams showing operational states (d) to (f) of the ink ribbon feeding operation in the third ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 11] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the ink ribbon feeding operation in the fourth ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 12] 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams for explaining the reason why the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is obtained by the formula (1). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a thermal printer 1 according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating four rows of print pattern A printed on a long film F by the printing operation of the thermal printer 1. Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating four rows of ink use areas Ra on an ink ribbon R. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating multiple rows of ink use areas Ra on an ink ribbon R.

[0014] In this embodiment, in the following explanation and drawings, the transport direction P of the long film F is, for example, the direction from the top to the bottom in Fig. 2. The width direction of the long film F is also referred to as the Y direction (see Figs. 1 and 2). The direction parallel to the transport direction P of the long film F is also referred to as the X direction (the direction penetrating the paper surface of Fig. 1). The up-down direction in the thermal printer 1 is also referred to as the Z direction. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0015] The thermal printer 1 as a thermal transfer printer of this embodiment is a printer that prints a print pattern A (see FIG. 2) on a long film F by thermally transferring ink. The thermal printer 1 is, for example, an intermittent printer that performs a printing operation when the long film F, which is intermittently transported by repeatedly transporting and stopping, stops. The thermal printer 1 of this embodiment is a printer that prints multiple rows of print patterns A arranged at equal intervals with a predetermined gap on the long film F at the same printing timing when the long film F stops.

[0016] The thermal printer 1 prints a print pattern A (see FIG. 2) on a long film F. The long film F has a width in the Y direction and is formed in an elongated shape that is long in a transport direction P (X direction), and as shown in FIG. 1, the long film F is transported between a thermal head 21 and a platen 4 in the transport direction P. As shown in FIG. 2, the transport direction P of the long film F is, for example, a direction from the X1 side (upper side in FIG. 2) in the X direction to the X2 side (lower side in FIG. 2).

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer 1 includes a head unit 2, a head linear movement mechanism 3 (linear movement section), a platen plate 4 (print receiving section), a ribbon transport mechanism 5, and a control section .

[0018] The head unit 2 is disposed above the long film F that is transported on the upper surface of the platen 4. The head unit 2 includes a thermal head 21 (heat generating element) and a head pressing mechanism 22.

[0019] The thermal head 21 is disposed on the lower side of the head unit 2. The thermal head 21 is moved by a head pressing mechanism 22 between a pressing position where the thermal head 21 is pressed against the platen plate 4 and a separating position where the thermal head 21 is separated from the platen plate 4. Driving of the thermal head 21 by the head pressing mechanism 22 is controlled by the control unit 10.

[0020] The thermal head 21 is configured to be movable in the Y direction, which is a linear direction, by a head linear movement mechanism 3. The head linear movement mechanism 3 has a guide rail 31 extending in the Y direction, and a Y-direction movement section 32 that is moved in the Y direction along the guide rail 31. The head unit 2 is connected to a lower part of the Y-direction movement section 32. The head unit 2 is moved in the Y direction by the Y-direction movement section 32 being moved in the Y direction. The movement of the Y-direction movement section 32 in the Y direction is controlled by the control section 10.

[0021] The thermal head 21 prints a print pattern A (see FIG. 2) on the long film F being transported in the transport direction P. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal head 21 is disposed opposite the platen 4, with the ink ribbon R of the ribbon transport mechanism 5 and the long film F sandwiched between them.

[0022] The thermal head 21 is formed to have a width in the X direction. The thermal head 21 is disposed so that the tip 21a side protrudes downward. The thermal head 21 has a plurality of heating elements at the tip 21a. When electricity is applied to the thermal head 21, the desired heating elements generate heat.

[0023] 1, the platen plate 4 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the Z direction, and is disposed below the head unit 2 with the long film F sandwiched therebetween. The platen plate 4 has an upper surface formed in a flat shape extending in the X and Y directions. The platen plate 4 is disposed facing the long film F with the long film F disposed between it and the thermal head 21.

[0024] The ribbon transport mechanism 5 includes an ink ribbon R, the ink of which is thermally transferred to the long film F by the heat of the thermal head 21 during printing, a raw-paper-side ribbon holder 51 that holds unused wound ink ribbon R, a winding-side ribbon holder 52 that winds up the ink ribbon R, guide rollers 53, 54, and an ink ribbon feed drive unit 55.

[0025] An ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is connected to the take-up side ribbon holder 52. The ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 drives and rotates the take-up side ribbon holder 52 to feed the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q. By driving the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55, the ribbon transport mechanism 5 transports the unused ink ribbon R wound around the original ribbon holder 51 toward the thermal head 21, and also transports the ink ribbon R that has been used by the thermal head 21 toward the take-up side ribbon holder 52.

[0026] The guide rollers 53, 54 are spaced apart in the Y direction and serve to guide the ink ribbon R transported from the original ribbon holder 51 toward the take-up ribbon holder 52. The ink ribbon R is formed to have a width in the X direction, and is transferred in a ribbon feed direction Q between the guide rollers 53 and 54. The ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R is the direction from the guide roller 53, which is located on the Y1 side in the Y direction, through the thermal head 21 toward the guide roller 54, which is located on the Y2 side in the Y direction.

[0027] The control unit 10 controls the operation of the thermal head 21. The control unit 10 controls the driving of the head pressing mechanism 22, and also controls the head linear movement mechanism 3 that moves the thermal head 21 in the Y direction. The control unit 10 also controls the movement of the ink ribbon R during the printing operation.

[0028] When the ink ribbon R is thermally transferred to the long film F by the heat of the thermal head 21 to print the printing pattern A, the control unit 10 controls the printing patterns A to be printed on the long film F at the same printing timing, the printing patterns A being arranged in multiple rows at equal intervals in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R, as shown in Figure 2, and also controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q for the next printing after the printing operation is performed.

[0029] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the control unit 10 controls so that four rows of printing patterns A, which are arranged at equal intervals in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R, are printed on the long film F at the same printing timing. As a result, as shown in Fig. 3, when the four rows of printing patterns A are printed, four rows of ink use areas Ra are formed on the ink ribbon R. The four rows of ink use areas Ra are formed in a plurality of rows at equal intervals in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R. An ink unused area Rb is formed between adjacent ink use areas Ra of the four rows of ink use areas Ra.

[0030] Printing at the same print timing means that the time during which a series of printing operations necessary to form a plurality of (four rows in this embodiment) print patterns A is performed is taken as the print timing, and each print that forms a plurality of print patterns A performed during the print timing is considered to be printed at the same print timing. Therefore, the same print timing not only includes printing performed simultaneously at exactly the same time, but also includes the concept of sequentially moving the thermal head 21 in the Y direction at the same print timing to sequentially print four print patterns A arranged in the Y direction at a predetermined interval, even if printing is not performed simultaneously at exactly the same time as in this embodiment.

[0031] An example of the same printing timing when printing is not performed simultaneously at exactly the same time is when, as in this embodiment, the thermal head 21 is moved sequentially to four predetermined positions in the Y direction by the head linear movement mechanism 3 at the timing when the long film F and the ink ribbon R are stopped, and the printing pattern A is printed sequentially at the four positions in the Y direction. In this embodiment, printing is not performed simultaneously at exactly the same time at four positions in the Y direction, but printing is performed at the same printing timing at the timing when the long film F and the ink ribbon R are stopped.

[0032] In addition, the same printing timing when printing is performed simultaneously at exactly the same time refers, for example, to a type printer that prints by pressing a type die (heating element) with multiple character strings arranged in a row against an ink ribbon, where multiple character strings are printed by pressing them against the ink ribbon at exactly the same time.

[0033] In a conventional thermal transfer printer that prints multiple rows of print patterns arranged at equal intervals at the same printing timing, the ink of the ink ribbon is transferred to the print target by thermal transfer during printing, forming multiple ink-using areas arranged at equal intervals at predetermined intervals in the feed direction of the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon with the multiple ink-using areas formed is fed in the ribbon feed direction for the next printing operation so as not to overlap the ink-using areas. In a conventional thermal transfer printer, in order to reduce waste of the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is fed multiple times at short pitches to fill the unused ink areas of the ink ribbon between adjacent ink-using areas used in the printing operation, and then the areas filled with the ink-using areas are controlled to be moved all at once so that the unused ink areas can be used in the next printing operation.

[0034] In the past, in order to reduce waste of ink ribbon in thermal transfer printers, the short pitch used in printing to fill the unused ink area of ​​the ink ribbon between adjacent ink-using areas was calculated based on the width of the printing area and multiplied by the number of times that the next ink-using area Ra does not overlap. Therefore, depending on the number of times, an unused ink area Rb wider than the width of the printing area may be generated, leading to waste of the used area of ​​the ink ribbon.

[0035] In conventional thermal transfer printers, when the ink ribbon is fed in a short pitch several times to prevent waste of the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is fed all at once. This requires time to feed the ink ribbon all at once, and printing cannot be performed while the ink ribbon is being fed all at once. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of efficient printing operations. Therefore, it has been desired to perform efficient printing operations while preventing waste of printing operation time by reviewing the ink ribbon feed control.

[0036] In contrast, in the present invention, when feeding the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q for the next printing or later, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R so as to fill at least a part of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink used areas Ra among the multiple rows of ink used areas Ra formed in a row at equal intervals with a predetermined gap in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R used when printing the multiple rows of printing pattern A, and so as not to overlap the ink used areas Ra. Then, the control unit 10 repeatedly executes the operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to position the ink ribbon R to a position where it is moved the same distance in the ribbon feed direction Q in all feeding operations of the ink ribbon R after the printing operation.

[0037] Furthermore, when filling in at least a part of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink used areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used by the printing operation, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R by a predetermined feed distance after each printing operation so that the distance between adjacent ink used areas Ra becomes the same. This makes the distance between adjacent ink used areas Ra on the ink ribbon R the same.

[0038] Furthermore, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that, between adjacent ink used areas Ra of the ink ribbon R that have been used in the printing operation, no unused ink areas Rb larger than the width of the ink used areas Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R remain. This makes it possible to utilize the ink ribbon R to the extent that no unused ink areas Rb remain between adjacent ink used areas Ra. This makes it possible to reduce waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0039] The control unit 10 calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using the following formula (1) under the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are mutually prime, and repeatedly performs an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the ink ribbon R is fed the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon R. Ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) Equation (1)

[0040] As shown in the above formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is obtained as a ratio to the ink use area interval Lpitch. This means that the relationship between the ink use area interval Lpitch and the ribbon feed distance Lfeed does not change even if the ink use area interval Lpitch is enlarged or reduced by an arbitrary magnification. The value of the ink use region interval Lpitch used in the drawings of each embodiment can be the actual value of the interval of the ink use region Ra in actual application.

[0041] In formula (1), the number of ink use area columns N and the number of divisions D are defined as follows: As shown in Fig. 4, in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R, the minimum width required for the ink use area Ra is the minimum ink use width Lfm, the number of rows of the ink use areas Ra is the number of ink use area rows N, the spacing between adjacent ink use areas Ra among the multiple rows of ink use areas Ra is the ink use area spacing Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is the number of ink use areas arranged by dividing the ink use area spacing Lpitch between adjacent ink use areas Ra. The number of divisions D is the integer part of the calculation of ink use area spacing Lpitch / minimum ink use width Lfm. Fig. 4 illustrates the case where the number of ink use area rows N=4 and the number of divisions D=3.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the minimum width Lfm required for ink use in the ink use area Ra is the actual ink use width H plus the feed control allowable margin Le and the tape stretch margin Lm. Lfm=H+Le+Lm

[0043] Here, if the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime to each other, the ink ribbon R can be used without overlapping the ink usage areas Ra. On the other hand, if the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime to each other, the ink usage areas Ra will overlap if the ink ribbon R is continued to be used. Details of how the ink ribbon R can be used without overlapping the ink usage areas Ra when the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime to each other will be described later.

[0044] If the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the control unit 10 adjusts the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D by reducing the number of divisions D so that they are relatively prime, thereby satisfying the condition that the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, and calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using equation (1). Then, the control unit 10 repeatedly executes an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the ink ribbon R is fed the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon R.

[0045] Next, as the ink ribbon feed control of the thermal printer 1, a first ribbon feed control example to a fourth ribbon feed control example will be described, along with a control example in which the ink usage area Ra overlaps (a first NG ribbon feed control example, a second NG ribbon feed control example).

[0046] First, the first ribbon feed control example will be described. As shown in Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B, the first ribbon feed control example is an example of ribbon feed control in the case where the ink use area interval Lpitch, the number of ink use area rows N=4, and the number of divisions D=3 are arbitrarily set. According to the above-mentioned formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(N / D)=Lpitch×(4 / 3). The number of ink use area rows N=4 and the number of divisions D=3 are mutually prime. In the first ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Fig. 5A(a), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink use area interval Lpitch and the number of ink use area rows N=4, and the "1" portion of the four ink use areas Ra in the ink ribbon R is used at the ink use area interval Lpitch.

[0047] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in Fig. 5A(a) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 3) calculated by formula (1) to the position shown in Fig. 5A(b). Then, as shown in Fig. 5A(c), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N = 4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "2" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0048] Next, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in Fig. 5A (c) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 3) to the position shown in Fig. 5A (d). Then, as shown in Fig. 5A (e), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N = 4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "3" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0049] Next, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in Fig. 5A (e) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 3) to the position shown in Fig. 5B (f). Then, as shown in Fig. 5B (g), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and a number of ink usage area columns N = 4, and the "4" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch is used on the ink ribbon R. Because the number of ink usage area columns N = 4 and the division number D = 3 are mutually prime, the ink ribbon R can be used without the ink usage areas Ra overlapping.

[0050] As a result, in the first ribbon feed control example, when the division number D=3, the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink use areas Ra can be minimized, and the ink ribbon R can be moved in the ribbon feed direction Q. Here, when filling in at least a part of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink use areas Ra among the ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon used in the printing operation, the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is controlled so that the distance between adjacent ink use areas Ra is the same. Also, the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is controlled so that the unused ink area Rb larger than the width of the ink use area Ra in the feed direction of the ink ribbon R is not left between adjacent ink use areas Ra among the ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation. Thus, waste of the ink ribbon R can be suppressed.

[0051] Furthermore, because the operation of feeding the constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed is repeated, there is no time required to feed the entire used area of ​​the ink ribbon all at once, which occurs every time multiple prints are printed, and waste of printing operation time can be reduced. Since the ink ribbon R is fed at a constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed each time, an unused ink area Rb remains at the beginning of the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R. However, during normal printing operations thereafter, the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink-used areas Ra becomes extremely small, and the ink ribbon R is used while minimizing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0052] Here, as a first NG ribbon feed control example, a case will be described in which, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink usage area interval Lpitch is arbitrarily set, the ink usage area column number N is 4, and the ink usage area column number N and the division number D are not mutually prime.

[0053] 6, for a given ink usage area interval Lpitch, number of ink usage area rows N=4, and number of divisions D=2, the number of ink usage area rows N=4 and the number of divisions D=2 do not satisfy the condition that they are mutually prime. Here, when the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated using the above-mentioned formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(4 / 2).

[0054] As a result, first, as shown in FIG. 6(a), a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area spacing Lpitch and number of ink usage area columns N=4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "1" portions of four ink usage areas Ra are used with the predetermined ink usage area spacing Lpitch.

[0055] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in Fig. 6(a) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 2) calculated by formula (1) to the position shown in Fig. 6(b). Then, as shown in Fig. 6(c), when a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area rows N = 4, the "2" parts of the two ink usage areas Ra on the leading side of the ribbon feed direction Q of the "2" parts of the four ink usage areas Ra on the ink ribbon R overlap with the "1" parts of the ink usage areas Ra.

[0056] Therefore, if the number of ink usage area columns N = 4 and the number of divisions D = 2 do not satisfy the condition that they are relatively prime, the ink usage areas Ra will overlap, so the combination of the number of ink usage area columns N = 4 and the number of divisions D = 2 cannot be used. In order for the ink usage areas Ra to not overlap, the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D must satisfy the condition that they are relatively prime.

[0057] As an example of a second NG ribbon feed control, a case will be described in which, for example, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, when the ink usage area interval Lpitch is arbitrarily set and the ink usage area column number N=4, the ink usage area column number N and the division number D are not mutually prime.

[0058] 7A, when the ink usage area interval Lpitch, the number of ink usage area rows N = 4, and the number of divisions D = 6 are given, the number of ink usage area rows N = 4 and the number of divisions D = 6 do not satisfy the condition that they are mutually prime. Here, when the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated using the above-mentioned formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 6).

[0059] As a result, first, as shown in (a) of Figure 7A, a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area spacing Lpitch and number of ink usage area columns N = 4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "1" portions of four ink usage areas Ra are used with the predetermined ink usage area spacing Lpitch.

[0060] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 6) from the position in Fig. 7A (a) to the position in Fig. 7A (b). Then, as shown in Fig. 7A (c), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N = 4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "2" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0061] Next, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in Fig. 7A (c) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 6) to the position shown in Fig. 7B (d). Then, as shown in Fig. 7B (e), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N = 4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "3" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0062] Next, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in Fig. 7B (e) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch x (4 / 6) to the position shown in Fig. 7B (f). Then, as shown in Fig. 7B (g), when a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink use area interval Lpitch and the number of ink use area rows N = 4, the two ink use area "4" portions on the leading side of the four ink use area Ra portions "4" in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink use area Ra on the ink ribbon R overlap with the "1" portions of the ink use area Ra. Therefore, if the number of ink use area rows N = 4 and the number of divisions D = 6 do not satisfy the condition of being relatively prime, the ink use area Ra will overlap, so it is necessary that the number of ink use area rows N and the number of divisions D satisfy the condition of being relatively prime.

[0063] Here, in this embodiment, when the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the control unit 10 adjusts the number of divisions D by reducing it so that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime, satisfying the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, and then calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using equation (1). A control flow for determining the ribbon feed distance Lfeed after repeating adjustments until the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D between the ink usage areas become relatively prime will be described.

[0064] 8, in step S1, the ink use region interval Lpitch / necessary minimum ink use width Lfm is calculated, and the division number D is obtained from the integer part of the calculation result. After step S1, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0065] In step S2, in order to determine whether the number of ink use area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, it is determined whether the greatest common divisor between the number of ink use area columns N and the number of divisions D is 1. Here, if the number of ink use area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, the ink ribbon R can be used without overlapping the ink use areas Ra, so it is determined whether the number of ink use area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime. Note that there are various methods for determining the greatest common divisor, and any method can be used to determine it.

[0066] If the greatest common divisor between the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D is 1 (YES), the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime to each other, so the process proceeds to step S4. If the greatest common divisor between the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D is not 1 (NO), the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime to each other, so the process proceeds to step S3, where the number of divisions D is decremented by 1, and the process returns to step S2. The process of step S2 is repeated until the greatest common divisor between the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D becomes 1, so that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime to each other.

[0067] In step S4, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed described above is calculated and determined by the following formula (1). Ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) Equation (1)

[0068] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the ink usage area pitch Lpitch=90 mm, the number of ink usage area rows N=4, and the number of divisions D=3, the number of ink usage area rows N=4 and the number of divisions D=3 satisfy the condition that they are mutually prime, and according to formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=90 mm×(4 / 3)=120 mm.

[0069] According to the above control flow, in step S2, if the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the number of divisions D is reduced and adjusted in step S3 so that the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime. This satisfies the condition that the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, and in step S4, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed can be calculated using formula (1). In this way, if the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, the ink ribbon R can be used so that new ink-using areas Ra do not overlap used ink-using areas Ra by repeatedly feeding the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q by the feed amount of the ribbon feed distance Lfeed. Therefore, by adjusting the number of ink-using area columns N and the number of divisions D so that they are relatively prime, it is easy to prevent the ink-using areas Ra from overlapping.

[0070] Next, as examples different from the first ribbon feed control example in the ink ribbon feed control of the thermal printer 1, a second ribbon feed control example to a fourth ribbon feed control example will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 11. FIG.

[0071] The second ribbon feed control example is an example of ribbon feed control in the case of an arbitrarily set ink usage area interval Lpitch, number of ink usage area rows N=4, and number of divisions D=5, as shown in Fig. 9A. In the second ribbon feed control example, the number of ink usage area rows N=4 and the number of divisions D=5 satisfy the condition that they are mutually prime, and according to formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(N / D)=Lpitch×(4 / 5). In the second ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Fig. 9A(a), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and number of ink usage area rows N=4, and on the ink ribbon R, the "1" portions of the four ink usage areas Ra are used at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0072] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position of (a) in FIG. 9A by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(4 / 5) calculated by the formula (1), to the position of (b) in FIG. 9A. After that, as shown in (b) in FIG. 9A to (f) in FIG. 9B, a printing operation is performed, and a plurality of ink use areas Ra are used in the ink ribbon R, and the operation of moving the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(4 / 5) is repeatedly performed. As a result, a printing operation is performed in which the ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon R are used from "1" to "6", and the same operation is repeatedly performed continuously. Since the number of ink use area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=5 are mutually prime, the ink ribbon R can be used without the ink use areas Ra overlapping.

[0073] 10A, the third ribbon feed control example is an example of ribbon feed control in the case of an arbitrarily set ink use area interval Lpitch, number of ink use area rows N=6, and number of divisions D=5. In the third ribbon feed control example, the number of ink use area rows N=6 and the number of divisions D=5 satisfy the condition that they are mutually prime, and according to formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(N / D)=Lpitch×(6 / 5). In the third ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in FIG. 10A(a), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink use area interval Lpitch and number of ink use area rows N=6, and on the ink ribbon R, the "1" portions of the six ink use areas Ra are used at the predetermined ink use area interval Lpitch.

[0074] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position of (a) in FIG. 10A by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(6 / 5) calculated by the formula (1), to the position of (b) in FIG. 10A. After that, as shown in (b) in FIG. 10A to (f) in FIG. 10B, a printing operation is performed, and a plurality of ink use areas Ra are used in the ink ribbon R, and the operation of moving the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(6 / 5) is repeatedly performed. As a result, a printing operation is performed in which the ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon R are used from "1" to "6", and the same operation is repeatedly performed continuously. Since the number of ink use area columns N=6 and the number of divisions D=5 are mutually prime, the ink ribbon R can be used without the ink use areas Ra overlapping.

[0075] Moreover, the fourth ribbon feed control example is an example of ribbon feed control in the case of an arbitrarily set ink usage area interval Lpitch, number of ink usage area rows N=3, and number of divisions D=2, as shown in Fig. 11. In the fourth ribbon feed control example, the number of ink usage area rows N=3 and the number of divisions D=2 satisfy the condition that they are mutually prime, and according to formula (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(N / D)=Lpitch×(3 / 2). In the fourth ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Fig. 11(a), a printing operation is executed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and number of ink usage area rows N=3, and on the ink ribbon R, the "1" portions of the three ink usage areas Ra are used at the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0076] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved in the ribbon feed direction Q from the position shown in FIG. 11(a) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(3 / 2) calculated by formula (1), to the position shown in FIG. 11(b). After that, as shown in FIG. 11(b) to (d), a printing operation is performed, and a plurality of ink use areas Ra are used in the ink ribbon R, and the operation of moving the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(3 / 2) is repeatedly performed. As a result, a printing operation is performed in which the ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon R are used from "1" to "4", and the same operation is repeatedly performed continuously. Since the number of ink use area columns N=3 and the number of divisions D=2 are mutually prime, the ink ribbon R can be used without the ink use areas Ra overlapping.

[0077] As described above, in the second ribbon feed control example to the fourth ribbon feed control example, the ink ribbon R can be moved in the ribbon feed direction Q while minimizing the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink use areas Ra. Here, when filling in at least a part of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink use areas Ra among the multiple rows of ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation, the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is controlled so that the distance between adjacent ink use areas Ra is the same. Also, the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is controlled so that no unused ink area Rb larger than the width of the ink use area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R remains between adjacent ink use areas Ra among the multiple rows of ink use areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation. Thus, waste of the ink ribbon R can be suppressed.

[0078] In addition, by repeating the operation of feeding a constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed, it is possible to reduce the time required to feed the used area of ​​the ink ribbon all at once, which occurred every certain number of prints as occurred with conventional methods, and thereby reduce wasted printing operation time. In addition, since the ink ribbon R is fed a certain ribbon feed distance, an unused ink area Rb remains at the beginning of the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R, but during normal printing operations thereafter, the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink-using areas Ra becomes extremely small, and the ink ribbon R is used in a state in which waste of the ink ribbon R is suppressed.

[0079] Here, with reference to Figure 12, we will explain why the ink usage areas Ra do not overlap when the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are mutually prime, and why the ribbon feed distance Lfeed can be calculated using the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D)... equation (1).

[0080] As shown in Figure 12(a), in a configuration with N rows of ink usage areas and D divisions, the arrangement that results in the least amount of ink ribbon usage is when N rows of ink usage areas are arranged with an ink usage area spacing Lpitch between them, and a group of ink usage areas Ra with D divisions is formed within each ink usage area spacing Lpitch, and the total number of ink usage areas Ra formed on the ink ribbon is N x D.

[0081] In addition, if the width obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the division number D is Wi, the ink ribbon length obtained by multiplying the ink usage area Ra group by the width Wi obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the division number D is the minimum ink ribbon length Lmin when printing with theoretical maximum efficiency. Lmin = Wi × N × D

[0082] If the ink usage areas Ra formed in N×D locations on the ink ribbon are assigned subscripts in the order of Ra0, Ra1, ..., Ra((N×D)-1), the subscripts can be assigned values ​​from 0 to N×D-1, as shown in Figure 12(b).

[0083] Here, during normal printing operations, it is required that the group of ink use areas Ra printed in N x D locations be repeated. If the length of the group of ink use areas Ra printed in N x D locations, expressed in units of width Wi, is Lf, then it is possible to form (print) a group of ink use areas Ra that does not overlap in use areas even when printing is repeated by selecting values ​​of N and D such that the ink use area Ra at a certain location is not specified at which printing timing of the repeated printing timings, and printing of the ink use area Ra at that one location is printed only once during the repeated printing timings.

[0084] If the number of printing timings is m, the position of the divided area is n, and the number of times the printing area has been sent so far is d, then the printing position P(n,m,d) of any ink use area Ra in the repetition of a group of ink use areas Ra printed in N×D locations can be expressed as N×n+D×m+Lf×d, where n, m, and d are any integers starting from 0.

[0085] The requirement that the ink usage area Ra at a position represented by N×n+D×m+Lf×d printed at a certain print timing appears only once at all print timings is that the remainder when the value of N×n+D×m+Lf×d is divided by N×D can be uniquely obtained as an integer between 0 and N×D-1.

[0086] Here, in order to avoid specifying at which of the repeated printing timings a certain ink usage area Ra will be printed, the term Lf×d needs to be a congruent equation with the formula N×D modulo N×D, and this requirement is met when Lf is N×D. This makes it possible to eliminate the term Lf×d, which is congruent modulo N×D, from the formula N×n+D×m+Lf×d.

[0087] Therefore, in order to satisfy the condition that the ink usage area Ra at a position represented by N×n+D×m printed at a certain print timing appears only once in all previous and subsequent print timings, that is, the remainder when the value of N×n+D×m is divided by N×D can be uniquely determined as an integer between 0 and N×D-1, the equations N×n+D×m and N×D must be congruence equations modulo N×D, and according to the Chinese Remainder Theorem, the condition can be satisfied by selecting numbers where N and D are mutually prime.

[0088] In the Chinese Remainder Theorem, in the case of binary systems, if two given integers m1 and m2 are mutually prime, then for any given integers a1 and a2, there exists exactly one x between 0 and m1×m2 that satisfies the simultaneous congruence equations x≡a1(mod. m1) and x≡a2(mod. m2). In particular, if the number is d, then x≡a1(mod. m1) and x≡a2(mod. m2) give x≡d(mod. m1×m2). In addition, from the theorem, x≡k×a1≡a1(mod. m1), and k times a1 is also congruent (k is any integer greater than or equal to 1).

[0089] Let N be the number of columns in the ink usage area, D be the number of divisions, m (the number of prints) be the arbitrary print timing, and n (the number of prints) be the position of the divided area. If the desired print position is P(n,m), this can be expressed as follows using the Chinese Remainder Theorem mentioned above. P(n,m)=N×n+D×m(mod.N×D) where N⊥D (N and D are mutually prime)...Equation (2)

[0090] By selecting the number of ink use area columns N and the number of divisions D that satisfy the condition associated with the above-mentioned formula (2), it is possible to continue printing repeatedly without the ink use areas Ra overlapping.

[0091] The derivation of the ribbon feed distance Lfeed will be explained using the number of ink use area columns N, the number of divisions D, the length Lf of the ink use area Ra group, and the ink use area interval Lpitch.

[0092] The printing position P(n,m) described above is based on a width Wi obtained by dividing the ink use area interval Lpitch by the division number D. In other words, the ink use area interval Lpitch=Wi×D.

[0093] As mentioned above, it is known that the positions where the minimum Lf is printed do not overlap in the number of columns N x number of divisions D, so when a printing operation to form a printing area with N columns of ink usage area is performed D number of divisions in one printing timing, in order to equalize the amount of ink ribbon fed each time when forming an ink usage area of ​​N columns x number of divisions D in the minimum Lf, according to the Chinese Remainder Theorem, it is sufficient to set Lf to the length obtained by dividing Lf by the number of divisions D, of the number of columns N and the number of divisions D that form Lf as a congruence.

[0094] Lfeed=Lf / D = N × D × Wi / D Here, Wi=Lpitch / D, Lfeed=N×D×(Lpitch / D) / D Rearranging the right hand side, we get Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) It becomes.

[0095] From the above, formula (1) for calculating the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is obtained. As a result, as shown in Figure 12 (c), in the feeding operation of the ink ribbon R, by moving it by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D)... equation (1) obtained in this way using equation (1), the ink ribbon R can be used without the ink usage areas Ra overlapping.

[0096] Next, we will explain how to find N and D, which are mutually prime. The number of ink use area columns N is the number of ink use areas, and is a value determined by the configuration of the printer device. Therefore, the number of divisions D is adjusted to obtain the ribbon feed distance Lfeed. As described above, the number of divisions D is obtained by dividing the ink use area interval Lpitch by the width used in one printing operation.

[0097] The width that can be used in one print is the minimum value of the minimum width required to use ink Lfm, which is the combination of the height of the print content and various margins. When the ink usage area spacing Lpitch is divided by the minimum width required to use ink Lfm at this time, the number of divisions is the maximum possible value of the division number D, but this is not necessarily an integer that is relatively prime to the number of columns N of the ink usage areas.

[0098] Therefore, the maximum number of divisions Dmax at the minimum width Lfm requiring minimum ink use is assumed to be the number of divisions D, and if the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime to each other, the number of divisions D is reduced and then the process of checking again whether they are relatively prime to each other is repeated to find an appropriate number of divisions D.

[0099] In an environment in which multiple ink usage areas are formed on the ink ribbon at the same printing timing, the procedure for deriving the division number D of the ink usage area interval Lpitch and a constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed that allow the ink ribbon to continue to be used without overlapping ink usage areas is as follows.

[0100] (1) The minimum width Lfm required for ink use is calculated from the actual ink use width H, the feed control allowable margin Le, and the tape stretch margin Lm using the formula Lfm=H+Le+Lm. (2) The maximum number of divisions Dmax is calculated from the ink usage area interval Lpitch and the minimum width required for ink usage Lfm using Dmax←Lpitch / Lfm. (3) Since D←Dmax, the maximum number of divisions Dmax is assumed to be the number of divisions D. (4) Find the greatest common divisor c between N and D by c←gcd(N,D). (5) D ← D-1, but if the greatest common factor c is greater than 1 because (c>1), subtract 1 from D and return to step (4). If the greatest common factor c is equal to 1, N and D are relatively prime to each other, so proceed to the next step. (6) The ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated from the calculated number of divisions D, the number of ink use area rows N, and the ink use area interval Lpitch using Lfeed←(N / D)×Lpitch. In this manner, it is possible to derive the division number D of the ink use area interval Lpitch and the constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed that allow the ink ribbon to continue to be used without overlapping the ink use areas.

[0101] According to the thermal printer 1 of this embodiment, for example, the following effects are achieved. The thermal printer 1 of this embodiment includes a thermal head 21, an ink ribbon R, ink of which is thermally transferred to the long film F by the heat of the thermal head 21 during printing, an ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 that feeds the ink ribbon R, and a control unit 10 that controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to print multiple rows of printing patterns A on the long film F at the same printing timing and to feed the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q for the next printing operation after the printing operation is performed, and the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R so as to fill at least a portion of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink used areas Ra and not overlap with the ink used area Ra, and repeatedly performs an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to position the ink ribbon R at a position moved by the same distance in the ribbon feed direction Q in all feeding operations of the ink ribbon R after the printing operation is performed. This allows the ink ribbon R to be used without overlapping with the ink use area Ra, so that waste of the ink ribbon R is suppressed, waste of printing operation time is reduced, and printing operation can be performed efficiently.

[0102] In this embodiment, when filling at least a part of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink using areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the distance between adjacent ink using areas Ra is the same. This makes it possible to make the distance between adjacent ink using areas Ra the same, thereby further reducing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so as not to leave any unused ink area Rb larger than the width of the ink used area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R between adjacent ink used areas Ra of the ink ribbon R that have been used in the printing operation. This makes it possible to prevent any unused ink area Rb larger than the width of the ink used area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R from remaining, thereby further reducing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0104] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the minimum width required for the ink usage area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R is defined as the minimum ink usage width Lfm, the number of rows of the ink usage areas Ra is defined as the number of ink usage area rows N, the spacing between adjacent ink usage areas Ra among the multiple rows of ink usage areas Ra is defined as the ink usage area spacing Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is the number of ink usage areas Ra arranged by dividing the ink usage area spacing Lpitch between the ink usage area spacing Lpitch of adjacent ink usage areas Ra. The division number D is the integer part of the calculation of Lpitch / Lfm, and the control unit 10 calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed from equation (1) of ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(N / D) under the condition that the number of ink usage area rows N and the division number D are mutually prime, and repeatedly performs an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the ink ribbon R is fed the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon R.

[0105] As a result, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed can be easily calculated using formula (1), and the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed can be fed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon R. This makes it possible to easily and efficiently perform printing operations while minimizing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0106] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the control unit 10 adjusts the number of divisions D so that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime. With the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D in a relatively prime relationship, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated using formula (1). This makes it possible to easily calculate the ribbon feed distance Lfeed that allows printing to continue without overlapping the ink usage areas Ra.

[0107] Although the preferred embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be embodied in various forms.

[0108] For example, in the above embodiment, the four ink use areas Ra are formed at equal intervals in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R, but the present invention is not limited to this. The number of ink use areas Ra may be two or more.

[0109] In the above embodiment, when the number of columns N of ink use areas and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the number of divisions D is adjusted by decreasing it so that the number of columns N of ink use areas and the number of divisions D become relatively prime, but this is not limiting. For example, the number of divisions D may be adjusted by increasing it, or the number of columns N of ink use areas may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing it.

[0110] In the above embodiment, the thermal printer is a printer that prints by transferring ink using the heat of a thermal head (heating element), but the present invention is not limited to this. A type printer that prints by pressing a type (heating element) in which a plurality of character strings are arranged side by side against an ink ribbon may be used as the thermal printer.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the object to be printed is a long film, and the long film is transported in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the ink ribbon, but this is not limited to the above. The object to be printed may be a single sheet. The moving direction of the object to be printed is not limited, and may be, for example, the same direction as the feed direction of the ink ribbon.

[0112] In the above embodiment, control is executed to move the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed each time. In the above embodiment, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is the same each time, but as long as it is within the range of the allowable error of the ribbon feed distance Lfeed (the feed control allowable margin Le+the tape stretch margin Lm), it is included in the same distance. For example, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed may be intentionally increased, decreased, or varied within the allowable error range to set the feed amount of the ink ribbon. [Explanation of symbols]

[0113] 1. Thermal printer (thermal transfer printer) 10 Control section 21 Thermal head (heating element) 55 Ink ribbon feed drive unit A Printing Pattern F Long film (printing material) R Ink ribbon Ra Ink Use Area Rb Ink unused area

Claims

1. A thermal transfer printer that prints a print pattern on a print target by thermally transferring ink, A heating element; an ink ribbon on which ink is thermally transferred to a print target by the heat of the heating element during printing; an ink ribbon feed drive unit for feeding the ink ribbon; a control unit that controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to feed the ink ribbon in the feed direction for the next printing operation, so that when the ink of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the printing object by the heat of the heating element to print a printing pattern, a plurality of rows of printing patterns arranged at equal intervals in the feed direction of the ink ribbon are printed on the printing object at the same printing timing, and a control unit that controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to feed the ink ribbon in the feed direction for the next printing operation or later so as to fill at least a portion of the unused ink area between adjacent ink use areas among the multiple rows of ink use areas formed in a row and equally spaced apart at a predetermined interval in the feed direction of the ink ribbon used when printing the multiple rows of printing patterns, and so as not to overlap the ink use areas, and that repeatedly performs an operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit to position the ink ribbon at a position moved the same distance in the feed direction in all ink ribbon feed operations after the execution of a printing operation.

2. 2. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the distance between adjacent ink use areas is the same when filling at least a portion of the ink unused area between adjacent ink use areas of the multiple rows of ink use areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation.

3. 3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit so as not to leave any unused ink area larger than the width of the ink used area in the feed direction of the ink ribbon between adjacent ink used areas of the multiple rows of ink used areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation.

4. In the feed direction of the ink ribbon, the minimum width required for the ink using area is defined as Lfm, the number of rows of the ink using areas is defined as N, the spacing between adjacent ink using areas among the rows of the ink using areas is defined as Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is the number of divisions by which the ink using area spacing Lpitch is divided between the ink using area spacing Lpitch of the adjacent ink using areas, The division number D is the integer part of the calculation of Lpitch / Lfm, The control unit, under the condition that the number of rows N of the ink using region and the number of divisions D are mutually prime, The ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated by the following formula (1):

3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of repeatedly controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the ink ribbon is fed the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of a plurality of feeding operations of the ink ribbon. Ribbon feed distance Lfeed=Lpitch×(N / D) Equation (1)

5. 5. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 4, wherein, when the number N of ink usage region columns and the number D of divisions are not mutually prime, the control unit adjusts at least one of the number N of ink usage region columns and the number D of divisions so that the number N of ink usage region columns and the number D of divisions become mutually prime.

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