Printing device and print data generation program

Abstract

To provide a printer and printing data generation program which can generate printing data that form images with different color development states according to the visual direction, information of a base material and the like.SOLUTION: A thermal printer detects the visual direction of a tape after printing based on information of the tape to be stored from a medium index part of a tape cassette. When generating printing data, a CPU decides a conduction pattern according to the visual direction. When forming dots in red due to color development of yellow and magenta in a case of printing an image formed on a thermal layer via the base material having the visible light transparency like laminate type on a thermal tape to be visually recognized, the conduction pattern of R2 is selected. In the conduction pattern of R1, dots in magenta are formed after dots in yellow are formed. In the conduction pattern of R2, dots in yellow are formed after dots in magenta are formed. Dots in substantially the same hue are formed regardless of the visual direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device and a print data generating program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a printing device that prints on a multi-layered thermal print medium in which multiple thermal layers with different colors are formed on a substrate. For example, the printing device described in Patent Document 1 prints on a print medium in which a third image forming layer, a second spacer layer, a second image forming layer, a first spacer layer, a first image forming layer, and a protective layer are formed in this order on a substrate. The image formed on the image forming layer is observed from the protective layer side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-15315 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a transparent substrate is used and an image formed on the image forming layer is viewed from the substrate side, the image may be observed to have a different color from that of the image viewed from the protective layer side.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device and a print data generation program capable of generating print data for forming an image with different color development states depending on the viewing direction, base material information, and the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing device for printing on a multi-layered thermal print medium having a substrate having visible light transparency, a first thermal layer provided on one side of the substrate in a thickness direction, the first thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency, the first thermal layer being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature to develop a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state, and a second thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency, the second thermal layer being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature higher than the first temperature to develop a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state, the printing device comprising: a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements; The printing device provided includes a generating means for generating printing data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer, a driving means for driving the heating elements of the thermal head based on the printing data generated by the generating means, and a detection means for detecting whether the viewing direction of the multilayer thermosensitive printing medium when viewing the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is a direction viewed from one side in the thickness direction or a direction viewed from the other side in the thickness direction, wherein the generating means generates the printing data in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer differs depending on the viewing direction detected by the detection means.

[0007] The generating means of the first aspect can generate print data that can form an image with different color development states depending on the viewing direction when forming an image on the thermosensitive layer. This allows the printing device to form an image on the thermosensitive layer in which the color of the image viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate is similar to the color of the image viewed from one side of the thickness direction. Therefore, the printing device can print an image on a multi-layer thermosensitive print medium that has approximately the same color regardless of the viewing direction.

[0008] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the print data for making the color of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer appear in a color corresponding to the viewing direction detected by the detecting means. When the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is formed by overlapping two or more layers of colors, the color may differ depending on the viewing direction. The application pattern of the energy for driving the heating elements is provided with application patterns that make colors appear that are different depending on the viewing direction but have approximately the same color regardless of the viewing direction. The generating means can generate print data using application patterns corresponding to the detection results of the detecting means. Therefore, the printing device can form an image formed on a multi-layered thermosensitive printing medium in a form viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate in a color approximately equivalent to the color of an image formed on a multi-layered thermosensitive printing medium in a form viewed from one side of the thickness direction.

[0009] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the printing data for forming the image on the thermosensitive layer based on the image data at a position corresponding to the viewing direction detected by the detecting means. When the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is formed by overlapping two or more layers of color, the image may be observed out of position due to the influence of the thickness and refractive index of the substrate, resulting in a difference in color. The energy application pattern for driving the heating elements is provided with application patterns that produce the same color, but with different energy application timings. The generating means can generate printing data using application patterns corresponding to the detection results of the detecting means. Therefore, the printing device can form an image formed on a multi-layered thermosensitive printing medium in a form viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate in a color that is approximately the same as the color of an image formed on a multi-layered thermosensitive printing medium in a form viewed from one side of the thickness direction.

[0010] The detection means of the first aspect may further detect thickness-related information related to the thickness of the substrate of the multilayer thermal printing medium, and the generation means may generate the print data in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer differs according to the viewing direction and the thickness-related information detected by the detection means. When the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is formed by overlapping two or more layers of colors, the color may differ due to the influence of the thickness of the substrate. The generation means can generate print data in which the color development state of the image differs according to the thickness-related information of the substrate detected by the detection means. Therefore, the printing device can form the image formed on the multilayer thermal printing medium in a form viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate in a color substantially equivalent to the color of the image formed on the multilayer thermal printing medium in a form viewed from one side of the thickness direction.

[0011] The detection means of the first aspect may further detect refractive index related information related to the refractive index of the substrate of the multilayer thermal printing medium, and the generation means may generate the print data in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is different according to the viewing direction and the refractive index related information detected by the detection means. When the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is formed by overlapping two or more layers of colors, the image may be observed out of position due to the influence of the refractive index of the substrate, resulting in a difference in color. The generation means can generate print data in which the color development state of the image is different according to the refractive index related information of the substrate detected by the detection means. Therefore, the printing device can form an image formed on a multilayer thermal printing medium in a form viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate in a color that is approximately the same as the color of an image formed on a multilayer thermal printing medium in a form viewed from one side of the thickness direction.

[0012] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the print data based on the image data for forming the image on each of the at least two thermosensitive layers of the multi-layer thermosensitive print medium. The generating means can generate print data in which the energy application pattern for the driving means to drive the heating elements is controlled to a pattern corresponding to each thermosensitive layer in order to form an image on each of the two or more thermosensitive layers. That is, the printing device can control the coloring size of each thermosensitive layer and reduce fringes and overlapping color unevenness by, for example, applying different amounts and orders of energy to the two thermosensitive layers to be colored.

[0013] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the printing data in which the timing of color development of each of the plurality of thermosensitive layers of the multilayer thermosensitive printing medium corresponds to the viewing direction detected by the detecting means. In an image formed on a multilayer thermosensitive printing medium in a form viewed from one side in the thickness direction, the color development size of the color formed on the thermosensitive layer is larger in the thermosensitive layer located on one side in the thickness direction among the plurality of thermosensitive layers. When an image formed in this way is viewed from the other side in the thickness direction, the color development size of the color formed on the thermosensitive layer located on the front side becomes smaller, so that the color of the image is likely to differ. The generating means can generate printing data in which the timing of applying energy to each of the thermosensitive layers to be colored is controlled. Therefore, the printing device can cause the thermosensitive layers to be colored to be colored in different orders. The printing device can reduce fringes and overlapping color unevenness by controlling the color development size of each thermosensitive layer.

[0014] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the print data in which the timing of color development of each of the plurality of thermosensitive layers of the multi-layered thermosensitive print medium is swapped according to the viewing direction detected by the detecting means. By swapping the timing of color development of each of the plurality of thermosensitive layers, the generating means can more easily generate print data in which the timing of color development differs for each thermosensitive layer. Therefore, the printing device can cause each thermosensitive layer to be colored in a different order. The printing device can reduce fringes and overlapping color unevenness by controlling the color development size of each thermosensitive layer.

[0015] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the printing data in which the coloring area of ​​at least one of the multiple thermosensitive layers of the multilayer thermosensitive printing medium varies depending on the viewing direction detected by the detecting means. The generating means can generate printing data in which the coloring area of ​​at least one of the multiple thermosensitive layers differs from the other layers. Therefore, the printing device can control the coloring size of each thermosensitive layer to reduce fringes and overlapping color unevenness.

[0016] The generating means of the first aspect may generate the printing data in which the coloring area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the far side in the viewing direction among the multiple thermosensitive layers of the multi-layer thermosensitive printing medium is relatively larger than the coloring area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the near side in the viewing direction. The generating means can generate printing data in which the coloring area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the far side in the viewing direction among the multiple thermosensitive layers is relatively larger than the coloring area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the near side in the viewing direction. Therefore, the printing device can control the coloring size of each thermosensitive layer to reduce fringes and overlapping color unevenness.

[0017] The multilayer thermosensitive print medium of the first embodiment may further include a third thermosensitive layer, which is provided on one side of the second thermosensitive layer in the thickness direction and has visible light transmittance, and which develops a third color with lower visible light transmittance than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined third temperature higher than the second temperature. The generating means generates print data for a multilayer thermosensitive print medium having three thermosensitive layers, in which the color of an image viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate is similar to the color of the image viewed from one side of the thickness direction. Therefore, the printing device can print an image having approximately the same color on the multilayer thermosensitive print medium regardless of the viewing direction.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data generation program for generating print data to be printed by a printing device including a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and a driving means for driving the heat generating elements of the thermal head, the print data being printed on a multi-layered thermal print medium having a base material having visible light transparency, a first heat-sensitive layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first heat-sensitive layer being a heat-sensitive layer having visible light transparency and being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature, the first heat-sensitive layer being a heat-sensitive layer having a first color with a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, the second heat-sensitive layer being a heat-sensitive layer having visible light transparency and being ... The printing data generation program is characterized in that it causes a computer to execute an acquisition step of acquiring the viewing direction from the detection means of the printing device, the data being used for printing by a printing device, the printing device further comprising a detection means for detecting whether the viewing direction of the multilayer thermal printing medium when viewing the image formed on the thermal layer is a direction viewed from one side in the thickness direction or a direction viewed from the other side in the thickness direction, and a generation step of generating the print data based on image data corresponding to each pixel area, the print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermal layer, and the color development state of the image formed on the thermal layer differs depending on the viewing direction acquired in the acquisition step.

[0019] The computer of the second embodiment can generate print data that enables the printing device to form an image on the thermosensitive layer that has different coloring depending on the viewing direction. This allows the printing device to form an image on the thermosensitive layer in which the color of the image viewed from the other side of the thickness direction through the substrate is similar to the color of the image viewed from one side of the thickness direction. Therefore, the printing device can print an image on the multilayer thermosensitive print medium that has approximately the same color regardless of the viewing direction.

[0020] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing device for printing on a multi-layered thermal print medium having a base material having visible light transparency, a first thermal layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency, the first thermal layer being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature and developing a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state, and a second thermal layer being provided on another side of the first thermal layer in the thickness direction, the second thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency, the second thermal layer being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature and developing a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state, the printing device including a printer having a plurality of heating elements, The present invention provides a printing device comprising a thermal head, a generation means for generating printing data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermal layer based on image data corresponding to individual pixel areas, a driving means for driving the heating elements of the thermal head based on the printing data generated by the generation means, and a detection means for detecting thickness-related information related to the thickness of the substrate of the multilayer thermal printing medium, wherein the generation means generates the printing data in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermal layer differs depending on the thickness-related information detected by the detection means.

[0021] The generating means of the third aspect can generate print data that can generate images with different coloring states according to thickness-related information when forming an image on the thermosensitive layer, thereby allowing the printing device to print an image on the multilayer thermosensitive print medium that has substantially the same color tone when viewed through the substrate from the other side in the thickness direction, regardless of the thickness of the substrate.

[0022] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data generation program for generating print data to be printed by a printing device including a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and a driving means for driving the heat generating elements of the thermal head, the print data including a base material having visible light transparency, a first heat sensitive layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first heat sensitive layer being colored to a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature, and a heat sensitive layer having visible light transparency provided on another side of the first heat sensitive layer in the thickness direction, the first heat sensitive layer being colored to a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature higher than the first temperature. A print data generation program is provided that causes a computer to execute a detection step of detecting thickness-related information related to the thickness of the substrate of the multilayer thermal printing medium, the data being used by the printing device to print on a multilayer thermal printing medium having a second thermal layer that, when heated, develops a second color that has a lower visible light transmittance than the original state, and a generation step of generating the print data based on image data corresponding to individual pixel areas, the print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermal layer, and the color development state of the image formed on the thermal layer differs depending on the thickness-related information detected in the detection step.

[0023] The computer of the fourth aspect can generate print data that enables the printing device to form an image with different color development states according to the thickness-related information when forming an image on the thermosensitive layer, thereby allowing the printing device to print an image on the multilayer thermosensitive print medium that has substantially the same color tone when viewed through the substrate from the other side in the thickness direction, regardless of the thickness of the substrate.

[0024] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing device for printing on a multi-layered thermal print medium having a base material having visible light transparency, a first thermal layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency, the first thermal layer being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature and developing a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state, and a second thermal layer being provided on another side of the first thermal layer in the thickness direction, the second thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency, the second thermal layer being heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature and developing a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state, the printing device comprising: a thermal printer having a plurality of heating elements; The printing device provided is equipped with a thermal head, a generation means for generating print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermal layer based on image data corresponding to individual pixel areas, a driving means for driving the heating elements of the thermal head based on the print data generated by the generation means, and a detection means for detecting refractive index-related information related to the refractive index of the substrate of the multilayer thermal printing medium, wherein the generation means generates the print data in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermal layer differs depending on the refractive index-related information detected by the detection means.

[0025] The generating means of the fifth aspect can generate print data that can generate images with different coloring states according to the refractive index related information when forming an image on the thermosensitive layer, thereby allowing the printing device to print an image on the multilayer thermosensitive print medium that has substantially the same color tone when viewed through the substrate from the other side in the thickness direction, regardless of the refractive index of the substrate.

[0026] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data generation program for generating print data to be printed by a printing device including a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and a driving means for driving the heat generating elements of the thermal head, the print data including a base material having visible light transparency, a first heat sensitive layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature, and a second heat sensitive layer being colored into a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature. The print data generation program is characterized by causing a computer to execute a detection step of detecting refractive index-related information related to the refractive index of the substrate of the multilayer thermal printing medium, the data being used by the printing device to print on a multilayer thermal printing medium having a second thermosensitive layer that is colored in a second color having a lower visible light transmittance than the original state when detected by a second thermosensitive layer, and a generation step of generating the print data, which corresponds to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer based on image data corresponding to individual pixel areas, and in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer differs depending on the refractive index-related information detected in the detection step.

[0027] The computer of the sixth aspect can generate print data that enables the printing device to form an image with different coloring states according to the refractive index related information when forming an image on the thermosensitive layer, thereby allowing the printing device to print an image on the multilayer thermosensitive print medium that has substantially the same color tone when viewed through the substrate from the other side in the thickness direction, regardless of the refractive index of the substrate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal printer 1. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette 30 and the mounting portion 8. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a plan view of the mounting portion 8 in which the tape cassette 30 is mounted. FIG. [Figure 4]2 is a perspective view showing a heat-sensitive tape 4, an adhesive tape 7, and a tape 9. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a printing process performed by the thermal printer 1. [Figure 6] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the thermal printer 1. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a timing chart showing an example of a current supply pattern for the heating element 11. [Figure 8] 10 is a graph showing the relationship between temperature and depth of the thermosensitive layer 42 when each color is developed. [Figure 9] 13 is a graph showing the relationship between temperature and depth of the thermosensitive layer 42 in color development according to the current flow pattern R1. [Figure 10] 13 is a graph showing the relationship between temperature and depth of the thermosensitive layer 42 in color development according to the current flow pattern R2. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart of a tape creation process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that the present invention can employ, and the configurations, controls, etc. of the devices described are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0030] In the following description, the lower left, upper right, lower right, upper left, upper side, and lower side in Fig. 1 are respectively the front, rear, right, left, upper side, and lower side of the thermal printer 1. The lower right, upper left, upper right, lower left, upper side, and lower side in Fig. 2 are respectively the front, rear, right, left, upper side, and lower side of the tape cassette 30. For ease of understanding, Fig. 3 shows the tape cassette 30 mounted in the mounting portion 8 with the upper case 312 removed.

[0031] The thermal printer 1 (see FIG. 1) of this embodiment is a general-purpose tape printing device that can use various types of tape cassettes, such as receptor type and laminate type. The receptor type is a type of tape cassette that stores a thermal paper tape with a release paper attached to one side via an adhesive layer. The laminate type is a type of tape cassette that stores a double-sided adhesive tape and a thermal paper tape. In the following explanation, the thermal printer 1 uses a laminate type tape cassette 30 (see FIG. 2) as an example. The thermal printer 1 can print characters, figures, symbols, etc. on the thermal tape 4. The thermal printer 1 creates a tape 9 by bonding an adhesive tape 7 to the printed thermal tape 4.

[0032] The external configuration of the thermal printer 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the thermal printer 1 has a body cover 2. The body cover 2 is box-shaped. A keyboard 3 is provided on the front top surface of the body cover 2. A user operates the keyboard 3 to input various information to the thermal printer 1. A display 5 is provided behind the keyboard 3. The display 5 is capable of displaying the various input information.

[0033] A cassette cover 6 is provided behind the display 5. The cassette cover 6 opens and closes an attachment section 8 (see FIG. 2) described below from above. A user opens and closes the cassette cover 6 when replacing a tape cassette 30 (see FIG. 2). An ejection slit (not shown) is provided at the rear left side of the main body cover 2. The ejection slit ejects tape 9 to the outside of the thermal printer 1.

[0034] The internal structure of the thermal printer 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting section 8 is provided below the cassette cover 6 (see FIG. 1). The mounting section 8 is recessed downward from the upper surface of the main body cover 2 in a shape corresponding to the tape cassette 30. The tape cassette 30 is removably mounted in the mounting section 8. The mounting section 8 has a cavity 811 and an edge support section 812. The cavity 811 is recessed so as to substantially correspond to the shape of the bottom surface of the cassette case 31 (described later) when the tape cassette 30 is mounted, and has a flat bottom surface. The edge support section 812 is a flat section that extends horizontally from the outer edge of the cavity 811. When the tape cassette 30 is mounted in the mounting section 8, the edge support section 812 supports the lower surface of the periphery of the cassette case 31.

[0035] A head holder 19 is provided at the front of the mounting section 8. The head holder 19 is plate-shaped and extends up, down, left, and right. A thermal head 10 is provided on a front surface 191 of the head holder 19. The thermal head 10 includes a plurality of heating elements 11. The plurality of heating elements 11 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. When the tape cassette 30 is mounted in the mounting section 8, the thermal head 10 uses the plurality of heating elements 11 to heat the thermal tape 4 exposed from an opening 341 (described below).

[0036] A drive shaft 18 for conveying the thermal tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7, which will be described later, is provided diagonally to the left rear of the head holder 19. The drive shaft 18 extends upward from the bottom surface of the mounting portion 8, and is driven to rotate by a conveying motor 95 (see FIG. 6).

[0037] At the rear of the mounting section 8, five medium detection switches 310 are provided on the edge support section 812. The medium detection switches 310 are pin-shaped, and each is biased by a spring to maintain a state in which it protrudes above the upper surface of the edge support section 812. When the tape cassette 30 is mounted in the mounting section 8, the medium detection switches 310 are selectively pressed downward by a medium indicator section 900 (see FIG. 3) of the tape cassette 30. The medium detection switches 310 are in the OFF state when they are not pressed from above, and are in the ON state when they are pressed downward. The thermal printer 1 detects the type of tape 9 in the tape cassette 30 based on the on / off combination of the medium detection switches 310. A detailed description of the type of tape 9 and the medium indicator section 900 will be given later.

[0038] As shown in Figure 3, the cutting mechanism 16 is provided to the left of the drive shaft 18. The cutting mechanism 16 cuts the tape 9 by driving a cutting motor 96 (see Figure 6). The platen holder 12 is provided in front of the head holder 19. The platen holder 12 is arm-shaped, and is supported by a support shaft 121 so as to be swingable around an axis in the vertical direction. The support shaft 121 is provided at the right end of the platen holder 12.

[0039] A platen roller 15 and a movable roller 14 are both rotatably supported on the tip side of the platen holder 12. The platen roller 15 is capable of moving toward and away from the thermal head 10 as the platen holder 12 swings. The movable roller 14 is provided on the left side of the platen roller 15, and is capable of moving toward and away from a transport roller 33 (described below) as the platen holder 12 swings.

[0040] In this embodiment, when the cassette cover 6 is opened, the platen holder 12 moves toward the standby position (the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3), and when the cassette cover 6 is closed, the platen holder 12 moves toward the printing position (the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3). At the standby position, the platen holder 12 moves in a direction away from the mounting portion 8. This allows the user to attach and detach the tape cassette 30 to and from the mounting portion 8.

[0041] At the printing position, the platen holder 12 moves in a direction approaching the mounting section 8. Therefore, when the tape cassette 30 is mounted in the mounting section 8, the platen roller 15 presses the heat-sensitive tape 4 against the thermal head 10, and the movable roller 14 overlaps the heat-sensitive tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7 and presses them against the conveying roller 33.

[0042] The platen roller 15 is rotated together with the drive shaft 18 by a conveying motor 95 (see FIG. 6). In this embodiment, in order to prevent the thermal tape 4 from becoming loose due to conveyance, the platen roller 15 and the drive shaft 18 are connected to the conveying motor 95 via multiple gears (not shown) so that the rotation speed of the platen roller 15 is slower than the rotation speed of the drive shaft 18 (conveying roller 33).

[0043] The following describes the structure of the tape cassette 30. As shown in Fig. 2, the tape cassette 30 has a cassette case 31. The cassette case 31 is substantially rectangular, and is formed by combining a lower case 311 and an upper case 312.

[0044] An arm portion 34 is provided on the front surface 301 of the cassette case 31. The arm portion 34 extends from the right front portion of the cassette case 31 to the left front portion. An opening 341 is provided at the left end of the arm portion 34. The opening 341 is formed in a slit shape extending in the vertical direction, and ejects the thermal tape 4 pulled out from a first supply roll 40 (see FIG. 3 ), which will be described later, from inside to outside the cassette case 31. As a result, a portion of the thermal tape 4 is exposed to the outside of the cassette case 31.

[0045] A head insertion portion 39 is formed on the rear side of the arm portion 34. The head insertion portion 39 penetrates the cassette case 31 in the up-down direction. The left front portion of the head insertion portion 39 opens forward. Hereinafter, this opening will be referred to as the "head opening 391." The head opening 391 is located downstream (to the left) of the opening 341 in the transport direction of the thermal tape 4. The head holder 19 is inserted into the head insertion portion 39 with the tape cassette 30 attached to the attachment portion 8.

[0046] A transport roller 33 is provided on the left side of the head insertion section 39. The transport roller 33 is located between the opening 341 and a guide section 38 described below in the transport direction (left-right direction). The transport roller 33 is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction. The front end of the transport roller 33 is exposed forward from the cassette case 31. The transport roller 33 supports the adhesive tape 7 in a state in which the thermal tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7 are overlapped. The transport roller 33 is rotatably supported by a support hole 35. The support hole 35 penetrates the cassette case 31 in the vertical direction. The drive shaft 18 (see FIG. 3) is inserted inside the transport roller 33 with the tape cassette 30 attached to the attachment section 8. The transport roller 33 rotates by being driven to rotate by the drive shaft 18, and transports the thermal tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7.

[0047] A guide portion 38 is provided at the left front corner of the cassette case 31. The guide portion 38 is located downstream (left side) of the opening 341 in the transport direction, more specifically downstream of the transport roller 33 in the transport direction. The guide portion 38 is formed in a slit shape extending in the vertical direction. When the tape 9 is transported via the transport roller 33, it passes inside the guide portion 38. At this time, the guide portion 38 supports the tape 9 from both sides in the width direction. As a result, the tape 9 is ejected from the cassette case 31 while maintaining the attitude of the tape 9. In other words, the guide portion 38 guides the tape 9 to the outside of the cassette case 31.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, a first supply roll 40 and a second supply roll 70 are housed inside the cassette case 31. The first supply roll 40 is a supply source of the thermal tape 4, and is provided in the right rear part inside the cassette case 31. The first supply roll 40 is configured by winding the thermal tape 4 around the first tape spool 21 in a clockwise direction in a plan view in a direction away from the center of rotation of the first tape spool 21. In detail, the thermal tape 4 is wound so that a plurality of thermal layers 42 (see FIG. 4(A)) are on the inside with respect to a substrate 41 (see FIG. 4(A)) described below. The first tape spool 21 is rotatably supported by a support hole 36. The support hole 36 passes through the cassette case 31 in the vertical direction.

[0049] The second supply roll 70 is a supply source of the adhesive tape 7, and is provided at the left rear part inside the cassette case 31, i.e., to the left of the first supply roll 40. The second supply roll 70 is configured by winding the adhesive tape 7 around the second tape spool 22 in a counterclockwise direction in a plan view away from the center of rotation of the second tape spool 22. In detail, the adhesive tape 7 is wound so that a first adhesive layer 73 (see FIG. 4(B)), which will be described later, is on the inside relative to a second adhesive layer 74 (release paper 75, see FIG. 4(B)). The second tape spool 22 is rotatably supported by a support hole 37. The support hole 37 passes through the cassette case 31 in the vertical direction.

[0050] The medium indicator portion 900 is at least one hole. The medium indicator portion 900 is formed in a position on the bottom wall at the rear of the lower case 311 of the cassette case 31, which corresponds to the medium detection switch 310 when the tape cassette 30 is attached to the attachment portion 8. The number and positions of the holes in the medium indicator portion 900 vary depending on the type of tape 9 contained in the tape cassette 30. When the tape cassette 30 is attached to the attachment portion 8, the medium detection switch 310 corresponding to the position where the hole is formed is not pressed and is in the OFF state, and the medium detection switch 310 corresponding to the position where the hole is not formed is pressed and is in the ON state. Thus, the thermal printer 1 detects the number and positions of the holes in the medium indicator portion 900 by the medium detection switch 310, and identifies the type of tape 9.

[0051] The configuration of the thermal tape 4 will be described. In the following description, the upper and lower sides of FIG. 4 refer to the upper and lower sides of each tape, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4(A), the thermal tape 4 is a long medium, and is configured by laminating multiple layers. In detail, the thermal tape 4 has a base material 41, multiple thermal sensitive layers 42, multiple heat shielding layers 43, and an overcoat layer 44 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "each layer of the thermal tape 4"). In this embodiment, the multiple thermal sensitive layers 42 include a first thermal sensitive layer 421, a second thermal sensitive layer 422, and a third thermal sensitive layer 423. The multiple heat shielding layers 43 include a first heat shielding layer 431 and a second heat shielding layer 432.

[0052] The base material 41, the first thermosensitive layer 421, the first heat shielding layer 431, the second thermosensitive layer 422, the second heat shielding layer 432, the third thermosensitive layer 423, and the overcoat layer 44 are laminated in this order from the lower side of the thermosensitive tape 4 in the thickness direction (the up-down direction in FIG. 4(A)) of the thermosensitive tape 4. In other words, the overcoat layer 44 is provided on the opposite side of the base material 41 with respect to the multiple thermosensitive layers 42, specifically on the upper surface of the thermosensitive tape 4.

[0053] The substrate 41 is a resin film, specifically a non-foamed resin film, and more specifically a non-foamed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. In other words, the substrate 41 does not contain any air bubbles.

[0054] Each of the plurality of thermosensitive layers 42 develops a color corresponding to the layer by being heated to a color development temperature corresponding to the layer. The plurality of thermosensitive layers 42 uses, for example, a chemical described in JP-A-2008-6830.

[0055] The first thermosensitive layer 421 is formed in a film shape by applying a chemical to the lower surface of the first heat shielding layer 431. When the first thermosensitive layer 421 is heated to a first temperature or higher, it develops a first color with lower visible transmittance than in its original state. In this embodiment, the first color is cyan (hereinafter abbreviated as "C").

[0056] The second thermosensitive layer 422 is formed into a film by applying a chemical to the lower surface of the second heat shielding layer 432. When the second thermosensitive layer 422 is heated to a second temperature or higher, it develops a second color having a lower visible transmittance than the original state. The second temperature is higher than the first temperature. In this embodiment, the second color is magenta (hereinafter abbreviated as "M").

[0057] The third thermosensitive layer 423 is formed in a film shape by applying a chemical to the upper surface of the second heat shielding layer 432. When the third thermosensitive layer 423 is heated to a third temperature or higher, it develops a third color having a lower visible transmittance than the original state. The third temperature is higher than the second temperature. In this embodiment, the third color is yellow (hereinafter abbreviated as "Y").

[0058] The heat shield layers 43 are in the form of a sheet. Since the heat shield layers 43 have low thermal conductivity, the heat shield layers 43 act as a resistance against heat conduction. Therefore, a temperature gradient occurs inside each of the heat shield layers 43 in the direction in which heat is transmitted. When the thermal head 10 heats the thermal tape 4 from the upper side in FIG. 4 as described below, the temperature of the lower surface of each heat shield layer 43 becomes lower than the temperature of the upper surface of each heat shield layer 43. As a result, each heat shield layer 43 can provide a desired difference in temperature between the two heat-sensitive layers 42 adjacent to each other on both the upper and lower sides of each heat shield layer 43 according to the thermal conductivity of the heat shield layer 43.

[0059] In detail, the second heat-shielding layer 432 can make the temperature of the second heat-sensitive layer 422 lower than the temperature of the third heat-sensitive layer 423. The first heat-shielding layer 431 can make the temperature of the first heat-sensitive layer 421 lower than the temperature of the second heat-sensitive layer 422. In this way, the heat-sensitive tape 4, by the action of the heat-shielding layer 43, can intentionally control the temperature of the first heat-sensitive layer 421 to a temperature higher than the first temperature and lower than the second temperature, the temperature of the second heat-sensitive layer 422 to a temperature higher than the second temperature and lower than the third temperature, and the temperature of the third heat-sensitive layer 423 to a temperature higher than the third temperature.

[0060] The overcoat layer 44 is formed into a film by coating the upper surface of the third thermosensitive layer 423, and transmits more blue visible light (e.g., light with a wavelength of about 470 nm) than yellow visible light (e.g., light with a wavelength of about 580 nm). In other words, the yellow visible light transmittance of the overcoat layer 44 is lower than the blue visible light transmittance of the overcoat layer 44. The overcoat layer 44 protects the multiple thermosensitive layers 42 from the side opposite to the substrate 41 (i.e., the upper surface side of the thermosensitive tape 4).

[0061] The thermal tape 4 as a whole has visible light transmittance in the thickness direction of the thermal tape 4. That is, each layer of the thermal tape 4 has visible light transmittance. The visible light transmittance (%) of the base material 41 may be the same as or different from the visible light transmittance of at least one of the multiple thermal sensitive layers 42, the multiple heat shielding layers 43, and the overcoat layer 44. The visible light transmittance of each layer of the thermal tape 4 is, for example, 90% or more, preferably 99% or more, and more preferably 99.9% or more. The visible light transmittance of each layer of the thermal tape 4 may be such that the user can at least visually recognize the color development in the thermal layer 42 through the base material 41, even if the visible light transmittance of each layer of the thermal tape 4 is less than 90%. Each layer of the thermal tape 4 is transparent or translucent, and is preferably transparent.

[0062] The refractive index of the base material 41 is higher than the refractive index of the first heat shield layer 431 , and more specifically, higher than the refractive index of any of the multiple heat shield layers 43 .

[0063] In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, Fig. 4(A) shows the thickness of each layer of the heat-sensitive tape 4 and the relationship between the thicknesses of the layers in a schematic manner, and the actual thickness of each layer and the relationship between the thicknesses of the layers may differ from Fig. 4(A) (the same applies to Figs. 4(B) and 5). For example, the thickness of the overcoat layer 44 may be greater than, the same as, or less than the thickness of each of the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42.

[0064] The structure of the adhesive tape 7 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4(B), the adhesive tape 7 is a long medium and is formed by laminating a plurality of layers. In detail, the adhesive tape 7 includes a double-sided adhesive tape 71 and a release paper 75. The double-sided adhesive tape 71 is white, and has a sheet 72, a first adhesive layer 73, and a second adhesive layer 74. The sheet 72 is white. In FIG. 4(B), the sheet 72 (double-sided adhesive tape 71) is shown by using diagonal lines to indicate that it is white (the same applies to FIG. 4(B) and FIG. 5(B)). In this embodiment, the visible light transmittance of the sheet 72 is lower than the visible light transmittance of any of the layers of the heat-sensitive tape 4.

[0065] The first adhesive layer 73 is provided on the lower surface of the sheet 72. The second adhesive layer 74 is provided on the upper surface of the sheet 72. In other words, the double-sided adhesive tape 71 is constructed by applying an adhesive to both the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet 72.

[0066] The release paper 75 is attached to the double-sided adhesive tape 71 via the second adhesive layer 74. A slit 76 is provided in the release paper 75. The slit 76 extends in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape 7 and divides the release paper 75 into two in the lateral direction. The slit 76 penetrates into part of the double-sided adhesive tape 71, but does not reach the first adhesive layer 73. In other words, the sheet 72 is connected in a continuous manner across the slit 76. In other words, the double-sided adhesive tape 71 is connected in a continuous manner across the slit 76.

[0067] The structure of the tape 9 will be described. As shown in Fig. 4(C), the tape 9 is formed by bonding the lower surface of the adhesive tape 7 to the upper surface of the printed heat-sensitive tape 4. Therefore, in the tape 9, the base material 41, the first heat-sensitive layer 421, the first heat-shielding layer 431, the second heat-sensitive layer 422, the second heat-shielding layer 432, the third heat-sensitive layer 423, the overcoat layer 44, the first adhesive layer 73, the sheet 72, the second adhesive layer 74, and the release paper 75 are laminated in this order in the thickness direction.

[0068] The user views the tape 9 from the substrate 41 side (i.e., the bottom side of the tape 9) (see viewing direction Y1). Since the heat-sensitive tape 4 as a whole is transparent to visible light, when the user views the tape 9 from the substrate 41 side, the color of each of the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42 (i.e., the printed image) can be seen through the substrate 41, and the adhesive tape 7 can be seen as the background. In this embodiment, since the double-sided adhesive tape 71 is white, when the user views the tape 9 from the substrate 41 side, the background appears white. The user can use the tape 9, for example, by peeling the release paper 75 from the double-sided adhesive tape 71 and attaching it to a predetermined wall, mount, or the like.

[0069] Furthermore, even if the release paper 75 is peeled off from the double-sided adhesive tape 71 from the adhesive tape 7 side (i.e., the top side of the tape 9), the user cannot see the color of the multiple thermosensitive layers 42 (i.e., the printed image) because the double-sided adhesive tape 71 is located in front of the multiple thermosensitive layers 42.

[0070] The transport paths of the heat-sensitive tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the heat-sensitive tape 4 is pulled downward from the right end of the first supply roll 40, and turns left at the right front corner of the cassette case 31. The heat-sensitive tape 4 passes through the inside of the arm portion 34, and exits from the opening 341 to the outside of the cassette case 31.

[0071] 5(A), in the head opening 391, the side of the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42 of the heat-sensitive tape 4 (the upper surface side of the heat-sensitive tape 4) faces the thermal head 10, and the side of the substrate 41 of the heat-sensitive tape 4 (the lower surface side of the heat-sensitive tape 4) faces the platen roller 15. In other words, the thermal head 10 is located on the opposite side of the substrate 41 (i.e., the rear side of the heat-sensitive tape 4) with respect to the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42 when the tape cassette 30 is attached to the attachment section 8. Therefore, in the head opening 391, the heat-sensitive tape 4 is heated by the thermal head 10 from the opposite side of the substrate 41 (see printing direction Y2).

[0072] As shown in Fig. 3, the heat-sensitive tape 4 passes between the transport roller 33 and the movable roller 14 via the head opening 391. At this time, the side of the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42 of the heat-sensitive tape 4 faces the transport roller 33, and the side of the base material 41 of the heat-sensitive tape 4 faces the movable roller 14, as shown in Fig. 5(B).

[0073] The adhesive tape 7 is pulled downward from the left end of the second supply roll 70. The adhesive tape 7 bends leftward while contacting the right front portion of the outer periphery of the transport roller 33. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the release paper 75 side of the adhesive tape 7 (the upper side of the adhesive tape 7) faces the transport roller 33, and the double-sided adhesive tape 71 side of the adhesive tape 7 (the lower side of the adhesive tape 7) faces the movable roller 14. Therefore, the transport roller 33 supports the adhesive tape 7 from the opposite side to the heat-sensitive tape 4 with respect to the adhesive tape 7 in a state in which the adhesive tape 7 is superimposed on the heat-sensitive tape 4 from the opposite side to the base material 41 with respect to the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42.

[0074] The movable roller 14 sandwiches the thermal tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7 in an overlapping state between the movable roller 14 and the transport roller 33 to bond the thermal tape 4 and the adhesive tape 7 together. In this way, the tape 9 is produced. As shown in FIG. 3, the tape 9 passes inside the guide portion 38 and is discharged to the outside of the tape cassette 30. The tape 9 is transported to the cutting mechanism 16 and cut by the cutting mechanism 16. The cut tape 9 is discharged to the outside of the thermal printer 1 through the discharge slit in the main body cover 2.

[0075] The electrical configuration of the thermal printer 1 will now be described. As shown in Fig. 6, the thermal printer 1 includes a CPU 91. The CPU 91 controls the thermal printer 1 and functions as a processor. The CPU 91 is electrically connected to a flash memory 92, a ROM 93, a RAM 94, a communication unit 97, a medium detection switch 310, a keyboard 3, a display 5, a thermal head 10, a transport motor 95, and a cutting motor 96.

[0076] The flash memory 92 stores programs executed by the CPU 91, cassette information, etc. The ROM 93 stores various parameters required when executing various programs. The RAM 94 stores various temporary data such as image data corresponding to individual pixel regions, which is the original image to be printed, and print data generated based on the image data to form an image. The communication unit 97 connects to and communicates with an external terminal 100. The communication unit 97 is, for example, a well-known USB interface, a wired or wireless LAN interface, etc. For example, the CPU 91 can receive image data to be printed from the external terminal 100 and store it in the RAM 94. The external terminal 100 is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer (PC), a mobile terminal, a memory card reader, etc.

[0077] The color development of the thermosensitive layer 42 will be described. As described above, the first thermosensitive layer 421, the second thermosensitive layer 422, and the third thermosensitive layer 423 develop colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively, when heated to a first temperature or higher, a second temperature or higher, and a third temperature or higher. The CPU 91 of the thermal printer 1 generates print data in which a current-carrying pattern for each dot to be formed on the thermosensitive layer 42 is set based on a current-carrying pattern table (not shown) in a tape creation process (see FIG. 11) described later. The current-carrying pattern sets the timing and time for energizing the heating element 11 to heat the thermosensitive layer 42 to a temperature corresponding to the color of each dot. The heating element 11 generates heat when energized, and dissipates heat when not energized. During printing, the third thermosensitive layer 423, the second thermosensitive layer 422, and the first thermosensitive layer 421 are arranged in this order from the side closest to the heating element 11. The heat shielding layers 43 disposed between the layers of the heat sensitive layer 42 have low thermal conductivity. Therefore, when the heating element 11 heats the heat sensitive layer 42, a temperature gradient is generated among the third heat sensitive layer 423, the second heat sensitive layer 422, and the first heat sensitive layer 421, in which the temperature is higher on the third heat sensitive layer 423 side and lower on the first heat sensitive layer 421 side.

[0078] The current pattern table is a table in which the relationship between the color, current timing, and current duration shown in the timing chart of FIG. 7 is associated as a current pattern, and is stored in the ROM 93. The current pattern of yellow (Y) continues current flow from when current flow is started (ON) at T0 until current flow is stopped (OFF) at T5. As shown by the dotted line in the graph showing the relationship between temperature and depth of the thermosensitive layer 42 in FIG. 8, the heat applied by the heating element 11 causes the shallow part of the thermosensitive layer 42 (the part close to the heating element 11) to reach the third temperature or higher, so that the third thermosensitive layer 423 develops a yellow color. The heat applied by the heating element 11 reaches the second thermosensitive layer 422 through the second heat shield layer 432, so that the temperature decreases as the layer becomes deeper. The temperature of the second thermosensitive layer 422 is lower than the second temperature, so the second thermosensitive layer 422 does not develop a color. The heat applied by the heating element 11 reaches the first thermosensitive layer 421 through the first heat-shielding layer 431, but the first thermosensitive layer 421 becomes below the first temperature and does not develop color. If the current flow continues, the temperature of the entire thermosensitive layer 42 increases, but the current flow ends at T5 before the second thermosensitive layer 422 reaches the second temperature or higher. Therefore, in the thermosensitive layer 42, only the yellow of the third thermosensitive layer 423 is developed by current flow according to the current flow pattern of Y.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 7, in the magenta (M) current pattern, current is started at T0 and stopped at T2 before T5, and thereafter, current is applied for a time shorter than T0 to T2 three times at regular intervals. As shown by the dashed line in the graph of FIG. 8, the heat applied from the heating element 11 from T0 to T2 at the beginning of current application does not cause the temperature of the shallow part of the thermosensitive layer 42 to reach the third temperature or higher. By repeating current application for a short period of time thereafter, the heat applied from the heating element 11 is transferred to the middle part of the thermosensitive layer 42. The second thermosensitive layer 422 becomes at the second temperature or higher and lower than the third temperature, which is higher than the current application according to the Y current application pattern, and develops a magenta color. The current application is terminated before it is transmitted to the deep part of the thermosensitive layer 42. The first thermosensitive layer 421 is maintained at a temperature lower than the first temperature and does not develop a color. Therefore, in the thermosensitive layer 42, when a current is applied in accordance with the M current pattern, only the magenta of the second thermosensitive layer 422 is developed.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 7, in the cyan (C) current pattern, after the current starts at T1, current is applied for a period shorter than the period of the current applied in the M current pattern, and is repeated 17 times at regular intervals. The individual current application intervals are longer than those in the M current pattern. As shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 8, current is applied for a minimum period shorter than that in the M current pattern, and the heat applied from the heating element 11 is transferred to the entire thermosensitive layer 42 with a small temperature rise from the shallow portion to the middle portion of the thermosensitive layer 42. Then, before the minimum period of current application is completed, the third thermosensitive layer 423 is at the second temperature or higher and lower than the third temperature, and the second thermosensitive layer 422 and the first thermosensitive layer 421 are at the first temperature or higher and lower than the second temperature. Therefore, only the cyan of the first thermosensitive layer 421 is colored by the current applied according to the C current pattern.

[0081] The thermosensitive layer 42 can produce mixed colors by producing color in two or more of the three layers. The thermosensitive layer 42 produces red (hereinafter abbreviated as "R"), which is a mixed color of Y and M, green (hereinafter abbreviated as "G"), which is a mixed color of C and Y, blue (hereinafter abbreviated as "B"), which is a mixed color of C and M, and black (hereinafter abbreviated as "K"), which is a mixed color of C, M, and Y.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 7, in the red (R1) current pattern, current is applied from T0 to T3, which is longer than the initial current application time T0 to T2 in the M current application pattern. As shown by the dotted line in the graph of FIG. 9, at the beginning of current application, the temperature rise in the shallow part of the thermosensitive layer 42 is smaller than that in the Y current application pattern, but is larger than that in the M current application pattern. The third thermosensitive layer 423 reaches the third temperature or higher and develops a yellow color. Thereafter, the same short-term current application as the repeated current application in the M current application pattern is repeated five times at regular intervals (see FIG. 7). Therefore, as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 9, the temperature of the middle and deep parts of the thermosensitive layer 42 gradually increases. Therefore, the second thermosensitive layer 422 reaches the second temperature or higher but lower than the third temperature, and develops a magenta color. The current application is terminated before the temperature of the deep part of the thermosensitive layer 42 rises. Therefore, the first thermosensitive layer 421 is maintained at a temperature lower than the first temperature and does not develop a color. In this manner, the thermosensitive layer 42 develops yellow in the third thermosensitive layer 423, and then develops magenta in the second thermosensitive layer 422, and exhibits a mixed color of red.

[0083] The current pattern of red (R2) shown in FIG. 7 is set so that the order of coloring of yellow and magenta in the thermosensitive layer 42 is reversed from that of the current pattern of R1. After the current is started at T0, the first current is stopped at T2, which is the same as the current pattern of M, and thereafter, short current is repeated seven times at regular intervals. As shown by the dotted line in the graph of FIG. 10, when the short-time repeated current is performed three times, the temperature of the entire thermosensitive layer 42 shows the same state as the current pattern of M. At this point, the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta. Since the short-time repeated current continues thereafter, the temperature of the middle and deep parts of the thermosensitive layer 42 gradually increases, as shown by the solid line in the graph of FIG. 10. Therefore, the third thermosensitive layer 423 becomes equal to or higher than the third temperature and develops yellow. The current is stopped before the temperature of the deep parts of the thermosensitive layer 42 rises. Therefore, the first thermosensitive layer 421 is maintained at a temperature lower than the first temperature and does not develop color. In this manner, the thermosensitive layer 42 develops magenta in the second thermosensitive layer 422, and then develops yellow in the third thermosensitive layer 423, resulting in a mixed color of red.

[0084] The red (R2+) current pattern is a pattern in which the number of short-term currents in the R2 current pattern is increased by one. Since the time during which the third thermosensitive layer 423 is heated to the third temperature or higher is increased, the thermosensitive layer 42 heated by the R2+ current pattern can increase the coloring area of ​​the yellow dots. Similarly, the red (R2-) current pattern is a pattern in which the number of short-term currents in the R2 current pattern is decreased by one. Since the time during which the third thermosensitive layer 423 is heated to the third temperature or higher is decreased, the thermosensitive layer 42 heated by the R2- current pattern can decrease the coloring area of ​​the yellow dots. Although not shown, for example, the coloring area of ​​the yellow dots can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the current application time per short-term current in the R2 current pattern.

[0085] In the red (R3) and red (R4) energization patterns shown in FIG. 7, the energization start timings of the R1 and R2 energization patterns are set to T4, which is delayed from T0. The thermal printer 1 energizes the heating element 11 while feeding the thermal tape 4, and forms dots on the thermal layer 42. When forming dots using the R3 or R4 energization pattern, the dots are formed at positions shifted in the feeding direction by the amount of the thermal tape 4 fed in the feeding direction between T0 and T4, compared to the positions where dots are formed using the R1 or R2 energization pattern. By shifting the positional relationship with other dots formed around the dots, the dots formed using the R3 or R4 energization pattern can be made to have a different color from the dots formed using the R1 or R2 energization pattern.

[0086] In the green (G) current pattern shown in FIG. 7, current is maintained from T0 to T5 in the same manner as in the Y current pattern, causing the third thermosensitive layer 423 to develop a yellow color. Thereafter, no current is applied to the heating element 11 until T6, which is a time longer than T0 to T5. In the shallow portion of the thermosensitive layer 42, the temperature drops between T5 and T6. Heat is transferred to the intermediate and deep portions of the thermosensitive layer 42 between T5 and T6, causing the temperature to rise. Then, from T6, current is applied for the same minimal time as in the C current pattern, and is repeated eight times at regular intervals. The temperature of the entire thermosensitive layer 42 becomes substantially the same as the graph showing the temperature change due to the C current pattern (not shown). Before the minimum time repeated current application is completed, the third thermosensitive layer 423 is at or above the second temperature but below the third temperature, and the second thermosensitive layer 422 and the first thermosensitive layer 421 are at or above the first temperature but below the second temperature, causing the first thermosensitive layer 421 to develop cyan. In this way, the thermosensitive layer 42 shows a mixed color of green due to the yellow of the third thermosensitive layer 423 and the cyan of the first thermosensitive layer 421.

[0087] In the blue (B1) current pattern, short-time current at regular intervals in the M current pattern is started from T0 and is repeated six times. The short-time current suppresses a sudden temperature rise in the shallow part of the thermosensitive layer 42, while the overall temperature rises. Therefore, the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta. After the short-time repeated current, the minimum time current is repeated 12 times. The minimum time current further suppresses a temperature rise in the shallow part of the thermosensitive layer 42, while the overall temperature rises. Although not shown, a graph showing the temperature change is, for example, a graph of the current pattern C (solid line) in FIG. 8, generally shifted to the higher temperature side. Before the minimum time repeated current is finished, the second thermosensitive layer 422 and the third thermosensitive layer 423 are at or above the second temperature but below the third temperature, and the first thermosensitive layer 421 is at or above the first temperature, and the first thermosensitive layer 421 develops cyan. In this manner, in the thermosensitive layer 42, magenta is developed in the second thermosensitive layer 422, and then cyan is developed in the first thermosensitive layer 421, and the mixed color is blue.

[0088] In the blue (B2) current pattern, short-term current is applied twice at regular intervals starting from T0, and then the minimum-time current is applied twelve times. The temperature rise in the shallow portion of the thermosensitive layer 42 is further suppressed by the minimum-time current application, while the overall temperature rises. Although not shown, a graph showing the temperature change is, for example, a graph of the current application pattern C (solid line) in FIG. 8, gradually shifting to a higher temperature with time. Thus, the first thermosensitive layer 421 becomes equal to or higher than the first temperature while the second thermosensitive layer 422 is below the second temperature, and develops a cyan color. After the minimum-time current is applied twelve times, short-term current is applied four times at regular intervals. The temperature rises in the thermosensitive layer 42, especially from the shallow portion to the middle portion, due to the current application. Before the short-time repeated current application is completed, the third thermosensitive layer 423 is below the third temperature, but the second thermosensitive layer 422 is equal to or higher than the second temperature but lower than the third temperature, and develops magenta. In this way, in the thermosensitive layer 42, after the first thermosensitive layer 421 develops cyan, the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta, and the mixed color is blue.

[0089] In the black (K1) current pattern, the same continuous current as in the R1 current pattern is applied from T0 to T3, followed by four short periods of current at regular intervals, and then eleven periods of minimal current. Thus, similar to the R1 current pattern, the third thermosensitive layer 423 develops yellow, and then the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta. Furthermore, the repeated minimal currents increase the temperature of the entire thermosensitive layer 42, causing the first thermosensitive layer 421 to develop cyan. In this way, the thermosensitive layer 42 develops yellow, magenta, and cyan in that order, and shows black as a mixed color.

[0090] In the black (K2) current pattern, the same continuous current as in the R2 current pattern is applied from T0 to T2, followed by seven short periods of current at regular intervals, and then nine periods of minimal current. Thus, like the R2 current pattern, the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta, and then the third thermosensitive layer 423 develops yellow. Furthermore, the repeated minimal currents increase the temperature of the entire thermosensitive layer 42, causing the first thermosensitive layer 421 to develop cyan. In this way, the thermosensitive layer 42 develops magenta, yellow, and cyan in that order, and shows black as a mixed color.

[0091] Other energization patterns may be provided in addition to those described above. For example, a pattern in which cyan develops first as a black energization pattern, or a pattern in which the energization start time is delayed from T0 in addition to R3 and R4 may be provided.

[0092] The outline of the tape creation process by the thermal printer 1 will be described. As described above, the thermal printer 1 can use various tape cassettes such as receptor type and laminate type. In the case of the receptor type, a thermal tape with an adhesive layer and release paper attached to the surface opposite to the surface of the substrate on which the thermal layer is provided is used in the tape cassette. Therefore, in the case of the receptor type tape, the direction in which the user views the printed image is the side of the substrate on which the thermal layer is provided, that is, the printing direction Y2 (see FIG. 5). The heat input from the heat source (heat generating element 11) to the thermal tape 4 diffuses as the distance from the heat generating element 11 increases (i.e., as the depth of the thermal layer 42 increases). For this reason, when the heat generating element 11 generates heat, the color development range of each layer tends to become smaller in the order of the third thermosensitive layer 423, the second thermosensitive layer 422, and the first thermosensitive layer 421. In addition, for example, when red dots are formed on a receptor type tape with the current pattern R1, the third thermosensitive layer 423 of the thermosensitive layer 42 develops yellow, and the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta when the third thermosensitive layer 423 remains at the third temperature or higher and the second thermosensitive layer 422 develops magenta when the third thermosensitive layer 423 remains at the third temperature or higher. Therefore, the yellow dots are heated longer than the magenta dots, and are formed larger than the magenta dots. When the red dots formed in this way are viewed from the printing direction Y2, the user sees the magenta dots, which have a smaller coloring range than the yellow, as if they are covered by the yellow, and the outline of the magenta coloring range becomes blurred, and the dots appear to be uniform red dots overall. On the other hand, in the case of the laminate type tape 9, the viewing direction Y1 in which the user views the printed image is on the substrate 41 side with respect to the thermosensitive layer 42. Since magenta, which has a smaller color range, is closer to the viewer than yellow, which has a larger color range, the outline of the magenta color range is clear and the user perceives it as a red dot surrounded by yellow.

[0093] Therefore, when printing on a laminated type thermal tape 4 with the viewing direction being Y2, the thermal printer 1 forms red dots with the R2 current pattern. In the R2 current pattern, the second thermosensitive layer 422 of the thermal layer 422 develops magenta, and then the third thermosensitive layer 423 develops yellow as the second thermosensitive layer 422 remains at the second temperature or higher and the third thermosensitive layer 423 becomes at the third temperature or higher. Therefore, the magenta dots are heated longer than the yellow dots and are formed larger than the yellow dots. When the red dots formed in this way are viewed from the viewing direction Y1, the user sees the yellow, which has a smaller coloring range than the magenta, as if it is covered by the magenta, and the outline of the yellow coloring range becomes blurred, resulting in a uniform red dot overall. As a result, when viewing red dots formed with the R1 current pattern from the printing direction Y2, and when viewing red dots formed with the R2 current pattern from the viewing direction Y1, the user can visually recognize both red dots as having substantially the same color. Therefore, in the tape creation process described below, the current pattern of the heating element 11 in dot formation is set according to the direction from which the user views the created tape.

[0094] In addition, in the laminated type thermal tape 4, the substrate 41 has visible light transmissivity. When the red dots formed by the R1 current-carrying pattern are viewed from the viewing direction Y1, the yellow part around the magenta coloring range appears larger due to the influence of the refractive index, thickness, and ratio (for example, the ratio of the thickness of the substrate 41 to the thickness of the thermal tape 4) of the substrate 41. Therefore, when viewed from the viewing direction Y1, the thermal printer 1 forms red dots with the R2 current-carrying pattern, so that the user can visually recognize the red dots with the magenta located in front covering the yellow. Since the outline of the yellow coloring range is blurred, the magenta part around the yellow coloring range appears larger but is less noticeable even when the user looks through the substrate 41.

[0095] The following describes the tape creation process by the thermal printer 1. The user operates the keyboard 3 to input a print start command to the thermal printer 1. When the CPU 91 receives the print start command, it reads a program from the flash memory 92 and executes the tape creation process. In the tape creation process, the printing operation by the thermal printer 1 is controlled, and the tape 9 is created.

[0096] As shown in Fig. 11, the CPU 91 acquires image data indicating an image specified by a user (S1). The image data is data that is created by the user using the keyboard 3 by executing an editing program (not shown) and stored in the flash memory 92. The user specifies in advance an image to be formed on the tape 9 via the keyboard 3. The image to be formed on the tape 9 is an image that is visible when the user views the tape 9 from the viewing direction Y1. The image data may be data that is previously read from the external terminal 100 and stored in the flash memory 92.

[0097] The CPU 91 acquires the visual direction (S2). The number and formation positions of the holes in the medium indicator portion 900 of the tape cassette 30 are set in advance according to the type of the tape 9 contained in the tape cassette 30. The CPU 91 acquires the type of the tape 9 based on the detection result of the medium detection switch 310 and the cassette information stored in the flash memory 92 (S2). The cassette information is a table that associates the pattern of the medium indicator portion 900 with the type of the tape. The type of the tape includes information on the visual direction, thickness-related information, refractive index-related information, and the like. The visual direction information is information indicating whether the tape 9 is a tape of a type that is visually recognized by the user from the visual direction Y1, such as a laminate type, or a tape of a type that is visually recognized by the user from the print direction Y2, such as a receptor type. The thickness-related information is information indicating the thickness of the base material 41. The thickness-related information may be information based on the actual size, or may be information in which the thickness is divided into stages according to the type classified in the energization pattern table, such as large, medium, and small. The thickness-related information may be information indicating the ratio between the thickness of the substrate 41 and the thickness of the heat-sensitive tape 4 or each layer constituting the heat-sensitive tape 4. The refractive index-related information is information indicating the refractive index of the substrate 41. The refractive index-related information of the substrate 41 may be information based on an actual measurement value, or may be information in which the refractive index is classified into stages according to the type classified in the current pattern table, such as large, medium, and small. Alternatively, it may be information indicating the type (material) of the substrate 41.

[0098] If the tape 9 is a tape that is viewed by the user from the printing direction Y2 (S3: NO), the process proceeds to S11. If the tape 9 is a tape that is viewed by the user from the viewing direction Y1 (S3: YES), the CPU 91 creates image data showing a mirror-inverted image by mirror-inverting the acquired image data (S4). Mirror-inversion refers to moving the display content of the image symmetrically with respect to a line that passes through the center of the thermal tape 4 in the short direction and is parallel to the long direction when viewed from the printing direction Y2. The process proceeds to S11.

[0099] The CPU 91 performs a print color conversion process (S11). The print color conversion process is a process for converting the color of each pixel of the image data into the color of a dot to be colored by the thermal printer 1. The thermal printer 1 causes the thermosensitive layer 42 to develop the colors cyan, magenta, and yellow, and can further express the colors red, green, blue, and black as mixed colors. The CPU 91 separates the color of each pixel of the image data and performs color conversion to express it in each of the above colors.

[0100] The CPU 91 acquires various parameters that affect the color development of the thermosensitive layer 42 (S12). The parameters are, for example, the environmental temperature, the temperature of the thermal head 10, etc. The CPU 91 corrects the current pattern according to the parameters when generating a command to control the current supply to the heating element 11. Furthermore, when the tape 9 is a laminate type based on the type of tape acquired in S2, information on the thickness, ratio, or refractive index of the base material 41 is acquired as a parameter from the cassette information.

[0101] The CPU 91 determines the energization pattern for each dot that has undergone color conversion in S11 based on an energization pattern table (not shown) (S13). In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the energization patterns R1, B1, and K1 are used for the receptor type, and the energization patterns R2, B2, and K2 are used for the laminate type. In addition, in the case of the laminate type, it is assumed that the energization pattern R4 is used when the thickness, ratio, refractive index, etc. of the substrate 41 are greater than a predetermined value set in advance based on the information on the thickness, ratio, or refractive index of the substrate 41 acquired in S12. It is assumed that the energization pattern based on any one of the information on the thickness, ratio, and refractive index may be used, or the energization pattern based on a combination of two or more pieces of information may be used. For example, the energization pattern R4 may be used when the thickness of the substrate 41 is greater than a predetermined value or when the refractive index is greater than a predetermined value, and the energization pattern R2 may be used when the thickness of the substrate 41 is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the refractive index is equal to or less than a predetermined value. In addition, the CPU 91 may suppress color shift by using an R2+ or R2- current pattern, or an R2 current pattern (not shown) in which the current duration of the short-term repeated current is increased or decreased according to parameters, and changing the color area of ​​the dots that are formed.

[0102] The CPU 91 creates commands for controlling the energization of the heat elements 11 corresponding to each dot based on the energization pattern of each dot and the parameters acquired in S12 in accordance with a predetermined format, and generates print data (S14).

[0103] The CPU 91 outputs print data to a printing process executed by another program, and prints the data on the tape 9. In the other program, the CPU 91 controls the conveying motor 95 to rotate the drive shaft 18. As a result, the conveying roller 33 and the movable roller 14 cooperate with each other to pull out the thermal tape 4 from the first supply roll 40, and pull out the adhesive tape 7 from the second supply roll 70.

[0104] The CPU 91 controls the thermal head 10 while controlling the transport motor 95. In detail, while transporting the thermal tape 4, the CPU 91 executes each command of the print data and selectively causes the multiple heating elements 11 to generate heat. The thermal tape 4 is heated by the thermal head 10 from the side opposite the substrate 41 to the multiple thermal layers 42. This causes the thermal layers 42 to develop color and form dots, and an image based on the image data is printed on the thermal tape 4 (S21).

[0105] During the process of transporting the tape 9, the adhesive tape 7 is attached to the printed heat-sensitive tape 4 on the side of the multiple heat-sensitive layers 42 opposite to the base material 41 between the transport roller 33 and the movable roller 14. In this way, the tape 9 is produced. The CPU 91 controls the cutting motor 96 to cut the tape 9 by the cutting mechanism 16 (S22). The CPU 91 ends the tape production process.

[0106] As described above, when forming an image on the heat-sensitive layer 42, the CPU 91 uses a current pattern according to the viewing direction, thereby generating print data that can form an image with different color development states depending on the viewing direction. This allows the thermal printer 1 to form an image on the heat-sensitive layer 42 in which the color of the image viewed from the substrate 41 side through the substrate 41 is similar to the color of the image viewed from the heat-sensitive layer 42 side without the substrate 41. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can print an image on the heat-sensitive tape 4 that has approximately the same color regardless of the viewing direction, for example.

[0107] When an image formed on the thermosensitive layer 42 is formed by overlapping two or more colors, the color may differ depending on the viewing direction. The current patterns for the heating element 11 are provided with current patterns (e.g., current patterns R1 and R2) that produce colors that differ depending on the viewing direction but have almost the same color regardless of the viewing direction. The CPU 91 can generate print data using the current pattern according to the detection result of the viewing direction. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can form an image formed on the thermosensitive tape 4, such as a laminate type, in a form in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed through the base material 41, in a color almost the same as that of an image formed on the thermosensitive tape 4, such as a receptor type, in a form in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed without the base material 41.

[0108] When an image formed on the thermosensitive layer 42 is formed by overlapping two or more layers of color, it may be observed out of position due to the influence of the thickness and refractive index of the substrate 41, resulting in a difference in color. The current-carrying pattern to the heating element 11 is a pattern that produces the same color, but current-carrying patterns (e.g., current-carrying patterns R2 and R4) are provided with different current-carrying timings. The CPU 91 can generate print data using current-carrying patterns according to the detection result of the viewing direction. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can form an image formed on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a type in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed through the substrate 41, such as a laminate type, in a color that is almost the same as the color of an image formed on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a type in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed through the substrate 41, such as a receptor type.

[0109] When an image formed on the thermosensitive layer 42 is formed by overlapping two or more layers of colors, the color may differ due to the influence of the thickness of the substrate 41. The CPU 91 can generate print data with different color development states of the image according to information on the thickness of the substrate 41 obtained based on the type of tape. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can form an image on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a type in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is visible through the substrate 41, such as a laminate type, in a color that is approximately the same as the color of an image formed on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a type in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is visible not through the substrate 41, such as a receptor type.

[0110] When an image formed on the thermosensitive layer 42 is formed by overlapping two or more layers of color, the image may be observed out of position due to the influence of the refractive index of the substrate 41, resulting in a difference in color. The CPU 91 can generate print data with different color development states of the image according to information on the refractive index of the substrate 41 obtained based on the type of tape. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can form an image on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a laminate type or the like, in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed through the substrate 41, in a color that is substantially the same as that of an image formed on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a receptor type or the like, in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed without the substrate 41.

[0111] To form an image on each of two or more thermosensitive layers 42, the CPU 91 can generate print data in which the current pattern of the heating element 11 is controlled to a pattern corresponding to the thermosensitive layer 42. That is, the thermal printer 1 can control the color size (dot size) of each thermosensitive layer 42 by, for example, changing the current pattern to vary the magnitude and order of energy applied to the two thermosensitive layers 42 to be colored, thereby reducing fringes and uneven color due to overlapping.

[0112] In an image formed on a thermosensitive tape 4 of a type in which the thermosensitive layer 42 is viewed without the substrate 41, such as a receptor type, the color size (dot size) of the color formed on the thermosensitive layer is larger on the side where the depth of the thermosensitive layer 42 is shallower (in the order of the third thermosensitive layer 423, the second thermosensitive layer 422, and the first thermosensitive layer 421). When an image formed in this way is viewed from the substrate 41 side, the color size of the color formed on the thermosensitive layer 42 located on the front side is smaller, so that the color of the image is likely to differ. The CPU 91 can generate print data in which the timing of applying energy to each of the thermosensitive layers 42 to be colored is controlled. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can color the thermosensitive layers 42 to be colored in a different order. The thermal printer 1 can reduce fringes and overlapping color unevenness by controlling the color size (dot size) of each thermosensitive layer 42.

[0113] The CPU 91 can more easily generate print data with different coloring timings for each thermosensitive layer 42 by using, for example, the current patterns R2, B2, and K2 to switch the coloring timings for the multiple thermosensitive layers 42. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can color in a different order for each thermosensitive layer 42 to be colored. The thermal printer 1 can reduce fringes and uneven color due to overlapping by controlling the coloring size of each thermosensitive layer 42.

[0114] For example, by using the current pattern of R2+, R2-, the CPU 91 can generate print data in which the color development area of ​​at least one of the multiple thermosensitive layers 42 is different from the others. More specifically, the CPU 91 can generate print data in which the color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer 42 on the far side in the visual direction among the multiple thermosensitive layers 42 is relatively larger than the color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer 42 on the near side in the visual direction. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can control the color development size of each thermosensitive layer 42 to reduce fringes and uneven color due to overlapping.

[0115] The CPU 91 of this embodiment generates print data for a thermal tape 4 having three thermal layers 42, such that an image to be formed on the thermal tape 4, such as a laminate type, in which the thermal layer 42 is viewed through the base material 41, will have substantially the same color as an image formed on a thermal tape 4, such as a receptor type, in which the thermal layer 42 is viewed without the base material 41. Therefore, the thermal printer 1 can print an image on the thermal tape 4 having substantially the same color regardless of the viewing direction.

[0116] In the above embodiment, cyan, magenta, and yellow are examples of the "first color," "second color," and "third color" of the present invention, respectively. The tape 9 is an example of the "multilayer thermal print medium" of the present invention. The heating element 11 is an example of the "heating element" of the present invention. The CPU 91 that performs the process of S14 is an example of the "generation means" of the present invention. The CPU 91 that performs the process of S21 is an example of the "drive means" of the present invention. The CPU 91 that acquires information on the viewing direction, thickness, ratio, refractive index, etc. in the processes of S2 and S12 is an example of the "detection means" of the present invention. The thermal printer 1 is an example of the "printing device" of the present invention.

[0117] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the substrate 41 may be a foamed PET film. The substrate 41 may be made of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer (EMMA), polybutene (PB), polybutadiene (BDR), polymethylpentene (PMP), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI), polyether ketone (PEK), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), nylon (NY), etc. , polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (FS / EPS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ordinary cellophane (PT), moisture-proof cellophane (MST), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), vinylon (VL), polyurethane (PU), triacetyl cellulose (TAC), or other resin film. In this case, the substrate 41 may be a foamed resin film or a non-foamed resin film. In addition, the substrate 41 may be a metal foil (aluminum foil, copper foil), a vacuum deposition film (VM), or various papers such as translucent paper, Japanese paper, fine paper, dust-free paper, glassine paper, clay-coated paper, resin-coated paper, laminated paper (polyethylene-laminated paper, polypropylene-laminated paper, etc.), synthetic paper, and craft paper, as long as it has a visible light transmittance according to the application. The substrate 41 may be a nonwoven fabric, a glass cloth, etc. In the case of a receptor type, the substrate 41 does not need to have visible light transparency.

[0118] For example, the energization pattern table is not limited to the energization patterns of C, M, Y, R1-R4, G, B1, B2, K1, and K2 described above, and may have more patterns by further subdividing them. The thermosensitive layer 42 may be composed of two layers, or may be composed of four or more layers. The colors of each layer are not limited to C, M, and Y, but may be R, G, B, K, or other colors. The colors of each layer may be the same color with different shadings. If the thermosensitive layer 42 is composed of four layers, the fourth color is preferably K.

[0119] Instead of the CPU 91, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like may be used as a processor. The tape creation process may be distributed among a plurality of processors. The non-transitory storage medium may be any storage medium capable of retaining information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. The non-transitory storage medium may not include a temporary storage medium (e.g., a transmitted signal). For example, the program may be downloaded (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) from a server connected to a network and stored in the flash memory 92. In this case, the program may be stored in a non-transitory storage medium such as a hard disk drive provided in the server. The above-mentioned modified examples may be combined with each other as long as no contradiction occurs.

[0120] In steps S2 to S3 of the tape creation process, the CPU 91 obtains the type of tape 9 and determines the viewing direction based on the cassette information stored in the flash memory 92 from the detection result of the medium detection switch 310. The viewing direction information may be input by the user via the keyboard 3, for example, when the tape cassette 30 is loaded into the loading section 8.

[0121] A program for carrying out the processes S11 to S14 of the tape creation process may be installed as a printer driver in the external terminal 100 and executed. In this case, the external terminal 100 may execute the processes S11 to S14 after acquiring information such as the viewing direction from the thermal printer 1, and transmit the generated print data to the thermal printer 1 for printing. Furthermore, when the user inputs the viewing direction information as in the above modified example, the user may input the viewing direction information using a keyboard, mouse, etc. of the external terminal 100.

[0122] The external terminal 100 may also generate print data for the viewing direction Y1 and print data for the printing direction Y2, and transmit them to the thermal printer 1. In this case, the thermal printer 1 may select print data corresponding to the viewing direction based on the result of the determination of the viewing direction, and print it on the tape 9. The external terminal 100 may also always generate print data for the printing direction Y2, and transmit it to the thermal printer 1. In this case, when the result of the determination of the viewing direction is Y1, the thermal printer 1 may rewrite the part of the command included in the print data in which the current conduction pattern of R1, B1, and K1 is described, with the current conduction pattern of R2, B2, and K2, and print it on the tape 9.

[0123] In the process of S12, the CPU 91 acquires information on the thickness, ratio, refractive index, etc. of the base material 41, but it is not necessary to acquire this information. In this case, in the process of S13, it is not necessary to determine the current application pattern according to the information on the thickness, ratio, refractive index, etc. of the base material 41. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1. Thermal printer 4 Thermal tape 7. Adhesive Tape 9. Tape 10 Thermal head 11 Heating element 41 Base material 42 Heat sensitive layer 91 CPU 421 First heat sensitive layer 422 Second heat-sensitive layer 423 Third heat-sensitive layer Y1 Visual direction Y2 Printing direction

Claims

1. A substrate having visible light transparency; a first thermosensitive layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first thermosensitive layer being transparent to visible light, the first thermosensitive layer being colored to a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature; a second thermosensitive layer that is provided on one side of the first thermosensitive layer in the thickness direction and has visible light transparency, and that develops a second color having a lower visible light transparency than in an original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature that is higher than the first temperature; 1. A printing apparatus for printing on a multi-layer thermal print medium having a a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements; a generating means for generating print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer based on image data corresponding to each pixel region; a driving unit that drives the heating elements of the thermal head based on the print data generated by the generating unit; a detection means for detecting whether the viewing direction of the multi-layer thermal printing medium when viewing the image formed on the thermal layer is a direction viewed from one side in the thickness direction or a direction viewed from the other side in the thickness direction; Equipped with The generating means generates the print data in accordance with the viewing direction detected by the detecting means, such that, among the plurality of thermosensitive layers of the multi-layer thermosensitive print medium, a color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer that is closer in the viewing direction is relatively larger than a color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer that is farther in the viewing direction. A printing device comprising:

2. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the generating means generates the print data for causing the color of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer to appear in a color corresponding to the viewing direction detected by the detecting means.

3. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the generation means generates the printing data for forming the image on the thermosensitive layer based on the image data at a position corresponding to the viewing direction detected by the detection means.

4. The detection means further detects thickness-related information related to a thickness of the substrate of the multi-layer thermal print medium; The generating means generates the print data in which a color development state of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer differs depending on the viewing direction and the thickness related information detected by the detecting means.

4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

5. The detecting means further detects refractive index related information related to a refractive index of the substrate of the multilayer thermal print medium; The generating means generates the print data in which the color development state of the image formed on the thermosensitive layer differs depending on the viewing direction and the refractive index related information detected by the detecting means.

4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein:

6. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generating means generates the print data based on the image data for forming the image on each of at least two of the thermosensitive layers of the multi-layered thermal printing medium.

7. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the generation means generates the printing data in which the timing of individual color development in the multiple thermal layers of the multilayer thermal printing medium corresponds to the viewing direction detected by the detection means.

8. The printing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the generation means generates the printing data in which the timing of individual color development in the multiple thermal layers of the multilayer thermal printing medium is respectively swapped in accordance with the viewing direction detected by the detection means.

9. The multi-layer thermal printing medium comprises: a third thermosensitive layer provided on one side of the second thermosensitive layer in the thickness direction, the third thermosensitive layer being a thermosensitive layer having visible light transparency, the third thermosensitive layer being colored into a third color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined third temperature which is higher than the second temperature; 9. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein

10. A print data generation program for generating print data to be printed by a printing device having a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and a drive unit for driving the heat generating elements of the thermal head, The printing data is data used by the printing device to print on a multilayer thermal printing medium having a base material having visible light transparency, a first thermal layer provided on one side of the base material in the thickness direction, the first thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency that develops a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature, and a second thermal layer provided on another side of the first thermal layer in the thickness direction, the second thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency that develops a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, The printing device further includes a detection means for detecting whether the viewing direction of the multi-layer thermal printing medium when viewing the image formed on the thermal layer is a direction viewed from one side in the thickness direction or a direction viewed from the other side in the thickness direction, acquiring the viewing direction from the detection means of the printing device; a generating step of generating the print data based on image data corresponding to each pixel region, the print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the heat-sensitive layer, and in accordance with the viewing direction acquired in the acquiring step, the color development area of ​​the heat-sensitive layer on the closer side in the viewing direction among the plurality of heat-sensitive layers of the multi-layer heat-sensitive print medium being relatively larger than the color development area of ​​the heat-sensitive layer on the farther side in the viewing direction; A print data generating program that causes a computer to execute the above steps.

11. A substrate having visible light transparency; a first thermosensitive layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first thermosensitive layer being transparent to visible light, the first thermosensitive layer being colored to a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature; a second thermosensitive layer that is provided on one side of the first thermosensitive layer in the thickness direction and has visible light transparency, and that develops a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature that is higher than the first temperature; 1. A printing apparatus for printing on a multi-layer thermal print medium having a a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements; a generating means for generating print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer based on image data corresponding to each pixel region; a driving unit that drives the heating elements of the thermal head based on the print data generated by the generating unit; a detection means for detecting thickness-related information related to a thickness of the substrate of the multi-layer thermal print medium; Equipped with The generating means generates the print data in accordance with the thickness-related information detected by the detecting means, so that, when the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is visually observed, among the plurality of thermosensitive layers of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium, a color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the closer side in a visual direction of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium is relatively larger than a color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the farther side in the visual direction. A printing device comprising:

12. A print data generation program for generating print data to be printed by a printing device having a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and a drive unit for driving the heat generating elements of the thermal head, The printing data is data used by the printing device to print on a multilayer thermal printing medium having a base material having visible light transparency, a first thermal layer provided on one side of the base material in the thickness direction, the first thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency that develops a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature, and a second thermal layer provided on another side of the first thermal layer in the thickness direction, the second thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency that develops a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, detecting thickness-related information related to a thickness of the substrate of the multi-layer thermal print media; a generating step of generating the print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer based on image data corresponding to each pixel region and in accordance with the thickness-related information detected in the detecting step, in which the color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the closer side in a viewing direction of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium when the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is visually observed is relatively larger than the color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the farther side in the viewing direction of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium; A print data generating program that causes a computer to execute the above steps.

13. A substrate having visible light transparency; a first thermosensitive layer provided on one side of the base material in a thickness direction, the first thermosensitive layer being transparent to visible light, the first thermosensitive layer being colored to a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original color when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature; a second thermosensitive layer that is provided on one side of the first thermosensitive layer in the thickness direction and has visible light transparency, and that develops a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature that is higher than the first temperature; 1. A printing apparatus for printing on a multi-layer thermal print medium having a a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements; a generating means for generating print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer based on image data corresponding to each pixel region; a driving unit that drives the heating elements of the thermal head based on the print data generated by the generating unit; a detection means for detecting refractive index related information related to the refractive index of the substrate of the multilayer thermal print media; Equipped with The generating means generates the print data in accordance with the refractive index related information detected by the detecting means, so that, when the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is visually observed, among the plurality of thermosensitive layers of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium, a color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the closer side in a visual direction of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium is relatively larger than a color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the farther side in the visual direction. A printing device comprising:

14. A print data generation program for generating print data to be printed by a printing device having a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements and a drive unit for driving the heat generating elements of the thermal head, The printing data is data used by the printing device to print on a multilayer thermal printing medium having a base material having visible light transparency, a first thermal layer provided on one side of the base material in the thickness direction, the first thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency that develops a first color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined first temperature, and a second thermal layer provided on another side of the first thermal layer in the thickness direction, the second thermal layer being a thermal layer having visible light transparency that develops a second color having a lower visible light transparency than the original state when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature which is higher than the first temperature, detecting refractive index-related information related to the refractive index of the substrate of the multi-layer thermal print media; a generating step of generating the print data corresponding to the heating elements for forming an image on the thermosensitive layer based on image data corresponding to each pixel region and in accordance with the refractive index related information detected in the detecting step, in which the color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the closer side in a viewing direction of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium when the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is viewed is relatively larger than the color development area of ​​the thermosensitive layer on the farther side in the viewing direction of the multilayer thermosensitive print medium when the image formed on the thermosensitive layer is viewed; A print data generating program that causes a computer to execute the above steps.

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