Thermal transfer printer

Abstract

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

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , ,

[0003] , ,

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a thermal transfer printer that prints a plurality of rows of printing patterns arranged at equal intervals with a predetermined interval therebetween at the same printing timing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the thermal transfer printer described in Patent Document 1, during printing, the ink of the ink ribbon is transferred to the printing object by thermal transfer, so that a plurality of ink usage areas are formed side by side at equal intervals with a predetermined interval in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon on which a plurality of ink usage areas are formed is fed in the feeding direction so as not to overlap the ink usage areas for the next printing operation. In the thermal transfer printer described in Patent Document 1, in order to suppress waste of the ink ribbon, after repeating a plurality of times the operation of feeding the ink ribbon at a short pitch so as to fill the unused ink area of the ink ribbon between adjacent ink usage areas used in the printing operation, control is performed to feed the ink ribbon in a lump so as to move the area filled with the ink usage area in a lump.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] If the ink ribbon is fed multiple times at short intervals (less than the ink usage area interval) to reduce waste, and then fed all at once, this requires time to feed the ribbon all at once, during which printing is not possible. Therefore, there is room for improvement from the perspective of efficient printing. Accordingly, there is a need for a thermal transfer printer that can perform printing efficiently while suppressing wasted printing time by reviewing the ink ribbon feeding control.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a thermal transfer printer that can perform printing operations efficiently while suppressing wasted printing time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer that prints a print pattern on a print to be printed by thermal transfer of ink, comprising: a heating element; an ink ribbon on which ink is thermally transferred to the print to be printed by the heat of the heating element during printing; an ink ribbon feed drive unit that feeds the ink ribbon; and a control unit that controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to feed the ink ribbon in the feed direction after the execution of the printing operation, so as to print multiple rows of print patterns arranged at equal intervals with predetermined intervals in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon on the print to be printed at the same printing timing when the ink of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the print to be printed by the heat of the heating element and a print pattern is printed, and the control unit The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer that, when feeding the ink ribbon in the feeding direction for subsequent printing, controls the ink ribbon feeding drive unit to feed the ink ribbon so as to fill at least a portion of the unused ink areas between adjacent ink-used areas of a plurality of rows of ink-used areas, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon used when printing the plurality of rows of printing patterns, and so as not to overlap the ink-used areas, and repeatedly controls the ink ribbon feeding drive unit to position the ink ribbon at a position moved by the same distance in the feeding direction for all ink ribbon feeding operations after the execution of the printing operation.

[0007] Furthermore, when the control unit fills at least a portion of the unused ink area between adjacent ink-used areas of the multiple rows of ink-used areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation, it is preferable to control the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the distance between adjacent ink-used areas becomes the same.

[0008] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that, among the multiple rows of ink-used areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation, no unused ink areas remain between adjacent ink-used areas that are larger than the width of the ink-used area in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon.

[0009] Furthermore, in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon, if the minimum width required for the ink usage area is defined as the minimum required ink usage width Lfm, the number of columns of the multiple columns of ink usage areas is defined as the number of ink usage area columns N, the distance between adjacent ink usage areas among the multiple columns of ink usage areas is defined as the ink usage area interval Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is defined as the number of times the ink usage areas are arranged by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch between adjacent ink usage areas, then the number of divisions D is the integer part of the result of calculating Lpitch / Lfm, and under the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, the control unit calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using the following formula (1), and preferably repeatedly performs an operation to control the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the ink ribbon is fed by the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon. Ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) ... Equation (1)

[0010] Furthermore, if the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the control unit may adjust at least one of the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D so that they become relatively prime, and then determine the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using formula (1). [Effects of the Invention]

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

[0012] [Figure 1] This diagram illustrates the overall configuration of a thermal printer according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows a four-row print pattern printed on a long film by the printing operation of a thermal printer. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing four columns of ink usage areas on an ink ribbon. [Figure 4] It is a diagram explaining multiple columns of ink usage areas on an ink ribbon. [Figure 5A] It is a diagram showing the operating states (a) to (e) of the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the first ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 5B] It is a diagram showing the operating states (f) and (g) of the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the first ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing the feeding operation of the first NG ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 7A] It is a diagram showing the operating states (a) to (c) of the feeding operation of the second NG ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 7B] It is a diagram showing the operating states (d) to (g) of the feeding operation of the second NG ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 8] It is a flowchart showing a control flow for determining the ribbon feed distance after repeatedly adjusting until the number of columns N of the ink usage area and the number of divisions D between the ink usage areas are relatively prime to each other. [Figure 9A] It is a diagram showing the operating states (a) to (c) of the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the second ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 9B] It is a diagram showing the operating states (d) to (f) of the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the second ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 10A] It is a diagram showing the operating states (a) to (c) of the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the third ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 10B] It is a diagram showing the operating states (d) to (f) of the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the third ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing the feeding operation of an ink ribbon in the fourth ribbon feeding control example. [Figure 12] (a) to (c) are diagrams for explaining the reason why the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is obtained by Equation (1).

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the overall configuration of a thermal printer 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a four-column printing pattern A printed on a long film F by the printing operation of the thermal printer 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing four-column ink usage areas Ra in the ink ribbon R. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining multiple-column ink usage areas Ra in the ink ribbon R.

[0014] In this embodiment, in the following description and the drawings, the transfer direction P of the long film F is, for example, the direction from the upper side to the lower side in FIG. 2. Also, the width direction of the long film F is also referred to as the Y direction (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The direction parallel to the transfer direction P of the long film F is also referred to as the X direction (the direction penetrating the paper surface of FIG. 1). The vertical direction in the thermal printer 1 is also referred to as the Z direction. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are orthogonal to each other.

[0015] The thermal printer 1 as a thermal transfer printer in this embodiment is a printer that prints a printing pattern A (see FIG. 2) on a long film F by thermal transfer of ink. The thermal printer 1 is, for example, an intermittent printer that executes a printing operation when the long film F, which is intermittently transferred by repeating transfer and stop, stops. The thermal printer 1 in this embodiment is a printer that prints a plurality of columns of printing patterns A arranged side by side at equal intervals with a predetermined interval at the same printing timing on the long film F when the long film F stops.

[0016] The thermal printer 1 prints a printing pattern A (see FIG. 2) on the long film F. The long film F is formed in a long shape having a width in the Y direction and being long in the transfer direction P (X direction), and is conveyed in the transfer direction P between the thermal head 21 and the platen plate 4 as shown in FIG. 1. The transfer direction P of the long film F is, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the direction from the X1 side (the upper side in FIG. 2) in the X direction to the X2 side (the lower side in FIG. 2).

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the thermal printer 1 comprises a head unit 2, a head linear movement mechanism 3 (linear movement section), a plastic template 4 (print receiving section), a ribbon transport mechanism 5, and a control unit 10.

[0018] The head unit 2 is positioned above the long film F being transported on the upper surface of the plastic template 4. The head unit 2 includes a thermal head 21 (heating element) and a head pressing mechanism 22.

[0019] The thermal head 21 is positioned on the lower side of the head unit 2. The thermal head 21 is moved by the head pressing mechanism 22 to a pressing position where the thermal head 21 is pressed toward the plastic template 4, and to a separated position where the thermal head 21 is separated from the plastic template 4. The driving of the thermal head 21 by the head pressing mechanism 22 is controlled by the control unit 10.

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

[0021] The thermal head 21 prints a print pattern A (see Figure 2) onto a long film F that is being transported in the transport direction P. As shown in Figure 1, the thermal head 21 is positioned opposite the plastic template 4, with the ink ribbon R of the ribbon transport mechanism 5 and the long film F in between.

[0022] The thermal head 21 is formed with a width in the X direction. The thermal head 21 is positioned so that its tip 21a protrudes downward. The thermal head 21 is equipped with multiple heating elements at its tip 21a. By energizing the thermal head 21, the desired heating elements generate heat.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the plastic template 4 is formed in the shape of a plate with thickness in the Z direction and is positioned below the head unit 2, sandwiching the long film F. The plastic template 4 is formed in the shape of a plane with its upper surface extending in the X and Y directions. The plastic template 4 is positioned opposite the long film F when the long film F is placed between it and the thermal head 21.

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

[0025] An ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is connected to the winding ribbon holder 52. The ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 rotates the winding ribbon holder 52, thereby feeding the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feeding direction Q. The ribbon transport mechanism 5 drives the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to transport the unused ink ribbon R wound on the raw material ribbon holder 51 toward the thermal head 21, and also transports the ink ribbon R used by the thermal head 21 toward the winding ribbon holder 52.

[0026] Guide rollers 53 and 54 are positioned apart in the Y direction and guide the ink ribbon R as it is transported from the raw material side ribbon holder 51 toward the winding side ribbon holder 52. The ink ribbon R is formed with a width in the X direction and is transported between guide rollers 53 and 54 in the ribbon feeding direction Q. The ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R is the direction from guide roller 53, which is positioned on the Y1 side in the Y direction, through the thermal head 21 toward guide roller 54, which is positioned on the Y2 side in the Y direction.

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

[0028] When the ink ribbon R is thermally transferred to the long film F by the heat of the thermal head 21 and the print pattern A is printed, the control unit 10 controls the printing of multiple rows of print pattern A, which are arranged at equal intervals with predetermined spacing in the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R, to the long film F at the same printing timing, as shown in Figure 2. After the printing operation is completed, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feeding direction Q for the next printing.

[0029] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the control unit 10 controls the printing of four rows of printing patterns A, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R, onto the long film F at the same printing timing. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, when the four rows of printing patterns A are printed on the ink ribbon R, four rows of ink usage areas Ra are formed. Multiple rows of these four ink usage areas Ra are arranged at predetermined intervals in the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R. Between adjacent ink usage areas Ra of the four rows of ink usage areas Ra, an ink-free area Rb is formed.

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

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

[0032] Furthermore, an example of simultaneous printing at the exact same time is in a typeface printer, where a typeface (heating element) with multiple characters arranged side by side is pressed against an ink ribbon to print, and multiple characters are pressed against the ink ribbon at the exact same time to print.

[0033] Conventionally, in thermal transfer printers that print multiple rows of print patterns arranged at predetermined intervals and equal spacing at the same printing timing, during printing, the ink from the ink ribbon is transferred to the object to be printed by thermal transfer, forming multiple ink-used areas arranged at predetermined intervals and equal spacing in the direction the ink ribbon is fed. The ink ribbon with multiple ink-used areas formed on it is fed in the ribbon feeding direction so as not to overlap with the ink-used areas for the next printing operation. Conventionally, in thermal transfer printers, in order to suppress the waste of ink ribbon, there are control systems that repeatedly feed the ink ribbon at short pitches to fill the unused ink areas between adjacent ink-used areas used in the printing operation, and then move the areas filled with ink-used areas all at once so that the unused ink areas can be used in the next print.

[0034] Conventionally, in thermal transfer printers, to reduce ink ribbon waste, the short pitch used to fill the unused ink areas between adjacent ink-used areas during printing was calculated by multiplying the width of the printing area by the number of times it did not overlap with the next ink-used area Ra. As a result, depending on the number of passes, an unused ink area Rb wider than the printing area width could be created, leading to wasted ink ribbon area.

[0035] In conventional thermal transfer printers, to minimize ink ribbon waste, the ink ribbon is fed multiple times at short intervals before being fed all at once. However, this process requires time for feeding the ribbon all at once, during which printing is impossible. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of efficient printing. Consequently, it was desired to revise the ink ribbon feeding control to reduce wasted printing time while performing printing efficiently.

[0036] In contrast, in the present invention, when the control unit 10 feeds the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q for subsequent printing, it controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R so as to fill at least a portion of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink usage areas Ra, which are formed at predetermined intervals and equal spacing in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R used when printing the multi-row print pattern A, and so as not to overlap the ink usage areas Ra. The control unit 10 then repeatedly performs the operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to position the ink ribbon R to a position moved by the same distance in the ribbon feed direction Q for all ink ribbon R feeding operations after the printing operation.

[0037] Furthermore, when the control unit 10 fills at least a portion of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink usage areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation, it controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R by a predetermined feed distance each time after the printing operation so that the distance between adjacent ink usage areas Ra is the same. As a result, the distance between adjacent ink usage areas Ra on the ink ribbon R is the same.

[0038] Furthermore, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that, among the multiple rows of ink usage areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used by the printing operation, no unused ink areas Rb that are larger than the width of the ink usage area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R remain between adjacent ink usage areas Ra. As a result, the ink ribbon R can be utilized to the point where no unused ink areas Rb remain between adjacent ink usage areas Ra. Therefore, waste of the ink ribbon R can be suppressed.

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

[0040] As shown in equation (1) above, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is obtained as a ratio to the ink usage area interval Lpitch. This means that the relationship with the ribbon feed distance Lfeed does not break down even if the ink usage area interval Lpitch is expanded or contracted by any magnification. In actual applications, the value of the ink usage area interval Lpitch used in the figures for each embodiment can be replaced with the actual value of the ink usage area interval Ra.

[0041] In equation (1), the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are defined as follows: As shown in Figure 4, in the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R, the minimum width required for the ink usage area Ra is defined as the minimum required ink usage width Lfm, the number of columns of multiple ink usage area Ra is defined as the number of ink usage area columns N, the distance between adjacent ink usage area Ra in the multiple columns of ink usage area Ra is defined as the ink usage area interval Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is the number of times the ink usage area is arranged by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch between adjacent ink usage area Ra. The number of divisions D is the integer part of the calculation obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the minimum required ink usage width Lfm. Figure 4 illustrates the case where the number of ink usage area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=3.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the minimum required ink width Lfm for the ink usage area Ra is the actual ink usage width H plus the feed control allowance margin Le and the tape elongation margin Lm. Lfm = H + Le + Lm

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

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

[0045] Next, we will explain the first to fourth ribbon feeding control examples for the ink ribbon feeding control of thermal printer 1, as well as control examples where the ink usage area Ra overlaps (first NG ribbon feeding control example, second NG ribbon feeding control example).

[0046] First, let's explain the first ribbon feed control example. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the first ribbon feed control example is a ribbon feed control example where the ink usage area interval Lpitch, the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and the number of divisions D=3 are arbitrarily set. According to equation (1) above, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) = Lpitch × (4 / 3). The number of ink usage area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=3 are relatively prime. In the first ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Figure 5A(a), a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and in the ink ribbon R, the "1" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used at the ink usage area interval Lpitch.

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

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

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

[0050] As a result, in the first ribbon feed control example, with a division number D=3, the ink ribbon R can be moved in the ribbon feed direction Q while minimizing the amount of unused ink Rb between adjacent ink-used areas Ra. Here, the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is controlled so that when filling at least a portion of the unused ink Rb between adjacent ink-used areas Ra of the multiple rows of ink-used areas Ra of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation, the distance between adjacent ink-used areas Ra remains the same. Furthermore, the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 is controlled so that, among the multiple rows of ink-used areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used by the printing operation, no unused ink Rb remains between adjacent ink-used areas Ra that is larger than the width of the ink-used area Ra in the feed direction of the ink ribbon R. Therefore, waste of the ink ribbon R can be suppressed.

[0051] Furthermore, because the operation of sending a fixed ribbon feed distance Lfeed is repeated, there is no time required to send the ink ribbon usage area all at once after each print, thus reducing wasted printing time. Furthermore, because the ribbon is fed at a constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed each time, an unused ink area Rb remains at the beginning of the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R. However, during the normal operation of subsequent printing operations, the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink-used areas Ra becomes extremely small, and the ink ribbon R is used in a way that minimizes waste.

[0052] Here, as an example of first NG ribbon feed control, as shown in Figure 6, we will explain the case where, for example, the ink usage area interval Lpitch is arbitrarily set and the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime.

[0053] For example, as shown in Figure 6, when the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch, the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and the number of divisions D=2, the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=2 are relatively prime is not satisfied. Here, if we calculate the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using the above equation (1), we get ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 2).

[0054] As a result, as shown in Figure 6(a), a printing operation is first performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and an ink usage area row number N=4, and in the ink ribbon R, the "1" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used with the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0055] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved from the position shown in Figure 6(a) to the position shown in Figure 6(b) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 2) calculated by equation (1) in the ribbon feed direction Q. Then, as shown in Figure 6(c), when the printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N = 4, the two ink usage area Ra portions at the front of the ribbon feed direction Q in the four ink usage area Ra portions of the ink ribbon R overlap with the ink usage area Ra portion of Ra.

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

[0057] Furthermore, as an example of a second NG ribbon feed control, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, we will explain the case where, for example, the ink usage area interval Lpitch is arbitrarily set and the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime.

[0058] For example, as shown in Figure 7A, if the predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch, the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and the number of divisions D=6, then the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=6 are relatively prime is not satisfied. Here, if we calculate the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using the above equation (1), we get ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 6).

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

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

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

[0062] Next, the ink ribbon R is moved from position (e) in Figure 7B to position (f) in Figure 7B by a ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 6) in the ribbon feed direction Q. Then, as shown in Figure 7B (g), when a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and number of ink usage area columns N = 4, the two ink usage area "4" portions at the front of the ribbon feed direction Q of the four ink usage area Ra portions of the ink ribbon R overlap with the ink usage area "1" portion of the ink usage area Ra. Therefore, if the number of ink usage area columns N = 4 and the number of divisions D = 6 do not satisfy the condition that they are relatively prime, the ink usage area Ra will overlap, so the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D must satisfy the condition that they are relatively prime.

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

[0064] As shown in Figure 8, in step S1, the ink usage area interval Lpitch / minimum required ink usage width Lfm is calculated, and the number of divisions D is determined by the integer part of the calculation result. After step S1, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0065] In step S2, to determine whether the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, we check whether the greatest common divisor of the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D is 1. Here, if the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, the ink ribbon R can be used without overlapping the ink usage area Ra, so we check whether the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime. Note that there are various methods for finding the greatest common divisor, but any method can be used to find it.

[0066] If the greatest common divisor of the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D is 1 (YES), then the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, and the process proceeds to step S4. If the greatest common divisor of the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D is not 1 (NO), then the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, and the process proceeds to step S3, where the number of divisions D is reduced by 1, and the process returns to step S2. The process in step S2 is repeated until the greatest common divisor of the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D becomes 1, and the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime.

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

[0068] For example, as shown in Figure 4, when the ink usage area spacing Lpitch = 90 mm, the number of ink usage area rows N = 4, and the number of divisions D = 3, the condition that the number of ink usage area rows N = 4 and the number of divisions D = 3 are relatively prime is satisfied, and by equation (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = 90 mm × (4 / 3) = 120 mm.

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

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

[0071] The second ribbon feed control example, as shown in Figure 9A, is an example of ribbon feed control when the ink usage area interval Lpitch is set arbitrarily, the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and the number of divisions D=5. In the second ribbon feed control example, the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=5 are relatively prime is satisfied, and according to equation (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) = Lpitch × (4 / 5). In the second ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Figure 9A(a), a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N=4, and in the ink ribbon R, the "1" portion of the four ink usage areas Ra is used with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0072] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved from position 9A(a) to position 9A(b) in the ribbon feed direction Q by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 5) calculated by equation (1). Subsequently, as shown in Figures 9A(b) to 9B(f), the printing operation is performed, using multiple ink usage areas Ra on the ink ribbon R, and the operation of moving the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (4 / 5) is repeated. As a result, the printing operation is performed using parts "1" to "6" of the ink usage area Ra on the ink ribbon R, and the same operation is repeated thereafter. Since the number of ink usage area columns N=4 and the number of divisions D=5 are relatively prime, the ink ribbon R can be used in a state where the ink usage areas Ra do not overlap.

[0073] Furthermore, the third ribbon feed control example, as shown in Figure 10A, is an example of ribbon feed control when the ink usage area interval Lpitch is arbitrarily set, the number of ink usage area columns N=6, and the number of divisions D=5. In the third ribbon feed control example, the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N=6 and the number of divisions D=5 are relatively prime is satisfied, and by equation (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) = Lpitch × (6 / 5). In the third ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Figure 10A(a), a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N=6, and in the ink ribbon R, the "1" portion of the 6 ink usage areas Ra is used with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0074] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved from position (a) in Figure 10A to position (b) in Figure 10A by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (6 / 5) calculated by equation (1) in the ribbon feed direction Q. Subsequently, as shown in Figures 10A(b) to 10B(f), the printing operation is performed, using multiple ink usage areas Ra on the ink ribbon R, and the operation of moving the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (6 / 5) is repeated. As a result, the printing operation is performed using parts "1" to "6" of the ink usage area Ra on the ink ribbon R, and the same operation is repeated thereafter. Since the number of ink usage area columns N=6 and the number of divisions D=5 are relatively prime, the ink ribbon R can be used in a state where the ink usage areas Ra do not overlap.

[0075] Furthermore, the fourth ribbon feed control example, as shown in Figure 11, is a ribbon feed control example where the ink usage area interval Lpitch, the number of ink usage area columns N=3, and the number of divisions D=2 are arbitrarily set. In the fourth ribbon feed control example, the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N=3 and the number of divisions D=2 are relatively prime is satisfied, and by equation (1), the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) = Lpitch × (3 / 2). In the fourth ribbon feed control example, first, as shown in Figure 11(a), a printing operation is performed with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch and the number of ink usage area columns N=3, and in the ink ribbon R, the "1" portion of the three ink usage areas Ra is used with a predetermined ink usage area interval Lpitch.

[0076] Then, the ink ribbon R is moved from the position shown in Figure 11(a) to the position shown in Figure 11(b) by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (3 / 2) calculated by equation (1) in the ribbon feed direction Q. Subsequently, as shown in Figures 11(b) to (d), the printing operation is performed, using multiple ink usage areas Ra on the ink ribbon R, and the operation of moving the ink ribbon R by the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (3 / 2) is repeated. As a result, the printing operation is performed using parts "1" to "4" of the ink usage area Ra on the ink ribbon R, and the same operation is repeated thereafter. Since the number of ink usage area columns N=3 and the number of divisions D=2 are relatively prime, the ink ribbon R can be used in a state where the ink usage areas Ra do not overlap.

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

[0078] Furthermore, because the operation of sending a fixed ribbon feed distance Lfeed is repeated, the time required to send the ink ribbon usage area all at once, which occurred with conventional methods after a certain number of prints, can be suppressed, thereby reducing wasted printing time. Furthermore, in order to feed a certain ribbon distance, an unused ink area Rb remains at the beginning of the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R. However, during the normal operation of subsequent printing operations, the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink-used areas Ra becomes as small as possible, and the ink ribbon R is used in a way that minimizes waste.

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

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

[0081] Furthermore, if we let Wi be the width obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the number of divisions D, then the ink ribbon length obtained by multiplying the ink usage area Ra group by the width Wi obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the number of divisions D is theoretically the minimum ink ribbon length Lmin when printing at maximum efficiency. Lmin = Wi × N × D

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

[0083] Here, it is required that the ink usage area Ra group printed at N×D locations is repeated during normal printing. If Lf is the length of the ink usage area Ra group printed at N×D locations, in units of width Wi, then by selecting N and D values ​​such that printing to a particular ink usage area Ra is performed only once during the repeated printing timings, without specifying which printing timing a particular ink usage area Ra will be printed at, it is possible to form (print) an ink usage area Ra group without overlapping usage areas even as printing is repeated.

[0084] If we let the number of printing timings be m, the position of the divided region be the nth, and the total number of times the printing region has been sent so far be d, then in the repetition of the ink-using region Ra group printed at N×D locations, the printing position P(n,m,d) of any ink-using region Ra can be expressed as N×n+D×m+Lf×d, where n, m, and d are arbitrary integers starting from 0.

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

[0086] Here, in order to avoid specifying which printing timing in the repeated printing cycle the ink usage area Ra in a particular location is printed at, the term Lf×d must be a congruent expression modulo N×D with equation N×D, and this requirement is satisfied when Lf is N×D. This allows us to eliminate the term Lf×d, which is congruent modulo N×D, from equation N×n + D×m + Lf×d.

[0087] Therefore, in order to satisfy the condition that the ink usage area Ra at a position represented by N×n+D×m printed at a certain printing timing appears only once at all preceding and succeeding printing timings, and that the remainder when the value of N×n+D×m is divided by N×D must be a unique integer between 0 and N×D-1, then it is sufficient that the equations N×n+D×m and N×D are congruences modulo N×D. According to the Chinese Remainder Theorem, this condition can be satisfied by choosing numbers such that N and D are relatively prime.

[0088] In the Chinese Remainder Theorem, for two variables, if two given integers m1 and m2 are relatively prime, then for any given integers a1 and a2, there exists exactly one x between 0 and m1 × m2 (exclusive) that satisfies the system of congruences x ≡ a1 (mod. m1) and x ≡ a2 (mod. m2). In particular, if we let this number be d, then from x ≡ a1 (mod. m1) and x ≡ a2 (mod. m2), we have x ≡ d (mod. m1 × m2). Furthermore, by the theorem, x ≡ k × a1 ≡ a1 (mod. m1), so k times a1 is also congruent (k is any integer greater than or equal to 1).

[0089] Let N be the number of ink-used area columns, D be the number of divisions, m be the arbitrary printing timing, and n be the position of the divided area. Then, if we denote the desired printing position P(n,m), it can be expressed as follows using the aforementioned Chinese Remainder Theorem. P(n,m) = N × n + D × m (mod. N × D), where N ⊥ D (N and D are relatively prime) ... Equation (2)

[0090] By selecting the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D that satisfy the conditions associated with the aforementioned equation (2), it is possible to continue printing repeatedly without overlapping ink usage areas Ra.

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

[0092] The aforementioned print position P(n,m) is defined in units of width Wi, which is obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the number of divisions D. In other words, the relationship is ink usage area interval Lpitch = Wi × D.

[0093] As mentioned above, since it is known that the smallest Lf does not have overlapping positions printed in the number of columns N × number of divisions D, when performing the printing operation to form a print area of ​​number N columns in the ink usage area D times in one printing timing, in order to ensure that the amount of ink ribbon sent each time to form the ink usage area of ​​number N columns × number of divisions D in the smallest Lf is equal, according to the Chinese surplus theorem, Lf should be the length obtained by dividing the number of divisions D, which is the number of columns N and number of divisions D that constitute the congruence Lf.

[0094] Lfeed=Lf / D =N × D × Wi / D Here, since Wi = Lpitch / D, Lfeed = N × D × (Lpitch / D) / D If we rearrange the right-hand side, Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) This is the result.

[0095] From the above, equation (1) for calculating the ribbon feed distance Lfeed can be obtained. As a result, as shown in Figure 12(c), during the feeding operation of the ink ribbon R, by moving it by the amount of the ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) ... equation (1) obtained in this way, the ink ribbon R can be used in a state where the ink usage area Ra does not overlap.

[0096] Next, we will explain how to find N and D, which are relatively prime. The number of ink usage area columns N is the number of ink usage areas and is a value determined by the configuration of the printer device. Therefore, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is obtained by adjusting the number of divisions D. As mentioned above, the number of divisions D is obtained by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch by the width used in a single print.

[0097] The usable width for a single print is the value that minimizes the minimum ink usage width Lfm, which is the sum of the height of the printed content and various margins. The number of divisions when the ink usage area interval Lpitch is divided by this minimum ink usage width Lfm is the maximum possible value of the number of divisions D, but it is not necessarily an integer that satisfies the condition of being relatively prime to the number of ink usage area columns N.

[0098] Therefore, by assuming that the maximum number of divisions Dmax in the minimum required ink width Lfm is the number of divisions D, and if the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, we can find an appropriate number of divisions D by repeatedly reducing the number of divisions D and checking again whether they are relatively prime.

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

[0100] (1) Using the formula Lfm = H + Le + Lm, the minimum required ink width Lfm is determined from the actual ink usage width H, the feed control allowable margin Le, and the tape stretch margin Lm. (2) Dmax ← Lpitch / Lfm: The maximum number of divisions Dmax is calculated from the ink usage area interval Lpitch and the minimum required ink usage width Lfm. (3) Assuming that the maximum number of divisions Dmax is equal to the number of divisions D, using the formula D←Dmax. (4) Find the greatest common divisor c of N and D using c←gcd(N,D). (5) D ← D-1, where (c>1). If the greatest common divisor c is greater than 1, subtract 1 from D and return to step (4). If the greatest common divisor c is equal to 1, N and D are relatively prime, so proceed to the next step. (6) Using the formula Lfeed ← (N / D) × Lpitch, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated from the number of divisions D, the number of ink usage area columns N, and the ink usage area interval Lpitch. In this way, it is possible to derive the number of divisions D of the ink usage area interval Lpitch and a constant ribbon feed distance Lfeed, which allow the ink ribbon to be used without overlapping ink usage areas.

[0101] According to the thermal printer 1 of this embodiment, for example, the following effects can be achieved. The thermal printer 1 of this embodiment includes a thermal head 21, an ink ribbon R whose ink is thermally transferred to a long film F by the heat of the thermal head 21 during printing, an ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 that feeds the ink ribbon R, and a control unit 10 that controls the printing of multiple rows of printing patterns A on the long film F at the same printing timing, and after the execution of the printing operation, controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R in the ribbon feed direction Q for the next printing. The control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 to feed the ink ribbon R so as to fill at least a portion of the non-ink area Rb between adjacent ink-used areas Ra, and so as not to overlap with the ink-used areas Ra, and repeatedly performs the operation of controlling the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the ink ribbon R is positioned at a position moved by the same distance in the ribbon feed direction Q in all ink ribbon feeding operations after the execution of the printing operation. This allows the ink ribbon R to be used in a way that does not overlap with the ink usage area Ra, thereby reducing waste of the ink ribbon R, minimizing wasted printing time, and enabling more efficient printing operations.

[0102] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the control unit 10 fills at least a portion of the unused ink area Rb between adjacent ink usage areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation, it controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the distance between adjacent ink usage areas Ra becomes the same. This makes it possible to make the distance between adjacent ink usage areas Ra the same, thereby further suppressing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0103] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 10 controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that, among the multiple rows of ink usage areas Ra of the ink ribbon R used in the printing operation, no unused ink areas Rb larger than the width of the ink usage area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R remain between adjacent ink usage areas Ra. This prevents the remaining unused ink areas Rb larger than the width of the ink usage area Ra in the ribbon feed direction Q of the ink ribbon R, thereby further suppressing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0104] In this embodiment, in the ribbon feeding direction Q of the ink ribbon R, the minimum width required for the ink usage area Ra is defined as the minimum required ink usage width Lfm, the number of columns of multiple columns of ink usage area Ra is defined as the number of ink usage area columns N, the distance between adjacent ink usage area Ra among the multiple columns of ink usage area Ra is defined as the ink usage area interval Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is defined as the number of times the ink usage area Ra is arranged by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch between adjacent ink usage area Ra. The number of divisions D is the integer part of the result of calculating Lpitch / Lfm, and the control unit 10 calculates the ribbon feed distance Lfeed using the formula (1) ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D), under the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, and repeatedly performs an operation to control the ink ribbon feed drive unit 55 so that the ink ribbon R is fed by the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon R.

[0105] This allows the ribbon feed distance Lfeed to be easily calculated using equation (1), and the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed can be used for any of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon R. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform printing operations efficiently while suppressing waste of the ink ribbon R.

[0106] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 10 adjusts the number of divisions D so that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime when they are not relatively prime. Under the relationship that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed is determined by equation (1). This makes it easy to determine the ribbon feed distance Lfeed that allows printing to continue without overlapping the ink usage area Ra.

[0107] Although preferred embodiments have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the embodiments described above.

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

[0109] In the above embodiment, when the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime, the number of divisions D was reduced to adjust them so that the number of ink-used area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the number of divisions D may be increased to adjust the ratio, or the number of ink-used area columns N may be increased or decreased to adjust the ratio.

[0110] In the above embodiment, a thermal printer was described as an example in which ink is transferred and printed by the heat of a thermal head (heating element), but the invention is not limited to this. A type printer that prints by pressing a type stencil (heating element) with multiple characters arranged side by side onto an ink ribbon may also be used as a thermal transfer printer.

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

[0112] In the above embodiment, control was performed to move the ink ribbon R by a ribbon feed distance Lfeed each time. In the above embodiment, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed each time is set to the same distance, but any distance within the tolerance range of the ribbon feed distance Lfeed (feed control tolerance margin Le + tape elongation margin Lm) is included in the same distance. For example, the ribbon feed distance Lfeed may be an amount of ink ribbon that is intentionally increased, decreased or varied within the tolerance range. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0113] 1. Thermal printer (thermal transfer printer) 10 Control Unit 21. Thermal head (heating element) 55 Ink ribbon feed drive unit A Printing Pattern F Long film (for printing) R Ink Ribbon Ra ink usage area Rb Unused Ink Area

Claims

1. A thermal transfer printer that prints a print pattern onto an object by heat transfer of ink, Heating element and An ink ribbon in which ink is thermally transferred to the object to be printed by the heat of the heating element during printing, The ink ribbon feed drive unit that feeds the aforementioned ink ribbon, The system includes a control unit that controls the printing operation performed while the ink ribbon is stopped, in which the ink of the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the object to be printed by the heat of the heating element to print a printing pattern, so that multiple rows of printing patterns, arranged at equal intervals with predetermined intervals in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon, are printed on the object to be printed at the same printing timing, and after the execution of the printing operation, controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to feed the ink ribbon in the feeding direction for the next printing, The control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit to feed the ink ribbon in the feed direction for subsequent printing, so as to fill at least a portion of the unused ink areas between adjacent ink usage areas, which are arranged at predetermined intervals in the feed direction of the ink ribbon used when printing the multiple rows of print patterns, and so as not to overlap the ink usage areas. Furthermore, in all ink ribbon feeding operations after the execution of the printing operation, the control unit repeatedly performs an operation to control the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the ink ribbon is positioned at a location moved by the same distance in the feed direction. In the feeding direction of the ink ribbon, the minimum width required for the ink usage area is defined as the minimum required ink usage width Lfm, the number of columns of the multiple columns of ink usage areas is defined as the number of ink usage area columns N, the distance between adjacent ink usage areas among the multiple columns of ink usage areas is defined as the ink usage area interval Lpitch, and the number of divisions D is the number of times the ink usage areas are arranged by dividing the ink usage area interval Lpitch between adjacent ink usage areas. The number of divisions D is the integer part of the result of calculating Lpitch / Lfm. The control unit operates under the condition that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are relatively prime. The ribbon feed distance Lfeed is calculated using the following formula (1): A thermal transfer printer that repeatedly performs an operation to control the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that the ink ribbon is fed by the same ribbon feed distance Lfeed in each of the multiple feeding operations of the ink ribbon. Ribbon feed distance Lfeed = Lpitch × (N / D) ... Equation (1)

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

3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit controls the ink ribbon feed drive unit so that, among the multiple rows of ink-used areas of the ink ribbon used by the printing operation, no unused ink areas larger than the width of the ink-used area in the feeding direction of the ink ribbon remain between adjacent ink-used areas.

4. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit adjusts at least one of the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D so that the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D become relatively prime when the number of ink usage area columns N and the number of divisions D are not relatively prime.

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