Printing Apparatus Thermal Head Multi-Dot Segmentation

The printing cycle is divided into multiple divided printing cycles (first, second, and subsequent divided printing cycles). This segmentation allows the system to manage heat application in controlled intervals, enabling temperature stability with lower-cost components by preventing heat accumulation that would otherwise require expensive high-performance hardware to control.

The patent implements periodic heating action by applying energy to heat-generating elements in specific intervals within each divided printing cycle. This periodic action allows the inexpensive print head to maintain adequate temperature by heating only when necessary, rather than requiring continuous high-power heating that would demand expensive components with high heat responsiveness.

By dividing the printing cycle into multiple divided printing cycles with different signal patterns, the system can form multiple print dots that collectively cover a larger area. The first divided printing cycle uses one signal pattern while subsequent cycles use different patterns, allowing expanded print dot coverage without requiring a single large print dot that would demand high temperature maintenance capability.

The patent extends the printing approach from a single print dot per cycle to multiple print dots across different divided cycles. This dimensional expansion in the time domain (multiple cycles) compensates for the limited size of individual print dots, achieving sufficient overall reproduction range without requiring expensive high-performance print heads.

The patent applies different signal patterns to different divided printing cycles to address local heat storage conditions. The first divided printing cycle uses one signal pattern while subsequent divided printing cycles use different patterns, allowing the system to adapt to heat accumulation in specific cycles and prevent excessive heat storage while maintaining expanded reproduction range.

The system incorporates feedback by adjusting signal patterns based on the cycle position (first vs. subsequent divided printing cycles). This feedback mechanism accounts for heat storage effects that accumulate across cycles, modifying the energization pattern to compensate for thermal accumulation and maintain print quality across the expanded reproduction range.

By segmenting the printing cycle into divided cycles with different signal patterns, the system maintains color tone consistency within each segment while expanding overall reproduction range. The differentiation of signal patterns between first and subsequent divided printing cycles compensates for heat storage effects, ensuring stable color tone across multiple print dots.

The patent changes signaling parameters (signal patterns) between different divided printing cycles to compensate for heat storage effects. By modifying the energization parameters in subsequent divided cycles compared to the first cycle, the system maintains consistent color tone despite forming multiple print dots that would otherwise accumulate heat and alter color characteristics.