Printing apparatus, printing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKeisuke Nishihara, Akira Minami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A CPU of a printing apparatus energizes heat-generating elements for a predetermined period of time in a first divided printing cycle of two divided printing cycles obtained by dividing one printing cycle, according to a yellow energization pattern, and forms a first yellow print dot without causing a heat-sensitive tape to develop another color. Then, the CPU energizes the heat-generating elements for a predetermined period of time in a second divided printing cycle of the two divided printing cycles, and forms a second yellow print dot on the heat-sensitive tape. By forming two print dots in one printing cycle, the CPU secures a large color reproduction range.
Claims8
A printing apparatus comprising:
- a thermal head having a plurality of heat-generating elements aligned in a line form;
- a conveyor configured to convey a print medium in a conveying direction orthogonal to a serial direction in which the plurality of heat-generating elements are aligned in the thermal head, the printing apparatus being configured to form print dots on the print medium conveyed by the conveyor;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- generate a signal pattern for causing the plurality of heat-generating elements to selectively generate heat based on image data;
- and
- control an application of energy to the heat-generating elements according to the signal pattern, for each printing cycle that is repeated continuously,
- wherein the signal pattern is configured by a pattern in which application information of indicating a period for applying energy to the heat-generating elements and non-application information of indicating a period not for applying energy to the heat-generating elements are combined, and
- wherein the processor is configured to generate the signal pattern by a combination of:
- a multi-dot forming signal pattern including a pattern in which one printing cycle is divided into a plurality of divided printing cycles, and a print dot is formed by a combination of the application information and the non-application information in each of the divided printing cycles;
- and
- a single-dot forming signal pattern that is a pattern in which a single print dot is formed by a combination of the application information and the non-application information within one printing cycle, without dividing the one printing cycle.
A printing method of, in a printing apparatus printing apparatus comprising a thermal head having a plurality of heat-generating elements aligned in a line form, and a conveyor configured to convey a print medium in a conveying direction orthogonal to a serial direction in which the plurality of heat-generating elements are aligned in the thermal head, forming print dots on the print medium conveyed by the conveyor, the printing method comprising the steps of:
- generating a signal pattern for causing the plurality of heat-generating elements to selectively generate heat based on image data;
- and
- controlling an application of energy to the heat-generating elements according to the signal pattern, for each printing cycle that is repeated continuously, to form print dots on the print medium,
- wherein the signal pattern is configured by a pattern in which application information of indicating a period for applying energy to the heat-generating elements and non-application information of indicating a period not for applying energy to the heat-generating elements are combined, and
- wherein the signal pattern is configured by a combination of:
- a multi-dot forming signal pattern including a pattern in which one printing cycle is divided into a plurality of divided printing cycles, and a print dot is formed by a combination of the application information and the non-application information in each of the divided printing cycles;
- and
- a single-dot forming signal pattern that is a pattern in which a single print dot is formed by a combination of the application information and the non-application information within one printing cycle, without dividing the one printing cycle.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a printing program executable by a computer of a printing apparatus that comprises a thermal head having a plurality of heat-generating elements aligned in a line form, and a conveyor configured to convey a print medium in a conveying direction orthogonal to a serial direction in which the plurality of heat-generating elements are aligned in the thermal head, the printing apparatus being configured to form print dots on the print medium conveyed by the conveyor, the printing program comprising instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the printing apparatus to perform:
- generating a signal pattern for causing the plurality of heat-generating elements to selectively generate heat based on image data;
- and
- controlling an application of energy to the heat-generating elements according to the signal pattern, for each printing cycle that is repeated continuously, to form print dots on the print medium,
- wherein the signal pattern is configured by a pattern in which application information of indicating a period for applying energy to the heat-generating elements and non-application information of indicating a period not for applying energy to the heat-generating elements are combined, and
- wherein the signal pattern is configured by a combination of:
- a multi-dot forming signal pattern including a pattern in which one printing cycle is divided into a plurality of divided printing cycles, and a print dot is formed by a combination of the application information and the non-application information in each of the divided printing cycles;
- and
- a single-dot forming signal pattern that is a pattern in which a single print dot is formed by a combination of the application information and the non-application information within one printing cycle, without dividing the one printing cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.