Heat accumulation control device for line-type thermoelectric printer

Abstract

A heat accumulation control device is provided to control printing responsive to residual-heat values which remain in head elements of a thermal head in a line-type thermoelectric printer due to previous printing operation. The heat accumulation control device contains a line buffer for storing input data, which are supplied thereto from the printer or an external device, and a residual-heat-value storing memory which is capable of storing one line of residual-heat values corresponding to the head elements respectively. A correction calculation section performs correction calculations, using parameters, based on the input data, outputted from the line buffer, and a residual-heat value which is read out from the residual-heat-value storing memory with respect to a specific head element to be currently driven, so that print data are calculated. Thus, the specific head element is driven so that a dot is printed on a paper in a density corresponding to the print data. Further, a residual-heat-value calculation section performs calculations, using parameters, based on the print data and the residual-heat value read out from the residual-heat-value storing memory together with at least another one residual-heat value of a head element which is positioned adjacent to the specific head element in the thermal head, so that a new residual-heat value is produced with respect to the specific head element and is newly stored in the residual-heat-value storing memory.