Patent ID: 6496211
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A thermal printer having a thermal head including plural heating elements, wherein said heating elements are arranged in an array in a main scan direction, are driven according to respectively image data, for recording an image by one line to recording material moved in a sub scan direction, said heating element array having a size greater in said main scan direction than said recording material, said thermal printer comprising:a position determining unit for detecting at least one lateral edge of said recording material, to determine effective heating elements in contact with said recording material among said heating elements; and a data correcting unit for effecting a correcting process to part of said image data for heating elements of a first group included in said effective heating elements, wherein said first group of said heating elements contacts said at least one lateral edge and a near portion near to said at least one lateral edge in said recording material.