Patent ID: 6154241
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A thermosensitive color printing method for printing a full-color image on a thermosensitive color recording medium including a support, and a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers formed on the support, wherein a thermal head effects thermal recording on one of the coloring layers during a first relative movement of the recording medium relative to the thermal head, and an optical fixing device effects optical fixing of said one coloring layer after said thermal recording during said first relative movement as well as during a second relative movement of the recording medium relative to the thermal head, said printing method comprising the steps of:measuring, with a sensor, a first maximum irradiance of said optical fixing device while driving said optical fixing device by a drive pulse signal at a maximum duty factor, prior to said first relative movement of the recording medium;determining a first irradiance set value in accordance with said first maximum irradiance;causing said first relative movement of the recording medium at a first speed predetermined according to a thermal sensitivity of said one coloring layer;adjusting duty factor of said drive pulse signal to maintain said optical fixing device at said first irradiance set value during said first relative movement of the recording medium;detecting a second maximum irradiance of said optical fixing device prior to said second relative movement of the recording medium;determining a second irradiance set value in accordance with said second maximum irradiance;causing said second relative movement at a second speed that is determined in accordance with said second irradiance set value; andadjusting duty factor of said drive pulse signal to maintain said optical fixing device at said second irradiance set value during said second relative movement of the recording medium.