Thermal printer with minimized power difference between sequentially driven blocks of printing elements

摘要

A thermal printer has a thermal head provided with a plurality of thermal elements arranged linearly. The thermal printer also includes a power source capable of supplying a predetermined power level to the plurality of thermal elements which generate heat, a drive for driving the thermal elements with power, and a controller for dividing the plurality of thermal elements into at least two groups. The grouping of the thermal elements is determined such that a difference in power consumption between the groups is minimized.