| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:To enable easy switching between recording of characters and recording of non-character images through using a single thermal head, by providing a common electrode with a changeover switch for grounding, and providing some or all of a plurality of recording electrodes with switching means for grounding in a predetermined order. CONSTITUTION:In the case of recording characters, a changeover switch 6 is turned ON to ground a common electrode 2, changeover switches 41, 43 and 44 are used under ON/OFF control according to a recording control signal, and changeover switches 42 and 45 are used between a contact (a) and a contact (c) under on an ON/OFF bias according to the recording control signal. In this case, every one of recording electrodes 31-35 functions as a recording element, so that ink picture element regions become as indicated by broken lines 61-65. In the case of recording halftone dot images, the changeover switch 6 is turned ON and OFF, and the changeover switches 42 and 45 are set to a contact (b), thereby grounding the recording electrodes 32 and 35. In addition, the changeover switch 43 is left OFF so that the recording electrode 33 does not function to record. When the switch 41 is turned ON, an electric current flows between the adjacent electrodes 31 and 32, resulting in that a broad region corresponding to two picture elements as indicated by a broken line 66 is heated. |
