EP0521011B1 - Process for guiding a sheet of paper in a colour-tape cassette, and a colour-tape cassette for carrying out the process - Google Patents

Process for guiding a sheet of paper in a colour-tape cassette, and a colour-tape cassette for carrying out the process Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0521011B1
EP0521011B1 EP91905555A EP91905555A EP0521011B1 EP 0521011 B1 EP0521011 B1 EP 0521011B1 EP 91905555 A EP91905555 A EP 91905555A EP 91905555 A EP91905555 A EP 91905555A EP 0521011 B1 EP0521011 B1 EP 0521011B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
area
ink ribbon
ribbon cassette
guidance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91905555A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0521011A1 (en
Inventor
Lutz Neubauer
Hartmut Kirchhoff
Rainer Urban
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Mannesmann AG
Eastman Kodak Co
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Publication date
Application filed by Mannesmann AG, Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Mannesmann AG
Publication of EP0521011A1 publication Critical patent/EP0521011A1/en
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Publication of EP0521011B1 publication Critical patent/EP0521011B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J17/00—Mechanisms for manipulating page-width impression-transfer material, e.g. carbon paper
    • B41J17/32—Detachable carriers or holders for impression-transfer material mechanism

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for guiding a sheet in an ink ribbon cassette, in which the sheet coming from a sheet exit point of a pressure body in a sheet guide channel with a curved deflection area is returned to a sheet entry point of the pressure body, the sheet being seen along the concave surface of the pressure guide body Deflection area is performed.
  • a sheet conveyed from a sheet supply is transferred through an opening into an ink ribbon cassette to a sheet entry point of a pressure element designed as a pressure roller.
  • the sheet is then guided past a recording head with the interposition of a first ribbon section of a ribbon stored in the ribbon cassette, with color transfer from the first ribbon section to the sheet taking place in accordance with the control of the recording head.
  • the sheet printed in this way with a first color emerges at a sheet exit point of the pressure body and is again guided in a sheet guide channel with a curved deflection area up to the sheet entry point of the pressure body in order to be guided past the recording head again with the interposition of further different ribbon sections of the ink ribbon to become.
  • the object of the invention is to improve the positioning accuracy of a sheet fed several times to a pressure element in the ribbon cassette with respect to the sheet entry point using simple constructional means.
  • This object is achieved according to the invention in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the sheet is tilted in sections by means of an elevation on the concave surface transversely to the sheet guiding direction and that, seen in the sheet guiding direction, a force acting transversely to the sheet guiding direction is exerted on the sheet after the elevation through which the sheet is aligned with a side edge on a sheet guide surface.
  • the curvature of the sheet in the curved deflection area brings about a significant reduction in the area moment of inertia of the sheet, which is decisive for the sheet alignment, so that a displacement of the leading sheet edge and subsequently the other sheet areas transversely to the sheet guide direction is made possible with surprisingly little effort;
  • An approximately vertical displacement of the leading sheet edge (seen in the sheet guide direction) or the subsequent sheet areas to the sheet guide direction is made possible by the at least partial lifting of the sheet from the concave surface of the sheet guide channel that delimits the sheet guide channel outwards, because the sheet has a significant increase due to the elevation receives increased mobility transversely to the sheet guide direction and an additional rotational degree of freedom (tilting movement around the elevation) essentially around the axis of the sheet guide direction in the region of the elevation; furthermore, the bending stiffness of the sheet, which is essential for the tilting movement, is considerably increased by the curvature. It is only in this way that surprisingly simple method steps enable a surprisingly exact alignment of
  • a further reduction in the relevant moment of area moment of inertia and thus a further increase in the flexibility of the sheet is achieved according to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, in that the sheet is subjected to a curvature in the opposite direction to the curved deflection area and / or the sheet after exiting before entering the curved deflection area from the curved deflection area is subjected to a curvature in the opposite direction to the curved deflection area.
  • the sheet thus experiences an essentially S-shaped curvature in the sheet guiding channel, by means of which a particularly easy and exact displacement of the sheet perpendicular to the sheet guiding direction is made possible.
  • a particularly precise alignment of the blade can be achieved according to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention in that the blade is deflected by at least 170 ° between the elevation on the concave surface and the area of the application of force.
  • a sheet guide surface laterally delimiting the sheet guide channel, an elevation arranged on the concave surface of the deflection area and projecting into the sheet guide channel at least one conveying roller, seen in the sheet guide direction after the elevation, which exerts a force acting on the sheet in the direction of the sheet guide surface.
  • the alignment of the sheet in the sheet guide channel on the sheet guide surface is ensured by the elevation arranged on the concave surface of the deflection area and projecting into the sheet guide channel in cooperation with the conveying roller, because the elevation lifts the sheet from the concave surface and thus an increase in lateral mobility of the sheet and an additional one rotatory degree of freedom around a tilt axis parallel to the sheet guide direction in the region of the elevation.
  • Another advantage of the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention is the low construction effort for the reliable alignment of a sheet repeatedly fed to the sheet entry point of the pressure body. This ensures that, for example, recording points applied for color mixing in successive recording processes are positioned exactly one above the other.
  • a particularly precisely defined tilting movement in the rotational degree of freedom is brought about by the fact that the deflection area has a comparatively strong curvature on its sheet entry side and that the elevation is arranged in the area of the strong curvature.
  • the elevation is arranged approximately in the center with respect to the width of the sheet transverse to the sheet guide direction.
  • a structurally particularly simple embodiment of the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention provides that the elevation is a rib running longitudinally to the sheet guiding direction.
  • the elevation is at least one freely rotating friction roller with an approximately linear friction surface. Due to the approximately linear friction surface, the alignment process of the sheet is not hindered by the friction roller.
  • the sheet between the elevation and the conveyor roller undergoes a rotation of approximately 170 °, in that according to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention the deflection area between the elevation and the conveyor roller in the sheet guide direction causes a deflection of the sheet of at least 170 °.
  • the conveying roller is arranged in the center on a driven shaft and that the shaft with the sheet guiding surface laterally delimiting the sheet guiding channel has an angle of less than 90 ° as seen in the sheet guiding direction forms.
  • An angle of 84 ° to 84.5 ° has proven to be particularly advantageous.
  • the elastically deformable conveyor roller can penetrate a guide surface of the sheet guide channel by a few tenths of a millimeter, preferably 0.7 mm.
  • the diameter of the conveyor roller is larger than the width of the conveyor roller. In this way, a hindrance to rotational alignment movements of the sheet by the conveyor roller is almost impossible.
  • the sheet guide channel is tapered in the area of the sheet entry point by a resilient sheet. This ensures that the sheet bears against the concave boundary surfaces of the sheet guide channel, as seen in the sheet guide direction, when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the resilient sheet and is thereby braked slightly. In this way, a paper path of defined length is guaranteed at all times. In addition, in this way the effect of the guide rollers acting transversely to the sheet guide direction, in particular when the inclined conveying roller is driven, and any additional guide rollers that may be present is enhanced.
  • the high positioning accuracy of a sheet fed repeatedly to the sheet entry point which can be achieved with the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention, can be further used to increase the recording quality, in that, according to a further advantageous development of the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention, the pressure body is a pressure roller and that of a sheet from the sheet entry point via the sheet exit point and the Sheet guiding channel until the sheet entry point is reached again is an integral multiple of the printing roller circumference that exceeds the sheet length.
  • FIG. 1 shows a housing 1 of an ink ribbon cassette, in which a pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller is rotatably mounted.
  • the housing 1 also contains a heat-sensitive ink ribbon 5 stored on coils 3 and 4, which partially wraps around the printing roller.
  • the winding 3 is surrounded by a guide plate 6 which, in conjunction with a number of housing ribs 8 arranged one behind the other perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1, serves as a guide channel 9 for a sheet 11 entering the housing 1 in the direction of the arrow 10.
  • the sheet 11 is conveyed by a stack of storage, not shown, which is located in a printer housing 15, which is only indicated in the drawing.
  • the printer housing 15 and the housing 1 complement one another to form a complete housing 16.
  • the guide channel 9 opens into a sheet entry point 21 of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller, at which the sheet 11 is defined with its (in the direction of rotation 22 of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller) Seen sheet guide direction) leading edge comes into contact with the pressure body 2.
  • a sheet guide channel 30 leads from the sheet exit point 26 back to the sheet entry point 21.
  • a region 32 of the sheet guiding channel 30 is formed by a guide plate 33 in cooperation with a number of ribs 34 which define a guiding surface and which are arranged one behind the other in relation to the image plane of FIG.
  • the area 32 is followed by a deflection area 35, which is partially formed by a switch 36 which has a cruciform basic structure 37; the basic structure 37 is reinforced by ribs 40 and 41 which are arranged one behind the other in the plane of the drawing in FIG.
  • the deflection region 35 of the sheet guide channel 30 is thus bounded on the outside by a concave surface 42 viewed in the sheet guide direction, which in turn is formed by edges 43 of the ribs 40 and by edges of further ribs 50 arranged in the housing 1.
  • the inside of the entire sheet guide channel 30 is delimited by a molded part 52 which, in addition to the ribs 34, has further ribs 53 and 54 which are located one behind the other with respect to the plane of the drawing, the edges 55 of which the (convex) inner surface of the deflection region 35 or the inner boundary surface of the area 32 (edges 56) define.
  • the deflection region 35 has the smallest radius of curvature in the region of the ribs 40, i. H. the strongest curvature. With the area 32 and the deflection area 35, the sheet guide channel 30 has an S-shaped course.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the switch 36, the individual ribs 40 being particularly clearly recognizable;
  • an elevated rib 60 is arranged, the height of which exceeds the height of the other ribs by 0.7 mm.
  • the switch 36 has bearing journals 61 and 62 and an element 63 provided for actuating the switch 36.
  • a conveyor roller 70 is arranged on a shaft 71 on the shaft 40 and thus approximately opposite the area of greatest curvature - that is, after approximately 180 ° of the deflection area 35.
  • the conveyor roller 70 is dimensioned such that it engages 0.7 mm deep between the parallel ribs 50.
  • a resilient sheet 75 is arranged, through which the sheet guide channel 30 tapers in the area of the sheet entry point 21.
  • the switch 36 can be moved in the direction of rotation 78 up to a stop (not shown) by actuating the element 63 (FIG. 2).
  • the printer housing 15 has a sheet storage surface 80, on which a sheet transported out of the ink ribbon cassette by a guide channel 81 can be deposited.
  • Figure 3 shows (shown rotated by 90 °) a section of Figure 1 along the line III-III; for simplicity, cut-out parts 82 of the ribs 9 and cut-out parts 83 of the ribs 50 as well as the windings 3 and 4 with the ink ribbon 5 are not shown in FIG.
  • the same elements are provided with the reference symbols already assigned in FIG. 1.
  • a sheet 90 located in this area is indicated, the front area of which has been torn off for the sake of clarity.
  • This (torn off) area of the sheet 90 would be in contact with the conveyor roller 70 and would be conveyed along under the end area of the guide plate 6 and the resilient sheet 75 until it came into contact with the pressure body 2 again at the sheet entry point 21 with its leading edge .
  • the conveyor roller 70 is in engagement with a drive gear 96 of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller via a gear 91 and three further gear gears 93, 94 and 95 and is thus driven in the same direction of rotation as the pressure roller.
  • the width of the conveyor roller 70 is dimensioned much smaller than its diameter.
  • a sheet entering the housing 1 in the direction of the arrow 10 (FIG. 1) is conveyed through the guide channel 9 to the sheet entry point 21 of the pressure body 2 and then guided past the recording head 24 by the rotation of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller, with the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 5 being interposed ; by appropriate heating of the heating elements located on the recording head, color transfer takes place on the sheet 11 in thermal transfer printing.
  • the thermal transfer printing here is only an example of many other printing methods in which the method according to the invention or the ribbon cassette according to the invention can be used.
  • the ink ribbon has 5 sections of different colors, the length of which is matched to the length of the sheet 11.
  • the sheet 11 is first passed through the area 32 and thereby subjected to a (left-handed) curvature.
  • the sheet 11 experiences a curvature in the opposite direction and thus lies against the concave outer surface 42.
  • the sheet 11 is lifted by the projecting rib 60 (FIG. 2) from the concave surface 42 of the deflection area 35 formed by the other ribs 40 and is gripped by the conveyor roller 70 in the course of further transport.
  • the inclined position of the conveyor roller 70 causes a force directed transversely to the sheet guide direction, by means of which the sheet comes into contact with the sheet guide surface 100 (FIG. 3).
  • the rotational degree of freedom transversely to the sheet guide direction caused by the S-shaped curvature of the sheet guide channel 30 and the centrally arranged rib 60 enables an approximately parallel displacement of the leading edge or sheet surface perpendicular to the sheet guide direction.
  • the sheet 11 performs a slight tilting movement around the raised rib 60. Due to these kinematic conditions, only one is relative to the alignment of the sheet 11 low, cross-acting force required.
  • the distance from the sheet entry point 21, around the pressure body 2 to the sheet exit point 26 and through the sheet guide channel 30 until the sheet entry point 21 is reached again is an integer multiple of the circumference of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller, which exceeds the sheet length.
  • the subsequent recording processes the same area of the sheet 11 in contact with the surface area of the pressure body 2 that has already come into contact in the first recording process. This means that print runout errors have no influence on the quality of the recording result.
  • the switch 36 is moved in the direction of rotation 78 by means of element 63, so that sheet 11 arrives on sheet depositing surface 80 along guide channel 81 .

Abstract

If several successive colour-application operations are to be carried out on a sheet of paper, the sheet is fed from the sheet output point of a pressure-applying element through a sheet feed channel with a curved turn-round zone back to the sheet input point of the pressure-applying element, and a high sheet-positioning precision if necessary, in order to obtain high-quality results. In order to ensure the precise alignment of the repeatedly refed sheet (11), the invention calls for the sheet (11) to be guided, by means of a raised area (60) on the concave surface (42) of the sheet turn-round zone (35), so that it is tilted in stages at right angles to the direction of motion. Downstream of the raised area (60), a force is exerted on the sheet at right angles to the direction of motion of the sheet, the force aligning the sheet (11) with the edge of a sheet-guidance surface (100). Multicolor printing.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Führen eines Blattes in einer Farbbandkassette, bei dem das Blatt von einer Blattaustrittsstelle eines Andruckkörpers kommend in einem Blattführungskanal mit einem gekrümmten Umlenkbereich bis zu einer Blatteintrittsstelle des Andruckkörpers zurückgeführt wird, wobei das Blatt entlang der in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen konkaven Fläche des Umlenkbereichs geführt wird.The invention relates to a method for guiding a sheet in an ink ribbon cassette, in which the sheet coming from a sheet exit point of a pressure body in a sheet guide channel with a curved deflection area is returned to a sheet entry point of the pressure body, the sheet being seen along the concave surface of the pressure guide body Deflection area is performed.

Bei einem derartigen bekannten Verfahren (DE-OS 37 21 231) wird ein von einem Blattvorrat gefördertes Blatt durch eine Öffnung in eine Farbbandkassette zu einer Blatteintrittsstelle eines als Druckwalze ausgebildeten Andruckkörpers überführt. Das Blatt wird dann unter Zwischenlage eines ersten Farbbandabschnittes eines in der Farbbandkassette bevorrateten Farbbandes an einem Aufzeichnungskopf vorbeigeführt, wobei gemäß der Ansteuerung des Aufzeichnungskopfes ein Farbübertrag von dem ersten Farbbandabschnitt auf das Blatt erfolgt. Das auf diese Weise mit einer ersten Farbe bedruckte Blatt tritt an einer Blattaustrittsstelle des Andruckkörpers aus und wird in einem Blattführungskanal mit einem gekrümmten Umlenkbereich erneut bis zu der Blatteintrittsstelle des Andruckkörpers geführt, um unter Zwischenlage jeweils weiterer, verschiedener Farbbandabschnitte des Farbbandes erneut an dem Aufzeichnungskopf vorbeigeführt zu werden. Auf diese Weise lassen sich durch Mischung verschiedener Farben bunte Aufzeichnungen auf das Blatt aufbringen oder bei Verwendung von Farbbandabschnitten unterschiedlicher optischer Dichte Aufzeichnungen mit einer sehr feinen Farbabstufung erzielen. Für die Qualität der auf diese Weise erzielten Aufzeichnungen ist eine exakte Positionierung des Blattes zur Blatteintrittsstelle des Andruckkörpers bei den wiederholten Zuführungen erforderlich. Positionierungsfehler machen sich in Form von Farbverfälschungen bzw. der Vorlage nicht entsprechender Farbabstufungen störend bemerkbar.In such a known method (DE-OS 37 21 231), a sheet conveyed from a sheet supply is transferred through an opening into an ink ribbon cassette to a sheet entry point of a pressure element designed as a pressure roller. The sheet is then guided past a recording head with the interposition of a first ribbon section of a ribbon stored in the ribbon cassette, with color transfer from the first ribbon section to the sheet taking place in accordance with the control of the recording head. The sheet printed in this way with a first color emerges at a sheet exit point of the pressure body and is again guided in a sheet guide channel with a curved deflection area up to the sheet entry point of the pressure body in order to be guided past the recording head again with the interposition of further different ribbon sections of the ink ribbon to become. In this way, colorful records can be applied to the sheet by mixing different colors, or recordings with a very fine color gradation can be obtained when using ribbon sections of different optical density. For the quality of the recordings obtained in this way, an exact positioning of the sheet in relation to the sheet entry point of the pressure body in the repeated feeds is necessary. Positioning errors are noticeable in the form of color distortions or color gradations that do not correspond to the template.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, mit einfachen konstruktiven Mitteln die Positionierungsgenauigkeit eines in der Farbbandkassette mehrfach einem Andruckkörper zugeführten Blattes bezüglich der Blatteintrittsstelle zu verbessern.The object of the invention is to improve the positioning accuracy of a sheet fed several times to a pressure element in the ribbon cassette with respect to the sheet entry point using simple constructional means.

Diese Aufgabe wird bei einem Verfahren der eingangs genannten Art erfindungsgemäß dadurch gelöst, daß das Blatt mittels einer Erhebung an der konkaven Fläche quer zu Blattführungsrichtung abschnittsweise kippbar geführt wird und daß in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen nach der Erhebung auf das Blatt eine quer zur Blattführungsrichtung wirkende Kraft ausgeübt wird, durch die das Blatt mit einer Seitenkante an einer Blattführungsfläche ausgerichtet wird. Die Krümmung des Blattes in dem gekrümmten Umlenkbereich bewirkt eine erhebliche Verminderung des für die Blattausrichtung maßgeblichen Flächenträgheitsmomentes des Blattes, so daß mit überraschend geringem Kraftaufwand eine Verschiebung zunächst der führenden Blattkante und nachfolgend der weiteren Blattbereiche quer zur Blattführungsrichtung ermöglicht ist; eine annähernd senkrechte Verschiebung der führenden Blattkante (in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen) bzw. der nachfolgenden Blattbereiche zur Blattführungsrichtung ist durch das zumindest abschnittsweise Abheben des Blattes von der konkaven, den Blattführungskanal nach außen hin begrenzenden Fläche des Blattführungskanals ermöglicht, weil das Blatt durch die Erhebung eine erheblich erhöhte Beweglichkeit quer zur Blattführungsrichtung und einen zusätzlichen rotatorischen Freiheitsgrad (Kippbewegung um die Erhebung) im wesentlichen um die Achse der Blattführungsrichtung im Bereich der Erhebung erhält; ferner ist durch die Krümmung die für die Kippbewegung wesentliche Biegesteifigkeit des Blattes erheblich erhöht. Erst dadurch wird mit überraschend einfachen Verfahrensschritten eine erstaunlich exakte Ausrichtung einer Seitenkante des Blattes an einer den Blattführungskanal seitlich begrenzenden Blattführungsfläche ermöglicht.This object is achieved according to the invention in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the sheet is tilted in sections by means of an elevation on the concave surface transversely to the sheet guiding direction and that, seen in the sheet guiding direction, a force acting transversely to the sheet guiding direction is exerted on the sheet after the elevation through which the sheet is aligned with a side edge on a sheet guide surface. The curvature of the sheet in the curved deflection area brings about a significant reduction in the area moment of inertia of the sheet, which is decisive for the sheet alignment, so that a displacement of the leading sheet edge and subsequently the other sheet areas transversely to the sheet guide direction is made possible with surprisingly little effort; An approximately vertical displacement of the leading sheet edge (seen in the sheet guide direction) or the subsequent sheet areas to the sheet guide direction is made possible by the at least partial lifting of the sheet from the concave surface of the sheet guide channel that delimits the sheet guide channel outwards, because the sheet has a significant increase due to the elevation receives increased mobility transversely to the sheet guide direction and an additional rotational degree of freedom (tilting movement around the elevation) essentially around the axis of the sheet guide direction in the region of the elevation; furthermore, the bending stiffness of the sheet, which is essential for the tilting movement, is considerably increased by the curvature. It is only in this way that surprisingly simple method steps enable a surprisingly exact alignment of a side edge of the sheet on a sheet guide surface that laterally delimits the sheet guide channel.

Eine weitere Verminderung des maßgeblichen Flächenträgheitsmomentes und damit eine weitere Erhöhung der Flexibilität des Blattes wird gemäß einer vorteilhaften Fortbildung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens erreicht, indem das Blatt vor Eintritt in den gekrümmten Umlenkbereich mit einer zum gekrümmten Umlenkbereich gegensinnigen Krümmung beaufschlagt wird und/oder das Blatt nach Austritt aus dem gekrümmten Umlenkbereich mit einer zum gekrümmten Umlenkbereich gegensinnigen Krümmung beaufschlagt wird. Das Blatt erfährt so in dem Blattführungskanal eine im wesentlichen s-förmige Krümmung, durch die ein besonders leichtes und exaktes Verschieben des Blattes senkrecht zur Blattführungsrichtung ermöglicht wird.A further reduction in the relevant moment of area moment of inertia and thus a further increase in the flexibility of the sheet is achieved according to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, in that the sheet is subjected to a curvature in the opposite direction to the curved deflection area and / or the sheet after exiting before entering the curved deflection area from the curved deflection area is subjected to a curvature in the opposite direction to the curved deflection area. The sheet thus experiences an essentially S-shaped curvature in the sheet guiding channel, by means of which a particularly easy and exact displacement of the sheet perpendicular to the sheet guiding direction is made possible.

Eine besonders exakte Ausrichtung des Blattes läßt sich gemäß einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens dadurch erzielen, daß das Blatt zwischen der Erhebung an der konkaven Fläche und dem Bereich der Kraftausübung um mindestens 170° umgelenkt wird.A particularly precise alignment of the blade can be achieved according to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention in that the blade is deflected by at least 170 ° between the elevation on the concave surface and the area of the application of force.

Bei einer Farbbandkassette zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens mit einem zwischen einer Blattaustrittsstelle und einer Blatteintrittsstelle eines Andruckkörpers verlaufenden Blattführungskanal mit einem gekrümmten Umlenkbereich sind gemäß der Erfindung eine den Blattführungskanal seitlich begrenzende Blattführungsfläche, eine an der konkaven Fläche des Umlenkbereichs angeordnete, in den Blattführungskanal hineinragende Erhebung und mindestens eine in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen nach der Erhebung angeordnete Förderrolle, die auf ein Blatt eine in Richtung auf die Blattführungsfläche wirkende Kraft ausübt, vorgesehen. Das Ausrichten des im Blattführungskanal befindlichen Blattes an der Blattführungsfläche ist durch die an der konkaven Fläche des Umlenkbereichs angeordnete und in den Blattführungskanal hineinragende Erhebung im Zusammenspiel mit der förderrolle gewährleistet, weil die Erhebung das Blatt von der konkaven Fläche abhebt und damit eine Erhöhung der seitlichen Beweglichkeit des Blattes und einen zusätzlichen rotatorischen Freiheitsgrad um eine zur Blattführungsrichtung im Bereich der Erhebung parallele Kippachse ermöglicht. Damit genügt vorteilhafterweise eine verhältnismäßig geringe, von der Förderrolle ausgeübte Querkraft zur Ausrichtung des Blattes, so daß eine nennenswerte Belastung des Blattmaterials und damit Dehnungen und Verwerfungen des Blattes vermieden sind. Ein weiterer Vorteil der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette besteht in dem geringen konstruktiven Aufwand zur zuverlässigen Ausrichtung eines wiederholt der Blatteintrittsstelle des Andruckkörpers zugeführten Blattes. Dadurch ist gewährleistet, daß beispielsweise zur Farbmischung in aufeinanderfolgenden Aufzeichnungsvorgängen aufgetragene Aufzeichnungspunkte exakt übereinander positioniert sind.In an ink ribbon cassette for carrying out the method according to the invention with a sheet guide channel running between a sheet exit point and a sheet entry point of a pressure element with a curved deflection area, according to the invention, a sheet guide surface laterally delimiting the sheet guide channel, an elevation arranged on the concave surface of the deflection area and projecting into the sheet guide channel at least one conveying roller, seen in the sheet guide direction after the elevation, which exerts a force acting on the sheet in the direction of the sheet guide surface. The alignment of the sheet in the sheet guide channel on the sheet guide surface is ensured by the elevation arranged on the concave surface of the deflection area and projecting into the sheet guide channel in cooperation with the conveying roller, because the elevation lifts the sheet from the concave surface and thus an increase in lateral mobility of the sheet and an additional one rotatory degree of freedom around a tilt axis parallel to the sheet guide direction in the region of the elevation. This advantageously suffices for a comparatively low transverse force exerted by the conveying roller for aligning the sheet, so that a significant load on the sheet material and thus stretching and warping of the sheet are avoided. Another advantage of the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention is the low construction effort for the reliable alignment of a sheet repeatedly fed to the sheet entry point of the pressure body. This ensures that, for example, recording points applied for color mixing in successive recording processes are positioned exactly one above the other.

Eine die Beweglichkeit des Blattes weiter erhöhende und damit die auftretende Belastung des Blattmaterials und die erforderlichen Ausrichtkräfte weiter vermindernde Ausbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette besteht gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Fortbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette in einem weiteren, bezüglich des Umlenkbereichs gegensinnig gekrümmten Bereich, der dem Umlenkbereich benachbart ist.According to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention, there is a further development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention in a further region which is curved in the opposite direction with respect to the deflection region and is adjacent to the deflection region.

Eine besonders genau definierte Kippbewegung in dem rotatorischen Freiheitsgrad ist gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Fortbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette dadurch bewirkt, daß der Umlenkbereich an seiner Blatteintrittsseite eine vergleichsweise starke Krümmung aufweist und daß die Erhebung im Bereich der starken Krümmung angeordnet ist.According to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention, a particularly precisely defined tilting movement in the rotational degree of freedom is brought about by the fact that the deflection area has a comparatively strong curvature on its sheet entry side and that the elevation is arranged in the area of the strong curvature.

Gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Fortbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette ist vorgesehen, daß die Erhebung bezüglich der quer zur Blattführungsrichtung verlaufenden Breite des Blattes annähernd mittig angeordnet ist. Damit sind in vorteilhafter Weise unsymmetrische Kippbewegungen des Blattes und damit unsymmetrisch auftretende Kräfte bzw. Momente unterbunden.According to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention, it is provided that the elevation is arranged approximately in the center with respect to the width of the sheet transverse to the sheet guide direction. Thus, asymmetrical tilting movements of the Leaf and thus asymmetrical forces or moments prevented.

Eine konstruktiv besonders einfache Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette sieht vor, daß die Erhebung eine längs zur Blattführungsrichtung verlaufende Rippe ist.A structurally particularly simple embodiment of the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention provides that the elevation is a rib running longitudinally to the sheet guiding direction.

Zur Verminderung der die Blattführung und Blattausrichtung bremsenden Reibkräfte ist gemäß einer vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette vorgesehen, daß die Erhebung mindestens eine freidrehende Reibrolle mit einer annähernd linienförmigen Reibfläche ist. Durch die annähernd linienförmig ausgebildete Reibfläche wird der Ausrichtvorgang des Blattes durch die Reibrolle nicht behindert.In order to reduce the frictional forces braking the sheet guidance and sheet alignment, according to an advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention it is provided that the elevation is at least one freely rotating friction roller with an approximately linear friction surface. Due to the approximately linear friction surface, the alignment process of the sheet is not hindered by the friction roller.

Im Hinblick auf die erzielbare positioniergenauigkeit und die aufzuwendenden Kräfte hat es sich als besonders vorteilhaft erwiesen, wenn das Blatt zwischen der Erhebung und der Förderrolle eine Drehung von annähernd 170° erfährt, in dem gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette der Umlenkbereich zwischen der Erhebung und der Förderrolle in Blattführungsrichtung eine Umlenkung des Blattes von mindestens 170° bewirkt.With regard to the positioning accuracy that can be achieved and the forces to be applied, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the sheet between the elevation and the conveyor roller undergoes a rotation of approximately 170 °, in that according to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention the deflection area between the elevation and the conveyor roller in the sheet guide direction causes a deflection of the sheet of at least 170 °.

Um von zusätzlichen Fördereinrichtungen unabhängig zu sein, ist gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette vorgesehen, daß die Förderrolle mittig auf einer angetriebenen Welle angeordnet ist und daß die Welle mit der den Blattführungskanal seitlich begrenzenden Blattführungsfläche in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen einen Winkel von weniger als 90° bildet. Als besonders vorteilhaft erweist sich ein Winkel von 84° bis 84,5°. Um einen sicheren Reibschluß zwischen Förderrolle und Blatt zu bewirken, kann die elastisch verformbare Förderrolle eine Leitfläche des Blattführungskanals um einige Zehntel Millimeter, vorzugsweise 0,7 mm, durchdringen.In order to be independent of additional conveying devices, according to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention, it is provided that the conveying roller is arranged in the center on a driven shaft and that the shaft with the sheet guiding surface laterally delimiting the sheet guiding channel has an angle of less than 90 ° as seen in the sheet guiding direction forms. An angle of 84 ° to 84.5 ° has proven to be particularly advantageous. In order to ensure a secure frictional connection between the conveyor roller and the sheet, the elastically deformable conveyor roller can penetrate a guide surface of the sheet guide channel by a few tenths of a millimeter, preferably 0.7 mm.

Gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Fortbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette ist vorgesehen, daß der Durchmesser der Förderrolle größer als die Breite der Förderrolle ist. Auf diese Weise ist eine Behinderung rotatorischer Ausrichtbewegungen des Blattes durch die Förderrolle nahezu ausgeschlossen.According to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention it is provided that the diameter of the conveyor roller is larger than the width of the conveyor roller. In this way, a hindrance to rotational alignment movements of the sheet by the conveyor roller is almost impossible.

Gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Fortbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette ist der Blattführungskanal im Bereich der Blatteintrittsstelle durch ein federndes Blech verjüngt. Damit ist ein Anliegen des Blattes an den in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen konkaven Begrenzungsflächen des Blattführungskanals gewährleistet, wenn die führende Kante des Blattes das federnde Blech erreicht und dabei geringfügig abgebremst wird. Auf diese Weise ist jederzeit ein Papierlaufweg definierter Länge gewährleistet. Darüber hinaus wird auf diese Weise die Wirkung der quer zur Blattführungsrichtung wirkenden, insbesondere bei angetriebener schräggestellter Förderrolle, sowie ggf. zusätzlich vorhandener Führungsrollen verstärkt.According to a further advantageous development of the ribbon cassette according to the invention, the sheet guide channel is tapered in the area of the sheet entry point by a resilient sheet. This ensures that the sheet bears against the concave boundary surfaces of the sheet guide channel, as seen in the sheet guide direction, when the leading edge of the sheet reaches the resilient sheet and is thereby braked slightly. In this way, a paper path of defined length is guaranteed at all times. In addition, in this way the effect of the guide rollers acting transversely to the sheet guide direction, in particular when the inclined conveying roller is driven, and any additional guide rollers that may be present is enhanced.

Die mit der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette erreichbare hohe Positioniergenauigkeit eines wiederholt der Blatteintrittsstelle zugeführten Blattes läßt sich zur Steigerung der Aufzeichnungsqualität weiter nutzen, indem gemäß einer weiteren vorteilhaften Weiterbildung der erfindungsgemäßen Farbbandkassette der Andruckkörper eine Druckwalze ist und der von einem Blatt von der Blatteintrittsstelle über die Blattaustrittsstelle und den Blattführungskanal bis zum erneuten Erreichen der Blatteintrittsstelle zurückgelegte Weg ein die Blattlänge übersteigendes ganzzahliges Vielfaches des Druckwalzenumfangs ist. Damit wird ein Einfluß von Rundlauffehlern der Druckwalze (Pumpeffekt) auf das Aufzeichnungsergebnis unterdrückt, weil auf diese Weise eine Relativverschiebung zwischen Blatt und Druckwalzenumfangsfläche bei nachfolgenden Aufzeichnungsvorgängen in bezug auf den ersten Aufzeichnungsvorgang vermieden ist.The high positioning accuracy of a sheet fed repeatedly to the sheet entry point, which can be achieved with the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention, can be further used to increase the recording quality, in that, according to a further advantageous development of the ink ribbon cassette according to the invention, the pressure body is a pressure roller and that of a sheet from the sheet entry point via the sheet exit point and the Sheet guiding channel until the sheet entry point is reached again is an integral multiple of the printing roller circumference that exceeds the sheet length. This suppresses an influence of runout errors of the printing roller (pump effect) on the recording result, because in this way a relative displacement between the sheet and the printing roller peripheral surface is avoided in subsequent recording operations with respect to the first recording operation.

Unter Blättern sind im Sinne der Erfindung einzelne Aufzeichnungs- oder Informationsträger, wie z. B. Papierblätter, Folien, Formulare und Karten, zu verstehen.Under sheets in the sense of the invention, individual recording or information carriers, such as. B. paper sheets, foils, forms and cards to understand.

Die Erfindung wird im folgenden anhand der Zeichnung erläutert:The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing:

Es zeigen:

Figur 1
ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer Farbbandkassette zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens im Schnitt,
Figur 2
eine Einzelheit der Figur 1 und
Figur 3
eine Ansicht entlang des Schnittes III-III der Figur 1.
Show it:
Figure 1
an embodiment of an ink ribbon cassette for performing the method according to the invention in section,
Figure 2
a detail of Figure 1 and
Figure 3
a view along the section III-III of Figure 1.

Figur 1 zeigt ein Gehäuse 1 einer Farbbandkassette, in dem ein als Druckwalze ausgebildeter Andruckkörper 2 drehbar gelagert ist. Das Gehäuse 1 enthält ferner ein auf Wickeln 3 und 4 bevorratetes wärmeempfindliches Farbband 5, das die Druckwalze teilweise umschlingt. Der Wickel 3 ist von einem Leitblech 6 umgeben, das in Verbindung mit einer Anzahl von zur Zeichenebene der Figur 1 senkrecht hintereinander angeordneten Gehäuserippen 8 als Leitkanal 9 für ein in Pfeilrichtung 10 in das Gehäuse 1 eintretendes Blatt 11 dient. Das Blatt 11 wird von einem nicht gezeigten Vorratsstapel gefördert, der sich in einem nur andeutungsweise gezeigten Druckergehäuse 15 befindet. Das Druckergehäuse 15 und das Gehäuse 1 ergänzen sich zu einem Gesamtgehäuse 16. Der Leitkanal 9 mündet in eine Blatteintrittsstelle 21 des als Druckwalze ausgebildeten Andruckkörpers 2, an der das Blatt 11 mit seiner (in der durch die Drehrichtung 22 des als Druckwalze ausgebildeten Andruckkörpers 2 definierten Blattführungsrichtung gesehen) führenden Kante in Kontakt mit dem Andruckkörper 2 kommt. Hinter einer Kontaktzone 23, in der der Andruckkörper 2 unter Zwischenlage des Farbbandes 5 mit einem Aufzeichnungskopf 24 in Kontakt steht, schließt sich eine Blattaustrittsstelle 26 an, an der das Blatt 11 den Andruckkörper 2 verläßt. Von der Blattaustrittsstelle 26 führt ein Blattführungskanal 30 zu der Blatteintrittsstelle 21 zurück.FIG. 1 shows a housing 1 of an ink ribbon cassette, in which a pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller is rotatably mounted. The housing 1 also contains a heat-sensitive ink ribbon 5 stored on coils 3 and 4, which partially wraps around the printing roller. The winding 3 is surrounded by a guide plate 6 which, in conjunction with a number of housing ribs 8 arranged one behind the other perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1, serves as a guide channel 9 for a sheet 11 entering the housing 1 in the direction of the arrow 10. The sheet 11 is conveyed by a stack of storage, not shown, which is located in a printer housing 15, which is only indicated in the drawing. The printer housing 15 and the housing 1 complement one another to form a complete housing 16. The guide channel 9 opens into a sheet entry point 21 of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller, at which the sheet 11 is defined with its (in the direction of rotation 22 of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller) Seen sheet guide direction) leading edge comes into contact with the pressure body 2. Behind a contact zone 23, in which the pressure body 2 is in contact with a recording head 24 with the interposition of the ink ribbon 5, there is a sheet exit point 26, at which the sheet 11 leaves the pressure body 2. A sheet guide channel 30 leads from the sheet exit point 26 back to the sheet entry point 21.

Ein Bereich 32 des Blattführungskanals 30 ist von einem Leitblech 33 im Zusammenspiel mit einer Anzahl eine Führungsfläche definierender und in bezug auf die Bildebene der Figur 1 parallel hintereinander angeordneter Rippen 34 gebildet. An den Bereich 32 schließt sich ein Umlenkbereich 35 an, der teilweise von einer Weiche 36 gebildet ist, die eine kreuzförmige Grundstruktur 37 aufweist; die Grundstruktur 37 ist von in Zeichenebene der Figur 1 hintereinander angeordneten, parallel verlaufenden Rippen 40 und 41 verstärkt. Der Umlenkbereich 35 des Blattführungskanals 30 ist somit nach außen hin von einer in Blattführungsrichtung gesehen konkaven Fläche 42 begrenzt, die ihrerseits von Kanten 43 der Rippen 40 und von Kanten weiterer in dem Gehäuse 1 angeordneter Rippen 50 gebildet ist. Nach innen ist der gesamte Blattführungskanal 30 durch ein Formteil 52 begrenzt, das neben den Rippen 34 weitere bezüglich der Zeichenebene hintereinanderliegende Rippen 53 und 54 aufweist, deren Kanten 55 die (konvexe) Innenfläche des Umlenkbereichs 35 bzw. die innere Begrenzungsfläche des Beeichs 32 (Kanten 56) definieren. Der Umlenkbereich 35 weist im Bereich der Rippen 40 den geringsten Krümmungsradius, d. h. die stärkste Krümmung auf. Der Blattführungskanal 30 weist mit dem Bereich 32 und dem Umlenkbereich 35 einen S-förmigen Verlauf auf.A region 32 of the sheet guiding channel 30 is formed by a guide plate 33 in cooperation with a number of ribs 34 which define a guiding surface and which are arranged one behind the other in relation to the image plane of FIG. The area 32 is followed by a deflection area 35, which is partially formed by a switch 36 which has a cruciform basic structure 37; the basic structure 37 is reinforced by ribs 40 and 41 which are arranged one behind the other in the plane of the drawing in FIG. The deflection region 35 of the sheet guide channel 30 is thus bounded on the outside by a concave surface 42 viewed in the sheet guide direction, which in turn is formed by edges 43 of the ribs 40 and by edges of further ribs 50 arranged in the housing 1. The inside of the entire sheet guide channel 30 is delimited by a molded part 52 which, in addition to the ribs 34, has further ribs 53 and 54 which are located one behind the other with respect to the plane of the drawing, the edges 55 of which the (convex) inner surface of the deflection region 35 or the inner boundary surface of the area 32 (edges 56) define. The deflection region 35 has the smallest radius of curvature in the region of the ribs 40, i. H. the strongest curvature. With the area 32 and the deflection area 35, the sheet guide channel 30 has an S-shaped course.

Figur 2 verdeutlicht die Struktur der Weiche 36, wobei besonders deutlich die einzelnen Rippen 40 erkennbar sind; im mittleren Bereich der Weiche 36 ist eine erhöhte Rippe 60 angeordnet, deren Höhe die Höhe der übrigen Rippen um 0,7 mm übersteigt. Die Weiche 36 weist Lagerzapfen 61 und 62 sowie ein zur Betätigung der Weiche 36 vorgesehenes Element 63 auf.FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the switch 36, the individual ribs 40 being particularly clearly recognizable; In the central area of the switch 36 an elevated rib 60 is arranged, the height of which exceeds the height of the other ribs by 0.7 mm. The switch 36 has bearing journals 61 and 62 and an element 63 provided for actuating the switch 36.

Gemäß Figur 1 ist den Rippen 40 und damit dem Bereich der stärksten Krümmung annähernd gegenüberliegend - das heißt nach annähernd 180° des Umlenkbereichs 35 - eine Förderrolle 70 auf einer Welle 71 angeordnet. Die Förderrolle 70 ist derart bemessen, daß sie zwischen die parallel verlaufenden Rippen 50 0,7 mm tief eingreift. An den Umlenkbereich 35 schließt sich ein annähernd ebener Abschnitt 73 des Blattführungskanals 30 an, der bis zur Blatteintrittsstelle 21 reicht. Im Mündungsbereich dieses Abschnitts 73 bzw. des Blattführungskanals 30 ist ein federndes Blech 75 angeordnet, durch das sich der Blattführungskanal 30 im Bereich der Blatteintrittsstelle 21 verjüngt. Die Weiche 36 ist durch Betätigung des Elements 63 (Figur 2) in Drehrichtung 78 bis zu einem nicht gezeigten Anschlag bewegbar. Das Druckergehäuse 15 weist eine Blattablagefläche 80 auf, auf der ein von einem Leitkanal 81 aus der Farbbandkassette heraustransportiertes Blatt ablegbar ist.According to FIG. 1, a conveyor roller 70 is arranged on a shaft 71 on the shaft 40 and thus approximately opposite the area of greatest curvature - that is, after approximately 180 ° of the deflection area 35. The conveyor roller 70 is dimensioned such that it engages 0.7 mm deep between the parallel ribs 50. Connects to the deflection area 35 an approximately flat section 73 of the sheet guide channel 30, which extends to the sheet entry point 21. In the mouth area of this section 73 or the sheet guide channel 30, a resilient sheet 75 is arranged, through which the sheet guide channel 30 tapers in the area of the sheet entry point 21. The switch 36 can be moved in the direction of rotation 78 up to a stop (not shown) by actuating the element 63 (FIG. 2). The printer housing 15 has a sheet storage surface 80, on which a sheet transported out of the ink ribbon cassette by a guide channel 81 can be deposited.

Figur 3 zeigt (um 90° gedreht dargestellt) einen Schnitt der Figur 1 entlang der Linie III-III; zur Vereinfachung sind in der Figur 3 freigeschnittene Teile 82 der Rippen 9 und freigeschnittene Teile 83 der Rippen 50 sowie die Wickel 3 und 4 mit dem Farbband 5 nicht dargestellt. Gleiche Elemente sind mit den in der Figur 1 bereits vergebenen Bezugszeichen versehen. Man erkennt teilweise die parallel verlaufenden Rippen 50 des Gehäuses 1, die mit den Rippen 53 den Umlenkbereich 35 des Blattführungskanals 30 bilden. Andeutungsweise ist ein in diesem Bereich befindliches Blatt 90 dargestellt, dessen vorderer Bereich aus Gründen der übersichtlicheren Darstellung abgerissen ist. Dieser (abgerissene) Bereich des Blattes 90 wäre in Kontakt mit der Förderrolle 70 und würde unter dem Endbereich des Leitblechs 6 und dem federnden Blech 75 entlang gefördert werden, bis es an der Blatteintrittsstelle 21 mit seiner führenden Kante erneut in Kontakt mit dem Andruckkörper 2 käme. Die Förderrolle 70 ist über ein Zahnrad 91 und drei weitere Getriebezahnräder 93, 94 und 95 mit einem Antriebszahnrad 96 des als Druckwalze ausgebildeten Andruckkörpers 2 in Eingriff und wird somit in derselben Drehrichtung wie die Druckwalze angetrieben. Man erkennt eine Schrägstellung der Welle 71, die mit einer Blattführungsfläche 100 eines Seitenteils 101 einen Winkel 102 von 84° einschließt. Die Breite der Förderrolle 70 ist wesentlich geringer als ihr Durchmesser bemessen.Figure 3 shows (shown rotated by 90 °) a section of Figure 1 along the line III-III; for simplicity, cut-out parts 82 of the ribs 9 and cut-out parts 83 of the ribs 50 as well as the windings 3 and 4 with the ink ribbon 5 are not shown in FIG. The same elements are provided with the reference symbols already assigned in FIG. 1. One can partially recognize the parallel ribs 50 of the housing 1, which together with the ribs 53 form the deflection region 35 of the sheet guide channel 30. A sheet 90 located in this area is indicated, the front area of which has been torn off for the sake of clarity. This (torn off) area of the sheet 90 would be in contact with the conveyor roller 70 and would be conveyed along under the end area of the guide plate 6 and the resilient sheet 75 until it came into contact with the pressure body 2 again at the sheet entry point 21 with its leading edge . The conveyor roller 70 is in engagement with a drive gear 96 of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller via a gear 91 and three further gear gears 93, 94 and 95 and is thus driven in the same direction of rotation as the pressure roller. One can see an inclined position of the shaft 71, which forms an angle 102 of 84 ° with a sheet guide surface 100 of a side part 101. The width of the conveyor roller 70 is dimensioned much smaller than its diameter.

Ein in Pfeilrichtung 10 (Figur 1) in das Gehäuse 1 gelangendes Blatt wird durch den Leitkanal 9 bis an die Blatteintrittsstelle 21 des Andruckkörpers 2 gefördert und anschließend durch die Rotation des als Druckwalze ausgebildeten Andruckkörpers 2 unter Zwischenlage des wärmeempfindlichen Farbbandes 5 an dem Aufzeichnungskopf 24 vorbeigeführt; durch entsprechendes Erhitzen auf dem Aufzeichnungskopf befindlicher Heizelemente, erfolgt im Thermotransferdruck ein Farbübertrag auf das Blatt 11. Es sei angemerkt, daß der Thermotransferndruck hier lediglich als Beispiel für viele andere Druckverfahren steht, bei denen das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren bzw. die erfindungsgemäße Farbbandkassette Anwendung finden können.A sheet entering the housing 1 in the direction of the arrow 10 (FIG. 1) is conveyed through the guide channel 9 to the sheet entry point 21 of the pressure body 2 and then guided past the recording head 24 by the rotation of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller, with the heat-sensitive ink ribbon 5 being interposed ; by appropriate heating of the heating elements located on the recording head, color transfer takes place on the sheet 11 in thermal transfer printing. It should be noted that the thermal transfer printing here is only an example of many other printing methods in which the method according to the invention or the ribbon cassette according to the invention can be used.

Um einen Druck verschiedener Farben auf dem Blatt 11 zu ermöglichen, weist das Farbband 5 verschiedenfarbige Abschnitte auf, deren Länge auf die Länge des Blattes 11 abgestimmt sind. Für einen zweiten Aufzeichnungsvorgang wird das Blatt 11 zunächst durch den Bereich 32 geführt und dabei mit einer (linkssinnigen) Krümmung beaufschlagt. Beim Eintritt in den (rechtssinnig) gekrümmten Umlenkbereich 35 erfährt das Blatt 11 eine gegensinnige Krümmung und legt sich damit an die konkave Außenfläche 42 an. Im Bereich der Weiche 36 wird das Blatt 11 durch die vorstehende Rippe 60 (Figur 2) von der von den übrigen Rippen 40 gebildeten konkaven Fläche 42 des Umlenkbereichs 35 abgehoben und im Zuge des weiteren Transportes von der Förderrolle 70 erfaßt. Die Schrägstellung der Förderrolle 70 bewirkt eine quer zur Blattführungsrichtung gerichtete Kraft, durch die das Blatt in Anlage mit der Blattführungsfläche 100 (Figur 3) gelangt. Der durch die S-förmige Krümmung des Blattführungskanals 30 und der mittig angeordneten Rippe 60 bewirkte rotatorische Freiheitsgrad quer zur Blattführungsrichtung ermöglicht eine annähernd parallele Verschiebung der führenden Kante bzw. Blattfläche senkrecht zur Blattführungsrichtung. Das Blatt 11 führt um die erhöhte Rippe 60 dabei eine leichte Kippbewegung aus. Durch diese kinematischen Verhältnisse ist zur Ausrichtung des Blattes 11 nur eine verhältnismäßig geringe, querwirkende Kraft erforderlich. Sobald die führende Kante des Blattes 11 die Blatteintrittsstelle 21 erreicht hat, wird durch das federnde Blech 75 eine leichte Abbremsung des Blattes 11 bewirkt, so daß jederzeit eine definierte Anlage des Blattes 11 an der konkaven Fläche 42 gewährleistet ist. Ferner erhöht der Abbremsvorgang die Effektivität der von der Förderrolle 70 ausgeübten Querkraft. Das Blatt 11 wird nun zum zweiten Mal unter Zwischenlage eines weiteren, verschiedenfarbigen Abschnittes des Farbbandes 5 an dem Aufzeichnungskopf 24 vorbeigeführt, so daß entsprechend der Ansteuerung des Aufzeichnungskopfes 24 ein zweiter Aufzeichnungsvorgang durchgeführt wird.In order to enable different colors to be printed on the sheet 11, the ink ribbon has 5 sections of different colors, the length of which is matched to the length of the sheet 11. For a second recording process, the sheet 11 is first passed through the area 32 and thereby subjected to a (left-handed) curvature. When entering the (right-hand) curved deflection area 35, the sheet 11 experiences a curvature in the opposite direction and thus lies against the concave outer surface 42. In the area of the switch 36, the sheet 11 is lifted by the projecting rib 60 (FIG. 2) from the concave surface 42 of the deflection area 35 formed by the other ribs 40 and is gripped by the conveyor roller 70 in the course of further transport. The inclined position of the conveyor roller 70 causes a force directed transversely to the sheet guide direction, by means of which the sheet comes into contact with the sheet guide surface 100 (FIG. 3). The rotational degree of freedom transversely to the sheet guide direction caused by the S-shaped curvature of the sheet guide channel 30 and the centrally arranged rib 60 enables an approximately parallel displacement of the leading edge or sheet surface perpendicular to the sheet guide direction. The sheet 11 performs a slight tilting movement around the raised rib 60. Due to these kinematic conditions, only one is relative to the alignment of the sheet 11 low, cross-acting force required. As soon as the leading edge of the sheet 11 has reached the sheet entry point 21, a slight braking of the sheet 11 is effected by the resilient sheet 75, so that a defined contact of the sheet 11 on the concave surface 42 is ensured at all times. Furthermore, the braking process increases the effectiveness of the transverse force exerted by the conveyor roller 70. The sheet 11 is now guided past the recording head 24 for the second time with the interposition of a further, differently colored section of the ink ribbon 5, so that a second recording operation is carried out in accordance with the control of the recording head 24.

Die Strecke von der Blatteintrittsstelle 21, um den Andruckkörper 2 bis zur Blattaustrittsstelle 26 und durch den Blattführungskanal 30 bis zum erneuten Erreichen der Blatteintrittsstelle 21 ist ein ganzzahliges und die Blattlänge übersteigendes ganzzahliges Vielfaches des Umfanges des als Druckwalze ausgebildeten Andruckkörpers 2. In diesem Fall kommt bei den nachfolgenden Aufzeichnungsvorgängen jeweils derselbe Bereich des Blattes 11 mit dem im ersten Aufzeichnungsvorgang bereits in Kontakt gekommenen Oberflächenbereich des Andruckkörpers 2 in Anlage. Damit haben Rundlauffehler der Druckwalze keinen Einfluß auf die Qualität des Aufzeichnungsergebnisses. Nachdem das Blatt 11 der Druckwalze insgesamt viermal zur Aufzeichnung mit den Farben Schwarz, Gelb, Magenta und Cyan zugeführt wurde, wird die Weiche 36 mittels dem Element 63 in Drehrichtung 78 bewegt, so daß das Blatt 11 entlang des Leitkanals 81 auf die Blattablagefläche 80 gelangt.The distance from the sheet entry point 21, around the pressure body 2 to the sheet exit point 26 and through the sheet guide channel 30 until the sheet entry point 21 is reached again is an integer multiple of the circumference of the pressure body 2 designed as a pressure roller, which exceeds the sheet length. In this case, the subsequent recording processes, the same area of the sheet 11 in contact with the surface area of the pressure body 2 that has already come into contact in the first recording process. This means that print runout errors have no influence on the quality of the recording result. After sheet 11 has been fed to the printing roller a total of four times for recording with the colors black, yellow, magenta and cyan, the switch 36 is moved in the direction of rotation 78 by means of element 63, so that sheet 11 arrives on sheet depositing surface 80 along guide channel 81 .

Claims (15)

  1. A process for guiding a sheet of paper (11) in an ink ribbon cassette, in which the sheet of paper (11), coming from a sheet outlet point (26) of a pressure member (2), is conveyed back in a sheet guide channel (30) with a curved deflection area (35) as far as a sheet inlet point (21) of the pressure member (2), the sheet (11) being guided along the surface (42), which is concave when viewed in the sheet guidance direction, of the deflection area (35),
    characterized in that the sheet (11) is guided by means of a raised area (60) on the concave surface (42) tiltably in sections perpendicularly to the sheet guidance direction and in that, when viewed in the sheet guidance direction, downstream of the raised area (60), a force acting perpendicularly to the sheet guidance direction is exerted on the sheet (11), by means of which force the sheet (11) is aligned with one side edge on a sheet guidance surface (100).
  2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that, before entry into the curved deflection area (35), the sheet (11) has curvature applied thereto in the opposite direction to the curved deflection area (35).
  3. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the sheet (11) has curvature applied thereto in the opposite direction to the curved deflection area (35) after exit from the curved deflection area (35).
  4. A process according to any one of the preceding claaims, characterized in that the sheet (11) is deflected by at least 170° between the raised area (60) on the concave surface (42) and the area of force exertion.
  5. An ink ribbon cassette for implementing the process according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a sheet guidance channel (30) running between a sheet outlet point (26) and a sheet inlet point (21) of a pressure member (2), said channel (30) having a curved deflection area (35),
    characterized by a sheet guidance surface (100) laterally defining the sheet guidance channel (30),
    - a raised area (60) arranged on the concave surface (42) of the deflection area (35) and projecting into the sheet guidance channel (30) and
    - at least one transport roller (70) arranged downstreaam of the raised area (60) when viewed in the sheet guidance direction, which roller (70) exerts force, acting in the direction of the sheet guidance surface (100), on a sheet (90).
  6. An ink ribbon cassette according to claim 5,
    characterized by a further area (32) curved in the opposite direction with respect to the deflection area (35), which area (32) is adjacent the deflection area.
  7. An ink ribbon cassette according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the deflection area (35) comprises a comparatively sharp curve on its sheet inlet side and in that the raised area (60) is arranged in the area of the sharp curvature.
  8. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the raised area (60) is arranged approximately centrally with respect to the width, running perpendicularly to the sheet guidance direction, of the sheet (11).
  9. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the raised area (60) is a rib running longitudinally with respect to the sheet guidance direction.
  10. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the raised area is at least one freely rotating friction roller with an approximately linear friction surface.
  11. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the deflection area (35) between the raised area (60) and the transport roller (70) effects deflection of the sheet by at least 170° in the sheet guidance direction.
  12. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the transport roller (70) is arranged centrally on a driven shaft (71) and in that the shaft (71) forms an angle (102) of less than 90° with the sheet guidance surface (100) laterally defining the sheet guidance channel (30) when viewed in the sheet guidance direction.
  13. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the diameter of the transport roller (70) is greater than the width of the transport roller (70).
  14. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that the sheet guidance channel (30) is tapered in the area of the sheet inlet point (21) by a spring-loaded plate (75).
  15. An ink ribbon cassette according to any one of claims 5 to 14, characterized in that the pressure member (2) is a printing roller and in that the path travelled by a sheet from the sheet inlet point (21) via the sheet outlet point (26) and the sheet guidance channel (30) until the sheet inlet point (21) is reached again is an integral multiple, exceeding the sheet length, of the printing roller circumference.
EP91905555A 1990-03-20 1991-03-18 Process for guiding a sheet of paper in a colour-tape cassette, and a colour-tape cassette for carrying out the process Expired - Lifetime EP0521011B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4009293A DE4009293A1 (en) 1990-03-20 1990-03-20 METHOD FOR LEADING A SHEET IN A RIBBON CASSETTE AND RIBBON CASSETTE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD
DE4009293 1990-03-20
PCT/DE1991/000240 WO1991014579A1 (en) 1990-03-20 1991-03-18 Process for guiding a sheet of paper in a colour-tape cassette, and a colour-tape cassette for carrying out the process

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0521011A1 EP0521011A1 (en) 1993-01-07
EP0521011B1 true EP0521011B1 (en) 1994-05-18

Family

ID=6402855

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91905555A Expired - Lifetime EP0521011B1 (en) 1990-03-20 1991-03-18 Process for guiding a sheet of paper in a colour-tape cassette, and a colour-tape cassette for carrying out the process

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0521011B1 (en)
DE (2) DE4009293A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1991014579A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3013646A (en) * 1961-06-12 1961-12-19 Moore Business Forms Inc Paper guides
GB1189709A (en) * 1967-10-19 1970-04-29 Creed & Co Ltd Improvements in Web Feeding Apparatus.
JPS56122747A (en) * 1980-02-27 1981-09-26 Ricoh Co Ltd Corrector for skew and lateral position of paper
DE3230258C2 (en) * 1982-08-13 1986-09-11 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Paper transport device for line printer
US4702631A (en) * 1984-11-08 1987-10-27 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Thermal ribbon cassette and housing therefore
JPS62132654A (en) * 1985-12-05 1987-06-15 Hitachi Ltd Thermotransfer recorder
DE3720417A1 (en) * 1986-09-22 1988-04-07 Siemens Ag Image recording device
DE3642715A1 (en) * 1986-12-13 1988-06-16 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Sheet aligning apparatus
DE3704059A1 (en) * 1987-02-10 1988-08-18 Base Ten Systems Electronics G Device for printing information on sheet-type data carriers, such as index cards or the like
DE3721231A1 (en) * 1987-06-24 1989-01-05 Siemens Ag DEVICE FOR RECORDING IMAGE INFORMATION ON A RECORDING SHEET
DE3732853A1 (en) * 1987-09-29 1989-04-13 Siemens Ag Switching device dependent on the direction of rotation
DE3805367A1 (en) * 1988-02-17 1989-08-31 Siemens Ag IMAGE RECORDING METHOD
IT1219185B (en) * 1988-04-08 1990-05-03 Olivetti & Co Spa PRINTING DEVICE FOR A READING AND WRITING MACHINE OF INFORMATION

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 6, No. 87 (E-108)965) 25 May 1982, JP-A-57 021165 (SHIYOUICHI HINAE) 3 February 1982 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE4009293A1 (en) 1991-09-26
WO1991014579A1 (en) 1991-10-03
DE59101683D1 (en) 1994-06-23
EP0521011A1 (en) 1993-01-07

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