JP2000263819A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange the transfer starting position of Y, M, C ink ribbons being transferred by individual thermal heads when color printing is performed using a plurality of thermal heads. SOLUTION: In a thermal printer using Y, M, C ink ribbons being transferred by individual thermal heads assemblies, the thermal heads assembly comprises a thermal head body part 52 provided with a heating resistor 51, a head holder 53 supporting the thermal head body part 52 such that the fixing position can be adjusted, and means 54 for adjusting the fixing position of the thermal head body part 52 with respect to the head holder 53.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a printer for performing color printing using an intermediate transfer medium film, a plurality of ink ribbons and a plurality of thermal heads.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printer which performs color printing using an intermediate transfer medium film, a plurality of ink ribbons and a plurality of thermal heads, for example, printers shown in FIGS. 17 to 19 are known.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a main part of the printer 101, and FIG. 18 is a side view of a thermal head assembly. The printer 101 includes an intermediate transfer medium film 103 wound around a bobbin 102, a yellow ink ribbon (hereinafter, referred to as a Y ink ribbon) 104 as three primary colors, and a magenta ink ribbon (hereinafter, referred to as an M ink ribbon). ) 105, a cyan ink ribbon (hereinafter, referred to as a C ink ribbon) 106, a platen roller 107 in which the plurality of ink ribbons 104, 105, 106 are arranged along the outer peripheral surface,
Each of the M and C ink ribbons 104, 105, and 106 is pressed against the platen roller 107 in a state where the ink ribbons 104, 105, and 106 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer medium film 103.
The first, second, and third color images are formed on the intermediate transfer medium film 103 by sequentially transferring the color materials of the M and C ink ribbons 104, 105, and 106 to the intermediate transfer medium film 103. Thermal head assembly 1
08, 109, and 110, and the first, second, and third thermal head assemblies 108, 109, and 110 are moved to an initial position indicated by a one-dot chain line, an intermediate position indicated by a two-dot chain line, and a printing position indicated by a solid line. First, second, and third thermal head assembly holding / driving mechanisms 111, 112, and 113 are provided.

The first to third thermal head assemblies 108 to 110 include a thermal head main body 122 having a rectangular heating resistor 121 extending in the width direction of the intermediate transfer medium film 103, and a thermal head main body 122. Part 1
And a head holder 123 for supporting the color transfer material 22. The heat generation of the heat generating resistor 121 causes the color materials of the ink ribbons 104 to 106 to sublimate and transfer to the intermediate transfer medium film 103. I have.

[0005]

As described above, the printer 101 separates the Y, M, and C ink ribbons 104, 105, and 106 from independent first to third thermal head assemblies 108, respectively. , 109,1
At 10, the thermal transfer is performed by pressing the intermediate transfer medium film 103 onto the intermediate transfer medium film 103.

Therefore, between the first to third thermal head assemblies 108 to 110, the thermal head main body 122 attached to the head holder 123 is provided.
19, the transfer start position Y ₁ and the transfer end position Y ₂ of the Y ink ribbon 104 with respect to the intermediate transfer medium film 103, and the M ink ribbon 10 as shown in FIG.
5 respectively shifted to the transfer start position C ₁ and the transfer end position C ₂ of the transfer start position M ₁ and the transfer end position M _2, C ink ribbon 106 is generated in, or images of the portion to which they shift has occurred smeared Alternatively, there has been a problem that coloring is incomplete.

According to the present invention, the transfer start position and the transfer end position of the Y, M, and C ink ribbons to the intermediate transfer medium film by the plurality of thermal head assemblies can be easily and reliably aligned. .

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an intermediate transfer medium film wound in a roll, a plurality of ink ribbons, and a platen in which the plurality of ink ribbons are arranged along the outer peripheral surface. A plurality of thermal transfer rollers that transfer the color material of the ink ribbon to the intermediate transfer medium film to form an image by pressing the roller and the respective ink ribbons onto the platen roller in a state where the ink ribbons are superimposed on the intermediate transfer medium film; A head asher, a thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism for holding the thermal head assembly and moving the thermal head from the initial position to the printing position, and from the printing position to the initial position, and forming the intermediate transfer medium film. And a printing object on which the printed image is printed. A thermal head main body provided with a heating resistor, a head holder supporting the thermal head main body so that the fixing position can be adjusted, and a fixing position of the thermal head main body with respect to the head holder. Head fixing position adjusting means, and the head fixing position adjusting means adjusts the mounting position of the thermal head body with respect to the head holder, whereby the transfer start positions of the plurality of ink ribbons to the intermediate transfer medium film and Transfer end positions can be aligned.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 16. (1) Overall structure of printer, (2) Structure of intermediate transfer medium film,
(3) Structure of ink ribbon and heat seal ribbon,
(4) The structure of the thermal head assembly, (5) the structure of the thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism, and (6) other structures will be described in this order. (1) Overall Structure of Printer The printer of the present invention is configured as a printer that performs color printing using an intermediate transfer medium film.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the printer 1, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view. The printer 1 includes an intermediate transfer medium film 3 wound around a bobbin 2, Y, M, and C ink ribbons 4, 5, and 6, and Y, M, and C ink ribbons 4, 5, and 6. The first platen roller 7 arranged along the outer peripheral surface and the Y, M and C ink ribbons 4, 5 and 6 are superimposed on the intermediate transfer medium film 3, respectively. The first to third thermal head assemblies 8 to 10 for performing thermal transfer by pressing against the first platen roller 7, and the first to third thermal head assemblies 8 to 10 are held. A first method for moving the assemblies 8 to 10 from the initial position indicated by the one-dot chain line to the printing position indicated by the solid line via the intermediate position indicated by the two-dot chain line, and from the printing position to the initial position via the intermediate position. ~ 3rd A thermal head assembly holding the drive mechanism 11 to 13, heat sealing ribbon 14
A fourth thermal head assembly 15 for performing heat sealing by pressing the heat seal ribbon 14 against the first platen roller 7 in a state where the heat seal ribbon 14 is superimposed on the intermediate transfer medium film 3; A fourth thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism 16 for holding the thermal head assembly 15 and moving the fourth thermal head assembly 15 from the initial position to the sealing position via the intermediate position, and the intermediate transfer medium film And a first capstan roller 18 and a pinch roller 19 for feeding the printing paper 17 as an object to be printed on which an image formed on the printing paper 3 is to be printed, the printing paper 17 and the intermediate transfer medium film 3 in an overlapped state. The image of the intermediate transfer medium film 3 sent out in a superimposed manner is Heat for transfer is transferred to the roller 2
0 and a second platen roller 21.

The print paper 17 on which the image has been transferred by the transfer heat roller 20 and the second platen roller 21 is cut by a cutter 22 and is discharged from the discharge port 2.
The intermediate transfer medium film 3 discharged from the print paper 17 and separated from the print paper 17 is fed by the second capstan roller 24 and the pinch roller 25 and sent out and wound by the capstan roller 24 and the pinch roller 25. It is wound by a roller 26.

The intermediate transfer medium film 3 pulled out from the bobbin 2 is changed in direction by a film guide roller 27 and wound around the outer peripheral surface of the first platen roller 7 at a predetermined winding angle. It is adapted to be wound on the winding roller 26.

The Y ink ribbon 4 is disposed downstream of the film guide roller 27 in the rotation direction a of the first platen roller 7. The Y ink ribbon 4 is pressed against the intermediate transfer medium film 3 by the first thermal head assembly 8 moved to the printing position by the first thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism 11, and the ribbon film is pressed. Is sublimated and transferred to the intermediate transfer medium film 3.

The M ink ribbon 5 is arranged downstream of the Y ink ribbon 4. The M ink ribbon 5 is transferred to the printing position by the second thermal head assembly holding / driving mechanism 12, and the ribbon film is transferred by the second thermal head assembly 9 to the intermediate transfer medium film to which the yellow color material has been transferred. The magenta color material of the ribbon film is transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium film 3.

The C ink ribbon 6 is arranged on the downstream side of the M ink ribbon 5. The above C ink ribbon 6
Are arranged on the downstream side of the M ink ribbon 5.
The C ink ribbon 6 is an intermediate sheet in which the third thermal head assembly 10 moved to the printing position by the third thermal head assembly holding / driving mechanism 13 transfers the ribbon film to the yellow color material and the magenta color material. Crimping is performed on the transfer medium film 3, and the cyan color material of the ribbon film is transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium film 3.

The heat seal ribbon 14 is disposed downstream of the C ink ribbon 6. The heat seal ribbon 14 is formed by the fourth thermal head assembly 15 moved to the sealing position by the fourth thermal head head holding / driving mechanism 16 so that the heat seal layer of the heat seal film is formed of the yellow, magenta, and cyan color materials. Is transferred onto the intermediate transfer medium film 3 so as to cover.

A print sheet 17 is superimposed on the intermediate transfer medium film 3 provided with the yellow, magenta, and cyan color materials and a heat seal layer so as to cover the color materials. Is transferred between the transfer heat roller 20 and the second platen roller 21 and the intermediate transfer medium film 3
Is transferred to the print paper 17. (2) Structure of Intermediate Transfer Medium Film 3 As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate transfer medium film 3 has an image receiving layer 32 provided on one side surface of a long base sheet 31.

The base sheet 31 is made of a synthetic resin such as a polyolefin or polystyrene resin and has a thickness of 1 to several tens μm.
The thickness is formed.

The image receiving layer 32 is mainly composed of a polyolefin resin, a vinyl resin, or a polyester resin to which a sublimable dye, which is a coloring material of the ink ribbons 4 to 6, is easily dyed. The material sheet 31 is formed on one side surface so as to have a layer thickness of 1 to 10 μm.

The long intermediate transfer medium film 3 is wound around the bobbin 2 with one end in the longitudinal direction as a winding start end.
Is wound in a roll shape and pulled out from the winding end side for use.

On the winding end side of the intermediate transfer medium film 3, that is, on the drawing start end side, a drawing section 33 is provided.

The pull-out section 33 facilitates pulling out the pull-out start end side of the intermediate transfer medium film 3 wound in a roll shape, and facilitates feeding the intermediate transfer medium film 3 to the film guide 27 and the ink ribbons 4 to 6. The first to third thermal head assemblies 8 to 10 and the fourth thermal head assembly 15 are for cleaning the thermal head main body.

The draw-out portion 33 is formed by attaching a resin sheet or felt having a thickness of about 100 μm and having a dust-absorbing property to the drawing start end side of the base sheet 31.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate transfer medium film 3 wound around the bobbin 2 is inserted into the intermediate transfer medium film supply section 34 from the upper surface side of the printer 1 and used. ing.

When the command is issued, the bobbin 2 of the intermediate transfer medium film 3 accommodated in the supply section 34 is rotated, and the drawing section 33 of the intermediate transfer medium film 3 is drawn. The draw-out portion 33 is sandwiched between the film guide roller 27 and the first platen roller 7 while being guided by the film guides 35... 35, and extends along the outer peripheral surface of the first platen roller 7. Outer peripheral surface and Y, M, C ink ribbons 4, 5,
6 and between the heat seal ribbons 14.

The intermediate transfer medium film 3 having passed through the heat seal ribbon 14 is fed between the first capstan roller 18 and the pinch roller 19 by film guides 35.

The intermediate transfer medium film 3 which has passed between the first capstan roller 18 and the pinch roller 19
Passes between the transfer heat roller 20 and the second platen roller 21, and is transferred to the second capstan roller 2.
After being sent between the pinch roller 4 and the pinch roller 25, it is wound on the winding roller 26. (3) Structure of Ink Ribbon and Heat Seal Ribbon As shown in FIG. 4, the Y ink ribbon 4 is a ribbon film 41 provided with a yellow color material layer made of a sublimable dye.
A supply spool 42 around which the ribbon film 41 is wound; a winding spool 43 for winding the ribbon film 42 wound around the supply spool 42; And a holder 44 that rotatably supports a take-up spool 43.

As shown in FIG. 2, the Y ink ribbon 4 is inserted into the Y ink ribbon accommodating portion 45 from the upper surface side of the printer 1 and used.

The M and C ink ribbons 5 and 6 and the heat seal ribbon 14 differ only in the ribbon film (the magenta color material layer is provided on the ribbon film of the M ink ribbon 5 and the ribbon film of the C ink ribbon 6). Is provided with a cyan color material layer, and the heat seal ribbon 14 is provided with a heat seal layer.) The other portions are configured in the same manner as the Y ink ribbon 4.

The M and C ink ribbons 5 and 6 and the heat-sealing ribbon 14 are respectively
An ink ribbon container 46, a C ink ribbon container 47,
The heat seal ribbon accommodating portion 48 is used by being inserted.

Then, each of the storage sections 45, 46, 47,
48, the Y ink ribbon 4, the M ink ribbon 5, the C ink ribbon 6, and the heat seal ribbon 14, respectively.
When a command is issued by closing the lid 50 of the printer 1, the take-up spool rotates and winds the ribbon film on the take-up spool. (4) Structure of Thermal Head Assembly As shown in FIG.
Is a thermal head body 52 having a heating resistor 51.
A head holder 53 that supports the head body 52 so that the fixed position can be adjusted, a first head fixed position adjusting unit 54 that adjusts the fixed position of the head body 52 with respect to the head holder 53, Head holder 5
3, a first holder supporting member 55 supporting the first holder 3, a second head fixing position adjusting means 56 for adjusting a fixing position of the head holder 53 with respect to the first holder supporting member 55, and the first holder A second holder support member 57 that couples the support member 55 to a first thermal head assembly holding drive mechanism 11 described later is provided.

The heating resistor 51 extends substantially in the width direction of the intermediate transfer medium film 3 on the lower surface of the thermal head main body 52 and at the end on the leading end side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer medium film 3. It is formed in a rectangular shape.

As shown in FIG. 6, the thermal head main body 52 is attached to the head holder 53 so as to be position-adjustable by a long hole 61 and a screw 62.

The head holder 53 includes an upper plate 53a.
And a side plate 53b connected to one end of the upper plate 53a.
And is formed by bending a metal plate at a substantially right angle.

The long hole 61 is provided in the head holder 53.
A pair of left and right sides are formed parallel to each other on both sides in the width direction of the upper surface plate 53a so as to extend in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer medium film 3.

The screw 62 is inserted into a screw shaft from above each of the pair of long holes 61, and its tip is screwed into the upper surface of the thermal head main body 52, whereby the thermal head main body 52 is connected to the screw 62. The head holder 53 is connected.

Then, if one of the pair of screws 62 is loosened while the other is tightened, and the thermal head main body 52 is moved with respect to the head holder 53,
The thermal head main body 52 and the heating resistor 51 are
The intermediate transfer medium film 3 is inclined in the b or c direction at a predetermined angle with respect to the moving direction a of the intermediate transfer medium film 3. If both of the pair of screws 62 are loosened, the thermal head body 52 and the heating resistor 51 can be moved back and forth in parallel with the moving direction of the intermediate transfer medium film 3 without tilting. .

The first head fixing position adjusting means 54
Is composed of first and second cam plates 54a and 54b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cam plates 54a,
54b is 30 ° around the rotation center P of the shaft hole 54c.
At intervals, first to seventh ridges 54e to 54k are formed on the outer contour surface 54d so as to project therefrom.
The distance from the first to seventh raised portions 54e to 54k to the rotation center P is set so as to be sequentially increased by 0.2 mm.

The cam plates 54a and 54b have a first length corresponding to the amount of protrusion of the raised portions 54e to 54k so as to sandwich the first to seventh raised portions 54e to 54k.
The first to eighth ribs 54l to 54s are formed in the radial direction so that the first to seventh ridges 54e to 54k can be easily recognized (visual confirmation) by the first to eighth ribs 54l to 54s. ing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first and second cam plates 54a and 54b are connected to the shaft holes 54 by screws 54t.
c, the first and the first provided on the head holder 53.
They are mounted on the second cam plate mounting portions 53c and 53d, respectively.

The first and second cam plate mounting portions 53c, 5
3d is formed by cutting and raising a part of the upper surface plate 53a and the side plate 53b of the head holder 53,
The first and second cam plates 54a and 54b are rotatably and fixedly mounted on the upper surfaces of the first and second cam plate mounting portions 53c and 53d by screws 54t, respectively.

A part of the first and second cam plates 54a and 54b penetrates inside the side plate 53b of the head holder 53, and the first to seventh raised portions 54e to 54e.
Any one of k is in contact with one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52.

The first and second cam plates 54a, 54a,
If the same raised portion of 54b, for example, the first raised portion 54e, is brought into contact with one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52, the thermal head main body 52 becomes
The head is not inclined with respect to the head holder 53, and is set at a position closest to the side plate 53b side in parallel with the head holder 53. If the seventh raised portions 54k of the first and second cam plates 54a and 54b are brought into contact with one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52, the thermal head main body 52 is The head holder 53 is set at a position farthest from the side plate 53b without being inclined with respect to the head holder 53.

Also, by changing the protruding portions of the first cam plate 54a and the second cam plate 54b which are in contact with one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52, for example, the first protruding portions of the first cam plate 54a The portion 54e is connected to the thermal head main body 5
2 so as to contact the one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52 with the raised portion other than the first raised portion 54e of the second cam plate 54b. 6 is set in a state of being inclined with respect to the head holder 53 in the direction b in FIG. 6, and conversely, for example, the first raised portion 5 of the second cam 54b is set.
4e is brought into contact with one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52, and the raised portion other than the first raised portion of the first cam plate 54a is brought into contact with one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52. The thermal head main body 52 is set in a state of being inclined in the direction c in FIG.

The greater the difference between the lengths of the ridges of the first cam plate 54a and the second cam plate 54b that contact the one side surface 52a of the thermal head body 52, the greater the inclination angle. It has become.

FIG. 8 shows the first and second cam plates 54a,
54 shows a modification of 54b. In this modification, the first and second cam plates 54a and 54b are formed in a perfect circular shape, and the shaft hole 54c and the rotation center P are
The first of the perfect circular shape, the second cam plate 54a, 1 ° pivot provided at a position eccentric from the center of 54b from the position P ₁ of 0 ° symmetrically in the range of position P ₂ of 180 ° Each time this is done, the distance l from the rotation center P to the contour surface 54d extends by a fixed amount, so that the fixed position adjustment of the head can be performed steplessly.

FIG. 9 shows another modification of the first head fixed position adjusting means 54. In this modification, a pair of plastic adjustment screws 54u and 54v are used as the head fixing position adjusting means 54.
The adjusting screws 54u and 54v are screwed to the side plate 53b of the head holder 53, and press the one side surface 52a of the thermal head main body 52 at the tip thereof. The operation and effect of the cam plates 54a, 54
Since this is almost the same as the case where b is used, duplicate description will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the head holder 53 is attached to the first holder supporting member 55 by screws 63, 63 and the like so as to be vertically tiltable.

Then, the first holder supporting member 55
Is provided with the second head fixing position adjusting means 56.

As shown in FIG. 10, the second head fixing position adjusting means 56 includes first and second cam plates 56a provided on both side surfaces of the first holder supporting member 55.
56b.

The first and second cam plates 56a and 56b of the second head fixed position adjusting means 56 are the same as the first and second cam plates 54a and 56b of the first head fixed position adjusting means 54.
The first holder support member 55 is rotatably attached to the first holder support member 55 by screws 56c.

The first and second cam plates 56a,
The upper surface of the upper surface plate 53a of the head holder 53 is pressed by 56b, and the head holder 53 is tilted in the vertical direction, so that the first heating resistance portion 51 of the thermal head main body 52 attached to the head holder 53 is pressed. The angle of contact with the platen roller 7 is adjusted.

The first holder supporting member 55 includes a second
Is removably attached to the holder support member 57 of FIG.

The second holder support member 57 has a rectangular support main body 57a for mounting the first holder support member 55 on the outer surface, and two ends in the longitudinal direction of the support main body 57a. A pair of bearing portions 57b provided in parallel,
57c. The second holder support member 57 is formed by bending a metal plate into a substantially U-shape. The second holder support member 57 is attached to the thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism 11 described below on the pair of bearing portions 57b and 57c. Shaft 57d is provided. Both ends of the support shaft 57d protrude from the outer surfaces of the pair of bearings 57b and 57c.

The support body 57a has an opening 57e at the center, and first and second projections 57f and 57g having a substantially L-shaped cross section are formed on both sides of the opening 57e. It is formed.

An elastic member 57h made of a flexible material such as plastic is attached between the pair of bearing portions 57b and 57c of the second holder support member 57, and the engaging member 57h is provided on the elastic member 57h. The protrusion 57i is connected to the opening 57e.
Through the support body portion 57a.

On the other hand, the first holder support member 55
A first coupling guide hole 55a is formed corresponding to the first L-shaped protrusion 57f of the second holder support member 57, and the engagement protrusion 57i and the second L
The second and third coupling guide holes 55b and 55c are formed corresponding to the letter-shaped projection 57g.

Then, the first holder supporting member 55
Is assembled on the second holder support member 57 by superimposing the first holder support member 55 on the surface of the second holder support member 57, and the elastic member 57h of the second holder support member 57. The first and second L-shaped projections 57f and 57g are inserted into the first and second coupling guide holes 55a and 55c of the first holder support member 55 by compressing the engagement protrusion 57i of the first holder. After that, the first holder supporting member 55 is slid in the direction of the arrow with respect to the second holder supporting member 57 so that the engaging projection 57i of the elastic member 57h is positioned at the position of the second coupling guide hole 55b. Then, the engaging projection 57i is released from the compressive force and enters the second coupling guide hole 55b, and the first and second L-shaped projections 57f and 57g allow the engagement projection 57i to move into the second coupling guide hole 55b. 1
The surface of the holder support member 55 is suppressed, and as shown in FIG.
7 are connected to each other.

The second and third thermal head assemblies 9 and 10 and the heat seal head assembly 15 have the same configuration as the first thermal head assembly 8 described above. (5) Structure of the Thermal Head Assembly Holding and Driving Mechanism The thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism holds the thermal head assembly as described above and moves the thermal head assembly to an initial position, an intermediate position, and a printing position. Things.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, one end of the thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism 11 is rotatably attached to both ends of a support shaft 57d provided on the second holder support member 57. A first thermal head assembly support member 72 whose other end is rotatably attached to a bearing (not shown) of the printer housing by a fixed shaft 71; and a first thermal head assembly support member 72.
By locking one end to the spring locking portion 72a and the other end to the second holder support member 57, the second holder support member 57 supports the support shaft 57d.
A coil spring 73 for supporting the thermal head assembly 8 in a state pressed against the first thermal head assembly support member 72 by applying a rotational force in the direction of arrow a around the center, and the first thermal head support member The second thermal head assembly support member 7 having one end rotatably attached to both ends of the support shaft 57d of the second holder support member 57 in a state of being superposed on the outside of the second holder support member 57.
4, a first corner 77a is connected to the other end of the second thermal head assembly support member 74 by a connection shaft 75, and the second corner 77b is A substantially triangular third thermal head assembly support member (lever member) 77 rotatably mounted on a bearing portion (not shown) of the third thermal head assembly support member, and a third corner portion of the third thermal head assembly support member 77 A cam 81 provided with an endless cam groove 79 and a shaft hole 80 serving as a center of rotation;
0, and a cam drive shaft 82 for rotating the cam 81.

As shown in FIG. 15, the cam groove 79 of the cam 81 is formed substantially symmetrically about the shaft hole 80.

The distance between the cam groove 79 and the shaft hole 80 gradually increases from a position A ₁ where the distance from the shaft hole 80 is the shortest (hereinafter referred to as an initial position), and from the position A ₂ to the position A _3. during the while maintaining a substantially constant distance (hereinafter, referred to as an intermediate position this), between the position a ₃ to the position a ₄ (hereinafter referred to as printing position) the distance between the shaft hole 80 is the longest, further again becomes an intermediate position from the position a _4, so that the return from the position a ₅ to the initial position.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when the cam pin 78 is at the initial position A ₁ of the cam groove 79, the thermal head assembly 8 is held at the initial position away from the first platen roller 7. .

When the cam 81 rotates and the cam pin 78 is located at an intermediate position of the cam groove 79, as shown in FIG.
Is moved to and held at an intermediate position close to the platen roller 7.

When the cam 81 further rotates, the cam groove 7
When the cam pin 78 is located at the printing position of FIG.
As shown in the above, the thermal head assembly 8 is
To the printing position where it comes into contact with the platen roller 7.

As shown in FIG. 16, the cam drive shaft 8
The cam 81 is attached to one end and the other end of the motor 2 respectively.
, And is rotated via a ga train 84. The rotation angle of the cam 81 with respect to the cam drive shaft 82 is always detected by a head position sensor (not shown), and the elevation of the thermal head assembly 8 is controlled based on the detection result. Has become.

Since the second, third, and fourth thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanisms 12, 13, and 16 have substantially the same configuration as the first thermal head holding and driving mechanism 11, the description thereof will not be repeated. Omitted. (6) Other Structure As shown in FIG. 1, the print paper 17 is a bobbin 17a.
, And is inserted into the paper storage unit 49 from the upper surface of the printer 1.

The leading end of the print paper 17 pulled out from the paper storage section 49 is located between the first capstan roller 18 and the pinch roller 19 and the transfer heat roller 2.
Cutter 2 passing between the first platen roller 21 and the second platen roller 21.
The paper is sent to the second side, is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 22, and is discharged to the outside of the printer 1 through the discharge port 23.

The intermediate transfer medium film 3, Y,
M and C ink ribbons 4, 5, 6, thermal head assemblies 8 to 10, thermal head assembly holding drive mechanism 1
A series of color print processing using 1 to 13 etc. is C
This is automatically performed by a PU (not shown).

[0071]

The printer according to the present invention has the following effects. (1) The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer comprises a yellow, magenta,
A printer that performs thermal transfer by pressing multiple ink ribbons of cyan or the like onto the intermediate transfer media film with independent thermal head assemblies, which is a disadvantage of the printer where the transfer start position of each ink ribbon to the intermediate transfer media film is distorted or bent. The correction is performed by the fixed position adjusting means, and the transfer start positions of the respective ink ribbons can be aligned. (2) In the printer according to the second aspect, the head fixing position adjusting means is constituted by a cam plate, and the head position is adjusted by rotating the cam plate. Can be. (3) In the printer according to the third aspect, since the head fixing position adjusting means is configured by the adjusting screw, the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the cam plate is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an intermediate transfer medium film.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink ribbon.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the thermal head assembly.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the thermal head assembly.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a cam plate.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a modified example of the cam plate.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view when a screw is used as a head fixing position adjusting unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where first and second holder supporting members are separated.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where first and second holder supporting members are assembled.

FIG. 12 is a side view (initial position) of a thermal head assembly holding drive mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a side view (intermediate position) of a thermal head assembly holding drive mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a side view (printing position) of a thermal head assembly holding drive mechanism.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of a cam.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a cam driving mechanism.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a main part of a conventional example.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a conventional thermal head assembly.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a conventional problem.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer, 2 ... Bobbin, 3 ... Intermediate transfer medium film, 4, 5, 6 ... Y, M, C ink ribbon, 8, 9,
10... First, second, and third thermal head assemblies, 1
Reference numerals 1, 12, 13: first, second, and third thermal head assembly holding / driving mechanisms, 17: print paper (subject to be printed), 51: heating resistor, 52: thermal head body, 53: head holder, 54: head fixing position adjusting means, 54a, 54b: cam plates, 54u, 54v: adjusting screws.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C064 CC02 CC07 CC11 CC13 EE01 EE05 EE07 EE13 EE15 2C065 AA01 AB09 AB10 AC03 AC04 AE07 CC02 CC09 CC10 CC15 CC16 CC18 DC01 DC04 DC10 DC29

Claims (3)

[Claims] An intermediate transfer medium film wound in a roll, a plurality of ink ribbons, a platen roller in which the plurality of ink ribbons are arranged along an outer peripheral surface, and A plurality of thermal head assemblies for forming an image by transferring the color material of the ink ribbon to the intermediate transfer medium film by pressing against a platen roller in a state where the thermal head assembly is overlaid on the intermediate transfer medium film; While holding
A thermal head assembly holding and driving mechanism for moving the thermal head from the initial position to the printing position and from the printing position to the initial position; and a printing object on which an image formed on the intermediate transfer medium film is printed. In the printer, the thermal head assembly includes a thermal head main body having a heating resistor, a head holder supporting the thermal head main body so that a fixed position can be adjusted, and a thermal head main body with respect to the head holder. A printer comprising: a head fixing position adjusting means for adjusting a fixing position. 2. The thermal head main body according to claim 1, wherein the head fixing position adjusting means is rotatably mounted on the head holder and presses one side of the thermal head main body. A printer comprising a cam plate for adjusting a fixed position of the printer. 3. The thermal head main body according to claim 1, wherein the head fixing position adjusting means is rotatably mounted on the head holder and presses one side of the thermal head main body. A printer comprising an adjusting screw for adjusting a fixed position of the printer.