JP2000280500A - Thermal recording printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which eliminates the need of discarding of a consumed media container or the like, supplementing of media or the like. SOLUTION: The thermal recording printer has a thermal head 15 which selectively generates in accordance with images, a platen 12 set opposite to the thermal head 15, and a recording paper 2 which is guided between the thermal head 15 and platen 12 and butts with the thermal head 15. The thermal head 15 heats to a temperature whereat the recording paper 2 is scorched, and records images onto the recording paper by scorching the recording paper 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a thermal recording printer using a thermal head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various printers are used as output devices of personal computers and the like. Conventional printers require some media other than recording paper (plain paper) for printing. For example, in an electrophotographic printer, toner is used, in a thermal printer,
Requires an ink sheet or thermal paper.

[0003] However, these media must be replenished when they are consumed, and the containers and the like of the consumed media must be discarded, resulting in an environmental problem associated with disposal.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer which does not require any paper other than the recording paper necessary for printing, and which does not need to dispose of spent media containers or replenish media. .

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a thermal recording printer comprising: a thermal head for selectively generating heat in accordance with an image; a platen provided to face the thermal head; And a recording sheet guided by the thermal head and brought into contact with the thermal head, wherein the thermal head is heated to a temperature at which the recording sheet is scorched, and records the image on the recording sheet by scorching the recording sheet.

[0006] According to the above arrangement, an image can be recorded by scoring the recording paper, and other than recording paper necessary for printing is not required.

Preferably, the platen is constituted by a platen roller, and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the platen roller is provided.

With the above-described configuration, there is no sticking or the like on the surface of the platen roller, and no trouble occurs in paper feeding by the platen roller.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a recording paper transport system and a printing mechanism of the thermal printing printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the printing mechanism, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a thermal head driving unit. is there.

This printer includes a paper feed / conveyance roller 11 for feeding the recording paper 2, a flat platen 12 disposed near the paper feed / conveyance roller 11, and a motor (rotating a predetermined angle in response to a pulse). Not shown), the paper discharge roller 13,
A gear group 14 for transmitting the rotational force of the motor to the paper feed / transport roller 11 and the paper discharge roller 13, a linear thermal head 15 for printing on recording paper, and a thermal head 15 A head drive unit 16 for driving to make contact or separation, and a paper feed tray 17 for storing the recording paper 2.

As shown in the explanatory view of the printing mechanism in FIG.
The recording paper 2 is placed between the thermal head 15 and the platen 12.
Is located. In this printer, there is no ink sheet between the thermal head 15 and the recording paper 2,
The recording paper is also plain paper. The recording is performed by the thermal head 1
5 is heated to a temperature at which the recording paper 2 is scorched, and the heat of the thermal head 15 causes the recording paper 2 to be scorched to perform recording. When recording for one scan is completed,
The transport roller 11 and the paper discharge roller 13 are driven, and the recording paper 2 is moved by one scan in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Alternatively, the thermal head 15 may be driven in the reverse direction of the paper transport by a motor that does not fix the thermal head 15 (arrow B). During this move,
The thermal head 15 is separated from the recording paper,
The configuration may be such that the heat of the thermal head 15 does not affect the recording paper 2.

The operation of the thermal head will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. This printer includes a linear thermal head 15. This thermal head 15
Is arranged a plurality of heating resistors (R1 to Rn) in a row in a horizontal direction (a direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction: main scanning direction), and by supplying printing data to the heating resistors, One line printing is performed. The thermal head 15 has image data (DAT) provided from outside (not shown).
Based on A), print data (SDATA) generated by the data generation / control unit 20 is given.

The thermal head 15 includes a plurality of heating resistors R1 to Rn, a shift register 15a, a latch output gate 15b, and a driver 15c. The thermal head 1 includes a data generation / control unit 20.
Are connected, and printing data (SDATA) and various control signals are supplied to the heating resistors R1 to Rn.

The shift register 15a provided in the thermal head 15 is constructed by cascading the same number of D-type flip-flops as the number of heating resistors. The shift register 15a has printing data (SDATA) supplied from the data generation / control unit 20 to each of the heating resistors R1 to Rn.
And a head clock signal (HCLK).
The printing data (SDATA) is serially applied in synchronization with the head clock signal (HCLK).

In the latch section 15b, the same number of latch circuits as the number of heating resistors are provided corresponding to the D-type flip-flops constituting the shift register 15a. Each latch circuit is provided with a latch signal (/ LATCH: / indicates negative logic) from the data generation / control unit 20, and stored in the shift register 15a based on the latch signal (/ LATCH). The printing data (SDATA) is output to the driver 15c in parallel.

The driver unit 15c is provided with the same number of AND circuits as the number of heat generating resistors corresponding to the latch circuits constituting the latch unit 15b. Each AND circuit has a strobe signal (/
STB), and the strobe signal (/
STB), the printing data (SDATA) given from the latch unit 15b is used for each of the heating resistors R1 to Rn.
Respectively.

The heating resistors R1 to Rn are connected to a head voltage Vh.
Are connected in parallel to the head voltage supply line to which the voltage is supplied. Outputs from the respective AND circuits included in the driver unit 15c are respectively supplied to the terminals of the heating resistors R1 to Rn opposite to the terminals to which the head voltage supply lines are connected. It has become.

Based on the printing data generated by the data generation / control unit 20 from the given image data, a voltage is supplied to the corresponding heating resistors R1 to Rn, and the heating resistors R1 to Rn are supplied.
.. Rn are heated to a high temperature, and the recording paper 2 is burned to perform printing.

It is preferable to control the head voltage Vh and the like so as to adjust the amount of heat generated by the thermal head 15 according to the paper quality.

Further, depending on the application, it is possible to control the temperature so that the hole is not opened but the hole is opened.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a printing mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment in that a platen roller 21 is used, whereas the planar platen 12 is used. A recording paper guide 30 is provided upstream of the platen roller 21. The recording paper 2 is fed between the platen roller 21 and the thermal head 15 from the paper feed / transport roller 11 via the guide unit 30. Platen roller 2
1 is rotated by a motor (not shown), and when printing for one line is completed, the platen roller 21 rotates and the recording paper 2 is conveyed. Then, the recording paper 2 on which recording has been completed is discharged out of the apparatus.

After the recording paper 21 is scorched and recorded, the strength of the recording paper 2 is reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the paper discharge roller is not provided and the platen roller 2 is not provided.
The recording paper is pushed out by a single conveying force, and the paper is discharged.

A cleaning blade 22 is provided on the platen roller 21, and the cleaning blade 22 removes the scorch of the paper adhered to the platen roller 21 and collects the scorch in the cleaning box 23. There is no adhesion such as scorch on the surface of the platen roller 21, and no trouble occurs in paper feeding by the platen roller 21.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a printing mechanism according to a different embodiment of the present invention. The one shown in FIG.
The embodiment is further configured such that the thermal head 15 is separated from or comes into contact with the recording paper 2 in accordance with an image.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a printing mechanism according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, in order to discharge the recording paper 2 smoothly, the paper is transported vertically and the paper is discharged in the direction of gravity.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is no need for anything other than recording paper necessary for printing.
It is possible to provide an apparatus that does not need to dispose of consumed media or replenish media.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a recording paper transport system and a printing mechanism of a thermal recording printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a printing mechanism of the thermal recording printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a thermal head driving unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a printing mechanism of a thermal recording printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a printing mechanism of a thermal recording printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a printing mechanism of a thermal recording printer according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Recording Paper 12 Flat Platen 13 Discharge Roller 15 Thermal Head

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thermal head that selectively generates heat according to an image, a platen provided to face the thermal head, and a recording sheet guided between the thermal head and the platen and in contact with the thermal head. Wherein the thermal head is heated to a temperature at which the recording paper is burned,
A thermal recording printer characterized in that an image is recorded on a recording sheet by burning the recording sheet. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said platen comprises a platen roller, and a cleaning member for cleaning a surface of said platen roller is provided.
2. A thermal recording printer according to claim 1.