JP2000280507A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output without complicate operations by arranging a platen roller for supporting a heat-sensitive recording material to be recorded to be opposite to a heat-sensitive recording head which comes in contact with the heat-sensitive recording material with a predetermined pressure to record monochromic images and color images in a direct recording system. SOLUTION: A thermal printer 12 executes heat-sensitive image recording with using different heat-sensitive recording materials A and B of cut sheets of a predetermined size to the heat-sensitive recording materials A and B by one thermal head 10. The thermal printer 12 has a mount part 14, a supply and transportation part 16 and a recording transfer part 18. The thermal printer includes a recording part 20 with a thermal head-pressuring supporting part 68 for supporting the thermal head 10 and uniformly pressing the thermal head to a platen roller 60 with an appropriate pressure, and a let-off part 22. The thermal printer 12 uses the heat-sensitive recording materials such as a heat- sensitive material for monochromic images used in recording X-ray diagnosis images or the like, and a heat-sensitive recording material for color images used in recording three-dimensional images or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal printer, and more particularly to a thermal printer capable of outputting a black-and-white image and a color image in a more easily viewable form on a heat-sensitive recording material such as film or recording paper. Thermal printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image recording (thermal image recording) using a heat-sensitive recording material such as a heat-sensitive film is used for recording an image for ultrasonic diagnosis or the like. Further, in recent years, the thermal image recording described above is advantageous not only for recording a small image such as an ultrasonic diagnosis but also for MRI since it has advantages such as no need for wet processing and easy handling. (Magnetic resonance imaging) Diagnosis and use for medical diagnosis requiring large images such as X-ray diagnosis are also being put to practical use.

As is well known, thermal image recording uses a thermal head in which heating elements for recording an image by heating a thermal recording material imagewise are arranged in one direction, and the thermal head and the thermal recording material are combined. Image recording is performed by relatively moving the heating elements in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. Here, in the thermal image recording, image recording is performed by supplying energy to each of the heating elements of the thermal head based on an image signal and heating each of the heating elements imagewise.

[0004] The thermal image recording method is roughly classified into a direct thermal recording (direct thermal printing) method in which an image is recorded using a thermal recording material including a monochromatic or multicolor thermal coloring material, and an ink ribbon or the like. There are known transfer recording systems for performing single-color or multi-color transfer recording, and various specific systems have been put into practical use for each system.

[0005] By the way, as a medical image by thermal recording as described above, a monochrome (black and white) image is mainly used and the output amount is large. However, even among medical images, ultrasound color Doppler blood flow imaging images and various CT (Computer
For some medical images such as three-dimensional images of Tomography, a color image is used.

Therefore, in the conventional thermal printer, in order to obtain both the black-and-white image and the color image, (1) both the black-and-white image and the color image are recorded by a transfer recording method such as a sublimation transfer method, (2) Black and white images are recorded by a direct recording method such as a direct thermal printing method, and color images are recorded by a transfer recording method such as a sublimation transfer method. Only when recording a color image. And a method of attaching an ink ribbon has been adopted.

[0007]

However, as described above, in the method of exchanging the ink ribbon and the method of attaching / removing the ink ribbon, when the monochrome image recording and the color image recording are frequently switched, Frequent replacement, installation / removal of ink ribbon is required,
There is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

Further, in the conventional thermal printer, at least three colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) must be formed when a color image is obtained. Must be performed without causing a positional shift in one thermal recording material. For this reason, it is necessary to reciprocate the heat-sensitive recording material, but since it is necessary to adjust the recording start position of the heat-sensitive recording material for each image forming process, a function as a capstan roller is provided downstream of the platen roller receiving the thermal head. A transfer roller pair having the following configuration is provided, and the thermosensitive recording material is held between the pair of transfer rollers at all times during image recording, and the transfer amount is controlled.
As a result, in color image recording, there are necessarily portions that cannot be recorded on the heat-sensitive recording material.

For this reason, when a black-and-white image and a color image are obtained by a conventional thermal printer, when a black-and-white image is formed on a transparent film like an X-ray diagnostic image,
Not only is the non-recording area where no image is formed wasted, but when it is observed using a backlight such as a Schaukasten, the backlight directly passes through the non-recording area, hindering diagnosis. There was a problem of becoming.

In recent years, various medical examination apparatuses, processing apparatuses for processing data and images thereof, display apparatuses for outputting processed data and images to predetermined output devices, printers, and the like have been developed. So-called interconnected,
A comprehensive medical system has also been realized. In such a system, a plurality of (a plurality of types) medical examination devices, processing devices, and output devices are used, and when outputting an image, whether the image is a monochrome image or a color image is determined.
The choice of which output device can be used (or which output device must be used) itself is very laborious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and to replace a black-and-white image and a color image with each other by replacing, attaching / removing an ink ribbon. It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer capable of outputting without performing such a troublesome operation, and more preferably not causing a non-recording area in the case of a monochrome image.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a thermal printer according to the present invention comprises a thermal recording head for recording an image by contacting a thermal recording material with a predetermined pressure;
A thermal printer having a platen roller disposed to face the thermal recording head and supporting the thermal recording material to be recorded, wherein the thermal recording head is
A black-and-white image and a color image are recorded by a direct recording method. Here, the thermosensitive recording material is
A black-and-white thermosensitive recording material for recording the black-and-white image and a color thermosensitive recording material for recording the color image, wherein the thermosensitive recording head converts the black-and-white image to the black-and-white thermosensitive recording material and the color image to the color It is preferable to record each on the heat-sensitive recording material.

The thermal printer according to the present invention is the above-mentioned thermal printer, further comprising a recording material supply section for supplying the thermal recording material, and the recording material supply section, wherein the thermal recording material comprises the monochrome image. It is preferable to have a discriminating means for discriminating whether the material is a black-and-white thermosensitive recording material for recording a color image or a color thermosensitive recording material for recording the color image. Alternatively, the thermal printer according to the present invention is the thermal printer described above, further comprising a first black-and-white thermosensitive recording material for recording the black-and-white image.
It is preferable to have at least two recording material supply units, that is, a recording material supply unit and a second recording material supply unit that supplies a color heat-sensitive recording material for recording the color image.

In the thermal printer according to the present invention, the black-and-white image is recorded on a transmission recording medium which is a black-and-white thermosensitive recording material, and the color image is recorded on a reflection recording medium which is the color thermo-sensitive recording material. Preferably. Further, it is preferable that a head pressure for pressing the thermosensitive recording material by the thermosensitive recording head is changed between when the black-and-white image is recorded and when a color image is recorded. Further, the apparatus has a plurality of types of thermosensitive recording material transporting means for transporting the thermosensitive recording material, and the plurality of types of thermosensitive recording material transporting means when recording the black-and-white image and when recording the color image. Preferably, different ones are used.

Further, the thermal printer according to the present invention comprises:
The thermal printer, further, identification means for identifying identification information from an external device that specifies whether the image to be recorded is a black and white image or a color image,
Alternatively, it is preferable to have a designating means for designating whether the recorded image is a monochrome image or a color image. Further, in the thermal printer of the present invention, it is preferable that the heat-sensitive recording material includes a black-and-white heat-sensitive recording material including a thermoresponsive microcapsule in a color-forming layer thereof. The thermal printer of the present invention is particularly effective when the black-and-white image and the color image are both medical images.

Further, a thermal printer according to the present invention comprises:
A thermal printer comprising: a thermal recording head for recording an image by contacting the thermal recording material with a predetermined pressure; and a platen roller disposed opposite to the thermal recording head and supporting the thermal recording material to be recorded. In the thermal recording head, a head pressure for pressing the thermal recording material is changed according to a type of the thermal recording material. Here, the heat-sensitive recording material includes a black-and-white heat-sensitive recording material for recording the black-and-white image and a color heat-sensitive recording material for recording the color image. In the material,
It is preferable that the color images are respectively recorded on the color thermosensitive recording materials.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermal printer according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of a thermal printer according to the present invention. The thermal printer 12 shown in FIG. 1 performs thermal image recording on different thermal recording materials A and B by one thermal head 10 using thermal recording materials A and B of a cut sheet of a predetermined size. 14, supply transport section 16, recording transport section 18
And a recording unit 20 and a discharge unit 22 that support the thermal head 10 and have a thermal head pressure support unit 68 that uniformly presses the platen roller 60 described below with an appropriate pressure.

In the thermal printer 12 according to the present embodiment, the thermosensitive recording material A is a black-and-white (image) thermosensitive recording material used for recording an X-ray diagnostic image or an ultrasonic diagnostic image such as a black-and-white film described later. And thermal recording material B
For example, a color (image) heat-sensitive recording material used for recording a CT three-dimensional image or a reference image such as a color paper described later is used. Hereinafter, the heat-sensitive recording material A is called a black-and-white film, and the heat-sensitive recording material B is called a color paper.

The above black-and-white film A, color paper B
Indicates that each of the magazines 24
A and 24B are stacked and stored in A and 24B. Each of the magazines 24A and 24B is a housing having lids 26A and 26B, and is loaded in the loading section 14 of the thermal printer 12.

The loading section 14 has insertion openings 30A and 30B formed in the housing 28 of the thermal printer 12, guide plates 32A and 32B, guide rollers 34A and 34B, and stop members 36A and 36B. Magazine 24A,
24B, the thermal printer 12 is inserted through the insertion openings 30A, 30B with the lids 26A, 26B first.
Of the guide plates 32A, 32B
By being pushed by the guide rollers 34A and 34B to a position where it comes into contact with the stop members 36A and 36B, the thermal printer 12 is loaded at a predetermined position.

The supply and transport section 16 has a sheet feeding mechanism using a suction cup 40, transport means 42A and 42B, and a transport guide 44. The black and white film A and the color paper B are taken out of the magazines 24A and 24B and transported. The sheet is transported to the downstream recording transport section 18. Conveying means 42A, 42
B denotes a transport roller 46, a pulley 47a coaxial with the transport roller 46, a pulley 47b and a tension pulley 47c connected to a rotary drive source, an endless belt 48 stretched over the three pulleys, And a nip roller 50 pressed by the suction roller 40. The front end of the black-and-white film A or the color paper B sheet-fed from the magazines 24A and 24B by the suction cup 40 is pinched by the transport roller 46 and the nip roller 50, and the downstream direction. Transport to

In the thermal printer 12 according to the present embodiment, when a thermal recording material to be used is designated, that is, when either the black-and-white film A or the color paper B is designated and a recording start instruction is issued. The lid 26A or 26B of the magazine 24A or 24B corresponding to the designated thermosensitive recording material is opened by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown), and the sheet-feeding mechanism using the suction cup 40 moves the leading end of the designated thermosensitive recording material. Transport means 42A or 4
2B (the transport roller 46 and the nip roller 50).

The heat-sensitive recording material supplied to the transport unit 42A or 42B is transported to the recording transport unit 18 by the transport unit 42A or 42B while being guided by the transport guide 44. The transport roller 46 and the nip roller 50
When the heat-sensitive recording material is held between the heat-sensitive recording materials, the suction of the heat-sensitive recording material by the suction cup 40 is released. Further, the heat-sensitive recording material used for recording is a magazine 24.
At the time when the magazine 26A or 24B is completely discharged, the cover 26A of the magazine 24A or 24B is opened and closed by the opening / closing means.
Or 26B is closed.

The recording / conveying section 18 has a pair of regulating rollers 52, a pair of conveying rollers 56 and a guide 58.
First, the leading end of the thermal recording material conveyed by the conveying means 42A or 42B reaches the regulating roller pair 52.
Here, the transport unit 4 defined by the transport guide 44
The distance from 2A, 42B to the regulating roller pair 52 is set slightly shorter than the length of the thermosensitive recording material in the transport direction. The regulating roller pair 52 is initially stopped, and when the leading end of the thermal recording material reaches the regulating roller pair 52, the temperature of the thermal head 10 is confirmed. If the temperature of the thermal head 10 is a predetermined temperature, the regulating roller pair 52 is stopped. Conveyance of the thermosensitive recording material by 52 is started (this point will be described in detail later), and is conveyed to the recording unit 20 while being guided by the guide 58.

The recording section 20 synchronizes with the thermal head 10, the platen roller 60, the pressure support section 68 of the thermal head 10 that supports the thermal head 10 and presses the platen roller 60, the guide 62, and the platen roller 60. And a cooling fan 76 and the like (details will be described later). The thermal head 10 is supported by a head fixing arm 68b that is rotatable with respect to a support shaft 68a of the thermal head pressure support portion 68. Before the thermal recording material is transported,
The head fixing arm 68b rotates the thermal head 10 to a position where the thermal head 10 does not contact the platen roller 60.

When the leading end of the thermosensitive recording material is conveyed to the recording start position (a position corresponding to the glaze of the thermal head 10) by the recording and conveying section 18, the head fixing arm 68b
Is rotated to pinch the thermosensitive recording material between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 60,
8, the thermal head 10 uniformly presses the thermosensitive recording material on the platen roller 60 with a predetermined pressure over its entire length.

As described above, the black-and-white film A such as an X-ray diagnostic image is observed using a backlight such as a Schaukasten. For this reason, transmission films for black and white images
A certain degree of hardness, that is, a so-called waist, is required in order to improve the handling when applied to a shakasten or the like. In general, a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of about 175 μm is used as a support. On the other hand, in a color reflection paper such as a color paper B, an opaque coated paper having a thickness smaller than the aforementioned 175 μm is generally used.

The pressure for pressing the heat-sensitive recording material against the thermal head 10 needs to be set higher for the stiff black-and-white film A, but this high pressure may be excessive for the color paper B. In some cases, the curl after recording becomes severe. Conversely, if the pressure is optimized for the color paper B, it is insufficient for the black-and-white film A.
Contact with 0 may become unstable, and printing failure such as blurring may occur. For this reason, it is preferable to change the pressure between the monochrome image recording on the monochrome film A and the color image recording on the color paper B. That is, more specifically, when recording a color image on the color paper B, it is preferable to set the pressure lower.

In this manner, the thermal recording material is held at a predetermined position with respect to the thermal head 10 by the platen roller 60, and is conveyed downstream while being subjected to thermal image recording by the thermal head 10. The details of the thermal image recording by the thermal head 10 will be separately described later for black-and-white / color images.

The heat-sensitive recording material on which the heat-sensitive image recording has been completed is
While being guided by the guide 62, the sheet is conveyed by the platen roller 60 and the conveying roller pair 64 (capstan roller 64 </ b> A and pressing roller 64 </ b> B), and is discharged to the tray 72 of the discharge unit 22. The tray 72 projects out of the thermal printer 12 through an outlet 74 formed in the housing 28 of the thermal printer 12 according to the present embodiment, and the thermosensitive recording material on which an image is recorded passes through the outlet 74.
Is discharged to the outside and taken out.

The details of the thermal image recording (hereinafter simply referred to as image recording) processing will be described below. First, image recording on the black-and-white film A will be described. Such image recording is used, for example, for recording a diagnostic image in ultrasonic diagnosis or the like.

In such an image recording, as a black-and-white thermosensitive recording material, a thermosensitive recording material having a thermosensitive recording layer in which a color former and a developer are contained in microcapsules and dispersed in a binder (for example, Thermosensitive recording material disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10-166640) can be used. This heat-sensitive recording material is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising a resin film, paper or the like (here, a transparent PET film is used as an example) as a support, and a heat-sensitive recording layer as described above is formed on one surface thereof. (Hereinafter, this is simply referred to as black-and-white film A).

When diagnosing an image in black and white (monochrome) shades, such as an X-ray diagnostic image, a dynamic range using a backlight (sharksten) is used in order to increase the visibility of minute density differences. It is necessary to observe with a wide transmission image. Therefore, as described above, the monochrome image is recorded on a transparent recording medium such as a monochrome film A having a transparent film such as PET as a support and a heat-sensitive recording layer formed on the surface thereof, and output as a transparent image. Is preferred.

The image recording on the black-and-white film A as described above can be performed, for example, in a maximum of about 30 B4 sizes.
This is performed by using a thermal head 10 that performs image recording at a recording (pixel) density of 0 dpi. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording control system of the thermal head 10 basically includes an image processing device 80, an image memory 82, and a recording control device 84. Image data from an image data source such as the CT or MRI described above is input to an input interface (I / F) 8.
8 (88A, 88B) to an image processing apparatus 80 configured by combining various image processing circuits and memories.

The image data is formatted (enlarged, reduced, frame-allocated) as necessary by a processing unit (not shown) in the image processing device 80, and then subjected to correction for obtaining an appropriate image. , Thermal head 10
The image data is converted into image data for heat-sensitive recording and output to the image memory 82. The recording control device 84 sequentially reads the image data stored in the image memory 82 line by line in the main scanning direction, and modulates the image data according to the read thermal recording image data (voltage application time corresponding to the image). ) Is output to the thermal head 10.

Each recording point of the thermal head 10 generates heat according to the above-mentioned image signal, and performs image recording while transporting the monochrome film A by the platen roller 60 or the like. The black-and-white film A on which the image recording is completed is conveyed to the platen roller 60 or further to the conveying roller pair 64 while being guided by the guide 62, and is discharged to the tray 72 of the discharge unit 22. The above is the description of the image recording process on the monochrome film A.

On the other hand, when a color image is recorded on color recording paper, for example, a heat-sensitive recording material having the same heat-sensitive recording layer for three colors as described above (for example, see JP-A-5-16)
No. 400, a heat-sensitive recording material). This heat-sensitive recording material has an opaque coating composed of three heat-sensitive coloring layers, each having a higher thermal sensitivity as the upper layer, and develops different colors upon heating, and a transparent protective layer located on the uppermost heat-sensitive coloring layer. This is a color thermosensitive recording material (hereinafter, simply referred to as color paper B) formed on a support such as paper.

Since a color image can be distinguished and identified by color, the image is not diagnosed with a minute difference in density as in a black-and-white image. is there. For this reason, as described above, a color image is formed by reflection such as color recording paper (color paper B) in which at least three thermosensitive coloring layers and a transparent protective layer are formed on an opaque support such as coated paper. It is preferable to record on a recording medium and output as a reflection image.

When color thermal printing is performed using the color paper B, the following points are different from the case of recording an image on the black-and-white film A described above. That is, the first difference is that the light fixing process of the thermosensitive coloring layer after the coloring process is performed during the coloring process of coloring the three thermosensitive coloring layers in a sequential manner. A second difference is that when using a thermal printer as shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to reciprocate the color paper B a plurality of times. Can be Further, as described above, in the case of color thermal printing, it is preferable that the pressure for pressing the color paper B be set lower than in the case of monochrome thermal printing.

The former optical fixing process is performed by an optical fixing unit 86 having fixing light sources 86A and 86B as shown in a detailed view of the recording unit 20 in FIG. The color paper B used here has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, on the support 91, a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 92, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 93, a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94, and a transparent protective layer 97 are sequentially provided. Each coloring layer develops cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) by heating. Reference numerals 95 and 96 denote intermediate layers, which are used to clarify the difference in thermal sensitivity between the thermosensitive coloring layers 92, 93, and 94, and to ensure selective coloring recording of the thermosensitive coloring layers 92, 93, and 94. Is provided. Reference numeral 98 is a back layer.

FIG. 5 shows the coloring characteristics of each thermosensitive coloring layer. The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 has the highest thermal sensitivity and develops a color with small thermal energy. The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 92 has the lowest thermal sensitivity and requires large thermal energy. Based on these differences in thermal sensitivity, image recording is performed in order from the thermosensitive coloring layer having the highest thermal sensitivity. In FIG.
94A indicates the thermal energy of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 immediately before coloring, and 94B indicates the thermal energy of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 developing a medium density. Also, 9
2A indicates thermal energy of the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 92 immediately before coloring.

Light fixing of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 in the light fixing unit 86 is performed by using a yellow ultraviolet lamp 86A which emits ultraviolet rays having an emission peak in a wavelength range of 420 nm, and light fixing of the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 93 is performed. This is performed using a magenta ultraviolet lamp 86B which emits ultraviolet light having an emission peak in a wavelength range of 365 nm. These yellow UV lamps 86A and magenta UV lamps 86
B is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Are sequentially arranged on the downstream side. And color paper B
As described below, the image recording by the thermal head 10 and the optical fixing by the fixing light sources 86A and 86B of the optical fixing unit 86 are alternately repeated as described below.

In the thermal printer 12 according to the present embodiment, the image recording on the color paper B is also performed using the above-described thermal head 10. When the recording density of a black-and-white image is different from the recording density of a color image, it is preferable to perform image data conversion processing at an appropriate magnification. In general, the recording density of a black-and-white image is often different from the recording density of a color image, and this difference is determined by converting dummy image data to image data with a lower recording density by converting the image data. It is preferable to cover. This embodiment also performs this type of data conversion processing.

When the image recording on the color paper B is designated, the corresponding medium, ie, the color paper B, is supplied to the recording / transporting section 18 as in the case of the image recording on the monochrome film A. The color paper B is conveyed by the conveying means 42B, the leading end thereof reaches the regulating roller pair 52, and if the temperature of the thermal head 10 is a predetermined temperature, the conveying of the color paper B by the regulating roller pair 52 is started, and the recording unit 20 is started. Sent to When the leading end of the color paper B is conveyed to the recording start position, while being held at a predetermined position corresponding to the thermal head 10 by the platen roller 60 and the conveying roller pair 64 and conveyed downstream, the thermal head 10
The image is recorded.

The image recording will be described below assuming that the recording section 20 shown in FIG. 3 is used. The transport roller pair 64 has one of the functions as a so-called capstan roller 64A and the other as a pressing roller 64B. Forward (downstream transport) and retreat (upstream transport)
I do. That is, the transport roller pair 64 performs forward transport for image recording of the color paper B and subsequent optical fixing, and moves backward to return to the image recording start position so as to perform image recording and optical fixing of the next color. Carry out. At this time, the alignment of the respective colors during image recording, that is, the alignment of the recording start position is controlled by the capstan roller 64A of the transport roller pair 64.

The image recording on the color paper B includes the image recording on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 and the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 9.
4, image recording on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 93, light fixing of the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 93, cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 92
The recording is performed in the order of image recording. During this time, on the color paper B, image recording and optical fixing are performed while the above-described transport roller pair 64 is transporting in the downstream direction, and the color paper B is inverted and transported in the upstream direction. Positioning to be performed is performed. During the image recording, the color paper B is always moved in a certain direction (that is, in the downstream direction) while controlling the conveyance amount by the conveyance roller pair 64, particularly by the capstan roller 64A. This is realized by transporting to

The color paper B on which the image recording has been completed is
While being guided by the guide 62, the sheet is conveyed to the platen roller 60 and the conveying roller pair 64 and is
Is discharged. The above is the description of the image recording process on the color paper B.

According to the above embodiment, a black-and-white image and a color image can be recorded by the direct recording method.
An advantage is obtained in that a thermal printer capable of performing output without performing a troublesome operation such as attachment / detachment can be provided.

By the way, in the present invention, a plurality of types of means for transporting the thermosensitive recording material at the time of recording are prepared, and different means for transporting the thermosensitive recording material are used when recording a black-and-white image and when recording a color image. Preferably, it is configured for use. That is, in the present embodiment, when recording a black-and-white image, in order to eliminate or minimize the occurrence of non-image areas, a so-called platen drive is performed in which the black-and-white film A, which is a heat-sensitive recording material, is transported by the platen roller 60. When recording a color image, the color paper B, which is a heat-sensitive recording material, is controlled and conveyed by a conveying roller pair 64, in particular, by a capstan roller 64A, in order to eliminate or minimize the positional deviation in the image recording repeated three times. It is better to perform so-called capstan driving. As described above, when changing the heat-sensitive recording material conveying means during image recording between a black-and-white image and a color image, the conveying roller pair 64 including the capstan roller 64A and the pressing roller 64B is rotated in synchronization with the platen roller 60. Instead, the rotation may be controlled separately from the platen roller 60 instead.

First, the black-and-white film A is placed on the platen roller 6.
A description will be given of a platen drive for conveying at 0. In the above-described image recording operation on the black-and-white film A, the sequence of the conveyance and the image recording of the black-and-white film A is shown in FIG.
(A) to (d).

FIG. 6A shows how the black-and-white film A is transported to the recording section 20 by the transport roller pair 56 and the guide 58. When the black-and-white film A reaches the image recording start position, as shown in FIG. 6B, the thermal head 10 is pressed against the platen roller 60, and the transport roller pair 56 releases the film to prepare for recording. . Next, recording is started. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6C, the monochrome film A is image-recorded while being conveyed by the platen roller 60.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the black-and-white film A
While image recording is being performed, the pair of transport rollers 64 cannot sandwich the black-and-white film A, and the pressing roller 64B retreats to a position away from the capstan roller 64A. When the image recording is completed, the pressing roller 64B returns to the position where the pressing roller 64B comes into pressure contact with the capstan roller 64A, and as shown in FIG. The above is the operation of the image recording process on the monochrome film A.

Next, the color paper B is transferred to the conveying roller pair 6.
4, the capstan drive controlled and transported by the capstan roller 64A will be described. FIG. 7 shows a sequence of the conveyance of the color paper B, the image recording, and the light fixing operation during the image recording on the color paper B described above.
(A) to (f).

FIG. 7A shows how the color paper B is conveyed to the recording unit 20 by the conveying roller pair 56 and the guide 58. When the color paper B reaches the image recording start position, the thermal head 10 is pressed against the platen roller 60 as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the image recording of the first layer (here, yellow) and the optical fixing of this layer are performed by transporting the color paper B to the transport roller pair 64, in particular, the capstan roller 64A. This is performed while transporting in the downstream direction. The color paper B on which the image recording and the optical fixing of the first layer have been completed is transported in the upstream direction by the capstan roller 64A as shown in FIG. 7D, and the second layer (here, magenta) Is set at the image recording start position and the light fixing start position of this layer. At this time, the thermal head 10 retreats to a position away from the platen roller 60.

Subsequently, image recording of the second layer (magenta) and optical fixing of this layer are performed. The operation is the first
This is the same as the image recording and light fixing of the layer (yellow). When the image recording and light fixing of the second layer (magenta) are completed, the color paper B is transported again in the upstream direction, and is set at the image recording start position of the third layer (cyan). This operation is the same as the previous operation.

Subsequently, image recording of the third layer (cyan) is performed (see FIG. 7E). When the image recording is completed, as shown in FIG. 7F, the thermal head 10 retreats to a position away from the platen roller 60, and the color paper on which the image recording is completed is guided by the guide 62 while the capstan is stopped. The sheet is conveyed to a conveying roller pair 64 of a roller 64 </ b> A and a pressing roller 64 </ b> B,
It is discharged to 2. The operation of the image recording process on the color paper B has been described above.

Here, a specific example of a recorded image obtained by the thermal printer shown in the above embodiment will be described. FIG.
(A) and (b) are diagrams schematically showing recorded images on a black-and-white film A and a color pepper B obtained by the thermal printer shown in the examples, respectively. In addition,
In the drawing, hatched portions indicate portions where images are recorded, and white portions indicate non-recording regions.

As for the black-and-white film A, the recording is started from the state shown in FIG. 6A, and as shown in FIG. A recorded image that effectively utilizes the entire surface is obtained. With such a recorded image, the observer does not feel glare or hinder reading (diagnosis).

On the other hand, in the image recording on the color paper B, since the recording is started from the state shown in FIG. 7B, as shown in FIG. Will occur. The non-recording area is used to write various information related to the recorded image, for example, in the case of an X-ray image, the name and ID (identification) information of the person who became the subject, medical history, treatment history, and the like. However, if the appearance is not good in this form when not used, the non-recording area may be evenly arranged around the recording image.

In the above embodiment, the black-and-white film A and the color paper B are each
A and 24B are separately stored in the thermal printer, but three recording material loading sections 14 are provided. For example, two recording material loading sections 14 are provided for a black and white film according to the processing amount.
It is also possible to use the remaining one for color paper, and in this case, the effect that the usability of the thermal printer is further improved can be obtained.

When a plurality of recording material loading sections 14 are provided, it is not necessary that all of them load the same size recording material. That is, for example, when the size of the thermal head is a half-cut size, if the black-and-white film is a half-cut size and the color paper is an A4 size, the size of the black-and-white film and the color paper are different. No problem.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the first embodiment, the black-and-white film and the color paper are separately stored in two magazines 24A and 24B, respectively, whereas in this embodiment, only one magazine 24 is used. That is, in the thermal printer 12A according to the present embodiment shown in FIG.
In addition, one magazine 24 is used for both black and white film and color paper, for example, a black and white film is set in some cases, and a color paper is set in other cases.

In this case, in the magazine 24, for example, the recordings disclosed in JP-A-1-102544, JP-A-1-309053, JP-A-2-83543, and the like, which are filed by the applicant of the present invention, are described. It is preferable to provide means for determining the type of material. In any of the techniques disclosed in the above publications, an identification mark indicating the type of the recording material is attached to the recording material main body or its package, and the magazine 24 side is provided with:
The apparatus is provided with a determination means for detecting the identification mark and determining the type thereof.

As a method for detecting the identification mark, a method in which the identification mark is constituted by a black and white pattern and this is detected by a photoelectric detecting means is suitably used. For example, in the method disclosed in JP-A-1-102544, the identification mark is constituted by one planar block of one black-and-white pattern, and in the method disclosed in JP-A-1-309053, The mark is constituted by a continuous linear block of a black and white pattern.
According to the method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 543 or the like, the identification mark is configured by a combination of a plurality of blocks.

By providing such a discriminating means 25 in the magazine 24, the type of the recording material set in the magazine 24 can be determined by the discriminating means 25 in the thermal printer 12A according to this embodiment shown in FIG. Discrimination is performed, and image recording appropriate for the type of the discriminated recording material is performed. That is, when it is determined that the recording material set in the magazine 24 is the black-and-white film A, black-and-white image recording by direct recording is performed on the black-and-white film A by the thermal head 10, and the recording material set in the magazine 24 is a color paper. If it is determined to be B, color image recording by direct recording is performed on the thermal image by the thermal head 10.

Of course, the two magazines 24 shown in FIG.
Also in the thermal printer 12 including the printers A and 24B, similarly to the thermal printer 12A, the type of the recording material is provided, and the type of the thermosensitive recording material loaded in each magazine is determined to determine the type of the image recording (black and white image). Or a color image), the corresponding heat-sensitive recording material may be selected.

In the above-described embodiment, whether black-and-white image recording or color image recording by the thermal printer 12 or 12A is set in advance, and the input image data for that is to record a black-and-white image. Although the case where black-and-white image data or color image data for recording a color image is set has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and switching between black-and-white image recording and color image recording is performed. If the input image data has identification information, the input image data may be identified by the input image data itself. If the input image data has a plurality of input channels, the input image data may be identified by the input channel. May be specified.

For example, as in the recording control system of the thermal head 10 shown in FIG. 10A, an image processing device 80 is provided with an image processing circuit 80A for performing the various image processing described above, and a type of image data (black and white image). Data or color image data), and the information of the image (data) type identified by the image data identifying means 80B is the image processed by the image processing circuit 80A. The data is sent to the recording control device 84 together with the data. The recording control device 84 determines the type of image recording (black and white image recording or color image recording) according to the identified image type.
Switch. At this time, the recording control device 84 sends the magazine 24 (24A, 24A)
Since the type of recording material loaded in B) is received, a magazine is selected according to the type of image recording, and an appropriate recording material is selected. If there is no magazine loaded with an appropriate recording material according to the type of image recording, a warning to that effect may be displayed on a display device (not shown), or a warning sound may be emitted.

The image data whose image data type can be identified by the image data identification means 80B is shown in FIG.
1 (a) and 1 (b). Information (identification signal or identification data) indicating that the image is a monochrome image may be written in the header of the monochrome (B / W) data shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11B, yellow (Y) data, magenta (M) data, and cyan (C) data follow a header in which information (identification signal and identification data) indicating a color image is written. Color image data consisting of Such image data is generated on the external device (modality) side and transmitted from the external device to the thermal printers 12 and 12A. Note that such identification signals and identification data are not limited to those written in the header of image data, and may be in any form, together or separately, as long as they are associated with image data.

The recording control system of the thermal head 10 shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C is the same as the recording control system shown in FIG. 10A, except for the configuration of the image processing device 80 and its input system. Since they have the same configuration, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. FIG.
As in the recording control system shown in (b), two input interfaces 88A and 88B are directly connected to the image processing device 80, and image data of a type determined according to the input channel (black and white image data or color image data). ) May be input. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a two-channel input thermal printer 12, 12A
Is connected to a CR (computed radiography) device (via an I / F 88A) to be a channel dedicated to black and white image data,
The channel (ch # 2) may be connected (via the I / F 88B) to a reference WS (reference workstation) to be a channel dedicated to color image data. The number of channels is not limited to two, and may be three or more,
The connection method is also not limited.

Further, as in the recording control system shown in FIG. 10C, there is provided a designating means 89 for designating the type of an image to be recorded by an operator from the outside as a monochrome image or a color image. Thus, the image type specified by the operator may be input from the specifying unit 89 to the image processing device 80. At this time, the image data (black and white image data or color image data) for which the image type is specified is
Of course, it is input to the image processing apparatus 80 via / F88.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which color image recording for obtaining a color image is performed by a method in which color development processing of three colors and light fixing therebetween are performed by moving the color paper forward and backward. The thermal printer according to the present invention is not limited to this.
Needless to say, a rotary drum type thermal printer as disclosed in JP-A-16400 and JP-A-6-270443 may be employed.

In the above embodiment, the black-and-white film A and the color paper B have been described as examples of the heat-sensitive recording material. However, other black-and-white reflective papers, color transmission films and the like can also be used. The type of the color thermosensitive recording material is not limited to those having the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments, and various types of color thermosensitive recording materials can be applied.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the conveying roller pair 64 configured to rotate in synchronization with the platen roller 60 is used as the thermosensitive recording material conveying means in the recording unit 20 of the thermal printer 12. However, it goes without saying that a capstan roller configured to control the rotation separately from the platen roller 60 may be used instead.

Further, the discrimination method of the discrimination means for discriminating the type of the recording material provided in the recording material loading section 14 is not limited to the above-described photoelectric reflected light detection method.
It goes without saying that various detection methods such as a photoelectric transmission light detection method, a magnetic detection method, and a method of detecting capacitance can be used.

[0078]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a black-and-white image and a color image can be output without performing a troublesome operation such as replacing and attaching / removing an ink ribbon. A thermal printer can be provided. In particular, according to the thermal printer according to the present invention, which includes a heat-sensitive recording material for performing black-and-white recording by the direct recording method and a heat-sensitive recording material for similarly performing color recording by the direct recording method, Black and white /
By identifying or designating the color, image recording can be performed on the corresponding heat-sensitive recording material, so that the above-described excellent effects can be obtained.

A recording material supply unit for supplying a black-and-white thermal recording material and a recording material supply unit for supplying a color thermal recording material, or a recording material supply unit for supplying a thermal recording material and a heat-sensitive recording material supplied thereto In the thermal printer according to the present invention having the discriminating means for discriminating the recording material, the corresponding thermosensitive recording material is appropriately supplied by identifying or designating black and white or color of the recorded image, and the image recording is performed thereon. Therefore, the above-described excellent effects can be obtained. In addition, when the pressure of the thermal head that presses the heat-sensitive recording material is changed according to the type of the heat-sensitive recording material to be recorded, deterioration of image quality such as blurring of the recorded image or curling of the recorded heat-sensitive recording material is caused. This can prevent inconveniences such as the occurrence of.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of one embodiment of a thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a recording control system of a thermal head of the thermal printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a detailed configuration of a recording unit of the thermal printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a color paper used in the thermal printer shown in FIG.

5 is a graph showing an example of the coloring characteristics of each thermosensitive coloring layer of the color paper shown in FIG.

6A to 6D are schematic cross-sectional views each showing an example of a sequence of an image recording operation on a black-and-white film by the thermal printer shown in FIG.

FIGS. 7A to 7F are schematic cross-sectional views each showing an example of a sequence of an image recording operation on color paper by the thermal printer shown in FIG.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams each showing an example of a recorded image obtained by the thermal printer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of the thermal printer of the present invention.

FIGS. 10A to 10C are block diagrams each showing a schematic configuration of another example of a recording control system of a thermal head of the thermal printer of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a sequence of an image recording operation on a black-and-white film according to the first embodiment.

11 (a) and (b) respectively show FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of black and white and color image data input to the recording control system illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of an input channel of a thermal printer to which the recording control system shown in FIG. 10B is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Thermal head 12, 12A Thermal printer 14 Loading part 16 Supply conveyance part 18 Recording conveyance part 20 Recording part 22 Ejection part 24, 24A, 24B magazine 25 Recording material discriminating means 28 Thermal printer housing 30, 30A, 30B Insertion opening 32, 32A, 32B Guide plate 34, 34A, 34B Guide roller 36, 36A, 36B Stop member 42, 42A, 42B Transport means 44 Transport guide 46 Transport roller 50 Nip roller 52 Regulatory roller pair 56 Transport roller pair 58, 62 Guide 60 Platen roller 64 Conveyance roller pair 64A Capstan roller 64B Press roller 68 Thermal head pressure support section 72 Tray 74 Discharge port 80 Image processing device 80A Image processing circuit 80B Image data identification means 82 Image memory 84 Recording control device 84A Magazine selection means 86 Light fixing section 86A Ultraviolet lamp for yellow 86B Ultraviolet lamp for magenta 88, 88A, 88B Interface 89 Image type designation means 91 Support 92 Cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 93 Magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 94 Yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 95, 96 Intermediate layer 97 Protective layer 98 Back layer 92A Thermal energy 94A just before coloring of cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 92 94A Thermal energy 94B just before coloring of yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 Thermal energy at which yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 94 develops medium density A Black and white film B Color paper

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A thermal recording head for recording an image by contacting the thermal recording material with a predetermined pressure, and a platen roller disposed opposite to the thermal recording head and supporting the thermal recording material to be recorded. A thermal printer, wherein the thermal recording head records a monochrome image and a color image by a direct recording method. 2. The heat-sensitive recording material includes a black-and-white heat-sensitive recording material for recording the black-and-white image and a color heat-sensitive recording material for recording the color image. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the color image is recorded on the thermal recording material, respectively, on the thermal recording material for color. 3. The thermal printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording material supply unit for supplying the thermosensitive recording material; and the recording material supply unit, wherein the thermosensitive recording material comprises the black and white. A thermal printer comprising: a black-and-white thermal recording material for recording an image; and a color thermal recording material for recording the color image. 4. The thermal printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a first recording material supply unit for supplying a black-and-white thermosensitive recording material for recording the black-and-white image; and a color recording unit for recording the color image. And a second recording material supply unit for supplying a thermal recording material for use. A thermal printer comprising: at least two recording material supply units. 5. The color image according to claim 1, wherein said monochrome image is recorded on a transmission recording medium which is a thermal recording material for black and white, and said color image is recorded on a reflection recording medium which is a thermal recording material for color. The thermal printer according to any one of the above. 6. The head pressure for pressing the thermosensitive recording material by the thermosensitive recording head is changed between when the black-and-white image is recorded and when a color image is recorded.
The thermal printer according to any one of the above. 7. A thermosensitive recording material conveying means for conveying the thermosensitive recording material, wherein the thermosensitive recording material is conveyed by a plurality of kinds of thermosensitive recording materials. 7. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein a different one of the material transporting means is used. 8. The thermal printer according to claim 1, further comprising an external device for specifying whether the image to be recorded is a monochrome image or a color image. A thermal printer comprising identification means for identifying identification information. 9. The thermal printer according to claim 1, further comprising designating means for designating whether the recorded image is a monochrome image or a color image. A thermal printer, characterized in that: 10. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein said heat-sensitive recording material includes a black-and-white heat-sensitive recording material having a heat-responsive microcapsule in a coloring layer. 11. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein both the black and white image and the color image are medical images. 12. A thermosensitive recording head for recording an image by contacting the thermosensitive recording material with a predetermined pressure, and a platen roller disposed opposite to the thermosensitive recording head and supporting the thermosensitive recording material to be recorded. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal recording head changes a head pressure for pressing the thermal recording material according to a type of the thermal recording material. 13. The heat-sensitive recording material includes a black-and-white heat-sensitive recording material for recording the black-and-white image and a color heat-sensitive recording material for recording the color image. The thermal printer according to claim 12, wherein the color image is recorded on the thermal recording material, respectively, on the thermal recording material for color.