JP2001180024A - Thermal printer and method of recording therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermal printer and a method of recording therefor capable of executing the recording in a condition that a thermal head is pressed against a multi-color recording thermal sheet with a heat-resistance film therebetween and of quickly executing the color recording with high quality by peeling the heat-resistance film from the multi-color thermal sheet when heating the heat-resistance film. SOLUTION: The heat-resistance film 15 is provided between the thermal head 12 and multi-color thermal sheet 1. The recording is executed by pressing the thermal head 12 against the multi-color thermal recording sheet 1 with the heat-resistance film 15 therebetween. The thermal printer is equipped with a peeling means 26 that peels the heat-resistance film 15 from the multi-color thermal recording sheet 1 when heating the heat-resistance film.

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 a recording method therefor, and more particularly to a thermal printer having a plurality of heat-sensitive coloring layers and at least one protective layer formed on a substrate. The present invention relates to a thermal printer that presses a thermal head having elements formed thereon and selectively generates heat from a heating element of the thermal head to perform desired recording on the multicolor thermal paper and a recording method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements formed thereon has been pressed against a multicolor thermal paper,
A thermal printer has been adopted which performs desired color recording on the multicolor thermal paper by selectively generating heat from the heating elements of the thermal head.

As shown in FIG. 4, a multicolor thermal paper 1 used for recording by such a thermal printer generally comprises a substrate 2 on which thermosensitive coloring layers 3 of cyan C, magenta M and yellow Y are formed. And a protective layer 4 is provided on the thermosensitive coloring layer 3.

Each of the thermosensitive coloring layers 3 of cyan C, magenta M and yellow Y has a different heating energy of a thermal head required for coloring, and generally requires the lowest heating energy for coloring of yellow Y.
It is known that the heat generation energy required for color development is highest.

Therefore, at the time of recording, first, in a state in which the thermal head is pressed against the multicolor thermal paper 1, the yellow Y thermosensitive coloring layer 3 requiring the lowest heat generation energy for coloring is formed.
Is recorded on the multicolor thermal paper 1 to record yellow Y. Then, by irradiating the multicolor thermal paper 1 on which the yellow Y is colored with ultraviolet rays, the recording by the yellow Y is fixed on the multicolor thermal paper 1. Next, magenta M is recorded on the multicolor thermal paper 1 by coloring the thermosensitive coloring layer 3 of magenta M, and the multicolor thermal paper 1 on which the magenta M is colored is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Thereby, the recording by magenta M is fixed on the multi-color thermal paper 1. Finally, cyan C
Of the multicolor thermal paper 1 by coloring the thermosensitive coloring layer 3
Is recorded for cyan C.

In this way, a color record composed of yellow Y, magenta M and cyan C is formed on the multicolor thermal paper 1.

[0007]

However, in the conventional thermal printer, the heating element of the thermal head cannot generate heat at a very high temperature. Had to take a long time. That is, in general, since the heat sensitivity of each heat-sensitive coloring layer 3 of the multicolor heat-sensitive paper 1 is suppressed to a low level, a large amount of heat energy is required to cause each heat-sensitive coloring layer 3 to develop a color. However, if the heating element of the thermal head is heated at an excessively high temperature, the protective layer 4 of the multicolor thermal paper 1 is directly rubbed by the high-temperature thermal head, so that the protective layer 4 is damaged,
The recording quality deteriorates. For this reason, the heat generating element required for color development must be obtained by prolonging the heat generation time of the thermal head with respect to the portion of the multicolor thermal paper 1 where the color is formed, that is, the recording portion, without causing the heating element of the thermal head to generate heat at a very high temperature. Was.

For this reason, conventionally, there has been a problem that it is not possible to quickly perform recording with a thermal head while maintaining good recording quality.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and performs recording in a state where a thermal head is pressed against a multicolor heat-sensitive paper via a heat-resistant film. An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer and a recording method capable of rapidly performing color recording with good recording quality by peeling off from paper when heated.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal printer, comprising: a heat-resistant film provided between a thermal head and the multicolor thermal paper; The head is configured to perform recording by being pressed against the multicolor heat-sensitive paper via the heat-resistant film, and a heat-peeling means for hot-peeling the heat-resistant film from the multicolor heat-sensitive paper is provided. is there.

[0011] By adopting such a configuration, the heat-resistant film can prevent the multicolor thermal paper from being damaged. In addition, since the heat-resistant film pressed against the multicolor thermal paper by the hot-peeling means can be peeled off hot from the multicolor thermal paper, the surface of the multicolor thermal paper after recording has a heat-resistant film. Thus, the recording quality can be improved without any damage.

The recording method of the thermal printer according to the present invention is characterized in that the thermal head is pressed against the multicolor heat-sensitive paper via a heat-resistant film to perform recording, and the heat-resistant film is placed on the multicolor heat-sensitive paper. In hot stripping.

[0013] By adopting such a method, it is possible to suppress the damage of the multi-color thermal paper by the heat-resistant film. In addition, the heat-resistant film pressed against the multi-color thermal paper together with the thermal head can be peeled off from the multi-color thermal paper when heated, so that the surface of the multi-color thermal paper after recording may be damaged by the heat-resistant film. And the quality of the recording can be improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a thermal printer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal printer 6 according to the present embodiment has a long flat platen 8 at a desired position on a frame 7. In the vicinity of the platen 8, a long carriage shaft 9 is provided.
It is arranged in parallel to. A carriage 10 is provided on the carriage shaft 9 so as to be able to reciprocate along the platen 8.

A thermal head 1 having a plurality of heating elements is provided at one end of the carriage 10 on the platen 8 side.
2 are provided. The thermal head 12 has a head mounting base 13 at a tip end of a head lever (not shown) for moving the thermal head 12 toward and away from the platen 8.
Connected through.

The carriage 10 has a cassette mounting portion 18 for mounting a film cassette 16 in which a long heat-resistant film 15 is wound and accommodated in a cassette case 14.
Are formed. The winding bobbin 1 for winding the heat-resistant film 15 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 18.
9 and a delivery bobbin 20 for delivering the heat-resistant film 15 to a recording position are rotatably disposed, and the take-up bobbin 19 is connected to a drive motor (not shown).

The carriage 10 has an ultraviolet irradiator 21 for fixing the thermosensitive coloring layer 3 which has been heated and colored by the thermal head 12 by ultraviolet irradiation.
Is provided.

The film cassette 16 has a take-up core 22 and a delivery core 23 in the cassette case 14, and the heat-resistant film 15 is wound around the outer periphery of these cores. The take-up core 22 and the delivery core 23 are fitted to the take-up bobbin 19 and the delivery bobbin 20, respectively, when the cassette is mounted.

The cassette case 14 is provided with a head insertion portion 24 into which the thermal head 12 is inserted when the cassette is mounted.
The heat-resistant film 15 drawn out to the thermal head 1
2 together with the multicolor thermal paper 1. Therefore, even if the heating element of the thermal head 12 is heated at a high temperature (however, a temperature at which only the predetermined heat-sensitive coloring layer 3 can be colored), the high-temperature thermal head 12 directly rubs the protective layer 4. Therefore, damage of the protective layer 4 can be suppressed. Therefore, by causing the heating element to generate heat at a high temperature, the heat generation time for each recording portion can be shortened. For this reason, the carriage 10
The recording speed can be increased by increasing the moving speed of the camera.

In the cassette case 14, a plurality of guide rollers 25 for guiding the running of the heat resistant film 15 are rotatably arranged.

Further, in the vicinity of the head insertion portion 24 of the cassette case 14 and downstream of the heat-resistant film 15 in the running direction, the heat-resistant film 15 pressed on the multicolor heat-sensitive paper 1 is connected to the multicolor heat-sensitive paper 1. A peeling roller 26 is provided as a hot peeling unit that peels hot from the paper 1.

Normally, the surface (protective layer 4) of the multicolor thermal paper 1 on which recording has been performed by the thermal head 12 may be in a molten or semi-molten state due to the heat of the heating elements. Therefore, if the heat-resistant film 15 is kept in contact with the multi-colored thermal paper after recording, the heat-resistant film 15 will adhere to the multi-colored thermal paper 1 or the heat-resistant film 15
As a result, the surface of the multicolor thermal paper 1 may be rubbed, and the multicolor thermal paper 1 may be damaged.

In the present embodiment, the separation roller 2
6, the heat-resistant film 15 can be peeled off from the multicolor heat-sensitive paper 1 when heated, so that the heat-resistant film 15 does not damage the multicolor heat-sensitive paper 1 after recording. For this reason, the quality of recording can be improved.

The peeling roller 26 may be provided not on the film cassette 16 but on the carriage 10 side.

Further, the peeling roller 26 may be movably disposed on the platen 8 side, for example, and a moving means such as a lever for moving the peeling roller 26 may be provided. In this case, the peel angle shown in FIG. 3 can be adjusted according to the recording mode.

As the heat-resistant film 15, a film having excellent heat resistance, such as polyimide or aramid, is suitable. The thickness of the heat-resistant film 15 is:
From the viewpoint of the lubricity between the thermal head 12 and the heat-resistant film 15 and the lubricity between the heat-resistant film 15 and the multicolor thermal paper 1, the thickness is preferably 10 μm to 2 μm, more preferably 10 μm to 5 μm. I have.

Further, a film of, for example, a silicone compound may be formed on the surface of the heat-resistant film 15 on the side in contact with the thermal head 12, or on both the surface and the rear surface. Good. In this case, since at least one of the lubricity between the thermal head 12 and the heat-resistant film 15 and the lubricity between the multicolor heat-sensitive paper 1 and the heat-resistant film 15 can be improved, the quality of the recording can be further improved. Can be further accelerated.

Behind the carriage 10, a transport roller 28 for transporting the multi-color thermal paper 1 between the carriage 10 and the thermal head 12 is rotatably provided by a paper feed motor (not shown). I have. A pressure contact roller 29 for rotatably pressing the recording paper together with the conveyance roller 28 is provided on the outer periphery of the conveyance roller 28 for holding the recording paper.

Next, an embodiment of a recording method of the thermal printer 6 according to the present invention to which the thermal printer 6 is applied will be described.

First, it is assumed that the film cassette 16 is mounted on the carriage 10 in an initial state. The carriage 10 is located at a home position outside one end of the platen 8. Then, when the carriage 10 is moved from the home position to the other end of the platen 8, recording is performed by the thermal head 12. Hereinafter, the moving direction from the home position to the other end of the platen 8 is referred to as a recording direction.

Next, the multi-color thermal paper 1 to be used for recording is inserted into the thermal printer 6 and the first line of the multi-color thermal paper 1 is moved by the transport roller 28 to the platen 8.
And the thermal head 12. When the thermal head 12 is moved to the platen 8 side, the heat-resistant film 15 pulled out to the head insertion portion 24 of the film cassette 16 is moved to the platen 8 side by the thermal head 12. Thus, the thermal head 12 is pressed against the multicolor thermal paper 1 on the platen 8 via the heat-resistant film 15.

In this state, the carriage 10 is moved in the recording direction along the platen 8 while the thermal head 12 is moved.
To generate heat necessary for yellow Y color development to the multicolor thermal paper 1. As a result, only the recording portion of the thermosensitive coloring layer 3 for yellow Y develops a color, so that recording for one line of yellow Y is performed. At this time, since the thermal head 12 is pressed against the multi-color thermal paper 1 via the heat-resistant film 15, the heating element is heated to a high temperature (however, only the yellow Y thermal coloring layer 3 may be colored). Even if heat is generated at a temperature that can be achieved by the thermal head 12, the thermal head 12 does not directly rub the multicolor thermal paper 1. Therefore, since the damage of the protective layer 4 of the multi-color thermal paper 1 can be suppressed, the heat generating element generates heat at a high temperature, and the heat generating time for each recording portion can be shortened. This makes it possible to increase the moving speed of the carriage 10 and perform printing quickly.

Further, the heat-resistant film 15 pressed against the multicolor thermal paper 1 together with the thermal head 12 is hot-peeled from the multicolor thermosensitive paper 1 immediately after recording by the release roller 26. Therefore, the multicolor thermal paper 1 and the heat-resistant film 15 do not keep contact with each other after recording, so that the heat-resistant film 15 does not damage the multicolor thermal paper 1. For this reason, the quality of recording can be improved.

After the printing of one line by the yellow Y is completed, the thermal head 12 is moved up and the carriage 10 is moved in the direction opposite to the printing direction. At this time, by driving the ultraviolet irradiation unit 21, the recording for one line of the yellow Y is fixed.

Next, the transport roller 28 is driven to transport the multi-color thermal paper 1 for one line, and the second row of the multi-color thermal paper 1 is positioned between the platen 8 and the thermal head 12. .

Then, similarly to the recording in the first row, the heat-generating elements of the thermal head 12 generate heat at the same temperature as in the first row, so that the yellow Y thermosensitive coloring layer 3 is colored to record in the second row. And the recording of the second line is fixed by irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

By repeating this operation up to the last line of the multi-color thermal paper 1, the recording with the yellow Y on the multi-color thermal paper 1 is completed.

Next, the transport roller 28 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the first line of the multicolor thermal paper 1 between the platen 8 and the thermal head 12.

Then, the thermal head 12 is pressed against the first line of the multi-color thermal paper 1 via the heat-resistant film 15 and the carriage 10 is moved to the platen 8 in this state.
The thermal head 1 while moving in the recording direction along
The heat generating element 2 generates heat to apply heat energy required for magenta M coloring to the multicolor thermal paper 1. As a result, only the recording portion of the heat-sensitive coloring layer 3 of magenta M develops color, so that printing of one line by magenta M is performed. By repeating this operation in the row direction, the recording by the magenta M on the multicolor thermal paper 1 is completed.

Finally, the same operation as described above is performed on the thermosensitive coloring layer 3 of cyan C to complete the recording on the multicolor thermosensitive paper 1 with cyan C.

As a result, a color record composed of yellow Y, magenta M and cyan C is formed on the multicolor thermal paper 1.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the heat-resistant film 15 can prevent the multicolor thermal paper 1 from being damaged, the recording can be performed quickly by causing the heating elements of the thermal head 12 to generate heat at a high temperature. Can be. further,
Since the heat-resistant film 15 pressed against the multi-color thermal paper 1 can be peeled off from the multi-color thermal paper 1 when heated, the surface of the multi-color thermal paper 1 is damaged by the heat-resistant film 15 after recording. And the quality of recording can be improved.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified as needed.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, a serial type thermal printer 6 is used as the thermal printer 6, but the invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a line thermal printer.

[0046]

As described above, according to the thermal printer and the recording method thereof according to the present invention, the heating elements of the thermal head can be heated at a high temperature. Recording can be performed quickly, and the heat-resistant film pressed onto the multicolor thermal paper can be peeled off from the multicolor thermal paper when heated, so that the quality of the recording can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a film cassette in the embodiment of the thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a recording state by a thermal head in the embodiment of the recording method of the thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a multicolor thermal paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Multicolor thermal paper 2 Base material 3 Thermal coloring layer 4 Protective layer 6 Thermal printer 12 Thermal head 15 Heat resistant film 26 Peeling roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements formed thereon, wherein said thermal head is pressed against a multicolor thermal paper having a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers and at least one protective layer formed on a substrate. A thermal printer that performs desired recording on the multicolor thermal paper by selectively causing the heating elements of the thermal head to generate heat while moving the thermal head relative to the multicolor thermal paper, A heat-resistant film is provided between the thermal head and the multi-color heat-sensitive paper, and the thermal head is pressed against the multi-color heat-sensitive paper via the heat-resistant film to perform recording. A thermal peeling means for thermally peeling the conductive film from the multicolor thermal paper. 2. A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements formed thereon is pressed against a multicolor thermal paper having a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers and at least one protective layer formed on a base material. A recording method of a thermal printer for performing desired recording on the multicolor thermal paper by selectively heating a heating element of the thermal head while relatively moving the multicolor thermal paper, wherein the thermal head A recording method for a thermal printer, comprising: performing recording by pressing the heat-resistant film on the multicolor heat-sensitive paper via a heat-resistant film, and peeling the heat-resistant film from the multicolor heat-sensitive paper when heated.