JP2002160837A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording device suited for using a recording material incapable of neglecting the humidity dependency from its performance and capable of miniaturizing the size. SOLUTION: This image recording device forming a recording image corresponding to image data on a thermosensitive recording material is characterized in retaining, at least, a hermetically closable magazine storing the thermosensitive recording material and a waiting passage separate from a major carrier passage for temporarily waiting the thermosensitive recording material taken out from the magazine. It is preferable that this device is provided with a switch means between the major carrier passage and the waiting passage also served as a takeout means for taking out the thermosensitive recording material from the magazine.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus suitable for using a recording material whose performance has a humidity dependency that cannot be ignored.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, thermal image recording using a thermal recording material having a thermal recording layer formed on a support such as paper or film has been used for recording an ultrasonic diagnostic image. In addition, thermal image recording has advantages such as no need for a wet development process and easy handling, and in recent years, in addition to small image recording such as ultrasonic diagnostics,
In applications where large and high-quality images are required, such as RI diagnosis and X-ray diagnosis, they are also being used for image recording for medical diagnosis.

[0003] As is well known, in thermal image recording,
Using a thermal head having a glaze in which heating elements corresponding to the number of pixels in one line are arranged in one direction, with the glaze slightly pressed against the heat-sensitive recording layer of the heat-sensitive recording material, By heating each glaze heating element according to the image data of the recorded image while relatively moving in the direction substantially perpendicular to the arrangement direction, the thermosensitive recording layer of the thermosensitive recording material is heated to perform image recording. I have.

[0004] The problem here is that some thermal recording materials used in thermal printers (mainly thermal recording films having a film base as a support) include:
There is a problem that some devices have a humidity dependency, that is, a device whose performance, particularly recording characteristics, changes in accordance with ambient humidity.

Of course, many countermeasures have been taken against this problem, for example, by enclosing a humidity adjusting material in the film package to maintain a constant humidity. Great care is taken to maintain performance during the period.

[0006] The problem occurs after the film package configured as described above is opened and loaded into the thermal recording apparatus. That is, after the film package has been opened, the air around the heat-sensitive recording film in the film package can be relatively freely circulated, and the humidity is maintained within a predetermined range, unless special measures are taken. Guarantee cannot be obtained.

Conventionally, as a countermeasure against this, a film package is loaded in a sealable magazine with a lid, and in use, the lid of the magazine is opened, one thermosensitive recording film is taken out, and the magazine is immediately taken out. An image recording apparatus configured to close the lid of the camera has been generally used.

[0008]

However, in a conventional image recording apparatus using this method, one heat-sensitive recording film is used.
Since the magazine must be closed every time a sheet is taken out, it is necessary to wait at least one heat-sensitive recording film between the magazine and the recording unit in order to efficiently perform continuous recording on multiple heat-sensitive recording films. There was a serious problem that space had to be secured, and as a result the device had to be enlarged.

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 various problems in the prior art and to suitably use a recording material whose performance cannot be ignored in terms of humidity. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can be downsized. In the above description, a method using a heat-sensitive recording material (film) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and is widely applied to an image recording apparatus using a humidity-dependent recording material. Applicable.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus for forming a recorded image corresponding to image data on a thermosensitive recording material, wherein at least the thermosensitive recording material is used. A sealable magazine for accommodating a recording material and a standby path different from the main transport path for temporarily waiting the thermal recording material taken out of the magazine are provided.

In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the upper surface of the magazine is used as a part of the standby path. Further, a protective cover is provided on an upper surface of the magazine.

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the image recording apparatus further includes means for switching a delivery path of the thermal recording material to one of the main transport path and the standby path. Here, as the above-mentioned means for switching the feeding path of the thermal recording material, a vertically moving roller which also serves as a means for taking out the thermal recording material from the magazine can be suitably used.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The thermal printer 10 illustrated here performs thermal image recording on a thermal image material such as a thermal recording film (hereinafter, simply referred to as a film) F of a predetermined size such as B4 size.

As shown in FIG. 1, a thermal printer (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an apparatus) 10 according to the present embodiment includes a loading section 14 into which a magazine 24 accommodating the above-mentioned film F is loaded, and a loading section 14 provided inside. Supply conveyance section 16 and standby path 5
0, thermal head 66 (including cooling fins in the figure)
Recording section 20 for performing thermal image recording on film F by using
And a discharge unit 22.

The thermal printer 10 according to the present embodiment
In the apparatus, the length of a section from the loading section 14 to the entrance of the recording section 20 is shorter than the length of a film F of a commonly used size, thereby reducing the size of the entire apparatus. For this reason,
In the thermal printer 10 according to the present embodiment, a standby space corresponding to one film F cannot be prepared in a section from the loading unit 14 to the entrance of the recording unit 20 as in the conventional apparatus. As an alternative, a standby path 50 is provided.

That is, in the thermal printer 10 according to the present embodiment, a switching means for switching the sending direction of the film F is provided around the exit of the film F of the magazine 24 of the loading unit 14, and the film taken out of the magazine is provided. F. First, the standby path 5
0, the magazine F is closed, the film F is made to stand by at a standby position including the upper surface of the magazine, and is sent to the recording unit 20 at a predetermined timing for recording.

The above-mentioned film F is formed by using a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or the like as a support.
A heat-sensitive recording layer is formed on one side thereof,
For example, a stack of about 100 predetermined units is stored in the above-described magazine 24 in the form of a film pack, and as described later, is taken out of the magazine 24 one by one and subjected to thermal recording.

The loading section 14 has an insertion port 30, a guide / support plate 32, a guide plate 34, a stopper 36, and the like formed in the housing 28 of the thermal printer 10. The magazine 24 is inserted into the thermal printer 10 from the insertion port 30 of the loading unit 14 with the lid 26 facing forward, and is brought into contact with the stopper 36 while being guided by the guide / support plate 32 and the guide plate 34. And is loaded at a predetermined position of the thermal printer 10. The upper surface of the guide plate 34 is used as a part of a standby path 50 as described later.

The supply and transport section 16 takes out the film F from the magazine 24 loaded in the loading section 14 and
After the standby in step (a), the sheet is conveyed to the recording unit 20. The sheet feeding mechanism using a sucker that sucks and conveys the film F by suction, and conveying means 42 including a film delivery roller integrated with the sheet feeding mechanism. Guide 44 and a pair of cleaning rollers 56 located at the exit of the transport guide 44
Etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, the standby path 50 is provided inside the transport path (transport guide 44) of the thermal printer 10, and before the standby path 50 and the transport path (for convenience, the transport path 44). 44, a switching mechanism 43 for switching between a film F transport path and a standby path, which will be described later, for switching the film delivery to the standby mode. The film feed roller 42b of the switching mechanism 43 is rotated forward and
It is configured to be reversible.

The transport means 42 comprises a sheet feeding mechanism using a suction cup, a film feeding roller integrated with the sheet feeding mechanism, and a nip roller pressed by the film feeding roller (details will be described later). The cleaning roller pair 56 is a roller pair including an adhesive rubber roller and a normal roller, and is for removing dust and the like attached to the film F.

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) show a specific example of the structure of the above-mentioned transport means 42. FIG. It should be noted that the transport means 42
In addition to the single-wafer function, the present applicant has applied the single-wafer apparatus previously proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8-008344, “Single-wafer Apparatus” (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-194057). It has a function of switching between a film transport path and a standby path.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the conveying means 42 has a single-wafer mechanism 42a using a suction cup and a film feed roller 42b having a driving force disposed on the same supporting member. The transport unit 42 includes a take-out position on the film F in the magazine 24 and a switching mechanism 43 for switching between the film F transport path and the standby path outside the magazine 24.
It is configured to be able to reciprocate between positions.

More specifically, the transport means 42 is provided at the switching mechanism 43 between the film F transport path and the standby path outside the magazine 24, and the main transport path of the film F taken out of the magazine 24, The position where the film F is sent out to the original transport path (the position corresponding to FIG. 2A), and the position where the film F is sent out toward the temporary standby path 50 (the position corresponding to FIG. 2B). Is configured to be movable between.

The switching mechanism 43 for switching between the film F transport path and the standby path includes a film feed roller 42b disposed on the same plane as the sheet-feeding mechanism 42a, and a film feed roller 42b from below. A lower roller (driven roller) 43a is urged by a spring, and is configured to substantially move up and down following the movement of the film feed roller 42b.

Further, the single-wafer mechanism 42a using the aforementioned suction cups
And the film feeding roller 42b having a driving force are independently and removably disposed via a spring with respect to the support member. When the sheet-feeding mechanism 42a operates, the function of the film feeding roller 42b is stopped. Conversely, the operation of the sheet feeding mechanism 42a is controlled so that the function of the sheet feeding mechanism 42a is stopped when the film is fed.

That is, the transport means 42 is used for the magazine 2
In the take-out position on the film F in 4, the function of taking out one film F by the sheet-feeding mechanism 42 a using a suction cup is provided, and in the position of the switching mechanism 43 between the film F transport path and the standby path outside the magazine 24. Realizes the function of releasing the film F by releasing the holding of the film F by the sheet-feeding mechanism 42a using a sucker, together with the film delivery roller 42b and the lower roller (driven roller) 43a that comes into contact with the film delivery roller 42b.

Here, the lower roller (driven roller) 43a of the switching mechanism 43 for switching between the film F transport path and the standby path is moved to an upper position corresponding to the film F standby path by a regulating means (not shown). And a lower position corresponding to the film F transport path, and is normally configured to be urged toward the upper position.

The standby path 50 (see FIG. 1) is formed in the shape of a second transport path different from the main transport path, and is used to hold the largest size film F that can be handled by the thermal printer. A dead-end transport path that has a length of one sheet plus the length of alpha (that is, a temporary standby path)
It is. However, it is not always necessary to arrange a stopping member or the like at the end of the standby path 50.

The operation of the thermal printer 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

In the thermal printer 10, when recording start is instructed, the lid 26 of the magazine 24 is opened by a lid opening / closing mechanism (not shown), and the film F is discharged from the magazine 24 by the sheet-feeding mechanism 42a using a suction cup. 1
Sheets are taken out. The taken-out film F is transported by the conveying means 42.
Is transported to the position of the switching mechanism 43 between the film F transport path and the standby path.

The film F transported by the sheet-feeding mechanism 42a to the position of the switching mechanism 43 between the film F transport path and the standby path is transferred to the lower roller 4 of the switching mechanism 43 here.
While being lightly pressed toward 3a, the suction by the suction cup in the single-wafer mechanism 42a is released. As a result, the film F is supplied between the film delivery roller 42b and the lower roller (driven roller) 43a that comes into contact with the film F, and the supplied film F is transported along the transport guide 45 toward the standby path 50.

The transport of the film F toward the standby path 50 is stopped immediately before the trailing end of the film F is released from being sandwiched between the film feed roller 42b and the lower roller (driven roller) 43a that comes into contact with the film feed roller 42b. . After stopping, magazine 24
Is closed, and the film F is conveyed in the opposite direction to that before, and sent to the temporary storage unit formed on the upper surface of the magazine 24.

When the film F is stored in the temporary storage section on the upper surface of the magazine 24, the film feed roller 42b and the lower roller (following roller) 43a that comes into contact with the film feed roller 42b are one step lower than the previous position. Move to a position corresponding to the transport path. Thus, the preparation for sending the film F to the main transport path is completed.

Next, the film F is fed to a film feed roller 42b and a lower roller (driven roller) 43 in contact with the film feed roller 42b.
a, it is sent out to the main transport path along the transport guide 44. Here, the distance from the transport means 42 defined by the transport guide 44 to the cleaning roller pair 56 is set slightly shorter than the length of the film F in the transport direction. The front end of the film F is configured to reach the cleaning roller pair 56.

Here, the cleaning roller pair 56 may be stopped at first, and the leading end of the film F may temporarily stop here. That is, when the leading end of the film F reaches the cleaning roller pair 56, the temperature of the thermal head 66 is checked. If the temperature of the thermal head 66 is a predetermined temperature, the film F Is restarted, and the film F is transported to the recording unit 20.

On the other hand, in the system in which the cleaning roller pair 56 is not stopped, the temperature of the thermal head 66 has reached a predetermined temperature in advance (for example, when the start of recording on the film F is instructed). After confirming, the conveyance of the film F is continued, and the film F
Is sent to the recording unit 20.

The recording section 20 includes a thermal head 66, a platen roller 60, a guide 58, a guide 62, a pair of film discharge rollers 63, and the like. Here, a cooling fan (not shown) for cooling the thermal head 66 may be additionally provided.

The thermal head 66 is, for example, 300 dp
a thermal head body for performing thermal image recording at a recording (pixel) density of i, performing thermal recording for one line on the film F, and forming a glaze in which heating elements are arranged in one direction; And a heat sink fixed to the thermal head body. The thermal head 6
6 is supported by a support member 68 which is rotatable about a fulcrum 68a in the direction of arrow a and in the direction opposite thereto.

The platen roller 60 rotates at a predetermined image recording speed while holding the film F at a predetermined position, and a direction (sub-scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to the glaze extending direction (main scanning direction). Is transported to the film F.

Before the film F is conveyed to the thermal head 66, the support member 68 is rotated upward (in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow a), and the glaze of the thermal head 66 and the platen roller 60 come into contact with each other. Not. When the conveyance of the film F by the cleaning roller pair 56 is started, the film F is conveyed while being guided by the cleaning roller pair 56 and the guide 58.

When the leading end of the film F is conveyed to a recording start position (a position corresponding to the glaze), the support member 6
8 is rotated in the direction of arrow a, and the film F is held between the glaze of the thermal head 66 and the platen roller 60,
The glaze is pressed against the recording layer. Next, the film F is transported in the direction of arrow b while being held at a predetermined position by the platen roller 60.

In synchronization with this conveyance, each of the glaze heating elements is heated according to the recorded image, so that a thermal image is recorded on the film F. The film F on which the thermal image recording has been completed is conveyed by the platen roller 60 and the film discharge roller pair 63 while being guided by the guide 62, and is discharged to the tray 18 of the discharge unit 22 provided above the thermal printer 10. .

The thermal printer 10 according to the present embodiment
Is basically configured as described above and operates as described above. Next, the standby path 50 which is a characteristic configuration of the thermal printer 10 according to the present invention will be supplementarily described.

The standby path 50 is provided inside the transport path 44 of the thermal printer 10, and its lower end is, in shape, continuous with the upper surface of the magazine 24 with the lid 26 closed. As described above, the upper surface of the magazine 24 is also used as a part of the standby path 50.

Here, the magazine 24 is taken out and put in relatively frequently, for example, when loading a film pack or when changing a magazine to change the size of a film. Surface), scratches and the like are likely to occur. Therefore, in order to prevent the scratch from affecting the film, it is desirable to provide a protective cover that covers the upper surface of the magazine 24.

In the above-described embodiment, the guide plate 34 also serving as a guide plate for guiding the upper part of the magazine 24 is provided as the protective cover. However, the shape and material of the protective cover are not particularly limited. Instead, the shape may be various shapes such as a plate shape and a bag shape, and the material may be appropriately determined by a person having ordinary knowledge.

An inspection window or the like which is opened in the case of inspection or maintenance or trouble is provided in the vicinity of the supply / conveyance section 16 of the film F, the cleaning roller pair 56 provided at the entrance of the recording section 20, and the like. By arranging a seal member for preventing the outside air from circulating in this portion, the thermal printer 10 can be made to have an outside air blocking structure as a whole.

Further, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the transport path of the film F is formed in a U-shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and may have a linear transport path. May be configured. In the case of such a linear configuration, it is possible to have a simpler structure than the device shown in the present embodiment at least in terms of shutting off outside air.

As described above, the thermal printer according to the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that changes may be made.

[0052]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to use a recording material whose performance is not negligible in terms of humidity and to realize an image recording apparatus which can be downsized. It is effective.

More specifically, it is possible to realize a thermal image recording apparatus which can use a thermal film with a simple structure and which is easy to handle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are transfer means 42 shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specific configuration example and an operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 thermal printer 14 loading section 16 supply / transport section 18 tray 20 recording section 22 discharge section 24 magazine 42 transport means 42a sheet-feed mechanism 42b film delivery roller 43 switching mechanism section 43a lower roller (following roller) 44, 45 transport guide 50 standby path 56 Cleaning roller pair 58, 62 Guide 60 Platen roller 63 Film discharge roller pair 66 Thermal head F film

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus for forming a recorded image corresponding to image data on a thermosensitive recording material, comprising at least a sealable magazine for accommodating the thermosensitive recording material, and the thermosensitive recording taken out from the magazine. An image recording apparatus having a standby path different from a main transport path for temporarily suspending a material. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of said magazine is used as a part of said standby path. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a protective cover is provided on an upper surface of the magazine. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for switching a delivery path of said thermosensitive recording material to one of said main transport path and said standby path.
An image recording device according to the above item. 5. An image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for switching the feeding path of said heat-sensitive recording material uses a vertically moving roller which also serves as a means for taking out said heat-sensitive recording material from said magazine.