JP2002254711A - Image forming device and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manage a physical relationship between a print head and print paper in a stamp type printer. SOLUTION: The printer 1 is provided with a contact state display feature which is equipped with a first to a fourth contact detection parts 35, 35, 35, 35 detecting a contact state to a paper surface of the print paper 500, and a first to a fourth contact display parts 36, 36, 36, 36 as indicators to inform a user the detection results by the first to fourth detection parts 35, 35, 35, 35.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer having an automatic paper feeding function (hereinafter, referred to as an automatic paper feeding printer) has been proposed as a stationary printer. Such a printer prints on print paper taken into a main body. Such printers are limited by the size and form of the printing paper. For example, it has not been possible to print on already bound notes and the like.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been proposed a printer (hereinafter, referred to as a manually movable printer) that prints on a print sheet while manually moving a main body. For example,
A "hand-driven transfer device" (Japanese Patent No. 2779412 or JP-A-2-3358) is an example of such a manually movable printer. According to such a manually movable printer, there is no restriction on the paper size and form, so that it is possible to print on various recording media. In addition, in the automatic paper feed type printer, printing was performed by moving paper, so a space at least twice the paper size was required for paper feeding and paper discharge. Since printing is performed while manually moving on paper, the size can be reduced without requiring such a space.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned manual movable printer cannot perform full-color printing. This is because if the above-mentioned manually movable printer is adapted to full-color printing, reciprocating motion of several degrees is required, and such reciprocating motion is manually driven by the user. The reason is that high-quality full-color printing cannot be desired if left to the user. That is, in the conventional manual movable printer, the size and form of the print paper can be given a degree of freedom, but the printing of a single color binary is limited.

[0005] In view of the above, it is desired to provide a printer capable of performing full-color printing while having the characteristic of being able to print on a recording medium, which is a characteristic of a manually movable printer. A so-called stamp-type printer is conceivable as a printer that enables this. With a stamp-type printer, only the print head moves inside the main body without moving the main body (for example, reciprocating movement) when the main body is placed on print paper.
By doing so, the printer performs printing on print paper. That is, a stamp-type printer is a type of printer that is placed on print paper and completely independent of the print paper.

However, a stamp-type printer in which the print head is mounted on the print paper and moves to perform printing needs to manage the positional relationship between the print head and the print paper.

That is, in the above-described conventional automatic paper feed type printer in which the print paper is taken into the print head position, the relationship between the print paper and the print head is linear, and the print head and the platen are located in the linear region. If the positional relationship or pressure relationship is managed, high-quality printing is possible. In a manually movable printer, the relationship between the print head and the print paper is a straight line,
The management of the positional relationship was left to the user.
However, in the case of a stamp type printer, the positional relationship between the print head and the print paper needs to be managed as a flat surface. If the management as a flat surface is insufficient, high-quality printing cannot be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an stamp-type printer as described above, an image forming apparatus capable of managing a positional relationship between a print head and print paper. It is intended to provide an image forming method.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a recording medium, and is arranged to face the recording medium when mounted. A body portion having a frame portion, an image recording head built in the body portion, movable along the recording body in the frame portion, and performing image formation while moving with respect to the recording body, and movement of the image recording head Moving means for controlling the image recording head, a positional relationship display means for displaying a positional relationship between the image recording head and the recording medium, and a control means for controlling image formation on the recording medium by the image recording head.

An image forming apparatus having such a configuration is
The moving unit controls the movement of the image recording head, which is built in the main body and is movable along the recording body in the frame, and performs image formation while moving with respect to the recording body. Control of image formation on the recording medium is performed by the control unit. In this image forming apparatus, the positional relationship between the image recording head and the recording medium is displayed by the positional relationship display means. That is, the image forming apparatus displays a positional relationship between the recording medium and an image recording head that forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming method comprising: mounting an image forming apparatus on a recording body such that a frame of a main body is disposed to face the recording body; The image recording head, which is installed in the main body, is movable along the recording medium in the frame, and performs image formation while moving with respect to the recording medium, and displays the positional relationship between the recording medium and the display means. The positional relationship is managed based on the display and the display on the display means, and the image is formed on the recording medium by the image recording head.

According to this image forming method, the positional relationship between a recording medium and an image recording head which forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium is displayed on a display means, and the positional relation is displayed based on the display on the display means. Is managed, and an image is formed on a recording medium by the image recording head.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called stamp-type printer (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer) which is formed independently of a printing paper serving as a recording medium. For example, text, text,
Examples include an image including barcode data and the like.

FIG. 1 shows a specific example of the external shape of the printer. As shown in FIG. 1, the external shape of the printer 1 is configured by a substantially rectangular box-shaped main body cover 2. For example, the main body cover 2 is formed such that each vertex is an R surface. For example, the size of the printer 1 is a so-called palm size. Note that the size of the printer 1 is not limited to the palm size, but is, for example, approximately the same as the B5 size in terms of the projected area on print paper. Is also good.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body cover 2 has a power status display section (for example, a character "POWER") for informing the user of the power on and off as a display section for informing the user of the status of the printer 1. Is also written) 4
And a print status display unit (for example, “P
RINT "is also provided. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the power state display unit 4 and the print state display unit 5 are formed from the main surface 2a to the side surface (for example, from the side surface 2b in the longitudinal direction of the main body cover 1. This power state display unit) Reference numeral 4 denotes a lamp which is turned on when the power is turned on, or a color of which is turned on when the power is turned on or off. The lighting colors are switched.

As shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, the body cover 2 has an opening 6 at the bottom of the printer 1 so that the print head 3 faces outward. .
Alternatively, the main body cover 2 has a substantially dish shape having an opening 6 in which the built-in print head 3 faces outward. Here, the print head 3 is a printing paper 500 serving as a recording medium.
The print head 3 is an image recording head that is movable along the upper side. Examples of the print head 3 include a thermal head for performing printing by thermal transfer using an ink ribbon and an ink jet head for performing printing by discharging ink liquid. Configuration.

The printer 1 is configured to realize printing by moving the print head 3. 2 and 3 show the movement of the print head 3 during printing. At the time of printing, the print head 3 of the printer 1 placed on the print paper 500 moves as shown in FIGS. Then, by moving the print head 3, a sentence or an image is printed on the printing paper 500. With such a configuration, the printable area of the printer 1 is not
Within the range within which the print head 3 is movable. That is, in the printer 1, the inside of the frame formed by the outer surface of the main body cover 2 (or forming the opening 6) is a printing area. In addition,
As a mechanism for controlling the movement of the print head 3 as described above, a mechanism which is guided by a guide shaft and moved by a motor or the like can be considered. This will be described later including the details of the print head 3.

With such a configuration, the printer 1 can print on the cut sheet 501 as shown in FIG. 4 and can also write a note (a bundle of paper) as shown in FIG. ) 502 can be printed on one sheet 502a. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printing area A at that time is an area substantially equivalent to the projection plane on the bottom surface of the printer 1. In the conventional paper feed type printer, it has been difficult to print on the notebook 502 which is a bundle of bound paper as shown in FIG. 5, but the printer 1 to which the present invention is applied has such a configuration. It is possible to print even a note 502. Further, the recording medium may be of any other type as long as it is intended for printing, for example, it can be printed on cloth.

Further, since the printer 1 can be arranged at an arbitrary position on the paper surface and the direction thereof can be arbitrary, the user can intuitively freely determine the printing area with the printer 1. Can be printed. That is, for example, in the case of a conventional printer,
Although it was difficult for the user to know in advance which area of the printed paper to be printed, the printer 1 to which the present invention is applied has solved such difficulty. Have been.

FIG. 6 shows a circuit configuration and the like of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the printer 1 includes sensors 11a and 11b, an interface (I / F) 12,
It includes a CPU 13, a memory 14, a DC motor 15, a pulse motor 16, and the like. Note that the printer 1 is not limited to the configuration described above.

The sensors 11a and 11b are connected to the printer 1
Are configured as parts for detecting various states. For example, the sensors 11a and 11b detect a contact state (or positional relationship) with a print sheet as described later, an sensor configured as an operation unit serving as a user interface with a user, the print head 3 , Or for detecting the start of the ink ribbon. However, the sensor 11a,
Needless to say, 11b is not limited to this.
The signals detected by the sensors 11a and 11b are input to the CPU 13.

The CPU 13 is control means for controlling the printer 1. The CPU 13 performs a predetermined process by detecting a contact state (or positional relationship) with the print paper based on, for example, detection signals from the sensors 11a and 11b. For example, as described later, the CPU 13 performs processes such as starting and stopping printing as predetermined processes.

The I / F 12 is a connection means for an external device or a recording medium. The I / F 12 includes, for example, a personal computer 301 serving as a so-called host, a data recording medium 302 serving as an external storage medium including a semiconductor memory, and an image display device 30 serving as a monitor.
3 and the like are configured to be electrically detachable. The I / F 12 is also configured to receive an analog signal S or the like.

For example, the CPU 13 transmits and receives data via the I / F 12. CPU 13 is an I / F
The print data is received via the memory 12, and in this case, for example, processing for storing the data in the memory 14 serving as data storage means is performed. For example, since the printer 1 can print a monochrome or color image, the memory 14 stores color image data or monochrome image data,
Alternatively, text data or the like as sentence data is stored.

The CPU 13 transmits various data to the externally connected devices such as the personal computer 301, the data recording medium 302, and the image display device 303 via the I / F 12. For example, when the user operates the sensors 11a and 11b as operation units, the CPU 13
The operation information is transmitted to the personal computer 301 via the I / F 12, and in this case, the personal computer 301 performs a predetermined process according to the operation information. For example, as predetermined processing, layout processing of image data used for printing is performed according to the operation information.

The print head 3 is a part for printing on the printing paper 500 as described above. For example, when the print head 3 is configured as a thermal head, the heating element is controlled by the CPU 13 based on the image data stored in the memory 14. That is, the print head 3 is controlled by the CPU 13 which is a control unit that controls image formation on the print paper 500.

The DC motor 15 is a part for driving an operation unit in the printer 1 and a pulse motor 16
Are driven by a pulse signal or the like, and are used for the purpose of positioning the print head 3 and the like. And
The operation of the DC motor 15 and the pulse motor 16 is CP
It is controlled by U13.

The above is the circuit configuration of the printer 1 and the like. With such a configuration, the printer 1 can receive print data through communication of information with the outside or the like, and perform printing based on the received image data (or print data).

Next, a specific configuration of the printer 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500, the lower end face of the main body cover 2 which contacts the printing paper 500 (specifically, the lower end face in the longitudinal direction) ) 2c is provided with high friction members 21 and 22 as fixing means. For example, the high friction members 21 and 22 are chloroprene rubber sheet members having a rubber hardness of about 70 degrees.

The printer 1 has such a high friction member 2
With the provision of the components 1 and 22, as shown in FIG. 7A, the substrate is stably placed on the printing paper 500 by applying its own weight or the load P by the user. That is, the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500 while preventing relative movement. Thereby, the printer 1
Can print on the printing paper 500 in a stable state. As described above, since printing can be performed in a stable state, printing without distortion can be performed, so that full-color printing can be performed without causing color shift. In particular, the printer 1
Since printing is realized by reciprocating only the print head 3, it is essential to ensure such stability in order to perform clean printing.

The high friction members 21 and 22 serving as the fixing means are not limited to the above examples.
Other materials having high friction may be used, for example, sticky silicone rubber or the like. The above is printer 1
This is a description of the high friction members 21 and 22 provided in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the printer 1 includes first to fourth tension applying sections 30 and 3.
Reference numerals 0, 30, and 30 are arranged at four corners of the main body case 2, and include a paper tension applying mechanism for applying tension to a print area of the print paper 500. Each of the first to fourth tension applying sections 30, 30, 30, 30 has the same configuration, and hereinafter, the first tension applying section 3 will be described.
0 will be described as a representative example.

The first tension applying section 30 is a rotating member.
31 and a tension coil spring 32.
You. The rotating member 31 has a substantially elongated shape, and has one end.
A contact portion 31a that contacts the print paper is formed, and the other end is formed.
The locking portion 31c to which the tension coil spring 32 is locked
Is formed. The rotating member 31 has a substantially intermediate portion.
A support shaft portion 31b is formed for each. This spindle 31b
From the viewpoint, the contact portion 31a is located on the outside of the device.
The locking portion 31c is located on the inner side of the device. This
The supporting shaft portion 31b as shown in FIG.
The hole 31) is rotatably supported by the contact portion 31.
a rotates around the support shaft 31b (substantially upward).
Down). Here, the outer periphery of the contact portion 31a
Surface 31a ₁Is coated with high friction material
ing.

The tension coil spring 32 urges such a contact portion 31a by an elastic force. The tension coil spring 32 includes a contact portion 31 a
And a main body locking portion 33 locked on the main body side. The tension coil spring 32 is latched so as to urge the contact portion 31a of the rotating member 31 in the direction of rotating toward the opening 6 side (bottom side) of the main body case 2.

The paper tension applying mechanism in which the first and fourth tension applying sections 30, 30, 30, 30 are configured as described above is in a state where it is not placed on the printing paper 500. As shown in FIG. 9A, the contact portions 31a of the tension applying portions 30, 30, 30, 30 are positioned so as to protrude outward from the lower end surface 2c of the main body case 2. And
When the paper tension applying mechanism is placed on the print paper 500 with its own weight or a load P applied by the user, as shown in FIG. Is rotated to be accommodated in the main body case 2.

As described above, each contact portion 31a of the paper tension applying mechanism is rotated by being placed on the printing paper 500, and at this time, the outer peripheral surface 31 of each contact portion 31a is rotated.
a ₁ slides radially outward from the printing area of the printing paper 500. Then, the outer peripheral surface 31a _1,
Coating with a high friction material is applied to increase frictional resistance. As a result, the area of the print paper 500 located inside the main body case 2 becomes the outer peripheral surface 31a.
Is pulled outwardly by _a sliding, This prevents undulation of printed surface, or so undulation of the printing surface is removed originally.

Further, in addition to such a paper tension applying mechanism, the printer 1 can be provided with the high friction members 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 7 as the fixing means as described above. Thus, the printer 1 can prevent the relative movement of the printing paper 5 while preventing the undulation of the printing surface.
00 can be printed. The above is printer 1
Is a description of a paper tension providing mechanism provided in the apparatus.

The printer 1 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, a contact state display mechanism for detecting a contact state with the print paper 500 and displaying the contact state is provided. The contact state display mechanism is roughly divided into the print paper 50
0 to the user, the first to fourth contact detection units 35, 35, 35, 35 for detecting the contact state with the paper surface of No. 0, and the first to fourth detection units 35, 35, 35, 35. Notifying part, that is, contact display part 3 as an indicator
6, 36, 36, 36.

The first to fourth contact detecting sections 35, 35,
35 and 35 are mechanical sensors that can detect contact by a mechanical mechanism, for example. The first to fourth contact detection units 35, 35, 35, 35 are arranged at four corners on the bottom surface of the printer 1. Alternatively, the first to fourth contact detection units 35, 3
5, 35, and 35 are print areas A provided as substantially rectangles.
Are arranged on the bottom surface of the printer 1 so as to be located at the four corners of the printer 1.

The first to fourth contact detection units 35, 35,
In the state where the printer 1 is not mounted on the printing paper 500, as shown in FIG. 11A, the detection members 35a for detecting the contact are moved from the lower end surface 2c of the main body cover 2 to 35. As shown in FIG. 11B, when the detection member 35 a is pushed into the main body cover 2 in a state where the detection member 35 a is placed on the print paper 500, as shown in FIG. It has a structure.

The detection of contact with the printing paper 500 is performed as follows.
Such first to fourth contact detection units 35, 35, 3
Instead of 5 and 35, it can also be realized by interlocking with a paper tension applying mechanism as shown in FIGS. That is, for example, the contact with the print paper 500 can be similarly detected by detecting the rotation of each rotation member 31 of each tension applying unit 30.

Further, the contact detecting section may be configured to detect the contact based on the detection of the amount of entering peripheral light amount by the optical sensor, or may be configured to detect the contact by the piezoelectric element. Furthermore, an example in which four contact detection units are arranged at four corners is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it suffices if it is possible to detect that the entire printing area is at the proper position.

First to fourth contact display sections 36, 36, 3
Reference numerals 6 and 36 are, for example, LEDs. The first to fourth
The contact display portions 36, 36, 36, 36 of the main body cover 2
Are arranged at the four corners of the main surface (upper surface) 2a of each of them. The first to fourth contact display units 36, 36, 3
The first and second detectors 6 and 36 are linked to the first to fourth detectors 35, 35, 35 and 35 correspondingly arranged in the main body cover 2. That is, the first to fourth display units 36, 36, 36, 36 respectively contact the first to fourth detection units 35, 35, 35, 35 arranged at the corresponding four corners on the bottom surface. It is made to light according to. Thereby, when the printer 1 is placed so that the four corners are in contact with the print paper 500, as shown in FIG. 11B, the first to fourth contact display sections 36, 36, 36 , 36 all light up.

The first to fourth contact detection units 35 and 3
Formally, the lower end surface (lower end portion) of the main body cover 2 or the main body chassis, which is in contact with the print paper 500, is attached to the print paper 50.
It is made based on the positional relationship with 0, but in effect,
It goes without saying that the determination is made on the basis of the state where the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 are properly in contact.

Here, the printing on the printing paper 500 by the print head 3 constituted by the heating element is specifically performed via an ink ribbon. Strictly speaking, the paper 500 cannot be said to be in direct contact. For this reason, the relationship between the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 at the time of printing should be strictly expressed as a positional relationship, but the printing state is such that the print head 3 performs printing via the ink ribbon. Since it can be said that it is greatly affected by indirect contact with the paper 500, such a positional relationship is also expressed as a contact relationship or the like below. In addition, when making such a definition, even a description related to this definition should be interpreted in consideration of not only strict direct contact but also indirect contact.

The contact state display mechanism is configured as described above, and the printer 1 can notify the user of whether the print paper is properly contacted by such a contact state display mechanism.

The printer 1 operates on the assumption that the printer 1 is in proper contact with the print paper 500.
Since the print head 3 and the print head 3 are designed to be in proper contact with each other, the user cannot make contact based on the display of the contact display units 36, 36, 36, 36 by such a contact state display mechanism. A sufficient portion can be accurately grasped, and the printing paper 500 can be determined based on the display state.
, The print head 3 can be brought into contact with the print head 3 accurately. The above is the description of the contact state display mechanism included in the printer 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the printer 1 is provided with first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d indicating the top and bottom directions (up and down directions) of the print image. First to fourth indicators 37a, 37
b, 37c, and 37d are LEDs, which are provided on the main surface 2a of the main body case 2 so as to display each direction.

The first indicator 37a and the third indicator 37c are arranged to face each other in the short side direction of the main surface 2a, and the second indicator 37b and the fourth indicator 37d are connected to the main surface 2a. They are arranged facing each other in the longitudinal direction. Each of the first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d has a substantially triangular shape, and is arranged so that a person can visually and intuitively know the direction. In addition,
The first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c,
37d, as shown in FIG.
a shows the contact display units 36 and 3 of the contact state display mechanism described above.
6, 36, 36 can be provided.

Images (including text) generally have a top-to-bottom direction, and the indicators 37a, 37b, 37
c and 37d indicate the top and bottom direction of the image, and the user can know the top and bottom of the image printed by the printer 1 by this. FIG. 14 shows first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d performed based on image direction data attached to image data.
Of the lighting control is shown. Here, a case will be described in which the image data is formed according to the Exif specification, and the printing is performed with reference to the contents of Tag 112.H as print direction data (image direction data).

First, the printer 1 (specifically, the CPU
13) reads the content (x) of Tag 112.H in the image data as print direction data in step S1,
In a succeeding step S2, it is determined whether or not the content is "1" or "2".

If it is "1" or "2", the printer 1 determines in step S3 that the first LED 37a
Is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the printer 1 determines whether or not there is a print start command, and enters a standby state until there is a print start command. Then, when the printing start command is issued, the printer 1 starts the printing operation in step S5.

On the other hand, the printer 1 executes the above-described step S
If it is not "1" or "2" in 2, it is determined in step S6 whether the content is "3" or "4". If it is “3” or “4”, the printer 1 determines in step S7 that the third LED 3
7c is turned on, and it is determined whether or not there is a print start command in step S4.
The printing operation is started in step S5.

Further, the printer 1 executes the above-described step S
If it is not "3" or "4" in 6, it is determined in step S8 whether the content is "6" or "7". If it is “6” or “7”, the printer 1 determines in step S9 that the second LED 3
7b is turned on, and it is determined whether or not there is a print start command in step S4.
The printing operation is started in step S5.

If it is not "6" or "7" in step S8, the printer 1 turns on the fourth LED 37d in step S10, and there is a print start command in step S4. It is determined whether or not there is a printing start command, and if there is a printing start command, the printing operation is started in step S5.

As described above, the printer 1 uses the first to fourth indicators (LED) 37a, 37b, 37 based on the image direction data attached to the image data.
c, 37d are controlled, whereby the first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, 3
One of the indicators in 7d is turned on according to the direction of the image to be printed. Thus, the user can accurately know the top and bottom directions of the image to be printed before printing, and can prevent the image from being printed upside down due to an error. In particular, the printer 1 enables printing with a relatively high degree of freedom, and it can be said that the printer 1 effectively acts on such a point.

In the above example, an example in which four indicators are provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, it is only necessary that the user can be notified of the top and bottom of the image. Therefore, as long as such an operation can be achieved, for example, only one indicator may be used. The above is the description of the first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d provided in the printer 1.

Further, the printer 1 has a function of enabling the direction of an image to be printed to be specified. For example, as described above, the first to fourth indicators 37
Although it is possible to know the direction of the image to be printed by a, 37b, 37c, and 37d, there are cases where the user wants to change the direction of the image. The printer 1 has a function of enabling a direction of an image to be printed to be changed.

For example, the printer 1 has the I / O shown in FIG.
By F12, as shown in FIG. 15, the personal computer 301 is connected to the information processing apparatus. Thus, a print system is constructed by the printer 1 and the personal computer 301.

For example, an instruction on a printing direction performed by the printer 1 is performed by the printer 1 having a user interface and transmitting operation information of the direction instruction to the personal computer 301. The user interface as an external operation unit in the printer 1 is realized by, for example, providing the first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d with their functions. That is, for example, the first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, 3
7d is configured to detect contact by pressing like a button.

The personal computer 30 is operated by pressing the first to fourth indicators 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d of the printer 1 to indicate the printing direction.
At 1, the direction of the image to be printed is changed. Conventionally, for example, a screen G for print setting is displayed on a monitor of a personal computer as shown in FIG.
By selecting the check box G ₁ for instructing the printing direction, it has been realized printing direction indicated by the user. The printer 1 enables such setting of the printing direction to be performed on the apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for applying image data (print data) based on print direction data obtained in accordance with a print direction instruction.

First, the personal computer 301
In step S21, print direction data is fetched.
Here, the print direction data is the first
To the fourth direction instruction buttons 37a, 37b, 37c, 3
7d (hereinafter referred to as a direction instruction button).

In the following step S22, it is determined whether or not a horizontally long direction is designated based on the print direction data. That is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The first direction instruction button 37a or the third direction instruction button 3 provided in the short side direction of the upper surface 2a of the main body case 2
It is determined whether or not 7c is pressed. Here, the first
Direction indication button 37a or third direction indication button 37
If c is pressed, a landscape layout process is performed on the print data in step S23. In other cases, that is, if the second direction instruction button 37b or the fourth direction instruction button 37c is pressed. In step S27, the print data is subjected to a portrait layout process. For example, when the print data is originally horizontally long, the horizontally long layout processing in step S23 is unnecessary, and the vertically long layout processing in step S27 is unnecessary.

After the landscape layout processing in step S23, it is determined in step S24 whether the direction is the forward direction. That is, the first direction instruction button 37a
It is assumed that the direction in which
It is determined whether or not the direction instruction button 37a is pressed. Here, when the first direction instruction button 37a is pressed, it is determined that the direction is the forward direction, and the print data is output as it is in step S25. When the third direction instruction button 37c is pressed, it is determined that the direction is not the forward direction, the print data is rotated by 180 degrees in step S26, and output as print data in step S25.

On the other hand, after performing the vertical layout processing in step S27, it is determined in step S28 whether or not the direction is the forward direction. That is, the second
Assuming that the direction in which the direction instruction button 37b is arranged is the forward direction, it is determined whether or not the second direction instruction button 37b is pressed. Here, the second direction instruction button 3
When 7b is pressed, it is determined that the direction is forward.
In step S25, the data is output as it is as print data. On the other hand, if the fourth direction instruction button 37d is pressed, it is determined that the direction is not the forward direction, and step S29 is performed.
, A 180 degree rotation process is performed on the print data, and the print data is output as print data in step S25.

With the above processing, the first to fourth direction instruction buttons 3
The layout process is performed based on the print direction data obtained by the pressing operations of 7a, 37b, 37c, and 37d. Then, in the personal computer 301, the print data obtained by performing the layout processing and the like is output to the printer 1. Printer 1
The print data is received via the I / F 12 and stored in the memory 1
4, and then printing on the print paper 500 is performed. Thus, the user can operate the printer 1 to specify a printing direction and print an image on the printing paper 500 as a desired direction.

For example, the user may want to specify the print direction for some reason. For example, the following cases can be mentioned.

For example, the printable area of the printer 1 is rectangular. Therefore, depending on the user, there is a case where the user wants to designate the image as portrait or landscape and print it. In such a case, according to the printer 1, it is possible to freely determine whether to make the image vertically long or horizontally wide. For example, the process of changing the vertical or horizontal length of an image includes changing the aspect ratio of the image. When the image is changed from landscape to portrait, a process of cutting both sides of the image may be performed. Alternatively, the image may be resized so that the entire image can be included in the printable area while keeping the aspect ratio fixed.

The printable area of the printing paper 500 may be vertically long or horizontally long. The user may want to print an image in such a printable area. In this case, according to the printer 1, the printer 1 is arranged in such a manner as to correspond to the printable area, and the first to fourth direction designation buttons 37a, 37b, 37c,
By operating 37d, an image can be printed appropriately.

The printer 1 is downsized as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the printer 1 can be provided in the same manner as a so-called mouse which is a simple user interface provided in the personal computer 301. In such a case, the user may want to perform continuous operations without changing the printer 1. On the other hand, the user may hold the printer 1 in a direction (for example, a reverse direction) different from the direction that the printer 1 itself sets as the forward direction. Even in the case where the image is held in the opposite manner, there is a case where the user wants to print the image in the correct vertical or horizontal direction without changing the image. In this case, according to the printer 1, since the image can be rotated, the image can be printed in the correct orientation in the vertical or horizontal direction without switching. In addition, such a situation leads to an increase in the degree of freedom of operation of the printer 1, and the usability by the user is improved. Printer 1
Can respond to the user's request to change the printing direction of the image for the reasons described above.

The printing direction of the text data can be converted by the printing direction designating function of the printer 1 as described above. In this case, for example, when the text is changed to a horizontally long text or a vertically long text, a process of changing a line feed position is performed. That is, for example, when making a horizontally long sentence into a vertically long sentence, it is necessary to reduce the number of characters per line. Is
Because we need to increase the number of characters per line,
Perform processing to reduce the line feed position. By performing such a process, conversion between a horizontally long sentence and a vertically long sentence is performed. For example, when the print area is vertically long, the printer 1 The printer 1 can print a sentence that has been placed on the top and converted into a portrait orientation according to the print area. The above is the description of the print direction instruction function of the printer 1.

Further, the printer 1 is constructed as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 7, a print range indicator 40 capable of designating a print range is provided. The print range indicator 40 is
As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, it is arranged on the lower end surface 2 c of the main body case 2. The print range indicator 40 is
It is a flat plate of a substantially rectangular frame shape forming the substantially rectangular opening 41. Here, the opening area of the opening 41 is a printing area. The outer peripheral surface 40 a of the print range indicator 40 matches the outer surface of the main body case 2. That is, the print range indicator 40 has a shape that matches the outer surface of the main body case 2 and has a frame width determined so that a print area can be secured in the opening 41. The print range indicator 40 is graduated so as to surround the periphery of the opening 41.

The print range indicator 40 is rotatably attached to the main body case 2 by an attachment portion 42 formed at one end in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, a shaft hole 42a is formed in the attachment portion 42, and a support shaft 43 provided in the main body case 2 is inserted into the shaft hole 42a. Thus, the print range indicator 40 is rotatably attached to the main body of the printer 1 as shown in FIGS.

By providing such a print range indicator 40, the user places the printer 1 on the print paper 500 and opens the main body with respect to the print range indicator 40 as shown in FIG. By setting the state, that is, by making the opening 41 face outward, it becomes possible to confirm a region located in the opening 41 as a printing region. Then, after confirming the print area, as shown in FIG. 19, the printer 1 is closed by closing the main body with respect to the print range indicator 40, that is, with the print range indicator 40 housed in the main body. Printing can be started.

Note that other functions can be added to the print range indicator 40. For example, as described above,
The printer 1 can include a high friction member for fixing to the print paper 500, a paper tension applying mechanism for applying tension to the print paper 500, a contact state display mechanism for detecting a contact state with the print paper 500, and the like. For example, the high friction member for fixing to the print paper 500 is provided on the surface of the print range indicator 40 that comes into contact with the print paper 500.
As a result, the printer 1 sets the print range indicator 4
0 also has a fixing function, so that the printing area can be confirmed and printing can be performed in a state where the printing area is fixed to the printing paper 500. The above is the printing range indicator 40 provided in the printer 1.
It is an explanation of

Note that the printer 1 can also realize the above-described configurations or mechanisms by other configurations.

For example, the printer 1 uses the printing paper 50
As shown in FIG. 20, a plurality of protrusions 51 may be provided on the lower end surface 2 c of the main body case 2 as a portion for fixing on the zero. Thereby, the printing paper 5
When the printer 1 is placed on the print paper 500, the protrusion 51 pierces the print paper, so that the printer 1 is stably placed on the print paper 500. Where, where
An example of the shape of the protrusion 51 is an acute angle shape, but the appearance of the print paper 500 is affected, for example, the trace of the protrusion 51 piercing the print paper 500 cannot be confirmed with the naked eye. Shape so that it does not occur.

When such a projection 51 is provided, the underlay 52 may be arranged on the back surface of the printing paper 500. Examples of the underlay 52 include an elastic underlay made of urethane foam.

The shape of the projection 51 is not limited to a sharp projection, but may be a hemispherical projection. That is, at the time of printing, since the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500 by at least its own weight,
Is made to be a hemispherical projection, the own weight is concentrated on each projection as a load, so that the projection is fixed on the printing paper 500. And since the part which contacts a printing paper is made into a spherical surface, it can prevent that the printing paper 500 is damaged. Furthermore, if the underlay 52 as described above is used, the effect of fixing becomes remarkable.

The printer 1 can be fixed on the printing paper 500 by magnetic force. In this case, as shown in FIG. 21, the printer 1 includes a magnetic member 53 on the lower end surface 2c of the main body case 2. In this case, an iron plate 54 or the like is required on the back surface of the printing paper 500. By providing such a magnetic member 53, the printer 1
The magnetic member 53 is connected to the iron plate 54
And so on, so that it is fixed to the printing paper 500.

The magnetic member 53 can be configured as an electromagnet. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, a magnetic member 53 which is an electromagnet whose ON / OFF is controlled by the CPU 13 is provided. As a result, the printer 1 is fixed by the magnetic force generated by the energization. As for the actual ON / OFF control, a magnetic force is generated by energizing at the time of printing, and the current is set to O at other times.
Set to FF so that no magnetic force is generated. FIG. 23 shows a flowchart of a process for ON / OFF control of the electromagnet synchronized with the printing operation. As shown in FIG. 23, when printing is started, the printer 1 causes the electromagnet to be energized to generate a magnetic force in step S31 at the time of printing, and the current to the electromagnetic force is generated in step S32 when printing is completed. , The magnetic force can be released. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 23, a series of processes for an actual printing operation is described between the process of turning on the electromagnet at the start of printing and the interruption of the current supply to the electromagnet at the end of printing. This will be described later in detail.

Further, the surface of the magnetic member 53 as described above can be coated with a high friction material. Thereby, the printer 1 can be more reliably fixed to the printing paper 500.

The printer 1 may be provided with a paper tension applying mechanism as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the paper tension applying mechanism is configured by first and second tension applying portions 60, 60 located on the respective lower ends of the main body case 2 in the longitudinal direction. I have. Here, the first and second tension applying units 60 have the same configuration, and the structure and operation of the second tension applying unit 60 will be described below as a representative.

The first tension applying section 60 includes a roller 6
1, pinion gear 63, rack 64, coil spring 65
a, 65b and a roller holder 66.

The roller 61 is a rod having a substantially circular cross section. The roller 61 has its surface 61a coated with a high friction material. With such a configuration, the roller 61 functions as a friction roller. And the roller 61
Both ends are rotatably supported by a roller holder 66 having a substantially C-shape or a substantially U-shape.

A gear 62, a pinion gear 63, and a rack 64 are provided at one end of the roller 61 as a rotation mechanism for rotating the roller 61 in conjunction with the vertical movement of the roller 61 in the drawing. Is provided.

The gear 62 is formed integrally with one end of the roller 61. The gear 62 is meshed with the pinion gear 63.

The pinion gear 63 is rotatably supported by the roller holder 66. This pinion gear 63
While being meshed with the gear 62 integrated with the roller 61, the other teeth are meshed with the rack 64 formed in the main body case 2.

The movement of the roller holder 66 in the vertical direction in the drawing is restricted. Guide shafts 67, 67 are formed in the roller holder 66 so as to protrude from the ends in the longitudinal direction. The guide shafts 67, 67 are formed in slits (slits extending vertically in the drawing) provided on the main body side. By being guided by the guide grooves 68, the roller holder 66 is restricted from moving in the vertical direction in the drawing.

The first and second compression coil springs 65a and 65b are arranged in the roller holder 66 in the longitudinal direction. First and second compression coil springs 65a, 65
5b applies an elastic force to the roller holder 66 so as to urge the roller holder 66 downward in the drawing.

As described above, the first tension applying section 60
The same applies to the second tension applying portion 60 that is disposed facing the inside of the main body case 2.

When the paper tension applying mechanism including the first and second tension applying sections 60 and 60 is not placed on the printing paper 500, as shown in FIG. The rollers 61 of the first and second tension applying portions 60 are positioned so as to protrude outward from the lower end surface 2 c of the main body case 2.

Then, the paper tension applying mechanism applies the weight P or the load P by the user to the printing paper 5.
25, the rollers 61 are housed in the main body case 2 by the placing action, as shown in FIG. And then,
The pinion gear 64 is rotated by the engagement with the rack 64, and the rotation is transmitted to the gear 62 of the roller 61. Due to the rotating operation of the gear 62, the first tension applying section 60 disposed on the left side in the drawing.
Of the roller 61 is rotated in a clockwise direction F _1, whereas, the roller 61 of the second tension applying section 60 disposed on the right side in the drawings will be rotated in the counterclockwise direction F _2. That is, the first and second tension applying sections 6
The rollers 61 of 0, 60 rotate so that the contact surface of the outer peripheral surface 61a contacting the print paper 500 moves outward as viewed from the printing area.

As described above, when the printer 1 is placed on the paper surface of the print paper 500, the paper tension applying mechanism operates in conjunction with the accommodation of the roller 61 in the main body case 2 so that the print paper is provided. The contact surface of the outer peripheral surface 61a contacting the contact member 500 is rotated so as to move outward. Thereby, the printing paper 50
Region that is located on the second inner body casing at 0, will be printed surface by the rotation of the roller 61 is respectively pulled in an outward direction R _2, thereby, for example, undulation of the printing surface is to be prevented.

Further, the paper tension applying mechanism may be configured as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 26, the paper tension applying mechanism includes a tension applying section 30 formed of a mechanical mechanism as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 at one end of the main body case 2 and a high friction member 70 at the other end. It is comprised as what provided with. In addition,
Here, the tension applying section 30 arranged on one end side may be the tension applying section 60 as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 described above.

The above-described effect can be obtained by such a paper tension applying mechanism. In particular,
By bringing the high-friction member 70 into contact with the printing paper 500 first, it is possible to more effectively apply the tension to the printing paper 500 by the operation of the tension applying unit 30.

The tension applying section can be automatically controlled as an electric operation. In this case, the rotation member 31 in the paper tension applying mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and the roller 61 shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 are electrically driven and controlled. That is, for example, the rotation of the roller 61 is electrically controlled. At this time, naturally, it is assumed that the roller 61 is given a force to press the printing paper.
The predetermined timing is, for example, the timing of starting or ending printing.

As described above, by electrically controlling the driving of the tension applying member such as the roller 61, it becomes possible to apply the tension to the printing area of the printing paper 500 at a predetermined timing.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the direction of the image to be printed by the printer 1 is designated, and the personal computer 301 changes the direction of the image based on the designated information. But,
It is not limited to this. That is, all these processes can be completed in the printer 1. Specifically, in this case, the printer 1 performs a process of changing the image direction of the image data stored in the memory 14 based on the instruction information obtained by the operation. In the printer 1, the processing is performed by the CPU 13. The processing procedure is performed according to a series of processing procedures as shown in FIG.

Further, such processing performed on the personal computer or the printer 1 can be executed by a program. And
Such a program is also provided by being recorded on a recording medium.

As for the print range indicator,
The present invention is not limited to the print range indicator 40 shown in FIG. For example, the print range indicator can be realized as an optically indicating print range. Specifically, it can be realized by providing laser pointers for emitting laser light in the lower direction of the printer 1 at the four corners. In this case, the printer 1
Is emitted by a laser pointer in a state where it is positioned above the printing paper 500,
The printing area can be confirmed.

Next, a specific example of the mechanical structure of the printer 1 will be described. FIG. 27 shows mechanical components, and the printer 1 is configured to accommodate such mechanical components in the main body case 2 as shown in FIG.

The printer 1 has the above-described print head 3 housed in the head unit 100 shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, and performs printing by the print head 3 by moving the head unit 100. Have been.

In the printer 1, the print head 3 built in the head unit 100 is moved by the head unit 100 being guided and moved by a pair of unit guide shafts 161a and 161b supported by the main body chassis 150. It is configured to move on the ink ribbon 300 and print on the printing paper 500.

For the sake of convenience, the direction of movement of the head unit 100 by the unit guide shafts 161a and 161b will be referred to as the Y direction.
A direction orthogonal to the Y direction in a plane including 1a and 161b is defined as an X direction, and a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the X direction and the Y direction is defined as a Z direction. Alternatively, the X direction is the left-right direction, the Y direction is the front-back direction,
The description will be made with the Z direction as the vertical direction. However, although each direction is defined in this way, it is needless to say that the orientation of each component constituting the printer 1 and its operation is not affected by such definition of the direction.

The main body chassis 150 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the shape is a rectangular thin thin box shape.
The main body chassis 150 has a head moving opening 1 at a substantially center thereof for moving the head unit 100.
51 are formed. The head moving opening 151 is
It has a substantially rectangular shape. This head moving opening 15
The size of 1 is determined so that a desired print area can be secured.

The main body chassis 150 has a pair of unit guide shafts 161 in the head moving opening 151.
a, 161b are also provided. Unit guide shaft 16
1a and 161b are formed of, for example, a metal material. The main body chassis 150 has a head moving opening 15.
1, the head unit 100 is movably supported by unit guide shafts 161a and 161b.

As shown in FIG. 29, the print unit 3 having a substantially rectangular shape is housed in the head unit 100. The print head 3 includes a plurality of heating elements (or heating elements) arranged. The plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the print head 3.
Specifically, the length of one side of the print range (printable area),
Alternatively, the heating elements are arranged to have a longer length. Specifically, a heating element is arranged on the surface of the head projection 3c having a glaze curved surface shape. The print head in which the heating elements are arranged in this manner is a so-called line thermal head.

As shown in FIG. 29, the head unit 100 has a substantially rectangular shape, and the widths in the longitudinal direction and the short side direction are substantially the same as those of the print head 3. The head unit 100 is shaped so as to be supported by the pair of unit guide shafts 161a and 161b while holding the print head 3 as described above.

The head unit 100 has guide holes 112, 112, 112, 1 on the side surfaces in the short side direction.
12, the unit guide shaft 16 described above.
1a and 161b are inserted. Thus, the head unit 100 is movably supported in the head moving opening 151 of the main body chassis 150.

The movement of the head unit 100 is as follows.
This is done by a timing belt. As shown in FIG. 30, a part of the head unit 100 is locked to the timing belt 171.

The timing belt 171 is hung on a pair of pulleys 172a and 172b rotatably supported at the longitudinal end of the main body chassis 150. A gear portion 173a is formed integrally with one pulley 172b.
Is a gear portion 173a and a plurality of gear trains 173b, 173c.
Through a pulse motor 174 (the pulse motor 16 shown in FIG. 6, the same applies hereinafter). Thus, the timing belt 171 is moved at a constant speed by driving the pulse motor 174.

The head unit 100 is
0a is attached to such a timing belt 171 and reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the head moving opening 151 of the main body chassis 150 in synchronization with the timing belt 171. Here, the synchronization operation of the head unit 100 is an operation synchronized with a print cycle of an image performed by the print head 3. The movement of the head unit 100 is controlled by the pulse motor 17.
However, the present invention is not limited to the operation performed by step 4, and can be realized by, for example, applying a servo to a DC motor. The point is that it is only necessary that the head unit 100 can realize the constant speed movement and the synchronous operation.

A DC motor 175 (DC motor shown in FIG. 6)
Motor 15 and so on. ) Are connected via a plurality of gear trains (not shown) to a cam gear described later for operating each mechanism. The DC motor 175 switches the operation of each mechanism to be described later between a standby state and a printing operation. In addition, as a mechanism described later, a lock mechanism and the like can be cited. Further, the DC motor 175 also performs a rotation operation of a spool described later for winding the ink ribbon.

Next, a specific structure of the head unit 100 will be described. FIG. 31 shows the head unit 1
FIG. 32 shows the head unit 10.
2 shows a configuration of a head fixing member 120 housed in the head fixing member 120.

As shown in FIG. 31, the head unit 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes a unit chassis 1 which is shaped so as to house the head fixing member 120 therein and has a substantially rectangular overall shape.
11. For example, the unit chassis 111 is formed by sheet metal.

The unit chassis 111 has unit guide shafts 161a and 161a at both ends in the longitudinal direction.
Guide holes 112, 112, 112, 1 through which the first holes 1b are inserted.
12 are provided. Specifically, the guide holes 112,
112, 112, 112 are slide bearings 113, 1
13, 113, 113 are realized as bearings. By using the slide bearings 113, 113, 113, 113 as bearings, the unit chassis 11
No. 1 is realized as a smooth movement guided by the unit guide shafts 161a and 161b. For example, as the slide bearing, a molded product made of polyacetal is exemplified.

The structure of the unit guide shafts 161a and 161b in the unit chassis 111 is not limited to the slide bearing, but may be an oil-impregnated metal or a linear motion ball bearing.
The unit chassis 111 has guide holes 114 for restricting the movement of a head operation restricting shaft, which will be described later, on each of the side surfaces 111a and 111b in the longitudinal direction. The guide hole 114 is formed to have a predetermined width in the vertical direction.

The print head 3 is supported by such a unit chassis 111 via a head fixing member 120 as shown in FIG.

The head fixing member 120 has a main surface portion 121a having a substantially rectangular plate shape. The head fixing member 120 has an upright surface 121b formed at an end of the main surface portion 121a in the short side direction. The head fixing member 120 has a substantially U-shaped ribbon erected at the other end in the short side direction where the erected surface 121b is not formed on the main surface portion 121a so as to face the opposite side to the erected surface 121b. A peeling portion 121c is formed. The print head 3 is attached to the main surface 121a of the head fixing member 120. The attachment of the print head 3 to the main surface portion 121a is performed by, for example, screws.

A head operation limiting shaft 122 is attached to the head fixing member 120 on the back surface side of the main surface portion 121a to which the print head 3 is attached. Specifically, the head operation regulating shaft 122 is
Each support part 1 formed at each longitudinal end of 21a
It is supported by 21d. This head operation regulating shaft 122
Is a round rod for performing operations of contacting and releasing (separating) the print head 3 from the print paper 500, and is formed of, for example, a metal material. The head operation regulating shaft 122 is slightly longer than the length of the unit chassis 111 in the longitudinal direction.
31. As shown in FIG. 31, each of the reference numerals 2a penetrates through each of the guide holes 114 formed in each of the longitudinal side surfaces 111a and 111b of the unit chassis 111. As a result, the movement of the head operation regulating shaft 122 is restricted by the guide hole 114, so that the vertical movement of the print head 3 is restricted, and the print head 3 and the print paper 500 are restricted.
The movement of contact and release (disengagement) with the device is restricted.

The head operation regulating shaft 122 may have another configuration as long as the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 can be brought into contact with and released from each other.
0 and may be formed as a press-formed product.

Also, the upright surface 12 of the head fixing member 120
At 1b, a head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 that constitutes a mounting position of the print head 3 is mounted.
The head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 has a substantially round bar-like short shaft shape, and is made of, for example, a metal material.

The erecting surface 121b is formed in an approximately rectangular shape at the end of the main surface 121a in the short side direction from the end. The head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is attached so as to be located at substantially the center in the longitudinal direction of such an upright surface 121b. Specifically, the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is attached to the head fixing member 120 so as to substantially coincide with the center of gravity of the head fixing member 120. Ideally, it suffices if the position can be matched on the center of gravity of the print head 3 in which a plurality of print elements are arranged. However, in practice, the head fixing member 120 to which the print head 3 is fixed as described above is used. It is attached considering the standard.

[0127] mounting hole 121b ₁ of the head self-aligning pivot shaft 124 in the standing設面121b is specifically set to a position such as to match the gravity center position in the longitudinal direction of the head fixing member 120, the pore size, It is formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124. Thus, the head self-aligning pivot shaft 124, with play with respect to the mounting hole 121b _1, will be mounted is freely rotated.

[0128] Head self-aligning pivot shaft 124 has one end attached to the mounting hole 121b ₁ of the upright設面121b as described above, the other end is adapted to be attached to the unit chassis 111. Thus, the head fixing member 120 is in a state of being attached to the unit chassis 111. The unit chassis 111
The self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is actually mounted after the positioning process. Here, the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124, the mounting portion of the head fixing member 120, the unit chassis 1
The mounting portion 11 constitutes a mounting positioning portion for the print head 3. In this example, the attachment of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 to the unit chassis 111 is regarded as an important matter for determining the contact state between the print head 3 and the printing paper 500, which will be described later. Will be described in detail.

By being attached to the unit chassis 111 via the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124, the head fixing member 120 is attached to the unit chassis 111.
The head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 1 is stored in the
About 24, it is made to be swingable and supported.

That is, since the head fixing member 120 is rotatably attached to the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124, the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is moved in the direction of arrow T shown in FIG. As a support shaft (substantially the center of gravity), it is swingably supported in the longitudinal direction of the head fixing member 120 (that is, in the longitudinal direction of the print head 3). Further, the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124
By but supported by the mounting hole 121b ₁ having a pore size which is a slightly larger than the outer diameter thereof, the head fixing member 120, the head self-aligning pivot shaft 124 as the pivot, the direction of the arrow U shown in the figure 32 As described above, the head fixing member 120 is swingably supported in the short side direction.

As described above, since the head fixing member 120 is swingable with respect to the unit chassis 111, a good contact state between the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 can be ensured. In particular, when a plurality of heating elements are arranged, such an effect works effectively.

The structure for swingably supporting the head fixing member 120 is such that the print head 3 swings in the longitudinal direction of the print head 3 (swings in the arrow T direction shown in FIG. 32). And print head 3
Swinging in the short side direction (swinging in the direction of the arrow U shown in FIG. 32) may be ensured, and is not limited to the above-described structure, and may be realized by another structure. good. Also, the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 may be a plastic molded product,
Further, it may be configured as a press-worked product integrally with the unit chassis 111.

In addition, the head fixing member 120 has the structure shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a pair of compression coil springs 125a, 125
b are arranged at both ends in the longitudinal direction on the back surface side of the main surface portion 121a. Guide portions 126a and 126b having a protruding shape for guiding the compression coil springs 125a and 125b are provided on the back surface side of the main surface portion 121a. The compression coil springs 125a and 125b
26a and 126b are inserted and supported.

The head fixing member 120 is stored in the unit chassis 111 by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b arranged as described above.
It is biased downward. In this way, by supporting the head fixing member 120 as a so-called elastic structure,
The above-mentioned swingable support is provided with elastic force. Thereby, the contact state between the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 is realized as a better condition.

In FIG. 33 (A) and FIG. 33 (B),
The operation of the head fixing member 120 urged by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b is shown.
The operation of the head fixing member 120 shown here is an operation when the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500. (A) in FIG. 33 shows that the printer 1
0 shows that the print head 3 stored in the head fixing member 120 has not yet been brought into contact with the print paper 500. 33 (B) in FIG.
Shows a state in which the printer 1 is placed on the print paper 500 and the print head stored in the head fixing member is in contact with the print paper.

As shown in FIG. 33A, the printer 1
Is not placed on the print paper 500, the print head 3 is driven by the compression coil springs 125a and 125b.
As a result, the head projection 3c projects from the lower end surface 150a of the main body chassis 150 by a distance h. The protrusion amount h of the head protrusion 3c is uniquely determined by locking the head operation regulating shaft 122 in the guide hole 114 described above.

As shown in FIGS. 33 (A) to 33 (B), when the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500, the printing head 3 is pushed up (pushed) by the printing paper 500. At this time, the head protrusion 3c of the print head 3 is pressed against the paper surface of the print paper 500 by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b disposed on the back surface of the head fixing member 120. That is, the printer 1 uses the printing paper 50
When the printer 1 is mounted on the unit chassis 111, the load J as the weight of the printer 1 is applied to the unit chassis 111. The head protrusion 3c is moved. At this time, the head protrusion 3c of the print head 3 is moved by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b.
Pressed to zero. As a result, the head projection 3c follows the print paper 500. The direction of movement of the head unit 100 during printing is in the direction of arrow K shown in FIG.

As described above, the head fixing member 12
The member that urges 0 may be other than a compression coil spring, and may be any member that urges the print head 3 toward the head surface. That is, for example, a leaf spring or the like may be used.

In the above example, the case where the head projection 3c of the print head 3 projects or is housed with reference to the lower end 150a of the main body chassis 150 has been described. When the lower end surface 2c is a mounting surface on the printing paper 500, the main body cover 2
It is necessary to consider the operation of projecting or storing with reference to the lower end surface 2c of the base.

The configuration of the head unit 100 has been described in detail. By configuring the head unit 100 as described above, the print head 3 is pressed against the print paper 500 during printing while being supported movably by the main body chassis 150. Next, the configuration of the ink ribbon 300 will be described in detail.

As the ink ribbon 300 to be used, there is an ink ribbon in which yellow, magenta, cyan, and black layers are sequentially provided. Further, the ink ribbon is provided with a precoat for improving the transferability of the ink before the ink layer (before yellow) and a laminate for improving the environmental resistance after the ink layer (after black). I have. The ink ribbon may be a single color.

Such an ink ribbon 300 is shown in FIG.
, The first and second spools 181 and 201
It is wound by. First and second spools 18
Reference numerals 1 and 201 are arranged at respective ends of the main body chassis 150 in the longitudinal direction (or at respective ends of the unit moving opening 151 in the longitudinal direction). First
The storage positions of the second spools 181 and 201 are determined as positions where the movement of the head unit 100 is not hindered, or as positions where a predetermined recording area can be secured. Specifically, the first and second spools 181 and 201 are located on the outer periphery of the main body chassis 150 so as not to enter the head moving opening 151.

The first and second spools 181 and 201
Has a winding portion of an ink ribbon having a substantially cylindrical shape, and both ends thereof are rotatably supported. Here, one spool is a supply side of the ink ribbon, and the other is a so-called take-up spool that winds up or stores the ink ribbon wound around from the supply side. In this example,
Before starting printing or at the end of printing, the head unit 1
Second spool 201 located on the side where 00 is disposed
Is a spool for supplying the ink ribbon, and the other first spool 181 is a take-up spool for winding the ink ribbon. The winding portion is formed of, for example, a plastic molded product or a metal material.

The first and second spools 181 and 20
1 is rotatably supported at both ends by first and second ribbon holding metal plates 182, 202 via bearings. First and second ribbon holding sheet metal 18
Both ends 2022 are rotatably supported with respect to the main body chassis 150. The first and second ribbon holding metal plates 182 and 202 are rotatably supported by the main body chassis 150 in this manner, thereby constituting a ribbon tension applying mechanism. The ribbon tension applying mechanism will be described later in detail.

The first spool 181 serving as a take-up spool is configured to be rotated by a DC motor. For example, as shown in FIG.
The rotation operation is performed through the gear train of FIG. With this configuration, the first spool 181
Is rotated to wind up the used ink ribbon.

As described above, while the first and second spools 181 and 201 are rotatably supported,
By rotating the spool 181, the supply of the ink ribbon 300 and the winding in synchronization with the supply are possible.

The printer 1 has the ink ribbon 3
When the image is transferred to the print paper 500 by the method of 00, a ribbon tension applying mechanism for applying a predetermined tension (hereinafter referred to as tension) to the ink ribbon 300 in order to prevent wrinkles of the ink ribbon 300 and sticking to the paper. It has. The ribbon tension applying mechanism is configured as follows. First, the first and second spools 181,
A rotation lock mechanism for locking the rotation of the motor 201 will be described. The rotation lock mechanism is a mechanism for more effectively applying tension to the ribbon by the ribbon tension applying mechanism.

As described above, the rotation lock mechanism is configured to switch between locking and releasing the rotation of the first and second spools 181 and 201 rotatably supported by the ribbon holding metal plates 182 and 202, respectively. ing. The rotation lock mechanism is provided for each of the first and second spools 181 and 201. In the following description, the rotation lock mechanism provided for the first spool 181 will be described as a representative. .

The ribbon holding metal plate 182 is formed integrally with a substantially rectangular main surface portion 182a and support portions 182b and 182c provided upright at both ends of the main surface portion 182a. That is, the ribbon hold sheet metal 182
Has a substantially U-shape as a whole. Main surface 182
The length a in the longitudinal direction is slightly larger than the length of the spool 181.

As shown in FIG. 34, a lock portion 190 is formed at one end of the spool 181 rotatably supported by the support portions 182b and 182c of the ribbon holding sheet metal 182. 34 and 35 show the details of the lock section 190. As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the lock unit 190 includes a spool cooperating unit 191 and a non-moving unit 192.

The spool cooperating unit 191 includes a spool 181
, And cooperate with the spool to rotate. The spool cooperating portion 191 is provided with a plurality of convex portions 191 so as to face the immovable portion 192 with respect to the main surface of the base 191a having a substantially circular flat plate shape, and has a concavo-convex shape as a whole.

The stationary portion 192 has a substantially ring-shaped base 192a fixed to the outer peripheral surface of a bearing 193 that rotatably supports the spindle of the spool 181. Locking arm 192b extending in the radial direction
Are formed. The locking arm 192b is connected to the base 192a.
, And a plurality of rod-like members protruding from the base 192a are arranged at a certain distance on the base 192a. For example, the width of the locking arm portion 192b is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the width of the concave portion 191c of the spool cooperating portion 191 described above.

Here, the bearing 193 is fixedly attached to the ribbon holding metal plate 182, and rotatably supports the support shaft of the spool 181. The fixed portion 192 is fixed to the bearing 193 so as to be fixed with respect to the rotation of the spool 181.

The lock 190 constructed as described above
As shown in FIG. 35A, each of the locking arms 192b of the immovable portion 192 has the concave portion 19 of the spool cooperating portion 191.
1C, and the spool cooperating portion 191 is connected to the bearing 1 as shown in FIG.
The support shaft 181b of the spool 181 protruding from the shaft 93
By but be pushed axially (figure X ₁ direction),
The spool 181 is configured to have an unlocked state in which the spool cooperating portion 191 is also pushed together.

In the locked state, the rotation of the spool 181 is locked by the engagement (or meshing) between the locking arms 192b of the immovable portion and the spool cooperating portion 191 and the lock is released. In the state, the engagement (or meshing) between each of the locking arms 192b of the immobile portion 192 and the spool cooperating portion 191 is released, that is, the engagement (lock) is released, so that the spool 181 is released. You will be able to rotate. The locked state and the unlocked state by the lock unit 190 are such that the spool 181 moves the support shafts 181 a and 181 with respect to the ribbon hold sheet metal 182.
It is assumed that it is supported movably in the axial direction of b.

Further, in the rotation lock mechanism, as shown in FIG.
0 is provided on the other end on the opposite side where the compression coil spring 185 is opposed to the ribbon hold sheet metal 182 against the extension force.
Is arranged. The compression coil spring 185 is held while the support shaft 181b of the spool 181 is inserted therethrough. With such a configuration, the spool 181 is urged by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 185, so that the lock portion 19
The spool cooperating portion 191 is urged toward the immovable portion 192 by the spring force of the spool cooperating portion 191. Thus, in a normal state, the lock portion 190 is in a state as shown in FIG. The lock state is maintained. The shift to the unlocked state is realized by operating the spool 181 so that the spool 181 is shifted by the operation of the slide cam. The operation realized by the slide cam will be described in detail later. I do.

As described above, the rotation lock mechanism is connected to the spool 1
81, the rotation of the spool 181 is locked or prohibited as a locked state in a normal state, and the rotation of the spool 181 is released or released as an unlocked state when the ink ribbon is wound up. .

The ribbon tension applying mechanism is realized by the ribbon holding sheet metal 182 and the tension coil springs 184a and 184b as described above.
The ribbon tension applying mechanism moves the position of the ribbon holding sheet metal 182 from a first position for applying tension to the ink ribbon to a position for applying or releasing the tension to the ink ribbon 300 from the first position. This is realized by switching the second position where the tension on the ink ribbon 300 is released.

In the following description, the first position at which the ribbon hold metal plate 182 applies tension to the ink ribbon 300 is referred to as a tension application position, and the second position at which the ribbon hold metal plate 182 releases the tension of the ink ribbon. The position is referred to as a tension release position. A state in the ribbon tension applying mechanism when the ribbon hold sheet metal 182 is located at the tension applying position is referred to as a tension applying state, and a state in the ribbon tension applying mechanism when the ribbon hold sheet metal 182 is located at the tension releasing position. The state is referred to as a tension release state.

As described above, the ribbon hold sheet metal 18
2 has a main surface portion 182a and support portions 182b, 182c formed integrally. Support portions 182b, 182
c is supported at a substantially central portion by fulcrum shafts 183a and 183b provided on the main body chassis 150, respectively. Thereby, the ribbon hold sheet metal 182
Are rotatable in the direction of arrow H shown in FIG.

Further, each of the support portions 182b and 182c has
The tension coil springs 184a, 184
b engaging portions 182b ₁ , 182
c ₁ is provided. Further, each of the support portions 182b, 18
2c, the spool 181 is provided at the lower end as described above.
Is rotatably mounted. That is, the support 1
The fulcrum shafts 183a and 183b of the main body chassis 150 are attached substantially at the centers of the 82b and 182c.
And a spool 181 are attached. Here, the above-described tension application position of the ribbon hold sheet metal 182 refers to a position of the second spool 201 facing the first spool 181 attached thereto when the ribbon hold sheet metal 182 rotates. It becomes the direction to separate.

The second spool 201 has the same configuration as that of the second spool 201. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, for the ribbon tension applying mechanism, the second spool 201 has a first spool prepared as a pair. An elastic force is applied by the second tension coil springs 204a and 204b, and the locking mechanism is configured so that the rotation of the second spool 201 is locked and released by a function similar to that shown in FIG. Has become.

With such a structure, the first and second ribbon hold metal plates 182 and 202 are supported by the fulcrum shafts 183a and 183b of the main body chassis 150 (the second ribbon hold metal plate is not shown). Through the points, the tension coil springs 184a, 184b, 204
a, 204b is generated so as to apply tension to the ink ribbon 300 between the first and second spools 181 and 201. That is, the first and second ribbon holding metal plates 182, 202 are biased in the tension applying position direction (clockwise in FIG. 34) by the elastic force of the tension coil springs 184a, 184b, 204a, 204b. Then, the urging force at that time is transmitted as tension to the ink ribbon 300.

In such a ribbon tension applying mechanism, in a normal state (for example, a state where a printing operation is not performed or a state where the power is turned off), the ribbon holding sheet metal 182 is located at the tension release position, and the tension is released. The state is set to be released. The switching between the tension releasing state and the tension applying state is performed by the operation of the slide cam, which will be described later in detail.

The above-described lock mechanism operates in synchronization with the operation of the ribbon tension applying mechanism. Specifically, the first and second ribbon holding sheet metal 182, 202 in the ribbon tension applying mechanism
Are in the tension applying position, the first and second spools 18 are
1,201 rotation is locked. On the other hand, when the first and second ribbon holding metal plates 182 and 202 in the ribbon tension applying mechanism are located at the tension release position, the lock mechanism unlocks the rotation of the first and second spools 181 and 201. It has been made to be. Thus, the first and second ribbon hold sheet metal 1 in the ribbon tension applying mechanism are provided.
When 82 and 202 move to the tension applying position,
The first and second spools 181, 20 are locked by a lock mechanism.
1 is in a locked state, so that the ink ribbon 300 can be prevented from being pulled out by the application of the tension, while the ribbon holding sheet metal 182 moves to the ribbon tension release position, that is, when the tension is not applied to the ink ribbon 300. Allows the lock of the first and second spools 181 and 201 by the lock mechanism to be released.

The synchronizing operation by the ribbon tension applying mechanism and the rotation lock mechanism is realized by the operation of the slide cam. This will be described later in detail.

As described above, the rotation lock mechanism and the ribbon tension applying mechanism cooperate to effectively apply or release the tension to the ink ribbon between the two spools. Further, according to the ribbon tension applying mechanism as described above, substantially the same tension is always applied to the ink ribbon regardless of the winding amount of the ink ribbon around the first and second spools 181 and 201. Will be able to

Next, the operation of the ribbon tension applying mechanism and the head unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 36A shows a state in which the head unit 100 is housed (for example, a print standby state) before printing starts, and FIG. 36B shows a state in which the head unit 100 is in the printing start position. FIG. 36C shows a state in which the print head 3 is moved and the tension is applied to the ink ribbon 300 by the ribbon tension applying mechanism. In FIG. 36C, the printing is completed and the head unit 100 is moved to a predetermined position. The state where it was stored is shown.

Here, the ribbon guide 211 is arranged in the moving direction of the head unit 100 and close to the first spool 182 which is a take-up spool. That is, the ribbon guide 211 is provided on the head unit 100 on the side opposite to the printing direction.

The ribbon guide 211 is configured as a part for peeling the ink ribbon 300 from the printed part after printing. The ribbon guide 300 is formed as a metal rod rotatably supported with respect to its axis. The ribbon guide 211 runs along with the head unit 100.

Note that the ribbon guide 211 may be of another shape as long as the portions that come into contact with the ink ribbon 300 have the same shape.
00 may be integrally formed. Further, the metal portion of the ribbon guide 211 may be completely fixed.

In the print standby state, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the print head 3 is positioned such that the head protrusion 3c is located inside the lower end surface 150a of the main body chassis 150. On the other hand, the first and second ribbon hold sheet metals 182, 202 are respectively located at the tension release positions, and the rotation lock mechanism is released, and the tension is released. Due to such a state, the ink ribbon 300 is in a state where no tension is applied. Then, in such a tension released state, the ink ribbon 300 can be wound up.

In the tension released state, the head unit 100 moves the first spool 182 to a printing start position (for example, a home position).
It is moved to a position near the side and positioned as shown in FIG. At this time, the ribbon guide 211 runs along with the head unit 100.

Here, the detection of the position of the head unit 100 at the printing start position is performed by detection means such as an optical sensor. That is, the movement of the head unit 100 to the printing start position is controlled based on the detection result of the optical sensor.

The head sensor 212 is, for example, a so-called photo-interrupter, and a light-shielding plate (a portion shown in detail in FIG. 31) 115 erected on the upper surface of the head unit 100 enters the slit of the head sensor 212, The movement of the head unit 100 to the printing start position is detected. A head sensor 212 that detects the position of the head unit 100
Should be able to detect the position of the head unit 100,
For example, a mechanical switch may be used.

Subsequent to the movement of the head unit 100, the head of the ink ribbon 300 is located. As described above, in the ink ribbon 300, a plurality of colors are continuously formed in the feed direction of the ink ribbon, and the cue of the predetermined color in the ink ribbon 300 is performed. Specifically, a cue mark is formed on the ink ribbon 300, and the cue mark of the ink ribbon 300 is detected by the ribbon code sensor 213 constituted by an optical sensor or the like. The first spool 182 allows the ink ribbon 300
Is being rolled up. Then, cueing of the ink ribbon 300 for printing the first sheet is performed, and printing preparation is completed.

The ribbon code sensor 213 is constituted by a pair of transmission sensors arranged on the front and back sides of the ink ribbon 300, respectively.
It is arranged at a predetermined position within 0. Accordingly, when the ink ribbon 300 passes between the transmission sensors, the ribbon code sensor 213 shields the optical path between the transmission sensors by the ribbon cue mark printed on the ink ribbon 300, so that the ink ribbon 300 receives the ink ribbon 300. Of each of the colors is detected. Note that the ribbon code sensor 213 only needs to detect a ribbon cue mark, and for example, may be a reflection sensor combined with a reflection plate. Further, the ribbon cue mark for cueing the ink ribbon 300 is provided at the boundary of each ink layer, or the first ink layer as a print for one sheet and the last ink layer for the print on the previous page. At the boundary of.

At the start of printing, the head unit 100 moved to the printing start position, as shown in FIG.
00 is pressed. On the other hand, the ribbon tension applying mechanism includes the first and second ribbon hold sheet metals 182,2.
02 is moved to the tension application position to be in a tension application state. At this time, the first and second spools, on which the first and second ribbon hold metal plates 182, 202 are rotated by the rotation operation, are each in a state where the rotation is locked by the rotation lock mechanism.

In such a state, the head unit 100 is moved, and the heating element of the print head 3 is appropriately controlled, whereby the image is thermally transferred to the printing paper 500. At this time, the movement of the head unit 100 is guided by unit guide shafts 161a and 161b (not shown), and is performed by the timing belt 171 in synchronization with image transfer. The ribbon guide 211 is
The print paper 500 and the ink ribbon 300 are peeled off while running together with such a head unit 100. Further, the ink ribbon 300 peeled off from the print paper 500 is guided to the ribbon guide 211 by sliding on the outer peripheral surface of the ribbon peeling section 121c provided at the short side end of the head fixing member 120. ing. After the printing is completed, the head unit 100 is moved by a distance corresponding to the print length and is positioned at a predetermined position, as shown in FIG.

As described above, a series of printing operations in the head unit 100 and the ribbon tension applying mechanism at the time of printing are executed.

The operation of the ribbon tension applying mechanism described above and the operation of pressing the print head against the printing paper by the print head are performed in synchronization with each other. Next, the so-called slide cam 220 serving as a synchronization member for enabling this operation will be described. I do. FIG.
7 and 38 show the synchronous operation realized by the slide cam 220 and the like.

The slide cam 220 and the cam gear 230 form a mechanism for converting a rotary motion into a linear motion. Here, the cam gear 230 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). For example, the cam gear 230 is driven by a motor via a gear train.

As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, the slide cam 220 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape. The slide cam 220 is slidably supported in the front-rear direction inside one side surface of the main body chassis 150. And the slide cam 15
The movement of 0 is performed between the first position shown in FIG. 37 and the second position shown in FIG. The movement of the slide cam 220 between the first position and the second position is realized by converting the rotational movement of the cam gear 230. Here, the first position is the position of the slide cam 220 before printing, after printing, or at the time of standby, and the second position is the position of the slide cam 220 at the time of printing.

Such a slide cam 220 has first and second engaging portions 221a and 221b for locking and unlocking the above-described rotation lock mechanism, and first and second lock members constituting a ribbon tension applying mechanism. 2 and the tension coil springs 184a, 1
Locking portion 222 for preventing and releasing rotation by elastic force of 84b, 204a, 204b, and head fixing member 120
Guide portion 223a for moving the slide cam 220 toward and away from the print paper 500, and a guide hole 2 for a slide drive mechanism for slidingly driving the slide cam 220.
24 are provided.

More specifically, the slide cam 220 is
, The lock of the rotation lock mechanism is released, the rotation of the ribbon hold sheet metal 182, 202 is prevented by the ribbon tension applying mechanism, and the head fixing member 120 is separated from the print paper 500. It is supported in the direction to be. On the other hand, when the slide cam 220 is located at the second position, the slide cam 220 is locked at the first position so that the rotation lock mechanism is locked, and the ribbon hold sheet metal 182, 202 of the ribbon tension applying mechanism is locked. The rotation inhibition is released, and the head fixing member 120 is supported in a direction in which the head fixing member 120 can come into contact with the print paper 500. Hereinafter, the slide cam 220 that realizes each of these functions will be specifically described.

The slide cam 220 is mounted on the main body chassis 15.
0, and is arranged along one side surface of the main body chassis 150 in the short side direction. The slide cam 220 has a first end on each end side in the longitudinal direction.
Further, the second guide shafts 225a and 225b protrude from the main body chassis 150 side. First and second guide shafts 2
Reference numerals 25a and 225b each have a short rod shape of a substantially round bar.

On the other hand, first and second guide holes 150b and 150c are formed in body chassis 150 correspondingly. First and second guide holes 150b, 1
The shape of 50c is a slit shape having substantially the same width as the outer diameter of the guide shafts 225a and 225b, and is a shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the side wall. Specifically, the shapes of the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c are such that the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c are bent downward on the way from the arrangement side of the first spool 181 to the arrangement side of the second spool 201. Have been.

In the slide cam 220, the first and second guide shafts 225a and 225b are movably inserted into the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c provided in the main body chassis 150, respectively. The movement of the first and second guide shafts 225a and 225b is restricted by the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c, respectively. Thus, the first and second guide shafts 225
The movement range of the slide cam 220 having the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c is limited as the limit of the first position and the second position in the main body chassis 150 in which the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c are formed. Therefore, since the first and second guide holes 150b and 150c have a substantially bent shape as described above, the guide holes 150b and 150c
Slide cam 220 guided and moved by 150c
38, the position from the first spool 181 side (the position of the slide cam 220 shown in FIG. 37) to the second spool 201 side (FIG. 38).
(The position of the slide cam 220 shown in FIG. 5), a movement locus that moves simultaneously downward is drawn. That is, the slide cam 220 reciprocates including a vertical movement between the first position and the second position. That is, the slide cam 220 moves as a linear cam including a vertical motion.

The cam gear 230 is a member for performing such a moving operation of the slide cam 220. Cam gear 230
Is arranged on one end side of the slide cam 220. The cam gear 230 is rotatably supported by the main body chassis 150 and is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown). In the cam gear 230, a locking shaft 230a formed at an outer peripheral position of a main surface facing the slide cam 220 is inserted into a guide hole 224 provided in the slide cam 220 facing the slide cam 220.

The guide hole 224 formed in the slide cam 220 has a substantially rectangular shape.
20 have a slit shape extending in the short side direction. The locking shaft 230a formed on the cam gear 230 is inserted into the guide hole 224.

The cam gear 230 is rotated while the locking shaft 230a of the cam gear 230 is inserted into the guide hole 224 of the slide cam 220. Here, as shown in FIG. 37, when the locking shaft 230a of the cam gear 230 is positioned on the first spool 181 side, the slide cam 220
Are located at the first position. FIG. 38
As shown in the figure, the locking shaft 230a of the cam gear 230 is
Of the slide cam 22
0 will be located at the second position.

The rotation of the cam gear 230 causes the slide cam 220 to reciprocate between the first position and the second position. In this way,
The rotation of the cam gear 230 is converted into a reciprocating movement of the slide cam 220 between the first position and the second position.

The rotation lock mechanism described above is locked at the ends of the slide cam 220 at the respective ends in the longitudinal direction and opposed to the first and second spools 181 and 201, and release thereof is performed. The first and second engaging portions 221a and 221b for performing the operation are provided.

The first engaging portion 221a is located so as to face the first spool 181.
The engaging portion 221b is positioned so as to face the second spool 201. The first engaging portion 221a is shaped so as to be gradually inclined outward as it goes toward the end portion of the slide cam 220, while the second engaging portion 221a is configured to
The engaging portion 221b has a shape that is gradually inclined inward toward the end of the slide cam 220.

As shown in FIG. 37, when the slide cam 220 is located at the first position by the first and second engagement portions 221a and 221b, as shown in FIG.
The spindles 181a, 201a of the spools 181, 201 are
It is pushed inward against the elastic force of a compression coil spring (not shown), whereby the rotation lock mechanism is unlocked.

Then, as the slide cam 220 is moved from the first position to the second position, the support shafts 181a and 201a of the rotation lock mechanism are moved to the first and second positions by the action of the elastic force of a compression coil spring (not shown). Second engaging portion 22
1a, 221b, and finally, at the second position of the slide cam 220, as shown in FIG.
The rotation lock mechanism is locked.

The slide cam 220 is provided at one end thereof with a locking portion 222 for preventing and releasing the rotation by the elastic force of the tension coil springs 184a, 184b, 204a, 204b of the ribbon holding metal plates 182, 202. I have. The first and second locking portions 222 are formed by end surfaces of the slide cam 220 in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 37, the slide cam 220 is moved to the first position by the first and second locking portions 222 as described above.
In the state in which the ribbon holding sheet metal 182 and the ribbon holding
Reference numeral 202 denotes a tension release position where rotation is prevented against the elastic force of a tension coil spring (not shown).

On the other hand, when the slide cam 220 is located at the second position, each of the ribbon hold sheet metals 182, 2
As shown in FIG. 38, since the inhibition of the rotation is released, 02 is positioned at the tension applying position by the elastic force of a tension coil spring (not shown). In the second position, as described above, since the rotation lock mechanism is locked, each spool 181 and
201 is locked, whereby the elastic force of a tension coil spring (not shown)
Will be effectively given.

The slide cam 220 has a substantially rectangular opening 223 near the center. The end 122 of the head operation regulating shaft 122 attached to the head fixing member 120 is provided in the opening 223.
a is located. Thus, the head operation regulating shaft 12
The lower surface of the opening 223 where the second end 122a is located serves as a guide 223a.

As described above, the head fixing member 120 to which the head operation regulating shaft 122 is attached is urged downward by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b arranged on the back. As shown in FIG. 37, the guide 223a of the opening 223 is
In a state in which 20 is located at the first position, the head support member 122 supports the head operation regulating shaft 122 of the head fixing member 120 urged in such a manner. That is, the opening 223
Guide portion 223a pushes up the head fixing member 120 via the locked head operation regulating shaft 122. Thereby, the head surface 3a of the print head 3
Is a lower end surface 150 of the main body chassis 150 of the printer 1.
a.

[0202] On the other hand, in the state where it is located at the second position,
The slide cam 220 has first and second guide holes 224.
As a result, the restriction of the downward movement of the head fixing member 120 is released, and the head fixing member 120 is moved downward by receiving the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b.

In the state of the print head 3 shown in FIG. 38, the head fixing member 120 is urged downward by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b. The state in which the head projection 3c of the print head 3 is pushed up to the position of the lower end surface 150a of the main body chassis 150 by the placement is shown. That is, a state in which the print head 3 is pressed against the print paper 500 is shown.

As described above, the slide cam 220 is
Each mechanism is operated by being located at the second position and the second position. And this slide cam 22
With 0, the operation of each such mechanism is performed synchronously. As described above, the printer 1 realizes the printing operations shown in FIGS. 36A to 36C by the synchronous operation of each mechanism.

FIG. 39 shows a series of operations performed at the time of printing in the printer 1. Note that the series of operations shown in FIG. 39 is also the series of operations performed after the energization ON operation of the electromagnet in step S31 in FIG. 23 described above.

As shown in FIG. 39, the printer 1
Determines in step S41 whether or not the print area sensor is ON. Printer 1
Here, it waits until the print area sensor is turned on. Then, when the print area sensor is turned on, the printer 1 moves the head unit 100 to the print start position as shown in FIG. 36B in step S42. Subsequently, in step S43, the printer 1 locates the first color ribbon, and in step S44, moves the print head 3 to the printing paper 50.
At the same time, the ink ribbon 300 is tensioned. That is, the printer 1 moves the slide cam 220 to the second position, presses the print head 3 against the print paper 500, and enters a tension applying state by the ribbon tension applying mechanism.

Then, the printer 1 proceeds to step S45.
In step, printing is performed using the cueed ink ribbon 300. After the printing, the printer 1 raises the print head 3 in step S46 to release the tension on the ink ribbon 300. That is, the printer 1 moves the slide cam 220 to the first position, stores the print head 3 inside, and sets the ribbon tension applying mechanism to the tension released state. Then, in a succeeding step S47, the printer 1 moves the print head to the printing start position again, and in a succeeding step S48, locates the head of the ink ribbon.

Then, the printer 1 proceeds to step S49.
It is determined whether or not printing of one screen is completed.
Here, if the printing of one screen has not been completed, the printer 1 starts the processing of step S44 and subsequent steps again. When printing of one screen is completed, the printer 1 performs an end process. In the end processing, the printer 1 stores the print head and ends the print processing, as shown in FIG. When the printing process is completed, the full-color printing is completed.

[0209] Next, the mounting of the print head 3 in the printer 1 having the specific configuration described above will be described.

A conventional automatic paper feed type printer prints on a print sheet with a curvature, while the printer realized by the present invention has a relationship between the print head 3 and the print sheet 500. Since the relationship is a flat surface, the pressure applied to the print head 3 may not be easily concentrated. In particular, when the print head 3 is realized by a line thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged as in the present embodiment, the pressing force of each heating element hardly concentrates on the printing paper, Because of the additional width, it is difficult to balance the pressure on the printed paper in a flat state. As described below, such a problem is solved by positioning and attaching the print head 3.

FIG. 40 shows a state of the print head 3 attached to the main body so that the print head 500 is appropriately brought into contact with the print paper 500. As shown in FIG. 40, when the print head 3 is attached,
Is attached to the print head 3 so as to make appropriate contact with the print head.

For example, in the print head 3 configured as a thermal head, as shown in FIG. 40, a heating element is arranged on a glaze curved surface of a head projection 3c formed as a resistor. The print head 3 is positioned and mounted such that the heating element arranged on such a glaze curved surface properly contacts the print paper surface. Specifically, the print head 3 is attached as follows.

As described above, the head fixing member 120 is
A head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is attached to the unit chassis 111 so as to be swingable in each direction. The positioning of the print head 3 is performed by adjusting the mounting position of the self-centering fulcrum shaft 124 and making the print head 3 appropriately contact the print paper 500 as shown in FIG. In this example, the state in which the print head 3 is appropriately in contact with the print paper 500 means that the glaze curved surface of the print head 3 contacts the print paper 500 at the center position O as shown in FIG. The printing head 3 is positioned so that such a state can be maintained during printing.

The following description of the positioning of the print head 3 will be described in, for example, the unit guide shaft 161.
a, 161b as a reference.

The unit guide shafts 161a and 161b are
When the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500, it is attached to the main body chassis 150 so as to be parallel to the paper surface of the printing paper 500 with a certain tolerance. Unit guide shaft 1 arranged in this way
The unit chassis 111 is movably supported with respect to 61a and 161b, and the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is attached to such a unit chassis 111. Therefore, the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 12
4 and the unit guide shafts 161a and 161b are separated from each other by a predetermined distance. For example, when the print head 3 is appropriately brought into contact with the printing paper 500, as shown in FIG. Are spaced apart.

FIG. 43 shows the unit guide shaft 16.
A state in which the head unit 100 is moved while being guided by 1a and 161b is shown. If the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 and the unit guide shafts 161a and 161b are separated by a predetermined distance A1 so that the print head 3 is appropriately brought into contact with the print paper 500, as shown in FIG. Even within the moving range of the head unit 100, the predetermined distance A1 is maintained with a tolerance. That is, as long as the predetermined distance A1 is maintained, the contact between the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 from the start of printing to the end of printing is appropriately performed. This means that the mounting position of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is
c and the printing paper 500 are in surface contact, the contact surface of the head projection 3c and the unit guide shaft 161.
It can be said that it is optimum that the a and 161b are substantially parallel to each other.

The mounting position of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 is determined so as to have such a positional relationship. For example, as shown in FIG. 41 (B), the mounting position of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 with respect to the unit chassis 111 and the distance between the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 and the unit guide shafts 161a and 161b are as shown in FIG. (B) in FIG.
In the case where the distance (A1−α) shorter than the distance A1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 40, the print paper 500 is rotated by + β from the center position O shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the mounting position of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 with respect to the unit chassis 111 is determined by the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 and the unit guide shafts 161a and 161a.
When the distance between the glaze curved surface and the distance 1b is set to a distance (A1 + α) longer than the distance A1 shown in FIG. 40 as shown in FIG. As shown in A), the print paper 500 is rotated by −β from the center position O and comes into contact with the print paper 500.

By adjusting the attachment position of the head self-aligning fulcrum shaft 124 with respect to the unit chassis 111 based on such a relationship, the contact state of the print head 3 with the print paper 500 can be changed.

Thus, by changing the head self-aligning axis 124 with respect to the position of the resistor of the thermal head or the assembling of parts of the printer main body, the optimum contact position with the printing paper 500 can be determined. Will be able to secure. That is, such a manufacturing variation can be canceled, and an optimal contact state with the printing paper 500 can be secured.

The print head 3 on the print paper 500
The attachment of the print head 3 has been described on the basis of the contact state described above. However, as described above, the print head 3 prints on the print paper 500 via the ink ribbon. Not in contact. Therefore, regarding the mounting of the print head 3, the printing paper 5
The expression made based on the positional relationship with 00 becomes more accurate. Needless to say, the attachment of the print head 3 is performed in consideration of other factors that affect the printing state, such as the attitude of the print head 3.

Further, the adjustment of the contact state between the print head 3 and the printing paper 500 as described above can be realized by other means.

For example, as shown in FIG. 44, an underlay 240 for adjusting the contact state is arranged on the back side of the printing paper 500. An example of the underlay 240 is chloroprene rubber having a rubber hardness of 45 degrees. Note that the underlay 240 may be any as long as the contact surface range between the heating element and the printing paper 500 can be widened.
For example, an elastic body such as silicon rubber may be used.

By disposing the underlay 240 made of an elastic member on the back surface of the printing paper 500, the head projection 3 on which the glaze curved surface of the printing head 3 is formed is provided.
As shown in FIG. 45, the contact surface range between c and the print paper 500 can secure an angle γ ° in the peripheral length of the glaze curved surface.

In the above-described embodiment, the line thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged as the print head 3 has been described. However, print head 3
Is not limited to such a configuration. That is, the print head 3 only needs to have an image printing function, and may be, for example, an inkjet head having an ink liquid ejection port. In this case, the print head 3 is configured such that the plurality of ink liquid ejection ports are arranged to be equal to or longer than the print width length, similarly to the above-described line thermal head.

When the print head 250 is configured as an ink jet head, a gap guide 252 is provided on the contact surface of the print head 250 with the print paper 500 as shown in FIGS. The gap guide 252 is a protruding portion for securing a gap (head gap) between the ink liquid discharge port 251 and the printing paper 500, and is formed with a predetermined protruding amount.

FIGS. 46A and 46B show the operation of the head fixing member 120 when the print head 250 is configured as an ink jet head. The operation of the head fixing member 120 shown here is an operation when the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500. That is, FIG. 46A shows that the printer 1
00, the gap guide 252 is projected from the lower end 150a of the main body chassis 150 by a distance h. In this state, the print head 250 is driven by the compression coil springs 125a and 125b.
Direction, and the protrusion amount h of the gap guide 252.
However, it is uniquely determined by locking the head operation regulating shaft 122 in the above-described guide hole 114.

As shown in FIG. 46B, when the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500, the printing head 250 is pushed up by the printing paper 500.
At this time, the gap guide 252 formed in the print head 250 is pressed against the paper surface of the print paper 500 by the elastic force of the compression coil springs 125a and 125b. That is, when the printer 1 is placed on the printing paper 500, the load J is applied to the unit chassis 111 as the weight J of the printer 1 by its own weight. The print head 2 has the elastic force of 125a and 125b.
It acts as a pressing force on the contact surface between the gap guide 252 and the printing paper 500. This allows
The gap guide 252 follows the print paper 500. The direction of movement of the head unit 100 during printing is in the direction of arrow K shown in FIG.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which a plurality of heating elements or ink liquid ejection ports are arranged as the print head 3 and the arrangement width is set to the print width length or more. did. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the print head 3
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which printing elements such as heating elements or ink liquid ejection ports arranged in a length less than the print width are arranged.

In such a configuration, the print head is moved in the same direction as that performed by the above-described line thermal head, and is moved in the vertical direction, thereby increasing the print width length or more. As in the case of the print head 3 in which the printing elements are arranged, it is possible to perform printing on the entire printable area without any inconvenience. For example, regarding the arrangement direction of the printing elements, the traveling direction of the head unit 100 (the direction between the printing start position and the printing end position of the head unit) and the direction perpendicular thereto, that is, the print head realized in this example. It is conceivable to arrange them in the moving direction.

FIG. 47 shows a configuration example of a head unit having such a print head. As shown in FIG. 47, a print head 260 having a plurality of print elements having a width smaller than the print width is guided by a guide shaft 262. The rotation of the print head 260 is synchronized by the timing belt 261 to which a part is attached, and the print head 260 is guided by the guide shaft 262 to reciprocate. The movement of the print head 260 is realized by a pulse motor or the like.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where a plurality of printing elements are arranged in a line has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality of printing elements,
The print head can also be configured in a staggered arrangement. In the above-described embodiment, the first and second spools 181 and 20 are provided in the ribbon tension applying mechanism.
1 is urged to be rotated by the elastic force of the tension coil spring. However, it is not limited to this. For example, only the first spool 181 or the second spool 201 may be urged by elastic force. Even when such a configuration is adopted, a similar effect can be obtained.

[0233]

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is mounted on a recording medium, and has a frame having a frame portion which is arranged to face the recording medium when the image forming apparatus is mounted, and is incorporated in the main body. ,
An image recording head that is movable along the recording medium within the frame portion and forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium; a moving unit that controls movement of the image recording head; an image recording head and the recording medium And a control means for controlling the image formation on the recording medium by the image recording head. The moving means controls the movement of the image recording head, which forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium, and controls the image formation on the recording medium by the image recording head by the control means. The positional relationship between the image recording head and the recording medium is displayed by the positional relationship display means. in this way,
The image forming apparatus displays the positional relationship between the recording medium and the image recording head that forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium, so that the user can adjust the positional relationship between the recording medium and the image recording head. can do.

Further, according to the image forming method of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is mounted on the recording medium so that the frame of the main body is arranged to face the recording medium, and is built in the main body. An image recording head that is movable along the recording medium within the frame portion and forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium;
The positional relationship with the recording medium is displayed on the display means, and based on the display on the display means, the positional relation is managed and an image is formed on the recording medium by the image recording head. The positional relationship with the image recording head that forms an image while moving with respect to the body is displayed on the display unit, and the positional relationship is managed based on the display on the display unit, and the image forming head forms the image on the recording body Is made. Thus, the image forming apparatus can form an image on a recording medium by the image recording head whose positional relationship with the recording medium has been adjusted by the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a printer in which a print head is at a printing start position.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printer in which a print head is at a printing end position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state of the printer when printing is performed on one sheet of print paper.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the state of the printer when printing on a notebook.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration and the like of the printer.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a printer including a high friction member on a contact surface with print paper.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a printer including a paper tension applying mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printer used for explaining the operation of the paper tension applying mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a printer including a contact state detection mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating a printer including a contact state detection mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a printer including an indicator for displaying a direction of a print image.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a printer including both an indicator for displaying the direction of a print image and a contact display unit of a contact state detection mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processing steps for lighting control of the indicator described above.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a printer system including a printer and a personal computer.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a monitor screen used for describing an example of setting an image direction in a personal computer.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a print image layout process performed based on image direction instruction information obtained by operating a printer.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a printer including a print range indicator, showing a state when a print range is confirmed.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a printer including a print range indicator, showing a state when checking a state at the time of printing.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a printer including a protrusion on a contact surface with print paper.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a printer including a magnet on a contact surface with print paper.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a printer for turning on / off according to the start and end of printing when an electromagnet is provided on a contact surface with print paper.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a series of processes for turning ON / OFF according to the start and end of printing when an electromagnet is provided on a contact surface with print paper.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a printer including a paper tension applying mechanism having another configuration.

FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of a printer used for describing the operation of the paper tension applying mechanism having another configuration described above.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a printer including a paper tension applying mechanism having still another configuration.

FIG. 27 is a front view illustrating a mechanical configuration of the printer.

FIG. 28 is an assembled perspective view showing the configuration of the printer.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a head unit in which a print head is stored.

FIG. 30 is a front view showing a configuration of a moving operation unit of the head unit described above.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a specific configuration of the above-described head unit.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a head fixing member.

FIG. 33 is a side view showing the operation of the print head housed in the head unit described above.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a ribbon tension applying mechanism.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a lock portion of the rotation lock mechanism.

FIG. 36 is a diagram used to explain the state of each mechanism at the time of printing and at the end of printing in the printer.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a slide cam for operating each mechanism such as a ribbon tension applying mechanism in the printer, and is a diagram illustrating a position of the slide cam before printing starts or at the end of printing.

FIG. 38 shows a slide cam for operating each mechanism such as a ribbon tension applying mechanism in the printer, and is a view showing a position of the slide cam at the time of printing.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processing during printing in the printer.

FIG. 40 is a diagram used for explaining the positioning of the print head.

FIG. 41 is one view used for explaining the positioning adjustment of the print head.

FIG. 42 is another view used for describing the positioning adjustment of the print head.

FIG. 43 is a view used to describe a print head that is guided and moved by a unit guide shaft in a state where contact with print paper is good.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view showing a printer placed on printed paper on which an elastic body is arranged on the back side.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating a contact state of a print head when an elastic body is arranged on the back side of a print sheet.

FIG. 46 is a side view showing a print head configured as an ink jet head.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a head unit configured as a serial head.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 printer, 2 body cover, 3 print head, 1
3 CPU, 15 DC motor, 16 pulse motor,
35 contact detection unit, 36 contact display unit, 100 head unit, 161a, 161b unit guide shaft, 17
1 Timing belt

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A main body having a frame placed on a recording body and arranged to face the recording body when the recording body is placed, and a main body incorporated in the main body and the recording in the frame. An image recording head that is movable along a body and forms an image while moving with respect to the recording body; a moving unit that controls movement of the image recording head; the image recording head and the recording body An image forming apparatus comprising: a positional relationship display unit that displays a positional relationship between the image recording head and a control unit that controls image formation on the recording medium by the image recording head. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positional relation display means includes a detecting means for detecting said positional relation, and a display means for displaying a positional relation based on a detection result of said detecting means. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 3. The positional relationship between the image recording head and the recording body is managed based on a contact state between the frame and the recording body, and the positional relationship display means includes: 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a state of contact with the recording medium is displayed. 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls image formation in accordance with said positional relationship. 5. An image forming apparatus is mounted on the recording body such that the frame of the main body is disposed so as to face the recording body, and is built in the main body. The image recording head, which is movable along the recording medium and forms an image while moving with respect to the recording medium, displays a positional relationship with the recording medium on a display unit, based on the display on the display unit Wherein the positional relationship is managed and an image is formed on the recording body by the image recording head.