JP2003159828A - Color thermal transfer imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a color thermal transfer imaging apparatus employing a multi-time ink ribbon in which recording speed is increased by shortening the time elapsing before starting recording onto a next recording medium after ending recording onto a previous recording medium when recording is performed continuously onto a plurality of sheets of recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: A heater section 8 for preheating an ink ribbon R prior to recording is arranged to be shifted to a position where preheating for the ink face of the ink ribbon R being used for a next card K is ended simultaneously with ending recording onto a previous card K when recording is performed continuously onto a plurality of cards K. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color thermal transfer image forming apparatus using an ink ribbon, such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a composite machine of these.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some color thermal printers use a surface-sequential multi-time ink ribbon (hereinafter referred to as "ink ribbon") which has ink surfaces of a plurality of colors sequentially and repeatedly.

As a conventional color thermal printer using the ink ribbon, there is, for example, one shown in FIG. 14 (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-11026).

This color thermal printer has one platen roller 11 rotatably installed, one thermal head 12 having a heat generating portion pressed against the platen roller 11, the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 11. The take-up reel 13 and the take-up reel 1 which pass the ink ribbon R between the
4 and a heat roller 15 for preheating the ink ribbon R upstream of the thermal head 12.

Then, while the ink ribbon R is being conveyed from the delivery reel 13 to the take-up reel 14, the heat roller 1
5, preheated, superposed the card K on the ink ribbon R, and push down the thermal head 12,
And the card K to press it against the platen roller 11 to energize the heat generating portion of the thermal head 12 so that the ink ribbon R
The ink on the ink surface of the first color is transferred. Next, after returning the card K, the ink on the ink surface of the second color of the ink ribbon R is transferred. Similarly, the third and fourth colors
Color recording is performed on the card K by transferring the ink on the ink surface of the color.

Therefore, in this color thermal printer, the heat generating portion of the thermal head 12 is energized at the start of recording, and the heat generated from the heat generating portion is taken away to warm the thermal head 12, but the ink ribbon R is removed from the heat roller 1.
Since it is preheated by 5, the ink on the ink surface can be sufficiently transferred to the card K.

However, this color thermal printer is
Since the card K must be returned, there is a problem that it takes time to perform color recording in which the ink surfaces of a plurality of colors are transferred to the card K.

Further, as another conventional color thermal printer using an ink ribbon, there is, for example, one shown in FIG. 15 (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-138933).

This color thermal printer has four thermal heads 12Y and 12M corresponding to an ink ribbon R having four color ink surfaces, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (B). , 12C,
12B and respective thermal heads 12Y, 12M,
Four platen rollers 11Y, 11M, 11C, and 11B, which are arranged immediately below corresponding to 12C and 12B, can be pressed against the thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12B, and are rotatably installed, and those. An ink ribbon R is passed between the four thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12B and the platen rollers 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11B, and a delivery reel 13 and a take-up reel 14 are provided to bridge the ink ribbon R. .

Then, the ink ribbon R is conveyed from the delivery reel 13 to the take-up reel 14, and the ink ribbon R is conveyed.
Overlay the card K on the platen rollers 11Y, 11
M, 11C, 11B are pushed up and the thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12 are passed through the ink ribbon R and the card K.
Pressed against C and 12B, several thermal heads 12
By energizing the heat generating portions of Y, 12M, 12C and 12B, the ink on the ink surface of the ink ribbon R is transferred to the card K and color recording is performed.

Therefore, the color thermal printer shown in FIG. 15 has four thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12C and 12B corresponding to the ink surface of the ink ribbon R. These thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12C,
It is also possible to energize the respective heat generating portions of 12B and simultaneously transfer the four color inks by carrying the card K once, so that color recording can be performed quickly.

[0012]

Therefore, it is assumed that the heat roller 15 shown in FIG. 14 is used in the color thermal printer shown in FIG. In the color thermal printer, a heat roller is fixedly arranged downstream of the delivery reel 13 of the color thermal printer shown in FIG. 15 and upstream of the head 12Y.

Then, while the ink ribbon R is being conveyed from the feeding reel 13 to the take-up reel 14, it is preheated by a heat roller, and the card K is superposed on the ink ribbon R,
The platen rollers 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11B are pushed up and pressed against the thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12B via the ink ribbon R and the card K, and some of the thermal heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12B.
Is energized to transfer the ink on the ink surface of the ink ribbon R to the card K to perform color recording.

Here, the card K from the end of recording on the previous card K to the start of recording on the next card K
The relationship between the transport position of, the ink surface of the ink ribbon, the head, the platen, and the heat roller will be described with reference to FIG.

When recording on the previous card K is completed (black recording is completed), the state is as shown in FIG. 16 (a).

At this time, the heat roller 15 has finished preheating the ink surfaces of the ink ribbons B and C used for recording on the next card K. After that, after the preheating of the remaining ink surfaces M and Y is completed, the ink ribbon R is fast-forwarded so that the boundary between the M and Y ink surfaces is located at the tip of the head 12Y. As shown
Start recording on the next card K.

According to the color thermal printer, as in the case of FIG. 14, the ink ribbon is preheated by the heat roller, so that the ink on the ink surface can be sufficiently transferred to the card. In addition, as in the case of FIG. 15, four colors of ink can be simultaneously transferred by one-time transportation of the card, so that color recording can be performed at high speed.

However, when color recording is continuously performed on a plurality of cards with the color thermal printer, preheating is performed after the recording on the previous card K is completed and before the recording on the next card K is started. There was a problem that it took time to do.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to perform a recording on a recording medium before continuous recording on a plurality of recording media in a color thermal transfer type image forming apparatus using a multi-time ink ribbon. The purpose is to shorten the time from the end to the start of recording on the next recording medium to increase the recording speed.

A second object of the present invention is, in addition, to prevent the ink ribbon from being wasted.

A third object of the present invention is, in addition, to shorten the rising time at the start of recording.

[0022]

Therefore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned first object, the invention described in claim 1 has a frame-sequential multi-time ink ribbon having ink surfaces of a plurality of colors sequentially repeated, The thermal head is used to superimpose the recording medium on the ink ribbon and convey it faster than the ink ribbon, while energizing some of the thermal heads to transfer the ink on the ink surface and perform color recording on the recording medium. , In a color thermal transfer image forming apparatus, when a heater for preheating an ink ribbon before recording is continuously recorded on a plurality of recording media, when the recording on the previous recording medium is completed, the next recording medium is simultaneously recorded. Is arranged so as to move to a position where the preheating of the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for the recording is completed.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, the invention according to claim 2 is used for the first recording on the recording medium at the start of recording in the color thermal transfer type image forming apparatus according to claim 1. It is characterized in that the ink surface of the ink ribbon is returned to a start position where preheating is started.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned third object, the color heat transfer type image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention is to record on a next recording medium after continuous recording. It is characterized in that the ink surface of the ink ribbon to be used is returned to the start position where preheating is started.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In the illustrated image forming apparatus, a card placing section 1 on which a card as a recording medium is loaded, a card feeding section 2 for feeding cards from the card placing section 1, and a card feeding section 3 for feeding the cards fed by the card placing section 1. A ribbon transport unit 4 that transports an ink ribbon together with the card that transports it, a print head unit 5 that performs color recording on a recording medium by transferring ink of the ink ribbon while transporting the ink ribbon transported by the ribbon, and each head thereof. Platen part 6 to press
And a discharging section 7 for discharging the color-recorded card K,
A heater unit 8 for preheating the ink ribbon is provided.

Reference numeral R in the drawing is a frame sequential multi-time ink ribbon which has ink surfaces of a plurality of colors sequentially and repeatedly. K indicates a card as an example of a recording medium that records an image in color with the illustrated image forming apparatus.

The card holder 1 has two support arms 1
A large number of cards K are stacked in a stacked state on the mounting table 1A supported by B. The support arms 1B are provided in parallel with each other and each of the support shafts 1 on the base end side.
It is rotatably supported with C as a fulcrum, and a mounting table 1A is supported by a drive motor (not shown) so as to be vertically movable in parallel.

Further, above the card mounting table 1A, there is provided a position detecting sensor 1D for detecting that the uppermost card K is at a predetermined feeding height. Based on the detection data of the position detection sensor 1D, the support arm 1B is rotated and the mounting table 1A is moved upward to hold the uppermost card K at a predetermined paper feeding height.

The card feeding unit 2 includes a supply roller 21 driven by a motor (not shown) and upper and lower separating rollers 2.
2 and 23, and an endless belt 24 that is stretched between the supply roller 21 and the upper separation roller 22. The lower separation roller 23 is supported via a torque limiter (not shown). Then, the card K is sent to the left in the figure.

The card transport section 3 includes a pair of registration rollers 31.
And a conveyor belt 34 that is stretched between the drive roller 32 and the driven roller 33. Then, the card K from the card feeding unit 2 is further conveyed to the left in the drawing. A position detection sensor 35 is provided downstream of the registration roller pair 31 to detect passage of the card K front end position.

The ribbon carrying section 4 comprises a feeding reel 41 and a take-up reel 42. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a feeding motor 43 for driving the feeding reel 41,
A take-up motor 44 using a DC motor or the like capable of driving the take-up reel 42 at high speed, and a power transmission gear train provided between the pay-out motor 43 and the pay-out reel 41 (a timing belt may be used). And a power transmission mechanism 46 having a power transmission gear train (which may be a timing belt) provided between the take-up motor 44 and the take-up reel 42. The operation of the winding motor 44 is controlled by the control means 40.

The power transmission mechanism 45 includes a feeding motor 43.
Output shaft 43A, a drive gear 45A fixed to the output shaft 43A, and a driven gear 4 meshing with the drive gear 45A.
5B, a feeding shaft 45C having the driven gear 45B fixed to one end, a bearing 45D provided in a casing 48 that rotatably supports the feeding shaft 45C, and a feeding reel 41 fixed to the other end of the feeding shaft 45C. Hub part 45E
It has and.

The power transmission mechanism 46 is also constructed in the same manner, and has a drive gear 46A fixed to the output shaft 44A, a driven gear 46B, a take-up shaft 46C, a bearing 46D and a hub 46.
E is equipped. However, in this power transmission mechanism 46,
During the recording operation, the control means 40 controls the winding shaft 46C to rotate at a faster speed than the payout shaft 45C, and keeps the ink ribbon R in a tension state at all times. In order to keep the ink ribbon R in a tension state at all times, a torque limiting mechanism such as a torque limiter is used as the speed difference absorbing means to absorb the rotational speed difference.

In the print head unit 5 of the illustrated example, the thermal head type heads 51Y, which are arranged directly above the conveyor belt 34 shown in FIG.
51M, 51C, and 51B are arranged at equal intervals. Each of the heads 51Y to 51B is provided with a heat generating portion at its tip, the tip of which is brought into contact with the ink ribbon R, and Y applied to the ink ribbon R in order from the upstream side.
Color recording is performed by transferring the ink on the ink surface of each color of (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and B (black) to the card K.

As described above, in the ink ribbon R of the illustrated example, as shown in FIG. 3, B, C, M, and Y are arranged in this order in the length direction from the downstream side to the upstream side in the ribbon transport direction. A frame-sequential thermal sublimation type multi-time ink ribbon, which has ink surfaces of respective colors sequentially repeated, is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the platen portion 6 is located immediately below each of the heads 51Y to 51B, and the drive roller 32 is provided.
Belt 34 stretched between the driven roller 33 and the driven roller 33.
Platen rollers 6 rotatably installed inside the
1 (61Y, 61M, 61C, 61B) and a contact / separation mechanism 6A for individually moving the platen roller 61 in the vertical direction from the "retracting position" to the "pressing position".

This contact / separation mechanism 6A, as shown in FIG.
A first bearing member 63 is vertically slidably engaged with vertically elongated guide holes H provided in a pair of casing side plates facing each other (not shown), and the roller shafts 62 of the platen roller 61 are slid with the first bearing members 63. Both ends of are rotatably supported. Further, a second bearing member 64 is slidably engaged with the guide hole H below the first bearing member 63, and the second bearing member 64 supports both ends of the operating shaft 65. And
The first bearing member 63 and the second bearing member 64 above and below them
A biasing member 66 composed of a compression spring is provided between the
A moving means 67 is provided below the unit 5.

The moving means 67 is provided with a support shaft 68A in parallel with the operating shaft 65, and rotatably supports the support shaft 68A between the casing side plates having the guide holes H formed therein. further,
A disc-shaped cam 68 is fixedly provided on the support shaft 68A, and an operating shaft 65 is placed on the outer periphery of the cam 68 and supported. Cam 6
8 transmits the drive of the step motor 69 to the support shaft 68A by the transmission belt b and rotates. And the step motor 6
The cam 68 is rotated by 9 so that the operating shaft 65 can be moved to the upper and lower multi-stage positions according to the rotating position of the cam 68. The cam 68 has a shape as shown in FIG. 5, and the rotation angle and the displacement have a correlation as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the discharging section 7 is provided with a pair of rollers to discharge the recorded card K to the outside.

Next, the operation of actually recording information on the card K using this image forming apparatus will be described.

When a print command is input to the control means 40, the supply roller 21 is rotated in the card feeding direction by a drive motor (not shown) (clockwise in FIG. 1), and the uppermost card K from the mounting table 1A is separated by the separation roller 22. , 23. The sent card K has a separating roller 22,
At 23, it is separated from the next card K and sent to the registration roller pair 31.

The position of the card K sent to the registration roller pair 31 is confirmed by the position detection sensor 35. Here, the control unit 40 controls the card K transporting operation, the heat generating operation of each head, the ink ribbon transporting operation, the platen raising and moving operation, the preheating heater heating operation, and the like based on this position. .

That is, this card K is driven by the driven roller 3
3 and the conveyor belt 3 stretched between the drive roller 32
The sheet 4 is conveyed toward the print head portion 5 by 4. When the predetermined number of pulses are counted from the position detection sensor 35, the tip of the card K passes through the Y head 51Y.

When a print command is input to the control means 40, both the feeding reel 41 and the take-up reel 42 are driven to convey the ink ribbon R. By the way, an optical sensor (light detecting means) 47 is provided at a position upstream of the Y head 51Y with the ink ribbon R interposed therebetween (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The optical sensor 47 detects the boundary between the M and Y ink surfaces based on the difference in transmittance.

For example, in the illustrated example, as shown in FIG.
Since the transmittance of the ink surface differs depending on the wavelengths of 50 nm and 800 nm, this is utilized to detect the boundary. Then, when a predetermined number of pulses are counted from the position of the optical sensor 47, the timing at which the front end of the card K passes the Y head 51Y is adjusted, and the boundary between the M and Y ink surfaces is also adjusted as shown in FIG. 7A. Y head 51Y
To pass through. At this time, at the same timing, the control means 40 actuates the step motor 69 of the contact / separation mechanism 6A to push up the platen roller 61Y immediately below it.

As a result, the conveyor belt 34 separated from the Y head 51Y rises and presses the recording surface of the card K toward the Y head 51Y via the ink ribbon R. Further, in synchronization with this, the control means 40 energizes the heat generating portion of the Y head 51Y, and the ink ribbon R
The ink portion coated with the Y color is melted and recorded on the card recording surface, and the yellow recording is started. Then, the card K is superposed on the ink ribbon R, and recording is performed on the card K while being conveyed n times faster than the ink ribbon R.

Next, the head 51M of which the tip of the card K is M
In the same manner, the boundary between the ink surfaces of C and M passes through the head 51M of M, and the platen roller 61M of M is pushed up and conveyed at the same timing as shown in FIG. 7B. The belt 34 is lifted to start recording magenta.

Next, the head 51 of the card K with the tip of C
In accordance with the timing of passing C, the boundary between the ink surfaces of B and C also passes the head 51C of C, and FIG.
As shown in, the C platen roller 61C is pushed up at the same timing to raise the conveyor belt 34, and cyan recording is started.

Finally, the head of the card K is B head 51.
At the timing of passing B, the boundary between the ink surfaces of Y and B similarly passes through the head 51B of B, and FIG.
As shown in (4), the B platen roller 61B is pushed up in accordance with the timing to raise the conveyor belt 34, and black recording is started.

After that, the head 51 with the rear end of the card K being Y
The boundary between the Y and B ink surfaces passes through the Y head 51Y in synchronism with the timing of passing Y, and as shown in FIG.
1Y is lowered, the conveyor belt 34 is lowered, and the recording of yellow is completed.

Next, the head 51M of which the rear end of the card K is M
In the same way, the boundary between the M and Y ink surfaces also passes through the M head 51M, and as shown in FIG. 7 (f), the M platen roller 61M is lowered and conveyed. The belt 34 is lowered, and the recording of magenta is completed.

Next, the head 51 of the rear end of the card K is C.
In accordance with the timing of passing C, the boundary between the ink surfaces of C and M also passes the head 51C of C, and FIG.
As shown in, the C platen roller 61C is lowered at the same timing to lower the conveyor belt 34, and the recording of cyan is completed.

Finally, the rear end of the card K has a head 51 of B.
In accordance with the timing of passing B, the boundary between the ink surfaces of B and C similarly passes through the head 51B of B, and FIG.
The platen roller 61B of B is lowered and the conveyor belt 34 is lowered in accordance with the timing as shown in FIG. 3, the recording of black is completed, and the color recording on the card K is completed.

During recording on the card K, the optical sensor 47 detects the boundary between the B and Y ink surfaces, which is the recording start position on the next card K. And the control means 40
Then, when a predetermined number of pulses are counted from the position of the optical sensor 47, the timings of the next card K tip passing through the Y head 51Y are adjusted to match the M and Y ink surfaces as shown in FIG. 7 (i). The boundary is also made to pass the Y head 51Y, and the same is repeated thereafter.

In this way, when there are N cards K, the yellow, yellow, and
The recording operation for magenta, cyan, and black is performed, and when the Nth card K is ejected, all the recording operations are completed.

Next, the detailed operation of the platen roller 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

In the initial state, the operating shaft 6 for the cam 68 is
The contact position of 5 is at the minimum cam radius position α, and the platen roller 61 is in a separated state from the head 51 via the transport belt 34.

Now, when the card K carrying operation is started and a platen raising command signal enters the control means 40,
The step motor 69 rotates by a predetermined pulse, the cam 68 rotates via the transmission belt b, and stops at the position β for performing the arbitrarily set displacement.

At this time, the operating shaft 65, which is in contact with the cam 68, is pushed up to push up the second bearing member 64, so that the first bearing member 63 is pushed up via the biasing member 66. As a result, the platen roller 61 axially supported by the first bearing member 63 moves upward in contact with the head 51 via the transport belt 34. This moving operation is performed via the biasing member 66. As a result, the head 51 and the platen roller 61 come into contact with each other via the transport belt 34, the card K, and the ink ribbon R, and the ink of the ink ribbon R is attached to the card K.

Immediately before the rear end of the card K passes through the position of the platen roller 61, the step motor 69 reversely rotates by the same number of pulses as in the forward rotation, and the operating shaft 6
The cam 68 is returned until 5 comes into contact with the initial position α, and the second bearing member 64 is lowered. As a result, the first bearing member 63 descends and the platen roller 61 also descends, so that the platen pressure is removed from the transport belt 34.

By the way, the heater section 8 is provided upstream of the head 51Y and downstream of the optical sensor 47, as shown in FIG. The structure of the heater unit 8 will be described with reference to FIG.

The heater unit 8 shown in FIG. 9 is installed on the slide rails 81A and 81B installed facing each other, a slider 82 movable between the slide rails 81A and 81B, and the lower surface of the slider 82. A heater 83A that preheats the ink ribbon before recording, a return spring 84 that attaches one end to the central portion of the slider 82 and the other end to a fixed bracket (not shown), and a wire that attaches one end to the central portion of the slider 82. 85, a pulley 86 around which the other end of the wire 85 is wound, and a heater motor 87A having a rotation shaft fixed to the center of the pulley 86.

Further, the heater section 8 includes a slide rail 81.
The A, 81B and the heater motor 87A are supported by being attached to a fixing bracket (not shown).

In the heater section 8 of FIG. 9, when the heater motor 87A is driven and the rotary shaft of the heater motor 87A rotates together with the pulley 86, the wire 85 is wound around the pulley 86 and the return spring is caused by the wire 85. The slider 82 is guided and moved by the slide rails 81A and 81B together with the heater 83A against the force of 84.

Here, the relationship between the conveyance position of the recording medium and the movement positions of the ink surface of the ink ribbon, the head, the platen, and the heater will be described with reference to FIG.

After the previous recording is completed, the state is as shown in FIG. Therefore, first, in order to preheat the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for the first recording on the card K, the ink ribbon R is rewound.

When recording is started in this way, the ink ribbon R can be prevented from being wasted because it can be used for the next recording immediately after the used ink surface used in the previous recording.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10B, the boundary between the Y of the used ink ribbon R and the B of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the first card K is the heater 83A.
Be located at.

By the way, after the completion of the previous recording, the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K may be returned to the position of the heater 83A.

If the recording is completed in this way, the preheating can be started immediately when the power is turned on at the time of the next recording start. Therefore, rather than rewinding the ink ribbon R at the above-mentioned recording start, the rise time at the recording start can be shortened. Can be fast.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, after rewinding the ink ribbon R, the ink ribbon R is conveyed in the same manner as usual. At the same time, the heater 83A heats up and the heater motor is driven to start the movement of the heater 83A in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the ink ribbon R, so that the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for the next recording is reserved. Start heating.

Thereafter, while the heater 83A moves,
Preheating is performed in order of B, C, M, and Y ink surfaces, and
As shown in 0 (c), when the preheating of the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for the next recording is completed, the heater motor is stopped and the heater 83A is stopped.
After that, the heater 83A is moved in the opposite direction, that is, the conveying direction of the ink ribbon R, by driving the heater motor in the opposite direction.

On the other hand, the ink ribbon R is fast-forwarded at the same time as the preheating is completed, and as shown in FIG.
Along with the timing when the tip passes the Y head 51Y, the boundary between the M and Y ink surfaces also passes the Y head 51Y. At this time, the Y platen roller 61Y is pushed up at the same timing.

When the heater 83A returns to its original position,
The heater motor stops. Then, in the same manner as above, the heater 83A heats and the ink ribbon R
Of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K by moving in the direction opposite to the transport direction (starting from the ink surface of B, in the order of C, M and Y)
I do.

After pushing up the Y platen roller, the heating portion of the Y head 51Y is energized to record the Y color of the ink ribbon R on the first card K. Similarly,
Record the M, C and B colors on the first card K.

After that, the first recording on the card K in the order of Y color, M color, and C color is completed, and the platen roller 61 is separated from the head 51.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10E, at the same time as the recording of the color B is completed (the recording on the first card K is completed), the movement of the heater of the heater section 8 is also completed, Preheating for the ink surfaces (C, M, and Y ink surfaces) of the ink ribbon R used for recording the next card K is completed.

After that, the ink ribbon R is fast forwarded, and as shown in FIG.
After the boundary between the ink surfaces of Y and Y is positioned, recording of the next card K is started, and preheating of the ink surface used for the next recording is also started.

Therefore, at the same time as the recording on the first card K is completed, the preheating of the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K is completed, and then the ink ribbon R is fast forwarded. Compared with the conventional color thermal transfer image forming apparatus, the time from the end of recording on the first card K to the start of recording on the next card K when recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media is shortened. The recording speed can be increased.

Further, an example of a timing chart for the feeding motor / winding motor, heater, heater motor, and step motors (Y), (M), (C), and (B) of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown. 11 shows.

(B) After the previous recording is completed, the ink ribbon R is not rewound, and at the start of the next recording, first, the ink ribbon R is rewound by the feeding motor and the winding motor.

(B) Next, the boundary between the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for the first recording on the card K and the used ink surface used for the previous recording is set to the position of the heater. .

(C) After that, the feeding motor and the winding motor convey the ink ribbon R downstream at a constant speed.

(D) At the same time, the heater is heated and the motor for the heater is driven, and the heater moves at a constant speed in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the ink ribbon R and is used for the first recording on the card K. The ink surface of the ink ribbon R is preheated.

(E) Next, when the preheating is completed, the heater stops heating and the heater motor is driven in the opposite direction to the previous direction, and the heater is faster than the above-described speed in the ink ribbon R transport direction. Move at speed. At the same time, the feeding motor and the winding motor fast forward the ink ribbon R.

(F) Immediately before the boundary between the M and Y ink surfaces of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the card K for the first time reaches the position of the Y head 51Y, the feeding motor and the winding motor are fast-forwarded. Stop and perform normal transportation. At the same time, the heater returns to the original position, the heater heats again, and the heater motor is driven to preheat the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K in the same manner as above. Is performed while moving in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the ink ribbon R.

(G) At about the same time, the step motor 69Y rotates in the normal direction to start recording yellow.

(H) Next, the step motor 69M rotates in the forward direction to start recording magenta.

(I) Next, the step motor 69C rotates in the normal direction to start recording cyan.

(V) Finally, the step motor 69B rotates in the forward direction to start recording black.

(L) After that, after recording yellow on the card, the step motor 69Y rotates in the reverse direction, and the recording of yellow is completed.

(W) Next, after recording magenta on the card, the step motor 69M rotates in the reverse direction to end the recording of magenta.

(W) Next, after recording cyan on the card, the step motor 69C rotates in the reverse direction, and the recording of cyan is completed.

(F) Finally, after recording black on the card, the step motor 69B reverses to end recording of black.

(Y) Simultaneously with the reverse rotation of the step motor 69B, preheating of the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K is completed. That is, the heater stops heating, the heater motor is driven in the opposite direction to the previous direction, and the heater moves in the ink ribbon R transport direction. At the same time, the feeding motor and the winding motor fast forward the ink ribbon R.

Therefore, the heater is composed of a plurality of cards K.
Ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K at the same time when recording on the previous card K is completed
It is arranged so as to move to a position where the preheating for the ink surface is finished.

In the same manner as in (f) to (f), the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K and for recording on the next card K is preheated.

(T) At the end of continuous recording, the reverse rotation of the step motor 69B is completed, and after the preheating of the ink surface of the ink ribbon R used for recording on the next card K is completed, the ink ribbon R is fast-forwarded. End without doing.

FIG. 12 shows another example of a timing chart of the feeding motor / winding motor, heater and heater motor of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

In this timing chart, since the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for recording on the next card is returned to the heater after the end of the previous continuous recording, it is not necessary to rewind the ink ribbon at the start of recording.

First, the feeding motor / winding motor, the heater, the heater motor, and the step motor 6 (not shown).
9Y, 69M, 69C, and 69B are the same as (C) to (C) in the timing chart shown in FIG.

(V) After the continuous recording is completed, the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for the next recording is rewound to the heater section,
Ends continuous recording on multiple cards.

The heater section 8 may be, for example, the one shown in FIG. 13 in addition to the one shown in FIG. 9, and its configuration will be described with reference to the figure.

The heater section 8 shown in FIG. 13 is installed on a rotatable support shaft 88, a rectangular support frame 89 attached to the support shaft 88, and the lower surface of the support frame 89, and is set to ink before recording. A heater 83B for preheating the ribbon and an arm 9 for press-fitting one end of the support shaft 88 into a hole provided at its one end.
0, a pin 91 attached to the elongated hole H at the other end of the arm 90, a link 92 for circularly moving the pin 91, and a heater motor 8 for fixing a rotary shaft at the center of the link 92.
7B and.

The heater portion 8 is supported by rotatably attaching both ends of the support shaft 88 to a fixed bracket via bearings (not shown), and attaching the heater motor 87B to a fixed bracket (not shown). is doing.

When the heater motor 87B is driven, the rotary shaft of the heater motor 87B rotates, which causes the link 92 to move circularly, and the circular movement causes the pin 91 to move within the slot H while the arm 91 moves. Since 90 moves about the support shaft 88 by the distance of the diameter of the link 92, the support frame 89 moves together with the heater 83B within a certain angle range.

[0108]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the color thermal transfer type image forming apparatus, the heater for preheating the ink ribbon before recording is continuously provided on a plurality of recording media. When recording, the recording medium is arranged so as to move to a position where the preheating on the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for recording on the next recording medium is completed at the same time as the recording on the previous recording medium is completed. Simultaneously with the end of recording, the preheating of the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for the next recording medium is completed, and the ink ribbon can be immediately fast-forwarded to perform the next recording, so continuous recording on multiple recording media is possible. It is possible to speed up the recording speed by shortening the time from the end of recording on the previous recording medium to the start of recording on the next recording medium at the time of performing.

In addition, according to the second aspect of the invention, at the start of recording, the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for the first recording on the recording medium is returned to the start position for starting the preheating, and the previous recording is performed. Since the ink can be used for the next recording immediately after the used ink surface is used, the ink ribbon can be prevented from being wasted.

In addition, according to the third aspect of the invention, after the continuous recording is completed, the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for recording on the next recording medium is returned to the start position for starting preheating, and the next recording is performed. Since preheating can be started immediately when the power is turned on at the start, the rise time at the start of recording can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color thermal transfer image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the ribbon transport unit.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a contacting / separating mechanism of the platen portion.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between the cam and an operating shaft.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between a rotation angle of a cam and a displacement amount of an operating shaft.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the conveyance position of the recording medium, the ink surface of the ink ribbon, the head, and the platen.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the transmittance of the optical sensor for each color on the ink surface for each color.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an example of a heater unit.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the conveyance position of the recording medium and the movement positions of the ink surface of the ink ribbon, the head, the platen, and the heater.

FIG. 11 is an example of a timing chart of the color thermal transfer image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is another example of a timing chart of the color thermal transfer image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another example of a heater unit.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a part of a conventional color thermal transfer image forming apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another conventional color thermal transfer image forming apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a conventional color thermal transfer image forming apparatus, a card transport position from recording on a previous card to recording on a next card, an ink surface of an ink ribbon, and a head. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view showing a relationship with a platen and a heat roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

8 heater 40 control means 51 head (thermal head) 51Y head (thermal head) 51M head (thermal head) 51C head (thermal head) 51B head (thermal head) K card (recording medium) R ink ribbon

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A frame-sequential multi-time ink ribbon having ink surfaces of a plurality of colors sequentially and a plurality of thermal heads are used, and a recording medium is superposed on the ink ribbon and is conveyed faster than the ink ribbon. In a color thermal transfer type image forming apparatus that energizes some of the thermal heads to transfer the ink on the ink surface to perform color recording on a recording medium, a plurality of heaters for preheating the ink ribbon before recording are provided. When recording is continuously performed on one recording medium, the recording medium is moved to a position where the preheating on the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for recording on the next recording medium is finished at the same time when the recording on the previous recording medium is finished. A color thermal transfer type image forming apparatus arranged. 2. The color thermal transfer image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at the start of recording, the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for recording on the recording medium for the first time is returned to a start position for starting preheating. 3. The color thermal transfer image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after the continuous recording, the ink surface of the ink ribbon used for recording on the next recording medium is returned to the start position for starting preheating. .