JP2003211713A - Thermal printer and thermal print system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the size of a thermal printer. <P>SOLUTION: The thermal printer 12 constitutes a print system 10 together with a digital camera 14. The thermal printer 12 records a color image on a color thermal recording sheet 11 through a thermal head 56. The printer body 15 is provided with a connector 22 and a lighting window 23. The digital camera 14 is fixed to the printer body 15 such that a strobo light emitting section 27 faces the lighting window 23. The recorded color thermal recording sheet 11 is fixed with strobo light from the lighting window 23. A trigger signal is transmitted from a strobo unit to the printer body 15 through the connector 22. <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 thermal printer and a thermal printing system for recording an image on a thermal recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At least first to third thermosensitive coloring layers which are different in color are laminated, the lower thermosensitive coloring layer has lower thermal sensitivity, and the uppermost first thermosensitive coloring layer on the surface side. There is a color thermal printer in which a full-color print can be obtained by using a color thermal recording paper to which a fixing property by ultraviolet rays of a specific wavelength region is given for the second thermosensitive coloring layer thereunder. In this color thermal printer, while the color thermal recording paper is reciprocally transported in the sub-scanning direction, the thermal heads arranged in the main scanning direction are brought into pressure contact with each other to perform thermal recording on each thermal color-developing layer. After thermal recording on the color forming layer, it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays using a fixing device,
The lower thermosensitive coloring layer is fixed so that the upper thermosensitive coloring layer does not develop color during thermal recording.

A rod-shaped mercury fluorescent lamp is used as a light source of the fixing device. This mercury fluorescent lamp generally has a circular cross section, and ultraviolet rays are radiated with uniform intensity over the entire circumference. Therefore, in order to reflect the wastefully emitted ultraviolet rays toward the color thermosensitive recording paper, a reflector having a high reflecting ability is arranged near the mercury fluorescent lamp. Also,
In order to obtain a predetermined amount of light with a mercury fluorescent lamp, a tube with a large tube diameter is used. Further, in consideration of the attenuation of the amount of light at both ends of the mercury fluorescent lamp, an ultraviolet lamp having a length about twice the width of the thermal recording paper in the main scanning direction is used.

[0004]

The fixing device using the above-mentioned ultraviolet lamp becomes large due to the installation space of the reflector, the diameter and length of the ultraviolet lamp, and the like, which hinders the miniaturization of the thermal printer.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to downsize a thermal printer.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a conveying means for conveying a thermosensitive recording paper having a thermosensitive coloring layer layered on a support in a main body, and the thermosensitive coloring. In a thermal printer equipped with a thermal head for heating a layer to thermally record an image, in order to be able to use a strobe device of a digital camera as a light source for optical fixing for irradiating ultraviolet rays to a thermosensitive coloring layer that has been thermally recorded, The main body is provided with a strobe light collecting window for collecting the light emitted from the strobe device, and a connector for transmitting a trigger signal to the strobe device.

It is preferable that image data is taken in from the memory card set in the digital camera through the connector and the taken image is printed on the thermal recording paper.

Further, the thermal printing system of the present invention is
In a thermal printing system consisting of a digital camera with a strobe device that has a memory card that is detachably set and that stores image data captured in this memory card, and a thermal printer that heats thermal recording paper with a thermal head to thermally record images. In order to use the strobe device as a light source for irradiating the thermosensitive coloring layer on which heat has been recorded with ultraviolet rays to fix the heat, the printer body collects light emitted from the strobe device. And a first connector for receiving image data from the memory card and transmitting a trigger signal to a strobe device, and the digital camera has the first connector. Is provided with a second connector connected thereto.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing system 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a thermal printer 12 for recording color images on a color thermal recording paper 11 and a digital camera for recording captured images as digital data in a memory card 13. 14 and. The image data is stored in the memory card 13 as an image file in the JPG format, for example. The digital camera 14 is detachably attached to the printer body 15 of the thermal printer 12, and the thermal printer 12 takes in an image file from the memory card 13 set in the digital camera 14 and prints it.

As is well known, the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 has a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer which are sequentially laminated on a support. The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, which is the uppermost layer, has the highest heat sensitivity and develops yellow with a small amount of heat energy. The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, which is the lowermost layer, has the lowest thermal sensitivity and develops cyan with a large amount of heat energy. The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer has a wavelength of about 4
When it is irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays in the vicinity of 20 nm, the coloring ability disappears. The magenta thermosensitive coloring layer develops magenta with heat energy in the middle of those of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, and loses its coloring ability when irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of about 365 nm.

An opening 1 is formed in the center of the front surface of the printer body 15.
7 is formed, and the paper feed cassette 16 is detachably set. A plurality of color thermosensitive recording papers 11 which are cut in advance to a predetermined size are stored in the paper feeding cassette 16. The upper surface of the paper feed cassette 16 functions as a paper discharge tray, and the printed color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is discharged there. A lid 19 that covers the opening 17 when not in use is provided on the front surface of the printer body 15 so as to be openable and closable.

An operation panel 18 is provided beside the opening 17. The operation panel 18 is provided with a display panel in addition to various operation buttons including a power button. Error messages and status information are displayed on the display panel.

A concave portion is formed on the upper surface of the printer body 15 so as to match the shape of the camera body 25, and this concave portion serves as a mounting portion 21 to which the digital camera 14 is mounted. In this mounting portion 21, the connector 22
And a daylighting window 23 are provided. These connectors 22
The lighting window 23 and the lighting window 23 are arranged at respective positions facing the connector 26 and the strobe light emitting unit 27 of the camera body 25 when the camera body 25 is attached to the attachment portion 21.

The thermal printer 12 uses the strobe device of the digital camera 14 as a light source for optically fixing the color thermal recording paper 11 on which thermal recording has been completed. Printer body 1
Since the optical fixing device is not provided in the printer 5, the printer body 15 can be downsized and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, for the same reason, the power consumption of the thermal printer 12 itself is reduced.

The lighting window 23 receives the strobe light emitted from the strobe device of the digital camera 14 from the printer body 15.
It is an opening for daylighting. A rubber rib 28 for preventing light leakage is provided around the lighting window 23. The camera body 25 is supported by the connector 22 and the ribs 28. Of course, the printer body 15 may be provided with a positioning pin for positioning the camera body 25, a supporting member for supporting the positioning pin, and the like.

The connector 22 is connected to a connector 26 provided on the front surface of the digital camera 14, and by connecting these connectors 22 and 26, image data and various control signals are transmitted between the digital camera 14 and the thermal printer 12. Be communicated. Reference numeral 29 is a protective cover for covering and protecting the mounting portion 21 when the thermal printer 12 is not used.

A shutter button 30 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 25 of the digital camera 14, and on the front surface of the camera body 25, the connector 26 and the strobe light emitting section 2 are provided.
7, a photographing lens 31 and a finder objective window 32 are provided.

The strobe light emitting section 27 comprises a xenon flash lamp (hereinafter referred to as Xe lamp) 33, a reflector 34, and a diffusion plate 36. The wavelength range of the light emitted by the Xe lamp 33 includes the ultraviolet range to the infrared range.

Since this Xe lamp 33 cannot always emit light unlike a mercury fluorescent lamp, when it is used as a light fixing light source of the thermal printer 12, it is intermittently turned on. The lighting frequency is set in advance and is set in the range of, for example, about 10 to 20 Hz.

Further, the diffusion plate 36 has a function of diffusing light and a filter function of cutting out ultraviolet rays of the light emitted from the Xe lamp 33. Therefore, when the Xe lamp 33 is used as an optical fixing light source, it is necessary to remove the diffusion plate 36. Therefore, the diffusion plate 36 is detachably attached to the camera body 25. The diffusion plate 36 is locked to the camera body 25 so as not to come off accidentally. Reference numeral 37 is a button for removing the lock of the diffusion plate 36, which is used when the diffusion plate 36 is removed from the camera body 25.

A connector cap 39 for protecting the connector 26 when not in use is attached to the connector 26. A slot 41 for setting the memory card 13 is provided on the side surface of the camera body 25. The slot cover 45 is attached to the camera body 25 so as to be openable and closable, and covers the slot 41 when not in use.

On the back surface of the camera body 25, an LCD panel 42, an operation panel 43 including various operation buttons, a viewfinder eyepiece window and the like are provided. Digital camera 14
Includes a shooting mode for shooting, a playback mode for playing back and displaying the image recorded on the memory card 13 on the LCD panel 42, and a print mode for printing the image recorded on the memory card 13 using the thermal printer 12. It has a mode. Each of these modes is switched by the mode selector switch 44.

The operation panel 43 functions as an operation unit of the digital camera 14 and also functions as an operation unit that gives a print instruction to the thermal printer 12 when the digital camera 14 is connected to the thermal printer 12.

The LCD panel 42 functions as an electronic viewfinder in the photographing mode, and functions as a monitor for displaying an image in the reproduction mode. Also,
A setting screen for making various settings is displayed on the LCD panel 42.

In the print mode, the LCD panel 42 also displays a selection screen for designating an image to be printed. A cursor for image selection is displayed on this selection screen. A desired image is selected by operating the general-purpose key 46 in the operation panel 43 and moving the cursor. Print button 4 with the image selected
When 7 is pressed, the print instruction is sent to the thermal printer 12 through the connector 26. The thermal printer 12 receives the print instruction and executes print processing.

Since the thermal printer 12 can be operated from the operation panel 43 of the digital camera 14 in this manner, it is not necessary to provide a print button or the like on the thermal printer 12, so that the manufacturing cost of the thermal printer 12 can be reduced. Can be suppressed.

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the printer body 15. The paper feed path 51 is provided with a paper feed roller 52 for pulling out the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 in the paper feed cassette 16. The color thermosensitive recording paper 11 pulled out from the paper feed cassette 16 is supplied to the transport path through the paper feed path 51.

A thermal head 56 and a platen roller 57 are arranged on the transport path. Thermal head 5
Reference numeral 6 includes a heating element array in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a line along the main scanning direction. The heating element array is pressure-contacted with the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 to heat the image to thermally record an image. . The platen roller 57 is arranged at a position facing the thermal head 56, and supports the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 from the back surface.

A conveying roller pair 58 is arranged downstream of the thermal head 56 in the forward direction. Transport roller pair 58
Nip the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 and convey it back and forth in the forward and reverse directions. Thermal recording and optical fixing are performed during this conveyance.

That is, first, while the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is being conveyed in the forward direction by the pair of conveying rollers 58, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer is heated to record a yellow image.
Then, after the recorded yellow thermosensitive coloring layer is optically fixed, the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is conveyed in the reverse direction and returned to the position of the thermal head 56. When conveyed again in the forward direction, the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is heated and a magenta image is recorded. After the optical fixing of the recorded magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is completed, the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is returned to the position of the thermal head 56 again. Then, during the third transport in the forward direction, a cyan image is thermally recorded on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer.

The color thermosensitive recording paper 11 on which the thermal recording and the optical fixing have been completed is conveyed in the opposite direction, is sent to the paper discharge roller pair 60, and is discharged from the opening 17. The feeding roller 52, the conveyance roller pair 58, and the paper discharge roller pair 60 include a conveyance motor 61.
Driven by. As the carry motor 61, for example, a pulse motor whose rotation amount is determined according to the number of applied drive pulses is used. Controller 71
Counts this drive pulse and prints the color thermal recording paper 1
The carry amount of 1 is controlled.

Below the lighting window 23, a light guide 62 for guiding the light of the Xe lamp 33 that has been picked up to the recording surface of the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is arranged. The ultraviolet rays emitted from the Xe lamp 33 include near ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 420 nm and ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of around 365 nm. Therefore, when the thermosensitively recorded color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is passed under the light guide 62, both the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer are optically fixed.

The filter 63 cuts off the ultraviolet rays that photofix the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer so that the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is not photofixed when the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer is photofixed. The filter 63 is movably provided between an insertion position inserted below the light guide 62 and a retracted position retracted from this insertion position. Since the optical fixing is performed from the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer, the insertion position is the initial position of the filter 63. The filter 63 is driven by a filter motor 64.

The illuminance sensor 66 receives the strobe light from the Xe lamp 33 and detects the illuminance. Based on the signal detected by the illuminance sensor 66, the color thermosensitive recording paper 1
The amount of received light of 1 is adjusted. The amount of received light is adjusted, for example, by changing the transport speed of the color thermosensitive recording paper 11.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the thermal printer 12 and the digital camera 14. The controller 71 of the thermal printer 12 controls each part of the printer. The controller 71 includes a connector 22, an illuminance sensor 66, a head driver 72, a conveyance motor driver 73,
A filter motor driver 74 is connected. The drivers 72, 73, 74 drive the thermal head 56, the conveyance motor 61, and the filter motor 64, respectively, based on the control signal from the controller 71.

The image processing section 76 performs various image processes on the image data taken in from the digital camera 14 through the connector 26 to create image data for printing.

The connector 81, the operation panel 43, the LCD unit 82, the image pickup section 83, and the strobe unit 84 are connected to the microcomputer 81 of the digital camera 14, and these are controlled by the microcomputer 81.

The LCD unit 82 includes the LCD panel 42.
And a drive circuit for driving this. Imaging unit 83
Is composed of a CCD, a CCD drive circuit, a writing circuit for writing the imaged data in the memory card 13, and the like.
The strobe unit 84 includes a strobe light emitting unit 27 and a strobe circuit that drives the strobe light emitting unit 27.

In the print mode, the microcomputer 81 follows the instruction from the operation panel 43.
A print start signal is sent to the controller 71 through the connector 26. The controller 71 executes print processing based on this print start signal. Also,
At this time, the image data is read from the memory card 13 and sent to the thermal printer 12.

Then, the controller 71 sends a trigger signal to the microcomputer 81 when performing optical fixing. The microcomputer 81 operates the strobe unit 84 based on this trigger signal.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below. When printing an image taken by the digital camera 14, the diffusion plate 36 and the connector cap 39 are removed from the camera body 25, and the camera body 25 is attached to the attachment portion 21 of the printer body 15. Mounting part 21
Is formed in conformity with the shape of the camera body 25, so that when the camera body 25 is fitted to the mounting portion 21, the strobe light emitting portion 27 and the connector 26 are positioned at respective positions facing the lighting window 23 and the connector 22, respectively. To be done. Then, when the camera body 25 is pushed downward, the connector 26 and the connector 22 are connected, and the camera body 25 is attached to the printer body 15.

The paper feed cassette 16 is set in the printer body 15, and the thermal printer 12 and the digital camera 14 are powered on. The mode changeover switch 44 is operated to put the digital camera 14 in the print mode. When the print mode is set, the memory card 1 is displayed on the LCD panel 42.
The image selection screen in which the image files recorded in 3 are displayed in a list is displayed. The operation panel 43 is operated to select an image to be printed.

When the print button 47 is pressed after the image selection is completed, the microcomputer 81 of the digital camera 14 is pressed.
A print start signal is sent from the printer 71 to the controller 71 of the thermal printer 12 through the connector 26 and the connector 22. The controller 71 starts print processing based on this print start signal.

The feeding roller 5 is driven by driving the conveying motor 61.
2 rotates and the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is fed from the paper feed cassette 16 to the printer body 15. The fed color thermosensitive recording paper 11 enters the transport path and is nipped by the transport roller pair 58. While the color thermal recording paper 11 is being conveyed by the pair of conveying rollers 58, first, a yellow image is thermally recorded by the thermal head 56. The color thermosensitive recording paper 11 is sequentially fed in the forward direction from the portion on which thermal recording has been completed.

The controller 71 uses the color thermosensitive recording paper 1
A trigger signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 81 at the timing when 1 reaches below the light guide 62. Based on this trigger signal, the strobe unit 84 operates and the Xe lamp 33 starts lighting at a preset lighting cycle. Since the filter 63 is at the insertion position (initial position), the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is not optically fixed at the time of yellow light fixing.

During the optical fixing, the controller 71 adjusts the speed of the color thermosensitive recording paper 11 based on the illuminance signal from the illuminance sensor 66 in order to adjust the amount of light received by the color thermosensitive recording paper 11. Therefore, the optical fixing is uniformly performed on the entire surface of the color thermosensitive recording paper 11.

When the yellow optical fixing is completed, the magenta thermal recording and the optical fixing are performed as in the case of the yellow. When the magenta optical fixing is performed, the filter 63 moves to the retracted position. When magenta thermal recording and optical fixing are completed, cyan thermal recording is performed, and when cyan thermal recording is completed,
Printed color thermal recording paper 11 is printer main body 1
5 The paper is ejected to the outside.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a print instruction is given to the thermal printer from the operation panel of the digital camera has been described, but it goes without saying that the print instruction can be given from the operation panel provided in the main body of the thermal printer. You may In that case, a selection screen for selecting an image file to be printed may be displayed on the display panel of the thermal printer.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of using a paper feed cassette for storing color thermosensitive recording paper which has been cut into a predetermined size in advance has been described, but a long color thermosensitive recording paper is used instead of the paper feeding cassette. A recording paper roll wound in a roll may be used. In this case, a cutter for cutting the printed recording paper is required in the printer body.

In the above embodiment, the amount of light received by the color thermosensitive recording paper is controlled by controlling the conveying speed.
The amount of received light may be controlled by adjusting the lighting frequency of the e-lamp.

In the above embodiment, an example of a color thermal printer for recording a color image on a color thermal recording paper has been described, but a monochrome thermal printer for recording a monochrome image may be used. In this case, the filter and the filter motor are unnecessary.

[0052]

As described in detail above, the present invention is
Trigger to the strobe light window to illuminate the strobe light in the printer body so that the strobe device of the camera can be used as a light source for the optical fixing of the thermal printer that thermally records an image on the thermosensitive recording paper. Since the connector for transmitting signals is provided, the thermal fixing printer does not need the optical fixing device, and the printer body can be downsized. Further, since the optical fixing device is unnecessary, the manufacturing cost of the thermal printer can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a print system including a thermal printer and a digital camera.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a printer.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a printing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 printing system 11 color thermal recording paper 12 Thermal printer 14 digital camera 15 Printer body 22,26 connector 23 Daylighting window 25 camera body 27 Strobe emission part 33 Xe lamp 71 controller 81 Microcomputer 84 Strobe unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C065 AB01 AC01 AD03 AD07 AF01                       CJ02 CJ05 CJ09                 2H053 CA41 DA03                 2H104 AA19

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transporting means for transporting a thermosensitive recording paper in which a thermosensitive coloring layer is layered on a support, and a thermal head for heating the thermosensitive coloring layer to thermally record an image. In a thermal printer, in order to use a strobe device of a digital camera as a light-fixing light source for irradiating ultraviolet rays to a thermosensitive coloring layer on which heat has been recorded, the main body is provided with a light for radiating light emitted from the strobe device A thermal printer comprising a strobe light window and a connector for transmitting a trigger signal to the strobe device. 2. The thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein image data is captured from a memory card set in the digital camera through the connector, and the captured image is printed on the thermal recording paper. 3. A digital camera with a strobe device in which a memory card is detachably set and which stores image data captured in the memory card; and a thermal printer which heats a thermal recording paper with a thermal head to thermally record an image. In the thermal printing system, the thermal printer emits light from the strobe device to the printer body so that the stroboscopic device can be used as a light source for photo-fixing that irradiates the thermosensitive coloring layer on which heat has been recorded with ultraviolet rays. The digital camera is provided with a strobe light collecting window for collecting light, and a first connector for receiving image data from the memory card and transmitting a trigger signal to the strobe device. A second connector connected to the first connector is provided. Thermal printing system.