JP2003320693A - Color thermosensitive printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color thermosensitive printer without the need of a shutter plate and a shutter plate driving mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: An optical fixing unit 32 comprises a reflector 30, an yellow ultraviolet ray lamp 26 and a magenta ultraviolet ray lamp 27. The reflector 30 has a reflector main body 30a for storing the two ultraviolet ray lamps 26, 27 independently, and band-like openings 30b, 30c each formed therebelow. The opening widths W1, W2 are made narrower than the blank space width BW of a blank space area 10c present between a recording area 10a to be recorded on a color thermosensitive recording paper 10 and the next recording area 10b. The irradiation widths W3, W4 are made narrower than a blank space width 10e. An ultraviolet ray to be directed to an unrecorded area at the time of optically fixing yellow and magenta images is provided only in the blank margin area 10c so as not to trouble the thermally recording operation for the next recording area 10b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,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 printer in which a thermosensitive coloring layer of color thermosensitive recording paper is subjected to thermal recording, and then an electromagnetic ray peculiar to each thermosensitive coloring layer is irradiated to perform optical fixing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A color thermosensitive recording paper for printing a full-color image using a color thermosensitive recording paper in which a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers, for example, a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer are sequentially laminated on a support. Printers are known. Usually, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer are composed of a diazonium salt compound and a coupler which reacts with the diazonium salt compound to develop a color. The diazonium salt compound is photolyzed by irradiation with electromagnetic rays, for example, ultraviolet rays. Due to this photodecomposition, the coupler cannot react thermally, and the coloring ability of the unrecorded portion of each thermosensitive coloring layer disappears. As we all know,
This phenomenon is called light fixing. The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer contains an electron-donating precursor and an electron-accepting compound as main components, and develops a cyan color when heated.

The color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is constructed so that the uppermost yellow thermosensitive coloring layer has the highest thermal sensitivity and the lowermost cyan thermosensitive coloring layer has the lowest thermal sensitivity. Therefore, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer develops color with low thermal energy, but a large amount of thermal energy is required to develop the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer. Further, the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer has a thermal sensitivity intermediate between that of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and that of the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, and is developed by the intermediate thermal energy generated by the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer and the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer.

The color thermal printer comprises a pair of transport rollers for transporting the color thermal recording paper, a thermal head for heating the color thermal recording paper to develop a color, and an optical fixing device having a lamp for irradiating ultraviolet rays. The thermal head and the optical fixing device are arranged along the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the color thermosensitive recording paper. Thermal head
While the color thermosensitive recording paper is being conveyed, the thermal recording is performed line by line in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the recording paper.

In the printing process, first, the thermal head is pressed against the recording paper to thermally record a yellow image on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer having the highest thermal sensitivity, and immediately after that, a near-ultraviolet ray having an emission peak of about 420 nm is recorded by an optical fixing device. To heat-fix the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer. Next, a magenta image is thermally recorded on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and then the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is optically fixed by irradiating ultraviolet rays having an emission peak of about 365 nm. Finally, a cyan image is thermally recorded on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer to obtain a full-color image.

The above-mentioned optical fixing device irradiates ultraviolet rays through the transparent plate fitted in the upper guide member while the recording paper is being conveyed along the paper guide members arranged above and below. Further, as known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-99572 and the like, between the optical fixing device and the recording paper,
A slidable shutter plate is arranged, and the transparent plate is shielded by the shutter plate so that the unrecorded portion following the recording area of the recording paper on which the image is recorded is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

[0007]

However, the above-described color thermal printer has the drawbacks that the size of the printer body is increased and the cost is increased because it has the shutter plate and the shutter plate drive mechanism.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a color thermal printer which does not require a shutter plate and a shutter plate drive mechanism.

[0009]

In the color thermal printer of the present invention, a fixing lamp for irradiating electromagnetic rays for optical fixing is housed in a reflector, and ultraviolet rays from the fixing lamp are recorded on a recording area of a color thermal recording paper. It is characterized in that the width of the irradiation opening of the reflector having the irradiation opening for irradiating the sheet is made narrower than the margin width existing between the two recording areas of the color thermosensitive recording paper.

Further, one lamp for optically fixing each thermosensitive coloring layer is housed in each reflector. Furthermore, the width of the irradiation opening is narrower than the width of the reflector main body.

[0011]

1 is a schematic view of a color thermal printer 1 according to the present invention. As the color thermosensitive recording paper, a color thermosensitive recording paper 10 in which a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer are sequentially laminated on a support is used. The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer is
When irradiated with near-ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 420 nm, the coloring ability is lost, and when the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer is irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 365 nm, the coloring ability is lost.

The color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is set in the printer as a recording paper roll 11 wound into a roll. The outer peripheral surface of the recording paper roll 11 is the recording paper roll 11
A paper feed roller 12 for taking out the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is in contact therewith. When the paper feed roller 12 is rotated clockwise by the conveyance motor 13, the recording paper roll 11 rotates counterclockwise, and the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is sent out from the recording paper roll 11. On the other hand, when the paper feed roller 12 rotates counterclockwise, the color thermosensitive recording paper 10
Is rewound.

The recording paper roll 11 is movable toward the paper feed roller 12 and is always in contact with the paper feed roller 12 by a spring force or the like. Therefore, the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 can be reliably fed even if the winding diameter of the recording paper roll 11 becomes small.

A transport roller pair 16 including a capstan roller 14 and a pinch roller 15 is disposed downstream of the paper feed roller 12, and is rotated in both forward and reverse directions by a transport motor 13. The color thermosensitive recording paper 10 pulled out from the paper feeding roller 12 is sandwiched between the capstan roller 14 and the pinch roller 15, and is reciprocally conveyed in the feeding direction and the rewinding direction by the forward and reverse rotation of the capstan roller 14. To be done. The encoder 17 is attached to the rotary shaft of the capstan roller 14, and measures the amount of conveyance of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 from the number of rotations of the capstan roller 14.

A platen roller 20 and a thermal head 21 are provided downstream of the conveying roller pair 16. The thermal head 21 has at its tip a heating element array 21a in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line,
The heating element array 21a moves between a recording position where it is pressed against the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 and a non-recording position where it is retracted from the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. The thermal head 21 is
Thermal recording is performed by pressing the heating element array 21a against the recording surface of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10.

On the downstream side of the thermal head 21, an upper guide member 2 for guiding the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 being conveyed.
4 and the lower guide member 25 are provided. The upper guide member 24 and the lower guide member 25 are formed of a light-shielding material, and are arranged inside the printer so as to sandwich the conveyance path of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. An opening for transmitting ultraviolet light is formed in the center of the upper guide member, and a transparent plate 33 is fitted in this opening. The recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is optically fixed by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays from an optical fixing device 32 described later while passing under the transparent plate 33.

Above the upper guide member 24, a light fixing device 32 including a yellow ultraviolet lamp 26, a magenta ultraviolet lamp 27, and a reflector 30 is arranged. This optical fixing device 32 is provided with a reflector 30 so that the ultraviolet irradiation range on the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is not widened.
The lower end of is close to the upper guide member 24. UV lamp 26 for yellow and UV lamp 2 for magenta
Reference numeral 7 is an elongated rod shape, and the one having a width longer than the width of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is used. The yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 emits near-ultraviolet light having an emission peak near a wavelength of 420 nm to eliminate the coloring ability of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer. The magenta UV lamp 27 has a wavelength of 3
Ultraviolet light having an emission peak near 65 nm is emitted to eliminate the coloring ability of the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer.

At the downstream side of the optical fixing device 32, there is a cutter composed of a fixed blade 22 arranged on the upper part of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 and a movable blade 23 arranged on the lower part of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. It is provided. Further, on the downstream side of the cutter, a discharge roller pair 40 including a capstan roller 36 driven by a discharge motor 35 and a pinch roller 37 pressed against the capstan roller 36 is arranged. After the thermal recording is completed, the recorded color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is nipped by the pair of paper ejection rollers 40 and sent out from the ejection port 41, and the cutting position 10d behind the recording area 10 of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is the cutter. Paper discharge roller pair 4
0 stops. After that, the movable blade 23 moves upward,
The recorded color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is separated from the recording paper roll 11. The paper discharge roller pair 40 restarts the discharge of the recorded color thermosensitive recording paper 10 and discharges it from the color thermal printer 1 through the discharge port 41.

In FIG. 2, a reflector 30 includes a yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 and a magenta ultraviolet lamp 27.
And a strip-shaped opening 30b and 3 formed below the reflector main body 30a for irradiating the recording area 10a with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamps 26 and 27, respectively.
0c and. These openings 30b and 30c
Are close to the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 so that the ultraviolet irradiation range on the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 does not expand. The widths W1 and W2 of the openings are the same as those of the color thermosensitive recording paper 1.
Since the margin width BW of the blank area 10c existing between the two recording areas 10a and 10b recorded at 0 is narrower, the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 and the magenta ultraviolet lamp 27 is performed. Width W
3 and W4 are narrower than the margin width BW. The inner wall of the reflector 30 is a reflecting surface, and each ultraviolet lamp 26
Alternatively, the light generated from 27 is efficiently emitted downward.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the print start operation is performed, the transport motor 13
As a result, the paper feeding roller 12 rotates and the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is fed from the recording paper roll 11. When the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 being fed is nipped by the conveying roller pair 16,
The color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is conveyed toward the thermal head 21 by the forward rotation of the capstan roller 14. When a sensor (not shown) detects that the front end of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is nipped by the pair of transport rollers 16, the encoder 17 causes the capstan roller 1 to move.
The transport amount of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is measured from the number of rotations of 4.

The color thermosensitive recording paper 10 passes between the platen roller 20 and the thermal head 21 and is further sent out. When the carrying amount of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 reaches a certain value, the carrying motor 13 stops and the thermal head 21 moves to the recording position. After that, the capstan roller 14 rotates in the opposite direction and conveys the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 in the rewinding direction. When the trailing edge of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 reaches the thermal head 21, the thermal head 21 causes the heating element array 21a to generate heat,
A yellow image is heat-recorded line by line on the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer.

When the thermal recording of the yellow image is completed, the transport motor 13 is stopped and the thermal head 21 moves to the non-recording position. After that, the capstan roller 14 rotates in the forward direction to send out the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. Further, the yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 is turned on at the same time as the sheet is conveyed in the delivery direction. The color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is sent out, and while the recording area 10a passes under the yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 at a constant speed as shown in FIG. The image is fixed. When the rear end of the recording area 10a passes under the yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 and reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 (B), the transport motor 13 is stopped and the yellow ultraviolet lamp 26 is turned off.

Irradiation width W3 of the ultraviolet lamp 26 for yellow
Is narrower than the blank area width BW of the blank area 10c, only near the blank area 10c, near blank area 10c is irradiated with near ultraviolet rays in the unrecorded portion of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. Since no ultraviolet ray is emitted, it does not hinder the thermal recording in the next recording area 10b. Further, since the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is transported at a constant speed until the trailing edge of the recording area passes under the yellow ultraviolet lamp 26, the entire surface of the recording area can be optically fixed.

Then, the thermal head 21 moves to the recording position to sandwich the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. The capstan roller 14 starts rotating in the opposite direction and rewinds the color thermosensitive recording paper 10. When the rear end of the recording area 10a of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 reaches the thermal head 21, the heating element array 21a generates heat to thermally record a magenta image line by line on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer.

When the thermal recording of the magenta image is completed, the thermal head 21 is moved to the non-recording position and the feeding of the color thermal recording paper 10 is started. Further, the magenta ultraviolet lamp 27 is turned on at the same time as the sheet is conveyed in the delivery direction. Color thermal recording paper 1 as for yellow images
When 0 is sent out and the rear end of the recording area 10a passes under the magenta ultraviolet lamp 27 and reaches the position shown in FIG. 4, the carrying motor 13 is stopped and the magenta ultraviolet lamp 27 is turned off. . While the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is sent out and passes under the magenta ultraviolet lamp 27 at a constant speed, it is optically fixed in the same manner as the yellow image.

Next, after the magenta ultraviolet lamp 27 is turned off, the color thermosensitive color recording paper 10 is rewound for the third time by the procedure described above. When the trailing edge of the recording area of the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 reaches the thermal head 21, the heating element array 21a generates heat to thermally record a cyan image line by line on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer.

When the thermal recording of the cyan image is completed, the feeding of the color thermal recording paper 10 is restarted. The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer has a very low thermal sensitivity and does not develop color under normal storage conditions. Therefore, the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer is not subjected to optical fixing.

After the thermal recording is completed, the recorded color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is sent out in the sending direction, is nipped by the paper discharge roller pair 40, and is sent out from the discharge port 41 to the outside. In the color thermosensitive recording paper 10, the paper discharge roller pair 40 is stopped when the cutting position 10d that bisects the blank area 10c reaches the cutter. After that, the movable blade 23 moves upward to move the recorded recording area 10a to the recording paper roll 11
From the cutting position 10d. The discharge roller pair 40 is
The recording of the recorded color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is restarted, and the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is ejected from the ejection port 41 to the outside of the color thermosensitive printer 1.

When the continuous printing is not performed, the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 is rewound on the recording paper roll 11 to prevent moisture. As a result, the color thermal recording paper 10 does not deteriorate due to moisture, and a color print with an appropriate image quality can always be obtained.

Next, a modification of the optical fixing device 32 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the reflector 53 of the optical fixing device 50 includes a reflector main body 5 for individually accommodating a yellow ultraviolet lamp 51 and a magenta ultraviolet lamp 52.
3a and 53b, and strip-shaped irradiation openings 53c and 53d that are formed in the lower part of the 3a and 53b for irradiating ultraviolet rays. Further, the widths W5 and W6 of the irradiation openings 53c and 53d of the respective ultraviolet lamps 51 and 52 are made narrower than the width of the main body of the reflector 53. Therefore, 2
The two irradiation widths W7 and W8 are narrower than the margin width 10e of the margin area 10c existing between the recording area 10a and the next recording area 10b of the color thermal recording paper 10, and like the optical fixing device 32 described above, The unrecorded areas other than the blank area 10c are not irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

Further, since the reflector bodies 53a and 53b can be made larger than the above-mentioned optical fixing device 32, the ultraviolet lamp 51 for yellow and the ultraviolet lamp 5 for magenta are provided.
The lamp used for 2 can be enlarged, or a plurality of lamps can be arranged. Therefore, since the irradiation amount of light can be increased, the fixing time can be shortened.
Moreover, since the irradiation opening can be narrowed, the margin width is 1
It is also possible to narrow 0e.

In the above embodiment, the margins are provided at both ends in the width direction of the recording area 10a, but the image may be recorded on the entire surface as shown in FIG. In this case, the cutting width W5 is set to the margin width B between the recording area 10a and the next recording area 10b.
Same as W, cutting position 10f and 10g by cutter
Borderless printing is possible by cutting the color thermosensitive recording paper 10 at.

In the above embodiment, the optical fixing device 32 is used.
Although 50 and 50 integrally provide the yellow UV lamp and the magenta UV lamp, the yellow UV lamp and the magenta UV lamp may be separately arranged.

[0034]

As described above, according to the color thermal printer of the present invention, the irradiation width of the ultraviolet rays emitted from the optical fixing device is made narrower than the width of the blank area existing between the two recording areas. The ultraviolet rays radiated to the unrecorded area are
It is only the blank area and does not hinder the thermal recording of the next recording area. Therefore, since the shutter plate and the shutter plate drive mechanism for blocking the ultraviolet rays are not required, the printer main body can be downsized and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a color thermal printer embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the optical fixing device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing optical fixing of a yellow image.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing optical fixing of a magenta image.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the optical fixing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing borderless printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 color thermal printer 10 color thermal recording paper 10a recording area 10b Next recording area 10c Margin area 10d, 10f, 10g Cutting position 11 Recording paper roll 26 UV lamp for yellow 27 UV lamp for magenta 30 reflector 32 Optical fixing device 50 Optical fixing device 51 UV lamp for yellow 52 Ultraviolet lamp for magenta 53 reflector W1, W2, W5, W6 Opening width W3, W4, W3, W4 irradiation width W5 cutting width BW margin width

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A long color thermosensitive recording paper in which a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers having different colors and different heat energies are sequentially laminated on a support, and before heat recording on the thermosensitive coloring layer as a lower layer. A fixing lamp for irradiating an electromagnetic ray for optically fixing the recorded thermosensitive coloring layer while transporting the color thermosensitive recording paper, and the fixing lamp, and the electromagnetic ray from the fixing lamp is stored in the color thermosensitive recording paper. And a reflector having an irradiation opening for irradiating the recording area, the width of the irradiation opening is made narrower than the width of a blank area existing between two recording areas of the color thermal recording paper. A color thermal printer featuring. 2. The color thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the reflector and the lamp are provided for each thermosensitive coloring layer, and one lamp is housed in one reflector. 3. The reflector has an irradiation opening formed in a reflector main body for accommodating a lamp, and the width of the irradiation opening is made narrower than the width of the reflector main body. 2. The color thermal printer described in 2.