JP2003334981A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer in which a print failure, e.g. banding, does not occur. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 100 having a thermal head 15 disposed oppositely to a platen roller 8 comprises a thermal head securing member 16 disposed movably to locate the thermal head 15 at a print position or a waiting position, a second pair carry roller, i.e., a drive roller 6 and an idle roller 7, disposed movably to locate one carry roller at a carrying position or a retreat position, and a cam member 38 for moving the thermal head 15 and one carry roller, i.e., the idle roller 7. <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 printer, and more particularly to a printer that reduces adverse effects that occur when a recording medium is conveyed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional printer, an ink ribbon and a recording medium are interposed between a platen roller and a thermal head that is moved and biased by a platen roller, and the thermal head is energized. A configuration is known in which ink on an ink ribbon is sublimated and printing is performed on a recording medium. According to the printer configured as described above, the pair of transport rollers for transporting the recording medium may adversely affect printing during the printing operation.

For example, when the front end of the recording medium plunges into the nip portion between the pair of conveying rollers on the downstream side of the thermal head, the recording medium collides with the conveying roller slightly and banding ( Concentration fluctuation) may occur. Particularly, when the recording medium is one having a relatively high rigidity like a card body, banding occurs more significantly.

Therefore, a thermal head moving mechanism for moving the thermal head between the printing position and the standby position, and a carrying roller driving mechanism for driving the carrying roller between the carrying position for carrying the card body and the retracted position. There is proposed a printer in which each of the mechanisms is individually provided and each mechanism is electrically synchronized and controlled. In this printer, it is possible to avoid the collision between the recording medium and the transport roller by moving the transport roller to the retracted position during printing.

[0005]

However, the conventional printer has a problem that the mechanism for moving the thermal head and the conveying roller is complicated, and the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer having a relatively simple structure and capable of reducing adverse effects occurring when a recording medium is conveyed.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, according to the present invention, in a printer provided with a platen roller and a thermal head arranged to face the platen roller, while supporting the thermal head, the thermal head is at a printing position or A thermal head support movably provided so as to be located at a standby position, a first conveyance roller pair, and a second movably provided so as to be located at a conveyance position or a retreat position.
And a cam member attached to the shaft portion of the platen roller and rotated by the rotation of the shaft portion, and one of the transport rollers of the second transport roller pair between the transport position and the retreat position. A lever member rotatably provided so as to move between the thermal head support body and the thermal head support body in sliding contact with the cam surface of the cam member and interlocking with the rotation of the cam member. A second sliding contact for moving the body, the lever member slidingly contacting the cam surface of the cam member, and rotating the lever member in conjunction with rotation of the cam member. It is characterized by having a part.

The cam surface of the cam member has the second surface when the thermal head is at the printing position.
So that one of the transport rollers of the second transport roller pair is located at the retracted position, and when the thermal head is at the standby position, one transport roller of the second transport roller pair is located at the transport position. As described above, the thermal head support is moved and the lever member is rotated.

The thermal head support includes a rotatable first rotating body, the first sliding contact portion of the thermal head support is the first rotating body, and the lever member is rotatable. A second rotating body, and the second sliding contact portion of the lever member is the second rotating body.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with respect to a printer 100 that performs thermal sublimation recording system printing by using a card body including a plastic card having a predetermined rigidity and size as a recording medium. Needless to say, the printer is not limited to this recording medium and may be a printer configured to perform printing on various recording media including a thin sheet body by a recording method other than the thermal sublimation recording method.

First, FIG. 1 attached herewith is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG.

1 and 2A, the printer 100
Is based on a main base 1 and a sub base 2 which are plate members fixed to each other by a bottom base 3 forming a bottom surface, and a space between the main base 1 and the sub base 2 is not shown. A pair of left and right card guides are fixed to the main base portion 1 and the sub-base portion 2 to form a transport path H indicated by a chain line in the figure. By guiding the left and right edge portions of the card body C, which is a recording medium, along the transport path H, the front end Ca of the card body C with the printing surface facing upward as shown in the figure is the head and the arrow D1.
It is configured to guide in the direction and guide until the sheet is discharged in the direction of arrow D2.

The card body C includes a driving roller 4 which is a first conveying roller pair, an idle roller 5 which rotates together with the driving roller 4, a driving roller 6 which is a second conveying roller pair, and this driving roller. The nip portion of the idle roller 7 that rotates around 6 is conveyed by obtaining a conveying force, so that the conveyance is performed from the direction indicated by the arrow D1 until the sheet is discharged in the direction indicated by the arrow D2.

In order to carry out this conveyance, one driving roller 4 of the first conveying roller pair and one driving roller 6 of the second conveying roller pair are formed of two elastic materials such as silicon rubber. The roller portion prepared by integrally molding the shaft portions 4a and 6a at a predetermined interval so that the roller portion is within the width dimension of the card body C is used. Further, the idle rollers 5 and 7, which are the other conveying rollers arranged above as shown in the drawing so as to rotate with the driving rollers 4 and 6, are molded in substantially the same manner as these driving rollers. Is used. The shaft portions 4a and 6a of the drive rollers 4 and 6 are rotatably supported in both supported states by bearings (not shown) provided in holes formed in the main base portion 1 and the sub base portion 2. .

Further, the shaft portions 5a of the idle rollers 5, 7 are
Both of the left and right lever members 7a are supported by the end portions of the pair of left and right lever members 12 and are rotatably provided by bearings (not shown). Each lever member 12 is rotatably supported around a shaft 10 provided between the main base portion 1 and the sub-base portion 2, and the other end of the lever member 12 has one end as shown in the figure. To the studs 14 fixed to the base 1 and the sub-base 2,
Each of the tension springs 13 is provided so that the other end is hooked on the other end of the lever member 12. The pulling force generated by these pulling springs 13 maintains each lever member 12 in a biased state in which it rotates in the counterclockwise direction with the shaft body 10 as the center of rotation, whereby each of the drive rollers 4 described above. , 6 to form a nip part,
A conveyance force to the card body C is generated as the drive rollers 4 and 6 are driven.

Although each lever member 12 is formed in substantially the same shape, the lever member 12 provided with the idle roller 7 on the downstream side has a second shape below the shaft body 10.
A second rotating body 44, which serves as a sliding contact portion, is rotatably provided.

A roller portion formed of a heat resistant elastic material containing silicon rubber is fixed to the shaft portion 35 at a substantially intermediate position between the first and second conveying roller pairs, and this shaft is fixed. The platen roller 8 in which the part 35 is rotatably provided by bearings 36, 36 provided in the main base 1 and the sub-base 2.
Is provided. Further, the thermal head 15 provided with a heat generating portion 15a at a position facing the platen roller 8
Are provided so as to be movable between the printing position and the standby position.

In order to make the movable between the printing position and the standby position as described above, the thermal head fixing member 16 to which the thermal head 15 is fixed is supported by the thermal head supporting member 20 so as to be vertically movable. Has been done.
As shown in FIG.
Shafts 17a, 17a shown in (a) are fixed,
On these shafts 17a, first rotating bodies 17, 17 serving as first sliding contact portions are provided rotatably, respectively. In addition, each shaft body 17a is a view taken along the line XX in FIG.
As shown in, the heat generating portion 15a of the thermal head 15 is positioned on the platen roller 8 by being guided into the U groove portion 2a of the sub-base portion 2.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the printer 100 is
Between the platen roller 8 and the heat generating portion of the thermal head 15 shown by the broken line, with the recording ribbon R and the card body C interposed, printing by the thermal sublimation recording method is performed as the platen roller 8 is driven. However, the recording ribbon R changes from the state shown by the solid line to the state shown by the broken line as it is consumed, and is replaced with a new one when the state shown by the broken line is reached.

In order to replace the recording ribbon R in this way, the thermal head support member 20 is
The shaft 55 fixed to the main base 1 is rotatably provided (in the direction of arrow K), and the locking mechanism 56 fixed to the main base 1 allows the locked state to be maintained at the illustrated position. There is.

By releasing the locking mechanism 56, the thermal head support member 20 is allowed to rotate clockwise in the direction of arrow K so that the recording ribbon R can be set as shown in the drawing. .

The thermal head supporting member 20 is formed with elongated holes 20a, 20a extending in the vertical direction, and the thermal head fixing member 16 is fixed to the elongated holes 20a, 20a. Pin 16a, 16
By infiltrating a, the thermal head fixing member 16 is supported so as to be vertically movable. Further, the thermal head support member 20 is screwed with the adjusting screw 22, and
A lateral member 23 is provided at the lower end of the adjusting screw 22.
A pair of compression springs 21 are provided between the horizontal member 23 and the thermal head fixing member 16, and the compression springs 21 are compressed to obtain a printing pressure required for printing. The printing pressure can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting screw 22. Further, the thermal head fixing member 1 to which the thermal head 15 is fixed
6 has a degree of freedom to move in the direction of arrow M with respect to the thermal head support member 20, and
The heat generating portion 15a is always brought into contact with the platen roller with a uniform printing pressure.

Recording ribbon R for printing in the thermal sublimation recording system
Is provided with a supply spool 30 and a take-up spool 31 which are wound as shown in the drawing so as to be attachable to and detachable from the main base 1. The take-up spool 31 is configured to be taken up by the motor M2. In this recording ribbon R, each ink layer having an area corresponding to the area of one printing screen of a card body is laid on a base film,
Solid ink layers of three primary colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) capable of reproducing all colors by additive color mixing are laid. Further, in many cases, in order to secure more weather resistance and durability, an overcoat layer forming a protective layer is formed in addition to these ink layers. The recording ribbon R is set so as to pass between the heat generating portion 15a of the thermal head 15 and the platen roller 8 as illustrated.

Further, a pulley 9 (shown in FIG. 2) is fixed to each shaft portion of the drive rollers 4 and 6 and the platen roller 8, and the pulley fixed to the output shaft of the common motor M1. A belt (not shown) is stretched between the motor M
It is configured such that each roller is driven in the forward and reverse directions according to the predetermined energization of 1.

A motor M3 for driving the cam member 38 is fixed to the main base 1. The cam member 38 is provided so as to face the first rotating body 17 rotatably provided in the platen fixing member 16, and each cam member 38 is provided with the shaft body 35 of the platen roller 8.
It is rotatably provided around a bearing 37.

Further, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view seen from the direction of arrow a in FIG. In FIG. 3, the components already described are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Referring to FIG. 3 in FIG. 2, the cam surface 38 of the cam member 38 will be described.
“A” has a shape that is in sliding contact with both the first rotating body 17 and the second rotating body 44 provided on the lever member 12 at the same time. In addition, the two cam members 38 have a gear 40.
A gear 39 that meshes with is fixed. Two gears 40
Is fixed to the shaft body 41, and the motor M is attached to one end of the shaft body 41 via a gear train 58 (see FIG. 2A).
By transmitting the driving force of No. 3, the power is transmitted to the cam member 38 via the gears 40 and 39. In this way, the first rotating body 1 slidingly contacting the cam surface of the cam member 38.
7 and the second rotating body 44 are moved in synchronization.

FIGS. 4A to 4E are views showing the relative positional relationship between the first rotating body 17 and the second rotating body 44 which are in sliding contact with the cam member 38.

As shown in the figure, the cam member 38 is rotationally driven in the range of -30 ° to 0 ° by the reverse energization of the motor M3, and the second contact is caused by the sliding action of the cam surface 38a.
By pushing up the rotating body 44, the lever member 12 is rotated in the arrow direction against the pulling force of the pulling spring to separate the idle roller 7 from the drive roller 6, and the thermal head 15 is , Cam surface 38a
The sliding contact action moves the first rotating body 17 downward and moves to the printing position (FIGS. 4A and 4B).

Further, the idle roller 7 moves to the carrying position within the range of 0 to 35 degrees (FIG. 4 (c)). further,
By energizing the motor M3, the cam member 38 is rotationally driven by 90 degrees from the plus 60, and the cam surface 38a is separated from the second rotating body 44, while the thermal head 15 is moved by the sliding contact action of the cam surface 38a. The one rotator 17 is moved upward to the standby position (FIGS. 4D and 4E).

As described above, with the rotation of the cam member 38, the idle roller 7 is moved from the transport position to the retracted position, and the thermal head 15 is moved between the printing position and the standby position. It is configured to maintain a stable mechanical synchronization state. Here, since the first rotating body 17 and the second rotating body 44 rotate due to the sliding contact with the cam surface 38a, the load on the motor M3 can be significantly reduced. And the second
It goes without saying that the cam surface 38a may be in direct sliding contact with the lever member 12 and the thermal head fixing member 16 without providing the rotating body 44.

The operation of the printer 100 configured as described above will be described based on the operation explanatory view shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 together with the plan view showing the moving state of the card body C. Here, in FIGS. 5 to 7, the components already described are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

First, in the state shown in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG.
In the state shown in (e), the first rotating body 17 fixed to the thermal head fixing member 16 rides on the high position of the cam surface 38a, and the heat generating portion of the thermal head 15 causes the platen roller 8 to move. It is located in a standby position away from. In addition, the drive roller 4 and the idle roller 5 on the upstream side
And a nip portion is formed between the drive roller 6 and the idle roller 7 on the downstream side, which is a transport position.

In the above state, when the motor M1 is energized, the card body C is formed at the nip portion between the driving roller 4 which is the first conveying roller pair and the idle roller 5 which is rotated by the driving roller 4. , And is guided and conveyed along the conveyance path H with the front end Ca as the head. Following this, the print start position of the cart body C is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the print start is performed. At this time, the card body C can be transported even at the nip portion between the drive roller 6 which is the second pair of transport rollers and the idle roller 7 which rotates together with the drive roller 6, but the card body C can be transported. Since it does not exist, it spins idle.

Following this, in FIG. 6, the motor M3 is energized to enter the state shown in FIG. 4 (a), and the first rotating body 17 fixed to the thermal head fixing member 16 has the cam surface 38a. It is in a low position, and the heat generating portion of the thermal head 15 has a printing pressure on the platen roller 8 with the card body C and the recording ribbon R interposed, and is in a state of being positioned at the printing position. Further, the nip portion is formed as it is between the upstream drive roller 4 and the idle roller 5,
The drive roller 6 and the idle roller 7 on the downstream side are separated from each other so that the nip portion is not formed.

From this state, the motor M1 and the motor M2 are energized and the thermal head 15 is energized in a predetermined manner in accordance with each color information, whereby the platen roller 8 is driven and the card body C is broken from the position indicated by the solid line to the broken line. Printing is performed while winding the recording ribbon R while being conveyed to the position shown in the figure. That is,
The ink applied to the recording ribbon R is sublimated by the heat generated by the heat generating portion 15a of the thermal head 15, and the first Y-color image is printed. At this time, the front end Ca of the card body C is
Although it enters between the drive roller 6 and the idle roller 7 which are the second pair of conveying rollers, since the nip portion between the rollers is distant from each other, no external force that hinders conveyance is generated, so that banding does not occur. It will be.

Further, when carrying out the forward conveyance, when the rear end Cb of the card body C comes off from the nip portion between the driving roller 4 and the idle roller 5 which is the first conveying roller pair, a slight impact is caused. Will be added to the card body, but will have a negligible effect as compared with the impact generated when the front end Ca plunges into the nip portion.

In this way, the first image formation is completed. Next, the card body C is conveyed in the reverse direction with the trailing edge Cb as the leading end, and is cued for printing the next color.

The above printing operation is performed for the M-color image and the C-color image, and the color printing is completed by forming the protective layer by the overcoat layer.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 7, the motor M3 is energized to enter the state shown in FIG. 5, the thermal head 15 is moved to the standby position, and the idle roller 7 of the second conveying roller pair is moved. Moves downward, the card body C can be conveyed at the nip portion between the drive roller 6 and the idle roller 7, and can be discharged in the direction of arrow D2.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the idle roller 7 which is one of the second conveying roller pairs is moved is shown, but the driving roller 6 is moved. Of course, it is also good.

By configuring the printer 100 as described above, banding (density fluctuation) caused by the front end Ca of the card body C plunging into the nip portion between the transport rollers moving to the transport position. Can be prevented. Moreover, since electrical synchronization control is not required unlike the conventional printer, it can be manufactured at a low cost with a relatively simple configuration.

[0042]

As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the adverse effects that occur when the recording medium is conveyed, with a relatively simple structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (b) is (a).
FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view seen from the direction of arrow a in FIG.

4 (a) to (e) are relative positional relationship diagrams of a first rotating body 17 and a second rotating body 44 that are in sliding contact with a cam member 38. FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view shown together with movement of a card body C.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view shown together with movement of a card body C.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view shown together with the movement of the card body C.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 main base 2 sub-base 3 bottom base 4 Drive roller (first transport roller) 5 Idle roller (first transport roller) 6 Drive roller (second transport roller) 7 Idle roller (second transport roller) 8 Platen roller 12 Lever member 15 Thermal head 16 Thermal head fixing member 17 1st rotating body (1st sliding contact part) 20 Thermal head support member 21 compression spring 35 shaft 44 Second Rotating Body (Second Sliding Contact Part) 30 supply spool 31 take-up spool 100 printers M1, M2, M3 motors C card body (recording medium) R recording ribbon

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer comprising a platen roller and a thermal head arranged to face the platen roller, wherein the thermal head is supported and the thermal head is moved so as to be located at a printing position or a standby position. Possibly provided thermal head support, a first conveyance roller pair, a second conveyance roller pair movably provided so as to be located at a conveyance position or a retracted position, and a shaft portion of the platen roller. A cam member that is attached and that rotates by the rotation of the shaft portion, and one transport roller of the second transport roller pair are rotatably provided so as to move between the transport position and the retreat position. A lever member, wherein the thermal head support is in sliding contact with a cam surface of the cam member, and the thermal head support is interlocked with rotation of the cam member. A second sliding contact portion for moving the lever member, the lever member slidingly contacting the cam surface of the cam member, and rotating the lever member in conjunction with rotation of the cam member. A printer having: 2. The cam surface of the cam member is arranged such that when the thermal head is at the printing position, one of the second carrying rollers is located at the retracted position, and When the thermal head is at the standby position, the thermal head support is moved and the lever member is rotated so that one of the second transport rollers is located at the transport position. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the printer has a shape that allows the printer to have a shape. 3. The thermal head support includes a rotatable first rotating body, the first sliding contact portion of the thermal head support is the first rotating body, and the lever member is rotatable. 3. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a second rotating body, wherein the second sliding contact portion of the lever member is the second rotating body.