JP2005125796A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of properly controlling the temperature of a heat roller by controlling the power to a halogen lamp, and of properly energizing the halogen lamp even in the case of energizing with the power supply of an alternating 200V system. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is equipped with a power control circuit so that the energization of the halogen lamp 13 may be turned off at the state of the heat-roller internal temperature being proper by turning the energization of the halogen lamp off prior to the temperature detected by a temperature sensor 16 having reached the set one in case the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is increasing due to energizing the halogen lamp, and so that the energization of the halogen lamp may be turned on at the state of the heat-roller internal temperature being proper by turning the energization of the above halogen lamp on prior to the detected temperature having reached the set one in case the surface temperature of the heat roller is decreasing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer that performs desired recording by writing ink on an ink ribbon onto an intermediate transfer member and retransferring the ink to a predetermined recording medium.

  Conventionally, a heat generating element of a thermal head is selectively heated based on a predetermined recording signal, the ink on the ink ribbon is melted by this heat and transferred once to an intermediate transfer member, and this ink is re-transferred to a predetermined recording medium. An intermediate transfer type printer that performs desired recording by transferring is known.

  In such a conventional printer, a thermal head and a platen roller are arranged to face each other, and an ink ribbon and an intermediate transfer sheet as an intermediate transfer member are guided between the thermal head and the platen roller. ing. A heat roller for retransferring the ink temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet to the recording medium is disposed downstream of the thermal head in the conveyance path of the intermediate transfer sheet. Contains a halogen lamp for heating the heat roller.

  In this printer, first, by driving a thermal head based on predetermined image information, the ink of the ink ribbon is temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet, the intermediate transfer sheet is conveyed to the heat roller portion, and The recording medium is moved to a position corresponding to the heat roller. Then, the heated heat roller is pressed against the recording medium through the portion of the intermediate transfer sheet to which the ink has been transferred, and the recording medium and the intermediate transfer sheet are moved, so that the image temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet is transferred. Ink is melted by the heat of a heat roller and transferred to a recording medium for recording.

  At this time, in order to keep the temperature of the heat roller constant, a temperature sensor for detecting the surface temperature of the heat roller is provided, and ON / OFF control of energization to the halogen lamp is performed according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. I tried to do it.

  However, in the conventional printer, since the heat roller heats the surface of the heat roller by energizing the halogen lamp and heating the inside, when the temperature d is controlled by the temperature sensor, The internal heat of the heat roller caused by energization of the halogen lamp is transferred to the outside of the heat roller and detected by the temperature sensor. Therefore, there is a problem that accurate temperature control cannot be performed. That is, when the surface temperature of the heat roller reaches an appropriate temperature due to energization of the halogen lamp, the internal temperature becomes higher than that. Even if the energization of the halogen lamp is turned off, the surface temperature of the heat roller is further increased. If the surface temperature of the heat roller reaches an appropriate temperature by turning off the halogen lamp, the internal temperature of the heat roller is lower than the appropriate temperature, and energization of the halogen lamp is started. However, the surface temperature of the heat roller does not increase immediately.

  In addition, when the power supply circuit for energizing the halogen lamp can be used for any voltage of AC 100 V (100 V to 120 V) or AC 200 V (220 V to 240 V), When energizing with a 100V system, normal temperature control is possible. However, when energizing with a 200V system, the halogen lamp is overheated, making it difficult to control the temperature of the heat roller, and the life of the halogen lamp. Has the problem of becoming shorter.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points. In this case, the temperature control of the heat roller can be appropriately performed by controlling the energization to the halogen lamp, and the energization is performed by the AC 200V power source. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of appropriately energizing a halogen lamp.

  As a first solving means for achieving the above object, a printer according to the present invention has a thermal head disposed so as to face the platen roller, and is supplied with a predetermined temperature by energizing a halogen lamp accommodated therein. A heat roller that is heated by the thermal head, temporarily transfers the ink of the recorded image to the intermediate transfer sheet via the ink ribbon by the thermal head, and records the ink transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet by the heat roller. In a printer adapted to re-transfer to a medium, a temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of the heat roller, and when the surface temperature of the heat roller is increased by energization of the halogen lamp, the temperature sensor Before the detected temperature reaches the preset temperature, turn off the power to the halogen lamp. When the surface temperature of the heat roller is lowered, an energization control circuit is provided for controlling energization before the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature. .

  Further, as a second solving means for achieving the above object, in the printer according to the present invention, when the halogen lamp is energized with a 200V AC voltage, a part of the wavelength of the AC voltage is included. It is characterized by controlling so that the voltage of this may be supplied.

  According to the printer of the present invention, the surface temperature of the halogen lamp is detected, and when the surface temperature of the heat roller is increased by energization of the halogen lamp by the energization control circuit, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is set in advance. By turning off the current supply to the halogen lamp before reaching the set temperature, the current supply to the halogen lamp is turned off while the internal temperature of the heat roller is at an appropriate temperature. The amount of increase can be reduced. In addition, when the surface temperature of the heat roller is decreasing, turning on the energization before the detected temperature reaches the set temperature by the temperature sensor, the energization of the halogen lamp is performed with the internal temperature of the heat roller at an appropriate temperature. Since it is turned ON, the amount of subsequent decrease in the surface temperature of the heat roller can be reduced. As a result, appropriate temperature control corresponding to the internal temperature of the heat roller can be performed, and the surface temperature of the heat roller can be reliably maintained at the set temperature.

  Further, according to the present invention, the energization control circuit determines whether the AC voltage input from the external power source is a 100V system or a 200V system, and if the voltage is a 200V system, Since the voltage for a part of the wavelengths is controlled so that the halogen lamp is energized, even when the voltage is 200 V, the energization is equivalent to that when the voltage is 100 V for the halogen lamp. As a result, an excessive load due to energization is not applied to the halogen lamp, and a reduction in the life of the halogen lamp can be prevented.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. A cylindrical platen roller 2 is rotatably disposed inside the printer 1 and faces the platen roller 2. A thermal head 3 in which a plurality of heat generating elements are arranged in a line is arranged at a position where the platen roller 2 can be pressed.

  A pair of ribbon rolls 5 and 5 around which an ink ribbon 4 is wound are disposed inside the printer 1 and on one side of the thermal head 3, and the ink ribbon 4 includes a plurality of ribbons. The platen roller 2 and the thermal head 3 are guided while being supported by the guide rollers 6 and 6.

  Further, on the upper side of the printer 1, a pair of sheet rolls 8, 8 around which an intermediate transfer sheet 7 serving as an intermediate transfer member is wound is disposed. Pulled out, supported by a plurality of sheet guide rollers 9 and 9, passing between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 2, proceeding in the lower direction of the printer 1, guided to the upper side of the printer 1, and guided to the other side The sheet roll 8 is wound up. An image to be recorded on the recording medium 10 is temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet 7 via the ink ribbon 4 by the thermal head 3.

  A retransfer unit 11 is provided below the printer 1 and above the intermediate transfer sheet 7 guided in the horizontal direction. The retransfer unit 11 retransfers the ink temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet 7 to the recording medium 10. In the retransfer section 11, a heat roller 12 is disposed so as to be in contact with and away from the recording medium 10 via the intermediate transfer sheet 7. In addition, a halogen lamp 13 as a heating unit is built in the heat roller 12, and a transport table 14 for transporting the recording medium 10 to the retransfer unit 11 is arranged below the printer 1. It is installed.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the temperature control device for the heat roller 12, and an energization control circuit 15 for supplying power to the halogen lamp 13 of the heat roller 12 is provided. The temperature sensor 16 for detecting the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 and sending it to the energization control circuit 15 is connected. The energization control circuit 15 is connected to a power supply circuit 18 that receives an AC voltage from the external power supply 17 and sends it to the energization control circuit 15.

  In the present embodiment, when an AC voltage is input from the external power supply 17 to the power supply circuit 18, the AC voltage is sent from the power supply circuit 18 to the energization control circuit 15. Judge whether it is 200V system. Then, when the voltage is 100V system, the halogen lamp 13 is energized as it is, and when the voltage is 200V system, as shown in FIG. The voltage for 1/4 wavelength is preferably applied to the halogen lamp 13. By energizing the halogen lamp 13, the inside of the heat roller 12 is heated to heat the surface of the heat roller 12 to a predetermined temperature necessary for retransfer. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, one zero-cross point region in two periods may be used as a voltage corresponding to a quarter wavelength of the wavelength of the AC voltage.

  In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 16 detects the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 and sends it to the energization control circuit 15, and the energization control circuit 15 supplies the halogen lamp 13 to the detected temperature from the temperature sensor 16. ON / OFF control of energization is performed. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is set in advance, and when the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is increased by energization of the halogen lamp 13, Before the temperature detected by the sensor 16 reaches the set temperature, the energization to the halogen lamp 13 is turned off. When the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is decreasing, the energization is turned on before the detected temperature reaches the set temperature. To be controlled.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  First, in the present embodiment, an AC voltage input from the external power supply 17 to the power supply circuit 18 is sent to the energization control circuit 15, and the energization control circuit 15 determines whether the AC voltage is a 100V system or a 200V system. to decide. When the voltage is 100V system, the halogen lamp 13 is energized as it is. When the voltage is 200V system, a voltage corresponding to 1/4 wavelength of the wavelength of the AC voltage is applied to the halogen lamp 13. Energize. As a result, even when the voltage is 200V, the halogen lamp 13 can be energized in the same way as when the voltage is 100V. The energization of the halogen lamp 13 heats the inside of the heat roller 12 so that the surface of the heat roller 12 is heated to a predetermined temperature necessary for retransfer.

  In this state, the transport medium 14 moves the recording medium 10 to the transfer unit, drives each heating element of the thermal head 3 based on desired image information, and supplies the ink of the ink ribbon 4 supplied by the ribbon roll 5. Temporarily transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet 7. Then, the intermediate transfer sheet 7 is conveyed to the retransfer unit 11, the heat roller 12 is pressed against the recording medium 10 via the intermediate transfer sheet 7, and the intermediate transfer sheet 7 and the conveyance table 14 are moved at the same speed. Thus, the transfer image on the intermediate transfer sheet 7 is retransferred to the recording medium 10.

  At this time, when the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is increased by energization of the halogen lamp 13 based on the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 sent from the temperature sensor 16 by the energization control circuit 15, the temperature sensor 16 Before the detected temperature reaches the set temperature, the energization to the halogen lamp 13 is turned off. After that, when the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is decreasing, the energization is turned on before the detected temperature reaches the set temperature. By controlling in this way, the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is held at a set temperature. As described above, when the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is rising, the energization of the halogen lamp 13 is turned off before the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 16 reaches the set temperature, whereby the inside of the heat roller 12. Since the energization of the halogen lamp 13 is turned off while the temperature is at an appropriate temperature, the subsequent increase in the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 can be reduced. Further, when the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 is decreasing, the energization is turned on before the detected temperature reaches the set temperature, whereby the halogen lamp 13 is energized with the internal temperature of the heat roller 12 being an appropriate temperature. Since it is turned on, the amount of subsequent decrease in the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 can be reduced.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the energization control circuit 15 performs ON / OFF control of energization to the halogen lamp 13 based on the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 sent from the temperature sensor 16. Appropriate temperature control corresponding to the internal temperature of the roller 12 can be performed, and the surface temperature of the heat roller 12 can be reliably maintained at the set temperature.

  In addition, when the AC voltage supplied from the external power supply 17 is 200V by the energization control circuit 15, a voltage corresponding to a part of the wavelengths of the AC voltage is supplied to the halogen lamp 13. Therefore, even when the voltage is 200V, the halogen lamp 13 can be energized in the same way as when the voltage is 100V. As a result, an excessive load is applied to the halogen lamp 13 due to energization. The life of the halogen lamp 13 can be prevented from decreasing.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the thing of said each embodiment, A various change is possible as needed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a temperature control device for the printer of FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the electricity supply state by AC200V system by the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the energization control to the halogen lamp by the temperature control device shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the other energization state by AC 200V system by the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Platen roller 3 Thermal head 4 Ink ribbon 5 Ribbon roll 7 Intermediate transfer sheet 10 Recording medium 11 Retransfer part 12 Heat roller 13 Halogen lamp 15 Current supply control circuit 16 Temperature sensor 17 External power supply 18 Power supply circuit

Claims (2)

A thermal head is disposed so as to face the platen roller, and a heat roller heated to a predetermined temperature by energizing a halogen lamp accommodated therein is disposed through the ink ribbon by the thermal head. In a printer that temporarily transfers ink of a recorded image to an intermediate transfer sheet and retransfers the ink transferred to the intermediate transfer sheet to a recording medium by the heat roller.
A temperature sensor for detecting a surface temperature of the heat roller;
When the surface temperature of the heat roller is increased by energizing the halogen lamp, the energization to the halogen lamp is turned off before the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a preset temperature. A printer comprising: an energization control circuit for controlling energization to be turned on before the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a set temperature when the surface temperature of the roller is lowered.   The energization control circuit determines whether the voltage energized to the halogen lamp is a 100V AC voltage or a 200V AC voltage, and when energizing the halogen lamp with a 200V AC voltage, 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to pass a voltage corresponding to a part of the wavelengths of the AC voltage.

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