JP2005246867A - Optical fixing device, and thermal color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical fixing device which can strictly control the irradiation range of a fixing beam, and can contribute the reduction of the number of parts and reduction in size, and to provide a thermal color printer. <P>SOLUTION: This optical fixing device 22 for yellow of the thermal color printer 2 is constituted of a transparent roller 40 which conveys a recording sheet 10 by coming into contact with the recording sheet 10 and a capstan roller 16a as a light source having LED41s arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the sheet 10, a wiring pattern 43 for electrically connecting LEDs 41 and a plurality of ring-like terminals 43. A switch 45 is connected with an individual electrode 44a which comes into contact with an individual ring-like terminal 43a, and one terminal of each switch 45 is connected with the positive electrode side of the power source 46. A common electrode 44b which comes into contact with a common ring-like electrode 43b is connected with the negative electrode side of the power source 46. A system controller 20 performs a switching control for the switch 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical fixing device that performs fixing by irradiating fixing light to a thermal recording paper that has been thermally recorded, and a color thermal printer including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Color thermal printers that obtain full-color prints using color thermal recording paper in which thermal color-developing layers that develop colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow are sequentially formed on a support are widely used. In this color thermal printer, thermal recording is performed by a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line while conveying color thermal recording paper. After the thermal recording on the yellow and magenta thermosensitive coloring layers, the color thermosensitive recording paper is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an optical fixing device so that the previous thermosensitive coloring layer does not develop color during the thermal recording on the next thermosensitive coloring layer. Light fixing is applied.

  In the conventional color thermal printer, an ultraviolet lamp is used as a light source of the optical fixing device. As such an optical fixing device, a roller that contacts the color thermal recording paper is formed of a transparent rubber, and an ultraviolet lamp is housed therein, thereby preventing the occurrence of uneven fixing and miniaturizing the apparatus. There has been proposed an optical fixing device capable of achieving the above (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-24222

  However, in the optical fixing device described in Patent Document 1, since an ultraviolet lamp having a circular cross section is used as a light source, fixing light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp is radiated with uniform intensity around the entire circumference of the lamp. A reflector for reflecting the uselessly emitted fixing light to the color thermal recording paper is required. For this reason, the irradiation range of the fixing light in the conveyance path of the color thermal recording paper is limited, and the irradiation range cannot be strictly controlled.

  Also, considering the attenuation of the light intensity at both ends of the ultraviolet lamp, an ultraviolet lamp having a length about twice the width of the thermal recording paper is used. Although the number of points was reduced and the size was reduced, it was an obstacle to promoting further downsizing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and can provide an optical fixing device and a color thermal printer capable of strictly controlling the irradiation range of fixing light and contributing to further reduction in the number of parts and miniaturization. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention conveys the thermal recording paper in contact with the thermal recording paper in an optical fixing device that irradiates the thermal recording paper with thermal recording with fixing light and performs optical fixing. A transparent roller, a light emitting element that is covered by the roller and emits the fixing light arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the thermal recording paper, and the light emitting element can selectively emit light. Further, it is characterized in that it is composed of a wiring pattern for electrically connecting each light emitting element and a light source on which a terminal is formed.

  The light source is preferably mounted with a plurality of types of light emitting elements that emit fixing light of different wavelengths. In addition, it is preferable that the light source is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a cooling means for cooling heat generated when the heating element is driven is attached to the hollow portion.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color thermal printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an electrode connected to the terminal, a power source for supplying power to the light emitting element, the electrode and the power source. , And a switch for switching on / off of the light emitting element, and a control means for performing switching control of the switch.

  According to the optical fixing device of the present invention, the transparent roller that contacts the thermal recording paper and transports the thermal recording paper, and the fixing light that is covered by the roller and arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the thermal recording paper. Since the light emitting element that emits light and the light source on which the light emitting element and the wiring pattern that electrically connects each light emitting element and the terminal are formed are configured so that the light emitting element can be selectively emitted, the number of parts can be further reduced. This can contribute to downsizing.

  According to the color thermal printer of the present invention, the optical fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an electrode connected to the terminal, a power source for supplying power to the light emitting element, and the electrode and the power source Since a switch for switching on / off of the light emitting element and a control means for performing switching control of the light emitting element are provided, the irradiation range of the fixing light can be strictly controlled.

  In FIG. 1, a color thermal printer 2 to which the present invention is applied uses a long color thermal recording paper (hereinafter simply referred to as recording paper) 10 as a recording material. The recording paper 10 is set in the color thermal printer 2 in the form of a recording paper roll 11 wound in a roll shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 10 has a cyan thermosensitive color developing layer 31, a magenta thermosensitive color developing layer 32, a yellow thermosensitive color developing layer 33, and a protective layer 34 sequentially formed on a support 30 as is well known. It has a structure. The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33 which is the uppermost layer has the highest thermal sensitivity and develops yellow with a small amount of heat energy. The cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 31 which is the lowermost layer has the lowest thermal sensitivity and develops cyan with large thermal energy.

  The yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33 loses its coloring ability when irradiated with near ultraviolet rays of 420 nm. The magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 32 develops magenta with intermediate thermal energy between the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33 and the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 31 and loses its coloring ability when irradiated with ultraviolet rays of 365 nm. For example, a recording paper having a four-layer structure provided with a black thermosensitive coloring layer may be used.

  In FIG. 1, a paper feed roller 13 rotated by a conveyance motor 12 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the recording paper roll 11. The carry motor 12 is a stepping motor and is driven by drive pulses input from the motor driver 14. When the paper feed roller 13 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, the recording paper roll 11 rotates clockwise in the figure, and the recording paper 10 is sent out from the recording paper roll 11. When the paper supply roller 13 rotates clockwise in the figure, the recording paper roll 11 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and the recording paper 10 is rewound onto the recording paper roll 11.

  The recording paper 10 sent out from the recording paper roll 11 is sent into a conveyance path arranged in the horizontal direction. In the transport path, first and second transport roller pairs 15 and 16 and a paper discharge roller pair 17 are disposed to sandwich and transport the recording paper 10. The first and second transport roller pairs 15 and 16 and the paper discharge roller pair 17 include capstan rollers 15a to 17a rotated by the transport motor 12, and pinch rollers 15b to 17b that press against the capstan rollers 15a to 17a. The recording paper 10 is conveyed back and forth in the A direction (paper feeding direction) and the B direction (rewinding direction) in the figure.

  A thermal head 18 and a platen roller 19 disposed below the conveyance path so as to face the thermal head 18 are provided between the paper feed roller 13 and the first conveyance roller pair 15. On the surface of the thermal head 18 facing the recording paper 10, a heating element array 18a in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line is provided.

  The heating element array 18 a generates heat based on the drive data input from the system controller 20 to the head driver 21, and causes each thermosensitive coloring layer of the recording paper 10 to color. The platen roller 19 is driven and rotated in accordance with the conveyance of the recording paper 10 to stabilize the contact state between the recording paper 10 and the heating element array 18a. Further, the platen roller 19 is movable in the vertical direction, and is urged in a direction in which the platen roller 19 is pressed against the heating element array 18a by a spring (not shown). When the recording paper 10 is fed and discharged, the platen roller 19 is lowered by a shift mechanism (not shown) including a cam and a solenoid, and the nipping of the recording paper 10 with the thermal head 18 is released.

  The capstan rollers 15a and 16a of the first and second transport roller pairs 15 and 16 serve as light sources for the magenta and yellow light fixing units 23 and 22, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the yellow light fixing device 22 includes a transparent roller 40 that contacts the recording paper 10 and conveys the recording paper 10, and LEDs 41 that are arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the recording paper 10. And a wiring pattern 42 for electrically connecting the LEDs 41 and a capstan roller 16a as a light source on which a plurality of ring-shaped terminals 43 are formed.

  The roller 40 is made of transparent rubber that transmits ultraviolet rays, and covers the portion of the capstan roller 16a where the LED 41 is disposed. The width of the roller 40 (the width of the portion where the LED 41 is disposed) is slightly wider than the width of the image recording area 10a (see FIG. 4) of the recording paper 10.

  The LED 41 fixes the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33 by emitting near-ultraviolet light having an emission peak of 420 nm. The LEDs 41 are arranged in a staggered manner with respect to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 10, and a wiring pattern 42 is connected to the positive and negative bipolar terminals 41a and 41b.

  The wiring pattern 42 includes a positive electrode side wiring pattern 42 a connecting the positive electrode terminals 41 a of the respective LEDs 41 and a negative electrode side wiring pattern 42 b connecting the negative electrode terminals 41 b of the respective LEDs 41. One set of these positive and negative electrode side wiring patterns 42a and 42b is formed for each column of the LEDs 41 in parallel with the width direction of the recording paper 10 (the arrangement direction of the LEDs 41). The positive electrode side wiring pattern 42a starts from the positive electrode terminal 41a of the LED 41 arranged at the rightmost end of the capstan roller 16a in the drawing, and ends by being connected to the individual ring-shaped terminals 43a provided for the columns of the LEDs 41. On the other hand, the negative electrode side wiring pattern 42b starts from the negative electrode terminal 41b of the LED 41 disposed at the leftmost end of the capstan roller 16a in the drawing, and ends with being connected to the common ring terminal 43b.

  A brush electrode 44 is connected to each ring terminal 43. The brush electrode 44 includes an individual electrode 44a that contacts the individual ring-shaped terminal 43a and a common electrode 44b that contacts the common ring-shaped terminal 43b, and is disposed at a location that does not interfere with the conveyance of the recording paper 10. Each brush electrode 44 is always in contact with each ring-shaped terminal 43 even during rotation of the capstan roller 16a.

  A switch 45 is connected to each individual electrode 44a. The switch 45 is composed of, for example, a mechanical switch that is turned on / off by mechanical opening / closing of a contact or a semiconductor switch such as an FET. One terminal of each switch 45 is connected to the positive side of the power supply 46. On the other hand, the common electrode 44 b is connected to the negative electrode side (ground side) of the power supply 46. The power source 46 is not limited to the illustrated fixed voltage source, and a variable voltage source, a constant current source, or the like can be used.

  Here, the magenta light fixing unit 23 also has the same configuration as the yellow light fixing unit 22 except that an LED that emits ultraviolet light having an emission peak of 365 nm to fix the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 32 is used. The description is omitted.

  In FIG. 1, the system controller 20 performs switching control of the switch 45 via the lamp driver 24. That is, the rotational position of the capstan roller 16a is specified from the drive pulse applied from the motor driver 14 to the transport motor 12, and based on this, for example, as shown schematically in FIG. The switch 45 is turned on and off so that the LED 41 in the row to be turned on and the LEDs 41 in the several rows before and after that row are turned on and the other rows are turned off.

  In addition, when the system controller 20 optically fixes the end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10, as shown in FIG. 4B, the system controller 20 does not perform optical fixing on the next image recording area 10a. Further, the switch 45 is controlled so that the LED 41 in the row on the side of the next image recording area 10 a is turned off from the LED 41 in the row facing the recording paper 10. Further, when the system controller 20 optically fixes the starting end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10, as shown in FIG. 4C, the system controller 20 moves downstream from the LEDs 41 in the row facing the recording paper 10 in the A direction. The switch 45 is controlled so that the LEDs 41 in a certain row are turned off.

  In FIG. 1, a cutter 25 that cuts the recording paper 10 into a predetermined print size is disposed between the yellow light fixing unit 22 and the paper discharge roller pair 17. Further, on the downstream side in the A direction of the pair of paper discharge rollers 17, a paper discharge port 26 for discharging the recording paper 10 on which the image has been recorded is provided.

  Next, the operation of the color thermal printer 2 having the above configuration will be described. When the image recording start operation is executed, the feed roller 13 is rotated counterclockwise by the forward rotation of the transport motor 12, and the recording paper 10 is sent out from the recording paper roll 11 in the A direction. The leading edge of the recording paper 10 moves in the conveyance path, is nipped by the first conveyance roller pair 15, and is further conveyed downstream in the A direction.

  When the starting end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 is conveyed to a position facing the heating element array 18a and the recording paper 10 reaches the image recording start position, the rotation of the conveying motor 12 is temporarily stopped. Next, the platen roller 19 is raised by the shift mechanism, and the recording paper 10 is sandwiched between the heating element array 18a. In this state, the transport motor 12 is driven again, and the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer of the recording paper 10 is generated by the heating element array 18a that generates heat based on the drive data input to the head driver 21 while the recording paper 10 is transported in the A direction. A yellow image is recorded at 33.

  When the recording of the yellow image is completed, the end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 is transported to a position facing the yellow optical fixing device 22, and the rotation of the transport motor 12 is stopped. At this time, the platen roller 19 is lowered by the shift mechanism, and the holding of the recording paper 10 by the thermal head 18 is released.

  Next, the rotational position of the capstan roller 16 a is specified by the system controller 20 from the drive pulse given from the motor driver 14 to the transport motor 12. Then, the conveyance motor 12 is reversed and the recording paper 10 is rewound in the B direction, so that the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33 on which the image has been recorded is subjected to light fixing.

  When optical fixing is performed at the end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10, the next image recording is performed from the LED 41 in the row facing the recording paper 10 so that the optical fixing is not performed on the next image recording area 10a. The switch 45 is controlled so that the LEDs 41 in the row on the region 10a side are turned off. When light fixing is performed in the middle of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10, the LED 41 in the row facing the recording paper 10 and the LEDs 41 in several rows before and after the row are turned on, and the other rows are turned off. Thus, the on / off of the switch 45 is switched. This control is continued until the starting end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 reaches the yellow light fixing unit 22.

  When the leading end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 reaches the optical fixing device 22 for yellow, the switch 45 is controlled so that the LEDs 41 on the downstream side in the A direction are turned off from the LEDs 41 facing the recording paper 10. Is done.

  After fixing the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33, the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 is conveyed again to a position where it faces the heating element array 18a, and the rotation of the conveying motor 12 is stopped. As in the yellow image recording, the platen roller 19 is raised by the shift mechanism, and the recording paper 10 is sandwiched between the heating element array 18a. In this state, the transport motor 12 is driven again, and a magenta image is recorded on the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 32 of the recording paper 10 while the recording paper 10 is transported in the A direction.

  When the recording of the magenta image is completed, the end of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 is transported to a position facing the magenta optical fixing device 23, and the rotation of the transport motor 12 is stopped. Similarly to the yellow image fixing, the system controller 20 performs on / off control of the switch 45 via the lamp driver 24 to fix the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 32 on which the image has been recorded.

  After fixing the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 32, the start of the image recording area 10a of the recording paper 10 is conveyed again to a position facing the heating element array 18a, and the rotation of the conveying motor 12 is stopped. A cyan image is recorded on the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 31 of the recording paper 10 in the same manner as when recording yellow and magenta images.

  The recording paper 10 after image recording is conveyed in the A direction by the first and second conveyance roller pairs 15 and 16, cut to a predetermined print size by the cutter 25, and then discharged by the discharge roller pair 17. Discharged from.

  As described above, since the light fixing is performed in a state where the roller 40 is in contact with the recording paper 10, it is possible to irradiate the fixing light with a light amount necessary for the light fixing with a relatively small electric power. Further, by performing on / off control of the switch 45 by the system controller 20, the irradiation range of the fixing light in the conveyance path of the recording paper 10 can be strictly controlled, and uniform and quick light fixing can be performed. Become. Further, since the capstan rollers 15a and 16a of the first and second transport roller pairs 15 and 16 are used as the light sources of the magenta and yellow light fixing devices 23 and 22, and these are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the thermal head 18, the image Light fixing can be performed immediately after recording, and the conveyance path can be shortened.

  Further, as in the prior art, a reflector for reflecting the fixing light from the light source to the recording paper 10 and a shutter for preventing the light fixing to the unrecorded image recording area 10a are not required. It can contribute to reduction and downsizing. Further, according to the present invention, since the fixing light can be locally irradiated, it is particularly effective when recording a magenta or cyan image during fixing of a yellow or magenta image.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the capstan roller 16 a as a light source may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and a cooling fan 52 that cools the heat generated when the LED 41 is driven may be attached to the hollow portion 51. Thereby, LED41 can be cooled efficiently.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, without providing the individual ring-shaped terminal 43a, the terminal end of the positive electrode side wiring pattern 42a is aligned with the conveyance direction of the recording paper 10 to form the individual terminal 61. A yellow light fixing device 60 provided with one individual electrode 62 having a contacting shape may be used. In this case, for example, the individual electrodes 62 are arranged at locations where the LED 41 in the row facing the recording paper 10 and the LEDs 41 in the several rows before and after the row are turned on and the other rows are turned off. If it does in this way, the parts cost concerning the individual ring-shaped terminal 43a and the individual electrode 44a and installation space can be reduced. Further, since it is only necessary to turn on the switch 63 at the time of light fixing, the control sequence can be simplified.

  In the above embodiment, the capstan rollers 15a and 16a of the first and second conveying roller pairs 15 and 16 are also used as the light sources of the magenta and yellow light fixing devices 23 and 22, but the color shown in FIG. The present invention is also effective when fixing rollers 72 and 73 for yellow and magenta are provided separately from the conveying roller pair 71 and used as light sources, as in the thermal printer 70.

  In the above embodiment, the light fixing units 22 and 23 are provided separately for yellow and magenta. However, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 33 is fixed by emitting near ultraviolet rays having an emission peak of 420 nm, and the emission peak is 365 nm. The two types of LEDs that emit the ultraviolet rays and fix the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 32 may be mounted together in one optical fixing device, for example, by alternately arranging each column. In this way, it is possible to further reduce the number of parts and reduce the size.

  In the above-described embodiment, the color thermal printers 2 and 70 of the reciprocating printing type that perform thermal recording and fixing of yellow, magenta, and cyan by reciprocating the recording paper 10 to one thermal head 18 are exemplified. As described above, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called one-pass method in which recording paper is passed once through a plurality of thermal heads, and thermal recording of yellow, magenta, and cyan is performed with each thermal head during that time. it can.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a color thermal printer to which the present invention is applied. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a color thermal recording paper. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure of the optical fixing device for yellow. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing a state of light fixing by a light fixing device for yellow, in which FIG. 5A shows a case where light is fixed in the middle of an image recording area of a recording paper, and FIG. (C) shows a case where the start end of the image recording area is optically fixed. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure of another embodiment of the optical fixing device for yellow. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structure of another embodiment of the optical fixing device for yellow. It is the schematic which shows the structure of another embodiment of a color thermal printer.

Explanation of symbols

2,70 color thermal printer 10 color thermal recording paper (recording paper)
10a Image recording area 12 Conveyance motor 15, 16 First and second conveyance roller pair 15a, 16a Capstan roller (light source)
18 Thermal Head 19 Platen Roller 20 System Controller 22, 50, 60, 72 Light Fixing Unit for Yellow 23, 73 Light Fixing Unit for Magenta 24 Lamp Driver 31, 32, 33 Cyan, Magenta, Yellow Thermal Coloring Layer 40 Roller 41 LED
42 Wiring pattern 43 Ring terminal 44 Brush electrode 45 Switch 46 Power supply 51 Hollow part 52 Cooling fan 61 Individual terminal 62 Individual electrode

Claims (4)

In an optical fixing device that irradiates fixing light to a thermal recording paper that has been thermally recorded and performs optical fixing,
A transparent roller that contacts the thermal recording paper and conveys the thermal recording paper;
A light emitting element that emits the fixing light, which is covered with the roller and arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction of the thermal recording paper;
And an optical fixing device comprising a wiring pattern for electrically connecting the light emitting elements and a light source having terminals, so that the light emitting elements can selectively emit light.   The optical fixing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of types of light emitting elements that emit fixing light having different wavelengths are mounted on the light source.   3. The optical fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a cooling means for cooling heat generated when the heating element is driven is attached to a hollow portion of the light source. The optical fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An electrode connected to the terminal;
A power supply for supplying power to the light emitting element;
A switch connected between the electrode and the power source for switching on / off of the light emitting element;
A color thermal printer comprising: control means for performing switching control of the switch.

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