JP2010201737A - Sublimation type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sublimation type printer capable of maintaining a gap between a dot printing head and a platen template with a specified dimension, at high reproducibility, in the sublimation type printer for executing reverse face printing by dot printing processing. <P>SOLUTION: This sublimation type printer 1 is provided, in a reverse face printing part 4, with a positioning means 49 for positioning the dot printing head 41 and the platen template 42 in a relative position of forming the gap G of the specified dimension capable of clamping a paper sheet S between the dot printing head 41 and the platen template 42, by pressing one part of a head unit U attached to a casing C, and one part of the template 42 positioned in a dot printing processable position P, respectively onto a paper guide part 45. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sublimation type printer that performs sublimation print processing on the front surface of a sheet and performs dot print processing on the back surface.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a sublimation type printer in which ink is sublimated by applying heat to an ink ribbon with a thermal head, and the ink adheres to the surface of a paper coated with, for example, a polyester resin. This type of sublimation printer can finely change the print density by controlling the heat applied to the thermal head, and can express continuous tone that is difficult in other printing methods.

  On the other hand, a printer configured to print incidental information such as information on the content printed on the front side of the paper on the back side of the paper by a dot impact print (hereinafter referred to as “dot print”) process is also considered. (See Patent Document 1). As is well known, in the dot print process, a dot print head having a plurality of dot pins arranged vertically and horizontally is positioned on the back surface side of the paper, and the pressure on the back surface of the paper is struck with the dot pins via the ink ribbon. In this process, printing is performed by attaching ink to the back side of the paper.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-90805

  As a sublimation type printer capable of performing sublimation print processing on the surface of paper by the above-described sublimation print method, a new type of sublimation printer having a back surface print function for performing dot print processing on the back surface of paper by the dot print method. As a result of repeated trials by the present inventors toward commercialization, the following problems were found.

  That is, when performing dot print processing on the back side of the paper, it is necessary to sandwich the paper between the dot print head and the plastic template, but the gap between the dot print head and the plastic template is a specified dimension (for example, the thickness of the paper + If it is larger than several μm to several hundred μm, it is not possible to perform appropriate dot print processing due to unnecessary bending of the paper during the dot print processing. On the other hand, in a state where the gap between the dot print head and the plastic template is always maintained at a prescribed size, it is extremely difficult to smoothly convey the paper into the gap set to be several μm to several hundred μm larger than the thickness of the paper. This is difficult and can cause paper jams.

  Therefore, the present inventors position the plastic template at a position facing the dot print head only when the dot print processing is performed, and move the plastic template in a direction to retract from the dot print head when the dot print processing is not performed. In this way, a mode has been devised in which the paper can be transported smoothly.

  However, if the plastic template is moved each time the dot print processing is performed, the gap between the dot print head and the plastic template may change every time the dot print processing is performed. There was a problem that the finished product (quality) varies.

  In addition, when the dot print head is unitized so that the dot print head can be maintained and replaced, it can be attached to and detached from the housing of the sublimation printer. It was thought that the gap with the platen roller might change, and the quality of dot print could vary.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such problems, the present invention can smoothly transport a sheet to be subjected to dot printing processing in a sublimation printer that performs surface printing by sublimation printing processing and backside printing by dot printing processing. At the same time, it is intended to provide a sublimation type printer capable of maintaining the gap between the dot print head which can be attached to and detached from the housing and the plastic template moving within the housing to a specified size suitable for dot printing processing with high accuracy. is there.

  That is, the sublimation type printer of the present invention is provided with a front surface printing unit for performing sublimation printing processing on the surface of the paper in the housing, and further provided with a back surface printing unit for performing dot printing processing on the back surface of the paper in the housing. is there. In the sublimation printer of the present invention, the back surface print unit is provided with a gap between the dot print head and a head unit that has at least a dot print head and is detachably attached to the housing. It is possible to move between a dot print processable position in which a gap capable of sandwiching paper between the print head and a retreat position where a gap with the dot print head is formed larger than the dot print processable position. A plastic template, a paper guide portion that is fixed between the dot print head and the plastic template in the housing and guides the paper to a position between the dot print head and the plastic template, and a head unit attached to the housing. And a part of the plastic template positioned at the dot printable position. Positioning by positioning the dot print head and the plastic template at a relative position that forms a gap of a prescribed dimension capable of sandwiching the paper between the dot print head and the plastic template by directly or indirectly pressing the par guide part. It is characterized by comprising using means.

  Here, “directly or indirectly press a part of the head unit against the paper guide part” means “a part of the head unit is directly pressed against the paper guide part”, “a part of the head unit is paper `` Indirectly press the guide part via an appropriate member such as a spacer '' is a concept including any of these, `` pressing a part of the plastic template directly or indirectly to the paper guide part '' A concept that includes any of these aspects: “Pressing a part of the plastic template directly against the paper guide part”, “Pushing a part of the plastic template indirectly through a suitable member such as a spacer”, etc. It is.

  In such a sublimation type printer, when the dot printing process is not performed in the back surface printing unit, the plastic template is positioned at the retracted position, thereby forming a large gap between the plastic template and the dot print head. The process of transporting the paper between the plastic template and the dot print head can be performed smoothly, and paper jams can be prevented. When performing dot print processing with the paper guided along the paper guide portion between the dot print head and the plastic template, the plastic template can be moved from the retracted position to the dot printable position. Good. In the sublimation type printer of the present embodiment, the back surface printing unit directly or indirectly places the plastic template moved from the retracted position to the dot printing processable position on the paper guide unit in which a part of the plastic template is fixed to the housing. Positioning means for positioning the relative position with respect to the paper guide portion by pressing is provided, and this positioning means is a paper in which a part of the head unit is further fixed to the casing when the head unit is mounted in the casing. By pressing against the guide portion, the relative position of the dot print head with respect to the paper guide portion is also positioned. Therefore, the sublimation type printer of the present invention can replace and maintain the dot print head mounted on the head unit which is detachably attached to the casing, and is fixed to the casing by the positioning means. The relative position of the plastic template and the dot print head is positioned with reference to the paper guide section, and a gap with a specified dimension suitable for dot print processing (for example, paper thickness + number) between the plastic template and the dot print head. μm to several hundred μm). For this reason, in the sublimation printer of the present invention, every time the plastic template is moved from the retracted position to the dot printable position, or each time the head unit is attached from the outside of the casing to the inside of the casing, Without adjusting the relative position one by one, an appropriate gap can be accurately reproduced between the plastic template and the dot print head each time the dot print process is performed, and the dot print process by the back side print unit is performed appropriately. Can do.

  In such a sublimation printer, in order to be able to appropriately position the mounting position of the head unit with respect to the paper guide unit, and thus the dot print head, with a simple configuration, the head unit is mounted on the casing. It is provided with a protrusion that hits the paper guide part over the other parts when attached to the head, and the positioning means is configured to position the attachment position of the head unit by pressing the protrusion against the paper guide part. What is necessary is just to comprise. If it is such, if the dimension of the protrusion of the head unit is determined with high accuracy, the relative position of the head unit with respect to the paper guide portion can be positioned.

  Furthermore, in order to make the mounting state of the head unit relative to the paper guide portion more stable and to be able to position an appropriate relative position of the head unit relative to the paper guide portion, the head unit has three protrusions. When the head unit is attached to the housing, these protrusions may be pressed against the paper guide portion to make contact at three points. In particular, if two of the three protrusions are provided at a position sandwiching the dot print head, the dot print head is prevented from tilting to the left and right, and variations in dot print processing by the back surface print section are unlikely to occur. Become.

  Further, when the plastic template is directly pressed against the paper guide portion, the paper conveyed along the paper guide portion hits the plastic template, and paper jam may occur due to restrictions on further conveyance of the paper. The sublimation type printer can adopt a configuration in which the plastic template is pressed against the spacer provided in the paper guide portion, thereby forming a gap through which the paper can pass between the plastic template and the paper guide portion. Therefore, the paper jam as described above can be prevented.

  In the sublimation type printer of the present invention, the paper guide portion is formed with an opening so that the dot print head can directly face the plastic template positioned at the dot print processable position when the head unit is attached to the housing. In addition, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a spacer is provided at a position sandwiching the opening and spaced apart from the width of the paper. With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately perform dot print processing with the dot print head and the plastic template facing each other through the opening in a state where the paper is sandwiched between the plastic template and the dot print head. By pressing the spacer against the plastic template, a stable pressing state of the plastic template against the paper guide portion can be realized.

  According to the sublimation type printer of the present invention, it is possible to smoothly convey the paper used for the dot print processing, and to connect the dot print head and the plastic template that moves in the housing while being detachable from the housing. It is possible to provide a sublimation type printer that can accurately maintain the gap at a specified size suitable for dot print processing and can improve the quality of back surface printing.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment. The figure seen from the surface side of the paper printed by the sublimation type printer which concerns on the same embodiment. The figure seen from the back side of the paper printed by the sublimation type printer which concerns on the same embodiment. FIG. 2 is an overall schematic diagram of a head unit in the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is an overall schematic view of the head unit with the ink ribbon cassette removed in the same embodiment as seen from the back side. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the positioning means shown in a schematic view corresponding to a cross section of a substantially central portion in the width direction of the dot print head in the present embodiment. The principal part enlarged view of FIG. The figure which shows the state which positioned the plastic template in the retracted position in the embodiment corresponding to FIG. FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the positioning unit in the same embodiment, and is a schematic view at a position displaced from the center in the width direction from FIG. 7. Action | operation explanatory drawing of the positioning means seen from the paper discharge outlet side in the embodiment. Action | operation explanatory drawing of the head unit biasing means in the embodiment. The figure which shows the state which pulled out the head unit carrying in / out mechanism in the embodiment corresponding to FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment performs a sublimation print (see FIG. 3) process on the front surface Sa of the paper S, and dots on the back surface Sb of the paper S. Print (see FIG. 4) processing is performed. As shown in FIG. 1, the sublimation printer 1 includes a paper feed unit 2, a surface print unit 3 that performs a sublimation print process on the surface Sa of the paper S supplied from the paper feed unit 2, and a paper S A back surface print unit 4 that performs dot print processing on the back surface Sb and a paper discharge unit 5 (specifically, a paper discharge port 5 shown in FIG. 2) are provided. In the present embodiment, the front surface print unit 3 is provided on the paper feed unit 2 side, and the back surface print unit 4 is provided on the paper discharge unit 5 side. That is, the sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment first performs sublimation printing processing on the front surface Sa of the paper S by the front surface printing unit 3, and then performs dot printing processing on the rear surface Sb of the paper S by the back surface printing unit 4. is there. As shown in FIG. 2, the sublimation printer 1 includes a paper feed unit 2, a front surface print unit 3, a back surface print unit 4, a paper discharge unit 5, and a paper transport mechanism, which will be described later, in a common housing C. 6 is provided.

  The paper feed unit 2 can accommodate the paper S wound in a roll shape. The sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment transports the paper S accommodated in a roll shape in the paper feed unit 2 along a transport path formed between the paper feed unit 2 and the paper discharge unit 5. A paper transport mechanism 6 is provided. In the following description, “upstream side” means “sheet feeding unit side”, and “downstream side” means “sheet discharge unit side”.

  The paper transport mechanism 6 includes an upstream transport mechanism 61 that transports the paper S mainly from the paper feed unit 2 toward the downstream side of the front surface print unit 3, and a paper discharge unit 5 mainly from the downstream side of the front surface print unit 3. And a downstream side transport mechanism 62 for transporting toward the rear.

  The upstream transport mechanism 61 includes a pair of a paper feed roller 611 and an upstream first pinch roller 612 arranged in order from the paper feed unit 2 side to the paper discharge unit 5 side, and an upstream feed roller 613 and an upstream side The two-pinch roller 614 is used in combination. A set of the paper feed roller 611 and the upstream first pinch roller 612 is arranged upstream of the front surface printing unit 3, and a set of the upstream feed roller 613 and the upstream second pinch roller 614 is from the front surface printing unit 3. Is also arranged downstream. Note that FIG. 1 shows a mode in which a paper feed guide roller 615 is disposed further upstream than the paper feed roller 611.

  The downstream side transport mechanism 62 includes a set of a downstream side feed roller 621 and a downstream side first pinch roller 622 arranged in order from the front surface printing unit 3 side toward the paper discharge unit 5 side, and a paper discharge roller 623. This is configured using a pair with the downstream second pinch roller 624. A set of the downstream feed roller 621 and the downstream first pinch roller 622 is arranged on the upstream side of the back surface printing unit 4, and a set of the paper discharge roller 623 and the downstream side second pinch roller 624 is from the back surface printing unit 4. Is also arranged downstream. Further, the sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes the cutter unit 7 that cuts the paper S between the downstream feed roller 621 and the downstream first pinch roller 622 and the back surface print unit 4.

  The front surface printing unit 3 transports the thermal head 31, the platen roller 32 disposed at a position facing the thermal head 31, the ink ribbon 33, and the ink ribbon 33 between the thermal head 31 and the platen roller 32. An ink ribbon transport mechanism 34 and a surface print control unit (not shown) for controlling the operation of the thermal head 31 and the like are provided.

  The thermal head 31 is a known one that prints on the paper S by generating heat from a heating element (not shown). In this embodiment, the thermal head 31 is set so as to be movable between a position where the paper S can be sandwiched between the platen roller 32 and a position where the thermal head 31 cannot be sandwiched by a head drive motor (not shown).

  The platen roller 32 can sandwich the paper S with the thermal head 31, and has a function of sequentially transporting the paper S to the downstream side while rotating. Therefore, the platen roller 32 bears a part of the function of the upstream transport mechanism 61 described above.

  The ink ribbon 33 is obtained by applying, for example, yellow, magenta, and cyan inks to a long base film. The yellow, magenta, and cyan inks applied to the base film are formed using a dye that sublimes by heat.

  The ink ribbon transport mechanism 34 includes a supply-side ribbon core 341 around which an unused ink ribbon 33 (in which a base film is coated with ink) is wound, and a used ink ribbon 33 (part of ink from the base film or A take-up side ribbon core 342 that winds up, a supply-side ribbon guide 343 that guides the ink ribbon 33 unwound from the supply-side ribbon core 341 to the thermal head 31 side, and after passing through the thermal head 31 A take-up ribbon guide 344 for guiding the ink ribbon 33 peeled from the paper S to the take-up ribbon core 342 side is provided. The supply side ribbon core 341 and the supply side ribbon guide 343 are arranged on the downstream side of the thermal head 31, and the take-up side ribbon core 342 and the take-up side ribbon guide 344 are arranged on the upstream side of the thermal head 31. Therefore, the ink ribbon 33 wound around the supply-side ribbon core 341 is unwound to the thermal head 31 side by the supply-side ribbon guide 343 and the take-up side ribbon guide 344, and is subjected to the sublimation printing process, and then the take-up side. The ribbon core 342 is sequentially wound up. In this embodiment, the ink ribbon 33 and the ink ribbon transport mechanism 34 are unitized and configured to be detachable from the thermal head 31 and the platen roller 32.

  The front surface printing unit 3 constituted by each unit has a function of printing (forming) a color image on the front surface Sa of the paper S by sublimating each color ink of yellow, magenta, and cyan by the heat of the thermal head 31. Demonstrate. The front surface print unit 3 can perform gradation printing in which the print density level is changed by adjusting the temperature of the thermal head 31, and prints a high-quality color image on the front surface Sa of the paper S. It is possible.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the back surface print unit 4 includes a dot print head 41 having a plurality of dot pins (not shown), a plastic template 42 disposed at a position facing the dot print head 41, and an ink ribbon. 43 (indicated by a chain line in FIG. 5), the ink ribbon 43 is supplied to the dot print head 41, and the ink ribbon cassette 44 that winds the ink ribbon 43 that has passed over the print head 41, the dot print head 41, and the plastic template 42. And a paper guide portion 45 that guides the paper S between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42. In the present embodiment, the dot print head 41, the ink ribbon 43, and the ink ribbon cassette 44 are unitized, and the unitized head unit U is configured to be detachable from the housing C.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 11 and the like, the dot print head 41 includes a head main body 41b that can be translated along the width direction of the paper S (in other words, the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper S), and the head. The main body 41b includes a plurality of (for example, nine in one row) dot pins arranged in a single row or matrix, and is selected according to characters, symbols, and the like to be printed on the back surface Sb of the paper S. The dot pins of the head main body 41b can be projected in the direction approaching the paper S from the front end portion of the head main body 41b. In other words, each dot pin is capable of projecting and retracting in a direction in which it is in contact with and away from the paper S. The dot pin protrusion / retraction operation and the like are controlled by a back surface print control unit (not shown). The dot print head 41 is configured to be movable along the width direction of the paper S. In the present embodiment, the parallel movement support mechanism 46 that supports the dot print head 41 so as to be able to move in parallel along the width direction of the paper S, the slide shaft 461 whose axial direction is set to the same direction as the width direction of the paper S, The slider 462 is movable along the slide shaft 461 while supporting the head body 41b (see FIG. 5). Both ends of the slide shaft 461 are fixed to the base body 47. The base body 47 supports the dot print head 41 via the parallel movement support mechanism 46 and holds the ink ribbon cassette 44 in a detachable manner.

  The ink ribbon 43 is obtained by applying, for example, black ink to a base film. The ink ribbon cassette 44 includes a body portion 441 provided with a supply side ribbon core and a take-up side ribbon core (not shown) inside, and an interior that extends upward from both the left and right ends of the body portion 441 and communicates with the inside of the body portion 441. A supply side ribbon transport unit 442 and a take-up side ribbon transport unit 443 functioning as a transport path for the ink ribbon 43 are provided. When such an ink ribbon cassette 44 is attached to the base body 47, the dot print head 41 is positioned between the supply side ribbon transport unit 442 and the take-up side ribbon transport unit 443, and the ink ribbon 43 is the tip of the dot print head 41. It is conveyed so that it can pass over the part (sliding). Specifically, the ink ribbon 43 passes from the supply side ribbon core in the body portion 441 through the supply side ribbon conveyance portion 442 and is supplied from the upper end portion of the supply side ribbon conveyance portion 442, and then the dot print head 41. Pass over the tip of the. When the paper S passes above the ink ribbon 43, dot pins are projected to press the ink ribbon 43, and ink is attached to the back surface Sb of the paper S to print additional information such as characters and symbols. be able to. The ink ribbon 43 that has passed over the tip of the dot print head 41 passes from the upper end of the take-up side ribbon transport unit 443 through the inside of the take-up side ribbon transport unit 443 and passes through the take-up side ribbon transport unit 443. It is wound on a coil. In this embodiment, an endless annular ink ribbon 43 is applied, and the ink ribbon cassette 44 sends the endless annular ink ribbon 43 taken up by the take-up side ribbon coil to the supply side ribbon core, and the ink ribbon 43 is re-dotted. It is configured to be supplied to the print head 41 and face the dot print head 41. That is, the ink ribbon 43 is repeatedly used until the ink runs out or the dot print density (back surface printing result) becomes thin. In the present embodiment, the adjustment knob 444 that can adjust the tension of the ink ribbon 43 (specifically, the winding side ribbon core can be rotated) is provided in the body portion 441 of the ink ribbon cassette 44. . The adjustment knob 444 is for removing the slack of the ink ribbon 43 when the ink ribbon cassette 44 is set in the unit U.

  The head unit U supports the dot print head 41 on the base body 47, attaches the ink ribbon cassette 44 to the base body 47 in a detachable manner, and places the dot print head 41 forward and upward (left and upper in FIG. 5). The unit main body U1 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape exposed to (1) and a holder U2 capable of covering both side surfaces and the back surface of the unit main body U1 are assembled. The holder U2 is integrally provided with a pair of left and right holder side wall portions U21 and a holder rear wall portion U22 that connects the rear end portions of the holder side wall portions U21. In the present embodiment, the holder U2 is formed by, for example, pressing a single steel plate. Each holder side wall U21 and holder rear wall U22 are provided with protrusions U2t that protrude upward from other portions of the head unit U, respectively. These protrusions U2t are formed integrally with each wall (holder side wall U21, holder rear wall U22). In the present embodiment, the dot print head 41 (more specifically, the head main body 41b) is positioned on an imaginary straight line connecting the protrusions U2t provided on the holder side wall portions U21. That is, the holder U2 has two protrusions U2t out of the three protrusions U2t at positions where the dot print head 41 (more specifically, the head main body 41b) is sandwiched. In addition, the position of the remaining one protrusion U2t (the protrusion U2t provided on the rear wall) is set to a position on either side of the center in the width direction of the head unit U. As shown in FIG. 6, the holder U <b> 2 is fixed to the unit main body U <b> 1 with a screw V <b> 1 with the holder rear wall U <b> 22 applied to the base body 47. In addition, the height position of the protrusion U2t can be set to be adjustable by configuring the mounting height position of the holder U2 with respect to the unit body U1. As a specific aspect, for example, mounting holes (screw holes) for the screws V1 are provided in the height direction at predetermined pitches in the base body 47, and the mounting height positions of the screws V1 are selected from these screw holes as appropriate. By determining the position of the screw hole, it is possible to adjust the mounting height position of the holder U2 with respect to the unit main body U1, and to adjust the height position of the protrusion U2t. In addition, the head unit U in the present embodiment has a side protrusion U2s that protrudes to the side relative to other parts (see FIGS. 5 and 12). The function of this side protrusion U2s will be described later.

  When the head unit U is mounted on the housing C, the head unit U takes an upright posture (see FIG. 7 and the like) with the dot print head 41 facing upward. The sublimation printer 1 of the present embodiment takes the head unit U mounted in the housing C out of the housing C, and the head unit U unit by the operator or a jig (jig) or a component constituting the head unit U ( For example, a head unit carry-in / out mechanism 8 (for carrying a new or maintained head unit U into the housing C after the replacement or maintenance of the ink ribbon cassette 44 (including the ink ribbon 43) or the dot print head 41) is completed. 12 and 13). The head unit U taken out of the housing C by the head unit loading / unloading mechanism 8, in other words, the head unit U before being carried into the housing C, is a lying posture in which the dot print head 41 is laid sideways. (Refer to FIG. 13) and the replacement work and the maintenance work can be performed smoothly. The head unit carry-in / out mechanism 8 includes a plurality of link arms and the like. The head unit carry-out mechanism 8 opens below the paper discharge unit 5 (paper discharge port 5) in the housing C and opens in the same direction as the paper discharge direction. Changed between the folded state (see FIGS. 2 and 12) that fits in the inlet C1 and the unfolded state (see FIG. 13) that extends (withdrawn) from the head unit carry-in / out port C1 toward the outside of the housing C. It is possible.

  9 to 11, when the head unit U is mounted in the housing C by the head unit loading / unloading mechanism 8, the protrusion U <b> 2 t provided on the holder U <b> 2 is more than the other part of the head unit U. Is also set to hit the paper guide portion 45 with priority.

  The paper guide portion 45 is fixed to the back side of the head unit loading / unloading port C1 (on the side opposite to the paper discharge port 5) of the housing C with a screw (not shown) or the like. It has a function of guiding the sheet S between the template 42 and a part of the function of the downstream side transport mechanism 62 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 7, the paper guide portion 45 includes a paper guide main body plate 451 positioned between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 in the head unit U mounted in the housing C, and a paper guide main body plate. A front plate 452 that extends obliquely downward from the front end portion (end portion on the paper discharge port side) of 451 and a rear plate 453 that extends downward from the rear end portion of the paper guide main body plate 451 are provided. In the present embodiment, the paper guide portion 45 is formed by, for example, pressing or bending a single sheet metal.

  The paper guide portion 45 has a width dimension larger than the width dimension of the head unit U, and the head unit U is placed in a portion that can overlap the dot print head 41 in a region extending from the paper guide main body plate 451 and the front plate 452. An opening 45K having a predetermined size is formed so as to avoid interference with the dot print head 41 when mounted in the housing C and to expose the dot print head 41 upward (FIGS. 7 to 9, FIG. 9). 11). In the present embodiment, at least the width dimension (dimension in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the sheet S) of the opening dimension of the opening 45K is set to be equal to that of the dot print head 41 along the width direction of the sheet S during the dot print processing. The movable distance is set to be greater than the movable distance (in this embodiment, a distance substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of the slide shaft 461 constituting the parallel movement support mechanism 46). The spacer 45S is fixed at a position on the upward surface of the paper guide main body plate 451 with the opening 45K interposed therebetween.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 and the like, the plastic template 42 has a dot print processable position (P) (see FIGS. 7 and 8) at which the paper S can be sandwiched with the dot print head 41, and a dot print head. 41 is movable between a retreat position (Q) (see FIG. 9) retreated to a position where the paper S cannot be sandwiched between the retraction position 41 and the position 41. The sublimation printer 1 of the present embodiment positions the plastic template 42 at the dot print processable position (P) only when the dot print process is performed, and moves the plastic template 42 to the retreat position (Q when the dot print process is not performed. ). The plastic template 42 includes a plate main body 421 that directly sandwiches the paper S with the dot print head 41 during dot printing processing, and an upright plate 422 that extends upward from the front end portion (end portion on the paper discharge port side) of the plate main body 421. And an inclined plate 423 extending obliquely rearward from the rear end portion of the plate main body 421. In the present embodiment, the plastic template 42 is formed by, for example, pressing or bending a single steel plate. The width dimension of the plastic template 42 is larger than the opening width dimension of the opening 45K formed in the paper guide portion 45. Particularly, with respect to the plate body 421, the plastic template 42 is positioned at the dot print processable position (P). The width dimension is set to be the same as or larger than the outer method of the spacers 45S so as to correspond to the spacers 45S described above (see FIG. 11, where a pattern is given to the spacers 45S).

  In the sublimation printer 1 of this embodiment, the back surface printing unit 4 includes a plastic template moving mechanism 48 that moves the plastic template 42 between a dot print processable position (P) and a retracted position (Q). In the present embodiment, the plastic template moving mechanism 48 is applied to the front surface of the upright plate 422 of the plastic template 42, and the front wall 481a connected to the upright plate 422 by the screw V2 and the left and right ends of the front wall 481a are moved backward. A planar U-shaped plastic template mounting piece 481 integrally including a bent side wall 481b (FIGS. 7 and 10) and a rotating piece 482 that rotates the plastic template mounting piece 481 about a horizontal axis 481X. ing.

  In the sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 are both movable. That is, the dot print head 41 is temporarily taken out of the housing C by the head unit loading / unloading mechanism 8 every time the head unit U or the component parts of the head unit U is replaced or maintained, and the plastic template 42 Is movable between the dot print processable position (P) and the retracted position (Q). As described above, in the sublimation type printer 1 according to the present embodiment, in the process of transporting the paper S from the paper feeding unit 2 toward the paper ejection unit 5 by the paper transport mechanism 6, first, the front surface printing unit 3 performs the surface Sa of the paper S. Then, a sublimation print process is performed, and thereafter, the back surface print unit 4 performs a dot print process on the back surface Sb of the paper S. When the back print unit 4 performs the dot print process, the plastic template 42 in the back print unit 4 is positioned at the dot print processable position (P), while when the dot print process is not performed, the retracted position (Q ) And the gap between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 is set to be large. As a result, the paper S that has been subjected to the sublimation printing process at the front surface printing unit 3 and is transported toward the back surface printing unit 4 is guided by the paper guide unit 45 (specifically, the upward surface of the paper guide main body plate 451). It can be smoothly transported between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42.

  Then, the sublimation printer 1 of the present embodiment uses a command signal for performing dot print processing output from the back surface print control unit in a state where the paper S is positioned between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42. Based on this, the plastic template 42 is moved from the retracted position (Q) to the dot print processable position (P). In this state, that is, in a state where the plastic template 42 is positioned at the dot print processable position (P), a gap that is a gap between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41 is set to a predetermined dimension suitable for the dot print processing (for example, the paper (Thickness + several μm to several hundred μm). That is, if the gap between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41 positioned at the dot print processable position (P) and the gap is larger than the specified dimension, the paper S may be bent inadvertently during the dot print process. If the gap between the plastic template 42, the dot print head 41, and the gap is smaller than the prescribed dimension, the paper S cannot be transported properly and a paper jam may occur.

  Therefore, in the sublimation type printer 1 of the present embodiment, a part of the head unit U mounted (set) in the casing C and the plastic template 42 positioned at the dot print processable position (P) are arranged on the back surface printing unit 4. By directly or indirectly pressing a part of each of the paper against the paper guide portion 45, the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 have a predetermined size that allows the paper S to be sandwiched between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42. Positioning means 49 for positioning at a relative position for forming the gap G (see FIG. 11) is provided.

  The positioning means 49 includes a head unit side positioning function for positioning the relative position of the head unit U with respect to the paper guide part 45 by directly pressing a part of the head unit U mounted in the housing C against the paper guide part 45; A plastic template side positioning function for positioning a relative position of the plastic template 42 with respect to the paper guide unit 45 by indirectly pressing a part of the plastic template 42 positioned at the dot print processable position (P) to the paper guide unit 45; Have

  First, the plastic template side positioning function will be described. In the present embodiment, the plastic template 42 moved from the retracted position (Q) to the dot print processable position (P) is pressed against the spacer 45S provided in the paper guide unit 45, so that the plastic template 42 is further paper. It is possible to prevent the plastic template 42 from moving in the direction approaching the guide portion 45, and to position the plastic template 42 relative to the paper guide portion 45. Then, in this state of positioning, between the plastic template 42 (specifically, the downward surface of the plate body 421) and the paper guide portion 45 (specifically, the upward surface of the paper guide body plate 451). In this case, a gap G having a prescribed dimension equal to or approximately equal to the thickness (height dimension) of the spacer 45S is always formed. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since a pair of left and right spacers 45S are provided at positions where the paper S is sandwiched in the width direction in the paper guide portion 45, by pressing the plastic template 42 against these spacers 45S, A uniform defined dimension between the plastic template 42 (specifically, the downward surface of the plate body 421) and the paper guide portion 45 (specifically, the upward surface of the paper guide body plate 451) along the width direction. A gap G is formed.

  On the other hand, the head unit side positioning function is as follows. In the present embodiment, when the head unit U is mounted in the housing C, the three protrusions U2t provided on the holder U2 of the head unit U have priority over the other parts of the head unit U, and the paper guide portion 45. By pressing against the paper guide body plate 451 (specifically, the downward surface of the paper guide body plate 451), the head unit U is further prevented from moving in the direction approaching the paper guide portion 45 (upward), and the head with respect to the paper guide portion 45 is prevented. The relative position of the unit U can be determined. As a result, the relative position between the dot print head 41 mounted on the head unit U and the paper guide portion 45 can also be positioned. In the present embodiment, the head unit urging means 9 that urges the protrusion U2t of the head unit U in the direction in which the protrusion U2t is pressed against the paper guide portion 45 is provided in the housing C (see FIG. 12).

  The head unit urging means 9 includes an urging member 92 made of an elastic member such as a coil spring or a gas spring attached to a fixed piece 91 whose one end is fixed to the back side of the head unit loading / unloading port C1 in the housing C. A pivotable lever having a hook 93a to which the upper end is attached to the other end of the urging member 92 and a side protrusion U2s (see FIGS. 5 and 12) provided on the head unit U can be hooked to the lower end. And a member 93. The head unit loading / unloading port C1 is covered with a cover member C2 during normal use, and when the head unit U is exchanged, the cover member C2 is moved to the open position by an appropriate means. The unit carry-in / out opening C1 is opened to the front (paper discharge direction) side. The lever member 93 constituting the head unit urging means 9 is urged by the urging member 92 in the direction of moving the hook portion 93a upward. Then, in the process of changing the head unit loading / unloading mechanism 8 from the expanded state to the folded state and transporting the head unit U from the outside of the housing C to the inside of the housing C, the side protrusion U2s of the head unit U is moved to the lever member 93. When the side protrusion U2s further moves the lever member 93 in the direction opposite to the direction of being urged by the urging member 92 based on the operating force that moves the head unit U into the housing C. The side protrusion U2s is hooked on the hook 93a of the lever member 93. In this state, when the operation force for transporting the head unit U into the housing C is stopped or reduced, the lever member 93 hooks the side protrusion U2s of the head unit U on the hook portion 93a by the biasing force of the biasing member 92. In this state, the hook 93a rotates in a direction to move upward. As a result, the head unit U moves upward to a position where each protrusion U2t provided on the holder U2 comes into pressure contact with the paper guide portion 45. In the present embodiment, two of the three protrusions U2t provided on the head unit U are provided on a straight line passing through the dot print head 41 at a position sandwiching the dot print head 41. When the two protrusions U2t hit the paper guide portion 45, the left and right balance of the dot print head 41 is in a balanced state. In this way, the mounting position of the head unit U in the housing C can be positioned by applying the protrusion U2t to the paper guide portion 45. The head unit urging means 9 is provided in the casing C as a pair corresponding to the pair of left and right side protrusions U2s provided in the head unit U. Further, in the present embodiment, the holder U2 is attached to a predetermined portion of the head unit carry-in / out mechanism 8, and the side protrusion U2s of the holder U2 is urged upward by the head unit urging means 9, The head unit loading / unloading mechanism 8 automatically moves to the stored state.

  As described above, the positioning means 49 exhibits the plastic template side positioning function and the head unit side positioning function so as to always keep the gap G of the prescribed dimension between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41 constant. Is possible. More specifically, with the head unit U mounted in the housing C, the dot print head 41 is exposed upward through the opening 45K formed in the paper guide 45, and the dot print processable position (P) It will be in the state which can directly face the plastic template 42 positioned in (refer FIG. 8). In this state, the dot print head 41 is positioned relative to the paper guide portion 45, and the plastic template 42 is positioned relative to the paper guide portion 45, so that it is a common member fixed to the housing C. The relative position between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 is positioned via a certain paper guide portion 45, and the gap G between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 is always constant. In the sublimation type printer 1 of the present embodiment, the positioning means 49 is arranged so that the gap G between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 has a prescribed size suitable for dot print processing. The relative position with respect to the plastic template 42 is positioned. Therefore, the plastic template 42 is moved from the retracted position (Q) to the dot print processable position (P) in a state where the paper S is transported to the dot print process position (position facing the dot print head 41) by the paper guide unit 45. Then, the paper S is sandwiched between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41, and the dot information of the dot print head 41 is pressed against the back surface Sb of the paper S. (Information on the image printed on the front surface Sa of the paper S by the front surface Sa printing unit) can be printed on the back surface Sb of the paper S.

  The sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment moves the plastic template 42 from the dot printing processable state to the retracted position (Q) after the dot printing process is completed in the back surface printing unit 4, and the plastic template 42 and the dot printing head 41. The sheet S is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 5 side by the sheet discharge roller 623 and the downstream second pinch roller 624 in the downstream transport mechanism 62 in a state where the gap between the sheet and the gap is larger than the prescribed dimension. Eject from 5. In the present embodiment, the roll-shaped paper S is cut by the cutter unit 7 at the same time or almost simultaneously with the dot print processing by the back surface printing unit 4 and discharged by the paper discharge roller 623 and the downstream second pinch roller 624. It is set to discharge from the paper discharge port 5).

  As described above, the sublimation printer 1 according to the present embodiment places the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41 by positioning the plastic template 42 at the retracted position (Q) when the back surface printing unit 4 does not perform dot printing processing. By forming a large gap between them, the process of transporting the paper S between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41 can be performed smoothly, and paper jams can be prevented. When the dot print process is performed in a state where the paper S is transported along the paper guide portion 45 between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42, the plastic template 42 is moved from the retracted position (Q) to the dot print process. When moved to the possible position (P), the positioning means 49 positions the relative position of the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41 with reference to the paper guide portion 45 fixed to the casing C, and the plastic template 42 and the dot Since a gap G having a specified size suitable for dot print processing is formed between the print head 41 and the print head 41, the plastic template 42 is moved from the retracted position (Q) to the dot print processable position (P). Alternatively, every time the head unit U is attached from the outside of the housing C to the inside of the housing C, the plastic template 4 It is not necessary to adjust the relative position between the dot print head 41 and the dot print head 41, and a gap G having an appropriate specified dimension can be accurately reproduced between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41. Dot print processing can be performed appropriately.

  In particular, in the sublimation printer 1 of the present embodiment, the head unit U is provided with a protrusion U2t that hits the paper guide part 45 in preference to the other parts when the head unit U is mounted in the housing C. Since the positioning means 49 is configured to position the mounting position of the head unit U by pressing the projection U2t against the paper guide portion 45, the dimension of the projection U2t is highly accurate despite being a simple configuration. As long as it is determined, the mounting position of the head unit U with respect to the paper guide portion 45, and hence the dot print head 41, can be appropriately positioned.

  Further, protrusions U2t are provided at three locations in the head unit U, and when the head unit U is mounted in the housing C, the protrusions U2t are pressed against the paper guide portion 45 to come into contact with three points. Therefore, the contact state (attachment state) of the head unit U with respect to the per-paper guide portion becomes stable, and variations in the head unit U in the housing C can be prevented. In particular, since the two protrusions U2t among the three protrusions U2t are provided at positions where the dot print head 41 is sandwiched, the dot print head 41 can be effectively prevented from tilting left and right.

  Further, when the plastic template 42 is directly pressed against the paper guide portion 45, the paper S conveyed along the paper guide portion 45 hits, and paper jam may occur due to restrictions on further conveyance of the paper S. Since the plastic template 42 is pressed against the spacer 45S provided in the paper guide portion 45, a gap through which the paper S can pass is formed between the plastic template 42 and the paper guide portion 45. Can be prevented.

  Further, in the sublimation type printer 1 of the present embodiment, the opening 45K is formed in the paper guide portion 45, and when the head unit U is mounted in the housing C, the dot print head 41 passes through the opening 45K. Since it is formed so as to be able to directly face the plastic template 42 positioned at the print processable position (P), dot printing is appropriately performed with the paper S sandwiched between the plastic template 42 and the dot print head 41. Processing can be performed. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the spacer 45S is provided at a position sandwiching the opening 45K and spaced apart from the width dimension of the paper S, the plastic template 42 presses the spacer 45S to press the paper. A stable pressing state of the plastic template 42 against the guide portion 45 can be realized, and variations in the dimension of the gap G along the width direction of the paper S can be avoided, so that the paper S can be transported smoothly. Can be done.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the paper guide portion 45 is formed of a sheet metal that is unlikely to vary in thickness, the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 are defined based on the paper guide portion 45 formed of such a sheet metal. By positioning the relative position, the gap G having a prescribed dimension between the dot print head 41 and the plastic template 42 can be determined with high precision.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the number of protrusions provided on the head unit may be increased or decreased as appropriate. Further, the head unit may be positioned with respect to the paper guide part by indirectly pressing a part of the head unit against the paper guide part. On the other hand, if there is no problem in paper conveyance, the plastic template may be positioned with respect to the paper guide portion by directly pressing a part of the plastic template against the paper guide portion.

  In the above-described embodiment, the plastic template moves with rotation between the retracted position and the dot print processable position. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plastic template is moved to the retracted position and the dot print processable position. It may be a linear movement between the two.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the sublimation type printer that performs the sublimation printing process on the back surface of the paper by the back surface printing unit after performing the sublimation printing process on the front surface of the paper is exemplified. A sublimation printer may be used in which after the dot printing process is performed on the back surface of the paper by the back surface printing unit, the surface printing unit performs the sublimation printing process on the surface of the paper.

  In addition, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sublimation type printer 3 ... Front surface print part 4 ... Back surface print part 41 ... Dot print head 42 ... Plastic template (P) ... Dot print processable position (Q) ... Retraction position 45 ... Paper guide part 45S ... Spacer 45K ... Opening Portion 49 ... Positioning means C ... Housing G ... Gap S with specified dimensions ... Paper U ... Head unit U2t ... Projection

Claims (5)

A sublimation type printer in which a surface print unit for performing sublimation print processing on a surface of paper is provided in a housing,
In the housing, further comprising a back side print unit for performing dot print processing on the back side of the paper,
The back printed part is
A head unit having at least a dot print head and detachably attached to the housing;
Compared with the dot print processable position and the dot print processable position, a dot print processable position formed with a gap between the dot print head and a gap capable of sandwiching paper with the dot print head. A plastic template movable between a retracted position where a gap with the print head is formed;
A paper guide portion fixed between the dot print head and the plastic template in the housing and guiding paper between the dot print head and the plastic template;
By directly or indirectly pressing a part of the head unit attached to the casing and a part of the plastic template positioned at the dot print processable position to the paper guide part, the dot print head and A sublimation type printer comprising positioning means for positioning the plastic template at a relative position that forms a gap of a prescribed dimension capable of sandwiching a sheet between the dot print head and the plastic template. The head unit is provided with a protrusion that hits the paper guide portion in preference to other portions when the head unit is attached to the housing,
2. The sublimation printer according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means positions the mounting position of the head unit by pressing the protrusion against the paper guide. The protrusion is provided at at least three positions of the head unit so as to allow the head unit attached to the housing to come into contact with the paper guide at three points. Sublimation printer. The paper guide part is provided with a spacer that can press the plastic template, and the positioning means forms a gap that allows the paper template to be sandwiched between the plastic template pressed against the spacer and the paper guide part. The sublimation printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sublimation printer is positioned. An opening is formed in the paper guide portion so that the dot print head can directly face the plastic template positioned at the dot print processable position when the head unit is attached to the housing. The sublimation printer according to claim 4, wherein the spacer is provided at a position sandwiching the portion and spaced apart from the width of the paper.

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