JP2011156709A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably transfer an ink ribbon without causing interference between the ink ribbon supplied to a recording head and a member arranged in the periphery of the recording head by a small number of parts. <P>SOLUTION: A capstan 214 is stuck with pressure to a transfer roller 212 via a lenticular sheet 12. The lenticular sheet 12 is transferred by driving the transfer roller 212. When a front end of the lenticular sheet 12 reaches a clamper 220, the front end of the lenticular sheet 12 is held by the clamper 220, and the capstan 214 is retreated from the transfer roller 212 to a predetermined position. Thereafter, when a thermal head 260 is pressed in contact with a platen roller 262 holding the ink ribbon and the lenticular sheet 12, the ink ribbon supplied from a supply reel 256 to the thermal head 260 is guided by the capstan 214, thereby having a transfer route changed. Regardless of a winding diameter of the ink ribbon of the supply reel 256, the ink ribbon passes a position where it is prevented from interfering with a light-emitting diode 321 arranged near the thermal head 260. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording technique in which a sensor for acquiring information on a recording medium is disposed in the vicinity of a recording head.

  Each viewpoint image of the multi-viewpoint image is divided into strips, these strip-like images are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction in the order of viewpoints, and this strip-like image is observed through a lenticular lens, so that the multi-viewpoint image is stereoscopically displayed. Stereoscopic prints that can be visually recognized are known.

  The stereoscopic photo print described above requires that the strip-like image is appropriately arranged with respect to the position of the lenticular lens.

  In order to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a detection result of detecting a relative position between a lenticular lens and an image corresponding to the lenticular lens when printing an image on the back surface of the surface on which the lenticular lenses are arranged. An ink jet recording apparatus that aligns an image with a lenticular lens based on the above is disclosed.

  According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to eliminate the pitch shift between the lenticular lens and the image, and it is possible to record the center of the lenticular lens and the center of the multi-viewpoint image.

  In Patent Document 2, in a recording apparatus that directly records an image from the back side of a lens sheet of a lenticular lens sheet, the lens sheet feeding accuracy increases from 1.5 to 2.0 μm per lens as it goes from the center to the periphery of the lens sheet. A recording apparatus is disclosed that is moved while increasing in size.

  According to the technique described in Patent Literature 2, even when the size of the lens sheet is large, the parallax from the position of the eye to be observed can be compensated for all the lenses, and high-quality stereoscopic viewing is achieved over the entire lens sheet. Is possible.

JP-A-8-137034 JP 2000-292877 A

  In the above Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, an optical sensor is used to detect the lens position and the lens pitch. In order for these optical sensors to detect appropriately, it is preferable to arrange the optical sensors as close as possible to the head for printing.

  However, in a thermal transfer printer or the like in which an ink ribbon is supplied to the head, there is a problem that if such a sensor is arranged in the vicinity of the head, the sensor and the ink ribbon interfere with each other. Moreover, the technique which solves such a problem is not disclosed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and avoids interference between the ink ribbon supplied to the recording head and members arranged around the recording head with a small number of parts, and enables stable ink ribbon conveyance. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that performs the above-described processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the image recording apparatus according to claim 1 is a roller that contacts one surface of a recording medium and a transport roller that contacts another surface different from the one surface of the recording medium. The supply means for sandwiching the recording medium and supplying the recording medium in a predetermined transport direction, the ink supply reel around which the untransferred portion of the ink ribbon is wound, and the image on the recording medium supplied by the supply means A recording head for transferring ink onto the recording medium by pressing an ink ribbon supplied from the ink supply reel against the one surface of the recording medium, and the recording head The present invention relates to a transport unit that transports the recording medium in the transport direction during ink transfer, an ink take-up reel on which a transferred portion of the ink ribbon is wound, and the recording medium A sensor disposed between the ink supply reel and the recording head, and an ink transfer position between the ink transfer position and a retracted position spaced apart from the ink transfer position. A recording head moving means for moving, at least a recording head moving means for moving the recording medium to a retracted position when the recording medium is supplied; a recording medium contact position; and a first position spaced from the recording medium contact position; A roller moving means for moving the recording head to a first position at least when the recording head is at the ink transfer position, and the roller at the first position The ink ribbon transport path from the ink supply reel to the recording head is changed so that the ink ribbon and the sensor do not interfere with each other. Characterized in that it operates as a guide roller.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the recording head is at the ink transfer position, the roller of the supply means is moved to a position for changing the ink ribbon transport path from the ink supply reel to the recording head. Interference between the ink ribbon and the sensor can be avoided with a small number of parts.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the recording medium is made of a material that transmits light, the sensor is a transmissive optical sensor, and the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are included in the target. It is arranged at a position facing through the recording medium.

  3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor detects an inclination of the recording medium with respect to the transport direction, and the recording medium is based on a detection result of the sensor. A correction means is provided for correcting the inclination with respect to the transport direction.

  4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lenticular lens is formed on the other surface of the recording medium, and the sensor has a lens pitch of the lenticular lens. And the recording head transfers ink to the recording medium in accordance with the detected lens pitch.

  5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink ribbon is a thermal transfer type ink ribbon, and the recording head is an ink ribbon of the recording head according to a print signal. It is a line thermal head that selectively heats the pressure contact surface.

  6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head places the ink ribbon between a platen roller that contacts the other surface of the recording medium. The recording medium is press-contacted to the one surface of the recording medium.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid the interference between the ink ribbon supplied to the recording head and the members disposed around the recording head with a small number of parts and perform stable ink ribbon conveyance.

Internal perspective view of the printing device Internal perspective view of the printing device Enlarged view of lenticular sheet Top view showing lens position and printing position of lenticular sheet Side view showing lens position and printing position of lenticular sheet Perspective view of sheet storage Perspective view of sheet supply cassette Perspective view of sheet supply cassette Side schematic view of sheet storage The figure for demonstrating the sheet supply from a sheet storage part The figure for demonstrating the sheet supply from a sheet storage part The figure for demonstrating the sheet supply from a sheet storage part Plan view showing schematic configuration of clamper and clamper transport section The figure which shows the positional relationship of a photo sensor, LED, and a lenticular sheet Schematic of ribbon exchange gatling mechanism Block diagram showing the main configuration of the printing device Flowchart showing processing operation during printing of printing apparatus Diagram showing the capstan and its surroundings during lenticular sheet conveyance Diagram showing the capstan and its surroundings during printing

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Overall configuration of printing device and outline of stereoscopic image]
1 and 2 are internal perspective views schematically showing a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which lenticular sheets are supplied from a sheet supply cassette, and FIG. This shows the state during the subsequent sheet returning operation.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing apparatus 10 is a vertical 3D printer that conveys a lenticular sheet 12 in the vertical direction and prints it. The printing apparatus 10 mainly includes a sheet storage unit 100, a printing unit 200, and an idle feed. Part 300.

  The printing apparatus 10 is a sublimation type printer that uses ink ribbons of R (image receiving layer), Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and W (white). ) And lowering (reverse feeding to the printing start position) are repeatedly performed, and the conveying path of the lenticular sheet 12 is configured by the same straight path for both rising and lowering.

  The lenticular sheet 12 is a printing medium made of a flexible member having heat resistance corresponding to the printing operation of the thermal head 260. This member is a transparent resin such as polycarbonate, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). ) Etc. are used. Moreover, although the thickness of the lenticular sheet 12 is arbitrary, it is 0.3 mm, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lenticular sheet 12 is formed with a lenticular lens in which a semi-cylindrical lens 1 is arranged one-dimensionally at a lens pitch PL on one surface. The opposite surface is a flat surface on which no lens is formed, and a multi-viewpoint image (six viewpoints in the figure) is recorded on the flat surface along the longitudinal direction of the lens 1 by the printing apparatus 10. The

  That is, a strip that is divided from each viewpoint image of the multi-viewpoint image in the vertical direction by the number of lenses 1 in the recording area of the lenticular sheet 12, and subjected to processing such as thinning out pixels in the vertical direction according to the number of viewpoints. A segmented image is generated. This strip-shaped divided image is distributed to each corresponding lens 1, and the divided images for each viewpoint distributed to each lens 1 are arranged and arranged in the order corresponding to the viewpoint position. The printing apparatus 10 records each divided image on the flat surface of the lenticular sheet 12 according to this arrangement.

  4 is a view of the lenticular sheet 12 as viewed from above, and the divided images P1 to P6 generated from the six viewpoint images are P1, P2, P3,... Corresponding to each lens 1. , P6 is a diagram showing an example recorded in the order of P6.

  The lens 1 has no lens effect in the longitudinal direction, and has a lens effect only in the arrangement direction. Due to the one-dimensional lens effect, among the divided images P1 to P6 arranged corresponding to the lenses 1, only the divided images corresponding to the viewing direction are enlarged in the arrangement direction of the lenses 1 (the horizontal direction of the divided images). Thus, the right eye of the observer is reached, and similarly, only a divided image different from that is enlarged in the horizontal direction and reaches the left eye of the observer.

  Therefore, the observer visually recognizes one viewpoint image among the multi-viewpoint images with the right eye and visually recognizes another viewpoint image with the left eye. The observer can visually recognize the stereoscopic image by the parallax of the viewpoint image visually recognized by the left and right eyes. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the divided images P3 and P4, which are intermediate viewpoint images, reach the left and right eyes by the lens 1 of the lenticular sheet 12.

<Sheet storage>
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the sheet storage unit 100.

  The sheet storage unit 100 mainly includes a sheet storage main body 110 and a sheet supply cassette 150, and the sheet supply cassette 150 can be detachably attached to the sheet storage main body 110.

  7 and 8 are perspective views of the sheet supply cassette 150, respectively. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the cassette cover 152 of the sheet supply cassette 150 is opened and 100 to 200 stacked lenticular sheets 12 are inserted into the cassette. The lenticular sheet 12 is inserted so that the surface on which the lenticular lens is formed is on the cassette cover 152 side, and is inserted in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the lens 1 is perpendicular to the insertion direction into the cassette. . FIG. 8 shows a state in which the cassette cover 152 is closed after the lenticular sheet 12 is inserted into the cassette.

  An opening 154 into which the feed roller 190 (see FIG. 6) is inserted is formed in the front surface of the sheet supply cassette 150, while an L-shaped pressure plate 112 (see FIG. 9) is formed in the cassette cover 152 on the back surface. A pressure plate opening 156 to be inserted is formed.

  A discharge port 158 for discharging one lenticular sheet 12 from the cassette is formed on the upper surface of the sheet supply cassette 150, and a ridge 160 is formed on the side surface of the sheet supply cassette 150 in the vertical direction. ing. The sheet supply cassette 150 is positioned at a predetermined position of the sheet storage body 110 by engaging the ridge 160 of the sheet supply cassette 150 with a concave groove 114 formed on the side surface of the sheet storage body 110.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the sheet storage unit 100.

  When the sheet supply cassette 150 is inserted into the sheet storage main body 110, the lenticular sheet 12 stored in the sheet supply cassette 150 is placed on the L-shaped pressure plate 112 on the sheet storage main body 110 side.

  The pressure plate 112 is supported by two guide shafts 116 (see FIG. 6) with one degree of freedom in the front and back directions (left and right directions in FIG. 9), and by a pressure plate drive mechanism including a motor (not shown). It can be moved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the pressure plate 112 presses the lenticular sheet 12 in the cassette via the elastic member 118, but the position of the pressure plate 112 is controlled so as to always press with a constant pressure.

  The sheet storage body 110 is configured to be swingable by a cassette retracting mechanism 434 shown in FIG. The cassette retracting mechanism 434 is mainly composed of a plunger 122, an urging spring 124, and a stopper 126, and the sheet storage body 110 is swingably disposed by a rotating shaft 120 at the bottom.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the lenticular sheet 12 is supplied from the sheet supply cassette 150, the power supply to the plunger 122 is turned off. As a result, the sheet storage body 110 is rotated to a position where it abuts against the stopper 126 by the urging force of the urging spring 124, and the sheet supply cassette 150 stored in the sheet storage body 110 is held in the vertical position.

  On the other hand, when the lenticular sheet 12 is discharged from the sheet supply cassette 150 and the first printing with the ink ribbon is completed, the energization to the plunger 122 is turned on. Accordingly, the sheet storage body 110 is rotated (tilted) counterclockwise in FIG. 9 against the biasing force of the biasing spring 124.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which the sheet storage body 110 is tilted by the plunger 122. The lenticular sheet 12 is returned to the printing start position for printing with the next ink ribbon, but the lenticular sheet 12 interferes with the sheet supply cassette 110 by tilting the sheet storage body 110 (sheet supply cassette 110). There is nothing.

  Thus, the lenticular sheet 12 can be conveyed in a straight path from the printing operation to the return operation of the lenticular sheet 12, and the conveyance path of the lenticular sheet 12 is shortened (the apparatus is downsized).

  When the feed roller 190 is rotationally driven in the feeding direction while the lenticular sheet 12 is pressed, the lenticular sheet 12 that contacts the feed roller 190 is moved according to the rotation of the feed roller 190 as shown in FIG. The lenticular sheet 12 is sent out from the discharge port 158 of the sheet supply cassette 150. The discharge port 158 is formed so that its width W is wider than the sheet thickness t and narrower than the sheet thickness 2t of two sheets, so that only one lenticular sheet 12 is sent out from the discharge port 158. It is.

  When the feed roller 190 further rotates and the D-cut reaches a position facing the lenticular sheet 12 as shown in FIG. 12, the rotation is controlled to stop. Thus, the lenticular sheet 12 is moved from the sheet supply cassette 150 to a position where a certain amount (for example, the downstream end of the lenticular sheet 12 can be sandwiched between the transport roller 212 and the capstan roller 214 (hereinafter referred to as the capstan 214). ) Sent out. At this time, the feed roller 190 does not contact the lenticular sheet 12 (the frictional force from the feed roller 190 does not act).

<Printing part>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printing unit 200 includes a sheet conveyance mechanism that mainly conveys the lenticular sheet 12 during printing, and a ribbon exchange gatling mechanism loaded with R, Y, M, C, and W ink ribbons. 250 and a thermal head 260.

  The sheet conveying mechanism 431 mainly includes a feed roller 190, a conveying roller 212, a capstan 214, a clamper 220, and a clamper conveying unit 230 that moves the clamper 220.

  The lenticular sheet 12 fed by a certain amount from the sheet supply cassette 150 by the feed roller 190 reaches the position of the transport roller 212 at the leading end. Here, the capstan 214 is pressed against the conveying roller 212 via the lenticular sheet 12, and the lenticular sheet 12 can be conveyed by driving the conveying roller 212.

  The conveyance of the lenticular sheet 12 by the conveyance roller 212 and the capstan 214 is performed until the leading end of the lenticular sheet 12 reaches the clamper 220 waiting at the lowest predetermined position. The clamper 220 is biased in a direction in which the pair of clamp members is always closed by a spring. In the standby state, the pair of clamp members are in a standby state in which the pair of clamp members are opened against the biasing force of the spring. is doing.

  When the leading end of the lenticular sheet 12 reaches the clamper 220, the leading end of the lenticular sheet 12 is clamped by the clamper 220, and the capstan 214 is retracted from the conveying roller 212 to a predetermined position. Thereafter, the lenticular sheet 12 is transported (lifted) together with the clamper 220 by the clamper transport unit 230.

  FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the clamper 220 and the clamper transport unit 230.

  1 is provided with a pair of drive pulleys 306 that are driven from a drive motor 302 via a speed reduction mechanism 304, and a pair of driven pulleys 308 in the vicinity of the platen roller 262. Is provided.

  A drive belt 310 is wound between the drive pulley 306 and the driven pulley 308, and a clamper 220 is fixed between the drive belts 310 by bolts (not shown) as shown in FIG.

  Further, a guide rail 312 for guiding the clamper 220 in the vertical direction along the drive belt 310 is disposed, and a resin rail for guiding the lenticular sheet 12 to the clamper 220 waiting at a predetermined position at the lowest position. A guide 314 is provided. A rubber guide may be used instead of the resin guide 314.

  The width of the pair of resin guides 314 is wider than the width of the lenticular sheet 12 by a predetermined clearance, and the resin guide 314 guides the lenticular sheet 12 along the vertical direction.

  In addition, three photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C (not shown in FIG. 13) are arranged on the entrance side of the platen roller 262 in parallel with the platen roller 262, and the photo is placed across the delivery path of the lenticular sheet 12. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) 321A, 321B, and 321C are disposed at positions facing the sensors 320A, 320B, and 320C. As shown in FIG. 14, the photosensor 320 and the LED 321 are configured as transmissive optical sensors that receive light emitted from the LEDs 321A, 321B, and 321C via the lenticular sheet 12 and are received by the photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C, respectively. Yes.

  The lenticular sheet 12 is conveyed so that the longitudinal direction of the lens 1 formed on the surface thereof is substantially parallel to the platen roller 262. Here, the amount of light received by the photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C is maximized when the optical axes of the LEDs 321A, 321B, and 321C coincide with the center of the lens 1 of the lenticular sheet 12, and is located in a valley between the lenses 1. To the minimum. Therefore, the inclination (azimuth angle) of the lenticular sheet 12 can be detected based on the detection signals of the three photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C.

  The azimuth adjustment of the lenticular sheet 12 (adjustment to make the azimuth angle 0) is performed by holding the tip of the lenticular sheet 12 by the clamper 220 and monitoring the detection signals of the three photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C. The pulleys 306 are driven independently, and the clamper 220 is slightly tilted by the azimuth adjustment.

  After the azimuth adjustment as described above, the clamper 220 is raised to convey the lenticular sheet 12 to the printing start position. The print start position includes, for example, a position at which the output signals of the photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C reach a predetermined value (for example, a peak value) after the conveyance of the lenticular sheet 12, and a photosensor 320 that is a known distance, It can be detected from the distance to the head 260.

  Thereafter, printing by the thermal head 260 is started. When the printing for one color is completed, the drive pulley 306 is reversely rotated to lower the clamper 220, and the returning operation is performed to return the lenticular sheet 12 to the printing start position again.

  Further, the lens pitch of the lens 1 of the lenticular sheet 12 can be detected based on detection signals of the photosensors 320A, 320B, and 320C when the clamper 220 conveys the lenticular sheet 12. Even when the lens pitch of the lenticular sheet 12 to be used is unknown, the thermal head 260 is controlled according to the detected lens pitch of the lens 1 to correspond to each lens 1 as shown in FIGS. It is possible to record each divided image at the position to be performed.

  Note that the photo sensor 320 is preferably arranged as close as possible to the position of the thermal head 260. This is to accurately measure the deformation of the lens 1 due to the heat of the thermal head 260 and the effect of the extension of the sheet due to the clamper 220 supporting the lenticular sheet 12 in the vertical direction.

  Further, the arrangement of the photosensor 320 and the LED 321 may be reversed. That is, the LED 321 may be disposed on the lenticular lens surface of the lenticular sheet 12 and the photo sensor 320 may be disposed on the printing surface side.

<Ribbon exchange gatling mechanism and thermal head>
FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the ribbon exchange gatling mechanism 250.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the ribbon exchange gatling mechanism 250 includes a ribbon cage holder 252 and a ribbon cage 254 so that the ribbon cage holder 252 can swing around a ribbon cage holder swinging shaft 252A. It has become.

  The thermal head 260 is provided in the ribbon cage holder 252, and is disposed at the tip of an arm member (not shown) that is rotatably provided on an axis coaxial with the ribbon cage holder swinging shaft 252A. By rotating this arm member, the thermal head 260 can be moved between the printing position and the retracted position.

  The ribbon cage holder 252 can move between the printing position and the maintenance position by swinging (turning) about the ribbon cage holder swinging shaft 252A. In the maintenance position, the ribbon cage holder 252 can move. A part of the holder 252 can protrude from the apparatus main body.

  The thermal head 260 moves in conjunction with the movement of the ribbon cage holder 252 to the maintenance position, and moves to a position where the heating element of the thermal head 260 can be touched from the outside. Thereby, maintenance such as cleaning and replacement of the thermal head 260 can be easily performed.

  On the other hand, the ribbon cage 254 is rotatably supported by the ribbon cage holder 252 by the ribbon cage rotation receiver 253. The ribbon cage 254 has five pairs of take-up reels 255 and supply reels 256 arranged at equal intervals, and R, Y, M, C, and W ink ribbons are set on the five pairs of reels, respectively. The The ribbon cage 254 is rotated by a gatling mechanism so that a desired ribbon comes to the position of the thermal head 260.

The take-up reel 255 of the pair of take-up reels 255 and the supply reel 256 moved to the position of the thermal head 260 is an ink ribbon through a friction clutch at a speed slightly higher than the moving speed of the lenticular sheet 12 at the time of printing. The supply reel 256 is braked so that a predetermined back tension acts on the ink ribbon.
Thus, when the lenticular sheet 12 moves during printing, the ink ribbon is fed in conjunction (synchronized) with the movement of the lenticular sheet 12.

  The thermal head 260 is moved to a printing position that contacts the platen roller 262 via the ink ribbon and the lenticular sheet 12 during printing by the head moving mechanism, and at the time of switching the ink ribbon and reverse feeding of the lenticular sheet 12, the platen roller 262. To the retreat position for retreat.

  The thermal head 260 is driven according to a multi-viewpoint image for 3D images (six-viewpoint image in this embodiment) as described later, and sublimates ink on the ink ribbon and transfers it to the lenticular sheet 12.

[Description of control system of printing device]
Next, a control system of the printing apparatus 10 having the above configuration will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the printing apparatus 10.

  The printing apparatus 10 includes a system controller 400, a program storage unit 402, a buffer memory 404, a sensor unit 406, an operation unit 408, a communication interface (communication I / F) 410, a control unit 420, a mechanism unit 430, a head driver 440, and a thermal The head 260 is configured.

  The system controller 400 is a part that performs overall control of each part by a program for 3D printing, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like can be considered. The program storage unit 402 stores a 3D printing program, and the system controller 400 reads and executes the program stored in the program storage unit 402 as appropriate.

  The buffer memory 404 is a part that temporarily stores print data received from a personal computer (PC) (not shown) via the communication I / F 410.

  A PC connected to the communication I / F 410 obtains a color two-viewpoint image (left and right images) obtained by photographing the same subject photographed by a 3D camera or the like, and a deviation amount of feature points whose features match from these left and right images The amount of deviation between pixels (parallax amount) is calculated for each pixel. After adjusting the calculated parallax amount for 3D printing, the adjusted parallax amount is interpolated to generate a six-viewpoint image. The PC further converts the six viewpoint images of R, G, and B into Y, M, and C, and generates one Y signal, M signal, and C signal from the color-converted six viewpoint images. These Y signal, M signal, and C signal are stored as print data in the buffer memory 404 from the PC via the communication I / F 410.

  Note that the image processing function of the PC may be built in the printing apparatus 10.

  The sensor unit 406 includes sensors that detect the positions, rotation angles, and the like of the photosensors 320A to 320C and the mechanism unit 430 shown in FIG. 13 and output detected signals to the system controller 400, respectively.

  The operation unit 408 includes a power switch, a print start switch, a switch for setting the number of prints, and the like. A signal generated by an operation on the operation unit 408 is input to the system controller 400.

  The mechanism unit 430 includes a sheet transport mechanism 431, a head moving mechanism 432, an ink ribbon drive mechanism 433, a cassette retraction mechanism 434, and a pressure plate drive mechanism 435.

  The sheet transport mechanism 431 includes a feed roller 190, a transport roller 212, a capstan 214, a clamper 220, a drive motor 302, and the like illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, and is configured from a clamper transport unit 230 (FIG. 13).

  The control unit 420 includes a sheet conveyance control unit 421, a head movement control unit 422, an ink ribbon control unit 423, and a cassette control unit 424.

  The system controller 400 outputs a control signal to the control unit 420 according to the printing sequence, and drives and controls the mechanism unit 430 via the control unit 420.

  As a result, the sheet conveyance control unit 420 discharges the lenticular sheet 12 from the sheet supply cassette 150 and conveys the lenticular sheet 12 up and down during printing.

  As described with reference to FIG. 15, the head moving mechanism 432 rotates the arm unit having a rotation axis coaxial with the ribbon cage holder swinging shaft 252A, thereby causing the thermal head 260 disposed at the tip of the arm unit to move. The platen roller 262 is moved between the printing position and the retracted position. The retraction position includes a small retraction position and a large retraction position. When feeding only the ink ribbon to perform ink cueing, the retraction position is moved from the platen roller 262 to a small retraction position, When the ribbon cage 254 is rotated and replaced with an ink ribbon of another color, the ribbon cage 254 is moved to a large retraction position that does not interfere with the ink ribbon set on the take-up reel 255 and the supply reel 256.

  The ink ribbon drive mechanism 433 includes a mechanism for rotating the ribbon cage 254 of the ribbon exchange gatling mechanism 250 shown in FIG. 15, five pairs of take-up reels 255 disposed on the ribbon cage 254, and a reel for driving the supply reel 256. And a drive mechanism.

  As described with reference to FIG. 9, the cassette retracting mechanism 434 includes the plunger 122 and the like, and swings the sheet storage main body 110 according to a command from the system controller 400.

  The pressure plate drive mechanism 435 moves the pressure plate 112 as described with reference to FIG. 10. The pressure plate drive mechanism 435 moves the pressure plate 112 according to a command from the system controller 400 so that a constant pressing force is applied to the lenticular sheet 12 in the cassette. Yes.

  The thermal head 260 has a large number of heating elements arranged in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the lenticular sheet 12. Based on the print data stored in the buffer memory 404, the system controller 400 controls the temperature of each heating element via the head driver 440 so that the density corresponds to the print data for each line, and the ink ribbon The ink is sublimated and transferred to the lenticular sheet 12, and then the lenticular sheet 12 is fed by one line by the sheet conveying mechanism 431. Thereafter, the thermal transfer of each line is performed one after another.

[Description of operation of printing device]
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 10 will be described.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing operation at the time of printing of the printing apparatus 10, and will be described below according to this flowchart. This printing process is controlled by the system controller 400. A program for causing the system controller 400 to execute this printing process is stored in the program storage unit 402.

[Step S10]
After print data for 3D printing is stored in the buffer memory 404 from the PC via the communication I / F 410, printing is started when the print start switch of the operation unit 408 is turned on. An instruction to start printing may be input from the PC connected to the communication I / F 410.

[Step S12]
When the start of printing is instructed, first, the system controller 400 rotates the feed roller 190 once and feeds the lenticular sheet 12 from the sheet supply cassette 110 by a certain amount. At this time, the leading end of the lenticular sheet 12 reaches the conveying roller 212.

[Step S14]
The system controller 400 presses the capstan 214 evacuated to a predetermined position to the transport roller 212 and sandwiches the lenticular sheet 12 between the transport roller 212 and the capstan 214. Note that the capstan 214 may be pressure-bonded to the conveyance roller 212 in advance, and the lenticular sheet 12 may be inserted between the conveyance roller 212 and the capstan 214 when the lenticular sheet 12 is sent out in step S12.

[Step S16]
Subsequently, the system controller 400 drives the conveyance roller 212 for a predetermined time to convey the lenticular sheet 12 to the clamper 220. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the capstan 214 and its periphery at this time. At this time, the clamper 220 stands by at the lowest predetermined position, and when the leading end of the lenticular sheet 12 comes into contact with the clamper 220, the conveying roller 212 is idled. Further, the lenticular sheet 12 is roughly positioned by bringing the lenticular sheet 12 into contact with the clamper 220.

[Step S18]
The system controller 400 drives a cam or the like to close the pair of clamp members by the biasing force of the spring, and clamps the lenticular sheet 12 to the clamper 220. Further, the capstan 214 that has been pressure-bonded to the conveying roller 212 is retracted to a predetermined position, and the lenticular sheet 12 is released from the nipping between the conveying roller 212 and the capstan 214. Subsequently, azimuth adjustment is performed as described in FIG.

[Step S20]
The system controller 400 drives the clamper transport unit 230 to transport the lenticular sheet 12 sandwiched between the clampers 220 to the print start position. The print start position can be, for example, a position where the output signals of the photosensors 320A to 320C shown in FIG. 13 reach a predetermined value (for example, a peak value) after the lenticular sheet 12 is conveyed. As a result, the relative position between the lens position of the lenticular sheet 12 and the print position of the six viewpoint images is adjusted.

[Step S22]
The system controller 400 controls the head moving mechanism 432 via the head movement control unit 422 and presses the thermal head 260 against the platen roller 262 with the R ink ribbon and the lenticular sheet 12 interposed therebetween. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the capstan 214 and its periphery at this time. The ink ribbon supplied from the supply reel 256 to the thermal head 260 is guided by the capstan 214 to change the conveyance path, and is arranged in the vicinity of the thermal head 260 regardless of the winding diameter of the ink ribbon of the supply reel 256. It passes through a position where it does not interfere with the light emitting diode 321. As described above, the capstan 214 operates as a guide roller that forms a transport path of the ink ribbon at a predetermined position of the retreat destination.

[Step S24]
The system controller 400 rotates the drive motor 302 via the sheet conveyance control unit 421 to drive the clamper 220, and advances the lenticular sheet 12 in the printing direction FW as shown in FIG. In synchronization therewith, the ink ribbon drive mechanism 433 energizes the thermal head 260 to generate heat while winding the ink ribbon on the take-up reel 255 at a speed slightly higher than the moving speed of the lenticular sheet 12, and the lenticular from the R ink ribbon. The receiving layer is transferred to the sheet 12. At this time, the capstan 214 rotates in the direction opposite to that during the conveyance of the lenticular sheet 12 shown in FIG. 18 according to the winding speed of the ink ribbon.

[Step S25]
The system controller 400 determines whether or not the receiving layer formation by the R ink ribbon is finished. For example, the system controller 400 determines this according to whether or not the lenticular sheet 12 has been sent out by a predetermined amount from the print start position. If Yes, the process proceeds to S26, and if No, the process returns to S24.

[Step S26]
After the transfer of the receiving layer is completed, the system controller 400 controls the head moving mechanism 432 via the head movement control unit 422 to move the thermal head 260 to a position where it does not interfere with the ink ribbon (position shown in FIG. 18).

[Step S27]
The system controller 400 controls the cassette retracting mechanism 434 via the cassette control unit 424, moves the sheet storage body 110 to the retracted position as shown in FIG. 2, and holds the sheet storage body 110 at the retracted position.

[Step S28]
The system controller 400 controls the sheet conveyance mechanism 431 via the sheet conveyance control unit 421 and moves the lenticular sheet 12 from the return direction REV opposite to the printing direction FW, that is, from the thermal head 260 side to the sheet storage body 110 side. The movement is continued until the lenticular sheet 12 reaches the printing start position (cue position). In step S27, since the sheet storage body 110 is tilted by a predetermined angle, the lenticular sheet 12 does not interfere with the sheet supply cassette 110.

  Further, the system controller 400 controls the ink ribbon drive mechanism 433 via the ink ribbon control unit 423, and rotates the ribbon exchange gatling mechanism 250 to the position of the ink ribbon of the color to be set first. Here, the first color is Y, but other colors may be used. Ink ribbons of colors other than Y may be employed.

[Step S29]
The system controller 400 uses the head moving mechanism 432 to press and contact the platen roller 262 with the ink ribbon after replacement of the thermal head 260 and the lenticular sheet 12, and then rotates the drive motor 302 to drive the clamper 220 to drive the lenticular sheet 12. Is advanced in the printing direction FW. In synchronization therewith, the ink ribbon drive mechanism 433 energizes the thermal head 260 to generate heat while winding the ink ribbon on the take-up reel 255 at a speed slightly faster than the moving speed of the lenticular sheet 12, and the lenticular from the color ink ribbon. The heated color material is transferred to the marking screen of the sheet 12 to form an image.

  Similarly, the ink ribbon supplied from the supply reel 256 to the thermal head 260 is guided by the capstan 214 and passes through a position where it does not interfere with the light emitting diode 321.

[Step S30]
The system controller 400 determines whether or not the transfer of all colors by the set color ink ribbon has been completed. This can be determined in the same manner as in step S25. If yes, go to S32, if no, go to S31.

[Step S31]
The system controller 400 controls the sheet conveyance mechanism 431 via the sheet conveyance control unit 421 and moves the lenticular sheet 12 in the return direction REV until reaching the print start position (cueing position).

  Further, the system controller 400 controls the ink ribbon drive mechanism 433 via the ink ribbon control unit 423, and rotates the ribbon exchange gatling mechanism 250 to the position of the ink ribbon of the next set color. Here, although the ribbon exchange gatling mechanism 250 is rotated in the order of Y, M, C, and W, other orders may be used. Ink ribbons of colors other than Y, M, C, and W may be employed. After the sheet cueing and the ink ribbon replacement, the process returns to S29, and the color is transferred to the printing screen of the lenticular sheet 12 by the next set ink ribbon. In the same manner, the printing with the set color ink ribbon, the determination of the end of printing with the ink ribbon, the replacement of the ink ribbon according to the determination of the end of printing and the cueing of the lenticular sheet 12 are performed for the ink ribbons of all colors. Is called.

[Step S32]
After printing all colors, the system controller 400 cuts a predetermined area at the front and rear end portions of the lenticular sheet 12 with a cutter (not shown), discharges the lenticular sheet 12 with a discharge mechanism (not shown), and ends the printing operation. The discharge mechanism is optional.

[Step S33]
The system controller 400 controls the cassette retracting mechanism 434 via the cassette control unit 424, and holds the sheet supply cassette 150 stored in the sheet storage body 110 in the vertical position.

[Step S34]
The system controller 400 determines whether printing for all sheets has been completed. In the case of Yes, this process is complete | finished. In No, it returns to S10 and feeding of the next sheet is started.

  As described above, since the capstan 214 serves as both the capstan for conveying the lenticular sheet 12 and the guide roller for the ink ribbon, it can form a conveyance path for the ink ribbon without increasing the number of components. it can. Further, even if the winding diameter of the ink ribbon changes greatly, the members arranged around the thermal head 260 and the ink ribbon do not interfere with each other, and good ink ribbon conveyance is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the LEDs 321 are arranged on the printing surface of the lenticular sheet 12 and the photosensors 320 are arranged on the lens surface. In this case, the capstan 214 operates so as to avoid interference between the photosensor 320 and the ink ribbon. Needless to say, what is arranged in the vicinity of the thermal head 260 may not be a photo sensor or an LED. The capstan 214 avoids interference between a member arranged in the vicinity of the thermal head 260 and the ink ribbon. It only has to work.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lens, 10 ... Printing apparatus, 12 ... Lenticular sheet, 212 ... Conveyance roller, 214 ... Capstan roller, 220 ... Clamper, 255 ... Take-up reel, 256 ... Supply reel, 260 ... Thermal head, 262 ... Platen roller, 320A, 320B, 320C ... Photo sensor, 321A, 321B, 321C ... Light emitting diode

Claims (6)

The recording medium is sandwiched between a roller that contacts one surface of the recording medium and a transport roller that contacts the other surface different from the one surface of the recording medium, and is supplied in a predetermined transport direction. Supply means;
An ink supply reel on which an untransferred portion of the ink ribbon is wound;
A recording head for forming an image on a recording medium supplied by the supply means, wherein an ink ribbon supplied from the ink supply reel is brought into pressure contact with the one surface of the recording medium and applied to the recording medium A recording head for transferring ink;
Transport means for transporting the recording medium in the transport direction when ink is transferred by the recording head;
An ink take-up reel on which the transferred portion of the ink ribbon is taken up;
A sensor for acquiring information about the recording medium, the sensor being disposed between the ink supply reel and the recording head;
A recording head moving means for moving the recording head between an ink transfer position and a retracted position separated from the ink transfer position, and at least a recording head moving means for moving to the retracted position when the recording medium is supplied;
Roller moving means for moving the roller between a recording medium contact position and a first position spaced from the recording medium contact position, wherein the first position is at least when the recording head is at the ink transfer position. Roller moving means for moving to,
With
The roller operates as a guide roller that changes an ink ribbon conveyance path from the ink supply reel to the recording head so that the ink ribbon and the sensor do not interfere with each other at the first position. Recording device. The recording medium is made of a material that transmits light,
The image according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a transmissive optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged at positions facing each other with the recording medium interposed therebetween. Recording device. The sensor detects an inclination of the recording medium with respect to the transport direction;
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correcting unit that corrects an inclination of the recording medium with respect to the transport direction based on a detection result of the sensor. A lenticular lens is formed on the other surface of the recording medium,
The sensor detects the lens pitch of the lenticular lens,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording head transfers ink to the recording medium in accordance with the detected lens pitch.   5. The ink ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the ink ribbon is a thermal transfer type ink ribbon, and the recording head is a line thermal head that selectively heats the ink ribbon pressure contact surface of the recording head in accordance with a printing signal. An image recording apparatus according to any one of the above.   6. The recording head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head presses the ink ribbon against the one surface of the recording medium between a platen roller that contacts the other surface of the recording medium. The image recording apparatus according to any one of the above.

Images