JP2556165B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device for recording characters and images on recording paper.

[Prior Art] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional printer device (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 61-173597).

In the figure, (1) is a recording paper, (2) is a clamp,
(3) is a cylindrical platen roller having an outer circumference slightly longer than the length of the recording paper (1), and the leading end of which is fixed by the clamp (2) with the platen shaft (3a) as the center of rotation. Wrap the paper (1). (4) is an ink sheet, and a sublimable ink is applied to the surface facing the recording paper (1) in order of yellow, magenta, and cyan for each screen recording area, and (4a) is the ink sheet. With the ink sheet supply reel around which (4) is wound, an appropriate back tension is always given to the traveling of the ink sheet (4) in the direction of arrow a,
(4b) is an ink sheet take-up reel that rotates so as to take up the ink sheet (4). (5) is a line type thermal head, in which the heating elements (5a) are arranged in a line in the width direction of the recording paper (1), and (6) and (7) are the ink sheets (4). It is a guide roller that guides and is supported by the same support (not shown) as the thermal head (5). Reference numeral (8) is a motor, which has a motor shaft (8a) as a rotating shaft, and is a driving means for rotating the platen roller (3),
(9) is a gear shaft. (10) is a drive gear that is axially fixed to the motor shaft (8a), (11) is a platen gear that is axially fixed to the platen shaft (3a),
(12) is an intermediate gear that is rotatably supported about the gear shaft (9) and is always meshed with the drive gear (10), and (13) is rotatably supported about the gear shaft (9) The intermediate gears (12) and (13) are integrally rotated by the intermediate gear that is always meshed with the platen gear (11). The drive gear (10), the intermediate gears (12) and (13), the platen gear (11)
The modules are all the same, and these four gears constitute a speed reduction drive transmission mechanism. The number of teeth is, for example, 22 for the drive gear (10), 88 for the intermediate gear (12), 59 for the intermediate gear (13), and 118 for the platen gear (11). Here, assuming that the reduction ratio is the number of rotations of the driving gear required to rotate the driven gear one revolution, the reduction ratio between the driving gear (10) and the intermediate gear (12) is 4,
The reduction gear ratio between the intermediate gear (13) and the platen gear (11) is 2, and the final reduction gear ratio of the reduction drive transmission mechanism is 8.

The operation of the conventional printer device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the paper feeding state is shown in FIG. 7, the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7) are separated from the platen roller (3), and the clamp (2) is connected to the platen roller (3). At the position shown in FIG. 7 above, the recording paper (1) is conveyed in the direction of arrow b, the clamp (2) moves in the direction of arrow c, and the leading end of the recording paper (1) is clamped.

Subsequently, the rotational force of the motor (8) is transmitted to the platen gear (11) via the drive gear (10) and the intermediate gears (12) and (13), so that the platen roller (3) rotates in the direction of arrow d. When the leading edge of the recording paper (1) reaches a predetermined recording start position near the thermal head (5), the motor (8) stops rotating and the platen roller (3) temporarily stops rotating. At this time, the recording start portion of the first color yellow ink is located at a position facing the heating element (5a) of the ink sheet (4), and the thermal head (5)
The guide rollers (6) and (7) move in the direction of arrow e, and the heating element (5a) is pressed against the platen roller (3) via the ink sheet (4) and the recording paper (1). This state is shown in FIG. 8 as a recording start state.

Next, the platen roller (3) rotates in the direction of arrow f,
The recording paper (1) and the ink sheet (4) are conveyed while being in close contact with each other, and at the same time, a yellow image signal is transmitted to the thermal head (5) in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the recording paper (1), and the heating element ( 5a) is sequentially and selectively heated to transfer the yellow ink onto the recording paper (1) to record a yellow image. At this time, as the ink sheet (4) travels in the direction of arrow g, the sheet supply reel (4a) rotates in the direction of arrow h while giving an appropriate back tension, and the sheet take-up reel (4b) moves to the ink sheet (4b). Rotate in the direction of arrow i while winding 4). When the recording of the yellow image is completed by the above operation, the rotation of the platen roller (3) is temporarily stopped, and the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7) move in the direction of arrow j to move the platen roller ( Separate from 3). This state is shown in FIG. 9 as the recording end state.

After that, when the platen roller (3) rotates in the direction of the arrow k and the leading edge of the recording paper (1) reaches the same position as the start of yellow image recording again, the rotation of the platen roller (3) is temporarily stopped. During this time, the ink sheet (4) is conveyed by the sheet take-up reel (4b) in the direction of arrow 1 for a certain period of time, and when the recording start portion of the second color magenta ink comes to a position facing the heating element (5a), The rotation of the sheet take-up reel (4b) stops.

After the above operation in FIG. 9 is completed, the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7) move in the direction of arrow m, and the heating element (5a) moves to the ink sheet (4) and the recording paper. It is pressed against the platen roller (3) via (1). Then, the platen roller (3) rotates, and the magenta image is recorded so as to overlap the already recorded yellow image. After recording the magenta image,
Similarly, the cyan images are overlaid and recorded, and the color recording is completed.

If there is uneven pitch or eccentricity of the pitch circle in at least one of the drive gear (10), the intermediate gears (12) and (13), and the platen gear (11), even if the Even if the rotation accuracy of (8) is good, the rotation of the platen roller (3) has uneven rotation, and uneven pitch occurs in the image recorded on the recording paper (1). However, with this gear configuration, the platen gear (11)
The intermediate gears (13) and (12) make two revolutions and the drive gear (10) makes eight revolutions during one revolution of. Therefore, the rotation unevenness of the platen roller (3) due to the pitch unevenness of each gear or the eccentricity of the pitch circle, etc. appears periodically for each rotation of the platen roller (3), and for example, during recording of a yellow image. The relative meshing positional relationship between the gears is reproduced even during recording of the magenta image and the cyan image. As a result, the pitch unevenness of the recorded image becomes the same for each color, and the color shift is reduced.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Generally, in order to perform high-quality color recording, it is necessary to superimpose and transfer a plurality of dyes on the same portion, and the accuracy of this superposition greatly affects the image quality. When a relative positional deviation occurs between the images of the respective colors after transfer, so-called color deviation occurs, which causes unnatural color contours and lowers the resolution.

However, in such a printer, if the speed reduction ratio between the gears forming the speed reduction drive transmission mechanism for transmitting the speed to the platen roller by reducing the rotation speed of the drive means is arbitrarily set, during recording of one color, that is, the platen roller. The relative meshing positional relationship between the gears at any time during one rotation of may be different from the meshing positional relationship during recording of another color. In this case, the effect of the inherent unevenness of rotation of each gear on the unevenness of rotation of the platen roller differs for each color, resulting in a color shift.

Therefore, as in the conventional example, all the reduction ratios between the gears constituting the reduction drive transmission mechanism are set to integers, and the relative meshing positional relationship between the gears at any time during one rotation of the platen roller is the same for each color. By so doing, there is used a method of reducing the color misregistration by making the rotation unevenness of the platen roller due to the characteristic of the unique rotation unevenness of each gear the same for each color.

However, by making the relative meshing positional relationship between each gear the same, the number of gears adjacent to each gear is 1
The teeth of the same portion are always in contact with each other every cycle, and the teeth of the portion are worn. Generally, this kind of wear does not occur uniformly in each gear, and because some parts that wear well and parts that do not wear easily coexist, this causes uneven wear of each gear, which causes the platen roller to wear. There is a problem that uneven rotation is caused and the life of each gear is significantly shortened. From this, it can be said that making all the reduction ratios between the gears forming the reduction drive transmission mechanism all integers deviates from the original design concept.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and reduces uneven wear of each gear forming the reduction drive transmission mechanism, thereby reducing uneven rotation of the platen roller due to the uneven wear. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a printer device which can extend the life of each gear.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A printer device according to the present invention performs color recording by winding a recording sheet around a platen roller, rotating the recording sheet, and successively transferring a plurality of dyes one by one onto the recording sheet in a superimposed manner. In a printer device including a drive unit and a deceleration drive transmission mechanism that reduces the number of revolutions of the drive unit and transmits the deceleration drive transmission to the platen roller, a combination of meshes between gears forming the deceleration drive transmission mechanism is changed. , And a clutch mechanism capable of switching between a state in which the reduction ratios between the gears are all integers and a state in which at least one of the reduction ratios is not an integer.

[Operation] In the printer apparatus configured as described above, the speed reduction ratios between the gears are all integers during one color recording, and the speed reductions between the gears are performed only during paper feeding or paper discharging. By setting at least one of the ratios not to be an integer, the relative meshing positional relationship between the gears in the next color recording is changed.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an enlarged configuration diagram of a main part showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, (1) to (9) are parts that are the same as or correspond to those in the above-described conventional example, and therefore, are assigned the same reference numerals and explanations thereof are omitted. (20) is a drive gear that is fixed to the motor shaft (8a), (21) is a platen gear that is fixed to the platen shaft (3a), and (22) is the platen roller (3) and the above. The platen gear is located between the platen gear (21) and is fixed to the platen shaft (3a). (23) is the gear shaft (9)
Is an intermediate gear that is rotatably supported around, and is always meshed with the drive gear (20), and is also meshed with the platen gear (22) by sliding on the gear shaft (9) in the direction of arrow a. You can (24) is an intermediate gear which is rotatably supported around the gear shaft (9), and is slid on the gear shaft (9) in the direction of arrow a to engage with the platen gear (21). You can Reference numeral (25) is a rim rotatably supported about the gear shaft (9), and can be slid on the gear shaft (9) in the direction of arrow a. Here, the intermediate gears (23) and (24) and the rim (25) rotate or slide integrally. (2
6) is a lever, which has a protrusion (26a), can rotate in the direction of arrow b around the fulcrum shaft (26b), and has one end hooked on the rim (25). (27)
Is a lever, which is hooked on the protrusion (26a), and is translated in the direction of arrow c by a driving force (not shown).

The rim (25) and the levers (26) and (2
The clutch mechanism is composed of 7), and the lever (27)
Is translated in the direction of arrow c, the lever (26) rotates about the fulcrum shaft (26b) in the direction of arrow b, and the rim (25) and the intermediate gears (23) and (24) Slide integrally on the gear shaft (9) in the direction of arrow a, and the combination of the intermediate gears (23) and (24) with the platen gears (21) and (22) is The gear (23) and the platen gear (22) mesh with each other, but the intermediate gear (24) and the platen gear (21) do not mesh with each other, and the intermediate gear (23) and the platen gear (22). ), But the intermediate gear (24) and the platen gear (21) are in mesh with each other.

The drive gear (20), the intermediate gear (23) and (2
4) The modules of the platen gears (21) and (22) are all the same, and these five gears constitute a reduction drive transmission mechanism. The number of teeth is, for example, the drive gear (20)
22 pieces, the above intermediate gear (23) is 88 pieces, the above intermediate gear (24)
Is 59, the platen gear (21) is 118, and the platen gear (22) is 89, the drive gear (2
0) and the intermediate gear (23) have a reduction ratio of 4, and the intermediate gear (24) and the platen gear (21) have a reduction ratio of 2, which is an integer. The reduction ratio with the gear (22) is 89/88, which is not an integer.

The operation of the printer device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the clutch mechanism shown in FIG. 1 is not shown in FIGS.

First, the paper feeding state is shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate gear (23) meshes with the drive gear (20) and the platen gear (22), and the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7). Is separated from the platen roller (3), and when the clamp (2) is at the position shown in FIG. 2 on the platen roller (3), the recording paper (1) is conveyed in the direction of the arrow d and the clamp (2) is conveyed. Moves in the direction of arrow e, and the leading edge of the recording paper (1) is clamped. Subsequently, the rotational force of the motor (8) is transmitted to the platen gear (22) via the drive gear (20) and the intermediate gear (23), and as a result, the platen roller (3) rotates in the direction of the arrow f and the recording paper. When the tip of (1) reaches a predetermined recording start position near the thermal head (5), the rotation of the motor (8) is stopped and the rotation of the platen roller (3) is temporarily stopped, so that a clutch mechanism (not shown) is provided. By this, the intermediate gears (23) and (24) slide on the gear shaft (9) in the direction of arrow g, and the intermediate gear (24) and the platen gear (21) mesh with each other. At this time, the recording start portion of the first color yellow ink comes at a position facing the heat generating element (5a) of the ink sheet (4), and the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7) ) Moves in the direction of arrow h, and the heating element (5a) is pressed against the platen roller (3) via the ink sheet (4) and the recording paper (1). This state is shown in FIG. 3 as the recording start state.

Next, the platen roller (3) rotates in the direction of arrow i,
The recording paper (1) and the ink sheet (4) are conveyed while being in close contact with each other, and at the same time, a yellow image signal is transmitted to the thermal head (5) in synchronization with the conveyance speed of the recording paper (1), and the heating element ( 5a) (not shown) is sequentially and selectively heated to transfer the yellow ink onto the recording paper (1) to record a yellow image. At this time, as the ink sheet (4) travels in the direction of arrow j, the sheet supply reel (4a) rotates in the direction of arrow k while giving an appropriate back tension, and the sheet take-up reel (4b) moves to the ink sheet (4b). 4)
While winding, rotate in the direction of arrow 1.

When the recording of the yellow image is completed by the above operation,
The rotation of the platen roller (3) is temporarily stopped, and the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7)
(Not shown) moves in the direction of arrow m and separates from the platen roller (3). This state is shown in FIG. 4 as the recording end state.

After that, when the platen roller (3) rotates in the direction of arrow n and the leading edge of the recording paper (1) reaches the same position as the start of yellow image recording again, the rotation of the platen roller (3) is temporarily stopped. During this time, the ink sheet (4) is conveyed by the sheet take-up reel (4b) in the direction of arrow o for a certain period of time, and when the recording start portion of the magenta ink of the second color comes to a position facing the heating element (5a), The rotation of the sheet take-up reel (4b) stops. After the above operation in FIG. 4 is completed, the thermal head (5) and the guide rollers (6) and (7) move in the direction of arrow p, and the heating element (5a) moves to the ink sheet (4) and the recording paper. (1)
It is pressed against the platen roller (3) via. And
The platen roller (3) rotates, and the magenta image is recorded so as to overlap the already recorded yellow image. When the recording of the magenta image is completed, the cyan images are overlaid and recorded in the same manner, and the color recording is completed. When color recording is completed, the intermediate gear (2
3) and (24) slide on the gear shaft (9) in the direction of arrow q, the intermediate gear (23) and the platen gear (22) mesh with each other as in the case of paper feeding, and in this state, the platen roller (3)
Is rotated, the clamp (2) is moved at a predetermined position to release the leading end of the recording paper (1), and the paper is discharged. This state is shown in FIG. 5 as a discharged state.

[Advantages of the Invention] The present invention is configured as described above, and by changing the meshing combination of the gears only at the time of paper feeding and paper discharging, the relative distance between the gears at the next color recording is changed. The gear meshing positional relationship is changed, uneven wear of each gear is reduced, rotational unevenness resulting from this is reduced, and the life of each gear is extended.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged configuration diagram of essential parts showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a paper feeding state in the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a recording start state in the operation of this embodiment. 4 is a perspective view showing a recording completed state in the operation of this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a discharged state in the operation of this embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a conventional printer device. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the paper feeding state in the operation of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a side view showing the recording start state in the operation of FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a recording in the operation of FIG. It is a side view which shows an end state. In the figure, (1) is a recording paper, (2) is a clamp,
(3) is a platen roller, (4) is an ink sheet,
(5) is a thermal head, (6) and (7) are guide rollers, (8) is a motor, (9) is a gear shaft, and (2
0) is the drive gear, (21) and (22) are platen gears,
(23) and (24) are intermediate gears, (25) are rims, (26)
And (27) are levers. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A drive means for performing color recording by winding a recording paper around a platen roller and rotating it, and successively transferring a plurality of dyes one by one onto the recording paper, and reducing the number of rotations of the driving means. In the printer device including the deceleration drive transmission mechanism that transmits the deceleration drive transmission mechanism to the platen roller, the combination of the meshes of the gears forming the deceleration drive transmission mechanism is changed, and the reduction ratios of the gears are all integers. A printer apparatus having a clutch mechanism capable of switching between a certain state and a state in which at least one of the reduction ratios is not an integer.