JP2585580B2 - Thermal transfer recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a thermal transfer recording apparatus that performs superposition recording of a plurality of colors.

[Conventional technology]

There are terminal output devices that record characters and graphics in accordance with information output from communication equipment and electronic computers, etc. It is desired to carry out. As one of the systems for performing color recording, a thermal transfer recording system is regarded as promising because it is maintenance-free and the configuration of the apparatus is simple.

Conventionally, when recording is performed by a thermal transfer recording apparatus, a thermal head comprising a plurality of externally controllable micro heating elements arranged in a row is provided on a sheet-like base surface by a heat-meltable solid ink or a heat-sublimable solid. The recording medium is pressed against an ink donor sheet formed by applying ink and heated to perform recording on a desired recording paper.

Further, color printing using the above-mentioned ink donor sheet is realized by performing printing a plurality of times using inks having different hues on the surface of the printing paper and performing overlay printing. Therefore, an ink donor sheet is used in which a plurality of inks of different hues are applied in a pattern that is sequentially repeated in the longitudinal direction by a certain length. After performing one-color planar recording, it is possible to perform recording in which the next color is continuously superimposed using the next hue portion of the ink donor sheet.

In order to apply such an ink donor sheet to a thermal transfer recording apparatus, it is necessary to supply the sheet and a means for collecting the used portion.

Further, as a kind of a coloring material applied to the ink donor sheet, there is a commonly used material for thermal transfer recording such as a heat-fusible pigment, in addition to a heat sublimable dye. Depending on the type and coating thickness of the ink, the thickness of the donor sheet base material, and the like, the sensitivity of the sheet (the relationship of the density at which color is generated with respect to the heat applied from the thermal head) changes. In addition to these various sensitivities, the sensitivity characteristics of the sublimable dye are such that the density of color development with respect to the heat applied from the thermal head is not in a linear relationship. It is necessary to control the amount of heat so as to obtain the desired density by changing to the amount of heat in a straight line. Information on this non-linear sensitivity characteristic (for example, 20 bytes for one color and 60 bytes for three colors) is transmitted by some means. Must be entered in Further, when the ink donor sheet is improved such as by newly developing the dye, it cannot be dealt with by means such as storing in advance in the apparatus side.

Further, regarding the ink application pattern, one color, two colors,
Information such as the number of coating colors, such as three colors and four colors, and the coating length, cannot be dealt with by the thermal transfer recording apparatus unless it is input to the thermal transfer recording apparatus by some method. Conventionally, this type of ink donor sheet has been generally used in a single cartridge (cassette) as disclosed in JP-A-56-67278 for reasons such as convenience in handling. Of both the supply reel and the take-up reel
There is known a device which can be attached to and detached from a thermal transfer recording device. That is, in this conventional example, a feeding roller (supply reel) on which an unused thermal transfer ink ribbon (ink sheet) is wound and a winding roller (winding reel) on which the used ink ribbon (ink sheet) is wound. ), And with the ink sheet passed between the two,
A cartridge that is rotatably supported at a certain interval,
The recording is performed by mounting the recording medium on a thermal transfer recording apparatus.

In this cassette, the information about the ink sheet cannot be transmitted to the thermal transfer recording apparatus simply because the cassette supports two reels, and the following disadvantages are not sufficiently considered. Was.

The discrimination of whether the number of colors of the ink sheet is single color, two colors, three colors, four colors, or the like is automatically transmitted to the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and the recording operation sequence cannot be changed.

It is not possible to automatically transmit the sensitivity and type of ink (sublimable dye ink or hot-melt solid pigment ink) to the device, and it is necessary to improve the ink while reducing the complexity of switching. It has not been sufficiently recognized that the apparatus cannot cope with a change in characteristics such as sensitivity.

As a conventional example of recording information on a medium contained in a cassette of this kind in the form of a cassette and automatically transmitting the information to a device for loading the cassette, for example, RCA Engineer Vol 26 No. 9 (Nov / Dec) .
1981), pages 21 to 25 (RCA Engineer Vol.26, No.
9, Nov / Dec. 1981, pp. 21-25) by Coleman (Col.
eman) et al. VideoDisc Player mechanical design guidance (VideoDisc Player mecha)
As discussed in the literature entitled “Nical Design Considerations”, the orientation of a wedge-shaped notch formed as a shape at the end of a cassette (caddy) that houses a disk medium is detected to detect the orientation of the disk medium. It is known that the apparatus determines the front and back sides.

The information provided as a shape at the end of the cassette is transmitted to the apparatus side in a mobile manner, so that erroneous operations such as a wrong front and back can be prevented.

However, in order to record not only simple information such as front or back but also complicated information (for example, an information amount of about 128 bits is required) such as the number of colors, ink type, and sensitivity characteristics required for an ink sheet cassette, it is mechanical. It has not been sufficiently confirmed that the detection method is too complicated to cope with. In addition, if the contents of the record were to be changed, it would be necessary to change the mold for plastic molding, which would have to be extensive.

Further, as another conventional example of this type, information on a medium contained in a cassette is recorded as electric contact position information outside the cassette, and is described in "Photo Industry", 198
As disclosed in the July 4th issue, “Commented DX Code Films”, the electrical insulation paint for the “camera detection code” on the 35mm film patrone (exterior case) surface for photographs was released. There is known a system in which a coating pattern is detected from the camera side via electrical contacts.

With this coating pattern of paint, it was possible to describe complicated (12-bit information amount) information such as the number of films, sensitivity, and latitude, and it was excellent in that the pattern could be changed by changing the coating plate. However, the amount of information required for the ink sheet cassette is about one digit larger (for example, 128 bits) than that of the above-mentioned photographic film case because of the need to accommodate the non-linear characteristics for each color, and the electrical contact method has a limit. Was. Also, if the detection method is based on the electrical conduction of the contact part, corrosion may occur due to touching the part with hand while handling it, and information may not be accurately read. Was not fully recognized.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In summary, the ink donor sheet cassette for the thermal transfer recording apparatus needs to be provided with a means for transmitting information about the ink sheet contained therein to the recording apparatus. ) Relatively complex (eg
(Amount of information of about 128 bits) can be recorded, (2) recorded in a position where it can be easily read by the device while mounted on the device, and (3) easy without major changes such as plastic mold change That the recorded information can be changed at a low cost, and that (4) there is no risk of destroying the recorded information due to a failure in handling the cassette, but the conventional apparatus is not satisfactory. Was.

In addition, when high-precision scanning speed is required in mechanical scanning when reading information recorded in a cassette, a high-precision mechanism must be added for reading, which causes a factor that raises costs. Problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of performing precise recording with a simple structure.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, information on an ink donor sheet is recorded in a cassette,
In the method of reading with the thermal transfer recording apparatus, the ink paper is placed around the winding shaft of the ink paper, which cannot be touched, or inside the cassette frame, through which a moving mechanism such as a thermal head passes when printing is difficult. The reading means for scanning the bar-code-like mark using the operation of the mechanical unit accompanying the printing operation of the printer is attached to a sticker-type mark on which information such as the number of colors and the sensitivity is printed in the form of a bar code. Provided on a fixed or moving part. Here, the barcode described in the mark is divided into two rows, the one of which is a linear pattern of alternating black and white with constant or irregular intervals, and the other is the information signal pattern described in synchronization with the linear pattern. And The above problem is solved by the above means.

[Action]

Marks affixed around the axis of the ink paper that cannot be touched or inside the frame of the cassette that is difficult to touch are less likely to be stained or corroded by specifying the location of the mark. Always display accurately. The two rows of patterns on the mark are simultaneously read by two or one reading means, and every time a linear pattern of alternating black and white is read for one period, an information pattern on the ink paper described in synchronization with the linear pattern is read. The output of the reading means is sampled and converted into a digital electric signal. According to the above operation, when the speed of the reading scan is indefinite, that is, even when the operation speed of the mechanism that operates for the reading scan is little or not controlled, the recording can be read,
There is no need for the printer mechanism to have accuracy specifications such as constant speed for reading and scanning and constant speed history.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 shows a cassette 1 having a recording pattern 41 describing the type and characteristics of ink paper according to the present invention, and a recording pattern.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a kind of ink paper and a characteristic data reading mechanism in a thermal transfer recording arrangement constituted by an optical reading sensor 23 for reading 41; In the cassette 1, a new ink donor sheet 7 is provided.
And a take-up reel 11 for winding the used ink donor sheet 7 are mounted in parallel, and the ink donor sheet 7 is stretched therebetween. With use of the ink donor sheet 7, the ink donor sheet 7 is unwound from the supply reel 10 and wound up on the take-up reel 11. With this operation, the supply reel 10 and the take-up reel 11 rotate. On the outer circumference of the supply reel 10 and the take-up reel 11, recording patterns 41 and 41 'and FG patterns 42 and 42' are described side by side.
The 41, 41 'and the FG patterns 42, 42' also rotate. FG pattern 41
And the recording pattern 42 are described synchronously, that is, FG
Recording pattern corresponding to one black and white pattern of pattern 41
In 42, a white or black pattern for one bit of information is described. These two patterns are read using the optical reading sensor 23. The optical reading sensor 23 is provided with two systems of reading sensor windows 56, and focuses on the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 while limiting the aperture diameter of each of the lenses by the lenses 22, 22 '. The optical reading sensor 23 reads the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 at the same time, and a decoder (not shown) uses these signals to convert them into a bit string representing ink paper information by a method described later.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which an ink donor sheet cassette 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a cassette) is loaded inside a thermal transfer recording apparatus 2 as one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 3 is fed in the direction shown by the arrow A, and is wound around the platen roller 4 for writing. After the recording, the recording paper 3 is moved to the outside of the apparatus by an arrow B
In this direction, a series of operations of the device are completed.
In recording, as will be described later, the thermal head 5 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow C on the inner side of the frame of the cassette 1 and is pressed against the platen roller 5 via the ink donor sheet. Recording is performed with the recording paper pressed. After the end of the recording, the cassette 1 is opened as shown in the figure, and the cassette 1 can be taken out of the apparatus 2 by opening the door 6 provided on the apparatus 2.

FIG. 3 shows an internal state of the ink donor sheet housed in the embodiment shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the unused ink donor sheet 7 is
The ink donor sheet 7 is wound around a supply reel 10 and is wound between the supply reel 10 and a take-up reel 11 from which the used sheet is wound.
Has been passed over. The ink donor sheet 7 is separately coated with inks of different hues with a certain width in the longitudinal direction. The colors used for printing, for example, Ye (yellow), Mg (magenta), and Cy (cyan) are painted in the direction of arrow D in this order.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a cassette according to one embodiment of the present invention.

When the thermal transfer recording apparatus performs thermal transfer recording, first, the recording paper 3 is supplied in the direction of arrow A, and along the outer periphery of the platen roller 4, the thermal head 5 is moved by guide means shown in FIG. Transported to At this time,
Coefficient of friction μ ₁ between thermal head 5 and ink donor sheet 7, coefficient of friction μ ₂ between ink donor sheet 7 and platen roller 4, surface of recording paper 3 and ink donor sheet 7
Relation of the friction coefficient mu ₃ between the, μ _{1 <μ 2,} has a μ _{1 <μ 3,} the thermal head 5, in a state of pressing toward the platen roller in the direction of arrow C, the ink donor sheet 7 The sheet is transported in the direction of arrow D, and a new ink donor sheet 7 is pulled out from the supply shaft 10. The recording paper 3 reaches the thermal head 5 and recording by thermal transfer is performed. The recorded portion advances in the direction of arrow D as the platen roller 4 rotates. The used ink donor sheet 7 advances to a take-up reel 11 which is rotated by a rotational force supplied from the apparatus main body by means not shown, and is taken up. The recording paper 3 advances along the platen roller 4 and is conveyed to the thermal head 5 again to perform superposition recording of a plurality of colors. After the recording is performed a predetermined number of times, the recording paper 3 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus through a path indicated by an arrow B.

FIG. 5 is an operation block diagram of one embodiment of the recording and reading apparatus according to the present invention.

The information is read by scanning the optical reading sensor 23 on the surface of the recording unit 9. At this time, the optical reading sensor 23 'includes an LED and a photo sensor. The information signal detected by the optical reading sensor 23 'is sent to the signal demodulation unit 24 and demodulated into a digital signal. Further, this digital signal is sent to the printer controller 25 and used for control during printing. The information pattern to be recorded in the recording unit 9 is a stripe barcode pattern in FIG. This pattern is based on the information encoding method (generally NRZ,
The information content to be transmitted is recorded as a black and white linear pattern in accordance with a well-known encoding method such as RZ, NRZI, AMI, and CMI. Since this recording pattern is scanned and read at a constant speed, unlike the case of reading manually, even if a relatively high-density recording is read, the error rate is low and the reading can be performed safely. The method of demodulating the information signal inside the printer controller 25 according to the encoding method can be easily realized by a microcomputer program or the like, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 are read by narrowing the opening diameter of the optical reading sensor 23. The shaft diameter of the supply reel 10 and the take-up reel 11 is, for example, 15 mm,
The outer periphery is divided into 50 and the recording pattern 41 and FG pattern 42
When the pattern is provided, the period of the black and white pattern is about 1 mm,
The width of each of the black and white patterns is about 0.5 mm, and reading cannot be performed with a sensor having an aperture diameter of 2 mm or more, which is usually used, and the aperture diameter must be reduced by some means. Sixth
FIG. 7A shows an example in which the aperture diameter is reduced using the lens 22. By providing the lens 22 between the optical reading sensor 23 and the recording unit 9 and appropriately selecting the focal length, the sensing range 53 corresponding to the large sensor window 56 can be narrowed down to focus on the recording unit 9. I can do it. In this case, a light source 58 is provided to illuminate the recording unit 9. By using the lens 22, even if an optical reading sensor having a large sensor window 56 is used, a small sensing range is realized, and accurate reading of the recording unit 9 is performed.

FIG. 6 (b) shows an embodiment in which the aperture diameter is reduced using a slit. The pattern on the recording section 9 is imaged on the sensor window 56 using the lens 22 in the same manner as in FIG. 3A, but the aperture diameter is large and the resolution is not high enough to read the pattern on the recording section 9. By arranging the slit 52 immediately before the sensor window 56, the aperture diameter is reduced to obtain an elongated light-gathering range indicated by the sensing range 53, and a resolution sufficient to read the pattern on the recording unit 9 is obtained.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which an optical reading sensor 23 incorporating a light source is used. The optical reading sensor 23 has a sensor window 56 and a light source window.
57 are provided in parallel. The sensor window 56 and the light source window 57 are arranged in parallel with the pattern on the recording unit 9, and the aperture diameter is reduced using the lens 22. The limitation of the aperture diameter due to the narrowing is not made small as in the example of FIG. 6, but is set to a size such that the sensing range and the illumination range on the recording unit 9 overlap. By further restricting the opening diameter of the overlapping portion between the sensing range and the illumination range with a slit, an opening diameter small enough to read the pattern on the recording unit 9 is obtained. FIG. 7 (b) shows an example in which the center of the illumination range and the center of the sense range are matched by using the prism 60. The light emitted from the light source window 57 is bent by the prism 60 and focused on the recording unit 9 through the lens 22 '. Light emitted from the recording unit 9 illuminated by the light source passes through the lens 22 and is bent by the prism 60 to reach the sensor window 56. The centers of the light source window 57 and the sensor window 56 separated by the prism 60 can be adjusted to the same point on the recording unit 9.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a specific shape of the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 and an example of a sensor output signal. (A) is an enlarged view of an example of a recording pattern 41 and an FG pattern 42 part. FG
The recording pattern 41 is described in synchronization with the monochrome pattern of the pattern 42. The sensor output waveform when this is read simultaneously by two sensors is shown in FIG. Since the signal waveform is output in synchronization with the FG waveform, the recording pattern 41 is decoded by sampling the signal waveform every cycle of the FG waveform. Specifically, at the time when the FG waveform falls, that is, at the sampling point 61, the signal waveform is sampled. By this method, it is drawn at equal intervals in the figure.
Even if the FG waveform and the signal waveform synchronized therewith appear at any irregular timing, accurate reading is performed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of specific shapes of the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 and an example of a sensor output signal. (A) is an enlarged view of an example of a recording pattern 41 and an FG pattern 42 part. 8th
The phase of the recording pattern 41 is slightly ahead of the FG pattern 42 in proportion to the figure. (B) shows the output waveform of the sensor reading the pattern. When sampling is performed when the FG waveform falls below a certain threshold 62, the phase of the recording waveform precedes the FG waveform, so that the data is fixed at the sampling point 61 and there is no reading error. As a result, there is no need for a delay circuit or the like for creating a time difference between the time when the FG waveform falls below the threshold 62 and the time when the sampling is actually performed in order to accurately read the data, and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a specific shape of the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 and an example of a sensor output signal. (A) is an enlarged view of an example of a recording pattern 41 and an FG pattern 42 part. The recording pattern protrudes to the center between adjacent FG patterns, and the recording pattern is composed of large white and black blocks. (B) shows the output waveform of the sensor reading the pattern. When the FG waveform falls below a certain threshold 62, that is, at the falling sense 63, the recording signal waveform has already been determined at the sampling point 61, and accurate reading is performed. Also, when the FG waveform rises above a certain threshold 62, that is, at the rising sense 64, the recording signal waveform has already been determined at the sampling point 61 ', and accurate reading is performed. In this embodiment, accurate data sampling is performed using either the falling edge or the rising edge of the FG signal.
In these two readings, the phase of the read data with respect to the FG signal is one cycle longer in the falling sense 63 than in the rising sense 64. It is necessary to correct the phase difference. In the case of this pattern, the same effect can be obtained by reading from the right or from the left of the pattern, and the present invention is applicable to a printer in which the reading mechanism travels in different directions.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 are simultaneously read by one sensor. (A) shows the recording pattern 41
6 is a scanning locus of a sense range 53 for reading the FG pattern 42.
The sense area having a certain size at the joint between the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 is
Read so that 42 is exactly half each. in this case,
As an example, 1 V when the sense range is all white, 0.5 V when the sense range is only FG pattern, that is, half white and half black
If the V and sense range are both the FG pattern and the recording pattern, that is, all black, 0 V is output from the optical reading sensor.
(B) is a diagram showing an output waveform of the sensor. The output waveform takes three voltages, that is, 1V, 0.5V, and 0V, and shows the case where the sensing range is all white, half white, half black, and all black, respectively. A change in the output from 1 V to 0.5 V or 0 V indicates detection of the falling edge of FG. When the output is 0.5 V, the recording signal is Hi, and when the output is 0 V, the recording signal is Lo. That is, the recording signal is read by reading the voltage change. Specifically, it is obtained by providing thresholds at two places between 1V and 0.5V and between 0.5V and 0V of the output voltage, and detecting passage of each threshold.

FIG. 12 shows the ink donor sheet 7 described in the recording section 9.
Here is an example of the types. FIG. 11 (a) shows an example of an ink donor sheet 7 coated with three color inks 36 for performing color printing. Subsequent to the cue mark 35 indicating the use start position of the ink donor sheet 7, three color inks 36, which are three primary colors of Ye (yellow), Mg (magenta), and Cy (cyan), are used for recording paper. 3 (not shown) is applied in a size corresponding to one screen, and as described in the description of FIG. 7, printing is performed by overlapping and printing on one sheet of recording paper 3. (B) is for color printing,
This is an example of an ink donor sheet 7 to which four color inks 37 are applied. Subsequent to the cue mark 35 indicating the use start position of the ink donor sheet 7, a four-color ink 37 composed of the same three-color inks of Ye, Mg, and Cy and the black ink as in (a) is applied. Due to the presence of the black ink, the calculation of print data differs from that in the case of (a), and the ink donor sheet 7
Is required to be transmitted to the printer, the configuration of the ink donor sheet 7 is described in the recording unit 9 on the cassette 1 in FIG. 1 according to the present invention, and is transmitted to the printer. (C) is an example of the ink donor sheet 7 to which black ink 38 is applied to perform black and white printing. Following the cue mark 35 indicating the use start position of the ink donor sheet 7, black ink 38 is applied in a size of one screen of the recording paper 3 (not shown). As described in the description of FIG. 7B, since the calculation of the print data is different between the monochrome print and the color print using the inks (a) and (b), the configuration of the ink donor sheet 7 needs to be transmitted to the printer. Yes, the configuration of the ink donor sheet 7 is described in the recording section 9 on the cassette 1 in FIG. 1 according to the present invention, and transmitted to the printer. The information described in the recording unit 9 may further include, for example, sensitivity characteristics and chromaticity information of the ink described later, or the number of recordable sheets and the thickness of the ink donor sheet 7,
Information such as length is also possible.

FIG. 13 shows the sensitivity characteristics of the ink applied to the ink donor sheet 7 described in the recording unit 9. In FIG. 7, the ink donor sheet 7 is overlaid on the recording paper 3 on the platen roller 4 and is pressed by the thermal head 5 from above.
The thermal head 5 generates heat while changing the calorific value according to the applied energy according to the pattern to be recorded, and the heat generated by the thermal head 5 causes the thermal transfer ink applied to the ink donor sheet 7 to sublimate or melt to record. It is transferred to paper 3. The reflection density of the image transferred to the recording paper 3 changes depending on the amount of heat generated by the thermal head 5, that is, the energy applied to the thermal head 5, and in order to obtain a recording of a specified density, the applied energy varies depending on the type of ink. It is necessary for the printer to know the relationship between the density and the reflection density, that is, the sensitivity characteristic of the ink, and to apply the applied energy to the thermal head according to the specified density. FIG. 12A shows an example of sensitivity characteristics of ink and sampling of data to be digitally recorded in the recording unit 9. The horizontal axis of the graph is the energy applied to the thermal head 5, and for example, when the voltage applied to the thermal head 5 is fixed, the energization time is used.
The vertical axis is the reflection density of the image recorded on the recording paper 3. An example of sampling this graph at regular intervals is (a)
The circle 39 is the sampling point. The sampling points are kept at a constant interval on the applied energy axis, and represent the shape of a graph showing the sensitivity characteristics of the ink. In this case, if the sampling point on the applied energy axis is kept constant regardless of the type of ink, it is not necessary to describe the numerical value of the applied energy in the recording unit 9, and the amount of information described in the recording unit 9 is As an example, density data 8 bits / point x 9 points = 72 bits
Becomes FIG. 4B shows an example in which the sensitivity characteristics of the ink are sampled at non-uniform intervals, and a circle 39 is a sampling point. In general, the sensitivity characteristic of the ink increases slowly as the applied energy increases, when the reflection density is low, and thereafter, the gradient between the applied energy and the reflection density increases with a constant gradient. Further, as the reflection density approaches a certain saturation density, the relationship between the applied energy and the reflection density decreases its slope and reaches the saturation density. As a result, the graph showing the sensitivity characteristics of the ink is not a simple straight line but a non-linear shape having an S shape as shown in the figure. As an example of a method for faithfully encoding this characteristic, sampling is performed at a point indicated by a circle 39 in FIG. That is, high-efficiency data encoding is performed by making the sampling density fine in the curve portion on the graph and coarse in the straight line portion. In this case, since the details of the data can be accurately described in the recording unit 9 and transmitted to the printer, it is suitable for printing on a multi-gradation, high-precision recording paper. The amount increases as compared with the example of FIG. 9A, and the amount of information in this case is (concentration data 8 bits + applied energy data 8 bits) × 12 points = 192 bits. FIG. 3C shows an example in which the sensitivity characteristics of the ink are linearly approximated. That is, FIG.
Unlike (b), the sensitivity characteristic of the ink is represented by a straight line represented by an intercept 39 and an inclination 40 of the coordinate axis, and is described in the recording unit 9. In this case, since the sensitivity characteristics of the ink are performed with a rough approximation, it cannot be used for multi-gradation, high-precision printing. Is enough information for
The amount of information described in the recording unit 9 of the cassette 1 is also small, and the information amount in this case is, for example, 8 bits of slice density data + 8 bits of inclination data = 16 bits, so that the density of the recording unit 9 is coarse.
Since the accuracy of the reading means on the printer side can be low, the cost can be reduced as a whole. In the above embodiment, the characteristics of one ink are shown. However, in the case of multi-colors, for example, in the case of three colors, three sets of the above data may be prepared, and the information described in the recording unit 9 is the original. May be described by performing a compression operation. In any case, since the recording section 9 of the cassette 1 according to the present invention can be described with a relatively high density, it is possible to describe and use the above-described complicated information.

FIG. 14 shows a configuration example of the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 on the recording section 9 in consideration of the reading means of the recording section 9 of the printer. On the cassette 1, a recording unit 9 on which information about the ink donor sheet 7 is written is attached.
The information is read by the optical reading sensor 23 scanning thereover. The optical reading sensor 23 is provided on the thermal head 5 shown in FIG. 2, and the movement of the thermal head 5 follows a head support member (not shown). Since the head support member rotates about a certain point, the scanning locus of the optical reading sensor 23 in FIG. At this time, the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern 42 are
, A high-density reading is always performed. In this embodiment, the optical reading sensor 23 is used.
Draws an arc-shaped trajectory.
Even when 23 is not a simple arc but has a special movement such as an S-shape, the recording pattern 41 and the FG pattern
This can be dealt with by always providing 42 in a direction orthogonal to the path of the optical reading sensor 23.

FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the ink donor sheet cassette according to the present invention. An optical reading sensor 23 is provided at the tip of the thermal head 5, and when the thermal head 5 is lowered, that is, when the thermal head 5 is
In a state close to the optical scanning sensor 23, the optical reading sensor 23 functions as a cueing sensor that scans the ink donor sheet 7 and senses a cueing mark 35 in FIG. In this embodiment, a description mounting portion is provided using a part of the cassette 1 so as to protrude above the cassette 1, and the recording unit 9 is attached thereon. The optical reading sensor 23 also moves with the up and down operation of the thermal head 5 and passes in front of the recording unit 9, during which the scanning of the recording unit 9 is performed to acquire data.
With the configuration of the cassette 1 shown in the present embodiment, the optical reading sensor 23 of the printer can be used also as a cue sensor for the ink donor sheet, and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of the ink donor sheet cassette according to the present invention. The point that the optical reading sensor 23 provided on the thermal head 5 is also used as a cueing sensor for the ink donor sheet is the same as in FIG. 16, but in this embodiment, the recording mounting portion 18 of the cassette 1 is protruded inside the cassette 1. In this case, the recording mounting portion 18 is provided inside the cassette 1 to prevent the recording mounting portion 18 from being broken by contact with another object, and at the same time, the recording portion 9 is prevented from being stained by being placed inside the cassette. I do. Cassette 1 as in this embodiment
Is provided between the supply reel 10 and the take-up reel 11, when the cassette 1 is removed, the ink donor sheet 7 comes into contact with the recording attachment section 18. . In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the recording attachment section 18 is formed as an ink donor sheet retainer to form a smooth shape, thereby preventing the ink donor sheet 7 from being damaged and, at the same time, preventing wrinkles.

FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of a printer for reading a recording section of a cassette according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the optical reading sensor 23 is moved by using the rotation of the platen roller 4 to scan the recording pattern 41 written on the recording unit 9 on the cassette 1. A sensor cam 50 is provided coaxially with the platen roller 4 with its center shifted. One end of the sensor support arm 49 is in contact with the sensor cam 50. The sensor support arm 49 rotates around the support arm center 51, and a spring 48
As a result, one end is pressed against the sensor cam 50. The sensor cam 50 rotates according to the rotation of the platen roller 4, and the sensor support arm 49 shakes its head in accordance with the movement of the sensor cam 50 with one end of the sensor support arm 49 in contact with the sensor cam 50. The optical reading sensor 23 is attached to the other end of the sensor support arm 49, and scans a recording pattern on the recording unit 9 as the sensor support arm 49 swings. During one cycle of the swinging motion of the sensor support arm 49 during rotation of the platen roller 4 such as during the cueing operation of the ink donor sheet 7 before the start of printing or the paper feeding operation of winding the recording paper 3 around the platen drum 4. The recording pattern 41 can be read.

〔The invention's effect〕

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the low cost and reliable reading of the marker which described the ink paper information etc. provided on the cassette without requiring a special mechanical system, such as a fixed speed scan of a sensor, becomes possible. In addition, since the recording portion can be easily formed by pasting a seal prepared by printing or the like in advance on the recording attachment portion provided on the cassette, it is not necessary to make a major change such as a plastic mold change accompanying a change in information content. Further, since the recording portion is provided in a place where the tentacle of the cassette is difficult or impossible, the possibility of destruction of information content due to dirt, corrosion, or the like is low.

As described above, information on the ink donor sheet can be reliably sent to the thermal transfer recording apparatus via the cassette contained therein, and a highly reliable thermal transfer recording apparatus with less malfunction can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a cassette and a reading system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a thermal transfer recording apparatus, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an ink donor sheet, FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of an embodiment for limiting the sensor aperture diameter, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a reading optical system using a sensor having a built-in light source, and FIG. 8 to FIG. 12 and 13 are explanatory diagrams of examples of data of an ink donor sheet described in a cassette, and FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another configuration example of a cassette and a reading system. 15 to 16 are explanatory views of a reading operation by a printer, and FIG. 17 is an explanatory view of another configuration example of the cassette and the reading system. 1 ink donor sheet cassette 7 ink donor sheet 9 recording unit 23 optical reading sensor 41 recording pattern 42 FG pattern

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihiko Goto 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi Inside the Home Appliance Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kentaro Hanma 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama Hitachi, Ltd. In-house (56) References JP-A-62-148283 (JP, A)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An ink shaft wound with an ink paper obtained by applying ink to a thin band-shaped film or paper and an ink shaft wound around the ink paper supplied from the ink shaft are provided as a pair in a cassette case. In a thermal transfer recording apparatus that performs recording by superposing the ink paper on photographic paper using a thermal paper and using an ink paper cassette, the ink paper cassette encodes information such as the type of ink paper. It has a recorded rotatable information display unit, and an information display unit rotation amount display unit provided in parallel with the information display unit and provided at regular intervals with a fixed relative position in the rotation direction with respect to the information display unit. A thermal transfer recording apparatus provided with reading means for reading information on the information display section on the side of the thermal transfer recording apparatus. 2. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information display section and said information display section rotation amount display section, which are rotatable with respect to said ink paper cassette, have a rotation axis of said ink paper cassette. A thermal transfer recording device, wherein the thermal transfer recording device is disposed so as to be orthogonal to a transport direction. 3. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information display section and the information display section rotation amount display section which are rotatable with respect to the ink paper cassette are provided in the ink paper cassette. A thermal transfer recording apparatus which is arranged on an ink axis. 4. A thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information display section is formed by painting two or more colors separately, and reading means for optically reading said information display section is provided. A thermal transfer recording device, comprising: 5. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information display section is formed by painting two or more colors, and the information display section rotation amount display section is formed by two colors. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, wherein the thermal transfer recording apparatus is constituted by the above-mentioned different colors and provided with reading means for optically reading the information display section rotation amount display section.