JP2613230B2 - Thermal transfer recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as a printer that performs recording using ink paper, and relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus that performs cueing of ink paper at the beginning of recording.

[Conventional technology]

In a thermal transfer recording apparatus that performs color printing using ink paper coated with ink, an ink paper in which three primary colors of yellow (Ye), magenta (Mg), and cyan (Cy) are sequentially applied one screen at a time is used. A face-sequential recording method in which the above three colors are sequentially printed on an image receiving paper is used. In the field sequential printing method, it is necessary to perform cueing of the ink paper immediately before performing printing,
As a conventional method, a bar code is provided between colors on ink paper as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-144367, and ink is detected by using a detecting means for detecting the bar code. A method of detecting and searching for a color of a paper is known. Actually, black ink is used as a barcode, and an infrared sensor such as a photocoupler is used as a detecting means.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the above-described prior art uses a black ink in addition to three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan when printing ink paper.
Color ink, so the printing cylinder is 4
In addition, there is a problem that the printing cost of the ink paper becomes high, and there is a problem that the printing paper of the ink is composed of only the three colors of ink without using the cue mark. There is a problem that even if it is used for a recording apparatus, it cannot be used because there is no cue mark of ink paper.

An object of the present invention is to perform a cueing method for using ink paper having a cue mark made of black ink and ink paper having no cue mark in the same thermal transfer recording apparatus, and to perform positioning of a second color and a third color. To provide a positioning means.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above-mentioned problems are caused by a color discriminating means for outputting a change in the third color and the first color of the ink paper, a change in the black cue mark of the ink paper and the change in the first color as a similar signal change, and the printing of the second color and the third color. To print a color eye, the head of the second color or 3
This problem can be solved by providing a means for transporting the ink paper at the head of the grain and a means for measuring the transport amount of the ink paper for controlling the transport means.

[Action]

The thermal transfer recording apparatus detects the above-mentioned change point and detects the change of the ink color by the color discriminating means which outputs the change of the third color and the first color of the ink paper and the change of the black cue mark and the first color of the ink paper as the same signal change. In order to determine the completion of paper cueing, the cueing of ink paper can be performed with the same device configuration and operation algorithm using either of the above two types of ink paper. Further, a unit for transporting the ink paper to the head of the second color or the head of the third color for printing the second color and the printing of the third color, and a transport amount measuring unit for controlling the transport unit are provided. Thus, there is no need to provide a sensor for determining the colors of the second color and the third color and performing cueing for each color separately, and the ink of the third color is determined only by the color determination means for performing the cueing of the first color. Cueing can be performed.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of a thermal transfer recording apparatus and an ink sheet according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views showing the structure and operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of an initializing operation of a mechanical section before printing, and FIG. FIG. In the printing method, the ink applied to the ink paper 2 is thermally transferred to the printing paper 3 by superposing the ink paper 2 and the printing paper 3 on a drum 6 and heating the ink paper 2 from above with a heating element 5 provided on a thermal head 4. And record. Hereinafter, the operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 1 will be described. In FIG. 1A, a photographic paper 3 is inserted from a paper feed path 10 and its leading end is fixed to a chuck 7 provided on a drum 6. Next, the drum 6 rotates in the direction of arrow A, and moves the printing start position near the leading end of the printing paper 3 to a position corresponding to the heating element 5 on the thermal head 4. On the surface of the ink paper 2 which is in contact with the photographic paper 3, the thermal transfer ink is applied in three colors or four colors in the order of one screen size of a printing screen. Next, the take-up shaft 9 rotates in the direction of arrow B to feed the ink paper 2 and position the first color ink. The position of the first color of ink paper 2 is LE
By judging the color by D12 and sensor 14,
Detect. The detailed positioning method of the ink paper 2 will be described later. The leading end of the first color of the ink paper 2 detected by the LED 12 and the sensor 14 moves the winding shaft 9 further in the direction of arrow B, and moves to a position corresponding to the heating element 5 on the thermal head 4 in the same manner as the printing paper 3. Let it. Next, the thermal head 4 is lowered as shown in FIG. 2B, the printing paper 3 and the ink paper 2 are stacked, and pressed against the drum 6. In this state, the heating element 5 generates heat and transfers the thermal transfer ink applied to the ink paper 2 to the printing paper 3. The heating element 5 is 512 mm in the axial direction of the drum 6.
Each resistor is composed of a small resistor of 250 μm × 140 μm in which dots are arranged, and by independently changing the energization time to each resistor, each resistor generates an independent amount of heat. The ink that has received the heat generated by each resistor is transferred onto the photographic paper 3 by melting or sublimating the amount of ink corresponding to the amount of heat. By controlling the energizing time to each resistor,
Recording of 512 pixels having a controlled density is performed on the photographic paper 3. After printing 512 pixels per line on the photographic paper 3 by the above operation, the drum 6 rotates one step in the direction of arrow A, and prints the next line. By performing the above operation 640 times, an image having a density of 640 × 512 pixels is recorded on the printing paper 3. After the recording of one screen is completed, the thermal head 4 rises again as shown in FIG.
It retracts upward so as not to contact the chuck 7 on the drum 6. The drum 6 further rotates in the direction of arrow A, and again moves the printing start position near the leading end of the printing paper 3 to a position corresponding to the heating element 5 on the thermal head 4. Next, the take-up shaft 9 rotates in the direction of arrow B to feed the ink paper 2 and position the second color ink. The positioning of the second color of the ink paper 2 at this time is performed by feeding the ink paper 2 by a fixed amount. Specifically, the amount of rotation of the supply shaft 8 is measured by measuring the rotation of the clock plate 36 provided coaxially with the supply shaft 8 by illuminating a black-and-white pattern on its surface with a clock LED 37 and reading it with a clock sensor 38. Clock board for feeding amount of paper 2
Determined by the number of 36 black and white patterns. At this time, due to the size of the winding diameter of the ink paper 2 on the supply shaft 8, even if the same number of black and white patterns on the same clock plate 36 are sent, the same length of ink paper 2 is not sent. . In this case, as will be described later, the change in the feed amount of the ink paper 2 is offset by the pattern of the ink paper 2 or the rotation amount of the supply shaft 8 and the feed amount of the ink paper 2 during the printing operation in FIG. The amount is measured by the number of printing lines, and the correction is made by obtaining the winding diameter of the ink paper 2 on the supply shaft 8. After the positioning of the second color of the ink paper 2 is performed, the thermal transfer recording apparatus returns to the state shown in FIG. The printing of the third color is performed in the same manner. Thereafter, the drum 6 rotates in the direction opposite to the arrow A, and discharges the photographic paper 2 through the paper discharge path 11 to the outside of the thermal transfer recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention. The supply shaft 8 and the take-up shaft 9 shown in FIG. 1 are mounted in an ink paper cassette 15, and both shafts are mounted on the thermal transfer recording apparatus at a time by inserting the ink paper cassette 15 into the thermal transfer recording apparatus. Done.

FIG. 3 shows a three-view drawing of an example of the ink paper cassette 15. The supply shaft 8 is mounted in the supply shaft storage 39, and the winding shaft 9 is mounted in the winding shaft storage 40, and the ink paper 2 is stretched between both shafts. The supply shaft housing 39 and the winding shaft housing 40 are connected by a connecting portion 88, and both shaft housings are integrated. By mounting the ink paper cassette 15 on the thermal transfer recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the supply shaft 8 and the take-up shaft 9 are simultaneously mounted on the thermal transfer recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows an ink coating pattern on the ink paper 2 according to the present invention. (A) is a drawing 3 using ink paper 2 for printing.
This is an example in which only three color inks, that is, three color inks of Ye, Mg, and Cy are used.
e, Mg, and Cy are recorded on the photographic paper 3 in this order. The ink application pattern on the ink paper 2 is the same as or larger than the print area on the photographic paper 3 (not shown), with the ink of each of the three colors interposed between the transparent portions 21, 22, 23, and 24. Have been.
The traveling direction of the ink paper 2 on the thermal transfer recording apparatus is as shown in 26. In this case, the color order of the ink is Ye, Mg, Cy. It is necessary to know the order of colors printed by the thermal transfer recording apparatus. However, as shown in FIG. 3B, it is not necessary to print the ink paper 2 in four colors using black ink, and the cost is reduced. Next, FIG. 2B shows an example in which the head position in printing is displayed using black ink 25. The traveling direction of the ink paper 2 in the thermal transfer recording apparatus is 26, and the ink of each color and the pattern of the transparent portions 21, 22, 23, and 24 are the same as the example in FIG. In this example, the leading color is displayed in black 25 before the leading color Ye17 of the ink paper 2. Here, it is characterized in that no transparent portion is provided between the black 25 and the Cy19. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the leading edge of the ink paper of (a) and (b) is positioned by the same apparatus configuration and the same reading algorithm. A method of detecting the head position will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for detecting the leading position of the ink paper 2 according to the present invention shown in FIG.
4A shows an example in which the ink paper 2 is composed of only three colors of ink, as in FIG. 4A, and the color order is Ye, Mg, Cy, and the leading color in the print is Ye. It is. In the present invention, the LED 12 mounted on the thermal transfer recording device is a red light L.
The ED and the sensor 14 are visible light sensors, and among the Ye, Mg, Cy and transparent inks, the output of the sensor is L only for the Cy ink, and outputs H signals for other colors. Therefore, in order to detect the position of the leading color Ye, the rising sense portion 28 of the sensor output signal 27 may be detected. FIG. 2B shows an example of the ink paper 2 on which black 25 is printed as the top display of the ink paper 2. This ink paper 2 is connected to the same red LED 12 as in FIG.
And the visible light sensor 14 detect the cueing, two rising sense portions 28 and 29 indicating the head of the ink paper 2 appear in the sensor output signal 27. When the cueing detection operation is performed from the position of Cy19, it is regarded as the leading color of the position of the rising sense portion 28, and the leading color position is determined by the sum of the widths of the transparent 21 and the black 25 as compared to FIG. Judge ahead. However, if the ink color length on the ink paper 2 to be described later is sufficiently longer than the length of the portion to be printed on the photographic paper 3 and there is room, the leading position is determined by the sum of the widths of the transparent 21 and the black 25. It can be used without any problem even if it goes wrong. FIG. 3C shows an example of an ink sheet having no transparent portion between Cy 19 and black 25 on the ink sheet 2. In this case, the sensor output signal 27 in the combination of the LED and the sensor described above is the rising sense portion.
With only one 28, the head color of the ink paper is positioned in the same manner as in FIG. By the above-described pattern of the ink paper 2, the combination of the LED and the sensor, and the detection of the rising edge of the sensor signal, regardless of the type of the ink paper 2, that is, regardless of the presence or absence of the black mark for cueing, the same thermal transfer recording apparatus is used. The position of the leading color of the ink paper is determined by the mechanism unit and the positioning algorithm. Also, in the description of the figure, the combination of the LED 12 and the sensor 14 is performed with the red LED and the visible light sensor, but other combinations of the LED and the sensor that output the same signal, for example, using a near-infrared light sensor are used. By looking at light in a long wavelength range, for example, a wavelength of about 800 nm, a combination of Cy, black, black, and transparent, which are L, and other colors are H, out of the five colors Cy, Mg, Ye, black, and transparent. The leading color may be detected. In FIG. 1, the detection of the color of the ink was detected by the transmitted light by the separated LED 12 and the sensor 14, but this was achieved by placing the reflection plate on the opposite side of the ink paper by the LED and the sensor in one block. Detection of reflected light may be performed. Further, in the present embodiment, the thermal transfer recording apparatus and the ink paper that perform printing in the order of Ye, Mg, and Cy are taken as an example. However, even if the color order is different, the signal changes from the third color to the first color, and
It is sufficient to use a sensor in which the signal changes from black to the first color are equal, and the order of the colors does not matter.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the relationship between the size of the sensor opening and the width of the transparent portion on the ink paper 2. The range in which the sensor detects the color of the ink paper is not a point but has a sensor opening 31 of a fixed size. Accordingly, the waveform of the sensor output signal 27 also does not rise instantaneously in the change from Cy or black to transparent, but changes with a constant slope due to the shape of the sensor opening 31. Sensor output signal
In the actual judgment of 27, a certain threshold 30 is set, and a level discriminating circuit such as a comparator discriminates between H and L depending on whether the threshold is larger or smaller. (A) and (b) of FIG. 5 show (b) and (b) of FIG.
This is the same as (c), and the determination of the sensor output signal 27 is described in more detail using the threshold 30. Since the pattern of the sensor output signal 27 and the judgment of the rising sense portions 28 and 29 are the same as those in FIG. 5, the description is omitted here. FIG. 3C shows an example in which the width of the transparent member 21 located between Cy 19 and the black 25 is set to be equal to or less than a certain width smaller than at least the sensor opening 31. As the sensor opening 31 scans over the ink paper 2 and reaches the transparent 21 from above the Cy 19, the level of the sensor output signal 27 increases. However, the level of the sensor output signal 27 is
Before reaching 30, the sensor opening 31 is moved from the transparent part 21 to the black 25
, And the level of the sensor output signal 27 decreases. For this reason, even if transparent 21 is provided with a small width between Cy 19 and black 25,
The sensor output signal 27 does not reach the threshold 30,
Will not be recognized. In the process of manufacturing the ink paper 2, when the ink paper shown in FIG.
If it is difficult to ensure the accuracy so that there is no gap at the boundary between the black and black 25, and if there is a problem such as the printing plate being stained by printing with two colors of ink, the condition should be within a certain width. A transparent portion may be provided.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an operation mode diagram for explaining the printing operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus. (A) is a state in which the thermal transfer recording apparatus is initializing the printing operation, and the winding shaft 9 is winding the ink paper 2 with the thermal head 4 raised. During this operation, the LED 12 and the sensor 1 in FIG.
The sensor block 32 containing 4 in one block detects the color of the ink paper 2 and searches for the rising sense portion shown in FIG. 5 (a) or (c). After the sensor block 32 detects the rising sense portion, the winding shaft 9 further feeds the ink paper 2 of a certain length until the leading color of the ink paper 2 reaches below the heating element (not shown) on the thermal head 4.
At this time, the feed length of the ink paper 2 is measured by a clock plate (not shown) provided coaxially with the supply shaft 8, a clock LED for detecting the clock plate, and a clock sensor.

FIG. 6B shows the operation of attaching the photographic paper to the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and shows the photographic paper 3 inserted from a paper feed path (not shown).
Is fixed on the drum 6 by a chuck 7 provided on the drum 6. Here, since the operations in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are independent of each other, the order may be reversed.

FIG. 3C shows the cueing operation of the printing paper 3, wherein the drum 6 rotates while the printing paper 3 is fixed by the chuck 7 on the drum 6, and the printing is performed while the printing paper 3 is wound around the drum 6. The paper 3 is conveyed until the printing start position at the leading end of the paper 3 reaches below a heating element (not shown) on the thermal head 4.

FIG. 3D shows a state in which the thermal transfer recording apparatus is performing a printing operation. The thermal head 4 is lowered in the direction of arrow A,
The ink paper 2 is overlaid on the photographic paper 3 on the drum 6 and pressed between the ink paper 2 and the drum 6. In this state, a heating element (not shown) on the thermal head 4 generates heat and heats the ink paper 2 to melt or sublimate the thermal transfer ink applied on the ink paper 2 and transfer it to the photographic paper 3. After the recording of one line is completed, the drum 6 rotates one step, the heating element heats the ink paper 2 again, and prints the next line. Similar behavior
Repeat 640 times to print one color and one screen.

FIG. 7E shows a state in which the thermal transfer recording apparatus for printing the second and third colors is being initialized. The thermal head 4 is raised again, and the take-up shaft 9 further moves the ink paper 2 until the leading position of the second or third color of the ink paper 2 reaches below the heating element (not shown) on the thermal head 4. send. At this time, the feed length of the ink paper 2 is measured by a clock plate (not shown) provided coaxially with the supply shaft 8, a clock LED for detecting the clock plate, and a clock sensor. At the same time, the drum 6 rotates while the photographic paper 3 is fixed by the chuck 7 on the drum 6, and conveys the printing start position of the leading end of the photographic paper 3 until it reaches below the heating element (not shown) on the thermal head 4. Thereafter, the state is changed to the state shown in FIG. 3D, and the thermal transfer recording apparatus performs printing of the second color and the third color.

FIG. 5F shows a state in which the printing operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus is completed and the photographic paper 3 is discharged out of the thermal transfer recording apparatus. The thermal head 4 rises and the ink paper 2 separates from the drum 6. Thereafter, the drum 6 rotates in a direction opposite to that during printing, and discharges the photographic paper 3 to a discharge path (not shown).

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a supply shaft rotation detecting unit for detecting the rotation of the supply shaft shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The ink paper cassette 15 is mounted on the upper part of the drum 6 in the mechanism section 34 of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and holds the ink paper 2 stretched between the supply shaft 8 and the take-up shaft 9 (not shown) in the supply shaft storage 39. Then, the thermal head 4 presses against the drum 6. The ink paper 2 is transported with the rotation of the drum 6, and the ink paper 2 that has passed under the thermal head 4 is taken up by a take-up shaft 9. At this time, a torque transmission shaft is
The take-up shaft 9 rotates as the torque transmission shaft 33 rotates, and the ink paper 2 is taken up. Similarly, the ink paper 2 is unwound from the supply shaft with the rotation of the drum 6, and the rotation of the supply shaft at this time is transmitted from the mechanism unit 34 to the supply shaft rotation detection unit 35 inserted into the supply shaft. You.
A clock plate 36 is provided coaxially with the supply shaft rotation detection unit 35, and a black-and-white pattern described on the clock plate 36 or affixed by a seal-like member appears alternately by its rotation. A clock LED 37 for illuminating the clock plate 36 and a clock sensor 38 for detecting reflected light from the clock plate 36 are provided, and read a monochrome pattern on the clock plate 36. The signal output unit of the clock sensor 38 alternately outputs H and L signals in accordance with the black and white pattern passed in front of the clock sensor 38. By counting the number of times H and L, the amount of rotation of the supply shaft is detected, and the amount of conveyance of the ink paper 2 is detected. Further, in this embodiment, the clock plate 36 is provided coaxially with the supply shaft 8, but it may be provided on the winding shaft 9 or on another member related to the conveyance of the ink paper 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a change in the position of an ink portion used for printing on ink paper, which changes depending on the outer diameter of the supply shaft.
FIG. 5A shows a state in which the ink paper 2 is sufficiently wound around the supply shaft, and the supply shaft ink outer diameter 43 is large. The leading color detection portion of the ink paper 2 is a boundary portion between Cy19 and transparent 21, and
In the drawing, after the sensor 14 detects this boundary portion, the ink paper 2 is conveyed by the cue feed 48 to perform positioning of the ink paper 2 in printing. Next, ink paper conveyance by printing is performed for the printing length 45. Thereafter, the position of the ink paper 2 for printing the second color of Mg is performed, the ink paper 2 is transported by the idle feed 46, and the printing is performed similarly to the first color. Similarly, the printing of the third color Cy is performed after the conveyance of the idle feed 46, and the printing of the printing length 45 is performed. At this time, the printing length 45 is always closer to the rear end of the ink coating length 41 on the ink paper 2. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the ink paper 2 is almost not present on the supply shaft, and the supply shaft ink outer diameter 44 is small. After the head color is detected, a cueing feed 49 is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 9A, and this amount is controlled using the rotation amount of the supply shaft. That is, since the ink paper 2 is conveyed by one rotation of the supply shaft, for example, the supply shaft ink outer diameter 43 is smaller than the supply shaft ink outer diameter 43 in FIG. Since the outer circumference of 44 is smaller than the outer circumference of the supply shaft ink outer diameter 43 in (a), the crawling feed 49 is smaller than the crawling feed 43 in (a). The subsequent print length 45 is the same for (a) and (b), but
47 is also smaller than the idle feed 46 of FIG.
Numeral 45 is always closer to the rear end of the ink coating length 41 on the ink paper 2, unlike the case (a) of FIG. Ink length 41
Even if the position of the print length 45 is closest to the leading end, the print length 45 is long enough not to protrude from the Cy 20 to the transparent 23, so that the cueing feed 48, 49 and the idle feed 46, 47 can be controlled by a fixed amount of rotation of the supply shaft.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a change in an ink portion used for printing on ink paper, which changes according to the outer diameter of the supply shaft, similarly to FIG. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the ink paper 2 is sufficiently wound around the supply shaft, which is the same as FIG. 9A. FIG. 6B shows a case where the ink diameter of the supply shaft ink is reduced by using the ink paper 2. This state is the same as that in FIG. 9B, and the printing portion has moved in the direction of the leading end of the ink application length of the ink paper 2. However, in the case of the present embodiment, the ink paper 2 is not yet completely used up in this state, and the outer diameter of the supply shaft ink is further reduced. FIG. 5C shows a state in which the ink paper 2 is further used and the supply shaft ink outer diameter is about half of the state in which the ink paper 2 is fully wound. In the ink coating length of the ink paper 2, the print portion is further shifted to the leading end, and the Cy print portion 77 is
It crosses the boundary 78 between Mg18 and Cy19. If printing is performed in this state, a part of the portion where Cy printing is performed is performed with Mg ink, and normal printing is not performed. FIG. 4D shows an example of an ink sheet that solves this problem. Although the solution will be described later, the ninth method is selected according to the value of the supply shaft ink outer diameter of the ink paper 2.
By switching the lengths of the idle feeds 46 and 47 in the figure. That is, for example, when the ink paper 2 is sufficiently wound on the supply shaft, the idle feeding is performed by one rotation of the supply shaft, whereas the ink paper 2 is wound on the supply shaft by half or less. In this state, the idle feed is fed by two rotations of the supply shaft to prevent the print portion from protruding from the boundary 78. As an effect, when the ink paper 2 is wound around the supply shaft by an amount equal to or less than half, when the ink paper 2 for one rotation of the supply shaft is fed idly, as shown in FIG. By feeding the ink paper 2 for two rotations idly, (d)
Like Further, when the ink paper 2 is used and the ink paper 2 is almost not wound on the supply shaft, the use state of the ink paper 2 becomes as shown in FIG. The print portion falls within the range. The supply shaft ink outer diameter corresponds to one clock of the clock sensor output for detecting the rotation amount of the supply shaft.
It is determined by measuring the absolute length of the feed amount of
In the present embodiment, the idle feed length of the ink paper 2 is changed in two stages according to the use condition of the ink paper 2. However, this may be any number of stages, and the ink feed corresponding to one clock of a clock sensor output described later may be performed. By measuring the absolute length of the feed amount of the paper 2, the print portion may always be at the same position on the ink paper 2.

FIG. 11 shows an example of measurement of the absolute length of the feed amount of the ink paper 2 corresponding to one clock of the output of the clock sensor 38 described above. FIG. 3A shows a drum 6 of the thermal transfer recording apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a mechanism for driving the motor. In this figure, since the ink paper 2 being printed is conveyed with the rotation of the drum 6, the print feed can measure the absolute feed length of the ink paper 2. A specific method of measuring the absolute feed length of the ink paper 2 is to provide an FG generator 54 coaxially with a motor 55 for driving the drum 6 and to output the rotation state of the motor 55 by, for example, a one-time / round pulse signal. , In correspondence with the clock signal 56. The rotational torque of the motor 55 is transmitted to the drum 6 at a constant reduction ratio through the reduction gear 51 and the torque transmission belt 50. For example, by making the rotation of one line in the printing of the rotation amount of the drum 6 coincide with the clock of the FG signal output 53 which is the output of the FG generator 54 directly connected to the motor 55, the FG signal output 53 is output in one line in the printing. It can be handled as a print start timing signal.
Therefore, the absolute feed amount of the ink paper 2 corresponding to one clock of the clock signal output 52 can be measured using the same signal, so that it is not necessary to attach a new member for measuring the ink paper 2 feed amount. In addition, cost increase can be suppressed. FIG. 4B shows the clock signal 56 and the FG signal.
57 is a correspondence diagram of FIG. In the figure, the measurement range of the FG signal 57 is between two rising sense portions 28 of the clock signal 56, and the rising sensing portion 29 of the FG signal 57 therebetween.
It can be seen that there are five, and the photographic paper 2 is conveyed by five lines during one cycle of the clock signal 56. In this case, the count value of the FG signal 57 has a maximum error of ± 1 depending on the phase position of the clock signal 56 and the FG signal 57. In consideration of this error, it is necessary to control the idle feed length in FIG.

FIG. 12 is an example of a flowchart for measuring the absolute feed length of the ink paper 2 by the system control microcomputer of the thermal transfer recording apparatus. FIG. 5A is an operation flowchart of a microcomputer for printing one screen per color, and the operation will be described below. The counter initialization 58 is for initializing a counter for performing printing of 640 lines, and also for initializing a counter for counting the number of FGs described later. Next, drum 6
An FG signal 57 for measuring the amount of rotation of the motor 55 for driving is read from the FG data 59, and it is determined whether or not the FG signal is at the rising detection position in the rising change 60. Here, in this flowchart, the rise change 60 detects the rise change by comparing the previous FG data reading with the previous and previous FG data reading. If the rising of the FG signal is not detected in the rising change 60, the process returns to the reading of the FG data 59 again, the rising change 60 is performed, and the processing is repeated until the rising is detected. When the rising of the FG signal is detected, a counter operation 61 is performed next, and the clock signal 56 and the FG signal 57 are correlated. Details of the counter operation 61 will be described later. When the microcomputer of the thermal transfer recording device captures the rising edge of the FG signal, it determines whether the current number of printing lines has reached 640 lines, and if the number of printing lines has reached 640 lines, it is considered that printing of one screen has ended. . If the line has not reached 640 lines, the microcomputer generates a strobe to generate heat in the thermal head 4 63
At the same time, the counter of the number of printing lines is increased by one line. Thereafter, FG data read 59 is performed again, and the above-described operation is repeated. Next, FIG.
The details of the counter operation 61 for associating the signal 57 will be described. The counter operation 61 is classified into three operation modes.
11 (b), (2) a mode for counting the FG signal between the rising sense portions 28 and 28 ', (3) a mode after the rising sense portion 28' in FIG. The mode flag is set to (1) in the counter initialization in FIG. After the start of printing, the control moves to the FG counter reset 66 according to the mode flag determination 65, and the count counter of the FG to be measured is set to 0. Next, in clock data reading 67, the output signal of the clock sensor is read. Next, it is determined whether or not the clock data is at the position of the rising sensing portion 28 in FIG. The rising change 68 detects the rising change by comparing the previous clock data reading with the previous and previous clock data reading similarly to the rising change 60 in FIG. If the clock data does not change at the rising edge, the counter operation 61 is terminated, and the control returns to the control of FIG. 9A. The same operation is performed at the time of printing the next line, and the rising of the clock data is waited. When the rising edge of the clock data is detected, the counter operation 61 is terminated with the mode flag = (2), and the next line printing is awaited. In the mode flag determination 65, if the mode flag = (2), the mode flag =
Similar to the detection of the rising edge of the clock data in (1),
11 Waits for detection of the rising sense position 28 'in FIG. While the rising sense position 28 'is not detected, the rising sensing position 28 and the rising sensing position 28'
Since this routine passes only once for one line printing, the FG counter may be incremented by 1 according to the number of INC and FG each time the routine passes with the mode flag = (2). When the rising sense part 28 'is detected in the state of the mode flag = (2), the FG counter is not increased,
As the mode flag = (3) 73, the process exits the counter operation 61. Thereafter, since the count number of the FG data corresponding to one clock of the clock data is counted, there is no need to perform this routine, and the printing operation is performed without any operation when the mode flag is (3). To continue.

The FG during one cycle of the clock data described above with reference to FIG.
An example is shown in which the idle feed length shown in FIG. 10 is actually switched using the number of signals. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 9A, if the supply shaft ink outer diameter 43 is 15 mm to 30 mm, and one clock rotation angle 79 is 1/8 rotation, the feed length of the ink paper 2 in one clock cycle is 5.89 mm. It becomes 11.78mm from. Here, assuming that the IFG feed amount 80 is 190 μm, the feed length of the ink paper 2 in one cycle of the clock is 31 to 62 in units of the number of FGs. FIG. 3B shows a table in which the FG numbers are expressed in binary numbers.
It is assumed that the number of FGs changes from 31 to 62, and that the skip feed length is switched at the 48th position of the intermediate value. As shown in the table, 31 and
The MSB changes from 0 to 1 between 32 and LSB between 47 and 48
The 5th bit changes from 0 to 1. So 5th bit and 6 from LSB
The AND of the bit (MSB) is taken, and if the result is 1, switching is performed so as to increase the idle feeding length, thereby completing the switching algorithm without requiring complicated judgment. FIG. 3C shows a diagram in which the above-mentioned FG number measurement and judgment algorithm is configured as a hardware circuit. The counter 81 inputs the clock signal 56 to the reset 84 through the delay 82. The counter reset by the clock signal 82 is the FG signal 57
Start counting the number of. The counting result of the counter 81 is output as a 6-bit parallel signal. The output of the fifth and sixth bits of this output is ANDed by AND 85 and input to the latch 86. The latch 86 detects the next rising edge of the clock signal 56 and latches the output of the AND 85.However, since the reset of the counter 81 is performed after the latch operation of the latch 86 has been performed and the delay time due to the delay 82 has elapsed, the latch 86 is reset. 1. Accurate counting and processing of the number of FGs in one clock are performed. counter
The logical product operation of the 5th and 6th bits of the output of 81 may be performed by software such as the BIT-TEST instruction of the system control microcomputer.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the printing operation mode diagram of the thermal transfer recording apparatus shown in FIG. The overall operation mode is 7th
Although the description is omitted here because it is the same as the figure, the initialization operation of the ink paper 2 in FIG. In FIG. 7, the sensor block 32 is fixed to a chassis of a thermal transfer recording device mechanism (not shown) and positions the head of the ink paper 2 with the thermal head 4 raised. In this embodiment, the sensor block 32 is
The ink paper 2 is provided on the upper surface of the drum 1 to convey the ink paper 2 for positioning the head of the ink paper 2 by rotating the drum 6. No.
The relationship between the absolute transport amount of the ink paper 2 and the clock described in the description of FIG. 11 can be performed during the head positioning operation, and does not impose a burden on the operation of the microcomputer during printing.

FIG. 15 shows another embodiment for measuring the absolute feed length of the ink paper. FIG. 9A shows an example in which a peeling roller 89 provided on the thermal head 4 of the thermal transfer recording apparatus is used. The peeling roller 89 passes under the heating element 5 and
The roller is a roller that peels off the ink paper 2 stuck on the photographic paper 2 from the photographic paper 3 at an acute angle. The peeling roller 89 is pressed against the drum 6 and rotates in accordance with the rotation of the drum 6, that is, the running amount of the ink paper 2. Peeling roller 89
The same data as in FIG. 11 can be obtained by providing the clock plate 36 and actually measuring the traveling amount of the ink paper 2. In FIG. 6B, the travel distance of the ink paper 2 is actually measured by providing tension rollers 90 and 91 for applying the tension of the ink paper 2 and providing the clock plate 36 on the tension roller 90. In this case, since the absolute travel amount of the ink paper 2 can be constantly measured, the idle feed amount of the ink paper 2 can be controlled without detecting the rotation amount of the supply shaft 8.

FIG. 16 is a front view of an ink sheet and a sensor output signal showing another example of a method of detecting the head position of the ink sheet 2. In FIG. 5A, the color order of the ink paper 2 is different from the color order described above, and is in the order of Cy, Mg, and Ye. At this time, the signal output when the same sensor as described above, that is, the sensor of the R light is used is shown. The R sensor signal output 95 is between Mg18 and Cy19, ie, 3
The color changes from H to L at the leading position of the ink paper 2 between the first color and the first color. By detecting the falling sense portions 93 and 94, the head position can be detected even with ink paper in the order of Cy, Mg, and Ye. (B) in FIG.
An example in which a black cue mark 25 is provided on ink paper in the order of Cy, Mg, and Ye is shown. In this case, the falling portion 93 of the R sensor output signal 95 appears between Mg 18 and black 25, and is detected at a position different from the position shown in FIG. In this case, even if the position of the ink paper 2 is misaligned by the width of the black 25 band, the color pitch of the ink paper 2 is set so that the printing portion on the ink paper 2 falls within each color. It is only necessary to perform the cueing control for the third and third colors. With the above operation, the cueing of the ink paper 2 is performed by the same mechanism and cueing algorithm of the thermal transfer recording apparatus regardless of the presence or absence of the cue black mark 25 even if the color order is Cy, Mg, Ye. .

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a case where the head position of the ink paper 2 is determined using another color sensor. The color order is the same as the example of FIG. 16 in the order of Cy, Mg, and Ye. In this embodiment, G is used for the color of the sensor. G sensor output signal 96 is Mg18
Changes from L to H between and Cy19. That is, by detecting the rising sense portions 28 and 29, the leading color is positioned by the method described with reference to FIG. As shown in the description of FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, two types of methods can be selected as a device configuration and a reading algorithm for performing cueing in a certain color order. Actually, an optimal method may be selected depending on the cost of the sensor and the scale of the software.

FIG. 18 shows the relationship between the type of sensor and the color of the ink paper 2. FIG. 7A is a graph showing the relationship between the wavelength spectrum of the sensor color and the color spectrum of the ink color 2. The horizontal axis represents the wavelength 99 and the vertical axis represents the transmittance.
98. For example, when the R light 105 is used, since the Ye spectrum 100 and the Mg spectrum 101 transmit the R light 105, the output of the sensor is H, and the Cy spectrum 102 is the R light 1
Since it does not transmit through 05, it becomes L, and the above-mentioned cueing sense is performed. When the infrared light, that is, the IR light 106 is used, the spectrum in the infrared region of the ink paper 2 of each color is an extension of the spectrum of the R light 105 and shows the same behavior. An infrared sensor can be used, and the cost of the sensor can be reduced. FIG.
9 is a table showing the relationship between sensor output signals according to the combination of the ink color type 108 and the sensor type 107. For example,
When an R sensor is used, the sensor output becomes L for Cy and black ink, and becomes H for other colors. In order to detect the leading color of the ink paper 2, a sensor having different signal outputs for the third color and the first color may be selected.

FIG. 19 shows an example of performing cueing of the ink paper 2 using an infrared sensor. The signal output in the case of using the infrared light, that is, the IR sensor is the same as that in the case of using the R sensor. However, in this case, it is not possible to distinguish between Ye and Mg. Cannot detect. In this case, in this embodiment, during printing, the boundary between Cy19 and Ye17,
The border between the third color and the third color is detected, and during the printing of Ye17 for the third color, the feed amount measurement for the head positioning of the next screen is already performed.
Do 9 In the present embodiment, when an operation of removing the ink paper cassette from the thermal transfer recording apparatus while waiting for printing is performed, it is necessary to determine whether or not the ink paper of the inserted cassette has already been caught. is there. In this embodiment, when the cassette is once removed and then re-installed,
Although the ink paper 2 for one screen is wasted, the idle feeding of the ink paper 2 is performed, the next interval between Cy and Ye is sensed, and cueing is performed. Further, when the user removes the ink paper cassette from the printer, the ink paper cassette 2 is set before the cassette is mounted.
Rewind by at least one color by hand, and move Cy through the window of the cassette.
If the ink paper 2 is mounted in a state where the ink paper 2 can be seen, the next screen is caught without waste of the ink paper 2. FIG. 3B is a side view showing an example in which the thermal transfer recording apparatus performs the rewinding of the ink paper 2 described above. Immediately after the cassette is mounted on the thermal transfer recording device, the motor 55 rotates and the torque is reduced by the reduction gear 51.
And to the supply shaft 8 via the torque transmission belt 50. The supply shaft 8 rotates in the direction of arrow D, and rewinds the ink paper 2. As for the ink paper 2, the LED 12 and the sensor 14 (using the IR sensor) change points of the ink paper 2 from Ye to Cy.
The tape is rewound until a point where the color changes from L to L is detected. Thereafter, the leading color is positioned by the method described above with reference to FIG. With these methods, the cue of the ink paper 2 in an arbitrary color order can be performed even when the IR sensor is used. In the case of the present embodiment, even if a black mark (not shown) is provided between Ye and Mg, the detection of the rising sense portion 28 by the color sense of the ink paper 2 is performed during the printing of the second to third colors.
It does not affect cueing.

〔The invention's effect〕

With the thermal transfer recording device and the ink paper according to the present invention,
It is possible to perform a cueing operation on the same thermal transfer recording apparatus with the same cueing algorithm and the same device configuration for an ink paper composed of three colors of ink and an ink paper composed of three colors and a black cue mark. It can be used interchangeably with multiple types of ink paper. Further, the positioning of the second and third colors can be performed without using a sensor for determining the head position of each color, and unnecessary cost increase can be prevented. Further, by controlling the feed length of the ink paper for the positioning of the second color and the third color, the leading end of the ink paper can always be determined at an accurate position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining the structure and operation of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. FIG. 4 is a pattern diagram showing an ink application pattern on ink paper according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a pattern diagram for explaining a method of detecting a head position of the ink paper, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an operation mode diagram illustrating a printing operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a supply shaft rotation detection unit, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a change in the position of the ink portion used for printing on the ink paper, which varies depending on the outer diameter of the supply shaft. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the position of the ink portion used for printing on the ink paper, which varies depending on the outer diameter of the supply shaft. Schematic showing change FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a method of measuring the absolute length of the feeding amount of ink paper, FIG. 12 is a flowchart of measuring the feeding length of ink paper by a system control microcomputer of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example in which the idle feed length is actually switched, FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the printing operation mode of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 16 is a side view showing another method for measuring the travel amount of the ink paper, FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing another method for performing cueing of the ink paper, and FIG. 17 is a sensor of another color. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a method for performing cueing of ink paper using a sensor, FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a relationship between a sensor color and a color of ink paper, and FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a head of ink paper using an infrared sensor. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example which performs a delivery. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermal transfer recording device, 2 ... Ink paper, 3 ... Printing paper, 4 ... Thermal head, 6 ... Drum, 8 ... Supply axis, 9 ... Winding axis, 312 ... LED, 14 ... ... Sensor, 15 ... Ink paper cassette, 35 ... Supply shaft rotation detector, 36 ... Clock plate, 37 ... Clock LED, 38 ... Clock sensor, 43 ... Supply shaft ink outer diameter, 46 ... Empty feed, 54 FG generator, 78 Boundary, 79 Clock rotation angle, 80 1 FG feed amount, 81 Counter, 87 Microcomputer, 99 Wavelength, 106 IR light .

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kentaro Hanma 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Home Appliances Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP, 60-190381 (JP, A)

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing method, comprising the steps of: using a printing ink of three colors on a thin band-shaped film or paper and ink paper each applied to the size of one printing screen; In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, in which the printing ink applied to the ink paper is thermally transferred to the printing paper by heating with a thermal head and recording is performed, the printing ink may include only three colors of printing ink. 1 ink paper and a cue mark having a different color from the three colors of printing ink for indicating the head of the three colors of printing ink, are preceded by each set of the three colors of printing ink. 2nd applied or affixed to the position
In order to search for the ink paper of the three colors, the boundary between the third color ink and the first color ink, and the boundary between the cue mark and the first color ink, so that the cueing of the ink paper is performed using the same structure and operation algorithm. And a light source for detecting the head position of the first color by using light that outputs the same signal as the same signal, and a sensor means composed of an optical sensor. The first color of the ink is printed, the first color is printed, and then the second color and the third color are printed. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, comprising: transport means for transporting paper; and measuring means for measuring the transport amount of the ink paper, and locates a correct leading position of a second color or a third color of the printing ink. 2. A thermal transfer recording apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a rotation amount detection unit mounted on another shaft coaxially connected to a supply shaft or a take-up shaft of said ink paper or connected with a gear or a belt. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, wherein the amount of rotation of the shaft is measured using a unit to measure the amount of conveyance of the ink paper. 3. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transport amount measured for transporting the ink paper is such that the ink paper travels for a substantially constant distance. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, comprising: means for determining a value corresponding to the diameter of a paper winding shaft; and switching means. 4. A thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ink paper is rotated by a rotation amount detecting means mounted on a roller which presses said ink paper onto a drum around which photographic paper is wound. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for measuring an amount of the ink paper transported by measuring an amount of the ink paper. 5. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the second ink paper having the cue mark, the position of the cue mark is set with respect to the third color of the printing ink. The cueing operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus which locates the first ink paper without the cue mark by detecting the boundary between the third color and the first color of the printing ink by being installed at a position where there is no gap. Using the algorithm as it is, by detecting the boundary between the cue mark of the second ink paper having the cue mark and the first color ink, and performing the cue operation, the first ink paper without the cue mark is detected. And cueing of the second ink paper having a cue mark at the head position of the first color ink without changing the structure and cueing algorithm of the thermal transfer recording apparatus. Thermal transfer recording apparatus according to. 6. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the second ink sheet having the cue mark, the position of the cue mark is set with respect to the third color of the printing ink. A cue mark is detected by detecting a boundary between the third color and the first color of the printing ink by installing a gap defined within a certain width that cannot be detected by a sensor of the thermal transfer recording apparatus to be used. Using the cueing operation algorithm of the thermal transfer recording apparatus that performs cueing of the first ink paper not having the
By detecting the boundary between the cue mark of the ink paper and the ink of the first color and performing the cue operation, the first ink paper having no cue mark and the second ink paper having the cue mark are detected. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing cueing at the head position of ink of the first color without changing the structure and cueing algorithm of the thermal transfer recording apparatus.