JP2630940B2 - Color recording method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a color recording method and apparatus, and more particularly, to a color recording method based on a thermal transfer recording method in which a recording paper feeding method is improved. And devices.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a method for recording color information, there is a thermal transfer recording method in addition to an ink jet recording method, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method and the like. In this case, as shown in FIG. Using an ink ribbon A having a heat-fusible solid ink layer which is separately applied in a band shape with three colors of yellow, or four colors including black as needed, and for each of the colors, according to an image signal. The ink layer is melted by being heated by the energized thermal head, and is repeatedly transferred and recorded on plain paper recording paper in contact with the ink ribbon. This method has features that the process is simpler and the apparatus can be downsized as compared with the other methods described above, and has been actively used in recent years.

Conventionally, a method shown in FIG. 8 and a method shown in FIG. 9 are known for conveying recording paper for performing color recording by the thermal transfer recording method.

The method shown in FIG. 8 uses a platen roller connected to a stepping motor (not shown) for recording one color, for example, cyan.
201, a feed roller 202 and a pinch roller 203 cooperating therewith convey the recording paper 204,
The ink ribbon A is transferred to the recording paper 20 by a transport device (not shown).
While conveying at the same speed as 4, the recording paper 204 and the ink ribbon A cooperate with the platen 201 in close contact with each other, and the thermal head 205, which is in pressure contact with the recording paper 204, selectively presses the recording paper 204 on the recording paper 204 in accordance with an image signal. To obtain a cyan color image. When the recording of the first color is completed in this way, the platen roller 201
The thermal head 205 is separated from the thermal head 205 by means (not shown), and the feed roller 202 is rotated in the reverse direction.
Return until the tip of 04 reaches the vicinity of the recording position of the thermal head 205. During this time, the ink ribbon A has a color to be recorded next,
For example, until magenta reaches the recording position of the thermal head 205, it is conveyed in the same direction as during recording. Thereafter, the platen roller 201 and the thermal head 205 are pressed again, and the magenta color recording is performed by superimposing the cyan recording on the recording paper 204 in the same manner as described above. In the same manner, by repeating the overprinting by the number of colors of the ink ribbon A sequentially, that is, three or four times in the same manner, the color image recording by the subtractive color mixture is finally completed on the recording paper 205 and obtained.

In contrast, the method of FIG. 9 uses the recording paper 302 on the drum platen 301 linked to a stepping motor (not shown).
And the thermal head 303 is pressed into contact with the thermal head 303 via the ink ribbon A having the length of one color substantially equal to the circumference of the drum platen 301, and the drum platen 301 is rotated once in the same direction for each recording color. At the same time, the ink ribbon A is conveyed by a driving device (not shown) at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the drum-shaped platen 301 to perform color printing. The recording of the color image by the subtractive color mixture is completed in the same manner as in the method. Recording paper 30 on which recording is completed in this way
2 is detached from the drum platen 301 and taken out.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) According to the method shown in FIG. 8, there is an advantage that a color image can be recorded by a frame sequential method using a relatively simple mechanism. It takes time to return each time recording is completed. This is a wasteful time irrelevant to the net recording, so that the recording speed is limited, which is disadvantageous for high-speed recording. When returning the recording paper 204, the thermal head 205 is moved to the platen roller 201.
It is indispensable that the ink ribbon A is returned once together with the recording paper 204 or the recording paper 204 is forcibly rubbed with the ink ribbon A if this is neglected. Stains and impair image quality. In order to prevent this, a pressure contact / separation control mechanism between the thermal head 205 and the platen roller 201 must be provided, and there is a disadvantage that the apparatus becomes complicated. Further, a long space for temporarily storing the recording paper 204 to be reciprocated may be required, which is a disadvantageous condition for downsizing the apparatus.

According to the method shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to minimize the useless time which is not directly related to the recording, that is, the recording paper is returned every time one-color recording is completed as in the method shown in FIG. Since it is possible, there is an advantage that is advantageous for speeding up. However, there is a disadvantage that the apparatus becomes expensive because a complicated mechanism for winding and peeling the recording paper 302 around the drum-shaped platen 301 is required, and a specially-shaped thermal head 303 is used. is there. Further, since the drum 301 that rotates at a constant speed is used, the time required for recording one page is constant regardless of the recording paper size.
In other words, there is a drawback in that the advantage of this method, which is suitable for high-speed operation, cannot be used when a recording paper having a short length is used. Also, a drum-shaped platen with a large diameter (about 100 mm in the case of A4 size recording paper) is required due to the length of the recording paper, which is disadvantageous for downsizing of the apparatus and increases the load due to its weight. There are also disadvantages such as the need for a stepping motor having a large rotational driving force.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording method and apparatus capable of eliminating the above-mentioned problems of the conventional apparatus and achieving high-speed, high-quality color recording by a thermal transfer recording method. I do.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the recording paper,
An object of the present invention is to provide a color printing method and apparatus which always minimizes wasted time not involved in printing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a small and inexpensive color recording apparatus that can be configured without using a specially shaped thermal head.

[Configuration of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) According to the present invention, a recording paper is circulated between a thermal head and a platen roller to be fed in a certain direction, and the recording paper is fed with an ink ribbon every time the recording paper circulates. In a color recording method in which a plurality of inks are transferred to recording paper by a thermal head while being superimposed on ink layers of different colors and transported by a platen roller, the recording paper is transported along a peripheral direction of the platen roller. Thus, the step of sequentially transferring the first ink to the recording paper, and prior to the transfer of the second ink, temporarily stop the leading end of the recording paper before the entrance between the thermal head and the platen roller. And a step of continuing the transfer of the first ink to the recording sheet, and after the transfer of the first ink to the recording sheet is completed, the leading end of the recording sheet is transported again. And sequentially transferring the second ink to the recording paper.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording paper is circulated between the thermal head and the platen roller to be fed in a certain direction, and the recording paper is superimposed on the ink layer of a different color of the ink ribbon every time the recording paper circulates. In a color recording apparatus that transfers a plurality of inks to recording paper by a thermal head while transporting them by a platen roller, the recording paper is movably disposed along a peripheral surface of the platen roller, and a leading end of the recording paper is moved. A recording paper holding means for detachably holding the recording paper; and a recording paper holding means for holding a leading end of the recording paper before the recording paper reaches between the thermal head and the platen roller prior to the first ink transfer. After the recording paper is nipped between the thermal head and the platen roller to transfer the last ink, the recording paper is held by the recording paper holding means. A holding unit driving unit that releases the holding state of the recording paper; and the recording paper holding unit is moved independently of the platen roller, and the recording paper held by the recording paper holding unit is moved by the thermal head and the platen roller. And a recording paper circulating unit that circulates and conveys the first ink before the transfer of the first ink is completed before the transfer of the second ink.
Recording paper stopping means for stopping the recording paper circulation means and temporarily stopping the leading end of the recording paper before the entrance between the thermal head and the platen roller.

(Operation) According to the color recording method and apparatus of the present invention, the leading end of the recording paper is held by the recording paper holding means during the period from the start of the transfer of the first ink to the start of the transfer of the last ink, and The portion of the recording paper to which the ink has been transferred, excluding the leading end, is in a freely loosened state until the transfer of the second ink is started.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a conceptual sectional view showing the configuration of a color recording apparatus according to the present invention.

This apparatus has a recording means 10 in the center of the apparatus casing 1 and a recording paper transport means in a substantially lower half of the apparatus casing 1.
20 and an ink ribbon transporting means 40 in substantially the upper half of the apparatus housing 1.

The recording means 10 has a thermal head 11 having a heating element array driven in accordance with an image signal, and a platen roller 12 which is press-fitted and opposed to the heating element array of the thermal head 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the width W ₀ of the platen roller 12 is set smaller than the width W ₁ of the recording paper 2, while the width of the thermal head 11 is substantially equal to the width W ₀ of the platen roller 12. equal. The platen roller 12 has both ends of a shaft 12a extending outward and a gear 13 at one end. This gear
13 is linked to the stepping motor M ₁ via a power transmission means such as a timing belt, not shown.

The recording paper conveying means 20 includes a recording paper feeding section 21 for feeding the recording paper 2 to the recording means 10, a recording paper circulating section 22 for circulating the recording paper 2 by the recording means 10 by the number of times of coloring, and And a recording paper discharge section 23 for discharging the recording paper 2 from the recording means 10 to the outside of the apparatus housing 1.

The recording paper feeding unit 21 stores the recording papers 2 in a stacked manner, and exposes the recording papers 2 from the lower portion of the side plate 1a of the apparatus housing 1 into the apparatus housing 1; pressed against the 2, a paper feed roller 25 driven through the one-way clutch (not shown) by the motor M _2, the conveying path 26 for guiding the recording sheet 2 from the cassette 24 to the peripheral surface of the platen roller 12
And

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper circulating section 22 is loosely fitted to the shaft 12a of the platen roller 12 via a ball bearing 27a, and grip rollers (recording paper) attached to both ends of the platen roller 12, respectively. (Circulation means) 27. These grip rollers 27 have a gear 28 on the peripheral surface.
Is linked to the stepping motor (recording sheet circulation means) M ₃ via a power transmission means such as a timing belt, not shown. Each of the grip rollers 27 has a peripheral surface having substantially the same diameter as the peripheral surface of the platen roller 12 on each platen roller 12 side, and a gripper piece (recording paper holding) is provided on a part of each peripheral surface. Means) 29 are arranged. These gripper pieces 29 are rotatably supported by grip rollers 27 by a shaft 29a. At the ends of these shafts 29a,
A lever (holding part driving means) 30 is fixedly attached to the end of the lever 30, as shown in FIG. 3, a tension spring (holding part driving means) 31 and a cam follower (holding part driving means) 32. Are arranged. Therefore, the gripper piece
Reference numeral 29 denotes a state in which each end is pressed against the peripheral surface of the grip roller 27 by the urging force of the tension spring 31. Further, the recording means 10 in the moving area of the cam follower 32
As shown in FIG. 3, cams (holding unit driving means) 33 and 34 are provided near the entrance and the exit of the nosepiece. These cams 33, 34 are provided with electromagnetic solenoids (holding unit driving means) 35,
When the electromagnetic solenoids 35 and 36 are excited, they are escaped from the moving range of the cam follower 32, and demagnetize the electromagnetic solenoids 35 and 36 to project into the moving range of the cam follower 32. When the cam follower 32 contacts the protruding cams 33, 34, the gripper piece 29 is opened.

The recording paper discharge section 23 includes a transport path 37 for guiding the recording paper 2 from the recording means 10 to the side plate 1b of the apparatus housing 1, and a discharge roller 38 is provided in the transport path 37.

Ink ribbon transport means 40 is provided with a take-up roll 41 and feed roll 42, and is linked to the stepping motor M ₄ up roll 41 through a power transmission means not shown. The ink ribbon 3 is wound around the feeding roll 42, and the leading end of the ink ribbon 3 is locked on the winding roll 41. Like the ink ribbon A shown in FIG. 7, the ink ribbon 3 is formed of yellow, magenta, and cyan hot-melt inks which are separately applied in a band shape. The ink ribbon 3 is interposed between the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the color recording apparatus has a recording sheet detection sensor (holding section driving means) S ₁ for detecting the leading end of the recording sheet 2 fed from the cassette 24 to the recording means 10. When the gripper piece detecting sensor comprises a (recording paper stop means) S _2, the output signals of the sensors S _1, S ₂ for detecting the gripper piece 29, the controller as shown in FIG. 4 ( It is input to the holding unit driving means and the recording paper stopping means) 50.

FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure of the controller 50 based on the output signals of the sensors S ₁ and S ₂ .

In the controller 50, whether or not the recording command signal is inputted it is judged (step 100), if the finger of age is input, the motor M ₂ is driven (step 101).
Then, the paper feed roller 25 is rotated, and the recording paper 2 in the cassette 24 is fed to the recording means 10 along the transport path 26. Then, the leading end of the recording sheet 2 reaches the recording sheet detection sensor S _1, the leading end of the recording paper 2 is detected by the recording sheet detection sensor S ₁ (step 102), the timer starts counting contained in the controller 50 (Step 103). The recording paper 2 reaches the gripper piece 29 of the grip roller 27 stopped at the standby position shown in FIG. 1 during the counting of the timer, and the leading end thereof is trimmed by contacting the gripper piece 29. With the end of the time counting by the timer, the motors M ₁ , M ₃ , and M ₄ are driven, and the electromagnetic solenoids 35 and 36 are also excited at the same time (step 104). Thus, the leading edge of the recording sheet 2, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), is gripped in the gripper piece 29, the motor M ₂ is stopped, the grip roller 27 and the platen roller
The ink ribbon 3 is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Then, the recording paper 2 is superimposed on the ink ribbon 3 and the thermal head 11
As a result, recording according to the recording signal of the first color is performed.
On the other hand, the leading edge of the recording sheet 2 is conveyed by the grip roller 27, the gripper piece 29 reaches the gripper piece detection sensor S _2, is detected by the gripper piece detection sensor S ₂ (step 105), the timer starts time measurement (Step 10
6). After a lapse of a certain time, that is, the gripper piece 29
There reaches the position shown in FIG. 6 (b), the motor M ₃ is stopped, whereby the grip roller 27 is stopped (step 107). The grip roller 27 waits there until printing of the first color is completed. Therefore, the recording is sequentially performed, and the portion excluding the leading end of the recording paper 2 discharged from the recording means 10 hangs down in a state of swelling below the platen roller 12, as shown in FIG. 6C.

In this way, the recording of the first color is completed (step 108), the motor M ₃ is driven by the recording complete signal, the grip roller 27 is driven again (Step 10
9). Then, as shown in FIG.
Is superimposed again on the ink ribbon 3 and recording of the second color is performed by the thermal head 11 according to the recording signal. Meanwhile, the leading edge of the recording sheet 2 is conveyed by the grip roller 27, the gripper piece 29 reaches the gripper piece detection sensor S _2, is detected by the gripper piece detection sensor S ₂ (step 110), the timer starts time measurement (Step 11
1). Then, after a certain period of time, i.e. as in the case of the first color, the gripper piece 29 reaches the position shown in FIG. 6 (b), the motor M ₃ is stopped, stopping the grip roller 27 with it Is performed (step 112). The grip roller 27 waits there until the recording of the second color is completed.

In this way, the recording of the second color is completed (step 113), the by recording complete signal the motor M ₃ is driven, whereby the grip roller 27 is driven three times,
Further, the electromagnetic solenoid 36 is demagnetized (step 114).
As in the case of the first color and the second color, the recording paper 2 is superimposed on the ink ribbon 3 as shown in FIG.
The recording of the color is performed. However, shortly after passing through the thermal head 11, the gripper piece 29 of the grip roller 27
Abuts 34 and is opened there. Then, the leading end of the recording paper 2 is released from the gripper piece 29, and this leading end is guided to the transport path 37 as shown in FIG. 6 (e). on the other hand,
Grip roller 27 is directly driven, the gripper piece 29 is detected by the gripper piece detection sensor S ₂ (step 115), the electromagnetic solenoid 35 is deenergized, simultaneously the timer starts counting (step 116). And
After the elapse of a predetermined time, i.e. the first color, similarly to the second color, reaches the position where the gripper piece 29 is shown in FIG. 6 (b), the motor M ₃ is stopped, the gripping rollers along therewith
27 is stopped (step 117). At that time, the gripper piece 29 of the grip roller 27 comes into contact with the cam 33 and is opened. This state is the same as the standby state shown in FIG. On the other hand, the recording paper 2 guided to the transport path 37 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus housing 1 by the discharge roller 38.

Thus, when the recording of the third color is completed (step 118), the motors M ₁ and M ₄ are stopped, whereby the platen roller 12 and the ink ribbon take-up roll 41 are stopped (step 119).

Note that the processing procedure of the controller 50 described above is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above processing procedure.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, before the transfer of the previous ink is completed, the leading end of the recording paper is on standby just before the thermal head and the platen roller, and the transfer of the previous ink is completed. Subsequently, the next ink can be transferred.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the useless time required for the reciprocating movement of the recording paper for each one-color recording described in the conventional example, thereby enabling high-speed color recording.

Further, according to the present invention, a long space for temporarily storing the recording paper is not required during the reciprocating operation of the recording paper in the conventional example, which is advantageous in miniaturizing the apparatus.

Further, the separation control of the thermal head with respect to the platen roller is not performed, and the ink ribbon is returned together with the recording paper as in the conventional example, or the recording is performed by forcible rubbing with the ink ribbon, even if the thermal head is constantly pressed. There is no such thing as dirt on the paper surface and image quality is lost,
The apparatus can be simplified.

Further, according to the present invention, the leading end of the recording paper is completely gripped by the grip roller from the start of recording to the completion thereof.

Therefore, the skew of the recording paper and the accumulated error of the process can be extremely reduced, and the color shift is extremely small as compared with the method of the reciprocating motion of the recording paper shown in the conventional example, so that high quality color recording can be obtained.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, only the leading end of the recording paper is held during color recording, and the other portions are naturally slackened vertically downward.

Therefore, recording can be performed by applying a small-diameter platen roller, and in terms of circulating the recording paper, a specially-shaped thermal head is required as in the case of the conventional drum platen system similar to the present invention. In addition, there is no need for a large-diameter drum-shaped platen whose circumference is required to be longer than the length of the recording paper, and there is an advantage that the apparatus can be made compact and inexpensive.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view conceptually showing the structure of a color recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional front view showing the structure of a grip roller, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the grip roller. 4, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the color printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the controller, and FIG. 6 shows each process of color printing according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a part of a conventionally used color recording ink ribbon, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are conceptual views showing a conventional color recording method. FIG. 2 ... recording paper, 3 ... ink ribbon, 11 ... thermal head, 12 ... platen roller, 20 ... recording paper transport means, 21 ...
... Recording paper feeding section, 22 ... Recording paper circulation section, 23 ... Recording paper discharge section, 27 ... Grip roller, 29 ... Gripper piece, 30 ...
... Lever, 31 ... Spring, 32 ... Cam follower, 3
3,34, ... cam, 35 ... electromagnetic solenoid 50 ... controller, M ₃ ... motor, S ₁ ... recording paper detection sensor, S ₂
…… Gripper piece detection sensor.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A recording paper is circulated between a thermal head and a platen roller to be fed in a fixed direction, and the recording paper is superimposed on ink layers of different colors of an ink ribbon every time the recording paper is circulated. A color recording method for transferring a plurality of inks to recording paper by a thermal head while transporting the recording paper by a platen roller, wherein the recording paper is transported along a peripheral direction of the platen roller, thereby causing a first recording paper to be printed on the recording paper. Transferring ink sequentially, prior to transferring the second ink, temporarily stopping a leading end of the recording paper before an entrance between the heat-sensitive head and the platen roller; Continuing the transfer of the first ink, and after the transfer of the first ink to the recording paper is completed, the leading end of the recording paper is transported again, and the second ink is transferred to the recording paper. Color recording method characterized by comprising the step of sequentially transferring the click. 2. A recording paper is circulated between a thermal head and a platen roller to be fed in a fixed direction, and the recording paper is superimposed on ink layers of different colors of an ink ribbon every time the recording paper is circulated. A color recording apparatus that transfers a plurality of inks to recording paper by a thermal head while transporting them by a platen roller, wherein the tip end of the recording paper is movably disposed along a peripheral surface of the platen roller. Recording paper holding means for detachably holding the recording paper; and prior to transfer of the first ink, the leading end of the recording paper before the recording paper reaches between the thermal head and the platen roller. After the recording paper is nipped between the thermal head and the platen roller to transfer the last ink, the recording paper is held by the recording paper holding means. A holding unit driving unit for releasing the holding state of the recording paper; and moving the recording paper holding unit independently of the platen roller, and moving the recording paper held by the recording paper holding unit to the thermal head and the platen roller. A recording paper circulating means for circulating and conveying the recording paper; and, prior to the transfer of the second ink, stopping the recording paper circulating means until the transfer of the first ink is completed. And a recording paper stopping means for temporarily stopping before the entrance between the thermal head and the platen roller. 3. The color printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said recording paper circulating means includes a roller disposed coaxially with said platen roller and capable of being driven independently. Recording device. 4. The recording paper holding means according to claim 3, wherein said recording paper holding means includes a gripper piece for sandwiching a leading end portion of the recording paper between said recording paper holding means and a peripheral surface of said roller. Color recording device.