JP2814729B2 - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal printer device, and more particularly, to a thermal head provided with a plurality of heating elements and a platen drum for holding a recording sheet while conveying the recording sheet. The present invention relates to a thermal printer device that selectively changes the amount of heat of a heating element and records an image on recording paper.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermal printer has been conventionally used as a printer of a medical image diagnostic apparatus in the medical field. That is, in the medical field, in various medical image diagnostic apparatuses such as an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an X-ray CT, a patient is irradiated with ultrasonic waves or X-rays and the like, and changes in the ultrasonic waves and X-rays are detected. An image of the affected area is obtained, and this image is displayed as a visible image on a CRT monitor, for example.

It is convenient if the diseased part displayed on the monitor can be obtained as a hard copy in the medical image diagnostic apparatus. Therefore, various printer apparatuses including a thermal printer apparatus have been developed.

The thermal printer is used for surface printing of ID cards, prepaid cards, etc. in addition to medical use.

A thermal transfer type and a thermal type thermal printer are known as thermal printers. Here, a thermal transfer type thermal printer will be described as an example. Recording paper is fed from a cassette to a printing unit one by one. The printing section has a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements and an ink sheet, and the thermal head and a platen drum sandwich the recording sheet sent with the ink sheet. At the same time, the heating element is driven based on the image signal sent from the control device, and the image is transferred from the ink sheet to the recording paper. When a color image is obtained, the ink sheet has 3
Regions Y, M, and C to which three types of inks of the primary colors yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are attached are sequentially formed. The R, G, B signals of the color image are
The signal is converted into a YMC signal, applied to the thermal head, and three-color printing is performed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the conventional thermal printer device includes:
Immediately after printing, if the platen drum is reversed and discharged immediately, problems such as the recording paper entering the ink cassette will occur.Therefore, the platen drum is rotated at a predetermined angle in the same direction as when printing, and then reversed. Paper had been ejected. For this reason, there was a disadvantage that the printing time was long.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to propose a thermal printer capable of immediately rotating a platen drum and discharging a sheet after printing is completed.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording paper storage section in which a plurality of recording papers cut to a predetermined length are stacked and stored, and a recording paper for pulling out the recording paper one by one from the recording paper storage section. A feeding section, a platen drum that clamps the leading end of the recording paper pulled out by the recording paper feeding section and winds it around its peripheral surface, and while rotating the platen drum in the forward direction on the recording paper wound on the platen drum In a thermal printer device having a thermal head for printing and a discharge tray section in which, after printing, the platen drum is rotated in the reverse direction and recording paper is fed from the rear end, the rear end of the recording paper at the end of printing Paper guide means for guiding the paper guide to the paper discharge path, the paper guide means is configured to be movable,
During printing, the paper guide is retracted from the ink sheet cassette, and at the time of discharge after printing is completed, a part of the paper guide means comes into contact with the ink sheet to prevent the rear end of the recording paper from entering the ink sheet cassette. And

[Action]

According to the present invention, the platen drum reverses immediately after printing is completed. At this time, the trailing end of the recording paper is guided to the paper discharge path by the movable paper guide means, so that it does not interfere with the ink sheet or the like. Therefore, since the platen drum does not rotate excessively, the printing time can be reduced.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a thermal printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a thermal printer device according to the present invention. A thermal printer device 10 according to the present invention comprises a recording paper storage section 12, a recording paper feed section 14, a platen drum 1
6. The ink sheet cassette 18, the thermal head 20, and the paper discharge tray 22 are configured as main members.

First, the recording paper storage unit 12 will be described. In the recording paper storage unit 12, a paper feed tray 24 is disposed, and a recording paper peeling member 25 is supported so as to be swingable about a shaft 26. A plurality of recording papers 28 in the form of cut papers are stacked and stored in the paper feed tray 24, and a receiving member 30 is provided above the recording papers 28. An opening 32 is formed below the paper feed tray 24.

The recording paper sending section 14 has gears 34, 36, 38, and 40. These gears mesh with each other to form a gear transmission mechanism. A paper feed roller 42 made of a rubber roller is provided coaxially with the final gear 40. The gears 34 to 40 are shown in detail in the plan view of FIG. 6, and are supported by a feed roller arm 44. The feed roller arm 44 is formed as a pair, and is supported by a shaft 46. From both sides. The gear 41 is configured as a free gear, and is pressed against the coaxial gear 40 by a spring 39. The gear 40 and the gear 41 transmit the rotational force by frictional force, and when a braking force equal to or more than a certain force is applied, the gear 40 and the gear 41 idle and function as a torque limiter to prevent biting between the gears. The paper feed roller arm 44 can swing about a shaft 46 so that the paper feed roller 42 can open the paper feed tray 24 during feeding.
, The recording paper 28 can be sent out one by one. As will be described later, at the time of printing and discharging, the recording paper 28 is separated from the paper feed tray 24 so that the recording paper is not sent carelessly at the time of printing. It has become.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, fixed circular gears 79, 79 meshing with the gear 41 coaxial with the gear 40 are provided.
Reference numerals 9 and 79 engage the gear 4 to lock the sheet feeding roller arm 44 except in the sheet feeding mode. The recording paper 28 sent out by the paper feed roller 42 is guided by a fixed guide 48 and sent to the platen drum 16 described below. The platen drum 16 is configured to rotate around a shaft 50, and a clamper 52 is provided on a peripheral surface of the platen 16.

As shown partially in FIG. 7, the clamper 52 is formed in a substantially U-shape, and its side plate 53 is guided by long holes 54, 56, 56 and can be moved in the diameter direction. That is, the shaft 50 is fitted into the long hole 54, and the pins 58, 58 are further inserted into the long holes 56, 56.
Are fitted, so that the clamper 52 can be moved in the diameter direction. FIG. 7 shows the clamper as shown in detail.
Reference numeral 52 indicates that the leading end of the recording paper 28 can be clamped by moving downward in the diameter direction of the platen drum 16. A fixed guide 59 is provided on the lower half circumference of the platen drum 16.
Are formed to guide the recording paper during printing.

Above the platen drum 16, an ink sheet cassette 18
Are arranged at an angle. The ink sheet cassette 18 has a take-up shaft 60 and a supply shaft 62, and a region Y to which three types of inks of three primary colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), are adhered in one printing. , M, C are used.

That is, first, in accordance with the yellow signal input to the thermal head 20, transfer is performed in the yellow area of the ink sheet.

Next, by the rotation of the platen drum 16, the recording paper is set so as to be superimposed on the portion where the yellow image is formed and the ink is transferred again.

Next, a video signal corresponding to the magenta (M) component is sent to the thermal head 20. At this time, the ink sheet moves so that the next magenta area M comes into contact with the recording paper 28, so that the magenta image is formed by superimposing the magenta image on the yellow ink image.

In the same manner, the recording paper 28 is set so that the ink is transferred again so as to be superimposed on the portion where the image has been formed with the yellow and magenta inks. At this time, a cyan image signal is input to the thermal head 20, and the ink sheet moves so that the next cyan area C is in contact with the recording paper 28. Therefore, the image based on the cyan signal is superimposed by cyan ink. It is formed.

In this way, the yellow, magenta, and cyan video signals are input to the thermal head, and the yellow, magenta M, and cyan C inks on the ink sheet are used to generate the yellow, magenta, and cyan video signals.
The ink is superimposed on the same portion of the recording paper to form a color image.

Above the ink sheet cassette 18, a thermal head 20
Are arranged to be swingable about a shaft 64. The thermal head 20 has a plurality of thermal elements 66 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of the recording paper 28, applies a voltage based on a video signal to drive the thermal elements 66, and prints a desired image on an ink sheet. To the recording paper 28.

The printed recording paper 28 is discharged by a paper discharge path formed by stationary guides 68 and 70 when the platen drum 16 rotates in the reverse direction.
The paper is sent to the paper discharge tray section 22 through 72. That is, when the trailing end of the recording paper 28 sent to the paper ejection path 72 by the reverse rotation of the platen drum 16 is held by the paper ejection rollers 74 and 76, the leading end of the recording paper 28 is removed from the clamper 52 and the paper ejection roller 74 , 76 and placed in the paper discharge tray 22.

Next, the movable paper guide mechanism will be described. The drive lever 80 is configured to be swingable about a shaft 82, and has a flat portion 84 formed at the right end and a forked portion 86 formed at the left end. This drive lever 80 is driven by a spring
Is urged to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. On the other hand, the movable lever 90 is configured to be swingable about a shaft 92, and a pin 96 formed at the lower end thereof is engaged with the forked portion 86. Accordingly, the movable lever 90 is urged to rotate clockwise about the shaft 92 by the spring 88, and when the paper feed roller arm 44 does not operate, the leading end portion 90A is inserted into the concave portion of the thermal head 20, and the ink sheet and the ink sheet are separated. It comes into contact.

The operation of the embodiment of the thermal printer device according to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure is as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper 28 is sent out by the paper feed roller 42,
The recording paper 28 is guided along a fixed paper guide 48 and hits a clamper 52 of the platen drum 16. Recording paper 28
When the drum collides with the clamper 52, the clamper 52 moves down in the diameter direction and clamps the leading end of the recording paper. In this state, the platen drum 16 rotates counterclockwise and the thermal head 20 swings as shown in FIG. 2, and printing is started. At this time, the feed roller arm 44 swings counterclockwise about the shaft 46, and the flat portion 84 of the drive lever 80 is pressed by the projection 45. The protrusion 45 of the feed roller arm 44 is the drive lever
When the flat portion 84 of the 80 is pressed, the drive lever 80 rotates clockwise against the urging force of the spring 88 as shown in FIG. 2, and further moves the movable paper guide 90 clockwise about the shaft 92. Turn the movable paper guide tip 90A to the thermal head 20
To protect the ink sheet and prevent the trailing edge of the recording paper from splashing.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, printing is started, the platen drum 16 rotates, and as shown in FIG. 3, when the printing is completed and immediately before the sheet is discharged, the paper feed roller arm 44 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 46. This causes the drive lever 80 to rotate counterclockwise due to the urging force of the spring 88, thereby rotating the movable paper guide 90 clockwise about the shaft 92, and moving the leading end 90A of the thermal head 20 Insert into the recess and make contact with the ink sheet. In this state, the platen drum 16 rotates in the reverse direction, and the recording paper 28
The trailing end is guided by a movable paper guide 90 and is not inserted into the ink sheet cassette 18, but is guided by a paper discharge path 72, and the recording paper guided by the paper discharge path 72 is guided to paper discharge rollers 74 and 76. At this time, the clamp is released by the clamper 52, and thereafter, the recording paper is driven by the paper discharge rollers 74 and 76 to be stored in the paper discharge tray 22.

Although the thermal transfer type thermal printer has been described according to the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a thermal type thermal printer.

According to the above-described embodiment, a normal color printing ink sheet formed by sequentially devising three color inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan in different areas was used, but is formed by applying a single color ink. Alternatively, an ink sheet for plate making may be used. When using an ink sheet formed of such a single-color ink, it is sufficient to apply a YMC superimposition signal to the thermal head 20 and perform printing once with the single-color ink sheet.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the thermal printer of the present invention, the printed paper can be discharged by reversing the platen drum immediately after printing is completed, so that unnecessary rotation of the platen can be prevented, and the printing time can be reduced. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the structure of a thermal printer apparatus according to the present invention and is a drawing showing a paper feeding state, and FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the operation of the thermal printer apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a printing state, FIG. 3 is a view showing a state immediately before paper discharge, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a first half of a paper discharge process. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the latter half of the paper discharging process, FIG. 6 is a plan view of a recording feeding section, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a clamper of a platen drum. 10: Thermal printer unit, 12: Recording paper storage unit, 14: Recording paper sending unit, 16: Platen drum, 18: Ink sheet cassette, 20: Thermal head, 22: Output tray unit , 28 …… Recording paper, 80 …… Drive lever, 90 …… Movable paper guide.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-48578 (JP, A) JP-A-62-180839 (JP, A) JP-A-2-92664 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 13/10-13/22 B65H 29/60

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording paper storage section in which a plurality of recording papers cut to a predetermined length are stacked and stored, a recording paper feeding section for pulling out recording papers one by one from the recording paper storage section, and a recording paper feeding section. A platen drum that clamps the leading end of the recording paper pulled out by the section and winds it around its peripheral surface; a thermal head that prints on the recording paper wound on the platen drum while rotating the platen drum in the forward direction; When the printing is completed, the trailing end of the recording paper is guided to a paper discharging path at the end of printing in a thermal printer device having a discharge tray section into which the recording paper is fed from the rear end by rotating the platen drum in the reverse direction after the end. Paper guide means is provided, and the paper guide means is configured to be movable. The paper guide means is retracted from the ink sheet cassette during printing, and a part of the paper guide means is ejected at the time of discharge after printing is completed. Thermal printing apparatus, characterized in that the trailing edge of the recording sheet in contact with the Kushito is prevented from entering the ink sheet cassette. 2. The thermal printer device according to claim 1, wherein the recording paper feed section and the paper guide section are linked, and the paper guide section is moved by the operation of the recording paper feed section.