JP2826231B2 - Ink film used for color printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink film used for a color printer having a discriminating section for discriminating each color of a plurality of printing inks printed on a printing medium such as photographic paper. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ink film used in a conventional color printer, for example, an ink film used in a thermal transfer color printer will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In a conventional thermal transfer color printer using an ink film, a thermal head 6 which presses and separates from a platen roller 5 via the ink film 1 and photographic paper 4 is mounted on a printer body 3 on which an ink cartridge 2 equipped with an ink film 1 is mounted. A light emitting unit 10a that pivotally supports the attached lever 7 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 8 and emits detection light to a reflection plate 9 attached to a tip end of the lever 7 via the ink film 1. , 10'a
And two reflection-type optical sensors 10 and 10 ′ having light-receiving portions 10 b and 10 ′ b for receiving the detection light reflected by the reflection plate 9, respectively.

In the above configuration, the ink cartridge 2 has a winding bobbin 11 for sequentially winding the used ink film 1 and the unused ink film 1 wound thereon, and the unused ink film 1 is sequentially sent out. A supply bobbin 12 and the winding bobbin 11
An opening 14 is formed in a storage case 13 for storing the supply bobbin 12 so that the thermal head 6 can enter the ink cartridge 2.

[0005] Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the ink film 1 includes three primary color transfer inks 15, which are printing inks.
16 and 17 are sequentially printed via the gaps 18, 19 and 20, and the color of the transfer ink located at the position where the thermal head 6 of the ink film 1 is pressed on the gaps 18, 19 and 20. The discriminating markers 21, 22, 23 for discriminating are respectively transferred to the transfer inks 15, 1.
It is formed by printing with black ink in a position relatively different from 6, 17 in consideration of light shielding properties.

In the color printer constructed as described above, with the ink cartridge 2 mounted at a predetermined position on the printer main body 3, the lever 7 with the thermal head 6 mounted thereon is rotated about the shaft 8 to rotate the lever. The thermal head 6 is inserted through the opening 14 of the ink cartridge 2 and pressed against the platen roller 5 with the ink film 1 and the printing paper 4 interposed therebetween, so that the three primary color transfer inks 15, 16,17
Are sequentially transferred to the photographic paper 4 for printing.

In the above operation, the two optical sensors 10 and 10 'always detect light from the respective light emitting portions 10a and 10'a of the optical sensors 10 and 10' on the reflecting plate 9 via the ink film 1. To detect whether the detection light reflected by the reflection plate 9 is received or not received by the respective light receiving portions 10b and 10'b of the optical sensors 10 and 10 '. Transfer ink 15, 1 located at a position where the thermal head 6 is pressed.
6 and 17, the detection light emitted from each of the light emitting portions 10a and 10'a of the two optical sensors 10 and 10 'is used for discriminating the ink film 1. The light receiving portions 10b, 1 of the optical sensors 10, 10 'are shielded from light by the markers 21a, 21b.
When the light is not received at 0′b, the color of the transfer ink 15 is determined by the marker 22 for determination.
If only the detection light emitted from 0′a is blocked and only the light receiving portion 10′b of the optical sensor 10 ′ is not received, the color of the transfer ink 16 is determined by the discrimination marker 23.
When only the detection light emitted from the light emitting portion 10a is blocked and only the light receiving portion 10b of the optical sensor 10 is not received, the color of the transfer ink 17 is located at a position where the color of the transfer ink 17 is pressed by the thermal head 6 of the ink film 1 respectively. This is determined by determining that the color of the transfer ink is thermally transferred to the printing paper 4.

The winding bobbin 11 of the ink cartridge 2 is determined while determining the color of the transfer ink as described above.
The printing is performed by sequentially winding the ink film 1 and sequentially transferring desired transfer inks corresponding to the respective determined colors to the photographic paper 4 by the thermal head 6.

The printing paper 4 is fed at a predetermined speed by a feeding mechanism (not shown) while being wound on the platen roller 5.

[0010]

However, if the film is used for the above-mentioned conventional color printer,
Since the discriminating marker for discriminating the color of the transfer ink of the ink film is printed with black ink, it is necessary to print black ink in addition to the three primary color transfer inks, which complicates the manufacturing process. There is a problem.

[0011]

An ink film used in a color printer according to the present invention is characterized in that a discriminating portion of the ink film overlaps at least two colors of printing ink.
It is formed by printing.

[0012]

In the ink film used in the color printer according to the present invention, the discriminating section for discriminating the color of the printing ink of the ink film includes at least two color printing inks .
Since the ink is formed by printing with ink overlaid, it is not necessary to print ink of a color (black) other than the printing ink, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and determining
It is possible to increase the thickness of the
The color of the printing ink can be determined .

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an ink film used in a color printer of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 for an ink film used in a thermal transfer color printer, for example. I do.

A thermal transfer color printer using an ink film according to the present invention is in pressure contact with a platen roller 5 via a printer body 3 on which an ink cartridge 2 equipped with an ink film 1 is mounted, with the ink film 1 and a photographic paper 4 as a transfer object. A lever 7 with the thermal head 6 separated therefrom is pivotally supported about a shaft 8 so as to be rotatable, and a detection light is applied to a reflection plate 9 attached to the tip of the lever 7 via the ink film 1. And two light sensors 10 and 10 ′ having light receiving units 10 b and 10 ′ b for receiving the detection light reflected by the reflector 9. Things.

In the above configuration, the ink cartridge 2 has a winding bobbin 11 for sequentially winding the used ink film 1 and the unused ink film 1 wound thereon, and sequentially sends out the unused ink film 1. A supply bobbin 12 and the winding bobbin 11
An opening 14 is formed in a storage case 13 for storing the supply bobbin 12 so that the thermal head 6 can enter the ink cartridge 2.

The ink film 1 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG.
5, 16 and 17 are sequentially printed via the gaps 18, 19 and 20, and the transfer ink positioned at the position where the thermal head 6 of the ink film 1 is pressed on the gaps 18, 19 and 20 is printed. The discriminating markers 31, 32, and 33, which are discriminating units for discriminating colors, are overlapped with the transfer inks 15, 16, and 17 at positions relatively different from the transfer inks 15, 16, and 17, respectively. It is formed by printing.

In the color printer configured as described above, with the ink cartridge 2 mounted in a predetermined position on the printer main body 3, the lever 7 with the thermal head 6 attached is rotated about the shaft 8, The thermal head 6
Is inserted through the opening 14 of the ink cartridge 2 and pressed against the platen roller 4 with the ink film 1 and the photographic paper 4 interposed therebetween, whereby the transfer inks 15, 16 and 17 of the three primary colors printed on the ink film 1 are formed.
Is thermally transferred to the photographic paper 4 for printing.

In the above operation, the two light sensors 10 and 10 'always detect light from the light-emitting portions 10a and 10'a of the light sensors 10 and 10' on the reflection plate 9 via the ink film 1. To detect whether the detection light reflected by the reflection plate 9 is received or not received by the respective light receiving portions 10b and 10'b of the optical sensors 10 and 10 '. Transfer ink 15, 1 located at a position where the thermal head 6 is pressed.
The detection of light emitted from the light emitting portions 10a and 10'a of the two optical sensors 10 and 10 'is used to determine the ink film 1. The light receiving portions 10b, 1 of the optical sensors 10, 10 'are shielded from light by the use markers 31a, 31b.
When the light is not received at 0′b, the color of the transfer ink 15 is determined by the discriminating marker 32.
When only the detection light emitted from 0'a is blocked and only the light receiving portion 10'b of the optical sensor 10 'is not received, the color of the transfer ink 16 is determined by the determination marker 33.
When only the detection light emitted from the light emitting part 10a is blocked and only the light receiving part 10b of the optical sensor 10 is not received, the color of the transfer ink 17 is located at the position where the color of the transfer ink 17 is pressed by the thermal head 6 of the ink film 1 respectively. The color of the transfer ink thermally transferred to the photographic paper 4 is determined.

The winding bobbin 11 of the ink cartridge 2 is determined while determining the color of the transfer ink as described above.
The printing is performed by sequentially winding the desired transfer ink corresponding to each of the determined colors onto the printing paper 4 by the thermal head 6 while sequentially winding the ink film 1 on the ink film 1.

The printing paper 4 is fed at a predetermined speed by a feeding mechanism (not shown) while being wound on the platen roller 5.

[0021] In the above embodiment, the ink for transfer three primary colors discriminating markers 31, 32, 33 15, 1
6 and 17 are formed by overlapping printing, so that the film thickness of the discriminating markers 31, 32 and 33 can be increased, and the light-shielding property of the optical sensors 10 and 10 'against detection light is improved. it is possible, in which it is possible to determine more accurately <br/> color of each transfer ink 15, 16, 17 of the ink film 1.

[0022]

The ink film used in the color printer according to the present invention comprises at least two colors of printing ink.
By printing sleep, to form a discriminator for discriminating the color of each printing ink ink film, printing color inks other than the printing ink is not required, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process , The thickness of the discriminator
It is possible to make each printing ink more accurate
The color can be determined .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective explanatory view showing one embodiment of a color printer using an ink film of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of an embodiment of a color printer using the ink film of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of a main part showing an embodiment of an ink film used in the color printer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 3 showing an embodiment of the ink film used in the color printer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a conventional color printer using an ink film.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory sectional view of a main part of a color printer using a conventional ink film.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view showing a main part of an ink film used in a conventional color printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink film 4 Printing paper 15,16,17 Transfer ink 31,32,33 Marker for discrimination

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An ink film for use in a color printer having a discriminating unit for discriminating each color of a plurality of printing inks printed on a printing medium such as photographic paper, wherein the discriminating unit has at least two colors. Heavy printing ink
An ink film for use in a color printer, which is formed by printing by printing.