JP3667613B2 - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer suitable for performing printing by transferring ink of an ink ribbon onto a recording sheet by selectively generating heat from a plurality of heating elements of a thermal head based on printing information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional thermal transfer printer is composed of a line thermal head having a length that allows the thermal head to face the longitudinal or lateral printing range of the recording paper, and a ribbon is interposed between the rotatable preten roller and the thermal head. The ink ribbon that has been partially pulled out from the cassette and the recording paper are positioned.
Then, the thermal head is lowered and the ink ribbon and the recording paper are pressed and sandwiched between the platen roller.
Then, the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the recording paper by rotating the platen roller and selectively heating the plurality of heating elements of the thermal head based on the printing information while conveying the ink ribbon and the recording paper. Thus, a desired character or image is printed on the recording paper.
[0003]
With such a thermal transfer printer, the ink on the ink ribbon is thermally transferred to the recording paper, and the ink ribbon is in close contact with the recording paper during printing.
In order to peel off the ink ribbon adhered to the recording paper, the printed recording paper conveyed from the platen roller is held between the paper feed roller and the pressure roller, and the paper feed roller is rotated to rotate the platen roller. Apply tension to the recording paper in between.
Further, by rotating the take-up reel of the ribbon cassette to take up the ink ribbon, the ink ribbon that is in close contact with the recording paper is peeled off from the end of the thermal head and taken up on the take-up reel.
[0004]
The ink ribbon taken up by the take-up reel is wound on the take-up reel while being in sliding contact with the entrance of the ribbon take-up port formed in the ribbon cassette.
The ink ribbon peeled off from the recording paper at the end of such a thermal head forms a ribbon peeling angle up to the entrance of the ribbon take-up port of the ribbon cassette.
[0005]
In such a thermal transfer printer, if the type of ink ribbon is a cold peeling type in which the melted ink solidifies at the time of printing and then peels off, the ink on the ink ribbon is recorded with a smaller ribbon peeling angle. It can be neatly transferred to paper and can print high-quality images.
Therefore, when using a cold-peeling type ink ribbon in a conventional thermal transfer printer, the inlet of the ribbon take-up port of the ribbon cassette should be located as much as possible in the recording paper transport path that transports between the platen roller and the paper feed roller. By bringing them closer, the ribbon peeling angle was reduced.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional thermal transfer printer as described above, if the recording paper before printing is warped or the like, the recording sent from the paper feeding unit between the platen roller and the thermal head in the head-up state is performed. In some cases, the leading edge of the paper collides with the entrance of the ribbon take-up port arranged close to the recording paper conveyance path, and paper jam or the like occurs to prevent normal conveyance of the recording paper.
[0007]
Also, if the recording paper is normally conveyed by increasing the distance from the recording paper conveyance path to the ribbon take-up entrance, the distance from the end of the thermal head to the ribbon take-up opening of the ribbon cassette is increased. As a result, the ribbon peeling angle can be reduced. However, in such a thermal transfer printer, the distance from the end portion of the thermal head to the ribbon take-up port of the ribbon cassette becomes long, which is a limitation for downsizing and the like.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and can transfer the recording paper normally, and the ribbon peeling angle can be set to a desired angle without being restricted in design when downsizing or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printer that can be formed and printed with high quality.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a first means for solving the above problems, a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention includes a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements, a rotatable platen roller to which the thermal head can be contacted and separated, the platen roller, A recording paper and an ink ribbon that can be held in pressure contact with the thermal head, and a ribbon cassette that can be stored by scraping the ink ribbon, and downstream of the thermal head in the recording paper transport direction. Is a thermal transfer printer provided with a peeling member for transferring the ink ribbon ink onto the recording paper and peeling the ink ribbon that is in close contact with the recording paper during printing from the recording paper,
The stripping member includes a peeling portion for peeling the ink ribbon from the recording sheet, the angles formed portion at a predetermined distance from the peeling unit is a member which is integrally formed, the angle formed part Therefore, a ribbon peeling angle of a predetermined angle is formed between the ink ribbon peeled from the peeling portion and the recording paper.
[0010]
Further, as a second solving means for solving the above problem, the peeling member forms the peeling portion at the same height as the heating element of the thermal head, and the angle forming portion is peeled from the ribbon. It was set as the structure formed lower than the said peeling part corresponding to an angle.
[0011]
Further, as a third solving means for solving the above problem, the peeling portion and the angle forming portion are each formed to protrude toward the platen roller, and a recess is formed between the peeling portion and the angle forming portion. It was set as the structure which formed.
[0012]
Further, as a fourth means for solving the above problem, the thermal head is attached to a head lever via a head mounting base so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the platen roller, and the peeling member includes the head The mounting base or the head lever is integrally formed.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged views of the main part of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an external view of the main part of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention.
[0014]
First, a thermal transfer printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a platen roller 2 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the platen roller 2 transmits the driving force of a driving motor 3 such as a stepping motor disposed on the outer surface of the main body by a gear group 4 (only part of which is shown in FIG. 4). It can be driven to rotate.
[0015]
Further, above the platen roller 2 shown in FIG. 1, a thermal head 8 is attached via a head mounting base 7 to a head lever 6 that is rotatable in the directions of arrows A and B with a support portion 5 on the right side of the figure as a fulcrum. It has been. The thermal head 7 can be brought into and out of contact with the platen roller 2 when the head lever 6 rotates in the directions of arrows A and B.
The thermal head 7 extends in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the platen roller 2, and the printing surface of the portion facing the platen roller 2 is orthogonal to the paper feed direction indicated by arrow C in FIG. A plurality of heating elements 8a are formed in an aligned manner over a length corresponding to the direction, that is, the length of the printing range of the recording paper 9 in the row direction.
[0016]
The thermal head 7 is electrically connected to control means (not shown), and each heating element 8a is selectively selected by a control command sent from the control means based on print information (print data). Heat is generated.
As shown in FIG. 2, the contact position between the heating element 8a and the platen roller 2 in the head-down state in which the platen roller 2 is pressed with a predetermined pressure contact force causes ink on the ink ribbon 10 to be described later to be recorded on the recording paper. 9 is a printing position for transferring to 9 and printing.
[0017]
In addition, a recording paper 9 conveyed from a paper feeding unit (not shown) is positioned between the platen roller 2 and the thermal head 8 in the head-up state, and an ink ribbon 10 is supplied to the upper part of the recording paper. It has come to be.
Further, the head lever 6 shown in FIG. 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow B to bring the thermal head 8 down, the recording paper 9 and the ink ribbon 10 are pressed against the platen roller 2, and the preten roller 2 is moved to the arrow D. By rotating in the direction, the recording paper 9 and the ink ribbon 10 can be conveyed in the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow C.
[0018]
The ink ribbon 10 has a width corresponding to a printing width which is a dimension in the row direction of the recording paper 9, and an end portion is wound around the take-up reel 11 and the supply reel 12, so that the ribbon cassette 13 It is stored.
In the state where the ribbon cassette 13 is placed on the cassette placement portion (not shown) of the main body 1a shown in FIG. 4, the driving force of the drive motor 3 as the drive source of the platen roller 2 is changed to the gear group 4a (FIG. The ink ribbon 10 can be taken up on the take-up reel 11 by being transmitted to the take-up reel 11 through a part of FIG.
That is, the ink ribbon 10 can be transported together with the recording paper 9, and when the printing operation is executed, the take-up reel 11 rotates with the rotation of the platen roller 2, and is wound around the take-up reel 11. It is configured to be taken out from the supply reel 12 sequentially.
[0019]
When replacing the ink ribbon 10, the head lever 6 is rotated upward in the direction of the arrow A, and the thermal cassette 8 is separated from the platen roller 2 and the ribbon cassette 13 with the ink ribbon 10 mounted thereon. It comes to attach and detach.
As the ink ribbon 10, for example, when color printing is performed, at least three inks of three primary colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are used as indicated by an arrow C on the recording paper 9. A color image can be printed on recording paper 9 by overprinting the three colors Y, M, and C using a color ink ribbon called a multi-color ink ribbon that is repeatedly arranged along the paper feed direction. It has become.
[0020]
In the conveyance path of the recording paper 9 located downstream of the platen roller 2 in the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow C, a paper feeding roller 14 and a small-diameter driven roller 15 that is in pressure contact with the paper feeding roller 14 so as to be driven to rotate. Is arranged.
The recording paper 9 conveyed from the paper feeding unit (not shown) between the platen roller 2 in the head-up state and the thermal head 8 is sandwiched between the paper feed roller 14 and the driven roller 15 at the leading end. Thus, the paper feed roller 14 is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow E, so that the conveyance path in the paper feed direction indicated by the arrow C can be conveyed downstream.
Further, when performing color printing, the recording paper 9 can be back-fed (reversely fed) by rotating the paper feed roller 14 in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow F.
[0021]
Such a thermal transfer printer 1 of the present invention transfers the ink on the ink ribbon 10 onto the recording paper 9 on the left side of the thermal head 8 shown in FIG. A peeling member 16 for peeling the ink ribo 10 that is in close contact with the recording paper 9 is integrally formed on the head mounting base 7.
[0022]
As shown in the enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 2, the peeling member 16 integrally formed with the head mount 7 includes a peeling portion 16a for peeling the ink ribbon 10 that is in close contact with the recording paper 9 during printing from the recording paper 9. An angle forming portion 16b is formed at a predetermined interval from the peeling portion 16a.
[0023]
Then, by winding the ink ribbon 10 after printing onto the take-up reel 11, a ribbon peeling angle α of a predetermined angle is formed between the recording paper 9 peeled from the peeling portion 16a and the ink ribbon 10. It has become so.
Further, the ink ribbon 10 peeled from the recording paper 9 at the peeling angle α is drawn from the angle forming portion 16b to the inlet portion 13a of the ribbon winding port formed in the ribbon cassette 13, and wound up while being in sliding contact with the inlet portion 13a. The reel 11 is wound up.
[0024]
In the peeling member 16, a peeling portion 16 a and an angle forming portion 16 b are formed so as to protrude toward the platen roller 2, and the peeling portion 16 a has the same height as the heating element 8 a of the thermal head 8 as shown in FIG. The angle forming part 16b is formed lower than the peeling part 16a corresponding to the ribbon peeling angle α of a predetermined angle.
A recess 16c having a predetermined depth is formed between the peeling portion 16a and the angle forming portion 16b.
Therefore, the ink ribbon 10 drawn from the peeling portion 16a to the angle forming portion 16b can reduce the contact area to the peeling member 16 by the concave portion 16c, and reduce the frictional resistance generated when the ink ribbon 10 is drawn. be able to.
[0025]
As a modification of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the peeling portion 26a of the peeling member 26 is formed at the same height as the heating element 8a of the thermal head 8, and the angle forming portion 26b is formed from the peeling portion 26a. May be formed on a flat inclined surface corresponding to the ribbon peeling angle α.
Since such a peeling member 26 is flat from the peeling portion 26a to the angle forming portion 26b, the peeling member 26 can be easily manufactured, and the ribbon peeling angle α can be formed with high accuracy.
[0026]
In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, the peeling members 16 and 26 are integrally formed with the head mounting bases 7 and 27. However, although illustration is omitted, the peeling members 16 and 26 are shown in FIG. The thing attached to the front-end | tip part of the head lever 6 may be sufficient.
That is, the peeling members 16 and 26 may be formed integrally with the head mounting bases 7 and 27 or the head lever 6.
Moreover, although the peeling member 16 demonstrated what integrated the peeling part 16a and the angle formation part 16b, it was formed separately, respectively, and the thing integrated by adhere | attaching with an adhesive agent etc. may be sufficient.
[0027]
In such a thermal transfer printer of the present invention, the part where the peeling part 16a is located becomes the peeling point 17, and the ink ribbon 10 after printing can be peeled from the peeling point 17 at a predetermined peeling angle α.
Therefore, the ribbon peeling angle α can be determined regardless of the placement position of the ribbon cassette 13, and the entrance portion 13 a of the ribbon cassette 13 can be placed close to the peeling point 17 and placed.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the platen roller 2 is described as being rotated by the driving force of the driving motor 3. However, the platen roller 2 is not connected to the driving motor 3 but is rotatable, and the paper feed roller 14 is rotated. By driving, the recording paper 9 and the accompanying ink ribbon 10 may be transported.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
The thermal transfer printer of the present invention has a peeling portion for peeling the ink ribbon from the recording paper, and an angle forming portion formed at a predetermined interval from the peeling portion, and the angle setting portion includes the peeling portion. Since the ribbon peeling angle of a predetermined angle is formed between the ink ribbon peeled off from the recording paper and the recording paper, the ribbon peeling angle α can be determined regardless of the mounting position of the ribbon cassette. The degree of freedom can be improved.
[0029]
Further, since the peeling member has the peeling part formed at the same height as the heating element of the thermal head, and the angle forming part is formed lower than the peeling part corresponding to the ribbon peeling angle, the peeling part and the angle forming part And the peeling member can be easily manufactured.
[0030]
In addition, the peeling portion and the angle forming portion are formed so as to protrude toward the platen roller, and a recess is formed between the peeling portion and the angle forming portion. The ink ribbon wound up on the surface can reduce the contact area with the peeling member. Therefore, the frictional resistance of the ink ribbon when the peeling member is drawn can be reduced, and the ink ribbon can be smoothly wound on the take-up reel.
[0031]
The thermal head is attached to a head lever via a head mounting base and can be brought into contact with and separated from the platen roller, and the peeling member is integrally formed with the head mounting base or the head lever. Can provide an easy thermal transfer printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a thermal transfer printer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a main part of the thermal transfer printer of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal transfer printer 1a Main-body part 2 Platen roller 3 Drive motor 4 Gear group 5 Support part 6 Head lever 7 Head mounting base 8 Thermal head 9 Recording paper 10 Ink ribbon 11 Take-up reel 12 Supply reel 13 Ribbon cassette 13a Inlet part 14 Paper feed Roller 15 Driven roller 16 Peeling member 16a Peeling part 16b Angle forming part

Claims (4)

A thermal head having a plurality of heating elements, a rotatable platen roller to which the thermal head can be contacted and separated, a recording paper and an ink ribbon that can be pressed and sandwiched between the platen roller and the thermal head, and the ink A ribbon cassette capable of scraping and storing the ribbon, and the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the recording paper downstream from the thermal head in the recording paper conveyance direction, and the recording is performed during printing. A thermal transfer printer provided with a peeling member for peeling the ink ribbon closely attached to a sheet from the recording sheet,
The stripping member includes a peeling portion for peeling the ink ribbon from the recording sheet, the angles formed portion at a predetermined distance from the peeling unit is a member which is integrally formed, the angle formed part A thermal transfer printer, wherein a ribbon peeling angle of a predetermined angle is formed between the ink ribbon peeled off from the peeling portion and the recording paper.   The peeling member is characterized in that the peeling portion is formed at the same height as the heating element of the thermal head, and the angle forming portion is formed lower than the peeling portion corresponding to the ribbon peeling angle. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1.   The said peeling part and the said angle formation part each protruded and formed in the said platen roller side, The recessed part was formed between the said peeling part and the said angle formation part, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Thermal transfer printer.   The thermal head is attached to a head lever via a head mounting base and can be brought into and out of contact with the platen roller, and the peeling member is formed integrally with the head mounting base or the head lever. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, 2 or 3.

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