JP3849795B2 - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer for printing an image based on information input from an image forming apparatus, for example.

Conventionally, there is one described in Patent Document 1 as a technology of a thermal transfer printer, and an example thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. This is because the inside of the iron plate base frame 1 bent into a substantially U shape. A paper feed roller 2, a feed roller 3, and a platen roller 4 are arranged at predetermined intervals along a paper feed path formed from the front end portion toward the rear end edge, respectively, and are disposed above the paper feed roller 2. By disposing an elastically deformable separating plate 6 from the paper roller 5 to the upstream side of the feed roller 3 in the paper feed path A, a paper discharge path B is formed, and a pressing roller 7 that is elastically pressed against the feed roller 3 is provided. Provided, a rotation mechanism 8 for pressing and separating the thermal head 9 from the platen roller 4 is provided, and a pressing mechanism 10 for pressing down the thermal head 9 is provided, and a paper cover for storing the paper P is provided. An ink sheet cassette 13 that accommodates an ink sheet S in which yellow, magenta, and cyan colored bands are formed in a repeating order is detachably connected to a sheet feeding port 12 formed at the front end of the base frame 1. It is detachably disposed in the base frame 1 through an insertion hole 14 formed in one side plate portion 1 a of the base frame 1.

As shown in FIG. 9, the turning mechanism 8 includes a cross beam portion 16 a to which the thermal head 9 is fixed,
A substantially L-shaped heat radiating plate portion 16b bent from the rear edge of the cross beam portion 16a and extending rearward, and standing end portions 16g and 16h which are bent upright at both ends of the cross beam portion 16a. A pair of left and right substantially semicircular arm portions 16c and 16d extending rearward from the front, and a pair of left and right engagement pieces 16e and 16f which are bent at right angles from the front ends of the standing end portions 16g and 16h and extend sideways. A shaft hole 46 penetrating the rear end of each arm portion 16c, 16d protrudes from a pair of left and right bearing plates 17 cut and raised from the bottom plate portion 1b of the base frame 1. A frame body is provided by a coil spring 19 which is fitted and supported so as to be able to rise and fall on the support shaft 17a (see FIGS. 4 and 5) and whose both ends are engaged with the arm portion 16d and the hook portion 18 of the base frame 1. 16 is urged in the standing direction a.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the push-down mechanism 10 includes a support shaft 21 that is constructed to be capable of forward and reverse rotation c and d on an upper portion between both side plate portions 1 a and 1 c of the base frame 1, and the support shaft 21. A pair of left and right fan plates 22 fitted to both ends, an arc plate 23 integrally formed on the inner surface of each fan plate 22, and each arc plate 23
A linear spring 24 which is disposed inside and has a tip protruding outward, and a tooth portion 25 formed on one fan plate 22 is provided between the other side plate 1c and the bracket 26. It is linked to a printing motor 28 fixed to the bracket 26 via a gear mechanism 27 (not shown),
By driving the printing motor 28 from the state in which each arc plate 23 is brought into contact with each engagement piece 16e, 16f (see FIGS. 5 and 6), both fan plates 22 are rotated forward c, whereby each spring 24 The distal end portion is pressed against the engaging pieces 16e and 16f, both arm portions 16c and 16d are rotated in the lying down direction b, and the thermal head 9 is pressed against the platen roller 4 (see FIG. 8B).
Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ink sheet cassette 13 includes a pair of front and rear cylindrical portions 13.
a and 13b, and two connecting rods 1 for integrally connecting both ends of the cylindrical portions 13a and 13b
3c, and an ink sheet S is passed between a supply reel 30 in the rear cylindrical portion 13a and a take-up reel 31 in the front cylindrical portion 13b, and the ink sheet cassette 13 is inserted through the insertion hole 14. By passing through the base frame 1, the ink sheet S is inserted between the thermal head 9 and the platen roller 4, and as shown in FIG. 7, the end portion of the supply reel 30 is the other side plate 1c.
The end of the take-up reel 31 is fitted to a take-up shaft 33 that is rotatably supported on the other side plate 1c, and the take-up shaft 33 is a gear mechanism. 27 is linked to the feed motor 34 via the drive motor 27 and drives the feed motor 34 to wind the take-up reel 31 in the winding direction e.
The ink sheet S is wound on the take-up reel 31 by a predetermined length.

The feed motor 34 is selectively connected not only to the take-up reel 31 but also to the paper feed roller 2, the feed roller 3 and the paper discharge roller 5 through a clutch mechanism incorporated in the gear mechanism 27. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 35 denotes a push-up plate for pushing up the paper P in the paper cassette 11, which is biased upward by a spring 35a.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, both ends of the iron plate top plate 36 are placed on a pair of left and right receiving plate portions 1d, 1e bent at right angles outward from the upper end edges of the side plate portions 1a, 1c of the base frame 1. Each receiving plate is inserted by inserting a substantially L-shaped positioning piece 37 extending rearward from the rear edges of both ends of the top plate 36 into positioning holes 38 penetrating the receiving plate portions 1d and 1e. Screw hole 3 penetrating through portions 1d and 1e
9, screw insertion holes 36 a penetrating at both ends of the top plate 36 are positioned concentrically, and two screws 40 are screwed into the screw holes 39 through the screw insertion holes 36 a, thereby Both end portions are fixed to the receiving plate portions 1d and 1e.

Explaining the printing procedure, as shown in FIG. 8A, the paper P is fed from the paper cassette 11 between the thermal head 9 and the platen roller 4 by the paper feed roller 2 and the feed roller 3 in the paper feed direction f. When the rear end of the paper P reaches between the feed roller 3 and the pressing roller 7 as shown in FIG. 8B, the paper feed is stopped, and then the feed roller 3 is rotated forward and backward. By doing so, the paper P is reciprocated f and g three times along the paper feed path A, and in the three return paths g,
The thermal head 9 is pushed down by the spring 24 of the pressing mechanism 10 and the thermal head 9 is pressed against the platen roller 4 via the ink sheet S and the paper P, thereby printing yellow, magenta and cyan on the paper P. As shown in FIG. 8C, by rotating the feed roller 3 in the reverse direction, the printed paper P passes through the separation plate 6 and is discharged in the paper discharge direction h by the paper discharge roller 5.

The formation procedure of the frame body 16 will be described. As shown in the development view of FIG. 10, after the aluminum plate Al is punched out along the shape of the frame body 16 by a press, the planar frame body 16 is made into a virtual line W. It suffices to bend it partially along.
JP-A-11-254715

In the above-described conventional configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, both arm portions 16c and 16d are integrally formed on the frame body 16. Therefore, a wasteful uncut portion Al is provided around both arm portions 16c and 16d.
a to Alc are greatly generated. For this reason, a large-area aluminum plate Al having a large height H1 and a lateral width H2 is required, and the unit price of the aluminum plate Al is higher than that of an iron plate or a steel plate, so that the production cost is high.

Further, in the case where both arm portions 16c and 16d are formed of an aluminum plate Al, the strength is smaller than that of an iron plate or a steel plate, so both arms are subjected to a load generated by repeatedly pressing the thermal head 9 against the platen roller 4 over a long period of time. The portions 16c and 16d are slightly deformed, and it may be difficult to apply a clear print, and there is a difficulty in durability.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer that is inexpensive and excellent in durability in view of the above-described conventional problems.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the feed roller, the feed roller, and the platen roller are spaced apart from each other along the feed path formed from the front end portion to the rear end portion in the base frame. is Oite arranged, the discharge path is connected from the upstream feed rollers feeding path, turning mechanism for pressing release is provided et al is the thermal head against the platen roller, and pre-Symbol thermal head An ink sheet is inserted between the platen roller, the paper is reciprocated along the supply path, and the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller via the ink sheet and the paper by a rotating mechanism in the return path. subjected to printing, in a thermal transfer printer which is adapted to discharge along the printing already paper discharge path, transverse the pivoting mechanism, with a fixed thermal head Parts and has an aluminum plate made frame body having a heat dissipation plate extending rearward are bent from the rear side edge of the lateral girder portion, a pair of left and right arms rods formed by an iron plate or steel plate is used, A mounting piece bent at a right angle from the front end of each armband is brought into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion, and a protruding portion extending from each mounting piece is inserted into a positioning hole of the heat radiating plate portion, By screwing a screw into the screw hole of the heat sink plate, each arm rod is fixed to the rear edge of the heat sink plate, and the rear end of each arm rod is pivotally supported by the base frame so that it can be tilted. It is characterized by having.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the feed roller, the feed roller, and the platen roller are arranged at predetermined intervals along the feed path formed from the front end portion toward the rear end edge in the base frame. A paper discharge path is connected upstream of the feed roller of the paper supply path, and a rotation mechanism for pressing and separating the thermal head from the platen roller is provided, between the thermal head and the platen roller. An ink sheet is inserted, the paper is reciprocated along the supply path, and a printing mechanism is applied to the paper by pressing the thermal head against the platen roller through the ink sheet and the paper by a rotating mechanism in the return path. In a thermal transfer printer configured to discharge printed paper along a paper discharge path, the rotating mechanism includes a cross beam portion to which a thermal head is fixed, and the cross beam portion. The front end of a pair of left and right armbands formed from an iron plate or a steel plate has an aluminum plate frame body that has a heat radiating plate portion bent from the rear side edge and extends rearward. It is fixed, and the rear end of each brace is pivotally supported by the base frame so that it can be raised and lowered.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment piece that is bent at a right angle from the front end of each armband, and the attachment piece is brought into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion. Each arm rod is fixed to the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion by screwing a screw into the screw hole of the heat radiating plate portion through the mounting pieces.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, a substantially L-shaped projection extending from each of the mounting pieces is provided, and the projection is inserted into a positioning hole penetrating the heat radiating plate. It is characterized by doing so.

Invention of Claim 1 respond | corresponds to one Embodiment (refer FIGS. 1-3),
According to this, since there is no frame body provided with the cross beam part and the heat radiating plate part corresponding to the conventional both arm parts, as the aluminum plate forming the frame body, the conventional both arm part integrated frame It is sufficient to use a small area aluminum plate with a small height and width compared to the aluminum plate that forms the body,
In addition, since the armbands corresponding to both arm portions are formed of an iron plate or a steel plate with a low unit price, the production cost can be reduced.

Since both arm rods are formed of a strong steel plate or steel plate and have excellent durability, both arm rods are sufficiently resistant to deformation caused by repeatedly pressing the thermal head against the platen roller over a long period of time. There is no, and it is possible to apply a clear print over a long period of time.

Also, the mounting piece provided at the front end of each arm rod is brought into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion, and each arm rod is simply screwed into the screw hole of the heat radiating plate portion through each mounting piece. Can be securely attached to the rear edge of the heat sink.

Further, by inserting a substantially L-shaped protrusion extending from each mounting piece into the positioning hole of the heat radiating plate, and positioning the screw insertion hole of each mounting piece concentrically with the screw hole of the heat radiating plate, The screw can be easily screwed into the screw hole through the screw insertion hole, and the substantially L-shaped protrusion and 1
Each armband can be firmly fixed to the heat radiating plate with only a screw.

In short, each arm hook has both a positioning function and a fastening function by the cooperative action of the substantially L-shaped projection and the positioning hole, so that each arm hook can be positioned and fastened quickly and easily. Can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is no frame corresponding to both conventional arm portions in the frame body provided with the cross beam portion and the heat radiating plate portion. Therefore, as an aluminum plate forming the frame body, It is enough to use a small area aluminum plate with a small height and width compared to the aluminum plate that forms the both arm unit integrated frame, and the arm plate corresponding to both arm units has a low unit price. Or since it is formed of a steel plate, the production cost can be reduced.

Since both arm rods are formed of a strong steel plate or steel plate and have excellent durability, both arm rods are sufficiently resistant to deformation caused by repeatedly pressing the thermal head against the platen roller over a long period of time. There is no, and it is possible to apply a clear print over a long period of time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the mounting piece provided at the front end of each armband is brought into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion, passes through the mounting piece and is screwed into the screw hole of the heat radiating plate portion. By simply screwing in, each arm hook can be securely fixed to the rear edge of the heat sink.

According to the invention described in claim 4, the substantially L-shaped projections extending from the respective mounting pieces are inserted into the positioning holes of the heat radiating plate portion, and the screw insertion holes of the respective mounting pieces are made into the screw holes of the heat radiating plate portion. By positioning concentrically, the screw can be easily screwed into the screw hole through the screw insertion hole, and each arm rod can be attached to the heat radiating plate with only the substantially L-shaped projection and one screw. It can be firmly fixed.

In short, each arm hook has both a positioning function and a fastening function by the cooperative action of the substantially L-shaped projection and the positioning hole, so that each arm hook can be positioned and fastened quickly and easily. Can do.

1 to 3 show a thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a rotating mechanism 8 includes a cross beam portion 16a to which a thermal head 9 is fixed, and a rear side of the cross beam portion 16a. The front end of a pair of left and right arms 55 formed of an iron plate or steel plate has a rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion 16b. The aluminum plate frame body 16 has a heat radiating plate portion 16b that is bent from the edge and extends rearward. The shaft hole 46 formed at the rear end of each arm 55 is raised and lowered on the support shaft 17a projecting from the pair of left and right bearing plates 17 cut and raised from the bottom plate portion 1b of the base frame 1. The fitting pivot is possible (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions and the description thereof is omitted.

An attachment piece 55a that is bent at a right angle along the left-right direction from the front end of each armband 55 is provided, and a substantially L-shaped protrusion 55b that extends from the tip of each attachment piece 55a is provided.
Each projection 55b is inserted into a pair of left and right positioning holes 56 formed at the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion 16b, thereby bringing the mounting pieces 55a into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion 16b. By screwing screws 59 into the screw holes 58 of the heat radiating plate portion 16b through the screw insertion holes 57 of the plate portion 16b, each arm rod 55 is fixed to the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion 16b.

The formation procedure of the frame body 16 will be described. As shown in the development view of FIG. 3, after the aluminum plate Al is punched out by pressing along the shape of the frame body 16, the planar frame body 16 is made into a virtual line W. The steel plate or the steel plate may be punched with a press along the shape of the armband 55, and the flat arm 55 may be partially bent along the imaginary line W.

According to the above configuration, the frame 16 provided with the cross beam portion 16a and the heat radiating plate portion 16b has no equivalent to the conventional both arm portions 16c and 16d. Therefore, as an aluminum plate forming the frame body 16, It is sufficient to use an aluminum plate Al having a small area with a small height H1 and lateral width H2 as compared to the aluminum plate Al forming the conventional arm portions 16c, 16d integrated frame 16 (see FIG. 10). In addition, since the brace 55 corresponding to both the arm portions 16c and 16d is formed of a cheap iron plate or steel plate, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Since the both arm rods 55 are formed of a strong steel plate or steel plate and have excellent durability, the both arm rods 55 can sufficiently withstand the load generated by repeatedly pressing the thermal head 9 against the platen roller 4 over a long period of time. Can be printed for a long time without deformation.

Further, the mounting piece 55a provided at the front end of each armband 55 is brought into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion 16b,
By simply screwing the screws 59 into the screw holes 58 of the heat radiating plate 16b through the mounting pieces 55a,
Each armband 55 can be securely fixed to the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion 16b.

Further, a substantially L-shaped protrusion 55b extending from each mounting piece 55a is inserted into the positioning hole 56 of the heat radiating plate portion 16b, and the screw insertion hole 57 of each mounting piece 55a is concentric with the screw hole 58 of the heat radiating plate portion 16b. Accordingly, the screw 59 can be easily screwed into the screw hole 58 through the screw insertion hole 57, and each arm rod 55 can be formed with only the substantially L-shaped projection 55b and one screw 59. Can be firmly fixed to the heat radiating plate portion 16b.

In short, the cooperative function of the substantially L-shaped protrusion 55b and the positioning hole 56 has both the positioning function and the fastening function of each arm bar 55, so that each arm bar 55 can be positioned quickly and easily. Can be fastened.

It is a perspective view of the rotation mechanism which forms the thermal transfer printer which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is an AA arrow line view. It is an expanded view of the aluminum plate for frames which forms the rotation mechanism, and an armband. It is a perspective view of a thermal transfer printer. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view. FIG. It is the same top view. (A)-(c) is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the same printing procedure. It is a perspective view which shows the conventional rotation mechanism. It is an expanded view of the aluminum plate for frames which forms the rotation mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base frame 2 Paper feed roller 3 Feed roller 4 Platen roller 8 Rotation mechanism 9 Thermal head 16 Frame body 16a Frame cross-beam part 16b Frame body heat sink part 16c, 16d Frame body arm part 55 Bracket 55a Installation Piece 55b Protruding part 56 Positioning hole 57 Screw insertion hole 58 Screw hole 59 Screw A Feeding path B Discharging path P Paper S Ink sheet Al Aluminum plate

Claims (4)

A paper feed roller, a feed roller, and a platen roller are arranged at predetermined intervals along a paper feed path formed from the front end to the rear end in the base frame, and upstream of the feed roller in the paper feed path. the discharge path is connected, the platen roller rotating mechanism for pressing release is provided et al is the thermal head against the ink sheet is inserted between the front SL thermal head and the platen roller, the paper Is reciprocated along the supply path, and on the return path, the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller through the ink sheet and the paper by the rotating mechanism, thereby printing the paper, and the printed paper is moved along the paper discharge path. in the thermal transfer printer which is adapted to discharge Te, the turning mechanism, and a cross beam portion fixing the thermal head, the rearward are bent from the rear side edge of the lateral girder That a heat dissipation plate having an aluminum plate made frame body having a pair of left and right arms rod is used formed by an iron plate or steel plate, the mounting piece bent at a right angle from the front end of each of Ude杆of the heat dissipation plate Each arm is brought into contact with the rear edge, and a protrusion extending from each mounting piece is inserted into a positioning hole of the heat radiating plate, and a screw is screwed into a screw hole of the heat radiating plate through each mounting piece. A thermal transfer printer, wherein a collar is fixed to a rear edge of the heat radiating plate portion, and a rear edge of each arm collar is pivotally supported by a base frame.   A paper feed roller, a feed roller, and a platen roller are arranged at predetermined intervals along a paper feed path formed from the front end portion toward the rear end edge in the base frame, and upstream of the feed roller in the paper feed path. A paper discharge path is connected to the platen roller, and a rotation mechanism for pressing and separating the thermal head from the platen roller is provided. An ink sheet is inserted between the thermal head and the platen roller to supply paper. The paper is reciprocated along the path, and on the return path, the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller via the ink sheet and paper by the rotating mechanism, and the paper is printed, and the printed paper is discharged along the paper discharge path. In the thermal transfer printer, the rotating mechanism is bent from the rear side edge of the horizontal girder portion to which the thermal head is fixed and the horizontal girder portion. The front end of a pair of left and right armbands formed of an iron plate or a steel plate is fastened to the rear edge of the heatsink plate, and the rear of each armband. A thermal transfer printer, characterized in that the end is pivotally supported by the base frame so that it can be raised and lowered.   A mounting piece that is bent at a right angle from the front end of each armband is provided, the mounting piece is brought into contact with the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion, penetrated through the mounting piece and screwed into the screw hole of the heat radiating plate portion. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 2, wherein each armband is fastened to the rear end edge of the heat radiating plate portion by screwing the screw.   4. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 3, wherein a substantially L-shaped protrusion extending from each of the mounting pieces is provided, and the protrusion is inserted into a positioning hole penetrating the heat radiating plate.

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