JPH01225583A - Ribbon release apparatus of printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a ribbon release apparatus not affected by environmental temp., by detecting the surface temp. of a release means and controlling the current supplied to a heat generator. CONSTITUTION:The thermal transfer ribbon 2 delivered from a delivery reel 13 is supplied to a printing head 18 to perform printing on recording paper. The printed thermal transfer ribbon 12 is separated from the recording paper by a release roller 20 to be taken up by a take-up reel 11. The output signal of a thermistor is taken in a control circuit and the current supplied to a heater 31 is controlled so as to bring the surface temp. of the release roller 20 to set temp. By this method, since the surface temp. of the release roller 20 can he brought to set temp., a ribbon release apparatus not affected by environmental temp. can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a ribbon peeling device for a printer, and more particularly to a ribbon peeling device for a printer using a reusable thermal transfer ribbon that utilizes cohesive failure of ink.

(Background of the Invention) Next, a conventional example will be explained using the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration around the print head of a conventional printer.

In the figure, 1 is a take-up reel for winding up the thermal transfer ribbon 2, and 3 is a feeding reel for feeding out the thermal transfer ribbon 2. The take-up reel 1 and the feed reel 3 are the ribbon cassette 4.
It is rotatably installed inside. Guide pins 5 to 8 are provided in the ribbon cassette 4 and guide the thermal transfer ribbon 2. 9 is provided on the printer side, and the thermal transfer ribbon 2
A print head 10 prints on a recording paper (not shown) by holding the paper.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. When the printer performs printing, the printer rotates the take-up reel 1 and unwinds the thermal transfer ribbon 2 from the reel 3.

The thermal transfer ribbon 2 fed out from the feeding reel 3 is moved to the guide pin 5. A predetermined portion is heated by the print head 9 via the guide pin 6, and the ink of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is transferred to the recording paper to perform printing.

The printed thermal transfer ribbon 2 is wound onto a take-up reel 1 via guide pins 7 and 8.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In recent years, a thermal transfer ribbon 5 that utilizes the cohesive failure phenomenon of ink as shown in FIG. 5 has been put into practical use as a repeatedly usable thermal transfer ribbon. The thermal transfer ribbon 5 is configured by laminating three layers: a base m5a, an ink layer 5C, and an adhesive layer 5b that fixes the ink layer 5C to the base layer 5a. Then, when a predetermined portion is heated by the print head 9, the entire amount of the ink ff15b in the heated portion is not transferred to the recording paper P, and cohesive failure occurs in the ink layer 5b, causing the ink layer A part of the image 5b is transferred onto the recording paper P. Therefore, the remaining ink layer 5b is used for the next printing, making it possible to use it repeatedly.

By the way, in the thermal transfer ribbon 5 which can be used repeatedly and which utilizes the cohesive failure phenomenon of ink, the temperature at the time of separation of the thermal transfer ribbon 5 and the recording paper P after being heated by the print head 9 is as follows. The lid is extremely important to enable repeated use.

However, in the conventional example with the above configuration, there is a problem that the temperature at which the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the recording paper are separated after being heated by the print head 9 is greatly influenced by the environmental temperature.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a ribbon peeling device for a printer that is not affected by environmental temperature.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention for solving the above problems includes a peeling means that has a heating element inside and peels off the ribbon and the recording paper on the rear side of the print head, and The heating element is characterized by comprising a temperature detection means for detecting the surface temperature, and a control means for controlling the current wJ'Tj to the heating element based on the output signal of the temperature detection means.

(Function) In the ribbon peeling device for a printer of the present invention, the temperature detection means detects the surface temperature of the peeling means, and the control means controls the separation between the ribbon and the recording paper at the rear side of the print head based on the output signal of the temperature detection means. The electric current to the heating element provided inside the peeling means that performs peeling is controlled.

(Example) Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
A configuration diagram of a peeling roller used as one embodiment of the peeling means in the figure, and FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram in FIG. 1.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 indicates a take-up reel for winding up the thermal transfer ribbon 12, which can be used repeatedly by utilizing the cohesive failure phenomenon of ink, and reference numeral 13 indicates a feed-out reel for feeding out the thermal transfer ribbon 12. The take-up reel 11 and the feed reel 13 are rotatably provided within the ribbon cassette 14. 1.
Guide bins 5 to 17 are provided in the ribbon cassette 14 and guide the thermal transfer ribbon 12. 18 is a print head that is provided on the printer side and prints on recording paper (not shown) while holding the thermal transfer ribbon 12; 19 is a platen. A peeling roller 20 is provided on the rear side of the print head 18 and on the front side of the guide bin 17.

Next, the peeling O-ra 20 will be explained using FIG. 2. (a
), inside the peeling row 520 there is a heater 21 as a heating element, and inside the heater 21 there is a peeling roller 20.
Thermistor 22 as a detection means for detecting the surface temperature of
and is provided.

The peeling 11io-ra 20 is not limited to the one shown in (a), but also in (b)
), the thermistor 22 may be brought into sliding contact with the cylindrical portion of the peeling roller 20.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained. When the printer prints, the printer rotates the take-up reel 11 to feed out the thermal transfer ribbon 12 from the feed reel 13. Feeding reel 1
The thermal transfer ribbon 12 fed out from the guide bin 15
．． Printing is performed on the recording paper by the print head 18 via the guide bin 16. Thermal transfer ribbon 12 with printed characters
The recording paper is separated from the recording paper by a peeling roller 20, and wound onto the take-up reel 11 via a guide bin 17.

Next, the circuit configuration of this embodiment will be explained using FIG.

The output signal of the thermistor 22 is taken into the control circuit 23. The control circuit 23 controls the current supplied to the heater 21 so that the surface temperature of the peeling roller 20 reaches a set temperature (30 to 70° C. in this embodiment).

According to the above configuration, since the temperature of the surface of the peeling roller 20 can be set to a preset temperature, it is possible to realize a ribbon peeling device for a printer that is not affected by environmental temperature. In particular, the temperature at which the thermal transfer ribbon 12 separates from the recording paper after being heated by the print head 18 is a very important factor.Reusable thermal transfer ribbons utilize the cohesive failure phenomenon of ink. Trout is suitable for the printer used.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the explanation was given using a serial printer as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention is also effective for a line printer. Further, in the above embodiment, a rotating peeling roller is used as the peeling means, but a structure such as a guide bin that does not rotate may also be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a ribbon peeling device for a printer that is not affected by environmental temperature.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
A configuration diagram of a peeling roller used as an embodiment of the peeling means in the figure; FIG. 3 is a circuit configuration diagram in FIG. 1;
The figure is a block diagram of the print head and its surroundings of a conventional printer, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a thermal transfer ribbon that utilizes the cohesive failure phenomenon of ink. In the figure, 1.11... Take-up reel 2.12... Thermal transfer ribbon 3.13... Feeding reel 4.14... Ribbon cassettes 5-8. 15-17... Guide bin '9 .18... Print head 10.19... Platen 20... Peeler 21... Heater 22... Thermistor 23... Control circuit patent applicant Konica Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Fuji Ijima, 1 person, 3 drawings, 4 drawings

Claims (1)

[Claims] A peeling means that has a heating element inside and peels off the ribbon and recording paper on the rear side of the print head, a temperature detection means that detects the surface temperature of the peeling means, and an output signal of the temperature detection means A ribbon peeling device for a printer, comprising: control means for controlling current to the heating element.