JPH01241471A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a running cost, to make an apparatus small in size and to enable the attainment of many prints by one replacement of an ink film, by conveying the ink film at a prescribed speed lower than the one of recording paper and in the direction opposite to that of the recording paper. CONSTITUTION:A guide roller 9 guides an ink film 1 so that the ink film 1 winds on a platen 4, together with recording paper 2, at a prescribed winding angle H invariably on the opposite side to the direction of movement of the ink film 1 in relation to a head 3. The ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 are held under pressure between the head 3 and the platen 4, and a film feed roller 6 is driven in the direction of an arrow C, so that the ink film 1 be conveyed at a prescribed moving speed in the direction of an arrow A. A paper feed roller 5 is driven in the direction of an arrow D, and the recording paper 2 is conveyed thereby at a prescribed speed in the direction of an arrow B, while ink is transferred thereon in the part under pressure between the head 3 and the platen 4. Between the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 a certain frictional load exists invariably and acts as a back tension. The back tension depends only on a coefficient of the friction between the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 and the winding angle H and is always maintained at a prescribed level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer that heats ink applied to a thermal transfer ink film and transfers it to transfer paper, and in particular, a thermal transfer printer that is equipped with a line head and prints in multiple colors surface-sequentially. The present invention relates to an image output printer that performs printing.

[Prior Art] Conventional thermal transfer printers for the purpose of image output are generally those shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 60-165278 and No. 59-150777. The ink film, which is held between the head and the platen together with the recording paper, is conveyed at approximately the same speed and in the same direction as the recording paper. -Generally, ink films require a certain amount of tension or more to prevent recording quality from deteriorating due to transport defects such as wrinkles, and the above-mentioned conventional examples also require mechanisms such as those explained in the text. Accordingly, a pack tension that acts in the opposite direction to the moving direction of the ink film is applied to the recording section on the opposite side of the moving direction of the ink film. Furthermore, as a method of keeping the aforementioned pack tension constant, a mechanism such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-238642 has also been considered.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, conventional thermal transfer printers have the following problems.

As shown in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-165278, there is a limit to the storage space for ink film in a printer, and especially in an image output printer that prints in multiple colors in a field-sequential manner as in this embodiment, the storage space for ink film in the printer is limited. or 4
Since an ink film twice as long was required, the ink film had to be replaced frequently. In addition, this has been a problem with miniaturization of printers. Furthermore, since ink films generally cost more than recording paper, it has been difficult to reduce running costs.

In addition, in order to prevent deterioration of recording quality due to poor conveyance of the ink film,
As shown in No. 1-238642, a special length of 811 m was required to apply pack tension, which was a hindrance to lowering the price of printers. In addition, in order to reduce the length of the ink film used and to slow down the transport speed of the ink film, it is necessary to provide a transport means and a tension applying means before and after the clamping section formed by the head and the platen. This was a negative effect of the decline in the price of computers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printer that is inexpensive, has a low running cost, is small in size, and is capable of making more prints with only one ink film change.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention solves the above problems, and includes a recording paper feeding means for transporting recording paper at a predetermined speed, and a recording paper feeding means for transporting the ink film at a predetermined speed slower than the recording paper. It is characterized by having an ink film transport means for transporting the ink film in the opposite direction to the paper.

[Example] An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a thermal transfer printer that implements the present invention. ■ is ink film, 2 is recording paper, 3 is head,
4 is a platen, 5 is a temperature feed roller, 6 is a film feed roller, 7 is a paper press roller, 8 is a film press roller, and 9 is a guide roller. The guide roller 9 rotates the ink film 1 so that the ink film 1 is always wound around the platen 4 together with the recording paper 2 at a constant winding angle H on the opposite side of the head 3 in the moving direction of the ink film 1 (direction of arrow A). I'm guiding. During recording, the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 are held between the head 3 and the platen 4, the film feed roller 6 is driven in the direction of arrow C, and the ink film 1 is transported in the direction of arrow A at a predetermined moving speed. The paper feed roller 5 is driven in the direction of the arrow to feed the recording paper 2.
While being conveyed at a predetermined moving speed in the direction of arrow B, ink is transferred at the nipping portion between the head 3 and the platen 4. The platen 4 is rotatably supported,
As the recording paper 2 moves, it rotates in the direction of arrow E. Since the ink film 1 and the recording paper pressure 2 are always wrapped around the platen 4 at a constant wrapping angle H and are in contact with each other, and are moving in opposite directions, there is a gap between the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2. A constant frictional load always exists, and this frictional load is applied when the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 are transported.
It acts as a conveyance load or pack tension. Therefore, the pack tension depends only on the friction coefficient and the wrap angle H between the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2, and is always kept constant.

Further, since the moving speed of the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 is determined only by the driving speed of the film feed roller 6 and the paper feed roller 5, the movement of the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 can only be performed using the configuration shown in FIG. The speed can be set arbitrarily, and the drive speed of the film feed roller 6 can be set to the drive speed of the paper feed roller 5.
Even if the driving speed is slower than the drive speed, a constant frictional load always exists between the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2, and this frictional load acts as pack tension when the ink film 1 and the recording paper 2 are transported, and the pack tension increases. is always kept constant.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed cross-sectional structure of the ink film 1 used in this example, in which 101 is the base film, 102 is the ink (ink layer) coated on the base film 101, and 103 is the ink film 1. This is a top layer coated on the ink 102 much thinner than the ink M102 to prevent the ink 102 from being rubbed off and mechanically transferred to the surface of the recording paper 2 by cleaning with the recording paper 2, and is harder than the ink 102 at room temperature. , activation temperature is ink 1
Equal to or lower than 02.

[Effect of the invention] According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

First, a constant frictional load always exists between the ink film and the recording paper, and this frictional load always acts as a constant pack tension, so a special mechanism is not required to apply pack tension. Therefore, the price of the printer can be easily reduced.

Second, with a simple configuration, the moving speed of the ink film is slower than the moving speed of the recording paper, and the length of the ink film used can be shortened, making it easy to downsize the printer and reduce running costs. There is no need for frequent replacement, making maintenance easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a thermal transfer printer that implements the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing detailed cross-sectional configuration values of the ink film used in this example. 1-111 ink film 2-111 recording paper 3-111 head 4-111 platen 5-111 continuous feed roller 6----film feed roller 7----paper pressing roller 8-111 Film pressing roller 9---Guide roller 101-1Base film 102--Ink (ink layer) 103--Top layer and above Applicant Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Attorney Kizo Suzuki (et al.) 1 person)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A thermal transfer printer that uses an ink film coated with a heat-activated ink includes a recording paper feeding means for transporting recording paper at a predetermined speed, and a recording paper feeding means for transporting the ink film at a predetermined speed slower than the recording paper A thermal transfer printer characterized by having an ink film feeding means that feeds the ink film in the opposite direction.