JPH01269555A - Thermal printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable carrying smoothly and positively in the desired carrying direction by a simple constitution without using a special guide means by integrally forming a protruding section reinforcing holder itself while guiding an optical fixing type heat-sensitive film to the inwall section of a holder holding a light source for fixing. CONSTITUTION:A fixing section 22 includes a pair of ultraviolet lamps 60a, 60b disposed opposed to both surfaces of all optical fixing type heat-sensitive film F, and the lamps are held respectively by lamp holders 62a, 62b. The lamp holder 62a is positioned at the lower section of the film F and extended in the main scanning direction of the film F, the inwall surface 64 of the lamp holder 62a is inclined to the central side and formed in a V-shaped section, and the ultraviolet lamp 60a is arranged at the central section of the lamp holder 62a. Protruding sections 68a-68c are swollen and molded to the upstream side in the carrying direction from the ultraviolet lamp 60a and protruding sections 70a-70c to the downstream side to the inwall surface 64 of the lamp holder 62a. The end faces of the upstream-side protruding sections 68a-68c are directed in the horizontal direction and positioned at a section upper than the lamp 60a, and the end faces of the downstream-side protruding sections 70a-70c are inclined in the downward direction to the lamp 60a and terminated on the lower side of the lamp 60a. The upper side is also organized approximately similarly. Accordingly, no special guide is needed, and the film can be guided positively in the specified carrying direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal printer device, in particular:
The photo-fixable heat-sensitive film is sandwiched between a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat-generating elements in the main scanning direction and a platen roller, and while the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, the heat-generating elements are selectively energized. After recording the image two-dimensionally,
The light-fixing type thermosensitive film is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like from a fixing light source to fix the film, and a holder for holding the fixing light source is provided with a protrusion that reinforces the holder itself and smoothly guides the light-fixing type thermosensitive film. The present invention relates to an integrally provided thermal printer device.

[Background of the Invention] In the medical field, in addition to conventionally used X-ray imaging devices, various medical imaging diagnostic devices such as ultrasound imaging devices, X-ray CT, and DF are becoming widespread. This type of medical image diagnostic apparatus obtains an image of the affected area by injecting ultrasonic waves, X-rays, etc. from outside the patient's body and detecting changes in the ultrasonic waves, X-rays, etc., and transfers this image to, for example, a CRT. It is displayed as a visible image on the monitor. Therefore, doctors etc. only need to diagnose the affected area via the image displayed on the monitor, and in particular, they can easily observe other affected areas as necessary during the diagnosis, making it possible to perform diagnostic work accurately and efficiently. This enables quick execution.

In this case, it is desirable to selectively permanently record the affected area displayed on the monitor in the medical image diagnostic apparatus as a hard copy on a record carrier. For this reason, various printer devices have been adopted. For example, there are known thermal printer devices that use a so-called light-fixing type heat-sensitive film (essentially a polyester film) that develops color by heat and fixes it by irradiation with ultraviolet light. ing.

The thermal printer device stores a photo-fixable heat-sensitive film wound in a roll, and first sends the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film to a printing section. The printing section has a thermal head equipped with a plurality of heating elements in the main scanning direction substantially corresponding to the number of pixels, and a photofixing type thermosensitive film is held between this thermal head and a platen roller.
The photofixable heat-sensitive film is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction under the rotational action of the platen roller.

At the same time, the heating element is selectively energized based on an image signal sent from the medical image diagnostic apparatus, thereby recording an image two-dimensionally on the photofixing type thermosensitive film. Next, the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film is transferred to a fixing section, an ultraviolet lamp provided in the fixing section is energized, and fixing is performed using ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp, and the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film is After being cut into a predetermined length by a cutter means, the paper is stored in a discharge tray.

Incidentally, in the fixing section, a pair of ultraviolet lamps are disposed facing each other while being held in a holder in order to irradiate ultraviolet rays to substantially both surfaces of the photofixable heat-sensitive film. For this reason, it is necessary to smoothly convey the photofixable heat-sensitive film along the gaps between the respective ultraviolet lamps, and various guide means have been proposed in the past. The technical concept of this type of technology is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-12449.

That is, in the guide means according to this prior art, each ultraviolet lamp is held in a holder, and an ultraviolet transmitting plate is attached to each open end of the holder that is close to each other. In such a configuration, a light-fixing type heat-sensitive film is passed through the gap between the respective ultraviolet transmitting plates, and an ultraviolet lamp is energized to irradiate the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film with ultraviolet rays. Fixing heat-sensitive film.

However, in the conventional technique described above, since the ultraviolet light transmission plate is interposed between the ultraviolet lamp and the photofixing type heat-sensitive film, the fixing efficiency of the ultraviolet light irradiated from the ultraviolet lamp is reduced. This is because it is impossible for the ultraviolet ray transmission plate to completely transmit the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp. Moreover, it is necessary to separately manufacture the holder and the ultraviolet transmitting plate in advance and then fix them together, which has been pointed out to be inconvenient in that it increases the manufacturing cost and takes a considerable amount of time to assemble.

Furthermore, as this kind of guiding means, for example, a copper wire or the like is stretched over the end of the holder that opens toward the photofixable thermosensitive film, and the photofixable thermosensitive film is guided through the copper wire or the like. something is proposed. However, the work of fixing the copper wire to the holder under tension is quite complicated, and as a result, manufacturing work cannot be carried out efficiently. Furthermore, since a copper wire is used, the copper wire itself is heated by the heat generated by the ultraviolet lamp, and the light-fixing heat-sensitive film comes into contact with the heated copper wire and is easily affected by the heat. Reveal.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. After recording a desired image by selectively energizing each heating element while conveying the photofixable thermosensitive film in the sub-scanning direction,
This light-fixing type heat-sensitive film is irradiated with ultraviolet rays or the like from a fixing light source, and a protrusion is integrally formed on the inner wall of the holder that holds the fixing light source to reinforce the holder itself and guide the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal printer device that can smoothly and reliably transport the photofixing type heat-sensitive film in a desired transport direction with a simple configuration without using any special guide means. shall be.

[Means for Achieving the Object] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention uses a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction corresponding to the number of pixels and a platen roller to fix an optically fixable thermosensitive member. While holding and conveying the light-fixing type heat-sensitive member in a sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main-scanning direction, the heating element is selectively energized to cause the light-fixing type heat-sensitive member to develop color and record an image, and then for fixing. A thermal printer device fixes the photo-fixing type heat sensitive member by energizing a light source, the fixing light source being held on a bent or curved inner wall surface side of a holder member, and the fixing light source being attached to the inner wall surface. It is characterized in that one or more protrusions that guide the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member are integrally formed on the upstream side and/or downstream side in the conveying direction as a reference.

Further, in the present invention, a pair of holder members are disposed opposite to each other on both sides of the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member, and at least the holder member located below the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member fixes the protrusion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. The present invention is characterized in that the light source is configured to be tilted in a direction away from the photofixing type heat sensitive member.

[Embodiments] Next, preferred embodiments of the thermal printer device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a thermal printer device according to this embodiment. The device 10 includes a casing 1
2, a lid 14 that can be opened and closed using one end as a fulcrum is attached to the upper part of the casing 12, and an operation panel 15 is formed at the front of the casing 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 12 includes a film loading section 16 that winds and stores a photo-fixable heat-sensitive film F, and selectively heats the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film F to form a predetermined image, etc. A printing section 18 that develops color, and a cutter section 2 that cuts this photofixable heat-sensitive film F into a predetermined length.
0, a fixing section 22 that irradiates the photo-fixable thermal film F with ultraviolet rays to fix it, and a discharge section 26 that sends out the photo-fixable thermal film F cut into a predetermined length to a discharge tray 24.
and a control section 28 for controlling these.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the other end side of the lid body 14 that opens and closes,
A handle 30 is provided, and by pulling up the handle 30, the claw members 32, 32 provided on both sides of the lid body 14 swing to release the engagement state with the casing 12. The lid body 14 can be opened. The lid body 14 has an ultraviolet cut filter 3 as a viewing window.
4 (substantially a red filter) is provided, and this ultraviolet cut filter 34 is used to visually check the remaining amount of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F stored in the film loading section 16 from the outside.

Next, a platen roller 36 (substantially a rubber roller) constituting the printing section 18 is attached to the lid 14.

That is, a rotation drive source 38 such as a pulse motor is attached to one side of the lid 14, and a gear train 40 is connected to a rotation drive shaft (not shown) of the rotation drive source 38. The gear 40a constituting the gear train 40 is pivotally attached to the rotating shaft of the platen roller 36, and therefore, the platen roller 36 is rotated at a predetermined rotational speed under the driving action of the rotational drive source 38, as shown in FIG. , rotate in the direction of the arrow. Further, a guide roller 4 is provided on the lid body 14 in parallel with the platen roller 36.
1 is rotatably supported, and a detection sensor 4 for light reflection for detecting the presence or absence of a light-fixing type thermosensitive film F, etc.
3 is installed. “Then, the lid body 14 is attached to the casing 12.
, and the claw members 32 and 32 are
The lid body 14 is fixed to the casing 12 by engaging with the platen roller 36, and the platen roller 36 engages with the thermal head 42. As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal head 42 is provided with, for example, several hundred heating elements 44 corresponding to the number of pixels of the light-fixing type thermosensitive film F in the main scanning direction. 42 is fixed to a bracket 46. The bracket 46 is swingably supported within the casing 12 via a pin 48 at one end on the film loading section 16 side, and one end of a coil spring 50 is engaged with the lower side of the bracket 46.
The other end of this coil spring 50 engages with a support plate 52 inside the casing 12.

Also, within the casing 12, the platen roller 36
A guide roller 54 is disposed between the cutter part 20 and the cutter part 20, and a pair of guide plates 55a and 55b are provided on the film introduction side of the cutter part 20. The cutter portion 20 has a first substantially stationary cutter blade 56a and a movable second cutter blade 56b. A guide member 58 is disposed near the second cutter blade 56b, and an end of the guide member 58 enters into the fixing section 22.

The fixing section 22 includes a pair of ultraviolet lamps 60a and 60b disposed opposite to each other on both sides of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F, and each of the ultraviolet lamps 60a and 60b is provided with a lamp holder 62a and 62b made of a resin material, respectively. is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lamp holder 62a is located below the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film F and extends in the main scanning direction of the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film F. The lamp holder 6
The inner wall surface 64 of 2a has a V-shaped cross-section and is inclined vertically downward from the center side from both sides in the main scanning direction, and an ultraviolet lamp 60a is disposed in the center thereof extending in the main scanning direction. (See Figures 2 and 5). In this case, both ends of the ultraviolet lamp 60a are fixed in the lamp holder 62a via mounting members 66a166b.

A first protrusion 68 is provided on the inner wall surface 64 of the lamp holder 62a on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the ultraviolet lamp 60a.
a to 68c are integrally molded, and second protrusions 70a to 70c are bulgingly molded on the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first projections 68a to 68
Cf7) The end face extends horizontally and is located above the ultraviolet lamp 60a. On the other hand, the end surfaces of the second projections 70a to 70c are inclined vertically downward with respect to the ultraviolet lamp 60a, and substantially
terminates at the bottom side of

Further, rectangular mounting portions 72a and 72b are formed at one end of the lamp holder 62a and project vertically upward.
The mounting portions 72a, 72b are coaxially provided with holes 74a, 7.
4b is drilled. Further, a positioning pin 76 for positioning the lamp holder 62a with respect to the fixing section 22 is installed at the other end of the lamp holder 62a.

On the other hand, the lamp holder 62b located above the light-fixing type thermosensitive film F is constructed in substantially the same manner as the lamp holder 62a described above, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the details thereof will be described. Further explanation will be omitted.

In this case, locking pins 78a and 78b that fit into holes 74a and 74b of the respective mounting portions 72a and 72b are formed at one end of the lamp holder 62b, and locking pins 78a and 78b are formed at the other end of the lamp holder 62b. A connector 80 that can be freely connected to a connector (not shown) provided on the fixing section 22 is attached. Then, by engaging the respective lamp holders 62a and 62b, a gap 82 is defined between the lamp holders 62a and 62b through which the photofixing type thermosensitive film F can be inserted. Note that the second protrusions 70a to 70c provided on the lamp holder 62b are
Similarly to the second protrusions 70a to 70c, the second protrusions 70a to 70c do not need to be inclined, and can be formed on the same plane as the first protrusions 68a to 68C, for example.

Moreover, the inner wall surface 64 of each lamp holder 62a, 62b
and the first projections 68a to 68C and the second projection 70a.
70c are subjected to aluminum vapor deposition or the like.

Further, a discharge section 26 is provided adjacent to the fixing section 22 . The discharge section 26 includes a rotational drive source 84 such as a pulse motor, and a gear train 86 is connected to a rotational drive shaft 84a of the rotational drive source 84. A rubber roller 88 is engaged with the gear train 86, and a nip roller 90 is in sliding contact with the rubber roller 88.

The nip roller 90 is supported by one end of an arm 92 rotatably held within the casing 12, and a coil spring 94 is engaged with the other end of the arm 92. Therefore, the nip roller 90 is always in sliding contact with the rubber roller 88 with a predetermined pressing force through the elastic force of the coil spring 94.

Further, a mounting plate 96 is disposed above the nip roller 90, and a static elimination brush 98 is planted on the mounting plate 96 so as to extend in the width direction of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F.

On the other hand, a discharge tray 24 is removably mounted below the rubber roller 88, and is exposed to the outside through an opening 100 formed in the front surface of the casing 12.

The thermal printer device according to this embodiment is basically constructed as described above, and its operation and effects will be explained next.

In this case, the device 10 is connected to various medical image diagnostic devices such as an X-ray CT or ultrasound imaging device (not shown),
A doctor or the like observes the monitor or the like of this medical image diagnostic apparatus and records a desired image on a photofixable thermosensitive film F as a hard copy.

That is, first, when the handle 30 provided on the lid body 14 is grasped and pulled up, the claw members 32.32 that were engaged with the casing 12 swing, and these claw members 32.3
2 is released. and,
A photofixable heat-sensitive film F wound into a roll is housed in the film loading section 16 while the lid body 14 is swung in the vertical direction.

Next, the end of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F is pulled out and extended from the guide roller 54 toward the cutter portion 20, and then the lid 14 is moved to close. For this reason, the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film F is attached to the platen roller 36 supported by the lid body 14.
and a thermal head 42 fixed to a bracket 46.
It is held by the guide rollers 41 and 54 on both sides of the platen roller 36, and is held by the guide rollers 41 and 54 on both sides of the platen roller 36.

Therefore, when a doctor or the like operates the operation panel 15 of the device 10, the rotational drive source 38 is driven via the control section 28. The rotational force of the rotational drive source 38 is transmitted via a gear train 40 to a platen roller 36 on which a gear 40a is mounted, and the platen roller 36 rotates at a predetermined rotational speed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2. Therefore,
The light-fixing type thermal film F held between the platen roller 36 and the thermal head 42 is arranged in the sub-scanning direction (
(in the direction of the arrow). At that time, the thermal head 4
Hundreds of heating elements 44 arranged in the main scanning direction in 2 are selectively energized under the driving action of the control section 28 to generate heat.
The photofixable thermosensitive film F selectively develops color in the main scanning direction. As a result, a two-dimensional coloring operation is performed on the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film F that is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and a desired image is recorded.

As the printing unit 18 continues to record images on the light-fixing heat-sensitive film F in this way, the leading edge of the light-fixing heat-sensitive film F is guided by the guide plates 55a and 55b to form the cutter part 20. The first cutter blade 56a that constitutes the
and the second cutter 56b, and is further conveyed to the fixing section 22 under the guiding action of the guide member 58. In the fixing section 22, the respective ultraviolet lamps 60a and 60b are energized, and both surfaces of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F are irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamps 60a and 60b.

The leading end of the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film F, which is sent out from the fixing section 22 toward the discharge section 26 under the rotation of the platen roller 36, enters between the rubber roller 88 and the nip roller 90. Here, the rotational drive source 84 is driven, and the rotational drive shaft 8
A rubber roller 88 rotates in the direction of the arrow via a gear train 86 connected to 4a, and the photofixing type thermosensitive film F held between the rubber roller 88 and the nip roller 90 is rotated.
After coming into contact with the static eliminating brush 98 and eliminating static electricity that is likely to be generated on the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive film F, it is led out to the discharge tray 24 side.

On the other hand, the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film F is removed from the discharge section 26 for a predetermined length.
After being fed out to the side, the second part constituting the cutter part 20
When the cutter blade 56b is swung toward the first cutter blade 56a, the first and second cutter blades 56a, 56
The photofixable heat-sensitive film F is cut by b. As a result, a predetermined length of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F is accommodated in the discharge tray 24 under the driving action of the discharge section 26 . The photofixable thermosensitive film F accommodated in the discharge tray 24 will be used for medical diagnosis, etc., if necessary.

Note that an ultraviolet cut filter 34 is attached to the lid 14, and the remaining state of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F stored in the film loading section 16 can be visually checked from the outside through this ultraviolet cut filter 34. I can do it. Further, it is also possible to automatically detect whether or not the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film F is present by the detection sensor 43 attached to the lid 14.

In this case, according to the present embodiment, the first protrusions 68a to 68C and the second protrusion 70a each having a predetermined shape are provided on the lamp holders 62a and 62b constituting the fixing section 22.
Since 70c to 70c are integrally molded, it is possible to smoothly guide the light-fixing type heat-sensitive film F carried into the fixing section 22, and it is also possible to economically manufacture the lamp holders 62a and 62b. .

That is, a narrow gap 82 is defined between the lamp holders 62a and 62b, and the photofixing type thermosensitive film F that has passed through the cutter portion 20 enters this gap 82 via the guide member 58. . At that time, the lamp holder 62a,
The inner wall surface 64 of 62b is provided with first protrusions 68a to 68C extending horizontally on each end surface, and the light-fixing type thermosensitive film F that has entered the gap 82 has both surfaces thereof covered with the first protrusions. It is guided through sections 68a to 68C and reaches between the ultraviolet lamps 60a and 160b.

Next, when the end of the photofixable heat-sensitive film F passes between the respective ultraviolet lamps 60a and 60b, the end tends to hang down vertically due to its own weight (see FIG. 5). Here, in particular, in the lamp holder 62a located below the light-fixing heat-sensitive film F, the ultraviolet lamp 60a is located downstream in the transport direction with respect to the ultraviolet lamp 60a.
Second projections 70a to 70C are provided which are inclined with respect to 0a. Therefore, even if the leading end of the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film F hangs down, the photo-fixable heat-sensitive film F can be smoothly transported in the desired conveying direction, that is, toward the discharge section 26, via the inclined second projections 70a to 70C. We can guide you to.

In this way, the first protrusions 68a to 68 function as reinforcing ribs on the lamp holders 62a and 62b, and also function as guides for transporting the light-fixing type thermosensitive film F.
By integrally molding the second protruding portions 70a to 70c, the provision of special guide means for the photofixable heat-sensitive film F is avoided. Therefore, each lamp holder 6
2a and 62b can be produced efficiently and economically. Moreover, the lamp holder 62
In order to bend the inner wall surfaces 64 of a and 62b, and to perform aluminum vapor deposition on the inner wall surfaces 64, the first protrusions 68a to 68C1, and the second protrusions 70a to 70c,
Another advantage is that the ultraviolet rays emitted from the respective ultraviolet lamps 60a and 60b are suitably reflected by the aluminum vapor deposition surface, and the fixing work of the light-fixable heat-sensitive film F can be efficiently performed.

Although the inner wall surfaces 64 of the lamp holders 62a and 62b are bent, it is of course possible to curve the inner wall surfaces 64 into a substantially arc shape.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the fixing light source is held in the fixing unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays or the like onto the photofixing type heat-sensitive film on which the desired image is recorded via the thermal helad and the platen roller. A protrusion is integrally provided on the inner wall of the holder for reinforcing the holder itself and for smoothly guiding the photofixable thermosensitive film in the transport direction.

Therefore, there is no need to mount a special guide means to guide the photofixable thermosensitive film to the holder, and the entire holder can be manufactured inexpensively and efficiently.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide surface of the protrusion on the downstream side in the transport direction is configured to be inclined with respect to the ultraviolet lamp on the holder located below the photofixable heat-sensitive film, with the ultraviolet lamp as a reference. Therefore, even if the leading end of the light-fixing heat-sensitive film sags due to its own weight when it passes through the ultraviolet lamp, the light-fixing heat-sensitive film is reliably guided in the predetermined transport direction via the inclined guide surface. becomes possible.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
It goes without saying that various improvements and changes in design can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a thermal printer device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially omitted longitudinal sectional view of the device, Fig. 3 is a partially perspective explanatory view of the device, and Fig. 4 is a configuration of the device. Fig. 5 is a partially omitted perspective explanatory view of the fixing unit shown in Fig. 4; 10... Thermal printer device 16... Film loading section 18... Printing section 20
... Cutter part 22 ... Fixing section 24 ...
・Ejection tray 26...Ejection part 36...Platen roller 42...Thermal head 56a,
56b... Cutter blade 58... Guide member 60a
, 60b...UV lamps 62a, 62b...Lamp holder

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member is sandwiched between a thermal head having a plurality of heat-generating elements arranged in the main scanning direction corresponding to the number of pixels and a platen roller, and the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member is scanned in a sub-scan direction approximately perpendicular to the main scanning direction. A thermal printer device that selectively energizes the heat generating element while conveying in a direction to cause the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member to develop color to record an image, and then energizing a fixing light source to fix the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member. A fixing light source is held on a bent or curved inner wall surface side of the holder member, and the photo-fixing type thermosensitive member is mounted on the inner wall surface upstream and/or downstream in the conveying direction with respect to the fixing light source. 1. A thermal printer device characterized by integrally molding one or more protrusions for guiding. (2) In the apparatus according to claim 1, a pair of holder members are disposed opposite to each other on both sides of the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member, and at least the holder member located below the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member is downstream in the conveyance direction. 1. A thermal printer device, characterized in that a side protrusion is configured to be inclined in a direction away from the photo-fixing type heat-sensitive member with respect to a fixing light source.