JPH021333A - Color heat transfer recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve image quality by arranging ink ribbons and thermal heads in parallel with a scan line, almost close to each other on a transport path for recording paper which is transported stepwise by a single line of data in a subscanning direction, and recording data on the recording paper by ink color without moving it forward and backward. CONSTITUTION:Thermal heads 1a-1d are arranged, in parallel with a main scanning direction, almost close to each other on a transport path for recording paper 2 which is transported stepwise by a singe line of data in a subscanning direction A, each time data is recorded by a single scan line. Then ink ribbons of different colors 3B, 3C, 3M, 3Y are provided so that they are transported by the length of a single scan line between thermal heads 1a-1d. Only ink ribbons required for recording are pressed by platen rollers 4a-4d for recording on the recording paper 2, and the required colors are transferred over the other each time the recording paper 2 is step-shifed in a direction A. Subsequently, the recording paper 2 has only to be transported stepwise in the direction A for recording and thereby the image is no longer positioned incorrectly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color thermal transfer recording device, and more particularly to a color thermal transfer recording device that thermally transfers inks of a plurality of colors to obtain a full-color recorded image.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of color thermal transfer recording apparatus has, as shown in FIG. In addition, an ink sheet 3 on which black ink is applied sequentially on each recording screen, a recording paper 2 from which the ink is transferred to form a recorded image, and a thermal head 1 that transfers the recording paper 2 and ink sheet 3
The platen roller 4 conveys the paper in the sub-scanning direction while pressing the paper.

To perform recording, first, color image signals are stored in a buffer memory in advance, and while the ink sheet 3 and recording paper 2 are conveyed via the platen roller 4, the image signals corresponding to the ink colors on the ink sheet 3 are transmitted. The ink is read from the buffer memory and the thermal head 1 is driven to heat and melt the ink on the ink sheet 3 and transfer it to the recording paper 2.

In this way, when recording for a single color ink is completed, the pressure contact between the thermal head 1, ink sheet 3, recording paper 2, and platen roller 4 is released, and the next ink is positioned directly below the thermal head 1. Like ink sheet 3
and the recording paper 2 is transported so that the first recording line of the previous ink image is positioned directly below the thermal head 1. Then, the platen roller 4 is brought into pressure contact state, and while the ink sheet 3 and the recording paper 2 are being conveyed, recording of the second color is performed.

Similarly, by repeating these steps as many times as the number of ink colors including yellow, magenta, cyan, or black added thereto, one color recording image is finally obtained.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above-mentioned conventional color thermal transfer recording device records monochromatic images overlappingly while reciprocating the recording paper, so the recording position of each ink shifts in the conveyance direction due to the conveyance accuracy of the recording paper, causing color misregistration and recording. It has the disadvantage of deteriorating the color reproducibility of images.

Furthermore, even if there is a line on both sides where no recording is performed with ink of a certain color, the ink sheet is fed idly by that line. Therefore, there is a drawback that waste occurs in the ink sheet and running costs are high.

Furthermore, a buffer memory for one page of the document corresponding to the ink color to be used is required, resulting in a disadvantage that the memory capacity becomes large.

[Means to solve the problem]

The color thermal transfer recording device of the present invention is arranged in close contact with the conveyance path of the recording paper, which is conveyed step by step by one line in the sub-scanning direction for each recording of one main-scanning line. A plurality of thermal heads each having a plurality of heat generating hypoantibodies arranged in a line, each applying ink of a different hue to one surface, one surface being in contact with the recording paper, and the other surface being in contact with each of the corresponding inks. a plurality of ink ribbons disposed in contact with a thermal head and selectively conveyed by one recording scan line length in the main scan line direction for each recording of the one main scan line; and the recording paper and each of the ink ribbons during recording. and a plurality of platen rollers disposed opposite to each of the thermal heads, which presses the thermal heads facing each other and releases the pressed state every time one main scanning line is recorded.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper 2 is arranged in close contact with the conveyance path of the recording paper 2, which is conveyed by one line step in the direction of the arrow A in the sub-scanning direction for each recording of one main-scanning line. There are four thermal heads la to 1d in which a plurality of low fever antibodies are arranged in a line parallel to the line, and each has a different hue of yellow Y, magenta M1 cyan C.
and black B ink is applied to one ink-applied surface, and the ink-applied surface is placed in close contact with the recording paper 2, and the opposite side is placed in close contact with the heat-generating low antibody rows of the corresponding thermal heads 1a to 1d. The yellow ink ribbon 3Y, the magenta ink ribbon 3M, the cyan ink ribbon 3C, and the black ink ribbon 3B, which are used for printing each scanning line, are transported one printing scanning line length in the main scanning line direction. Four platen rollers 4a to 4d facing the respective thermal heads press the thermal heads facing each other with the paper 2 and each ink ribbon in between, and release the suppressed state every time recording of one main scanning line is completed. include.

To perform recording, first a predetermined number of lines of image signals corresponding to each color are stored in a buffer memory. Then, after bringing each platen roller 4a to 4d into pressure contact state, the image signal of yellow Y corresponding to the first scanning line of the image signal is read out from the buffer memory, the thermal head 1a is driven, and the yellow Y color on the ink sheet 3Y is read out from the buffer memory. The ink is heated and melted and transferred onto the recording paper 2.

Next, the pressure contact state of each platen roller 4a to 4d is released again, the ink ribbon 3Y used for recording is conveyed by one recording scanning line length in the direction B of the arrow corresponding to the main scanning direction, and the recording paper 2 is conveyed by the recording scan line pitch in the sub-scanning direction of the arrow direction A. Subsequently, after bringing each of the platen rollers 4a to 4d into pressure contact, the image signal corresponding to the yellow ink of the second line of the image signal is read out from the buffer memory, and recording is performed in the same manner as described above. This process is repeated until the last line of the image signal corresponding to yellow ink.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the thermal head portion of FIG. 1.

Here, the recording scanning line pitch on the recording paper 2 is d, and the second
As shown in the figure, between the thermal heads 1a to ld, lb to
Assume that the distances between 10 and 1c and 1d are equal. At this time, it is assumed that n recording scanning lines (n is a positive integer) can be drawn between adjacent thermal heads.

In this case, the distance between adjacent thermal heads is J
=nd.

Next, FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining the recording operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, recording of yellow Y is started at time to, and recording of yellow ink is performed up to n ports counting from the first recording scanning line of the image, and the yellow ink recorded by the thermal head 1a is Time 1 when the first line of the corresponding recorded image comes directly under the thermal head 1b
．． At the same time as the thermal head 1a transfers the yellow ink to the (n+1)th line, the image signal corresponding to the magenta ink on the first line of the image is read from the buffer memory, and the thermal head 1b is driven to transfer the magenta ink ribbon 71M. The upper magenta M ink is heated and melted and transferred onto the recording paper 2. This process is repeated until the last line of the image signal corresponding to magenta ink.

Similarly, at time t2 when the first line of the recorded image using yellow and magenta inks comes directly under the thermal head 1c, an image signal corresponding to the cyan C ink of the first line of the image is recorded by the thermal head 1c. is repeated until the last line of the image signal corresponding to cyan ink.

At time t3 when the first line of the recorded image using yellow, magenta, and cyan ink comes directly under the thermal head 1d, an image signal corresponding to the black ink is recorded by the thermal head 1d.

The yellow ink ribbon 3Y, the magenta ink ribbon 3M, the cyan ink ribbon 3C, and the black ink ribbon 3B are each conveyed by one recording scan line length in the main scanning direction each time they record one line. However, for lines where no printing was performed, the ink ribbon corresponding to that color is not conveyed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention has independent thermal heads for each recording ink color, so there is no need to transport the recording paper back and forth, and there is no shift in the recording position for each ink due to transportation accuracy, so color misregistration does not occur. This has the effect of preventing this and improving the recorded image quality.

Furthermore, since the ink ribbon is not conveyed for lines where no printing is performed, it is possible to prevent waste from occurring in the ink ribbon and reduce running costs.

Furthermore, since it can be handled by storing image signals corresponding to each color for a plurality of lines, there is an effect that the memory capacity can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the thermal head section of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a time chart for explaining the recording operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side view of an example of a conventional color thermal transfer recording apparatus. 1, 1a to 1d...Thermal head, 2...Recording paper, 3...Ink sheet, 3Y...Yellow ink ribbon, 3M...Magenta ink ribbon, 3C...Cyan ink ribbon, 3B ...black ink ribbon,
4.4a to 4d... platen roller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The recording paper is arranged in close contact with the conveyance path of the recording paper, which is conveyed by one line step in the sub-scanning direction for each recording of one main-scanning line, and each of them has a plurality of heat-generating low antibodies arranged in a line parallel to the main-scanning line. Multiple thermal heads arranged,
For each recording of the one main scanning line, each of which is arranged such that ink of a different hue is applied to one side, one side is in contact with the recording paper, and the other side is in contact with the corresponding thermal head. Selectively 1 in the main scanning line direction
A plurality of ink ribbons conveyed by a recording scanning line length are pressed against the thermal head which faces the recording paper with each of the ink ribbons sandwiched therebetween during recording, and the pressing state is released every time the one main scanning line is recorded. A color thermal transfer recording apparatus comprising a plurality of platen rollers arranged opposite to each of the thermal heads.