JPH02204059A - Thermal transfer system color image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a color image containing a half tone to be recorded even though either ink sheet is set by a method wherein when classification of an ink sheet (sublimate/fusible) is judged, an image data is outputted to a gradation conversion part or a binary conversion part by a change-over means. CONSTITUTION:In the case where an ink sheet cassette 12 containing a fusible ink sheet 7 is set to an image recorder proper 15, an ink sheet discriminating sensor part 2a detects a mark 7a of the sheet 7. A change-over switch 6 is changed over to a binary conversion part 5 side, and an image data is outputted from an image data read part 1 to the binary conversion part 5. Then, a binary data is outputted to a thermal head 16, and area pseudo-gradation recording by the fusible ink sheet 7 is performed. Besides, in the case where the ink cassette 12 containing a sublimate ink sheet 8 is set to the proper body 15, the sensor 2a detects a mark 8a of the sheet 8, and the change-over switch 6 is changed over to a gradation conversion part 4. The image data is outputted from the read part 1 to the gradation conversion part 4, and density gradation recording by the sublimate ink sheet 8 is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Fields] This invention is applied to printers, facsimile machines, color copying machines, etc., and is a thermal transfer type that records color images by thermally transferring ink from an ink sheet to paper using a thermal head. The present invention relates to a color image recording device.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an ink application section pattern of a thermal transfer ink sheet used in a conventional thermal transfer recording device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-179975.
In this FIG. 5, 10 is an ink sheet, lly, l
1m and llc are yellow magenta and cyan sublimable ink surfaces applied on the ink sheet 10, and 12 is a black meltable ink surface.
Ink surface of each color 11 y e 11 m + 11
c and l2 are formed sequentially. 13y, 13
rn, 13c.

13b is a color discrimination mark for distinguishing each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) by the number of pieces.

Reference numerals 14a and 14b are ink discrimination marks for determining whether the ink is a sublimable ink or a meltable ink based on length.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control circuit in a conventional thermal transfer recording device. In FIG. 6, 16 is a thermal head, 17 is printing paper, and L8 and 1.9 are color discrimination marks 13y. .

13rn, 13c, ], 3b and ink discrimination mark 1
4a and 14b; 20 is a color conversion section that separates and converts the image input into three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan; 21 is a memory that stores the image data and character/line data converted by the color conversion section 2o; , 22 is an image data reading unit that reads image data from the memory 21, 23 is a gradation conversion unit, 24 is a heat exchange unit, and 25 is a character/data reading unit that reads image data from the memory 21.
A character/line data reading section 26 reads out line data, and 26 is a line feed mechanism that feeds the sheet [7].

Furthermore, FIG. 7 is a graph showing the thermal characteristics of meltable ink and sublimable ink, and FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the relationship between character/line output, the energization time of the thermal head, and the paper line feed time.

By the way, since the thermal characteristics of meltable ink and sublimable ink are different, it is necessary to vary the energization time of the thermal head 16 shown in FIG. 6 as shown in FIG. 71. For example, in the case of meltable ink, 5 m5 ec, and in the case of sublimation ink, there is a variable range of 5 to 20 m5 ec. Furthermore, the line feed times of the sheets 17 must also be made different as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the color discrimination mark 13 on the ink sheet 10
y, 13rr+, 1.3c, 13b and ink discrimination marks 14a, 14b are detected by sensors 18 and 19, respectively.

In the case of image input, the color converter 20 separates the image into three colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan, and stores it in the memory.
1 is stored. The image data stored in the memory 21 is read out by the 1-image data reading section 22 and inputted to the thermal conversion section 24 via the N-tone conversion section 23, where high tone image transfer including halftones using sublimation ink is performed. It will be done. Further, one character/line data is read out by the character/line data reading section 25 and inputted as is to the thermal conversion section 24.

Clear text and line drawings are transferred using fusible ink.

The line feed mechanism 26 for feeding the paper 17 is controlled differently as shown in FIG. 8 depending on the two-image data and the character/line data.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional thermal transfer type color image recording device is configured as described above, it is possible to perform halftone recording using a sublimable ink sheet. It was not possible to perform halftone recording, and the meltable ink sheet could only be used for transferring characters and line drawings.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to record color images including halftones with a single machine, regardless of whether a sublimation ink sheet or a melting ink sheet is set. The object of the present invention is to obtain a thermal transfer type color image recording device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A thermal transfer type color image recording device according to the present invention includes a discriminating means for discriminating whether a set ink sheet is a sublimation ink sheet or a melting ink sheet, and a gradation method for determining five image data. a gradation conversion section that converts the data into data and outputs it to the thermal head; a binary conversion section that converts one image data into binary data based on area pseudo gradation and outputs it to the thermal head; switching means for outputting the image data to the gradation converting section when it is determined to be an ink sheet, and outputting the image data to the binary converting section when it is determined by the discriminating means to be a fusible ink sheet; It is equipped with the following.

[Function] In the thermal transfer type color image recording device of the present invention, depending on the type of ink sheet set.

Density gradation recording using a sublimable ink sheet and area pseudo gradation recording using a meltable ink sheet are automatically switched and performed. In other words, the type of ink sheet (sublimable/meltable) is determined by the first determining means, and one image data is outputted to the gradation converter by the switching means in the case of the sublimable ink sheet, while the one image data is output to the gradation converter in the case of the sublimable ink sheet. 2 if
The signal is output to a value converter, and a color image is recorded by a thermal head.

[Embodiments of the invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams showing a meltable ink sheet and a sublimable ink sheet, respectively.
In figures (a) and (b), 7 is a meltable ink sheet;
7a is a mark 28 for distinguishing a meltable ink sheet attached to the ink surface of this meltable ink sheet 7 is a sublimable ink sheet, and 8a is a mark 28 for distinguishing a sublimable ink sheet attached to the ink surface of this sublimable ink sheet 8. Mark-9ye Ql
'n, 9e is yellow in each ink sheet 7.8,
Magenta.

9°, which is the leading mark attached to the ink surface of each color of cyan;
In a, the set ink sheet is meltable ink sheet 7.
an ink sheet discrimination sensor section (discrimination means) for discriminating whether the ink sheet is a sublimable ink sheet or a sublimation ink sheet 8 based on the marks 7a and 8a;
4 is a paper feeding mechanism for recording paper that performs variable speed control based on information detected by the sensor unit 2a; 4 is a gradation conversion unit that converts image data into gradation data and outputs it to the thermal head 16; 5; 6 is a binary conversion unit that converts image data into binary data based on area pseudo gradation and outputs it to the thermal head 16, and is composed of, for example, a dither circuit, and 6 is a changeover switch (switching means); This changeover switch 6 outputs the image data to the gradation converting section 4 when the sensor section 2a determines that the sheet is a sublimable ink sheet 8, and outputs the image data to the gradation converting section 4 when the sensor section 2a determines that the sheet is a sublimable ink sheet 8. is output to the binary conversion section 5.

Further, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the specific structure of the apparatus of this embodiment, and in this FIG. 2, 2b detects the beginning of each color of each ink sheet 7.8 based on marks 9y+9m, 9c. 12 is an ink sheet cassette containing the meltable ink sheet 7 or R collapsible ink sheet 1-8, and 15 is the main body of the thermal transfer type color image recording apparatus.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained.

When the ink sheet cassette 12 containing the fusible ink sheet 7 is set in the thermal transfer color image recording apparatus main body 15, the ink sheet discrimination sensor section 2a detects the mark 7a on the fusible ink sheet 7 and detects the mark 7a. From this, it is determined that the set ink sheet is the meltable ink sheet 7. When it is determined that the image is meltable in this manner, the changeover switch 6 is switched to the binary conversion section S side, and the image data from the 1-image data reading section 1 is output to the binary conversion section 5. In the binary converter 5, a 6-dither matrix converts a predetermined image signal into a binary code using a threshold value given by a dither matrix, etc., which converts the image signal into a binary code using a threshold value in the matrix, and converts the image signal into a binary code using a threshold value in the matrix. This is to express halftones in a pseudo manner by changing the area ratio of .

Then, the binary data is output to the thermal head 16, and area pseudo-gradation recording is performed using the fusible ink sheet 7.

On the other hand, when the ink sheet cassette 12 containing the sublimable ink sheet 8 is set in the thermal transfer color image recording apparatus main body 15, the ink sheet discrimination sensor section 2a
The mark 8a on the sublimable ink sheet 8 is detected, and it is determined from this mark 8a that the set ink sheet is the sublimable ink sheet 8. When it is determined that it is fusible, the changeover switch 6 is switched to the gradation converter 4 side, and the image data from the image data reading unit 1 is output to the gradation converter 4 and converted into gradation data, and then This gradation data is output to the thermal head 16, and density gradation recording is performed using the sublimable ink sheet 8.

Further, the paper feed control unit 3 selects the paper feed speed from two high and low modes depending on whether the fusible ink sheet 7 is set or the sublimation ink sheet 8 is set. .

In the case of meltable ink, sufficient recording density can be obtained with less energy than with sublimable ink.

As shown in Figure 7, the sublimable ink starts to sublimate, and 1
The meltable ink can obtain a recording density of 1.3 (ODI) with enough energy to obtain the density of the gradation opening. Therefore, the sensor unit 2a indicates that the meltable ink sheet 7 is set as an ink sheet. When detected, the paper feed control unit 3 switches to high speed mode.This is because, as shown in Figure 4, in the case of fusible ink, the energization time is short and the paper feed speed for one line can be increased. Yes, in the case of fiducial ink, it takes a long time to apply electricity to obtain sufficient recording density, and as shown in Figure 4, it takes a longer line feed time than in the case of recording with fusible ink. When it is detected that the sublimable ink sheet 8 is set, the one-sheet feed control section 3 switches to the low speed mode.

As described above, according to the apparatus of this embodiment, density gradation recording using a sublimable ink sheet and area pseudo gradation recording using a fusible ink sheet are automatically switched depending on the type of ink sheet set. Therefore, by selectively using the meltable ink sheet 7 and the sublimable ink sheet 8 with one recording device, a color image including halftones can be recorded using either ink sheet. , two types of ink sheets can be used depending on the purpose and cost.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the type of ink sheet (sublimable/meltable) is determined by one determining means, and density gradation recording and recording using the sublimable ink sheet are performed according to the determined type. Since the configuration is configured to automatically switch between area pseudo gradation recording using a fusible ink sheet, a single recording device can selectively use the fusible ink sheet and the sublimation ink sheet, Color images including halftones can also be recorded using ink sheets, and two types of ink sheets can be used depending on the purpose and cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a thermal transfer color image recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the specific structure of the device of this embodiment, and FIGS. 3(a) and (b) Figure 4 is a timing chart showing the relationship between thermal head energization time and paper line feed time when melting ink and sublimation ink are used, respectively. 6 is a block diagram showing the control circuit in the conventional thermal transfer recording device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the ink application section pattern of a thermal transfer ink sheet used in a conventional thermal transfer recording device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control circuit in the conventional thermal transfer recording device. A graph showing the thermal properties of
FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the relationship between character/line output, thermal head energization time, and paper line feed time. In the figure, 2a - ink sheet discrimination sensor section (discrimination means), 4 - gradation conversion section, 5 - binary conversion section. 6... Selector switch (switching means), 7-- Melting ink sheet, 8... Sublimation ink sheet, 16 ・-=
thermal head. In addition, in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a thermal transfer color image recording device that thermally transfers ink from an ink sheet onto paper using a thermal head, there is a discriminating means for determining whether the set ink sheet is a sublimation ink sheet or a melting ink sheet, and image data is converted into gradation data. a gradation conversion unit that converts image data into binary data based on area pseudo gradation and outputs it to the thermal head, and a binary conversion unit that converts image data into binary data based on area pseudo gradation and outputs it to the thermal head, If the ink sheet is determined to be a sublimable ink sheet by the determining means, the image data is output to the gradation converter, while if the sheet is determined to be a fusible ink sheet by the determining means, the image data is output to the binary converter. A thermal transfer color image recording device characterized in that it is equipped with a switching means for switching.