JPH02261674A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the replacing a transfer material by providing a support cabinet to support the transfer material in easily detachable manner and also a support device to support the cabinet so that it is introduced into and taken out of a main device system. CONSTITUTION:An ink ribbon 14 is supported by a support cabinet 41. The support cabinet 41 consists of the first and second storage sections 42, 43, and an ink ribbon 14 feed shaft 17 is placed in the first storage section 42, and a winding shaft 18 is placed in the second storage section 43. A slide rail (support device) 44 with a cross-section is provided on both ends of the support cabinet 41. These slide rails 44, 44 are fitted in guide rails (support device) 45, 45 arranged in the main device system 1 in freely slidable way. Furthermore, a cover 46 is provided on the front end of the support cabinet 41. This cover 46 becomes part of the front of the main system 1 when the support cabinet 41 is introduced into the main system 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is applied, for example, as a thermal transfer printer or copying machine that records images using an ink ribbon.

(Prior Art) A thermal transfer printer or a cooling machine is equipped with a platen drum within its main body, and during printing, paper is wrapped around the platen drum and conveyed, and a thermal head is pressed against the paper via an ink ribbon. By making this thermal head generate heat according to image information, ink from the ink ribbon is transferred to paper to print an image.

By the way, the ink ribbon is a consumable item and needs to be replaced periodically.

The method of replacing the ink ribbon mentioned above is to open the main body of the device and remove the ink ribbon alone or the ink ribbon cartridge, or to open a part of the exterior cover of the main body of the device and insert the ink ribbon cartridge. and so on.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the former case, the main body of the apparatus must be opened every time the ink ribbon is replaced, which makes the operation complicated and time-consuming, and there are many erroneous operations.

Furthermore, in the latter case, the cartridge must be inserted into the device with care, which poses a problem in operability.

In particular, recently the types of ink ribbons (color, size, etc.)
As the number of parts increases and replacement becomes more frequent, there is a problem of not being able to keep up with it.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus in which the transfer material can be easily replaced.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a recording head in the main body of the apparatus, and the recording head transfers the colorant of the transfer material to the transfer material. In an image forming apparatus that records an image, a holding housing that holds the transfer material in the above-mentioned position;
The present invention is characterized by comprising support means for supporting the holding casing so that it can move in and out of the apparatus main body.

(Function) When replacing the transfer material, pull out the transfer material holding casing from the main body of the device, remove the transfer material from the holding casing, set the new transfer material inside the holding casing, and replace the holding casing. The transfer material is replaced by inserting it into the main body of the device.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to an example shown in the drawings.

2 and 3 show a thermal transfer type 111 copying machine, in which a platen drum 2 is provided approximately at the center of the main body 1 so as to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions. A thermal head 1 as a thermal transfer type recording section is installed on the lower side of the platen drum 2.
3 is provided so as to be able to move toward and away from the platen drum 2.

An ink ribbon 14 is interposed between the bipedal platen drum 2 and the thermal head 13.
The middle portion thereof is guided by a guide roller 15°15, and both ends thereof are wound around a supply shaft 17 and a take-up shaft 18.

Further, a press roller 3 for pressing the paper P against the platen drum 2 is pressed into contact with the periphery of the platen drum 2.

Further, a document placement table 4 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a document cover 5 is provided on the top of the document placement table 4, which can be opened or closed. Further, an exposure system 6 is provided at the lower side of the document mounting table 4. This exposure system 6 includes an exposure lamp 7, first to third reflection mirrors 8, 9, 10,
It is composed of a lens 11 and a fourth reflecting mirror 21. The two-legged exposure lamp 7 and the first reflective mirror 8 are mounted on a first carriage (not shown), and the second and third reflective mirrors 9 and 10 are mounted on the second carriage. The first carriage is moved along the document table 4, and the second carriage is also moved along the document table 4.
The carriage is moved at 1/2 the speed in the same direction as the carriage.

Further, a reading element (CCD) 22 is provided on the optical path reflected by the fourth reflecting mirror 21, and a signal processing section 23 is connected to this reading element 22.

On the other hand, a paper feed cassette 12 is located at the bottom of one side of the apparatus main body 1.
is provided. Paper P in the paper feed cassette 12
. This sent out paper P is sent to registration rollers 27 via a guide 26. A guide 32 is provided between the registration roller 27 and the platen drum 2.
is provided. Further, the bipedal platen drum 2 is provided with a drum clipper (not shown) for gripping and releasing the leading end of the paper P.

Further, a paper discharge tray 33 is provided at the lower part of the other side of the apparatus main body 1, and this paper discharge tray 33 is connected to the platen drum 2 via a paper discharge path 36. The paper discharge path 36
is composed of a guide 29, a feed roller 30, a guide 31, and a paper discharge roller 37. 35 is a cooling fan provided above the paper discharge tray 33. As shown in FIG.

By the way, the ink ribbon 14 is kept in a holding housing 41 as shown in FIG. i have been This holding housing 41 is formed by first and second storage parts 42 and 43, and stores the supply shaft 17 for the ink ribbon 14 in the first storage part 42, and the second storage part 43. The winding shaft 18 is housed inside. The ink ribbon 14 is stored singly as shown in FIG. 5, or set and stored in a cartridge 47 as shown in FIG.

The holding casing 41 has an entrance/exit/E in the device main body 1.
It is set in.

That is, slide rails (supporting means) 44 each having a U-shaped cross section are provided on both sides of the holding casing 41, and these slide rails 44 and 44 are connected to guide rails (supporting means) disposed inside the main body 1 of the apparatus. ) 45.45 is slidably fitted and supported. Further, the holding housing 4
1 is provided with a cover 46 at the front end thereof, and this cover 46
When the holding housing 41 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1, it constitutes a part of the front surface of the apparatus main body 1.

Note that FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a thermal transfer type copying machine.

This thermal transfer copying machine includes an overall control section 51 and a scanner section 52.
, a color conversion section 53, a memory section 54, and a printer section 55.

The values of each color component such as green G1 yellow Y1 cyan C detected by the scanner unit 52 are converted to the color of the printing medium by the color conversion unit 53, magenta, 1 yellow, Y, etc.
The color is converted to 1 cyan C, and this color converted value is stored in the memory section 54 together with position information on the document for each color.

In the printer section 55, based on the values read from the memory section 54, magenta interval 1 yellow Y1 cyan C1 black B [black is magenta, yellow, cyan AND output] The output medium is thermally transferred onto the paper P.

The overall control section 51 controls the scanner section 52, color conversion section 53, memory section 54, and printer section 55 as a whole.

When printing an image, the original is first set on the original placing table 4, and a copy button (not shown) is turned on. As a result, the exposure lamp 9 is turned on and scanned, the original is irradiated with light, and the light reflected via this original is the first one.
, second and third reflective mirrors 8, 9.10, lens 1
1. Furthermore, the CCD 22 via the fourth reflection mirror 21
The image signal is read by the signal processing section 23.

On the other hand, at this time, the paper P in the paper feed cassette 12 is taken out by the rotation of the take-out roller 24, the double-sheet prevention roller 25 prevents taking of two sheets, and the sheets are sent one by one along the guide 26 to the registration roller 27. . The month/date type P is aligned by the registration roller 27, and is sent to the drum clipper by rotating the registration roller 27. The drum clipper grips the leading edge of the paper P, and the platen drum 2 is rotated in the C direction to be sent to the printing leading edge position. Also, at this time, the ink ribbon 14 is sent to the printing tip position.

Thereafter, the thermal head 13 is pressed against the paper P via the ink ribbon 14, and the platen drum 2
is rotated in the C direction and printing is started. After multiple printings are completed, the thermal head 13 is separated and the platen drum 2 is rotated in the C direction until it is located at the rear end of the paper P or the guide 29, and then the platen drum 2 is rotated in the C' force direction. Rotate. As a result, the paper P is ejected from the feed roller 30 via the guide 29 to the ejection tray 33 via the guide 31 and ejection roller 32.

By the way, the ink ribbon 15 is a consumable item and needs to be replaced when it is used up.

Next, a case where this ink ribbon 14 is replaced will be explained.

First, place your hand on the lower part of the cover 46 of the holding casing 41 and pull it toward you.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the holding casing 41 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 1 along the guide rails 45, 45. After that, the ink ribbon 1 inside the holding housing 41 is
4 from the holding housing 41. Next, a new ink ribbon 14 is stored in the holding housing 41. After that, the holding housing 41 is pushed in and inserted into the device main body 1,
The replacement of the ink ribbon 14 is completed.

As described above, the holding casing 41 is provided in the apparatus main body 1 so as to be freely removable, and the ink ribbon 14 is placed inside the holding casing 41.
Therefore, the used ink ribbon 14 can be taken out outside the apparatus main body 1, and a new ink ribbon can be stored in the holding housing 41.
It can be set automatically just by inserting it into the device main body 1.
Ink ribbon replacement work becomes extremely easy.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained below, according to the present invention, T, 'j
A Jll housing is installed in the main body of the device so that it can be moved in and out.
j Since the ink ribbon is stored inside the JN housing, used ink ribbons can be taken out outside the device, and new ink ribbons can be stored. f The ink ribbon can be automatically set simply by storing it in the housing and inserting the holding housing into the main body of the apparatus, which has the effect that replacing the ink ribbon is extremely easy.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon holding casing pulled out, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing the ink ribbon holding casing inserted, FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view showing a thermal transfer copying machine, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the holding casing, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the case of installing an ink ribbon alone, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the case of installing an ink ribbon cartridge, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a thermal transfer type L (photographer). ... Paper (limb transfer material), 13 ... Thermal head (recording head), 14 ... Ink ribbon (transfer material) 4
1... Holding housing, 44... Slide rail (support stage), 45... Guide rail (support stage). Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image forming apparatus that includes a recording head in an apparatus main body and records an image by transferring a colorant of a transfer material to a transferred material using the recording head, the holding casing that removably holds the transfer material; An image forming apparatus comprising: support means for supporting a holding casing so as to be movable in and out of the apparatus main body.