JPH0234365A - Electrorecorder and recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a recording power supply compact and minimize damage upon an electrorecording sheet by providing a constitution in which the electrorecording sheet, recording paper or a recording head are heated to a specified temperature ahead of supplying power to a recording electrode needle. CONSTITUTION:The energy charged to a recording electrode needle 11 can be reduced by the amount of energy required for raising the temperatures of a resistor layer base 3 and an ink layer 4 of an ink transfer section from a normal temperature level to a level near a melting point, through the heating of an electrorecording sheet and the ink layer 4 to a level near an ink melting point before electroenergization. In addition, when the ink is melted by heating a resistor layer base 3 right under the recording electrode needle 11 by energization, the temperature difference between a section in contact with an area near a heat-generating section and the heat-generating section is small, and subsequently, the heat diffusion becomes insignificant. This leads to more efficient ink heating. As a result, the heating temperature of the resistor layer base 3 can be kept to a lower level than that when the base 1 is not preheated. Therefore, damage upon the electrorecording sheet 1 is insignificant and high- speed recording is ensured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a printing device used in printers, facsimile machines, etc., and more specifically, to a printing device that prints a desired image or character by energizing a resistor sheet and generating heat. The present invention relates to a current-carrying printing device that outputs output, and a printing head used therein.

Conventional technology In recent years, current-carrying recording devices include those that use a transfer-type recording sheet with a two-layer structure in which ink is applied to a resistor base, and those that use a conductive layer such as an aluminum layer between the resistor base and ink. A recording sheet using a transfer type recording sheet having a three-layer structure has been put into practical use.

An example of the conventional energization recording device mentioned above will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of the recording principle of a conventional current-carrying recording device.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 48 denotes a current-carrying recording sheet, which is composed of a resistive layer base 41 and an ink layer 42.

Reference numeral 45 indicates recording electrode needles, and a predetermined number of recording electrode needles are arranged at equal pitches. Reference numeral 51 denotes a recording control switch, and one switch is provided for each recording electrode needle 45.

The recording electrode needle 45 and the common electrode 46 are usually integrated to form a recording head 50. When a switch 51 connected to the recording electrode needle 45 to be recorded is turned on in a configuration of 0 or more, the recording electrode needle 45 A current flows from the resistor layer base 41 in the direction of the arrow to the common electrode 46, and the vicinity of the recording electrode needle 45 where the current concentrates generates heat to melt the ink layer 42, and the melted ink 42 is transferred to the recording paper 49. be done. By selectively repeating this operation 1111 times, a desired image is formed on the recording paper 49.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in such a configuration, especially in heating recording, the energized recording sheet 48, the recording paper 49, the recording electrode needle 45
Since the ink is not heated and is in a cold state, it is necessary to input a large amount of energy to heat the ink to a temperature that melts it. As a result, the power source for recording becomes large, which is uneconomical.

Furthermore, since it is necessary to significantly increase the temperature of the portion of the resistive layer base 41 that is energized, the resistive layer base 41 is easily damaged.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the recording energy input to the recording electrode needle 45 during recording, reduces the power supply load for recording, and provides a current-carrying recording device that is less likely to damage the resistive layer base 41, and a current-carrying recording device used therein. It provides a recording head.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the current-carrying recording device of the present invention is provided with a preheating means disposed in the recording head portion, the platen portion, or at a position in contact with the current-carrying recording sheet, so that the preheating means is not heated to the recording electrode needle. The apparatus is constructed so that the energized recording sheet, recording paper, recording head constituting the recording electrode needle array, etc. are heated to a predetermined temperature prior to energization.

In the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the current-carrying recording sheet and the ink layer are warmed to near the melting point of the ink before conducting current-carrying recording, so that the energy input to the recording electrode needle is applied to the resistive layer base and the ink layer where the ink is transferred. It is possible to increase the temperature by raising the temperature from room temperature to near the melting point.Also, when the resistance layer base directly under the recording electrode needle is heated to above the melting point of the ink by energization and the ink is melted, the temperature of the part in contact with the heat generating part is high. The temperature difference between the heat generating part and the heat generating part is small (,
Therefore, the diffusion of heat is reduced and the ink can be heated more efficiently. As a result, the heating temperature of the resistance layer base can be kept lower than in the case of not preheating, so damage to the energized recording sheet can be reduced, and higher speed recording can be achieved.

EXAMPLE A first example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Example 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a current-carrying recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the current-carrying recording head 10 in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrically conductive recording sheet, which is composed of a resistive layer base 3, a conductive layer 4 on which aluminum is vapor-deposited, and a heat-fusible ink layer 5. 1
0 is a current-carrying recording head, which includes a large number of recording electrode needles 11 for signal recording, an insulating holding material 12 for fixing and holding the needles at a predetermined pitch, and a current-carrying recording head 1o fixed to the holding material 12.
and a heater 15 for heating to a constant temperature. 16 is a flexible wiring film.

The heater 15 is a temperature-dependent semiconductor resistor with positive characteristics (for example, a ceramic ceramic manufactured by Matsushita Electric), and its resistance value increases rapidly when the temperature is close to the melting point of the ink, and automatically becomes approximately constant under a certain voltage. It is maintained at a temperature of The heater 15 is connected to the energized recording head 10 and the energized recording sheet 1.
The recording electrode needle 11 is attached forward in the moving direction when moving relative to the recording electrode needle 11. Reference numeral 18 denotes a return electrode which is brought into contact with the resistance layer base 3 with the energization recording sheet 1 sandwiched therebetween by rollers 19. 20 is a recording paper, and 22 is a platen that holds the recording paper 20.

During recording, a voltage is first applied to the heater 15 to heat the energized recording head IO to a predetermined temperature. In this state, the energized recording head 10 presses the energized recording sheet 1 against the platen 22 and starts moving in the direction of arrow P. A recording current corresponding to a predetermined image signal is input to the recording electrode needle 11 while moving. The input current is transferred to the recording electrode needle 1.
1 flows from the resistive layer base 3 in contact with the conductive layer 4 to the common electrode I8. The resistance layer base 3 directly under the recording electrode needle 11 through which the current flows immediately generates heat and melts the ink layer 5 in the vicinity, and the ink layer 5 is adhered and transferred to the recording paper 20.

At this time, since the energized recording head 10 is heated by the heater 15, the energized recording sheet 1 is heated by the recording electrode needle 1.
Before the temperature reaches just below 1, the current-carrying recording head 10 preheats the ink to a temperature close to its melting point. For this reason, the energy input to the recording electrode needle 11 can be reduced by the amount required to raise the resistance layer base 3 and the ink layer 4 from room temperature to near the melting point. In addition, when the resistance layer base 3 directly below the recording electrode needle 11 is heated to a temperature higher than the melting point of the ink by applying electricity to melt the ink, the temperature of the portions (particularly the electrode needles and the holding material portion) that are in contact with the vicinity of the heat generating portion is high. The temperature difference between the heat generating part and the heat generating part is small, so the diffusion of heat is reduced and the ink can be heated more efficiently. As a result, the recording power source can be downsized and economical.

Furthermore, since the peak temperature of the resistance layer 3 can be kept lower than when no preheating means is used, damage to the energized recording sheet 1 can be reduced and recording can be performed at a higher speed.

Further, since a semiconductor resistor with positive characteristics is used for the heater 15, a highly safe current-carrying recording head can be constructed with a simple structure. Furthermore, since the heater 15 is disposed in front of the recording head in the direction in which it travels, it is possible to efficiently preheat the energized recording sheet 1.

Although a semiconductor resistor is used for the heater 15 in this embodiment, a normal metal resistor and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature near this resistor are used to control the current-carrying recording head 1.
0 may be configured to be kept at a constant temperature.

Further, although the current-carrying recording sheet l includes a conductive layer 4, it is also possible to use a two-layer structure without the conductive layer 4.

Furthermore, the current-carrying recording head 10 may have a structure including a common electrode.

(Example 2) A second example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the energization recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 3, numeral 10 is a current-carrying recording head, which is composed of a recording electrode needle 11, a holding material 12, and a flexible wiring film 16, as in FIG. A preheating pad 30 is equipped with a heater 15 similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and is heated to a predetermined temperature.

The heating pad is provided close to the head, and is configured so that it can come into contact with the energized recording sheet 1 or be pulled away from the energized recording sheet 1, similar to the energized recording head 10.

In the recording operation, the energized recording head 10 and the preheating pad press the platen 22 with the energized recording sheet 1 in between, and sequentially continue recording while moving in the direction of arrow P.

Since the current-carrying recording sheet 1 is preheated to near the melting point temperature of the ink by the preheating pad 30 before coming directly under the recording electrode needles 11, the recording electrode needles 11
It is possible to reduce the energy input into

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the energization recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 4, the platen 22 is cylindrical in the air,
A heater 31 such as a halogen lamp is disposed in this,
The platen 22 is heated and kept warm by the heater 31. Since the recording paper 20 and the energized recording sheet 1 are preheated by the platen 22, the energy applied to the recording electrode needles 11 can be reduced during recording, as in the first and second embodiments.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention has the advantage of heating an energized recording sheet or recording paper to a temperature close to the melting point of the ink using an energized recording head, platen, preheating pad, etc. prior to recording with a recording electrode needle. Therefore, the energy input to the recording electrode needle can be reduced, and as a result, the recording power source can be downsized. Furthermore, since the heating peak temperature of the resistance layer can be kept low, damage to the current-carrying recording sheet is reduced, and high-speed recording becomes possible.

Furthermore, as shown in Example 1, by mounting a preheating heater on the current-carrying recording head, the current-carrying recording sheet can be preheated with a very simple configuration, and since the temperature of the current-carrying recording head itself is high, Thermal diffusion in the printing heating section can be reduced, resulting in good efficiency. Further, since a semiconductor resistor with positive characteristics is used for the heater, a highly safe current-carrying recording head can be constructed with a simple structure. Further, since the heater is disposed in front of the recording head in the direction in which it travels, it is possible to efficiently preheat the energized recording sheet.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a current-carrying recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an A-A diagram of the current-carrying recording head shown in FIG.
3 is a configuration diagram of an energization recording device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an energization recording device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional energization recording device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the recording principle of the recording device. 1... Energized recording sheet, 10... Energized recording head, 11... Recording electrode needle, 15...
...Heater 1 day...Common electrode, 20...
...Recording paper, 22...Platen, 30...
...Preheating pad. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano (1 person) Figure 1- Telephone record sheet 10-11th Ward Telegraph Division Head +1-1! Recording whetstone 72--I button material 18- $ fi electric whetstone 15- Sweater figure figure figure t5- Sensen paridohita figure figure 2222==kohe49

Claims (9)

[Claims] (1) An energized recording sheet comprising a heating resistor and an ink layer, an energized recording head having at least a pair of recording electrode needles in contact with the energized recording sheet, and energization for controlling the energization state of the recording electrode needles. An energization recording apparatus comprising a control means and a preheating means for preheating a recording medium or the energization recording sheet before conducting energization recording. (2) The current-carrying recording head is made up of a large number of recording electrode needles and a holding material that supports them, and a preheating means is provided on the holding material to heat the current-carrying recording head and thereby contact the current-carrying recording head. The energization recording device according to claim 1, wherein the energization recording sheet is configured to be heated. (3) The current-carrying recording device according to claim (2), wherein the preheating means is disposed on the recording head ahead of the recording electrode needle in the recording direction. (4) The current recording apparatus according to claim (1), further comprising a platen for holding a recording medium, and a preheating means provided on the platen to heat the platen. (5) The energizing recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preheating means is disposed in front of the energizing recording head, and the preheating means is configured to come into pressure contact with the recording medium with the energized recording sheet in between. (6) Claims (1), (2), and (3) in which the preheating means comprises a self-temperature-controlled temperature-dependent resistor having positive characteristics.
The energization recording device according to either (4) or (5). (7) A claim in which the preheating means includes a heater and a temperature detection means, and the energy input to the heater is controlled according to the temperature detected by the temperature detection means, so that the preheating means is controlled to a constant temperature. Item (1),
The energization recording device according to any one of (2), (3), (4), or (5). (8) The energizing recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the temperature of the energizing recording head is maintained within a range from the melting point temperature of the ink of the ink layer to 10 degrees C below the melting point temperature. (9) A large number of recording electrode needles and a holding material that supports them;
A recording head comprising a heating means disposed on the holding material and heating the holding material.