JPH0298449A - Recording head - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a sag at both ends of a recording head due to grinding from spreading to the row of electrodes and ensuring uniform printing by providing a dummy pattern formed of the material same as electrodes and in the same shape, on both ends of the row of electrodes. CONSTITUTION:The recording head of an energized transfer recording device has a recording head substrate 10 and the row of electrodes 12 consisting of needle-like recording electrodes 11, and a dummy pattern 13 (oblique-lined part) is provided on an area adjacent to both ends of the row of electrodes 12. The row of electrodes 12 abrades due to the sliding of the row on the resistance layer of recording film. Therefore, the recording electrode 11 is ground using a lapping sheet to ensure a satisfactory contact between the row of electrodes 12 and the recording film. Only the tip 14 of the dummy pattern 13 is extensively ground (shown by D), and the entire tip area of the recording electrode 11 is uniformly ground. Then no sag generates on the tips of both ends of the electrodes 12 in row. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the sag which generates on both ends at the tip of the recording head during grinding from spreading to the row of electrodes, and thus ensure uniform printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a recording head used in printers, facsimile receiving and recording apparatuses, and the like.

<Prior Art> Generally, in an electric transfer recording device, a plurality of needle-shaped recording electrodes are arranged in the recording head, and a recording paper and an electric transfer ribbon film are placed between the platen and the recording head. During recording, when the electrodes of the recording head are brought into contact with the energized transfer ribbon and energized, the electrical resistance layer of the energized transfer ribbon film is energized and the thermal transfer ink is transferred to the recording paper.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a recording head of a conventional electrical transfer recording apparatus.

In FIG. 3, l is a recording head in which a recording electrode 3 consisting of a plurality of electrode needles is arranged on the surface of an insulating head substrate 2;
4 is a recording film consisting of an ink layer, a conductive layer, and a resistive layer;
Reference numeral 5 denotes a recording paper, and 6 a platen.The recording head l is pressed against the recording film 4 and is energized while sliding, and the ink in the ink layer is melted by the heat generated by the resistive layer and transferred onto the recording paper 5.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, since the recording head l slides on the resistance layer of the recording film 4 and wears out, a wrapping sheet is used to obtain good contact between the recording head l and the recording film 4. The recording electrode 3 is polished using the following method. In addition, part of the resistive layer peels off due to friction or energization, and the scraps of the peeled resistive layer (hereinafter referred to as print scraps) adhere to the tip of the recording head l, and as the printing operation is repeated, the print scraps gradually accumulate. This may cause the print quality to deteriorate. In order to remove this, polishing is performed using a lapping sheet. During this polishing, since the lapping sheet is polished by reciprocating in the width directions A and B of the recording head, both ends of the tip of the recording head seal are polished more widely than the center, and the entire tip of the recording head 1 is polished. Uniform polishing is not performed over the entire area, and blurring occurs at both ends of the tip of the recording head 1. FIG. 4 shows this.

If printing is performed in this state, the electrode area of the recording electrodes 3 at both ends of the recording head 1 (indicated by C in the figure) is larger than that at the center, so the current flowing through the recording electrodes 3 will increase. However, a problem arises in that the print density at both ends of the tip of the recording head l is higher than at the center.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been devised to provide a recording head that prevents the blurring at both ends of the recording head tip that occurs during polishing from extending to the electrode array, thereby achieving uniform printing. The purpose is to provide the following.

Means for Solving the Problems The means for solving the problems according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. A dummy pattern 13 having the same shape and material as the electrode 11 is provided at both ends of the electrode row 12.

<Operation> In the above problem solving means, the recording head has the electrode array 1
2 is pressed against the recording film and energized while sliding, the ink in the ink layer is melted by the heat generated by the resistance layer and transferred to the recording paper.

In this way, the electrode array 12 slides on the resistance layer of the recording film and wears out, so in order to obtain good contact between the electrode array 12 and the recording film, the recording electrode 11 is polished using a lapping sheet. In addition, a part of the resistance layer peels off due to friction or energization, and the printed residue of the peeled resistance layer is transferred to the recording electrode 11.
As a result of repeated printing operations, printing residue gradually accumulates and causes deterioration of printing image quality. In order to remove this, polishing is performed using a lapping sheet.

During this polishing, dummy patterns 1 are placed on both ends of the electrode row 12.
3, only the tip of the dummy pattern 13 is widely polished and the recording electrode! The tip of the l can be polished uniformly over the entire surface. Therefore, no wobbling occurs at the tips at both ends of the electrode array 12.

<Example> An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is also a perspective view showing the tip of the recording head after polishing.

As shown in the figure, the recording head of the current transfer recording apparatus of the present invention includes a head substrate 10, and an electrode array 12 consisting of a plurality of needle-shaped recording electrodes 11 arranged on at least one surface of the head substrate 10, Dummy patterns 13 (hatched portions in the figure) formed from the same shape and material as the electrodes 11 are provided at locations adjacent to both ends of the electrode array 12.

The head substrate 10 is an insulating substrate such as a ceramic plate with a thickness of about 1 mm.

The recording electrode 11 is arranged on the surface of the head substrate IO and is composed of a plurality of electrode needles.

The recording head transfers the image onto the recording paper as follows.

The electrode array 12 is pressed against the recording film and energized while sliding, and the ink in the ink layer is melted by the heat generated by the resistance layer and transferred to the recording paper.

In this way, the electrode array 12 slides on the resistance layer of the recording film and wears out, so in order to obtain good contact between the electrode array 12 and the recording film, the recording electrode 11 is polished using a lapping sheet. In addition, a part of the resistance layer peels off due to friction or energization, and the printed residue of the peeled resistance layer is transferred to the recording electrode 11.
As a result of repeated printing operations, printing residue gradually accumulates and causes deterioration of printing image quality. In order to remove this, polishing is performed using a lapping sheet.

During this polishing, dummy patterns l are placed adjacent to both ends of the electrode row 12. 2, only the tip 14 of the dummy pattern 13 is widely polished (as shown in the figure), and the entire tip of the recording electrode 11 can be polished uniformly. Therefore, no wobbling occurs at the tips at both ends of the electrode array 12.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent blurring at both ends of the recording head tip that occurs during polishing from extending to the electrode array, and to achieve uniform printing.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications and changes can be made to the above-mentioned embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

For example, the dummy pattern 13 of the present invention may be provided on a recording head in which electrode arrays 12 are arranged on both sides of the head substrate IO.

Further, although the above embodiments have been described with respect to a moving recording head, the present invention can also be applied to a fixed recording head.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, in a recording head including a head substrate and an electrode array consisting of a plurality of recording electrodes arranged on at least one surface of the head substrate, Since dummy patterns formed from the same shape and material as the electrodes are provided at both ends of the electrode array, when polishing the recording electrodes, only the tips of the dummy patterns are widely polished, and the tips of the recording electrodes are polished. Can be polished uniformly over the entire surface.

Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the blurring at both ends of the recording head tip that occurs during polishing is prevented from extending to the electrode array, and uniform printing can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording head according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing the tip of the recording head after polishing, FIG. 3 is a side view showing the printing state of a conventional recording head, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tip of the recording head after polishing. . 10: head substrate, ll: recording electrode, 12: electrode array, 1
3: dummy pattern, 14: tip. C Figure 4 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] A head substrate and an electrode array including a plurality of recording electrodes arranged on at least one surface of the head substrate, and dummy patterns formed of the same shape and material as the electrodes are provided at both ends of the electrode array. A recording head characterized by: