JPH03197156A - Color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce in size a printer without color deviation by providing a thermal head for guiding a recording sheet, a pinch roller and a capstan roller for conveying the sheet, and a sheet discharge guide for guiding the sheet to a discharged sheet case. CONSTITUTION:A thermal head 32 is so driven as to become a state inclined at a predetermined angle to the advancing direction of a recording sheet 21 at the time of supplying the sheet to perform a function as guide means for guiding upward the sheet 21. A pinch roller 37 is fluctuated at a supporting shaft 38 as a center to be sufficiently separated from a capstan roller 36, thereby passing the sheet 21 between it and the roller 36. The roller 37 is fluctuated, when conveying the sheet 21, at the shaft 38 as a center to be moved toward the rotational shaft of the roller 36, thereby pressing the sheet 21 to the roller 36. Sheet discharge guides 40, 41 are arranged above the rollers 37, 36, the printed sheet 21 is guided by the guides 40, 41 to be fed into a discharged sheet case 23.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a high-definition color printing device for making hard copies of television images and the like.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, images from personal computers, camera-integrated video tape recorders, electronic still cameras, and the like have been soft-copied using display devices capable of high-resolution display. Recently, color printing devices that can display high-definition images in full color have been developed as devices for hard copying images from these information sources.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing such a conventional color print Hm described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-52060. This device uses recording paper cut to a predetermined length.

The platen roller 1 is provided with a holder 3 which is biased in the axial direction of the platen roller 51 and holds the leading end of the recording paper 2. The recording paper 2 is held in pressure contact with the platen roller 1 by the holder 3 and wound. On the other hand, on the ink sheet 4, for example, yellow, cyan, and magenta inks are applied cyclically in a predetermined order, and during recording, the ink sheet 4 and the recording paper 2 are transferred to a platen by a thermal head 5. It is pressed against the roller 1. and,
As the platen roller 1 rotates in six directions, a heating element (not shown) of the thermal head 5 generates heat in response to the video signal. Due to this heat, the ink applied to the ink sheet 4 is radiated and transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 2.

In this way, when the recording of the first color (for example, cyan) is completed, the thermal head 5 separates from the platen roller 1, and the platen roller 1 rotates in six directions to print on the recording paper.
is conveyed to the same position as the recording start position of the first color. Further, the ink sheet 4 is wound up in the B direction until the second color (for example, yellow) comes to the recording start position. The thermal head 5 presses the ink sheet 4 and the recording paper 2 against the platen roller 1 again, and performs transfer recording of the second color based on the video signal. In the same manner, transfer recording of the third color (magenta) is also performed.

When the recording is completed, the thermal head 5 separates from the platen roller 1, and the platen roller 1 rotates in six directions.

When the rear end of the recording paper 2 reaches the position where it is pressed by the pressure roller 6, the platen row 51 rotates in the C direction, and the recording paper 2
The rear end is guided between recording paper guide members 7,8. Then, the recording paper 2 is released from the holder 3 and ejected.

In this way, each color is transferred sequentially, and there is a risk that color misregistration may occur. For this reason, in FIG.
is provided to reliably press the recording paper 2 near the thermal head 5 against the platen roller 1 to prevent color misregistration. However, since the recording paper 2 is entirely wound around the platen roller 1, a platen roller whose circumference is longer than the length of the recording paper is required. Therefore, in order to be able to use large-sized recording paper, the platen roller also needs to be made large, which poses a problem of increasing the size of the apparatus.

Further, a conventional color printing apparatus shown in FIG. 9 may be employed.

Recording paper 10 is stored in a paper cassette 11. The recording paper 10 is pulled out from the paper cassette 11 by a paper feed belt 12, is conveyed by a capstan 13 and a pinch roller 14, and is mounted in the gap between a platen roller 15 and a normal head 16. An ink sheet 11 is also mounted in the gap between the platen roller 15 and the thermal head 16, and the thermal head 16 presses the ink sheet 17 and the recording paper 10 against the platen roller 15 during recording. As in the example of FIG. 8, transfer is performed for each color. Conveyance of the recording paper 10 is controlled by a capstan 13 to prevent color misregistration.

In this way, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the occurrence of color misregistration is prevented without winding the recording paper 10 around the platen roller 15. However, since the recording paper 10 is designed to advance in a substantially horizontal direction, the total length of the apparatus needs to be approximately twice the size of the recording paper. For example, in order to be able to use A41+ size recording paper (1297 mm), the total length of the apparatus must be at least 594 mrn.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In this way, the conventional color printing system C shown in FIG.
In order to prevent color misregistration, all of the recording paper is wrapped around the platen roller, and in order to increase the size of recording paper that can be used, the platen roller must be made larger, which increases the size of the device. In addition, in the conventional example shown in Figure 9, the recording paper is advanced horizontally and conveyance is controlled by the capstan, so the entire length of the device is longer than the recording paper. There was a problem in that the size was more than twice as large, making the device larger.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and includes:
An object of the present invention is to provide a color printing device that can be miniaturized without causing color misregistration.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A color printing device according to the present invention includes a paper feed case for feeding stored recording paper, and a paper feed case disposed above the paper feed case for recording. A paper ejection case for storing finished recording paper,
A paper feed guide that guides the recording paper fed from the paper feed case upward; a platen roller disposed above the paper feed guide; a thermal head that guides the paper; a pinch roller and a capstan roller that are disposed above the platen roller and that transport the recording paper in forward and reverse directions;
A paper ejection guide is provided above the pinch roller and the capstan roller to guide the recording paper conveyed upward toward the paper ejection case.

(Function) In the present invention, the recording paper changes its direction upward by the paper feed guide and advances, and is further guided by the thermal head. Then, the recording paper on which recording has been completed is guided by a paper discharge guide and sent to a paper discharge case disposed above the paper feed case.

The paper feed case and paper ejection case can be arranged vertically, and V
The total length of te is shortened. Furthermore, the pinch roller and the capstan roller are disposed above the platen roller to prevent the recording paper from sagging due to its own weight, thereby preventing color misregistration. Since there is no need to wrap the recording paper around the platen roller, the platen roller can be made smaller and the apparatus can be made more compact.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a color printing apparatus according to the present invention.

A paper feed case 22 that can accommodate a plurality of recording papers 21 is disposed on the lower side of one side of the housing 20 . A paper discharge case 23 is provided above the paper feed case 22 to which the recording paper 21 after printing is sent. Further, a recording section 24 is provided on the other side of the housing 20.
is transferred and recorded onto the recording paper 21 fed from the paper feed case 21.

The recording paper 21 is pulled out from the paper feed case 22 by the paper feed row 525. That is, an opening 26 is formed in the upper part of the paper feed case 22 on the side of the recording section 24, and a paper feed roller 25 is disposed opposite to the opening 26. The recording paper 21 is
A lever (not shown) lifts it toward the opening 26 and presses it against the paper feed roller 25 .

When the paper feed roller 25 is rotated by a DC motor (not shown) or the like, the recording paper 21 in contact with the paper feed roller 25 is fed to the recording section 24 through the opening 26 .

Recording paper 21 fed from paper feed case 22 is applied between intermediate roller 27 and sub roller 28 . The intermediate roller 27 is driven by a DC motor (not shown) or the like, and conveys the recording paper 21 to the platen roller 31 side via paper feed guides 29 and 30. The paper feed guides 29.30 are made of sheet metal, resin, or the like, and the recording paper 21 conveyed substantially horizontally from the paper feed case 22 is turned diagonally upward by the paper feed guides 29.30. The platen roller 31 has a cylindrical shape whose outer periphery is made of an elastic material, and is rotatable about the support shaft 19 . The platen roller 31 is provided with a bearing such as a ball bearing, so that even if the recording paper 21 comes into sliding contact with the platen roller 31, it will not cause a load on the conveyance of the recording paper 21.

A thermal head 32 is disposed at a position facing this platen roller 31, and the thermal head 32 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) centered around a pivot 33 provided below the platen roller 31 at the bottom of the housing 20. It is driven by and oscillates. An ink sheet 34 is disposed between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 31. The ink sheet 34 is stored in two reels of an ink cassette 35, and the exposed portion between the two reels is pressed against the platen roller 31 by movement of the thermal head 32. As the thermal head 32, a line-type thermal head in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper 21 is adopted. Further, when feeding the recording paper, the thermal head 32 is driven by a drive mechanism so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the traveling direction of the recording paper 21, and functions as a guide means for guiding the recording paper 21 upward. It has become. Several colors of ink, such as yellow, magenta, and cyan, are sequentially and cyclically applied to the ink sheet 34 in the direction in which the ink sheet 34 travels.

Above the platen roller 31 is a capstan roller 36.
is rotatably arranged. capstan roller 36
is driven by a pulse motor (not shown) or the like and rotates at a constant pitch. For example, set the image density to 6dot/1m
When set to , the circumferential surface of the capstan roller 36 is rotated at 0.167 in+/dat. The capstan roller 36 has a relatively rough surface to increase the friction between the recording surface and the back surface of the recording paper 21, thereby preventing the recording paper 21 from shifting and causing color misregistration. Preventing.

A pinch roller 37 is disposed at a position facing the capstan roller 36 so as to be swingable about a support shaft 38 . The pinch roller 31 has a cylindrical shape whose outer periphery is made of an elastic material, and is rotatable about a shaft 39.

The pinch roller 37 is provided with a bearing such as a ball bearing, and even when the recording paper 21 comes into sliding contact with the recording paper 21, the pinch roller 37 is provided with a bearing such as a ball bearing.
It is designed so that it does not become a burden on the transportation of item 1. When feeding the recording paper 21, the pinch roller 37 swings around the support shaft 38 by a drive mechanism (not shown), is sufficiently separated from the capstan roller 36, and is conveyed upward by the paper feed guide 29 and the thermal head 32. The recorded paper 21 is passed between the capstan roller 36 and the capstan roller 36. In addition, when conveying the recording paper 21, the pinch roller 37 swings around the support shaft 38 and moves in the direction of the rotation axis of the capstan roller 36, thereby moving the recording paper 21 between the capstan roller 36 and the pinch roller 37. It is designed to be crimped. Platen roller 31
Above the capstan roller 36 and pinch row 537
is arranged to prevent the recording paper 21 from sagging due to its own weight, thereby preventing color shift.

Paper ejection guides 40 and 41 that guide the recording paper 21 toward the paper ejection case 23 are provided above the pinch roller 31 and the capstan roller 36 . Paper ejection guide 4
0 faces diagonally upward toward the paper ejection case 23 in the vicinity of the pinch roller 37, and is curved at the top of the housing 20 to be approximately horizontal. On the other hand, the paper ejection guide 41 has an arc shape above the capstan roller 36 and is parallel to the guide 40 at the upper part of the housing 20 . The recording paper 21 that has been printed is placed in these paper ejection guides 40.4.
1 and fed into the paper ejection case 23.

A recording paper detection element 45 is provided above the pinch roller 37 and the capstan roller 36 to detect whether the leading edge of the recording paper 21 has been conveyed (not shown in FIG. 1). The recording paper detection element 45 detects that the recording paper has reached a predetermined position, and outputs a control signal for driving the sub roller 28 and rotating the capstan 36 in the reverse direction.

Next, the operation of the color printing apparatus configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7. 2 to 7 are partially sectional side views of the recording section 24 in FIG. 1, FIGS. 2 to 4 show the recording paper 21 being supplied to the recording section 24, and FIG. FIG. 6 shows the time at the start of recording, FIG. 6 shows the time at the end of recording, and FIG. 7 shows the time when the recording paper is conveyed for the second recording.

When the recording paper starts to be supplied, the recording paper 21 is pressed against the paper feed roller 25 by a lever (not shown) in the paper feed case 22, and is sent out from the opening 26 by the rotation of the paper feed roller 25. It is fed to the recording section 24 side via the recording section 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 21 is guided by paper feed guides 29 and 30 and advances.

As described above, the thermal head 32 is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the traveling direction of the recording paper 21 when the recording paper is supplied by the drive mechanism, and functions as a guide means for the recording paper 21 . That is, the recording paper 21 is the ink sheet 34.
After contacting the thermal head 32 via the contact surface, the contact surface slides on the contact surface and is guided upward while slidingly contacting the platen roller 31. In this case, the pinch roller 37 is sufficiently spaced from the capstan roller 36.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper 21 is guided between a capstan roller 36 and a pinch roller 37 by the conveyance force of the intermediate roller 21. When the recording paper 21 is conveyed by the intermediate roller 27 and the leading edge of the recording paper 21 further rises, the recording paper detection element 45 detects that the leading edge of the recording paper 21 has reached a predetermined position.

Then, the control signal from the recording paper detection element 45 causes the recording section 24 to enter the state shown in FIG.

That is, the pinch roller 31 is moved by the drive mechanism in the direction of the rotation axis of the capstan roller 36 and is pressed against the capstan roller 36 with the recording paper 21 interposed therebetween.

Further, the t-nap roller 28 is separated from the intermediate roller 27.

Next, the capstan roller 36 rotates in the opposite direction to release the recording paper 2.
1 is returned to the supply side for a certain amount of time to cue the print start position. Since the nap roller 28 is spaced apart from the intermediate roller 527, the load of conveying the recording paper 21 is reduced. When the recording paper 21 reaches the print start position, the capstan roller 36 stops rotating. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the thermal head 32 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) and is pressed onto the platen roller 31 via the ink sheet 34 and the recording paper 21. Next, the capstan roller 36 rotates forward, and the thermal head 32 is energized to start printing.

It should be noted that the sub roller 28 may be left in contact with the intermediate roller 27, but in this case, the intermediate roller 2
7 must be rotated in synchronization with the capstan roller 36.

Printing is performed by thermally transferring several colors of ink one color at a time. The recording paper 21 is conveyed as the capstan roller 36 rotates, and is guided by paper discharge guides 40, 41 as shown in FIG. When printing the first color is finished, the end of the recording paper 21 is placed in the paper feed guide 2.
It is held at 9.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the thermal head 32 is separated from the platen roller 31 and moved to the capstan roller 36.
rotates in the opposite direction. The recording paper 21 is conveyed in the reverse direction by the conveying force of the capstan roller 36, and the recording paper 21 is returned to the same printing start position as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, the second and third colors are printed by similar operations.

In this way, in this embodiment, the paper ejection case 23 is disposed above the paper feed case 22, thereby shortening the overall length of the apparatus. In addition, a capstan roller 36 and a pinch roller 37 for conveying the recording paper 21 are arranged above the platen roller 31 to prevent the recording paper 21 from sagging due to its own weight.
It is possible to prevent color shift without having to wrap it around. Therefore, there is no need to increase the size of the platen roller 31, and the apparatus can be made smaller.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention has the effect that the device can be downsized without causing color misregistration.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a color printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 7 are partially sectional side views for explaining the operation of the embodiment, and FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional color printing device. 21... Recording paper, 22... Paper feed case, 23...
Paper ejection case, 29.30...Paper feed guide, 31...
Platen roller, 32... Thermal head, 36...
・Capstan 0-ra, 37...pinch roller, 40
, 41... Paper ejection guide.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A paper feed case for feeding stored recording paper, a paper ejection case disposed above the paper feed case for storing recorded paper, and from the paper feed case. a paper feed guide that guides the fed recording paper upward; a platen roller disposed above the paper feed guide; a thermal head that faces the platen roller and guides the recording paper when feeding the paper; A pinch roller and a capstan roller are arranged above the platen roller to transport the recording paper in forward and reverse directions; A color printing device comprising: a paper ejection guide that guides recording paper toward the paper ejection case.