JPH0321460A - Method and device for smoothing recording paper in thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a device by a method wherein a smoothing means is provided beside a recording element array for printing an image, and the surface of recording paper after recording is subjected to a smoothing processing under heat and pressure by this smoothing means. CONSTITUTION:When an electric current pulse is supplied to an (n+1)-th recording element, an (n+3)-th recording element, and an (n+5)-th recording element in a record ing element array 36, these recording elements generate heat to heat and press the rear surface of an ink film 31. Thus, an yellow dye on the ink film 31 is transferred to an image receiving layer 13a of recording paper 13. When the dye is transferred, fine irregularities are generated on the surface of the recording paper 13. When the yellow dye is recorded by every line while the recording paper 13 is intermittently fed by every line, the first line reaches the position of a smoothing element array 37. When an electric current pulse is supplied to an n-th smoothing element, an (n+2)-th smoothing element, and an (n+4)-th smoothing element, and an (n+6)-th smoothing element in the smoothing element array 37, these smoothing elements generate heat to heat a pixel area which has not been subjected to recording to smooth all over the surface of the recording paper 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly to a recording paper smoothing method and apparatus for smoothing the surface of recording paper on which an image is printed.

[Conventional technology]

Dye sublimation is known as one of the thermal transfer printing methods. This sublimation thermal transfer printing method involves interposing an ink film between the thermal head and the recording paper, heating the ink film from behind, and transferring the heat-activated paint to the image-receiving layer of the recording paper to record an image. It is something. This sublimation method records dots with a density that corresponds to the thermal energy, so it is suitable for printing halftone images such as photographic images. The ink film has cyan ink sections, magenta ink sections, and yellow ink sections alternately formed on a thin film. In addition to these three colors, ink films having a black ink section are also known.

By the way, when an image is printed using a dye-sublimation thermal transfer printer, irregular irregularities are generated on the surface of the recording paper depending on the image density due to the heat and pressure of the thermal head.
It is known to result in a partially blurred and lackluster finish. In order to solve this problem, JP-A-62-1
As described in Japanese Patent Application No. 32680, there is a known method in which, after printing an image, a thermal roller or thermal belt with a smooth surface is pressed against the recording paper, thereby heat-treating the surface of the recording paper to make it smooth. .

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in this conventional smoothing process, it is necessary to incorporate a roller and a belt in addition to a heater into the thermal transfer printer, resulting in a problem that the overall size of the printer becomes considerably large. Also, since the distribution of unevenness on the surface of the recording paper is irregular, even if a heat roller or heat belt is pressed against the entire surface of the recording paper,
There is a problem in that it is difficult to achieve sufficient smoothing in the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording paper.

The present invention is a recording paper smoothing device that is capable of smoothing the surface of a recording paper using a simple device, and that can perform smoothing processing both in the feeding direction of the recording paper and in a direction orthogonal thereto. The purpose is to provide the following.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording paper smoothing method that does not require any special equipment or process for smoothing treatment by utilizing a thermal transfer process of characters using black dye.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a smoothing means next to a recording element array for printing an image, and the smoothing means heats and presses the surface of the recording paper after recording to smooth it. It is designed to perform a conversion process.

The smoothing means may be disposed directly facing the recording paper or may be disposed behind the ink film. In the former case, the recording paper can be heated to a temperature higher than the transfer temperature of the ink film, and a good smoothing process can be performed. In the latter case, the recording element array and the smoothing means can be mounted in close proximity to one thermal head, but in order to prevent dye transfer during the smoothing process, the heat generation of the smoothing means is It is necessary to prevent the temperature from exceeding the transfer temperature.

The smoothing means may include one elongated smoothing element,
A smoothing element array in which a large number of smoothing elements are arranged in a line is used. When using a smoothing element array,
The size of this smoothing element is made the same size as the recording element,
And they are arranged so as to be aligned in the feeding direction of the recording paper. Alternatively, the smoothing element may be arranged to be shifted by half a pitch with respect to the recording element, and the boundary of the pixel area may be heated and pressed.

There are two methods for driving the smoothing means: one method is to drive the smoothing device depending on the recording state of the image, and the other method is to drive the smoothing device regardless of the recording state. In the former method, the pixel areas where dots are not recorded are heated and pressed to perform smoothing processing, and when smoothing processing is performed from behind the ink film, heating is performed at a constant temperature.
When the recording paper is directly smoothed, it is heated to the same temperature as the transfer temperature of the adjacent pixel area where dots are recorded.

When printing a combined image and text, an ink film with a black ink section is used. In general, there are few hard copies that require printing of characters, and the recording area for characters is often only a small portion of the recording paper. Therefore, in the recording paper smoothing method of the present invention, a character transfer process is utilized and a recording element array is used to perform the smoothing process. In order to apply a large amount of heat to the recording paper and perform a sufficient smoothing process during the smoothing process, it is desirable that the transfer temperature of the black dye be higher than that of other color dyes.

[Effect]

The smoothing means heats and presses the recording paper after recording to smooth the surface. When the smoothing process is performed from behind the ink film, the smoothing process is performed at a temperature lower than the dye transfer temperature. Further, when smoothing processing is performed during the character transfer process, the recording element facing the pixel area where no characters are recorded is heated to a temperature lower than the transfer temperature of the black dye.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment C] In FIG. 1 showing the thermal transfer printing system of the present invention, a thermal transfer printer 10 for printing hard copies is connected to a CRT monitor 1. When making a hard copy, a magnetic floppy disk (not shown) is set in the diskette device 3, as is well known. The image data stored on the magnetic floppy disk is read out by the diskette device 3, and an image 4 created from this image data is displayed on the display surface 1a. After confirming this image 4, if the user operates the keyboard 2 to instruct printing, the image data is sent to the thermal transfer printer 10. This thermal transfer printer 10 prints the same image 4 displayed on the CRT monitor 1 on the recording board 13.

Also, by operating the keyboard 2, arbitrary characters such as year, month, date r89.1. By inputting t, , it is possible to merge with image 4. After confirming the state of this image alignment, if printing is instructed as described above, the alignment image will be printed on the recording paper 13.

The thermal transfer printer 10 has a case l1 containing a printing mechanism, and a top force bar 12 that covers the case l1. By opening this top cover 12, the ink film 31 (see FIG. 2) can be replaced. The front surface of the case 11 is provided with an insertion port 14 for inserting the recording paper 13, and an ejection port 16 for discharging the printed and smoothed recording paper 13. Furthermore, a power switch 17 and a start switch 18 are provided on the lower side of the front surface of the case 11.

In FIG. 2 showing the structure of the thermal transfer printer IO, a recording medium 13 inserted through an insertion opening 14 is nipped by a pair of conveyance rollers 20 and conveyed toward a platen 21.
As is well known, this platen 2l is provided with a chucking mechanism (not shown), and when the leading edge of the recording sheet 13 is detected by the edge sensor 23, the chucking mechanism is activated to move the recording paper l3. Balance the tip. Also, platen 2
1 is connected to a pulse motor 22, and rotates counterclockwise after chucking the leading edge of the recording paper 13. Since a monochromatic image is printed while the platen 21 rotates once counterclockwise, for example, yellow (Y). When recording a color image in three colors, magenta (M) and cyan (C), the platen 2l rotates three times. When the recording paper 13 is ejected, the platen 21 rotates clockwise and the ejection sector 24 is displaced to the dotted line position, so that the rear end of the recording paper 13 is guided by the ejection sector 24 and enters the ejection path 25. A pair of conveyance rollers 26 are disposed in this discharge path 25, and nip the recording paper 13 and convey it toward the discharge port l6. When the rear end of the recording sleeve 13 is nipped by the conveyance roller 26, the chucking of the chucking mechanism is released. In addition, codes 27 and 28 are
This is a press row for bringing the recording paper 13 into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the platen 21.

An ink film 31 that is heated from behind by a thermal head 30 is placed at the print position. This ink film 31 is distributed between a supply reel 32 and a take-up reel 33.
is bridged between.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ink film 31 is a thin plastic film 31a with yellow (Y). Each color section of magenta (M) and cyan (C) is formed in order with a width L0.

Furthermore, since the ink film 31 closely contacts the recording paper 13 and moves together with it, the size of one color section is somewhat larger than the size of the recording paper 13.
The color of the color section is detected by a color sensor 34 installed near the thermal head 30, and an image of the detected color is recorded line by line by the thermal head 30. Immediately thereafter, smoothing processing is performed line by line. be done.

Each color section is formed by applying an ink liquid consisting of a sublimation dye, a binder, and a solvent to the film 31a. These sublimation dyes are activated by heat, transferred to the image receiving layer 13a (see FIG. 7A) of the recording paper 13, and fixed thereon. Since the density of the transferred ink dots changes depending on the amount of heat applied, gradation can be expressed by controlling the energization time, as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

As shown in FIG. 5, below the thermal head 30, a recording element array 36 extending in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction P of the recording head 13 and a smoothing element array 37 are arranged at a distance L.
It is installed keeping 2. Smoothing element array 37
and the recording element array 36 are arranged so that the same number of elements are located at the same position in the width direction without any displacement in the feeding direction.
They are arranged at the same pitch. Note that since the distance Lx is sufficiently small compared to the radius of the platen 2l, both the recording element array 36 and the smoothing element array 37 are connected to the platen 2l.
It is almost perpendicular to the outer peripheral surface of 1.

In this embodiment, one line is composed of 512 pixels (dots), and a monochromatic image is formed with 480 lines.

In addition, with three-color surface sequential printing, intermediate colors are expressed by subtractive color mixing in which three-color lines overlap, but additive color mixing in which the three-color lines are slightly shifted, or a part of the three-color line Intermediate color mixing may be performed so that the colors overlap. In addition,
The time required to record a color image on a postcard (87 x 38 mm) is about 1.0 to 1.5 minutes.

The main parts of the recording element array 36 and the smoothing element array 37 are resistive element arrays for converting electrical energy into heat. Each element of this recording element array 36 has a current value ■. The current is applied for a time corresponding to the image data. That is, since the pulse width changes to 64 steps, recording of "64" density steps is performed for each color. After recording the l line, platen 2
1 by one step in the counterclockwise direction, and at the same time, by rotating the take-up reel 33 by a certain amount,
The recording film 13 and the ink film 3l move together while remaining overlapped, making it possible to record the next line of dots. Note that the recording element array 36 may be divided into a plurality of groups and these groups may be driven using a dynamic drive method.

The image data stored in the image memory 40 is read line by line and sent to a drive data generation circuit 41 and a binarization circuit 42. The drive data generation circuit 41 converts the image data of each pixel into 64-bit drive data. For example, if the image data has a density level of "O", the low level "0" turns off the recording element.
Converts to image data with 64 lined up. Also, if the concentration level is "30J", there are 30 high level "1"s that turn on the storage element, and 34 "O"s? Convert to drive data consisting of binary signals. The drive data for each pixel can be obtained by reading out the bits of the same digit in the order of the pixel.
The serial drive data of each group is converted into serial drive data of the group, and the serial drive data of each group is divided into 64 times.
Send to a.

The drive section 30a is composed of a shift register 43, a rough array 45, and a switch array 46, as described in US Pat. No. 4,710,783, for example. This shift register 43 converts serial drive data into parallel drive data in synchronization with clock pulses from a timing generation circuit 44. This parallel drive data is
The signal is latched by a latch array 45 using a timing pulse from a timing generation circuit 44. After the first bit is latched, when the enable signal from the timing generation circuit 44 is applied to the switch array 46, the switch to which the drive data of "1" is assigned is ONL, and the recording element connected in series to it is energized. do. On the other hand, the switch to which the drive data of r■ is assigned does not energize the recording element. Therefore, since the recording element is energized for a time corresponding to the number of "1" bits, the energization time can be adjusted to 64 steps. And 64 for all recording elements.
When these binary signals are applied, the supply of the enable signal is stopped.

Note that a subtraction counter array that presets image data may be used to perform a subtraction operation using a clock pulse with a constant period while printing one line, and the recording element may be energized until the content reaches zero. . Furthermore, the current energization time of the recording element array 36 may be constant, and the current value may be changed depending on the image data. Further, it is preferable to provide a line buffer memory between the image memory 40 and the drive data generation circuit 41 to store one line of image data.

The binary circuit 42 converts the image data into binary data of "l" if it is below a certain value and "0" if it exceeds the certain value, and converts these binary data into the drive data generating circuit 5.
Send to 0. When the binary data is r1, the drive data generation circuit 50 generates the dye transfer temperature (
The driving data (
64 bit). This prevents thermal transfer recording from being performed when the recording paper 13 is smoothed by the smoothing element array 37. Then, the binary data is “0”
”, the drive data is converted into drive data in which 64 “0” bits are lined up. These drive data are divided into 64 groups of serial drive data, read out, and temporarily stored in the memory 5l. For smoothing processing, serial drive data is read from the memory 51 and sent to the drive unit 30b. This drive section 30b has the same structure as the recording drive section 30a. Note that the reference numeral 52 is a timing generation circuit.

The movement amount detection device 55 measures the movement amount of the recording arm 13 by counting the number of drive pulses supplied to the pulse motor 22. Each time the movement amount detection device 55 detects that the recording medium 3 has moved by one line, the control circuit 5
3 causes the recording element array 36 to start recording one line of dots. As shown in FIG. 5, since the smoothing element array 37 is arranged at a distance L2 from the recording element array 36, this distance L. Only record G13
A determination circuit 56 is provided for detecting movement of. Reading of the memory 51 is started by the output signal of the determination circuit 56, and is driven in the same manner as the recording element array 36. The important thing here is that the recording element array 36
is set to a value that is equal to or longer than T and corresponds to the recording density, whereby each recording element is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the dye transfer temperature. On the other hand, the energization time of the smoothing element array 37 is set to a value T that is slightly smaller than T1, so that the smoothing process is performed without performing thermal transfer.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be briefly explained. First, the power switch 17 of the thermal transfer printer 10 is turned on, the recording paper l3 is inserted into the insertion slot l4, and the start switch 1 is turned on. The leading edge of the recording paper l3 is nipped by the transport roller 20 and is transported toward the platen 21. When the leading edge of the recording paper 13 is detected by the sensor 23, the chucking mechanism is actuated by this detection signal, and the recording paper 13 is moved onto the platen 23.
Immediately after that, the platen 21
begins to rotate counterclockwise. As the platen 2l rotates, the recording paper 13 is conveyed while being wound around the outer peripheral surface of the platen 21 by the action of the pressing roller 27. At the same time, the take-up reel 33 is rotated until the color sensor 34 detects the first color section, for example, the yellow section Y.

The control circuit 53 checks the amount of movement of the recording paper 13 detected by the movement amount detection circuit 55, and when the leading edge of the recording area of the recording paper 13 reaches the position of the recording element array 36, thermal transfer of the yellow image is performed. start. When thermally transferring the yellow image, yellow image data is read line by line from the image memory 40 and sent to the drive data generation circuit 41 and the binarization circuit 42. This drive data generation circuit 41 generates image data of pixels for l lines,
The drive data for one pixel is converted into 64-bit drive data, and the drive data for one line is divided into 64 times and output.

When outputting data for the first time, the first bit of the drive data for each pixel is read out in the order of the pixels and becomes serial drive data, and this drive data is transferred to the shift register 4.
Sent to 3. The drive data manually input one bit at a time is shifted by the clock pulse of the timing generation circuit 44 and converted into parallel drive data corresponding to the number of elements in the recording element array 36. This parallel drive data is latched by the latch array 45 in synchronization with the timing pulse of the timing generation circuit 44, and the switch to which the drive data of "1" is assigned is turned on by the enable signal from the timing generation circuit 44. The recording element (resistance element) connected in series with this is energized. Next, the second bit of the drive data for each pixel is read out to drive each recording element. At this time, the second bit is "1"
To? The recording element that is
The recording element that has changed to r■ becomes OFF state.

When the 64-bit drive data is thus applied to the switch array 46, the enable signal is inverted to the OFF state and printing of the 1 line is completed. therefore,
A current pulse with a current value of 10 is applied to the recording element for a time proportional to the number of bits that are "1" among the 64 bits of drive data. (2) After recording a line of yellow images, the platen 21 is rotated by one step by the pulse motor 22, and at the same time, the ink film 31 is wound up by four steps. below,
Similarly, the second and subsequent lines of the yellow image are recorded.
are printed sequentially.

When a current pulse as shown in FIG. 6A is supplied to the (n+1)th recording element, the (n+3)th recording element, and the (n+5)th recording element, these recording elements
It generates heat as shown in the figure. These recording elements heat and press the back of the ink film 3l that is in close contact with the back surface of the recording paper 13, so that the yellow dye on the ink film 3l is transferred to the image receiving layer 13a of the recording paper 13. During the transfer of the dye, the heated portion is dented, so that fine irregularities are generated on the surface of the recording layer 13, as shown in FIG. 7B.

On the other hand, the binarization circuit 42 outputs "0" when the image data is larger than the reference value. If it is smaller, it is converted into a binary signal of “1” and this binary data is sent to the drive data generation circuit 50. The drive data generation circuit 50 converts binary data into two types of drive data and stores them in the memory 5l. When the yellow dye is recorded line by line while the recording medium 13 is intermittently transferred line by line, the first line reaches the position of the smoothing element array 37. When this arrival is detected by the movement amount detection device W55 and the determination circuit 56, the control circuit 53 reads out one line of drive data from the memory 51 in 64 times and sends it to the drive unit 30b. This driving section 30b turns on the smoothing element to which the digital signal of "1" is applied, and then turns on the pulse generating circuit 5.
This ON state is maintained until 2 to N pulses are applied. As a result, a current {! ! A current of Io is applied for a time T to generate heat. Since the temperature of this smoothing element is lower than the dye transfer temperature, the dye is not transferred to the recording layer 13.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the nth smoothing element, (n+2
)th smoothing element, (n+4)th smoothing element. (
When a current pulse is supplied to the n+6)th smoothing element,
As shown in FIG. 7C, these generate heat. As a result, the pixel area where no recording was performed is heated, so that the entire surface of the recording pad 13 becomes flat and glossy, as shown in FIG. 7D.

Note that the energizing time (pulse width) of the current supplied to the smoothing element is variable, and for example, the energizing time of the current supplied to the (n+2)th smoothing element is the same as the energizing time of the (n+1)th recording element. May be matched. In this case, in order to prevent image recording during the smoothing process, the value of the current supplied to the smoothing element array is made smaller than the value I0 of the current supplied to the recording element array 27. It is necessary. In order to change the energization time, it is sufficient to provide an inverter that inverts the drive data from the drive data generation circuit 41 and write the drive data into the memory 51 via this inverter. In this way, it becomes possible to perform smoothing processing according to the size of unevenness during recording.

In this way, when the thermal transfer recording and smoothing processing for one yellow image are completed, the platen 21 rotates rapidly counterclockwise, and as a result, the ink film 31 is wound onto the take-up reel 33, and the second color image is The leading end of a certain magenta section M is sent to a position where it is detected by the color sensor 34.

This magenta image is also recorded in the same manner as the yellow image described above, and smoothing processing is also performed. Finally, thermal transfer recording and smoothing processing of the cyan image are performed, and a color image is recorded on the recording sleeve 13 by this three-color sequential thermal transfer recording.

When recording of the color image is completed, the ejection sector 24 is moved to the position shown by the dotted line, and then the platen 2l is reversed clockwise. The rear end of the recording sleeve 13 is guided by the discharge sector 24 and enters the discharge conveyance path 25 . At this time, since the chucking is released, the recording paper 13 is nipped by the conveyance roller 26 and is discharged from the discharge port 16.

Figure 8 shows another arrangement of the smoothing element array. In this embodiment, the smoothing element array 370 is arranged so as to be shifted by half the length of the smoothing elements in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction P of the recording paper 13. In this arrangement, each smoothing element is located on the extension line of the boundary between two adjacent recording elements of the recording element array 27, so all smoothing elements are kept at the same temperature without referring to image data. can generate heat.

In the smoothing element array 371 shown in FIG. 9, the length of one smoothing element is five times the length of the recording element. 1st
In the embodiment shown in Figure 0, one elongated smoothing element 372
is used. In these embodiments, the smoothing element is heated to a constant temperature regardless of the image recording state.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 shows the main parts of an embodiment in which smoothing processing is performed using a recording element array, and the same components as those shown in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals. It has been done. The thermal head 30 is provided with one recording element array 36, which is pressed toward the ink film 62 by a spring 60. As shown in FIG. 12, this ink film 62 has a yellow section 62a, a magenta section 62b, a cyan section 62c, and a black section 62d alternately having a length L0.

FIG. 13 shows the recording procedure of the thermal transfer printer shown in FIG. 11, and as described above, each color section 62a to 62c is used to print a yellow image. A magenta image and a cyan image are sequentially recorded on the recording paper 13. Finally, characters are recorded using the black section 62d, but since most prints do not record characters, or even if they do, it is only in a small area, this black dye transfer process is used. Perform smoothing processing. In this smoothing process, a current pulse with a large pulse width is supplied to the recording element that records pixels of characters in order to heat the ink film 62 to a temperature higher than the transfer temperature. On the other hand, for recording elements that do not record characters, smoothing processing is performed by supplying current pulses with a small pulse width so as not to exceed the transfer temperature. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to create a hardcopy in which characters such as the year, month, and day are superimposed on an image.

It is desirable to apply a relatively large amount of heat during the smoothing process, and for this purpose, as shown in Figure 4, it is best to use a black dye that has a higher transfer temperature than other dyes. . For the black dye having the characteristics shown in FIG. 4, the current application time can be set to be slightly shorter than the current application time Tz (Tz > T+) to reach the transfer temperature of the black dye for smoothing treatment.

4. In the above embodiment, heating for smoothing is performed from the back side of the ink film, but the smoothing element array may be placed at a position where it can face the outer peripheral surface of the platen without being sandwiched between the ink films. In this case, since the smoothing element comes into direct contact with the recording paper, the smoothing process can be performed by heating the recording paper to a temperature higher than the dye transfer temperature.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a smoothing means that generates heat when energized is used, this is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper feeding direction, and the smoothing means is simply controlled to energize. This makes it possible to smoothen the recording paper using a simple device. Furthermore, since the smoothing process is performed using the character transfer process using black dye, the smoothing process on the recording paper can be performed without using any special equipment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a thermal transfer printing system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a thermal transfer printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the ink film. FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of thermal transfer characteristics of dyes. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the thermal head showing the relationship between the recording element array and the smoothing element array. FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram showing current pulses supplied to the recording element array, and FIG. 6B is a waveform diagram showing current pulses supplied to the smoothing element array. FIGS. 7A to 7D are explanatory views showing the printing process and the smoothing process. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a thermal head showing another example of the arrangement relationship between the smoothing element array and the recording element array. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a thermal head using a long smoothing element array. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a thermal head using one elongated smoothing element. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a thermal transfer printer that performs smoothing processing using the character printing process. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the ink film shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the printing procedure with the thermal transfer printer of FIG. 11. 1 0 . . . . 1 3 . Element array/smoothing element array. Current application time (ms) rh1 Acupuncture stage e Masada 5th Figure 8 Figure I1 - Acupuncture practice e Gambling Figure 7A? 3 lines 12 ■ 1 ni ni - 2 = do = ninif I tego? Nip13
(Recording paper) Fig. 7B Fig. 7C Fig. 7D Fig. 11 Fig. 12 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 13

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In a thermal transfer printer in which a recording element array is arranged to intersect with the recording paper feeding direction and each recording element generates heat to record an image on the recording paper, a line-shaped smoothing means is used to feed the recording paper. 1. A recording paper smoothing device, characterized in that the smoothing means is disposed so as to intersect with the direction and generates heat to smooth the surface of the recording paper after recording. (2) Arrange the recording element array so as to cross the feeding direction of the recording paper, supply a current pulse to each recording element, heat the ink film from behind to a temperature higher than the dye transfer temperature, and transfer the dye to the recording paper. In a thermal transfer printer that records an image by transferring, a smoothing means is arranged behind the ink film in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the recording paper, and current pulses are supplied to the smoothing means to lower the dye transfer temperature. A recording paper smoothing device characterized in that the recording paper is heated and pressed to smooth it after recording by generating heat to a low temperature. (3) Arrange the recording element array so as to cross the feeding direction of the recording paper, supply a current pulse to each recording element, heat the ink film from behind to a temperature higher than the dye transfer temperature, and apply the heat to the pixel area of the recording paper. In a thermal transfer printer that records images by transferring dots of dye, smoothing elements of the same size as the recording elements are arranged in a line in a direction that intersects the feeding direction of the recording paper, and the dye is transferred from behind the ink film. A smoothing element array that heats and presses the recording paper at a temperature lower than the temperature to smooth the recording paper after recording, and a smoothing element array that heats and presses the recording paper at a temperature lower than the temperature. What is claimed is: 1. A recording paper smoothing device comprising a drive means for causing a smoothing element to generate heat. (4) Arrange the recording element array so as to intersect with the feeding direction of the recording paper, supply current pulses to each recording element, heat the ink film from behind to a temperature higher than the dye transfer temperature, and apply heat to the pixel area of the recording paper. In a thermal transfer printer that records an image by transferring dots of dye, a smoothing element of the same size as the recording element is shifted by a half pitch with respect to the recording element, and a line is inserted in a direction intersecting the feeding direction of the recording paper. A smoothing element array that heats and presses the boundary of the pixel area from behind the ink film at a temperature lower than the dye transfer temperature to smooth the recording paper after recording; A recording paper smoothing device characterized in that it is provided with a driving means for supplying the same current pulse to all of them to generate heat. (5) An ink film is used, which has three color ink sections coated with three types of color dyes, followed by a black ink section coated with black dye, and a recording element array is used to heat the ink film from behind. In a thermal transfer printer that presses and transfers color dye to a recording paper that is transported together with the ink film, prints a color image on the recording paper, and finally prints characters on the recording paper with black dye, during the black dye transfer process. In addition, for pixel areas on recording paper where no characters are printed, the recording element facing this pixel area is heated at a temperature lower than the transfer temperature of the black dye, thereby smoothing this pixel area. Features a recording paper smoothing method.