JPH03270967A - Thermal recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To set a suitable pressure between a thermal head and a platen roller in response to the thickness and quality of a sheet to be used by providing pressure means for applying a pressure between the roller and the head, and pressure regulating means for regulating the pressure to be applied of the pressure means. CONSTITUTION:When cutout cam faces 40, 64 of a head pressure shaft 16 are not opposed to head pressing plates 38, 55, the plates 38, 55 receive pressure from the periphery of the shaft 16, head supports 42, 58 are pressurized through head pressing springs 46, 62 in a direction of a platen roller 14, and thermal heads 46, 66 are pressed to the roller 14. This pressing force can be regulated by rotating pressure regulating screws 48, 49. The degree of the regulation is indicated by an index provided at the head of the screw 48 and the numerical value of a scale 74 provided on the upper surface of the plate 38, and the spring pressure regulating means of head support means 52 has substantially the same structure as above.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal recording device such as a thermal recording device and a thermal transfer recording device.

[Conventional technology]

In a thermal recording device, it is necessary to apply pressure between a thermal head and a platen in order to output an image onto recording paper. Therefore, a pressurizing means is provided on the thermal head or the platen to apply pressure between the two. However, conventionally, the pressure has been constant, and no one having a pressure adjustment function has been developed.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Therefore, even if the thickness and quality of the recording paper changes, the recording paper is always held between the thermal head and the platen roller with a constant pressure. Therefore, depending on the recording paper, there is a drawback that it is difficult to ensure high-quality images.To overcome this drawback, the recording paper must be of a certain quality depending on the model of the thermal recording device. I had to use it.

The present invention aims to eliminate the above-mentioned defects.

[Means to solve problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a thermal head, a platen roller facing the thermal head, a pressure means for applying pressure between the platen roller and the thermal head, and a pressure means for applying pressure between the platen roller and the thermal head. It is equipped with a pressurization adjustment means for adjusting the pressurization force.

[Effect]

In the above configuration, the recording paper is pressed between the platen roller and the thermal head by the pressure means, and recording is performed on the recording paper by the thermal head. The pressure between the platen roller and the thermal head can be set to an optimal value in advance by a pressure adjustment means according to the thickness and quality of the recording paper used.

〔Example〕

The structure of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 2, a case body 2 houses a recording mechanism therein, and side walls 4a on both sides thereof.

A top cover 6 is attached to the upper end of 4b so as to be openable and closable. Inside the case body 2, on the front side,
For example, a continuous recording paper 8 made of thermal paper having a width that allows production of A1 size standard paper by cutting after recording is wound into a roll in a holder 10 and stored therein. A feed roller 12 is arranged on the back side of the continuous recording paper 8. A guide (not shown) extending in the horizontal direction is attached to the further back side of the feed roller 12, and a platen roller 14
and head pressure work 6 are arranged parallel to each other.

Above the platen roller 14, a feed roller 18.
20, and a guide, a feed roller, a loop cutter, etc. (not shown) are arranged in the recording paper conveyance path between the feed rollers 18, 20 and the platen roller 14. A paper detection sensor (not shown) is disposed in the recording paper conveyance path, and a paper detection sensor (not shown) is arranged in the recording paper conveyance path downstream of the feed roller 18° 20.
is located. the feed rollers 12, 18, 20;
The platen roller 14 and the head pressure work 6 are attached to the side plate 28.
, 30. The head pressure shaft 16
As shown in FIG. 3, the head pedestal 32a of the head support means 50, 52 is fixed to the base plate of the case body 2.

It is rotatably inserted into the side holes of 32b, 54a, and 54b. Head pedestal 32a of the head support means 50
, 32b, a head support shaft 34 is installed, and one of a head support body 36 and a head pressing plate 38 is rotatably supported on the head support shaft 34. An intermediate portion of the head pressing plate 38 faces a portion of the head pressing shaft 16 where a notched cam surface 40 (see FIG. 10) is formed.

A thermal head 44 is attached to the protrusion 42 of the head support 36.
is fixed. A head pressure spring 46 is attached between the other end of the head pressing plate 38 and the vicinity of the other end of the head support 36 . The head pressing plate 38 is provided with a spring pressure adjusting means, and is configured to be able to adjust the strength of the elastic force of the head pressing spring 46. The splash pressure adjusting means of the head supporting means 50 is as follows:
As shown in FIG. 8, the threaded portion of the pressure adjustment screw 48 is screwed into a threaded hole formed in the head pressing plate 38. The tip of this pressure adjustment screw 48 is connected to the head pressing plate 3.
The spring member 72 is in contact with the upper surface of a cylindrical spring pushing member 72 which is slidably fitted into the cylindrical guide 8 formed in the cylindrical guide. A head pressure spring 46 made of a coil spring is compressed and disposed between the spring placement hole formed in the head support 36 and the spring pressing member 72. The elastic force of the head pressure spring 46 can be adjusted by rotating the pressure adjustment screw 48, and the degree of adjustment is determined by an indicator provided on the head of the screw 48 and an indicator provided on the top surface of the head pressing member 38. It is configured to be displayed by a numerical value on a scale 74. The spring pressure adjustment means of the head support means 52 also has substantially the same structure as described above. Head support means 5
2, the elastic force of the head pressure spring 62 can be adjusted by rotating the pressure adjustment screw 49. Reference numeral 91 denotes a locking metal fitting fixed to the head pressing plate 38, and the lower surface of the head support 36 faces the locking surface of the locking metal fitting 91.
Accordingly, the opening angle between the head pressing plate 38 and the head support 36 is regulated. The head pedestal 3
2a, 32b, the head support 36, and the head pressing plate 38 constitute a first head support means 5o, and a second head support means 5 which has substantially the same principle as this head support means 50.
2 is installed on the head pressurizing shaft 16. Head pedestals 54a and 54b of the second head support means 52
Head pressing plate 55. The head support body 56, head support shaft 60, and head pressure spring 62 are connected to the head pedestals 32a, 32b, head pressing plate 38. of the first head support means 50, respectively. Head support 36. It corresponds to the head support shaft 34 and the head pressure spring 46. The head pressing spring 62 is arranged between the head pressing plate 55 and the head support 56. As shown in FIG. 10, a notched cam surface 64 having a phase difference of 90 degrees with respect to the notched cam surface 40 is provided on the circumferential surface of the head pressing shaft 16 that the head pressing plate 55 faces. It is formed. A thermal head 66 is fixedly attached to the mounting portion 58 of the head support 56 . The end of the head pressing plate 55 on the opposite side to the side where the head pressurizing spring 62 is attached with respect to the head support shaft 60 is attached to the notched cam surface 64 forming portion of the head pressurizing shaft 16. We are facing each other. The thermal heads 44 and 66 have main surfaces approximately 90' apart from each other.
They are arranged in a relationship that forms the following. The heating resistors of the thermal head 44, 66 are arranged so as to be continuous in the line direction, with some parts overlapping in the horizontal direction. A drive motor 68 is provided between the side wall 4a and the side plate 28, and the drive force of this motor 68 is configured to be transmitted to the platen roller 4.

It is configured to be transmitted to the head pressurizing shaft 16. An operating lever 70 is provided at one end of the head pressurizing shaft 16.
is fixedly installed so that it can be operated from the outside. The feed rollers 18, 20 are driven by a paper ejection motor. The motor 68 and the paper ejection motor are configured to be controlled by a control circuit consisting of a microcomputer. The pedestals 32a, 32
The head rear plate 92 and the head pressing plate 38 are fixed to b.
A return spring 93 is provided between the head pressing plate 38 and the head pressing shaft 16 for urging the head pressing plate 38 in a direction to bring the head pressing plate 38 into close contact with the head pressing shaft 16. The head pressing plate 55 of the head supporting means 52 is in close contact with the head pressing shaft 16 due to its own weight.6 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the notched cam surfaces 40 and 64 of the head pressure shaft 16 do not face the head pressure plate 38.55, the head pressure plate 38.55 applies pressure from the surface of the head pressure shaft 16. The thermal head 44.66 is pressed against the platen roller 14 by pressing the head support 42.58 toward the platen roller 14 via the head pressure spring 46.62. This pressing force can be adjusted by rotating the pressure adjustment screws 48 and 49. When the head pressurizing shaft 16 is rotated by operating the operating lever 70, the notched cam surface 4 is rotated at a predetermined rotation angle.
0.64 simultaneously faces the corresponding head pressing plate 38.55. At this time, the head pressing plate 38.5
5, the pressurizing force from the curved surface of the head pressurizing shaft 16 is released by the notched cam surface 40.64. In this state, the head pressing plate 38 is rotated around the head support shaft 34 in a direction in which the thermal head 44 moves away from the platen roller 14 (head upward direction) by a rotational force caused by the tensile force of the return spring (93). The head pressing plate 55 swings at a predetermined angle due to gravity, and the thermal head 44, 66 is separated from the platen roller 14 for a predetermined period. In this embodiment, the rising of the thermal head means movement in the direction away from the platen roller, and the lowering of the thermal head means movement in the direction of pressing the platen roller.

In carrying out the present invention, the structure of the head pressure @16 and its cam surface 40.64 is not particularly limited to the structure shown in the drawings, and as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to have a configuration in which the head pressurizing shaft 16 is fixed to the head pressurizing shaft 16. The configuration of the head pressurizing shaft 16 and the cam surface 40.64 or the cam plate 90.95 is such that the head support means 50.52 is separated from the position where the thermal head 44.66 that they support is pressed against the platen roller 14. This constitutes a head elevating means for displacing the head to two positions.

Further, the present invention is applicable not only to a thermal recording device that uses thermal paper, but also to a thermal transfer recording device that uses heat-melting ink, heat-sublimating ink, and the like.

Next, another embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16.

The support shaft 102 protruding from both ends of the platen roller 100 is
The side plate 1 of the support shaft 102 is slidably inserted into the elongated hole 106 transparently provided in the side plates 104a and 104b of the case body.
An elevating plate 106 is fixed to the ends protruding from 04a and 104b. Support plates 108 are fixed to the side plates 104a and 104b, and bolts 110 are screwed into screw holes of the support plates 108. The bolt 110 has the elevating plate 1
06 is slidably inserted. The bolt 11
0 has a pressure adjustment nut 112 screwed into it. A coil spring 114 is wound around the bolt 110 between the nut 112 and the elevating plate 106, and the elastic force of the spring 14 causes the platen roller 100 to come into pressure contact with the thermal head 116. 118 is a platen lifting means, and the means 118 is provided near the platen roller 100.
A side plate 104a is arranged parallel to this roller 100.

A rotating shaft 120 pivotally supported by the rotating shaft 104b, and this rotating shaft 12
0 to both ends of the platen roller 100
02 and the rotation shaft 12.
0 and a lever 124 integrally attached.

In the above-described configuration, by rotating the pressing force *a nut 112 and moving the nut 112 along the bolt 110, the coil spring 114 is pressed against the platen roller 10.
The pressing down force relative to 0, that is, the pressure of the platen roller 100 against the thermal head 116 can be adjusted. When the lever 124 is slid toward you as shown by the arrow in the figure, the platen roller 100 is moved by the protrusion 122.
The support shaft 102 of the platen roller 100 is pushed up and
rises relative to the thermal head 116.

Next, other embodiments will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

126 is a pivot support 130 attached to the case body 128 so as to be freely openable and closable.
The head support plate 132 is rotatably supported 134 on the upper cover.

The head support plate 132 is secured to the upper cover 126 by a locking action of a locking plate 132a bent at its end.
On the other hand, rotation in the clockwise direction in the figure is prevented from being substantially parallel to this. A thermal head 136 is fixed to one side of the head support plate 132. A screw hole 138 is provided in one side of the upper cover 126, and a pressure adjustment dial 140 is fixed to the screw hole 138.
42 are screwed together. A coiled spring 146 is compressed and disposed between a spring pressing member 144 attached to the lower end of the screw 142 and a spring housing recess formed in the head support plate 132. In the figure, 148 is a platen roller, 1
50 is a roll paper.

In the above configuration, when the upper cover 126 is swung clockwise in the figure to a predetermined position on the case body 128 and the upper cover 126 is locked to the case body 128, the thermal head 136 is disposed on the case body 128. The platen row 148 is pressed against the platen row 148 by the elastic force of the coil spring 146.

This pressure contact force can be adjusted by rotating the pressure adjustment dial 140.

〔effect〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to set an appropriate pressure between the thermal head and the platen roller according to the thickness and quality of the paper used, so that good images can be obtained even when paper of different thickness is used. There are effects that can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an external view, Figure 2 is an external view, Figure 3 is an external view, Figure 4 is a side view, Figure 5 is a side view, Figure 6 is a side view, Figure 7 is a side view.
The figure is a side view, Figure 8 is a side view, Figure 9 is a plan view, and Figure 10 is a side view.
The figure is an external view, Figure 11 (A) is a sectional view taken along line A-A,
Figure (B) is a sectional view taken along line B-B, Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram, and Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment, FIG. 14 is an external view of another embodiment, FIG. 15 is a front view of the same, FIG. 16 is a front view of the same, and FIG. 17 is a front view of another embodiment. The side view and FIG. 18 are partially side views of the same. 2...Case body, 4a, 4b...Side wall, 6...
Top cover, 8... Recording paper, 10... Holder, 12
...Feed roller, 14...Platen roller, 16.
...Head pressure shaft, 18.20...Feed roller, 22
, 24, 26...Sensor, 28, 30...Side plate+
32a, 32b...Head pedestal, 34...Head support shaft, 36...Head support, 38...Head pressing plate, 40...Notch cam surface, 42...44...
・Thermal head, 46...Head pressure spring, 48・
... Spring pressure adjustment screw, 50° 52 ... Head support means, 54a, 54b head pedestal, 56 ... Head support body, 60 ... Head support shaft, 62 ... Head pressure spring,
64... Notched cam surface, 66... Thermal head, 68... Drive motor, 90... Cam plate, 10
0...Platen roller, 102...Spindle, 104
a, 104 b-side plate, 106-108... support plate, 110... bolt, 112... pressure adjustment nut, 114... coil spring, 116... thermal head, 118... platen Lifting means, 120... Rotating shaft, 122... Protrusion, 124... Lever, 126
...Top cover, 128...Case body, 130.
... Pivot, 132... Head support plate, 134... Pivot, 136... Thermal head, 138... Screw hole, 14O... Pressure adjustment dial, 142... Screw,
144... Spring pushing member, 146... Coil bar, 1
48...Platen roller, 150...Roll paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A thermal head, a platen roller facing the thermal head, a pressure means for applying pressure between the platen roller and the thermal head, and a pressure adjustment means for adjusting the pressure of the pressure means. A thermal recording device equipped with