JPH0332875A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to reutilize a transfer film and keep the printed content secret by providing a row of ink jet nozzles for applying thermally melting ink to a transfer film after ink transfer and an ink tank for supplying the ink to the row of ink jet nozzles. CONSTITUTION:Transfer film 3 with thermally melting ink applied and paper to which an image is transferred are allowed to come in contact with a printing head 2 consisting of thermal elements. Then the thermal elements are energized and heated in accordance with print data, and the ink on the heated part of the transfer film 3 is melted and transferred to the paper 1. After that, the ink melted by the energized thermal element 2 from an ink tank corresponding to print data is applied to the transfer film 3 from the row of ink jet nozzles 4 of the same length as the width of the transfer film 3. The transfer film 3 is an endless film stretched across paired pulleys and fed in a constant direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal printer, and more particularly to a printer that uses a transfer film to print on transfer paper.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of printer, a print head consisting of a heating element is brought into contact with the transfer film, and the heating element is heated by applying electricity to melt the ink on the film, and the ink in that area is transferred to the transfer paper. The print was formed and then the transfer film was wrapped around the core.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

With the conventional printers mentioned above, after printing, traces of the ink being transferred from the transfer film to the transfer paper remain, so if you look at the film after printing, you can decipher the content printed by the printer.
There were disadvantages in that it was difficult to maintain confidentiality, and the transfer film could only be used once, resulting in high costs.

[Means to solve the problem]

The thermal printer of the present invention includes a print head composed of a heating element, a transfer film coated with a heat-melting ink that transfers ink to a receiving paper according to the heating element, and a transfer film coated with a heat-melting ink that transfers ink to a receiving paper according to the heating element. It is configured to include a row of ink jetting ports for later applying heat-melting ink to the transfer film, and an ink tank supplying ink to the row of ink jetting ports.

〔Example〕

Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 are a structural diagram and a sectional view, respectively, of a thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The transfer film 3 coated with heat-melting ink is brought into contact with the transfer paper l, and the heat-generating element is energized and heated according to the print data, and the transfer film 3 in that area is brought into contact with the print head 2, which is composed of a heat-generating element. Printing is performed by melting the ink and transferring the ink to the transfer paper 1. Thereafter, melted ink from the ink tank 5 is applied to the transfer film 3 from the ink jet nozzle array 4 having the same length as the width of the transfer film 3 in accordance with the print data by energizing the heating element 2. .

The transfer film 3 is fed in a fixed direction by an endless film stretched between a pair of pulleys, as shown in FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention has the advantage that by applying ink to the transfer film after printing, the transfer film can be reused and the printed content can be kept confidential.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of an embodiment of the present invention. l...Transfer paper, 2...Print head,
3...Transfer film, 4...Ink ejection port array, 5...Ink tank.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a print head composed of a heating element; a transfer film coated with heat-melting ink to which the ink is transferred to the receiving paper according to the heating element; and a heat-melting ink coated on the transfer film after the ink is transferred. A thermal printer comprising: a row of ink jetting ports for applying ink; and an ink tank supplying ink to the row of ink jetting ports.