JPH04166377A - Ink donor film and transfer type color image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ink donor film easy to prepare and capable of corresponding to recording apparatuses of various sizes and to stably feed the ink donor film by repeatedly forming colorant layers having mutually different colors an a base material in a predetermined order over the whole width of the base material in a feed direction and forming detection marks showing the positions of the respective colorant layers to the colorant layers within the width of the base material. CONSTITUTION:An ink donor film 1 is formed by applying a colorant layer 3 to one entire surface of a base material 2 composed of a transparent synthetic resin film and an yellow part 3Y, a magenta part 3M, a cyan part 3C and a black part 3B are repeatedly formed to the colorant layer 3 at a definite interval. Further, detection marks 4 for positioning the ink donor film 1, that is, for cueing the same are printed on the colorant layer 3. Since the colorant layer is formed over the entire surface of the ink donor film 1, the detection marks 4 are printed corresponding to the size of recording paper and the ink donor film can be prepared corresponding to recording paper having a different size by slit cutting.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a transfer type color image recording device such as a printer that records a color image by thermal transfer, and an ink donor used in this transfer type color image recording device. Regarding film.

[Conventional technology]

There are various types of color image recording apparatuses, one of which is a transfer type color image recording apparatus that uses thermal transfer. This transfer-type color image recording apparatus uses an ink donor film on which inks of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, are repeatedly applied in sequence. When recording color images, the recording paper and ink donor film are sandwiched between the platen drum and the thermal head, and the thermal head is driven with an image signal corresponding to each color to generate heat in the desired pixel area. Then, the paint in the ink donor film is transferred to the recording paper by sublimation or melting. In this case, in order to record an image in the correct color and at the correct position, it is necessary to detect where each color portion of the ink donor film is located and where the beginning of each color set is located.

For this reason, on the ink donor film used in conventional transfer-type color image recording devices, a leading color detection mark is printed on the first color part of each color set, and a first color detection mark is printed on each color part of magenta, cyan, and black. Detection marks for each color are printed on the When recording an image, when the first color detection mark is detected, an image is first recorded in yellow, and thereafter, each time a detection mark for each color is detected, magenta and cyan are recorded.

Recording is done in black order. As a result, a color image is formed on the recording paper using a combination of four colors.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, it is necessary to print detection marks for cueing in each color part on the ink donor film for color image recording, but in the conventional ink donor film, the detection marks shown in FIGS. As shown in the figure, an ink coating portion 31 is formed on one surface of a base material 30, and this ink coating portion 3
A margin portion 32 is provided on both sides or one side of 1, and the margin portion 3
2 was provided with a detection mark 33. Therefore, there were disadvantages as described below. Note that A in the figure is the effective print width.

(1) Since it is necessary to create a blank space 32 on the ink donor film, a special printing plate for ink application is required for each different width of the ink donor film. In other words, when the widths of the ink donor films are different, a printing plate for ink application is prepared for each ink donor film, and printing is performed by replacing the plates.As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. Ink application section 3 of W,, W2
11.31b must be formed, which increases the manufacturing cost and takes time and effort. In addition, 3
3a and 33b are detection marks. In addition, the margin part 32
The surplus portions a and 32b are discarded after being cut into slits, resulting in a lot of wasted material.

(2) During ink application, the ink must not protrude from the ink application area 31 to the margin area 32, so the amount of ink, viscosity, printing pressure, etc. must be precisely controlled, making manufacturing difficult.

(3) Manufactured original ink donor films of a fixed width can only be used for recording devices of a fixed paper size, and ink donor films of different widths can be used for recording devices of different sizes. It is necessary to use products manufactured by printing detection marks on each independently. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the ink donor film increases.

(4) Since there is a difference in the thickness of the ink donor film between the margin part 32 and the ink application part 31, when the ink donor film is wound up, the diameter D1 of the ink application part 31 is Since the diameter of the margin portion 32 is smaller than that of the ink donor film, uneven winding occurs, making it difficult to wind up the ink donor film with a stable force. Therefore, uneven conveyance occurs and the reproduced image quality deteriorates.

The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is easy to manufacture, compatible with recording devices of various sizes, and capable of stable conveyance in the recording device. The purpose is to provide an ink donor film that can

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transfer type color image recording device suitable for using the above-mentioned ink donor film.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the ink donor film of the present invention is provided by repeatedly forming coloring material layers having different colors on a base material in a predetermined order in the transport direction and over the entire width of the base material. , a detection mark indicating the position of each coloring material layer is formed within the width of the previous coloring material layer.

It is preferable that the coloring material layer is made of a material that has a property of transmitting infrared rays, and that the detection mark is made of a material that has a property of blocking infrared rays.

Further, the transfer type color image recording device of the present invention uses the above ink donor film, and transfers color materials of each color onto recording paper by selectively applying heat to the ink donor film. The ink donor film is composed of a thermal head, an infrared light emitting element, and an infrared light receiving element, and is arranged corresponding to a position through which the detection mark of the ink donor film passes, and identifies the mark by a change in the amount of infrared light received by the infrared light receiving element. The present invention is characterized by comprising a mark sensor and an ink donor film transport control device that controls transport of the ink donor film based on the output of the mark sensor.

[Effect]

In the present invention, ink is applied over the entire surface of the ink donor film to form a coloring material layer, and detection marks are provided within the width of this coloring material layer. That is, the coloring material layer is formed up to both ends of the ink donor film.

When the ink donor film is wound into a roll, the diameter of the roll is affected by the thickness of the ink donor film, but the thickness of the coloring material layer of the ink donor film is constant;
Since the detection mark portion occupies only a small area, the diameter of the roll increases only slightly due to the thickness of the detection mark, and the diameter of the roll remains approximately constant over the entire width.

Further, in the transfer type color image recording device of the present invention,
Since the presence or absence of the detection mark is detected using infrared rays, even if the detection mark is printed on top of the coloring material layer, the coloring material layer is made of a material that is transparent to infrared rays, and the detection mark can be printed using infrared rays. By forming the detection mark using a material that has a light-shielding property, it becomes possible to distinguish the coloring material layer from the detection mark based on the difference in the amount of incident infrared rays.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, features of the present invention will be specifically described based on examples with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the ink donor film of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the ink donor film 1 includes a base material 2 made of a transparent synthetic resin film such as PET, and a coloring material containing heat-fusible or heat-sublimable pigments of various colors on the entire surface of one side. Layer 3 is formed by coating or the like. Note that A in the figure indicates the effective printing width. This color material layer 3
As shown in Figure 3, yellow part 3Y,
A magenta portion 3M, a cyan portion 3C, and a black portion 113B are repeatedly formed at regular intervals.

Further, on the coloring material layer 3, a detection mark 4 for determining the position of the ink donor film 10 made of a pigment such as carbon black or the like is printed. In addition, base material 2
A heat-resistant layer 5 made of surfactant and resin is formed on the other surface.

Next, a transfer type color image recording apparatus in which the above ink donor film 1 is used will be explained.

The above-mentioned ink donor film 1 is wound around a supply roll 6 as shown in FIG. a platen drum 7 that rotates in the direction;
The recording paper 9 wound around the platen drum 7 passes between the recording paper 9 and the thermal head 8 which is pressed against the platen drum 7 . The thermal head 8 is moved in the direction of arrow C with respect to the platen drum 7 by a motor bag (not shown) or the like.
It can move toward and away from the platen drum 7 in any direction, and comes into pressure contact with the platen drum 7 only during image recording, and retreats from the platen drum 7 during other periods.

The ink donor film 1 that has passed through the pressure contact position between the thermal head 8 and the platen drum 7 is taken up by a take-up roll 11 via a guide roller 10 . The guide roller 10 has a light reflecting surface, and first and 9J2 mark sensors 12a and 12b are arranged near the guide roller 10 at positions sandwiching the ink donor film 1 therebetween. As schematically shown in FIG. 3, these mark sensors 12a, 12b detect the leading color detection mark 4a and each color detection mark 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e as the ink donor film 1 moves in the direction of the arrow.
is placed in a position where it passes. Each mark sensor 12
a and 12b are equipped with an infrared light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the infrared light from the light emitting element is reflected on the surface of the guide roller 10 and enters the light receiving element. A material that transmits infrared rays is selected as the pigment for the coloring material layer 4 of the ink donor film 1, and a material that blocks not only visible light but also infrared rays, such as carbon black, is used as the detection mark 4. .

Therefore, when there is no ink donor film 1 in each mark sensor 12a, 12b, or when a portion of the ink donor film 1 other than the detection mark 4 is passing through, there is light incident on the light receiving element and the mark sensor is turned on, for example, and when the detection mark 4 portion is passing, no light is incident on the light receiving element, and the mark sensor is turned off, for example. Each mark sensor 12a, 12
The output b is supplied to the ink donor film feed control device 13, and the rotation of the take-up motor 14 that rotationally drives the take-up roll 11 is controlled depending on the presence or absence of the detection mark 4.

Next, the basic operation of the above-mentioned transfer type color image recording apparatus will be explained.

When the power of the transfer type color image recording apparatus is turned on, first, the thermal head 8 goes into a retracted state, and the platen drum 7 is driven by a drum motor (not shown).
8. A gripper (not shown) for holding the recording paper 9 rotates so as to come to the paper feeding position. Furthermore, the ink donor film feed control device 13 starts the rotation of the take-up motor 14, and accordingly the take-up roll 11 rotates to start moving the ink donor film 1 in the direction of the arrow. Then, when the detection marks 4a and 4b of the ink donor film 1 are simultaneously detected by the mark sensors 12a and 12b, the ink donor film feed control device 13 stops the rotation of the winding motor 140, and the ink donor film 1 is stopped. As a result, the yellow portion 3Y of the ink donor film 1 is positioned between the platen drum 7 and the thermal head 8. That is, the cueing of the coloring material string is completed.

Next, when a print start command is sent from a host device (not shown), the recording device starts receiving red, blue, and green image data sequentially sent from the host device. In addition,
Image data is transmitted from the host device to the recording device in synchronization with the timing of recording in the recording device. The received red, blue, and green image data is processed by a color correction circuit (
(not shown) into yellow, magenta, cyan, and black print data, which are sequentially supplied to the thermal head 8.

Prior to printing, the recording paper 9 is held by a gripper (not shown) of the platen drum 7 and rotated to the printing position, and then the thermal head 8 is pressed against the platen drum 7.
Then, rotation of the platen drum 7, conveyance of the ink donor film 1, and printing by the thermal head 8 are started. That is, the host device first transmits yellow image data, and the thermal head 8 starts recording the yellow image on the recording paper 9.

After printing one color, move the thermal head 8 away from the platen drum 7 and mark the detection mark 4C for magenta 63M.
is detected by the second mark sensor 12b, -H
The movement of the ink donor film 1 is stopped. As a result, the magenta portion 4M is cued up. Thereafter, as in the case of yellow, a magenta image is recorded superimposed on the yellow image on the recording paper 9.

Similarly, cyan and black images are multiple-transferred, and a color image is recorded by four rotations of the platen drum 7.

The ink donor film 1 after being used for transfer is
As shown in the figure, the ink donor film 1 is wound up on a take-up roll 11. In this embodiment, the coloring material layer 3 is formed up to the side edge of the ink donor film 1, and the detection mark 4 is formed in the circumferential direction. Since the ink donor film 1 occupies only a small portion, the diameter of the ink donor film 1 is mainly determined by the thickness of the coloring material layer 3, and as shown in FIG. , is substantially constant in the width direction of the take-up roll 11. Therefore, it becomes possible to wind up the ink donor film l with a stable force, eliminating uneven conveyance. Therefore, high quality images can be reproduced.

In the above embodiment, the detection mark 4 was printed over the coloring material layer 3, but as shown in FIG. , the detection mark 4 may be printed directly on the base material 2. In this case, since the thickness of the coloring material layer 3 portion and the thickness of the detection mark 4 portion can be made equal, the diameter of the ink donor film 1 wound around the take-up roll 11 becomes completely constant in the width direction. This effect can be obtained. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, a detection mark 4 may be printed on the surface opposite to the color material layer 3.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned ink donor film will be described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the manufacturing process of the ink donor film shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. yellow, magenta,
4 color material printing rolls 1 corresponding to 4 colors of cyan and black
5Y, 15M, 15C, 15K are provided,
Furthermore, each color material printing roll 15Y, 15M, 15
C.

A mark printing roll 16 is disposed downstream of the mark printing roll 15. Each color printing o-le 15Y, 15M, 15C
, 15K D has yellow, magenta,
Printing plates 17Y, 17M, 17C, and 17K each having a circumference of 174 are attached for printing cyan and black color materials, respectively. In addition, the mark printing roll 16
A plurality of printing plates 18 are attached according to the locations where detection marks are to be printed.

When the base material 3 of the ink donor film 1 is conveyed from left to right in FIG. Painted.

The length of this painted area in the transport direction of the ink donor film 1 is 174, which is the length of one set of colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. After the yellow coloring material has been applied, the base material 3 is then printed with a magenta coloring material by a coloring material printing roll 15M. At this time, the arrangement of each color material printing roll is set so that it does not overlap with the area that has already been painted with yellow, and so that there is no gap.

Thereafter, cyan and black coloring materials are similarly printed by the coloring material printing rolls 15C and 15K, and yellow, magenta, cyan and black coloring materials are repeatedly formed over the entire surface of the base material 3, and the ink donor film 1 will be manufactured.

Further, a detection mark 4 is printed on the color material layer 3 of the ink donor film 1 by the mark printing roll 16 . Through the above steps, an ink donor film as shown in FIG. 3 is manufactured.

Next, we will discuss the manufacturing advantages obtained by forming a coloring material layer over the entire surface of the ink donor film as in this example.

The synthetic resin film such as PET, which is the material of the base material 3 of the ink donor film 1, has a relatively wide fixed width (for example, 1 m) as an available product, and it depends on the transfer type color image arrangement used. It is necessary to cut the film into slits depending on the type of recording device to obtain a base material of a predetermined width depending on the size of the recording paper.

At this time, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Since the coloring material layer 3 (indicated by diagonal lines) is formed over the entire surface of the ink donor film, the detection mark 4 is printed according to the size of the recording paper, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and then By cutting slits at the positions indicated by broken lines, ink donor films compatible with recording paper of different sizes can be manufactured from a common source pressure shown in FIG. 9.

Therefore, a common color material printing roll can be used regardless of the width of the ink donor film to be manufactured, and the manufacture of the ink donor film is facilitated. Furthermore, since the coloring material layer is formed over the entire surface of the ink donor film, there is no need to increase printing precision, which also facilitates manufacturing.

Furthermore, if the required width of the ink donor film is narrower than the width of the original pressure ink donor film, multiple ink donors can be made from one original pressure ink donor film as shown in FIG. A film can be manufactured, and manufacturing efficiency is improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the coloring material layer is formed over the entire surface of the ink donor film, the diameter when the ink donor film is wound is constant, and the winding force is stable. .

Therefore, a high-quality image can be reproduced without any positional deviation occurring during image formation. Furthermore, it becomes possible to manufacture ink donor films of different widths or to manufacture a plurality of ink donor films from an ink donor film of original pressure, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the ink donor film of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the ink donor film shown in FIG. 1 cut away, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the transfer type color image recording device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the ink donor film according to the present embodiment in a rolled up state. FIG. 6 and gJ7 are partially cutaway perspective views showing other different embodiments of the ink donor film, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the manufacturing process of the ink donor film, and FIG. Figures 1-12 are explanatory diagrams showing the process of manufacturing an ink donor film of a desired width from an ink donor film at original pressure, Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a conventional ink donor film, and Figure 14 is shown in Figure 13. A perspective view showing a part of the ink donor film cut away;
FIGS. 15 and 16 are explanatory diagrams showing the process of manufacturing an ink donor film of a desired width from a conventional ink donor film under original pressure, and FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the conventional ink donor film in a wound state. It is a diagram. 1: Ink donor film 2; Base material 3: Coloring material layer 3a: Notch part 3Y: Yellow part 3M: Magenta 3C Nidish part 3: Black n
4: Detection mark 5: Heat-resistant layer 4a: Leading color detection mark 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e: Each color detection mark 6: Supply roll 7: Platen drum 8: Thermal head 9: Recording paper 10: Guide roller 11: Take-up roll 12a
, 12b: Arc sensor 13: Ink donor film feed control device 14: Take-up motor 15Y, 15M, 15C, 15: Color material printing roll 16: Mark printing roll 17Y, 17M, 17C, 17, 18: Printing plate 30 : Base material 31, 31a, 31b : Ink application part 32, 32a
, 32b: Margin area 33.33a, 33b:
Detection mark patent applicant Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Agent Masu Kobori Figure 13 Figure 14 I Figure 15 Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 6 Plan 7 Figure 9 S tO diagram

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Coloring material layers having mutually different colors are repeatedly formed on a substrate in a predetermined order in the conveyance direction and over the entire width of the substrate, and the width of the coloring material layer is An ink donor film characterized in that a detection mark is formed therein to indicate the position of each coloring material layer. 2. The ink donor film according to claim 1, wherein the coloring material layer has a property of transmitting infrared rays, and the detection mark has a property of blocking infrared rays. 3. A transfer-type color image recording device using the ink donor film according to claim 2, comprising: a thermal head that transfers color materials of each color onto recording paper by selectively applying heat to the ink donor film; , a mark sensor comprising an infrared light emitting element and an infrared light receiving element, disposed corresponding to a position through which the detection mark of the ink donor film passes, and identifying the mark by a change in the amount of infrared light received by the infrared light receiving element; , and an ink donor film transport control device that controls transport of the ink donor film based on the output of the mark sensor.