JPH04216984A - Ink ribbon - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effect cleaning of heat-generating body part of a recording head during recording, and to prevent defective printing like omission of dots by a method wherein cleaning parts are provided at fixed intervals to a ribbon base on its surface where contact with the recording head is made. CONSTITUTION:Cleaning parts 26 are formed at fixed intervals to an ink ribbon 25 on its surface where contact with a recording head 1 is made. Each of the cleaning parts 26 is made in a fixed width that is equivalent to a total length in which ink areas in colors yellow, magenta, and cyan are put together, and a mark (1d) corresponding to each of the cleaning parts 26 is provided on one side of the ink ribbon. The cleaning parts 26 are made up by omitting partially a back coat 20 on the recording head 1 side of a ribbon base 21, and by forming a fiber layer or roughness on the omitted parts. On parts corresponding to the cleaning parts 26 on the reverse surface of the ribbon base 21, the side which touches recording paper 4, an overcoat layer 24, an ink layer 25, and an undercoat layer 22 are not provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of an ink ribbon, and more particularly to the structure of an ink ribbon used in a thermal transfer recording device that thermally transfers heat-melting ink onto paper.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a thermal transfer recording apparatus equipped with a conventional ink ribbon, which records color (multicolor) images by a recording method called a field sequential swing method. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a line-type recording head (thermal head) with a heat generating resistor array formed on its surface. One line of ink can be transferred to the printer. The paper 4 is supplied from a paper roll 3 and is set so as to travel in the direction of arrow A through a space between it and a pressure roller 8 that is in contact with the platen 2. On the other hand, the ink ribbon 7 is supplied from the supply roll 5, and is set so that it is separated from the paper 4 after ink transfer and is wound up by the take-up roll 6. This ink ribbon 7 has a width equivalent to the width of the paper 4, and has respective ink areas made of heat-melting ink colored in three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan on the contact surface with the paper 4. The marks 10a, 10b, and 10c corresponding to the transfer start position of each color are printed on one side in advance, and are provided sequentially with a dimension L' slightly larger than the dimension L of the recording area 9 set on the paper 4. A sensor 11 for detecting the marks 10a, 10b, and 10c is arranged between the supply roll 5 and the recording head 1. The recording head 1 is supported with a fulcrum 13 attached to a bracket 12 as the center of rotation, and is kept pressed against the platen 2 by a spring 14 during ink transfer. When the ribbon 7 is running to set each ink color to the transfer start position, the bracket 12 is rotated against the spring 14 by the pressing force of the cam 16 rotated by the motor 15, thereby moving the head down and away from the platen 2. It has become something to do.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional ink ribbon 7. As shown in FIG. As seen in this figure, the ink ribbon 7
is a ribbon base material 21 such as a heat-resistant PET film.
A back coat layer 20 is provided on one side, that is, the surface in contact with the recording head 1, for smooth running with respect to the recording head 1.
At the same time, an undercoat layer 22 for matting the ink is formed on the opposite surface, and the heat-melting inks of the three primary colors of yellow, magenta and cyan are sequentially applied onto this undercoat layer 22. to form an ink layer 23 forming ink regions of each color, and furthermore, this ink layer 2
The structure is such that an overcoat layer 24 is formed on the surface of the sheet 3, that is, the surface that comes in contact with the paper 4, for preventing background smudges and sealing rough paper. Note that the heat-melting ink here is solidified at room temperature, flows when heated, and adheres to and permeates the paper 4.

In this configuration, color recording on the paper 4 is performed as follows. First, when the power is turned on, the cam 16 rotated by the motor 15 presses the bracket 12 to move the recording head 1 down and away from the platen 2, and runs the ink ribbon 7 until the sensor 11 detects the mark 10a. An initial operation for positioning is performed. As a result, when the transfer start position (tip position) of the yellow ink area is positioned at the transfer position between the recording head 1 and the platen 2, the pressing force on the bracket 12 by the cam 16 is released, and the recording head 1 is moved. Pressed toward the platen 2 by the spring 14, the paper 4 and the ink ribbon 7 are sandwiched between the recording head 1 and the platen 2. Recording is started in this state, and yellow ink is transferred to the recording area 9 of the paper 4. This yellow ink transfer is performed by repeating an operation in which the platen 2 rotates a predetermined amount and performs a new line every time the recording head 1 transfers one line, and the recording paper 4 moves in the direction of arrow A accordingly. The ink ribbon 7 also moves in the direction of arrow B and is wound up by the winding roll 6.

When the transfer of the yellow ink to the recording area 9 is completed, the recording head 1 is moved down by the motor 15 and the cam 16 and separated from the platen 2, and then the platen 2 is rotated in the reverse direction and the yellow ink is transferred to the paper 4. It is sent back in the direction opposite to arrow A by the amount sent at the time. Also, at this time, the ink ribbon 7 moves the mark 10b to the sensor 11.
As a result, the transfer start position (leading edge position) of the magenta ink area is positioned at the transfer position between the recording head 1 and the platen 2, and this magenta ink portion is transferred to the yellow ink. The recording area 9 is overlapped with the recorded recording area 9. In this state, the recording head 1 is again pressed toward the platen 2 by the spring 14, and the paper 4 and ink ribbon 7 are sandwiched between it and the platen 2, and the magenta ink is transferred to the recording area 9 in the same way as the yellow ink. Ru. When the transfer of magenta ink is completed, cyan ink is transferred to the recording area 9 to which the magenta ink and yellow ink have been transferred in the same manner as described above. As above, one screen (
Color images of characters, figures, etc. for 1 page are recorded.

However, according to the conventional ink ribbon 7 described above, static electricity is generated due to friction with the paper 4 every time ink is transferred, and this static electricity causes the ink ribbon 7 to collect dirt, dust, etc. on the traveling route. adhere to. Therefore, part of the dust, etc. that adheres particularly to the back coat layer 20 side accumulates on the heating element of the recording head 1, cutting off the heat from the heating element, resulting in printing defects such as missing dots. There was a problem that occurred.

[0007]

Problem to be Solved by the Invention The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the accumulation of dirt, dust, etc. in the heating element of the recording head causes printing defects such as missing dots.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an ink ribbon in which an ink layer of heat-melting ink is formed on the surface of a heat-resistant ribbon base material that contacts paper. This device is characterized in that cleaning portions are provided at regular intervals on the side of the contact surface with the head. In the present invention having such a configuration, the heating element part of the recording head is cleaned at regular intervals during recording by the cleaning part provided at regular intervals, so that dot dropouts and the like due to accumulation of dust on the heating element part can be avoided. The objective of eliminating printing defects is achieved, and it becomes possible to record images of excellent quality by thermal transfer.

[0009]

[Embodiment] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an ink ribbon according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1(a) is a front view seen from the side of the recording head, and FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view. In the figure, 25 indicates an ink ribbon, and this ink ribbon 25 is connected to the ribbon base material 2.
1. A structure having a back coat layer 20, an undercoat layer 22, an ink layer 23, and an overcoat layer 24, and marks 10a on one side corresponding to ink areas of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are the ink layer 23. ,1
In terms of printing 0b and 10c, the conventional ink ribbon 7
It is the same as , but the structure is different in the following points.

That is, the ink ribbon 2 according to this embodiment
5 is a fixed area on the contact surface with the recording head 1 (see Figure 2) at regular intervals, for example, as shown in Figure 1-(a), at a constant length that is the sum of the ink areas of each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan. A cleaning portion 26 of a width is formed, and a mark 10d is provided on one side corresponding to the cleaning portion 26. This cleaning section 25 is shown in FIG. 1-(b).
As shown in FIG. 2, the back coat 20 on the side of the recording head 1 in the ribbon base material 21 is partially omitted, and a fiber layer or unevenness is provided in the omitted portion. The overcoat layer 24, the ink layer 23, and the undercoat layer 22 are not provided on the surface opposite to the paper 21, that is, the surface in contact with the paper 4. Here, the cleaning part 26 is formed by coating the ribbon base material 21 with a thin layer of adhesive, and then attaching paper fibers, cloth fibers, or polymer fibers to the adhesive to form a layer of a predetermined thickness. A roller with many small irregularities formed on its surface is kept at a high temperature and is passed through the ribbon base material 21 while pressing it, so that many small irregularities are formed on the ribbon base material 21. There are methods such as processing, and a structure in which the fiber layer or the layer on which the unevenness is formed is impregnated with silicon particles or the like may be used.

Next, the operation of the above-described configuration will be explained. First, the ink ribbon 25 is set in a thermal transfer recording apparatus in place of the conventional ink ribbon 7 shown in FIG. 2, and a cleaning operation of the recording head 1 is performed before the ink transfer operation when the power is turned on. This cleaning operation of the recording head 1 is performed by moving the ink ribbon 25 while the recording head 1 is moved down by the motor 15 and cam 16 and away from the platen 2 until the detection sensor 11 detects the mark 10d. The cleaning section 25 is cued up. That is, the cleaning start end of the cleaning section 26 is positioned above the recording head 1. Thereafter, the recording head 1 is pressed against the platen 2 side by the spring 14 to feed the paper 4, and as a result, the ink ribbon 25 is caused to travel along with the paper 4 by the length of the cleaning section 26. The heating element section is cleaned by the cleaning section 26 to remove dirt, dust, etc. When cleaning is completed, ink of each color is transferred. This ink transfer operation is carried out in the same way as in the conventional case, so its explanation will be omitted, but as described above, the ink ribbon 26 of this embodiment has a constant length for each color ink area of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Since the width cleaning section 26 is provided, the heating element section of the recording head 1 is cleaned by the cleaning section 26 in the same way as described above every time these three primary color inks are transferred, and dust, dirt, etc. are removed. .

In the above-described embodiment, the ink ribbon 25 for color image recording having ink areas of three primary colors has been described, but it is also effective to provide the cleaning section 26 in an ink ribbon of a single color such as black or red. Of course that is true.

[0013]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, the present invention provides a cleaning section at regular intervals on the contact surface side of the ribbon base material with the recording head, and cleans the heating element section of the recording head at regular intervals during recording. Because of this, there may be dust on the heating element.
It is possible to eliminate printing defects such as missing dots due to dust accumulation, and it is possible to achieve the effect that it is possible to record images of excellent quality by thermal transfer.

[0014]

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of an ink ribbon according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a thermal transfer recording device equipped with a conventional ink ribbon.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of a conventional ink ribbon.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Recording head 2 Platen 4 Paper 10a-10d mark 11 Detection sensor 20 Back coat layer 21 Ribbon base material 22 Undercoat layer 23 Ink layer 24 Overcoat layer 25 Ink ribbon 26 Cleaning section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon in which an ink layer of heat-melting ink is formed on the surface of a heat-resistant ribbon base material that comes into contact with paper, and the surface of the ribbon base material that comes into contact with a recording head is coated at regular intervals. An ink ribbon characterized by having a cleaning section for each section.