JPH04229762A - Picture recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily implement the efficient processing of a picture recording and to attain the picture recording with high accuracy without missing of recording. CONSTITUTION:The recording device is provided with 1st and 2nd recording heads 54, 56 to record a visual picture onto recording paper 20 and a drive mechanism 58 moving the 1st and 2nd recording heads 54, 56 in a direction (direction of arrow X) in crossing with the carrying direction (direction of arrow Y) of the recording paper 20 and in the parting direction while the visual picture by the 1st and 2nd recording heads 54,56 is recorded simultaneously.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus capable of efficiently recording visible images using a set of recording heads.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a thermal-sensitive or thermal transfer-type image recording apparatus, a recording head equipped with a thermal head is moved in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of recording paper to form a desired visible image on the recording paper. is configured to record.

[0003] In this case, when relatively large-sized recording paper (such as A1 or A0 size) is used, the width of this recording paper, that is, the length in the direction of movement of the recording head, becomes long. There is a problem that image recording work takes time.

Therefore, in order to speed up the image recording work, a plurality of recording heads are arranged at predetermined intervals, and the plurality of recording heads are arranged in the same direction and integrally with respect to the width direction of the recording paper. It has been proposed to move the

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since a plurality of recording heads are moved in the same direction with respect to the width direction of the recording paper, the recording paper is
It is pressed by the recording head and pulled in the direction of its movement. As a result, wrinkles occur on the recording paper, resulting in areas that cannot be recorded, and there is a problem in that highly accurate image recording work cannot be performed.

[0006] Also, after a pair of print heads are moved close to each other from both ends of the recording paper in the width direction, and one print head performs recording from one end of the recording paper to the center,
There is known an apparatus in which the pair of print heads are moved in a direction away from each other while the other print head performs a recording operation toward the other end of the recording paper.
(See Publication No. 10188). However, in this conventional technology, when a pair of print heads are moved toward each other, the recording paper is moved toward the center, causing wrinkles in the recording paper, and recording omissions occur when one print head is recording. This problem has been pointed out. Furthermore, since recording is performed alternately by one print head and the other print head, there is a problem that speeding up of image recording work cannot be achieved.

The present invention has been made in view of this type of problem, and is an image recording system that can easily improve the efficiency of image recording work and that also enables highly accurate image recording work without recording omissions. The purpose is to provide a recording device.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides first and second recording heads for recording a visible image on recording paper, and a method for recording a visible image by the first and second recording heads. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a drive mechanism capable of moving the first and second recording heads in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording paper and in a direction away from each other while simultaneously recording a visible image.

[0009]

[Operation] In the image recording apparatus according to the present invention configured as described above, the first and second recording heads simultaneously record a visible image while moving in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording paper and in a direction away from each other. record. Therefore, each recording head actually only needs to scan half of the length of the recording paper in the width direction, which improves the efficiency of the entire image recording operation.

Furthermore, since the first and second recording heads record images while moving in a direction away from each other,
This prevents the recording paper from being pushed toward both ends in the width direction and causing the recording paper to be pushed in either direction or toward the center. Therefore, it is possible to prevent wrinkles from forming on the recording paper and effectively prevent recording omissions.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 2 to 4, reference numeral 10 is
1 shows an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This image recording device 10 employs a so-called clamshell structure consisting of a lower cover member 12 and an upper cover member 14 that is attached to the lower cover member 12 via a fulcrum 13 so as to be openable and closable. a reading unit 18 that reads information carried on the original 16 while horizontally conveying the original 16 on the upper cover member 14; and a recording unit 22 that magnifies the read information and reproduces it on a recording paper 20. The reading section 18 and the recording section 22 are arranged vertically, and the conveyance direction of the read document 16 (direction of arrow X) and the conveyance direction of the recording paper 20 (direction of arrow Y) intersect with each other. ing.

[0013] The upper cover member 14 is provided with a read document placement portion 24, and an end portion of the read document 16 placed in the read document placement portion 24 enters into the scanner cover 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, this scanner cover 2
6, a pair of rollers 28 and 30 which constitute a sub-scanning means and are rotationally driven via a rotational drive source 27 are arranged with a predetermined distance apart, and a reading unit 18 is housed below the pair of rollers 28 and 30. has been done.

The reading unit 18 includes light sources 32a and 32b for irradiating illumination light onto the information surface of the original 16 to be read.
The light sources 32a and 32b extend in the main scanning direction (direction of arrow Y) perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow X) of the original document 16 to be read. Light L derived from the light sources 32 a and 32 b and reflected by the original to be read 16 is reflected by reflection mirrors 34 and 36 and is irradiated onto the CCD sensor 38 .

As shown in FIG. 4, a roll of recording paper 20, which is a thermal transfer paper, is housed in the lower cover member 12, and the end of the recording paper 20 is pulled out to the recording section 22 and transferred to a conveying roller. 46 and nip rollers 48. The recording paper 20 and the conveyance roller 46 are rotationally driven synchronously via timing belts 52a and 52b connected to a motor 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording section 22 includes first and second recording heads 54 and 56 for recording a visible image on the recording paper 20, and the first and second recording heads 54.
, 56 simultaneously record a visible image, the first and second recording heads 54, 56 are connected to the recording paper 2.
A drive mechanism 5 that is movable in a direction (direction of arrow X) that intersects the conveyance direction (direction of arrow Y) of 0 and in a direction that separates from each other.
8.

This drive mechanism 58 moves the first and second recording heads 54 and 56 in the directions toward and away from each other, and also includes an endless timing belt (which supports the second recording head 56 so as to be movable by a predetermined distance). (moving means) 60 and guide rollers 61a, 61b,
Both ends of this timing belt 60 are attached to pulleys 62a, 62
This pulley 62a is rotated via a pulse motor 64 and a gear train 65. The first recording head 54 is fixed to the timing belt 60, and the timing belt 60 is provided with a guide bar 66 of a predetermined length and stopper members 68a, 68b. A compression spring 70 is disposed on the guide bar 66 as a holding means for holding the second recording head 56 on the first recording head 54 side and making it movable integrally with the first recording head 54 .

The first and second recording heads 54 and 56 are
Thermal heads 72 and 74 are provided, and the heat generating parts 76 and 78 of the thermal heads 72 and 74 are separated by a predetermined distance (see FIG. 5).

The recording section 22 and the donor transport roller 8
0a and 80b are held on the upper cover member 14 side, and a flat platen 82 is arranged below the thermal heads 72 and 74.

One end of a pair of guide plates 86a and 86b is arranged close to the conveyance roller 46 and the nip roller 48,
The other ends of the guide plates 86a and 86b are the lower cover member 1.
It faces the recording paper ejection port 88 of No. 2. This discharge port 88 is provided with a cutter means 90 for cutting the recording paper 20. This cutter means 90 includes a guide rail 92 extending in the direction of arrow X and a cutter 94 that is moved along the guide rail 92.

A rolled donor film 98 is accommodated on the recording section 22 via a cassette 96 . The donor film 98 is wound around a supply core material 100 and a recovered core material 102, and is connected to the recovered core material 102 via timing belts 106a and 106b connected to a motor 104.
and the donor conveying roller 80a are rotationally driven in synchronization.

Next, the operation of the image recording apparatus 10 configured as described above will be explained.

First, in FIG. 3, the upper cover member 14
After the original to be read 16 is placed in the original to be read placement portion 24, the reading unit 18 is driven. For this reason, the roller pair 28
, 30 while the document 16 to be read is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction in the direction of arrow X, illumination light is irradiated under the biasing action of light sources 32a and 32b. The light L reflected by the information surface of the read document 16 is reflected by the reflection mirrors 34 and 36 and is
The light enters the D sensor 38, and the information on the original document 16 to be read is photoelectrically converted by the CCD sensor 38 and electrically read.

The read information is sent to the recording section 22, the motor 50 is driven, and the recording paper 20 is sent out in the direction of arrow Y.

Here, under the driving action of the pulse motor 64 constituting the recording section 22, the pulley 62a is moved via the gear train 65 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The heads 56 are rotated in a direction in which they approach each other. Therefore, under the pressing action of the first recording head 54, the second recording head 56 moves toward the stopper member 68b (in the direction of arrow X1) against the compression spring 70.

The first and second recording heads 54 and 56 are
This first recording head 5 integrally moves in the direction of arrow X1.
After the heat generating portion 76 of No. 4 passes the recording start position P, the pulse motor 64 is driven in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned direction, and the
2a is rotated in the direction of arrow B. Therefore, the first recording head 54 moves in the direction of the arrow X2, and the second recording head 56 moves along the guide bar 66 toward the stopper member 68a under the pressing action of the compression spring 70, that is, toward the arrow X2.
move in the direction.

When the heat-generating portion 76 of the thermal head 72 provided in the first recording head 54 reaches the recording start position P, the thermal head 72 is driven and the heat-generating portion 7
6 generates heat, and recording work on the recording paper 20 is started.

On the other hand, when the second recording head 56 engages with the stopper member 68a, this second recording head 56
When the thermal head 74 separates from the recording head 54 and starts moving in the direction of the arrow X1, and the heat generating part 78 of the thermal head 74 reaches the recording start position P, the heat generating part 78 generates heat and performs recording work on the recording paper 20.

In this case, in this embodiment, the first and second
The recording heads 54 and 56 perform recording work on the recording paper 20 while moving in a direction away from each other via a drive mechanism 58. Therefore, the recording paper 20 is pressed toward both ends of the recording paper, so when recording is performed while moving multiple recording heads in the same direction, or when a pair of print heads are moved toward the center of the recording paper. The recording paper 20 will not be moved to one side or to the center, unlike when recording while recording. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of wrinkles, etc., and it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of partially unrecordable areas on the recording paper 20, leading to recording omissions, thereby facilitating high-precision image recording work. This has the effect of being able to carry out the following.

Further, the second recording head 56 is disposed so as to be independently movable by a predetermined distance with respect to the timing belt 60 via a compression spring 70 and stopper members 68a, 68b. Therefore, as mentioned above, the pulse motor 6
4, the recording operation can be reliably performed from the recording start position P via the respective heat generating parts 76 and 78.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the first and second recording heads 54 and 56 are simultaneously moved from approximately the center of the recording paper 20 to both ends thereof while performing the recording operation. Therefore, compared to the conventional method in which recording work is performed by driving a pair of print heads alternately, it becomes possible to quickly perform image recording all at once, and the efficiency of image recording work can be easily improved. This effect can be obtained. Furthermore, if it is not necessary to record to both ends of the recording paper 20, the first and second recording heads 54, 5
By moving the recording head 6 toward the center of the recording paper 20, the image recording work by the first and second recording heads 54 and 56 can be performed all at once efficiently and at high speed.

Here, the donor film 98 is attached to the motor 1.
The donor core material 102 is sequentially fed from the supply core material 100 side via the recovered core material 102 which rotates under the action of the donor core material 102 and the donor conveyance roller 80a. Then, the thermal heads 72 and 74 and the platen 8
2, the ink on the donor film 98 is melted and transferred onto the recording paper 20, and a desired image is reproduced on the recording paper 20.

After the reproduction is completed, the recording paper 20 is transferred to the conveyance roller 4.
6 and the nip roller 48, the guide plates 86a, 86b
It passes through and is led out from the outlet 88 of the lower cover member 12. When the recording paper 20 is led out to a predetermined position, the operator moves the cutter 94 along the guide rail 92 to cut the recording paper 20.

In this embodiment, the case where thermal transfer paper is used as the recording paper 20 has been described, but thermal paper can also be used. In that case, since the donor film 98 becomes unnecessary, the donor film 98 is inserted into the cassette 9.
6 and taken out from the lower cover member 12.

Next, a recording section 105 constituting an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment is shown in FIG. In addition,
The same reference numerals as those of the recording unit 22 according to the first embodiment indicate the same components, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The recording unit 105 includes a tension spring 107 constituting a holding means and a locking member 108 fixed to the timing belt 60. One end of the tension spring 107 is held by the locking member 108, and The other end is fixed to the second recording head 56. Therefore, in the recording section 105 according to the second embodiment, the second recording head 56 is pressed and supported by the stopper member 68a under the tension action of the tension spring 107, and has the same operation and effect as the recording section 22 described above. has. In particular, the second recording head 56 and the pulley 62
Since there is no need for a stopper member between the recording part 105 and the recording part 105, there is an advantage that the entire length of the recording part 105 in the direction of the arrow X can be shortened.

Furthermore, a recording section 110 constituting an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Note that the same reference numerals as in the recording unit 22 according to the first embodiment indicate the same components, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

The recording section 110 includes a locking pawl 112 constituting a holding means, and the locking pawl 112 is swingably supported by the first recording head 54 via a shaft 114. This locking pawl 112 has a protrusion 116 that is located close to the shaft 114 and bulges upward, and a second recording head 56 .
It has a claw portion 118 that extends to the side and can hold the side portion of the second recording head 56. A guide plate 120 is arranged above the locking pawl 112, and this guide plate 120 has a
Convex portion 12 that engages with protrusion 116 of locking pawl 112
2 is formed (see FIG. 8).

In such a configuration, the pulse motor 6
Once the pulley 62a is rotated in the direction of arrow A under the drive action of No. 4, the first recording head 54 moves in the direction of arrow X1, while the second recording head 56 moves in the direction of arrow X1.
It moves in the direction of arrow X2 under the pressing action of. And the first
When the recording head 54 and the second recording head 56 reach the engagement position Q, the locking pawl 112 engages with the second recording head 56 and swings upward about the shaft 114 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the second recording head 56 is held on the first recording head 54 side by the claw portion 118 of the locking claw 112.

Next, the pulse motor 64 is driven in the opposite direction to the above, the pulley 62a is rotated in the direction of arrow B, and the first recording head 54 and the first recording head 54 are connected to the locking pawl 1.
The second recording head 56 held via the recording head 12 moves together in the direction of arrow X2. This first recording head 54
When the heat generating portion 76 passes through the recording start position P and reaches the release position R, the protrusion 116 of the locking pawl 112 touches the guide plate 12.
This locking pawl 112 engages with the convex portion 122 of the shaft 1.
It swings upward using 14 as a fulcrum. For this reason, the locking claw 1
12 is released from holding the second recording head 56,
Only the first recording head 54 moves in the direction of arrow X2, and the second recording head 56 engages with the stopper member 68a and moves in the direction of arrow X1. This allows the first and second recording heads 54 and 56 to move away from each other while simultaneously performing recording operations.

[0042]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the first and second recording heads perform image recording work simultaneously while moving in a direction that intersects with the conveying direction of the recording paper and in a direction that separates them from each other, it is easy to improve the efficiency of this image recording work. It will be done.

Furthermore, since image recording is performed when the first and second recording heads move in a direction away from each other, the recording paper may be moved in one direction or toward the center during the image recording operation. This makes it possible to effectively prevent wrinkles from forming on the recording paper and causing recording omissions. This allows highly accurate and efficient image recording work to be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the configuration of the image recording device.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional front view of the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the image recording device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the operation of a recording section that constitutes the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the operation of a recording section that constitutes an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the operation of a recording section that constitutes an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a schematic side view of the recording section shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10...Image recording device 16...Reading manuscript 18...Reading section 20...Recording paper 22... Recording section 54, 56...recording head 58... Drive mechanism 60...Timing belt 64...Pulse motor 68a, 68b...stopper member 70...Compression spring 72, 74...Thermal head 76, 78...fever site 82...Platen 98...Donor film 105...recording section 107...Tension spring 108...Locking member 110...recording section 112...Latching claw 116...Protrusion 118...Claw part 122... Convex portion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. First and second recording heads for recording a visible image on a recording paper; and a first and second recording head that records a visible image by the first and second recording heads at the same time. and a drive mechanism that is movable in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the recording paper and in a direction away from each other. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism moves the first and second recording heads in directions toward and away from each other, and is capable of displacing the second recording head by a predetermined distance. An image recording apparatus comprising: a moving means for supporting the second recording head; and a holding means for holding the second recording head on the first recording head side so that the second recording head can be moved integrally with the first recording head.