JPH04265778A - Thermal transfer recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent printing irregularity and the background staining on recording paper in a thermal transfer recording apparatus. CONSTITUTION:The sub-inking roller 27 having a smooth surface coming into contact with the ink layer on the surface of the heat-resistant ink film 1 supplied by an ink replenishing member 19 to rotate in the direction reverse to the advance direction of the heat-resistant ink film 1 on the contact surface is provided and, even when the irregularity of the transferred ink layer is generated because of the sand grain surface of the ink replenishing member 19, the surface of the ink layer is rubbed with the sub-inking roller 27 to smooth the ink layer.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device using a thermal head and an ink ribbon, and more particularly to a thermal transfer recording device that uses a recyclable ink ribbon and is capable of printing on a medium such as plain paper. It relates to a recording device.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, the method of forming an ink layer on the surface of a heat-resistant film using an ink replenishing member is to fill ink into the recesses of the ink replenishing member, which has a grained surface, and apply ink to the surface of the heat-resistant film. A method of coating is known.

Another method is to use an ink replenishing member made of stainless steel or bronze powder that is hardened by sintering, and the mesh has a diameter that can filter fine particles of about 20 to 100 μm. A known method is to apply ink to the surface of a heat-resistant film by causing the ink to seep out from within.

0004

However, in the former method, as shown in FIG. This has the disadvantage that the transferred ink layer becomes uneven due to the shape, making it difficult to print clearly. Furthermore, since the ink layer is uneven, there is a problem in that background smear occurs during the process of contact with recording paper.

[0005] Also in the latter method, the surface of the ink layer is uneven due to the rough surface of the mesh, resulting in the same problem as described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel thermal transfer recording device capable of solving the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional technology. It's about doing.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the thermal transfer recording method according to the present invention uses a heat-melting ink that is solid at room temperature and increases fluidity when heated to a heat-resistant film. An ink layer is formed on one side of this heat-resistant film using an ink replenishing member in contact with the ink layer, and printing is performed by locally heating this ink layer using a thermal head and transferring the melted ink to the recording paper. In a thermal transfer recording device, a sub-inking roller having a smooth surface that contacts an ink layer on the surface of a heat-resistant ink film supplied by an ink refilling member and rotates in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the heat-resistant ink film at the contact surface is provided. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent uneven printing and scumming on the recording paper, which occur due to the grained surface of the ink refilling member.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment according to the present invention,
2 is a cross-sectional view of a line type thermal transfer recording device having a reinking mechanism. FIG. 2 is a state diagram when the cover is opened to replace the heat resistant film in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the reinking mechanism in FIG. 1. It is an enlarged view.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, in 1, a heat-melting ink 12 made of a mixture of wax, resin, and carbon black is applied to the outer surface of a heat-resistant film made of polyimide or polyaramid. It is an ink film, and a part of its outer surface is in contact with the platen roller 8 via the thermal head 3 by the biasing force of the head pressure spring 16, with the recording paper 2 interposed therebetween. Guide rollers 4a to 4c guide the movement of the ink film 1. The ink film 1 is supplied by a supply roll 25, and after being printed by the thermal head 3, it is wound up by a take-up roll 26. The supply roll 25, take-up roll 26, and guide rollers 4a, 4b are removably housed in a tray 23, as shown in FIG.

A film end sensor 15 detects whether the ink film 1 wound around the supply roll 25 has run out. The ink storage section 20 is made of a metal such as aluminum that has good thermal conductivity, and stores the heat-melting ink 12 therein. Here, a heater 30 that maintains a certain temperature slightly higher than the melting point of the heat-fusible ink 12 is fixed to the bottom surface of the ink accommodating portion 20. is dissolved in liquid form. The ink replenishing member 19 is made of a stainless steel or aluminum roller whose surface is roughened by sandblasting or the like. A sub-inking roller 27 is provided near the ink replenishing member 19. This sub-inking roller 27 is connected to the ink replenishing member 19 by a gear (not shown), and rotates in the opposite direction to the ink replenishing member 19.

Next, the operation of the above-described configuration will be explained. service
A drive signal is applied to the multihead 3 from a control circuit (not shown). A part of the ink film 1 is heated by the heat, and the heat-melting ink 12 is transferred to the recording paper 2. At this time, the platen roller 8 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
The tape is wound up one after another by the loop 26.

On the other hand, the ink film 1 is transferred to the supply roll 25.
Then, it passes through the guide roller 4c and is conveyed to the reinking mechanism. In this reinking mechanism, the ink film 1 is wound around the ink replenishment member 19, so the ink replenishment member 19 rotates as the ink film 1 travels. The heat-melting ink 12 that has been dissolved into liquid in the ink storage section 20 is supplied to the gap between the ink refilling member 19 and the ink storage section 20 through the hole in the bottom of the ink storage section 20 . As described above, since the ink replenishing member 19 is rotating together with the ink film 1, the ink 12 is supplied to the surface of the heat-resistant film.

The ink layer on the surface of the ink film 1 supplied by the ink replenishing member 19 is
Because the surface is grainy, the transferred ink layer is uneven. To this end, as shown in FIG. 4, a sub-inking roller 27 (which also supplies heat) with a smooth surface rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 before the hot-melt ink 12 solidifies. A smooth ink layer is formed by rubbing the surface of the ink layer.

When the ink film on the supply roll 25 runs out and is all taken up on the take-up roll 26, this is detected by the film end sensor 15, and an alarm is displayed. Then, as shown in Figure 2, the cover
21 is opened, the heat-resistant film stored in the tray 23 is taken out, the supply roll 25 and the take-up roll 26 are replaced, and then the film is set in the apparatus again to continue printing.

Furthermore, when the heat-resistant film is damaged by the heat of the thermal head 3 and the mechanical stress of the running system caused by each roller due to long-term running, the printing quality deteriorates, or the film is cut or wrinkled. When it occurs,
Take out the tray 23 and replace it with a new heat-resistant film.

Next, a serial type thermal transfer recording apparatus as a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a serial type thermal transfer recording device having a reinking mechanism as a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view showing the inside of the reinking mechanism in the second embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, 31 is an endless heat-resistant film 41 made of polyimide or polyaramid, and a heat-melting ink 42 made of a mixture of wax, resin, and carbon black is applied to the outer surface of the endless heat-resistant film 41. A part of the outer surface is in contact with the recording paper 32 by the thermal head 33. Guide rollers 34a to 34g guide the movement of the ink film 31. 37 is a capstan roller, and pinch roller 38
The ink film 31 is rotated by an external drive source (not shown) in order to convey the ink film 31 pressed down by the ink film 31 . A tension arm 45 is biased by a spring 46 for applying appropriate tension to the ink film 31 so that the ink film 31 does not shift vertically.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the reinking mechanism in FIG.
Accommodates 2. The base 51 is also made of the same material as the ink storage section 50 and holds the ink storage section 50 therein. Here, a heater 60 that maintains a certain temperature slightly higher than the melting point of the heat-melting ink 42 is fixed to the side surface of the ink storage portion 50 and the base 51.
The heat-melting ink 42 inside is melted into a liquid state. 5
3 is an impeller, which has blades 53a in a spiral shape as shown in FIG.
is provided. The ink replenishing member 55 is made of stainless steel or bronze powder that is hardened by sintering, and its mesh system is capable of filtering fine particles of about 20 to 100 μm. fixed on top. A bush 56 is fixed to the upper part of the ink replenishing member 55, and is rotatable around the cylinder portion 50a of the ink storage portion 50. Here, the ink replenishing member 55 is fixed to the impeller 53 and the bush 56 so as to be eccentric with respect to the cylindrical axis of the cylinder portion 50a. Further, a sub-inking roller 57 is provided near the ink replenishing member 55. This sub-inking roller 57 is connected to the ink replenishing member 5 by a gear (not shown).
5 and rotates in the opposite direction to the ink refilling member 55.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment described above will be explained. A drive signal is applied to the thermal head 33 from a control circuit (not shown). With that heat, ink film 3
1 is heated, and the heat-melting ink 42 is transferred onto the recording paper 32. At this time, the thermal head 33 moves in the printing direction (rightward in FIG. 6), and the ink film 31 is sequentially wound up by the capstan roller 37.

The ink film 31 from which some of the heat-melting ink has escaped is moved to guide rollers 34a, 34f, and 34g.
and is transported to the linking mechanism. In this linking mechanism, the ink film 31 is wound around the ink replenishment member 55, so the ink replenishment member 55 rotates as the ink film 31 travels. Ink storage section 50
The thermofusible ink 42 melted in liquid form flows down onto the impeller 53 through the hole in the bottom of the ink storage portion 50 . Here, since the impeller 53 is rotating together with the ink replenishing member 55, the spiral blades 5 provided on the impeller 53
3a supplies the heat-melting ink 42 to the gap between the ink replenishing member 55 and the cylinder portion 50a. As described above, since the ink refilling member 55 is eccentric with respect to the cylindrical axis of the cylinder portion 50a, the change in pressure distribution as shown in FIG. I try to push it out. At this time, the heat-melting ink 4 pushed out from the ink replenishing member 55
2 is applied to the surface of the heat-resistant film 41 to form the ink film 31.

The ink layer on the surface of the ink film 31 supplied by the ink replenishing member 55 is
Because the surface is grainy, the transferred ink layer is uneven. To this end, as shown in FIG. 9, before the heat-melting ink 42 solidifies, a sub-inking roller 57 (which also supplies heat) with a smooth surface that rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. A smooth ink layer is formed by rubbing the layer surface.

This ink layer is applied to the guide roller 34a.
34d, the heat-melting ink 42 is again supplied to the thermal head 33, and is transferred onto the recording paper 32.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
An ink layer is formed on one side of the heat-resistant film by an ink replenishing member in contact with the heat-resistant film using a heat-melting ink that is solid at room temperature and increases in fluidity when heated, and the ink layer is transferred to the thermal head. In a thermal transfer recording device that performs printing by locally heating the ink and transferring the melted ink to the recording paper, the heat-resistant ink film is in contact with the ink layer on the surface of the heat-resistant ink film supplied by the ink refilling member, and on the contact surface. By having a sub-inking roller with a smooth surface that rotates in the opposite direction to the traveling direction of the heat-resistant ink film, the surface of the ink refilling member is grainy, which causes unevenness in the transferred ink layer. Even if the sub-inking roller rubs the surface of the ink layer, the ink layer can be formed smoothly, and uneven printing and scumming on the recording paper can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a state diagram when the cover is opened to replace the heat-resistant film in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state of a supply roll and a guide roller that are pivotally supported on a tray.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the reinking mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional reinking mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a reinking mechanism in a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an impeller in a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial view showing how the sub-inking roller is attached in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the function of an ink replenishing member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Ink film 2...Recording paper 3...Thermal head 12...Thermofusible ink 19...Ink replenishment member 20...Ink storage section 23...Tray 25...Supply roll 26... Winding roll 30... Heater 31...Ink film 32...Recording paper 33...Thermal head 37...Capstan roller 41...Heat-resistant film 42...Thermofusible ink 50...Ink storage section 53... Impeller 55...Ink replenishment member 60... Heater

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Forming an ink layer on one side of the heat-resistant film by using an ink replenishing member in contact with the heat-resistant film using a heat-melting ink that is solid at room temperature and increases in fluidity when heated, In a thermal transfer recording device that performs printing by locally heating the ink layer with a thermal head and thereby transferring the melted ink to recording paper, the ink on the surface of the heat-resistant ink film supplied by the ink replenishing member 1. A thermal transfer recording device comprising a sub-inking roller having a smooth surface that contacts the layer and rotates in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the heat-resistant ink film at the contact surface thereof.