JPH04305465A - Color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print at a high-speed by a method wherein two or more single-color ribbons come in contact with and pass by line thermal end-plane heads respectively, and color printing is performed by using at least a single-color ribbon that is different in color from the others. CONSTITUTION:Multiple-construction ribbons 25a-25d sent out from first rollers 23a-23d come in contact with and pass by heating resistors at the tips of line thermal end-plane heads 22a-22d which are installed in a line along the transfer direction of the transfer route, and then are wound by second rollers 24a-24d. Platens 26a-26d are arranged so as to face the line thermal end-plane heads 22a-22d across a sheet of printing paper 21, and the platens facing the end-plane heads which do not perform printing are lowered so that clearances are formed between said platens and end-plane heads. The clearances between the end-plane heads and the platens facing correspondent end-plane heads are adjustable corresponding to the thickness of the paper 21.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color printer that performs color printing using a plurality of line thermal heads.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional color printer, one using a line thermal flat head shown in FIG. 2, for example, is known.

That is, the line thermal plane head 1 and the platen 2 are disposed facing each other, and the printing surface of the line thermal plane head 1 is contacted with and passed through the printing surface.
A color ribbon 3 in which four colors of blue, red, and yellow are sequentially arranged at a constant length is provided. Furthermore, a feed roller 5 is provided so that the paper 4 can be fed between the line thermal plane head 1 and the platen 2 in the forward and reverse directions.

In this conventional apparatus, when performing color printing, the paper 4 is fed in the forward direction by the feed roller 5 to perform, for example, black printing, and then the platen 2 is lowered to form a gap between the paper 4 and the paper 4. The paper 4 is fed in the reverse direction by the feed roller 5 and returned to the initial printing position of the paper 4, and the platen 2 is raised to transfer the paper 4 again to the line thermal flat head 1.
After pressing in the direction, the paper 4 is again fed in the forward direction by the feed roller 5 to perform the next blue print, and this is repeated two more times to perform red print and yellow print. Also, for example, in color laser printers, etc.
It is known that color printing is performed by arranging a plurality of photoreceptors in series.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conveyor belt 11 for conveying a transfer paper 12 is provided, and photoreceptors 13a to 13d are arranged in series in the conveyance direction of the conveyor belt 11. Chargers 14a to 14 are placed around the photoreceptors 13a to 13d.
d, laser beam scanners 15a to 15d, developing devices 16a to 16d, and transfer chargers 17a to 17d are arranged, respectively, and the chargers 14a to 14d charge the photoreceptors 13a to 13d.
is charged, electrostatic latent images are formed on the photoreceptors 13a to 13d by laser beam scanners 15a to 15d, and the developing device 1
Toner is applied to the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoreceptors 13a to 13d in steps 6a to 16d to develop them, and the transfer chargers 17a to 17d
At step 17d, the toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper 12 supplied by the conveyor belt 11. and fixing device 1
8, the image transferred to the transfer paper 12 is fixed.

In this conventional device, each photoreceptor 13a to 13
d is a transfer paper 12 on which images of different colors are formed using color toner and is conveyed by a conveyor belt 11.
Transfer charger 1 is connected to each photoreceptor 13a to 13d.
Toner images of different colors are transferred by 7a to 17d to perform color printing.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The former method using a line thermal plane head has a problem in that the printing speed is slow because it is necessary to return the paper to the printing start position after printing each color. In addition, since it uses a color ribbon in which four colors are arranged in order, for example, if black is always the initial position and printing is performed in a single color, when the single color black printing is completed, the printer waits for the next print. blue, placed between
There was a problem in that the three colors red and yellow were skipped and the next black position was set, resulting in wasted ribbon.

In those using the latter photoreceptor, the distance between each photoreceptor becomes large due to the structure of the charger, developing device, etc. for forming an image read on the photoreceptor, and the conveyor belt If they are installed in series along the same line, there is a problem that the conveyance distance of the paper becomes longer and the apparatus becomes larger. Also, due to the structure, the photoreceptors 13a to 13d and the transfer chargers 17a to 17
Since the distance to d is fixed, there is a problem in that it is not possible to print on relatively thick paper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a color printer that can use ribbons without waste, perform high-speed printing, perform color printing even on relatively thick paper, and can be miniaturized.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a conveyance unit that conveys paper substantially in a planar manner, a plurality of platens arranged along the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit, and a gap between which can be adjusted. It consists of a line thermal end head and a single color ribbon provided so as to contact and pass through the printing surface of each line thermal end head, and at least one of the plurality of single color ribbons has a different color from the other single color ribbons.
It is used to print color on paper.

[0011]

[Function] In the present invention having such a configuration, the sheet of paper conveyed by the conveying section in a substantially planar manner is provided so as to pass through contact with the printing surface of each line thermal edge head by a plurality of line thermal edge heads. Printed with a single color ribbon.

In addition, when performing monochrome printing, the gap between the line thermal end head other than the line thermal end head to be printed and the platen is adjusted so that the paper passes through without any obstruction without being printed, and the line to be printed is Printing will be performed only by the thermal edge head.

When printing on relatively thick paper, the gap between the line thermal end face head and the platen is adjusted according to the thickness of the paper, and the paper is transported in a substantially flat manner by the transport section. Color printing is performed by each line thermal end head.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a paper 21 is moved by feed rollers 20a and 20b provided on a conveyance path as a conveyance section.
It is linearly transported and sequentially supplied to the line thermal end face heads 22d to 22a that are arranged in series along the transport direction of the transport path.

The first rollers 23a to 23d contact and pass through the heating resistors provided at the tips of the line thermal end faces 22a to 22d, and then the second rollers 24a to 24
Multi-ribbons 25a to 25d having a multilayer structure are wound in the direction d and in the opposite direction, respectively.

Monochromatic multi-ribbons are used for these multi-ribbons 25a-25d, and for example, black, black,
The colors blue, red, and yellow are arranged.

The platens 26a to 26d are arranged to face the line thermal end heads 22a to 22d via the paper 21 supplied during printing. It is pressed in the direction of the heating resistors 22a to 22d. However, when the line thermal edge head does not print on the paper 21 being supplied, the platen facing the line thermal edge head lowers to form an appropriate gap with respect to the line thermal edge head. It has become.

Furthermore, the line thermal end face head 22a
~22d can adjust the gap between them and the platens 26a~26d depending on the thickness of the paper 21 being supplied.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, only the platen facing the line thermal end head in which multi-ribbons of colors to be printed on the paper 21 to be printed are set is the platen that moves the paper 21 in the direction of the line thermal end head. The platen, which is placed opposite the line thermal end head that does not need to be printed, is lowered to form an appropriate gap with the line thermal end head.

The gap between the line thermal edge head for printing on the supplied paper 21 and the platen disposed opposite to the line thermal edge head is adjusted according to the thickness of the paper 21.

The paper 21 transported in this manner is transported linearly, and is printed by a line thermal end face head in which multi-ribbons of the colors to be printed are set.
Color printing is performed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of line thermal end heads are arranged in series along the conveyance direction of a straight conveyance path, and monochromatic multi-ribbons of different colors are set, so that the conveyance can be easily carried out. It is possible to print in color on the paper supplied to the printer.

[0024] Single-color multi-ribbons are used, and only the line thermal end face head in which the multi-ribbons of the colors required for printing are set performs printing, so no ribbons are wasted.

[0025] Since the line thermal end head has a vertically elongated structure, the interval between each line thermal end head can be shortened, so the distance to convey the paper can be shortened, the device can be made smaller, and printing can be performed at higher speed. .

Further, since the paper is conveyed linearly and the gap between the line thermal end face head and the platen can be adjusted according to the thickness of the paper, color printing can be performed even on relatively thick paper.

[0027]

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention,
Ribbon can be used without waste, and high-speed printing is possible.
Furthermore, it is possible to provide a color printer that can print in color even on relatively thick paper and can be miniaturized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of main parts showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of main parts showing a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of main parts showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

21...Paper, 22a-22d...Line thermal end head, 25a-25d...Multi-ribbon, 26a-26d...
platen.

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A transport unit that transports paper substantially in a flat manner;
A plurality of platens and line thermal edge heads arranged along the conveyance direction of the conveyance section and capable of adjusting gaps between each other are provided so as to contact and pass through the printing surface of each of the line thermal edge heads. 1. A color printer comprising a single color ribbon, and performing color printing on the paper using at least one single color ribbon of a different color from other single color ribbons among the plurality of single color ribbons.