JPH0441274A - Device for formation of image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the time required for retraction of a recording head during operation of image formation by a method wherein the recording head is moved to a first and a second positions while the recording of images is being made to a material on which the images are to be transferred, and the recording head is moved to a third position while the material to be recorded is being mounted or dismounted. CONSTITUTION:Sheets of paper P stored in a sheet-feeding cassette 12 are taken out with a take-out roller 24, and are sent sheet by sheet to a resist roller 27 after being sorted out with a double-feed-preventing roller 25. The sheet P is then sent to a drum clipper 60 by rotation of the resist roller 27. The front end of the sheet P is caught with the drum clipper 60 when the clippers close. At this time, a thermal head 13 is placed on a third position, being detached from an ink ribbon. The sheet P is fed as a platen drum 2 rotates and a moving cam 16 turns, making the thermal. head 13 come to a second position, being close to the platen drum 2. As the sheet P approaches the printing position of the thermal head 13 by rotation of the platen drum 2, the moving cam 16 turns further, and thereby the thermal head 13 is pressed against the sheet P through the ink ribbon 14, being positioned in a first position contacting with the platen drum 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that is applied as a thermal transfer printer or a copying machine that records an image on paper using an ink ribbon, for example. .

(Prior Art) Conventional thermal transfer type image forming devices For example, a thermal transfer type copying machine has a platen drum in its main body, and when printing on paper, the paper is wound around the platen drum and conveyed. A thermal head is pressed against paper through an ink ribbon, and the thermal head is made to generate heat according to image information, thereby transferring ink from the ink ribbon to the paper to form an image.

By the way, the ink ribbon is a consumable item and needs to be replaced periodically. The ink ribbon can be replaced by attaching the ink ribbon cartridge to the ink ribbon cartridge holding casing, which is provided to be able to move in and out of the apparatus main body, and inserting the ink ribbon cartridge together with the holding casing into the apparatus main body. A thermal transfer copying machine has been devised in which cartridges can be easily replaced. By the way, in this thermal transfer copying machine, in order to smoothly insert and remove the ink ribbon attached to the holding housing from the main body of the device, there must be sufficient space between the ink ribbon and the thermal head when inserting and removing the holding housing. It is necessary to evacuate the thermal head so that it becomes wider. Furthermore, during an image forming operation on a sheet of paper, the thermal head may be retracted, for example, when transporting the leading edge of the sheet to a print start position.

However, conventional thermal transfer copying machines are provided with only one retraction position for the thermal head. Therefore, even when paper is being conveyed, the thermal head has to be retracted to the retracted position when the holding housing is inserted or removed.

Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes time to retract the head, and as a result, the image forming operation itself also takes a long time.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in conventional thermal transfer copying machines, the position where the thermal head is retracted during the image forming operation and the position where the thermal head is retracted when the ink ribbon cassette holding casing is inserted or removed are different. Since the thermal head is located at the same position as the thermal head, if it becomes necessary to retract the thermal head during the image forming operation, it takes time to retract the thermal head, and there is a possibility that the operation cannot be performed smoothly.

Therefore, the present invention provides a recording head moving means that can change the position where the recording head is retracted during the image forming operation and the position where the recording head is retracted when the ink ribbon cassette holding housing is inserted or removed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming position that can reduce the time required for retracting a recording head.

[Structure of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems)] In order to achieve the above objects, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided in the main body of the apparatus, and has an image forming apparatus that transfers the coloring material of the transfer material to the transferred material. a recording head for recording, a holding casing for removably holding the transfer material; moving the recording head to a first or second position when recording an image on the transfer material; and moving the recording head to a first or second position when attaching or detaching the transfer material; The third recording head
The apparatus is characterized by comprising a recording head moving means for moving the recording head to the position shown in FIG.

(Function) Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the above configuration, the recording head moving means moves the recording head to the first position during image recording, especially during image transfer.

Further, when recording other images, the recording head moving means moves the recording head to the second position. On the other hand, when the transfer material is attached to or removed from the apparatus main body, the recording head moving means moves the recording head to the third position.

(Example) An example in which the present invention is applied to a thermal transfer type color copying machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a thermal transfer type copying machine, with FIG. 1 showing its internal structure, and FIGS. 2 and 3 showing its external appearance. First, a platen drum 2 is provided approximately at the center of the apparatus main body 1 so as to be rotatable in forward and reverse directions. A thermal head 13 serving as a thermal transfer type recording section is provided on the lower side of the platen drum 2 so as to be movable towards and away from the platen drum 2. Furthermore, a thermal head moving cam 16 for moving the thermal head 13 is provided on the lower side of the thermal head 13.

An ink ribbon 14 is interposed between the platen drum 2 and the thermal head 13, and the ink ribbon 14 has its middle part guided by a guide roller 15, and both ends connected to a supply shaft 17 and a take-up shaft 18. It is wrapped.

Further, a press roller 3 for pressing the paper P against the platen drum 2 is provided around the platen drum 2 .

Further, a document placing table 4 is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and a document cover 5 is provided above the document placing table 4 so as to be openable and closable. Further, an exposure system 6 is provided at the lower side of the document mounting table 4. The exposure system 6 is composed of an exposure lamp 7, first to third reflection mirrors 8,9,10, a lens 11, and a fourth reflection mirror 21. The exposure lamp 7 and the first reflecting mirror 8
is mounted on a first carriage (not shown), and the second and third reflection mirrors 9.10 are mounted on a second carriage. The first carriage is moved along the document table 4, and the second carriage is also moved in the same direction as the first carriage at 1/2 the speed.

Further, a reading element (CCD) 22 is provided on the optical path reflected by the fourth reflecting mirror 21, and a signal processing section 23 is connected to this reading element 22.

On the other hand, a paper feed cassette 12 is located at the bottom of one side of the apparatus main body 1.
is provided. Paper P in the paper feed cassette 12
. This sent out paper P is sent to registration rollers 27 via a guide 26. A guide 32 is provided between the registration roller 27 and the platen drum 2.
is provided. Further, the platen drum 2 is provided with a drum clipper 60 for gripping and releasing the leading end of the paper P.

Further, a paper discharge tray 33 is provided at the lower part of the other side of the apparatus main body 1, and this paper discharge tray 33 is connected to the platen drum 2 via a paper discharge path 36. The paper discharge path 36
is composed of a guide 29, a feed roller 30, a guide 31, and a paper discharge roller 37. 35 is a cooling fan provided above the paper discharge tray 33. As shown in FIG.

By the way, the ink ribbon 14 is held in a holding housing 41 as shown in FIG. This holding housing 41
has first and second storage sections 42 and 43, and the supply shaft 1 for the ink ribbon 14 is disposed within the first storage section 42.
7 is stored therein, and the winding shaft 18 is stored in the second storage portion 43. The ink ribbon 14 is stored either singly as shown in FIG. 5 or set in a cartridge 47 as shown in FIG.

The holding casing 41 is provided in and out of the device main body 1 at will.

That is, slide rails (supporting means) 44 each having a U-shaped cross section are provided on both sides of the holding casing 41, and these slide rails 44 and 44 are connected to guide rails (supporting means) disposed inside the device main body 1. Means) 45.44 is slidably fitted and supported. Further, the holding housing 4
1 is provided with a cover 46 at the front end thereof, and this cover 46
When the holding casing 41 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1, it constitutes a part of the front surface of the apparatus main body 1.

Note that FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a thermal transfer type copying machine.

This thermal transfer copying machine includes an overall control section 51 and a scanner section 52.
, a color conversion section 53, a memory section 54, and a printer section 55.

The values of each color component such as green G, yellow Y1, cyan C, etc. detected by the scanner section 52 are converted to the color of the printing medium by the color converting section 53, between magenta, 1 yellow Y, etc.
The color is converted to 1 cyan C, and this color converted value is recorded in the memory unit 54 together with position information on the document for each color.

In the printer section 55, based on the values read from the memory section 54, between magenta 1 yellow Y 1 cyan C 1 black B [black is the AND output of magenta, yellow, and cyan output printable medium paper P
Heat transfer onto top.

The overall control section 51 controls the scanner section 52, color conversion section 53, memory section 54, and printer section 55 as a whole.

When printing an image, the original is first set on the original placing table 4, and a copy button (not shown) is turned on. As a result, the exposure lamp 9 is turned on and scanned, the original is irradiated with light, and the light reflected via this original is the first one.
, second and third reflective mirrors 8.9.10, lens 1
1. Furthermore, the CCD 22 via the fourth reflection mirror 21
The image signal is read by the signal processing section 23.

Next, the operation of printing on paper P will be explained. The operation at this time will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8(a) to 8(f). First, the paper P in the paper feed cassette 12 is taken out by the rotation of the take-out roller 24, and is sent one by one along the guide 26 to the registration rollers 27, with the double-sheet prevention roller 25 preventing double-sheet taking. The paper P is aligned by the registration rollers 27, and by rotating the registration rollers 27, the paper P is aligned with the paper feed guide 61.
and is sent to the drum clipper 60.

When the drum clipper 60 closes in the direction of the arrow, the leading end of the paper P is grasped. Further, at this time, the thermal head 13 is at a position (third position W) far away from the ink ribbon (FIG. 8(a)). Next, the platen drum 2 rotates in the C direction and the paper P is fed. At the same time, the thermal head moving cam 16 rotates to push up the thermal head 13. At this time, thermal head 1
3 is located at a position (second position) close to the platen roller 2 (FIG. 8(b)). Here, the second position means at least the drum clipper 6 when the platen drum 2 rotates.
Refers to the position where there is no contact with 0.

Subsequently, when the platen drum 2 rotates in the C direction and the printing part of the paper P reaches the printing position of the thermal head 13, the thermal head moving cam 1
6 pushes up the thermal head 13, and the thermal head 13 is pressed against the paper P via the ink ribbon 14.

At this time, the thermal head 13 is in a position in contact with the platen drum 2 (first position). Then, printing is performed on the paper P while rotating the platen drum 2 in the C direction (FIG. 8(C)). Here, when color copying is performed, overlapping printing is performed on the paper P using multiple color ink ribbons. - When the color printing is completed, the thermal head moving cam 16 rotates to move the thermal head 13 to the second position. Then, the platen drum 2 rotates in the C direction, and the press roller 3 presses the paper P against the platen drum 2. Here, the press roller 3 applies pressure after the drum clipper 60 has passed. Also,
At the same time, the ink ribbon 14 is wound up to locate the next color (FIG. 8(d)). Then, when the part of the paper P to be printed reaches the position where the thermal head 13 prints again, the thermal head 13 is pressed against the paper P via the ink ribbon 14, and printing starts (
Figure 8(C)). In this manner, in the case of full-color copying, image formation is performed four times for yellow, magenta, cyan, and black or three times for yellow, magenta, and cyan. In the case of a single color such as black, it is performed in one operation. When all printing on the paper P is completed, the thermal head moving cam 16 rotates and the thermal head 1
3 to the third position. Then, the platen drum 2 is rotated in the C direction until the rear end of the paper P reaches the guide 29, and then the platen drum 2 is rotated in the opposite direction in the C' force direction (FIG. 8(e)). Then, paper P is in guide 2
After being sent to the feed roller 30 via the paper P, the drum gripper 60 opens in the direction of the arrow to release the paper P. Furthermore,
From the feed roller 30 to the guide 31 and the paper ejection roller 3
2 to the paper output tray 33 (Fig. 8(f)).
). When the paper P is discharged, the drum gripper 60 closes again, and the platen drum 2 rotates until the drum gripper 60 comes to the position of the paper feed guide 61, as shown in FIG. 8(a), and then stops. Here, the thermal head 13 remains retracted to the third position until the next image formation is started.

By the way, the ink ribbon 14 is a consumable item and needs to be replaced when it is used up. Next, a case where this ink ribbon 14 is replaced will be explained. When the ink ribbon 14 is replaced, the thermal head moving cam 16 rotates to move the thermal head 13 to the third position. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the holding casing 41 is pulled out toward the front (in the direction of the arrow). As a result, the holding casing 41 is pulled out of the apparatus main body 1 along the guide rail 45. Thereafter, the ink ribbon 14 inside the holding housing 41 is taken out from the holding housing 41. Next, the new ink ribbon 14 is placed in the holding casing 41.
Store it in. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the holding housing 41 is inserted into the apparatus main body 1 (in the direction of the arrow), and the replacement of the ink ribbon 14 is completed. During this ink ribbon replacement operation, the thermal head 13 remains retracted to the third position.

As described above, the thermal transfer type color copying machine of this embodiment is provided with the thermal head moving cam 16, so that the thermal head 13 can be retracted in two stages. In other words, the thermal head 13 is moved to the platen drum 2 during the image forming operation.
The distance between the thermal head 13 and the platen drum 2 is made small when the thermal head 13 is retracted from the platen drum 2, and the thermal head 13 is retracted from the platen drum 2 when replacing the ink ribbon or when the image forming operation is completed. Increase the distance between.

As a result, the time required when retracting the thermal head 13 during an image forming operation can be shortened, so that the image forming operation can be performed smoothly.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can shorten the time required for retracting the thermal head during the image forming operation, and can perform the image forming operation smoothly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 8 show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a thermal transfer type copying machine, and FIG.
The figure is an external perspective view showing the ink ribbon holding casing pulled out, Figure 3 is an external perspective view showing the ink ribbon holding casing inserted, and Figure 4 is the ink ribbon holding casing. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the case where a single ink ribbon is installed, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view when an ink ribbon cartridge is installed, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a thermal transfer type copying machine. The block diagrams in FIGS. 8(a) to 8(f) are diagrams for explaining the image forming operation. P ... Paper 2 ... Platen drum 13 ... Thermal head 14 ... Ink ribbon 16 ... Thermal head moving cam 41 ... Ink ribbon holding housing 60 ... Drum clipper agent Patent attorney Norihiro Chika Yudo Yamashita - Figure Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A recording head which is provided in the main body of the apparatus and records an image by transferring the coloring material of the transfer material to the transfer material, a holding housing which detachably holds the transfer material, and when recording an image on the transfer material. The recording head is moved to the first or second position, and when the transfer material is attached or removed, the recording head is moved to the third position.
An image forming apparatus comprising a recording head moving means for moving the recording head to a position.