JPH0557923A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid the need for a mark detecting sensor and thus manufacture a thermal transfer printer at low cost by using the transfer paper without any register mark matching in the position of each of ink colors in a thermal transfer printer for effecting transfer recording by imposing a plurality of ink colors over each other. CONSTITUTION:The amount of an image receiving paper 16 and a transfer paper 17 being transferred by a capstan 10 and a pinch roller 11 when a thermal head 15 is held against a platen 13 with such papers interposed therebetween is made equal to the amount of these papers being transferred by the aforesaid capstan and roller when the thermal head 15 is freed from its function of pressing the platen 13. In this way a plurality of ink colors applied to the transfer paper 17 at predetermined intervals are transferred automatically onto the image receiving paper 16 with the colors imposed exactly over each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a transfer paper coated with a heat-melting or heat-subliming ink and a plurality of different colors, and a plurality of heating elements. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer that thermally transfers and records a full-color image on an image receiving paper using a linearly arranged thermal head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, thermal transfer printers using transfer paper coated with thermal sublimation ink or the like have mainly used A4 size OA to A6 size printers for outputting images including halftones. It is sold by each company even for home use. This conventional thermal transfer printer is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-133438.

A conventional thermal transfer printer will be described below. FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of this conventional thermal transfer printer. In FIG. 8, the image receiving paper 1 is wound around a drum 2 and fixed to the drum 2 by a holder 3 (details not shown). Reference numeral 4 is a transfer paper, and inks of different colors, for example, yellow ink 101, magenta ink 102, and cyan ink 103 are set as one set, and a large number of sets of inks are sequentially applied. Further, marks 105, 105 ′ corresponding to the first color yellow ink 101 are formed on the transfer paper 4.
Is the mark 1 corresponding to the magenta ink 102 of the second color.
No. 06 is sequentially provided with the mark 107 corresponding to the cyan ink 103 of the third color. 5 is the mark 105 '
6 is a sensor for detecting the marks 105, 106, 10
It is a sensor that detects 7. Further, when the sensors 5 and 6 detect the respective marks 105 ', 105, 106 and 107, the sensor 5 is arranged so as to be a set of ink start positions for each color, and the sensor 6 is arranged to correspond to the corresponding ink and yellow. The ink 101, the magenta ink 102, and the cyan ink 103 are arranged at the recording start positions. A thermal head 7 is a transfer paper 4 and an image receiving paper 1.
Is superposed on the drum 2 and is pressed and heated to transfer and record the ink applied to the transfer paper 4 on the image receiving paper 1.

The operation of the thermal transfer printer configured as described above will be described below. First, the transfer paper 4 is wound up until the mark 105 'is detected by the sensor (the winding means is not shown). When the sensor 105 detects the mark 105, the thermal head 7 superposes the transfer paper 4 and the image receiving paper 1 and presses them against the drum 2. At this time, the yellow ink 101 applied to the transfer paper 4 is at the recording start position. While rotating the drum 2 at a predetermined speed (driving means is not shown) 1
The yellow ink 101 of the color is transferred and recorded on the image receiving paper 1 by the thermal head 7. At this time, the transfer paper 4 is also wound by the winding means. When the recording of the first color yellow ink 101 is completed, the thermal head 7 is separated from the drum 2, and the drum 2 rotates to the recording start position and stops. The transfer paper 4 is wound up until the mark 106 is detected by the sensor 6, and the mark 106 is detected by the sensor 6 and stopped. At this time, the second color magenta ink 102 applied to the transfer paper 4 is at the recording start position. The transfer paper 4 and the image receiving paper 1 are again overlapped by the thermal head 7 and pressed against the drum 2, and the magenta ink 102 is transferred and recorded on the yellow ink 101 transferred and recorded on the image receiving paper 1. Similarly, the third color cyan ink 103 is transferred and recorded, and the transfer recording of the image is completed.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the transfer paper 4 is transferred to the image receiving paper 1 so that the ink applied to the transfer paper 4 is sequentially transferred and recorded so that the ink comes to a predetermined position. Need to be transferred. Therefore, the marks 105, 106, 107 are provided on the transfer paper 4, and the thermal transfer printer is provided with a sensor 6 for detecting the marks 105, 106, 107, so that the transfer paper 4 is moved so that the ink comes to a predetermined position. Was. When the normal transfer paper 4 is manufactured, ink and marks are applied so that a plurality of transfer papers 4 can be taken in the width direction, and then slit in the length direction. Mark 1 with the sensor 6 provided in the thermal transfer printer
Since it is necessary to detect 05, 106, and 107, it is necessary to manufacture by slitting in the length direction so that the marks 105, 106, and 107 of the transfer paper 4 are at predetermined positions in the width direction of the transfer paper 4. is there. For this reason, the accuracy in the width direction is required, the yield is deteriorated, and the transfer sheet 4 is expensive.
Further, since the sensor 6 is required, the thermal transfer printer is also expensive.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive thermal transfer printer which reduces the marks on the transfer paper 4 and uses the inexpensive transfer paper 4 and does not require the sensor 6. ..

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the thermal transfer printer of the present invention transfers an image receiving paper in a thermal transfer printer which uses transfer paper on which inks of different colors are sequentially applied at predetermined intervals. A transfer means for simultaneously transferring the transfer paper while the thermal head is pressed against the platen, and a second transfer means for transferring only the image receiving paper while the thermal head is released from the press of the platen. The transfer means is composed of transfer means, and the transfer amounts by the first and second transfer means at the time of transfer for each color are made equal.

[0008]

In the thermal transfer printer of the present invention having the above construction, the transfer amount of the transfer paper transferred by the first transfer means and the transfer amount of the image receiving paper transferred by the second transfer means are equalized in each color transfer. This facilitates multicolor transfer by superimposing a plurality of colors. That is, the first transfer means transfers the image-receiving paper and the transfer paper at the same time by a predetermined transfer amount to transfer them, and then the second transfer means transfers only the image-receiving paper in the same direction as the transfer by the first transfer means in the same direction. By transferring the amount, the ink position of the transfer paper for the next transfer and the position of the image-receiving paper that has already been transferred are accurately aligned, and the transfer can be performed in an overlapping manner.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A thermal transfer printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the thermal transfer printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention during recording standby. As shown in FIG. 1, 10 is a capstan that is rotatably driven (a drive source is not shown), and 11 is a pinch roller that is rotatably provided at one end of a lever 12. The lever 12 is provided rotatably around the side opposite to the pinch roller 11. A platen 13 is a lever 14 that is rotatably provided.
It is rotatably installed in. Reference numeral 15 is a thermal head in which a large number of heating elements are linearly arranged, and a housing (not shown)
It is fixed to. Reference numeral 16 is an image receiving paper, which is transferred by a transfer means centering on the capstan 10 and the pinch roller 11. Further, 17 is a transfer paper, which is wound around a supply reel 18 and wound by a take-up reel 19 (a winding mechanism is not shown). The operation of these mechanisms is controlled by control means (not shown). Two
Reference numeral 0 is a guide for the transfer paper 17 provided on the housing, and reference numeral 21 is a guide for the transfer paper 17 provided on the thermal head. Two
Reference numeral 2 denotes a sensor that detects the front end of the image receiving paper 16 and is provided on the housing. A sensor 23 is provided on the guide 21 to detect the position of the first color ink on the transfer paper.

The mutual relationship between the image receiving paper 16 and the transfer paper 17 shown in FIG. 7 will be described in more detail with reference to the plan view. Reference numeral 24 is a mark applied to the transfer paper 17. 25
Is a recording operation start position where the image receiving paper 16 is nipped by the capstan 10 and the pinch roller 11 and is pressed against the platen 13 and the thermal head 15 when the recording operation is started.
Numerals 26 'and 26 "are the recording operation start positions of the inks of the first, second and third colors of the transfer paper 17 corresponding to the recording operation start position 25 of the image receiving paper 16. A1 is from the recording operation start position 25. A first transfer length to the recording start position for recording an image on the image receiving paper 16, H is a length of the image recorded on the image receiving paper 16, that is, a thermal transfer area, and A2 is transferred to the image receiving paper 16 after the recording is completed. This is the transfer length of the second transfer in which the paper 17 is transferred while being pressed against the platen 13 and the thermal head 15. The transfer paper 17 has the yellow ink 27 of the first color L1.
The length of the second color magenta ink 28 is L2, and the length of the third color cyan ink 29 is L3. The thermal transfer is performed in the ink application areas (L1, L2, L3). The area H is included, and the gap of each thermal transfer area H in each ink is applied so as to be the sum of the first transfer length A1 and the second transfer length A2. See also mark 24
Is detected by the sensor 23, the recording operation start position 26
Is applied so that it comes to a position where it is pressed against the platen 13 and the thermal head 15.

The operation of the thermal transfer printer of the present embodiment constructed as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the image receiving paper 16 is fed between the capstan 10 and the pinch roller 11 in the recording standby state shown in FIG. 1 (feeding means is not shown). When the image receiving paper 16 is fed, the sensor 22 detects the front end of the image receiving paper 16. The lever 12 which detects the front end of the image receiving paper 16 rotates (driving means is not shown), the pinch roller 11 is pressed against the capstan 10, and the image receiving paper 16 is driven by the capstan 10 in the direction of arrow B for a predetermined length. Be transferred to. When it is transported for a predetermined length, the lever 14 rotates (driving means is not shown), and the platen 13 is pressed against the thermal head 15 with the image receiving paper 16 and the transfer paper 17 being sandwiched. This recording operation start state is shown in FIG. At this time, the transfer paper 17 is the sensor 2
When the mark 24 is detected in 3, the recording operation start position 26 is located at a position where the platen 13 and the thermal head 15 are in pressure contact with each other, and is at the same position as the recording operation start position 25 of the image receiving paper 16. Next, the capstan 10 is driven so that the image receiving paper 16 is at the recording start position, and the image receiving paper 16 is moved in the direction of arrow C by the first transfer length A1. This corresponds to the first transfer length by the first transfer means. This recording start state is shown in FIG. At this time, the transfer paper 17 is pressed and nipped by the platen 13 and the thermal head 15 together with the image receiving paper 16, so that the transfer paper 17 is transferred by the same first transfer length A1 as the image receiving paper 16. From this state, the image receiving paper 16 is transferred in the direction of arrow C by the capstan 10, and the first color yellow ink 27 applied to the transfer paper 17 is transferred and recorded on the image receiving paper 16 by the thermal head 15. This corresponds to the transfer length of the transfer area by the first transfer means. Further, since the yellow ink 27 is applied with the application length L1 and sufficiently covers the thermal transfer area H of the length, the transfer recording is surely performed. At this time, the transfer paper 17 is taken up by the take-up reel 19. FIG. 4 shows a state where the recording is completed. At this time, the image receiving paper 16 and the transfer paper 17 are transferred only in the thermal transfer area H. From here, the capstan 10 is further driven so that the image receiving paper 16 is at the recording operation end position, and the image receiving paper 16 is moved to the arrow C.
In the direction by a second transfer length A2. This corresponds to the second transfer length of the first transfer means. FIG. 5 shows the state in which this recording operation is completed. At this time, the transfer paper 17 is pressed and sandwiched between the platen 13 and the thermal head 15 together with the image receiving paper 16, so that the transfer paper 17 is transferred by the same second transfer length A2 as the image receiving paper 16. In this way, when the first transfer means performs the transfer of the predetermined length controlled by the control means, this position is the recording operation start position 26 'for the second color.
(Fig. 7). In this way, when the first color yellow ink 27 is transferred and recorded on the image receiving paper 16, the platen 13
Moves away from the thermal head 15. The image receiving paper 16 is returned by the second transfer means by the capstan 10 in the arrow B direction opposite to the above-mentioned B direction by a predetermined length (first transfer length A1 + thermal transfer area H + second transfer length A2). Then, in the same state as in FIG. 1, the recording standby state for the transfer of the second color (magenta) is set (FIG. 6). At this time, the recording operation start position 25 of the image receiving paper 16 comes to a position where the platen 13 and the thermal head 15 are pressed against each other. At this time, since the transfer paper 17 is not transported, the recording operation start position 26 'and the recording operation start position 25 of the image receiving paper 16 are at the same position. Further, the thermal transfer area H is included in the magenta ink application length L2 of the transfer paper 17, and the gap between the thermal transfer areas H of the respective colors is the sum of the first transfer length A1 and the second transfer length A2. The recording start position is always the second color magenta ink 2
Come in 8. In this state, the second color magenta ink 28
Is transferred and recorded on the yellow ink 27 in the same manner as the first color yellow ink 27. Similarly, the third color cyan ink 29 is used for the recording operation start position 2 of the transfer paper 17.
6 ″ and the recording operation start position 25 of the image receiving paper 16 come to the same position, and the recording operation is started.
Then, each ink of the transfer paper 17 is transferred and recorded, and the image recording is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the transfer paper 1
7. The thermal transfer area H is included in the coating lengths L1, L2, L3 of each ink 7 and the gap of the thermal transfer area H in each ink is the first transfer length A1 and the second transfer length A2. It is applied so that it becomes harmony. Therefore, the magenta ink 28 and the cyan ink 29 applied to the transfer paper 17 can be positioned without providing marks corresponding to the application positions of the magenta ink 28 of the second color and the cyan ink 29 of the third color on the transfer paper 17.

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, the thermal transfer printer of the present invention is provided with the first transfer means for simultaneously transferring the image receiving paper and the transfer paper and the second transfer means for transferring only the image receiving paper. , By equalizing the transfer amount for each color transfer by the second transfer means, it is possible to automatically and accurately transfer, for example, the superposition of three colors. for that reason,
It is possible to reduce the number of marks corresponding to the second color ink and the third color ink on the transfer paper and provide an inexpensive transfer paper.
It is possible to provide an inexpensive thermal transfer printer that does not require a sensor for detecting the mark corresponding to the third color.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a recording standby state of a thermal transfer printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recording operation start state of the thermal transfer printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer printer in the same embodiment in a recording start state.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer printer in the same embodiment in a recording completed state.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer printer in the same embodiment in a recording operation end state.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a thermal transfer printer in the same embodiment in a recording standby state for a second color.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing relational dimensions of an image receiving paper and a transfer paper used in the thermal transfer printer in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Capstan 11 Pinch Roller 13 Platen 15 Thermal Head 16 Image Receiving Paper 17 Transfer Paper

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical display location B41J 35/16 B 7318-2C (72) Inventor Taiichi Koyama 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A transfer paper on which a plurality of colors of ink are sequentially applied at predetermined intervals, a thermal head for transferring the ink applied on the transfer paper to an image receiving paper, and the thermal head for transferring the ink to the image receiving paper. And a transfer means for transferring the image receiving paper, and the transfer paper is provided while the transfer means is pressing the thermal head against the platen. And a first transfer means for transferring the sheet with the image receiving paper, and the pressing of the thermal head against the platen is released.
Second transfer means for transferring the image receiving paper in a direction opposite to that of the transfer means, and transfer by the first transfer means at the time of transfer by the thermal head for each color of the plurality of colors of ink. A thermal transfer printer having a control means for controlling the amount and the transfer amount by the second transfer means to be equal. 2. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined interval for each color of the plurality of colors of ink on the transfer paper is equal to the transfer amount for each color by the first transfer means. 3. A transfer amount for each color by the first transfer means is a first transfer length which is transferred for a while after the thermal head is pressed by the platen, and a transfer area where transfer recording is performed by the thermal head. And a second transfer length that is transferred for a while after the transfer recording,
3. The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the ink application length of each color of the transfer paper is equal to or longer than the transfer length of the transfer area.