JPH0584942A - Energization recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the lowering of a printing speed and the shift of the recording position of adjacent pixels and to enhance pixel density by alternately arranging the recording electrodes constituting an upstream recording electrode row and the recording electrodes constituting a downstream recording electrode row in a zigzag pattern. CONSTITUTION:A return electrode 11 is provided to the central part of the insulating region 10 of the leading end surface of a recording head so as to extend in the direction crossing an ink sheet feed direction at a right angle and recording electrodes 12, 13 are arranged to the insulating region 10 on the upstream and downstream sides in the feed direction of the return electrode 11 at a predetermined interval 1. The respective recording electrodes 12, 13 constituting recording electrode rows A, B have the same shape and are arranged so that the positions thereof are alternately shifted in a zigzag pattern. The distance 12 between the recording electrodes 12, 13 adjacent each other in the arranging direction is constant and the relation of 11<12 is formed between the distance 12 and the interval 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improvement of an electric recording apparatus having an electric recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric recording paper apparatus is provided with a plurality of recording electrodes on the front end surface of a recording head and a return electrode provided at a position separated from the recording electrodes by a predetermined distance through an insulating region, and the recording head is in contact with the recording head. The electrically conductive recording sheet has an electrically conductive layer and an ink layer laminated on the electrically conductive layer. When a current corresponding to an image signal is applied to the recording electrode while the recording head is in contact with the conductive layer of the conductive recording sheet, the current flows from the recording electrode through the conductive layer to the return electrode. At this time, the ink layer is melted by the heat generated in the vicinity of the recording electrodes and the ink is transferred onto the recording paper.

As such an electrification recording apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-1988
According to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 221057, a plurality of recording electrodes 1 are arranged in a line as shown in FIG. 5, and a return electrode 2 is arranged in parallel with an insulating layer 3 at a position separated from the recording electrode line by a predetermined distance. Further, there is disclosed a configuration in which the recording electrode is divided into M blocks, and each block is time-divided and energized.
That is, when the recording electrodes 1 adjacent to each other are driven at the same time as shown in the figure, the current paths of the recording electrodes 1 are limited to each other, so that the recording electrodes are not driven as compared with the case where no electricity is supplied between the adjacent recording electrodes 1. The amount of current flowing decreases and print pixels become smaller,
Print quality deteriorates. Therefore, in this publication, M
One (three or more) recording electrodes is divided into a plurality of blocks, and each block is time-divided and energized so that recording is performed in a close positional relationship that influences each other during printing. Since the electrodes are not driven at the same time, the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks can be solved.

However, in the technique described in the above publication, since the recording electrodes divided into blocks are energized in a time-division manner, the printing speed inevitably becomes slower, and the recording positions of the adjacent pixels are reduced. Problems such as slippage occur.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-112952, as shown in FIG. 6, a comb-teeth-shaped return electrode 2 is arranged in an energization thermal recording head, and the return electrode 2 is arranged between adjacent finger-shaped electrodes 2a. A configuration is disclosed in which the recording electrode 1 is arranged so that a heat generating current is made to flow.
The purpose is to solve the same problem as No. 3-221057. However, according to the present invention, it is difficult to improve the pixel density in order to improve the image quality because the shape of the electrode is complicated.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in printing speed and the occurrence of a shift in the recording position of an adjacent pixel, and at the same time, an electric recording which can improve the pixel density. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention presses a recording head composed of a return electrode and a recording electrode partitioned by an insulating region against an energizing layer of an ink sheet consisting of an energizing layer and an ink layer. In a current-carrying recording device that melts or sublimates the ink in the ink layer and transfers the ink to the recording paper by selectively applying a voltage to the recording electrode in this state, the return electrode is in the ink sheet conveyance direction. The recording electrodes extend linearly in a direction orthogonal to each other, and the recording electrodes are composed of recording electrode rows arranged in parallel in parallel with the return electrode at a predetermined distance between the upstream side and the downstream side of the return electrode. Each of the recording electrodes forming the recording electrode array and each of the recording electrodes forming the recording electrode array on the downstream side are alternately arranged in a zigzag manner, and the shape of the recording electrode is rectangular, and the long side thereof is Return electrode And is opposed to the edge, the distance between the opposite edges of the facing long sides and 該帰 path electrodes of said recording electrodes and l1, the distance between the recording electrodes constituting one recording electrode array l2
When l1 <l2, the transport speed of the ink sheet at the time of printing is v, and the distance between the center of the return electrode and the center of the recording electrode is l3. Recording by energizing the downstream recording electrode by l3 / v with respect to the timing by which the upstream recording electrode is energized, and recording comprising a return electrode and a recording electrode partitioned by an insulating region The ink in the ink layer is melted or sublimated by selectively applying a voltage to the recording electrode while the head is pressed against the conductive layer of the ink sheet including the conductive layer and the ink layer. In a current-carrying recording device for transferring to a recording paper by means of a return electrode, a common electrode extending linearly in a direction orthogonal to the ink sheet conveying direction and staggered from the common electrode toward the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively. The recording electrodes are arranged in a row in parallel with the return electrodes at a certain distance on the upstream side and the downstream side of the return electrodes. The recording electrodes forming the upstream recording electrode array and the recording electrodes forming the downstream recording electrode array are alternately arranged in a staggered manner, and each recording electrode is located between the electrode fingers. That is, the conveyance speed of the ink sheet at the time of printing is v, and the distance between the center of the upstream recording electrode and the center of the downstream recording electrode is l.
In this case, the timing of energizing the recording electrode on the downstream side is delayed by 1 / v with respect to the timing of energizing the recording electrode on the upstream side, the central portion of the recording electrode on the upstream side and the When the distance between the central portion of the downstream recording electrodes is l and the distance between the central portions of the recording electrodes adjacent to each other in the direction orthogonal to the ink sheet transport direction is 2 W, then 1 / W = n The recording electrodes are arranged so that (n is an integer).

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are a structural explanatory view and a drive circuit diagram of a recording head portion of an electric recording apparatus of the present invention. At the center of the insulating region 10 on the tip surface of the recording head of FIG. 1 (a), the return electrode 1 is provided in the direction orthogonal to the ink sheet transport direction.
1 is extended, and recording electrodes 12 and 13 are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of the return electrode 11 in the transport direction with a predetermined interval l1 (ell). The recording electrodes 12 and 13 forming the recording electrode arrays A and B have the same shape (rectangle) and are arranged such that the positions of the recording electrodes 12 and 13 are staggered alternately. In this embodiment, the direction orthogonal to the ink sheet conveyance direction is referred to as the arrangement direction.

The distance l2 between the recording electrodes 12, 12 ... Adjacent in the array direction in the electrode array A and the recording electrodes 13, 13 ... Adjacent in the array direction in the electrode array B
The distance l2 between them is constant, and the relationship l1 <l2 is established between this distance l2 and the interval l1. The control circuit of FIG. 1B is for performing switching according to an image signal by applying a voltage to the base of a transistor Tr having collectors connected to the recording electrodes 12 and 13. ..

The recording electrodes 12 and 1 having the above structure
As for the timing of energizing No. 3, the timing of energizing the recording electrode 13 on the downstream side in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 2 is set to the transportation speed v of the ink sheet rather than the timing of energizing the recording electrode 12 on the upstream side. And turn on the power after delaying the time by l3 / v. The distance l3 is the return electrode 1
1 is the distance from the central portion of the recording electrodes 12 and 13. Further, T is a printing cycle for printing one pixel.

If the recording head is constructed as described above, the distance l2 between the adjacent recording electrodes can be secured to be sufficiently larger than the distance l1 between the return electrode 11 and the adjacent recording electrodes are simultaneously driven. However, mutual interference can be prevented and print pixels can be kept uniform. Further, between the recording electrodes 12 and 13 on the upstream side and the downstream side, the current is supplied at a timing in accordance with the printing speed (ink sheet transport speed) v, so that the printing speed is not lowered and the space between the adjacent pixels is reduced. It is possible to eliminate the recording position shift.

That is, since the distance between the recording electrodes is set to l1 <l2 in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the adjacent recording electrodes from interfering with each other when they are simultaneously driven, and the return electrode is sandwiched. Since the pixels (dots) adjacent to each other are printed between the recording electrodes 12 and 13 arranged in a zigzag pattern, it is more convenient for eliminating interference between the electrodes. Further, since the timing of energizing between the recording electrode arrays A and B is delayed by l3 / v, it is possible to eliminate the recording position shift of both pixels when printing the adjacent pixels and to improve the printing quality. Further, since the time-division printing control is not used, it is possible to prevent the printing speed from decreasing.

Next, FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are a structural explanatory view and a drive circuit diagram of the recording head portion of the electric recording apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention. At the center of the insulating region 20 on the tip surface of the recording head of FIG. 3A, a return electrode 21 is extended in a direction orthogonal to the ink sheet transport direction. This return electrode 2
1 is a strip-shaped common electrode 21a located in the center, and alternately from the common electrode 21a toward the upstream direction and the upstream direction of the ink sheet transport direction (in a zigzag pattern in which the arrangement direction positions are displaced at equal intervals). ) Projected electrode fingers 21b, 2
1c and. An upstream recording electrode 22 is arranged between the upstream electrode fingers 21b, and a downstream recording electrode 23 is arranged between the downstream electrode fingers 21c at a predetermined interval. The recording electrodes 22 on the upstream side and the recording electrodes 23 on the downstream side are arranged in a staggered manner with their positions displaced in the arrangement direction. The control circuit of FIG. 3B is for performing switching according to an image signal by applying a voltage to the base of a transistor Tr having collectors connected to the recording electrodes 22 and 23.

With respect to the recording head having the above structure, the recording electrodes 22 arranged on the upstream side in the ink sheet conveying direction and the recording electrodes 23 arranged on the downstream side are adjusted in accordance with the ink sheet conveying speed v. 1 / v as shown in FIG.
By energizing with a time difference of, the ink layer of the ink sheet is melted or sublimated by Joule heat and printed on the recording paper. It should be noted that 1 (ell) is the distance between the central portions of the recording electrodes 22 and 23.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, even if the recording electrodes adjacent in the arrangement direction are simultaneously driven, they are sufficiently separated from each other. It is possible to obtain high density and uniform print pixels without interference. Further, the printing speed is increased by energizing the recording electrode 22 and the recording electrode 23 arranged on the downstream side with a time difference of 1 / v according to the conveyance speed v of the ink sheet as shown in FIG. It is possible to obtain an image with no displacement without lowering the position.

Further, the distance l between the recording electrodes 22 and 23 is 1 / W = n (n
Are arranged so as to be an integer), and the printing of the pixels shifted by n pixels in the ink sheet transport direction is performed by the recording electrode 22,
23, the control for adjusting the timing is simplified, and the accuracy for preventing the positional deviation can be improved.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the recording electrodes 2 are arranged in a zigzag pattern with the return electrodes sandwiched therebetween.
Since pixels (dots) adjacent to each other are printed between 2 and 23, it is convenient for eliminating interference between electrodes. Furthermore, by arranging the two rows of recording electrodes in a zigzag manner, it is possible to secure a sufficiently large distance between the recording electrodes adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction, so that the return path electrodes and the recording electrodes are arranged at a high density, and Even if the adjacent recording electrodes are driven at the same time, they do not interfere with each other, and a high resolution and high quality image can be obtained. Further, the upstream recording electrode 22 and the downstream recording electrode 23 are energized with a time difference of 1 / v according to the transport speed v of the ink sheet, so that when adjacent pixels are printed. It is possible to improve the print quality by eliminating misalignment. Further, since the time-division printing control is not used, it is possible to prevent the printing speed from decreasing.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the printing speed from decreasing and the recording positions of the adjacent pixels from deviating from each other, and it is possible to improve the pixel density.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are a configuration explanatory view and a drive circuit diagram of a recording head portion of an electric recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing the timing of energization of the recording electrodes.

3A and 3B are a configuration explanatory view and a drive circuit diagram of a recording head portion of an electric recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform chart showing the timing of energization of the recording electrodes in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Insulation region, 11 ... Return electrode, 12, 13
・ ・ ・ Recording electrodes, 20 ... Insulating regions, 21 ... Return electrodes, 21a ... Common electrodes, 21b, 21c ... Electrode fingers, 22, 23 ... Recording electrodes,

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording head composed of a return electrode and a recording electrode divided by an insulating region is selected with respect to the recording electrode while being pressed against the conductive layer of an ink sheet composed of a conductive layer and an ink layer. In a current-carrying recording device that melts or sublimes the ink in the ink layer and transfers it to a recording sheet by applying a voltage, the return electrode extends linearly in a direction orthogonal to the ink sheet conveyance direction, The recording electrode is composed of a recording electrode array which is arranged in a row in parallel with the return electrode at a predetermined distance between the upstream side and the downstream side of the return electrode, and each recording electrode which constitutes the upstream recording electrode row. An electric recording apparatus, wherein the recording electrodes forming the recording electrode array on the downstream side are alternately arranged in a staggered pattern. 2. The shape of the recording electrode is rectangular, and its long side is opposed to one edge of the return electrode, and the distance between the opposing long side of the recording electrode and the opposite edge of the return electrode. L1
And the distance between the recording electrodes forming one recording electrode array is l
2. The electric recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when 1 is set, l1 <l2. 3. The recording electrode on the downstream side when the conveyance speed of the ink sheet at the time of printing is v and the distance between the central portion of the return electrode and the central portion of the recording electrode is l3. 2. The energization recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the timing of energizing the recording medium is delayed by 13 / v with respect to the timing of energizing the recording electrode on the upstream side. 4. A recording head comprising a return electrode and a recording electrode divided by an insulating region is selected with respect to the recording electrode while being pressed against the conductive layer of an ink sheet composed of a conductive layer and an ink layer. In a current-carrying recording device that melts or sublimates the ink of the ink layer and transfers it to a recording paper by applying a voltage, the return electrode is commonly extended linearly in a direction orthogonal to the ink sheet conveyance direction. An electrode and comb-teeth-shaped electrode fingers that extend in a zigzag pattern from the common electrode toward the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively, and the recording electrode is spaced a predetermined distance upstream and downstream of the return electrode. The recording electrodes are arranged in a row in parallel with the return electrode, and the recording electrodes forming the upstream recording electrode row and the recording electrodes forming the downstream recording electrode row alternate in a staggered pattern. Placed in Energizing the recording apparatus recording electrodes, characterized in that located between the electrode fingers. 5. When the conveying speed of the ink sheet at the time of printing is v, and the distance between the center of the upstream recording electrode and the center of the downstream recording electrode is l, The timing of energizing the recording electrode on the downstream side with respect to the timing of energizing the recording electrode on the upstream side is l
5. The electrification recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording is delayed by / v. 6. The recording electrodes adjacent to each other in the direction orthogonal to the ink sheet transport direction, wherein the distance between the center of the upstream recording electrode and the center of the downstream recording electrode is l. 1 / W = n
The electrographic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording electrodes are arranged so that (n is an integer).