JPH0595739U - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The type of ink sheet can be automatically input to the device without increasing the size of the device, and the input result enables printing with thermal energy suitable for various ink sheets. Is to get a thermal printer that can. An ink sheet 50 having an attribute mark 51 indicating the type of ink sheet, a decoding means 52 for reading the attribute mark 51, and a control means 53 for controlling the sequence of a thermal printer from the output of the decoding means 52 are provided. It is composed.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial application]

 The present invention relates to a thermal printer for recording image information on a thermal transfer type thermal recording paper using a thermal head, and more particularly to an ink sheet identification mechanism and printing for each ink sheet.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 A conventional thermal transfer type thermal printer will be described with reference to the drawings. Conventionally, in such an apparatus, an ink sheet coated with ink that becomes sublimable or meltable by heating is superposed on a recording paper, and a thermal pulse is applied by a thermal head to transfer the ink to the recording paper to record image information. It is carried out.

When recording color image information using such a thermal printer, a color ink sheet in which yellow, magenta, and cyan inks are applied to the ink sheet is used, and image information of each color is recorded. It can be obtained by sequentially recording on recording paper. The configuration of such a color ink sheet, the detection mechanism of the print start position of the ink sheet for sequentially printing each color ink, and the printing operation are configured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 6, an ink sheet 1 is a heat-resistant transparent sheet such as a PET film, and an ink portion 2 in which inks corresponding to three primary colors of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C are applied, Black detection marks 3 (a) and 3 (b) for detecting the position of the ink sheet 1 in the transport direction (that is, the print start position of each color) are provided.

Further, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) are light-reflective photosensors for detecting the detected marks 3 (a) and 3 (b), respectively. Detected when light passes through the ink sheet 1 (hereinafter referred to as mark non-detection) and when it does not pass through the black detected marks 3 (a) and 3 (b) (hereinafter referred to as mark detection). To do.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) respectively detect the mark, and start the printing of yellow Y by the mark detection, and start the printing of magenta M by the mark detection and the mark non-detection. This is the position where the printing starts for cyan C when no mark is detected and when the mark is detected. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the printing operation, in which the ink sheet 1 is supplied from the sheet supply roll 6 and is interposed between the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 via the guide roller 3 provided in the conveyance path of the ink sheet 1. The sheet is taken up by the sheet take-up roll 10. The sheet winding roll 10 is rotated by the sheet conveying means 11 to wind up the ink sheet 1.

The sheet conveying means 11 transmits the driving force of the DC motor 13 to the sheet take-up roll 10 by the pulley wheel train 12 so as to take up the ink sheet 1 on the sheet take-up roll 10. Is obtained by rotating in the direction of arrow A. The image receiving paper 14 passes between the ink sheet 1 and the platen roller 9, and is fed by a pair of paper feeding rollers 15.

The thermal head 8 is supported by a support shaft 16 and is rotatable. Since it is biased downward in the drawing by the compression spring 17, the ink application surface of the ink sheet 1 and the upper surface of the image receiving paper 14 are pressed between the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9. In order to sequentially print the ink sheet in the order of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C, the ink sheet is conveyed and the detected marks 3 (a), 3 (b) are detected by the detectors 4 (a), 4 (b). Is detected and the print start position for each color is reached. Then, while the ink sheet 1 is being wound by the sheet transporting means 11, the image receiving paper 14 is fed by the paper feeding roller 15 and at the same time, a thermal pulse corresponding to the input image signal is applied to the thermal head 8 so that each color The ink is transferred to the image receiving paper 14 to obtain a color output image.

Next, a method for selecting the type of ink sheet will be described. There are various types of ink sheets, including the above-mentioned ink sheets, including those that use sublimation ink that sublimes when heated, and those that use meltable ink that is meltable. Since it is necessary to print with heat energy, it is necessary to input the ink sheet type into the device and print with a dedicated sequence for each.

Therefore, in order to input the type of ink sheet to the apparatus, it is common to manually input the type of ink sheet from the operation panel and perform printing in a sequence suitable for each ink sheet. As another example of eliminating the troublesomeness of manual operation, a cartridge 18 of an ink sheet is provided with a reflection plate 19 for detection as shown in FIG. 9, and light is detected by a detector (for example, a light reflection type photo sensor) 20. In other words, the cartridge is a cartridge dedicated to various ink sheets, and the type of ink sheet is automatically input depending on the presence / absence of the reflection plate for detection, and printing is performed in a sequence suitable for each ink sheet.

[0011]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in such a conventional thermal printer, as a mechanism for inputting the type of ink sheet to the apparatus, (1) When inputting manually on the operation panel, there is a possibility that an input error may occur because it is a manual work. In that case, defective printing occurs due to malfunction.

In addition, there is the trouble of manual input. (2) In order to eliminate the inconvenience of manual input, when using the dedicated cartridges of various ink sheets for automatic input, the cost associated with the cartridge is high, and the detector and its driver are required. Accompanied by larger thermal printers. Has the problem.

[0013]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an ink sheet having an attribute mark indicating the type of ink sheet, a decoding means for reading the attribute mark, and a control for controlling the sequence of the thermal printer from the output of the decoding means. It is composed by means.

[0014]

[Action]

 In the thermal printer configured as described above, the type of ink sheet can be automatically input to the device without increasing the size of the device, and printing can be performed in a sequence suitable for each ink sheet. Can be obtained.

[0015]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the position in the transport direction of the color ink sheet formed by applying inks corresponding to the three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan (that is, the print start position of each color) is detected, and There are two types of ink sheets: sublimation type ink sheets that use ink that sublimes when heated and fusion type ink sheets that use ink that melts when heated. An example of a thermal printer for printing will be described. That is, an embodiment of a thermal printer that discriminates between two types of ink sheets, a color sublimation type ink sheet and a melting type ink sheet, and prints in a sequence suitable for each will be described.

First, the printing operation when a sublimation type ink sheet is used as the type of ink sheet will be described based on FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and FIG. 8 of the conventional example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal printer according to the present embodiment. The ink sheet 50 has an attribute mark 51 indicating the attribute of the ink sheet, a decoding unit 52 for reading the attribute mark 51, and an output of the decoding unit 52. The control unit 53 controls the sequence of the thermal printer, the sheet transport unit 54 for transporting the ink sheet 50, and the thermal head 8. The details will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of a color sublimation ink sheet having an attribute mark indicating an attribute in this embodiment. The attribute is the position of the ink sheet in the transport direction (that is, the print start position of each color) and the type of ink sheet. The ink sheet 50 has an ink portion 56 in which a sublimation type ink corresponding to three primary colors of yellow YS, magenta MS, and cyan CS is sequentially applied on the surface of a heat-resistant transparent sheet 55 such as a PET film as a base material. And an attribute mark 51 indicating the attributes of the ink sheet 50. The attribute mark 51 includes a black first detection mark 57 for detecting the printing start position (that is, the position of yellow YS) of the first color of the ink sheet 50, and a black first detection mark 57 for detecting the type of ink sheet. The second detected mark 58, the black third detected mark 59 for detecting the print start position of the second color (that is, the position of the magenta MS), and the print start position of the third color (that is, the position of the cyan CS). ) For detecting a black fourth detected mark 60.

The decoding means 52 for reading the attribute mark 51 is composed of the detectors 4 (a), 4 (b) and the reflector 5 as in the conventional example. Detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) are light reflection type photosensors for detecting each of the attribute marks 51, and when sensor light passes through the ink sheet 50 via the reflector 5 (mark non-detection). ) And when the black attribute marks 51 do not allow transmission (mark detection).

The attribute mark 51 on the ink sheet is provided as follows so as to correspond to the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b). The first detected mark 57 is a black mark extending at both ends of the ink seal 50 in the width direction, and is provided so that the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) can detect the mark together. The second detected mark 58 is continuously provided on the upstream side in the transport direction of the ink sheet 50 with respect to the first detected mark 57 so that only the detector 4 (a) can detect the mark. It is provided only near the detector 4 (a). The third detected mark 59 is provided only in the vicinity of the detector 4 (b) so that only the detector 4 (b) can detect the mark. The fourth detected mark 60 is provided only in the vicinity of the detector 4 (a) so that only the detector 4 (a) can detect the mark.

Next, the control means 53 will be described. The control means 53 is composed of a microprocessor or the like that controls the sequence of the thermal printer from the output of the decoding means 52, controls the operation of each part of the thermal printer, and also includes two types of ink, a sublimation type ink sheet and a melting type ink sheet. For each sheet, generate a thermal pulse of a suitable thermal head to print.

Next, the sheet conveying means 54 will be described. The sheet conveying means 54 is the same as the conventional example shown in FIG. 8, and in order to convey the ink sheet, the driving force of the DC motor 13 is transmitted to the sheet take-up roll 10 by the pulley wheel train 12 to cause the sheet take-up roll 10 to move. It is configured to rotate in the direction of arrow A. Next, the printing operation will be described. The printing operation is the same as in the conventional example, and details thereof are omitted. Only the mechanism for inputting the attributes of the ink sheet, which is the feature of the present invention, and the operation accompanying it will be described.

The operation at the time of starting the apparatus will be described. The start-up operation is an operation of transporting the ink sheet 50 to the print start position of yellow YS and sequentially inputting the type of ink sheet in order to print in order of yellow YS, magenta MS, and cyan CS. First, a method for detecting the print start position of yellow YS on the ink sheet 50 will be described. Since the ink sheet 50 is located at the position after the printing of the previously printed ink, that is, the ink portion 56, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) first detect the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection, respectively, and the yellow YS The ink sheet 50 is conveyed to the print start position. When the ink sheet 50 advances, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) respectively detect the mark non-detection and the mark detection and mark detection continuously after the detection of the mark non-detection. Detects that it is the print start position. Next, the operation of detecting the type of ink sheet will be described. Even when the printing start position of the yellow YS is detected, the ink sheet 50 is further advanced, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) detect the mark and the mark non-detection continuously after the mark detection, respectively. By detecting the detection, it is detected that the type of ink sheet is a sublimation type ink sheet, and the conveyance of the ink sheet is once stopped.

At this point, the type of ink sheet is automatically input and the ink sheet is prepared at the print start position of yellow YS. Then, while the ink sheet 50 is being wound by the sheet conveying means 11, the image receiving paper 14 is sent by the paper feed roller 15, and at the same time, the controlling means 53 is suitable for the sublimation type ink sheet corresponding to the input image signal to the thermal head 8. By applying a heat pulse, the ink is transferred to the image receiving paper 14 and a yellow output image is obtained.

Next, the printing operation of magenta will be described. Since the ink sheet 50 has been printed with yellow YS, the position of the ink sheet 50 is the ink portion 51 of yellow YS, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) perform mark non-detection and mark non-detection, respectively. The ink sheet 50 is conveyed, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) detect the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection and the mark detection continuously after the detection of the mark non-detection, respectively, and the print start position of the magenta MS. Detect that. At the same time, the paper feed roller 15 is reversely rotated to return the image receiving paper 14 to its original position. Then, while the ink sheet 50 is being wound by the sheet conveying means 11, the image receiving paper 14 is sent by the paper feeding roller 15, and at the same time, the heat pulse corresponding to the magenta input image signal is applied to the thermal head 8 by the control means 53. Then, the ink is transferred to the image receiving paper 14 to obtain a magenta output image.

Next, the cyan printing operation will be described. Since the ink sheet 50 is after printing the magenta MS, the position of the ink sheet 50 is the ink portion 51 of the magenta MS, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) are the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection, respectively. The ink sheet 50 is conveyed, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) detect the mark non-detection, the mark detection and the mark non-detection continuously after the detection of the mark non-detection, respectively, and the cyan CS printing start position. To detect that. At the same time, the paper feed roller 15 is reversely rotated to return the image receiving paper 14 to its original position. Then, while the ink sheet 50 is being wound by the sheet conveying means 11, the image receiving paper 14 is sent by the paper feeding roller 15, and at the same time, the control means 53 applies a heat pulse corresponding to the cyan input image signal to the thermal head 8. Then, the ink is transferred to the image receiving paper 14 and a cyan output image is obtained.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, while the ink sheet 50 is being conveyed, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) continuously detect the ink portion 56 and the attribute mark 51, and thus the ink By automatically inputting the sheet type to the device, detecting the position of the ink sheet 50 in the transport direction (that is, the print start position of each color), and sequentially printing in the order of yellow YS, magenta MS, and cyan CS. , A color output image is obtained.

Next, the printing operation in the case of using the melted ink sheet which is the second type of ink sheet will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of a color fusion-type ink sheet having an attribute mark indicating a product type in this embodiment. The ink sheet 90 has an ink portion 92 in which melt type inks corresponding to the three primary colors of yellow YY, magenta MY, and cyan CY are sequentially applied on the surface of a heat-resistant transparent sheet 91 such as a PET film as a base material. , And an attribute mark 93 indicating the type of ink sheet. The attribute mark 93 includes a black first detected mark 94 for detecting the print start position of the first color of the ink sheet 90 (that is, the position of yellow YY), and a black second detected mark 94 for detecting the type of ink sheet. The detected mark 95, the black third detected mark 96 for detecting the print start position of the second color (that is, the position of magenta MY), and the print start position of the third color (that is, the position of cyan CY) Is composed of a black fourth detected mark 97 for detecting.

The attribute mark 93 on the ink sheet is provided as described below so as to correspond to the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b). The first detected mark 94 is a black mark extending at both ends in the width direction of the ink sheet 90, and both the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) are provided so as to detect the mark. The second detected mark 95 is continuously provided on the upstream side of the first detected mark 94 in the conveyance direction of the ink sheet 90, and the detector 4 (b) is the only detector 4 to detect the mark. It is provided only in the vicinity of (b). The third detected mark 96 is provided only in the vicinity of the detector 4 (a) so that only the detector 4 (a) can detect the mark. The fourth detected mark 97 is provided only near the detector 4 (b) so that only the detector 4 (b) can detect the mark.

Next, the printing operation will be described. The printing operation is the same as when the sublimation type ink sheet described above is used, but it is determined by the attribute mark 93 that the ink sheet to be used is a fusion type ink sheet, and the thermal pulse suitable for the fusion type ink sheet is used. It is configured to print. First, a method of detecting the print start position of yellow YY will be described. When the apparatus is started up, the ink sheet 90 is located at the position after the printing of the previously printed ink, that is, the ink portion 92, so that the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) first detect the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection, respectively. This is detection, and the ink sheet 90 is conveyed to the position where the printing of yellow YY is started. When the ink sheet 90 advances, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) respectively detect the mark non-detection and the mark detection and the mark detection continuously after the detection of the mark non-detection, and the yellow YY printing of the ink sheet 90 is performed. Detects that it is the start position.

Next, the operation of detecting the type of ink sheet will be described. Even when the print start position of yellow YY is detected, the ink sheet 90 is further advanced, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) detect the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection continuously after the mark detection, respectively. By detecting the detection, it is detected that the type of ink sheet is a fusion type ink sheet.

Next, the operation of detecting the print start position of magenta MY will be described. Since the ink sheet 90 has been printed with yellow YY, the position of the ink sheet 90 is the ink portion 92, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) are not detecting marks and not detecting marks, respectively. When the ink sheet 90 is conveyed, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) detect the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection continuously after the detection of the mark non-detection, respectively, and the print start position of the magenta MY is detected. To detect.

Next, the operation of detecting the print start position of cyan CY will be described. Since the ink sheet 90 has been printed with magenta MY, the position of the ink sheet 90 is the ink portion 92, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) are non-mark detection and non-mark detection, respectively. The ink sheet 90 is conveyed, and the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) detect the mark non-detection, the mark non-detection and the mark non-detection continuously after the detection of the mark non-detection, respectively, and the print start position of the cyan CY is set. To detect.

In this manner, the detectors 4 (a) and 4 (b) continuously detect the ink portion 92 and the attribute mark 93 while conveying the ink sheet 90 as shown in FIG. Thus, it is possible to detect that the type of ink sheet is a fusion type ink sheet and the position of the ink sheet 90 in the transport direction (that is, the print start position of each color). Then, as in the case of using the above-mentioned sublimation type ink sheet, the control means 53 applies a heat pulse corresponding to the input image signal to the thermal head 8 and suitable for the melting type ink sheet, and the yellow YY, magenta Printing is performed in order of MY and cyan CY, and a color output image is obtained.

In this embodiment, the sublimation type ink sheet and the melting type ink sheet are judged as the kinds of ink sheets, but other kinds may be judged. That is, for example, it is possible to judge three types of the melted ink sheet (yellow, magenta, cyan) and four colors of the fused ink sheet (yellow, magenta, cyan, black). Needless to say.

In this embodiment, only two types of ink sheets are judged. However, a plurality of other combinations can be used for conveying the ink sheet and continuously detecting the attribute mark and the ink portion. It goes without saying that it is possible to determine the types of ink sheets of a plurality of types and to detect the print start position of multicolor ink. Further, although the attribute mark is detected by using two detectors in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0036]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, in the thermal printer according to the present invention, (1) the size of the apparatus is increased because the ink sheet cartridge or the like used to automatically input the type of ink sheet into the apparatus is unnecessary. Instead, the type of ink sheet can be automatically input to the device. (2) In addition, since the type of ink sheet can be automatically input to the apparatus, it is possible to prevent input errors when manually inputting from the operation panel or the like. (3) Since it is possible to automatically input the type of ink sheet into the device and perform printing with thermal energy suitable for various ink sheets from the input result, it is possible to provide a thermal printer that can perform good printing. effective.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of an ink sheet in the thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of detecting an attribute of an ink sheet in the thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view of an ink sheet in the thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an ink sheet attribute detection operation in the thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an ink sheet in a conventional thermal printer.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method of detecting a print start position of an ink sheet in a conventional thermal printer.

FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a printing operation in a conventional thermal printer.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an automatic input method of ink sheet type in a conventional thermal printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Thermal Head 11 Sheet Conveying Means 50 Ink Sheet 51 Attribute Mark 52 Decoding Means 53 Control Means 54 Sheet Conveying Means

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An ink sheet coated with an ink that becomes sublimable or meltable by heating and a recording paper are superposed on each other,
In a thermal printer for recording image information by applying a heat pulse by a thermal head to transfer ink to a recording sheet, an ink sheet having an attribute mark indicating a product type, and a sheet conveying means for conveying the ink sheet And a decoding unit that reads the attribute mark each time the thermal printer is activated, and a control unit that controls the sequence of the thermal printer from the output of the decoding unit.