JPH06206338A - Electrostatic recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an electrostatic recorder capable of automatically setting a condition in accordance with characteristics of paper and easily making optimum image recording. CONSTITUTION:A continuous-length recording sheet 100 wound on a core 116 is supplied from upstream of a transport path along a specific path to be led to a main transport means 30 disposed on a fixed position downstratem across the specific path for transporting a sheet. By driving the main transport means, the sheet is supplied. An electrostatic image is formed on the sheet by an image recording means 55 disposed opposedly to the path. An image is recorded by developing this electrostatic image by a developing means. In this electrostatic recorder, a recording part with recording of information, such as an electrostatic recording condition of a recording sheet, is provided on the core 116. A reading means 206 is provided for reading the recorded information of the recording part. A control means 301 is provided for regulating an electrostatic recording condition for the image recording means on the basis of the information read by the reading means 206.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color electrostatic plotter for directly forming a monochrome image or a color image on a paper (long sheet) such as an electrostatic recording paper wound in a roll by using an electrostatic recording system. The present invention relates to an electrostatic recording apparatus having an optimum paper condition automatic setting function, which is utilized in an image forming apparatus such as the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A wet process in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a recording sheet such as a recording sheet and is developed by contacting it with a developing solution containing toner, thereby recording on the recording sheet. The electrostatic recording device is used as a recording device or the like for recording an image on a large-sized recording sheet such as a paper size A0 plate or A1 plate.

As such a wet recording apparatus, a recording head which is a recording portion for an electrostatic latent image, a developing head (developing device) for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a developing solution supplied to the developing head are housed. It is composed of a developer container and a suction pump for circulating the developer.

Specifically, for example, the developing head has a box-shaped container in which a developing solution can flow, and the upper surface of the substrate is formed in a flat shape, and this flat area serves as a developing action area for a recording sheet. A slit-shaped window is provided, and the plane portion serves as a conveyance path for the recording sheet, and the longitudinal direction of the window is a transverse direction of the recording sheet.

The developing head is connected to a developing solution container by a pipe, and while the recording sheet on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is conveyed through the flat portion of the developing head, the inside of the developing head is sucked by a suction pump. Since the recording sheet covers the slit-shaped window of the developing head, the inside of the developing head has a negative pressure, so that the developing solution is sucked up from the developing solution container and circulated, and the recording sheet has a slit-like shape. In the window portion, a developing solution is applied to the recording sheet to develop it.

Usually, there is only one recording head. In the case of multicolor recording (color printing), one recording head for each color is provided on the upstream side of the recording paper conveyance path, and development for each color is provided on the downstream side. The heads are arranged in order, and a long recording paper wound in a roll is unwound and fed to the downstream side to form an electrostatic latent image for one color on the paper surface by the recording head. The electrostatic latent image is developed using the developing head supplied with the developing solution used for developing the color corresponding to the image, and the recording of the image of that color is completed. Repeat the procedure such as rewinding and feeding the recording paper again to record the next color according to the above procedure, rewinding the recording paper when the recording is completed, and feeding the recording paper again to record the next color. To record by overprinting.

Since the printing recording paper is repeatedly reciprocated in this manner, the paper for which recording for each color has been completed is wound up by the winding roller, and the recording paper is returned when recording the next color. It will be.

The structure of a conventional wet electrostatic recording apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the electrostatic recording device.
6 is a paper tube, and the long recording paper 100 is the paper tube 16
And is mounted at a fixed position on the upstream side of the recording paper conveyance path.

The recording paper 100 wound around the paper tube 16 is sandwiched between the recording head 1 provided on the upstream side of the recording paper conveying path and the pad roller 2 arranged above the recording head 1 and facing each other. It is stretched around a drive roller 30 provided on the downstream side of the recording paper conveyance path. The pad roller 2 can be brought into contact with or separated from the recording head 1. A driving pinch roller 31 is arranged in contact with the driving roller 30 on its peripheral surface, and the recording paper 100 is nipped, that is, pressed by the driving roller 30 and the driving pinch roller 31.

The recording paper on the recording paper 100 of the recording head 1 is a portion A. Sensors 6 and 7 for detecting the state of the recording paper are fixed to the recording head 1 at both ends of the recording head 1. These sensors 6 and 7 are sensors for reading timing marks and the like recorded on the recording paper 100, and are read by the B section.

Developing heads 55a to 55d are arranged in order between the recording head 1 and the driving roller 30 so as to face the recording paper conveyance path. The developing heads 55a to 55d are independent of each other and are configured to be selectively brought into contact with and separated from the recording paper 100.
Reference numeral 55d denotes a developing treatment in which developing solutions of different colors are circulated to act on the recording paper. For example, the developing head 55a is dedicated to black, the developing head 55a
b is for cyan only, developing head 55c is exclusively for magenta, and developing head 55d is exclusively for yellow.

The recording paper conveyance direction, which is the forward direction, is from the recording head 1 to the drive roller 30 side. A path switching gate 50 that selectively guides the leading edge of the recording paper to two different paths is provided on the downstream side of the drive roller 30 in the recording paper conveyance direction. One path switched by the path switching gate 50 is a recording paper for multi-color recording. Take-up roller 5 to take up and store
1, and the other path is connected to the paper discharge path for conveying the recorded recording paper to the outside of the apparatus.

A Y cutter 52 that cuts the recording paper 100 in the paper discharge path at a right angle to the recording paper conveyance direction, an X cutter 53 that cuts the recording paper parallel to the recording paper conveyance direction, and the recording paper 10.
A paper discharge roller 54 for discharging 0 to the outside of the machine is arranged. The paper discharge roller 54 has a structure in which a belt is stretched between a pair of rollers, and is arranged vertically in close proximity to each other.
The recording paper is sandwiched between the belts and discharged outside the machine.

The recording paper 100 is conveyed along a conveying path between the developing roller 55d on the most downstream side and the driving roller 30.
Suction head 5 for sucking off excess developer adhering to
6 and a suction roller 18 are provided.

An encoder roller 17 is provided between the recording head 1 and the paper tube 16 so as to rotate in contact with the recording paper and detect the feed amount of the recording paper.
An encoder for outputting the feed amount as an electric signal is provided at the end of the roller 17, and a control system (not shown) functions according to the output to record an image (record an electrostatic latent image on a recording sheet with the recording head 1). Recording) is performed.

This electrostatic plotter (electrostatic recording device) is provided with an automatic loading mechanism. The configuration of that portion will be described. That is, the auto-loading mechanism is provided with arms 35 at both ends of the drive roller 30 which constitutes the main transport mechanism of the recording paper, and the arm 35 is rotatable about the rotation axis of the drive roller 30 and the arm 35 is provided. Pulleys 34 are respectively provided on the rotation end sides of the
A conveyor belt 33 is stretched between the roller 4 and the driving roller 30. It goes without saying that grooves for hanging the conveyor belt 33 are provided near both ends of the drive roller 30.

The arm 35 is made of a flat and straight plate material, and is formed with one end side bent slightly inward, and the other end side is arranged in parallel with both end surfaces of the drive roller 30. The pulley 34 is not parallel to the end surface of the drive roller 30, but is arranged in an inverted V shape toward the downstream side of the conveyance. Therefore, the conveyor belt 33 is also not parallel to the end surface of the drive roller 30, and is rather somewhat. It becomes an inverted C shape.

The procedure for setting the roll-shaped recording paper will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 illustrates the process of recording paper setting operation with respect to the transport drive mechanism system. In setting a roll recording paper, first, the pad roller 2 is lifted and then the electrostatic recording unit (arrangement region of the recording head 1). Through the developing section (the area where the developing head is arranged) from FIG.
As shown in (b), the arm 35 is lifted and the leading edge of the roll paper 100 is manually fed to near the position of the nip point C.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9 (c), the arm 3
When 5 is lowered and the conveying belt 33 is brought into contact with the surface of the recording paper 100, the conveying belt 33 presses the recording paper 100 between the suction roller 18 and the rotation of the driving roller 30 so that the conveying belt 33 is also driven. The tip of the sheet is sent to the position of the nip point C (FIGS. 9C and 9D). Therefore, the leading edge of the recording paper 100 is sandwiched between the drive roller 30 and the drive pinch roller 31, and is sent to the downstream side. The method of setting the roll paper in the color electrostatic plotter will be described in more detail.

As described above, FIG. 9 illustrates the process of recording paper setting operation for the transport drive mechanism system. The transport drive mechanism system for recording paper is the drive roller 30 and the drive pinch roller described above. 31, a conveyor belt 33, a pulley 34, an arm 35, and a suction roller 18.

The drive roller 30 drives the electrostatic recording paper 100 to determine the carrying direction and carrying speed of the electrostatic recording paper 100. Further, the drive pinch roller 31 presses the electrostatic recording paper 100 against the drive roller and transmits the driving force of the drive roller 30 to the electrostatic recording paper 100. The suction roller 18 is not a component dedicated to the transport drive mechanism system and is for absorbing unnecessary toner on the electrostatic recording paper 100 at the time of development, but cooperates with the transport belt 33 to loosen or wrinkle the recording paper 100. And to feed the recording paper 100 to the nip point C.

Now, the main body cover (not shown) is opened, the paper tube is set in the main body, the electrostatic recording paper 100 is fed out from the paper tube by a predetermined amount, and the leading end is manually brought to a position above the suction roller 32. Next, the tip of the electrostatic recording paper 100 is inserted between the suction roller 32 and the pulley 34, and the cover (not shown) is closed. The main body has a cover interlock switch that can detect the open / closed state of the cover.

When it is detected that the cover is closed, the drive roller 30 starts to rotate in the forward direction (counterclockwise direction in the figure), whereby the conveyor belt 33 rotates and the arm 35 rotates to the suction roller 18 side. Will move. As a result, the conveyor belt 33 causes the electrostatic recording paper 100 to move.
And press it to sandwich it with the suction roller 18.

The conveyor belt 3 is rotated by the rotation of the driving roller 30.
The electrostatic recording paper 100 starts to be conveyed by the rotational movement of the paper 3, and at this time, the paper tube is braked so as not to rotate, and the pressing force of the conveyor belt 33 causes the paper tube to move. Since the tension is smaller than the tension applied to the electrostatic recording paper 100, the electrostatic recording paper 100 and the transport belt 33 slip.

Here, since the conveyor belt 33 is arranged in a slightly inverted C shape as described above, it is rotated outward slightly with respect to the downstream direction. Each side will apply a force that pulls diagonally outward, which will remove wrinkles and slack in the electrostatic recording paper, and electrostatic recording as if it was set at an angle to the paper tube. The paper 100 also works to correct the posture.

After the electrostatic recording paper 100 and the conveyor belt 33 are sufficiently slipped to remove wrinkles, slack and skew of the electrostatic recording paper 100, the paper tube is rotated at a peripheral speed lower than that of the driving roller 30. , The electrostatic recording paper 100 is fed to the nip point C between the drive roller 30 and the drive pinch roller 31.

When the electrostatic recording paper 100 is nipped at the point A, the conveying force of the drive roller 30 for conveying the electrostatic recording paper 100 beyond that is stronger than the tension given to the electrostatic recording paper 100 by the paper tube. Therefore, the electrostatic recording paper 100 is conveyed by the drive roller 30. The electrostatic recording paper 100 conveyed by the driving roller 30 stops when it is fed by a predetermined amount beyond the nip point A, and the preparation for printing is completed. Electrostatic recording paper 1
The paper path sensor 57 detects that 00 has reached a predetermined position. As a result, the recording paper can be automatically loaded in the optimum state.

Next, the movement of the recording paper 100 during four-color recording (color recording) will be described. The recording paper 100 is the drive roller 3
It is conveyed by 0 and the conveying force of the drive pinch roller 31.
The paper tube is always driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the recording paper conveyance direction, and applies back tension to the recording paper. The leading edge of the recording paper is detected by the sensor 57, and normally the driving pinch roller 3
It does not deviate from the nip point C of 1.

When printing is started, first, the developing head 55a dedicated to the black (black) developer is moved up to the recording paper conveyance path position, and the developing head 55a is moved to the recording paper 100.
And the developer is circulated and the developer is circulated.
It will act on the paper surface of 0. As a result, the timing mark recorded as an electrostatic latent image by the recording head 1 is developed in black. The leading edge of the recording paper is guided by switching the path to the take-up roller 51 side by the gate 50,
The take-up roller 51 is wound around the take-up roller 51 because the peripheral speed of the take-up roller 51 is faster than the conveying speed of the drive roller 30 and the friction of the recording paper 100 against the roller 51.

When the printing of the timing mark is completed in this way, the developing head 55a is lowered from the recording paper conveyance path position and returned to the standby position, and the contact with the recording paper surface is released. Then, the drive roller 30 is reversely rotated,
The recording paper 100 enters the reverse state and is rewound onto the paper tube 16. The drive roller 30 is stopped at a position where the leading edge of the recording paper does not exceed point C, and when the timing mark recorded by the green recording head 1 moves upstream from point B.

Next, the cyan developing head 55b is raised to reach the position of the recording paper conveying path, comes into contact with the recording paper 100, and the cyan developing solution is circulated in the developing head 55b to be in a developable state. . Then, the previous timing mark is read by the sensor 6 or 7, and the second color is recorded based on the information. That is, based on the information on the detection output of the timing mark and the feed amount by the encoder roller 17, under the control of a control system (not shown),
The electrostatic latent image of the cyan image is recorded on the recording paper 10 by the recording head 1.
It is wound on the winding roller 51 which is formed on the 0th surface and developed by the cyan developing head 55b.

When the cyan development is completed, the cyan development head 55b is lowered and retracted to the standby position, the drive roller 30 is rotated in the reverse direction, the recording paper 100 is in the reverse state, and the recording paper 100 is returned to the paper tube 16. It is rewound. The drive roller 30 is stopped at a position where the leading edge of the recording paper does not exceed point C, and when the timing mark recorded by the recording head 1 moves upstream from point B.

This operation is performed by the magenta developing head 5
The magenta image by 5c is also performed, and when the recording of the final color (the yellow image by the yellow developing head 55d) is started after the completion of the three colors, the path of the gate 50 is switched to the paper discharge unit. Then, the front end of the recording paper is recorded on the yellow image while being conveyed to the paper discharge section by the gate 50, and is cut to a desired size by the X and Y cutters 53 and 52 according to the different recording paper cut information, while being recorded outside the machine. Is discharged to.

[0034]

By the way, the recording paper (electrostatic recording sheet) used in such an electrostatic recording apparatus is one that has been subjected to a special process for enabling electrostatic recording. There is. That is, the surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and which is developed with a developer containing toner is subjected to waterproofing treatment and insulation treatment for retaining charged electric charge, while the back surface is made to easily carry charged electric charge. Conductive treatment is applied.

Further, the electrostatic recording sheet is not only subjected to such a special treatment, but there are cases where the base material (base) of the electrostatic recording sheet is paper, and when it is a transparency sheet. Also, the thickness may differ depending on the application. Therefore, in order to always obtain an appropriate output image, the voltage of the stylus electrostatic needle of the recording head that forms the electrostatic latent image, the negative pressure amount at the time of development, the setting of conditions such as the development bias, and the characteristics of the paper used. Depending on the situation, I had to manually adjust each time.

As for the roll paper (recording paper), the paper to be used is often exchanged according to the application, and it is very troublesome to make such setting every time the paper is exchanged, and the setting result is There were some inconveniences, such as not knowing whether or not it was optimal unless you actually recorded it.

Manually setting the conditions each time the paper is replaced is a condition for obtaining an image output in an appropriate recording state. However, in reality, these parameter settings are manually set each time the paper is replaced. Since it is difficult to match them, conventionally, in order to improve this to some extent and improve usability, a certain range of parameters should be provided and two or more types should be prepared in advance. It corresponds by selecting by switching. But,
In this case, it is not possible to finely respond to delicate differences in the characteristics of the recording paper used, such as thickness, stiffness, electrical characteristics, etc., and high-quality image recording cannot be expected.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrostatic recording device that can automatically set conditions according to paper characteristics and easily perform optimum image recording.

[0039]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows. That is, a long sheet wound around a winding core is fed from a transport path upstream side along a predetermined route, and a main transport for sheet transport operation is provided at a downstream fixed position separated by the predetermined route. The sheet is fed to the sheet feeding means, and the main transporting means is driven to supply the sheet, and at the same time, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the sheet by the image recording means arranged in the desired path. In an electrostatic recording apparatus which develops an electro-latent image to record an image, a recording section which is provided in a core and records information such as electrostatic recording conditions of a recording sheet, and recording information of this recording section. And a control means for adjusting the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means based on the information read by the reading means.

Further, as a second structure, recording means for recording information in the recording portion and condition adjusting means for manually adjusting the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means are provided, and the control means has the above-mentioned structure. Based on the information read by the reading unit, the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording unit is adjusted, and the electrostatic recording condition is adjusted according to the adjustment condition of the condition adjusting unit. And a recording control function of giving electrostatic recording conditions to the recording means.

[0041]

In the above construction, the long sheet wound around the winding core is fed from the upstream side of the conveying path along a predetermined route while the latent image is formed on the sheet surface by the image recording means, and the developing means is formed. Although an image is recorded by developing with, a long sheet wound around a winding core has different conditions for forming an appropriate electrostatic latent image depending on conditions such as paper quality. Therefore, information such as the electrostatic recording condition of the recording sheet is recorded in the recording unit provided in the core portion, the recording unit recording information is read by the reading unit, and the control is performed based on the read information. Means adjusts the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means.

Further, according to the second configuration, the condition can be manually adjusted by the condition adjusting means. In this case, if the condition is manually adjusted, the control means will follow the recording condition according to the manually adjusted recording condition. The recording condition is adjusted and given to the recording unit, and the recording unit writes the recording condition in the recording unit. Therefore, when the recording sheet is used thereafter, recording can be performed under the adjusted optimum conditions.

As a result, the electrostatic recording can be performed on the recording sheet under the optimum condition, and the electrostatic recording condition is automatically set only by setting the recording sheet, and the high quality image recording is performed. A possible electrostatic recording device can be provided.

[0044]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is a core of a recording sheet (a core attached to an inner tube or a flange of a paper tube or a holder side of a paper tube) in which a magnetic region (magnetic layer) for recording the characteristics of a recording paper to be used in a magnetic form is recorded. The magnetic data is read by the magnetic reproducing head provided in the main body of the recording device, and each parameter is automatically set according to the characteristics of the paper. By matching them, the optimum image output is always obtained.

Further, the main body of the recording apparatus is provided with a magnetic erasing head and a magnetic writing head at the position where the recording sheets are set, so that the parameters manually re-input during use and the roll paper used can be rewritten. It is possible to obtain the length based on the encoder data and input it to the magnetic layer, and even if you change the paper, you can display the image output according to your preference, the used length, or the remaining length. Alternatively, by comparing the input data length with the remaining length, it is possible to send a signal indicating whether output is possible to the host computer side. Then, the conditions can be automatically set according to the characteristics of the paper used, and optimum image recording can be easily performed. Examples of the present invention will be described below.
A description will be given with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a color electrostatic plotter to which the present invention is applied. Reference numeral 60 is a main body, and 60A is a cover. This color electrostatic plotter is an electrostatic recording type plotter capable of printing a color drawing of A0 size on an electrostatic recording paper which has been subjected to a special surface treatment.
When 0A is opened, the portion where the roll-shaped electrostatic recording paper is mounted, the recording head, the developing head, etc. are exposed. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color electrostatic plotter incorporating a magnetic recording data reading mechanism according to the present invention. The basic configuration is the same as that described in the related art, and the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

That is, in FIG. 2, 1 is an electrostatic recording head for forming an electrostatic latent image on a long electrostatic recording sheet (recording sheet) 100, and 2 is an electrostatic recording head 1 and an electrostatic recording sheet 10.
A pad roller that presses 0 to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic recording paper 100 without unevenness, and 65 is a static elimination brush that removes unnecessary static electricity on the non-image forming surface of the electrostatic recording paper 100.

Further, 6 and 7 are paper position sensors for detecting the position of the electrostatic recording paper 100 with respect to the electrostatic recording head 1, and are provided on both sides of the electrostatic recording head 1. These paper position sensors 6 and 7 are configured by using CCD image elements and the like.

Reference numeral 116 denotes a cylindrical paper tube. As shown in FIG. 4, a long electrostatic recording paper 100 is wound around the paper tube 116 in a roll shape to electrostatically charge the image forming portion. Chart paper 1
00 is supplied. The paper tube 1 will be described in detail later.
A magnetic recording flange 116a is fitted and attached to one end of the cylinder at 16. Magnetic recording flange 116a
Has a recording portion 116b formed of a magnetic material layer on the inner peripheral surface of the flange. The recording portion 116b is used to magnetically record parameters for setting conditions during image recording, recording sheet remaining amount, and the like. It can be read out. The recording portion 116b may be formed by applying a magnetic material or by attaching a magnetic tape.
It is also possible to form a magnetic tape on the inside of 16.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an encoder roller, which is a paper tube 1
It is arranged at the delivery port from 16. The encoder roller 17 is in contact with the recording paper 100, and is rotated by frictional contact with the recording paper 100 during recording while being conveyed.

The encoder roller 17 is positioned so that the electrostatic recording paper 100 is fed in parallel to the surface of the electrostatic recording head 1, and the electrostatic recording paper 100 is conveyed from the number of rotations thereof. The speed can be detected.

55 is in close contact with the electrostatic recording paper 100, and a liquid toner, which is a developing solution, is caused to flow between the electrostatic recording paper 100 and the electrostatic recording paper 100 so that the electrostatic latent image formed on the electrostatic recording paper 100 is tonered. A developing head for developing as an image.

The developing heads 55 are for black 55a, for cyan 55b, and for magenta 55 from the upstream side in the recording conveyance direction.
c and 55d for yellow are arranged in this order, and the electrostatic recording paper 100 is contacted in this order to form an image on the electrostatic recording paper 100. 56 is a suction head for sucking unnecessary residual liquid toner on the electrostatic recording paper 100, and 18 is the electrostatic recording paper 1 in the image forming section together with the encoder roller 17.
00 is determined, and a suction roller for sucking unnecessary toner on the electrostatic recording paper 100, and 30 is the electrostatic recording paper 100.
Is a drive roller that drives the drive roller and determines the transport direction and transport speed of the electrostatic recording paper 100.

Reference numeral 51 designates an electrostatic recording paper 1 during image formation.
A take-up roller 52 for taking up and storing 00 is cut off into a required image forming portion and an unnecessary portion of the electrostatic recording paper 100 on which an image is formed, and a portion on which an image is formed and discharged. To separate the image forming section from the non-image forming section
The cutters 53 divide the electrostatic recording paper 100 on which the image has been recorded, which has been cut by the Y cutter 52, into unnecessary portions on both ends thereof and necessary image portions, and the electrostatic recording paper 100 of A0 size is cut. An X cutter 54 for cutting into drawings of the following sizes holds the electrostatic recording paper 100 cut by the Y cutter 52 during the cutting operation by the X cutter, and at the same time, the electrostatic recording paper 100 after the image formation and cutting is stopped. A paper discharge mechanism for discharging from the electronic recording device.

Reference numeral 60A designates a main body cover which is opened / closed when the electrostatic recording paper 100 is set in the electrostatic recording apparatus or when the jammed electrostatic recording paper 100 is processed. Reference numeral 41 designates an encoder arranged facing the encoder roller 17.
It is a pinch roller, and the electrostatic recording paper 100 is sandwiched between the encoder roller 17 and the encoder roller 17.
This is to prevent slip between the electrostatic recording paper 100 and the electrostatic recording paper 100.

A paper arrival sensor 40 is disposed near the entrance of the drive roller 30 in the recording paper conveyance path and detects the arrival of the leading end of the electrostatic recording paper 100 at the position of the drive roller 30.

Reference numeral 301 denotes a control unit that controls the center of control, and is constituted by a microprocessor (CPU), and performs various kinds of control of the system and calculation. Also, 30
Reference numeral 2 denotes an operation unit, which can adjust various operation switches, a voltage of a stylus electrostatic needle of the electrostatic recording unit, a developing condition by the developing device 55, and other parameters (recording conditions) that influence image characteristics. The output of the operation unit 302 is sent to the control device 301, and the control device 301 performs control and adjustment according to this input for necessary elements.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a recording / erasing head, 206
Is a reproducing head for recording and erasing information on the recording portion 116b provided on the inner peripheral surface of the magnetic recording flange 116a,
Writing is performed, and under the control of the control device 301, it is possible to magnetically record and read the parameters for setting conditions at the time of image recording, the remaining amount of recording paper, and the like. . The control device 301 makes various necessary settings based on the read information.

The recording paper 116 is recorded in the recording unit 116b.
Of the recording / erasing head in the area for recording the length information of the recording unit 116b by receiving the encoder output of the encoder roller 17 and calculating the remaining amount of recording paper. At 205, it functions to update and record the length information.

Further, the control device 301 uses the reproducing head 206.
Is provided with a function of displaying the length information read by the recording unit 116b on a display unit (not shown) of the main body and displaying a warning when the remaining amount of recording paper is insufficient for recording an image to be recorded. .

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the recording paper holding portion, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrostatic recording paper 100. Electrostatic recording paper 10
A cylindrical flange 116a is fitted to one end of a cylindrical paper tube 116 which is a winding core.
A magnetic recording portion 116b for recording parameter information such as recording conditions and the remaining amount of recording paper is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the encoder roller 17 portion. In FIG. 5, 61a is a side plate A, and 61b is a side plate B, which shows the frame of the apparatus. Reference numeral 17c is a drive motor that rotationally drives the encoder roller 17. The encoder roller 17 is arranged between the recording head 1 and the paper tube 116, rotates in contact with the recording paper 100, and rotates.
The amount of feed of 0 is detected.

An encoder 17a for outputting the feed amount as an electric signal is provided at the end of the encoder roller 17.
Is provided, and a control system (not shown) functions in accordance with the output thereof to perform image recording (recording an electrostatic latent image on recording paper) by the recording head 1. 17b is an encoder 1
7a and encoder roller 17 joint, 1
7d is a clutch of the drive motor 17c.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the recording paper mounting portion on the recording paper supply side. In the figure, 61a is a side plate A, and 61b is a side plate B, which shows the frame of the apparatus. Further, 200 is a drive holder, and 201 is a paper tube drive motor that rotationally drives the paper tube 116, which is connected to the drive holder 200 and rotationally drives it. A pressing holder 202 is fitted to one side of the paper tube 116 that serves as the core of the roll paper 100, and rewinds the roll paper 100 or applies and holds an appropriate tension.

A biasing force is applied to the pressing holder 202 by the holder spring 203, and the paper tube 116 is pressed and held between the pressing holder 202 and the opposing driving holder 200. Drive holder 200
The pressing holder 202 and the pressing holder 202 are tapered at their facing portions, and they form a pair of paper tube holders. Reference numeral 204 denotes a guide, which is fixed to the side plate B 61b. The pressing holder 202 is slidably and rotatably fitted to the guide 204, and is movably and rotatably held in the thrust direction about the guide 204 as an axis, and is constantly pressed by the holder spring 203 toward the drive motor 201 side. There is. Paper tube 1
16 has a cutout portion, and the drive holder 200 has a convex portion that fits with this cutout portion, so that the rotation of the drive holder 200 can be securely transmitted to the paper tube 116 by fitting them together. It has become.

Reference numeral 205 is a recording / erasing head, and 206 is a reproducing head, which are held at the tip of an arm 207 arranged in the guide 204 along the axis thereof. The arm 207 has a structure like a clothespin, and the arm 2
The rear end side of 07 has a slope shape that widens toward the end, and the solenoid 20 mounted in the guide 204
When 8 is advanced in the direction of the paper tube 116, the movable shaft 208a of the solenoid enters the slope-shaped portion, and the recording / erasing head 20 is held at the tip of the arm 207 as shown in the figure.
5. The reproducing head 206 is connected to the magnetic recording unit 116 of the paper tube 116.
The head surface can be brought into contact with the magnetic recording part 11b.
6b can be recorded / erased and reproduced.

Reference numeral 209 is an arm spring, and the arm 207
Is a spring that biases the arm 207 so that the tip of the arm is opened. Therefore, when the movable shaft 208a of the solenoid 208 is advanced toward the paper tube 116, as shown in FIG.
07 enters the slope at the rear end of the arm 207, closes the tip of the arm 207, and attaches the recording / erasing head 205 and the reproducing head 206 held at the tip of the arm 207 to the magnetic recording unit 1 of the paper tube 116.
It can be separated from 16b.

Recording / erasing head 205, reproducing head 20
6 is directed in the radial direction with respect to the axis of the arm 207,
When the arm 207 is retracted, as shown in FIG.
The movable shaft 208a is separated from the slope-shaped portion at the rear end of 07, the tip of the arm 207 is opened, and the head surface can be brought into contact with the magnetic recording portion 116b of the paper tube 116. Will be possible.

Next, a method for setting the electrostatic recording paper 100 at a fixed position will be described. First, while inserting the side of the electrostatic recording paper 100 on which the magnetic tape support flange is attached into the pressing holder 202 of the main body, the holder spring 203 is compressed and moved to the right, and then the left paper tube 116 is inserted into the drive holder 200. The notch of the paper tube 116 and the protrusion of the drive holder 200 are aligned to complete the setting. In this state, just the paper tube 1
The recording portion 116b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner flange 16 and the thrust directions of the recording / erasing head 205 and the reproducing head 206 coincide with each other.

Inside the guide 204, a clothespin-shaped arm 207 is supported with the center part as an axis, and the pair of arms 209 has a recording / erasing head 2 at one end thereof.
05, and the reproducing head 206 is held on the other side, and they can be thrustably moved with each other by pins. The other end side (rear end side) of the arm 207 is biased by an arm spring 209.
Recording / erasing head 205 and reproducing head 2
06 at the position of the front end portion of the guide 204, the recording unit 1
It is designed to act in a direction away from the surface of 16b. Therefore, when the recording paper is set, the recording portion 116b, the recording / erasing head 205, and the reproducing head 206 do not come into close contact with each other as they are.

When the device is activated, controller 301 energizes solenoid 208. Thereby, the movable shaft 208
a is retracted from the direction of the paper tube 116. As a result, as shown in FIG.
The rear end side of the arm 207 is opened by retreating from the slope part of the.

In the recording tube 116 of the flange 116a of the paper tube 116 of the electrostatic recording paper 100, the voltage of the stylus electrostatic needle according to the characteristics of the roll recording paper, the negative pressure amount at the time of development, the developing bias, etc. are set in advance. The proper value or its representative parameter is magnetically recorded in advance. Therefore, by reading this recording information by the reproducing head 206 during the automatic loading, the control device 301 knows the optimum recording condition of the electrostatic recording paper 100 to be used from the information, and sets the device to that condition. After that, the electrostatic latent image is recorded and developed under this condition, and the recording with the optimum image quality can be performed.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a state in which the electrostatic recording paper 100 is set in the main body 60 and a normal state.
The solenoid 208 is off and the movable shaft 208a
By the restoring force of the plunger spring, resists the biasing force of the arm spring 209, penetrates into the slope portion on the rear end side of the arm 207, and operates the tip end of the arm 207 in the closing direction.

As a result, recording of the tip of the arm 207
The erasing head 205 and the reproducing head 206 are pulled toward the center side so that the electrostatic recording paper 100 can be easily attached to and detached from the main body 60.

A schematic printing operation of the color electrostatic plotter according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When the paper tube 116 is newly set, the paper auto loading mechanism described above is used. The main body 60 has an operation unit (operation panel) 302, and this operation unit 302 has a command button for paper autoloading. Therefore, when setting the paper, the cover 60A of the main body 60 is opened and the paper tube 116 is set at a fixed position.

At this time, the controller 301 controls the solenoid 2
08 is turned off, the movable shaft 208a enters the slope portion on the rear end side of the arm 207 against the biasing force of the arm spring 209 by the restoring force of the plunger spring,
The tip of the arm 207 is closed.

When the recording paper 100 is set, the recording paper 100 is then fed out from the paper tube 116, the leading end thereof is brought between the encoder roller 17 and the encoder pinch roller 41, and the paper automatic loading of the operation unit 302 is performed. Command button.

Then, the control device 301 receives this command and controls the connection of the clutch 17c.
The drive motor 17c of the roller 17 is rotationally driven in the forward direction. At the same time, the drive roller 30 is controlled to rotate in the forward direction.

Therefore, the rotational force of the drive motor 17c is transmitted to the encoder roller 17 and the encoder roller 17
Is driven to rotate in the forward direction. Therefore, the leading edge of the recording paper 100 is caught between the encoder roller 17 and the encoder pinch roller 41, and is sent to the downstream side.
Eventually, the leading edge of the recording paper 100 reaches between the conveyor belt 33 and the suction roller 18, and is sandwiched between these and moves toward the drive roller 30 side.

That is, the conveyor belt 33 is the recording paper 100.
When it comes into contact with the surface, the conveyor belt 33 presses the recording paper 100 between itself and the suction roller 18, and the conveyor belt 33 is also driven by the rotation of the drive roller 30 to send the leading end of the recording paper 100 to the nip point position of the drive roller 30. . Therefore,
The leading edge of the recording paper 100 is sandwiched between the drive roller 30 and the drive pinch roller 31, and is fed downstream.

When the leading edge of the recording paper 100 reaches the position of the driving roller 30, the paper arrival sensor 40 detects this and informs the control device that the control device receives it.
The auto-loading control is ended at the timing when the leading edge of 00 reaches the nip point position of the drive roller 30.

While the paper tube 116 is rotating by automatic loading, the control device 301 turns on the renoid 208, and the movable shaft 2
08a is attracted against the plunger spring. This allows the movable shaft 208a to move from the rear end slope of the arm 207.
The arm 207 is opened by the biasing force of the arm spring 209, and the recording / erasing head 205 and the reproducing head 206 come into close contact with the magnetic surface of the recording portion 116b of the flange 116a integral with the paper tube 116. After that, in order to align the positions of the sheets, the reproducing head 206 reads the data recorded in the recording unit 116b while the paper tube drive motor 201 is rotating.

Based on the read data, the control device 3
In 01, the apparatus side condition is set according to the characteristics of the electrostatic recording paper 100 mounted. On the other hand, recording paper length data is also recorded in the recording unit 116b, and this recorded length data is input as a default value into a memory (not shown) of the control device 301. When such reading is completed, the control device 301 turns off the solenoid 208 to separate the recording / erasing head 205 and the reproducing head 206 from the surface of the recording portion 116b.

Then, the control device 301 stops the drive roller 30 for conveying the recording paper and the drive motor 17c of the encoder roller 17 to stop the paper feed. In addition, the clutch 17d of the drive motor 17c is disengaged, so that the encoder roller 17 is free.

Next, the control device 301 is brought into a state where recording can be started, and when a recording signal and a recording start command are given, the control device
01 starts driving the driving roller 30 again in the forward direction. Then, the control device 301 drives the electrostatic recording head 1 and moves the developing head 55a from the standby position to the developing position for the development of the first color.
The developer (liquid toner for the first color) is circulated in a.

The drive roller 30 is fed from the paper tube 116 and passed between the electrostatic recording head 1 and the pad roller 2.
Electrostatic recording paper 1 nipped between the drive pinch roller 12 and
00 is conveyed at a constant speed while the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the first color is formed at the latent image forming point (nip position of the pad roller 2 of the electrostatic recording head 1) at the same time when the printing operation starts. The tip thereof is sent to the take-up roller 51.

The electrostatic recording paper 100 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the electrostatic recording head 1 in this way is the developing head 55a.
And the first color is developed, the suction head 5
6. After the unnecessary toner is removed by the suction roller 18, it is wound by the winding roller 51.

When the recording of the first color is completed, the control device 3
Under the control of 01, the developing head 55a and the pad roller 2
Is separated from the electrostatic recording paper 100, and then the driving roller 30
Is rotated in the opposite direction to that during printing, and the electrostatic recording paper 100 is rewound onto the paper tube 116. Since a rotational force is applied to the paper tube 116 in the reverse direction, the electrostatic recording paper 100 can be rewound on the paper tube 116 by the reverse rotation of the drive roller 30.

The leading end of the electrostatic recording paper 100 is the drive roller 30.
The control device 301 controls to stop the rewinding when it is rewound to the position just before the nip point between the drive pinch roller 12 and the drive pinch roller 12. When the rewinding is completed, the controller 301 moves the pad roller 2 and the developing head 55b to the electrostatic recording paper 100.
To complete the preparation for the second color recording. Then, the second color is recorded in the same manner as the first color, and when the second color is finished, it is rewound to record the third color. In this way, up to the third color is recorded. In the color electrostatic plotter according to the present invention, the first color is black, the second color is cyan,
The third color is magenta and the fourth color is yellow.

After the printing of the third color is completed, the electrostatic recording paper 10
When 0 is completely rewound, the control unit controls the gate 11 to be switched. As a result, the gate 11 changes the paper transport path from the direction of the take-up roller 51 to the cutter direction.
Similar to the printing operation up to the third color, the electrostatic recording paper 100 is sent to the cutter while the fourth color image is formed on the electrostatic recording paper 100. In the electrostatic recording paper 100 sent to the cutter unit, the non-image portion at the front end is cut off by the Y cutter 52, and subsequently, the image portion and the unimaged portion are similarly separated by the Y cutter 52.

Next, unnecessary portions at both ends of the electrostatic recording paper 100 are cut off by the X cutter 53, and when the size of the drawing is A2 or smaller, it is further cut by the X cutter 53 and passed through the paper discharge mechanism 54 to the outside of the machine. Is discharged to.

After the image portion is ejected to the outside of the machine, the electrostatic recording paper 100 from which the image portion has been cut off is rewound and the leading edge is A-shaped.
When it comes before the point, the control device 301 finishes the rewinding and completes the recording operation.

The number of rotations of the encoder roller 17 is counted by a counter (not shown) and stored in the memory of the control device 301. The control device 301 always subtracts the used length from the default value and holds the remaining length in the memory, and once the image output process is completed, the solenoid 209 is turned on during the rotation of the paper tube 116 to record / record. The erasing head 205 and the reproducing head 206 are brought into close contact with the recording portion 116b, and the value is updated and recorded in the recording area of the length data. This value can be displayed on the operation display unit (not shown) of the main body as the remaining length if necessary.

By operating the operation unit 302 of the main body, the image characteristic parameter can be changed manually. In this case, the manually set parameter is also temporarily stored in the memory of the control device 301, and when the used length is recorded on the magnetic tape, it can be updated and recorded in the recording unit 116b to change the default value. Whether to change or not can be selected during manual operation when changing parameters. In this way, it is possible to automatically execute image recording according to the sheet characteristics, and it is also possible to manage the remaining amount of recording paper.

This recording paper remaining amount management function is now used when the paper is frequently replaced.
It is now possible to know the remaining amount of the recording paper you are trying to use, but the exact length was unknown even if you had a rough idea, so you can record the image due to insufficient remaining amount. It is possible to avoid the waste that is halfway through. In particular, by returning the remaining amount to the host computer that is the source of the image data, and controlling the recording of the image by managing this remaining amount on the host computer side, it is possible to prevent useless image recording operations. become.

As described above, the present system supplies a long sheet wound around the winding core along a predetermined route from the upstream side of the conveying path, and provides the sheet at a downstream fixed position separated by the predetermined route. The sheet is fed to the main transport means for sheet transport operation, and the main transport means is driven to supply the sheet, and at the same time, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the sheet by the image recording means arranged in the desired path. In the electrostatic recording apparatus in which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the developing means and the image is recorded by the developing means, the recording is provided on the core portion and the information such as the electrostatic recording condition of the recording sheet is recorded. Section, reading means for reading the recorded information of the recording section, and control means for adjusting the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means based on the information read by the reading means.

Further, recording means for recording information in the recording portion and condition adjusting means for manually adjusting the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means are provided, and the control means reads the information by the reading means. Based on the information, the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means is adjusted, and the adjusting function for adjusting the electrostatic recording condition according to the adjusting condition by the condition adjusting means and the adjusted electrostatic recording condition are recorded. And a recording control function given to the means.

In this structure, the long sheet wound around the winding core is fed from the upstream side of the conveying path along a predetermined route while the latent image is formed on the sheet surface by the image recording means and is developed. An image is recorded by developing by means of a means, but a suitable condition for forming an electrostatic latent image varies depending on conditions such as paper quality of a long sheet wound around a core. Therefore, in this system, information such as the electrostatic recording condition of the recording sheet is recorded in the recording unit provided in the core, the recording unit recording information is read by the reading unit, and the read information is used as a basis. Then, the control means adjusts the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means.

Further, the condition can be manually adjusted by the condition adjusting means. In this case, if the condition is manually adjusted, the control means adjusts the recording condition according to the manually adjusted recording condition and The recording condition is given to the recording unit, and the recording unit writes the recording condition in the recording unit. Therefore, when the recording sheet is used thereafter, recording can be performed under the adjusted optimum conditions.

As a result, the electrostatic recording can be performed on the recording sheet under the optimum conditions, and only by setting the recording sheet, the electrostatic recording conditions are automatically set and a high quality image recording is performed. It will be possible.

[0101]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically set the conditions in accordance with the characteristics of the paper, and it is possible to easily perform optimum image recording. A recording device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a recording paper holding portion of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of electrostatic recording paper 100 used in the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an encoder roller 17 portion in the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a recording paper mounting portion on the recording paper supply side in the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a recording paper mounting portion on the recording paper supply side in the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a schematic configuration of a conventional device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining auto loading.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Recording head 6, 7 ... Paper position sensor 17 ... Encoder roller 17a ... Encoder 41 ... Encoder / pinch roller 60 ... Main body 61a, 61b ... Side plate 65 ... Static elimination brush 100 ... Electrostatic recording paper 116 ... Paper tube 116a ... Flange 116b ... Magnetic recording unit 200 ... Drive holder 201 ... Paper tube drive motor 202 ... Press holder 203 ... Holder spring 204 ... Guide 205 ... Recording / erasing head 206 ... Reproducing head 207 ... Arm 208 ... Solenoid 208a ... Movable shaft 209 ... Arm spring 301 ... Control device 302 ... Operation unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/16 // B65H 19/30 A 7130-3F

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A long sheet wound around a winding core is fed from a transport path upstream side along a predetermined path, and a sheet transport operation is provided at a downstream fixed position separated by the predetermined path. The sheet is supplied to the main transporting means of the sheet, and the main transporting means is driven to supply the sheet, and at the same time, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the sheet by the image recording means arranged on the path, and the developing means is formed. In an electrostatic recording apparatus which develops this electrostatic latent image to record an image, a recording section which is provided on the core and records information such as electrostatic recording conditions of a recording sheet, and the recording section. An electrostatic recording apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads the recorded information of 1. and a control unit that adjusts the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording unit based on the information read by the reading unit. 2. A long sheet wound around a winding core is supplied from an upstream side of a conveying path along a predetermined path, and a sheet conveying operation is provided at a downstream fixed position separated by the predetermined path. The sheet is supplied to the main transporting means of the sheet, and the main transporting means is driven to supply the sheet, and at the same time, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the sheet by the image recording means arranged on the path, and the developing means is formed. In the electrostatic recording device which develops this electrostatic latent image to record an image, a recording and readable recording unit which is provided in the core and records information such as electrostatic recording conditions of the recording sheet. Reading means for reading the recorded information of the recording portion, recording means for recording the information in the recording portion, condition adjusting means for manually adjusting the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording means, and the reading means for reading. Information In addition, the recording function of adjusting the electrostatic recording condition of the image recording unit, adjusting the electrostatic recording condition according to the adjustment condition of the condition adjusting unit, and recording the adjusted electrostatic recording condition to the recording unit. An electrostatic recording device comprising: a control unit having a control function. 3. The electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording section is a magnetic layer. 4. The electrostatic recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic layer of the recording portion has a composition coated with a magnetic agent.