JPH0655749A - Thermal transfer recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure that data is not recorded entirely on a recording sheet (without any blank), then continuous images to be printed on the following sheets are recorded without any joint, and further a state of printing varying in accordance with a difference in the texture color of recording sheet can be simulated. CONSTITUTION:An ink sheet 6 and a recording web 7 are stacked together and are held between a thermal head 8 and a platen roller 9. In addition, a transport roller 24 is provided in the upstream of a part where data is recorded with the thermal head 8 is left depressed and allowed to generate heat, and a discharge roller 27 is provided in the downstream. In addition, stripping rollers 55, 56 for peeling an ink sheet off the recording sheet are installed both in the upstream and downstream of the platen roller. Further, a one-way rotary mechanism is attached to the platen roller to allow the recording sheet to shuttle back and forth several times for recording. Also data on the texture color of the recording sheet is added to image data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a thermal transfer recording apparatus, that is, a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a thermal head composed of a heating resistor element which generates heat when energized.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional thermal transfer color recording apparatus, an ink sheet and recording paper are superposed and sandwiched by a thermal head and a platen roller, and a heating resistor element constituting the thermal head is caused to generate heat while the thermal head is pressed. The recording paper is sandwiched by a transport roller on the upstream side of the recording portion and a discharge roller on the downstream side, and peeling rollers for peeling the ink paper from the recording paper are provided on both upper and downstream sides of the platen roller. In addition, the platen roller is provided with a one-way rotation mechanism to drive the platen roller, and the recording paper is reciprocated a plurality of times to perform color recording on the entire surface of the recording paper.

As a document describing the thermal transfer recording apparatus of this type, there is JP-A-2-125778.

When two or more screens to be recorded are continuously recorded without a seam, a roll paper is used as the recording paper to rewind a necessary blank portion at the time of recording one screen at a time, and the next Printing (recording) is performed in the process of recording a screen. As a printing (recording) method of this kind, there is one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-7920.

[0005]

The above-mentioned publication (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-125778), which describes the prior art, only describes the recording in the conveying direction (longitudinal direction) of the recording paper. There is no description about recording on the entire surface of the recording paper in the width direction orthogonal to.

That is, when a recording paper having a thin thickness of about 200 μm and low rigidity is conveyed, the recording paper is skewed due to the distribution of the pressing force of the conveying roller in the recording paper width direction and the pattern to be recorded. A phenomenon such as curling, meandering, or rotation occurs, and the relative position of the recording paper and the thermal head changes, so that there is a possibility that a portion in which the recording paper is not recorded may be unrecorded.

In the current thermal transfer recording, particularly sublimation type thermal transfer recording, such a dedicated paper is used because a recording paper coated with an ink receiving layer such as polyester is used. Since the background color of the recording paper is fixed because it is exclusive, for example, when the recording device is used for simulating what kind of printing (color) will be obtained when printed on newspaper, in the case of newspaper and special paper, There is a problem that the impression of the recorded image changes because the background color is different.

As described above, the fact that the entire surface can be recorded on the paper makes it appear as if the ground color of the recording paper itself has changed, and the prior art has not noticed such a situation. There is no description of the system described in the above publication that describes the prior art.

The second publication (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-792)
The prior art described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 0) not only increases the recording time but also increases the recording time because the process of rewinding the recording paper by the margin is increased before shifting to the recording of the second sheet (second screen).
Since the time from the end of the first sheet to the start of the second sheet is increased, the temperature of the thermal head is lowered by cooling and the recording density at the recording joint is changed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of solving the above-mentioned problems and drawbacks in the prior art.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] CG (Compu
ter Graphics) and DTP (Desk To)
An image created by p Publishing does not have information near the edge of the frame and often has only the background color. Therefore, even if the edge of the image is not recorded, it does not cause a big problem.

In other words, it is more desirable for the image to be recorded on the recording paper surface with a large size (without the margin) so that the edge of the image is slightly missing, rather than recording the image on the recording paper surface with a small margin. Therefore, by aligning the center positions of the thermal head and the recording paper, and making the length (total width) of one row used for recording the heating resistors of the thermal head longer than the width of the recording paper, It is possible to absorb even the margins that may occur due to misalignment and to record on the entire width of the paper (without the margins).

When the background color of the recording paper to be used is different from the background color of the recording paper to be actually simulated, a step of adding a difference in density data which is a difference between the background colors to the image data to be recorded. By adding, it is possible to change the background color as if using the recording paper that is to be simulated.

Further, in the case of performing continuous printing on two consecutive screens, it is necessary to convey the recording paper slightly in the recording direction in order to peel off the recording paper and the ink paper at the end of the recording.
A peeling roller is also provided on the downstream side of the conveyance, and the recording paper is fed by 2 screens in advance and the first sheet (1
By continuously recording the second sheet on the screen, it is possible to minimize the density change at the boundary portion of the seam for recording.

[0015]

Since the length (total width) of one row used for recording of the heating resistor element of the thermal head is made larger than the width of the recording paper, the recording paper is misaligned due to rotation, meandering or skewing of the recording paper. As a result, even if the relative position of the thermal head and the recording paper, which was originally aligned, is deviated, the amount of deviation can be absorbed by the width of the heating resistor element array of the thermal head being larger than the recording paper width.

That is, by setting the width of the heating resistor element array to be larger than the sum of the recording paper width and its deviation amount, it is possible to perform full-face recording (easy-to-read recording) with no margin in the recording paper width direction. .

Further, since the ink used for recording has a property of transmitting light, the color tone of the recorded image is affected by the background color of the recording paper. By adding different ground color differences as density difference data, it is possible to reproduce the color tone as if the recorded image is an image recorded on a recording paper different from the recording paper actually used. .

By providing the peeling roller also on the downstream side of the recording paper conveyance, the recording paper and the ink paper can be peeled off even if the recording paper is conveyed in the opposite direction to the recording direction. Conventionally, at the end of each color recording, the recording paper was further conveyed in the recording direction to separate the recording paper and the ink paper, but this is no longer necessary, the overall recording paper conveyance amount can be reduced, and the recording time can be shortened. It

Further, since the time interval between the recording end of the first sheet (one screen) and the recording start of the second sheet (next screen) is shortened by the same principle, the temperature difference of the thermal head (the first sheet) (Between the end of recording and the start of recording of the second sheet) becomes very small, the density change depending on the temperature of the thermal head is reduced, and the density change occurring in the first and second joints is reduced. By reducing the number, continuous images that are easy to see can be obtained.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention.

The control unit B in FIG. 1 is built in the main body A, and the motors 78, 81, 82, 83 are attached to the main body A. However, here, in order to make the explanation easy to understand, the control unit B and the motors 78, 8 are
1, 82 and 83 are arranged outside the main body A, and the main body A shows the outline of the configuration.

In FIG. 1, the control unit B is composed of interfaces 302 and 304, a processing unit 303 and a power supply 301. Print data such as images, characters, and graphs possessed by the host computer H is fetched into the processing unit 303 via the interface 302, and the processing unit 3
Reference numeral 03 denotes an electric circuit composed of a microcomputer, a memory and the like, which transfers the fetched print data and the operation of the main body A through the interface 304.

The control section B controls the heat generation energy of the thermal head 8 in response to the print data to be recorded and receives signals from the sensors 36, 37, 38 and 97,
The respective motors 10, 78, 81, 82, 83 are driven. These motors are controlled according to a sequence program built in the control unit B, drive the transport roller 24, the feeding roller 53, and the winding roller 54, and move the recording paper 7 and the ink sheet 6.

The thermal head 8 generates heat in synchronization with the movements of the recording paper 7 and the ink sheet 6, and the ink is transferred to the recording paper 7, whereby a print corresponding to the print data is obtained. For convenience of reference to other drawings in addition to FIG. 1, the reference numerals will be described below in the order of their numbers.

That is, 1 is a paper feed block, 2 is a transport block, 3 is a head block, 4 is a cutter block, 5 is an ink block, 6 is an ink sheet, 7 is recording paper, and 7a.
Is a tip, 8 is a thermal head, 8a is a heating resistance element, 8
Reference numeral b is a head block, 9 is a platen roller, and 10 is a main motor (pulse motor).

Further, 11 is a cooling fan, 12 is a recording paper roll, 13 is a paper feed lever, 14 is a paper feed frame, 15a,
15b is a front paper feed roller, 16a and 16b are rear paper feed rollers, 17a and 17b are paper guides, 18 and 18 'are cams, 19 and 20 are grooves, 21 and 21' are grooves (U-shaped grooves), 2
2 and 23 are paper guides, 24 is a conveying roller, 25 is a pressing roller, 25a is a hollow cylinder, 25b is an elastic body, and 25c.
Is a rolling bearing, 25d is a shaft, 26 is a leaf spring, 2
7 is a conveying roller for discharging, 28 is a discharging pressure roller, 2
Reference numerals 9 and 29 'are rollers and 30 is a bottom plate.

Further, 31, 31 'are side plates, 32, 32'.
Is a paper feed roller, 33 and 34 are pins, 35 is a pressing lever,
36 is a sensor (optical sensor), 37 is a sensor (ink sensor), 38 is a sensor (optical sensor), 39 is a rotary blade, 40
Is a fixed blade, 41 and 41 'are head arms, 42 is a shaft, 4
3 is a coil spring, 44 is a coiled spring, 45 is a pin,
46 is a rotary shaft, 47 is a mounting plate, 48 is a cooling fin, and 49
Is a shaft, and 50 is a head positioning axis.

Reference numeral 51 is a head top plate, 52 is an ink case, 53 is a feeding roller (supply roll), 54 is a take-up roller (take-up roll), 55 is a front peeling roller, 56 is a rear peeling roller, and 57 is Guide shaft, 58, 59, 60
Is a belt, 61 to 67 are gears, 68 to 70 is an idler gear, 71 to 73 is a one-way clutch, 74 and 75 are torque limiters, 76 and 77 are pulleys, 78 is a motor with a reduction gear (cutter motor), 79 and 79. 'Is the ink receiver.

Reference numerals 80 and 80 'are ink receivers, 81 is a motor (supply motor), 82 is a motor (winding motor), 83 is a motor (mode motor), 84, 86, 87 and 88 are torque limiters, and 89-92. Is a gear, 93 is a cam shaft, 96 is a detection plate, 97 is a sensor, 101 and 102 are color prints, 106 is an image, 110 to 112 are ink marks, 301 is a power supply, 302 is an interface, 30
3 is a processing unit and 304 is an interface.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the side view of the main body A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state in which the head block 3 in FIG. 2 is lifted. 4 and 5 are top views showing a part of the drive mechanism of the main body A. Refer to these figures.

This apparatus has two side plates 31 and 31 'which are vertically fixed to a bottom plate 30, and a paper feed block 1 and a transport block 2 are fixed to the bottom plate 30 with bolts. Also,
Head block 3, cutter block 4, main motor 10
(For example, a pulse motor) and the cooling fan 11 are the side plates 3
It is attached to 1, 31 '. The ink block 5 is a cartridge, which is positioned and attached to the ink receivers 79, 79 ', 80, 80' attached to the side plates 31, 31 '.

Further, the recording paper roll 1 for supplying the recording paper 7
2 has a mechanism similar to that of the ink block 5, and has side plates 31 and 3
The sheet feeding roller receivers 32 and 32 'attached to the sheet 1'are mounted. Recording paper 7 delivered from recording paper roll 12
Is discharged from the apparatus via the paper feed block 1, the transport block 2, and the cutter block 4.

The paper feeding block 1 includes a front paper feeding roller 15a,
15b, two sheet feeding rollers 16a and 16b, and a pair of paper guides 17a and 17b. The front paper feed roller 15b and the rear paper feed roller 16b are connected to the paper feed frame 14.
By moving in the left-right direction, it moves up and down. The paper feed frame 14 moves in the left-right direction when the paper feed lever 13 is guided by the groove 19 provided in the cam 18 and rotates about the pin 33.

The transport block 2 includes paper guides 22 and 2.
3, a transport roller pair of the transport roller 24 and the pressing roller 25,
It is composed of a platen roller 9, a pair of discharge rollers including a discharge roller 27 and a discharge pressing pressure roller 28, and the rollers and guides are rotatably or fixed to the roller chassis 29, 29 'by bolts.

The conveying roller 24 is a rigid cylinder made of stainless steel or the like, and on the surface thereof, for example, crushed glass (Vickers hardness 320 Hv) or zirconia (ZrO 2, 140).
0Hv) or the like, a protective film for the heating resistor of the thermal head 8 (for example, a compound such as lanthanum or silicon (LaSiO)).
N, 800 to 1000 Hv), boron phosphide (1800 H
v)) Randomly adhering granular material having lower hardness than
The coefficient of friction with the recording paper 7 is increased.

At this time, the projection height of the granular material is made smaller than the paper thickness of the recording paper 7. If it is larger than the paper thickness,
This is because the particulate matter penetrates the recording paper 7 and damages the recording. It is desirable that the height of the protrusions of the particulate matter be suppressed to half or less of the paper thickness of the recording paper 7 (usually 100 to 200 μm).

The pressing roller 25 is a rigid hollow cylinder 25a.
The surface of the roller is covered with an elastic body 25b such as rubber. A rolling bearing 25c is inserted in the hollow cylinder, and the rolling bearing 25c is supported by a shaft 25d. The shaft 25d is attached to the roller shafts 29, 29 '. It is rotatably attached.

Since the elastic body 25b is in direct contact with the recording surface of the recording paper 7, it is desirable to reduce the bleeding of the additive material such as a plastic material. In particular, when a sublimable dye is used in the ink, since oil and fat or an ester-based additive that is a rubber additive affects recording, it is also effective to coat the elastic body 25b with a silicon film or the like. Is. Shaft 2
Pressing levers 35 are attached to both ends of 5d,
The pressing lever 35 is a groove 21 (not shown) provided on the cam 18.
Is rotated around the pin 34 by being guided by the pressing roller 25.
Is pressed against the transport roller 24 or released.

Platen roller 9 and discharge roller 27
Is a cylindrical roller whose core is made of stainless steel and whose surface is covered with an elastic material such as rubber. Similarly, the discharge pressing roller 28 is a roller whose surface is covered with an elastic material such as rubber. The leaf spring 26 attached to the paper guide 23 constantly presses the discharge pressing roller 28 against the discharge roller 27.
An optical sensor 36 such as an infrared sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper 7 is attached to the paper guide 22. An ink sensor 37 for detecting the position of the ink sheet is attached to the paper guide 23.

The cutter block 4 comprises a rotary blade 39, a fixed blade 40, and an optical sensor 38 for detecting the presence or absence of the recording paper 7, and is fixed to the side plates 31, 31 '. The recording paper 7 fed between the rotary blade 39 and the fixed blade 40 is fed to the rotary blade 39
Is a mechanism for rotating and cutting. The position of the rotary blade 39 is
It is detected by the sensor 97 (FIG. 5) and stopped at a fixed position.

The head block 3 has a thermal head 8 at the left end of the head arm 41, and a shaft 42 serving as a rotation center for lifting the head block 3 at the right end thereof. The shaft 42 serves as a side plate 31. , 31 'are rotatably attached. A coil spring 43 is provided at the right end of the head arm 41 to hold the lifted head block 3.

With the shaft 42 as the center of rotation, the coil spring 43
The spring force and the weight of the head block 3 are balanced. The head block 3 can be lifted as shown in FIG. 3, and can be rotated to a position where the head arm 41 is substantially vertical (φ is about 90 degrees). The thermal head 8 is composed of a head block 8b and a heating resistance element 8a, and the center position of the head block 8b in the width direction is set to the rotary shaft 4a.
It is rotatably supported by 6.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Is a head mounting plate 4 parallel to the width direction of the thermal head 8.
It is attached at a right angle to 7 and is fixed to the head positioning shaft 50. Both ends of the head positioning shaft 50 are rotatably attached to the head arms 41 and 41 'as shown in FIG. A cooling fin 48 is attached to the upper part of the head block 8b, and the cooling fin and the thermal head 8 move integrally. Therefore, the thermal head 8
Has a degree of freedom around the rotation axis 46 and a degree of freedom around the head positioning axis 50.

A front peeling roller 55 and a rear peeling roller 56 are rotatably attached to the lower portion of the thermal head 8. Head pressing force for pressing the thermal head 8 against the platen roller 9 is given by the coil-shaped spring 44. The spring 44 is mounted by being guided by the shaft 49 between the upper surface of the head block 8b and the lower surface of the head top plate 51 fixed to the head arm 41.

A fixed pin 45 located substantially in the middle of the head arm 41 is guided by the groove 20 in accordance with the rotation of the cam 18, and swings and rotates the head block 3 about the shaft 42. By the movement of the pin 45, the head arm 41 and the head top plate 51 are moved in the vertical direction, the spring 44 is expanded and contracted, and the head pressing pressure is applied or released.

At the portion where the thermal head 8 and the elastic platen roller 9 press against the ink sheet 6 and the recording paper 7, a contact width (nip width) in which the platen roller 9 is deformed is formed, and high quality is obtained. When performing recording, it is necessary to position the heat generating resistance element 8a of the thermal head 8 at approximately the center of the contact width.

Therefore, in this apparatus, the head positioning shaft 50 attached to the head arm 41 is attached to the roller chassis 29,
A mechanism for keeping the relative position of the platen roller 9 and the thermal head 8 constant is provided by inserting the shafts into the U-shaped grooves 21, 21 'provided at the upper end of 29' with a precision of shaft fitting.

The ink block 5 is, as shown in FIG.
Supply roll 53 and take-up roll 54 attached to ink case 52, and supply roll 53 and take-up roll 54
It is composed of the ink sheet 6 that moves between the two. The ink sheet 6 stretched between the supply roll 53 and the take-up roll 54 is pressed by the thermal head 8 as shown in FIG. (However, the ink case 52 is omitted in FIG. 2.)

Ink sheet 6 discharged from supply roll 53
Is a front peeling roller 55 and a rear peeling roller 56 located on both sides of the platen roller 9 and a thermal head 8 via a guide shaft 57 rotatably attached to the roller chassis 29, 29 ′, and a platen roller via the recording paper 7. 9
And is wound up by the winding roll 54.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the constitution of the ink sheet 6, in which Y (yellow) and M are added to the polyester sheet.
(Magenta), C (cyan) or K (black) for these
One screen of 3 or 4 colors of dyes or pigments added with is added in the order of the surface.
Ink marks 110, 11 for detection by 7 (FIG. 2)
1, 112 are provided.

Next, the drive mechanism of the main body A of FIG. 1 will be described. As described above, FIG. 4 is a top view of the main body A, and is a schematic view showing a part of the power transmission mechanism such as each roller, and the rollers that are not driven via the belt or the gear are omitted. .

In FIG. 4, the output of the main motor 10 attached to the side plate 31 is transmitted through the power transmission means to the conveying roller 24, the platen roller 9, the discharging roller 27, the front paper feeding roller 15a, the rear paper feeding roller 16a, and the like. And recording paper roll 1
2 is transmitted. The main motor 10 drives the conveyor roller 24 to rotate by the belt 58.

The gear 61 fixed to the conveying roller 24 is
One-way clutch 7 having a function of transmitting only one-direction rotation to the platen roller 9 via the idler gear 68.
The main motor 1 meshes with the gear 62 mounted via
The rotation of 0 is transmitted to the platen roller 9. Transport roller 2
Another gear 63 fixed to No. 4 meshes with the gear 64 via an idler gear 69.

This gear 64 is equivalent to the one-way clutch 72.
It is attached to the discharge roller 27 through a torque limiter (rotational resistance member) 74 composed of a friction transmission mechanism. The main motor 10 rotationally drives the discharge roller 27 with a torque equal to or less than the set torque of the torque limiter 74. Also, the gear 6
Reference numeral 1 meshes with a gear 65 attached to the rear paper feed roller 16a via an idler gear 70, and the rear paper feed roller 16a and the front paper feed roller 15a are connected by a belt 60, so that the rotational force of the main motor 10 is supplied to the rear feed roller 16a. It is transmitted to the paper roller 16a and the front paper feed roller 15a.

A pulley 76 is attached to the upper end of the transport roller 24 via a one-way clutch 73. The pulley 76 is provided with a belt 59, a pulley 77, a torque limiter 7, and a torque limiter 7 in order to transmit a rotational force to the recording paper roll 12.
5, the gear 66 is connected to the gear 67 attached to the recording paper roll 12. The recording paper roll 12 has a torque equal to or less than the set torque of the torque limiter 75, and the main motor 1
It is driven to rotate by 0.

However, the rotational power of the main motor 10 drives the recording paper roll 12 only when the recording paper roll 12 is driven counterclockwise in the figure by the action of the one-way clutch 73.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the drive mechanism of the cutter block 4, the ink block 5, and the cam 18, as mentioned above. In the figure, the rotary blade 39 of the cutter block 4 is rotationally driven by a motor 78 with a reduction gear. A detection plate 96 is fixed to the end of the rotary blade 39,
A sensor 97 is attached to the side plate 31 ′ so as to face the detection plate 96.

The ink case 5 of the ink block 5 is omitted. When the supply roll 53 is attached to the ink receivers 79 and 79 ′ provided on the side plates 31 and 31 ′, the gear 90 attached to the supply roll 53 meshes with the gear 89 attached via the torque limiter 87. Torque limiter 87
Is connected to the supply motor 81 via a speed reducer 84.

As the power of the supply motor 81, a torque equal to or less than the set torque of the torque limiter 87 is transmitted to the supply roll 53. The drive mechanism of the winding roll 54 has the same structure as the drive mechanism of the supply roll 53 described above. As the power of the winding motor 82, a torque equal to or less than the set torque of the look limiter 88 is transmitted to the winding roll 54 via the gears 91 and 92.

The cams 18 and 18 'attached to both sides of the cam shaft 93 are rotationally driven by the mode motor 83 via the reduction gear 86. The mode motor 83, the supply motor 81, and the winding motor 82 are direct-current motors, for example.

Next, the operation of this apparatus will be described. In FIG. 2, when the platen roller 9 is used as a reference, the paper feed block 1 side (rightward in the drawing) is called the upstream side, and the cutter block 4 side (leftward in the drawing) is called the downstream side.

The recording paper 7 is a recording paper roll 12 wound in a cylindrical shape with the surface for recording inside, and the ink sheet 6 is an ink block stretched over a supply roll 53 and a take-up roll 54. FIG. 3 shows a state in which 5 is attached to the main body A.

Front paper feed roller 15b and rear paper feed roller 16b
The vertical movement of the cam, the pressing roller 25 generating the pressing force for pressing the conveying roller 24, and the thermal head 8 pressing the platen roller 9 for the head pressing force are all controlled by the rotational position of the cam 18.

The state of each roller and the like formed at the position of the cam 18 shown in FIG. 3 will be called "0 mode". "0
The "mode" is a state in which the front paper feed rollers 15a and 15b are separated from each other, the rear paper feed rollers 16a and 16b are in contact with each other, the transport roller 24 and the pressing roller 25 are separated from each other, and the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 are separated from each other. Say

(1) Initial Paper Feeding Operation The recording paper 7 is manually moved from the recording paper roll 12 so that the front end 7a of the recording paper 7 is located between the front paper feeding rollers 15a and 15b and the rear paper feeding rollers 16a and 16b. Pull out and put on.
(See FIG. 3.) Head block 3 is lowered and pins 4 are attached.
5 into the groove 20 of the cam 18.

When the power is turned on or is already turned on in this state, the processing unit 303 detects the state by a head arm position sensor (not shown), the cam 18 is rotated, and only the front paper feed roller 15b is moved downward. And the recording paper 7 is nipped by the front paper feed rollers 15a and 15b. This state is the "paper feed mode".

Next, the main motor 10 rotates, and the front paper feed roller 15a conveys the recording paper 7 in the downstream direction. The leading edge 7a of the recording paper is drawn between the rear paper feed rollers 16a and 16b and is nipped. The recording paper 7 is conveyed by the front paper feed roller 15a and the rear paper feed roller 16a, and sent to the conveyance block 2.

When the optical sensor 36 detects the recording paper 7, the main motor 10 is stopped, but the main motor 10 is driven again with a predetermined pulse number N1, and the leading end 7a of the recording paper is conveyed by the conveying roller 24 and the pressing roller. Stop at the point where you enter between 25 and pass. The cam 18 rotates, presses the pressing roller 25 against the conveying roller 24, and nips the recording paper 7.

Then, the front paper feed roller 15b and the rear paper feed roller 16b are moved upward, and the nipping of the recording paper 7 by the front paper feed roller 15b and the rear paper feed roller 16b is released. This state is called "conveyance mode".

The main motor 10 is driven again, and the pulse number N2
The leading edge 7a of the recording paper advances in the downstream direction by the transport length corresponding to, and stops at a position past the apex of the platen roller 9.
The cam 18 rotates and the transport mode is changed to a state in which the thermal head 8 is lightly pressed against the platen roller 9 via the ink sheet 6. By the rotation of the main motor 10, the recording paper 7 is conveyed by the conveying roller 24 and the platen roller 9, and the recording paper front end 7a is discharged by the discharge roller 27 and the pressing roller 28.
Stop at the position where it is pinched by.

Next, the cam 18 rotates and returns to the transport mode, and the transport roller 24 and the discharge roller 27 transport the recording paper 7 in the downstream direction. The conveyance is stopped at the point where the optical sensor 38 detects the leading edge 7a of the recording paper. This completes the initial paper feeding operation.

(2) Normal Paper Feeding Operation The above-described initial paper feeding operation is performed when a new recording paper roll 12 is used or when the recording paper roll 12 which is being used for maintenance or the like is mounted on the main body A again. This is an operation performed when there is no recording paper 7 in the transport path. In many cases, as will be described later, it is considered that the recording paper 7 remains in the transport path in the state where the previous recording is completed. The operation differs depending on whether or not the recording paper 7 is present in the conveyance path. Even when the recording paper 7 is in the conveyance path, the operation depends on whether the leading edge 7a of the recording paper is upstream or downstream of the optical sensor 38. Is different. In order to judge these, the present apparatus uses the sequence (operation flow) shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the optical sensor 36 detects the absence of the recording paper 7, the above-described initial paper feeding operation is performed. On the other hand, when the optical sensor 36 detects that the recording paper 7 is present, the conveyance mode is set and the optical sensor 3 is set.
8 output is judged. When the optical sensor 38 detects that the recording paper 7 is absent, the recording paper 7 is conveyed to the downstream side by the conveyance roller 24 and stopped at the point where the optical sensor 38 detects the recording paper front end 7a.

On the other hand, when the optical sensor 38 detects that the recording paper 7 is present, the recording paper 7 is conveyed to the upstream side in the reverse direction and moved to a position where the optical sensor 38 detects that the recording paper 7 is absent. The recording paper 7 is again conveyed to the downstream side, and stopped at the point where the optical sensor 38 detects the recording paper front end 7a.

(3) Recording Operation The recording operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the recording operation of the embodiment of the present invention. Now, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the recording paper 7 is conveyed to the downstream side, the optical sensor 38 detects the recording paper front end 7a, and the recording operation is started from the end point of the recording operation when the conveyance is stopped. It

A predetermined amount of the recording paper 7 in the state of the transport mode (for example, in the case of A4 size, [A4 size longitudinal size 297 mm]-[length of apex of platen roller 9 and recording paper front end 7a]). Only to the downstream side (Step 2
30), stop. The ink sheet 6 is positioned in parallel with the conveyance of the recording paper 7 (steps 232, 2).
33, 234).

At this time, a conveying force is applied to the recording paper 7 by the conveying roller 24, the platen roller 9, and the discharging roller 27, and the recording paper between the conveying roller 24, the pressing roller 25 and the discharging roller 27, and the pressing roller 28. 7 maintains tension and is conveyed without sagging. Next, the cam 18 rotates to bring it into the "recording mode" state (step 235).
The recording mode means the thermal head 8 in the transport mode.
The appropriate head pressing force for pressing the platen roller 9 via the ink sheet 6 and the recording paper 7 is 160 to 240 N / m.

By energizing the thermal head 8 while conveying the recording paper 7 to the upstream side, the first color ink (eg yellow) applied on the ink sheet 6 is transferred to the surface of the recording paper 7. (Step 236). At this time,
A conveying force is applied to the recording paper 7 by the conveying roller 24. The discharge roller 27, the pressing roller 28, and the platen roller 9 are driven to rotate by the frictional force with the recording paper 7 due to the functions of the one-way clutches 71 and 72.

In particular, a load corresponding to the set torque of the torque limiter 74 acts on the discharge roller 27 and pulls the recording paper 7 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, so that the recording paper 7 does not sag in the vicinity of the platen roller 9. Can be transported. The recording paper 7 sent to the upstream side of the conveying roller 24 and the pressing roller 25 is wound around the recording paper roll 12 so as not to sag in the conveying path of the paper feeding block 1 or the like.

In FIG. 2, a constant torque T1 acts on the supply roll 53 in the counterclockwise direction and pulls the ink sheet 6 in the upper left direction in the figure. In addition, the winding roll 54
Counterclockwise at a constant torque T2 (where T2> T
1) works to apply tension to the ink sheet 6 in the upper right direction in the figure. At the portion where the thermal head 8 presses against the platen roller 9, the frictional force between the recording paper 7 and the ink sheet 6 is
It is larger than the frictional force between the ink sheet 6 and the thermal head 8.

Therefore, the ink sheet 6 and the thermal head 8 slide. The ink sheet 6 is transported to the upstream side at the same speed as the recording paper 7, and the supply roll 53 is fed by the length of the transported sheet.
And is wound up on a winding roll 54. In this way, since the ink sheet 6 is always fed with tension, the slack and wrinkles are prevented.

The transferred ink sheet 6 and recording paper 7 are conveyed to the front peeling roller 55 in a stuck state. In the front peeling roller 55, a conveyance force acts on the recording paper 7 in the lower right direction in the drawing, and a tension acts on the ink sheet 6 in the take-up roll direction (the upper right direction in the drawing).
Is a peeling force for peeling off (and this state is hereinafter referred to as forward peeling). This forward peeling is performed while the recording paper 7 is being conveyed to the upstream side.

When the leading edge 7a of the recording paper is located downstream of the discharging roller 27 and the pressing roller 28, the restraining force pressed by the discharging roller 27 and the pressing roller 28 and the torque limiter 7 are set.
Since the rotation resistance force of the discharge roller 27 by 4 acts on the recording paper 7 in the downstream direction, the recording paper 7 is conveyed and recorded in a state where tension is applied.

When the leading edge 7a of the recording paper passes through the discharge roller 27 and the pressing roller 28 and is conveyed and recorded upstream, the recording paper is located downstream of the apex of the platen roller 9 pressed by the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9. The recording paper 7 is conveyed, recorded, and stopped until the leading end 7a of the recording paper 7 is almost at the apex of the platen roller 9 without being restrained (step 237).

At this time, the recording paper 7 and the ink sheet 6 from the recording paper front end 7a to the front peeling roller 55 are still recorded and are not peeled off. This part is the main motor 10
And the supply motor 81 are reversed, and the recording paper 7 and the ink sheet 6
Is peeled off by the rear peeling roller 56 while being conveyed to the downstream side (hereinafter, this state is referred to as back peeling, Step 23
8), the leading edge 7a of the recording paper is the discharge roller 27 and the pressing roller 2
The recording paper 7 is clamped by the recording paper 8 and the conveyance of the recording paper 7 is stopped (step 2).
39).

In the case of back peeling, the tension of the ink sheet 6 pulled in the direction of the supply roll 56 becomes the peeling force. The recording paper 7 in the part where the back is peeled faces the peeling force due to the bending rigidity of the recording paper 7 itself. If the bending rigidity of the recording paper 7 is too small, the ink sheet 6 cannot be peeled off from the recording paper 7, and the recording paper 7 together with the ink sheet 6 are supplied to the supply roller 53.
There is a transport problem of being brought to the side.

When the recording paper 7 has a high rigidity and the peeling force is too small, the recording paper 7 and the ink sheet 6 cannot be separated, and the ink sheet 6 is drawn into the paper guide 23 as the recording paper 7 is conveyed. The problem occurs. In this apparatus, the optimum set torque was experimentally obtained by adjusting the set torque of the torque limiter 84 connected to the supply roller 53.

Then, the cam 18 is rotated to bring the thermal head 8 into the carrying mode in which the head pressing force is released (step 240). The main motor 10 is rotated in the reverse direction, the recording paper 7 is conveyed downstream for a predetermined length, and stopped. This completes the recording of the first color.

Next, it is judged whether or not the above-mentioned color is the final color (step 241), and if it is not the final color, the process returns to the beginning of FIG. 7 again, and the second color (for example, magenta), the third color.
The color (for example, cyan) is recorded in the same sequence as the first color. (For example, when the ink sheet 6 is composed of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (black plate), recording is similarly performed for the fourth color.)

When the recording of the final color is completed, the recording paper 7 is moved by the length corresponding to the transport distance from the approximate vertex of the platen roller 9 where the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 are pressure-bonded to the cutting position of the cutter block 4. Is transported to the downstream side (step 242) and stopped. The cutter motor 78 is driven to cut the recording paper 7 (step 243), the color print 101 as shown in FIG. 8 can be obtained, and the recording is finished (step 244).

By the above recording operation, it is possible to perform full color recording in the length direction of the recording paper 7 from the front end 7a of the recording paper to the rear end (297 mm for A4 size recording paper).

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the relationship among the recording paper 7, the thermal head 8, the ink sheet 6, and the recorded image 106 to be recorded in the embodiment of the present invention. That is, in the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, the recording paper 7
Width LK, the width LI of the ink sheet 6 and the thermal head 8
The relationship of the width LH of the heating resistance element (column) 8a is LH <LK <LI, as shown in (1) of FIG.
There was some margin on the recording paper 7.

In order to fill the recording sheet 7 in the width direction of the recording sheet 7, the width LK of the recording sheet 7 and the heating resistor elements (rows) 8a are set.
If the width LH is the same (LK = LH), an error always occurs due to the accuracy of the support mechanism of the thermal head 8.
The width of the conveyance path of the recording paper 7 is designed to be slightly larger than the width of the recording paper 7 in order to prevent the recording paper 7 from being caught on the way. Therefore, the recording paper 7 moves in parallel, meanders, and rotates within this allowable range. Due to the cause, the relative position of the recording paper 7 and the heat generating resistance element 8a changes from several tens of μm to several mm.

In (2) of FIG. 11, LK = LH is set,
The relationship of each element when the recording paper 7 meanders is shown.
For example, the recording paper 7 meanders and the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8
When the relationship of 5 ° is inclined by 5 °, the width LK ′ of the recording paper 7 in the direction of the thermal head 8 is about 80 μ when LK = 210 mm and LK ′ = 210.8 mm when A4 size recording paper 7 is used.
m will increase.

Resolution 300 DPI (Dot Per I)
In the case of the nch) recording apparatus, the width of one dot of the heating resistance element 8a is about 85 μm, so that the width of the recording paper 7 is 1
The result is the same as when the number of dots is increased (LH <LK '), and a blank space that cannot be recorded is formed on the recording paper 7. In the above description, the amount of parallel movement of the recording paper 7 due to meandering is not taken into consideration, but if this is taken into consideration, it will extend to several mm, and a clear margin will appear to impair the recording quality.

In order to prevent such a phenomenon, as shown in (3) of FIG. 11, the number of dots of the heating resistor element 8a is increased by 1 dot or more on the right and left so that LH> LK '. By providing (i.e., implementing the present invention), even if the recording paper 7 meanders, it is possible to obtain an image 106 having no margin on the recording paper 7.

In the above embodiment, the image 106 is not always printed by the increased number of dots even when there is no meandering and the relative position of the recording paper 7 and the heating resistance element 8a is aligned. Images created with DTP, DTP, etc.
No. 6 does not cause a problem because the edge of the screen has almost a blank space or does not have information only with the background color.

(4) Partial Recording Operation The partial recording operation in which the recording paper 7 is always sandwiched between the conveying roller 27 and the pressing roller 28 is the same as the recording operation described in the section (3). This is possible by changing the transport length of. The color print 102 obtained in this case is the front end of the recording paper 7 in the discharge direction (the recording paper front end 7a
Side) has a margin.

The width l of this margin corresponds to the conveying distance from the discharge roller 27 to the pressure contact position of the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9, and the recording paper 7 is always held between the discharge roller 27 and the pressing roller 28. It is a part that cannot be recorded because it is doing. It is also possible to obtain a color print 103 in which margins 1 are provided at the front end and the rear end of the recording paper 7 in the transport direction in consideration of the image position printed on the surface of the recording paper 7.

A color print 101 for full-scale recording
Can be conveniently obtained by a partial recording operation.
It is the size of the specified paper (eg A4
In the case of the size, partial recording of 297 mm) is performed, and both ends of the recording paper 7 are cut to form the color print 104. When the entire surface recording is performed by this method, waste paper is generated only in the margin portion (length 1) of the leading end of the recording paper 7. Considering the use efficiency of the recording paper 7, the full-face recording described in item (3) is superior.

According to this embodiment, the conveying roller 24, which is a roller for conveying the recording paper 7, the pressing roller 25, the discharging roller 27, and the pressing roller 28 are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the platen roller 9. Thus, in the present apparatus which records three or four colors in an overlapping manner, it is possible to perform recording in which the color misregistration is as small as several tens of μm or less, and thus it is possible to obtain a high quality color print.

Further, only when the front peeling roller 55 and the rear peeling roller 56 for peeling the ink sheet 6 from the recording paper 7 are provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the platen roller 9 and further the recording paper 7 is conveyed to the downstream side. By driving the platen roller 9, back peeling is possible, and there is an effect that recording can be performed on the entire surface of the recording paper 7.

Further, the transport roller 24 for transporting the recording paper 7
By attaching a high hardness granular material to the surface of
This granular material bites into the recording paper 7, and the conveyance force without the slip between the conveyance roller 24 and the recording paper 7 can be secured, and high-quality recording with little color misregistration can be performed. At this time, since the transport roller 24 contacts the back surface of the recording paper 7 (the surface on which the recording is performed is the front surface), it is not affected by the particulate matter on the recording surface (such as scratches).

Further, since the hardness of the granular substance is set lower than the hardness of the resistor protective film of the thermal head 9, the granular substance is partially slipped off from the conveying roller 24 and conveyed while being bitten into the recording paper 7, and the platen roller. 9 remains on the surface of 9 and adheres to the ink sheet 6 due to the influence of static electricity,
When the thermal head 9 is pressed against the platen drum 9 via the ink sheet 6, the particulate matter is pressed against the thermal head 9 with the ink sheet 6 sandwiched therebetween, and the resistor protective film is damaged, and the thermal head 9 itself. It is possible to prevent accidents that damage the body.

Further, in the processing section 303 of the control section B of FIG. 1, by performing the processing of the recording operation flow shown in FIG. 12, continuous recording operation becomes possible. Next, the continuous recording operation will be described with reference to the operation flow shown in FIG. 12 and the recording process shown in FIG.

In FIG. 13, each number (1)-
The states of (12) show the following relationships, respectively. That is, (1) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the first color (Y) of the first sheet (first screen) is started. (2) Positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the first color (Y) of the first sheet is completed. Vertical stripes are the first color (Y)
This is the part where the recording of was completed.

(3) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the first sheet of the second color (M) is started. (4) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the first color of the second color (M) is completed. The overlapping portion of the vertical stripes and the diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the second color (M) is completed.

(5) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the final color (C) of the first sheet is started. (6) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the final color (C) of the first sheet is completed. The overlapping portion 105 of the vertical stripes and both diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the final color (C) is completed.

(7) Positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the first color (Y) of the second sheet (second screen) is started. (8) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the first color (Y) of the second sheet is completed. Vertical stripes are the first color (Y)
This is the part where the recording of was completed.

(9) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the second sheet of the second color (M) is started. (10) Recording paper 7 immediately after the second color (M) recording is completed
And the positional relationship of the thermal head 8. The overlapping portion of the vertical stripes and the diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the second color (M) is completed.

(11) Positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the final color (C) of the second sheet is started. (12) Recording paper 7 immediately after the second color (C) is recorded
And the positional relationship of the thermal head 8. The overlapping portion 106 of the vertical stripes and both diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the final color (C) is completed.

(5-1) Continuous Recording Operation The paper feeding operation is performed based on the flow shown in FIG.
Steps up to step 241 shown in the flow of FIG.
The recording operation for the first sheet is repeated for the three colors C.

When the recording of the first sheet is completed and the next operation is started, a continuous recording command from the outside such as the host computer H shown in FIG. 1 is continuously recorded in the processing section 303 of the control section B. When the command discrimination means detects, the recording paper 7 is conveyed to the downstream side by the recording length of the first recording (FIG. 12).
Step 246) and steps 230 and 232, the second sheet recording operation is performed.

The recording operation for the second sheet is also repeated by repeating steps 241 as in the case of the first sheet. Further, when the continuous recording command for the third and fourth sheets is detected from the host computer H, the same operation as the second sheet is repeated.

In step 241, when it is confirmed that the recording of the final color (for example, C) is completed and the continuous recording command is not detected when the recording operation of one sheet is completed, steps 245 to 242. Then, the recording paper 7 is conveyed to the downstream side by a length corresponding to a conveying distance from the apex of the platen roller 9 where the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 are pressure-bonded to the cutting position of the cutter block 4 ( Step 242), stop.

The cutter motor 78 is driven to cut the recording paper 7 (step 243), and the color prints 105 and 106 in which a plurality of screens are continuously recorded as shown in FIG. 13 can be obtained, and the recording operation is completed. Yes (Step 24
4).

By the above recording operation, the recording paper 7 is seamlessly moved in the longitudinal direction from the recording paper front end 7a to the rear end (A4
When two screens are recorded on a recording paper of a size, continuous color recording of 594 mm) is possible.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, even when the ink sheet 6 is formed in a frame sequential manner with one sheet of recording as a unit, a plurality of sheets of recording are seamlessly recorded as one sheet. It can be done on paper 7, and the vertical structure such as remote sensing such as the structure of genes and meteorological satellites,
Alternatively, there is an advantage that a horizontally long image can be recorded on one sheet.

FIG. 14 shows a flow chart of another continuous recording operation according to the present invention. FIG. 15 shows a recording process when recording is performed according to the recording operation flow of FIG. Note that in FIG. 15, each number (1) to (11)
The states indicate the following relationships. That is,

(1) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the start of recording of the first color (Y) of the first sheet. However, if it is decided in advance that two sheets (two screens) will be continuously recorded,
Note that the length P of the pulled-out recording paper is equivalent to two sheets (two screens).

(2) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the first color (Y) of the first sheet is completed. The vertical stripe portion is the portion where the recording of the first color (Y) is completed. (3) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the start of recording the first color of the second color (M).

(4) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the first color of the second color (M) is completed. The overlapping portion of the vertical stripes and the diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the second color (M) is completed. (5) Positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the start of recording of the final color (C) of the first sheet.

(6) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the final color (C) of the first sheet and immediately before the recording of the first color (Y) of the second sheet is started. The overlapping portion 105 of the vertical stripes and both diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the final color (C) is completed. Here, it should be noted that the portion to be recorded on the second sheet is on the leading end side of the recording end portion 105 on the first sheet. (7) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the first color (Y) of the second sheet is completed. The vertical striped part is the second 1
This is the part where the recording of the color (Y) is completed.

(8) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the second color (M) of the second sheet is started. (9) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately after the recording of the second color (M) of the second sheet is completed. The overlapping portion of the vertical stripes and the diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the second color (M) of the second sheet is completed.

(10) The positional relationship between the recording paper 7 and the thermal head 8 immediately before the recording of the final color (C) of the second sheet is started. (11) Recording paper 7 immediately after the second color (C) is recorded
And the positional relationship of the thermal head 8. The overlapping portion 106 of the vertical stripes and both diagonal stripes is the portion where the recording of the final color (C) of the second sheet is completed. It should be noted that the positions of the first recording portion 105 and the second recording portion 106 are interchanged as compared with the state (12) of FIG.

(5-2) Continuous Recording Operation First, the recording operation shown in FIG. 14 will be described. The paper feeding operation is performed based on the flow shown in FIG. 6, but the host computer H shown in FIG.
When the continuous recording command determination means provided in the processing unit 303 of the control unit B detects a plurality of (N) continuous recording commands from the outside (step 250 in FIG. 14), one sheet is recorded. The recording paper 7 is conveyed further downstream by the recording length (step 251), and it is determined whether step 251 has been operated N-1 times (step 252). If less than N-1 times, the process returns to step 251. The recording paper 7 is conveyed again.

In step 252, the number of repetitions is N
When the number of times reaches -1, the recording operation is started, but at this point, the recording paper 7 has already been conveyed to the downstream side by the total recording length for continuous recording.

Next, steps 230 to 241.
The operation of recording the first sheet by repeating the above steps is the same as that shown in the flow of FIG. At the time of ending the recording of the first sheet and moving to the next operation, if the number of consecutive recordings is N or less (step 245), step 230,
Returning to 232, the recording operation for the second sheet is performed. The recording operation for the second sheet is repeated by repeating steps 241 as in the case of the first sheet.

If N = 3 or more, the same operation as the second sheet is repeated. In step 241, it is confirmed that the recording of the final color (for example, C) is completed, and when the continuous recording command number N is reached when the recording operation of one sheet is completed, the process proceeds from step 245 to step 242. The recording paper 7 is conveyed to the downstream side by a length corresponding to the conveying distance from the apex of the platen roller 9 where the thermal head 8 and the platen roller 9 are pressure-bonded to the cutting position of the cutter block 4 (step 242). ,
Stop.

The cutter motor 78 is driven to cut the recording paper 7 (step 243), and the color prints 105 and 106 in which a plurality of screens are continuously recorded as shown in FIG. 15 can be obtained, and the recording is completed. (Step 244).

With the above recording operation, the recording paper 7 is seamlessly lengthwise from the leading end 7a to the trailing end (A4).
When two screens are recorded on a recording paper of a size, continuous color recording of 594 mm) is possible.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the leading edge of the first recording and the trailing edge of the second recording are the seams of the recording.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since the trailing edge of the first recording and the leading edge of the second recording are recording seams, the recording direction of the image is naturally different. This can be dealt with by changing the transfer order of the data or changing the reading direction of the data from the memory built in the main body A.

As can be seen from FIG. 15, the portion corresponding to the state (7) in FIG. 13 corresponds to the state (6) in this embodiment.
In addition to the above, and in the state (1), since the recording paper 7 is drawn out by the entire recording length in advance, the time between each screen recording is shortened.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the difference in density that occurs at the seams of the respective screens, which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in the substrate temperature of the thermal head in the recording operation shown in FIG. 12 (FIG. 13), and FIG. 17 is a thermal diagram in the recording operation shown in FIG. 14 (FIG. 15). FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in the substrate temperature of the head.

Now, FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing changes in the temperature of the substrate of the thermal head 8 when recording is performed by the recording process shown in FIG. 13, and the thermal head when recording is performed by the recording process shown in FIG. FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of the temperature change of the substrate of No. 8 and in each case, three colors of Y, M and C are sequentially recorded on two screens.

Although there is a difference depending on the image data to be recorded, in thermal transfer recording in which recording is generally performed using the thermal head 8, the recording density during recording is the substrate temperature (generally represented by the temperature of the head block 8b). The thermal head 8 itself is affected by the low temperature (for example, room temperature) at the start of recording, so that a large amount of heat energy is transmitted to the substrate (for example, the head block 8b) and the recording density is reduced.

This phenomenon occurs similarly when the substrate temperature (for example, the temperature of the head block 8b) is constant, and the phenomenon decreases as the substrate temperature rises. As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, since the seam of the first recording and the second recording are different in the recording direction,
The effect of the above phenomenon appears.

Considering Y (yellow) as an example, the difference T12-T11 between the start temperature T11 of the first color and the end temperature T12 of the second color, which is the seam of printing in FIG. 16, is the seam of printing in FIG. Color end temperature T21 and second color start temperature T
22 is larger than T22-T21, and if the recording start temperature of the first sheet is the same, the difference from FIG.
The example shown in 7 also has a higher absolute temperature.

Therefore, in the example of FIG. 16, the density reduction at the recording joint is larger than that of the example of FIG. 17, and the example shown in FIG. 17, that is, the embodiment of FIG. 14 is superior in recording quality. ing.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. That is, based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, in the host computer H, from the image data 201 and the density of the ground color of the recording paper 7 actually used,
The adder 2 adds the recording paper offset 202 as a difference in density obtained by subtracting the density of the desired background color of another recording paper.
03 to add as new image data to the control unit B.
It is characterized by transferring to.

The image data 201 is often digital data. For example, if the image data 201 is 8-bit data, the data may exceed 8 bits when the recording paper offset 202 is added. Is fixed to the maximum value (255 in case of 0 to 255 gradations with 8 bits).

As a result, the image recorded by the main body A is the one to which the recording paper offset is uniformly added. For example, when recording white, the normal data is set to 0 and the background of the recording paper 7 is set. Although the color is used as it is, in this embodiment, white is the color obtained by adding the recording paper offset 202 to the background color of the recording paper 7.

Usually, in a thermal transfer recording apparatus, a recording paper having a resin coating on the surface of the recording paper 7 is used especially for a recording material in which a sublimable dye is used as an ink material. Although it depends on the background color of No. 7, according to the present embodiment, since the density of the entire image to be recorded can be offset, it is created on the host computer H on colored paper such as newspaper. When simulating an image on another recording medium, such as when recording an image with a thermal transfer recording device for study before printing, eliminate the difference in color tone due to the difference in the actual ground color of the medium, and faithfully Can be reproduced.

Further, the higher the density of the recording, the thicker the ink on the recording paper 7, and the less the influence of the ground color of the recording paper 7, the smaller the recording paper offset becomes.
It is also effective to change according to the value of 1. further,
Even if the recording paper offset 202 and the adder 203 are configured in the control unit B, the same effect is obtained and is effective.

[0145]

Since the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention has the structure as described above, it is possible to perform recording with extremely small color misregistration when recording 3 or 4 colors in an overlapping manner. Further, even if a device having poor recording paper conveyance performance occurs due to mass production or the like, there is an effect that recording can be performed on the entire surface of the recording paper, and mass productivity is also excellent.

Furthermore, since recording of a plurality of screens can be performed continuously, it is possible to record with an enlarged recording size or to record a long screen that cannot be accommodated by one sheet. Further, it is possible to prevent the accidental damage of the thermal head due to the dropout of the granular material (protrusions provided on the surface of the driving roller to improve the paper feeding accuracy), which has the effect of increasing the reliability of the apparatus.

Further, there is also an effect that it is possible to confirm the condition of printing when the background color of the recording paper is changed and printing is performed on the paper of different background color with one kind of recording paper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main body A in FIG.

3 is a side view showing a state in which a head block 3 in FIG. 2 is lifted. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and is a schematic view showing a part of a power transmission mechanism such as each roller.

5 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and is a schematic view showing a drive mechanism of a cutter block, an ink block, and a cam.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a normal paper feeding operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a recording operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording range according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an ink sheet used in an example of the present invention.

10 is a partially enlarged view of the side view shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a top view showing the relationship between the thermal head, the recording paper, the ink sheet, and the image printed according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a recording operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording process of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a recording operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording process of the embodiment shown in FIG.

16 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in the substrate temperature of the thermal head in the recording operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a characteristic diagram showing changes in the substrate temperature of the thermal head in the recording operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus as another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Paper feeding block, 2 ... Conveying block, 3 ... Head block, 4 ... Cutter block, 5 ... Ink block, 6
... Ink sheet, 7 ... Recording paper, 8 ... Thermal head, 9
... Platen roller, 24 ... Conveying roller, 27 ... Discharging roller, 29 ... Roller chassis, 38 ... Optical sensor, 41 ... Head arm, 53 ... Supply roller, 54 ... Winding roller, 5
5 ... Front peeling roller, 56 ... Rear peeling roller.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 11/42 Z 9011-2C 11/66 9011-2C 13/076 15/04 8306-2C 17 / 02 9211-2C 17/30 A 9211-2C 8907-2C B41J 3/20 117 C (72) Inventor Yasunori Kobori 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink sheet melted by heat generated from a heating resistor constituting a thermal head by pressing a recording paper and an ink sheet interposed between the platen roller and the thermal head against the platen roller by the thermal head. In a thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing dot recording by transferring the above ink onto recording paper, the number of lengths of one row used for recording of the heating resistor is at least 1 dot to the left and right of the recording width of the recording paper. The thermal transfer recording apparatus is characterized in that the width of the ink sheet used for recording is wider than the length of one line which is increased by one dot of the heating resistor. 2. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of effective data transferred to the thermal head as print data for one column is at least to the left and right of the number of dots corresponding to the recording width of the recording paper. A thermal transfer recording apparatus characterized by having one dot more. 3. In order to pull out the recording paper (7) and guide it to the other side through a platen roller (9), a total of two pairs of conveying roller ((1) are arranged respectively on the inlet side and the outlet side of the platen roller. 24, 25:27, 28), a mechanism for pulling out the ink paper (6) and guiding it through the platen roller, and the recording paper and the ink paper through the platen roller at the platen roller. A thermal head (8) that presses the rollers, a mechanism (FIG. 4) that rotates the conveying roller pair forward and backward, and the recording paper and the ink paper, which are pressed against each other when the platen roller is interposed, are separated. Peeling rollers (55, 56) respectively arranged on the input side and the output side of the platen roller,
In a thermal transfer recording apparatus including: a projection having a biting dimension smaller than the thickness of the recording paper, on at least one surface of the driving roller and the driving roller (27, 24) of the driven rollers forming the conveying roller pair. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, which is provided over the entire surface to improve the paper feeding accuracy of recording paper. 4. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hardness of the protrusion provided on the surface of the drive roller is set lower than the hardness of the heating element protective film of the thermal head, and the protrusion is formed on the surface of the drive roller. A thermal transfer recording apparatus, characterized in that even if an object is dropped and reaches the heating element protective film as the recording paper is conveyed, the protective film is not damaged. 5. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the height of the protrusion provided on the surface of the drive roller is made smaller than the thickness of the recording paper so that no holes are formed in the recording paper. A thermal transfer recording apparatus characterized in that 6. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an additive such as a silicon film added to a rubber material forming the driven roller in the conveying roller pair on the upstream side of the platen roller, A thermal transfer recording apparatus, characterized in that a means for preventing bleeding and adversely affecting recording is provided on a recording sheet which is in contact with the recording sheet. 7. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when a user gives a continuous recording command to continuously print a plurality of screens on the recording paper, a determination means is provided for determining 1). When the continuous recording command is discriminated by the discriminating means at the end of the recording of the screen, the recording paper cutting operation which is usually accompanied by the end of the recording of one screen is skipped, and the recording paper is conveyed by the length previously recorded, and the recording operation is continued. A thermal transfer recording apparatus characterized by performing. 8. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when a user issues a continuous recording command to continuously print a plurality of screens on the recording paper, a determination means is provided for determining 1). When the continuous recording command is discriminated by the discriminating means at the start of recording the screen, the recording paper is pulled out by a length corresponding to a plurality of screens to be continuously recorded, and the recording is usually performed when the recording of one screen is completed. A thermal transfer recording device characterized by skipping a paper cutting operation and subsequently performing a recording operation of a plurality of screens. 9. An ink sheet melted by heat generated from a heating resistor forming a thermal head, by pressing a recording paper and an ink sheet interposed between the platen roller and the thermal head against the platen roller by the thermal head. A thermal transfer recording device for recording image data by transferring the above ink onto recording paper, comprising means for adding data representing the ground color of the recording paper as offset data to the image data to be recorded and recording the same. A thermal transfer recording device characterized by the above.