JPH0679550U - Thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Preventing deterioration of printing quality due to ink adhering to the end of the thermal transfer ribbon [Configuration] The thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the medium 3 are sandwiched between the thermal head 1 and the platen 4. In a thermal transfer recording apparatus in which a thermal transfer ribbon 2 and a medium 3 are run in an overlapping manner, heated by a thermal head 1 and melted ink is fused to the medium 3 for recording, the length of a platen 4 is in the axial direction. It is longer than the recording range and shorter than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon 2.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus that thermally transfers and records ink onto a printing medium such as paper or plastic.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In general, a thermal transfer recording apparatus holds a thermal transfer ribbon and a medium between a recording head and a platen, runs the thermal transfer ribbon and the medium in an overlapping manner, and heats the recording head to fuse the melted ink to the medium. To record.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional printing unit, and respective elements are separated for easy understanding. The thermal head 1 as a recording head is movable in the direction of arrow AB by a plunger magnet (not shown), and moves in the direction of arrow A at the time of printing to move the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the print medium 3 (hereinafter referred to as medium 3). (Note) is pressed against the platen 4 and clamped. The thermal transfer ribbon 2 is loaded in a cassette (not shown), and is wound from the back side of the paper surface to the front side by a ribbon winding mechanism (not shown). The medium 3 is also fed from the back side of the paper surface to the front side in synchronization with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 by a paper feeding mechanism (not shown). The platen 4 is rotatably supported by the side frames 5 and 6.

The length of the platen 4 in the axial direction is longer than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the medium 3, and the width of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is wider than the recording range of the platen 4 in the axial direction and wider than the width of the medium 3. This is a base film coated with hot-melt ink. When the heat transfer element 2, the medium 3, and the platen 4 are fed at a constant speed and a heating element (not shown) is caused to generate heat based on the print data, the ink is activated by the heat energy to increase the adhesiveness and the medium 3 Transfer to.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, the width of the thermal transfer ribbon is narrower than the width of the medium. Therefore, when the thermal head is pressed against the thermal transfer ribbon, the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon as shown in Y part of FIG. Also, there is a problem that the ink adhered to the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon is pressed against the medium and adheres to the blank portion of the medium to deteriorate the printing quality in the production of the thermal transfer ribbon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus that prevents deterioration of print quality due to ink attached to the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention, the length of the platen is longer than the axial recording range and shorter than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon.

[0008]

[Action]

 Since the length of the platen of the thermal transfer recording device configured as described above is longer than the axial recording range and shorter than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon, the thermal transfer ribbon and the medium are sandwiched between the recording head and the platen. , The thermal transfer ribbon and the medium are run in an overlapping manner and heated by the recording head, and even if the melted ink is fused to the medium and recording is performed, the end of the thermal transfer ribbon is not pressed against the medium and the thermal transfer is performed. Ink attached to the edge of the ribbon does not attach to the margins of the media.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the print quality from being deteriorated by the ink adhering to the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon.

[0010]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration perspective view showing a thermal transfer portion of an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. The thermal transfer unit has a thermal head 1 on one side and a platen 4 on the other side across the medium running path indicated by the chain double-dashed line. Further, the feeding reel 10 for feeding the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the winding reel 11 for winding the thermal transfer ribbon 2 sandwich the thermal head 1 and are provided on the thermal head side with respect to the medium running path. The winding reel 11 is rotated by a motor (not shown) to wind the thermal transfer ribbon 2.

On the other hand, the feeding reel 10 is provided with a locking means (not shown), which is rotatable when the locked state is released, but does not rotate when the locked state. There is. An idle roller 12 for guiding the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is provided between the thermal head 1 and the payout reel 10. A thermal transfer ribbon 2 is guided between the thermal head 1 and the take-up reel 11, and a roller 13 for separating the ink transferred on the medium 3 from the ribbon base material and a slack for preventing the thermal transfer ribbon 2 from sagging. And a means 14 for setting up an option.

The tension means 14 winds the lever 15 rotatably provided on the take-up reel shaft 11 a, the tension roller 16 rotatably provided at the tip of the lever 15 and the lever 15. The pulling spring 17 biases the take-up reel 11 in the direction of arrow C. A sensor 18 for detecting the tip portion is provided on the locus of the tip portion 15a of the lever 15.

The thermal head 1 is movable in the direction of arrow A-B by a plunger magnet (not shown). When printing, the thermal head 1 is moved in the direction of arrow A to press the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the medium 3 against the platen 4 to sandwich them. To do. The platen 4 is rotatably supported by a side frame (not shown), and is connected to a feeder roller 19 provided across the medium running path by a drive belt 20. The drive belt 20 is rotated by a running motor (not shown), and feeds the medium 3 in the direction of arrow D in synchronization with the thermal transfer ribbon 2 along the medium running path.

As shown in FIG. 2, the length of the platen 4 in the axial direction is longer than the recording range as a line and shorter than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon 2.

Next, the operation will be described.

First, a running motor (not shown) is driven to rotate the platen 4 and the feeder roller 19 to run the medium 3 in the direction of arrow D. When the medium entrance sensor (not shown) detects the leading end of the medium 3, the running motor is driven for a predetermined time from that point, and the plunger magnet (not shown) is energized to move the thermal head 1 in the direction of arrow A. It moves and presses the thermal transfer ribbon 2 and the medium 3 against the platen 4.

At the same time, the pay-out reel 10 is released from the locked state to be rotatable.

Next, while the thermal transfer ribbon 2, the medium 3 and the platen 4 are being fed at a constant speed, a heating element (not shown) is caused to generate heat based on the print data to transfer the ink to the medium 3.

During this time, the winding reel 11 winds the thermal transfer ribbon 2, and when the sensor 18 detects the tip portion 15a of the lever 15, the winding is stopped and the tip portion 15a of the lever 15 is stopped by the sensor 18. When separated from, the operation of winding the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is repeated.

By the way, since the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is located outside the range of the platen 4, even if the thermal thermal head 1 is pressed during printing, the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon 2 is strongly pressed against the medium 3. No, it does not adhere to the medium 3.

After the printing is completed, when the medium discharge sensor (not shown) detects the leading end of the medium 3, the running motor is driven for a predetermined time from that point, and the medium 3 is discharged.

[0023]

[Effect of device]

 Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. Since the length of the platen is longer than the recording range in the axial direction and shorter than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon, the edge of the thermal transfer ribbon is not pressed against the medium, and the ink adhering to the edge of the thermal transfer ribbon does not Since the ink does not adhere to the margins of the medium, it is possible to prevent the print quality from deteriorating even when ink adheres to the end of the thermal transfer ribbon in manufacturing the thermal transfer ribbon.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration perspective view showing a thermal transfer portion of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional printing unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 thermal head 2 thermal transfer ribbon 3 medium 4 platen 14 tensioning means

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A thermal transfer ribbon and a medium are sandwiched between a recording head and a platen, the thermal transfer ribbon and the medium are superposed and run, heated by the recording head, and melted ink is fused to the medium for recording. In the thermal transfer recording apparatus, the length of the platen is longer than the recording range in the axial direction and shorter than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon. 2. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermal transfer recording apparatus is a line type thermal transfer thermal printer that records line by line in the recording range.