JPH07164705A - Multicolor thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a multicolor thermal transfer recorder in,which a length of an ink sheet can be shortened and the available period has been prolonged. CONSTITUTION:In a multicolor thermal transfer recorder prints in the step of conveying a multicolor ink sheet 14 in a shorter conveying length than that of an image receiving sheet, a cueing detection mark 15 for detecting cueing of only a first color ink coating area 14Y is formed on the ink sheet, and an ink coating area 14M or 14C of next color is sequentially conveyed to a printing position to meet a timing of a printing operation by ink sheet conveying control means. Thus, number of the marks formed on the ink sheet is largely reduced, and wasteful feeding of the sheet 14 is decreased.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus which uses the same ink application area of an ink sheet a plurality of times.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, FIG. 9 shows a conventional multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus. A platen 1 and a recording head (thermal head) 3 that presses the image receiving sheet 2 against the platen 1 are arranged to face each other. Further, an ink sheet supply roll 4 and an ink sheet take-up roll 5 are provided. The ink sheet supply roll 4 includes a supply spool 4a and the supply spool 4a.
The ink sheet 6 is wound around a. A braking force is applied to the supply spool 4a by the braking means 7. The take-up spool 5 a of the ink sheet take-up roll 5 is connected to the take-up roll driving means 9 via the tension applying means 8. The winding roll driving means 9 is composed of a motor and a speed reduction mechanism, which are not shown. A torque limiter or the like is used as the tension applying means 8. Further, between the ink sheet take-up roll 5 and the recording head 3, a detecting means 10 is arranged at a predetermined distance s from the position of the heating element of the recording head 3.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the ink sheet 6 has a first color (yellow) ink application area 6Y.
And a second color (magenta) ink application area 6M and a third color
The color (cyan) ink application area 6C is sequentially repeated to form on the film base. Then, cue detection marks 11Y, 11M and 11C are formed at the heads of the ink application areas 6Y, 6M and 6C.

Next, the operation will be described. Before the start of recording, the ink sheet 6 is wound around the ink sheet winding roll 5 from the ink sheet supply roll 4. At this time, a braking force is applied to the supply spool 4a, and a drive force of the take-up roll drive means 9 is applied to the take-up spool 5a via a tension applying means 8 such as a torque limiter. Is tensioned. At the time when the detection unit 10 detects the leading cue detection mark 11Y, the winding roll drive unit 9 is stopped.

Next, the image receiving sheet 2 is inserted between the platen 1 and the recording head 3, the recording head 3 is pressed against the image receiving sheet 2 on the platen 1, and the platen 1 is driven to convey the image receiving sheet 2. The winding roll driving means 9 is driven to convey the ink sheet 6, and the recording head 3 is driven in this process to transfer the ink in the yellow ink application region 6Y of the ink sheet 6 to the image receiving sheet 2.

Next, the recording head 3 is separated from the platen 1, the platen 1 is reversed, the image receiving sheet 2 is returned by one page, and the ink sheet 6 is conveyed until the detecting means 10 detects the magenta cueing detection mark 11M. To do. Subsequently, as described above, the ink in the magenta ink application area 6M is superposed on the image receiving sheet 2 by the recording head 3 while the image receiving sheet 2 and the ink sheet 6 are being conveyed.

Next, the recording head 3 is separated from the platen 1, the platen 1 is reversed, the image receiving sheet 2 is returned by one page, and the detection means 10 causes the cyan cue detection mark 1 to be detected.
The ink sheet 6 is conveyed until 1C is detected. Subsequently, in the process of conveying the image receiving sheet 2 and the ink sheet 6, the ink in the cyan ink application area 6C is superposed on the image receiving sheet 2 by the recording head 3. As a result, multicolor printing is performed.

In this conventional example, the image receiving sheet 2 and the ink sheet 6 are conveyed at the same speed, and the same region of the ink sheet 6 can be used only once. That is,
Assuming that the length of the image recording area 2a in FIG. 10B is Q and the distance from the heating element of the recording head 3 to the detecting means 10 is s, each ink application area 6Y, 6M, 6 of the ink sheet 6 is shown.
The length (arrangement interval) L of C is required to be at least Q + s or more, and the usage period of the ink sheet 6 is shortened.

From the above, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-589.
There is an invention described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 17. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The same parts as those described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 are designated by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In this example, the supply roll driving means 12 feeds the ink sheet 6 at a feeding speed of 1 / n of the feeding length of the image receiving sheet 2, and the winding roll driving means 9 feeds only the fed ink sheet 6. The ink sheet take-up roll 5 is driven by the above method. Although not shown, the supply roll driving means 12 is formed by connecting a motor and a reduction mechanism, and n is determined by the reduction ratio of the reduction mechanism.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
In order to obtain the image recording area 2a having a length Q on the image receiving sheet 2, the length required for the transfer of the ink sheet 6 can be set to Q / n as shown by the dashed line in FIG. The use period of the ink sheet 6 can be extended.

[0011]

The ink sheet 6 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can be used for a longer period of time than the ink sheet 6 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. However, when printing an image for one page, the ink application area 6 for each color is
Each time Y, 6M, and 6C are cued, the ink sheet 6 must be sent out by a length corresponding to the distance s between the detection means 10 and the heating element of the recording head 3, and
Since the width occupied by the cue detection marks 11Y, 11M, and 11C of each color must be estimated, the ink sheet 6 that is longer by that amount is required, which causes a problem of increased running cost.

[0012]

The invention according to claim 1 is
The ink sheet and the image receiving sheet that are unwound from the ink sheet supply roll and wound around the ink sheet winding roll are sandwiched between the recording head and the platen, and the conveyance speed of the ink sheet is made lower than the conveyance speed of the image receiving sheet. In a multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus that prints by driving the recording head in the process of deciding and conveying these ink sheet and image receiving sheet, there are a large number of ink application areas including one m-color ink application area. An ink sheet that is repeatedly formed and has a cue detection mark for cue detection of only the ink application region of the first color, and a detection unit that detects the cue detection mark are provided. To control the operation of the ink sheet supply roll in time with the detection signal of the recording head and the printing operation of the recording head. Provided the door conveyance control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an ink sheet in which at least the lengths of the ink application regions of the first color to the (m-1) th color are equalized is used, and the ink of each color is used. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll is set to be equal when the ink is applied to the next color from the time when an image is recorded by the application area to the printing position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the number of colors of the ink application area of the ink sheet is m, the length of the ink application area of each color of the ink sheet is L, and an image recording time is set. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll is θP, the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the next color ink application region is conveyed to the printing position is θF, the radius of the ink sheet supply roll at the start of use is ro, and the ink sheet is The radius of the supply spool wound around is ri, and the condition of mroθP + (m-1) roθF ≦ mL riθP + riθF ≧ L is satisfied.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an ink sheet is used in which the length of the ink application region is gradually increased from the first color to the mth color.
The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll was gradually increased toward the m-th color when the image was recorded by the ink application area of each color and the ink application area of the next color was conveyed to the printing position.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the number of colors of the ink application area of the ink sheet is m, the length of the ink application area of the kth color of the ink sheet is Lk, and image recording is performed. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll is θP, the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the ink application regions of the kth to (k + 1) th colors are conveyed to the printing position is θF, k, and when the use is started. The radius of the ink sheet supply roll is ro, the radius of the supply spool around which the ink sheet is wound is ri,

[Equation 3] Was satisfied.

The invention according to claim 6 is such that when an equal sign is satisfied in each expression in claim 5,

[Equation 4] Was satisfied.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the m-color overprinting is performed, only the first-color cue detection mark is detected, and the ink sheet is supplied in synchronization with the detection signal and the operation of the recording head. By driving the roll to supply the ink sheet, the number of cue detection marks formed on the ink sheet can be significantly reduced.
It is possible to achieve both shortening the length of the ink sheet and prolonging the usage period of the ink sheet.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to manage the deviation of the print position at the head of the ink application area of the second color and the subsequent colors within a small allowable range without detecting the cueing of the second color and the subsequent colors.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the winding diameter of the ink sheet on the ink sheet supply roll changes as the printing operation progresses, but the designated rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll and the designated ink application area. It is possible to calculate the optimum length of the ink application area of the ink sheet according to the number of colors of the ink sheet, which controls the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll according to the change in the winding diameter of the ink sheet on the supply side. It is possible to position each ink application area at the printing position without doing so.

According to the present invention, the transport length of the ink sheet at the time of printing with the ink application areas of each color is different at the start and end of use of the ink sheet, and the ink sheet is wound. Since the diameter gradually becomes shorter as the diameter becomes smaller, the portion to which ink is actually transferred shifts to the front side of the ink application area, but always make each ink application area correspond to the image forming area of the image receiving sheet. You can

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those described in FIGS. 11 and 12 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted (same below). The ink sheet supply roll 13 of this embodiment includes a supply spool 13a driven by the supply roll driving means 12 (see FIG. 11) and an ink sheet 14 wound around the supply spool 13a. On this ink sheet 14, a large number of sets of ink application regions 14Y, 14M and 14C, each set including m color (three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan) ink application regions 14Y, 14M and 14C, are repeatedly formed. At the same time, only the cue detection mark 15 for detecting the cue of the first color ink application region 14Y is formed. The length L of each color ink application area 14Y, 14M, 14C is 1 / n of the length Q of the image recording area 2a formed on the image receiving sheet 2 (see FIG. 12).

Further, an ink sheet conveyance control means (not shown) for driving the ink sheet supply roll 14 in synchronization with the detection signal of the detection means 10 and the printing operation of the recording head 3 shown in FIG. 11 is provided. . The ink sheet conveyance control means controls the operation of the supply roll driving means 12, and a CPU (not shown) that monitors the input / output data of the detection means 10 and the recording head 3 and other input / output data, and this CPU. It is realized by a ROM that stores fixed data such as program data to be executed by, and a RAM that temporarily writes variable data when the program is executed.

The operation of this structure will be described with reference to FIG. The supply roll drive means 12 drives the ink sheet supply roll 13 at the start of recording, and stops when the cue detection mark 15 is detected by the detection means 10. Next, the image receiving sheet 2 is inserted between the platen 1 and the recording head 3, the recording head 3 is pressed against the image receiving sheet 2 on the platen 1, and the platen 1 is normally rotated to convey the image receiving sheet 2, The ink supply roller 13 is rotated by the supply roller driving means 12 by a predetermined angle θP. That is, if the winding diameter of the ink sheet 14 on the supply spool 13a is r, the ink sheet 1 is rθP.
4 is supplied. By driving the recording head 3 in this process, the first color (yellow) ink application area 14Y is formed.
The above ink is transferred to the image receiving sheet 2.

Next, the recording head 3 is separated from the platen 1, the platen 1 is rotated in the reverse direction to return the image receiving sheet 2 to the print start position, and the supply roll driving means 12 rotates the ink sheet supply roll 13 by a predetermined angle θF. To supply the ink sheet 14 and position the second color (magenta) ink application region 14M at the printing position. Next, the platen 1 is normally rotated to convey the image receiving sheet 2, and
The ink sheet supply roll 13 is rotated by a predetermined angle θP by the supply roll drive means 12 to supply the ink sheet 14, and the recording head 3 applies the second color ink application area 1
4M ink is transferred onto the image receiving sheet 2 in an overlapping manner.

Next, the recording head 3 is separated from the platen 1, the platen 1 is reversed to return the image receiving sheet 2 to the print start position, and the supply roll driving means 12 rotates the ink sheet supply roll 13 by a predetermined angle θF. And the ink sheet 14 is supplied to position the third color (cyan) ink application region 14C at the printing position.

Next, the platen 1 is rotated in the forward direction to convey the image receiving sheet 2, and the supply roll driving means 12 rotates the ink sheet supply roll 13 by a predetermined angle .theta.P to supply the ink sheet 14, and the recording head 3 is supplied. Thus, the ink of the third color ink application area 14C is transferred onto the image receiving sheet 2 in an overlapping manner. This completes the multicolor printing for one page. In this case, the length of the ink sheet 14 conveyed for recording is determined by the ink sheet 14 on the supply spool 13a.
Winding diameter r and rotation angle θ of the ink sheet supply roll 13
It is the product of P. Ink application areas 14Y, 14 for each color
The range of the alternate long and short dash line in M and 14C is actually the image receiving sheet 2
In the area where the ink is transferred to the ink sheet 14, the transport length of the ink sheet 14 that transports the ink application area 14M or 14C of the next color to the print position after the transfer is the winding diameter r
And the rotation angle θF of the ink sheet supply roll 13.

As described above, when three-color overprinting is performed, only the cueing detection mark 15 of the first color is detected by the detecting means 10.
The ink sheet feeding controller 13 drives the ink sheet supply roll 13 to supply the ink sheet 14 at the same timing as the detection signal and the operation of the recording head 3 to detect the position of the ink sheet 14. The number of detection marks can be significantly reduced, which makes it possible to reduce the length of the ink sheet 14 and prolong the usage period of the ink sheet 14. This is the effect corresponding to the invention of claim 1.

Further, in this embodiment, the lengths L of the ink application areas 14Y, 14M and 14C of the respective colors are equal. Further, since the conveyance lengths rθF of the ink application areas 14Y, 14M, and 14C of the respective colors are the same, the deviation of the print position at the head of the ink application areas of the second color and the subsequent colors is performed without detecting the cueing of the second color and the subsequent. Can be managed within a small tolerance range. This is an effect corresponding to the invention of claim 2.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows the image recording density characteristics of so-called multi-sheet type ink sheets 6 and 14 (including the conventional example) that can be transferred a plurality of times. n represents the speed ratio between the image receiving sheet 2 and the ink sheets 6 and 14, and the larger this n value is, the shorter the ink sheet can print. However, if the n value exceeds the limit value n ₀ , the specified concentration cannot be obtained. This n value is proportional to the values of the rotation angles θP and θF of the ink sheet supply roll 13.

Based on this, based on FIGS. 3 and 4, the arrangement interval (length) L of the ink application regions 14Y, 14M and 14C of each color and the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll 13 during image recording. The relationship between θP and the rotation angle θF of the ink sheet supply roll 13 when the next color ink application region 14M or 14C is conveyed to the printing position will be described. FIG. 3 shows a state at the start of use in which the winding diameter r ₀ of the ink sheet 14 on the supply spool 13a is large. FIG. 4 shows the state when the ink sheet 14 is exhausted,
The winding diameter of the ink sheet 14 is as small as ri, which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the supply spool 13a. In addition, 14 in FIG.
The portion a is a lead portion for fixing the ink sheet 14 to the supply spool 13a.

As shown in FIG. 3, at the start of use, the length of the ink sheet 14 used for recording the image of each color is ro.
θP, the conveyance length of the ink sheet 14 when the next color ink application region 14M or 14C is positioned at the printing position is ro
θF, which is the ink sheet 14 required for three-color printing
Is the sum of the used length required for printing three colors and the conveyance length for two times for changing the color of the ink application area, that is, 3roθP + 2roθF = 3L (1).

As shown in FIG. 4, immediately before the end of use, the length of the ink sheet 14 used for image recording of each color is r.
iθP, the conveyance length of the ink sheet 14 when the next color ink application region 14M or 14C is positioned at the printing position is r
iθF, an ink sheet 1 required for one-color printing
The length of 4 is the sum of the used length required for printing one color and the transport length for one time for changing the color of the ink application area,
That is, riθP + riθF = L (2).

Here, the winding diameter ro on the supply side of the ink sheet 14 at the start of use is determined by the ink application regions 14Y and 14Y.
Length L of M, 14C, thickness of ink sheet 14, outer diameter ri of supply spool 13a, ink application areas 14Y, 14
It is a function of the number of screens of M and 14C. The rotation angle θP of the ink sheet supply roll 13 during image recording is the limit of the length Q of the image recording area 2a (see FIG. 12) on the image receiving sheet 2 and the speed ratio n between the image receiving sheet 2 and the ink sheet 14. The value n ₀ and the outer diameter ri of the supply spool 13a are set based on the expression riθP = Q / n ₀ . Therefore, the above equation (1)
Appropriate θP value and L value can be set so as to satisfy the expression (2).

In an actual apparatus, it is necessary to include a slight margin in the L value in accordance with the position detection accuracy of the detection means 10 (see FIG. 11) and the rotation accuracy of the ink sheet supply roll 13. In this case, the L value and the θP value may be set in accordance with 3roθP + 2roθF ≦ 3L (1) ′ riθP + riθF ≧ L (2) ′ instead of the above equations (1) and (2). In this case (r
iθP + riθF−L) corresponds to the margin. The number of colors m of the ink sheet 14 is set arbitrarily, but in that case, instead of the above formulas (1), (2), (1) ′ (2) ′, mroθP + (m−1) roθF ≦ mL (1 ) ”RiθP + riθF ≧ L (2)”, the L value and the θP value may be set.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as the winding diameter of the ink sheet 14 gradually decreases as the printing operation continues, the transport length of the ink sheet 14 gradually decreases. As shown by the alternate long and short dash line, the portion to which is transferred shifts to the head side (left side in the figure) of the ink application areas 14Y, 14M, and 14C, but the above equations (1) and (2)
Alternatively, the ink sheet 1 is set by setting L and θF by either (1) ′ (2) ′ or (1) ″ (2) ″.
Even if the winding diameter of 4 changes, the ink application areas 14Y, 14M, and 14C can be made to correspond to the image forming area 2a of the image receiving sheet 2. This is an effect corresponding to the invention of claim 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the final color (m-th
The length of the color) ink application region 14C is L + ΔL, or as shown in FIG. 6, between the last color (mth color) ink application region 14C and the first color ink application region 14Y,
An ink layer non-formation region 16 having a length of ΔL can be provided if necessary. In this case, the total length of the ink sheet 14 increases, but the winding diameter ro on the supply side of the ink sheet 14 at the start of use is still the ink application regions 14Y, 14M,
14C length L, ink sheet 14 thickness, supply spool 13a outer diameter ri, ink application areas 14Y, 14M,
It is a function of the number of screens of 14C, and L and θF can be set by the above equations (1) ′ (2) ′.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the ink application regions 14Y, 14Y, from the first color toward the m-th color (third color).
The ink sheet 14 in which the lengths of 14M and 14C are gradually increased is used, and the ink application regions 14Y, 14M and 1 of the respective colors are used.
The rotation angle θP of the ink sheet supply roll 13 when the next color ink application area 14M or 14C is conveyed to the printing position from the time when the image is recorded by 4C is the mth color (final color).
It has been gradually increased toward.

That is, the length LY of the first color (yellow) ink application area 14Y, the length LM of the second color (magenta) ink application area 14M, and the length of the third color (cyan) ink application area 14C. The relationship of LC is LY <LM <LC
Is. The rotation angle θYM of the ink sheet supply roll 13 when the second color ink application area 14M is conveyed to the printing position, and the rotation angle θYM of the ink sheet supply roll 13 when the third color ink application area 14C is conveyed to the printing position. The relationship of the rotation angle θMC is θYM <θMC. These LY, LM, LC, θYM and θMC are: LY = roθP (3) LY = ri (θP + θYM) (4) LM = ro (θYM + θP) (5) LM = ri (θP + θMC) (6) LC = ro ( θMC + θP) It is set to a value that satisfies each expression of (7).

In such a configuration, the transport lengths roθP and riθP of the ink sheet 14 when printing with the ink application areas 14Y, 14M and 14C of the respective colors are different at the start of use and the end of use of the ink sheet 14. ,
As described in the second embodiment, as the winding diameter of the ink sheet 14 becomes smaller, the transport length of the ink sheet 14 becomes gradually shorter. Therefore, the portion to which the ink is actually transferred is indicated by a chain line. Ink application area 14 as shown
Since the Y, 14M, and 14C shift to the leading side (left side in the drawing), by satisfying the above equations (3) to (7), the image is always received even if the winding diameter of the ink sheet 14 changes. Each ink application area 14 is formed on the image forming area 2a of the sheet 2.
Y, 14M, and 14C can be made to correspond. This is an effect corresponding to the invention of claim 4.

Here, the length Q of the image recording area 2a (see FIG. 12) formed on the image receiving sheet 2 is 100 mm, the thickness t of the ink sheets 6 and 14 is 0.01 mm, and the supply spool 4 is
a, 13a outer diameter ri is 10 mm, ink sheets 6, 14
11 and 12, when the number M of the surfaces of each ink application region 14Y, 14M, 14C is 50 and the limit value n ₀ of the speed ratio of the ink sheets 6 and 14 to the image receiving sheet 2 is 10. Table 1 shows a comparison of the lengths of the ink sheets 6 and 14 in the examples, the second example, and the third example.

[Table 1]

In Table 1, in the conventional example and the second example, the ink application areas 6Y, 6M, 6C, 14Y and 14 are used.
Since the lengths L of M and 14C are equal, the length of the ink sheets 6 and 14 used for printing one page is shown as 3L, but in the third embodiment, the ink application areas 14Y, 14M and 14 are used.
Since the lengths LY, LM, and LC of C are different, LY + LM +
Shown as LC. As can be seen from Table 1, the effect of shortening the length of the ink sheet 14 is better in the second embodiment than in the conventional example, and this embodiment (third embodiment) is better than the second embodiment. ) Is better.

In an actual device, it is necessary to include a slight margin in the values of LY, LM, and LC depending on the position detection accuracy of the detection means 10 (see FIG. 11) and the rotation accuracy of the ink sheet supply roll 13. There is. In this case, LY ≧ roθP (3) ′ LY ≦ ri (θP + θYM) (4) ′ LY + LM ≧ ro (2θP + θYM) (5) ′ LY + LM ≦ ri (2θP + θYM + θMC) instead of the above equations (3) to (7). ) (6) ′ LY + LM + LC ≧ ro (3θP + θYM + θMC) (7) ′ The values of LY, LM, and LC may be set.

Further, fourth and fifth embodiments for achieving the same purpose as the third embodiment will be described. The fourth embodiment is an embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 5, and is an ink application region 14Y, 14M, 14C of the ink sheet 14.
Is m, the length of the kth ink application area of the ink sheet 14 is Lk, the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll 13 during image recording is θP, and the kth to (k + 1) th ink application is performed. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll 13 when the area is conveyed to the printing position is θF, k, and the radius of the ink sheet supply roll 13 at the start of use is r.
o, the radius of the supply spool 13a that winds the ink sheet 14 is ri,

[Equation 5] Which satisfies the following condition.

The fifth embodiment is an embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claim 6, and when the equal sign is satisfied in the expression applied in the fourth embodiment,

[Equation 6] Which satisfies the following condition. However, k is 1 to m.

[0046]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a large number of sets of ink application regions, each set including one m color ink application region, are repeatedly formed, and the cue detection of only the first color ink application region is performed. An ink sheet on which the cue detection mark is formed, and a detection unit for detecting the cue detection mark,
Since the ink sheet conveyance control means for driving the ink sheet supply roll is provided in synchronism with the detection signal of the detection means and the printing operation of the recording head, when the m-color overlapping printing is performed, the first color cueing is performed. Only the detection mark is detected, and the ink sheet supply roll is driven to supply the ink sheet in synchronism with the detection signal and the operation of the recording head, thereby significantly increasing the number of cue detection marks formed on the ink sheet. It is possible to reduce the length of the ink sheet, and thus it is possible to achieve both shortening the length of the ink sheet and prolonging the period of use of the ink sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an ink sheet in which at least the lengths of the ink application regions of the first color to the (m-1) th color are equalized is used, and the ink of each color is used. Since the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll is set to be equal when the ink application area of the next color is conveyed to the printing position from the time when the image is recorded by the application area, the cue detection for the second and subsequent colors is not performed. Can also manage the deviation of the print position at the beginning of the ink application area for the second and subsequent colors within a small allowable range.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the number of colors of the ink application area of the ink sheet is m, the length of the ink application area of each color of the ink sheet is L, and an image recording time is used. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll is θP, and the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the ink application region of the next color is conveyed to the printing position is θ.
F, the radius of the ink sheet supply roll at the start of use is ro, and the radius of the supply spool around which the ink sheet is wound is ri, and the conditions of mroθP + (m-1) roθF ≦ mL riθP + riθF ≧ L are satisfied. Although the winding diameter of the ink sheet on the sheet supply roll changes as the printing operation proceeds, the specified rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll,
The optimum length of the ink application area of the ink sheet can be calculated according to the number of colors of the specified ink application area, which allows the ink sheet to be supplied according to the change in the winding diameter of the ink sheet on the supply side. Each ink application area can be positioned at the printing position without controlling the rotation angle of the roll.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink according to the first aspect, an ink sheet is used in which the length of the ink application region is gradually increased from the first color to the mth color.
Since the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the image is recorded by the ink application area of each color to the printing position of the next color ink application area is gradually increased toward the mth color, the ink application of each color is applied. The transport length of the ink sheet when printing depending on the area differs between when the ink sheet is used and when the ink sheet is used, and it gradually decreases as the winding diameter of the ink sheet gradually decreases. The portion to which is transferred deviates to the front side of the ink application area, but each ink application area can always correspond to the image forming area of the image receiving sheet.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the number of colors of the ink application region of the ink sheet is m, the length of the kth color ink application region of the ink sheet is Lk, and image recording is performed. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll is θP, the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the kth to (k + 1) th ink application areas are conveyed to the printing position is θF, k, and the ink at the start of use is The radius of the sheet supply roll is ro, the radius of the supply spool around which the ink sheet is wound is ri,

[Equation 7] Since the following condition is satisfied, it is possible to achieve the same object as the invention according to claim 4.

In the invention described in claim 6, when the equal sign is satisfied in each expression in claim 5,

[Equation 8] Since the following condition is satisfied, it is possible to achieve the same object as the invention according to claim 4.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll.

FIG. 2 is an image recording density characteristic diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll at the start of use.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll at the end of use.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view according to the third embodiment of the present invention and showing a state in which an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll at the start of use.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink sheet is supplied from an ink sheet supply roll at the end of use.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional example of a multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship between a one-time type ink sheet and an image receiving sheet.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing another conventional example of a multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the relationship between a multi-type ink sheet and an image receiving sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Platen 2 Image receiving sheet 5 Ink sheet take-up roll 10 Detection means 13 Ink sheet supply roll 13a Supply spool 14 Ink sheet 14Y, 14M, 14C Ink application area 15 Cue detection mark

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Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink sheet fed from an ink sheet supply roll and taken up by an ink sheet take-up roll and an image receiving sheet are sandwiched between a recording head and a platen, and the conveyance speed of the ink sheet is set to the image receiving sheet. In a multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus which prints by driving the recording head in the process of conveying these ink sheet and image receiving sheet at a speed lower than the conveying speed, a large number of sets of transfer areas of m colors are set. An ink sheet is formed in which ink application areas are repeatedly formed, and an index sheet detection mark for detecting the index of only the ink application area of the first color is formed, and a detection unit that detects the index point detection mark. An operation for controlling the operation of the ink sheet supply roll in synchronization with the detection signal of the detection means and the printing operation of the recording head. A multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus, characterized in that it is provided with a link sheet conveyance control means. 2. An ink sheet in which the lengths of at least the first to (m-1) th color ink application areas are equalized is used, and the ink of the next color is applied from the time when an image is recorded by the ink application areas of the respective colors. 2. The multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the coating area is conveyed to the printing position is set to be equal. 3. The number of colors of the ink application area of the ink sheet is m, the length of the ink application area of each color of the ink sheet is L, the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll during image recording is θP, and the ink of the next color The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the application area is conveyed to the printing position is θF, the radius of the ink sheet supply roll at the start of use is ro, the radius of the supply spool around which the ink sheet is wound is ri, and mroθP + ( The multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of m-1) roθF ≦ mL riθP + riθF ≧ L is satisfied. 4. An ink sheet in which the length of the ink application area is gradually increased from the first color to the mth color is used, and the ink application area of the next color is applied from the time when an image is recorded by the ink application area of each color. 2. The multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the sheet is conveyed to the printing position is gradually increased toward the m-th color. 5. The number of colors of the ink application area of the ink sheet is m, the length of the ink application area of the kth color of the ink sheet is Lk, the rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll during image recording is θP, and the kth area. The rotation angle of the ink sheet supply roll when the color to the (k + 1) th color ink application region is conveyed to the printing position is θF, k, the radius of the ink sheet supply roll at the start of use is ro, and the ink sheet is wound. The radius of the supply spool to be set is ri, and The multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the following condition is satisfied. 6. When the equal sign is satisfied in each expression of claim 5, The multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus is characterized in that the following conditions are satisfied.