JPH0717065A - Thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a thermal transfer recorder wherein a separated and fed recording sheet is prevented. from being caught on the external circumferential surface of a platen and the recording sheet is allowed to smoothly arrive at a clamper. CONSTITUTION:In a thermal transfer recorder, recording is performed by selectively transferring ink incorporated in an ink sheet 9 on a recording medium wound round a platen 10 by a recording means. A clamper 11 for inserting, holding and fixing the recording medium is provided on the platen 10 for winding the recording medium round the same. The clamper 11 is provided with an insertion-holding part 12 for inserting and holding the recording medium, a resist part 13 for performing the resist of the recording medium and a guide part 14 for guiding the recording medium.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording characters or images by selectively transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium by the heat of a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a thermal transfer recording apparatus is constructed as shown in FIG. In FIG. 20, 101 is a cassette for stacking and storing a plurality of recording sheets P, and 102 is a recording sheet P.
A feeding roller 103 for feeding and discharging the feeding roller, 103 a separate roller that can be brought into contact with and separated from the feeding roller 102, 104 a discharging roller that comes into contact with the feeding roller 102 and is driven to rotate, 10
5, 106 and 107 are sheet guides that form the conveyance path of the recording sheet P, and 108 is an ink sheet on which inks of three colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) are applied in a frame-sequential manner,
109 is a platen for winding the recording sheet P, 110 is a clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording sheet P on the platen 109, and 111 is ink for holding the recording sheet P on the platen 109 selectively on the recording sheet P on the platen 109. A recording head for transferring and recording, 112 is a stopper for separating the clamper 110 from the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. First, when the platen 109 is rotated in the arrow direction from the state shown in FIG. 20, the clamper 11
0 comes into contact with the stopper 112 and separates from the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109 as shown in FIG. Then the transport roller
The recording sheets P stacked and stored in the cassette 101 are separated and fed by the 102 and the separate roller 103, and are guided in the direction of the platen 109 along the conveyance path between the sheet guides 105 and 106. The leading edge of the recording sheet P contacts the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109 as shown in FIG. 22, and is guided to the clamper 110 while sliding on the outer peripheral surface as shown by the broken line in the figure, and after being conveyed by a predetermined amount, the It is clamped on the platen 109 by a clamper 110. And platen 109
Is rotated once or a plurality of times in the clockwise direction to supply a recording signal such as a character or a figure to the recording head 111 abutted on the platen 109 via the ink sheet 108 and the recording sheet P to supply the ink sheet 108. The ink is thermally transferred onto the recording sheet P for recording.

After the recording is completed, the platen 109 rotates counterclockwise and the trailing edge of the recording sheet P is moved to the sheet guide 106,
It is guided to the left in the figure along the transportation route between 107. When the platen 109 further rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the clamper 110 releases the holding and fixing of the recording sheet P by the clamper 110 as shown in FIG. 23, and the recording sheet P is not supported by the conveying roller 102 and the discharging roller 104. The sheet is discharged onto the illustrated discharge tray.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109 generally has high frictional resistance, the leading edge of the recording sheet P separated and fed contacts the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109. There is a risk that it may get caught while touching, causing a sheet jam (paper jam).

Further, since the leading edge of the separated and fed recording sheet P is temporarily caught on the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109, the recording sheet P is not guided to the clamper 110 within a predetermined time and is halfway in the middle. There is a problem in that the recording sheet P is misaligned during the recording operation, and the image quality is deteriorated.

Furthermore, the leading edge of the separated and fed recording sheet P is caught on the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109,
The recording sheet P may be conveyed in a skewed state,
When the sheet is sandwiched and fixed in this state and further recording is performed, the margins other than the recording portion on the recording sheet P are not even on the left and right, and there is a problem in quality such as poor appearance.

Further, in the structure as in the above-mentioned conventional example, the shape of the clamper 110 for holding the front end of the recording sheet P between the platen 109 is flat with respect to the circumferential surface of the platen 109.
The contact portion of the clamper 110 for holding the recording sheet P varies depending on the urging force for urging the clamper 110 to the platen 109 or the hardness of the outer peripheral surface (rubber portion) of the platen 109.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, as shown in FIG. 24, the width of the contact portion of the clamper 110 for holding the recording sheet P is narrow in view of the balance between the urging force of the clamper 110 and the hardness of the outer peripheral surface of the platen. Met. Therefore, in this state, when the recording head 111 is pressed against the platen 109 via the ink sheet 108 and the recording sheet P to perform the recording operation,
Elements that give a load to the rotation of the platen 109 (recording head 11
Due to the pressure contact force of 1), the recording sheet P sandwiched during the recording operation is displaced and skewed, and the image quality is deteriorated. Further, in the apparatus having the above-described configuration, since inks of three different colors are sequentially recorded, the recording sheet may be misaligned for each color, which may cause color misregistration, which further deteriorates the image quality. There was a problem.

Therefore, in order to increase the holding force of the recording sheet P, the urging force of the clamper 110 is increased to increase the platen 109.
There is a method of increasing the amount of deformation of the outer peripheral surface of the platen 109 to widen the width of the contact portion of the clamper 110 for holding the recording sheet P. In this method, as shown in FIG. ) May be deformed more than necessary, and the sandwiched recording sheet P may be broken or damaged by the end of the clamper 110.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the separately fed recording sheets from being caught on the outer peripheral surface of the platen,
This is to ensure that the recording sheet reaches the clamper smoothly.

It is another object of the present invention to maintain a constant width of a contact portion for holding the recording sheet by the clamper without depending on the urging force of the clamper or the hardness of the outer peripheral surface of the platen, so that the clamper is stable and secure. It is to sandwich the recording sheet.

[0013]

A typical constitution of the present invention for achieving the above object is to record by selectively transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium wound around a platen by the recording means. In the thermal transfer recording device that performs
A clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording medium is provided on a platen around which the recording medium is wound, and a sandwiching portion for sandwiching the recording medium by the clamper, a resist portion for resisting the recording medium, and a guide for the recording medium. It has a guide part for.

Further, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording by selectively transferring the ink contained in the ink sheet to the recording medium wound on the platen by the recording means, a circle of the platen is formed on the platen on which the recording medium is wound. It is characterized in that a clamper forming an arc surface substantially parallel to the peripheral surface is provided, and the arc surface of the clamper is biased to the platen to clamp and fix the recording medium.

[0015]

According to the present invention, since the clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording medium on the platen has the guide portion for guiding the recording medium, the guide portion constitutes a part of the conveying path of the recording medium to form the recording medium. It is transported smoothly without contacting the outer peripheral surface of the platen. Therefore, the problem caused by the recording medium being caught on the outer peripheral surface of the platen is eliminated.

Further, according to the present invention, the clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording medium on the platen has an arc surface substantially parallel to the circumferential surface of the platen, and the arc surface of the clamper is biased to the platen. Since the recording medium is clamped and fixed by the above, the width of the contact portion of the clamper for clamping the recording medium is kept constant, and the recording medium can be clamped stably and reliably.

[0017]

【Example】

[First Embodiment] The structure of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 is an explanatory view showing the outline of the main part of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective explanatory view of the platen provided with the clamper which concerns on an Example.

FIG. 1 shows the initial state of the apparatus, which is in this state when the power source of the apparatus main body is OFF, and when recording is not performed even when the power source is ON.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a cassette, in which a plurality of recording sheets P as recording media are stacked and stored. Reference numeral 2 denotes a separate roller, which is axially supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from a conveyance roller 3 that is driven and rotated to feed and discharge the recording sheet P. Reference numerals 4, 5 and 6 denote sheet guides for guiding the recording sheet P, and a conveyance path 7,
8 forming.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an ink sheet, in which three colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) of ink are applied in a face-sequential manner, and are conveyed in the direction of the arrow at appropriate times by a driving means (not shown). Further, the leading of each color ink of the ink sheet 9 is performed by an ink sensor (not shown). In the initial state of the apparatus, the first color ink (yellow) has already been ejected by the ink sensor.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a platen for winding the recording sheet P, which is composed of a platen shaft 10a, a core portion 10b and a rubber portion 10c, and is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body by the platen shaft 10a. . Further, the platen 10 is so arranged that its rotational position can be detected at any time by a sensor (not shown).

Reference numeral 11 denotes a clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording sheet P on the platen 10, which is formed of a member (generally a metal plate) having a friction resistance lower than that of the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10. There is. The clamper 11 has a sandwiching portion 12 for sandwiching and fixing the leading end of the recording sheet P to the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10, a resist portion 13 for registering the recording sheet P, and a resisting portion for the recording sheet P. 13
A guide portion 14 for guiding to is integrally provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the clamper 11 is provided so as to extend in the axial direction of the platen 10, and is rotated by a support shaft 15 provided on both side surfaces of the core portion 10b of the platen 10. It is movably supported. The guide portions 14 are provided at both ends of the clamper 11 in the longitudinal direction, and are formed in a tongue shape as shown in FIG. Further, the resist portion 13 is provided at the base of the tongue shape of the guide portion 14.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a rubber sheet, which is the platen 10
It is attached to the holding portion 12 of the clamper 11 that opposes the rubber portion 10c. 17 is a clamp spring, and the clamper 11
Of the rotary shaft 18 provided on both side surfaces of the platen 10 and the pins 19 provided on both side surfaces of the core portion 10b of the platen 10, so that the clamping portion 12 of the clamper 11 can be moved in the substantially central direction of the platen 10. Is urged to. Further, in this state (initial state as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), the guide portion 14 of the clamper 11 is located inside the outer peripheral surface of the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a recording head which selectively transfers the ink contained in the ink sheet 9 onto the recording sheet P wound around the platen 10 for recording, and the platen is provided via the ink sheet 9 and the recording sheet P. It is supported so that it can approach and separate from 10.

Reference numeral 21 is a platen for holding the holding portion 12 of the clamper 11.
A stopper for separating from the rubber portion 10c of 10 and is rotatably supported by both side plates of the apparatus body. The sliding pin 22 provided integrally with the stopper 21 is slidably engaged with elongated holes 23 formed in both side plates of the apparatus body. The stopper 21 is biased in the direction of the arrow by a biasing means (not shown), and is held in a state (as shown in FIG. 1) in which the sliding pin 22 is in contact with one end of the slot 23. .

Reference numeral 24 denotes an auxiliary roller, which is a sheet guide 6
It is rotatably provided on a support member 25 having a spring property attached to and is pressed against the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10.

Next, the feeding operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of the recording sheet feeding operation of the recording apparatus, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a separating operation at the time of feeding and discharging the clamper, and FIG. 5 is a conveyance path at the time of feeding the recording sheet. It is a schematic explanatory view showing.

When the recording start signal is detected, the platen 10
Is rotated in the direction of arrow A from the initial state shown in FIG. 1 together with the clamper 11 by the driving means (not shown). When rotated to a certain extent, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotating shafts 18 provided on both side surfaces of the clamper 11 come into contact with the stoppers 21 which are axially supported by both side plates of the apparatus main body. Since the stopper 21 is biased and held at one end of the elongated hole 23 formed in both side plates of the apparatus main body by the sliding pin 22 integrally provided as described above, the stopper 21 is kept in the same direction. It cannot move in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

When the platen 10 further rotates in the same direction (direction of arrow A), the rotating shaft 18 slides along the stopper 21 in the direction of arrow as shown in FIG.
Is gradually supported by the support shaft 15 while resisting the urging force of the clamp spring 17.
The rubber sheet 16 affixed to the holding portion 13 is rotated around the center of the platen 10 to separate from the surface of the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10. At the same time, the tongue-shaped guide portion 14 also protrudes from the inside of the outer peripheral surface of the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10 to the outside as the clamper 11 rotates.

Subsequently, the rotation position of the platen 10 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the rotation of the platen 10 is stopped. At this time, the guide portion 14 of the clamper 11 constitutes the conveying path 7 together with the sheet guide 4 due to its tongue shape.

Next, the separate roller 2 is brought into pressure contact with the conveying roller 3 by means not shown, and the uppermost paper of the plurality of recording sheets P stacked in the cassette 1 is brought into pressure contact with the conveying roller 3.

Next, the conveying roller 3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
Are conveyed toward the platen 10. At this time, the recording sheet P passes through the separate roller 2 pressed against the conveying roller 3, so that only the uppermost sheet of the stacked recording sheets P is separated and conveyed toward the platen 10.

The recording sheet P which has been separated and fed is further conveyed and guided by the sheet guides 4 and 5 while the platen 10 is being guided.
Will be guided in the direction of. As shown in FIG. 5, a tongue-shaped guide portion 14 stands by in the vicinity of the outlets of the sheet guides 4 and 5, and together with the sheet guides 4 and 5, constitutes a conveyance path 7. Therefore, the separately conveyed recording sheet P is guided by the tongue-shaped guide portion 14 while being guided by the sheet guides 4 and 5. Further, since the clamper 11 having the guide portion 14 is generally formed of a metal plate, the friction resistance of the surface thereof is lower than that of the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10. Therefore, the recording sheet P is smoothly guided along the guide portion 14 and guided to the holding portion 12 of the clamper 11.

Subsequently, the leading end of the recording sheet P guided to the holding portion 12 of the clamper 11 reaches (contacts) the registration portion 13 of the clamper 11. As a result, the recording sheet P cannot be further conveyed in the same direction, but the recording sheet P is further conveyed with the leading end thereof in contact with the resist portion 13 to form a loop to some extent. There is. Further, the conveyance amount of the recording sheet P at the time of feeding is controlled by detecting the rotation time of the conveyance roller 3, and the rotation is stopped when a predetermined time comes.

The recording sheet P having a loop formed as described above is urged by an appropriate force to the resist portions 13 provided at both ends of the clamper 11 by its elasticity. This prevents the recording sheet P from being skewed (obliquely conveyed).

When the conveyance roller 3 stops rotating, the platen 10 starts rotating in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, and the clamper 11 also moves in the same direction as the platen 10 moves. As a result, the clamper separated from the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10
The sandwiching portion 12 of the platen 10 has the support shaft 15 as a center.
Gradually rotate in the approximate center direction. When the rotary shaft 18 of the clamper 11 is separated from the stopper 21, the leading edge of the recording sheet P is completely separated from the clamp portion 12 of the clamper 11 and the platen.
It is sandwiched between ten rubber parts 10c. At the same time, the guide portion 14 of the clamper 11, which constitutes the conveying path 7 together with the sheet guides 4 and 5, is gradually moved to the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10.
The outer peripheral surface moves from outside to inside.

Then, the separating roller 2 is separated from the conveying roller 3 by means not shown, and the plurality of recording sheets P stacked in the cassette 1 are also separated from the conveying roller 3.

The sandwiched recording sheet P is securely sandwiched by the rubber sheet 16 attached to the sandwiching portion 12 of the clamper 11 and the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10.

Next, the recording operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus constructed as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 is an apparatus schematic explanatory view showing the recording operation of the recording sheet in the recording apparatus, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the state of the clamper during the recording operation.

The platen 10 holding the front end of the recording sheet P by the clamper 11 rotates to the recording start position (position shown in FIG. 6) and temporarily stops. Even at this time, the recording start position of the platen 10 is detected by a sensor (not shown).

Subsequently, the initial position of the ink sheet 9 is confirmed by an ink sensor (not shown), and if it is not the initial position, the ink sheet 9 is conveyed in the arrow direction and the first color ink (yellow) is ejected first. To do.

Next, the recording head 20 is pressed against the platen 10 via the ink sheet 9 and the recording sheet P. After that, the platen 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow to heat the recording head 20 in response to a recording signal and selectively transfer the ink contained in the ink sheet 9 to the recording sheet P to perform recording. When the recording of the first color ink (yellow) is completed, the recording head 20 is separated from the platen 10.

After that, the platen 10 rotates again in the direction of the arrow, returns to the recording start position, and stops. At this time, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation shafts 18 provided on both side surfaces of the clamper 11 come into contact with the stoppers 21 supported on both side plates of the apparatus main body as the platen 10 rotates. Since the stopper 21 is pushed up in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7, the clamped state of the recording sheet P held by the clamper 11 is not released.

Next, the second color ink (magenta) of the ink sheet 9 is printed first, the recording operation as described above is repeated, and the third color ink (cyan) is also similarly recorded. A series of recording operations ends.

In order to maintain the recording operation in a good state, the auxiliary roller 24 provided in pressure contact with the platen 10 prevents the recording sheet P wound around and fixed to the platen 10 from floating. .

Next, the discharging operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus constructed as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. 8 and 9 are schematic explanatory views of the recording sheet discharging operation in the recording apparatus.

When the recording operation of the third color ink (cyan) is completed and the recording head 20 is separated from the platen 10, the trailing edge of the recording sheet P is guided by the sheet guides 5 and 6 as shown in FIG. It is located near the entrance of the formed transport path 8. When the platen 10 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow A (the direction opposite to the recording operation direction) from this state, the rear end of the recording sheet P contacts the wall surface of the sheet guide 6 by its elasticity, and the platen 11 rotates. The sheet guide 6
It is guided to the transport path 8 along the wall surface of the. Almost at the same time as the rotation of the platen 10, the transport roller 3 also starts to rotate in the arrow direction.

When the platen 10 is further rotated, as shown in FIG. 9, the trailing edge of the recording sheet P passes through the conveying path 8 and the conveying roller 3 and the discharging roller 26 which is pressed against the conveying roller 3 by its own weight. Is sandwiched between and. When the platen 10 further rotates in this state, the rotating shafts 18 provided on both side surfaces of the clamper 11 which holds and fixes the recording sheet P come into contact with the stoppers 21 supported by both side plates of the apparatus body. . As a result, similarly to the feeding operation (see FIG. 4), the clamper 11 rotates about the support shaft 15 in accordance with the rotation amount of the platen 10 and is separated from the surface of the rubber portion 10c of the platen 10 to record. The pinched and fixed state of the sheet P is released. Then, the position of the platen 10 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and its rotation is stopped.

The recording sheet P released from the pinned and fixed state as described above is discharged onto a discharge tray (not shown) by the conveying roller 3 and the discharge roller 26. The recording sheet P
When the sheet is completely discharged, the platen 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow B, returns to the initial state as shown in FIG. 1 and stops, and the series of operations of the thermal transfer recording apparatus is completed.

[Second Embodiment] Next, the structure of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. Incidentally, FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the outline of the main part of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of a platen including a clamper according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows the initial state of the apparatus, which is in this state when the power source of the apparatus main body is OFF, and when recording is not performed even when the power source is ON.

A cassette 31 stores a plurality of recording sheets P as recording media in a stacked state. The cassette
A lifter 32 having one end pivotally supported is rotatably provided at the bottom of 31. Reference numeral 33 denotes a separate roller, which is pivotally supported so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from a conveyance roller 34 that is driven and rotated to feed and discharge the recording sheet P. A pickup lever 35 pushes the lifter 32 upward to load the recording sheets P stacked and stored therein to the transport roller.
It is pressed against 34 and is configured to be synchronized with the separate roller 33. Reference numerals 36, 37 and 38 denote sheet guides for guiding the recording sheet P, and transport paths 39 and 40 are formed between the sheet guides.

Reference numeral 41 denotes an ink sheet, in which inks of three colors (yellow, magenta, cyan) are applied in a frame sequential manner, and are conveyed in the direction of the arrow at appropriate times by a driving means (not shown). In addition, leading of each color ink on the ink sheet 41 is performed by an ink sensor (not shown). In the initial state of the apparatus, the first color ink (yellow) has already been ejected by the ink sensor.

A platen 42 for winding the recording sheet P is composed of a platen shaft 42a, a core portion 42b and a rubber portion 42c, and is rotatably supported by the apparatus main body by the platen shaft 42a. . Further, the platen 42 is adapted to detect its rotational position by a sensor (not shown) at any time.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording sheet P on the platen 42, and a sandwiching portion 44 for sandwiching and fixing the leading end of the recording sheet P on the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42, and the recording sheet P. And a resist portion 45 for performing the resist of the platen 42.
Is formed in an arc surface shape substantially parallel to the circumferential surface of the.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the clamper 43 is provided so as to extend in the axial direction of the platen 42, and is rotated by the support shafts 46 provided on both side surfaces of the core portion 42b of the platen 42. It is movably supported.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a rubber sheet, which is the platen 42.
It is attached to the arc-shaped holding portion 44 of the clamper 43 that opposes the rubber portion 42c. Reference numeral 48 is a clamp spring, and a spring hook groove of a rotary shaft 49 provided on both side surfaces of the clamper 43,
The arcuate sandwiching portion 44 of the clamper 43 is urged in a substantially central direction of the platen 42 by being stretched around pins 50 provided on both side surfaces of the core portion 42b of the platen 42.

Reference numeral 51 is a recording head for selectively transferring the ink contained in the ink sheet 41 to the recording sheet P wound around the platen 42 for recording, and the platen is provided via the ink sheet 41 and the recording sheet P. It is supported so that it can approach and separate from 42.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a stopper for separating the arcuate holding portion 44 of the clamper 43 from the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42, which is rotatably supported by both side plates of the apparatus main body. Sliding pin 53 provided integrally with this stopper 52
Are slidably engaged with elongated holes 54 formed in both side plates of the apparatus body. The stopper 52 is urged in the direction of the arrow by urging means (not shown), and the sliding pin 53 has a long hole.
It is held in a state of being in contact with one end of 54 (a state as shown in FIG. 10).

Reference numeral 55 is an auxiliary roller, which is a sheet guide 38.
It is rotatably provided on a supporting member 56 having a spring property attached to the platen 42 and is pressed against the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42.

Next, the feeding operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. 12 is a schematic explanatory view of the recording sheet feeding operation in the recording apparatus, FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of the separating operation at the time of feeding and discharging the clamper, and FIG. 14 is a conveyance path at the time of feeding the recording sheet. It is a schematic explanatory view showing.

When the recording start signal is detected, the platen 42
Is rotated in the direction of arrow A from the initial state as shown in FIG. 10 together with the clamper 43 by a driving means (not shown). After rotating to some extent, as shown in FIG. 12, the rotating shafts 49, which are scraped on both side surfaces of the clamper 43, come into contact with the stoppers 52 which are axially supported by both side plates of the apparatus main body. Since the stopper 52 is biased and held at one end of the elongated hole 54 formed in both side plates of the apparatus main body by the sliding pin 53 integrally provided as described above, the stopper 52 is not moved in the same direction. It cannot move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 10.

When the platen 42 further rotates in the same direction (direction of arrow A), the rotating shaft 49 slides along the stopper 52 in the direction of arrow as shown in FIG.
Gradually supports the support shaft 46 while resisting the urging force of the clamp spring 48.
The rubber sheet 47 attached to the arc-shaped holding portion 44 is rotated around the center of the plate to separate from the surface of the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42. Then, the rotation position of the platen 42 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the rotation of the platen 42 is stopped.

Next, the separating roller 33 and the pickup lever 35 are synchronously interlocked with each other by a driving means (not shown),
The separate roller 33 is pressed against the conveyance roller 34, and in synchronization with this, the pickup lever 35 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 12 to push up the lifter 32 at the bottom of the cassette 31 to the top of the stacked recording sheets P. The paper is pressed against the transport roller 34.

Next, the conveying roller 34 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.
Are conveyed toward the platen 42. At this time, the recording sheet P passes through the separate roller 33 pressed against the conveying roller 34, so that only the uppermost sheet of the stacked recording sheets P is separated and conveyed toward the platen 42.

The recording sheet P which has been separated and fed is further conveyed and guided by the sheet guides 36 and 37 while the platen 42 is being guided.
Will be guided in the direction of. A clamper 43 separated from the surface of the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42 stands by near the exits of the sheet guides 36 and 37. As shown in FIG. 14, the leading end of the recording sheet P is clamped by the clamper 43 and the platen 42. Will be guided between.

When the recording sheet P is further conveyed, the leading end of the recording sheet P contacts the registration portion 45 of the clamper 43. As a result, further conveyance in the same direction is prevented, but the recording sheet P is further conveyed with its leading end in contact with the registration portion 45, and thus a certain loop is formed. There is. Further, the amount of conveyance between recording sheets at the time of feeding is controlled by detecting the rotation time of the conveyance roller 34, and the rotation is stopped when a predetermined time comes.

The recording sheet P having the loop formed as described above is urged by an appropriate force to the resist portions 45 provided at both ends of the clamper 43 by its elasticity. This prevents the recording sheet P from being skewed (obliquely conveyed).

When the rotation of the carrying roller 34 is stopped, the platen 42 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 12, and the clamper 43 moves in the same direction as the platen 42 moves. As a result, the clamper separated from the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42
The arcuate holding portion 44 of 43 gradually rotates about the support shaft 46 in the substantially central direction of the platen 42. When the rotary shaft 49 of the clamper 43 is separated from the stopper 52,
The leading end of the recording sheet P is completely an arcuate holding portion of the clamper 43.
It is sandwiched between 44 and the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42.

Next, the separate roller 33 and the pickup lever 35 are synchronously interlocked with each other, and the separate roller 33
Is separated from the conveyance roller 34, and the pickup lever 35 is rotated downward to separate the recording sheet P from the conveyance roller 34.

The sandwiching state of the recording sheet P will be described with reference to FIG. 15. The recording sheet P is a clamper having an arc surface substantially parallel to the circumferential surface of the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42.
Since it is configured to be clamped over the entire width by the clamping portion 44 of the 43, the urging force of the clamper 43 or the platen 42
Of the clamper 43 regardless of the hardness of the rubber portion 42c of the
The contact portion for sandwiching the recording sheet P (the above-mentioned arcuate sandwiching portion 44) is kept constant, and the recording sheet P is reliably sandwiched in a stable sandwiching state. Further, the recording sheet P is a rubber sheet 47 attached to the arc-shaped holding portion 44 of the clamper 43.
And the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42 holds the recording sheet P more reliably, and since the sandwiched portions are rubber members, there is no fear of the recording sheet P being scratched or paper broken. .

Next, the recording operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. 16 is an apparatus schematic explanatory view showing the recording operation of the recording sheet in the recording apparatus, and FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the state of the clamper during the recording operation.

The platen 42 which holds the leading edge of the recording sheet P by the clamper 43 rotates to the recording start position (the position shown in FIG. 16) and temporarily stops. Even at this time, the recording start position of the platen is detected by a sensor (not shown).

Subsequently, the initial position of the ink sheet 41 is confirmed by an ink sensor (not shown), and if it is not the initial position, the ink sheet 41 is conveyed in the arrow direction and the first color ink (yellow) is ejected first. To do.

Next, the recording head 51 is pressed against the platen 42 via the ink sheet 41 and the recording sheet P. Then, the platen 42 rotates in the direction of the arrow to heat the recording head 51 in response to a recording signal, and the ink contained in the ink sheet 41 is selectively transferred to the recording sheet P to perform recording. When the recording of the first color ink (yellow) is completed, the recording head 51 is separated from the platen 42.

After that, the platen 42 rotates again in the arrow direction, returns to the recording start position, and stops. At this time, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the rotary shafts 49 provided on both side surfaces of the clamper 43 come into contact with the stoppers 52 supported on both side plates of the apparatus main body with the rotation of the platen 42. Since the stopper 52 is pushed up in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 17, the clamped state of the recording sheet P by the clamper 43 is not released.

Next, the second color ink (magenta) of the ink sheet 41 is printed first, the above-described recording operation is repeated, and the third color ink (cyan) is also similarly recorded. A series of recording operations ends.

In order to keep the recording operation in a good state, the auxiliary roller 55 provided in pressure contact with the platen 42 prevents the recording sheet P wound around the platen 42 and fixed, from floating. .

Next, the discharging operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. 18 and 19 are schematic explanatory views of the recording sheet discharging operation in the recording apparatus.

When the recording operation of the third color ink (cyan) is completed and the recording head 51 is separated from the platen 42, the trailing edge of the recording sheet P is guided by the sheet guides 37 and 38 as shown in FIG. It is located near the entrance of the formed transport path 40. When the platen 42 starts to rotate in the direction of arrow A (direction opposite to the recording operation direction) from this state, the rear end of the recording sheet P contacts the wall surface of the sheet guide 38 due to its elasticity, and the platen 42 rotates. Along with the sheet guide 38
It is guided to the transport path 40 along the wall surface of. Almost at the same time as the rotation of the platen 42, the transport roller 34 also starts to rotate in the arrow direction.

When the platen 42 further rotates, the trailing edge of the recording sheet P passes through the transport path 40 and the transport rollers 34 and the discharge rollers 57 which are pressed against the transport rollers 34 by their own weight as shown in FIG. Is sandwiched between and. When the platen 42 further rotates in the same direction in this state, the rotation shafts 49 provided on both side surfaces of the clamper 43 holding and fixing the recording sheet P.
Comes into contact with stoppers 52 supported on both side plates of the apparatus body. This is the same as the feeding operation (see Fig. 13)
Further, the clamper 43 rotates about the support shaft 46 in accordance with the amount of rotation of the platen 42, separates from the surface of the rubber portion 42c of the platen 42, and releases the recording sheet P from the sandwiched and fixed state. Then, the position of the platen 42 is detected by a sensor (not shown), and its rotation is stopped.

The recording sheet P released from the pinched and fixed state as described above is discharged onto a discharge tray (not shown) by the conveying roller 34 and the discharge roller 57. The recording sheet P
When the sheet is completely discharged, the platen 42 rotates in the direction of the arrow B, returns to the initial state as shown in FIG. 10 and stops, and the series of operations of the thermal transfer recording apparatus is completed.

[0084]

As described above, since the clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording medium on the platen has the guide portion for guiding the recording medium, the guide portion constitutes a part of the conveying path of the recording medium to perform recording. The medium is smoothly conveyed without coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the platen. Therefore, the separated and fed recording medium does not get caught on the outer peripheral surface of the platen, so that sheet jam (paper jam) can be prevented and high reliability can be obtained. Further, since the recording medium is not sandwiched halfway, the problem caused by it is eliminated and a high-quality image can be obtained. Furthermore, since skewing of the recording medium can be reliably prevented, the margins of the recording medium other than the recording portion can be maintained evenly on the left and right, and high-quality recording can be performed.

As described above, the clamper for sandwiching and fixing the recording medium on the platen has an arc surface substantially parallel to the circumferential surface of the platen, and by biasing the arc surface of the clamper to the platen. Since the recording medium is clamped and fixed, the width of the contact portion of the clamper for clamping the recording medium is kept constant, and the recording medium can be clamped stably and reliably. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being misaligned during the recording operation, and the recording operation can be performed without deteriorating the image quality. In addition, a highly reliable recording operation can be obtained without fear of sheet jam (paper jam). Furthermore, the rubber sheet attached to the circular arc surface facing the platen of the clamper eliminates the risk of scratches on the recording medium and paper breakage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of a platen including a clamper according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an apparatus schematic explanatory view showing a recording sheet feeding operation in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a separating operation at the time of feeding and discharging the clamper.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing a conveyance path at the time of feeding a recording sheet.

FIG. 6 is an apparatus schematic explanatory view showing a recording operation of a recording sheet in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a clamper during a recording operation.

FIG. 8 is an apparatus schematic explanatory view showing a recording sheet discharging operation in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 9 is an apparatus schematic explanatory view showing a recording sheet discharging operation in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a main part of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view of a platen including a clamper according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an apparatus schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a recording sheet feeding operation in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a separating operation of the clamper during feeding and discharging.

FIG. 14 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a conveyance path when feeding a recording sheet.

FIG. 15 is a schematic enlarged explanatory view showing a sandwiched state of recording sheets.

FIG. 16 is an apparatus schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a recording operation of a recording sheet in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a clamper during a recording operation.

FIG. 18 is an apparatus schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a recording sheet discharging operation in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 19 is an apparatus schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a recording sheet discharging operation in the recording apparatus.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of sign]

P ... Recording sheet 1 ... Cassette 2 ... Separate roller 3 ... Conveying roller 4, 5, 6 ... Sheet guide 7, 8 ... Conveying path 9 ... Ink sheet 10 ... Platen 10a ... Platen shaft 10b ... Core part 10c ... Rubber part 11 ... Clamper 12 ... Clamping part 13 ... Registration part 14 ... Guide part 15 ... Support shaft 16 ... Rubber sheet 17 ... Clamp spring 18 ... Rotating shaft 19 ... Pin 20 ... Recording head 21 ... Stopper 22 ... Sliding pin 23 ... Slot 24 ... Auxiliary roller 25 ... Supporting member 26 ... Ejecting roller 31 ... Cassette 32 ... Lifter 33 ... Separating roller 34 ... Conveying roller 35 ... Pickup lever 36,37,38 ... Sheet guide 39,40 ... Conveying path 41 ... Ink sheet 42 ... Platen 42a ... Platen shaft 42b ... Core part 42c ... Rubber part 43 ... Clamper 44 ... Clamping part 45 ... Registration part 46 ... Support shaft 47 ... Rubber sheet 48 ... Clamp spring 49 ... Rotating shaft 50 ... Pin 51 ... Recording head 52 ... Stopper 53 ... sliding pin 54 ... elongated hole 55 ... auxiliary roller 56 ... support member 57 ... discharge roller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing recording by selectively transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium wound on a platen by a recording means, and holding the recording medium between the platen winding the recording medium. A thermal transfer characterized in that a clamper for fixing is provided, and the clamper has a holding portion for holding the recording medium, a resist portion for resisting the recording medium, and a guide portion for guiding the recording medium. Recording device. 2. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion of the clamper has a friction coefficient lower than that of the outer peripheral surface of the platen. 3. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for performing recording by selectively transferring the ink contained in an ink sheet onto a recording medium wound on a platen by a recording means, wherein a circle of the platen is formed on the platen on which the recording medium is wound. A thermal transfer recording apparatus comprising a clamper that forms an arc surface that is substantially parallel to the peripheral surface, and is configured to clamp and fix the recording medium by urging the arc surface of the clamper against the platen. 4. The thermal transfer recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a rubber sheet is attached to an arc surface of the platen facing the circumferential surface of the platen.