JPH07172016A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording device operated by heat-sensitive recording system, in which an ink film is transferred and rewound into reverse direction at need whereby the waste by ink film is reduced which is produced by the existence of white line data, in which ink is not transferred, on a recording picture signal. CONSTITUTION:When more than a specific amount of white line data is detected by a white line data detecting unit 5 in line data supplied from a data buffer 4, a control unit 1 release the abutting condition of an ink film 15 against a recording paper 16 by a solenoid 3 and rewinds the ink film 15 by an ink film transfer motor 6 and an ink film transfer roller 11 into a direction E reverse to the discharging direction D of the recording paper, which is determined by a recording paper transfer motor 13 and a recording paper transfer roller 14 whereby the ink film 15 can be used without wasting.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device used in a facsimile machine, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device of a heat-sensitive recording system used in a copying machine, a facsimile machine or the like records on a recording paper via a thermal head which generates heat when energized. The method of is known.

First, in the system using thermal paper, a thermal head applies heat to a thermal paper coated with a color-developing layer that develops color when heat is applied, thereby recording at a predetermined position on the recording paper. Is a method of performing. On the other hand, in the method using an ink film (thermal transfer method), a transfer film coated with a solid ink layer is heated by a thermal head from the back side to melt the ink and transfer it to a recording paper for recording. is there.

A recording apparatus employing this thermal transfer system is shown in FIG.
Shown in. The control unit 1 instructed to start recording from the keyboard 2 drives the solenoid 8 to press the thermal head 9 against the platen roller 12, and brings the recording paper 16 and the ink film 15 into a pressure contact state. Then, the control unit 1 drives the recording paper transportation motor 13 to rotate the transportation roller 14 to transport the recording paper 16. The controller 1 drives the ink film transport motor 7 to rotate the transport roller 10 to transport the ink film 15. At this time, the control unit 1 reads the image signal from the data buffer 4 at a predetermined timing and supplies the image signal to the thermal head 9. The thermal head 9 generates heat in response to this image signal and records on the recording paper 16 via the ink film 15.

FIG. 8 shows the transport relationship between the ink film 15 and the recording paper 16. The recording paper 16 and the ink film 15 are conveyed in the forward (discharge) direction D while being synchronized with each other, and the ink 1
5B is transferred from the film 15A to the recording paper 16. The image signal is output for each line data. In the step (a), the heat from the thermal head 9 causes the ink film 15 to move to the recording paper 16 at the recording position C based on the 1-line data.
The ink 15B is transferred to the. Next, in the process (b),
Ink 1 because 1 line data is white line data
5B is not transferred. Then, in the step (c), the ink film 15 to the recording paper 16 are printed based on the 1-line data.
The ink 15B is transferred to. At this time, the ink film 15 is conveyed with an unused portion left.

Next, a timing chart of each operation relating to recording is shown in FIG. After the start of recording, the controller 1 does not always drive the solenoid 8 regardless of the image signal, and continues to convey the ink film 15. The image signal that is not recorded indicates white line data.

As described above, since the control section 1 always continues to convey the ink film 15, for example, the recorded image for one page has half of the unrecorded white line data among all the line data. However, the ink film is wound up and consumed for one page. That is, since the ink film 15 on which the ink 15B has not been transferred is also conveyed, the ink film 15 is wasted.

[0008]

As described above, since the recording paper and the ink film are conveyed in the same direction in synchronization with each other, the ink film in which the ink is not transferred due to the white line data on the recorded image. However, there is a problem in that the ink film is wasted even if it is transported.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates this problem and reduces waste of the ink film caused by the presence of white line data that does not transfer ink on the recording image signal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording device of a thermal recording type.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, in the present invention, a signal source for supplying a plurality of line data forming a recorded image, an ink film coated with an ink layer made of a transfer material, A recording sheet facing the ink film, and heat is generated according to the line data,
In the recording state, this heat is applied to the ink film to transfer the transfer material to the recording paper, a heating head for pressing the ink film and the recording paper into contact with each other, and white line data among the line data is discriminated. Determining means, a first transporting means for transporting the recording paper at least in the discharging direction, a second transporting means for transporting the ink film in the discharging direction and the opposite direction, and a predetermined amount or more by the determining means. When white line data is detected, the pressure contact by the pressure contact member is released, and only the ink film is conveyed in the reverse direction by the second conveying means.

[0011]

According to the present invention having such a configuration, when the white line data of the line data supplied from the signal source is detected by the determining means for a predetermined amount or more, the control unit causes the ink film and the recording paper to be pressed by the pressure contact member. Since the pressure contact state with and is released and the ink film is conveyed and rewound by the second conveying means in the direction opposite to the recording paper discharge direction by the first conveying means, the ink film can be used without waste.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a recording apparatus adopting a thermal recording method using an ink film. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 7 are given to this FIG. 1, and the description thereof is omitted. In addition,
The white line data detector 5 detects white line data in the line data supplied from the data buffer 4, and the counter 3 counts the detected amount.

FIG. 2 shows the transport relationship between the ink film 15 and the recording paper 16. The image signal is output for each line data. In the process (a), the ink 15B is transferred from the ink film 15 to the recording paper 16 by the heat of the thermal head 9 at the recording position C based on the 1-line data. Next, in the step (d), since the plurality of line data are continuous white line data, the ink film 15 is conveyed to the arbitrary position in the reverse direction without transferring the ink 15B. In the step (e), the ink film 15 is conveyed in the forward direction in synchronization with the recording paper 16. Then, in the step (f), the ink 15B is transferred from the ink film 15 to the recording paper 16 based on the 1-line data. The ink film 15 is conveyed without leaving an unused portion.

Next, a timing chart of each recording operation is shown in FIG. After the recording is started, the recording paper 16 is always conveyed in the forward direction, and the ink film 15 is mainly conveyed in the forward direction. The control unit 1 releases the drive of the solenoid 8 while the white line data in the image signal continues, and drives the reverse direction ink film transport motor 6 while maintaining the separated state to reverse the ink film 15 to an arbitrary position. Transport in the direction. The image signal that is not recorded represents white line data and is virtually treated as no signal. Further, in FIG. 3, the conveyance timing of the ink film 15 in the reverse direction is synchronized with the conveyance timing of the recording paper in the forward direction, but it may be performed at a timing that is easy to control without being synchronized.

Next, a flow chart of the control unit 1 is shown in FIG. 4, and the operation will be described with reference to this flow chart. When the control unit 1 detects that the record button is pressed from the keyboard 2, the control unit 1 performs a recording operation start process (S1).
01, S102). Then, one line data is read from the data buffer 4 (S104), and it is determined whether or not the read line data is detected as white line data by the white line data detection unit (S10).
6). If this line data is not white line data, the control unit 1 performs a recording process (S116), and again reads one line data from the data buffer 4 (S104).

If the read line data is white line data, the control unit 1 repeatedly reads one line data from the data buffer 4 until the next read line data is not white line data, and the read line data number. Is counted by the counter 3 (S107). The control unit 1 compares the count value L counted by the counter 3 with the predetermined value Z (S108).

If the count value L is smaller than the predetermined value Z, the control section 1 directly performs the recording operation process of the white line data by the count value L (S114), and then performs the effective 1 line data recording process. (S116).

On the other hand, when the count value L is equal to or larger than the predetermined value Z, the control section 1 conveys the ink film 15 of an arbitrary length in the forward direction based on the count value L (S109), and the recording by the solenoid 8 after the start of the conveyance. Paper 16 and ink film 1
The pressure contact with 5 is released (S110). And the control unit 1
Transports the ink film 15 of arbitrary length in the reverse direction based on the count value L (S111), and transports the ink film 15 of arbitrary length in the positive direction based on the count value L (S112). When the ink film 15 starts to be conveyed in the forward direction, the control unit 1 causes the solenoid 8 to press the recording paper 16 and the ink film 15 again (S113), and then records the effective 1-line data (S116). .
The control unit 1 always initializes the count value L of the counter 3 before performing the recording process of the effective 1-line data (S115).

When all the line data are repeated and recording is completed (S103, S117), the controller 1 discharges the recording paper 16 (S118) and completes all recording processes.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the ink film is conveyed in the reverse direction and rewound as necessary, so that the white line data on which the ink is not transferred is recorded on the recording image signal. It is possible to obtain a recording apparatus of a heat-sensitive recording system which reduces waste of the ink film caused by the presence of the ink.

Further, since the pressure contact and the pressure contact release by the solenoid are carried out during the conveyance of the ink film in the forward direction, that is, during the forward conveyance state after the rewinding of the ink film 15 or the forward conveyance state during the recording process, this The conveyance of the ink film and the conveyance of the recording paper are substantially synchronized with each other, and the blurring of the conveyance occurring in the both is offset to improve the recording accuracy.

Further, in order to improve the recording accuracy, the ink film is conveyed in the forward direction before the recording operation. However, since the extra ink film is conveyed in the reverse direction and rewound in advance, wasteful ink film outflow is prevented. It is possible to further reduce the waste of the ink film.

Strictly speaking, the pressure contact (release of pressure contact) by the solenoid 8 is performed by the recording paper 16 as shown in FIG.
It has been premised that it is performed between the transportation timings of. Therefore, the cycle of the recording paper transport timing is
It was necessary to secure the time required for the pressure contact (pressure contact release) operation by the solenoid 8. However, since the conveyance of the ink film and the conveyance of the recording paper are substantially synchronized with each other, there is no problem even if the pressure contact (pressure contact release) operation by the solenoid 8 is performed during the recording paper conveyance operation. Therefore, the solenoid 8
If the press contact and the press release by the press are performed in the forward transport state after the ink film 15 is rewound or in the forward transport state during the recording process, it is not necessary to accurately control the press contact (release pressure contact) operation timing. Since it is not necessary to secure the time required for the pressure contact (pressure contact release) operation as the cycle of the paper conveyance timing, the present invention can be implemented with a simple configuration without delaying the time required for the recording process.

Further, according to the present invention, the pressure contact and the pressure release by the solenoid are performed while the conveyance of the ink film is stopped,
The ink film may be conveyed in the opposite direction during the release of the pressure contact. This embodiment is shown in FIG. According to this example,
The control can be simplified when the conveyance speed of the recording paper is so slow that it hardly affects the recording accuracy.

Further, according to the present invention, the pressure contact and the release of the pressure contact of the solenoid may be performed while the conveyance of the recording paper is temporarily stopped, and the ink film may be conveyed in the reverse direction to be positioned at an arbitrary position. This embodiment is shown in FIG. According to this embodiment, since the recording paper is stopped, it is easy to improve the recording accuracy and the waste of the ink film, and the control can be further simplified.

Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, when the white line data detecting section 5 detects that the white line data of a predetermined amount or more continues until the last line data of the page, the solenoid 8 is detected. The pressure contact by the ink film 1 is released, the recording paper 16 is conveyed in the discharge direction, and the ink film 1
A method for carrying 5 in the reverse direction will be described in detail.

In general, when recording is performed on a recording sheet, it is usual that a margin is provided at the edge of the recording sheet rather than the entire recording sheet. This is done for the purpose of improving the visibility of the recording result. That is, there is a high possibility that the end portion of the recording paper will have a large amount of blank space.

Therefore, the present invention is applied to reduce the waste of a large amount of ink film caused by the margin portion. First, the recording on the recording paper by this recording device is
It is performed based on a document that becomes image information for recording. If the original document itself has a large amount of blank space, the blank space portion is judged as white line data of a predetermined amount or more. At this time, as described above, since the recording apparatus is likely to be in the state of recording the end portion of the recording paper,
The control unit 1 detects whether or not the white line data of a predetermined amount or more continues to the last line data of the page. If it is continued, the control unit 1 releases the pressure contact by the solenoid 8, conveys the recording paper 16 in the discharge direction, and conveys the ink film 15 in the opposite direction.

By the way, the backward conveyance of the ink film 15 must be completed by the start of the recording process on the next page, but in some cases, it may not be in time. Therefore, it is conceivable that the control unit 1 slightly delays the timing of sending the MCF signal or supplying the line data from the data buffer 4. Even if the control unit 1 slightly delays the above timing, this process is performed at page breaks, so that the recording process itself is not affected in any way and the recording process can be performed smoothly.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a monochrome recording apparatus is shown, but the present invention can be applied to a color recording apparatus, for example. Further, when the ink film, the ink ribbon, and the like are reusable, that is, when they have a characteristic that recording can be performed repeatedly, the present invention is applied to transporting and rewinding the ink film in the reverse direction at a predetermined time. You can also The predetermined time may be when a predetermined number or more of white line data is detected, or may be every recording process of one line data. Further, it may be performed for each page, for each recording operation, or for each transportation of all ink films.

[0031]

According to the present invention, since the ink film is conveyed in the reverse direction and rewound as necessary, the waste of the ink film caused by the presence of the white line data which does not transfer the ink on the recording image signal is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a recording apparatus of a thermal recording type.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a heat-sensitive recording method using an ink film in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process in which the ink 15B is transferred from the film 15A to the recording paper 16 in the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart of each recording-related operation in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the control unit 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of each recording-related operation in the modified example of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of each recording-related operation in the modified example of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional thermal recording system using an ink film.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional process of transferring ink 15B from film 15A to recording paper 16.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of each conventional recording-related operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Keyboard, 3 ... Counter, 4 ... Data buffer, 5 ... White line data detection part, 6 ... Reverse direction ink film conveyance motor, 7 ... Forward direction ink film conveyance motor, 8 ... Solenoid, 9 ... Thermal head,
10, 11 ... Ink film transport roller, 12 ... Platen roller, 13 ... Recording paper transport motor, 14 ... Recording paper transport roller, 15 ... Ink film, 15A ... Film, 1
5B ... Ink, 16 ... Recording paper, C ... Recording position, D ... Forward direction, E ... Reverse direction, t ... Time

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display area // B41J 2/515

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A signal source for supplying a plurality of line data for forming a recorded image, an ink film coated with an ink layer made of a transfer material, a recording paper facing the ink film, and a heat source according to the line data. And a heating head for applying this heat to the ink film in a recording state to transfer the transfer material to the recording paper, a pressure contact member for pressing the ink film and the recording paper into contact with each other, and a white line of the line data. A discriminating means for discriminating data, and a first means for conveying the recording paper at least in the discharge direction.
And a second conveying means for conveying the ink film in the discharging direction and the reverse direction thereof, and when the discriminating means detects white line data of a predetermined amount or more, the pressure contact by the pressure contact member is released. And a control means for transporting only the ink film in the opposite direction by the second transport means. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the control device causes the ink film to be brought into pressure contact with the recording paper by the pressure contact member after the ink film is transported in the discharge direction by the second transport device. apparatus. 3. A signal source for supplying a plurality of line data for forming a recorded image, an ink film to which an ink layer made of a transfer material is applied, a recording paper facing the ink film, and a heat source according to the line data. And a heating head for applying this heat to the ink film in a recording state to transfer the transfer material to the recording paper, a pressure contact member for pressing the ink film and the recording paper into contact with each other, and a white line of the line data. A discriminating means for discriminating data, and a first means for conveying the recording paper at least in the discharge direction.
And the second transporting means for transporting the ink film in the discharge direction and the reverse direction thereof, and the determining means detects that the white line data of a predetermined amount or more continues to the last line data of the page. When the pressure is applied, the pressure contact by the pressure contact member is released, and the recording paper is transported in the discharge direction by the first transport means, and the ink film is transported in the reverse direction by the second transport means. A recording device comprising: