JPH07214800A - Dye vaporizing printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a printer capable of simplifying a structure of a head section, preventing abrasion thereof, reducing the power consumption and print ing clear image. CONSTITUTION:A printer is so constituted that a solid vaporizable dye is liquefied to be conveyed to a vaporization section 17 and the liquefied dye is heated to be vaporized by the vaporization section 17. Then, the vaporized dye is transferred to a photographic paper 50 in the vaporization section 17 by a head section 10. The printer is equipped with a means for holding the head section and the photographic paper in the non-contact condition. By performing the printing by holding the head section and photographic paper in non-contact fashion, it is possible to eliminate abrasion of the head section 10 and to prevent clogging of a vaporization hole due to small obstacles stuck on a surface of the photographic paper. Further, the vaporization section 17 is opened so that a spouting property of the dye by the vaporization is enhanced, thereby accomplishing the good transferring of the dye to the photographic paper 50.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser vaporization printer for transferring still images of various images such as images picked up by a video camera and television images onto photographic paper by using a vaporizable dye.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vaporization type or sublimation type printer of this type is
A sublimable ink ribbon coated with a sublimable dye and a thermal head are used, the sublimable ink ribbon is superposed on a printing paper, and electric energy corresponding to image information is applied to the thermal head, and the thermal head is generated. The heat energy is used to sublimate and transfer the sublimable dye on the ink ribbon onto the printing paper.

In the above-mentioned conventional example, since the ink ribbon and the thermal head are used, an ink ribbon take-up mechanism and a heat-dissipating mechanism of the thermal head are required, and it is not possible to reduce the size and cost of the apparatus. However, since three primary colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) are overprinted, it is necessary to repeat the operation three times, resulting in poor workability. Also, disposal of the used ink ribbon causes environmental problems. there were.

[Prior Art] In order to solve the problems of the conventional example, a plurality of patent applications have already been filed by the same applicant as the present invention for a laser vaporization type or sublimation type printer which does not use an ink ribbon and a thermal head. ing. The inventions of this earlier application are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-300587 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-1124.
No. 1 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-12106.

The structure of the laser vaporization type printer in the above-mentioned prior art has a structure generally shown in FIGS.
In the figure, 1 is a laser vaporization type color printer,
Printing paper 50 on the frame chassis 2 covered with the outer casing 2a
It has a paper feed tray 3 for storing paper and a flat base 4 for printing.

In FIG. 4, a paper feed drive roller 6a driven by a motor 5 or the like and a photographic paper 50 between the paper feed drive roller are provided on the photographic paper discharge port 2b side in the outer casing 2a.
Is provided with a pressure contact driven roller 6b for nipping the sheet with a light pressure, and a head drive circuit board 7 and a DC power source 8 are provided above the paper feed tray 3 in the outer casing 2a. The head portion 1 arranged on the head drive circuit board 7 and the flat base 4.
0 is connected by a flexible harness 7a.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the head portion 10 is provided with a pair of light load applying springs 9 so that the paper feeding tray 3
It is designed to be pressed against the flat base 4 with a light load (about 50 g) sandwiching the printing paper 50 supplied from the head unit 10, the heat of the head portion 10 is conducted to the surface of the printing paper 50, and the surface temperature of the printing paper 50 is increased. Corresponds to the temperature of the head portion 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the head portion 10 includes solid powdery vaporizable dyes 12Y, 1 as yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) solid vaporizable dyes.
2M, 12C (generally indicated by reference numeral 12) for storing each solid vaporizable dye storage portion 11Y, 11M, 11C (generally indicated by reference numeral 11) and wear resistance composed of a high-strength material located below Which is formed between the heat-resistant heat-insulating wall 13 and the head base member 14 made of glass, transparent ceramic, or the like located above the solid heat-resistant heat insulating wall 13 A heater (heating element) 16 made of an electric resistor attached to the head base member 14 side
Each of the liquid vaporizable dye introduction portions 15 in a narrow path, which is heated and liquefied by the above, and the liquefied vaporizable dyes (liquefied vaporizable dyes) 12 'introduced from the liquid vaporizable dye introduction portions 15 are vaporized. The vaporization section 17 and each semiconductor laser chip (laser light source) 18 attached to the head base member 14 via the support board 19 and irradiating each vaporization section 17 with the laser beam L.
It has and.

In each of the vaporization holes 17a of the vaporization parts 17,
Transparent heat insulating layer 20 attached to the head base member 14
And a photothermal conversion layer (body) 21 which is laminated on the transparent heat insulating layer 20 and absorbs the light of the laser light L to convert it into heat, and a liquefied vaporization property which is laminated and liquefied on the photothermal conversion layer (body) 21. A liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 22 for holding the dye 12 'is provided.

The transparent heat insulating layer 20 is formed of a transparent aromatic polyamide resin, and the photothermal conversion layer 21 is formed of a thin metal film by vapor deposition or sputtering of nickel-cobalt alloy to retain the liquid vaporizable dye. The layer 22 is formed by directly forming a metal thin film on the photothermal conversion layer 21 and processing the metal thin film into a mesh shape by etching or the like.

The heating element 16 is a liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 22 while heating and liquefying the vaporizable dye 12 in the form of solid powder.
It is for guiding and moving up to, for example, carbon or silicon compound, and is
A transparent or opaque heating element that emits heat of 0 to 300 ° C is used.

Then, the photographic paper 50 in the paper feed tray 3 of the laser vaporization type color printer 1 is separated one by one and supplied between the flat base 4 and the head portion 10, and driven by pressure contact with the paper feed drive roller 6a. It is sent to the roller 6b.

In the head portion 10, a large number of laser light sources 18 composed of semiconductor laser chips for three colors (Y, M, C) are arranged in three rows for each pixel, and each liquid vaporizable dye introducing portion 12 (1
2Y, 12M, 12C) are respectively heated and liquefied and supplied to each vaporizing section 17 in a fixed amount.

That is, the solid powdery vaporizable dyes 12 in the respective solid vaporizable dye accommodating portions 11 are heated to a melting point by a heating element 16 to be melted (liquefied), and the respective liquefied vaporizable dyes 12 'are The liquid vaporizable dye is introduced into the liquid vaporizing dye holding layer 22 in the vaporizing holes 17a of the vaporizing portions 17 by a capillarity of the liquid vaporizing dye introducing portion 15.

In this state, when one sheet of printing paper 50 is nipped by the paper feed drive roller 6a and the pressure contact driven roller 6b,
A 1-dot signal for each line and for each color is sent to the head unit 10, and the laser light L generated by each semiconductor laser chip 18 is converted into heat by each photothermal conversion layer 21.

Due to this heat, each liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 2
Each of the liquefied vaporizable dyes 12 'held at 2 is vaporized, and the vaporized Y, M, C vaporized dyes (vaporizable dyes) 12''are sent between the flat base 4 and the protective layer 13. Printing paper 5 heated to a predetermined temperature (approximately 150 ° C)
Color transfer is performed by sequentially transferring Y → M → C onto the dye receiving layer 50a of No. 0.

[0017]

However, in the printer according to the above-mentioned prior art, since the printing paper and the head portion are in contact with each other with a predetermined pressing force, the surface of the head portion and the printing paper are not printed during printing. There is constant friction. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a protective layer for preventing wear on the surface of the head portion, and not only the pressing force is applied and the protective layer is provided, which leads to an increase in manufacturing steps and an increase in cost. There is a problem that the generated fine dust is collected in the vaporization holes of the vaporization part and causes clogging.

Further, since the photographic printing paper and the vaporizing hole are in close contact with each other, when the dye is heated and vaporized in the vaporizing section,
The pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the space surrounded by the liquid vaporizable dye, the vaporization hole, and the photographic paper rises to vaporize the same amount of dye, but it requires more vaporization energy than when the vaporization surface is open. It is necessary and has a problem called energy loss.

Further, in order to maintain the liquefied disperse dye in a liquid state in the head portion, it is heated and kept at 150 ° C., and the heat is used to heat the surface of the photographic paper to fix the vaporized disperse dye. However, since the heat of the head portion is absorbed by the printing paper by the contact, the head portion has to be additionally heated, which causes a problem that power consumption increases and energy loss occurs.

[0020]

Means for Solving the Problems As a concrete means for solving the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention is to liquefy a solid vaporizable dye by a dye storing portion and a means for heating and liquefying the solid vaporizable dye. A printer having a liquid vaporizable dye introducing portion leading to the vaporizing portion and means for heating and vaporizing the liquid vaporizable dye led to the vaporizing portion, and having a head portion for transferring the vaporized dye to the printing paper in the vaporizing portion A dye vaporization printer characterized in that means for maintaining the head portion and the photographic paper in a non-contact state is provided, and the means for heating and vaporizing the liquid vaporizable dye is a laser beam. The means for maintaining the non-contact state is a support member that supports the head portion, the support member is provided with a guide member that contributes to proper supply of the printing paper, and the non-contact state is maintained. hand To, but includes structure in which a gap adjusting means for non-contact.

[0021]

By performing the printing while maintaining the non-contact state between the head portion and the photographic paper, the abrasion phenomenon due to the friction of the head portion is eliminated, and the vaporization hole of the vaporization portion adheres to the surface of the photographic paper. That is, it is possible to eliminate the clogging phenomenon by not collecting fine dust, and further to open the vaporizing part, so that the ejection property of the dye due to vaporization is improved and the transfer to the photographic paper is improved.

Further, by keeping the head portion and the photographic paper in a non-contact state, the heat of the head portion is not taken away by the photographic paper, and the vaporizing dye jumping-out property in the vaporizing portion is improved, so that the head portion is improved. Energy saving can be achieved without requiring extra energy as a whole.

[0023]

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding, the same parts as those of the prior art will be described with the same reference numerals. 1 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between a paper feed tray 3 and a head portion 10 of a printer 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Is a schematic front view thereof. In the figure, the head unit 1
0 is attached to the flat base 4 at a predetermined distance G so as to be slidable and adjustable in the height direction via an appropriate supporting member 30.

In the case of the illustrated embodiment, vaporization or print lines of Y, M and C corresponding to the width of the printing paper 50 are provided for each color along the length direction of the head portion 10. Therefore, there is no need to slide. That is, 1
Since the configuration is not such that Y, M, and C are individually scanned line by line, a description will be given of a so-called fixed head embodiment.

The predetermined gap G is larger than the thickness of the photographic printing paper 50 supplied between the head unit 10 and the flat base 4, and is a spacing at which the photographic printing paper 50 does not contact the head unit 10. For example, G = the thickness of the printing paper + about 100 microns.

Further, a guide member 31 is attached to the paper feed tray 3 side of the support member 30 supporting the head portion 10, and the guide member 31 is mistaken for the photographic paper 50 supplied from the paper feed tray 3. The supply is regulated so that several sheets are not supplied again, the supply in a proper state is guided between the flat base 4 and the head portion 10, and the photographic printing paper 50 is prevented from rising.

That is, the photographic printing paper 50 supplied from the paper feed tray 30 has one end (the front end side) supported by the driving and driven rollers 6a and 6b on the front side, and the other end (the rear end portion). The side) is supported by the guide member 31, and the non-contact state between the head portion 10 and the printing paper 50 is maintained.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Since 0 is in a state where it does not contact the photographic printing paper 50, that is, it is not in contact, it is not necessary to perform abrasion resistant processing on the lower surface of the head portion 10, that is, to provide a protective layer as in the conventional example.

In the head portion 10 having such a structure, as in the prior art, solid vaporizable dyes containing yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C) solid powder vaporizable dyes 12 are contained. Storage part 11 and liquid vaporizable dye introduction part 1 for storing the liquefied dye by heating the solid vaporizable dye
5 is formed, and a vaporizing section 17 adjacent to the liquid vaporizable dye introducing section 15 and to which the liquefied liquid vaporizable dye 12 'is supplied is formed.

The vaporizable dye referred to in the present invention is a general term for solid vaporizable dyes, liquefied vaporizable dyes, vaporizable dyes, sublimable dyes, disperse dyes, etc., and it ranges from 25 ° C to the decomposition temperature. A dye having a temperature range in which the vapor pressure is 0.01 Pascal or more in the temperature range is defined as a vaporizable dye. However, in the gas phase, the dye molecules have an average number n of associations.
In the case of the association, the vapor pressure is 0.01 Pascal or more divided by the average number of associations n. Practical dyes that meet this definition include, for example, commercially available HSR-20
31, ESC-155, ESC-655 and the like.

The liquid vaporizable dye introducing portion 15 and the vaporizing portion 17 are formed with heat-resistant heat insulating walls 13 around and around the liquid vaporizing dye introducing portion 15, and the liquid vaporizable dye introducing portion 15 has a liquefied vaporizable dye, that is, liquid vaporizing property. The dye 12 'is held by an appropriate holding means such as a capillary phenomenon.

A head base member 14 made of glass or transparent ceramic is disposed on the upper portion of the heat-resistant and heat-insulating wall 13, that is, on the upper surface of the liquid vaporizable dye introducing portion 15 and the vaporizing portion 17, and the lower surface of the base member 14 is disposed. A heating element 16 for liquefying the vaporizable dye is disposed on the side.

The heating element 16 is a kind of heater,
It may be heated by energization, and for example, an oxide film mainly composed of nickel or cobalt may be formed in a layer form on a suitable film surface by means such as vapor deposition or sputtering. The heating element can be formed in an opaque, semi-transparent or transparent state, and is selected according to its application.

The head base member 14 includes a support member 19
A laser light source 18 (semiconductor laser chip) is attached via. This laser light source 18 is used for each vaporization unit 17
And attach the corresponding number.

A head base member 14 is provided in the vaporizing section 17.
A heat-resistant transparent heat insulating layer 20 attached to, a light heat converting layer (body) 21 laminated on this transparent heat insulating layer 20 to absorb the light of the laser light L and convert it into heat, and this light heat converting layer (body). )
21 and a liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 22 for holding the liquefied liquefied vaporizable dye 12 '.

The transparent heat insulating layer 20 is formed of, for example, a transparent aromatic polyamide resin, and the photothermal conversion layer 21 is a thin film of a kind of metal, for example, formed by vapor deposition or sputtering of nickel-cobalt alloy. Various configurations of the liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 22 can be applied, but in this embodiment, for example, a metal thin film is directly formed on the photothermal conversion layer 21, and the metal thin film is subjected to a mesh process to form a mesh (mesh form). ) Is used.

The heating element 16 is for guiding and transferring the solid powdery vaporizable dye 12 to the liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 22 while heating and liquefying it, and is made of, for example, a carbon or silicon compound. A transparent or opaque heating element that is formed and emits heat of 50 to 300 ° C. when energized is used.

Similar to the prior invention, the head portion 10 has a large number of laser light sources 18 composed of semiconductor laser chips for three colors (Y, M, C) arranged in three rows for each pixel, and each liquid vaporizable dye. The introduction section 12 (12Y, 12M, 12C) is heated and liquefied and supplied to each vaporization section 17 in a fixed amount.

That is, the solid powdery vaporizable dye 12 in each solid vaporizable dye containing portion 11 is heated to a melting point (approximately 150 ° C.) by a heating element 16 to be melted (liquefied) and liquefied. The vaporizable dye 12 'is quantitatively held on the liquid vaporizable dye holding layer 22 in each vaporizing portion 17 by the capillary action of each liquid vaporizing dye introducing portion 15.

Then, the photographic paper 50 in the paper feed tray 3 of the laser vaporization type color printer 1 is separated one by one by the feeding means such as rollers, and the flat base 4 and the head portion 10 are separated by the guide member 31. Is supplied to the paper feed drive roller 6a and the pressure contact driven roller 6b, is sandwiched by these rollers, and is maintained so that the photographic printing paper 50 does not float up due to the presence of the guide member 31.
It can be set in a non-contact state with 0.

In this state, a 1-dot signal for each line and for each color is sent to the head section 10, each corresponding semiconductor laser chip 18 is driven based on the signal information, and the driven semiconductor laser chip is driven. The laser light L generated from 18 is converted into heat by each photothermal conversion layer 21.

The liquefied vaporizable dyes 12 'held in the liquid vaporizable dye holding layers 22 are converted by the converted heat.
Is vaporized, and each of these vaporized Y, M, and C vaporization dyes 1
2 ″ is sequentially transferred in the order of Y → M → C to the dye receiving layer 50a of the photographic printing paper 50 located on the plane base 4 and color printed.

In this case, since the head portion 10 and the photographic printing paper 50 are not in contact with each other, the surface of the photographic printing paper 50 is not directly heated, but it is about 100 ° C. or less due to the heat. It is heated to a temperature above room temperature.

The inventors of the present invention have found that the vaporizing dye on the photographic printing paper 50 can be sufficiently fixed even at a fixing temperature of 100 ° C. or lower.
Even if 0 is not brought into contact with the photographic paper 50 and actively heated,
The volatile dye is fixed on the dye receiving layer 50a of the drawing paper 50 at a temperature of 100 ° C. or lower to enable color printing.

Further, since the head portion 10 and the photographic printing paper 50 are not in contact with each other, it is not necessary to take measures to prevent wear due to friction of the head portion 10, so that the material range of the head portion 10 can be selected. As a result, the vaporization hole 17a does not collect fine dust on the photographic printing paper 50 and the clogging phenomenon of the vaporization hole 17a does not occur.

Further, the non-contact state causes the vaporization hole 17a of the vaporization section 17 to be in an open state, and the photothermal conversion layer 21 is heated or heated by the driving of the semiconductor laser chip 18 to generate the liquid dye. When the vaporization phenomenon occurs, the pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the space inside the vaporization section 17 tends to rise. However, since it is opened, the vaporization dye 17 ″ is discharged to the outside without raising the internal pressure. The transfer to the photographic printing paper 50 is quickly performed.

Since the size and thickness of the photographic printing paper 50 used here are standardized to a fixed reference value, the gap G at the set position of the head portion 10 with respect to the flat base 4 is once set. Although it is set to be invariable by setting, if it is desired to change the photographic paper 50 to be used for the purpose of changing the taste, the supporting member 30 corresponding to the thickness of the photographic paper to be used is used. It is necessary to adjust the height of the.

Therefore, as a means for adjusting the height direction of the support member 30 with respect to the printing paper 50, for example, the structure shown in FIG. 4 can be adopted as another embodiment. That is, the rack members 32 are vertically attached to both side surfaces of the flat base 4,
A knob 35 having a gear 34 that meshes with a tooth 33 of the rack member 32 is provided on the support member 30 side. The knob 35 and the gear 34 are connected by a shaft 36, and the knob 35 is located outside the support member 30. It can be operated by projecting it to.

A stopper member 37 is provided to stabilize the position setting of the head unit 10 at the set position. The stopper member 37 is of a lever type, for example, and when it is raised, the stopper is released, and when it is laid down, the stopper is engaged.

Therefore, with the stopper member 37 released, the knob 35 is rotated to adjust the height position of the head portion 10 with respect to the flat base 4, and the non-contact state corresponding to the thickness of the printing paper 50 used. You can print in color.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the head portion 10 does not slide has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and even in a printer having a scan type head portion, the head portion is not contacted. It is possible to print in this state, and there are many merits by making it non-contact.

In the above embodiment, the laser light source 18 is used as the heat source for vaporization. However, instead of this heat source, a heating element (heater) which generates heat by energizing the vaporization section is supplied.
Can be provided, and the point is that the subject of the invention lies in the point that printing is performed without contacting the head portion. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to black-and-white transfer.

[0053]

As described above, in the dye vaporization printer according to the present invention, the dye vaporization unit for accommodating the solid vaporizable dye and the liquid vaporization which is liquefied by the means for liquefying the solid vaporizable dye by heating and liquefying A printer having a functional dye introducing section and a means for heating and vaporizing a liquid vaporizable dye introduced to a vaporizing section, and comprising a head section for transferring the vaporized dye to a printing paper in the vaporizing section, the head comprising: Since the abrasion phenomenon due to the friction of the head portion is eliminated by providing the means for maintaining the non-contact state between the printing portion and the photographic paper, the lower surface of the head portion has the abrasion resistance as in the conventional example or the prior art. It is no longer necessary to provide a protective layer for the properties, and the spring material for pressing the head part against the photographic paper is also unnecessary, the structure of the head part is simplified, and the selection range of the material forming the head part is restricted. Do not accept It exhibits an excellent effect called.

Further, since the head portion and the photographic paper are kept in non-contact with each other, the vaporization hole of the head portion does not scrape up fine dust on the photographic paper, thereby eliminating the clogging phenomenon of the vaporization hole. It is possible to always perform clear printing and to easily clean the head portion, which is an excellent effect.

Further, by keeping the head portion and the photographic paper in a non-contact state, the heat of the head portion is not taken away by the photographic paper, and the energy for liquefaction in the liquid vaporizable dye introducing portion is minimized. In addition to being able to suppress, the vaporization hole of the vaporization part is opened, so that the vaporizing dye's jumping-out property at the time of vaporization is improved, whereby extra energy for vaporization is not required, and the entire head part In addition to the energy saving, the excellent effect that the printability is improved by improving the popping-out property of the vaporized dye is also exhibited.

Further, by providing the guide member that contributes to the proper supply of the printing paper, the printing paper does not float up and come into contact with the head portion even when the head portion and the printing paper are not in contact with each other. This has an excellent effect that proper printing can always be performed while maintaining a proper state.

Furthermore, as a means for maintaining the non-contact state,
By providing the non-contact interval adjusting means, even if the type or thickness of the printing paper used is different, the head portion can be adjusted to an appropriate setting position immediately in response to the difference. Play.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing only a main part of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing only a main part of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged main part of a head portion of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of only a waist portion schematically showing a supporting member in another embodiment of the printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an exploded view of a prior art laser vaporization printer.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing only a main part of the prior art.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing only the waist of the prior art.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view enlarging and showing only a main part of a head unit in the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Paper Tray 4 Flat Base 6a Drive Roller 6b Pressure Contact Driven Roller 10 Head 11 Solid Vaporizable Dye Storage 12 Vaporizable Dye 12 'Liquefied Evaporative Dye 12 "Evaporated Dye 14 Head Base Member 15 Liquid Evaporative Dye Introduction Part 16 Heating element (heater) 17 Vaporization part 17a Vaporization hole 18 Laser light source 19 Support member 20 Light transmissive base material 21 Photothermal converter (layer) 22 Liquid vaporizable dye holder 30 Support member (means for maintaining non-contact state) ) 31 guide member 32 rack member 33 tooth portion 34 gear 35 knob 36 shaft 37 stopper 50 photographic paper 50a dye receiving layer G gap L laser light

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location 9121-2H B41M 5/26 Q

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A dye storage part for storing a solid vaporizable dye, a liquid vaporizable dye introduction part for liquefying the solid vaporizable dye by means of heating and liquefying the solid vaporizable dye to the vaporizing part, and a liquid vaporizing property introduced to the vaporizing part. A printer having a head section for transferring the vaporized dye to the photographic paper in the vaporizing section, the means for maintaining the head section and the photographic paper in a non-contact state. A dye vaporization type printer characterized by that. 2. The dye vaporization printer according to claim 1, wherein the means for heating and vaporizing the liquid vaporizable dye is laser light. 3. The dye vaporization printer according to claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining the non-contact state is a support member for supporting the head portion. 4. The dye vaporization printer according to claim 1, wherein the support member is provided with a guide member that contributes to proper supply of the printing paper. 5. The dye vaporization printer according to claim 1, wherein the non-contact state adjusting means is provided with a non-contact distance adjusting means.