JPH07290790A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a receptive layer from being stuck to an ink ribbon guide as far as possible on the occasion of using an ink ribbon with a receptive layer. CONSTITUTION:An ink ribbon 3 and printing paper 4 are both placed between a printing head 1 and platen 2, printing processing is performed by performing a thermal pressure-contacting action by the printing head 1 while moving the ink ribbon 3 and printing paper 4, positioned at a delivery side of the printing head 1 and the third ink ribbon guide 9 coming into contact with an ink surface side of the ink ribbon 3 is constituted so that a contacting surface 9b of an outer sphere of the printing is lower by one step to a contacting surface 9a of a printing sphere. The a contacting surface of the third ink ribbon guide 9 is constituted as an uneven and coarse roughened surface 9c.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer using a sublimation type, a fusion type, etc. ink ribbon, and more particularly to a printer capable of using a dedicated ink ribbon with a receiving layer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printer using an ink ribbon sandwiches an ink ribbon and a printing paper together between a printing head and a platen, and performs thermocompression bonding operation by the printing head in synchronization with the movement of the ink ribbon and the printing paper. Is configured to do. It is not necessary to change the running path of the ink ribbon when there is enough space in this type of printer, but when there is not enough space due to the thinner and smaller printer, the ink ribbon running path system It is necessary to change the path abruptly.

A schematic configuration diagram of such a printer is shown in FIG.
Is shown in. In FIG. 7A, the printing head 1 and the platen 2 are arranged close to each other, and the ink ribbon 3 and the printing paper 4 are both sandwiched between the printing head 1 and the platen 2. Both ends of the ink ribbon 3 are wound around a supply spool 5 and a take-up spool 6, respectively, and the ink ribbon 3 travels on a traveling path system formed between the pair of spools 5 and 6. The direction of the traveling path system is changed by the first to third ink ribbon guides 7, 8, and 9. A pinch roller 10 and a capstan 11 are arranged close to each other on the discharge side of the printing head 1, and the printing paper 4 is sandwiched between the pinch roller 10 and the capstan 11.

In the above structure, when the capstan 11 is driven to rotate, the printing paper 4 and the ink ribbon 3 move in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, and the printing head 1 performs thermocompression bonding operation in synchronism with this movement. Printing to No. 4 is performed.
Here, as shown in FIG. 7B, the printing start position of the printing paper 4 corresponds to the distance a between the capstan 11 and the pinch roller 10 that give a moving force to the printing paper 4 and the printing head 1,
Setting the printing start position near the front end of the printing paper 4 enables high-density mounting of components, downsizing of the paper feed tray, shortening of the paper transport path, etc., and advances in downsizing and thinning of the printer as described above. It is effective in Therefore, the distance a between the capstan 11 and the pinch roller 10 and the printing head 1 is shortened, and the contact between the pinch roller 10 and the ink ribbon 3 caused by shortening the distance a is avoided by the third ink ribbon guide 9. ing.

On the other hand, as an ink ribbon used in this type of color video printer, in addition to printing on special paper,
There is a sheet with a dedicated receiving layer for printing on plain paper (postcard, etc.), and the structure of such an ink ribbon 3 (hereinafter referred to as "RYMC ribbon") is shown in FIG. 8 (a).
Is shown in. In FIG. 8A, the ink ribbon 3
On the ink surface side, the receiving layer 3a, the yellow layer 3b, the magenta layer 3c, and the cyan layer 3d are set as one unit, and these units are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction. Receptive layer 3a of each unit
A header mark 3e is provided in front of the above, and a patch mark 3f is provided in front of each of the yellow layer 3b, the magenta layer 3c, and the cyan layer 3d. When printing is performed using the RYMC ribbon 3, the receiving layer 3a is transferred to the printing paper (plain paper) by the first printing operation, and then the normal printing operation is performed.

Here, the transfer characteristics of the receiving layer 3a onto the paper are as follows.
As shown in FIG. 9, the transfer position can be freely controlled by heating with the print head 1.

[0007]

However, since the transfer of the receptive layer 3a is performed only on the area of the printing screen by the heating by the printing head 1, the other receptive layers 3a are formed as shown in FIG.
It remains on the RYMC ribbon 3 as shown in (b). Since the ink surface side of the RYMC ribbon 3 after printing is wrapped around the third ink ribbon guide 9, the receiving layer 3a slides on the third ink ribbon guide 9.

Here, the softening degree according to the temperature of the receiving layer 3a is as shown in FIG. 10, and when the temperature exceeds a certain reference temperature A (varied depending on the material of the third ink ribbon guide 9), one of the receiving layers 3a is removed. The portion adheres to the third ink ribbon guide 9. If the receiving layer 3a adheres to the third ink ribbon guide 9, a so-called chattering noise is generated when the third ink ribbon guide 9 and the ink ribbon 3 slide.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer that prevents the occurrence of chatter noise by preventing the receiving layer from adhering to the ink ribbon guide as much as possible when using a RYMC ribbon.

[0010]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer, wherein an ink ribbon and a printing paper are sandwiched between a printing head and a platen.
In the printer in which the ink ribbon and the printing paper are moved from the supply side to the discharge side, and the thermocompression bonding operation is performed by the print head in the moving process, the ink surface of the ink ribbon is located on the discharge side of the print head. The ink ribbon guide contacting the side is configured such that the contact surface outside the printing area is one step lower than the contact surface outside the printing area with respect to the ink ribbon.

A printer according to a second aspect of the invention is
A printer in which an ink ribbon and a printing paper are sandwiched together between a printing head and a platen, the ink ribbon and the printing paper are moved from a supply side to a discharge side, and a thermocompression bonding operation is performed by the printing head in the moving process, The ink guide, which is located on the discharge side of the printing head and is in contact with the ink surface side of the ink ribbon, is configured such that the contact surface of the ink ribbon is a rough surface with rough unevenness.

Further, in the printer according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above configuration, the rough surface is a slit-like unevenness in the ink ribbon moving direction.

[0013]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the receiving layer of the ink ribbon passes through the printing head, the portion corresponding to the printing screen of the receiving layer is transferred to the printing paper, and the other receiving layers remain on the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon slides on the ink ribbon guide, and the printing area of the ink ribbon slides on the ink ribbon guide at a predetermined pressure during this sliding, but the non-printing area of the ink ribbon does not contact the ink ribbon guide. Or, even if they come into contact with each other, they move with a weak pressure.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, the contact area between the ink ribbon and the ink ribbon guide is small, so that the probability that the receiving layer adheres to the ink ribbon guide is reduced.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 (a) and 1 (b) show a first embodiment.
The embodiment shows a basic configuration example of the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a schematic configuration diagram of the printer. In FIG.
Only the third ink ribbon guide 9 is different from the conventional example of FIG. 7A, and the other configurations are the same, and therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the drawings and the description thereof will be omitted.

That is, the third ink ribbon guide 9 is composed of an L-shaped plate member as shown in detail in FIG. 1 (b). When the printing area contact surface 9a with which the printing area L ₁ of the RYMC ribbon 3 contacts and the outside printing area contact surface 9b with which the non-printing area L ₂ contacts are separated, the non-printing area contact surface 9b with respect to the ink ribbon 3 is divided. Is the printing area contact surface 9a
It is constructed one step lower.

In the above structure, when the receiving layer 3a of the RYMC ribbon 3 passes through the printing head 1, the printing screen corresponding portion of the receiving layer 3a is transferred to the printing paper 4 (plain paper) as shown in FIG. 8 (b). , The other part of the receiving layer 3a is RYMC
Ribbon 3 remains. After that, when the receiving layer 3a of the ink ribbon 3 reaches the third ink ribbon guide 9, the remaining receiving layer 3a slides on the third ink ribbon guide 9.

During this sliding, the printing area L ₁ of the RYMC ribbon 3 slides on the printing area contact surface 9a of the third ink ribbon guide 9 with a predetermined pressure, but the non-printing area L ₂ of the RYMC ribbon 3 does. Moves on the non-printing area contact surface 9b of the third ink ribbon guide 9, and since this non-printing area contact surface 9b is one step lower than the print area contact surface 9a, RY
The MC ribbon 3 moves in a non-contact state or a slight pressure even if it comes into contact with the MC ribbon 3. That is, the very small printing area of the receiving layer 3a portion slides with respect to the third ink ribbon guide 9, but the non-printing area having a large receiving layer 3a portion does not slide, so that the third ink ribbon guide 9 It is highly unlikely that the receiving layer 3a will adhere to the.

1C and 1D show modified examples of the third ink ribbon guide 9. As shown in FIG. Figure 1
In the case of (c), a rough surface 9c having rough irregularities is formed over the entire width of the third ink ribbon guide 9, and in the case of FIG. 1 (d), the rough surface 9c is a slit in the moving direction of the ink ribbon. It is composed of irregularities.

According to these modifications, the RYMC ribbon 3
Since the contact area between the third ink ribbon guide 9 and the third ink ribbon guide 9 becomes small, the probability that the receiving layer 3a adheres to the third ink ribbon guide 9 decreases. Also, according to FIG. 1 (d),
Since the unevenness is in the moving direction of the ink ribbon, the moving resistance of the ink ribbon 3 can be smaller than that in the case of FIG.

2 to 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention, and the second embodiment shows a concrete application example of the present invention. 2 to 6 are vertical sectional views of the printer showing the respective operation steps. 2 to 6, the case body 20 has a detachable ribbon cassette 2
1 is installed. In the case 22 of the ribbon cassette 21, a supply spool 5 and a take-up spool 6 are rotatably supported, and a space between the pair of spools 5 and 6 is shown in FIG.
The RYMC ribbon 3 having the configuration shown in (a) is wound. Upper and lower openings 23 are formed in the central portion of the case 22, and the RYMC ribbon 3 is exposed through the openings 23. In addition, the third opening is provided at the end of the opening 23 below the case 22.
The ink ribbon guide 9 is provided, and the third ink ribbon guide 9 has any of the configurations shown in FIGS. 1B to 1D described above.

The printing head 1 is fixed to the tip of a head arm 24, and the rotation of the head arm 24 causes the printing head 1 to be displaced between the standby position in FIG. 2 and the pressure contact position in FIG. At the pressing position, the platen 2 is pressed. The first ink ribbon guide 7 is provided on the supply side of the print head 1.
Further, the second ink ribbon guides 8 are attached to the discharge side.

The platen 2 is rotatably supported by the case body 20, and a capstan 11 and a pinch roller 10 are arranged on the discharge side of the platen 2. The capstan 11 is configured to be rotatable in the forward and reverse directions by a drive mechanism (not shown). The pinch roller 10 is displaced between the standby position in FIG. 2 and the pressure contact position in FIG. 4, and is in pressure contact with the capstan 11 at this pressure contact position.

The paper feed tray 25 is detachably provided on one end side of the case main body 20, and a paper feed plate 26 on which printing paper 4 (plain paper) is laminated is arranged on the lower surface of the paper feed tray 25. There is. This paper feed plate 26 is allowed to move up and down on one end side, and is displaced between the lowered position in FIG. 2 and the raised position in FIG. 4 by the rotation of the paper feed arm 27. At the raised position in FIG. 4, the uppermost photographic printing paper 4 stacked is pressed against the first paper feed roller 28. The first paper feed roller 28 is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown).

The second paper feed roller 29 and the separation roller 30 are arranged on the paper feed direction side of the first paper feed roller 28, and the second paper feed roller 29 has a standby position in FIG. 2 and a pressure contact position in FIG. Displaces between. At the pressure contact position in FIG. 4, the separation roller 30 is pressure contacted.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the printing switch is turned on in the state of FIG. 2, the printing head 1 is displaced to the position of FIG. 3 and the RYMC ribbon 3 is cued by the detection of the header mark. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the paper feed arm 27 rotates, the paper feed plate 26 rises, the photographic printing paper 4 is brought into pressure contact with the first paper feed roller 28, and the second paper feed roller 29 and the pinch roller. Both 10 are also displaced to the press contact position. Then, the uppermost photographic printing paper 4 is drawn into the printer by the rotation of the first paper feed roller 28 and the like. When the leading end of the photographic printing paper 4 is pulled up between the capstan 11 and the pinch roller 10,
As shown in FIG. 5, the paper feed plate 26 and the second paper feed roller 29 are returned to the standby position, and thereafter, the capstan 11 is rotated to be further drawn to the printing start position shown in FIG.

When the printing paper 4 is set at the printing start position, the printing head 1 is displaced to the press contact position shown in FIG. 6 and the printing operation is started. In the printing operation, first, the receiving layer 3 is transferred to the printing paper 4, then the printing paper 4 is returned to the printing start position again, and the yellow layer, the magenta layer, and the cyan layer are placed on the receiving layer of the printing paper 4. Printing will be completed in sequence. During this printing operation, the ink surface side of the RYMC ribbon 3 slides on the third ink ribbon guide 9, but as described in the first embodiment, the receiving layer 3a of the RYMC ribbon 3 is placed on the third ink ribbon guide 9. Is unlikely to adhere.

In the second embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the apparatus having the small platen 10 which is effective for thinning and miniaturizing the printer is shown. However, the same applies to the apparatus having the large platen 10. Applicable.

In the first and second embodiments, the case where the third ink ribbon guide 9 is an L-shaped plate material is shown, but the same can be applied to the case of a cylindrical shaft.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the ink ribbon guide contacting the ink surface side of the ink ribbon is configured such that the contact area outside the printing area is lower than the contact area outside the printing area. Therefore, there is an effect that the adhesion of the receiving layer to the ink ribbon guide can be prevented as much as possible.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, since the ink ribbon guide contacting the ink surface side of the ink ribbon is formed as a rough surface having rough irregularities, the adhesion of the receiving layer to the ink ribbon guide is reduced. There is an effect.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the rough surface is formed as slit-like irregularities in the moving direction of the ink ribbon, there is an effect that adhesion of the receiving layer to the ink ribbon guide is reduced as in the above case. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer, and FIG.
Is a perspective view of a modified example of the third ink ribbon, (c) is a perspective view of another modified example of the third ink ribbon (first embodiment).

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a printer (second embodiment).

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a printer (second embodiment).

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a printer (second embodiment).

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a printer (second embodiment).

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a printer (second embodiment).

FIG. 7A is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a printing state of printing paper (conventional example).

8A is a configuration diagram of an ink ribbon, and FIG. 8B is a configuration diagram of an ink ribbon after printing is used.

FIG. 9 is a transfer characteristic diagram of a receiving layer onto paper.

FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram of the softening degree with respect to the temperature of the receiving layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing head 2 ... Platen 3 ... RYMC ribbon (ink ribbon) 4 ... Printing paper 9 ... Third ink ribbon guide (ink ribbon guide) 9a ... Printing area contact surface 9b ... Non-printing area contact surface 9c ... Rough surface

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ink ribbon and a printing paper are sandwiched between a printing head and a platen, the ink ribbon and the printing paper are moved from a supply side to a discharge side, and a thermocompression bonding operation by the printing head is performed in the moving process. In the printer, the ink ribbon guide located on the discharge side of the printing head and contacting the ink surface side of the ink ribbon is provided with a non-printing area contact surface further than the printing area contact surface with respect to the ink ribbon. A printer characterized by having a low configuration. 2. An ink ribbon and a printing paper are sandwiched between a printing head and a platen, the ink ribbon and the printing paper are moved from a supply side to a discharge side, and in the moving process, thermocompression bonding operation by the printing head is performed. In the printer for performing the above, the ink guide located on the discharge side of the print head and in contact with the ink surface side of the ink ribbon is configured as a rough surface with rough contact surface of the ink ribbon. Printer to do. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the rough surface is a slit-shaped unevenness in the moving direction of the ink ribbon.