JPH07329386A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recorder which can detect a film end with rapidity and high efficiency and recognize easily that a cassette which houses an ink film is in a film end condition. CONSTITUTION:This is a thermal transfer recorder which is provided with a reading sensor S3 for serving as an end mark detection means which detects a film end mark formed at an ink film 32 to recognize the final printing, and a controller 90 which executes winding motion of the ink film 32 after detecting the film end mark or after the completion of the final printing since the detection has been completed in the case of detecting the film end mark by the reading sensor S3. When winding operation is executed at the time of a film end, a film end indication part is displayed at an opening part which xexposes the ink film of an ink film cassette 33.

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, and more particularly, to an improvement in film end processing after completion of final screen printing of an ink film used in the thermal transfer recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A thermal transfer recording apparatus has a platen roller and a thermal head which can be pressed against and released from the platen roller, and recording paper is fed between the platen roller and the thermal head. Between the recording paper and the thermal head, an ink film having one surface coated with a heat-melting or heat-subliming ink is conveyed. This ink film is fed from the supply-side reel and wound on the winding-side reel. When a color image is reproduced on a recording paper by one thermal head, an ink film having yellow, magenta and cyan inks applied in this order on the surface is used.

In the case of color recording using such a thermal recording device, images are printed by superimposing images of respective colors, but the winding of the ink film is stopped when the printing for one screen is completed. To be done.

Then, when the next print is performed, the ink film is fed from the position where the immediately preceding print is finished until the sensor detects a cue position detection mark indicating a cue position for one screen. That is, a predetermined image formation is started after the ink film is cueed.

[0005]

In the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus described above, when an ink film capable of printing 100 screens is used,
In the operation of the screen image, that is, the last print operation, first, printing is performed by the same operation as in the case of a normal screen that is not the final screen. Then, when the next print, that is, the printing of the 101st screen is executed, the user is informed that the film is in the end state, that is, there is no usable ink film. It was difficult and the workability was poor.

The detection of the film end is 10
Detected when the first film print is executed and the ink film is wound for cueing, but the ink film is stretched and the cue position detection mark is not detected by the sensor within a predetermined time. However, there is a drawback in that this detection takes a considerable amount of time and makes the user wait.

Moreover, in the detection of the film end as described above, when the film end is detected, the recording paper is already fed, and the recording paper is damaged when the film cassette is replaced. It is possible that it will end up. Further, if the film end or the like is not detected, there is a problem that the printing of the yellow image is started and the recording paper is wasted even though there is no ink.

Further, in recent thermal transfer recording apparatuses, an ink film cassette in which an ink film is preliminarily incorporated in a cassette is used in order to improve workability of the ink film loading operation.

When the ink film is accommodated in the cassette in the thermal transfer recording apparatus, not only ink films of various sizes such as plate A and plate B are used by one thermal transfer recording device but also a mono-color image is recorded. Since images and full-color images are formed, a plurality of types of ink film cassettes are prepared and the cassettes are exchanged according to the images to be printed. Therefore, before the ink film in one ink film cassette is completely used, the ink film cassette may be removed and the cassette in use may be loaded again.

However, with the conventional ink film cassette, it is difficult to determine at a glance whether or not the final printing has been completed and the film end has occurred. Therefore, the user mistakenly selects the ink film cassette that is the film end. There was a risk of loading the device body. In this case, the detection of the film end is unnecessary, resulting in a waste of time, a replacement of the ink film cassette, and a drop in workability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to detect a film end quickly and efficiently and to provide a cassette containing an ink film. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device that can easily recognize that a film has ended.

[0012]

The present invention for achieving the above object is used in a recording apparatus for forming an image by transferring to a recording paper using an ink film in which ink layers of a plurality of colors are repeatedly formed in order. A detection means for detecting the last-time printing in which the ink film disappears, and a control means for executing an ink film winding operation after the end of the last-time printing operation when the last-time printing is detected by the detection means. It is a characteristic recording device.

Further, the detecting means is an end mark detecting means for detecting a film end mark formed on the ink film, and the control means is after or after detecting the film end mark by the end mark detecting means. After the last printing operation,
The ink film winding operation may be performed.

The ink film is contained in an ink film cassette that can be loaded into the main body of the apparatus, and when the control means executes the winding operation of the ink film after the operation of the last printing, the ink film of the ink film cassette. The film end display portion is displayed in the opening exposing the film.

[0015]

In the present invention thus constructed, the control means, when the detection means detects the last print,
After the final printing operation is completed, the ink film winding operation is executed. As a result, the film end can be detected before the next printing is started. Therefore, unlike the conventional case, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the recording paper is printed even though it is in the film end state and the recording paper is wasted.

Further, since it is possible to promptly know that the final printing is performed by detecting the film end mark of the ink film, it does not require a long time for the detection, and the workability of printing is improved.

Further, when the ink film winding operation is executed after the final printing operation is completed, the film end display portion is displayed in the opening portion of the ink film cassette where the ink film is exposed. This makes it possible to recognize whether or not the ink cartridge has been used by simply looking at the cassette, and prevents the user from accidentally loading the used ink film cassette into the apparatus main body.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of description, the edge of the recording paper, which is the leading end side when the recording paper is ejected, is referred to as the leading end of the recording paper.

The illustrated thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 is, for example,
It is used in a photo-printing laboratory or the like and is used for outputting a so-called index print or the like for reproducing information recorded on a plurality of frames of a negative film on one recording sheet. To the thermal transfer recording device 10, a control device (not shown) that performs various image processing on the information recorded on the negative film is connected through an interface, and an image signal or a control signal from the control device is input through the interface. It is supposed to be done.

A lid member 12 is attached to the upper surface of a housing 11 forming the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 so as to be openable and closable around a swing shaft 12a (see FIG. 2), and the ink film cassette is opened with the lid member 12 open. Housing 11
It is designed to be loaded at a predetermined position inside. The front left side of the drawing is the front side of the apparatus 10, and a paper discharge section is provided on the front side and a paper feed section 21 is provided on the back side.
The paper feed section 21 is provided with a paper feed tray 14 in which a plurality of recording papers are accommodated in an inclined manner. Further, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10, there is provided a paper cutting portion, which will be described later, for cutting an unnecessary portion (the leading end portion and / or the trailing end portion of the recording paper) of the recording paper after reproducing the image. A duster unit 24 for storing the scraps of paper is provided on the front side of the apparatus so as to be freely inserted and removed. After the unnecessary portion is cut, the recording paper passes through the paper discharge port 16 and passes through the duster section 24.
The sheet is vertically discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 17 integrally provided on the front surface of the sheet. Since the recording paper is discharged in the vertical direction in this way, the size of the paper discharge tray 17 protruding from the front surface of the housing 11 is relatively small. Furthermore, the paper feed tray 14 is provided so as to be inclined. Therefore, the installation space of the entire thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 is small, and the recording apparatus is suitable for installation in a narrow working space.

Further, the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 of this embodiment uses an ink film coated with a thermally sublimable ink, and the recording paper as an image receiving paper for trapping the sublimated ink has a luster like a photographic paper. Strong thick (150-2
50 μm) paper is used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which the lid member of the thermal transfer recording apparatus is opened, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which the ink film cassette is loaded in the main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus, FIG. 4 (1). 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views schematically showing the operating states of the thermal transfer recording device at the time of paper feeding, at the start of printing, and at the end of printing, and FIGS. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an operating state of the thermal transfer recording device at the time of cutting.

First, the internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 will be outlined. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a printing unit 20 located substantially at the center and having a parallel conveyance system for conveying the recording paper 18. , A sheet feeding section 21 located on the rear side of the apparatus and inclined above the printing section 20 at an angle of about 45 degrees, and a side opposite to the sheet feeding section 21 with the printing section 20 interposed therebetween. And a paper discharge unit 22 provided in the. By using the parallel conveying system for the printing unit 20, the printing quality of the thick and elastic recording paper 18 is improved.
By tilting the paper feeding unit 21, as described above,
The installation space is being reduced. further,
By providing the paper discharge unit 22 on the opposite side of the paper supply unit 21 with the printing unit 20 interposed therebetween, the convenience of using a facsimile is obtained, and the apparatus form is easily accepted by the user. Further, the paper discharge unit 22 is provided with a paper cutting unit 23 that cuts unnecessary portions of the recording paper 18 after the image is reproduced, and the duster unit 24 is arranged below this.

The internal structure of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 will be described in detail. A platen roller 25 is rotatably supported in the housing 11, and the inner surface of the lid member 12 is thermally supported by an interlocking member (not shown). A head base 27 having a head 26 is attached to the platen roller 25 so as to be movable back and forth. When the head base 27 moves forward with respect to the platen roller 25, the thermal head 26 moves to a position where it is pressed against the platen roller 25, while when the head base 27 moves backward with respect to the platen roller 25, the thermal head 26 is pressed against it. Move to the position to release. The head base 27 is urged by an elastic means such as a spring (not shown) in the direction indicated by an arrow R in FIG. 2 so as to hold the thermal head 26 at the retracted position with respect to the platen roller 25, that is, the pressure contact release position. ing.

A drive shaft 28 rotatably attached to the lid member 12 is brought into contact with a head base 27 to move the head base 27 forward so that the thermal head 26 is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller 25. 29 is fixed. Eccentric cam 2 for pressure welding by rotating drive shaft 28
A thermal head drive motor M1 composed of a pulse motor is connected to the drive shaft 28 in order to rotationally drive the motor 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, between the thermal head 26 and the platen roller 25, a belt-shaped ink film 32 that is to be unwound from the supply reel 30 and to be wound on the winding reel 31 is conveyed. It has become so. The ink film 32 is formed by coating ink layers of three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan and an overcoat layer on a base film in this order (see FIG. 7). Both the supply-side and take-up-side reels 30 and 31 are housed in an ink film cassette 33. The ink film cassette 33 is attachable to and detachable from the housing 11, and is set at a predetermined position by setting it on a holding plate 34 attached inside the housing 11. A part of the gear 35 attached to the take-up reel 31 faces an opening formed in the ink film cassette 33, and when the cassette is attached, a drive gear 36 provided on the apparatus side is engaged with the gear 35. . The drive gear 36 is rotationally driven by the motor M2, and winds the ink film 32 fed out onto the winding side reel 31.

An ink film take-up roller 37 is provided near the platen roller 25 so as to form a transport path for the ink film 32 when the cassette is mounted. Although the ink film take-up roller 37 is normally free to rotate, it can be driven by the ink film take-up motor M3 by engaging a clutch (not shown) only when the ink film 32 is desired to be moved during non-printing. On the other hand, at the time of printing, the ink film 32 is sent out along with the conveyance of the recording paper 18, and is fed to the ink film guide plate 38 provided at the tip of the thermal head 26 and the ink film take-up roller 37 in a rotation-free state. It is guided and wound up on the winding side reel 31.

The recording paper 18 is held on the paper feed tray 14 in an inclined state, and a width regulating plate 40 is provided on the paper feed tray 14 in order to regulate the width direction of the recording paper 18. There is. The width regulating plate 40 is slidable in the width direction according to the size of the recording paper 18.

The recording paper 18 on the paper feed tray 14 is fed one by one by a paper feed roller 45 and a separation roller 46 which is arranged with a minute gap from the paper feed roller 45. It is conveyed while being guided by the guide member 47. The paper feed roller 45 is rotationally driven by a paper feed motor M4 which is a pulse motor, but the separation roller 46 is non-rotating. The separating roller 46 has a hardness of 70 degrees, and the surface thereof is coated. The gap is set to about 0.3 mm, which is the paper thickness plus a predetermined dimension. With this configuration, the thick recording paper 18 can be smoothly fed, and the surface of the recording paper 18 is not scratched.

On the upstream side of the platen roller 25, the grip roller 50 is provided adjacent to the platen roller 25, and the pinch roller 5 abutting against the grip roller 50.
1 is disposed, and the fed recording paper 18 is fed between the rollers 50 and 51. Grip roller 5
0 is a grip roller drive motor M consisting of a pulse motor
5, the pinch roller 51 is driven to rotate as the recording paper is conveyed.

On the downstream side of the platen roller 50, in order to discharge the recording paper 18 onto the paper discharge tray 17, a first discharge roller pair 53 positioned on the paper discharge port 16 side and a platen roller 25 side are positioned. The second discharge roller pair 54 is attached at a predetermined distance. These discharge roller pairs 5
3, 54 are rotationally driven by a conveyance motor M6 which is a pulse motor.

A guide member 55 is provided between the platen roller 25 and the discharge roller pair 54 to guide the conveyance of the recording paper 18 during the paper discharge process. This guide member 55
An accommodation space 56 for accommodating the recording paper 18 when a printing operation is performed is formed below the.

In the illustrated thermal transfer recording device 10,
When reproducing a color image on the recording paper 18, first, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the recording paper 18 is fed from the paper feed tray 14 and conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow P, and the recording paper 18 is stored in the storage space 56 as shown in FIG. 4 (2). . Next, the yellow image is formed while the recording paper 18 is returned and conveyed from this state in the direction indicated by the arrow Q. That is, the return printing method is used. After transferring the yellow image while the recording paper 18 is being conveyed back, the recording paper 18 is conveyed forward in preparation for reproducing the next magenta image. As described above, according to the frame sequential method, for example, 3
A color image is formed on the recording paper 18 by overlapping and transferring the color images. The thermal head 26 is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller 25 only during the return conveyance,
When the recording paper 18 is conveyed forward, the thermal head 2
6 is separated from the platen roller 25. When the return conveyance and the forward conveyance are repeated during the printing operation, the grip roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 are always in contact with the recording paper 1.
I continue to hold 8.

Below the guide member 55, the recording paper 18 conveyed by the grip roller 50 and the pinch roller 51, the paper discharge section 22 provided with a discharge roller pair 53, 54, or a storage space 56 is provided. A swing guide 58 is provided so as to be swingable around the support shaft 57 so as to be selectively guided to either one. The swing guide 58 is made of a flexible material. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the swing guide 58 is swung to the upper position, the recording paper 18 conveyed by the grip roller 50 or the like is stored in the storage space 56. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the rocking guide 58 is rocked clockwise from the upper position to the lower position around the support shaft 57, the recording paper 18 is conveyed toward the paper ejection unit 22. .

In order to improve the printing quality, it is necessary to prevent the recording paper 18 from being pinched by the pair of discharge rollers 53 and 54 during printing. However, as in this embodiment, the swing guide 58 is provided to discharge the paper. If the accommodation space 56 is formed in the lower position of the transport path reaching the portion 22, the distance between the platen roller 25 and the discharge roller pair 53, 54 can be reduced, and the floor area of the device 10 can be reduced. Become.

A cutter unit 23 as a paper cutting portion is provided between the first discharge roller pair 53 and the second discharge roller pair 54. The cutter unit 23 has a rotary cutter 60 and a pedestal 61 that cuts the recording paper 18 in cooperation with the cutter 60. The non-printing area can be cut by the cutter unit 23, and the cut unnecessary paper piece falls into the duster portion 24 arranged below the cutter unit 23 due to its own weight and is collected.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the duster section 24 and the paper discharge tray 17 are integrally formed, so that the printed recording paper 18 is ejected from the paper discharge tray 17. Since the duster portion 24 located at the rear of the paper discharge tray 17 is inevitably brought into view of the operator when the paper is collected from
The operator unknowingly confirms the accumulation state of the paper pieces in the duster unit 24.

As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, a sensor S1 is installed adjacent to the grip roller 50 to detect the leading edge of the recording sheet during sheet feeding or the trailing edge of the recording sheet during printing. The sensor S1 emits an ON signal when detecting the front end or the rear end of the recording paper 18. Since the sensor S1 detects the trailing edge of the recording paper during printing, it is referred to as the trailing edge detection sensor S1 in the following description for convenience.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cutter unit 23
Is provided with a leading edge detection sensor S2 that detects the leading edge of the recording paper. The leading edge detection sensor S2 emits an ON signal when the leading edge of the recording paper 18 is detected. Tip detection sensor S
The pulse for driving the conveyance motor M6 is controlled with reference to the time point when 2 detects the front end of the recording paper 18, and the front end cut for cutting the recording paper 18 by a predetermined length from the front end of the recording paper and the predetermined cut from the rear end of the recording paper. The trailing edge cutting for cutting the recording paper 18 by the length is performed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a control unit 19 is disposed below the inside of the thermal transfer recording apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, and the control unit 19 is a power source for supplying external electric power. The controller 90 includes a controller 90 as a control unit that receives signals from a control device (not shown) provided outside the device via an interface and controls various parts in the device, and various boards.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the final screen of the ink film according to the first embodiment used in this apparatus.
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, a reading sensor S3 as a detecting unit for detecting the cue mark 86 attached to the ink film 32 is provided adjacent to the ink film take-up roller 37.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cue mark 86 is imprinted on the head portion (winding side) of each yellow ink layer. In the figure, reference numeral "Y" is a yellow ink layer,
“M” is a magenta ink layer, “C” is a cyan ink layer,
And "O" indicate an overcoat layer. Here, the overcoat layer is for thermally transferring an overcoat agent as a laminating resin onto the entire surface of the recording paper 18 at the final stage of printing in order to prevent discoloration of the printed portion. The cueing of the ink film 32 for each screen is performed by sending out the ink film 32 until the cueing mark 86 is detected by the reading sensor S3 and then stopping it. However, the recording paper fed after receiving the print command. This is performed while the recording paper 18 is being conveyed forward until the trailing edge of the sheet 18 is detected by the trailing edge detection sensor S1.

The cue of the ink layer of the next color is performed by pulse counting the carry amount of the ink film 32 by an encoder (not shown) provided at one end of the ink film take-up roller 37. As each of the sensors S1, S2, and S3, a reflective photosensor can be exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this case, and a transmissive photosensor may be used.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a film end mark 87a is provided in the vicinity of the index mark 86 only on the final screen of the ink film 32. Therefore, when a print command is received, a predetermined print is performed after the normal film cueing operation, and the film end mark 87a can be detected by the reading sensor S3 when this print is performed. Is configured. That is, by detecting the film end mark 87a, the controller 90 can recognize that the final printing is performed. In this case, the reading sensor S3 detects the film end mark 87a.
It also functions as an end mark detecting means for detecting.

In the present embodiment, when the final print is detected as described above, the ink film take-up motor M3 rotates the ink film take-up roller 37 so that the ink film 32 is printed after the final print operation. The winding operation is performed. In this case, the winding operation of the ink film 32 is performed until the film cannot be wound up as it is. However, as described above, the winding amount of the film is counted by the encoder (not shown) provided at one end of the ink film winding roller 37. Since the count number of this encoder does not progress, it can be seen that it has completely wound up to the end. At this time, a predetermined film end display is made on the display section of the recording apparatus.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the amount of advance of the film may be counted by another sensor (not shown) provided with a plurality of marks 91 continuously provided on the side edge of the ink film 32. Also in this case, as in the case of counting pulses by the encoder, it can be confirmed that the winding is completely completed when the count number stops.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a film end display portion 92 provided on the downstream side of the final screen of the ink film according to the first embodiment. The film end display section 92 displays a plurality of black lines as shown in the figure (the hatched portion in the drawing indicates a black line). By configuring the ink film 32 in this way, when the winding operation of the ink film 32 is executed after the operation of the final printing as described above is completed, the ink film cassette 3
As shown in FIG. 15, the film No. 3 has the film end display portion 92 displayed in an opening 75 provided at the center thereof. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the ink film cassette 33 has been used by looking at the ink film cassette 33. Here, the reference numeral “71” in the drawing is the accommodation portion of the supply-side reel 30, and the reference numeral “7”.
“2” indicates a housing portion of the take-up reel 31.

The film end display section 92 is
The present invention is not limited to those shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and may be, for example, a non-ink-coated portion of a film, that is, a transparent portion. Further, the rear end of the ink film 32 is not fixed to the supply-side reel 30, so that all the film is taken up by the take-up reel 31 so that no film exists in the opening 75 of the ink film cassette 33. You may comprise. Even in this case, it is possible to easily recognize that the ink film cassette 33 has been used just by looking at the ink film cassette 33.

FIG. 16 is an operation flow chart of film cueing and film end processing. Next, the operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (1) to 4 (3) and FIG. 5 (1).
A description will be given based on (2) and FIG.

Paper feed (FIG. 4 (1)) When a print command is output from a controller ( not shown ) (step S1), the paper feed motor M4 drives the paper feed roller 45 to rotate, and only one recording paper 18 is fed. When the sheet is advanced in the direction of arrow P and the leading edge of the recording sheet is detected by the trailing edge detection sensor S1, the sheet feeding motor M4 is stopped. Then, the grip roller 50 is rotationally driven by the grip roller drive motor M5, and the recording paper 18 is further advanced and conveyed to the recording paper 1
When the rear end detection sensor S1 detects the rear end of 8, the grip roller drive motor M5 is stopped. The forward conveyance of the recording paper 18 is performed with the thermal head 26 separated from the platen roller 25. Further, the swing guide 58 swings to the upper position, and the recording paper 18 is guided to the storage space 56.

Simultaneously with such paper feeding, film cueing is performed (step S2). This film cue is
This is performed by feeding the ink film 32 to the winding side and then stopping it until the cue mark 86 is detected by the reading sensor S3. Here, the ink film take-up roller 37 is rotated by driving the ink film take-up motor M3 by engaging a clutch (not shown).

Printing Start (FIG. 4 (2)) When the film cueing is completed, printing start is executed (step S3). The thermal head 26 is pressed against the platen roller 25. Then, the grip grip roller 50 is rotated, the recording paper 18 is returned and conveyed in the direction of the arrow Q, and printing is started immediately after the trailing end detection sensor S1 detects the trailing end of the recording paper. It is formed. The grip roller 50 is the only transport system that returns and transports the recording paper during printing.

Immediately before this printing operation, it is judged whether or not the film end mark 87a is detected by the reading sensor S3 (step S4).

When printing is completed (FIG. 4C) , when the printing of the yellow image is completed, the return conveyance of the recording paper 18 is stopped, and the platen roller 25 of the thermal head 26 is stopped.
The pressure contact with is released.

When next color printing or overcoat printing is required, the recording paper 18 is conveyed forward by the grip roller 50 and guided to the accommodation space 56, as shown in FIG. 4 (2). It The forward conveyance to the print start position is performed by rotating the grip roller drive motor M5 by a predetermined number of pulses. Simultaneously with the preparation for the next color printing, the ink film take-up motor M3 is driven to rotate, and the encoder provided at one end of the ink film take-up roller 37 pulse-counts the carry amount of the ink film 32, while the position of the next ink layer is detected. Delivering is done. Then, the printing operation described above is executed, and the next color is printed. This operation is repeated for all colors or overcoat is printed.

In step S4, the reading sensor S3
When it is determined that the film end mark 87a is detected by the controller, the controller 90 executes the film end process after the printing in step S5 is completed (step S6). That is, the ink film take-up roller 37 is rotated by the operation of the ink film take-up motor M3 after the printing is completed, and the ink film take-up operation is performed. At this time, a film end display is displayed on the display unit of the recording apparatus main body, prompting the user to replace the ink film cassette.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, it can be easily recognized that the ink film cassette 33 which has been subjected to the film end process is a used one.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S4 that the film end mark 87a is not detected by the reading sensor S3, the printing of the ink film 32 sent in accordance with the printing operation is completed at the same time as the printing in step S7 is completed. Stops (step S8) and prepares for the next print.

When the printing of one screen of the front end cut (FIG. 5A) is completed, the thermal head 26 is released from the pressure contact with the platen roller 25, and the swing guide 58 is swung to the lower position. The recording paper 18 that is conveyed forward by the grip roller 50 is guided toward the paper discharge unit 22. The transport motor M6 is also rotated at a predetermined timing, and the recording paper 18 is transported forward by the second discharge roller pair 54. And the tip detection sensor S
The recording paper 18 is cut by the cutter unit 23 by a predetermined length from the leading end of the recording paper 18 while controlling the pulse of the transport motor M6 with reference to the time point when the leading end of the recording paper 18 is detected by 2 and falls into the duster portion 24. And then collected. On this occasion,
The conveyance of the recording paper 18 is temporarily stopped.

Rear end cutting (FIG. 5 (2)) When the front end cutting is completed, the conveyance motor M6 is driven by the number of pulses corresponding to the predetermined length, and recording is performed by the first discharge roller pair 53 and the second discharge roller pair 54. The paper 18 is conveyed. Thereafter, the recording paper 18 is cut by the cutter unit 23 from the rear end thereof by a predetermined length, and the duster portion 2 is cut.
Recovered within 4.

In this way, a so-called borderless image in which the non-printing area is cut can be obtained. When the collection of the cut pieces of paper is completed, the recording paper 18 is conveyed by the first discharge roller pair 53, and is discharged to the paper discharge tray 17
Is discharged on.

As described above, the thermal transfer recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment
0 is the ink film 32 for recognizing the last print.
The reading sensor S3 as an end mark detecting means for detecting the film end mark 87a formed on the film end mark 87a, and the film end mark 87 by the reading sensor S3.
When a is detected, the controller has a controller 90 for executing the winding operation of the ink film 32 after the film end mark 87a is detected or after the detection of the film end mark 87a is completed and the final printing operation is completed. It is possible to detect the film end before the start. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the recording paper 18 is fed and printing is started even though the recording medium is in the film end state, and the recording paper is wasted as in the conventional case.

Further, since it is possible to quickly know that the last printing is performed by detecting the film end mark 87a of the ink film 32, the next printing is started as in the prior art, and the film end is detected by the timer control. Compared to the detection, the detection does not require a long time, and the workability of printing is improved.

Further, when the winding operation of the ink film 32 is executed after the operation of the final printing, the film end display section 92 is displayed in the opening 75 exposing the ink film of the ink film cassette 33. Only by looking at the cassette, it is possible to recognize whether it is used or not, and it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally loading the used ink film cassette 33 into the apparatus main body.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the final screen of the ink film according to the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the film end mark 87b is provided only on the screen for the final printing so that the reading sensor S3 is above the black mark at the end of the final printing (the shaded portion in the drawing indicates the black mark). The same shall apply to the subsequent drawings of the ink film). In this case, the reading sensor S3 is normally in the white area of the film after the printing is completed, but if the reading sensor S3 is still in the black area after the printing is completed, the ink film take-up motor M3 is further operated for several steps to set the film to a predetermined size. Advance the distance. If the reading sensor S3 is still in the black area, it can be detected as the film end.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the final screen of the ink film according to the third embodiment. This embodiment is shown in FIG.
This is a modified example of the one shown in FIG. 7B, and the entire screen for the final printing and all thereafter are used as film end marks 87d made of black marks. By doing this, FIG.
In addition to the same effect as the one described above, even if the user installs the film so that the reading sensor S3 is placed here, if the film is wound up to the white area for the purpose of finding the beginning when the power is turned on. The film end can be detected by the film winding operation after the final printing described above.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the final screen of the ink film according to the fourth embodiment. In this example,
The first cue mark 86a and the second cue mark 86b are provided, and the area after the final screen is a film end mark 87e made of a black mark. in this case,
Normally, after printing is completed, the film is wound up to the position where the mark changes from black to white (the edge of the first cue mark 86a), and the second cue mark 8 is printed at the time of the next printing.
Try to perform cueing using 6b. In this way, after the printing using the final screen is completed, the black mark continues as shown in the figure, so that the film can be wound to the end and the film end can be detected in the same manner as above.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the final screen of the ink film according to the fifth embodiment. In this example,
Next to the final screen, a film end mark 87f is provided at the end (right end in FIG. 11) opposite to the cue mark 86. Corresponding to this, a reading sensor is newly provided as a film end detection sensor, and a total of two reading sensors (for detecting a cue mark and for detecting a film end) are used. In this case, after printing is completed, the film is continuously wound until the cue mark 86 at the left end in the figure is detected, and the film is advanced by several steps after the detection. At that time, if the film end mark 87f at the right end in the figure is detected, the film is The end has been detected.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the final screen of the ink film according to the sixth embodiment. In this example,
The opposite end of the cue mark 86 on the final screen (right end in the figure)
Is provided with a film end mark 87g. In this case, when the film is cued, the film is temporarily stopped when the cued mark 86 changes from white to black.
Then try the film a few more steps,
If the right end film end mark 87g is detected,
The print at that time is the print using the final screen. The film end mark 87g does not necessarily have to be in the position shown in the figure, and for example, the reference numeral "88a" in the figure can be recognized when the next color is being cued.
You may provide in the position shown by "88b" and "88c."

It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention and not for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiments is intended to include all design changes and equivalents within the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the film end mark provided on the ink film is detected by the sensor as a means for detecting the final printing, but the film end mark and the detection sensor are shown in FIGS. The position is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 12, and can be set appropriately. Further, the present invention is not limited to detecting the film end mark by the sensor, and for example, a counter may be provided in the ink film cassette to detect the last printing.

[0072]

As described above, according to the present invention, the detecting means for detecting the final printing which runs out of usable ink film, and the operation of the final printing when the final printing is detected by the detecting means. Since it has the control means for executing the winding operation of the ink film after the end, it is possible to detect the film end before the next printing is started. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation of wasting the recording paper by printing the recording paper despite the film end state as in the conventional case.

Further, since it is possible to quickly know that the last printing is performed by detecting the film end mark of the ink film, it is possible to detect the film end by the timer management after starting the next printing as in the conventional case. The detection does not take a long time as compared with the case of performing, and the workability of printing is improved.

Further, when the ink film winding operation is executed after the final printing operation is completed, the film end display portion is displayed at the opening portion of the ink film cassette where the ink film is exposed, so that the cassette is looked at. Whether or not the ink film cassette has been used can be recognized only by itself, and it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally loading the used ink film cassette into the apparatus main body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a lid member of the present device is opened.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where an ink film cassette is loaded in the main body of the apparatus.

4 (1) to (3) are cross-sectional views showing an operating state of the present device at the time of feeding, starting printing, and ending printing.

5 (1) and (2) are cross-sectional views showing an operating state of the present device at the time of cutting the front end and cutting the rear end.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part of a printing unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a final screen of the ink film according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the ink film according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the ink film according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the ink film according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the ink film according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the ink film according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an ink film provided with a mark for counting the amount of advance of the film.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a film end display portion.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a used ink film cassette.

FIG. 16 is an operation flowchart of film cueing and film end processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

18 ... Recording paper, 32 ... Ink film, 33 ... Ink film cassette, 75 ... Opening portion 86 ... Cue mark, 87a-87g ... Film end mark 90 ... Controller (control means), 92 ... Film end display section, S3 ... Read sensor (End mark detecting means, detecting means), O ... Overcoat layer, Y, M, C ... Ink layer.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location B41J 35/16 35/36

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A detecting device for detecting a final print in which a usable ink film is exhausted, in a recording device for forming an image by transferring to a recording paper by using an ink film in which ink layers of a plurality of colors are repeatedly formed in order. A recording device, comprising: a control device that executes an ink film winding operation after the final printing operation is completed when the final printing operation is detected by the detection device. 2. The detecting means is an end mark detecting means for detecting a film end mark formed on an ink film, and the control means is after or after detecting the film end mark by the end mark detecting means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink film winding operation is executed after the final printing operation is completed. 3. The ink film is contained in an ink film cassette that can be loaded in the apparatus main body, and when the ink film winding operation is executed by the control means after the end of the last printing operation, the ink film in the ink film cassette is loaded. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a film end display section is displayed in the exposed opening.