JPH0737160B2 - Color image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a thermal transfer type color image recording apparatus.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a means for recording color image information, there are an inkjet recording system, an electrophotographic system, an electrostatic recording system and a thermal transfer recording system. Among these, the inkjet recording method uses colored ink and ejects the ink from a nozzle having a minute diameter independent for each color in accordance with an image signal to be recorded, and makes the recording paper adhere to the recording ink. However, since it is difficult to form a multi-nozzle, there is a problem that not only the speed cannot be increased, but also the nozzle is easily clogged and the reliability of the apparatus is poor. On the other hand, the electrophotographic method scans a photosensitive drum, which is preliminarily uniformly charged in a dark place with a photoconductive substance such as amorphous selenium formed on its surface, with a laser beam modulated by an image signal. It is exposed to obtain an electrostatic latent image, to which color toner is selectively applied, developed, and then transferred to plain paper. In this method, a developing device having color toners of different colors is prepared, and the process is extremely complicated because the above steps are repeated for each color. Therefore, the device becomes large in size,
And it has the drawback of being expensive. In addition, the electrostatic recording method uses a multi-stylish head, creates an electrostatic latent image according to the image signal on the electrostatic recording paper that is in contact with this, and performs the same development as in the electrophotographic method. The process is repeated for each color, and the process complexity is similar to that of an electrophotographic method, and it is difficult to downsize the device.

On the other hand, in the thermal transfer recording method, an ink ribbon in which a heat-melting solid ink layer containing a coloring material is provided on a base film such as paper or resin is heated by a thermal recording head that is energized according to an image signal. To melt the ink layer,
It is transferred onto a plain recording paper which comes into contact with the ink ribbon. According to this, the development and fixing as in the case of the electrophotographic system or the electrostatic recording system described above are not required, so that the process is simplified and the apparatus can be downsized. In order to perform color recording using this method, as shown in FIG. 10, three layers of cyan, magenta, and yellow, or four colors of black added as necessary, are used to form an ink layer that is separately coated in strips. Using the ink ribbon A that is provided, scanning and recording are repeatedly performed on the same recording paper for each color. This is generally called a frame-sequential recording method, and conventionally, the method shown in FIG. 11 and the method shown in FIG. 12 are known for conveying recording paper to realize this method. In the method of FIG. 11, for recording one color, for example, cyan, the recording paper 204 is conveyed by a platen roller 201 connected to a stepping motor (not shown), a driving roller 202 and a pinch roller 203 cooperating with the driving roller 202. The image of the thermal recording head 205, in which the recording paper 204 and the ink ribbon A are brought into close contact and pressure contact with each other in cooperation with the platen roller 201, while conveying the ink ribbon A at the same speed as the recording paper 204 by a conveying device (not shown). A cyan color image is obtained on the recording paper 204 by selective energizing in response to the signal. When the recording of the first color is completed in this manner, the platen roller 201 and the thermal recording head 205 are separated by a unit (not shown), and the feed roller 202 is rotated in the reverse direction to record the recording paper 204.
Return until the tip of the head reaches the recording position of the thermal recording head 205. During this time, the ink ribbon A is conveyed in the same direction as when recording until the next color to be recorded, for example magenta, reaches the recording position of the thermal recording head 205. After that, the platen roller 201 and the thermal recording head 205 are pressed against each other again, and in the same manner as described above, the magenta color recording is performed by superposing it on the cyan recording on the recording paper 204. In the same manner, the color image recording by the subtractive color mixture is finally completed and obtained on the recording paper 205 by repeating the repeated recording for the number of colors of the ink ribbon A, that is, three times or four times. According to this method, there is an advantage that a color image can be recorded by a frame sequential method using a relatively simple mechanism, but it takes time to return the recording paper to the end of recording one color. This is a wasteful time unrelated to the net recording, and therefore the recording speed is limited, which is disadvantageous for high-speed recording. Further, when returning the recording paper, it is indispensable to temporarily separate the thermal recording head from the platen roller. If this is not done, the ink ribbon used for recording will be returned together with the recording paper, or If the paper is rubbed against the ink ribbon forcibly, it becomes dirty and the image quality is impaired.
In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a pressure contact / separation control mechanism for the thermal recording head and the platen roller, which has the drawback of complicating the apparatus. Further, a long space for temporarily storing the reciprocating recording paper may be required, which is a disadvantageous condition for downsizing the apparatus.

On the other hand, according to the method of FIG. 12, the recording paper 302 is wound around the drum platen 301 connected to the stepping motor (not shown), and the length of one color is almost equal to the circumference of the drum platen 301. The heat-sensitive recording head 303 is pressed through the drum to rotate the drum-shaped platen 301 once in the same direction for each color of recording, and at the same time, the ink ribbon A is moved to the peripheral speed of the drum-shaped platen 301 by a driving device (not shown). Color recording is carried out at the same speed, and the recording of a color image by subtractive color mixing is completed by rotating the drum platen 301 three or four times, as in the method of FIG. Recording paper on which recording is completed in this way
302 is separated from the drum platen 301 and taken out. According to the method of FIG. 12, as in the method of FIG. 11 described above, it is necessary to return the recording paper each time the recording of one color is completed, and to minimize the wasted time not directly involved in the recording. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is advantageous for speeding up. However, winding the recording paper around the drum platen,
Since a complicated mechanism for peeling is required and a thermal recording head having a special shape is used, there is a drawback that the apparatus becomes expensive. Furthermore, since a drum that rotates at a constant speed is used, the time required to record one page is constant regardless of the recording paper size. In other words, when using a recording paper of short length, high speed is required. However, there is a drawback in that the advantage of this method that it is suitable for commercialization cannot be utilized. Also, a drum-shaped platen with a large diameter (about 100 mm for A4 size recording paper) is required due to the length of the recording paper, which is disadvantageous for downsizing the device and increases the load due to its weight. There is also a drawback that a stepping motor having a large rotational driving force is required.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the color image recording apparatus of the former thermal transfer recording system (FIG. 11), it is necessary to return the recording paper every time one color recording is completed. In the latter color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording method (Fig. 12), the time required for recording one color is equivalent to one rotation of the drum platen even for recording paper of a small size, and there is a limit to speeding up. It was

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording apparatus capable of high speed recording.

Further, in the former (FIG. 11) color image recording apparatus based on the thermal transfer recording method, it is necessary to return only the recording paper while stopping or advancing the ink ribbon, so a mechanism for separating the thermal recording head from the platen roller. In addition, in the latter color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording system (Fig. 12), the recording paper is held in close contact with the drum platen and the recording paper is separated from the drum platen. Need a mechanism. Therefore, the device is complicated and expensive.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording apparatus that does not require a complicated mechanism and can realize an inexpensive apparatus.

Furthermore, in the former (FIG. 11) color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording method, in order to return the recording paper, it is necessary to secure a space for accommodating the returned recording paper, and the latter ( The color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording method of Fig. 12) requires a drum platen having a longer circumference and a wider width than the largest recording paper envisioned, and the drum platen is rotated. Requires a large stepper motor to drive. Therefore, the device is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording device which enables downsizing of the device.

Further, since the color image recording apparatus records the colors in a superimposed manner, the color shift is likely to occur.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a color image recording apparatus that can prevent color misregistration as much as possible and can obtain recording with good image quality.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means and Actions for Solving Problems) A color image recording apparatus of the present invention superimposes recording paper and an ink ribbon, and conveys them by a thermal recording head to form an ink ribbon on the recording paper. Recording means for transferring ink, first recording paper feeding means for conveying the recording paper from the recording paper storage portion to the thermal recording head, and the leading end of the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head, and recording Recording paper circulating means for feeding the leading edge of the paper to the inlet side of the thermal recording head, and making the leading edge of the recording paper fed by the recording paper circulating means stand by at the inlet of the thermal recording head, and to record the next color. Second recording paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper to the thermal recording head for application, and recording paper discharge for discharging the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head and having completed recording of a predetermined color to a discharge tray. Means and route switching means for selectively guiding the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head to either the recording paper circulating means or the recording paper discharging means achieves the above object. .

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 conceptually shows a color facsimile receiver as a color image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

The housing 1 of this device has side plates 2 on the front side and the back side in FIG.
Have three. The side plates 2 and 3 are fixedly installed in the housing 1, and various parts described later are attached to the side plates 2 and 3. Moreover, the housing 1 of this apparatus has a cover 4. The cover 4 includes side plates 4a and 4b arranged on the front side and the back side in FIG. 1 and a ceiling plate 4c arranged between the side plates 4a and 4b.
And the end plate 4d, the ceiling plate 4c is further formed with a step, and the paper discharge tray 5 is formed therein. The corners of the side plates 4a and 4b are engaged with the side plates 2 and 3 by the pin 6. Therefore, the cover 4 can be rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in FIG. 1 about the pin 6.

In this device, the recording means 10 is provided at the center of the left half of FIG.
The recording paper circulating means 20 is arranged immediately below the recording means 10, and a space S is secured below the recording paper circulating means 20. A path switching means 50 and a recording paper supply means (second recording paper supply means) 30 are arranged on the left and right sides of the recording paper circulation means 20. Further, in this apparatus, a recording paper accommodating means 60 is arranged in the lower right half portion in FIG. 1, and a recording paper supplying means (first recording paper supplying means) is provided between the recording paper accommodating means 60 and the recording means 10. ) 70, and an ink ribbon transporting means 90 is disposed above the recording means 10. By bypassing the ink ribbon transporting means 90, the recording paper discharge means 12 from the recording means 10 to the discharge tray 5 is provided.
0 is set. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 130 denotes a facsimile control means, and the control means 130
Are arranged above the recording paper accommodating means 60.

The recording means 10 includes a platen roller 11 and a thermal recording head 12
And a separation / contact mechanism 13 for separating / contacting the thermal recording head 12 from / to the platen roller 11.

The platen roller 11 is a rubber roller having a metal shaft 11a at its center, and both ends of the shaft 11a are supported by the side plates 2 and 3 (shown by a chain double-dashed line) of the housing 1 respectively.
It is driven to rotate by 14. In addition, the thermal recording head 12
Is a predetermined density (for example, 16 pel / mm), and arranges minute heating resistors in a line corresponding to the recording width (for example, 216 mm for A4 size) (for example, 3456). By applying a pulse current according to the image information to be recorded on the ink ribbon, the temperature of the contacting ink ribbon is locally raised, and the solid ink layer applied to the ink ribbon is melted and transferred to a recording paper to form a visible image. It has the function of forming. The thermal recording head 12 is attached to an inverted L-shaped arm 15 and a pair of side plates 4a and 4b of the cover 4 are provided.
(It is indicated by a chain double-dashed line, or see FIGS. 6 and 7) and is rotatably supported with a support shaft 16 fixed as a fulcrum. The inverted L-shaped arm 15 has one end biased by a tension coil spring 17 to press the thermal recording head 12 against the platen roller 11 so as to generate a pressure optimum for recording. Further, the inverted L-shaped arm 15 is engaged with the plunger 18a of the electromagnetic solenoid 18. The electromagnetic solenoid 18 is energized / excited to attract the plunger 18a, whereby the inverted L-shaped arm 15 rotates in the clockwise direction with the fulcrum supporting shaft 16 as the fulcrum to the tension coil spring 17 described above. , The thermal recording head 12 is separated from the platen roller 11.

The recording paper circulating means 20 has a function of capturing the leading end of the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head 12 and conveying the leading end to the inlet side of the thermal recording head 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this recording paper circulating means 20 is supported by side plates 2 and 3, and a shaft 21 driven by a stepping motor 14 via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown), and the shaft 21.
It comprises a grip roller 22 fixed to the roller 22 and a gripper mechanism 23 disposed in the roller 22. Gripper mechanism
23 holds and holds the front end of the recording paper, supports a rod 24 having a gripper piece 24a at one end slidably on the shaft 21, and disposes a compression coil spring 25 around the rod.
The other end of the rod 24 is brought into pressure contact with a pin 26 slidably supported in the elongated hole 22a of the roller 22 in the radial direction, and the pin 26
The end of the above is brought into contact with the cam 27 fixed to the side plates 2 and 3 via the cam follower 28. The pin 26 has a cam follower 28 made of, for example, a ball bearing at both ends, and is in contact with the sliding surface 27a of the cam 27 via the cam follower 28.

Further, the recording paper circulating means 20 includes a recording paper aligning means 29. The recording paper aligning means is formed between the gripper piece 24a and the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22 and is provided with the gripper piece 24a.
Blocks 24b fixed to both ends of the grip roller 22
It consists of a rod 24 exposed from the outer surface of the.
The block 24b is fitted in the recess 22b formed on the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22.

In the gripper mechanism 23, the pin 26 is moved toward the center of the grip roller 22 in the state shown in FIG. 2, that is, in the state where the cam follower 28 is located on the convex portion 27b of the cam 27, 26 the gripper piece 24a moves to the rod 24
It is separated from the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22 through the gap and forms a gap between the gripper piece 24a and the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22. When the shaft 21 is rotated by the stepping motor 14, the grip roller 22 also integrally rotates in the arrow direction. Then, the cam follower 28 moves the sliding surface 27a of the cam 27.
Away from, the force pressing the pin 26 toward the center of the roller 22 is released. Therefore, the rod 24 is slid in the direction of the pin 26 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 25, and the gripper piece 24a is pressed against the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22 accordingly. When the grip roller 22 is further rotated, the cam follower 28 reengages with the sliding surface 27a of the cam 27. Then,
The pin 26 is pushed toward the center of the grip roller 22 via the cam follower 28, so that the gripper piece 24a is slightly separated from the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22. That is, the recording paper circulating means 20 equipped with the gripper mechanism 23 stands by at the position shown in FIGS.
The tip of the recording paper discharged from 12 is received by the neck portion of the gripper piece 24a and the block 24b, that is, the recording paper aligning means 29 to adjust the posture of the recording paper, and is accommodated in the gap between the gripper piece 24a and the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22. To do. Then, when the grip roller 22 is rotated, the gripper piece 24a moves in the peripheral surface direction of the grip roller 22, and the gripper piece 24a and the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22 press and hold the leading edge of the recording paper. In this state, the grip roller 22 is
About half a turn is made from the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the leading end of the recording paper is released there.

The recording paper supply means (second recording paper supply means) 30 includes a driving roller 31 and a pinch roller 32 coaxial with the grip roller 22.
And a feed roller 33 (Fig. 4).
The drive roller 31 is fixed to a shaft 34 supported by the side plates 2 and 3,
The shaft 34 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown). The pinch roller 32, as shown in FIG.
Between the grip rollers 22 and the main portion 32a is fixed to the shaft 21 by a set screw 35 as shown in FIG. A long hole 32b is formed through the main portion 32a of the pinch roller 32, and the pin 26 described above is inserted into the long hole 32b. Further, in the main portion 32a of the pinch roller 32,
A collar 32c is loosely fitted on the peripheral surface. The collar 32c is prevented from falling off from the main portion 32a by the collars 32d and 32d formed at both ends of the main portion 32a. Drive roller 3 above
1 and pinch roller 32 are in contact with each other and drive roller 3
When 1 is rotated, the pinch roller 32 is also rotated. However, the pinch roller 32 only rotates the collar 32c. Further, the recording paper supply means 30 is provided with a back tension roller 36 as shown in FIG. The back tension roller 36 is fixed to the shaft 37. The shaft 37 is rotatably supported with respect to the side plates 2 and 3 so that the back tension roller 36 can move in a direction in which the back tension roller 36 comes in and out of contact with the grip roller 22. And this shaft 37 is a spring
The back tension roller 36 is biased by 38 so as to come into pressure contact with the grip roller 22, and the rotation thereof is braked by a braking means (not shown). Further, one end of an arm 39 is engaged with the shaft 37, and the base end of the arm 39 is planted on the shaft 40. This axis
40 is supported by the side plates 2 and 3. One end of a lever 41 is fixed to the shaft 40, and the other end of the lever 41 has side plates 2, 3
Plunger of electromagnetic solenoid 42 fixed to one of
It is engaged with 42a. Then, the back tension roller 36 keeps the spring 38 when the electromagnetic solenoid 42 is not excited.
When the electromagnetic solenoid 42 is excited by being pressed against the grip roller 22 by the urging force of the lever 41, the lever 41 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 40, whereby the arm 39 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 40. It is separated from the grip roller 22 by rotating it. Furthermore, recording paper supply means
The numeral 30 has a recording paper supply path 43 for guiding the recording paper to the thermal recording head 12. The recording paper supply path 43 has one end extending between the grip roller 22 and the pinch roller 32, and the other end between the guide plate 43a positioned close to the peripheral surface of the platen roller 11 and a part between the drive roller 31. It is formed by the guide plate 43b positioned and the guide plate 43a and the guide plate 43c positioned facing the guide plate 43b. Then, in the recording paper supply path 43,
An optical detector 44 for detecting the recording paper is provided.

The route switching means 50 is a means for circulating the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head 12 or a recording discharge means described later.
It will guide you to either one of 120. The route switching means 50 has a flapper 51, and the flapper 51 has side plates 2, 3
It is rotatably supported by a shaft 52 supported by.
One end of a lever 53 is fixed to the shaft 52 of the flapper 51, and the other end of the lever 53 is rotatably locked to a plunger 54a of an electromagnetic solenoid 54. And plunger 5
A compression coil spring 55 is arranged around 4a, and the flapper 51 is positioned in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. I will guide you to. When the electromagnetic solenoid 54 is energized / excited, the flapper 51 moves to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line to guide the recording paper to the recording paper discharge means 120.

The recording paper accommodating means 60 has a paper feed cassette 61 which is inserted into the lower part of the housing 1 from the right side in FIG. At the bottom of the paper feed cassette 61, a plate 63 for accommodating and stacking the single-leaf recording papers 62 is housed.
Is urged upward by the compression coil spring 64.

The recording paper supply unit (first recording paper supply unit) 70 is a recording paper.
62 conveys the recording paper from the recording paper accommodating means 60 to the recording means 10, and is arranged at the upper left of the paper feeding cassette 61, and through a one-way clutch (not shown) to the stepping motor 14 which rotationally drives the platen roller 11. Paper feed roller 71 that is linked with
The recording paper supply means 70 is composed of recording paper supply paths 72 and 73, and the recording paper supply means 70 is provided with recording paper aligning means 80.

The recording paper aligning means 80 has a feed roller 83 including a driving roller 81 and a pinch roller 82. Feed roller
The shaft 81a of the drive roller 81 in 83 is linked to the stepping motor 14 described above, and is rotated by the stepping motor 14 together with the platen roller 11. On the other hand, the shaft 82a of the pinch roller 82 is
A spring 84 is urged through a bearing so that 2 is pressed against the drive roller 81. Further, one end of an arm 85 is engaged with the shaft 82a of the pinch roller 82, and the arm 85 is provided with the pin 85a provided on the pair of side plates 2 and 3 described above.
Is supported by. The arm 85 is in contact with a pin 86b of another arm 86 which is supported by a pin 86b provided on the pair of side plates 2 and 3 in the same manner. One end of the arm 86 is rotatably supported by a plunger 87a of an electromagnetic solenoid 87, and the plunger 87a is biased downward by a tension coil spring 88. On the other hand, the arm
The other end 86c of 86 is disposed behind the feed roller 83 at a position that prevents the recording paper from advancing. The electromagnetic solenoid 87 is energized / excited to attract the plunger 87a, thereby pulling the arm 86 against the coil spring 88 and rotating counterclockwise about the pin 86a. At the same time, the arm 85 is rotated clockwise by the pin 86b with the pin 85a as a fulcrum, so that the shaft 82a of the pinch roller 82 is pushed up by the left end of the arm 85. Thus, the pinch roller 82 is separated from the drive roller 81, and the other end 86c of the arm 86 descends so as to prevent the recording paper from advancing. When the electromagnetic solenoid 87 is demagnetized, the arm 86 is returned by the tension coil spring 88, and the other end 86 of the arm 86 is returned.
Since "a" rises to release the blocking of the recording paper from moving, and the pin 86b which contacts the shaft 82a of the pinch roller 82 descends, the pinch roller 82 is pressed against the drive roller 81 by the spring 84. Further, the recording paper aligning means 80 includes a recording paper detector 89 for detecting the leading edge of the recording paper. This detector
Reference numeral 89 denotes a light-emitting element 89a and a light-emitting element 89b arranged in front of the feed roller 83 across the recording paper supply path 72.
When the recording paper detector 89 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, the timer is activated and the electromagnetic solenoid 87 is demagnetized after a certain period of time. The recording paper supply path 72 is provided with the recording paper accommodation means 60.
To the feed roller 83, and is formed by the guide plates 72a and 72b. The recording paper supply path 73 is configured by utilizing a part of the guide plates 43b, 43c forming the recording paper supply path 43 of the second recording paper supply means 30 described above. Road 73
It joins the recording paper supply path 43 near the entrance of the recording means 10.

The ink ribbon carrying means 90 uses the ink ribbon 91 as a recording means.
It is intended to be conveyed through between the platen roller 11 and the thermal recording head 12 of 10. The ink ribbon 91 is formed by recording a heat-melting solid ink layer containing a coloring material corresponding to a color to be recorded by a frame sequential method on an extremely thin base film such as paper or resin, in which the length of each color is recorded. 3 colors so that it is equal to or slightly longer than the maximum length of
As shown in the figure, four colors including yellow, magenta, cyan, or black are applied in strips. The width of the ink ribbon 91 is equal to the width of the recording paper 62,
Or it is made slightly larger. This ink ribbon 91
Is wound around a supply roll 92, and after being supplied for recording, is wound up by a winding roll 93. These supply rolls 92
The take-up roll 93, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
It is loaded inside the pair of opposed side plates 4a, 4b. 6 and 7, a pair of side plates 4a, 4b
Two shafts 94, 95 and 96, 97 are respectively planted in the shaft, and reels 98, 99 and 100, 101 are loosely fitted in these shafts. Of these reels, the reels 98 and 99 on the side plate 4a are provided with one or more protrusions 98a and 99a at the end thereof.
a, 99a are fitted into the grooves 92a, 93a formed in the end faces of the supply roll 92 and the winding roll 93, whereby the supply roll 92
And the winding roll 93 is locked to the reels 98 and 99. Also,
A shaft 9 between the reels 98 and 99 and the pair of side plates 4a and 4b described above.
Joint members 102, 103 are loosely fitted in 4, 95. The joint members 102 and 103 are provided with discs 102a and 103a at one end, and friction plates 102b and 103b are attached to the discs. Then, the joint members 102 and 103 are biased to the right in FIGS. 6 and 7 by the compression coil springs 104 and 105 arranged between the joint members and the side plates 4a, and the friction plates 102b and 103b are moved. The reels 98 and 99 are brought into pressure contact with the supply roll 92 and the take-up roll 93 via the above. On the other hand, the reels 100, 101 are biased to the left in FIGS. 6 and 7 by the compression coil springs 106, 107 arranged between the reels and the side plate 4b, and the end faces of the reels 100, 101 are wound on the supply roll 91 and the winding roll. It is pressed against the end surface of the take-up roll 92. Further, in such an ink ribbon holding means, a rotary torque transmitting means, for example, a timing pulley 108, is fixedly attached to the joint member 103 on the take-up roll 93 side. Then, this timing pulley 108 is
A stepping motor (not shown) attached to either a or 4b is linked via a timing belt.

The ink ribbon 91 wound around the supply roll 92 and the take-up roll 93 is in contact with the guide bars 109 and 110 fixed to the pair of side plates 4a and 4b shown in FIG. 1, and the platen roller 11 and the thermal recording. It is arranged so as to pass between the head 12 and the guide bars 111, 112. Further, the ink ribbon transporting means 90 includes an ink ribbon detector 113 for detecting the color boundary points of the ink ribbon 91. This ink ribbon detector 113 is provided with a light emitting element 113a and a light receiving element 113b sandwiching the ink ribbon 91, and a tip of each color which is divided into strips of the ink ribbon 91 between these elements 113a and 113b. Detects that has arrived.
The detection signal is for timing the color recording together with the detection signal of the recording paper detector 44 in the recording paper supply means 30 described above. The position at which the color boundary point of the ink ribbon 91 of the ink ribbon detector 113 is detected, the stroke of the ink ribbon from the position to the recording position of the thermal recording head 12 of the recording unit 10 is the recording paper supply unit 70. Similarly, it is set to be equal to the stroke of the recording paper from the other end 86c of the arm 86 to the recording position of the thermal recording head 12.

The recording paper ejecting means 120 is for guiding the recording paper on which the color reception recording is completed to the outside of the apparatus, that is, for conveying it to the paper ejection tray 5 provided on the upper part of the apparatus, and includes two sets of feed rollers 121 and 122 and the recording paper ejecting means. It is composed of paths 123 and 124. The feed roller 121 is composed of a pair of a drive roller 125 and a pinch roller 126, and a shaft 125a of the drive roller 125 is linked to a stepping motor (not shown).
The shaft 126a of the pinch roller 126 is biased by a spring means (not shown) via a bearing so that the pinch roller 126 is brought into pressure contact with the drive roller 125. On the other hand, the feed roller 122 is similarly driven by the drive roller 127 and the pinch roller 128.
It consists of

Further, the facsimile control means 130 is provided with an electronic circuit board 140 and a power supply device 150 for operating the color facsimile receiver of the embodiment of the present invention, and its block configuration is shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 8, a line control unit 141 for controlling connection with a color facsimile transmitting device placed at a remote place through a transmission line according to a predetermined procedure and inputting a facsimile signal, and detecting the facsimile signal. , A modem 142 for demodulating and obtaining code data, a system control section 143 centered on a microprocessor for controlling the entire device including an operation panel based on the code data, and recording from the code data according to a predetermined system procedure Decoding unit 144 that restores the image signal to be reproduced
And a color conversion circuit 14 for converting an image signal into a recording signal for each color.
5, a page memory 146 for temporarily storing the recording signals for each color for frame sequential recording, density pattern conversion for gradation recording, and control of the energizing pulse width to the heating resistor of the thermal recording head, for example. A recording control unit 147 including the above, a mechanism control unit 148 for controlling a stepping motor, an electromagnetic solenoid, various detectors and the like, and various voltages and currents necessary for the operation of an electronic circuit, a thermal recording head, a motor and a solenoid, etc. It is composed of a power supply 150 to be supplied.

Next, the operation and operation of the color facsimile receiver will be described.

First, a color facsimile transmission device placed at a remote place performs necessary color separation, encoding processing, modulation, etc., based on an image signal obtained by scanning a color original, and then transmits it via a transmission line. The facsimile signal including the color information to be received is received through the line control unit 141 under the control of the system control unit 143 of the electronic circuit having the block configuration shown in FIG. After being decoded by 144, the image signal decomposed by the color conversion circuit 145 for each color such as cyan, magenta, and yellow is stored in the page memory 146. Then, the mechanism control unit 148 functions based on the control signal from the system control unit 143, and first, the electromagnetic solenoid 18 of the recording unit 10 and the recording sheet supply unit 30 are started.
Energize and excite the electromagnetic solenoid 42 of the
The inverted L-shaped arm 15 rotatably supported by 18a and to which the thermal recording head 12 is attached is rotated clockwise with the support shaft 16 against the tension coil spring 17 as a fulcrum. While separating 12 from the platen roller 11, the back tension roller 36 is separated from the grip roller 22 by the arm 39 via the lever 41 supported by the plunger 42a. At the same time, the ink ribbon transport means
By rotating a stepping motor (not shown) 90, as described above, the ink ribbon 91, which is divided into three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, is attached to the timing pulley 108.
It is fed through the guide bars 109 and 110, the platen roller 11 and the guide bars 111 and 112 so as to be wound on the winding roll 93 connected to the stepping motor via the. At this time, the winding roll 93 rotates while slipping by the joint member 103, and the supply roll 92 is also braked by the joint member 102, so that the ink ribbon 91 is fed while maintaining a predetermined tension. Then, the ink ribbon detector 113 detects the front end of the color of the ink ribbon to be recorded first, for example, the start portion of yellow by the frame sequential method. This detection signal is sent to the system control unit 143, and the rotation of the stepping motor is stopped via the mechanism control unit 148, thereby temporarily stopping the feeding of the ink ribbon 91.

On the other hand, in parallel with the operation of the ink ribbon 91, the mechanism control unit
148 energizes the electromagnetic solenoid 87 of the recording paper supply means 70.
The pinch roller 82 is excited to separate it from the drive roller 81, and the other end 86c of the arm 86 is lowered. Further, the stepping motor 14 starts rotating in a certain direction, for example, counterclockwise, and the sheet feeding roller 71 linked to the stepping motor 14 via a one-way clutch (not shown) also rotates to cause the recording sheet accommodating means 60 to rotate. The uppermost one sheet of the recording paper 62 stacked and placed on the paper feed cassette 61 is separated by utilizing the difference between the recording paper and the rubber-made paper feed roller 71 and the friction coefficient between the recording papers. Then, the recording paper feeding means 70
To the recording paper supply path 72. Continuing, the recording paper is the paper feed roller
It is sent by 71, passes through the recording paper detector 89, and further passes through the gap between the drive roller 81 and the pinch roller 82, and its tip collides with the other end 86c of the arm 86. Thus, the recording paper is still fed by the paper feed roller 71, and the middle of the recording paper is bent and slightly expanded, that is, the leading end of the recording paper completely collides with the other end 86c of the arm 86, The posture can be adjusted so that it is at a right angle to. When the recording paper detector 89 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, the detection signal causes the timer to operate, and the clocking is started. This timer is set to a time sufficient to complete the recording paper alignment operation. The rotation direction of the stepping motor 14 is reversed with the completion of the time measurement by the timer, and the stepping motor 14 is rotated in the clockwise direction. Then, by the action of the one-way clutch, the feed roller 71
The rotational force is not transmitted to the sheet feeding roller 71, and the sheet feeding roller 71 stops its rotation. With the completion of the timer, the electromagnetic solenoid 87 is deenergized and demagnetized. However, since the arm 86 is returned by the tension coil spring 88, the other end 86c of the arm 86 rises to release the blocking of the recording paper and the pin 86b contacting the shaft 82a of the pinch roller 82.
Is lowered, and the pinch roller 82 is pressed against the driving roller 81 which is rotated by being linked with the stepping motor 14 by the spring 84, and the recording paper whose posture has been adjusted is fed again to the recording paper supply path. Guided to 72. Further, at the same time as the above operation, the energization to the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is cut off / demagnetized, and the reverse L
Return the arm 15 in the shape of a letter by the tension coil spring 17,
Thermal recording head 12 mounted on the inverted L-shaped arm 15
Is pressed against the platen roller 11 and the stepping motor (not shown) is rotated to re-feed the ink ribbon 91.

In this way, the ink ribbon 91 and the recording paper are fed at the same time, but eventually the recording paper reaches the transport path 43 of the recording paper supply means 30, and the leading end thereof is detected by the recording paper detector 44. This detection signal is sent to the system control unit 143 and the time counting is started by the timer means. While continuing to feed the recording paper, the recording paper enters and is sandwiched between the platen roller 11 whose tip rotates and the ink ribbon 91 being fed. Here, as described above, with respect to the recording position of the thermal recording head 12, the process of reaching the ink ribbon detector 113 of the ink ribbon 91 and the process of the recording paper reaching the other end 86c of the arm 86 of the recording paper supply means 70. Are set to be equal to each other, and therefore, the yellow-colored leading end of the ink ribbon 91 and the leading end of the recording paper coincide and overlap. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the time counting by the timer means, that is, the yellow tip of the ink ribbon 91 and the tip of the recording paper are directly above the heating resistor array which is the recording position of the thermal recording head 12. .., when it reaches a place that is slightly overshooting, under the control of the system control unit 143 described above, of the image signals decomposed into the three colors stored in the page memory 146, the image signal corresponding to the yellow color is first detected. Is read and sent to the thermal recording head 12. The image signal is amplified by the driver mounted on the thermal recording head 12 and the heating resistor is energized to generate Joule heat to locally heat the ink ribbon 91, and the yellow solid ink layer applied to the ink ribbon 91 is formed. It is melted and transferred to a recording paper which is in pressure contact, and then dot-shaped recording of a yellow image is first performed. Recording paper and ink ribbon 91
Is fed by the platen roller 11 while recording is sequentially performed at each scanning pitch so as not to come into contact with each other and cause a deviation. After the recording of the yellow color is completed, the recording paper and the ink ribbon 91 which are still in close contact are sent as they are and reach the guide bar 111. Here, the ink ribbon 91 is rapidly rotated there as shown in FIG.
The recording paper tries to move straight due to its rigidity.
Peel from. The peeled recording paper is guided by the flapper 51 of the path switching means 50, and enters the grip roller 22 on the lower side in the figure, that is, the gripper piece 24a of the recording paper circulating means 20 opens and stands by. The recording paper fed by the platen roller 11 while the yellow recording continues and the leading edge of the recording paper collides with the clipper piece 24a and the bottom of the block 24b.

The details of the frame-sequential color recording mechanism, which is the gist of the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 9, 62 is a recording paper, 91 is an ink ribbon, 11 is a platen roller, 12 is a thermal recording head, 22 is a grip roller, 24a is a gripper piece, 36 is a back tension roller, 31 is a drive roller, and 43 is a drive roller. It is a recording paper supply path.
In FIG. 9 (a), the recording paper 62 is still fed, and the recording paper is flexed and slightly swelled, that is, the leading end of the recording paper is completely the neck portion of the gripper piece 24a which is the recording paper aligning means 29, and The posture of the block 24b is adjusted so that it collides with the peripheral surface of the block 24b and becomes perpendicular to the traveling direction. continue,
An electromagnetic clutch (not shown) attached to the shaft 21 of the grip roller 22 operates and the grip roller 22 becomes a platen roller.
11 and its circumferential velocity are equalized and rotation is started. Then,
As shown in FIG. 2 described above, the grip roller 22 is so far moved by the cam 27 via the cam follower 28 and the rod 24.
The pin 26 that has been pushed in the center direction of the gripper piece 24a and thus opened the gripper piece 24a is restored by the action of the compression coil spring 25 when the cam follower 28 is disengaged from the convex portion 27b of the cam 27,
Thereby, the gripper piece 24a is closed and the leading edge of the recording paper 62 is grasped and held. Then, the grip roller 22 continues to rotate while holding the leading edge of the recording paper, and stops when the grip roller 22 has rotated almost a half rotation as shown in FIG. 9B. However, since yellow recording is still in progress and the recording paper 62 is sequentially fed by the platen roller 11, the recording paper 62 swells greatly in the space S as shown in FIG. It hangs vertically downward. When the recording of yellow color approaches the end and the end of the recording paper 62 reaches near the entrance of the recording paper supply path 43, the drive roller 31 and the grip roller 22 are rotated again as shown in FIG. 9 (d). Therefore, although the leading edge of the recording paper 62 is fed again, the gripper piece 24a
2 is the reverse operation of gripping and holding the leading edge of the recording paper, that is, the sliding surface 27 of the cam 27 of the cam 27 in FIG.
The cam follower 28 rides on a, and the gripper piece 24a opens via the pin 26. Here, stop the drive roller 31 once,
By continuously rotating the grip roller 22, the leading end of the recording paper 62 is completely opened. Next, the exciting current of the electromagnetic solenoid 42 in FIG. 1 is cut off, the attraction of the plunger 42a is released, the back tension roller 36 is returned by the spring 38, and the back contact roller 36 is pressed against the grip roller 22, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive roller 31 is rotated again so that the front end of the recording paper 62 from which the yellow color is to be recorded follows the end of the recording of the yellow color with a narrow interval and the back tension roller.
By the action of 36, the recording paper 62 is fed while back tension is applied. Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (f), the leading end of the recording paper 62 is fed with the platen roller 11 rotating as described above with reference to FIG.
Inserted between 91, electromagnetic solenoid again when held
42 is excited, the plunger 42a is attracted, and the back tension roller 36 is separated from the grip roller 22 again via the lever 41 and the arm 39. Here, since the length of each color of the ink ribbon 91 is set to be substantially equal to the length of the recording paper, the color to be recorded next, for example, the front end of the magenta color and the front end of the recording paper 62 are different from each other. Match and overlap. Thus, the magenta end of the ink ribbon 91 and the recording paper
When the tip of 62 reaches a position directly above or slightly over the heating resistor array which is the recording position of the thermal recording head 12, it is stored in the page memory 146 under the control of the system controller 143 described above. Of the image signals decomposed into three colors, the image signal corresponding to magenta is read out and sent to the thermal recording head 12. Then, the driver mounted on the thermal recording head 12 energizes the heating resistor to generate Joule heat to heat the ink ribbon 91, melt the magenta solid ink layer applied to it, and press-contact the recording paper. The data is transferred to 62 and dot-shaped recording of a magenta color image is performed. Hereinafter, in the same process as in the case of yellow color recording, magenta color recording is performed by superimposing it on the already recorded yellow color image.

In this way, the color image is recorded while sequentially superimposing the respective colors of the ink ribbon 91, and when the recording of the last color to be recorded, for example, the cyan color is started by the thermal recording head 12, the mechanism control unit 148 advances the route. By energizing and exciting the electromagnetic solenoid 54 of the switching means 50 to attract the plunger 54a, the flapper 51 is moved to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. The direction toward the grip roller 22 is closed, and the direction toward the recording paper discharge path 123 of the recording paper discharge means 120 is opened. At the same time, the driving rollers 125 and 127 associated with the stepping motor (not shown) of the recording paper discharge means 120 start rotating, and the two sets of feed rollers 121 and 122 operate. However, the recording paper 62 for which the recording of the last color to be recorded, for example, the cyan color is completed, is fed while being in close contact with the ink ribbon 91 and reaches the guide bar 111. Here, since the ink ribbon 91 is rapidly rotated as described above, the front end of the recording paper 62 separates from the ink ribbon 91 in an attempt to move straight due to its rigidity. In this way, the leading edge of the recording paper 62, which is peeled off and the received image of the complete color is completed, is guided by the flapper 51 of the route switching means 50 shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure and enters the recording discharge path 123. After that, the recording paper 62 is fed by the feed roller 121, passes through the recording paper discharge path 124, and is discharged and placed on the paper discharge tray 5 provided on the upper portion of the operation by the feed roller 122. The mechanism control unit 148 cuts off the power supply to the electromagnetic solenoid 54 when the reception recording of one page is completed and a time sufficient for the trailing end of the recording paper 62 to pass through the flapper 51 has elapsed,
The flapper 51 is returned to its original position by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 55, that is, as shown by the solid line in the figure. At the same time, the stepping motor 14 of the recording unit 10 and the stepping motor (not shown) of the ink ribbon transporting unit 90 also stop rotating, so that the rotation operation of the platen roller 11 also stops and the feeding of the ink ribbon 91 stops. On the other hand, when the trailing edge of the recording paper 62 passes through the feed roller 122 and the recording paper 62 on the surface of which the color received recording image is formed is completely discharged onto the paper discharge tray 5, the recording paper discharging means. The rotation of the stepping motor (not shown) 120 is also stopped.

With the above, one type of receiving / recording operation in color facsimile communication is completed, and the same received image as a color original is obtained.

The principle of subtractive color mixing in color recording is a known technique and will not be described, but when three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are used as the colors of the solid ink layer of the ink ribbon, the background color of the recording paper is white. It is well known that 8 colors can be reproduced and recorded by adding. Furthermore, if gradation recording is performed using a pseudo-halftone recording method such as a density pattern method, an extremely large number of colors can be reproduced with the above-described three color ink ribbons. For example, the density of heating elements is 16 pel / mm. When gradation recording is performed by the dither method with a 4 × 4 dot matrix using the thermal recording head of No. 4, 4096 colors can be recorded with a resolution of 4 pixels / mm. It goes without saying that the color facsimile receiving / recording apparatus described in the embodiments of the present invention can be preferably applied to any of the above-mentioned color recording methods, and a recording apparatus other than the color facsimile, such as a color copying machine or a color copying machine. The same applies to printers.

In addition, a multicolor recording method that does not rely on the subtractive color mixture method, for example, a multicolor facsimile in which two color recordings are performed by using a ribbon of ink ribbons for a two-color facsimile of red and black, Of course, the present invention can be preferably applied.

Incidentally, the grip roller in the recording means 10 of the above embodiment
In the gripper mechanism 23 of 22, the holding and opening operations of the leading edge of the recording paper by the gripper piece 24a are performed by the compression coil spring 25 and the cam.
Although it is carried out by the combination of 27, it can be suitably realized by using other means, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid,
It is not limited to the examples.

Further, the recording means 10 is provided with a back tension roller 36, which is controlled to be pressed against or separated from the grip roller 22 by an electromagnetic solenoid 42. However, the electromagnetic solenoid 42 is omitted and the back tension roller 36 is constantly gripped. It may be pressed against the roller 22. If the precision of the components of the mechanism is sufficiently maintained and the meandering at the time of feeding the recording paper can be prevented in advance, the back tension roller 36 may be omitted.

Furthermore, the flapper 51 of the path switching means 50 in the recording means 10 opens the direction of the progress of the recording paper to the recording paper discharge means 120 and closes the direction to the grip roller 22 by exciting the electromagnetic solenoid 54. However, even if the method opposite to the above described in the embodiment, that is, the direction toward the grip roller 22 is opened by exciting the electromagnetic solenoid 54 and the direction toward the recording paper discharging unit 120 is closed. Good.

The thermal recording head 12 in the recording means 10 of the present embodiment uses a platen roller once by an electromagnetic solenoid 18 at the start of facsimile reception in order to synchronize with the feeding operation of the recording paper.
Although it is separated from 11, it is not necessarily indispensable if the feeding of the ink ribbon is controlled based on the feeding operation of the recording paper. That is, when the facsimile reception starts, the mechanism control unit
Under the control of 148, the ink ribbon 91 and the recording paper start feeding at the same time, and the leading end of the recording paper is the other end 86c of the arm 86.
When the posture is adjusted so as to make a right angle to the traveling direction by colliding with, the rotation of the stepping motor 14 is temporarily stopped,
When the ink ribbon detects the leading edge of the first color to be recorded by the ink ribbon detector 113, the electromagnetic solenoid
If the stepping motor 14 is rotated in the clockwise direction to re-feed the recording paper while the power to 87 is cut off / demagnetized, the same operation and function as described above can be achieved.

On the other hand, after providing the separation control means of the thermal recording head 12 as in the present embodiment, the length of each color of the ink ribbon 91 is set equal to the length of the longest recording paper to be used, and the short recording paper is set. When used, the feeding of the recording paper is temporarily stopped each time the recording color is switched, and the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is excited to separate the thermal recording head 12 from the platen roller 11, and only the ink ribbon 91 is next moved. It is fed at high speed to the position corresponding to the color to be recorded, after which the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is demagnetized and the ink ribbon 91 and the recording paper 62 are sandwiched and pressed against the platen roller 11 to record the next color. By doing so, it becomes possible to suitably obtain a color image even on recording papers of various lengths.

Further, as the recording paper, not only the single-leaf recording paper which is cut into a predetermined size as in the present embodiment but also the roll-shaped recording paper can be used in the same idea as above. That is,
A recording paper cutting means such as an auto cutter is provided in the middle of the recording paper supply path 72 or 73 of the recording paper supply means 70, and the recording paper is made to have the same size as the original to be transmitted through the mechanism control unit 148 by a command of the system control unit 143. While operating the recording paper cutting means so as to control the electromagnetic solenoid 18 as described above, each color of the ink ribbon 91 accurately corresponds to the length of the recording paper. The received image can be obtained.

Further, although the thermal recording head of the present embodiment uses the line scanning type and electronically performs the scanning recording, the flying type thermal recording head is used to mechanically perform the scanning recording across the recording paper. The present invention can be preferably applied to a color recording device such as a color printer.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, in the color image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the front end of the recording paper is captured every time recording of one color is completed, and the front end of the recording paper is transferred to the thermal recording head. While moving to the entrance side and holding it there waiting, while letting the parts other than the leading edge of the recording paper sag freely, the holding operation of the leading edge of the recording paper is performed at a predetermined timing when the recording of the trailing edge of the recording paper is completed. At the same time, the recording paper is superposed on the ink ribbon and pressed against the thermal recording head and the platen roller to record the next color.

Therefore, the wasteful time required for the reciprocating movement of the recording paper for each one-color recording described in the conventional example can be extremely reduced, and therefore, there is an excellent advantage that color recording can be performed at high speed.

Further, the long space for temporarily accommodating the recording paper during the reciprocating movement of the recording paper in the conventional example becomes unnecessary when the present invention is applied, which is advantageous in terms of downsizing of the apparatus.

It is also possible to keep the thermal recording head in pressure contact with the platen roller without performing separation control. For this reason, the ink ribbon may be returned together with the recording paper as in the conventional example, or stains may be generated on the surface of the recording paper due to excessive rubbing with the ink ribbon to impair the image quality. Therefore, the device can be simplified.

Further, since the leading edge of the recording paper is held by the recording paper circulating means for the most part of the process after recording is started,
Since the free period is small, the skew of the recording paper and the cumulative error of the stroke can be reduced, so the color misregistration is much smaller than the method of reciprocating the recording paper shown in the conventional example, and high quality color images can be obtained. The advantage is that

Furthermore, during color recording, only the leading edge of the recording paper is held, and the rest is naturally restrained, for example, to sag vertically downward, so that a guide plate or other conveying path for circulating the recording paper is provided. There is an advantage that a high-performance device can be configured in a small size without requiring a structure such as. In addition, since the ink ribbon can be fed independently to the platen roller of the thermal recording head, recording paper of any size can be used. If a recording paper cutting means such as an auto cutter is used, there is an excellent feature that a color reception image of the same size as the transmission original can always be obtained.

On the other hand, since recording can be performed with a small diameter platen roller,
Circulating the recording paper does not require a heat-sensitive recording head having a special shape unlike the conventional drum platen method of the present invention, and further requires a circumferential length equal to or longer than the length of the recording paper. There is no need for a large-diameter drum-shaped platen, and there is an advantage that the apparatus can be made compact and inexpensive.

In addition, in the color image recording apparatus according to the present invention, since the recording paper aligning means is provided in each of the first recording paper supply means and the recording paper circulation means, the recording paper fed to the recording means is The posture is adjusted each time, so that high-quality recording without color misregistration can be obtained.

Further, in the color recording apparatus of the embodiment according to the present invention, the thermal recording head and the pair of side plates constituting the ink ribbon conveying means are fulcrumed by the spindles provided on the pair of side plates constituting the main part of the main body. Since it is rotatably supported so as to open upward, the elements covering the recording means, the recording paper supply means and the recording paper discharge means can be removed or removed easily by opening. It is extremely easy to load and replace the ink ribbon, and the recovery process in the event of a failure such as a recording paper jam can be performed quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view conceptually showing the structure of a color facsimile receiving apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional side view showing a recording sheet circulating means of the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is its recording sheet. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the grip roller of the recording paper circulating means, the driving roller and the pinch roller of the recording paper supplying means, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pinch roller in the figure, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure for holding a supply roll of an ink ribbon, and FIG.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a structure for holding a take-up roll of an ink ribbon, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a control system of a color facsimile receiving apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is each color recording according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a sectional view schematically showing the process, FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a part of a conventionally used color recording ink ribbon, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are conceptual views showing a conventional color recording system. It is a figure. 1 ... Device housing, 2, 3 ... Side plate, 4 ... Cover, 4a, 4b ...
... side plate, 5 ... discharge tray, 10 ... recording means, 11 ... platen roller, 12 ... thermal recording head, 13 ... separation / contact mechanism, 20 ... recording paper circulating means, 22 ... grip roller, twenty three
...... Gripper mechanism, 24a ...... Gripper piece, 27 ...... Cam, 2
9: recording paper aligning means, 30: second recording paper feeding means, 3
3 ... Feed roller, 36 ... Back tension roller, 43 ... Recording paper supply path, 50 ... Path switching means, 51 ...
Flapper, 60 ... Recording paper accommodating means, 61 ... Paper feed cassette, 62 ... Recording paper, 70 ... First recording paper supply means, 71 ...
... Paper feed roller, 72, 73 ... Recording paper supply path, 80 ... Recording paper aligning means, 81 ... Drive roller, 82 ... Pinch roller, 83
...... Feed roller, 84 ...... Spring, 85,86 …… Arm, 8
6c ... end, 87 ... electromagnetic solenoid, 88 ... spring, 89 ...
… Recording paper detector, 90 …… Ink ribbon transport means, 91 ……
Ink ribbon, 92 ... supply roll, 93 ... take-up roll,
113 ... Ink ribbon detector, 120 ... Recording paper ejection means,
121,122 …… Feed rollers, 123,124 …… Recording paper discharge path, 130 …… Facsimile control means, 140 …… Electronic circuit board, 150 …… Power supply unit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording means for superimposing a recording paper and an ink ribbon, and transferring the ink of the ink ribbon to the recording paper by a thermal recording head while conveying them, and recording means.
First recording paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper from the recording paper housing to the thermal recording head, and capturing the leading end of the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head after the recording is completed, and leading end of the recording paper To move the recording paper circulating means to the inlet side of the thermal recording head, and to make the leading edge of the recording paper sent by the recording paper circulating means stand by at the inlet of the thermal recording head and to record the next color. Second recording paper supply means for feeding recording paper to the thermal recording head, recording paper discharge means for conveying recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head to a paper discharge tray, and discharge from the thermal recording head The recording paper circulation means or the recording paper discharge means for selectively guiding the formed recording paper to one of the recording paper circulation means and the recording paper discharge means, and further to the first recording paper supply means and the recording paper circulation means. Hit the tip of Color image recording apparatus, wherein a recording sheet aligning means to arrange the posture is disposed respectively by. 2. The recording paper aligning means arranged in the first recording paper supply means includes an arm whose tip is freely retractable in a recording paper supply path of the first recording paper supply means. A feed roller disposed in the recording paper supply path upstream of the tip of the arm and capable of contacting and separating a pinch roller with respect to a drive roller; and an actuator that operates the arm and the pinch roller, When the tip of the arm is projected into the recording paper supply path by the actuator, the pinch roller is separated from the drive roller, and when the tip of the arm is released from the recording paper supply path. The color image recording apparatus according to claim (1), wherein the pinch roller is brought into pressure contact with the feed roller. 3. The recording paper circulating means has a gripper piece for capturing the leading end of the recording paper, and the recording paper aligning means arranged in the recording paper circulating means is formed by the gripper piece. The color image recording apparatus according to claim (1), characterized in that: