JPH08169153A - Laser sublimation type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To print uniformly by chucking surely an ink ribbon to a drum and contacting closely image receiving paper with the ink ribbon. CONSTITUTION: In a laser sublimation type printer in which an ink ribbon 3 is irradiated with laser beams on the basis of printing data, and the laser beams are converted into heat in the irradiated part to record the printing data on image receiving paper 1, the paper 1 is vacuum-sucked onto the circumferential surface of a drum 2 in which more than one air sucking use hole is formed, and the ribbon 3 is vacuum-sucked onto the drum to overlap the paper 1. A spacer 20 having about the same thickness as the paper 1 is placed on the peripheral surface of the paper 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention sublimates or melts and diffuses the ink of an ink ribbon by heat obtained by exchanging laser light for heat (hereinafter referred to as light heat exchange), and this is used as an image receiving paper. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser sublimation printer that transfers and prints, and particularly relates to an ink ribbon chucking mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system using a laser beam has the following principle. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, an ink ribbon 103 in which a dye layer 102 composed of an infrared absorbing dye and a sublimable dye is formed on one main surface of a transparent base film 101 is used as the image receiving paper 1.
No. 04 of the image receiving surface 104a so as to face the image receiving surface 104a.
Make a close contact with 4.

Then, the laser light L emitted from the semiconductor laser 105 based on the print data is supplied to the lens 106.
After being condensed and image-formed by an optical system including the above, the dye layer 102 is irradiated through the base film 101 of the ink ribbon 103.

Then, the infrared absorbing dye of the dye layer 102 photothermally exchanges the laser light L, and the heat causes the sublimable dye to be transferred onto the image receiving surface 104a of the image receiving paper 104. As a result, printing is performed on the image receiving paper 104.

In addition to the above, the ink ribbon 103 is provided with a carbon layer 107 between the base film 101 and the dye layer 102 as shown in FIG. 6, and the laser light L is photothermally converted into the carbon layer 107 to obtain the carbon layer 107. It is possible to use the one configured to transfer the sublimable dye to the image receiving surface 104a of the image receiving paper 104 by heat.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, a dye layer 102 made of a sublimable dye is provided on one main surface of a base film 108 containing carbon, and the base film 108 is obtained by photothermal conversion of a laser beam L. It is also possible to use a structure in which the sublimable dye is transferred to the image receiving surface 104a of the image receiving paper 104 by heat.

Further, in the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system, when an image having a certain size is printed, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the image receiving paper 104 is wound around a rotary drum 109 by a vacuum chuck or the like, and further ink is printed. The ribbon 103 is held in close contact with the image receiving paper 104.

Then, while rotating the rotary drum 109 in the direction shown by the arrow A in the figure, the laser light L emitted from the semiconductor laser 105 is rotated at a predetermined angular velocity through the collimator lens 110, the cylindrical lens 111 and the like. For example, the light is reflected by the peripheral side surface of the hexagonal polygon mirror 112.

The reflected laser light L is a spherical lens 113.
And the ink ribbon 1 via the toroidal lens 114 and the like.
It is imaged on 03. Then, this ink ribbon 103
The laser beam L focused on the polygonal mirror 11
Printing is performed by causing the ink ribbon 103 to scan on the ink jet printer 2 by means of 2.

The scanning of the laser beam L is performed as shown in FIG.
A plate-shaped reflecting mirror 115 instead of the polygon mirror 112
A galvano mirror 116 adapted to rotate may be used.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the semiconductor laser 105 and the imaging lens 117 for forming an image of the laser beam L on the ink ribbon surface are housed in one housing 118.
Then, the laser light L causes the housing 118 to pass through the ink ribbon 1.
Laser beam L is reciprocated in the width direction of the ink ribbon 103 by using a lead screw 119 or a belt while keeping the image formed on the ink ribbon 103.
It may be configured to scan on the surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the housing 11 in which the semiconductor laser 105 is attached to the lead screw 119.
8 and the imaging lens 11
7 and the semiconductor laser 105 are connected to the optical fiber cable 121.
You may comprise so that it may be tied with. The semiconductor laser 10
A lens 122 for causing the laser beam L emitted from the semiconductor laser 105 to enter the optical fiber cable 121 is provided between the optical fiber cable 121 and the optical fiber cable 121.

[0013]

In the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system using the above laser beam, the image receiving paper 104 is used.
A vacuum chuck method is mainly used as a means for fixing the to the rotary drum 109.

In the vacuum chuck system, a plurality of small circular air suction holes penetrating the space inside the drum are formed at appropriate intervals on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 109 having a cylindrical shape, and the air inside the drum is evacuated by a vacuum pump. This is a system in which the image receiving paper and the ink ribbon are adsorbed and fixed to the peripheral surface of the drum by pulling out.

In full-color printing by the sublimation type thermal transfer recording system, at least three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan must be printed. In addition, since it is necessary to align the positions when the three colors are overlapped so that color misregistration or the like does not occur, the ink ribbon 103 must be replaced with the image receiving paper 104 fixed to the rotating drum 109. .

Therefore, it is necessary to prepare two systems of vacuum chucking mechanisms. For example, as shown in FIG.
Of the peripheral surface 109a of the rotating drum 109, the image receiving paper 104
Air suction hole 1 in the area corresponding to the area around
23a are formed in plural, and the air suction holes 123 are also formed in a portion corresponding to the outer peripheral edge portion of the ink ribbon 103.
a plurality of b are formed, and these air suction holes 123a, 12
3b is vacuumed by an independent vacuum system. That is, the air suction hole 1 is provided by one of the vacuum systems.
The image receiving paper 104 is chucked via 23a, and the ink ribbon 103 is chucked via the air suction hole 123b by the other vacuum system which can be opened and closed independently of this.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, the image receiving paper 104 is fixed to the rotating drum 109 by means of an adhesive or static electricity, and the peripheral surface 109a of the rotating drum 109 which is the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper 104. The ink ribbon 3 is vacuum-chucked by the vacuum from the air suction hole 124 opened in the above.

After the image receiving paper 104 is chucked on the rotary drum 109, the ink ribbon 103 is attached to the image receiving paper 103.
FIG. 14 schematically shows a state in which they are overlaid and chucked. As can be seen from this figure, wrinkles 125 are generated on the outer peripheral edge of the ink ribbon 103. That is,
When the image receiving paper 104 is chucked on the rotary drum 109, a step is generated on the drum peripheral surface 109a by the thickness of the image receiving paper 104 (for example, about 180 μm), and
A wrinkle 125 is formed on the ink ribbon 103 covered on the image receiving paper 104.

In this sublimation type thermal transfer recording system, polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as PET) having a thickness of about 10 μm is usually used as a base film of the ink ribbon 103.
Are using. However, when the laser power is increased to increase the printing speed, the power density of the laser irradiation surface increases, and the heat resistance of the film becomes insufficient. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the PET film to, for example, 25 μm for the purpose of improving heat resistance.

FIG. 15 schematically shows how the ink ribbon 103 having a PET film thickness of 25 μm is chucked on the rotary drum 109. As with the PET film having a thickness of 10 μm, wrinkles 126 are formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper 104. In FIG. 16 (a),
16 is a cross-sectional view of wrinkles 125 formed on the ink ribbon 103 when the thickness of the PET film is 10 μm.
(B) shows a cross-sectional view of the wrinkles 126 formed on the ink ribbon 103 when the thickness of the PET film is 25 μm.

As can be seen from this figure, when the thickness of the PET film is thin, the ink ribbon 103 has a low rigidity and therefore is easily bent. As shown in FIG.
Although the air passage 127 formed in the gap 5 is small,
If the PET film is thick, the ink ribbon 10
Since the rigidity of No. 3 increases, it becomes difficult to bend, and the air escape passage 12 formed in the gap of the wrinkle 126 as shown in FIG.
7 becomes larger.

As described above, when the air passage 127 becomes large, a considerable amount of air flows into the vacuum pump with respect to the exhaust speed. Such an air escape route 1
If 27 is formed, the force for chucking the ink ribbon 103 becomes insufficient, so that the ink ribbon 10
3 may come off, or air may enter between the image receiving paper 104 and the ink ribbon 103 to cause uneven density in the printed image.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed to solve the problems of the prior art. The ink ribbon is surely chucked to the drum, and the image receiving paper and the ink ribbon are brought into close contact with each other to prevent unevenness. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser sublimation type printer device capable of uniform printing.

[0024]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a laser sublimation method in which an ink ribbon is irradiated with laser light based on print data, and the irradiated light is photothermally converted to record the print data on an image receiving paper. Type printer device.
In this apparatus, the image receiving paper is vacuum-sucked on the peripheral surface of the drum in which a plurality of air suction holes are formed, and the ink ribbon is superposed on the image-receiving paper in a vacuum. Then, in order to eliminate the step between the outer peripheral edge of the image receiving paper and the drum and prevent wrinkles from being formed on the ink ribbons that are superposed on this, the thickness of this image receiving paper is almost Spacers having the same thickness are provided.

As the spacer, a frame body having an opening for facing the image receiving paper in the center and a hole for exposing the air suction hole formed on the drum peripheral surface is provided in the frame portion. The shape of the hole may be a circular hole that is slightly larger at the same position as the air suction hole formed in the drum, or may be a slit shape vertically, horizontally or diagonally with respect to a plurality of air suction holes. May be. Furthermore, the slit at that time may not simply make the width intentionally, but may simply make a long notch.

Instead of using the spacer, the image receiving paper may be made substantially the same size as the ink ribbon, and a plurality of holes may be provided in the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper. That is, the image receiving paper may be integrated with the spacer.

[0027]

In the laser sublimation printer according to the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the image receiving paper vacuum-chucked to the peripheral surface of the drum has a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the image receiving paper and is provided on the peripheral surface of the drum. Since the spacer having the hole facing the air suction hole is provided, the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper is in a flat state with no step. Therefore, the ink ribbon that is superposed on the image receiving paper is brought into close contact with the image receiving paper without causing wrinkles, and is vacuumed through the holes formed in the spacer, so that the ink ribbon is surely prevented from falling off the spacer. Fixed.

Further, in the laser sublimation type printer device according to the present invention, the image receiving paper has substantially the same size as the ink ribbon and a plurality of holes are provided in the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper. If you stack ink ribbons on
The ink ribbon is vacuumed through the plurality of holes so that it can be tightly fixed to the image receiving paper without wrinkling.

[0029]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

The laser sublimation printer of this embodiment is
A printer device of a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system that irradiates an ink ribbon with laser light based on print data, and photothermally converts the laser light in the irradiated portion to record print data on an image receiving paper. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this printer device has a drum 2 around which the image receiving paper 1 is wound, and a laser sublimation type ink provided in close contact with the image receiving paper 1 wound around the drum 2. The ribbon 3 and the ink ribbon 3 are irradiated with laser light based on the print data,
A laser irradiation unit 4 which is a laser irradiation unit for sublimating or melting and diffusing the ink of the ink ribbon 3 to transfer the image to the image receiving paper 1 for recording, and a laser beam L emitted from the laser irradiation unit 4 to the ink ribbon 3. A light collecting unit 5 for collecting light, a drum rotation driving unit that is a main scanning unit that rotates the drum 2 by a predetermined step to perform main scanning, and a light collecting unit 5 is sent in a longitudinal direction of the drum 2 by a predetermined step, and a sub unit. It is provided with a condensing portion moving means 6 which is a sub-scanning means for performing scanning, and an optical system for changing the spot diameter of the laser light L on the ink ribbon surface.

The image receiving paper 1 is wound so that the image receiving surface 1a to be printed faces upward (front surface) so that the peripheral surface of the cylindrical drum 2 does not have wrinkles. The image receiving paper 1 is wound around the drum 2 by vacuuming the image receiving paper 1 on the drum peripheral surface by vacuuming from a plurality of air suction holes 7a and 7b provided at appropriate intervals on the peripheral surface of the drum 2. A vacuum chucking mechanism that uses a king is used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vacuum chucking mechanism includes an air suction hole 7a formed on the drum peripheral surface in the area where the image receiving paper 1 is chucked and an outer peripheral edge portion where the ink ribbon 3 is chucked. Has an air suction hole 7b formed in a region facing the drum 2 by a vacuum pump.
By removing the air inside, these air suction holes 7
This is a mechanism for adsorbing and fixing the image receiving paper 1 to the peripheral surface of the drum 2 via a and 7b.

Since full-color printing is performed in this apparatus, there are two systems of vacuum systems, each independently having a vacuum system for chucking the image receiving paper 1 on the drum 2 and a vacuum system for chucking the ink ribbon 3 on the drum 2. It has a system. That is, the image receiving paper 1 and the ink ribbon 3 can be chucked on the peripheral surface of the drum 2 by separate and independent vacuum systems.

The ink ribbon 3 is a laser sublimation type ribbon having a shape larger than the image receiving paper 1 by one turn or more. As shown in FIG. 5, the infrared absorbing dye and the sublimable dye are formed on one main surface of the base film. And a dye layer composed of In addition to the above, the ink ribbon 3 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is used.

The ink ribbon 3 is chucked to the drum 2 by the vacuum chucking mechanism so that the ink surface 3a on which the dye layer is formed is in close contact with the image receiving surface 1a of the image receiving paper 1. At this time, the ink ribbon 3 is superposed on the image receiving paper 1 and pulled by a vacuum, whereby the air between the ink surface 3a and the image receiving surface 1a becomes thin, and the air enters the image receiving paper 1. Close together without contact.

The laser irradiating section 4 irradiates the ink ribbon 3 with laser light L based on the print data, sublimates or melts and diffuses the ink of the ink ribbon 3 to transfer it to the image receiving paper 1 and record it. , And a condenser lens 10 for allowing the laser light L emitted from the semiconductor laser 8 to enter the optical fiber 9.

The semiconductor laser 8 is controlled so as to emit the laser beam L based on the print data, and is housed in the housing 11 together with the condenser lens 10. The semiconductor laser 8 is driven by laser drive means (not shown) based on the print data.
The laser light L emitted from the semiconductor laser 8 is condensed by the condenser lens 10 and enters the one end of the optical fiber 9.

The condensing unit 5 condenses the laser light L emitted from the semiconductor laser 8 onto the ink ribbon surface so as to have a predetermined spot diameter and forms an image, and is composed of a condensing lens 12. The condenser lens 12 is housed in the housing 13 and is provided at a position close to the ink ribbon 3.
The tip of an optical fiber 9 connecting the laser irradiation unit 4 and the light condensing unit 5 faces the inside of the housing 13.

An optical system for changing the spot diameter of the laser light L is provided in the condensing section 5. In such an optical system, when printing on the image receiving paper 1 having different print sizes, the condenser lens 12 having a spot diameter suitable for the print size is selected from several condenser lenses 12 having different magnifications. The condenser lens 12 causes the laser light L to be imaged on the ink ribbon surface.

The light condensing unit moving means 6 sends the light condensing unit 5 in the longitudinal direction of the drum 2 step by step while keeping the distance between the condensing lens 12 and the ink ribbon 3 constant to perform sub scanning. For example, it is composed of a linear motor. The linear motor includes a rail 14 provided along the longitudinal direction of the drum 2 and a slider 1 that slides on the rail 14.
It consists of 5.

The rail 14 is provided in parallel with the axis of the drum 2, and is formed to have a length sufficient for the condensing portion 5 to move over the entire width of the ink ribbon 3 chucked on the drum peripheral surface. There is. This rail 14 has a slider 1
Slide groove 17 for engaging the protrusion 16 provided in
Are formed.

The slider 15 is formed as a flat plate having a size large enough to mount the light collecting section 5, and the slide groove 1 is formed.
It has a protrusion 16 that engages with the shaft 7. The slider 15 is configured to move on the rail 14 along the axial direction of the drum 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 2 by the drive source that drives the linear motor. The step width of the slider 15, that is, the amount of movement, is adapted to be appropriately adjusted by intermittently sending a current to a drive source for driving the linear motor and turning the current on and off.

The drum rotation driving means is composed of a motor (not shown) which performs main scanning by rotating the drum 2 to feed the image receiving paper 1 step by step. Such a motor is driven by a pulse from a rotary encoder 19 attached to a rotary shaft 18 provided at the center of the drum 2 to rotate the drum 2 in a direction indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. Therefore, by changing the setting of the number of pulses sent from the rotary encoder 19, the step width of the main scanning can be changed appropriately.

In particular, in the printer apparatus of this embodiment, when the ink ribbon 3 is chucked on the drum 2, it is possible to prevent an air escape path due to a wrinkle which is generated in the outer peripheral edge portion, and to prevent the ink ribbon 3 from receiving the image receiving paper. A spacer 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the image receiving paper 1 in order to bring the ink ribbon 3 into close contact with the air 1 without entering air and to prevent the ink ribbon 3 from falling off the drum 2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the spacer 20 is formed by cutting the same paper material as the image receiving paper 1, that is, a paper having the same thickness, into the same size as the outer shape of the ink ribbon 3. An opening 21 that faces the image receiving paper 1 in the center
It is formed as a quadrangular frame body having. The spacer 20 is not limited to the same paper material as the image receiving paper 1 as long as the spacer 20 has substantially the same thickness as the image receiving paper 1 and is flexible enough to be wound around the drum 2.

A plurality of circular vent holes 22 for vacuum chucking the ink ribbon 3 to the drum 2 are formed in the spacer 20. These ventilation holes 22
Are formed at positions facing the air suction holes 7b formed in the drum 2 as circular holes each having a diameter slightly larger than the opening diameter of the air suction holes 7b. The ventilation hole 22 may be formed in a slit shape vertically, horizontally, or obliquely so that several air suction holes 7b are brought together to face one hole. Alternatively, the slit does not intentionally have a width and may simply be a long cut.

As shown in FIG. 2, the spacer 20 thus formed is attached to the peripheral surface of the drum 2 so that the image receiving paper 1 faces the opening 21 formed in the center thereof. As a result, the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper 1 has no step with respect to the drum 2, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper 1 becomes flat. That is, since the thickness of the spacer 20 is substantially the same as the thickness of the image receiving paper 1, the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper 1 is flattened by the spacer 20.

Therefore, the ink ribbon 3 overlaid thereon is vacuumed through the ventilation holes 22 formed in the spacer 20 and, as shown in FIG. 1, adheres to the image receiving paper 1 without wrinkles. Will be chucked. For example, even if wrinkles occur on the outer peripheral edge of the ink ribbon 3, small wrinkles do not cause air to leak from the gap between the wrinkles and air does not enter the gap between the image receiving paper 1 and the ink ribbon 3. Therefore, it is possible to perform strong chucking that does not easily come off and uniform printing without unevenness.

In order to print on the image receiving paper 1 in the printer device constructed as described above, the following is done.

First, the image receiving paper 1 is chucked on the peripheral surface of the drum 2 by the vacuum chucking mechanism so that the image receiving surface 1a faces upward. Next, the spacer 20 is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the image receiving paper 1. Then, the ink ribbon 3 is superposed on the image receiving paper 1 and chucked by a vacuum chucking mechanism of another system. At this time, the ink ribbon 3 is chucked on the drum 2 so that the ink surface 3a faces the image receiving surface 1a of the image receiving paper 1.

Next, printing is performed on the image receiving paper 1 wound around the drum 2. For printing, main scanning is performed by rotating the drum 2. When the drum 2 makes one rotation, the linear motor feeds one dot of the condensing portion 5 to perform sub-scanning.

When the main scanning is repeated and the sub-scanning is completed once, the printing of one color is completed. Then, the vacuum chucking the ink ribbon 3 is returned to atmospheric pressure, and the ink receiving paper 1 is fixed to the drum 2 and only the ink ribbon 3 is removed from the drum 2. Then, the ink ribbon 3 having the next color is set, the printing is repeated in the same manner, and the yellow,
The printing of the three primary colors of magenta and cyan is completed. As a result, one color image is formed on the image receiving paper 1.

As described above, in the specific laser sublimation type printer device to which the present invention is applied, various modifications can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention. For example, in the above-described example, the image receiving paper 1 and the spacer 20 are separate, but the image receiving paper 1 has substantially the same outer shape as the ink ribbon 3,
Ventilation holes may be formed in the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper 1, that is, the image receiving paper 1 and the spacer 20 may be integrated. In particular, in this case, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to separately form the spacer 20, and the work of separately attaching to the drum 2 can be omitted.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the vacuum by the vacuum chuck is used as the force for fixing the spacer 20 to the drum 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be attached by another means such as sticking with an adhesive or the like. I do not care.

[0055]

As is apparent from the above description, in the laser sublimation printer of the present invention, the thickness of the image receiving paper is approximately the same as the thickness of the image receiving paper which is vacuum chucked on the peripheral surface of the drum. Since a spacer having a thickness and having a hole facing the air suction hole opened on the peripheral surface of the drum is provided, the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper becomes a flat state without a step due to the spacer. The ink ribbon, which is superposed on the paper, comes into close contact with the image receiving paper without causing wrinkles, is vacuumed through the holes formed in the spacer, and is securely fixed to the drum without falling off. Therefore, since the ink ribbon is in close contact with the image receiving paper without a gap, it is possible to perform uniform printing without unevenness.

Further, in the laser sublimation type printer device according to the present invention, since the image receiving paper has substantially the same size as the ink ribbon and the outer peripheral edge portion of the image receiving paper is provided with a plurality of holes, the outer periphery of the image receiving paper is Similar to the case where the spacer is provided on the sheet, the ink ribbon can be closely fixed to the image receiving paper without wrinkles, and uniform printing without unevenness can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a laser sublimation printer device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laser sublimation type printer device to which the present invention is applied, in which a spacer is provided on a drum.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a drum portion of the laser sublimation type printer device to which the present invention is applied.

4A is a plan view of a spacer, FIG. 4B is a plan view of an image receiving paper, and FIG. 4C is a plan view of an ink ribbon.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of recording by a sublimation type thermal transfer recording system.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of another ink ribbon.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of still another ink ribbon.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sublimation transfer method using a polygon mirror.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a sublimation transfer method using a galvano mirror.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another sublimation transfer method.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing still another sublimation transfer method.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a drum having a two-system vacuum chucking mechanism.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where the image receiving paper is chucked on the drum with an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state where wrinkles are generated on the ink ribbon.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a thick ink ribbon in which wrinkles are generated.

FIG. 16A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of wrinkles formed on a thin ink ribbon, and FIG. 16B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of wrinkles formed on a thick ink ribbon.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Receiving Paper 2 Drum 3 Ink Ribbon 4 Laser Irradiation Part 5 Condensing Part 6 Condensing Part Moving Means 7 Air Suction Hole 8 Semiconductor Laser 9 Optical Fibers 10, 12 Condensing Lens 14 Rail 15 Slider 20 Spacer 21 Opening 22 Venting Hole

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A laser sublimation printer apparatus for irradiating a laser beam on an ink ribbon based on print data, and converting the laser beam into a photothermal conversion at the irradiated portion to record the print data on an image receiving paper. The image receiving paper is vacuum-sucked on the peripheral surface of the drum in which the suction holes are formed, and the ink ribbon is vacuum sucked on the image receiving paper so that the ink ribbon is superposed on the image receiving paper. A laser sublimation printer device, characterized in that a spacer having a thickness substantially the same as the thickness of the image receiving paper is provided. 2. The spacer is composed of a frame body having an opening facing the image receiving paper in the center, and the frame portion has a hole facing an air suction hole opened on the drum peripheral surface. The laser sublimation printer device according to claim 1. 3. The laser sublimation printer device according to claim 2, wherein the holes provided in the spacer are circular or slit-shaped. 4. A laser sublimation printer apparatus for irradiating a laser beam onto an ink ribbon based on print data, and converting the laser beam into a photothermal conversion at the irradiated portion to record the print data on an image receiving paper. The image receiving paper is vacuum-sucked on the peripheral surface of the drum in which the suction holes are formed, and the ink ribbon is vacuum sucked so that the ink ribbon is superposed on the image receiving paper. A laser sublimation printer device, which has substantially the same size and is provided with a plurality of holes in an outer peripheral edge portion.