JPH08324008A - Color image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a recorder for obtaining record image having a small color drift and excellent color reproducibility. CONSTITUTION: A sticky layer is provided at least on the front surface of an endless belt or a continuous sheet-like sheet holder 1 or the other surface of an intermediate sheet 14, the holder 1 is brought into close contact with the sheet 14 by sheet sandwiching units 9 and 10, the holder 1 for holding the other surface of the sheet 14 in close contact by the sticky force of the surface of the sticky layer and the sandwiching forces of the units 9 and 10 is conveyed, and an image is recorded on the dyed layer of the sheet 14. Then, the recorded dyed layer 16 and an image receiver 30 are superposed, pressed, heated and released, and the recorded dyed layer is transferred to the receiver 30 to form a record image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording an ink material containing at least a coloring material on an image receptor such as recording paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In thermal transfer recording using a fusion type thermal transfer ink sheet using a pigment as a coloring material or a sublimation type thermal transfer ink sheet using a heat diffusible dye as a coloring material, an ink sheet and an image receiving body are usually overlaid. At the same time, an image is directly formed on the image receptor by the recording head (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-1950).
No. 70). Also, once using any method including thermal transfer recording,
There is known a method in which an image is formed on another intermediate sheet, and then the image on the intermediate sheet is finally transferred onto the image receptor to form the image on the image receptor (for example, JP-A-4-3279).
No. 81).

A conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described below. First, a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a conventional intermediate sheet will be described below.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a conventional intermediate sheet. Reference numeral 101 is an intermediate sheet, and 104 is an ink sheet. Intermediate sheet 1
01 is the recording layer 10 on the A substrate 102 which is a heat resistant substrate.
3 is provided and configured. In addition, the ink sheet 104 has the ink material layer 1 on the B substrate 105 which is also a heat resistant substrate.
It is configured by providing 06. A thermal head 108 as a recording unit, a heating roller 112 and an A roller 113 as a heating unit, and a peeling roller 114 and a B roller 115 as a peeling unit are provided. 111 is an image receptor.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus having the above structure will be described below. First, platen 10
In the state where the intermediate sheet 101 and the ink sheet 104 are pressed against each other between the thermal head 108 and the thermal head 108, the thermal head 108 selectively generates heat by a recording signal, and the ink material layer 106 is formed on the surface of the recording layer 103 of the intermediate sheet 101. At least a part of the color material is transferred, and the recorded image is transferred to the intermediate sheet 1.
01 on. Intermediate sheet 101 on which an image is recorded
Is sent in the direction of arrow 109 by the rotation of the platen 107, and the ink sheet 104 is wound up by the ink sheet winding roller 110. Next, the intermediate sheet 101 and the image receiver 111 are overlapped, and the heating roller 112 and the A roller 113 are stacked.
When the intermediate sheet 101 is heated by the heating roller 112 on the front side, the recording layer 103 is softened, and a part of the recording layer 103 penetrates the surface of the image receptor 111. Next, the peeling roller 114 and the B roller 11
5, the A substrate 102 is moved straight to bend the image receptor 111, and the heated recording layer 103 is transferred to the image receptor 111 side. Further, the image receiving member 111 on which the recording layer 103 is transferred is sandwiched and fixed by the pressure roller 116 and the C roller 117 to obtain a recorded image.

Next, a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus for directly recording on an image receptor will be described. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus that directly records on an image receptor. Reference numeral 104 denotes an ink sheet, which is formed by providing an ink material layer 106 on a B substrate 105 which is a heat resistant substrate. A thermal head 108 and an endless belt 118 that conveys the image receiver 111 are provided as recording means.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus having the above structure will be described below.

In the state where the ink sheet 104 and the image receiver 111 are pressed against each other between the platen 107 and the thermal head 108, the thermal head 108 selectively generates heat by the recording signal. The platen 107 is driven and rotated, and the image receptor 111 is conveyed in the direction of arrow 119 by the frictional force between the platen 107 and the endless belt 118 and the frictional force between the endless belt 118 and the image receptor 111, and the ink sheet 10
4 is wound by the ink sheet winding roller 110, and the ink sheet 104 is peeled off from the image receiving member 111.
A part of the color material of the ink material layer 106 is transferred onto the image receiving body 111, and a recorded image is obtained.

[0009]

In a thermal transfer recording apparatus using an intermediate sheet, an intermediate sheet having a dyeing layer to which a coloring material is fused in melt type thermal transfer recording, or a dye to which a dye is dyed in sublimation type thermal transfer recording. An intermediate sheet with a dressing layer is required. The image is formed on the image receiving material by forming an image on the dyeing layer on the intermediate sheet, and then transferring the image-formed dyeing layer and the image receiving material in an overlapping manner. It is formed by separating the body and the sheet base material of the intermediate sheet, and then fixing if necessary.

Further, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording directly on the image receptor, an image receptor having a dyeing layer to which a dye is dyed at the time of sublimation type thermal transfer recording is required.

In order to form a color image composed of a plurality of colors, each color is recorded on the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet, on the image receptor in the case of thermal recording directly recorded, and on the image of the first color. It is necessary to successively record the second and third colors. Images of the second and subsequent colors must exactly match the image positions of the first color. If this misalignment increases, color reproducibility deteriorates, and characters are blurred, which causes inconvenience. In the prior art, a non-adhesive platen, an endless belt, and an intermediate sheet are used, and when a color image is recorded, the platen and the intermediate sheet, the platen and the endless belt, and the image receiving member are repeatedly or reciprocally rotated in a normal or reverse direction. Since a color image is formed by recording while traveling in the direction, minute slips are likely to occur between them, and meandering of the intermediate sheet and image receptor and uneven transport speed occur, and 2.
There is a problem in that the recording of the third color cannot be aligned with the image position of the first color, resulting in a large misregistration of color overlap.

In view of the above points, the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of obtaining a good color image with less color misregistration in a thermal transfer recording apparatus using an intermediate sheet and recording directly on an image receiver. To aim.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of obtaining a good color image with little color shift, downsizing the apparatus, and easily replacing an intermediate sheet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus capable of obtaining a good color image with little color shift and increasing the printing speed.

[0015]

To achieve this object, a color image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, and An endless belt or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet, a holder-conveying unit that conveys the sheet holder, and the intermediate sheet by pressing the intermediate sheet to the sheet. A sheet holding member which is held in close contact with the holding member, a recording unit which selectively records an ink material on the dyeing layer in a state of being held in close contact, and a surface on which the ink material of the intermediate sheet is recorded and an image receiving member. A transfer means for transferring the ink material recorded on the intermediate sheet together with the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet in the state of being brought into contact with the image receptor, the surface of the sheet holder, An adhesive layer is provided on at least one of the other surfaces of the intermediate sheet, and the sheet holder for closely holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet by the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer and the holding force of the sheet holder. It conveys and records a color image.

Further, an adhesive layer is provided on at least one of the surface of the endless belt or the continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet, or the other surface of the intermediate sheet, and the surface of the adhesive layer. The sheet holding body that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet in close contact with the adhesive force of the sheet holding body and the holding force of the sheet holding body is made to travel in a wavy manner and conveyed to record a color image.

Further, a leader sheet is provided on the front end side of the intermediate sheet, and the sheet holding body for holding the leader sheet is conveyed by the holding force and / or the adhesive force of the sheet holding body, and the intermediate sheet is mounted in a recordable state. It is the one to be confused.

Further, the plurality of recording means are arranged in parallel so as to face the sheet holder, and an adhesive layer is provided on at least one of the surface of the sheet holder and the other surface of the intermediate sheet. The sheet holding member that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet in close contact with the surface holding force and the holding force of the sheet holding member is conveyed to record a color image.

Further, there is provided an endless belt having an adhesive layer on the surface for holding an image receptor, or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder, and the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer of the sheet holder and the sheet holding member. The sheet holding member that holds the image receiving member in close contact with the holding force is conveyed, and a color image is directly recorded on the image receiving member.

[0020]

According to the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of an endless belt or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet, or on at least one of the other surface of the intermediate sheet, By transferring the sheet holder that holds the other side of the intermediate sheet in close contact with the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer and the holding force of the sheet holder, the intermediate sheet does not meander or slip. As a result, it is possible to obtain a good color image with little color misregistration or blurring and good color reproduction.

Further, an adhesive layer is provided on at least one of the surface of an endless belt or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet, or the other surface of the intermediate sheet, and the surface of the adhesive layer is adhered. The size of the apparatus can be reduced by causing the sheet holder, which holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet in close contact with the sheet holder, to travel in a wavy shape and be conveyed by the force and the holding force of the sheet holder to record a color image.

Further, a leader sheet is provided on the front end side of the intermediate sheet, and the sheet holding member for holding the leader sheet is conveyed by the holding force and / or the adhesive force of the sheet holding member so that the intermediate sheet can be mounted in a recordable state. Accordingly, when the intermediate sheet is replaced, the work of attaching and detaching the sheet holder and the like is unnecessary, and wrinkles of the intermediate sheet are less likely to occur, and the replacement of the intermediate sheet can be facilitated.

Further, a plurality of recording means are arranged in parallel so as to face the endless belt holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder, and the surface of the sheet holder or the other side of the intermediate sheet is provided. By providing a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on at least one of the surfaces, by recording a color image by conveying a sheet holder that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet in close contact with the adhesive force of the surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the gripping force of the sheet holder. Miniaturization,
Higher printing speed can be obtained.

Further, by conveying the sheet holding body which holds the image receiving body in close contact with the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer of the sheet holding body and the holding force of the sheet holding body, and recording a color image, the meandering of the image receiving body and Slip does not occur, and as a result, a color image with good color reproduction with less color shift and blurring can be obtained.

[0025]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall arrangement of a color image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A thermal transfer recording apparatus that holds an intermediate sheet on a sheet holder of an endless belt to convey and record the intermediate sheet will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main structure of a color image recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. A thermal transfer recording apparatus that holds an intermediate sheet on a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder and conveys and records the intermediate sheet will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 designates a sheet holder for an endless belt, and its specific constitution is as shown in FIG. An adhesive layer 3 of silicone rubber is applied. The holder conveying means has conveying rollers 4 and 5 around which the sheet holder 1 is wound, and is composed of a core metal 6 and a rubber layer 7 having elasticity on its outer peripheral surface, and at least the surface of the conveying roller 5 is adhesive. Is provided with a silicon-based rubber layer. The transport rollers 4 and 5 are rotatably supported by the holder side plate 8 and are unitized so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body in the vertical direction in FIG. There is. The conveying roller 5 is driven by a driving unit (not shown) having a stepping motor to produce a core metal 6
The sheet holder 1 is conveyed by being driven and rotated by a pulley (not shown) fixed to one end of the sheet holder 1. 9, 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a sheet holding member, which is an A holding plate 1 which is rotatably supported.
1 and B holding plate 12 are rotatably provided respectively. A pressing spring 13 is provided on the A holding plate 11 and the B holding plate 12, and presses the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 against the conveying roller 4 via the sheet holding body 1 and the intermediate sheet 14.

As shown in FIG. 9, the specific structure of the intermediate sheet 14 is such that a light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 is applied to one surface of an intermediate sheet substrate 15. The surface of the intermediate sheet 14 not coated with the dyeing layer 16 due to the adhesiveness of the surface of the sheet holder 1 and the pressing of the sheet holders 9 and 10 is the sheet holder 1.
It is held in close contact with the surface. Further, the length of the intermediate sheet 14 that is held in close contact is set to be at least twice the length of the reference recording image of the present apparatus, and both end positions thereof are held by the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10. Reference numeral 17 denotes an intermediate sheet supply roll, 18 denotes an intermediate sheet take-up roll, and the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 is rotatably supported coaxially with an opening / closing shaft 20 supporting an opening / closing side plate 19.

Reference numeral 21 is an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording. Basically, as shown in FIG. 10, a yellow color material layer 23, a magenta color material layer 24, and a cyan color material layer 25 are formed on the surface of an ink sheet substrate 22. Are sequentially applied in a size corresponding to the width of the recording surface. Reference numeral 26 is an ink sheet supply roll, and 27 is an ink sheet take-up roll. Reference numeral 28 denotes a recording head, which is configured to be capable of being brought into and out of contact with the sheet holder 1 mounted at the recording position at approximately the center of the intermediate sheet 14 closely held by the sheet holder 1.

The paper feeding means can feed the image receivers 30 from the paper feed cassette 29 one by one, and a size sensor such as a magnetic reed switch for detecting the size of the image receivers 30 stored in the paper feed cassette 29. 31 is provided.
Further, registration rollers 32 and 33 for feeding the image receiving body 30 to the transfer means at a predetermined timing are provided.

The transfer means has a heating element 34 for heating from the back surface of the intermediate sheet 14 and a transfer pressure roller 35.
Reference numeral 5 is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the heating element 34. Further, during the transfer operation, they are pressed against each other and hold and convey the intermediate sheet 14. When the transfer pressure roller 35 is separated from the heating element 34 during non-transfer, the heat generation element 34 and the transfer pressure roller 35 are separated from the intermediate sheet 14. The transfer means includes a separation roller 36 that is rotatably provided.
A cooling fan 37 for cooling the intermediate sheet 14, the image receiving body 30, and the separation roller 36 heated by the transfer means by blowing air, and an intermediate sheet substrate in the separation roller 36 arranged in contact with or close to the intermediate sheet 14. The separation roller 36 and the cooling fan 37 are provided on the opening / closing side plate 19.

The fixing means has a heat roller 40 heated by a fixing lamp 39 and a fixing pressure roller 41, and is rotatably provided while being in pressure contact with each other. The surfaces of the heat roller 40 and the fixing pressure roller 41 are covered with a silicon rubber layer. Further, a temperature sensor 42 that detects the surface temperature of the heat roller 40 is provided, and the surface of the heat roller 40 is controlled so that it can be set to an arbitrary temperature. Discharging rollers 43 and 44 are arranged at the rear portion.

The opening / closing side plate 19 is a positioning shaft 4 fixed to a positioning plate 45 provided on the opening / closing side plate 19 and a main body side plate 47.
6 is provided and held by this engagement.

With respect to the color image recording apparatus configured as described above, the operation of attaching and detaching the intermediate sheet 14 will be described below with reference to FIG.

To remove the intermediate sheet 14 from the recording state,
The holding body conveying means unitized by the holding body side plate 8 and the like is pulled out in the upward direction of the apparatus main body, the engagement between the positioning plate 45 and the positioning shaft 46 is released, and the opening / closing side plate 19 is used as a fulcrum to open and close the opening / closing side plate 19. By rotating in the direction, the intermediate sheet 14, the intermediate sheet supply roll 17, and the intermediate sheet take-up roll 18 can be removed from above the apparatus main body.

The intermediate sheet 14 is mounted in the recording state by mounting the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 and the intermediate sheet take-up roll 18 which are connected by the intermediate sheet 14, and the opening / closing shaft 20 with the intermediate sheet 14 stretched substantially. The opening / closing side plate 19 is rotated counterclockwise at the fulcrum, and the positioning plate 45 and the positioning shaft 46 are rotated.
And are engaged with each other, and the unitized holder transporting means is mounted on the main body device. The movement of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 at this time is the same as that of the conveying roller 5 of the holding body conveying means and the sheet holding body 1.
Sheet holder 1 through the intermediate sheet 14 by inserting
The sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 are pressed against the sheet holding body 1, and then the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 are spread along the surface of the sheet holding body 1, and the intermediate sheet is pressed onto the surface of the sheet holding body 1 by the pressing force of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10. 14 is closely attached. The intermediate sheet 14 is stretched by an intermediate sheet supply roll 17 and an intermediate sheet take-up roll 18 so as not to slack during the operation of attaching and detaching the sheet holder 1. Further, the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 are always pressed by the pressing spring 13 so that the sheet holding body 1 is held.
Since it is pressed against, the intermediate sheet 14 that is closely held by the sheet holder 1 does not have wrinkles. Pressure spring 13
Considering the deformation of the sheet holding body 1 from the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 due to the pressing force and the wrinkling of the intermediate sheet 14 due to the bending of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 and the like, 500 g to 2000 g was appropriate.

Next, the printing operation of the color image recording apparatus using the intermediate sheet having the above structure will be described with reference to FIG.

When the printing operation is on standby, the intermediate sheet 14
Are held in close contact with the sheet holder 1, and the intermediate sheets 14 at both ends thereof are held by the sheet holders 9 and 10.

The printing operation for color image recording will be described below. First, the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 and the intermediate sheet take-up roll 18 are rotated in the respective winding directions, and a winding force is exerted by a torque limiter (not shown) provided in the rotation transmission system, so that the intermediate sheet 14 is always stretched. To be hung. The recording head 28 presses the color material layer application surface of the ink sheet 21 and the surface of the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 into contact with each other. Further, the transport roller 5 is rotated clockwise for recording the first color. The sheet holder 1 is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the conveying roller 5, so that the sheet holder 1
The intermediate sheet 14 that is held in close contact with is conveyed.

At this time, while receiving the heat pulse according to the recording signal applied to the recording head 28 from the back side of the ink sheet 21, the ink sheet 21 is sent out together with the conveyance of the intermediate sheet 14, and on the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14. The first color is recorded on. The conveying roller 5 uses the operation means capable of designating at least the length of the image to be recorded in the moving direction of the intermediate sheet 14 as an arbitrary recording image length, and the signal of the image end of the size of the image receptor 30 or the designated recording image length. A predetermined amount of rotation is controlled and rotated corresponding to the above. At this time, the intermediate sheet 1 pulled out from the intermediate sheet supply roll 17
The sheet 4 is conveyed while being held in close contact with the surface of the sheet holder 1 up to a position where it is pressed by the sheet holder 9 and held by the sheet holder 10. When a color image having a length equal to or smaller than the reference image length of the present apparatus is recorded, the intermediate sheet 14 on which the image of the first color is recorded is kept in close contact with the sheet holder 1. When an image longer than the reference image length is recorded,
The leading end of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the image of the first color is recorded is separated from the sheet holder 1 and the sheet holder 10 and conveyed by the winding force of the intermediate sheet take-up roll 18. First
When the recording of the color is completed, the transport roller 5 is rotated counterclockwise. The intermediate sheet 14 peeled from the sheet holder 1 during the image recording of the first color forms a close contact state on the surface of the sheet holder 1 by the pressing of the sheet holder 10. The image portion of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the first color is recorded is
Return to the recording start position for recording the second color. At the time of this reversal, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28 stand by in a state of being separated from the intermediate sheet 14, and press contact with each other in accordance with the recording of the second color, and the image of the second color is recorded similarly to the first color. It Similarly, when the recording of the third color (the final color) is completed, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28
Stands by while being separated from the intermediate sheet 14. The conveyance roller 5 is rotated in the clockwise direction even after the recording of the third color is completed, and the intermediate sheet 14 is conveyed.

The transfer pressure roller 35, which is separated at least until the start of recording the final color, is intermediate to the heating element 34 at a predetermined timing until the leading edge of the recorded color image reaches the transfer means. It is pressed through the sheet 14. Then, the intermediate sheet 14 is nipped and conveyed by the heating element 34 and the transfer pressure roller 35. At this time, the intermediate sheet 14 pulled out from the intermediate sheet supply roll 17
Is pressed against the surface of the sheet holding body 1 by the sheet holding body 9 to form a close contact state of the intermediate sheet 14, and the preparation for the next recording is simultaneously performed.

The image receiving member 30 is composed of a pair of registration rollers 3.
After being sent to the position of the recorded image on the dyeing layer 16 by 2 and 33, it is sent out and conveyed to the transfer means while being in contact with the surface of the dyeing layer 16. And the intermediate sheet 14
The image receiving body 30 and the dyeing layer 16 are adhered to each other by heating and melting the dyeing layer 16 by the heating element 34 from the back surface and pressing force of the transfer pressure roller 35. As the image receiver 30, plain paper, coated paper, OHP film, or the like is used. The intermediate sheet 14 and the image receiving member 30 passing between the heating element 34 and the transfer pressure roller 35 and adhering to each other by melting of the dyeing layer 16 have a cooling fan 37 at a predetermined temperature or lower, for example, a glass transition of the dyeing layer 16. It is cooled below the point. And the separation roller 36 having a large curvature
Then, the image receptor 30 to which the dyeing layer 16 is adhered and the intermediate sheet substrate 15 are separated. At this time, the dyeing layer 16 and the ink material recorded on the dyeing layer 16 are transferred onto the image receptor 30 having a strong adhesive force. The smoothness of the surface of the dyeing layer 16 of the transferred color image is substantially equal to the surface state of the separated side of the intermediate sheet substrate 15. The surface of the intermediate sheet substrate 15 has high smoothness, and a glossy color image is obtained. The transfer pressure roller 35 is separated from the heat generating element 34 after the image receiving element 30 passes between the heat generating element 34 and the transfer pressure roller 35, or after the image receiving element 30 and the intermediate sheet substrate 15 are separated.

Further, the image receptor 30 to which the dyeing layer 16 is adhered
Are nipped and conveyed by a heat roller 40 and a fixing pressure roller 41 which are pressed against each other and rotated, and a pair of discharge rollers 4
Image receptor 30 on which a color image has been formed by passing through 3 and 44
Is obtained, and the printing operation is ended. At this time, if the image receiving body 30 is plain paper and it is desired to remove the gloss, the fixing lamp 39 is turned on and the surface of the heat roller 40 is set to a predetermined temperature by the temperature sensor 42, and the heat roller 40 and the fixing pressure roller 41 are separated from each other. Dyeing layer 16 by passing through
It is possible to reduce the glossiness to the extent that the presence of the dyeing layer 16 on the image receptor 30 is not felt according to the surface roughness of the image receptor 30. On the contrary, when a glossy color image is desired, it can be obtained by passing the heat roller 40 without heating. Further, a desired glossy color image can be obtained by arbitrarily controlling the heating temperature of the heat roller 40. When the surface roughness of the image receptor 30 is smooth like coated paper, the desired glossiness can be obtained within a relatively high gloss range by the heating set temperature of the heat roller 40 and the rubber layer surface roughness of the heat roller 40. A certain color image can be obtained.

Next, the printing operation for recording a monochrome image will be described below. In the case of recording a single-color image, it is not necessary to rotate the transport roller 5 in the counterclockwise direction as in color image recording in which each color is recorded in an overlapping manner. In the printing operation, first, the recording head 28 is pressed and the intermediate sheet 14 is transported by the clockwise rotation of the transport roller 5, and a desired monochrome image is recorded. At about the same time,
The transfer pressure roller 35 that has been separated is pressed against the heating element 34 via the intermediate sheet 14. The intermediate sheet 14 is
The heating element 34 and the transfer pressure roller 35 are sandwiched and conveyed. Then, as in the case of recording a color image, the image receiving body 30 is fed and passed through the transfer and fixing means to obtain a recorded image.

FIG. 2 shows a color image recording apparatus using a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder, and basically the same operation as the color image recording apparatus using the endless belt sheet holder shown in FIG. Is performed and will be described below.

In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG.
Reference numeral 48 is a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder, and its specific constitution is a heat-resistant substrate 2 such as a resin film as shown in FIG.
An adhesive layer 3 of silicone rubber having an adhesive property is applied to the surface of the side that contacts the intermediate sheet 14. Reference numeral 49 is a sheet holder supply roll for supplying the continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder 48, and 50 is a sheet holder take-up roll. The sheet holder supply roll 49 is rotatably supported coaxially with the opening / closing shaft 20 that supports the opening / closing side plate 19, and is always rotated in the direction in which the sheet holder 48 is wound. The winding force is adjusted by a torque limiter (not shown). The sheet holder 48 is always stretched and wound around the conveying roller 5 by a predetermined length so as to be in close contact with the conveying roller 5. The holding body feeding means has feeding rollers 4 and 5 for feeding the sheet holding body 48, and includes a cored bar 6 and a rubber layer 7 having elasticity on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and at least the surface of the feeding roller 5 has an adhesive property. Silicone rubber layer is applied. The transport rollers 4 and 5 are rotatably supported by the holder side plate 8 and are unitized so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body in the vertical movement direction in FIG. The conveying roller 5 is driven and transmitted to a pulley (not shown) fixed to one end of the cored bar 6 by a driving means (not shown) having a stepping motor to rotate, and the sheet holding is performed by an adhesive force on the surface of the conveying roller 5. The body 48 is being transported. 9,
A sheet holder 10 is rotatably provided on an A holding plate 11 and a B holding plate 12 which are rotatably supported. A pressing spring 13 is provided on the A holding plate 11 and the B holding plate 12, and presses the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 against the conveying roller 4 via the intermediate sheet 14 and the sheet holding body 48.

As shown in FIG. 9, the specific construction of the intermediate sheet 14 is such that a light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 is applied to one surface of an intermediate sheet substrate 15. The intermediate sheet 14 is held in a state in which the non-coated surface of the dyeing layer 16 is in close contact with the surface of the sheet holding body 48 due to the adhesiveness of the surface of the sheet holding body 48 and the pressing of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10. The length of the intermediate sheet 14 that is held in close contact is at least twice as long as the reference recording image length of this apparatus, and both ends of the sheet holding member 9 are
It is held at 10. Further, an intermediate sheet supply roll 17 and an intermediate sheet take-up roll (not shown) are provided, and they are always rotated in the winding direction of the intermediate sheet 14. The winding force is adjusted by a torque limiter (not shown), and the intermediate sheet 14 is always stretched.

Reference numeral 21 is an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording. Basically, as shown in FIG. 10, a yellow color material layer 23, a magenta color material layer 24, and a cyan color material layer 25 are formed on the surface of an ink sheet substrate 22. Are sequentially applied in a size corresponding to the width of the recording surface. Reference numeral 26 is an ink sheet supply roll, and 27 is an ink sheet take-up roll. Reference numeral 28 denotes a recording head, which is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the sheet holding body 48 at approximately the center of the intermediate sheet 14 which is held in close contact with the sheet holding body 48. At the time of recording, the surface of the ink sheet 21 coated with the color material layer and the surface of the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 are pressed and held by the recording head 28. The recording head 28 is separated until the surface of the layer 16 is separated.

The printing operation of the color image recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main configuration of the color image recording apparatus, showing a state during recording.

The printing operation for color image recording will be described below. First, the intermediate sheet supply roll 17, the intermediate sheet winding roll (not shown), the sheet holder supply roll 49
Also, the sheet holder winding roll 50 is rotated in the winding direction, and a winding force is exerted by each torque limiter (not shown) provided in the rotation transmission system, and the intermediate sheet 1
4 and the sheet holder 48 are always stretched. The recording head 28 presses the color material layer application surface of the ink sheet 21 and the surface of the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 into contact with each other. The conveying roller 5 is rotated clockwise for recording the first color by a driving unit having a stepping motor. The sheet holder 48 is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the conveying roller 5, and the intermediate sheet 14 is moved to the sheet holder 4 by the adhesive force of the surface of the sheet holder 48 and the holding force of the sheet holders 9 and 10.
8 is closely held and conveyed.

At this time, while the heat pulse corresponding to the recording signal applied to the recording head 28 is received from the back side of the ink sheet 21, the ink sheet 21 is sent out with the rotation of the conveying roller 5, and the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 is sent. The first color is recorded on top. The conveyance roller 5 is an image receiving member 3 shown in FIG. 1 by an operation unit capable of designating at least the length of the image to be recorded in the moving direction of the intermediate sheet 14 as an arbitrary recording image length.
A predetermined amount of rotation is controlled and rotated in response to a signal of the image end having a size of 0 or a designated recording image length. At this time, the intermediate sheet 14 pulled out from the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 is pressed by the sheet holding body 9 and the sheet holding body 1 is pressed.
The sheet is conveyed while being held in close contact with the surface of the sheet holder 48 up to a position where it is held at 0. When a color image having a length equal to or shorter than the reference image length of the present apparatus is recorded, the surface of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the image of the first color is recorded remains held in close contact with the sheet holder 48. Further, when a color image having a length equal to or longer than the reference image length is recorded, the leading end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the image of the first color is recorded is moved by the winding force of the intermediate sheet winding roll (not shown) to the sheet holder. It is conveyed away from the sheet carrier 48 and the sheet holder 10. When the recording of the first color is completed, the transport roller 5 is rotated counterclockwise. The intermediate sheet 14 peeled from the sheet holding body 48 during the image recording of the first color forms a close contact state on the surface of the sheet holding body 48 by the pressing of the sheet holding body 10. The image portion of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the first color is recorded returns to the recording start position for recording the second color. At this time, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28 stand by in a state of being separated from the intermediate sheet 14, and come into press contact with each other in accordance with the recording of the second color, and the image of the second color is recorded in the same manner as the first color. It Similarly, when the recording of the third color (which is the final color) is completed, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28 move to the intermediate sheet 1.
It stands by in the state separated from 4. The conveyance roller 5 is rotated in the clockwise direction even after the recording of the third color is completed, and the intermediate sheet 14 is conveyed.

The color image recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 is transferred to the image receiver as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the fixing operation is performed if necessary.

Next, the printing operation for recording a monochrome image will be described below. In the case of recording a single-color image, it is not necessary to rotate the transport roller 5 in the counterclockwise direction as in color image recording in which each color is recorded in an overlapping manner. In the printing operation, first, the recording head 28 is pressed and the intermediate roller 14 is conveyed by rotating the conveying roller 5 in the clockwise direction, and a desired monochromatic image is recorded. Then, the transfer and fixing operations are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 to obtain a recorded image.

In the above-described first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet holders 1 and 48 have been described as having an adhesive surface. However, the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 has an adhesive property. A recorded image can be obtained on the image receptor 30 in the same manner even if it has one or both of them have adhesiveness. Further, as the holder conveying means for the sheet holders 1 and 48, the conveying roller 5 is used.
However, the surface of the sheet holders 1 and 48 on the side in contact with the conveying roller 5 has adhesiveness, or both of them have adhesiveness, or the conveying roller 5 A sprocket is provided at a predetermined position of the sprocket and a sprocket hole corresponding to the sprocket is provided along the conveyance direction of the sheet holders 1 and 48. Further, a timing pulley is provided at a predetermined position of the conveyance roller 5 and a timing belt corresponding to the timing pulley. A recording image can be similarly obtained on the image receiving body 30 even if the tooth profile is integrally provided on the sheet holder 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the intermediate sheet 14 having the light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 on one surface of the continuous sheet substrate 15 and the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 are arranged. An endless belt or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder 1 or 48 for holding, a holder conveying means for conveying the sheet holder 1 or 48, and the intermediate sheet which is pressed against the sheet holder 1 or 48. The sheet holding members 9 and 10 that hold the sheet holding member 14 in close contact with the sheet holding member 1 or 48, recording means for selectively recording an ink material on the dyeing layer 16 in the state of being held in close contact, and the intermediate sheet 14 of the intermediate sheet 14. An ink material recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 together with the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet in a state where the surface on which the ink material is recorded and the image receptor 30 are in contact with each other. And a transfer unit allowed to transfer to the serial receiving body 30, the sheet holding member 1 or 48 surface,
Alternatively, an adhesive layer is provided on at least one of the other surfaces of the intermediate sheet 14, and the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 is closely held by the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer and the gripping force of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10. By conveying and recording the sheet holder 1 or 48, the intermediate sheet 14 between the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 including the position to be recorded is moved while being held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 or 48.
The meandering or slipping of the intermediate sheet 14 with respect to the sheet holding body 1 or 48 does not occur, and the thermal contraction of the intermediate sheet 14 is also suppressed. Further, as the holding body feeding means for feeding the sheet holding body 1 or 48, the feeding roller 5 With a structure in which the sheet is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the sheet holder, the sheet holder 1 or 48 hardly slips, and a high-quality color image with less color misregistration can be obtained on an arbitrary image receiver 30. Is.

Further, the intermediate sheet 14 is brought into close contact with the sheet holding member 1 or 48 by the sheet holding members 9 and 10 and is sandwiched between the sheet holding members 1 and 48, and the sheet holding member 1 or 48 is held in accordance with the length of the recorded image or the size of the image receiving member 30. By conveying and recording, the length of the recorded image is short or the image receiving body 30
The smaller the size, the higher the printing speed can be obtained, and the intermediate sheet 14 can be used for a recorded image as much as necessary to reduce the running cost.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the main structure of a color image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a color image recording apparatus that can be downsized by conveying a sheet holder in a wavy shape.

In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 1 is a sheet holder for an endless belt, and its specific constitution is, as shown in FIG. 8, a heat resistant substrate 2 such as a resin film (eg, polyimide).
The surface of the outer periphery thereof is provided with an adhesive layer 3 of silicone rubber having adhesiveness. The holder conveying means has conveying rollers 4, 5 around which the sheet holder 1 is wound, and tension rollers 51, 52, 53, 54.
Reference numeral 5 is composed of a core metal 6 and a rubber layer 7 having elasticity on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and at least the surface of the conveying roller 5 is provided with an adhesive silicone rubber layer. The transport rollers 4, 5 and the tension rollers 51, 52, 53, 54 are rotatably supported by the holder side plate 55, and are unitized in a state in which the sheet holder 1 is wound. Conveyor roller 5
Is a driving means having a stepping motor (not shown)
A pulley (not shown) fixed to one end of the core metal 6 by
The sheet holding body 1 is conveyed by being driven and rotated. The sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 are rotatably provided on an A holding plate 11 and a B holding plate 12, which are rotatably supported by a holding body side plate 55. A pressing spring 13 is provided on the A holding plate 11 and the B holding plate 12, and presses the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 against the conveying roller 4 via the sheet holding body 1 and the intermediate sheet 14.

Reference numeral 14 is an intermediate sheet, and its concrete structure is shown in FIG.
As shown in (1), the light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 is applied to one surface of the intermediate sheet substrate 15. The surface of the intermediate sheet 14 not coated with the dyeing layer 16 due to the adhesiveness of the surface of the sheet holder 1 and the pressing of the sheet holders 9 and 10 is the sheet holder 1.
It is held in close contact with the surface. Further, the length of the intermediate sheet 14 that is held in close contact is set to be at least twice the length of the reference recording image of the present apparatus, and both end positions thereof are held by the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10. Intermediate sheet supply roll 17
Is rotatably supported coaxially with an opening / closing shaft 20 that supports the opening / closing side plate 19.

Reference numeral 21 is an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording. Basically, as shown in FIG. 10, a yellow color material layer 23, a magenta color material layer 24, and a cyan color material layer 25 are formed on the surface of an ink sheet substrate 22. Are sequentially applied in a size corresponding to the width of the recording surface. Reference numeral 26 is an ink sheet supply roll, and 27 is an ink sheet take-up roll. Reference numeral 28 denotes a recording head, which is configured to be capable of being brought into and out of contact with the sheet holder 1 mounted at the recording position at approximately the center of the intermediate sheet 14 closely held by the sheet holder 1.

Next, the printing operation of the color image recording apparatus using the intermediate sheet having the above structure will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the structure of the essential parts of the second embodiment of the present invention, showing the state during recording. During standby of the printing operation, the intermediate sheet 14 is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1, and the intermediate sheets 14 at both ends thereof are held by the sheet holders 9 and 10.
Being held in.

The printing operation for color image recording will be described below. First, the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 and the intermediate sheet take-up roll (not shown) are respectively rotated in the take-up direction, and the torque limiter (not shown) provided in the rotation transmission system exerts a take-up force, whereby the intermediate sheet is fed. 14 is always suspended. When the recording head 28 is pressed, the ink sheet 2
The surface coated with the color material layer 1 and the surface of the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 are in contact with each other. Further, the transport roller 5 is rotated clockwise for recording the first color. The sheet holder 1 is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the conveying roller 5, so that the intermediate sheet 14 that is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 is conveyed.

At this time, while the heat pulse according to the recording signal applied to the recording head 28 is received from the back side of the ink sheet 21, the ink sheet 21 is sent out together with the conveyance of the sheet holder 1 and the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14. The first color is recorded on top. The conveying roller 5 uses the operation means capable of designating at least the length of the image to be recorded in the moving direction of the intermediate sheet 14 as an arbitrary recording image length, and the signal of the image end of the size of the image receptor 30 or the designated recording image length. A predetermined amount of rotation is controlled and rotated corresponding to the above. At this time, the intermediate sheet 1 pulled out from the intermediate sheet supply roll 17
The sheet 4 is conveyed while being held in close contact with the surface of the sheet holder 1 up to a position where it is pressed by the sheet holder 9 and held by the sheet holder 10. When a color image having a length equal to or smaller than the reference image length of the present apparatus is recorded, the intermediate sheet 14 on which the image of the first color is recorded is kept in close contact with the sheet holder 1. When an image longer than the reference image length is recorded,
The leading end of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the image of the first color is recorded is separated from the sheet holder 1 and the sheet holder 10 and conveyed by the winding force of the intermediate sheet take-up roll 18. First
When the recording of the color is completed, the transport roller 5 is rotated counterclockwise. The intermediate sheet 14 peeled from the sheet holder 1 during the image recording of the first color forms a close contact state on the surface of the sheet holder 1 by the pressing of the sheet holder 10. The image portion of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the first color is recorded is
Return to the recording start position for recording the second color. At the time of this reversal, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28 stand by in a state of being separated from the intermediate sheet 14, and press contact with each other in accordance with the recording of the second color, and the image of the second color is recorded similarly to the first color. It Similarly, when the recording of the third color (the final color) is completed, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28
Stands by while being separated from the intermediate sheet 14. The conveyance roller 5 is rotated in the clockwise direction even after the recording of the third color is completed, and the intermediate sheet 14 is conveyed.

Then, the color image recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 is transferred to the image receiver as in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, and the fixing operation is performed if necessary.

Next, the printing operation for recording a monochromatic image will be described below. In the case of recording a single-color image, it is not necessary to rotate the transport roller 5 in the counterclockwise direction as in color image recording in which each color is recorded in an overlapping manner. In the printing operation, first, the recording head 28 is pressed and the intermediate sheet 14 is transported by the clockwise rotation of the transport roller 5, and a desired monochrome image is recorded. Then, the transfer and fixing operations are performed in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 to obtain a recorded image.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 3 described above, the embodiment in which the surface of the sheet holder 1 has an adhesive property has been described.
Even if the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 has an adhesive property, or if both of them have an adhesive property, the image receiving member 30 is similarly provided.
The recorded image can be obtained on. Also, the sheet holder 1
As described in the example using the endless belt,
A recorded image can be similarly obtained on the image receiving body 30 even in the configuration using the continuous sheet-shaped sheet holding body 48 as shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. Also, the embodiment in which the surface of the transport roller 5 has the adhesive property as the carrier transporting means of the sheet carrier 1 has been described, but the surface of the sheet carrier 1 that is in contact with the transport roller 5 has the adhesive property. Alternatively, both of them have adhesiveness, or a sprocket is provided at a predetermined position of the transport roller 5 and a sprocket hole corresponding to the sprocket is provided along the transport direction of the sheet holder 1, and further, a predetermined position of the transport roller 5 is provided. A similar recording operation can be obtained even if a timing pulley is provided on the sheet holder 1 and the timing belt tooth profile corresponding to the timing pulley is integrally provided on the sheet holder 1.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the intermediate sheet 14 having the light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 on one surface of the continuous sheet-like substrate 15 and the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 are formed. An endless belt for holding or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holding body 1, a holding body feeding means for feeding the sheet holding body 1, and an intermediate sheet 14 pressed against the sheet holding body 1 for holding the intermediate sheet 14. A sheet holding member 9 and 10 which are held in close contact with the sheet 1, recording means for selectively recording an ink material on the dyeing layer 16 in a state of being kept in close contact, and a surface of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the ink material is recorded. A transfer unit for transferring the ink material recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 together with the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 in a state of being in contact with the image receptor 30 to the image receptor 30. An adhesive layer 16 is provided on at least one of the surface of the sheet holder 1 or the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14, and the intermediate layer is formed by the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer 16 and the holding force of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10. By moving the sheet holder 1 that holds the other surface of the sheet 14 in close contact with it in a wavy manner to convey and record, the intermediate sheet 14 between the sheet holders 9 and 10 including the recording position is the sheet holder 1 Since the intermediate sheet 14 is moved while being held in close contact with the sheet holder 1, the intermediate sheet 14 does not meander or slide with respect to the sheet holder 1, and also has an effect of suppressing thermal contraction of the intermediate sheet 14,
Further, since the sheet conveying means for conveying the sheet holder 1 is configured to be conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the conveying roller 5, the sheet holder 1 hardly slips,
A high-quality color image with less color misregistration can be obtained on an arbitrary image receptor 30.

Further, by making the sheet holder 1 that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 in close contact with it in a wavy manner, the conveying portion of the sheet holder 1 can be downsized and the recording apparatus can be downsized. .

(Embodiment 3) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the intermediate sheet which is attached to and detached from the color image recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the intermediate sheet that is attached to and detached from the color image recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 14 is an intermediate sheet,
Reference numeral 17 is an intermediate sheet supply roll, and 18 is an intermediate sheet winding roll. Reference numeral 56 denotes a leader sheet, which is made of a resin film (for example, PET sheet) or the like having a thickness of about 0.05 mm or more, which is less likely to cause wrinkles and which is adhered to the sheet holder 1 by an adhesive force and is easy to convey.

The mounting operation of the intermediate sheet 14 in which the leader sheet 56 is provided at the leading end of the intermediate sheet in the recording state is shown in FIG.
This will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The intermediate sheet supply roll 17 on which the intermediate sheet 14 is wound is mounted at the position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a leader sheet 56 such as a resin film (for example, PET sheet) having a thickness of about 0.05 mm or more is provided at the tip of the intermediate sheet. The leading end of the leader sheet 56 is inserted into a position where the conveying roller 4 and the sheet holding body 9 are pressed against each other. Then, one end of the transport roller 5 for manually rotating the transport roller 5 clockwise or a manual knob (not shown) provided in the drive transmission system of the transport roller 5 or the like is rotated. The leader sheet 56 and the intermediate sheet 14 are
The sheet is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 and conveyed by the holding force of the sheet holder 9 and the adhesive force of the sheet holder 1. The leader sheet 56 that has passed through the position held by the sheet holding body 10 is peeled off from the sheet holding body 1 by hand, and the leader sheet 56 is wound around the intermediate sheet winding roll 18 mounted at the position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the leading end portion of the leader sheet 56 is inserted into the slit portion of the intermediate sheet winding roll 18 and wound. Alternatively, the leading end of the leader sheet 56 is fixed to an intermediate sheet winding roll with an adhesive tape or the like and wound.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the intermediate sheet which can be attached to and detached from the color image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of an intermediate sheet in which a leader sheet is provided at the rear end of the intermediate sheet.

The mounting operation of the intermediate sheet 14 in which the leader sheet 56 is provided at the rear end of the intermediate sheet to the recording state is shown in FIG.
This will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.

When the intermediate sheet 14 is used up to the end,
The leader sheet 56 is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 in FIG. 3 and the rear end of the leader sheet 56 is stuck to the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 as shown in FIG. The rear end of the leader sheet 56 is peeled off from the intermediate sheet supply roll 17, and the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 on which a new intermediate sheet 14 is wound is mounted. The surface of the leader sheet 56, which has been peeled off from the intermediate sheet supply roll 17, to which the adhesive has been applied is attached to the front end portion of a new intermediate sheet 14. Further, the used intermediate sheet 14 and the leader sheet 56 are separated, or the portion joined by the adhesive is peeled off. The leader sheet 56 is wound by using the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 that has been emptied by using the intermediate sheet 14 as the intermediate sheet take-up roll 18. When the intermediate sheet 14 is first mounted, the leader sheet 56 having the rear end portion coated with the adhesive is attached to the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 and conveyed.

Further, in order to repeatedly use the leader sheet 56, one having an adhesive applied to the front end portion of the intermediate sheet 14 or the rear end portion of the leader sheet 56 is used, and the intermediate sheet winding roll 18 is provided with the intermediate sheet. A method of directly winding 14 may be used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the intermediate sheet 14 having the light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 on one surface of the continuous sheet-like substrate 15 and the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 are separated from each other. The sheet holding body 1 or 48 to be held was brought into close contact with the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 which were pressed against the sheet holding body 1 or 48 and brought into close contact with the intermediate sheet 14 with the sheet holding body 1 or 48. In this state, the recording medium for selectively recording the ink material on the dyeing layer 16 and the intermediate sheet 1 in a state where the surface of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the ink material is recorded and the image receiving body 30 are in contact with each other.
4 and a transfer means for transferring the ink material recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 together with the dyeing layer 16 to the image receptor 30, and a leader sheet 56 is provided on the leading end side of the intermediate sheet 14, By carrying the sheet holder 1 or 48 holding the leader sheet 56 by the holding force and / or the adhesive force of the holding bodies 9 and 10, and mounting the intermediate sheet 14 in a recordable state,
It is not necessary to attach or detach the sheet holder or the like when exchanging the intermediate sheet, and the intermediate sheet can be easily exchanged without wrinkling of the intermediate sheet.

(Embodiment 4) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the main structure of a color image recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is a color image recording apparatus that achieves high-speed printing.

In FIG. 6, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 1 is a sheet holder for an endless belt, and its specific constitution is, as shown in FIG. 8, a heat resistant substrate 2 such as a resin film (eg, polyimide).
The surface of the outer periphery thereof is provided with an adhesive layer 3 of silicone rubber having adhesiveness. The holding body conveying means includes conveyance rollers 57, 58, 59, 6 around which the sheet holding body 1 is wound.
0, and a drive rotating body 63, and the transport rollers 57, 58,
Reference numerals 59 and 60 each include a core metal 61 and a rubber layer 62 having elasticity on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and at least the transport rollers 58, 59,
The surface of 60 is provided with an adhesive silicon-based rubber layer 62. The conveying rollers 57, 58, 59, 60 and the driving rotator 63 are rotatably supported by the holder side plate 64, and are unitized in a state in which the sheet holder 1 is wound. The drive rotor 63 is rotated by being transmitted to a pulley (not shown) fixed to one end of the drive rotor 63 by drive means (not shown) having a stepping motor. The conveying rollers 58, 59, 60 are pressed against the driving rotator 63 by the elastic force of the rubber layers 62 and are rotated by the rotation of the driving rotator 63 to convey the sheet holder 1. . Seat holder 9, 10
Is an A holding plate 1 rotatably supported by a holding body side plate 64.
1 and B holding plate 12 are rotatably provided respectively. A pressing spring 13 is provided on the A holding plate 11 and the B holding plate 12, and presses the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 against the conveying roller 57 via the sheet holding body 1 and the intermediate sheet 14.

As shown in FIG. 9, the specific construction of the intermediate sheet 14 is such that the light-transmitting dyeing layer 16 is applied to one surface of the intermediate sheet substrate 15. The intermediate sheet 14 is held in a state in which the non-coated surface of the dyeing layer 16 is in close contact with the surface of the sheet holder 1 due to the adhesiveness of the surface of the sheet holder 1 and the pressing of the sheet holders 9 and 10. The intermediate sheet supply roll 17 is rotatably supported coaxially with an opening / closing shaft 20 that supports the opening / closing side plate 19.

Reference numerals 65, 66 and 67 denote thermal transfer recording ink sheets, on the surface of which yellow, magenta and cyan coloring materials are applied. Reference numerals 68, 69 and 70 denote recording heads, which can be brought into contact with and separated from the conveying rollers 58, 59 and 60, respectively, and are arranged so as to align recording positions.

The printing operation of the color image recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

The drive rotor 63 is rotated counterclockwise by drive means (not shown) having a stepping motor. Conveying rollers 58, 5 pressed against the driving rotating body 63
9 and 60 are rotated clockwise. Transport roller 58,
The sheet holder 1 is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surfaces of 59 and 60, so that the intermediate sheet 14 that is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 is conveyed. The intermediate sheet 14 is evenly pressed by the sheet holding body 9 to the sheet holding body 1 having an adhesive property on the surface, and the intermediate sheet feeding roll 17 is attached to the sheet holding body 1 while the sheet holding body 1 is conveyed.
Sent out from. Similar to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the intermediate sheet supply roll 17 and the intermediate sheet take-up roll (not shown) are always rotated in the winding direction of the intermediate sheet 14, respectively. The winding force is adjusted by a torque limiter (not shown), and the intermediate sheet 14 is always stretched. The sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 are rotated as the sheet holding body 1 is conveyed. First, the recording head 68 is pressed by the conveyance roller 58 via the ink sheet 65, the intermediate sheet 14 and the sheet holder 1 in accordance with the arrival of the leading edge of the recording image, and a heat pulse corresponding to a recording signal is applied to the intermediate sheet. A yellow image of the first color is recorded on the dyeing layer 16 of 14. The intermediate sheet 14 on which the first color is recorded is
The sheet is conveyed while being held in close contact with the sheet holder 1, and a magenta image of the second color is recorded by the recording head 69 and the ink sheet 66 at a position aligned with the image position of the first color, similarly to the first color. The intermediate sheet 14 on which the second color is recorded is conveyed while being held in close contact with the sheet holder 1, and similarly, a cyan image of the third color is recorded by the recording head 70 and the ink sheet 67 to record a color image. Ends. The driving rotator 63 is driven to rotate further, and the recorded intermediate sheet 14 is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 until it reaches the position where it is held by the sheet holder 1 and the sheet holder 10, and the intermediate sheet is wound. Roll (not shown)
The sheet is separated from the sheet holding body 1 and the sheet holding body 10 by the winding force and is guided to the transfer means.

Then, the color image recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 is transferred to the image receiver as in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, and the fixing operation is performed if necessary.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 described above, the embodiment in which the surface of the sheet holder 1 is adhesive has been described.
The same recording operation can be obtained even if the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 has adhesiveness, or if both have adhesiveness. Further, although the embodiment in which the endless belt is used as the sheet holder 1 has been described, the image receiving member 30 can be similarly configured in the configuration using the continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder 48 as shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. The recorded image can be obtained on. Further, the sheet carrying means of the sheet holding body 1 has been described in the embodiment in which the surfaces of the carrying rollers 58, 59, 60 are adhesive, but the sheet holding body 1 on the side in contact with the carrying rollers 58, 59, 60 has been described. One whose surface is adhesive, or both of which are adhesive, or the conveying roller 5
Sprockets are provided at predetermined positions of 8, 59, and 60, and sprocket holes corresponding to the sprockets are provided along the conveyance direction of the sheet holder 1, and further the conveyance rollers 58,
A similar recording operation can be obtained even with a timing pulley provided at predetermined positions 59 and 60 and a timing belt tooth profile corresponding to the timing pulley provided integrally with the sheet holder 1. Further, the transport roller 57 is eliminated and the transport roller 5
The sheet holding body 1 of the endless belt is wound around the three sheets 8, 59 and 60, and the sheet holding body 9 is conveyed by the conveying roller 58.
In addition, a recording image can be similarly obtained on the image receiving body 30 even with the configuration in which the sheet holding body 10 is pressed against the conveying roller 60. Further, the driving rotating body 63 is connected to the transport rollers 58, 5
9, a drive roller (not shown) having a stepping motor having the same structure as that of the drive rollers 9 and 60 transmits the drive transmission.
The same recording operation can be obtained with a configuration or the like for transmitting to any of 8, 59, and 60.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the light-transmitting dyeing layer 1 is formed on one surface of the continuous sheet substrate 15.
6, an intermediate sheet 14 having 6; an endless belt that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14; or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder 1, a holder conveying unit that conveys the sheet holder 1, and the sheet. Sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 that press the holding body 1 against each other to hold the intermediate sheet 14 in close contact with the sheet holding body 1, and ink material is selectively recorded on the dyeing layer 16 in the state of being held in close contact. Ink recorded on the intermediate sheet 14 together with the dyeing layer 16 of the intermediate sheet 14 in a state where the plurality of recording means and the surface of the intermediate sheet 14 on which the ink material is recorded and the image receptor 30 are in contact with each other. A transfer means for transferring the material to the image receiving body 30, and the plurality of recording means are arranged in parallel so as to face the sheet holding body 1, and the surface of the sheet holding body 1; Provides an adhesive layer on at least one of the other surfaces of the intermediate sheet 14, and holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet 14 in close contact with the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer and the clamping force of the sheet holding bodies 9, 10. The sheet holder 1
Since the intermediate sheet 14 on which an image is recorded is conveyed while being closely adhered to the sheet holder 1 at least until it passes through the position for recording the final color, the intermediate sheet with respect to the sheet holder 1 is conveyed. No meandering or slippage of the sheet 14 occurs, and the effect of suppressing heat shrinkage of the intermediate sheet 14 is obtained. Further, as a holder conveying means for conveying the sheet holder 1, the adhesive force on the surface of the conveying rollers 58, 59, 60. The sheet holder 1 is configured so that it can be conveyed.
A high-quality color image with little color misregistration can be obtained on any image receiver 30 with almost no slippage.

Further, by moving the intermediate sheet 14 in one direction, 2
By guiding the intermediate sheet 14 in which three or more colors are recorded simultaneously and the final color is recorded while the final color is recorded to the transfer means, the fast print speed and continuous print speed can be increased.

Further, by making the conveying rollers 58, 59, 60 facing the recording heads 68, 69, 70 small in diameter, a small recording head can be arranged, and the recording apparatus can be miniaturized.
The price can be reduced.

(Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the overall arrangement of a color image recording apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. A thermal transfer recording device that directly records an image on an image receiver will be described.

In FIG. 7, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. Reference numeral 1 is a sheet holder for an endless belt, and its specific constitution is, as shown in FIG. 8, a heat resistant substrate 2 such as a resin film (eg, polyimide).
The surface of the outer periphery thereof is provided with an adhesive layer 3 of silicone rubber having adhesiveness. The holder conveying means has conveying rollers 5 and 71 around which the sheet holder 1 is wound, and the conveying roller 5 includes a cored bar 6 and a rubber layer 7 having elasticity on its outer peripheral surface.
And the surface of the transport roller 5 is coated with an adhesive silicon-based rubber layer. Further, the transport rollers 5 and 71 are
It is rotatably supported by the holder side plate 8 and is unitized so as to be attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body in the left-right direction in FIG. The conveying roller 5 is driven and transmitted to a pulley (not shown) fixed to one end of the cored bar 6 by a driving means (not shown) having a stepping motor to rotate and conveys the sheet holding body 1. Sheet holding members 9 and 10 are rotatably provided on an A holding plate 11 and a B holding plate 12 which are rotatably supported. A pressing spring 13 is provided on the A holding plate 11 and the B holding plate 12, and the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10 are pressed against the conveying roller 5 via the sheet holding body 1.

The ink sheet 21 for thermal transfer recording is the same as that of the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG.
2 has a yellow coloring material layer 23 and a magenta coloring material layer 2
4 and cyan color material layers 25 are sequentially applied in a size corresponding to the width of the recording surface. Reference numeral 26 is an ink sheet supply roll, and 27 is an ink sheet take-up roll. Two
Reference numeral 8 denotes a recording head, which is configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the sheet holder 1. Reference numeral 72 denotes an image receptor, and in sublimation thermal transfer recording, an image receptor having a dyeing layer on one surface of a sheet-shaped substrate is used. At the time of recording, the surface of the ink sheet 21 on which the color material layer is applied and the surface of the image receiver 72 are pressed and held by the recording head 28. The head 28 is separated.

The paper feeding means can feed the image receivers 72 one by one from the paper feed cassette 29. In order to detect the size of the image receivers 72 stored in the paper feed cassette 29, a size sensor such as a magnetic reed switch is used. 31 and registration rollers 32 and 33 for feeding the image receiver 72 to the recording means at a predetermined timing.

The printing operation of the color image recording apparatus in the fifth embodiment for recording directly on the image receptor constructed as above will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the overall construction of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, showing the state during recording of the first color.

First, the image receiving body 72 is sent out from the paper feeding cassette 29, and is fed by the registration rollers 32 and 33 at a predetermined timing. The conveying roller 5 is rotated counterclockwise for recording the first color, and the sheet holding member 1 is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the conveying roller 5 and the holding force of the sheet holding members 9 and 10. Then, the fed image receiving body 72 is pressed by the sheet holding body 9 and is conveyed while being held in close contact with the surface of the sheet holding body 1. When the recording head 28 is pressed, the color material layer application surface of the ink sheet 21 and the image receiving member 72
The surfaces of the are contacted, and the image is recorded directly on the image receiver 72.

At this time, while the heat pulse corresponding to the recording signal applied to the recording head 28 is received from the back side of the ink sheet 21, the ink sheet 21 is sent out together with the conveyance of the sheet holder 1, and the first color image is received on the image receiving body 72. Is recorded. The conveying roller 5 operates the operation means capable of designating at least the length of the image to be recorded in the moving direction of the image receiving body 72 as an arbitrary recording image length, and the signal of the image end of the size of the image receiving body 72 or the designated recording image length. A predetermined amount of rotation is controlled and rotated corresponding to the above. When the image receiving body 72 having a long size is fed, the leading end portion of the image receiving body 72 is separated from the sheet holding body 1 by the conveying roller 71 having a large curvature and is conveyed in the sheet discharging direction. After the recording of the first color is completed, the rotation of the transport roller 5 is stopped, and at this time, the image receiving body 72 is held between the sheet holding body 1 and at least the sheet holding body 10.

Then, the conveying roller 5 is rotated clockwise for recording the second color. The image receiving body 72 on which the image of the first color is recorded is brought into close contact with the surface of the sheet holding body 1 by the pressing of the sheet holding body 10, and returns to the recording start position for recording of the second color, and is conveyed by the transport roller. The rotation of 5 and the conveyance of the sheet holder 1 are stopped. At this time, the image receiving body 72 is held between the sheet holding body 1 and at least the sheet holding body 9. Further, at the time of this reversal, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28 stand by in a state of being separated from the image receiving body 72, and press contact with each other in accordance with the recording of the second color, and the image of the second color is recorded similarly to the first color. To be done. Similarly, when the recording of the third color (the final color) is completed, the ink sheet 21 and the recording head 28 are on standby in a state of being separated from the image receiving body 72. Further, the conveyance roller 5 and the sheet holder 1 are rotated and conveyed counterclockwise after the completion of recording of the third color until at least the image receiving body 72 is separated from the sheet holder 1 by the conveyance roller 71 having a large curvature. A color image can be obtained.

Next, the printing operation when a monochrome image is directly recorded on the image receiver will be described below.

In the case of recording a single-color image, it is not necessary to rotate and convey the conveying roller 5 and the sheet holder 1 in the clockwise direction as in the color image recording in which each color is recorded in an overlapping manner.
The image receiving body 72 is sent out from the paper feeding cassette 29, and is fed by the registration rollers 32 and 33 at a predetermined timing. The conveying roller 5 is rotated counterclockwise for recording. The fed image receiving body 72 is moved by being pressed by the sheet holding body 9 to be closely held on the surface of the sheet holding body 1. Then, the ink sheet 2 is pressed by pressing the recording head 28.
The surface coated with the first color material layer is brought into contact with the surface of the image receptor 72, and an image is recorded on the image receptor 72. Recorded image receptor 72
Is separated from the sheet holder 1 by the conveyance roller 71 having a large curvature and discharged, and a monochromatic image can be obtained.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the endless belt having the adhesive layer on the surface and holding the image receiving member 72, or the continuous sheet-shaped sheet holding member 1 and the sheet holding member 1 are provided. A holding body conveying means for conveying the sheet and a sheet holding body 9 and 10 which presses the sheet holding body 1 and holds the image receiving body 72 in close contact with the sheet holding body 1.
And at least one recording means for selectively recording the ink material on the image receiving member 72 in a state of being in close contact with each other,
By conveying and recording the sheet holding body 1 that holds the image receiving body 72 in close contact with the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer of the sheet holding body 1 and the holding force of the sheet holding bodies 9 and 10, the image receiving body 72 is Since the sheet is held in close contact with the sheet holder 1 and conveyed, the meandering or slippage of the image receiver 72 with respect to the sheet holder 1 does not occur, and the surface of the conveying roller 5 serves as a holder conveying means for conveying the sheet holder 1. With the configuration in which the sheet is conveyed by the adhesive force, the sheet holder 1 hardly slips, and a high-quality color image with less color misregistration can be obtained on an arbitrary image receiver 30.

The constitutions and materials of the members used in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 will be concretely shown below.

The adhesive surface portions of the transport rollers 5, 58, 59, 60 are made of chloroprene rubber provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cored bar and 1 mm thick silicon rubber (releasing silicone resin and adhesive silicone resin. (Mixed and combined) were stuck together and used. The material for the surface portion may be processed by forming a tube in advance and covering it with a tube, or by directly manufacturing it by die molding, and is not particularly affected by the processing method. In addition, as the adhesive material, fluorosilicone rubber, fluorine rubber, urethane rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene and the like can be used.

The adhesive layers on the surface of the sheet holders 1 and 48 are formed by applying the paint of (Table 1) to the heat resistant substrate 2 of polyimide having a thickness of 0.05 mm, and the adhesive layer on the side in contact with the intermediate sheet 14. An intermediate sheet having the adhesive layer 3 was produced.

[0109]

[Table 1]

The degree of tackiness of the sheet holder also depends on the smoothness of the rubber surface, and the tackiness increases as it approaches a mirror surface.
As an index of tackiness, the peeling force when peeling the intermediate sheet 14 is used (according to JIS Z0237 180 degree peeling method), and if the value is 0.1 g / inch or more, the effect of preventing thermal shrinkage of the intermediate sheet 14 is obtained. Can be expected, and considering the transportability of the intermediate sheet 14, 1 g / inch
Above 3 g / inch was appropriate. To confirm this effect, the amount of shrinkage of the intermediate sheet after recording by applying energy of 5 J / cm ² to the thermal head is measured. When the peeling force on the surface of the sheet holder is 0.1 g / inch, the amount of heat shrinkage is about 0.08 mm per 200 mm width and 1 g / inch.
It was about 0.02 mm above the inch. Also intermediate sheet 1
4. No meandering or slippage of No. 4 or the image receptor 30 occurred. Regarding the transportability of the image receptor 30, the higher the degree of tackiness, the better the meandering and slipping. By the way, when using a non-sticky rubber material, about 0.3
Thermal contraction of mm was observed, and meandering occurred unless the pressing force in the axial direction of the sheet holding member was finely adjusted. The intermediate sheet used at this time was a polyethylene terephthalate film (thickness: 23 μl manufactured by Toray Industries, Ltd.) as an intermediate sheet substrate, and a polyvinyl butyral resin (BL-S average degree of polymerization: about 350 Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd.) 4 parts by weight, siloxane-containing acrylic silicone resin solution (F-6A active ingredient 54 wt%, Sanyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) 0.24 parts by weight, di-n-butyltin dulaurate 0.001 parts by weight, 18 parts by weight of toluene,
A coating material consisting of 18 parts by weight of 2-butanone was applied to form a dyeing layer.

Various polymer films can be used as the intermediate sheet substrate. Examples of various polymer films include polyolefin-based, polyamide-based, polyester-based, polyimide-based, polyether-based, cellulose-based, polyoxadiazole-based, polystyrene-based, and fluorine-based films. In particular, films of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, aramid, triacetyl cellulose, polyparabanic acid, polysulfone, polypropylene, cellophane, moisture-proof cellophane or polyethylene are useful.

The dyeing layer is formed using at least a polymer. Various polymers can be used as the polymer. For example, there are acrylic resins, styrene resins, urethane resins, polyester resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, vinyl acetate resins, amide resins, cellulose resins, chlorinated resins, and the like. In particular, acrylonitrile-styrene copolymer resin, polystyrene, styrene-acrylic copolymer resin, saturated polyester, polyether urethane, chlorinated rubber, chlorinated polypropylene, vinyl chloride resin, chlorinated vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin ( Further, vinyl alcohol, maleic acid and other components may be copolymerized), vinyl chloride-acrylic acid ester copolymer resin (including multi-component copolymer resin using a plurality of acrylic acid esters), vinyl acetate resin When sublimation dye transfer recording is performed, at least one kind selected from polycarbonate, cellulosic resin and the like is used, and the recording sensitivity is high and good.

The glass transition point of the polymer is 40 ° C. to 150 ° C.
Is particularly preferable, the average degree of polymerization of the polymer is in the range of 150 to 3000, or the flow softening point is 300 ° C or lower. For the purpose of transferring the dyeing layer to the image receiving body or fixing the dyeing layer resin into the fibers of the paper when the image receiving body is porous such as paper, the average degree of polymerization is 2000 or less and the molecular weight is high. Numerator or flow softening point is 250
A polymer having a temperature of ℃ or less is particularly desirable. Since the dyeing layer on which an image is formed is transferred onto the image receptor, the dyeing layer is preferably a polymer having high transparency. Polyvinyl acetal is particularly desirable as the polymer of the dyeing layer. As the polyvinyl acetal, various aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propion acetal, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral and the like are particularly useful for polyvinyl alcohol. The ink sheet was a sublimation type thermal transfer recording sheet, and was prepared as follows.

An ink having a lubrication heat-resistant layer on the lower surface and an anchor coat layer on the upper surface of the polyethylene terephthalate film, which is coated with the following three colors of paint on the anchor coat layer, and each color material layer of cyan, magenta, and yellow. A sheet was prepared. Table 2 shows the composition of each paint.

[0115]

[Table 2]

Using the above ink sheet, the thermal head was pressed against the sheet holder (about 3 kg), and recording was performed under the recording conditions of (Table 3).

[0117]

[Table 3]

Further, as the ink sheet, a heat melting type recording sheet can also be used. It has a viscosity of 1 when melted.
An ink sheet having cyan, magenta, and yellow color material layers of 0,000 centipoise was used. The recording conditions when these are used are shown in (Table 4).

[0119]

[Table 4]

Further, it is possible to mix and record a sublimation type thermal recording color material and a heat melting type recording material on the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet. For example, a photographic image is sublimated on the dyeing layer. It is also excellent and expensive according to the present invention that an extremely high quality recorded image can be obtained by utilizing the features of both recording methods by recording with a dye and recording a character portion with a heat-melting color material.

As described above, the present invention is particularly effective in the thermal recording method involving shrinkage of the intermediate sheet at the time of recording. It has an excellent effect in that a high-quality image can be obtained regardless of the accuracy of repeated position accuracy and the type of image receptor.

Further, the example in which the surface of the sheet holder is tacky has been described, but the same effect can be obtained even if the intermediate sheet itself has tackiness as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 11, reference numeral 15 is an intermediate sheet substrate, 16 is a dyeing layer, and the same materials as those described in FIG. 9 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 were used.
Reference numeral 73 denotes an adhesive layer, which is formed by applying the coating material (Table 1) in the same manner as the adhesive layer 3 on the surface of the sheet holders 1 and 48.
The intermediate sheet 14 having 6 and the adhesive layer 73 was manufactured.

Using this adhesive intermediate sheet,
Using a sheet holder with a non-adhesive rubber surface that is normally used, an experiment was conducted with the configurations of FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. A high-quality recorded image with little deviation was obtained.

Details of the transfer means and the fixing means will be described below. The heating element 34 of the transfer means was a ceramic substrate coated with a resistance coating having a width of 3 mm on the surface of the heating element covered with a Teflon-treated polyimide film, which was used as a heating source. An alternating current was applied to the heating element 34 to control the film surface temperature by a thermistor built in the heating element 34, and the film was actually used in a temperature range of 165 ° C. ± 5 ° C. As the transfer pressure roller 35, a silicon rubber roller having a rubber thickness of 5 mm and a diameter of 25 mm and a hardness of 30 degrees was used, and the transfer pressure was 7 kg / 200 mm. Intermediate sheet 1
The dyeing layer 15 on 4 is melt-bonded to the entire surface of the image receptor 30 and separated by the separating roller 36 according to the size of the image receptor 30.
5 and the dyeing layer 16 are separated. In this way, the recorded image on the dyeing layer 16 includes the coloring material and the dyeing layer 16 and the image receptor 30.
It is also a feature of the present invention that it is sandwiched between the two, so that a print that is strong against rubbing and has excellent durability can be obtained.

In the above description, the heating element having the fixed elongated flat heating portion has been described, but the same effect can be obtained by using a heat roller used in the fixing means instead. In particular, by using a heating element having a fixed elongated heating element, the transfer temperature can be raised to a predetermined transfer temperature, for example, 165 ° C. in about 3 seconds or less, warming up is not required, power consumption is reduced, and printing is performed. Saves time.

Next, the dyeing layer 16 on the image receptor 30 separated from the intermediate sheet substrate 15 is subjected to a heat fixing process by a fixing means, if necessary. A metal roller whose surface temperature is approximately 180 ° C and whose surface is coated with silicone rubber (diameter 25 mm, rubber thickness 3
mm, rubber hardness 40 degrees, roller inside heated with a halogen lamp) as a heat roller 40, the surface of which is covered with silicone rubber (diameter 30 mm, rubber thickness 5 mm, rubber hardness 5)
20 kg of pressure is applied between the fixing pressure roller 41 (0 degree),
The image receptor 30 is passed so that the dyeing layer 16 on the image receptor 30 contacts the heat roller 40 side. When the image receptor 30 is plain paper, the glossiness before passing through the fixing means was about 65%, but after heat treatment it decreased to about 8%, and the surface condition was improved to the extent that the presence of the dyeing layer was not visible. Be quality. The fixed image on the plain paper obtained as described above had good writability with a pencil.

[0127]

As described above, the present invention provides an intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet substrate, and an endless belt for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet. Alternatively, a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder, a holder conveying means for conveying the sheet holder, and a sheet holder for pressing the intermediate sheet into close contact with the sheet holder to sandwich the intermediate sheet. A recording means for selectively recording an ink material on the dyeing layer in a state of being in close contact, and the dyeing of the intermediate sheet in a state of contacting a surface of the intermediate sheet on which the ink material is recorded with an image receptor. At least one of the surface of the sheet holder and the other surface of the intermediate sheet, and a transfer means for transferring the ink material recorded on the intermediate sheet to the image receiving body together with a coating layer. By providing an adhesive layer and conveying and recording the sheet holder that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet in close contact with the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer and the holding force of the sheet holding body, an intermediate for the sheet holding body is obtained. It is intended to provide a high-quality color image in which the sheet does not meander or slip, and the intermediate sheet is prevented from thermal contraction, and there is almost no color misregistration and good color reproduction. In addition, since the surface of the recorded image on the image receptor is covered with the dyeing layer, the ink material is not directly rubbed and a recorded image having excellent fixability is also provided. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a color image recording apparatus which is small in size, low in price, easy to replace an intermediate sheet, and high in printing speed. Further, by using a sheet holder provided with an adhesive layer on the surface, a color image recording apparatus having a simple apparatus configuration capable of directly recording on an image receiver and obtaining a good color image with little color shift is provided. It is a thing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall configuration of a color image recording apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of a color image recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a main configuration of a color image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the main part of an intermediate sheet that is attached to and detached from a color image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part configuration of an intermediate sheet which is attached to and detached from a color image recording apparatus according to another embodiment of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the main structure of a color image recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the overall configuration of a color image recording apparatus in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of a sheet holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of an intermediate sheet in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view of an ink sheet in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an intermediate sheet when the intermediate sheet itself has an adhesive property in an example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a conventional intermediate sheet.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus for directly recording on an image receptor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Sheet Holder 2 Heat Resistant Substrate 3 Adhesive Layer 4 Conveying Roller 5 Conveying Roller 6 Core Bar 7 Rubber Layer 8 Holding Body Side Plate 9 Sheet Holding Body 10 Sheet Holding Body 11 A Holding Plate 12 B Holding Plate 13 Pressing Spring 14 Intermediate Sheet 15 Intermediate sheet substrate 16 Dyeing layer 17 Intermediate sheet supply roll 18 Intermediate sheet winding roll 19 Open / close side plate 20 Open / close shaft 21 Ink sheet 22 Ink sheet substrate 23 Yellow color material layer 24 Magenta color material layer 25 Cyan color material layer 26 Ink sheet supply roll 27 Ink sheet take-up roll 28 Recording head 29 Paper feed cassette 30 Image receptor 31 Size sensor 32 Registration roller 33 Registration roller 34 Registration heating element 35 Transfer pressure roller 36 Separation roller 37 Cooling fan 38 Separation separation 39 Fixing lamp 40 Heat roller 41 Fixing pressure 42 temperature sensor 43 discharge roller 44 discharge roller 45 positioning plate 46 positioning shaft 47 main body side plate 48 sheet holder 49 sheet holder supply roll 50 sheet holder winding roll 51 tension roller 52 tension roller 53 tension roller 54 tension roller 55 Holder side plate 56 Leader sheet 57 Conveying roller 58 Conveying roller 59 Conveying roller 60 Conveying roller 61 Core metal 62 Rubber layer 63 Driving rotor 64 Holding body side plate 65 Yellow color material layer 66 Magenta color material layer 67 Cyan color material layer 68 Recording Head 69 Recording Head 70 Recording Head 71 Conveying Roller 72 Image Receptor 73 Adhesive Layer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-shaped substrate, an endless belt for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet, or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder. A body, a holding body conveying means for conveying the sheet holding body, a sheet holding body for holding the intermediate sheet in close contact with the sheet holding body by pressing against the sheet holding body, and the dyeing in a state of being in close contact with the sheet holding body. On the intermediate sheet together with the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet in a state where the recording means for selectively recording the ink material on the receiving layer and the surface of the intermediate sheet on which the ink material is recorded and the image receiver are brought into contact with each other. A transfer means for transferring the recorded ink material to the image receiving body, and providing an adhesive layer on at least one of the surface of the sheet holder or the other surface of the intermediate sheet, Color image recording apparatus characterized by allowed to be in the adhesive strength of the surface of the clamping force of the sheet pinching member transporting the sheet holding member be tightly held the other surface of the intermediate sheet recording. 2. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-like substrate, an endless belt for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet, or a continuous sheet-like sheet holder. A body, a holding body conveying means for conveying the sheet holding body, a sheet holding body for holding the intermediate sheet in close contact with the sheet holding body by pressing against the sheet holding body, and the dyeing in a state of being in close contact with the sheet holding body. On the intermediate sheet together with the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet in a state where the recording means for selectively recording the ink material on the receiving layer and the surface of the intermediate sheet on which the ink material is recorded and the image receiver are brought into contact with each other. A transfer means for transferring the recorded ink material to the image receiving body, and providing an adhesive layer on at least one of the surface of the sheet holder or the other surface of the intermediate sheet, Color image recording apparatus of the sheet holding member be tightly held the other surface of the intermediate sheet with the adhesive force and clamping force of the sheet clamping member surface is traveling on undulating, characterized in that allowed to transport recorded. 3. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet substrate, a sheet holder for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet, and a sheet holder for the sheet holder. A sheet holding member that presses the intermediate sheet into close contact with the sheet holding member by pressing, and a recording unit that selectively records the ink material in the dyeing layer in the close contact state,
A transfer means for transferring the ink material recorded on the intermediate sheet together with the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet in a state where the surface of the intermediate sheet on which the ink material is recorded and the image receiver are brought into contact with each other; A state in which a leader sheet is provided on the front end side of the intermediate sheet, and the sheet holding body that holds the leader sheet by the holding force or the adhesive force of the sheet holding body is conveyed to record the intermediate sheet. A color image recording device characterized by being attached to a. 4. An intermediate sheet having a light-transmitting dyeing layer on one surface of a continuous sheet-shaped substrate, an endless belt for holding the other surface of the intermediate sheet, or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holding member. A body, a holding body conveying means for conveying the sheet holding body, a sheet holding body for holding the intermediate sheet in close contact with the sheet holding body by pressing against the sheet holding body, and the dyeing in a state of being in close contact with the sheet holding body. A plurality of recording means for selectively recording an ink material on the coating layer, and the intermediate sheet together with the dyeing layer of the intermediate sheet in a state where the surface of the intermediate sheet on which the ink material is recorded and the image receptor are brought into contact with each other. A transfer means for transferring the above-recorded ink material to the image receiving body, and the plurality of recording means are arranged in parallel so as to face the sheet holding body, and the surface of the sheet holding body, or An adhesive layer is provided on at least one of the other surfaces of the intermediate sheet, and the sheet holder that holds the other surface of the intermediate sheet in close contact is conveyed by the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer and the holding force of the sheet holder. A color image recording apparatus, which is capable of recording. 5. An endless belt having an adhesive layer on the surface and holding an image receptor, or a continuous sheet-shaped sheet holder,
Holding member conveying means for conveying the sheet holding member, a sheet holding member that presses against the sheet holding member to hold the image receiving member in close contact with the sheet holding member, and ink to the image receiving member in the close contact state At least one recording means for selectively recording the material, the sheet holder for closely holding the image receptor by the adhesive force of the surface of the adhesive layer of the sheet holder and the gripping force of the sheet holder. A color image recording device characterized by being conveyed and recorded.