JPH0872326A - Multiple recording printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To record an image within a short time by a plurality of systems different in resolving power, gradation and hue by recording an image on one recording paper by a plurality of systems by using the recording apparatus selected from a plurality of recording apparatuses of different systems. CONSTITUTION: When a printer is started by operating the operation button of an operation part, recording paper 2 is taken out of a cassette one at a time according to the command from a control device by a pickup roller 5 to be fed to a rotary drum 1 and held on the peripheral surface of the drum 1 rotated in the direction shown by an arrow 3. Next, the rotary drum 1 begins to rotate for the sake of recording scanning and preset recording apparatuses 6a, 6b, 6c are successively operated to record a required image on the recording paper. When all of recording operations are completed, the holding of the recording paper is released and the recording paper 2 separated from the rotary drum 1 is fed to a delivery tray 8 by a delivery roller 7 to complete the recording of one recording paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multiple recording printer for recording image information on a recording sheet by a device having a plurality of recording devices of different types.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, image information includes black and white binary information such as black and white characters, black and white multivalued information such as black and white photographs,
If there is color binary information such as color characters and color multivalued information such as color photographs, and if there are two or more types of image information described above in one document, record all images with higher-level functions. Alternatively, the recording area is divided and the printers having the respective functions are used to perform recording plural times for each function.

[0003]

However, in the former case, for example, an image having an image which is mostly black and white binary character information and partly has color multivalued information such as a color photograph. When printing, you have to use a color multi-valued printer, which is expensive and takes a long time to print.
There was much waste of money and time.

In the latter case, a plurality of printers must be prepared, and it takes time to put the recording paper in and out of the individual printers, which is wasteful both in cost and time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multiple recording printer which is inexpensive and time consuming.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention comprises a rotating drum for holding a recording sheet and a plurality of different types of recording devices arranged around the rotating drum. However, a multi-recording device is used which is characterized in that an image is recorded on one sheet of recording paper by different methods using a recording device selected from the recording devices.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a multiple recording printer of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a rotating dolme 1 holds a recording sheet 2 on its peripheral surface and rotates in the direction of arrow 3. The pickup roller 5 picks up the recording sheets 2 one by one from the recording sheet cassette 4 and feeds them to the rotary drum 1. Reference numerals 6 a, 6 b and 6 c are various recording devices arranged around the rotary drum 1. 7
Is a paper discharge roller for conveying the recording paper on which recording has been completed to the paper discharge tray 8.

Next, the operation of the multi-recording printer will be described. By operating the operation buttons on the operation unit (not shown),
When the printer is started, recording sheets are taken out one by one from the cassette 4 by the pickup roller 5 and conveyed to the rotary drum 1 according to a command from a control device (not shown), and the rotary drum 1 is moved in the direction of arrow 3. The recording paper 2 is held on its peripheral surface while being rotated to.

Next, the rotary drum 1 starts to rotate for recording scanning, and the preset recording devices 6a, 6b, 6c are sequentially operated to record a desired image on a recording sheet. When all recording operations are completed, the chart paper is released and
The recording paper separated from the rotary drum is conveyed to the paper discharge tray by the paper discharge roller 7, and one recording is completed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an ink jet type recording apparatus used as one of a plurality of recording apparatuses arranged around the rotary drum. As shown in FIG. 1, an inkjet recording device 6a is arranged around a rotary drum 1 that rotates in the direction of arrow 3. 6
Reference numeral a1 denotes a carriage on which an inkjet head and an ink tank are mounted. The carriage 6a1 scans in the axial direction of the rotary drum 1 along a guide 6a2 arranged in the rotary axis direction of the rotary drum 3. 6a3 is a belt 6a
4 is a motor for scanning the carriage 6a1 via the motor.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the operation of one selected recording apparatus (inkjet type recording apparatus) of the multiple recording apparatus of the present invention will be described. When the recording paper 2 (FIG. 1) is set on the rotating drum 1, the rotating drum 1 is rotated for recording scanning. When the rotary drum 1 reaches a predetermined position, the carriage 6a1 is guided by a guide 6a2 based on a signal from a control device (not shown), and the belt 6a is guided.
It is driven by a motor 6a3 via 4 to move to a predetermined position, and recording from the inkjet recording device 6a is performed at a predetermined position on the recording paper on the drum.

The operation of the other recording device is also performed based on the principle of the recording device. When the recording paper is wetted with ink and expands and contracts like ink jet recording, or when it takes a long time to dry the ink, the recording operation by one recording apparatus is completed and then another recording apparatus is operated. It should be noted that this needs to be done. If that is not necessary, a plurality of recording operations may be performed simultaneously on the rotating drum.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which an electrophotographic recording device 6b and a thermal transfer recording device 6c are arranged in addition to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in which an ink jet recording device is arranged as the recording device 6a of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows.

Next, the structure and operation of the illustrated multiple recording device will be described with reference to FIG. The photosensitive drum 6b1 rotates about the shaft 6b2 in the direction of the arrow 6b3. Around the photosensitive drum 6b1, a primary charger 6b4, a toner chamber 6b5, a developing drum 6b6, a charge eliminator 6b7, and a waste toner reservoir 6b8 are arranged. Further, the transfer electrode 6b9 is fixed inside the rotary drum 1 so as not to rotate together with the rotary drum.

Photosensitive drum 6 rotating in the direction of arrow 6b3
Electric charge is uniformly applied to the surface of b1 by the primary charger 6b4. Next, the laser beam 6b10 modulated according to the recorded information is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, the toner conveyed from the toner chamber 6b5 by the developing drum 6b6 adheres to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum to form a toner image, and then the toner image is transferred to the recording paper on the rotating drum by the transfer electrode. . Then, the static eliminator 6b
The electric charge remaining by 7 is removed from the photosensitive drum, and the residual toner is also removed.

On the other hand, the toner forming the image transferred onto the recording paper is fixed by the fixing device 6b11 to complete the recording image.

Next, the thermal transfer recording device 6c will be described. Reference numeral 6c1 is a thermal transfer head, 6c2 and 6c3 are ink ribbon reels for thermal transfer, and 6c4 and 6c5 are ink ribbon tension rollers. The thermal transfer head 6c1 is composed of a line shape having a width of the paper width or a head of 32 dots or 64 dots. In the latter case, a carriage carrying the head scans in the rotation axis direction of the rotary drum 1 for recording. .

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining a clamp member for setting the recording paper on the rotary drum. 4, members having the same functions as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 9 and 10 denote conveying rollers that receive the sheet sent from the pickup roller 5 and convey it to the rotating drum 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a recess provided on the periphery of the rotary drum 1 for the width of the paper, and the recess is for accommodating the leading end of the recording paper. 12
Is a sheet leading end clamp member rotatable about a shaft 12c fixed to the drum, and this clamp member is biased in the direction of arrow 12e by a spring (not shown). FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp member. In FIG. 5, the clamp member 12 includes a pressing claw 12a that clamps the leading edge of the sheet, and a separation claw 12b that has a function of separating the leading edge of the sheet from the drum surface when the sheet is discharged.
And a cam follower 12d that rotates around the shaft 12c to open and close the clamp member 12.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a cam that opens and closes the clamp member 12. The cam 13 is rotatably arranged around a shaft 13a fixed to a rotating drum, and is, for example, an electromagnet (not shown) outside the drum. It has a pin 13b that abuts against the other). Reference numeral 14 denotes a charging roller. The charging roller 14 applies a voltage between the drum surface and the drum surface while pressing the recording paper whose front end is clamped to the drum surface, and electrostatic force of electric charges generated on the drum surface and the paper surface. It is for adhering the paper to the drum surface. In order to perform suction, instead of the charging roller, pores may be formed on the surface of the rotary drum and a vacuum suction means may be provided inside the drum.

Next, the clamp operation of this clamp member will be described. The recording sheet 2 taken out from the cassette 4 by the pickup roller 5 is conveyed by the conveying rollers 9, 10.
Sent to At the time of this paper setting, the rotary drum 1
Controlled by a control device (not shown), the depression 11 is stationary so that the depression 11 is in an angular position where it abuts against the leading edge of the sheet 2. Further, the pin 13b of the cam 13 is pushed down by the action of the electromagnet or the like, and the cam 13 rotates in the direction of the arrow 13c to come into contact with the cam follower 12d of the clamp member 12 and to bias the member 12 by the spring force. Against the member 12
Is rotated counterclockwise to obtain the state shown in FIG.

When the leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the depression 11, the electromagnet or the like is released, the member 12 is rotated clockwise by the biasing force of the spring, and the leading edge of the sheet 2 is pressed by the clamp retainer 12a to be clamped in the depression. To do. Next, the rotary drum 1 starts to rotate in the direction of the arrow 3, and the charging roller 14 operates to electrostatically attract the paper to the drum surface.

FIG. 6 shows when the recording sheet is separated from the rotary drum after the recording operation is completed and is discharged to the discharge tray, that is,
It is a schematic side view of a clamp member at the time of unclamping. 6, members having the same functions as those in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals as those used in FIG. Reference numeral 15 is a separation roller that also serves as a static eliminator.

Next, the unclamping operation of the clamp member will be described. By a signal from a control device (not shown),
The rotary drum 1 stops at the paper discharge position (FIG. 6). Immediately before stopping, the separation roller 15 also serving as a static eliminator is elastically abutted on the rotating drum by a movable means (not shown), and the recording paper whose tip is clamped by the clamp member 12 and the separation roller 15 are in contact with each other. To neutralize.

Next, the cam 13 is largely rotated in the direction of the arrow 13c by the operation of an electromagnet (not shown) outside the drum, so that the clamp member 12 is largely rotated counterclockwise and the clamp member 12 is rotated. The clamping operation of the pressing claw 12a of 12 is released, and the leading end of the recording sheet 2 is separated from the surface of the rotating drum 1 by the separating claw 12b.
Next, the rotary drum rotates in the direction of arrow 3, and the separation roller that also serves as the static eliminator also rotates in the direction of arrow 15a.
Paper discharge roller 7 (Fig. 1) while releasing electrostatic attraction of paper
The paper is ejected in the direction 16 of. After that, the conveyance of the sheet is inherited by the sheet discharge roller and discharged to the sheet discharge tray. It should be noted that when the rotary drum begins to rotate for paper ejection, the clamp member 12 returns to the original clamp position by the urging force of the spring (not shown).

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By holding the recording paper on the rotating drum and arranging multiple recording devices around the rotating drum, you can record images in multiple formats with different resolutions, gradations, and color tones on a single document in a short time at low cost. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a multiplex recording printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inkjet recording apparatus used as one of a plurality of recording apparatuses arranged around a rotary drum.

3 shows an embodiment in which an electrophotographic recording device and a thermal transfer recording device are arranged in addition to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in which an ink jet recording device is arranged as the recording device of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view for explaining a clamp member that sets a recording sheet on a rotating drum.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamp member.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the clamp member when the recording sheet is separated from the rotary drum after the recording operation is completed and is discharged to a sheet discharge tray, that is, when the clamp is released.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Rotating Drum 2 Recording Paper 4 Recording Paper Cassette 8 Paper Ejection Tray 6a Inkjet Recording Device 6b Electrophotographic Recording Device 6c Thermal Transfer Recording Device 14 Charging Roller 15 Separation Roller

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A rotary drum holding a recording sheet, and a plurality of different types of recording devices arranged around the rotating drum, and one sheet using a recording device selected from the recording devices. A multi-recording device, which records an image on the recording paper according to different methods. 2. The multiplex recording device according to claim 1,
The plurality of recording devices are a black and white inkjet printer,
A multiple recording device comprising a plurality of recording devices selected from a color inkjet printer, a monochrome electrophotographic printer, a color electrophotographic printer, a monochrome wire dot printer, a monochrome thermal transfer printer, and a color thermal transfer printer. 3. The multiplex recording device according to claim 1,
A feeding unit that takes out and feeds the recording sheets to the rotating drum one by one from the recording sheet cassette, and a recording sheet that is provided one by one from the recording sheet cassette by the feeding unit provided on the rotating drum. A multi-recording device having a clamping means for clamping the tip of the recording medium. 4. The multiplex recording device according to claim 3,
The clamp means is composed of a recessed portion provided on a part of the surface of the rotary drum, and a clamp member rotatably attached to the rotary drum so as to be opened and closed with respect to the recessed portion. Multiple recording device. 5. The multiplex recording device according to claim 3,
A multi-recording apparatus comprising: a suction unit that sequentially sucks the recording paper clamped on the rotary drum by the clamp unit around the rotary drum as the rotary drum rotates. 6. The multi-recording device according to claim 5,
A multiplex recording apparatus comprising a paper discharge unit for releasing the clamp of the recording paper clamped on the rotary drum after the image recording is completed, releasing the suction and discharging the recording paper. 7. The multiplex recording apparatus according to claim 5,
The multi-recording device, wherein the suction device comprises a charging roller for charging the surface of the rotary drum, or a vacuum suction means composed of a combination of pores formed on the surface of the rotary drum and vacuum means for sucking through the pores. .