JPH09277677A - Thermal transfer recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a high quality thermal transfer record and to contribute to lowering of an operation cost, furthermore, to enhance operability of a recording device by a method wherein a transfer ribbon provided with only each color ink and a transfer ribbon which is provided with, in facing sequence, a resin layer for a precoat and a resin layer for a protective coat can be used separately. SOLUTION: A transfer ribbon 1 is face sequentially provided on a filmy hear resistant base material with a white or a transparent resin layer for a precoat and a transparent resin layer for a protective coat. Firstly, the resin layer for the precoat is thermally transferred to a recordable full range of a recording paper 5, nextly, the transfer ribbon is automatically exanged and a transfer ribbon 6 is transferred to a recording mechanism part. The transfer ribbon 6 used for a record of a visual image is face sequentially coated 4 color inks like a base material of the transfer ribbon 1. Thereby a scale up of a resin layer bonding device can be avoided and a thermal transfer ribbon can be used at a low cast. As a result, a high quality thermal transfer record can be obtained and contribute to lower an operation cost.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention utilizes thermal energy of a heating element provided in a thermal head to transfer the ink of a transfer ribbon interposed on a recording paper which faces the thermal head, and to record a desired visual image. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improvement of a thermal transfer recording apparatus that records on a recording paper with a desired transfer ribbon while alternately exchanging a plurality of transfer ribbons.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording a visual image by transferring the ink formed on a transfer ribbon onto a recording sheet by utilizing the thermal energy of a heating element provided in a thermal head, the recording quality is always Improvements and reductions in operating costs are technically important issues. In order to meet such a problem, conventionally, in a fusion-type thermal transfer recording apparatus, a precoat resin layer is transferred onto the surface of a recording paper before recording a visual image to improve the transferability of color ink, or a sublimation-type thermal transfer recording device. In a recording apparatus, a precoat resin layer for forming a dye receiving layer is transferred onto the surface of plain paper before recording a visual image, thereby eliminating the need to use expensive special paper and reducing operating costs. Furthermore, after recording a visual image, the protective coating resin layer may be transferred to a recording sheet on which recording has been performed for the purpose of improving surface gloss and preventing color fading.

An example of a transfer ribbon used in a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus to achieve such improvement is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Shown in The transfer ribbon 29 shown in FIG. 5 has a white or transparent precoat resin layer P, a yellow Y, a magenta M, a cyan C, and a black BK, each having an area including a recordable range on a film-shaped heat-resistant substrate. Each color ink has a length L and is repeatedly formed in a frame-sequential manner. For each of these color inks, a wax mixed with a pigment is mixed with a pigment that is peeled off by heating when used for melting type thermal transfer recording, and a dye that diffuses and sublimes when heated is used for sublimation type thermal transfer recording. Further, on both sides of the precoat resin layer P and each color ink, side bands are provided along the transporting direction of the transfer ribbon, and at one predetermined position thereof, a head for identifying the head position of one screen recording is provided. An identification mark 30,
At a predetermined position on the other side band, ink identification marks 31, 3 for identifying the precoat resin layer P and each color ink are provided.
2, 33, 34 and 35 are provided.

In the case of the transfer ribbon 36 shown in FIG. 6, each of the color inks of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C and black BK and transparent ink is formed on a film-shaped heat-resistant substrate with an area including a recordable range. Resin layer F for protective coat
And are repeated in a frame-sequential manner. The composition of each color ink is the same as in the example of FIG. On both sides of each color ink and the protective coating resin layer F, as in the example shown in FIG.
Side bands are provided along the transfer ribbon transport direction,
A head identification mark 30 for identifying the head position of one screen recording is provided at one of the predetermined positions, and an ink identification for identifying each color ink or the protective coating resin layer F is provided at a predetermined position of the other side band. Marks 32, 33, 34, 35, 37
Is provided.

As described above, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the conventional example, each color ink and the precoat resin layer or the protective coat resin layer are mixed on the same base material in the transfer ribbon used for recording, which is different from each color ink. It is necessary to attach the resin layer for precoating and the resin layer for protective coating of the composition in separate manufacturing steps, which prolongs the manufacturing steps and lowers the yield, which increases the cost of the transfer ribbon and consequently the operating cost. It becomes an expensive thermal transfer recording device. Further, in the recording apparatus using these transfer ribbons, the transfer of the precoat resin layer before the visual image recording and the transfer of the protective coat resin layer after the recording cannot be performed in a consistent recording process, so that the manual transfer is performed as necessary. There were drawbacks such as the need for ribbon replacement and the difficulty of unattended operation in a network environment.
Further, when the precoat resin layer, each color ink, and the protective coat resin layer are formed on the same transfer ribbon by the same transfer ribbon by the cylinder method, a cylinder having a circumferential length of at least 6 L or more is used. In addition, the ink and resin layer deposition device becomes large in size, and a large amount of capital investment is required. As a result, the transfer ribbon becomes expensive and the thermal transfer recording device has a high operating cost.

[0006]

The above-mentioned drawbacks hinder the widespread use of the melting type thermal transfer recording type recording apparatus and the sublimation type thermal transfer recording type recording apparatus for applications requiring high quality thermal transfer recording. Is to eliminate these drawbacks, to obtain high-quality thermal transfer recording, to contribute to the reduction of operating cost, and to realize a thermal transfer recording apparatus with improved operability of the recording apparatus.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention transfers desired recording ribbons from a plurality of transfer ribbons alternately to one recording unit to record on a recording paper. In a thermal transfer recording apparatus, at least one transfer ribbon among the plurality of transfer ribbons is a white or transparent precoat resin layer and a transparent protective coat resin layer that can be peeled by heating on a film-shaped heat-resistant substrate. Are alternately arranged in a frame sequence, and the precoat resin layer can be thermally transferred before recording the visual image on the recording paper, and the protective coating resin layer can be thermally transferred after recording the visual image on the recording paper. .

[0008]

[Function] The transfer ribbon provided with only the ink of each color and the transfer ribbon provided with the precoat resin layer and the protective coat resin layer in the frame order can be separately used. In addition, the transfer ribbon can be used at a low cost without increasing the size of the resin layer deposition device. As a result, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus with reduced operating costs. Further, since the identification mark for identifying at least one of the precoat resin layer and the protective coat resin layer is provided, the thermal transfer recording device automatically identifies both resin layers and automatically executes a predetermined transfer process. It will be possible.

[0009]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention.
Shows the schematic configuration. In the figure, at the tip of the thermal head 4, heating elements are provided in a row with a width corresponding to the recording width. The recording paper 5 and the transfer ribbon 1 are passed between the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 3 so that the resin layer-adhering surface having an area including the recordable area formed on the transfer ribbon 1 is in close contact with the recording paper 5. Further, the thermal head 4 presses the platen roller 3 with a predetermined pressure. In this state, the resin layer of the transfer ribbon 1 is transferred to the recording paper 5 by repeatedly energizing the heating element array provided in the thermal head 4 while rotating the platen roller.

The transfer ribbon 1 includes tension applying rods 11 and 1.
It is conveyed from the supply roll 8 to the take-up roll 7 while being given a predetermined tension in 2. Further, an optical sensor 13 for detecting the light reflected by the reflecting plate 14 is provided in the transfer path of the transfer ribbon 1, and it is possible to detect the transmission and blocking of the light by the transfer ribbon 1. The optical sensor 13 and the reflection plate 14 are respectively arranged near both ends of the recording width so that various identification marks provided on both side bands of the transfer ribbon can be detected. The thermal head 4, the tension applying rods 11 and 12, including the optical sensor 13, can be raised to a position beyond the take-up roll 7 and the supply roll 8 of the transfer ribbon 1 by an integrated mechanism.

On the other hand, a ribbon stocker for storing another transfer ribbon 6 is provided on the side of the recording mechanism portion composed of the thermal head 4 and the platen roller 3, and the ribbon stocker can be moved in the directions of arrow U and arrow S in combination. The transfer ribbon 1 and the transfer ribbon 6 are automatically exchanged.
The structure of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-332899 already proposed by the present inventors can be applied to this transfer ribbon exchange mechanism, and various modifications can be applied.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer ribbon 1 has a white or transparent resin layer P for a precoat and a transparent protective coat on a film-shaped heat-resistant substrate having a width slightly exceeding the recordable width. The resin layers F and the resin layers F are formed at pitches of length L, and are alternately provided in a frame-sequential manner. Since the transfer ribbon 1 does not have each color ink, the transfer ribbon 1 can be manufactured in a short process, and unlike the conventional transfer ribbons 29 and 36, there is no risk of damaging any ink in the manufacturing process and deteriorating the yield. Also, regarding the resin layer adhering device, the formation length of each resin layer is L, and when the cylinder type resin adhering device is used, it is sufficient that the circumferential length satisfies approximately 2L. As described above, as compared with the circumferential length of about 6 L, the resin layer deposition apparatus can be downsized and the capital investment can be reduced.

The area of each of the precoat resin layer P and the protective coat resin layer F is slightly larger than the recordable range of the recording apparatus. Therefore, first, the precoat resin layer is thermally transferred onto the entire recordable area of the recording paper 5, and then the transfer ribbon is automatically exchanged to transfer the transfer ribbon 6 to the recording mechanism section. The transfer ribbon 6 used for recording a visual image uses a film-like heat-resistant base material having a width slightly exceeding the recordable width, like the base material of the transfer ribbon 1. Four color inks of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black BK are applied on the top in a frame-sequential manner, and the application length of each color is the same as L. Therefore, the area of each color ink is slightly larger than the recordable range for each color. As in the conventional example, the ink contains a sublimation dye for sublimation recording, and a mixture of wax and pigment for melting recording is used. Further, transparent side bands are provided on both sides of each color ink along the transfer direction of the transfer ribbon 6, and a black head identification mark for identifying the head position of one screen recording is provided at a predetermined position on one side thereof. 24 and black ink identification marks 25, 26, 2 for identifying each color ink at predetermined positions on the other side band.
7, 28 are provided. These identification marks can be detected by the optical sensor 13, and the rotations of the take-up roll 9 and the supply roll 10 of the transfer ribbon 6 are controlled so that the head of each color ink is quickly found.

The transfer ribbon 6 is used to perform yellow Y cueing, and the recording paper 5 is conveyed in the direction of arrow P while yellow Y is transferred.
After recording the components, the recording paper 5 is returned in the direction opposite to the arrow P direction and positioned at the recording leading position, the magenta M of the transfer ribbon 6 is set, and the recording paper 5 is conveyed again in the arrow P direction. While recording the magenta M component. After that, the same operation is performed for cyan C and black BK, and when the recording of the visual image is completed, the transfer ribbon is automatically exchanged again, the transfer ribbon 1 is transferred to the recording mechanism section, and the recorded recording paper 5 is recorded. The protective coating resin layer F is thermally transferred onto the entire recordable area.

If the precoat resin layer P of the transfer ribbon 1 is formed of a white material, when the transfer ribbon 1 is loaded into the recording mechanism section, recording can be started while visually setting the cueing position. From the standpoint of further improving the operability of the recording apparatus, it is desirable to provide the head identification mark 2 at a predetermined position indicating the head of the precoat resin layer P as shown in FIG. With respect to the arrangement of the leading identification mark 2, a black side leading identification mark 2 may be provided by making a side band portion along the transport direction of the transfer ribbon 1 transparent, or when the precoat resin layer P is white, an optical sensor is provided. Utilizing the property that 13 can detect the reflected light due to white, if the black front identification mark is directly provided in the blank portion of the precoat resin layer, the utilization efficiency of the transfer ribbon is also improved. In the detailed description of the present invention, the ink composition of the transfer ribbon 6 used for recording a visual image is yellow,
Although the description has been made based on the four-color configuration of magenta, cyan, and black, the three-color configuration excluding black does not have any effect on the present invention, and even if various modifications are made to the configuration of each identification mark, the purpose is It is obvious that the function of is obtained.

[0016]

As described above, the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention is a thermal transfer recording apparatus for carrying out recording on recording paper by alternately transferring desired transfer ribbons from a plurality of transfer ribbons to one recording section. At least one transfer ribbon of the plurality of transfer ribbons comprises a white or transparent precoat resin layer and a transparent protective coat resin layer, which can be peeled by heating on a film-shaped heat-resistant substrate, alternately in a frame-sequential manner. Prepare,
Since the precoat resin layer can be thermally transferred before the visual image is recorded on the recording paper and the protective coat resin layer can be thermally transferred after the visual image is recorded on the recording paper, only each color ink is provided. The transfer ribbon and the transfer ribbon in which the resin layer for precoat and the resin layer for protection coat are sequentially provided can be used separately, which reduces the manufacturing process of the transfer ribbon and improves the yield. An inexpensive transfer ribbon can be used without causing an increase in size. As a result, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus with reduced operating costs. Further, since the identification mark capable of identifying at least one of the precoat resin layer and the protective coat resin layer is provided, the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention automatically identifies both resin layers and automatically performs a predetermined transfer process. It is possible to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus that can be implemented practically and has improved operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first configuration example of a transfer ribbon used in the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of a transfer ribbon used in the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transfer ribbon used for recording a visual image.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first configuration example of a transfer ribbon used in a conventional thermal transfer recording device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of a transfer ribbon used in a conventional thermal transfer recording device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,6,29,36 Transfer ribbon 2,24,30 Leading identification mark 3 Platen roller 4 Thermal head 5 Recording paper 7,9 Winding roller 8,10 Supply roller 11,12 Tensioning rod 13 Optical sensor 14 Reflector 25 , 26, 27, 28 Ink identification mark P Precoat resin layer F Protective coat resin layer L Resin layer and formation length of each color ink Y Yellow ink M Magenta ink C Cyan ink BK Black ink

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for alternately transferring desired transfer ribbons from a plurality of transfer ribbons to one recording unit for recording on a recording paper, wherein at least one transfer ribbon among the plurality of transfer ribbons is provided. , A white or transparent precoat resin layer and a transparent protective coat resin layer, which can be peeled by heating, are alternately layered on a film-shaped heat-resistant substrate in a frame-sequential manner, and the precoat is made before recording a visual image on recording paper. A thermal transfer recording device characterized in that a resin layer is thermally transferred, and after a visual image is recorded on a recording paper, the protective coat resin layer is thermally transferred.