JPH0948145A - Printing head support device of card printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent irregularity from being generated in printing by pushing uniformly in a width direction of a card a printing head used for printing on a card by pushing an ink film onto the card in a card printer wherein printing is carried out on a plastic card. SOLUTION: In a printer wherein printing is carried out in a state of laying an ink film on a card 1, a drive mechanism wherein head pressurizing members 20, 20a are arranged on both sides of a printing head 2, and one piece of a solenoid 12 is used, is provided. In the head pressurizing member, a guide member 21 provided to a main body frame guides a push shaft 16 which moves vertically with the solenoid, pushes a head bracket 30 via two kinds of spring members 35, and a push means of two stages is constituted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print head supporting device for a card printer used for printing on a plastic card such as an ID card or a telephone card, and more particularly to a device for pressing the print head toward a platen. The present invention relates to a print head supporting device for a card printer using a head pressing member in which a pressure spring and a return spring for separating the print head are arranged on one drive shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plastic card such as an ID card, a cash card of a bank, or a telephone card made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is printed with necessary information and then laminated or embossed on its surface. It is created by processing.
To write the name, code number, etc. on the card,
A means for transferring the ink held in the ink film to the card by a thermal head is used. In addition to printing using one color ink film, color printing can be performed using four color ink films. It is being appreciated.

As the card printer, for example, an apparatus using a print head for heat-sensitive recording is known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50701/1993. In the conventional example, the central portion of the print head is supported via the head bracket shaft member, and even if the shaft of the platen is tilted, the pressing surface of the head can be accurately followed.
The ink film is pressed against the surface of the card with a uniform pressure to prevent light and shade from being generated in the print recorded on the card so that clear recording can be performed. When performing color printing on a card using the card printer configured as described above, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and B (black) ink application portions are sequentially formed on the ink film. I am using what I did. Then, the film is sent to one side, but the card has a function of sending in the returning direction each time printing of each color is performed to position the leading end of the card and pass the printing part together with the film.

[0004]

However, when the card printer as shown in the above-mentioned conventional example is used, the print head is constantly pressed against the platen. There is a problem that the returning operation cannot be easily performed. Therefore, in order to move the card in the return direction, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for raising the print head. However, as in the conventional example, the print head is attached to the holding member via a horizontal shaft. In the case where the supporting mechanism is configured, it is feared that the positioning of the lower surface of the print head becomes unstable when the print head is raised.

Further, in the case where the print head is configured to be movable up and down, for example, when printing four colors, it is necessary to move the head up and down at least three times for one card. is there. Then, with the print head raised, the lower surface of the head is held from the platen at a fixed interval, and then the print head is lowered, with the lower surface (printing surface) of the head against the platen. It is required to perform a uniform pressing operation. However,
In the conventional card printer, there is no one that can accurately guarantee the action of uniformly pressing the lower surface of the head against the platen in response to the vertical movement of the print head, and the development of a mechanism corresponding to the color printer has been awaited. This is the current situation.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problem of the pressing action that accompanies the vertical movement of the print head in the conventional card printer as described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of accurately performing the positioning of the head and pressing the lower surface of the head with respect to the inclination of the axis of the platen.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a card printer for recording ink of an ink film on a plastic card by a print head. In the present invention,
Head pressing members arranged on both sides of the print head in the width direction, a driving member that operates the head pressing member using one solenoid, and two types of spring members for a pressing shaft provided in the driving member. A member for pressing the print head against the card is provided via the. Further, in the present invention, the head pressing members arranged on both sides of the print head include a pressing shaft guided by a guide member provided on a frame of the apparatus, a head pusher driven by the pressing shaft, and the head pusher. Thus, it is possible to provide a head bracket that is pressed by the spring member, and configure a device that operates the print head through the head bracket.

In the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for pressing the print head against the card by using head pressing members arranged on both sides of the print head and using one solenoid for the two head pressing members. And the structure of the operating member of the print head can be simplified. Then, the operation of the solenoid is transmitted to the print head in two stages by using two kinds of spring members arranged on the pressing shaft so that the action of pressing the ink film in the width direction of the card can be performed uniformly, thereby performing printing. To prevent unevenness from occurring. In the head pressure member,
A head bracket as a guided member provided on the print head is guided by a guide member and a pressing shaft provided on the main body frame of the apparatus, and printing is performed via the head bracket by two types of spring members arranged on the pressing shaft. Since the head is moved up and down, the operation of the print head during printing can be performed in a good state.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of a print head supporting device for a card printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated example. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the print head device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a side surface of the print head device. The card 1 to which the present invention is applied is a general ID card, a bank card, or a P card.
It is configured as a plastic card such as a telephone card made by ET. After printing is performed by the print head device shown in the figure, lamination processing, printing of embossed characters, etc., and magnetic recording are performed. It will be completed by applying. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the print head 2 is configured as a member that thermally transfers the ink of the ink film 3 to a card according to the maintenance information from an information output device (not shown), and the ink film 3 is printed. It is configured to be guided by guide rollers 4 and 4a arranged on both sides of the section and to be moved together with the card 1.

When the apparatus of the present invention is configured for a color printer, for example, an ink film 3 having Y, M, C and B ink sections formed corresponding to the length of a card is formed. To use. Then, when the ink film 3 is driven toward the printing direction on the card, the card is moved together with one color segment arranged on the ink film, and when the traveling of one color segment is completed, the movement of the ink film is performed. Stop and raise the printhead device before returning only the card. Furthermore, when performing printing corresponding to the next color segment, after positioning the next color segment of the ink film and the card, the second color is printed, and when printing four colors, The apparatus is configured to repeatedly perform the above-described reciprocal movement of the card and the movement for matching and moving the color section of the ink film.

In order to carry the card as described above, as shown in FIG. 2, the carrying roller devices 8 and 9 are arranged in the card carrying path, and the driving roller members of the carrying roller devices 8 and 9 are It is configured so that it can be driven in the forward and reverse directions. In each of the transport roller devices 8 and 9, for example, as shown in the transport roller device 8, a pinch roller 8b is arranged in combination so as to be pressed against a drive roller 8a by a predetermined pressing force, and the card 1 A mechanism is configured to carry the paper while being sandwiched between the rollers.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a print head device 10 that supports a print head 2 includes a drive member 11 of a printer and a solenoid 12 that is supported by a body frame.
And a pusher stay 15 arranged below the drive shaft 13 of the solenoid. Further, under the pusher stay 15, the pressing shafts 16 and 16a are arranged in a state of being positioned on both sides of the print head 2, and via the two pressing shafts 16 and 16a,
Head pusher 25 of head pressure member 20, 20a ...
It constitutes a mechanism that moves up and down. The solenoid 12 is a push-bull solenoid,
The drive shaft 13 as an actuating member is moved in the descending direction while the solenoid is energized to press the print head 2 against the platen 5. An upper ring 14 is fixedly provided on the upper portion of the drive shaft 13, and constitutes means for restricting the lowering position of the print head 2 at a position where the upper ring 14 contacts the upper portion of the solenoid 12. ing.

A pusher stay 15 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the drive shaft 13, and pressing shafts 16 and 16a are provided under the pusher stay 15 in a protruding state. In addition, the pressing shafts 16 and 1
An upper ring 17 and a lower ring 18 are attached to each of the 6a, but the components described below will be described based on the head pressing member 20 arranged on one side of the print head. The two lower and upper rings are the upper arm 2 of the guide member 21 fixedly provided on the body frame 41.
Abutting the lower surface of 2 and the lower surface of the lower arm 23,
The rising position of the pressing shaft is regulated.
Further, a pressure spring 35 and a return spring 36 are arranged in a state of sandwiching a lower arm 32 of a head bracket 30 described later in correspondence with the pressing shaft, and the pressure spring 35 causes the print head to move to the platen 5. The return spring 36 moves the print head 2 away from the platen and lifts the print head 2 when the solenoid is de-energized.

A head bracket 30 provided with two arm members 31 and 32 that slide on the pressing shaft 16 is fixed to both sides of the print head 2, and the upper arm 31 of the head bracket 30 is sandwiched. In this state, the upper and lower arm members 26, 27 of the head pusher 25 are arranged. Then, in the head pressing member 20, the upper ring 17 of the pressing shaft 16 positioned below the upper arm 22 of the guide member 21 is positioned above the upper arm 26 of the head pusher 25, and the lower part of the upper arm 26 is lowered. Then, the upper arm 31 of the head bracket and the lower arm 27 of the head pusher 25 are positioned. Further, the lower arm 32 of the head bracket is positioned below the lower arm 27 of the head pusher while sandwiching the pressure spring 35, and the return spring 36 is sandwiched below the lower arm 32 below the guide member. Arm 23
Is located.

The head pressing member 2 constructed as described above.
At 0, the solenoid 12 drives the drive shaft 13
When the pusher stay 15 is lowered through the upper pusher stay 15, the upper ring 17 of the pressing shaft 16 pushes down the head pusher 25. When the head pusher 25 descends, the head bracket 30 descends while compressing the return spring 36 via the pressure spring 35, and the lower surface of the print head 2 approaches toward the platen, and also the transport roller device. The card 1 is moved by the rotation of the platens 5 and 8 and 9, and printing is performed while pressing the ink film 3 on the card 1.
When the printing operation corresponding to the one color segment of the ink film 3 is completed, the energization of the solenoid 12 is stopped and the driving of the roller device is stopped.

As described above, when the energization of the solenoid 12 is stopped, the pressing operation of the pressure spring 35 is stopped, so that the head pusher 25 is raised by the repulsive action of the pressure spring 35, and then the return spring 36. Thus, the head bracket 30 is raised. Then, as the print head 2 rises, the action of pressing the ink film 3 against the card 1 is stopped, and the tension adjusting means (not shown) provided on the ink film 3 causes the lower surfaces of the two guide rollers 4, 4a to move. The card 1 is lifted to a position along the connecting line and separated from the surface of the card 1. Therefore, in the state as described above, the conveying roller devices 8 and 9 and the platen 5 are driven in the reverse direction to move the card 1 to the position on the right side of FIG. 2 (the upstream side of the printing position), and the card is moved to the next position. The printing operation of the next color is performed with the leading end of the card 1 and the next color section of the ink film being matched.

In the apparatus of the present invention, a card sensor Sc is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the card transport path formed by the transport roller devices 8 and 9 and the platen 5 to detect the rear end portion in the card feeding direction. It constitutes the means to do. When the card sensor Sc detects the rear end of the card, the card sensor Sc detects the rear end of the card, and then stops the card according to the pulse information applied to the motor until the card conveyance is stopped. Since the position of the leading edge of the card is detected, the roller device should be reversed to stop the leading edge of the card at a position corresponding to the platen and control the position of the card when starting the printing operation. You can Further, a film sensor Sf is also arranged in the movement path of the ink film 3 to form a means for detecting the color classification of the ink film 3. The color classification mark provided on the film is, for example, the side of the film. The part is provided with holes and other marks that can be detected by the sensor.
Then, the mark provided on the ink film is attached to the sensor S.
When f is detected, the front end of the color section of the ink film is positioned at the print position by the print head, and the printing operation is started by overlapping with the card, and then stopped.

Next, in the card printer having the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation of each constituent member when printing is performed by pressing the ink film against the card using a solenoid will be described with reference to FIG. It will be described in accordance with. The example shown in FIG. 3 shows a stopped state of the device, and the card 1
Is stopped at the printing start position of the platen 5 in a state in which the leading end of the ink film 3 and the leading end of the color section of the ink film 3 match. Further, since the drive shaft 13 of the solenoid 12 is stopped at the raised position, the upper ring 14 is at the position raised by the distance T from the upper portion of the solenoid body.
Through the pusher stays 15 connected to the lower end of the drive shaft 13, the constituent members of the head pressing member 20 are in the raised position, and the lower surface of the print head 2 is largely separated from the upper surface of the platen.

When the printing operation on the card is to be started, the solenoid 12 is energized to drive the drive shaft 1.
3 is moved down, as shown in FIG.
Is in a state of descending toward the platen 5. That is, in FIG. 4, when the solenoid 12 is energized, the drive shaft 13 moves from the reference position K of the stop position to the position of K1.
Since it is lowered by the distance S, the operation of lowering the pressing shafts 16 on both sides via the pusher stay 15 is performed. Then, the upper ring 1 attached to the pressing shaft 16
7 pushes down the upper arm 26 of the head pusher 25,
Although the lower arm 27 of the head pusher 25 acts to press the pressure spring 35, the head bracket 30 is lowered while compressing the return spring 36 without compressing the pressure spring 35, and printing is performed. The head 2 is lowered toward the platen. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the return spring 36 is compressed to a position where it does not contract further, and the print head 2 presses lightly against the platen 5 via the card and film, but against the upper surface of the solenoid 12. Thus, the upper ring 14 of the drive shaft 13 is separated by the distance T1.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which printing is performed on the card. As shown in FIG. 4, the print head 2 is positioned on the platen via the card and the ink film, and then the pusher stay 15 is pressed. From the lowering position K1 to the position K2 in FIG. 4, a pressing action is performed so as to lower the position by a distance S1, and the upper ring 14 provided on the drive shaft is lowered to a state of contacting the upper surface of the solenoid. In the state shown in FIG. 4, only the return spring is compressed, but in the operation shown in FIG.
Since the compression of the pressure spring 35 is performed by the action of pushing down the head pusher 25, the compressed pressure spring 35 strongly presses the print head 2 toward the platen, and the print head 2 is pressed between the platen and the print head. Is set to a predetermined value. In the apparatus of the present invention, a pressing force of 4 to 6 kgf is set, and by setting the pressure for pressing the card against the platen by the print head, the printing operation can be performed well.

In the card printer according to the present invention, as described above, when the two head pressing members arranged on both sides of the print head perform the pressing action on the print head, the shaft of the platen has the shaft of the print head 2. Even when the print head is tilted with respect to the pressing surface, the pressing action on the card can be set uniformly by applying the pressing action from both sides of the print head. That is, in the head pressing members arranged on both sides of the print head, 2
Each has a compression spring that operates in stages,
When performing the compression action on these springs, the inclination of the shaft of the pressing member and the platen on the receiving side is automatically canceled. Further, the platen on the receiving side located at the lower part of the card is made of an elastic body such as rubber, so that when the inclination of the shaft is small, it is automatically solved by the elasticity of the rubber. In addition to the above action, by adding the elasticity of the rubber forming the platen and the action of pressing the space S1 in a state where the print head is pressed, the ink film is pressed against the card to perform the printing operation. The pressure of
It becomes possible to set uniformly in the width direction of the card.

In the card printer of the present invention configured as described above, when an ink film holding one color of ink is used, it is not necessary to carry out positioning with respect to the ink film, and only the positioning operation with respect to the card is performed. , Can be printed. Even in the case of configuring a device that performs single-color printing, the action of pressing the print head against the card is performed by using the spring that acts in two steps, so that the action of pressing the ink film against the card in the width direction is performed. Can be set uniformly.

[0023]

Since the print head supporting device of the card printer of the present invention is constructed as described above, it is constituted by the head pressing members arranged on both sides of the print head, and two head pressing members are provided. By using one solenoid for each member, a mechanism for pressing the print head against the card can be configured, and the configuration of the operating member of the print head can be simplified. Then, the operation of the solenoid is transmitted to the print head in two stages by using two kinds of spring members arranged on the pressing shaft so that the action of pressing the ink film in the width direction of the card can be performed uniformly, thereby performing printing. It is possible to prevent unevenness from occurring. Further, in the head pressing member, a head bracket as a guided member provided in the print head is guided by a guide member and a pressing shaft provided in a main body frame of the apparatus, and two types are arranged on the pressing shaft. Since the print head is moved up and down via the head bracket by the spring member, the print head can be operated in a good condition during printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of an apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a non-operating state of the print head.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the print head is pressed against the card.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a print head is strongly pressed to perform printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 card, 2 print heads, 3 ink film, 5 platen, 10 print head device,
12 solenoids, 13 drive shafts, 15
Pusher stay, 16 push shaft, 20
Head pressing member, 21 guide member, 25
Head pusher, 30 head bracket, 35
Pressure spring, 36 return spring.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A card printer for recording ink of an ink film on a plastic card by a print head, wherein head press members arranged on both sides of the print head in the width direction and said head press member using one solenoid. A print head support device for a card printer, comprising: a drive member to be operated; and a member that presses the print head against a card via two types of spring members for a pressing shaft provided on the drive member. 2. A head pressing member disposed on both sides of the print head includes a pressing shaft guided by a guide member provided on a frame of the apparatus, a head pusher driven by the pressing shaft, and a head pusher. The print head supporting device for a card printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a head bracket which is pressed by a spring member, and the print head is operated through the head bracket.