JPH11245468A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To fix an ink paper cartridge surely in a housing. SOLUTION: An ink paper cartridge 1 is inserted into an exterior housing 11 from an ink paper cartridge insertion/extraction port 11b1 opened to one side surface (rear surface) of the housing 11, and when the port 11b1 is closed by a door 12 for ink paper, the contact part 12a3 of the back 12a of the door 12 is brought into contact with the projection part 2e2 of the side 2e of the cartridge 2 of the ink paper cartridge 1 inserted into the housing 11. Since the closed door 12 is fitted to the housing 11, the cartridge 1 is fixed surely in the housing 11 to be prevented completely from being discharged outside the housing 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer in which an ink paper door is brought into contact with a side of an ink paper cartridge inserted through an ink paper cartridge insertion opening formed on one side of a housing of an ink transfer printer. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer configured to securely fix a paper cartridge in a housing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the printing field, a thermal transfer printer has been widely used as a printer having high resolution, multiple gradations and easy handling.

[0003] Ink paper (ink ribbon) used in a general thermal transfer type printer includes a yellow (Y), a magenta (M), and a cyan (M) in a longitudinal direction on a transparent base film formed of a polyester thin film material or the like. A plurality of ink colors such as C) are sequentially and repeatedly applied. An ink ribbon cassette containing this type of ink paper (ink ribbon) is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-155122.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an example of an ink ribbon cassette used in a general thermal transfer color printer. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the example of the ink ribbon cassette shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a state where the camera is mounted on the camera.

An example of the ink ribbon cassette 100 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-155122, and will be briefly described here.

As shown in FIG. 12, an example of an ink ribbon cassette 1 used in a general thermal transfer color printer is shown.
Reference numeral 00 denotes a supply reel 1 on which an ink ribbon 102 in which a plurality of ink colors such as yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are sequentially and repeatedly applied in a cassette main body 101.
03 and wound around a take-up reel 104.

As shown in FIG. 13, when the ink ribbon cassette 100 is mounted in a cassette storage section of a general thermal transfer color printer, a pair of positioning pins provided in the cassette storage section of the thermal transfer color printer. 110, 110 are inserted into a pair of positioning holes 101a ₁ , 101a ₁ formed in one side surface 101a of the cassette main body 101 of the ink ribbon cassette 100, and the ink ribbon cassette 100 is positioned and mounted in the cassette storage portion. At this time, the cassette body 101
A pair of positioning holes 10 formed on one side surface 101a
1a ₁ and 101a ₁ are formed on the opening 101b side of the cassette main body 101 where the ink ribbon 102 is exposed.

In the ink ribbon cassette 100, the supply reel 103 and the take-up reel 104 are
01, the lock arm 105 is locked in the cassette body 101 by the lock arm 105. When the ink ribbon cassette 100 is mounted on the cassette accommodating portion of the thermal transfer color printer, the lock arm 105 can be unlocked by the pair of positioning pins 110, 110. Is the purpose.

[0009]

By the way, in the ink ribbon cassette 100, when the ink ribbon cassette 100 is mounted in the cassette accommodating portion of a general thermal transfer color printer, as described above, the pair of positioning holes 101a ₁ , 101 on the cassette body side.
a pair of positioning pins of a ₁ and the printer 110, 110
Although the ink ribbon cassette 100 is positioned and mounted in the cassette accommodating portion of the thermal transfer color printer, a pair of positioning pins 110, 110 on the printer side are inserted into the cassette from the opening 101b of the cassette body 101 where the ink ribbon 102 is exposed. Since the ink ribbon cassette 100 is inserted into the pair of positioning holes 110a ₁ and 101a ₁ on the main body side, when the ink ribbon cassette 100 is inserted from the side of the printer, the pair of positioning pins 110 and 110 on the printer side are used.
Must be passed over the ink ribbon 102 exposed at the opening 101b. When the ink ribbon cassette 100 is inserted from the top of the printer, a pair of positioning pins 110, 110 on the printer side are connected to a pair of positioning pins 110 on the cassette body. Since it is necessary to provide the positioning holes 101a so that the ink ribbon cassette 100 can be moved back and forth with respect to the positioning holes 101a, the positional relationship of the positioning means for positioning the ink ribbon cassette 100 to the thermal transfer color printer is not good.

Further, no measures have been taken with respect to the means for securely fixing the ink ribbon cassette 100 to the cassette accommodating portion of the thermal transfer color printer.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has been made in consideration of the above problem, and has been made in consideration of the ink contained in a cartridge in a state in which ink-coated ink paper is wound around a supply reel and a take-up reel. In a thermal transfer printer including at least a paper cartridge and a printing unit for transferring the ink of the ink paper to the recording paper in a housing, an opening is provided on one side surface of the housing for inserting and removing the ink paper cartridge. An ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening, an ink paper cartridge positioning means for positioning the ink paper cartridge inserted from the ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening in the housing, and an openable / closable cover for covering the ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening. Further, when the lid is closed, the ink paper cartridge contacts the side surface of the ink paper cartridge inserted into the housing and A door for ink sheet to fix the cartridge within the housing, there is provided a thermal transfer type printer, characterized in that the door said ink sheet has and a locking means for locking to the housing.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink paper cartridge applied to the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIGS. 2A to 2F are diagrams for explaining ink paper housed in the ink paper cartridge shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, an ink paper cartridge 1 applied to a thermal transfer type printer according to the present invention
In the cartridge 2, an ink sheet 3 using hot-melt ink is wound around a supply reel 4 and a take-up reel 5 and housed in a cartridge 2 serving as an exterior component. The ink paper cartridge 1 includes a recording paper 6 (FIGS. 4 to 6, 10) as described later.
And a plurality of heating elements along a rod-shaped glass member attached to one end of a thin substrate as described later (FIGS. 5 to 6).
FIG. 10) shows an opening 2 between the supply-side ink paper guide 2a and the take-up ink paper guide 2b formed in the cartridge 2.
c. The ink paper cartridge 1 has a rear surface 11b of an exterior housing 11 of a thermal transfer printer 10 (FIG.
It is replaceably mounted from the ink sheet cartridge insertion slot 11b ₁ formed in.

Here, the ink paper 3 housed in the cartridge 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The ink paper 3 is formed by sequentially and repeatedly applying a plurality of heat-meltable inks in the longitudinal direction on a base film surface formed of a polyester thin film material or the like. Since the heat-meltable ink is used for the ink paper 3, a porous recording paper 6 (FIGS. 4 to 6, 10) having good transfer performance is used in correspondence with the heat-meltable ink. .

As shown in FIG. 2A, the ink paper 3 is formed by sequentially and repeatedly applying three color inks of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C).
As shown in FIG. 4B, the recording paper 6 described later (FIGS.
In order to undercoat plain paper before printing when plain paper is used as FIG. 10), the plurality of inks (Y, M,
In order to overcoat the recording paper 6 after printing as shown in FIG. 2 (C), for example, it was prepared by adding a transparent undercoat ink (UC) before C). A transparent overcoat ink (OC) added after the plurality of inks (Y, M, C);
Further, a combination of the combination shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C with black (BK) ink prepared as shown in FIGS. 2D to 2F is used.

Further, in order to detect the respective ink colors cue position of the ink sheet 3, for example, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), the ink color detection mark M ₁ ~ at the beginning portion of each ink color
M ₃ is provided, as with this FIG. 2 (B) ~ Figure 2
In the case of (F), an ink color detection mark is provided, but illustration is omitted.

Next, a thermal transfer printer 10 according to the present invention will be described.
Will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the thermal transfer type printer according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thermal transfer type printer according to the present invention viewed from the bottom side, and FIG. Shows a closed state, FIG. 5B shows a state in which a recording paper door is opened, and FIGS. 5A and 5B show a thermal transfer type printer according to the present invention viewed from the bottom side. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the ink paper cartridge accommodating portion in the outer casing in the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink paper cartridge is mounted in an ink paper cartridge accommodating portion in the thermal transfer type printer according to the present invention, and is a perspective view for explaining an ink paper door, and FIG. In the thermal transfer type printer according to The side surface of the ink sheet cartridge mounted on an ink sheet cartridge receiving section is a diagram for explaining a state in which contact with the door ink sheet.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thermal transfer type printer 10 according to the present invention has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a height and width of 1 mm.
It has a small size of 30 × 94 × 36 (mm), and is provided with a power supply battery inside so as to be highly portable.

In the thermal transfer printer 10, the outer casing 11 constituting the casing is formed in a box shape, and the ink paper cartridge 1 (FIG. 1) is inserted into the rear surface 11b facing the front surface 11a in the front of the figure. an ink sheet cartridge and the insertion slot 11b _1, openable ink sheet for door 12 to cover the ink sheet cartridge insertion slot 11b ₁ to get out,
A battery insertion slot 11b ₂ for inserting and removing the later battery 30 (FIG. 6), the battery insertion slot 11b ₂
And a battery door 13 that can be opened and closed to cover the battery door 13.

A plurality of operation buttons 14 for operating the thermal transfer printer 10 and a liquid crystal panel 15 for displaying a printing state are mounted on the top surface 11c of the exterior housing 11.

Further, the recording paper door 16 is openably mounted et via a hinge 17 to the recording paper insertion opening 11d ₁ that opens to the top surface 11c facing the bottom surface 11d of the outer housing 11.

One side of the housing (left side in FIG. 3)
A recording paper discharge port 11e for discharging the recording paper 6 to 11e
₁ is opened, and the battery 3 is provided inside the other side surface (right side surface in FIG. 3) 11f opposite to the one side surface 11e.
0 (FIG. 6) is provided.

Here, when the recording paper 6 is inserted into the thermal transfer printer 10, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the lock is carried out with the bottom surface 11d of the outer casing 11 facing upward. When you open the recording paper door 16 to unlock the button 18 by the recording paper door 16, the recording paper compartment upper plate 11g is formed inside so as to face the recording paper insertion opening 11d ₁ that opens in the bottom surface 11d are, the recording paper storage unit 11g ₁ of the recording sheet 6 business card size can be accommodated by laminating a plurality between the recording sheet accommodating portion upper plate 11g and the lid closing the recording paper door 16 is formed . That is, the recording paper door 16 was closed is provided to face the recording paper storage unit 11g ₁ accommodating the recording sheet 6.

Further, the recording paper compartment upper plate 11g side, and FIG. 5 (B) is half-moon shaped sheet feeding roller 31 to face the recording paper storage unit 11g _1, rotatably in an arrow direction shown in FIG. 6 Is provided. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the paper feed roller 31 is provided to be offset to one end of the recording paper 6 in the width direction.

FIG. 4B and FIGS. 5A and 5B
As shown in FIG.
A slit member 32 having a slit for separating the stacked recording papers 6 one by one is provided in front of the sheet feeding direction. Since the slit member 32 is provided in the vicinity of one end of the recording paper 6 from the paper feed roller 31 side, the driving force of the paper supply roller 31 to the recording paper 6 causes the slit close to the paper supply roller 31 to move. Since the recording paper 6 can be transmitted to the member 32, the recording paper 6 can be surely separated one by one at the time of paper feeding.

On the other hand, the openable and closable recording paper door 16 has
A cylindrical pressing member 20 in which a compression spring 19 is fitted is mounted via a pressing plate 21 at a position facing the paper feed roller 31. When the recording paper door 16 is closed,
A cylindrical pressing member 20 attached to the recording paper door 16 via the urging force of a compression spring 19 feeds the recording paper 6 to a paper feed roller 31.
Side, so that when the paper feed roller 31 rotates,
The leading end of the recording paper 6 in the paper feeding direction is separated by the slit member 32 by one sheet and conveyed in the paper feeding direction.

Further, as shown in an enlarged manner in FIG. 6, a printing direction leading end for detecting the printing direction leading end of the recording paper 6 in order to determine the printing start position of the recording paper 6 downstream of the slit member 32. A detection sensor 33 is provided, and a pulse motor (see FIG. 3) is used to reciprocate the recording paper 6 in the left and right direction (arrows X ₁ and X ₂ directions) at a constant speed downstream of the printing direction front end detection sensor 33. And a capstan roller 34 that is rotatably driven in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in conjunction with a capstan roller 34 (not shown). A driven pinch roller 35 is provided.

Further, on the downstream side of the capstan roller 34 and the pinch roller 35, a plurality of heating elements are provided on the back side of the ink color side of the ink paper 3 in the width direction of the ink paper 3 and the recording paper 6, and an end face type. A thermal head 36 is fixedly installed substantially vertically downward, and the thermal head 36
A freely rotatable platen roller 37 can freely move between a retracted position shown by a solid line and a contact position shown by a two-dot chain line via an arm 38 rotated by a cam wheel (not shown). Is provided. At this time, a torsion spring 40 for pressing the platen roller 37 toward the thermal head 36 only at the time of printing is provided on the rotating shaft 39 of the arm 38 supporting the platen roller 37. Therefore, during printing, the platen roller 37 has a structure in which the recording paper 6 and the ink paper 3 are superimposed and can be rotated while being pressed against the thermal head 36.

A printing direction rear end detection sensor 41 is provided downstream of the thermal head 36 and the platen roller 37 and on the supply reel 4 side of the ink paper cartridge 1. This print direction rear end detection sensor 41 is
The end of the recording paper 6 in the printing direction is detected to determine the printing end position of the recording paper 6, and is provided below the recording paper 6 so as to face the recording paper 6.

The above-mentioned components are arranged such that the conveyance path of the recording paper 6 from the feeding of the recording paper 6 to the discharge thereof is substantially straight.

Further, on the side of the thermal head 36, there is provided a space for an ink paper cartridge storage section in which the ink paper cartridge 1 is positioned and mounted.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7 in an enlarged manner, the ink paper cartridge accommodating portion in the outer housing 11 is provided between the front surface 11a and the rear surface 11b of the outer housing 11 so as to face each other. Front plate 42 and rear plate 4 forming a structured interior housing
3, a cartridge guide 44 on the supply reel 4 side and a cartridge guide 45 on the take-up reel 5 according to the shape of the ink paper cartridge 1.
Are suspended over the front plate 42 and the rear plate 43 with the thermal head 36 interposed therebetween. These cartridge guides 44 and 45 are used for the ink paper cartridge 1.
Guides the insertion and removal of

On the inner side of the front plate 42, positioning pins 46, 46 are attached in the direction in which the ink paper cartridge 1 is inserted.
The side surfaces 2 d of the cartridge 2 are positioned on the front plate 42 side by fitting the positioning holes 6 d ₁ and (2 d ₁ ) formed in the _one side surface 2 d of the cartridge 2.

A photo sensor 47 is attached to the inside of the front plate 42. The photo sensor 47 detects that the ink paper cartridge 1 has been inserted, and detects the cue detection marks M ₁ to M _{1 of} the ink paper 3. M ₃ (FIG. 2)
Is provided to detect At this time, by attaching the silver foil 48 to the take-up side ink paper guide 2b formed on the take-up reel 5 side in the cartridge 2, the photo sensor 47 is attached.
When the light from the paper passes through the transparent part of the ink paper 3, the silver foil 4
8 detects the insertion of the ink paper cartridge 1 and detects the light from the photo sensor 47 to detect the reflected light from the black cue detection marks M _{1 to} M _{3 of the} ink paper 3. . When the ink paper cartridge 1 is inserted, the photo sensor 47 detects the cue detection marks M ₁ to M _{1 of the} ink paper 3.
When M ₃ and opposing can not detect that the ink sheet cartridge 1 is inserted, the ink sheet cartridge from wound slightly ink sheet 3 avoids cue detection mark M ₁ ~M ₃ in this case It is controlled by program software to detect the insertion of "1".

The rear plate 43 has an ink paper cartridge insertion opening 11b formed on the rear surface 11b of the exterior housing 11.
₁ , an ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening 43 a is opened according to the shape of the ink paper cartridge 1.

On the outer side of the rear plate 43, positioning pins 49, 49 are attached in the direction of insertion of the ink paper cartridge 1, and these positioning pins 49, 49 are attached.
49 fits into positioning holes 2e ₁ , 2e ₁ formed in the other side surface 2e of the cartridge 2 so that the cartridge 2
Is positioned on the rear plate 43 side.

Further, as shown enlarged in FIG. 8, the lower ink sheet cartridge insertion slot 11b ₁ formed on the surface 11b after the outer housing 11, the ink ink sheet door 12 described earlier paper cartridge It is openably provided to cover the insertion slot 11b _1. The ink paper door 12
Is rotatable openably and closably by a rotating portion 50a of a hinge member 50 attached below the rear surface 11b of the exterior housing 11 using a stainless steel material. Further, the ink paper door 12 is configured such that the pressing plate 51 is moved in the height direction of the outer casing 11 by the guide portion 50b of the hinge member 50 which is bifurcated and extends into the pressing plate 51 fixed to the rear surface 12a. movement since become slidable (arrow _Z 1, _{Z 2} direction), the ink sheet door 12 integrally with the pressing plate 51 in the height direction of the outer housing 11 (arrow _Z 1, _{Z 2} direction) I can do it.

On the left and right above the back surface 12a of the ink paper door 12, locking portions 12a ₁ and 12a ₂ are provided on the back surface 12a.
These locking portions 12a ₁ and 12a ₂ are inserted from above into a locking groove 11c ₁ formed in a long shape on the top surface 11c of the exterior casing 11 by being formed at a slight distance from When the lid is closed, the ink paper door 12 is
To be locked. When the opened ink paper door 12 is closed, the ink paper door 12 is closed.
Was closed rotated in a direction, and, when lowering the ink sheet door 12 downwardly (arrow _{Z 1} direction), the locking portion _12a 1 of the ink sheet door 12, 12a ₂ are external housing 11
The ink paper door 12 can be locked to the exterior housing 11 because the ink paper door 12 enters the locking groove 11c1 formed on the top surface 11c of the ink cartridge ₁ from above. On the other hand, it closed the ink sheet door 12 when lid opening is the ink sheet door 12 upward (arrow Z ₂ direction)
When the ink paper door 12 is moved upward, the locking portions 12a ₁ and 12a ₂ of the ink paper door 12 are separated from the locking groove 11c ₁ formed on the top surface 11c of the exterior housing 11, so that the locking of the ink paper door 12 is performed. The lock is released, and then the ink paper door 12
Are rotated in the opening direction.

The back surface 12a of the ink paper door 12
The portion of the hinge member 50 that escapes to the fork of the guide portion 50b is separated from the contact portion 12a to the side surface 2e of the cartridge 2.
Space is secured as ₃ . In contrast, the side surface 2e of the cartridge 2 in the ink sheet cartridge 1, the protruding portion 2e ₂ are formed to protrude toward the rear surface 12a side of the ink sheet door 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the ink paper cartridge 1 is inserted, the side faces 2d and 2e of the cartridge 2 are positioned by the positioning pins 46 and 49.
(FIG. 7), the ink paper door 12 is positioned with respect to the front plate 42 and the rear plate 43 (FIGS. 7 and 8).
Is closed and locked to the outer casing 11, the cartridge 2
The door 1 for ink paper is provided on the protrusion 2e ₂ formed on the side surface 2e of the
Since the contact portions 12a ₃ of the second back surface 12a are in contact with each other, the ink paper cartridge 1 is securely fixed in the outer casing 11, and the ink paper cartridge 1 does not have to worry about jumping out.

Returning to FIG. 6, between the feed roller 31 and the take-up reel 5 of the ink paper cartridge 1, outside the front plate 42 (FIGS. 7 and 8), the feed roller 31 and the take-up reel 5
And an ink paper take-up driving means 60 also serving as a paper feeding roller driving means for selectively switching between and driving. Although the detailed illustration of the ink roller take-up drive unit 60 also serving as the feed roller drive unit is omitted, the swing gear that swings according to the rotation direction of the motor is driven by selectively meshing with the gear train on each drive unit side. The transmission of force is switched.

Next, the thermal transfer printer 1 having the above configuration
The operation of printing a color image on the recording paper 6 according to 0 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 6, 10, and 11.

FIGS. 10A to 10E are views for explaining the operation of printing a color image on the recording paper 6 in the thermal transfer type printer according to the present invention, and FIGS.
FIG. 4D is an enlarged view of the printing state shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 10A, when the thermal transfer type printer 10 is in the initial state, the half-moon-shaped paper feed roller 31 does not come into contact with the uppermost recording paper 6, and Stopped above 6 Further, the capstan roller 34 connected to the pulse motor (not shown) is stopped, and the pinch roller 35 which is always in pressure contact with the capstan roller 34 is also stopped. Further, the ink paper 3 stretched between the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5 is also stopped. Further, the platen roller 37, which is rotatably supported by an arm 38 that rotates about a shaft 39, is retracted from the thermal head 36 fixedly installed between the supply reel 4 and the take-up reel 5.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10B, the ink is supplied by a paper roller driving means / ink paper winding driving means 60 (FIG. 6) which is switched to a paper feeding roller driving means side in accordance with the rotation direction of a motor (not shown). The paper roller 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) while pressing against the recording paper 6 of the uppermost layer,
Since only the leading end of the uppermost recording paper 6 in the feeding direction can pass through the slit of the slit member 32, the uppermost recording paper 6 is separated from the lower recording paper 6. Thereafter, the recording sheet 6 conveyed to the direction of arrow X ₁ in the sheet feed roller 31, paper feed roller 31 of the actuating approximately (not shown) at the same time the pulse motor capstan roller 34 starts rotating in the clockwise direction by
And a pinch roller 35 driven by the pinch roller 35.
Also here, the platen roller 37 is retracted from the thermal head 36.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10 (C), when the recording sheet 6 is possible entirely conveyed in the arrow X ₁ direction by the capstan roller 34 and the pinch roller 35, the paper feed roller 31 is the uppermost layer although stop away from the recording sheet 6, the recording sheet 6 is continued conveyed in the arrow X ₁ direction by the capstan roller 34 and the pinch roller 35, the paper feeding direction front end portion of the recording sheet 6 opposite the recording sheet 6 When the leading end of the printing direction is detected by the leading end detecting sensor 33 in the printing direction, the clockwise rotation of the capstan roller 34 is stopped, and the recording paper discharge port formed on the outer casing 11 by the recording paper 6 is formed. 11e Stops in a state of protruding greatly from ₁ . Also here, since the platen roller 37 is retracted from the thermal head 36,
The recording paper 6 is not printed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10D, when the printing start position of the recording paper 6 is detected, the platen roller 37 supported by the arm 38 immediately rotates the recording paper 6 and the ink paper 3.
Is moved toward the thermal head 36 so as to overlap, and the platen roller 37 is pressed toward the thermal head 36 by the urging force of the torsion spring 40. At about the same time,
The capstan roller 34 is rotated counterclockwise by a pulse motor (not shown).
4 and together with the recording paper is sandwiched between the pinch roller 35 is conveyed in the direction of arrow X _2, preparative paper feed roller driving means shared ink cigarette switched to the driving means side preparative ink cigarette by rotation direction of the motor (not shown) The drive means 60 (FIG. 6) rotates the take-up reel 5 in the arrow Y direction (counterclockwise), so that the ink paper 3 is taken up. Here, the first yellow (Y) ink color detection mark M ₁ {FIG. 2A} is detected by a photo sensor (not shown) while the ink paper 3 is being wound on the take-up reel 5 side, and the yellow (Y) is detected. When cueing is performed and image information corresponding to the first color yellow (Y) is supplied to the thermal head 36, the ink paper 3 sent out from the supply reel 4 becomes a cartridge as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. The print head 6 is guided by the supply-side ink paper guide 2a formed in Step 2 and reaches the thermal head 36. Thereafter, while the ink paper 3 is being wound up, printing of the first color yellow (Y) on the recording paper 6 is started by the thermal head 36. During printing of yellow (Y), the take-up side ink paper guide is mounted on the cartridge 2 so that the ink paper 3 can be forcibly peeled off from the recording paper 6 when the ink paper 3 has passed the thermal head 36 due to the take-up tension of the ink paper 3. 2b is formed, and the ink paper 3 is wound around the take-up reel 5 by being guided by the take-up side ink paper guide 2b. The recording paper 6 on which yellow (Y) is printed is temporarily stored between the next uppermost recording paper 6 and the recording paper storage unit upper plate 11g.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10 (E), when the printing direction trailing edge of the first color yellow (Y) recording paper 6 is detected by the printing direction trailing edge detection sensor 41, the first color yellow (Y) is detected. Since the printing of yellow (Y) is completed, the platen roller 37 immediately separates from the thermal head 36 and retreats, and
The conveyance of the ink paper 3 and the recording paper 6 also stops. After this,
Returning to the operation described with reference to FIG. 10C, the operations of FIG. 10C to FIG. 10E are repeated and magenta (M) of the second color and cyan (C) of the third color are printed as described above. do it,
When printing is completed, a color image is obtained on the recording paper 6.

[0051]

According to the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention described in detail above, the ink paper cartridge is inserted into the housing from the ink paper cartridge insertion opening which is opened on one side of the housing, and the ink paper cartridge is inserted. When the opening is closed with the ink paper door, the ink paper door is brought into contact with the side of the ink paper cartridge inserted into the housing, and the closed ink paper door is locked to the housing. Therefore, there are advantages that the ink paper cartridge is securely fixed in the housing, and that there is no fear that the ink paper cartridge jumps out of the housing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink paper cartridge applied to a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A to 2F are diagrams for explaining the ink paper housed in the ink paper cartridge shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention as viewed from the bottom side.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a bottom view and a side sectional view showing the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention viewed from the bottom side.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining an ink paper cartridge accommodating portion in an outer casing in the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which an ink paper cartridge is mounted in an ink paper cartridge storage section and illustrating an ink paper door in the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining a state in which the side surface of the ink paper cartridge attached to the ink paper cartridge storage section is in contact with the ink paper door in the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIGS. 10A to 10E are views for explaining an operation of printing a color image on recording paper 6 in the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the printing state shown in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an example of an ink ribbon cassette used in a general thermal transfer color printer.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view showing a state where the ink ribbon cassette of the example shown in FIG. 12 is mounted in a cassette storage section of a general thermal transfer color printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Ink cartridge, 2. Cartridge, 2d
Side surface, 2d ₁ ... positioning hole, 2e ... side surface, 2e ₁ ... positioning hole, 2e ₂ ... projecting portion, 3 ... ink paper, 4 ... supply reel, 5 ... take-up reel, 6 ... recording paper, 10 ... thermal transfer printer , 11 ... housing (outer housing), 11b ... side (rear surface), 11b 1 _... ink sheet cartridge insertion slot, 11c
... Top surface, 11c ₁ ... Locking groove, 12 ... Ink paper door, 12a ... Back surface, 12a ₁ , 12a ₂ ... Locking portion, 12
a ₃ : contact portion, 34: capstan roller, 35: pinch roller, 36: thermal head, 37: platen roller, 46: positioning pin, 49: positioning pin.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Morihiko Ota 3-12-12 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside of Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Toshiyuki Nakamura 3--12 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Address Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenichi Masano 3-12-12 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Victor Company of Japan

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ink paper cartridge in which ink-coated ink paper is wound around a supply reel and a take-up reel and stored in the cartridge; and a printing means for transferring ink of the ink paper to the recording paper. In a thermal transfer printer provided at least in a housing, an ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening opened on one side of the housing for inserting / removing the ink paper cartridge, and the ink paper cartridge inserted / removed from the ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening. An ink paper cartridge positioning means for positioning the ink paper cartridge in the housing; and an ink paper cartridge positioning means which is provided to be openable and closable so as to cover the ink paper cartridge insertion / removal opening, and which is inserted into the housing when the lid is closed. An ink paper door for abutting and fixing the ink paper cartridge in the housing; A heat transfer type printer comprising: a locking means for locking a paper door to the housing.