JPS591275A - Multiple color printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform printing for a plurality of colors in a simple constitution, by closely contacting heating elements, whose number is at least the same as that of coloring layers, with paper, on which a plurality of heat coloring layers are applied and driving the elements by a printing signal with the amount of power corresponding to coloring temperature. CONSTITUTION:Heat coloring layers 3 and 4, which are colored into red at T1 deg.C and blue at T2 deg.C, are coated on a paper base 2, and printing paper 1 is formed. The paper 1 is moved by the rotation of a platen roller 5. A thermal head 11, which is contacted with the paper 1, has a plurality of heating elements 12a- 12d. They are driven by driving signals Pa-Pd, through amplifiers 14a-14d and variable resistors 15a-15d. The variable resistors 15a and 15c are set so as to become T1 deg.C, and the variable resistors 15b and 15d are set so as to become T2 deg.C. A head holder 10 is reciprocated by a pulse motor 8 and the driving signals are supplied to terminals Pa-Pd. Then, red or blue dots are sequentially printed in response to the signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multicolor printing device, and an object thereof is to provide a multicolor printing device that can perform printing in multiple colors with a simple structure.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a sheet of paper having a plurality of thermochromic layers that develop color at different temperatures, at least as many heating elements as the thermochromic layers that are brought into close contact with the paper, and A multicolor printing apparatus is constructed by providing a drive circuit driven by a current corresponding to the coloring temperature of each of the thermocoloring layers.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printing mechanism of a multicolor printing apparatus according to the present invention, and in this figure, reference numeral 1 indicates printing paper. The printing paper 1 with
is coated with thermochromic layers 3 and 4, the thermochromic layer 3 develops a red color when the temperature reaches 12°C, and the
Thermochromic layer 4 is T! It turns blue when the temperature reaches ℃. Reference numeral 5 is a platen roller that conveys the above-described printing paper l. The platen roller 5 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow Y shown in the figure by a driving force transmitted via a pulley 6 and a belt 7. A threaded rod 9 driven by a pulse motor 8 is provided in front of the printing paper 1 parallel to the rotation axis of the platen row 25, and a head holder l is attached to this threaded rod 9.
A thermal head 11 is attached to the upper rear surface of the head holder 10. Thermal head 1
1, four rectangular heating elements 1 as shown in FIG.
2ax12d and each of these heating elements 12a-12
d and terminals for passing current,
When performing thermal printing, each of the heating elements 12a to 12d is brought into close contact with the printing paper 1.

FIG. 4 shows each heating element 12a to 12 of the thermal head 11.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of a drive circuit 13 that drives d.

In this figure, Pg""Pd are heating elements 12a to 1, respectively.
Terminal 14a-1 to which a drive signal for driving 2d is supplied
4d is an amplifier, 15a to 15d are variable resistors ihb,
One end of each of the variable resistors 15a to 15d is a heating element 12.
The heating elements 12a to 12 are connected to one end of each of the heating elements 12a to 12d.
The other ends of d are both grounded. In this case, the values of the variable resistors 15a and 15c are
"When a level signal is supplied, the heating elements 12a, 12
The current is set to flow through the heating elements 12a, 12c to raise the temperature of the terminal Pb to 71°C, and the values of the variable resistors 15b, 15d are set to
When an H” level signal is supplied, the heating elements 12b, 1
A current is set to flow through the heating elements 12b and 12d to raise the temperature of 2d to T,°C.

That is, when the heating elements 12a to 12d are brought into close contact with the printing paper 1, when a signal of -100 lbs. is supplied to the terminals Pg and Pc, respectively, the heating elements 12a and 12 of the printing paper 1
A red dot is printed at the position corresponding to c, and when a ``'H'' level signal is supplied to each of the terminals Pb and Pd, a blue dot is printed at the position corresponding to the heating elements 12b and 12d on the printing paper 1. printed.

Therefore, when the pulse motor 8 is rotated at a constant speed,
The head holder lO moves to the right or left depending on the direction of rotation, and at this time, if a drive signal is supplied to each terminal Pa=Pd, a red or blue dot will appear depending on the supplied drive signal. The images are printed sequentially on printing paper l. For example, when the head holder lO is moving to the right, if the drive signals shown in FIG. 5 are supplied to the terminals Pa=Pd, the red and blue pattern shown in FIG. 6 will be printed on the printing paper 1. Ru. In addition, in this figure, R is a red dot,
B shows a blue dot. 4゜Although the above-mentioned embodiment is a case of printing in two colors, red and back, the multicolor printing apparatus according to the present invention can print in three colors, four colors, etc.
・This is possible by printing.

For example, when printing in 3 colors, use 3 colors as printing paper 1.
A thermochromic layer is used, and a variable resistor 1 is used.
Each of the values 5a to 15c may be set corresponding to the coloring temperature of the three thermochromic layers. In this case, the heating element 12
d is not used.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the variable resistors 15a to
15d, the heat generation temperature of the heat generating elements 12a to 12d is adjusted, but it is also possible to adjust the temperature of the heat generating elements 12a to 12d by changing the pulse width of the drive signal that drives the heat generating elements 12a to 12d. good.

As explained above, according to the present invention, a sheet of paper having a plurality of thermochromic layers, a heating element brought into close contact with the sheet, and a drive circuit for driving the heating element are provided, so that a plurality of sheets can be printed with a simple configuration. Color printing is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the printing mechanism, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view showing the structure of the printing paper l, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the thermal head 11, and FIG. 4 is a drive circuit 13.
A circuit diagram showing the configuration of the drive circuit 13, FIG.
"" A timing chart showing an example of the drive signals applied to I'd, FIG. 6 shows the pattern printed on the printing paper 1 when the drive signals shown in FIG. 5 are applied to the terminals Pg to Pd. FIG. l...Printing paper, 2,3...Thermocoloring layer, 12a-1
2d... Heat generating element, 13... Drive circuit. Applicant Shinko Electric Co., Ltd. Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 a b @ Figure 6 457

Claims (1)

[Claims] A paper having a plurality of thermochromic layers that develop color at different temperatures, at least as many heating elements as the thermochromic layers that are closely attached to the paper, and each of the heating elements corresponding to the coloring temperature of the thermochromic layer. A multicolor printing device comprising a drive circuit that is driven with an amount of electric power.