JPS59185665A - Multicolor thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to record in multiple colors by sequentially overlapping single-color images of different colors, by a method wherein a recording paper is moved constantly in a fixed direction, a predetermined single-color image is transferred onto the paper by a recording head, and the recording paper with the image thus transferred is recirculated between the head and a platen. CONSTITUTION:The recording paper 4 is fed into a circulating passage 8 through a recording paper feeding-in passage 7, and when the leading end of the paper is detected by a sensor 13 for detecting the leading end, the platen 2 is rotated, a yellow Y part of an ink film 3 is fed to the recording head 1 together with the paper 4, and single-color recording is conducted. The used ink film 3 is taken up by a take-up roller 12, while the paper 4 is fed into the passage 8 by a feeding passage change-over plate 10. Similarly, the plate 10 is driven at the time of starting recording, and when multicolor recording by overlapping single-color images of magenta M and cyan C is completed, the final recording paper 4 is led into a discharging passage 9, and is discharged.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an improvement of a multicolor thermal transfer recording device, and more specifically, improves the recording paper feeding method to increase the recording speed, simplify the device, and improve the recording paper feeding method. This invention relates to a multicolor thermal transfer recording device that can be miniaturized.

<Prior Art> In conventional multicolor thermal transfer recording devices, two types of methods are used for feeding the paper.

One method is to perform monochrome recording for one page between the recording head 1 and platen 2, as shown in Figure 1, and then reverse the conveying direction of the recording paper 4 to move the monochrome recorded recording paper to the initial position. During this time, the multicolor ink film 3 is advanced to the next color, and thereafter monochrome recording of the next color is performed. This is repeated to create a multicolor record by overlapping monochrome images. The other is recording paper 4 as shown in Figure 2.
is wound around the drum 2D and fixed, the drum 2D is rotated in the same direction, one page of monochrome recording is made for each rotation of the drum 2D, and this is repeated to overlap the monochrome images to obtain a multicolor record. It is.

At present, the method shown in FIG. 1, in which the recording paper 4 is subjected to banokun-eeding, which has a simple device configuration, is often used. However, recording paper 4
The disadvantage is that the time it takes to backfeet to the initial position is lost time, and the recording speed becomes slower. Also, when backfeeding the recording paper 4, the pressure of the recording head 1 on the platen 2 must be released, otherwise the used ink film 3
The recording paper 4 may back up along with the recording paper 4, or the recording paper 4 may become dirty due to rubbing against the ink film 3.

Therefore, a mechanism for pressing and releasing the recording head l is required.
There was a problem that the device became complicated.

On the other hand, in the case of the drum system, the recording paper attaching/detaching mechanism for winding and fixing the recording paper 4 around the drum 2D and releasing it after recording is complicated, and the apparatus also has the disadvantage that it becomes unstable. In addition, the drum system shown in Fig. 2 above has the problem that the recording head becomes very large, and there is a problem that the recording head currently in practical use cannot be applied to the drum system. .

That is, the thermal heads currently being commercialized are of the IJ Fuchs type as well as a diode array. Furthermore, devices equipped with driver ICs have also appeared, and these are becoming mainstream. Therefore, the first drive circuit section is covered with a cover to prevent it from coming into contact with the outside, and this places restrictions on the platen diameter. The usable platen size is approximately 20 to 25 mm in diameter, while the drum method requires at least 100 mm in diameter (A4 paper), making it impossible to use currently commercialized thermal heads. If the resolution becomes higher, it becomes impossible to separate the one drive circuit section and the heat generating resistor array section so that this drum method can be used, in terms of connection. Also, although it is possible to increase the distance between the drive circuit section and the heat generating resistor row section, the thermal head becomes very large. A high-resolution, high-speed thermal head is essential for multicolor thermal transfer recording, and currently available high-resolution, high-speed thermal heads cannot be applied to the seven-drum system.

Furthermore, since the drum is heavy, the load of rotating the drum is heavy!
・There were problems such as the need for a motor with large torque.

Purpose of the present invention The present invention has been made with the aim of eliminating the above-mentioned conventional problems.The present invention has been made with the aim of eliminating the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art. To provide a multicolor thermal transfer recording device in which monochromatic images of different colors are sequentially superimposed and recorded in multiple colors by transferring the images onto paper and circulating the transferred recording paper between a recording head and a platen. It is something.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a recording head (thermal head), 2 is a platen, and 3 is a multicolor ink film.As shown in FIG. The ink layer of C) is repeatedly applied to the base capacitor paper or polyester film periodically in the above sequence. In addition, there are 4 colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) and 2 colors (red,
A multicolor ink film such as black) may also be used. Also, 4
5 is a recording paper, 5 is a paper feed roller, 6 is a pressure roller, 7 is a recording paper insertion path into which the recording paper is inserted, and 8 is a recording paper circulation conveyance path. Further, 9 is a recording paper discharge path, and 10 is a conveyance path switching plate that determines the traveling path of the recording paper 4. Reference numeral 11 denotes an ink film peeling plate, which is used to peel off the ink film 3 stuck to the recording paper 4 after recording. The peeled ink film 3 is taken up by an ink film take-up roller 12.

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) are schematic sectional views for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is simpler than the configuration shown in FIG. 3 by integrating the platen 2 and one of the paper feed rollers 5 in FIG. 3, but its operation is similar to that shown in FIG. Since it is substantially the same as the embodiment, the multicolor recording process of the present invention will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 5(a), (b), and (C).

FIG. 5(a) shows a state in which the recording paper 4 is inserted from the recording paper insertion path 7 and is conveyed into the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8 by the paper feed roller 5 and the pressure roller 6. It is a diagram. In FIG. 5(a), when the leading edge of the recording paper 4 is detected by the paper leading edge detection sensor 13, the platen 2 rotates and the ink film 3 is conveyed together with the recording paper 4. First, the yellow (Y) portion of the ink film 3 is conveyed to the recording head 1, and monochrome recording is performed. After cooling down sufficiently after recording,
The ink film 3 stuck to the recording paper 4 is peeled off by an ink film tearing plate 11, and the used ink film 3 is taken up by an ink film take-up roller 12.

On the other hand, since the recording paper discharge path 9 is blocked by the conveyance path switching plate 10, the recording paper 4 is sent to the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8.

The recording paper 4 on which yellow (Y) monochrome recording has been applied is sent to a circulating conveyance path 8, and as shown in FIG.
When one page of single-color printing of Y) is completed, the leading edge of the recording paper 4 is detected again by the paper leading edge detection sensor 13. Next, the magenta (M
) section is conveyed to recording gutter 1, and magenta (M) monochrome recording is started. Next, as shown in FIG. 5(C), when one page of magenta (M) monochrome printing is completed,
The leading edge of the paper is detected again by the paper leading edge detection sensor 13. Therefore, along with the recording paper 4, the cyan (
Section C) is conveyed to the recording head 1, and monochrome recording of cyan (C) is started. At this point, the conveyance path switching plate 10 is driven by a solenoid (not shown) to switch the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8. and open the recording paper ejection path 9. After monochrome recording of cyan (C) is completed, the used ink film 3 stuck to the recording paper 4 is removed from the ink film peeling plate 11.
This completes a multicolor recording in which monochromatic images of white, yellow, magenta, and cyan are superimposed.

The recording paper 4 on which multicolor recording has been completed is led to a recording paper discharge path 9 and is discharged.

In the above embodiment, the length of the recording paper circulation path is set to correspond to the width of each color of the ink film 3, and with this configuration, recording of one page of one color is completed. At this point, it is possible to start recording the next color overlappingly with little time loss.

<Effects> As described above, the multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention does not need to back-feed the recording paper every time monochrome recording is completed, and therefore the recording speed can be increased accordingly. Further, the recording head can remain pressed against the platen at all times, and there is no need for a recording head release mechanism, which simplifies the apparatus.

Along with this, there is an advantage that no dusting occurs due to impact at the time of crimping, unlike in the case of the conventional twitch-feeding method of recording paper that requires a release mechanism.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a sectional view, respectively, showing an outline of a conventional multicolor thermal transfer device, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a multicolor thermal transfer device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a thermal transfer device. A perspective view of a multicolor ink film; FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 5(a), (b), (
C) are diagrams for explaining the process of multicolor recording according to the present invention. 0■ Recording head (thermal head);
2 Platen, 3 Multicolor ink film, 4 Recording paper, 5 Paper feed roller, 6 Pressure roller, 7 Recording paper insertion path, 8 Recording paper circulation conveyance path, 9 Recording paper ejection path , 10... Conveyance path switching plate, 11... Ink holder, ;%
; Peeling plate, 12... Ink film winding roller, 1
3.Paper leading edge detection sensor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a thermal transfer recording device equipped with a recording head, a platen installed opposite to the recording head, and a multicolor ink film that is run together with the recording paper between the recording head and the platen, the recording paper is always kept in the same position. means for transferring a monochrome image of ink of a predetermined tone onto the recording paper by moving the ink in a direction, and circulating the recording paper after the transfer between the recording head and the platen again; 1. A multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus, comprising a recording paper circulation conveyance means for conveying and sequentially recording monochromatic images of respective colors in a superimposed manner.