JPS59194873A - Multicolor thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform multicolor thermal transfer recording with a recording head pressed against a platen without feeding a recording paper backward, by a method wherein sequential overlap recording is conducted by circularly feeding a recording paper between a recording head and a platen, and then a feeding passage is changed over. CONSTITUTION:When the leading end of the recording paper 4 fed from an inserting passage 7 by a paper-feeding roller 5 and a press roller 6 is detected by a sensor 13, the platen 2 against which the recording head 1 is pressed is rotated. Then, a multicolor ink film 3 is fed together with the recording paper 4, and monocolor recording is conducted on the paper 4. Similarly, monocolor recording in a different color is conducted on the paper 4 circularly fed through a circulating passage 4, and when a feeding passage change-over plate 10 is changed over by a solenoid or the like, the paper 4 is discharged into a discharging passage 9. Accordingly, high-speed favorable multicolor thermal transfer recording can be performed by a simple construction without feeding the recording paper backward and with the recording head pressed against the platen.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Technical Field> The present invention relates to 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 make it more compact. This invention relates to a multicolor thermal transfer recording device that makes it possible to achieve

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

One method is to perform single-color 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 initialize the monochrome-recorded paper n. The multicolor ink film 3 is fed back to the position, and the multicolor ink film 3 is advanced to the next color j in the meantime, and then monochrome recording of the next color is performed. This is repeated and monochromatic images are superimposed to obtain a multicolor record.

The other method is to wrap the recording paper 4 around the drum 2D and fix it as shown in FIG. 2, and then rotate the drum 2D in the same direction.
This is a method in which monochrome recording for one page is performed every rotation of the drum 2D, and this is repeated to superimpose monochrome images to obtain multicolor recording.

At present, the system shown in FIG. 1, in which the recording paper 4 is back-fed, is commonly used due to its simple device configuration. However, the method shown in FIG. 1 has the disadvantage that it is necessary to back-feed the recording paper 4 to the initial position several times, resulting in lost time and slowing down the recording speed. Also, when pack-feeding the recording paper 4, the platen 2 of the recording head 1
It is necessary to release the pressing force to prevent the used ink film 3 from hacking together with the recording paper 4, or from staining the recording paper 4 due to rubbing against the ink film 3. Therefore, a mechanism for press-fitting and releasing the recording head 1 is required, which poses a problem of complicating the apparatus.

On the other hand, in the case of the drum method, a mechanism for winding and fixing the recording paper 4 around the drum 21) is required. In addition, the recording paper attaching/detaching mechanism for releasing the fixation of the recording paper 4 from the drum 2D after multicolor recording, and removing the recording paper 4 wrapped around the drum 2D and ejecting the paper becomes complicated, and also has the disadvantage that the device becomes large. Yes. Furthermore, the drum system shown in FIG. 2 has a problem in that the recording head is very large, which makes it impossible to apply the recording heads currently in practical use to the tram system.

That is, the thermal heads currently being commercialized include not only a row of heating resistors but also an integrated diode matrix. Furthermore, devices equipped with driver ICs have also come out, and these are becoming mainstream. Therefore, the drive circuit section is covered with a cover to prevent it from coming into contact with the outside, which imposes restrictions on the platen diameter. That is, the diameter of the platen that can be used is approximately 20 to 25 mm, while the drum method requires at least 100 mm (A4 paper), so currently commercially available thermal heads cannot be used. If the drive circuit section and the heat generating resistor row section were to be cut off so as to be usable in this drum system, the higher the resolution, the more impossible it would be from the point of view of connection. Also, this may be possible by increasing the distance between the drive circuit section and the heat generating resistor array section, or the thermal head will become 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 all be applied to the drum system.

Furthermore, since the drum is heavy, there are other problems such as a large load to rotate the drum and 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 is made with the aim of eliminating the above-mentioned conventional problems. The image is transferred onto a recording paper, and the transferred recording paper is circulated between the recording head and the platen, and unit images of different colors are sequentially superimposed to record multicolors. When the multicolor border is completed, 2. Switch the conveyance path and guide the recording paper out of the circulation conveyance path. The present invention provides a recording device for discharging multicolor heat 1.

<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, and ta+, (b) and (C1) in the same figure respectively show the process of switching the conveyance path in multicolor recording.

In FIG. 3 (al, (bl), (C), 1 is a recording throat (thermal head), 2 is a platen, and 3 is a multicolor ink film, and the multicolor ink film 3 is
As shown in Figure 4, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) ink layers are repeatedly applied to the base capacitor paper or polyester film periodically in the following order. . 4 other colors (yellow,
A multicolor ink film such as magenta, cyan, flag) or two colors (red, black) may be used. Also, 4 is recording paper,
5 is a paper feed roller, 6 is a pressure roller, 7 is a recording paper insertion path into which 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 for peeling off the ink film 3 stuck to the recording paper 4 after recording. The exposed ink film 3 is wound up on an ink film winding roller 12.

Next, the process of switching the conveyance path of the present invention will be explained from FIG. 3 (al, (1)) and (C1').

FIG. 3(a)i is a diagram showing a state in which the recording paper 4 is inserted from the recording paper insertion path 7, and the recording paper 4 is conveyed into the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8 by the paper feed roller 5 and the pressure roller 6. be. When the leading edge of the recording paper 4 is detected by the paper leading edge detection sensor 13 in FIG. First, the yellow (y) portion of the ink film 3 is conveyed to the recording head 1, and monochrome recording using yellow 0 (Y) is performed.

After being sufficiently cooled after recording, the ink film 3 stuck to the recording paper 4 is removed by an ink film removal plate 11, and the used ink film 3 is wound up by an ink film take-up roller 12. Since the recording paper discharge path 9 is blocked by the conveyance path switching plate 4 and 0, the recording paper is sent to the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8.

To carry out unit recording of yellow (Y), the recording paper 4 is sent to the circulation conveyance path 8, and as shown in the third Mtb), the yellow (Y)
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, along with the recording paper 4, the magenta (M
) g (3k head) and magenta (
M) monochrome recording is started. At this time, the conveyance path switching plate 10
continues to block the recording paper ejection path 9.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3(c), when one portion of magenta (M) monochrome printing is completed, the leading edge of the recording paper 4 is again detected by the paper leading edge detection sensor 13.

In response to the detection output of the paper leading edge detection sensor 13, the cyan (C) portion of the ink film 3 is conveyed together with the recording paper 4 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 or a motor (not shown) to close the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8 and open the recording paper discharge path 9. Single-color cyan (C) recording finished, used ink film 3 stuck to recording paper 4 or ink film removal plate 11
When brushed off, a multicolor record of yellow, magenta, and cyan monochromatic images superimposed is completed.

The recording paper 4 on which multicolor recording has been completed is guided to the recording paper ejection path 9 by the ejection path switching plate 10, and is ejected to the outside by the ejection roller 14.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the length of the recording paper circulation conveyance path is set to correspond to the width of each color of the ink film 3, and with this configuration, one page of one color can be printed. Once the recording is completed, the next step is to start recording the next color with minimal time loss.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of another embodiment of the present invention, and the same parts as in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 5, 15 is the conveyance path switching plate 10 in FIG.
This is a switching conveyance path that operates in the same manner as the switching conveyance path 1.
5 is the left (
(solid line) or to the right (broken line) to selectively guide the recording paper 4 to the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8 or the recording paper discharge path 9.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention, in which the conveyance path for circulation or discharge of the recording paper 4 is switched using wind pressure without any mechanically movable parts. It is.

That is, 16 is a wind pressure control section, and this wind pressure control section 16 is a sixth
By applying positive wind pressure as shown in Figure ta+,
The paper 4 is guided into the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8, and also as shown in FIG.
), the recording paper 4 is moved toward the recording paper discharge path 9 by applying negative air pressure.

The invention also applies to a multicolor thermal transfer recording device having a plurality of print heads 1.1', . . . .

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, recording heads 1.1' are provided along the recording paper circulation path 8. One recording head 1 is used for multi-color printing, and the other recording head 1 is used for multi-color printing. l′
In the case of multi-color recording, in the thermal transfer recording device B used for printing black and white characters, the recording paper 4 is run through the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8 several times, and then the conveyance path switching plate 10 is driven to change the recording paper. It leads to the discharge path 9. Further, in the case of black monochrome recording, the conveyance path switching plate 10 is driven from the beginning to close the recording paper circulation conveyance path 8 and guide the recording paper 4 to the recording paper discharge path 9.

In addition, in FIG. 7, 3' is a black ink ribbon.

Effects> As shown in L below, since the multicolor thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention does not require backfeeding the recording paper every time monochrome recording is completed, the recording speed can be increased accordingly. Further, the recording head can remain pressed against the platen at all times, and the apparatus, which otherwise requires a release mechanism for the recording head, is simplified. Along with this, is the release i47? This method has the advantage of not causing dirt on the ground due to impact at the time of crimping, unlike in the case of the conventional method of back-feeding recording paper that requires I.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing an outline of a conventional multicolor thermal transfer device, and FIG. 3(a). (1) l and tc+ are respectively cross-sectional views showing the schematic structure of the multicolor thermal transfer device according to the present invention in each process of multicolor recording, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a multicolor ink film for thermal transfer, and FIG. A sectional view showing another embodiment, FIG.
al, tbl and FIG. 7 are sectional views each showing other embodiments according to the present invention. 1... 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. ... Ink film peeling plate, 12 ... Ink film take-up roller, 13 ... Paper leading edge detection sensor, 14 - Paper ejection roller, 1
5... Switching conveyance path, 16... Wind pressure control section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A thermal transfer recording device comprising a recording head, a platen disposed opposite to the recording head, and a multicolor ink film that is made to run together with a recording paper between the recording head and the platen. means for always running recording paper in one direction to transfer a monochrome image of ink of a predetermined tone onto the recording paper by the recording head; and a means for transferring the recording paper after the transfer between the recording head and the platen. A recording paper circulation conveyance means for recording multicolor images by sequentially superimposing monochrome images of respective colors by circulating the recording paper between the recording paper circulation conveyance path and a conveyance path switching means for guiding the recording paper on which multicolor recording has been recorded to the outside of the recording paper circulation conveyance path. A multicolor thermal transfer recording device characterized by comprising: means.