JPS5945173A - Thermotransfer type color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable automatic determination of the initial transfer setting position for a transfer paper by setting the first color ink at the print starting position when a detection sensor detects a detection color ink such as black part provided at the specified position of the boundaries between a plurality of color inks on the transfer paper. CONSTITUTION:A transfer paper 40 is rolled on a transfer paper core 41, housed into a transfer paper case 42 as placed in such a manner as to free to rotate and sent out of a case opening 42a. The transfer paper core 41 is supported with respective tapered sections 43b and 44a of a roller shaft 43 and a press shaft 44 through a spring 45 and hence, likewise, the roller shaft 43 and the transfer paper core 41 turn sliding properly. The transfer paper case 42 is set at the fixed position being engaged with a notch 42b and a pin 51. A recording paper 32 is rolled on a recording paper core 33, housed into a recording paper case 34 as placed in such a manner as to free to turn and sent out of a case opening 34a.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer color printer that can perform recording by thermally transferring color ink from a transfer paper to a recording paper, and in particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a convenient thermal transfer color printer for consumer use. In recent years, thermal transfer printers have been in the spotlight, i.e., printers that apply heat-melting TTL ink to a base paper and use a thermal head to transfer and record the necessary information onto the recording paper. It has begun to be used in word processors, etc. As a conventional thermal transfer type color printer, there is a printer 1 shown in Fig. 1, in which a recording paper 2 and yellow, magenta, and cyan transfer papers 3, 4°, and 13-5 each correspond to the required image frame size. They are prepared in independent cups 1 to 2 with approximately the same size as the paper towels. According to this,
The recording paper 2 is wound around the outer periphery of the platen roller 6 by approximately -1 rotation, and first, a yellow transfer paper 3, for example, is set below the recording paper 2 between the thermal print head 7 and the recording paper 2. This sharpening platen roller 6 rotates once in the direction of the arrow claw, and the recording paper 2
While the entire length of the yellow transfer paper 3 passes in front of the print 1 head 7, the entire length of the yellow transfer paper 3 also passes in the direction of arrow B, and during this time, the yellow color of the transfer paper 3 changes due to heat generation sequentially for each line of the print 1 to head 7. The image is transferred to recording paper 2. Next, the transfer paper 3 is taken out 1) 1), and each of the 71-color and cyan transfer papers 4.5 passes through each rotation of the platen roller 6 in sequence, and the magenta and cyan colors are superimposed and transferred onto the recording paper 2. recorded. However, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the recording paper 2 and the transfer papers 3 to 5 must be individually cut to the required image frame size, replenishing paper is complicated, and the overall mechanism is There are disadvantages such as complexity and high price, and difficulty in controlling the quality of the printer.14- Another conventional thermal transfer color printer is the printer 8 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 Inside, the printer 8 runs the recording paper 10 around the outer periphery of the trapezoidal platen roller 9 in the direction of the arrow C, and prints the three printers 1 to 11 +.
, 11 2. 11-3 is transferred to three rolls of transfer paper 12 1 . of the three primary colors (yellow, magenta, cyan). 1
2-2. 12-3 respectively] - The heads 11-1 to 11-3 are heated appropriately according to the necessary information to transfer and record the color ink of the corresponding transfer paper 12-1 to 12-3 onto the recording paper 11. let In this case, each of the transfer sheets 12-1 to 12-3 runs between a pair of rolls, and the recording paper 10 also runs sequentially around the outer circumference of the roller 9, so that the colors are yellow and magenta. Necessary information for cyan is printed on print dots 11-1 to 11-3.
The printheads 11-1 to 11-3 are sequentially delayed by the time required for the recording paper 1o to travel.
supplied to According to this conventional example, the print head and the transfer paper 3 are
As a result, the configuration is complicated and large, the cost is high, the power supply is frequently damaged, the usability is complicated, and it is not particularly suitable for consumer use. The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and one embodiment thereof will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a thermal transfer color printer according to the present invention. In the figure, a thermal transfer type color printer 31 has a recording paper 32, which is wound in a roll around a recording paper core 33 and rotatably inserted and stored in a recording paper case 34, as shown in FIG. It is sent out from the case opening 34a. The recording paper core 33 is coaxially supported on the frame 35 by a feed roller shaft 36 (roller portions 36a, 36b, and tapered portion 36c are on the right) and a suppression shaft 37 (arrow 1 in FIG. 4, sliding in the ■ direction). It is supported by being pressed against the roller shaft 36 side by a coil spring 38 fitted to the suppression shaft 37. Therefore, as will be described later, [1-R shaft 36 is rotationally driven, both shafts 36°37
Although the recording paper core 33 is rotated integrally to feed the recording paper 32, it is possible to slide and rotate between the recording paper core 33 and the roller shaft 36. The notch 341) of the recording paper case 37'I is engaged with the bin 39 of the frame 1\35, so that the opening 34a is set at a fixed position. Furthermore, recording paper 32
As shown in FIG. 6, a transparent tape 32a of a predetermined length made of polyester or the like is provided at the final rear end, that is, the innermost end of the roll, and this case 32a is fastened to the core 33. This tape 32a is detected by a reflected light type sensor 46 placed at a predetermined angle position near the recording paper roll in FIG. Any plain paper may be used, but from the viewpoint of recording image quality, high-quality paper or 2-1 paper is preferable. 40 is a transfer paper, and the transfer paper core 41 has [l-
It is wound into a loop shape, rotatably fitted and stored in the transfer paper case 42, and sent out from the case opening 42a. The transfer paper core 41 has the same structure as the recording paper core 33 described above.
Feed 1] is supported by the roller shaft 4317- (roller portion 43E1 to the right) and each tapered portion 431 of the pressing shaft 44), 44a with a spring 45 interposed therebetween. Therefore, similarly to -C, the roller shaft 43 and the transfer paper core 41 can be rotated as appropriate. The transfer paper case 42 also has a notch 4211. When the bottle 51 is engaged, the cylinder 1 is held at a certain position. The 1/II structure of the transfer paper 40 itself is as shown in FIG. The length nl approximately corresponds to the length m2 of the image frame 32b of the recording paper 32 shown in FIG. They are almost the same. The length M of one section of the recording paper 32 is equal to the above length ml plus the length ml of the holding portion 32c which follows. Also, the first color yellow part 40a and the second color mapinta part 40
A black portion 40 (1) is provided with a length m5 in the running direction, which is detected by a sensor 85 as shown in FIG. 10 (△). Each margin 1 (in
The sum of 3 is 21113, l: is set smaller (m:
r<2ma), -1=J that does not damage the recording frame 321): Sea urchin C is present. Furthermore, there is a marking part 40a,
Color of 40b, 40c, 40d-i'n')t,
It is a heat-melting ink consisting mainly of pigment as an agent and a binder agent and other additives.
As shown in FIG. 0(B), it is applied to one side of a single sheet of paper 40e. As shown in FIG. 10 (Δ), a leader tape 40f made of a Mylar base or the like having a relative thickness of <11111 t'l and its square hole 40g are placed at the leading end of the transfer paper 40, as shown in FIG. 10 (Δ). This leader tape 40 [transfer paper/IO length is about 10 to 2011 m, which is very thin, and it is difficult to automatically insert it as it is, so it is set to 11.

[Jta1). In addition, since the color ink of transfer paper/10 does not use face 1, it is easy to print glossy and high-quality images, and it is also possible to print 4J special processing after transfer recording. It is not necessary, and the influence of changes over time and changes in environmental conditions after Purine 1 is small (41<Storage+11), which is excellent. Reference numeral 52 denotes a drive boot, which is rotatably supported on the lever 55 together with a pulley 53 (directly connected to the seventh gear 5/I) extending in FIG. The lever 55 is approximately the motor 5
The plunger 56a of the solenoid 56 (fixed to the frame 35) is connected to the opposite end of the solenoid 56. Normally, the lever 55 is at its swing limit in the direction of arrow J due to the spring 57 as the solenoid 56 in FIG.
2 is in pressure contact with the roller portion 36a of the roller shaft 36. Furthermore, a recording paper case 34 (recording paper:] 733 is attached to the frame 35.
(including) is removed (=I t, -J), the drive pulley 52 is removed from the roller portion 36a of the roller shaft 36 (=I t, -J).
58 is a rotatable capstan shaft, and the capstan 58
a. The pulley 58h and the pulley 58h are coaxially moved in one direction from the generator 58c. Reference numeral 59 is a transmitted light type sensor, which is installed corresponding to the tartar generator 58c.
The recording paper case 34 is attached to the frame 35 (=JL, -j) by a spring 63 at the other end. When the lever 62 is turned on, the lever 62 moves from 1 to 1 (as shown in the figure).
The pinch ``]-ra 60 is separated from the key 1 flops stamp 58a, and the recording paper case 371 is attached to the
When the lever 62 is pressed, the lever 62 rotates in the 81 direction, and the Binchy roller 60 comes into pressure contact with the 21st press stan 58a. Reference numeral 64 denotes a transmission pulley, which is pivotally supported by a lever 71 that is pivotally supported on the bin 65. The lever 71 has a solenoid 72()l at one end.
The plunger 72a (fixed to the seam 35) is connected, but since the solenoid 72 is de-energized, the spring 73 at the other end
Therefore, the transmission pulley 64 is at the limit of rotation in the counterclockwise direction, and the transmission pulley 64 is separated from the roller portion 361 of the roller shaft 36 and the pulley 58b of the capstan shaft 58. 74 is a platen roller, which is used to feed the transfer paper 40 around which the recording paper 32 is wound; the outer periphery is made of rubber to enable the feeding of the transfer paper 40; FIG. 8(A) As shown in FIG. 77 is freely rotated in the forward and reverse directions (in the direction of arrow 1M) via a timing belt 78 stretched between the belt 77 and the timing belt 78.
AU <A clamping plate made of an elastic magnetic metal plate, which is pivotally supported near the outer periphery of the platen roller 77I, as shown in FIG. A rubber 1J79b is applied to the roller 74 by a spring 80 and urged toward the outer circumferential direction of the roller 74 (counterclockwise direction). The holding plate 79 rotates integrally with the platen roller 74, and only at the desired angular position shown in FIG. is engaged with and rotated in the counterclockwise direction against the spring 80 to allow the leading portion (clamping portion 32C) of the recording paper 32 to enter. Therefore, when the solenoid 81 is de-energized, the clamping play 179 is rotated counterclockwise by the magnetic force of the spring 80 and the rubber magnet 74b, as shown in FIG. Rubber magnets i~741
) and hold the leading end of the recording paper 32 (clamping part 32C)
-ru. At this time, the outer periphery of the gono-shrine 79h is slightly sunk inward from one revolution of the platen roller 7/1. 86 is anti-q・
A one-light type sensor is fixed at a predetermined position near the outer periphery of the platen roller 74 to detect when the roller 74 has reached the desired angular position shown in FIG. Note that the positions of the platen roller 74 facing the print head 82 are designated as print 1 to position 74c. Reference numeral 82 denotes a line-type thermal print head, and as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of heating cords 82a for thermally transferring necessary information from a control circuit 83 are disposed on the front surface of the head in a row in a horizontal direction. The heat generating element 82a is fixed to a supporting member 84 such that the line of the heating element 82a coincides with the axis of the platen roller 74 and faces perpendicularly to the feeding direction of the recording paper 32 and the transfer paper 40. The support lever 84 is swingable in the directions of arrows N and P about the center 4<1 fit of the transfer paper case 42 as a fulcrum, and is pivotable in the directions of the arrows N and P, and the support lever 84 is pivotable in the directions of arrows N and P, and is pivotable about the center 4<1 fit of the transfer paper case 42 as a fulcrum. Sensor 85 for detecting the black portion of transfer paper. Platen roller 7
4J, has a transfer paper guide 91 with a front guide 91, and has a hole 8 at the tip.
4a No. 1 Tunoid 92 (fixed to -71 Norm 35)
The plunger 1792a is passed through the engaging protrusion 921]
It is biased in the direction of arrow [1]P by a spring 93 interposed between the levers 8/1. Reference numeral 94 denotes another support lever, which is movable in the directions of arrows Q and R with a pin 95 as a fulcrum, and has a pair of transfer paper guides 96a and 96b behind the platen roller 7i, and a pressing pin 97. It is urged in the direction of the arrow by a spring 98. However, since the spring force of the spring 93 is set to be weaker than that of the spring 9B, as shown in FIG. The dovetail suppressing pin 97 overcomes the spring 93 to bring the support lever 84 to its rotational limit in the direction of arrow N, and the printer 1 head 82 is separated from the platen roller 74 by 1 inch. Reference numeral 99 denotes a transfer paper winding roller, which has a jack 99a that can be rotated freely in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11, and is connected to a slip shaft 100 as shown in FIG. Electromagnetic clutch 101. A pulley 102 is coaxially connected, and timing bells 1 to 78 from a pulse motor 76 are wound around the pulley 102, whereby the electromagnetic clutch 101 is rotationally driven when it is closed (on). The slip plates 100a of the clutch shaft 100 such as Fell 1 are pressed against the winding roller 99 and -1
- Since there are four rotary drives, the electromagnetic clutch 10
When 1 is turned on, the take-up roller 99 and slip @ 100 (
The pulley 102) can slide and rotate as appropriate. , 103 is pivotally supported by a pin 104 in the transfer paper guide plate 1~, and one end 103 is biased by a spring 105 in the J direction.
a comes into contact with the support lever 84, and the n other end guide portions 103h
is in light pressure contact with the outer periphery of the winding roller 99. 111 (111a, 111b) are recording paper output guides, and sensors 1J-- detect print 1 to end.
112 is set up (). 113 is a cutter assembly for cutting recording paper, which includes a rotary blade 11;
4 and a fixed blade 115. The rotary blade 114 has a slip mechanism (not shown) on its rotation shaft, is stretched between the pulley 75 of the platen roller 74, and is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow via a timing bell 116. However, in FIG. 3, the protruding portion 114a of the rotary blade 114 abuts against the plunger 117a of the solenoid 117, which is in the protruding and displaced state, and the slip mechanism stops operating. Reference numeral 118 is a transmitted light type lens for detecting passage of the leading edge of the recording paper 32. In addition to the guides 103 and 111 shown in the figure, guides for recording paper and transfer paper are provided around the platen roller 74 and transfer paper take-up roller 9]F1.
The figure is omitted. Next, the operation of the thermal transfer color printer 31 will be explained. First, I will explain the loading of the transfer paper 40. First, when the transfer paper button (not shown) is pressed, the solenoid 56 in FIG. 3 is energized and plunges t7! i6a
is pulled and slid to the right, and the lever 52 is moved by the spring 5.
7 and rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the drive pulley 52 comes into pressure contact with the roller portion 43a of the 1-ra/13. The drive pulley 52 is rotated in the direction of the solid line arrow through the pulley 53. Therefore, the roller l1l143 and the transfer paper core 41 start rotating in the direction of the solid line arrow -26= in FIG. 3, and the transfer paper 40 is rotated in the direction of the arrow S. The transfer paper 40 sequentially passes through a sensor 85 and a guide 91, passes between a platen roller 74 and a printing head 82, further passes between guides 96a and 96b, and is guided by guide plates 1-103. It reaches the guide portion 103b and reaches the transfer paper take-up roller 99. Here, the take-up roller 99
turns on the electromagnetic clutch 101 and the pulse motor 76
, transfer paper I in the direction of the arrow via timing bells 1 to 78.
! 1. The chuck 99a protruding in FIG.
enters and engages the rectangular hole 40Q of the leader tape 40f of the transfer paper 40, completing the V-picking. The rotational speed of the winding roller 9 at the end of juggling is regulated to match the transfer paper 40 feeding speed, and the slip plate 100a of the slip shaft 100 with a rotation speed higher than this is regulated to match the winding roller 9.
Starting from the 9 to 1 slip, back tension is applied to the transfer paper 40 so that it does not sag. Next, the solenoid 56 is de-energized, the motor 54 stops, and the lever 55 returns to rotation in the direction of arrow J until the drive pulley 52 comes into pressure contact with the roller portion 36a of the roller shaft 36, and the transfer paper core 41 becomes free. state. Therefore, from now on, the transfer paper 40 is sequentially pulled out by the rotational drive of the take-up roller 99 that rotates integrally with the slip shaft 100, but in this case too, the transfer paper 40 is pulled out by the spring 45 coaxial with the transfer paper 41.
This gives back tension so there is no slack. The transfer paper 40 sent out as described above is shown in FIG.
When the black portion 40d is detected facing the sensor 85, the electromagnetic clutch 101 is turned off, so that the take-up roller 99 stops rotating and the feeding of the transfer paper 40 is also stopped. The sensor 85 is preset so that the distance from the print 1 to position 74c of the platen roller 74 is approximately (ml 1113).
In this case, a portion within the margin length m3 from the leading edge of the yellow portion 40a reaches approximately the print position fif74c. Also, at this time, since the leader tape 40f is wound around the take-up roller 99 for more than one turn, the chuck 99a is lowered toward the center, and the outer periphery of the leader tape 40[ is a smooth circumference with no irregularities. Further, even after the take-up roller 99 has stopped, the pulse motor 76 is still being driven, so the platen roller 74 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow I. However, when the desired location is detected by the sensor 86, the pulse motor Motor 76 is stopped and platen roller 74 is stopped at the desired angular position shown in FIG. During this time, the cutter assembly 1130 rotary blade 114 is connected to the plunger 11 of the solenoid 117 as described above.
The rotation is forcibly stopped by 7a. Next, loading of the recording paper 32 will be explained. When the external printer 1 button (not shown) is pressed, the motor 54 in FIG. Rotation is started and the recording paper 32 is sent out in the direction of arrow U. At the same time, the solenoid 72 is energized, the plunger 72a is retracted, and the lever 71 is moved by the spring 72a.
3, the transmission pulley 64 rotates clockwise against the rotation of the roller portion 36tl of the roller shaft 36 and the pulley 58 of the capstan shaft 58.
b, and the capstan 58a and the pinch roller 60 pressed thereto are rotated in the direction of the arrow. Therefore, 1=recording paper 32 fed out from the recording paper core 33
is held by the capstan 58a and the pinch roller 60 and further sent out in the direction of arrow U. At this time, since the feeding speed by the capstan 58a and the pinch roller 60 is higher than the feeding speed from the recording paper core 33, the recording paper core 33 has a rotational speed corresponding to the above-mentioned large feeding speed, and the above-mentioned The recording paper 32 slips and rotates with respect to the roller shaft 36, and back tension is applied to the recording paper 32 by the spring 38. The recording paper 32 fed out from the capstan 58a and the pinch roller 60 passes through the cutter assembly 113, reaches the processor 118, and is detected by the sensor 118.
The tip of No. 2 is detected. As a result, the five sensors in the tacho generator 58c of the capstan shaft 58 start counting the number of pulses, but just as the desired number of pulses has been counted in advance, the leading edge of the recording paper 32 reaches the platen roller 74. is set so as to reach the desired angular position. Therefore, after the Lenly 59 has counted the desired number of pulses, the leading end of the recording paper 32 enters between the four strips 74a of the platen roller 74 at the desired angle position and the pressing portions 79a of the holding plates 7. At this point, when the count of the sensor 59 ends, the solenoid 81 becomes de-energized, so the clamping brake 1.79 displaces the plunger 81a protrudingly by the force of the spring 80 and the rubber magnet 1-74b, The pressing portion 79a enters the groove 74a and grips the gripping portion 32G (length m4) at the leading end of the recording paper 32 between the pressing portion 79a and the rubber magnet 74b. At the same time, the solenoid 72 is de-energized, the lever 71 is rotated counterclockwise by the spring 73, and the transmission pulley 64 is rotated counterclockwise by the spring 73.
is separated from the roller portion 36b and the pulley 58b, and the capstan 58a and the pinch roller 60 are in a free state in which they are pressed against each other. When the recording paper 32 is completely nipped, the platen roller 7
4 is moved in the direction of the arrow by the pulse motor 7G to the above-mentioned 7 bustan 58a, pinch 1]-ra 60 feed speed J:
Rotation starts at a higher circumferential speed, and the sharpening gear A7 pusher 58a, pinge roller 60, and recording paper core 33 are rotated simply following the feeding of the recording paper 32, respectively. When the platen roller 74 starts rotating, the pulse motor 76 rotates by a preset desired number of incoming pulses and then stops. During this time, the platen roller 74 rotates a little less than 90 degrees and further removes the recording paper 32 from the holding portion 32c. Extra length m
The position 3 minutes inward reaches pudding 1 to position 74c. As shown in FIG. 7, the recording paper 32 also has a margin length n2-(Nn+>/2) for the image frame 321 in the horizontal direction. Next, when the solenoid 92 is energized and the plunger 92a is retracted, the support lever 84 is rotated in the direction of arrow P via the compressed spring 93, and The lever 94 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Q against the spring 98.The transfer paper guide plate 103 also has one end 103.
a is pressed and rotates slightly counterclockwise against the spring 105, and the other end guide portion 10311 is moved away from the outer periphery of the transfer paper 40 during printing to be described later. Make it easy. As a result, the transfer paper guide 91,
968. ．． 96b moves to the left in FIG. 3, the transfer paper 40 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the platen roller 74 by a predetermined angle via the recording paper 32, and the print head 82 moves in the same direction to print position 74c. Transfer paper 40. The recording paper 32 is pressed against the outer periphery of the platen roller 74 by the spring force of the compressed spring 93. Next, the circuit 83 is activated, and current pulses are selectively supplied to the plurality of heating elements 82a in one line of the print head 82 to generate heat, and the yellow ink in the yellow portion 40a is melted and the recording paper 32 is colored yellow. One line is transferred and recorded in the form of dots (print i~). By changing the width of the current pulse, the area of the transferred dots can be varied, and the effect of adjacent dots makes it possible to control the gradation. For this purpose, the resolution can be easily increased by changing the arrangement density of the heating elements 82a and the line feed rate of the platen 74. When printing is completed, the recording paper 32 is taken up by the platen roller 74, and the transfer paper 40 is taken up by the take-up roller 99 with the electromagnetic clutch 101 turned on, so that the recording paper 32 is moved in one direction of the arrow 1 and the direction of the arrow S, respectively.
The heating cables 82a are sent in synchronization with each other by approximately the pitch of the heating cables 82a. Thereafter, the same printing operation as above is repeated line by line, and a plurality of lines of yellow dots are printed in the image frame 3211 of the recording paper 32. At the end of printing, the recording paper 32 is wound around the platen roller by about -1 rotation, but during printing of the yellow portion 40a, one section of the recording paper 32 is cut to a length M as described below. That is, the sum d of the distance mt that the leading edge of the recording paper 32 has advanced in the direction indicated by the arrow from the clamping position and the distance between the initial clamping position and the cutter assembly 113 is equal to the dimension M. Then, the solenoid 117 is energized, the plunger 117a is retracted, and the projection 114a is disengaged. Therefore, the rotary blade 114 starts rotating in the direction of the arrow, and cuts the recording paper 32 between it and the fixed blade 115. In reality, there is some time between the rotary blade 114 starting to rotate and the blade section reaching the fixed blade 115, so the number of pulses of the pulse motor 76 corresponding to this time is set in advance, and the above sum is The solenoid 117 is energized when the number of pulses corresponding to the number of pulses in the recording paper M32 is smaller than 1 in the Xj method M. Since the recording paper is cut at the same time, the recording paper is gradually cut in the direction perpendicular to the recording paper feeding direction.
In order to cut during the feeding operation of step 2, the set cutting lines of the rotary blade 114 and the fixed blade 115 are arranged in advance at a predetermined angle with respect to the orthogonal direction, so that the cutting line of the recording paper 32 itself is aligned with the recording paper. It is exactly perpendicular to the feeding direction. If the above cutting method is used, a dedicated cutting motor etc. is not required, which simplifies the configuration, and since the cutting operation is performed during the printing operation, the cutting time is not required, and the entire printing time is reduced. I can do small things. Furthermore, since the recording paper 32 excluding the clamping portion 321) and the outer circumference length of the platen roller 74 are m1, the cutting line of the recording paper 32 is theoretically the same as that of the recording paper 32 clamping play 1~
Although it is supposed to overlap the line extending outward from 79, it is difficult in practice, so a gap may be provided between the two lines, or A-burlap may be made by a predetermined cutting method. In addition, when overlapping is avoided, there is an advantage that the head 82 to the print 1 does not come into direct contact with the outer periphery of the platen roller 74. Next, the platen roller 77'I is rotated to
The recording paper 32 that has finished printing 1 to 40a of part 40a moves in the direction of arrow 1-1j.''
13) The valve is moved, and the pudding I start point of the image frame 321) reaches the pudding h4; device 74c again. At the same time, the transfer paper 40 is also moved by a similar distance of 2 m3 in the direction of the arrow S by the rotation of the take-up roller 99, and the portion passing inward from the tip of the magenta portion 401) with a margin step m3 is the printing position 74.
leading to c. Thereafter, prints 1 to 1 of the magenta part 40b are performed in the same manner as printing the yellow part 40a, and then the cyan part 4 is printed.
Four copies of 0c are printed, and the recording paper 32 is completed as one color print 32'. Next, the JJI output of Color Puddings 1 to 32' will be explained. When printing of the cyan portion 40c is completed, the platen roller 742 and take-up roller 99 stop, and the solenoid 92 becomes de-energized. Therefore, the support levers 84 and 94 are released from the restriction by the plunger 92a and the spring 93, and are rotated back in the direction of arrows N and R, respectively, by the spring 97, the plunger A792a is displaced protrudingly, and the spring 93 is also expanded and deformed, and the print head 82 is spaced apart from the platen roller 7/1 by a predetermined distance. The transfer paper guide plates 1 to 103 also return to rotation. When the head 82 is removed from the printer 1, the platen roller 74 moves again in the same direction as when printing so that the rear end of the recording paper 32
It is rotated until it reaches the position between the guides 111a and 111aINb and then stops. At this time, only the predetermined portion from the rear end of the recording paper 32 extends in the tangential direction of the platen roller 74 without being guided by a recording paper guide (not shown). Therefore, when the platen roller 74 is subsequently driven in the reverse direction and starts rotating in the direction of the arrow M, the rear end of the recording paper 32 extending in the tangential direction is caught on the guide 111b and is thereafter guided between the guides 111a and 111b. It is gradually discharged. The platen roller 74 starts to reverse rotation and reaches 270 in FIG.
° When the clamping plates 1 to 7 reach the positions indicated by the solid lines in the figure after rotating slightly, the platen roller 74 is stopped and the projection 79c of the clamping plate 79 moves to the plunger j78 of the solenoid 81.
It is opposite to the engaging portion 81b of 1a. Here, the solenoid 81 is energized, the plunger 81a is retracted, and the engaging portion 811) is brought into collision engagement with the projection 79c, and the clamping plate 1-79 is connected to the spring 80 by the rubber magnets 1-74.
1) Rotate outward against the magnetic force. Since the clamping of the Hidden-C color prints 1 to 32' is released, the color prints 1 to 32' can be manually ejected from the ejection paper guides 111a and 111b, and at this time, the sensor 11238- detects the color prints 32' emissions are detected. Here, the transfer paper 40 is the first color print 1 to 32'.
The rear end of the cyan area 40c transferred to pudding 1~
Corresponding to the positional movement 74c, the black portion /lod for the second color print should not yet have reached the position corresponding to the Renly-85. However, due to some unforeseen reason, the transfer paper 40 may become sagging or run excessively, and the black portion 40d may pass past the sensor 85. It is preferable to rewind the film to the direction of arrow S and then send it out again in the direction of arrow S. This procedure will be explained below. At the same time as the color print 32' is ejected, the lever 55 is activated so that the solenoid 56 is energized and the spring 57 is activated.
The motor 54 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the drive pulley 52 rotates in the direction indicated by the dotted line in FIG.
1]-R portion 43 of the roller shaft 43.
Pressure contact J' is applied to a. Therefore, the transfer paper 41 starts to rotate clockwise in the direction of the dotted line arrow in the figure, and the transfer paper 40 is once rewound slightly in the direction of the arrow T. Here, if the black part 40d for the second color print has already passed the Lenly 85, the black part 40 (1 is detected corresponding to the sensor 1ner 85 and transferred) The paper 40 is stopped and transferred to the second color print 1.
] Some 40a print start points are pudding 1 to 74
leading to c. Also, the black part 40d is still Lencer 8.
5, it stops after rewinding by the above-mentioned slight length (this unwinding length is smaller than the dimension m1), and then rotates the transfer paper core/11 and take-up roller 99 in the direction of the solid line arrow again. The pudding 1 of the yellow portion 40a is fed out in the S direction by a size slightly larger than the above, and the black portion 40d is detected correspondingly to the sensor 85.
~The starting point reaches position 74c for pudding 1. At this point, the lever 55 is activated by de-energizing the solenoid 56 (
The motor 54 also stops and returns to rotation in the direction of arrow J, and the drive pulley 52 comes into pressure contact with the roller shaft 36 of the recording paper 33. Here, 1-marking→ner 112 detects the ejection of the first color pudding 1 to 32', and sensor 85 detects J.
: Upon detection of the black part 40 (I) for the second color print, a command to complete the transfer preparation for the second color print 1~ is output, and then the above-mentioned first color print 1~
As in the case of transfer, the leading end of the recording paper 32 is sent out from the cutter assembly 113 position, reaches the platen roller 74, is wound around it, and is printed in the same manner. As described above, a plurality of color prints 32' are printed in sequence, and the last recording paper 32 is detected by the recording paper presence detection sensor 46. Here, the setting position of the sensor 46 is set in advance so that the recording paper 32 is wound around the outer diameter of the recording paper core 33 by a strong 18° from the sensor/I6 corresponding position, and then the recording paper is passed through the capstan 58a and the pinch roller 60. The length up to the cutter 113 is determined to be slightly larger than the section length M mentioned above. Therefore, when this last recording paper 32 is fed out and printing is completed, when the next recording paper 32 is fed out, the recording paper 32 runs out and the sensor 46 detects a record with a brightness different from that of the recording papers 41-32 via the transparent tape 32a. When the paper core 33 (for example, black) is detected, the drive mechanisms for the printers 1 to 1 are stopped and an indicator lamp (not shown) or the like is used to externally indicate that the recording paper is out. At this point, the transfer paper 40 is set in advance to have a length slightly larger than N times the length of the recording paper 32, so that the transfer paper does not run out before the recording paper 32 runs out.
At the same time as the recording paper runs out, the used portion of the transfer paper 40 is rewound into the transfer paper core 41. First, the lever 55 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the excitation of the solenoid 56, and the drive pulley 52 is again rotationally driven in the direction of the dotted arrow to press against the roller '1113, and the transfer paper core 4
1 in the direction of the dotted arrow. Therefore, the transfer paper 40 is rewound in the downward direction of the arrow and is completely rewound onto the transfer paper core 41. Thereafter, the recording paper core 33 and the transfer paper 41 are replaced with new recording paper and transfer paper respectively. In the above embodiment, the color ink of the transfer paper 40 is limited to the three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and other colors such as black may be added. 42- As mentioned above, according to the thermal transfer color printer of the present invention, the color ink for detection such as a black area provided at a predetermined position on the boundary between a plurality of color inks on the transfer paper is detected by the detection sensor. Since the first color ink is then set at the so-called printing start position, the first transfer setting position of the transfer paper can be automatically determined, which is extremely convenient. ni-
When the recording paper is wound a number of times and rotated in a predetermined direction for a number of minutes corresponding to the number of color inks to complete the transfer, it is further rotated in the same direction for a little less than one revolution, and then reversed and the trailing edge of the recording paper is Since it is used while being guided by the guide means, the recording paper can be ejected 1J1 by only the drive rotation of the platen roller without the need for any other movable mechanism for ejecting the recording paper J or I. The configuration and operation can be simplified, and ■
Since the transfer paper guide means is moved in conjunction with the operation of the support member that presses the print head 1 to the platen roller or separates them from each other, the transfer paper is wound around the platen roller or separated from each other. In particular, the configuration can be simplified without requiring a drive mechanism to displace the transfer paper, and at the same time,
Since the transfer paper is wrapped around the platen [1-ra] when the printer 1~head generates heat, stable and good transfer can be performed. Since this is detected immediately, it is possible to automatically notify that the recording paper is running out, and the operating mechanism of the color printer can be automatically stopped, which is safe and convenient. After being fed out from the recording paper core wound around the core, the recording paper is pinched by a capstan and a pinch row, and is fed out from the recording paper core at a high feeding speed J: to reach the platen roller. The feeding speed to the roller is always constant (the feeding speed from the recording paper core is not constant because the roll diameter changes),
It has the advantage of being able to accurately set the position of the recording paper relative to the platen roller, the cutting length of the recording paper, etc., and to perform good printing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side view of a conventional example of a thermal transfer type color printer, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another conventional example of the above-mentioned printer, and Fig. 3 is a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention! FIG. 4 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the v-color printer, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the recording paper case and transfer paper case of the printer, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the final rear end of the recording paper, FIG. 7 is a plan view of one piece of the recording paper, and FIGS. 8 (△) and (B) are the platen rollers of the printer, respectively. FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the recording paper holding unit before and after operation, and FIG. 10 is a partial front view of the printer I head of the printer. (13) are a plan view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the transfer set, respectively, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the transfer paper winding roller of the printer. 1.8.31...Thermal transfer color printer, 2゜10
．． 32... Recording paper, 3, 4, 5.12-+. 12-2. 12-3, /IO...transfer paper, 6,
9.74... platen roller, 7.11 +,
11 2. 11-3. 82...Print head, 33...Recording paper core, 3
6゜45- 43...Roller shaft, 40a...Yellow part, 40b
...Magenta part, 40c...Cyan part, 40d...
- Black portion, 41...Transfer paper core, /16,59.
85,86°112...Sensor, 52...Drive pulley, 54...Motor, 56,72.81.92.
117... Solenoid, 58... Capstan shaft,
58a... Capstan, 58c... Tacho generator, 60... Pinch roller, 64... Transmission pulley, 74b... Rubber magnet, 76... Pulse motor, 78. 116...timing belt, 79...
・Holding play: ~, 84.9/I...Support lever, 9
1, 96a, 9611...Transfer paper guide, 9 pieces.
...Transfer paper take-up roller, 100...Slip shaft, 10
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Electromagnetic clutch, 111... Recording paper discharge guide, 113... Cutter assembly, 114... Rotating blade, 115... Fixed blade. Patent applicant Representative of Victor Japan Co., Ltd. Patent attorney Tadahiko Ito7
16-

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A printing head in which a plurality of heat generating elements are arranged in a line, a circuit for controlling heat generation of the print head, and a rotation drive disposed opposite to the print head. A freely movable platen roller and N (N is a plurality of) color inks of mutually different colors are arranged in a base and run between the head and the platen roller in synchronization with the control of the head and the rotation of the platen roller, respectively. The transfer paper is continuously run in the same direction as the platen roller while being wound approximately around the circumference of the platen roller. The recording paper is provided with a recording paper onto which color ink is sequentially transferred one by one, and the number 0 of the transfer paper (where J=1.2.3.
...At the boundary between the color ink of N) and the color ink of J+1, a color ink part for detection having a contrast different from that of both color inks is installed with a length of 41 in the running direction so as not to damage the image frame on the recording paper. A first detection means (85) is provided at a predetermined position near the running line of the transfer paper to detect the detection color ink portion and start printing the first color ink on the transfer paper. A thermal transfer type color printer, characterized in that it detects when the position has been reached. (2) A thermal transfer type color printer according to claim 1, characterized in that J=1. (3 ) The transfer paper runs for N color ink lengths and 1
When the transfer of a sheet of recording paper is completed, the transfer paper is run in the branching direction for a length smaller than the length of each color ink, and is further run in the direction of the platen roller as necessary, to transfer the next detection color ink. Claim 1, characterized in that the portion is detected by the first detection means (85).
Thermal transfer color printer described in Section 1. (4) A print head having a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a line, a circuit for controlling the heat generation of the print head, a rotatably driveable platen roller disposed facing the print head 1, A recording paper υ1 output guide means is provided near the outer periphery of the platen [), and N (N is plural) color inks of widely different colors are arranged on the base material and the head and platen [ Transfer paper is run in synchronization with the control of the head and the rotation of the platen roller, and the transfer paper is wound approximately around the circumference of the platen roller in the same direction as the platen roller. The recording paper, on which one of the N color inks is sequentially transferred each time the platen roller rotates, is set to a negative value iL/-C' by the printer 1 to the head that generates heat. , the leading end of the recording paper is placed on the platen roller (jl l-J) by means (79) of the platen roller.
and after the recording paper at the end of the transfer of the recording paper*v1:
The recording paper is rotated by the platen roller to a position corresponding to the guide means and stopped, and as the platen roller is further rotated in the opposite direction, the recording paper is guided from the rear end by the guide means. This is a thermal transfer color printer that is characterized by the fact that (5)) The above stop position of the platen roller is 0
This position is approximately the same as the recording paper take-up position f'', and the above-mentioned take-up (
5. The thermal transfer type color printer according to claim 4, wherein the recording paper is removed in one stage. (6) A second detection means (112) for detecting the 1st and 1st output of the recording paper that has completed the +2 transfer is further installed at the above II output guide means or at a position near it. The thermal transfer type 7J color printer according to claim 4, characterized in that feeding of the next recording sheet to the platen roller is prevented from occurring until the next recording sheet is fed to the platen roller. A print head having heat generating elements arranged in a line, a circuit for controlling the heat generation of the print head, and a rotatably driveable platen roller disposed in one direction from the print head to the print head. When N (N is a plurality of) color inks of different colors are arranged in a fast-moving pattern, transfer is performed between the head and the platen roller at an interval of 1υ for the control of the head and the rotation of the platen roller. A piece of paper, such as paper, is wound around the platen roller and continuously runs in the same direction as the platen roller.
The print head is held by a movable support member (84), and the transfer paper guide means (91
, 96a, 96b) are displaceable according to the displacement of the support member, and when the support part (A) is displaced, the printer 1-
When the head comes into contact with the platen roller and transfers onto the recording paper, the transfer paper guide means is also displaced so that a predetermined length of the transfer paper is wound around the platen roller. A thermal transfer type color printer characterized by: (8) The transfer paper is wound in advance around a transfer paper core in a roll shape, and the transfer paper sent out from the transfer paper core and passed through the platen roller is wound up. It further has a transfer paper winding roller with a slip means, and the transfer paper is wound up by the rotational drive of the waist winding opening 5--which rotates at a rotational speed slightly higher than the rotational speed of the platen roller during the transfer. The slip means
Claim 1 is characterized in that the speed difference between the two sides is absorbed and back tension is applied to the print 1 to position of the transfer paper and the portion between the waist winding rollers. The thermal transfer color printer according to item 7. (9) The support member is connected to the plunger of the solenoid through a spring member, and when the re-plunger is displaced due to the excitation of the solenoid, the force of the spring member is applied to the platen roller of the print head. 8. The thermal transfer type color printer according to claim 7, wherein the thermal transfer type color printer is adapted to be pressed against the substrate. (10) A slip means is further installed on the rotating shaft of the transfer paper core, and during the transfer, the transfer paper core is rotated by the slip means at the same speed as the waist winding roller. The thermal transfer color printer according to claim 7, wherein back tension is applied to a portion of the transfer paper between the transfer paper core and the take-up roller. 11) A printer 1 to head having a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a line, a circuit for controlling heat generation of the head to the printer 1, and a rotatably driveable platen roller disposed opposite to the printer 1 to the head. and N pieces of n very different colors (
N is a plurality of color inks arranged on a base platen, and a transfer paper and a transfer paper, which are run in synchronization with the rotation of the platen roller, between the head and the platen. It is continuously run in the same direction as the platen roller while being wound approximately around the circumference of the roller, and the N color inks are applied to the platen every approximately one rotation by the heated print heads. The recording paper is provided with a recording paper onto which each color is sequentially transferred, and the recording paper is wound in a roll around a recording paper core, and is sent out toward the platen roller by rotation of the core, and is delivered to a predetermined location near the core. Set in position (
A thermal transfer type color printer characterized in that a third detecting means (46) detects the presence or absence of recording paper remaining in the core. (12) The color of the 8 paper core is different from the color of the recording paper.
The final rear end of the recording paper is fixed to the recording paper core via a transparent tape of a predetermined length, and the third detection means detects the recording paper and the transparent tape. Thermal transfer type color according to claim 11, characterized in that the absence of the recording paper can be detected by detecting the difference in brightness between the recording paper core and the recording paper core. printer. (13) Means (113) for cutting the recording paper is further installed in the middle of the traveling line of the recording paper leading to the platen roller, and the arrangement position of the third detection means is at the end of the recording paper. Claim 1, characterized in that the length of travel between the end portion and the cutting means is at an angular position slightly greater than the length of one revolution to the platen roller.
The thermal transfer color printer according to item 1. (14) The transfer paper is wound into a roll around the transfer paper lower and sent out toward the platen roller by the rotational drive of the transfer paper core of the machine, and the total length of the one-sided transfer paper roll is equal to N of the total roll length of the recording paper. 12. The thermal transfer color printer according to claim 11, wherein the length is set to be slightly larger than double the length. (1!i) The transfer paper is wound in a roll around a transfer paper core, and is sent out toward the platen roller by the rotational drive of the transfer paper core, and the third detection means detects when the recording paper runs out. A patent claim characterized in that the transfer paper core is stopped and rotated in the opposite direction as soon as this is detected, so that the transfer paper wound around the waist winding roll is rewound onto the transfer paper core. The thermal transfer color printer according to item 11. <16) A print head having a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a line, a circuit that controls and covers the heat generation of the printer 1 to the head, and a rotatably driveable platen [cola] disposed opposite to the print head. N pieces of mutually different colors (N
a transfer paper that arranges a plurality of color inks on a base material and runs between the head and a platen roller in synchronization with the control of the head and the rotation of the platen roller, respectively;
The print head is continuously run in the same direction as the platen roller while being wound around the platen roller, and the print head generates heat. The recording paper is provided with a recording paper onto which one of the N color inks is sequentially transferred at each time, and the recording paper is previously wound around a recording paper core in a [1-rule shape]. The recording paper sent out by the rotational drive of the recording paper core is further rotated by a pair of rotating bodies (58a).
, 60), and when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches a predetermined angular position of the platen roller, the recording paper is wound and cut to a desired length. A thermal transfer color printer. (17) A slip means is further provided on the rotating shaft of the recording paper core, and the recording paper feeding speed J: of the pair of rotating bodies is determined by the recording paper feeding speed J from the recording paper core.
The speed difference is absorbed by the slip means, and back tension is applied to the portion between the recording paper and the rotating body. A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 16. (18) Interlocking rotation 10 for either one of the pair of rotating bodies
- A rotating pulse transmitting means (58c) and a fourth detecting means (118) installed near the 7L line of the recording paper are further provided, and the fourth detecting means is arranged near the 7L line of the recording paper. The pulses emitted from the pulse transmitting means from the time when the passage of the leading edge of the recording paper is detected are multiplied and counted, and when the cumulative number reaches a desired number, feeding of the recording paper is stopped and the leading edge of the recording paper is counted. has reached the predetermined angular position of the platen []-ra.
17. The thermal transfer color printer according to claim 16, characterized in that: (19) A clamping member (79) is pivotally supported on the platen roller, and when the clamping member is at the predetermined angular position, the clamping member is rotated to clamp the leading edge of the recording paper between it and the platen roller. Zuru J: The thermal transfer color printer according to claim 16, characterized in that it is sea urchin. (20) The clamping member is made of magnetic material, and a magnetic material (74b) is fixed to the platen roller at a position facing the clamping member, and the clamping state is maintained by magnetic attraction of both materials. 17. A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 16, characterized in that: (21) A fifth detection means (86) is further provided at a predetermined position near the outer periphery of the platen roller for detecting that the holding member has reached the predetermined angular position indicated by -L. Thermal transfer type color printer according to claim 16. (22) The platen roller is driven by a pulse motor, and a recording paper cutting means (113) is further provided in the middle of the traveling line of the recording paper to the platen roller. The platen roller is started to be driven by the pulse motor when the leading end of the recording paper is nipped, and the platen roller is moved to the nipping position of the recording paper and the traveling length between the cutting means. Claim 16, characterized in that the recording paper is cut to the desired length by the cutting means when the recording paper is rotated to a position substantially equal to the outer peripheral length of the platen roller. Thermal transfer type color printer. (23) The desired length of the recording paper is the length that combines the outer circumference length of the platen roller, the length of the clamped portion of the recording paper, and a slight margin, and the length of the recording paper A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 16, characterized in that both ends overlap to prevent the print head from coming into direct contact with the platen roller.