JPS60107377A - Sheet position detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the titled apparatus compact and lower in the equipment cost with an excellent operability by providing a guide roller on the running path of a transfer sheet and a reflection sensor having the reflecting position on the sheet keyway thereof. CONSTITUTION:A recording paper 4 is wound on a drum 5 fastened with a clamp member 11 and a transfer sheet 1 is wound up with a takeoff roll 13 via a guide roll 18 from a feed roller 12. The guide roller 18 serves as reflecting surface of a detection member 17 and the keyway of the transfer sheet 1 concurrently and integrated with the cartridge 14 and thus, the reflecting surface can be renewed each time the cartridge is replaced thereby eliminating degrading of the reflecting surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention uses a recording head such as a thermal head to transfer a transfer sheet onto a recording paper wound around a drum. Various types of printers have been announced for hard copying of terminals and CRT displays. Among these, thermal transfer printers are attracting attention because they are low-noise, require no maintenance, and are relatively easy to adapt to color printing. A conventional thermal transfer type device will be explained below.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a conventional thermal transfer type device. The transfer sheet 1 is supplied from a supply roller 2, and is made by sequentially and repeatedly applying three colors of heat-melting or heat-sublimating monochromatic inks at regular intervals on a base paper along the running direction.
It is configured to be wound onto a take-up reel 3.

When recording, the drum 5 on which the recording paper 4 is wound is rotated, the recording start position of the recording paper 4 is aligned with the thermal recording radar 6, and the transfer sheet 1 is rotated by rotating the take-up reel 3.
Apply the same color as the recording signal and align the beginning of the part with the position of the thermal recording head 6. This alignment of the transfer sheet 1 is performed by providing a detection mark 9 on the transfer sheet 1.
Detection is performed by a detector 7, which includes a light emitting section 7a and a light receiving section 7b, installed on the base of the main body of the apparatus.

Regarding the conventional thermal transfer type device configured as described above,
The operation will be explained below.

When the recording paper 4 is inserted, it is held by the paper holder 8, and is wound around the outer periphery of the drum 6 by rotating the drum 6 in the direction of the arrow by a drive source such as a pulse motor (not shown). To go. When the recording paper 4 reaches the recording start position, the drum 6 stops, the recording head 6 rises, and is brought into pressure contact with the recording paper 4 via the transfer sheet 1. When a recording signal is sent here, the recording elements of the recording head 6 generate heat in response to the signal and transfer the monochromatic ink on the transfer sheet 1 onto the recording paper 4. At this time, the drum 6 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and the recording paper 4
and send transfer sheet 1. After recording, the transfer sheet 1 is taken up on a take-up reel 3 that is rotated by another drive source. When the predetermined recording is completed, the recording head 6 descends and stops at a position where the cassette can be moved in and out.

However, in the above configuration, the detector 7 of the transfer sheet 1 is located near the transfer sheet 1, and furthermore, the detector 7 of the transfer sheet 1
The transfer sheet 1 runs between the light emitting part 7a and the light receiving part 7b, so it is very troublesome to replace the transfer sheet 1 with a new one when the transfer sheet 1 is used up, and the transfer sheet 1 is very thin. Because of this, wrinkles are likely to occur during traveling, and the detection marks 9 provided on the transfer sorter 1 are also wrinkled at the same time, resulting in no constant transmission to the detector 7, poor transmission efficiency, and malfunction. It may also be the cause.

When considering the configuration of the cassette type replacement method, in order for the detector 7 of the transfer sheet 1 to detect the transfer sheet in the cassette, it is necessary to prevent the detector 7 from hitting the cassette. The detector 7 must be provided above and below the cassette. Therefore, the distance between the detector 7 and the transfer sheet 1 is longer than necessary, which takes up space in the apparatus, which hinders miniaturization and simplification of the apparatus main body. Furthermore, if the distance between the light emitting section 7a and the light receiving section 7b is too large, the S/N ratio will deteriorate. Further, there have been problems in that the running of the transfer sheet 10 is unstable, and if the light transmitting surface of the transfer sheet 1 changes due to dust or the like, the detection may not be detected and becomes unstable.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and improves the mark position detection means of the cassette-type transfer sheet 1 by providing a guide roller 18 in the cassette.
This eliminates the above drawbacks and improves operability.

Structure of the Invention The present invention provides that when the thermal recording head is in the position for switching the color tone of the transfer sheet, the detection member is located near the guide roller;
A thermal transfer recording device that moves forward together with the thermal recording head to a position to detect marks on the transfer sheet, and after recording is completed, the detection member retreats together with the thermal recording head, and a guide roller for the transfer sheet built in a cassette. Therefore, the detection distance and the reflecting surface become constant. Furthermore, by wrapping the transfer sheet around the guide roller, wrinkles on the transfer sheet and marks can be smoothed out.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 2 shows a side view of a thermal transfer type device in one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the drum 5 is fixed to the shaft 10,
It is rotatably attached to a substrate (not shown here) via a bearing or the like.

The recording paper 4 is fixed at its end by a flang member 11 provided on the drum 6, and is wound along the outer periphery of the drum 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer sheet 1 is placed on the base paper along the running direction at intervals slightly longer than the recording length of the recording paper 4, for example, 7 and 19. (A single color ink of yellow 20 and magenta 21, which is heat-fusible or heat-sublimable, is repeatedly applied surface-sequentially. This transfer sheet is first wound around the supply roll 12 so as to pass over the guide row 218. During recording, the transfer sheet 1 is sequentially wound onto a take-up roll 13.The transfer sheet 1 is stored together with the supply roll 12 and take-up roll 13 in a cartridge 14 as shown in FIG. Further, on the transfer sheet 1, marks 9 made of a light-absorbing sheet or paint for detecting the leading edge of each color are provided on the surface opposite to the ink-coated surface outside the recording width.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a thermal recording head having a large number of heat generating elements disposed across the entire recording width, and is structured to be movable only in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 17 is a detection member for detecting the mark 9 on the transfer sheet 1, which is composed of a light emitting part and a light receiving part. 9 blocks the transmission of light, and the guide roller 18
The mark 9 is detected by preventing the reflected light from returning to the light receiving portion of the detection member 17.

The operation of the heat transfer recording device of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below.

When performing transfer, the recording paper 4 is first wound around the drum 5, and the drum 5 is rotated clockwise to the transfer start position. At this time, the thermal recording head 6 is released from the pressed state with the drum 6 and is in a separated state. When the drum 5 rotates to the transfer start position and stops, the thermal recording head 6 is in the state shown in FIG. 2, and the recording paper 4 and the transfer sheet 1 are brought into close contact with the drum 6. In this state, when the transfer sheet 1 is at the transfer start position, the transfer operation is started, but when it is not at the transfer start position, the drum 6 rotates clockwise, and the transfer sheet 1 is transferred to the supply roll 12. The drum 6 rotates until the mark 9 comes to the inner surface of the guide roller 18, is detected by the detection member 17, and reaches the transfer start position, and the transfer sheet 11 is fed idly.

At this time, the inner surface of the sheet interior of the guide roller 18 with respect to the detection member 17 is located at the optimum reflecting surface.

When the recording paper 4 and the transfer sheet 1 are at the transfer start position and the transfer operation begins, a signal to be transferred to the heating element of the thermal recording head 6 is selectively supplied, and the transfer sheet 1 is transferred to the heating element due to the heat generated by the heating element.
The transferable ink applied to the recording paper 4 is transferred to the recording paper 4. When the transfer of one sheet of recording paper is completed, the thermal recording head 6 maintains the pressure contact state and performs cueing to the next transfer start position of the transfer sheet 1. The same applies to the detection of the transfer start position at this time.

When the beginning of the transfer sheet 1 is completed, the drum 6 is stopped and the pressure contact of the thermal recording head 6 is released.

Thereafter, the drum 5 rotates counterclockwise and the recording paper 4 to which the transferable ink has been transferred is taken out in response to the signal, and the transfer operation is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the guide roller 18 which serves both as the reflective surface of the detection member 17 and the guide surface of the transfer sheet 1, the light-absorbing mark 9 attached to the transfer sheet 1 is provided. But, Guy.

When passing through the roller 18 section, the light to the light receiving section of the detection member 17 is blocked and the recording start position of the transfer sheet 1 is detected. In addition, since the surface of the transfer sheet 1 before recording is smooth, if wrinkles or the like occur on the transfer sheet 1 when performing cue detection after recording, the detection will be unstable.
To detect the cue before recording, guide roller 1,
8 on the supply side before the transfer sheet 1 contacts the thermal recording head 6, a constantly stable reflector can be obtained. Furthermore, since the guide roller 18 is integrated with the cassette 14, the reflective surface can be replaced by a new one when the cassette 14 is replaced. Further, since the guide roller 18 and the transfer sheet 1 are in pressure contact with each other, wrinkles and the like generated on the transfer sheet 1 are also removed.

In this example, the transfer sheet is transparent, and normally,
The light from the light emitting part of the detection member 17 is reflected by the guide roller 18, the reflected light is detected by the light receiving part, and the mark 9 absorbs the light.
The position of the transfer sheet 1 is detected by blocking the light to the light receiving section, but there is a method in which the transfer sheet 1 is made opaque and the marks 9 are formed by transparent holes, or the guide roller 1 is
It goes without saying that the mark 8 may be made of a light absorbing material and the mark 9 may be made of a material that reflects light.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the sheet position detection device of the present invention includes a cartridge containing a transfer sheet and a guide roller on the travel path of the transfer sheet, thereby stabilizing the detection of the transfer recording start position and detecting the transfer sheet. Also, since the guide roller is integrated with the cassette, a new reflective surface is created each time the cassette is replaced, and there is no deterioration of the reflective surface.

Furthermore, since the guide roller is provided on the supply side, stable detection can be obtained without the influence of wrinkles due to heat on the transfer sheet after recording, and a highly reliable device can be realized. Since it is a reflective type, the apparatus is simple even if the transfer sheet is made into a cassette, and its practical effects are great.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

□, □Kaeyo l, LI8□4゜0□p2 side view, 2nd
The figure is a side view of the main parts of a sheet position detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the guide roller and detection member of the same device, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the main parts of the same device. . 1...Transfer sheet, 4...Recording paper, 6
...Drum, 14...Cartridge,
6...Thermal recording head, 17...Detection member. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person
l figure

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A long sheet provided with a position detection mark, a cassette in which the sheet is wound, a guide roller provided to stretch the sheet on a travel path of the sheet, and a long sheet provided with a position detection mark; A sheet position detecting device comprising a reflective sensor provided to face a guide roller, and configured such that the optimum reflective position for the reflective sensor is a sheet guiding surface of the guide roller. (2) The sheet position detection device according to claim 1, wherein the guide roller is provided within a cassette. (3) The sheet position detection device according to claim 1, wherein the marking position is provided on the supply side with respect to the printing position.