JPS60172570A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the maintenance and inspection of a printing mechanism part and to make it possible to easily cope with the alteration of a main body structure, by attaching a unit for holding a winding core drive means and a head drive means to an apparatus main body in a freely detachable manner. CONSTITUTION:A motor 42 for moving a thermal head 11 and ribbon motors 51, 51 for rotating winding cores 32, 33 are integrally provided to a holding unit 61 and this holding unit 61 is attached to the frame 1b of an apparatus main body in a freely detachable manner. As a result, by detaching the holding unit 61, the maintenance and inspection of the motor 42 and the ribbon motors 51, 51 can be performed in the outside of the apparatus main body and workability is excellent. When the internal structure of the apparatus main body, for example, the feed system of paper P is altered, only the attachment position of the holding unit 61 may be altered corresponding to the alteration thereof and interchangeability is excellent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a transfer-type image forming apparatus that transfers, for example, a colorant of a thermal transfer material to a transfer target 4A and forms an image around the transfer target JJ. It is related to.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Thermal transfer image forming devices are small, inexpensive, generate little noise, and can use plain paper as the transfer material, so they have recently been put into practical use not only for recording the output of computers and word processors, but also as copying devices. It is being done.

Generally, this apparatus has a platen installed in its main body, and a thermal head that approaches and separates from the platen via paper and an ink ribbon. The thermal head is moved toward and away from the platen by a head drive means V.1 Also, the ink ribbon is stretched with both ends wound around a pair of winding cores, and the core is moved around the winding drive means. It is wound up by being rotated many times.

However, in conventional systems, the platen, head drive means, and take-up drive means were individually attached to the frame within the device body, which took time to maintain and inspect, and the placement accuracy could not be maintained sufficiently. For example, when changing the paper conveyance route, it becomes necessary to redesign the printing mechanism each time.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to facilitate maintenance and inspection of the printing-forming structure, and to arrange the arrangement l'1
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming device that is flexible and compatible with changes in the main body structure.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object with the present invention, a holding unit is removably attached to the main body of the apparatus. The driving means is held integrally.

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 13 of the complete collection of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows its schematic configuration. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of an image forming apparatus, and an operation panel section 1a is formed on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body 1. As shown in FIG. Further, a document table 2 having a document holding cover 3 on the left side of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 is provided.
The lower side is a document scanning section (scanner section) 4 that scans the document set on the document table 2, and the right side of the apparatus main body 1 is an image forming section (printer section) 5.

The operation panel section 1a includes a copy number setting section consisting of a display section 6 and a numeric keypad 7... , button 8, etc. are arranged.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the document scanning section 4 optically scans the document set on the document table 2 by reciprocating the movable scanning section 9 of the exposure optical system along the lower surface of the document table 2. This optical information is photoelectrically converted and input to the image forming section 5.

Further, the image forming section 5 has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, Il! II. A platen 10 is disposed approximately at the center of the image forming section 5, and a thermal head 11 located in front of the platen JO (leftward in the state of FIG. 3) is located on the f/Cfd recording head.
is arranged so as to be able to move toward and away from the platen 10.

Furthermore, a thermal transfer ribbon (ink ribbon) 15 as a transfer material is interposed between the thermal head 1 and the platen 10.

Then, with this thermal transfer ribbon 15 interposed,
P is pressed against the platen 10, and in this state, a heating element (not shown) formed in a line tod shape of the thermal head 1 generates heat according to the image information, thereby causing the colorant (ink) on the thermal transfer liquid can 15. is melted in a heating bath and transferred to paper P.

Further, a paper feed row 216 is provided diagonally below the platen 10, and is configured to take out the transfer material stored in the paper feed cassette 17 one by one. The leading edge of the taken out paper P is aligned by 1" by a registration row 218 arranged above the first and second rollers of the paper feed roller 16, and then transferred toward the non-treadle plate 10, and is then moved to the pressing rollers 19 and 20. It is accurately sent to the Yotsu-C platen IO in the spring-used state.

On the other hand, the thermal head 1 presses the paper p4 onto the platen 10 via the thermal transfer ribbon 15 as a transfer material.
,! '! As shown in FIG. 4, the ink 2 as a colorant on the thermal transfer ribbon J5 is heated and melted and transferred to the GP.

The thermal transfer suit 15 has approximately the same size as the paper P, as shown by range A in FIG.
2 l b, 21 c 1. (Or set them side by side,
Alternatively, as shown by the range opening, each ink portion 21a is yellow (power, magenta), cyan (c), p point, and n.

21 b, 21 c, and 21 d are arranged side by side. After transferring one color at a time, the paper P is returned to its original position.
In general? I'm going to Arashi.

Thermal transfer ribbon containing black ink %l521d is used for one length when you want to produce black clearly. d
Even if the color ink portion 21d is not filled with seven colors, approximately black can be produced by using three colors.

In this way, the paper P is reciprocated by the color side by the platen 100 rotations, but the path of the paper P at that time is as follows: It will be asked on the second guide 23.24.

That is, Fig. 6 (-1) to ←) will be explained as follows.

First, the paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 17 is hung on the latin 10 (separate from the arrangement portion of the registration roller 18 and the first distribution guide 26). (6th
Figure (A) #Ai<) Next, the platen 1θ is rotated using a pulse motor (not shown) as a drive source to transport the paper p47J+ at a constant speed, and a thermal line is formed in a line tod shape along the axial direction of the platen 10. The heat generating thread (not shown) of the head 11 is ii! Heat is generated in accordance with the Il image information, and the ink 21 of the thermal transfer ribbon 15 is transferred onto the paper P.

In addition, the leading edge of the paper P that has passed through 10 parts of Graden is
The paper is sent onto a first guide 23 provided along the lower surface of the u1 paper tray 22 by a sorting guide 26 . (6th
In this way, the paper P onto which two inks of one color have been transferred is transported backwards by reversing the grating 10, and is also transported by the rotational displacement operation of the first distribution guide 25. The paper is fed onto a second guide 24 provided along the lower surface of the first guide 23. (See Figure 6 (c)) By reciprocating the paper P multiple times in this way, #
) Transfer several colors.

Finally, the paper P to which all the colors of ink 21 have been transferred is
The second sorting guide 26 sends the paper to a pair of paper discharge rollers 27 and discharges it onto the paper discharge tray 22 . (See Figure 6 Stem)) The image forming apparatus also has a document scanning unit 4 as shown in Figure 7.
Two-color conversion section 12. Memory section JJ#1I71i Image forming section 5
．． A structure equipped with an overall control section No. 4! It became V. Ru.

Therefore, the values of each of the color components of green (light), yellow (YJ), and cyan (C) detected by the scanning unit 41-I are determined by the color machining unit 12 of the print medium. The color is converted to yellow (Y) #cyan (C), and the resulting value is stored in the memory unit 13 for each color along with the position (i'+ information) on the original event. It is memorized.In both 1 family part 5, magenta (goods), yellow (Y
), cyan (C), black<B) CJa + magenta (c), iconiro - (Yj, cyan (C) AbrD output) is transferred onto paper P. Note that the entire fl
T! ! Gobe 14 has manuscript 7 as last county J2 colored robe 8'! Part 12.
Memory section 13. and the entire image type jM'mls5 is controlled by fli:J.

1, exclusion @! , +, roller pair 27. Paper output tray 22° 1st. The second guides 23, 24 are cornited so that this unit can be removed if necessary.

1 - p l to 1 ・L,, -L* 1y IA-attached ru+t/l 16-st ■ Holding consisting of a frame block 29 and four frames attached to one side thereof A menu 30 is provided inside the unit 6 and is attached to the door holder 3, which also serves as a heat sink and surrounds the back of the unit. As shown in FIG. 8, the holding unit 6 is detachably attached to the frame 1b of the apparatus main body 1 by means of a fixture 62. Further, the thermal transfer ribbon 15 is assembled into a case 34 together with the cores 32 and 33 wound at both ends thereof to form a cassette, and this ribbon cassette 35 is detachably attached to the seven-frame block 29. The frame block 29 is the holding unit 6
The reinforcing part 1 is used as a chestnut, and is formed integrally with guicast or plastic, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section, so that sufficient strength can be obtained, and one winding of the ribbon cassette 35 is attached to this U-shaped part. The configuration is such that the positioning accuracy of the ribbon cassette 35 is improved by fitting the core storage portions.As shown in FIG. 9, the head holder 3 with the thermal head 27 attached is The ribbon guide 61.
1 and the platen 10, the gap δ into which the thermal transfer ribbon 15 enters can be secured according to the safety 9, and the paper P
The reciprocating movement of the IJ bomb cassette 35 and the attachment/detachment operation of the IJ bomb cassette 35 can be performed easily and reliably.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the guide shafts 3.8. '39 and these guide shafts 38.
39 is formed in the frame block 29 in the middle part @I, S 29 a.

It is configured to be pivotally supported by a linear bearing embedded in 29b.

Further, the head holder 3) supported so as to be reciprocally movable in this manner has a head moving frame structure 40 as a head driving means.
The movement towards and away from the grating 10 is controlled by this. That is, as shown in FIG. 1-1, a head motor 42 is attached to the frame 41, and the drive 11al 428K of this motor 42 is connected to an interlocking mechanism (not shown in FIG. 7) as shown in FIG. An arm 43 is connected through the arm 43, and the other end of a connecting rod 44 connected to the 10 m-t head holder 3) is connected to the arm 43. The rotating motion of the arm 43 is converted into a reciprocating motion and transmitted to the head holder 31.

Further, a coupling 50 is attached to the drive shaft at a position rt corresponding to the cassette mounting part 49 to which the ribbon cassette 35 of the frame 4 is mounted. Motors 51, 51 are attached.

As shown in FIG. 12, the frame 1b of the apparatus body 1 is provided with a platen motor 45 made of /e smoke, and the driving force of this motor 45 is transmitted by a pulley 46, a belt 47, The platen 10, which also serves as transfer means, is transferred in the forward or reverse direction via a power transmission mechanism consisting of a pulley 48 and a pulley 48.

On the other hand, the winding core 32°330 drive force receiver around which both ends of the thermal transfer ribbon 15 housed in the ribbon cassette 35 are wound
)i+jfllS32 m, 33 B is K23
'bK comes out on the outer surface through the through hole formed in the end Ua of 4 [
7 and 9, engagement recesses 52 and 52 are formed in this tip, as shown in FIG.

When the ribbon cassette 35 is completely attached to the Hr position, the winding core 32. sa's engagement recess 52.5zVL cutoff ring so, 50fr two locks [7] The heat transfer ribbon 15 is designed to be aligned.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, the ribbon cassette 35 carries two parallel winding cores 32 and 33 around which both ends of the thermal transfer ribbon 150 are wound, and a midway portion of the thermal transfer ribbon 15. However, it is constructed such that it is not interposed between the Latin JO and the two-full head 1, but is covered with a case 34 so that a portion thereof is exposed.

The core accommodating portion 3 of the case 34 (t between a and 34b) is along the axial direction of the core 32 and 33, and one end 1i11
A slit 63 is formed to open the winding cores 32 and 33 on the tiiJD end side of this slit 53.
Driving force receiving end portion 3. The configuration is such that an ae 33a is provided.

Furthermore, the case 34 of the ribbon cassette 35 is thermally transferred as shown in FIGS. 8, 12 and 13. 71
A concave surface forming a space for accommodating the member 31 and the thermal pad 11 attached to the head holder 3) integrally formed between the back surface of the exposed portion of the case 5 and the case 4. 'L is formed in a U-shape.

The width of the thermal transfer ribbon 5 is larger than the maximum winding diameter of the cores 32 and 33, and the cutting depth of the slit 53 formed in the case 34 is more than the width of the thermal transfer ribbon 5. is set to .

In this way, the ribbon cassette 35 is designed so that the entire length of the case 34 is L.
Then, the range of t1 where the upper and lower parts are connected and S IJ
It consists of a range of t2 which is divided into upper and lower halves by soles 1-5 and 9. It's ox, ll'lli from slit 53
The dimension t is the frame block 290 cassette joint part 29c
The cutting depth L2 of the slit 53 is set to be approximately the same as the width of the cassette insertion portion 29c.

However, when installing ribbon cassette 35, cassette 1
The opening end of the slit 53 + ij
The ribbon cassette 35 is pushed in in the longitudinal direction (in the 4ii+ direction of the platen) with the cassettes facing each other, and the cassette joint part 29c and the slit 53 are joined together as shown in FIG. 13. Sometimes if you pull it in the opposite direction, it will be Jλ.

The ribbon cassettes 35 and 35 can be inserted and removed through the cassette insertion and removal ports 5di, I〃(r
This is done by opening the body 55.

(Refer to Fig. 1) As described in 7h above, the thermal head 11 is moved to the holding unit 6! 1h 4'1 width 40
And the glue Δ? for rotationally driving the winding cores 32 and 33? motors 51, 51 are integrally provided, and this holding unit 6
2 is removably attached to the frame lbK of the apparatus main body 1, maintenance and inspection of the head moving mechanism 40, ribbon motors 51, 51, etc. can be performed directly outside the apparatus main body 1 by removing the holding unit 62. Excellent workability.

In addition, when changing the internal structure of the apparatus main body l, for example, the transport system for paper P, the holding unit 6
1. All you need to do is change the mounting position of 62, and the compatibility is excellent.

Further, since the head moving mechanism 40 and the ribbon motors 51, 51 are integrally attached to the holding unit 62, the accuracy of their arrangement can be improved.

In the above embodiment, only one printer holding unit 61 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, holding units 61 are provided on both sides of the platen 10. The units 71h and 71b may also be provided.

This fruit h1! In example i, the force id means 72 maintains the path of the paper P on the circumference of the nib platen 10
．． 72 is provided, and one holding unit 71
The paper P coming out from m is smoothly transferred to the other holding unit 71b.

Here, each of the holding units 71a and 71b has a thermal transfer printer. The bottle cassettes 73a and 73b are provided, and the bottle cassettes 74a and 74b are stored.
The thermal transfer ribbon 73a has a repetition of y (-1 yellow) and C (cyan) as shown in FIG. 18 (a+), and the other thermal transfer ribbon 73b has M as shown in FIG.
The ink is coated repeatedly with (magenta) and B (black).

To explain the case of one-way printing using these thermal transfer ribbons 73a and 73b, first, the paper P
is the holding unit l-71a 9tl as shown in Figure 16.
The Y (yellow) of the thermal transfer ribbon 73a is guarded from l.
is transferred to the paper P, and then the paper P is introduced into the other holding unit 71b, where the M of the thermal transfer ribbon 73b is transferred to the paper P.
(magenta) is transferred overlappingly. Thereafter, the holding units 71a, 71b (7) and the thermal heads 1 are separated from the platen 10, and the paper P is reversely fed back to its original position as shown in FIG. And paper P
moves again in the direction shown in FIG. 16 M - M 11. C (cyan) of the heat transfer ribbon 73a of the holding unit) 711L
After being transferred, the thermal transfer ribbon 7 of the holding unit 71b
B (black) of 3b is transferred in an overlapping manner and is ejected to the paper ejection tray 81.

In addition,? When printing only l'A, only the holding unit 71b operates, and the paper is ejected in only one pass as shown in FIG. At this time, the thermal head 10 of the holding unit 71a is spaced apart from the platen 10.

Next, the thermal transfer ribbon 7Ja is coated repeatedly with Y (yellow) and B (black) as shown in FIG. 19(a), and the thermal transfer ribbon 73b is coated with M( A case will be described in which reciprocating printing is performed using a material repeatedly coated with magenta) and C (cyan). At this time, the paper P enters the holding unit 71a, where Y (yellow) of the thermal transfer ribbon 73a is transferred, and then enters the holding unit 77b, where M (magenta) of the thermal transfer ribbon 73b is transferred onto the plate. After that, the thermal head 11 of the holding unit) 71ts is separated from the platen 10 and the thermal transfer ribbon 73a is moved away from the platen 10.
is sent to emit one color, and as the platen 10 is reversed, C (cyan) is superimposed and transferred onto the paper P while the holding unit 71
sent to b. In front of this surface, the thermal transfer ribbon 7Jb is also sent to emit one color, and B (black) is subsequently transferred to the paper P by 1 as the platen 10 is reversed, completing all transfers.

Next, as the thermal transfer ribbon 73m, as shown in FIG. 20(a), Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan)
Thermal transfer ribbon 7
B (black) as shown in Figure 20(b) as 3b.
A case where one-way printing is performed using a coating coated with At this time, the paper P is introduced into the holding unit 71a, and the Y (yellow) of the transfer ribbon 73a,
M (magenta) and C (cyan) are -4 (P) for 11 members.
transcribed into. Next, the paper P is introduced into the holding unit 71b, where the B (black) of the thermal transfer ribbon 73b is transferred to blood.

Here, Y (yellow), M (
For overlapping transfer of magenta) and C (cyan), the paper P is transferred back and forth 3 times each time one color is transferred, and the transfer is performed only in one direction. There is a way to stop it. In either method, the paper P moves in the direction of the next holding unit 71b (Y (yellow)) NM (magenta)
, C (cyan) are transferred over and over again, so finally B (
black) and eject the paper.

By the way, is there a transcription? As shown in FIG. 21, the tube 73b may be coated with B (black).

According to this embodiment, it is possible to copy four colors at once,
Since the paper P is fed on the same platen 10, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of color misregistration. In addition, since the color of the thermal transfer ribbons 73a, 73b is independent for each unit 71a, 71b, it is sufficient to replace the used ribbons, and waste of thermal transfer ribbons 73a, 73b can be avoided. Furthermore, since the units 71a and 71b can be manufactured almost identically, it is possible to reduce costs and improve maintainability by using common parts.

[Effect of 11th Light] As explained above, in the present invention, the head driving means and the winding core driving means are integrally held in a holding unit, and this holding unit is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus. Maintenance and inspection of the drive means and winding core drive means can be carried out outside the main body of the device, which improves workability and improves the layout.In addition, it is compatible with changes in the internal structure of the main body of the device. This has the effect of being extremely convenient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 13 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. Fig. 3 is a tentative vertical cross-sectional view, Fig. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the transfer operation state, Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the ink application state of the thermal transfer ribbon, and Figs. ) is an explanatory diagram explaining the movement of paper during multicolor transfer, Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the deterioration of the main parts, Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the transfer machine, which is the main part, and Figure 9 is the platen. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the state where the thermal head and ribbon guide are separated from each other, Figure 1 and f+IO are perspective views showing the head holder with the dual head attached, and Figure 11 is the thermal transfer ribbon and the thermal head. Figure 1 shows the layout of each drive system, and Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanism for moving the thermal head toward and away from the platen.
ItU side view, Figure 13 is d? Fig. 211+, 1 Jt ii 2, Fig. 14 No.i showing the installed state of the connector cassette.
21 m i, J: 2E3a Ming's other real M 4
f"i ft'A, Figure 16 and Figure 17 are I'l
Figures 4 and 18 to 21 show the conveyance of one sheet of paper, respectively; 1-\ A plan view showing the transfer ribbon. l...Device main body, 10...Platen, l 5.731
273b...Transferring material, 1]...Recording head (thermal head), 32.33...Column core, 51,51...
too. Core drive means (ribbon motor), 4θ...head drive means (head drive), 61.718°71
b...Holding unit. Takehiko Suzue, Patent Attorney, Representative from Kuken figure

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In the apparatus 4, which brings the recording head into contact with and away from a platen provided on the body via a transfer plate, there is a core around which the transfer plate is wound, and a rotating part that rotates this core. A core driving means that moves the recording head in the direction of approach and separation of the platen vc! II! is characterized by comprising: a head driving means for driving the winding core and the head; and a holding unit which is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus and integrally holds the driving means for the core and the head. ll Gap forming device. (2) The holding unit is supported by a reinforcing member! 1. The image forming apparatus according to item 1 of the claim.