JPS60250974A - Thermal transfer type recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable simplification of construction, by a method wherein when feeding a recording paper backward, a thermal head and a platen roller are separated from each other, the paper is guided to a discharging part by a guide mechanism, and is fed from the discharging part to a transferring part by feeding rollers. CONSTITUTION:A recording paper 12 is payed out from a cassette 11 by a payout roller 15, and when it reaches a paper-detecting switch 28 by being fed by a resist roller 18, the platen roller 10 is pressed against the thermal head 7 by operating a pressing solenoid 26, an ink is transferred from an ink sheet 4 onto the paper 12, and the paper 12 is discharged onto a discharging tray 14 through a separating roller 8. Then, the solenoid 26 is turned OFF, while an oscillating solenoid 25 is turned ON, a guide pawl 24 is lowered, and a main motor is rotated reversely to discharge the paper 12 to a manual insertion paper-supplying part 20 through a guide plate 22 and the feeding rollers 21, and a paper-detecting switch 29 is turned ON. Thereafter, when the switch 29 is turned OFF, the main motor is rotated forward, and transferring in the second color is conducted. These operations are repeated to sequentially transfer by each color.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an improvement in a thermal transfer type recording device equipped with a color transfer function for forming a color image on recording paper.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a recording device that forms a color image by transferring ink of multiple colors onto a recording paper is provided with a transfer section composed of a plurality of thermal heads corresponding to each color, and each transfer section is placed on the recording paper. In some cases, the leading edge of a roll of recording paper is attached to a winding roller as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-82768.
It is known that the recording paper is configured to be able to be fed out and wound up, thereby performing color transfer of a plurality of colors onto the recording paper. The above-mentioned recording apparatus having a plurality of transfer sections has a drawback that the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high. Further, in a recording apparatus in which the leading end of a roll of recording paper is attached to a take-up roller, there is a drawback that ordinary recording paper cut to a predetermined size cannot be used and handling is inconvenient.

For this reason, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-77366,
By wrapping the recording paper around a roller placed opposite the thermal head of the transfer unit and locking it with a locking metal fitting, and rotating the roller several times for each color, a single transfer unit can normally print the paper. A recording device that forms a color image on recording paper has been proposed.

However, this recording apparatus has the disadvantage that it is necessary to provide a roller or the like having a diameter sufficient to wrap the recording paper in a single layer, resulting in an increase in the size of the apparatus.

(Object of the Invention) This invention was made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it is possible to form a color image on ordinary recording paper using a single transfer unit with a simple structure without increasing the size of the device. The present invention provides a thermal transfer type recording device that can perform the following steps.

(Structure of the invention) This invention forms a color image on the recording paper by passing an ink sheet on which multiple colors of ink are sequentially arranged and recording paper through a thermal transfer unit equipped with a thermal head and a platen roller. In the thermal transfer type recording device,
a recording paper transport mechanism configured to return the recording paper;
A press-release mechanism that separates the thermal head and platen roller from each other when the paper is returned; an ejecting section from which the recording paper returned through the thermal transfer section is ejected; and a guide that guides the recording paper toward the ejecting section. The apparatus is provided with a mechanism and a conveyance roller that conveys the recording paper from the carry-out section to the transfer section.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a thermal transfer type recording device. The body 1 of this recording apparatus is composed of an upper frame 2 and a lower frame 3 which are connected to each other so as to be openable and closable. The lower frame 3 of the body 1 is provided with a rotating shaft 5 for supporting a roll-shaped ink sheet 4, a winding device 6 for the ink sheet 4, a thermal head 7, and a separation roller 8. The upper frame 2 also includes an idle roller 9° 9 for guiding the ink sheet 4 to the thermal head 7, a platen roller 10 facing the thermal head 7, a cassette 11 containing recording paper 12 of a predetermined size, and a recording paper 12 of a predetermined size. A conveyor 113 for paper 12 and a paper tray 14 are stacked.

A feeding roller 1 is located above the leading end of the recording paper cassette 11.
5 is provided, and a recording paper 12 is fed out by a roller 1 below it.
A spring 16 is arranged which biases towards 5. A conveying mechanism 13 that conveys the recording paper 12 fed out from the recording paper cassette 11 includes guide plates 17 arranged above and below, and a conveyance mechanism 13 that transports the recording paper 12 between the thermal head 7 and the platen roller 10.
Registration roller 1 to be supplied to a thermal transfer section consisting of
8 and a pair of ejection rollers 19 that guide the recording paper 12 onto the ejection tray 14. The paper discharge tray 14 is formed in a double structure having a manual feeding section 20 for the recording paper 12 on the lower side. This manual feeding section 20 is a cassette 1
This is for supplying the 12 g of normal recording paper stored in the storage unit 1, recording paper of a different size, etc. as needed. Further, a pair of conveyance rollers 21 and a guide plate 22 are arranged at the tip of the manual feeding section 20, and these constitute a branch path of the recording paper conveyance path.

The ejection roller 19 and the transport roller 21 are each connected to a main motor (not shown) capable of forward and reverse rotation, and transport the recording paper 12 toward the paper ejection tray 14 when the motor rotates in the forward direction, and eject the recording paper 12 when it rotates in the reverse direction. paper] - is configured to be returned from the ray 14.

Further, a guide mechanism 23 is provided between the transfer section and the registration roller 18 to guide the recording paper 12 to be returned toward the manual feeding section 20.

The guide mechanism 23 includes a guide pawl 24 pivotally supported at the lower end of the guide plate 22, a swinging solenoid 25 for driving the guide pawl 24, and the solenoid 25 turned on. When this occurs, the tip of the guide claw 24 descends to block the recording paper conveyance path, and guides the returned recording paper 12 toward the manual feeding section 20.

The platen roller 10 is configured to be operated by a crimping state release mechanism consisting of a crimping solenoid 26,
When the solenoid 26 is turned on, it is pushed in the direction of being pressed against the thermal head 7, and when the solenoid 26 is turned off, it is separated from the thermal head 7 and the pressed state is released. In addition, the discharge roller 19
An ejection switch 27 for detecting that the recording paper 12 is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 14 is arranged near the paper ejection tray 14, and near the registration roller 18 and the conveyance roller 21, the recording paper 12 is placed on the roller 18.21. The first step detects the arrival of . Second paper detection switches 28 and 29 are respectively arranged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink sheet 4 has heat sublimation or heat melt solid inks of three colors, magenta Milj, yellow Y, and cyan S, applied to areas corresponding to the size of the recording paper 12. and these three colors are repeated in sequence. F430, which does not transmit light such as black, is provided at the boundary line between each color, and this layer 30 is detected by an ink sheet sensor 31 consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and a detection signal is output. ing. Based on this detection signal, the ink sheets 1 to 4 are stopped at positions that match the supply timings of the ink sheets 4 and the recording paper 12.I! IIJIIl is performed.

The operation of controlling the thermal transfer type recording apparatus configured as described above by a control section (not shown) is explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 and the transfer process diagrams shown in FIGS. 4(A) to (E). explain. First, when the start switch is turned on, the feeding roller 15 is driven (step S1), and the recording paper 12 is fed out from the recording paper cassette 11. Then, the main motor rotates in the normal direction (step S2), and the registration roller 18
The recording paper 12 is conveyed by. Then, in step S, it is confirmed that the recording paper 12 has reached the position of the first paper detection switch 28 and the switch 28 has been turned on.
3) The crimp solenoid 26 is turned on (step S4).
, the platen roller 10 is pressed against the thermal head 7. Further, the winding device 6 is driven (step S5), and the ink sheet 4 is conveyed together with the recording paper 12, as shown in FIG.
), the platen roller 10 and the thermal head 7
It is supplied to a thermal transfer section consisting of. In this thermal transfer section, the ink sheet 4 and the recording paper 12 are overlapped, and a heat pulse is applied in accordance with the information output to the thermal head 7, so that the ink on the ink sheet 4 is sublimated or melted and transferred to the recording paper 12. The image is transferred and recorded (step Ss).

As shown in FIG. 4(B), the recording paper 12 is separated by the separating roller 8.
When it is confirmed that the transfer is completed (step S7), the main motor is stopped (step Ss), and the rotation of the registration roller 18, the discharge roller 19, etc. is stopped. Thereafter, the pressure solenoid 26 becomes A (step S9), and the pressure state between the platen roller 1° and the thermal head 7 is released.

Further, when the ink sheet sensor 31 is turned on, the winding device 6 is stopped (steps S1o, S1+), and the supply of the ink sheet 4 is stopped.

Next, the swing solenoid 25 is turned on (step 512
), the tip of the guide claw 24 descends as shown in FIG. 4(C). Also, if the main motor is reversed, step 813
), the return of the recording paper 12 is started. The recording paper 12 is guided by the guide claw 24 and conveyed to the manual feeding section 20 via the guide plate 22 and the conveyance roller 21. Then, confirm that the second paper detection switch 29 has been turned on and then turned off (step S14.515),
As shown in FIG. 4(D), the recording paper 12 is fed into the manual feeding section 2.
M1 acknowledges that it has been carried out onto 0. After that, steps S1a and S are performed to start normal rotation after the main motor stops.
t;+), the recording paper 12 is fed toward the transfer section by the conveyance roller 21.

Next, when it is confirmed that the second paper detection switch 29 is turned on, it is checked whether the second color transfer has been completed (step Sa, 39).

If it is confirmed that the transfer of the second color has not yet been performed and that the transfer of the first color has been completed, the process returns to step S4, and the operations up to step S1a are repeated to transfer the second color. Perform transcription. Then step 819 above
When it is confirmed that the transfer of the second color has been completed, the pressure solenoid 26 is turned on and the winding device 6 is driven to prepare for the transfer of the third color (step S20.degree. 521). After that, as shown in Figure 4 (E)
The recording paper 12 supplied from the manual supply section 20 is conveyed together with the ink sheet 4 to the transfer section, where the third color is transferred (step 522).

When it is confirmed that the transcription has been completed (step 523)
, the crimp solenoid 26 is turned off (step 524).
. (When the ink sheet sensor 31 is turned on, the winding device 6 stops (step S25.528), and the ink sheet 4 stops at the reference position. Further, the swing solenoid 25 is turned off (step 527), the tip of the guide claw 24 is raised, and the recording paper conveyance path is opened. Then, the ejection switch 27 is turned off, and when M1 recognizes that the recording paper 12 has been completely ejected onto the paper ejection sheets 1 to 14, the main motor is stopped (step 328.52).
9), the control operation is completed.

In this way, the recording paper 12 cut to a predetermined size is configured to be returned from the paper ejection tray 14 to the manual feeding section 20, and by reciprocating the recording paper 12 via the transfer section, Using a single transfer unit, three color inks of magenta, yellow, Y, and cyan S can be transferred to the recording paper 12 to form a color image. Therefore, there is no need to provide a C-pull roller for wrapping the recording paper 12 in a single layer, which prevents the device from increasing in size, and also eliminates the need to provide multiple transfer sections or use roll-shaped recording paper. Since there are no holes, there are advantages in that the structure of the recording device can be simplified and it can be easily handled.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the recording paper 12 is delivered to the manual feeding section 20 when the recording paper 12 is returned, and there is no need to provide a new delivery section on the recording paper conveyance path. It has the advantage that it can be formed into a simple structure. Note that a delivery section may be formed separately from the manual feeding section 20, if necessary.

Check the transfer state of the recording paper 12 discharged onto the paper discharge tray 14, and if a transfer defect is found, or if only one or two colors are to be transferred, the three-color transfer is completed. It is desirable to stop the culm before transfer.

That is, when it is confirmed that the transfer of the first or second color is completed in step S7 of the flowchart not shown in FIG. 5, which is basically constructed in the same way as the flowchart of FIG. It is checked whether the stop button is turned on (step A1), and if the stop button is turned on, the process moves to step 324, and the transfer steps for the second and subsequent colors or the third color (steps 88 to 523) are omitted. Also, when the second paper detection switch 29 is turned on in step sia, it is checked whether the transfer stop button is turned on (step A2), and if the stop button is turned on, the process moves to step S27, and the transfer is started. ■Terminate the culm.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 above, step A1.
When it is confirmed that the transfer stop button has been turned on at step A2, the transfer process ends without a new ink sheet 4 being supplied. For this reason, waste of the ink sheet 4α can be eliminated, but each time the transfer step 7j is completed after the transfer of the first or second color, the transfer order of the three colors mentioned above changes, and the hue of the transferred image may change slightly. Things will change.

In order to always keep the transfer order of each color constant and prevent changes in the hue of the transferred image, control should be performed based on the flowchart in FIG. 6, in which steps 81 to B8 are added to the flowchart in FIG. That is, if it is confirmed in steps A1 and A2 that the transfer stop button has been turned on, it is checked whether the transfer of the second color has been completed (step B1). If it is confirmed that the transfer of the first color has been completed, set the value 2 to the counter (step B2);
If it is confirmed that the color transfer has been completed, a value of 1 is set in the counter (step B3).

Next, the winding device 6 is driven (step 84), and the ink sheet 4 is wound up until the ink sheet sensor 31 is turned on. Then, when it is confirmed that the ink sheet sensor 31 is turned on, the winding device 6 is stopped (
In step B5, Be'), the value of the counter is subtracted by 1 (step 87). Then, it is checked whether the counter value is O (step Ba), and if it is not O, the process returns to step B4, and if the counter value is O, the process moves to step 327 to end the transfer process.

By feeding ink sheets 1 to 4 by a predetermined amount depending on the time when the transfer stop button is pressed as described above,
It is possible to control the copying order to be constant by always starting the transfer from the same color.

In addition, in the embodiment described in -F, the ink sheet 4 coated with ink of three colors, magenta M, yellow Y, and cyan S, is used, but the ink sheet 4 is not limited to this and various changes are possible. For example, An ink sheet with black or the like added to the above three colors may also be used. Furthermore, instead of moving the platen row 510, the thermal head 7 may be connected to a drive solenoid, thereby configuring a mechanism for releasing the pressed state of the thermal transfer section.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention performs color transfer of multiple colors using a simple and compact device without installing multiple transfer sections or rollers that wrap recording paper in a single layer. Moreover, it has the advantage that a color image can be directly formed on ordinary recording paper cut to a predetermined size without using a roll of recording paper, and it is easy to handle.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of an ink sheet, FIG. 3 is a 70-diameter diagram showing the control operation of the recording apparatus according to the invention, and FIG. <A
) to (E) are explanatory diagrams showing the transfer process according to the above-mentioned 70-ch v-1-, and FIGS. be. 4... Ink sheet, 7... Thermal head, 10
...Platen roller, 12...Recording paper, 13...
Recording paper conveyance mechanism, 20... manual feeding section, 21...
Conveyance roller, 23... Guide IN, 26... Pressure solenoid (pressure state release m structure). Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A color image is formed on the recording paper by passing an ink sheet on which a plurality of colors of ink are sequentially and repeatedly arranged and a recording paper through a thermal transfer unit equipped with a thermal head and a platen roller. The thermal transfer recording device includes a recording paper conveying mechanism configured to be able to return the recording paper, a pressure release mechanism that separates the thermal head and the platen roller from each other during the return, and a recording paper conveyance mechanism configured to return the recording paper, and a press release mechanism that separates the thermal head and the platen roller from each other during the return, and the recording paper being returned through the thermal transfer section. The recording paper is provided with a carry-out section for carrying out the recorded paper, a guide mechanism for guiding the record paper toward the carry-out section, and a conveyance roller for carrying the record paper from the carry-out section toward the transfer section. A thermal transfer type recording device featuring: 2. The thermal transfer type recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carrying-out section is a manual feeding section for recording paper.