JPS60259472A - Thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lessen color shift phenomenon by a method in which a thermal head to be pressingly contacted with or separated from a platen roller through a transfer sheet and a recording paper is pivotally supported, and the platen roller is allowed to move toward the capstan roller. CONSTITUTION:A thermal head 38 is pressingly contacted with a platen roller 20 for recording to form a transfer picture of Magenta-color ink. In the same way, recording is made for cyanine-color ink to end a color recording for one picture area by using a three-color duplicate printing. After the recording, the head 38 is separated from the roller 20, and the recording paper 16 is sent by a given length to the direction of arrow (i), cut by a rotary cutter 27, and discharged along a paper discharge guide 28. Since the feeding speed of the recording paper is determined exactly by the peripheral speed of the capstan roller as a nonelastic body, the reciprocal feeding distances of the recording paper can be easily matched and thereby color recording of lesser color shift can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device that uses heat generated by a thermal head to transfer ink applied to a substrate onto a recording paper to form an image, and particularly relates to a thermal transfer recording device that is capable of reducing color shift. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device that enables color printing.

Conventional Structure and Problems The thermal transfer recording method is used in various terminal recording devices as a method for producing hard copies that are small, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. In recent years, with the advancement of terminal devices, hard copies have been made in color, and at the same time efforts are being made to improve image quality.

A conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus will be explained below. 1st
The figure shows a basic configuration diagram of a conventional thermal transfer recording device, in which 1 is a long recording paper, 2 is a heating element, and 3 is a heating element 2 arranged in a line in the width direction of the recording paper 1. 4 is a shaft fixed to the housing, and 5 is a support member that supports both ends of the thermal head 3 and rotates around the shaft 4. 6; Yellow, magenta,
゛Noah 1. Ae, □, 7~64-□ka. , 3-A is a transfer sheet in which threads are sequentially separated, and A is a platen roller having an elastic material on the surface layer, such as a rubber lining, which is rotated in forward and reverse directions by a drive means (not shown). Further, 8 is a cam having a shaft cut into a D shape, which is fixed to the housing, and is rotated by a driving means (not shown) to move the support member 6 up and down by coming into contact with and separating from the support member claw portion 6a. I can do it. Reference numerals 9 and 10 refer to metal paper pressing rows 2.11.1 that contact the platen roller 7 via the recording paper 1 and rotate passively as the platen roller 7 rotates.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a support member which is pivotally attached to the housing and each supports a paper presser roller 29 and 10, and 13 and 14 are paper presser rollers 9 and 10, respectively.
The supporting members 11 and 12 are pressed against the platen roller T.
A tension coil spring 16 is stretched between the housing and the spring 13.
, 14 is a compression coil spring provided between the housing and the thermal head 3 so as to press the thermal head 3 against the platen roller 7 with a force stronger than that of the thermal head 3. The operation of the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below. First, the recording paper 1 is set as shown in FIG. The cam 8 is rotated so that the uncut portion of the cam 8 comes into contact with the support member claw portion 6a, and the support member 6 and the thermal head 3 are kept apart from the platen roller 7. Next, the recording paper 1 is fed in the direction of arrow a by the platen roller 7 and the paper presser roller 1o, and stops when the leading edge of the recording paper 1 passes through the pressure contact position between the platen roller 7 and the paper presser roller 9. Next, the cam 8 is rotated to separate it from the support member claw portion 6a, and the thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller 7 via the transfer plate 6 and the recording paper 1 by the force of the compression coil spring 16. Then, the platen row 27 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow, and while the recording paper 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow a by the frictional force at the pressure contact position with the thermal head 3 and the paper pressing rollers 9, 1o, the transfer sheet 6 is moved by a winding means (not shown). Wind it up. At the same time, by causing the heating element 2 on the thermal head 3 to generate heat according to the image signal, the first color is printed on the recording paper 1.
For example, a melt transfer image of yellow ink can be obtained. Next, rotate the cam 8 again to release the thermal head 3 from the platen roller 7, rotate the platen roller 7 in the direction of arrow C, and transport the recording paper 1 the same distance as when printing until it reaches the recording start position. Bring it back. The above operation is performed for each color of the transfer sheet 6, for example yellow.

By repeating magenta and cyan three times,
It was constructed so that a color image of three colors could be printed in a predetermined area above.

Although such a configuration is simple and allows for miniaturization of the device, since the surface layer of the platen roller, which is the driving source for the recording paper, is an elastic material such as rubber, the compression of this roller causes large deformation of the recording paper. The problem is that the local conveyance speed is uncertain, and therefore the reciprocal conveyance distance of the recording paper does not match, resulting in large color misregistration when printing is performed repeatedly.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording device in which color shift is reduced.

Structure of the Invention The present invention includes a recording paper, a transfer sheet, a capstan roller that is pivoted to a housing, a platen roller that is pressed against the cabstan roller through the recording paper, and a transfer sheet and the transfer sheet that are attached to the platen roller. Pressure contact via the recording paper
The thermal head is equipped with a line-shaped thermal head spaced apart from each other, and a platen bearing part that pivotally supports a platen roller and slides on a part of the casing so that the platen roller can be moved in the general direction of the capstan roller. This is a thermal transfer recording device, and by conveying the recording paper back and forth on the surface of a capstan roller made of an inelastic material such as metal, the recording paper conveyance speed is determined, the reciprocating conveyance distance is matched, and the colors are similar. This can reduce the deviation.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a thermal transfer recording apparatus in a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 16 is a long recording paper, 17a and 17b are paper feed guides, and 18 is a paper core that winds the recording paper 16 to form a roll of recording paper. 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes a metal capstan roller that is pivotally attached to the housing and can be rotated a predetermined number of rotations in forward and reverse directions by a drive motor and a reduction gear (both not shown). It can also be rotated by means of a knob (not shown) attached thereto. Reference numeral 20 denotes a platen roller, which has an elastic body 20a having a certain thickness, such as a silicone rubber lining, on its outer peripheral surface, 21 a bearing that supports the platen roller shaft 20b, and 22 a bearing 2.
A platen support member 1 is fitted into a notch provided in the housing as shown in FIG. It serves as a platen pressing means for pressing the platen roller 20 against the capstan roller 19. 24 is a paper feed roller; 26 is a paper feed roller support arm; 26 is a tension coil spring that is stretched between the paper feed roller support arm 26 and the casing to suppress the paper feed roller 24 against the platen roller 20; 27 is a rotary cutter, and 28 is a paper discharge guide. 29 is a transfer sheet, 30 is a sheet supply reel for winding the transfer sheet 29, and 31 is a sheet supply reel 3.
A flange-shaped disk 32 having a certain thickness is fixed to both sides or one side of o, and one end is fixed to the housing, and is wrapped around the outer periphery of the disk 31, and a flange is attached to the inside surface of the wound.
32 a is a tension band that is attached; 33 is a tension arm that supports the other end of the tension band 32 and is pivotably attached to the housing; 34 is a tensioning frame between the tension arm 33 and the housing; and a tension coil spring which presses the tension band 32 against the disc 31 and generates a braking force by the dynamic friction force between it and the felt 32a when the disc 31 is rotating; 36 is a conveyance path for the transfer sheet 29; There are two detectors installed nearby, one near both ends of the transfer sheet 29, and 36 is a detector located near both ends of the transfer sheet 29.
A sheet take-up reel that rotates while taking up the sheet is driven by a driving means (not shown) with a constant torque via, for example, a slip mechanism. 37 is a heating element, 38 is a heating element 37
a thermal head arranged in the width direction of the recording paper 16;
39 and 40 are sheet guides that are attached to the thermal head 38 and guide the copying sheet 29 when the thermal head 38 is pressed against the platen roller 20; 41 is a bearing fitted in the housing; 42 is a thermal head A head support member supports 38 and rotates with its own rotating shaft 42b supported by a bearing 41, 43 is a compression coil spring, and 44 is pressed against the upper surface of the thermal head 38 by the pressing force of the compression coil spring 43. , a pressure contact bottle loosely penetrated through a part of the casing so as to press the heating element 37 against the platen roller 20 via the transfer sheet 29 and the recording paper 16 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the platen support member 22; Reference numeral 46 is a cam whose shaft is cut into a D shape, which is fixed to the housing and rotated by a drive means (not shown). The cam 46 is rotated υ by a driving means (not shown) to a first position away from the head supporting member claw portion 42a so that the platen roller 20 is pressed against the thermal head 38 by the coil Irf and the coil 43. the platen roller 2Q by rotating the head supporting member 42 against the coil spring 43 by bringing it into contact with the head supporting member claw portion 42a.
It is configured to also serve as a second position where the thermal head 38 is spaced apart. In this way, coil spring 4
3. The press pin 44 and the cam 45 constitute a contact/separation means for press-contacting and separating the thermal head 38 from the platen roller 2o. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a transfer sheet, in which the transfer sheet 29 has yellow, magenta, and cyan coloring material layers 29 b, 29 C, made of heat-melting ink on a film-like base material 29 a such as cellophane. In order to detect the leading position of the color material layer, black markers 29e and 29f block light at the edge of the sheet corresponding to each color.

29q is provided. However, only 29e is 29f.

It is provided on a side different from 29q to distinguish the leading position of the coloring material layer for one screen. Further, the distance between the marker and the leading position of the coloring material layer is configured to be longer than at least the transfer sheet transport distance from the heating element 37 to the detector 35 shown in FIG. The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained below. When feeding paper for the first time, the +7 thermal head 38 is pushed up to a position away from the platen roller 20 by the cam 46, and the leading edge of the recording paper 16 wound around the paper core 18 is manually operated. The sheet is inserted until it passes between the guides 17a and 1yb and reaches the position where the platen roller 20 and paper feed roller 24 come into contact with each other. Next, a knob (not shown) pivotally attached to the capstan roller 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow a, and the platen roller 20 and paper feed roller 24 are rotated in the directions of arrows A and C, respectively. teeth.

The capstan roller 1 passes through the pressure contact position of the platen roller 20 and paper feed roller 24, passes between the platen roller 2o and the thermal head 38 along the paper feed guide 17a, and then passes through the capstan roller 1.
The rotary cutter guide 27a passes through the pressure contact position of the platen roller 20 and the rotary cutter guide 27a.

The recording paper 16 passes through the interior of the rotary cutter 27 from 27b, and the operator visually recognizes the leading edge of the recording paper 16 at the exit of the rotary cutter 27 and finishes rotating the knob. After loading the recording paper as described above, the operator turns on a switch (not shown) to start recording. First, the recording paper 16 is cut by the rotary cutter 27 to align the leading edges of the recording paper 16. Next, a drive motor (not shown) rotates the capstan roller 19 in the direction of arrow d, rotates the platen roller 20 and paper feed roller 24 in the directions of arrows e and f, respectively, and moves the recording paper 16 in a predetermined direction in the direction of arrow q. For example, the recording paper 16 is conveyed until the recording head position on the recording paper 16 reaches a position opposite to the heating element 37 on the thermal head 38 . At this time, the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper 16 is held between the capstan roller 19 and the platen row 220. The sheet take-up reel 36 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive means (not shown), the transfer sheet 29 is wound up, and the marker 2 indicating the leading position of the yellow color material layer on the transfer sheet is placed.
9e passes the detector 35, the detector issues a signal to stop the sheet take-up reel 36. In this state, the leading position of the yellow ink is at the position facing the heating element 37 on the transfer sheet 29. After that, the cam 45 is rotated to separate the cam 44 from the head support member claw portion 42a,
The pressing force of the coil spring 43 moves the thermal head 38 through the transfer sheet 29 and the recording paper 16 to the platen 110-.
20. Next, the capstan roller 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow a to convey the recording paper 16 in the direction of arrow i, and at the same time the thermal head 38 is moved by the frictional force with the recording paper 16.
The transfer sheet 29 drawn out from the pressure contact position is wound up without slack by a sheet take-up reel 36 which rotates in the direction of the arrow by a drive means (not shown) via a slip mechanism. Still, the sheet supply reel 3o rotates passively while applying an appropriate braking force to the transfer sheet 29 due to the frictional force generated between the disk 31 and the felt 32a by the force of the coil spring 34. While performing the above operations, the heating element 37 is made to generate heat in accordance with the yellow recording image signal, and this heat melts the yellow ink on the transfer sheet 29 and transfers it onto the recording paper 16 to form an image. When one screen worth of recording with yellow ink is completed in the above manner, the conveyance of the recording paper 16 and the transfer sheet 29 is stopped, and the cam 46 is rotated again to abut against the head support arm claw 42a and the thermal head 38 and the transfer sheet 29 are separated from the platen roller 20 and record book 16. Next, by rotating the capstan roller 19 in the direction of arrow d, the platen roller 20 and paper feed roller 24 are rotated in the directions of arrows e and f, respectively, and the recording paper 16 is moved in the direction of arrow q, the same as when recording. Transport only the distance. At this time, the sheet take-up reel 36 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to take up the transfer sheet 29, and when the marker 29f indicating the leading position of the magenta color material layer on the transfer sheet passes the detector 35, the sheet take-up reel is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. 36 is stopped, and the leading position of the magenta ink is aligned with the position facing the heating element 37. In this way, the thermal head 38 is connected to the platen roller 2 again.
The above-described recording operation is performed while being in pressure contact with zero to form a transferred image using magenta ink. Similarly, cyan ink is also recorded to complete color recording for one screen by overlapping printing of three colors. Finish recording and turn thermal head 3
8 is separated from the platen roller 2o, the recording paper 16 is conveyed a predetermined length in the direction of arrow i, cut by a rotary cutter 27, and discharged along a paper discharge guide 28. As described above, according to this embodiment, the conveyance speed of the recording paper is determined by the circumferential speed of the capstan roller, which is an inelastic body, and is therefore deterministic, and therefore the reciprocating conveyance distance of the recording paper can be easily matched. It is possible to perform color recording with less color shift.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a thermal transfer recording apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this figure, parts that are the same as those in FIG. 2 are given the same numbers and explanations will be omitted. The different parts from FIG. 2 will be explained below. 46, 47 is a shaft fixed to the housing, 48 is fitted with a bearing 21 that supports the platen roller shaft 20b, and a bearing 41 that supports the head support member shaft 42b is also fitted,
Own long hole 48a.

48b are platen head supporting members that are fitted with shafts 46 and 47, respectively, and slide in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the thermal head 38 is suppressed. The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. According to this embodiment, the platen low! Since the thermal head and the thermal head are supported by the same support member and pressed against the capstan roller, it is possible to always press the same part of the thermal head against the same part of the platen roller, and the state of contact between the heating element part and the platen roller is always maintained. It becomes possible to configure the configuration to be optimal.

In addition, although it is assumed that the platen support member 22 or the platen head support member 48 slides along a part of the housing, the platen support member 22 or the platen head support member 48 slides along a part of the housing.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a platen supporting arm or a platen supporting arm or a platen supporting arm which is pivotally attached to the casing with a rotating shaft so that the platen roller 20 presses the capstan roller 19 in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the thermal head 38 presses the platen roller 20. It may also be used as a support arm. Furthermore, in both embodiments, the ink applied on the transfer sheet 29 is heat-melting ink, but this may be, for example, heat-sublimating ink that is transferred onto the recording paper 16 by thermal means other than melting. Alternatively, although the order of ink application is yellow, magenta, and cyan, the same effect can be obtained even if the ink is applied in a different order and the printing order is also different. Furthermore, each time recording of one color is completed on the recording paper 16, the recording paper 16 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow q.
A rotational force is applied to the paper core 18 so that the recording paper 16 does not sag between 0 and 0, and when the recording paper 16 is conveyed in the direction of arrow i, an appropriate pack tension is applied to the recording paper 16. When the recording paper 16 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow q, the recording paper 16 may be kept in a tensioned state while being wound.
A tension bar or tension roller may also be provided to keep the recording paper 16 under tension at all times.

In addition, although the transfer sheet 29 is taken up by the slip mechanism, the same effect can be obtained by winding the sheet take-up reel 36 in synchronization with the drive source of the capstan roller 19. Also markings 29e, 2
Markings 9f and 29g are placed in front of the leading position of the ink applying part, but markings 29e, 29f and 29g are placed behind the leading position of the ink applying part, and the marking buzzer output detector 36 is also placed in the position of the heating element 37. It goes without saying that it may be provided closer to the sheet supply reel 30 side.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the thermal transfer recording device of the present invention includes a recording paper, a transfer sheet, a capstan roller pivoted to a housing,
a platen roller, a platen support member that pivotally supports the platen roller, a platen pressing means for pressing the platen roller against the capstan roller through the recording paper, and a heating element arranged in a line opposite to the platen roller. By providing a thermal head equipped with a head support member, and a contact/separation means for pressing the thermal head against and separating it from the platen roller, color recording with less color shift can be realized, and its practical use is improved. The effect is great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the basic structure of a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, FIG. The figure is a perspective view of the transfer sheet 29 of the same device, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the thermal transfer recording device in the embodiment. 16... Recording paper, 19... Capstan roller, 2o... Platen roller, 22...
...Platen support member, 23 ... Coil spring (platen pressure means), 29 ... Transfer sheet, 43 ... River coil spring, 44 ... Pressure contact Pin, 46...Cam (the above three are detachment means), 48
...Platen head support member. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao et al./First name
Figure 3 Figure 4 2qe 3θ

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) Recording paper, a transfer sheet in which a color material layer is coated on a film-like base material, and a capstan roller j whose surface layer is made of an inelastic material and is pivoted on a housing. - a platen roller that is rotatable once and holds the recording paper between the capstan roller; and platen pressure that elastically presses the platen roller against the capstan roller through the recording paper; a thermal head formed by linearly arranging a plurality of heating elements facing the platen roller; and a heating element portion of the thermal head is pressed against the platen roller via the transfer sheet and the recording paper. A thermal transfer recording device comprising: a head support member that supports the thermal head so as to separate the thermal head; and a separating means that presses the thermal head against and separates the thermal head from the platen roller. (2) The thermal transfer recording device according to claim 1, wherein the separating means presses the thermal head against the platen roller in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pressing direction of the platen roller and the capstan roller. (3) The thermal transfer recording device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a platen support member that slides in the general direction of the capstan roller while pivotally supporting the platen roller. (4) A platen support arm that pivotally supports a platen roller and is pivotally attached to a casing so that the platen roller can be pressed against and separated from the capstan roller in the general direction of the capstan roller. The thermal transfer recording device according to item 2. (6) Claim 1, characterized in that the head support member is pivoted to a platen support member or a platen support arm to constitute a platen head support member;
The thermal transfer recording device according to item 2, 3, or 4.