JPS6030055Y2 - Thermal transfer multicolor recording device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer multicolor recording device capable of performing multicolor recording on plain paper.

2. Description of the Related Art Inkjet recording apparatuses that eject liquid ink droplets are well known as conventional apparatuses that perform multicolor recording on plain paper.

However, this recording apparatus has the disadvantage that only dye-based ink can be used to prevent clogging of the nozzles, so that the recording is less likely to fade.

Furthermore, as another conventional example, an apparatus has been considered that uses carbon paper and thermal recording paper and performs multicolor recording using a thermal head.

This recording apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. Reference numerals 1 and 2 are thermal heads, one of which is in contact with a platen 5 while sandwiching thermal recording paper 3 and carbon paper 4; The head 2 is in contact with the platy 5 with only the thermal recording paper 3 sandwiched therebetween.

This thermosensitive recording paper 3 develops color when heat above a certain temperature is applied.

A paper feed roller 6 is in contact with the platen 5 while sandwiching the thermal recording paper 3, and is driven by a pulse motor 7.

8 is a separation plate. Note that the heat-sensitive recording paper 3 here develops, for example, a black color when heated, and the carbon paper 4 has a red color.

In this recording apparatus, when a recording signal is input, a signal for recording red color is first input to the thermal head 1, and the ink on the carbon paper 4 is transferred to the thermal recording paper 3 by the heat of the thermal head 1.

This ink transfer is performed at a temperature at which the thermal recording paper 3 does not develop color.

When the ink on the carbon paper 4 is transferred, the thermal recording paper 3 and the carbon paper 4 are separated by the separation plate 8, and the thermal recording paper 3 is sent between the platen 5 and the thermal head 2 by the paper feed roller 6. Here, a signal for recording black is input to the thermal head 2, and the thermal head 2 colors the thermal recording paper 3, thereby recording black.

However, the above-mentioned recording device has the disadvantage of poor fading resistance because it records on thermal recording paper that uses organic dyes, and because it records in multiple colors using carbon paper, the carbon paper must be replaced for each color. However, it has the disadvantage that alignment is extremely difficult.

Further, carbon paper, which has been used for recording once, cannot be reused, making it uneconomical. Furthermore, heat-sensitive recording paper is expensive because it is specially treated paper.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and therefore, a plurality of ink rollers each having an ink layer formed on the surface using pigment-based ink are arranged on a plain paper recording paper, and each ink roller has an ink layer formed thereon. The ink of the ink layer is transferred to the recording paper by a thermal head.

One embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 9.10
and 11 are rotatably supported ink rollers, each of which is made of a heat-resistant and elastic material and has a polished outer peripheral surface.

12. 13 and 1 and 4 are straightening rollers, which are made of a material with excellent heat resistance and are formed into a pipe shape, and thin wires 15, 16 and 17 are connected closely to each other in a spiral shape around the outer periphery of each fourth roller. The wire is wound around the wire, and electric resistance wires 18, 19 and 20 such as nichrome wire are built inside to serve as a heating element.

The straightening rows 12, 13 and 14 are arranged so as to come into contact with the rollers 10 and 11, respectively, and the ink reservoirs 21, 22 provided in contact with the ink rollers 9, 10 and 11, respectively. and 23 to form an ink layer 24.2 on the outer peripheral surfaces of ink rollers 9, 10 and 11.
5 and 26 can be formed.

Reference numerals 27, 28 and 29 are ink replenishing machines, which are used to replenish the respective ink reservoirs 21, 22 and 23 with pigment-based ink.

30. Thermal heads 31 and 32 are pressed against the ink rollers 9, 10 and 1F, respectively, while holding the recording paper 33 when a recording signal is input, and are pressed downward when no recording signal is input. Ink roller 9,1
0 and 11.

The recording paper 33 is plain paper, and the thermal head 3 is moved by a paper feed roller 35 driven by a pulse motor 34.
It is sent one pitch at a time in the direction of arrow A in synchronization with the recording signal inputted to 0.

36 is a motor that rotates the ink rollers 9, 10 and 11 in series, and the ink rollers 9, 10 and 11 are
When no recording signal is input, the motor 36 rotates in the direction of arrow B, and the ink reservoirs 21, 22 and 23
Smooth ink layers 24, 25 and 26 are formed.

Here, the formation of the ink layer will be explained.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing an axial cross section of the contact surface between the ink roller 9 and the correction roller 12, and shows the wires 15a and 15b.
is in contact with the ink roller 9, and when the melted ink k in the ink reservoir 21 is poured into the cavity surrounded by the ink roller 9 and the wires 15a and 15b, the correction roller 12
Although the ink is pressed against the ink roller 9, the ink passes through the cavity and adheres to the surfaces of the ink roller 9 and the wires 15a and 15b.

However, since the temperature of the correction roller 12, which is a heating element, that is, the temperature of the wires 15a and 15b is higher than the temperature of the ink roller 9, most of the ink adheres to the ink roller 9.

This □ ink has already been processed by the ink roller 9 in the same process.
It becomes one with the ink 1 adhering to the surface due to surface tension, forming an ink layer that is smooth and has a certain thickness.

Immediately after leaving the correction roller 12, such a process is performed over the entire axial direction of the ink roller 9, and is further repeated to form a smooth ink layer 24.

Similarly, the ink layers 25 and 21 can be formed on the surfaces of the ink rollers 10 and 11 as well.

Since the thickness of the ink layers 24, 25 and 26 is determined by the amount of ink, by changing the diameters of the wires 15, 16 and 17, the ink layers 24, 25 and 26 can be made to have an optimum thickness. can.

In addition, in FIG. 3', 37 is an insulator, and when the orthodontic Ronilla 12 is formed from a metal ratio, the electrical resistance wire 1
It is necessary to provide a gap between 8' and 8'.

'Next, the operation of the above-mentioned configuration will be explained.

When the recording signal is input, the motor 36 is turned off.
The rotation of ink rollers 9, 10 and 11 is stopped.

Here, the color of the ink is, for example, the ink layer 24 of the ink roller 9 is black, the ink layer 25 of the ink roller 10 is red, the ink layer 26 of the ink roller 11 is green, and the input signal is black.
Assuming that there are three colors, red and green, first a black signal is input to the thermal head 30, a pulse current flows through the thermal head 30, the minute heating element of the thermal head 30 generates heat, and the heat causes The ink in a minute portion of the ink layer 24 corresponding to the heating element melts and transfers to the recording paper 33,
A black dot is recorded.

The thermal head 30 is provided with a plurality of heating elements along the axial direction of the ink roller 9, and dots are recorded for one load simultaneously or in parts.

- When the black recording of the load is completed, the recording paper 33 is fed by one pitch in the direction of arrow A by the paper feed roller 35, and the next row of black recording is performed.

When a line in which red is to be recorded comes to the position of the thermal head 31 by recording a plurality of black lines and feeding the recording paper 33 several pitches, a red recording signal is input to the thermal head 31, and the above-mentioned Ink roller 1 in the same manner as
The ink in the 0 ink layer 25 is transferred to the recording paper 33, and red dots are recorded.

Even when the thermal head 31 is performing red recording, black recording is being performed.

When a plurality of red lines are recorded and the line where green is recorded comes to the position of the thermal head 32, the thermal head 32
A green recording signal is input to the ink roller 11, and the ink in the ink layer 26 of the ink roller 11 is transferred to the recording paper 33, thereby recording a green dot.

Such operations are repeated, and a plurality of black, red, and green dots are recorded on the recording paper 33 to form characters and pixels.

The recesses formed on the surfaces of the ink layers 24, 25, and 26 due to ink transfer can be corrected by rotating the ink rollers 9, 10, and 11 in the direction of arrow B due to friction with the recording paper 33, so that the recesses are removed by each ink layer. The ink is sent to reservoirs 21, 22 and 23, where it is straightened again into smooth ink layers 24, 25 and 26.

In this way, even the concave portions formed in the ink layers 24, 25 and 26 due to recording are re-formed as a smooth ink layer with an optimal thickness after one rotation, so that good recording can always be performed.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, if the distance between the ink rollers 9, 10, and 11 is made an integral multiple of the feeding pitch of the paper feed roller 35, the black recording line, the red recording line, and the green recording line can be made the same. can do.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where printing is performed in three colors has been described, but by increasing the number of ink rollers, it is possible to print characters and pixels in more colors.

As explained above, the present invention performs multicolor recording by forming an ink layer on the surface of a plurality of ink rollers arranged on the recording paper, so pigment-based inks can be used, and the recording This has the effect of improving storage stability.

Furthermore, since there is no need to replace carbon paper or the like, the operation is simple, and inexpensive plain paper can be used as the recording paper, so it can be used as a recording section of a printer or facsimile machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a conventional example, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part. 9.10.11... Ink roller, 12, 13
．． 14...Correcting roller, 15, 16.17...
...Wire, 1B, 19,20...Electric resistance wire, 21.22,23...Ink reservoir, 2
4,25°26... Ink layer, 27. 28.
29------Ink supply machine, 30, 31, 32・
...Thermal head, 33... Recording paper,
34...Pulse motor, 35...Paper feed roller, 36...Motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An ink roller that is rotatably supported and made of an elastic body with excellent heat resistance, a heat-generating correction roller that is in contact with the ink roller and has a thin wire tightly wound around its outer circumference in a spiral shape, and both rollers. An ink forming mechanism including an ink reservoir provided at a contact portion of the ink reservoir and an ink replenishing machine for replenishing the ink reservoir with heat-melting ink is brought into contact with the recording paper conveyed by the paper feed roller. A plurality of sets are arranged at predetermined intervals, and a plurality of thermal heads pressed against each ink roller through a recording paper are provided. A thermal transfer multicolor recording device characterized by depositing ink on the surface of each ink roller to form an ink layer.