JPS61179760A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform sharp printing in spite of long distance printing, by adjusting the angle of a printing head contacted with a current supply thermal transfer film or performing cleaning at every printing of a definite distance. CONSTITUTION:This printing apparatus has a printing head by forming a record ing electrode DD on a substrate BO. The recording electrode DD is contacted with a current supply thermal transfer film FL under pressure and the shape of the end part of the printing head is made oblique to cross the surface of the printing head and the current supply thermal transfer film at a predeter mined angle theta2. By setting the angle theta2 to 30 deg.-60 deg., good printing is obtained. The end part of the printing head is cleaned at every printing of a definite distance to arrange the shape theta1 (theta1 is the angle formed by the surface of the end part and the surface of the substrate) of the end part. When the hardness of the recording electrode is almost same to or softener than that of the sub strate, it is extremely well to allow the relation of the angles theta1, theta2 to approach theta2=theta1/2 and the difference of the angles theta1, theta2 is set to 3 deg.-30 deg.. When the hard ness of the recording electrode is extremely higher than that of the substrate, both angles may be made almost equal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] The present invention provides an electrically conductive thermal transfer film with an ink layer and a resistive layer, and a print head in which a recording electrode is formed on a substrate by thick film printing or the like on the resistive layer of the film. An electrical heating type printing device is configured in which the resistance layer is brought into contact with the resistor layer at a selected location to generate heat and transfer ink onto the transfer target. At this time, if the hardness of the recording electrode has a certain relationship to the hardness of the substrate, it is possible to maintain long distances by adjusting the angle at which the print head contacts the film, or by cleaning after every printing of a certain distance. Even though the image is imprinted, it is clearly imprinted.

[Industrial use parts]

The present invention relates to a printing device, and more particularly to a printing device using an electrically heated heat transfer film.

Specifically, a resistive layer and an ink layer are laminated on an electrically conductive thermal transfer film, and a current of more than a certain level is passed through the resistive layer in a selected part of the film in response to a printing signal, and the heat-melting ink is applied by generating gel heat. It relates to a so-called electrically heated transfer type printing device that prints characters, figures, etc. by melting and transferring it to a transfer object such as paper or film.

[Conventional technology]

The prior art includes the electrical thermal transfer printing apparatus presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4.55 Q449.

However, in such a printing device, a predetermined current is applied to the resistive layer, and it is possible to print one or two times within one print, but the contact between the electrode on the head side and the resistive layer of the ink film is insufficient. If it is unstable, small dots will not be printed.

Furthermore, even if it is attempted to make the dots the same diameter, dots with widely different diameters will be printed.

Further, as prior art close to the present invention, [a'MO'
l'ROTH] I! RMAL'PR:CN'l'T
There is an engineering program PPARATtrS. However, if the electrodes of the head are constructed by protruding needles, the pitch between the electrodes will inevitably become large, making it impossible to form dots with a fine pitch. Also,
By passing current through the electrodes, the electrodes in the areas where current is often passed quickly decrease, and over time, the lengths of the electrodes become uneven, resulting in unevenness around the recording head electrodes.

Because of these various problems, it has been extremely difficult to put thermal transfer printing devices into practical use.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The printing device of the present invention eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art, and
The purpose of the present invention is to put a thermal transfer type printing device into practical use by preventing uneven printing caused by contact between the electrodes of the printing head and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film due to uneven pressure.

Another object of the present invention is that when the device of the present invention is used for gradation printing by modulating the area of dots, when the current value is changed, the dot area changes accordingly regardless of the traveling distance or the printing location. The object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that can be changed.

[Means for solving problems]

The thermal transfer type printing device of the present invention forms a printing head by forming recording electrodes on a substrate by thick film printing, plating, etc., and presses an electrically conductive thermal transfer film and the recording electrodes formed on the substrate. The printing device of the present invention, which performs printing by bringing the recording electrode and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film into contact with each other and moving them relative to each other, makes the printing head end shape oblique when printing by pressing the recording electrode into contact with the current-carrying thermal transfer film. Then, the printing head surface and the energized thermal transfer film intersect at a predetermined angle.

Then, after each printing of a certain distance, the portion of the printing head that presses into contact with the energized thermal transfer sheet (printing head end) is cleaned, and the shape of the printing head end is adjusted.

At this time, if the hardness of the recording electrode is approximately the same as the hardness of the substrate or softer than that of the substrate, the substrate surface of the print head (of course, the part of the recording electrode at the end of the print head where it contacts the film) The angle that the substrate surface) makes with the electrically conductive thermal transfer sheet,
The cleaned surface of the end of the printing head (the cleaning direction and the angle formed by the printing head substrate surface are different).

The difference in angle shall be at least 5" or more.

If the hardness of the recording electrode is much higher than that of the substrate, both angles may be approximately equal.

[Overview of printing device of the present invention]

First, an outline of the printing apparatus of the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 1 shows several examples of structures of electrically conductive thermal transfer films for electrically conductive thermal transfer recording used in the printing apparatus of the present invention. 1 is a melting ink layer, which is a layer in which a pigment or pigment or dye is dispersed in wax, and has the property of melting at about 60°C. 2 is a resin film or capacitor paper using PIT or the like, and in the case of <a>, this layer becomes the support layer for the ink film. Reference numeral 3 is a layer in which fine carbon powder is dispersed in resin, and is electrically conductive (hereinafter, this layer 5 will be abbreviated as a resistance layer). Is 4 a layer with the same conductivity as 3? -% (
In the case of b) and (#), this layer becomes the film support layer.

5 is a color clouding prevention layer and a heat-resistant resin layer. The ink layer is melted by the Joule heat generated by passing a current through the resistance layer of these films, and the ink layer is transferred to the transfer paper, thereby performing printing. Figure 2 shows an electrically conductive type thermal transfer recording of the printing device of the present invention. FIG. Reference numeral 21 indicates a recording electrode, which has a plurality of electrodes.

FIG. 3 shows a method of contacting the printing head 22 of the printing device of the present invention with the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 19. Main roller 3
0 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and the paper 10 to be transferred is wrapped around it, and the fixing jig 32 is used to tighten it. It is stored and wound onto a take-up roll 34 along the direction of the arrow.

Reference numerals 55 and 36 are electrically conductive thermal transfer film transport four rollers.

The end portion 23 of the recording head 22 is supported by a spring 57 with 3B as a fulcrum.
is pressed against the main roller 3a. The recording head with the structure shown in FIG. 2 is used as the third v! By pressing the recording needle against the electrically conductive thermal transfer film using method 1, a good electrical connection can be established between the recording needle and the resistance layer.

FIG. 4 shows a method of driving the printing apparatus of the present invention. 40.
41 is a portion where the recording electrode is in contact with the resistance layer, and 42 is a current. The voltage was applied so that 40° was negative and 41° was positive. By changing the time during which this voltage is applied, the temperature distribution on the ink layer changes as shown in 43.44.

43 is a case where the energization time is short, and 44 is a case where the energization time is long. Due to this change, the transferred ink shapes also become 45 and 46, respectively, making it possible not only to simply print but also to express area gradation. FIG. 4 shows an example of a printing method of the printing apparatus of the present invention in which voltages of different polarities are applied between adjacent recording electrodes.

In such a case, when printing is performed by applying a voltage to the adjacent printing electrodes, print the parts several dots apart at the same time, and at another time apply the voltage between the electrodes of the parts several dots apart. When printing is performed by applying , multiplex driving without crosstalk becomes possible.

FIG. 3 shows a method for recording between all adjacent recording electrodes. For the power supply 8, use the positive side switch 50 and the negative side switch 51 alternately as shown in the figure, and
11~I! The groove is connected to the recording needle of ~'L vortex.

The number of recording needles is two-layered (integer is a positive integer), and the number of recording pixels is 2 x m-1. The techniques described above make it possible to create a high-speed, high-quality full-color printing device.

[Details of the printing section]

[Configuration of Imprinting Section, etc.] In order to conduct various experiments in the printing apparatus of the present invention, a mechanism shown in FIG. 6 was created. This mechanism will be explained.

In the printing head H1, a recording electrode D''D is formed on the back side of the substrate BO in the figure. Between the printing head II]n and the platen FT, there is an electrically conductive thermal transfer film 7- and a transfer target '
A PA is installed, and when printing, the printing head HI! ! is pressed against the platen PT:. For pressure contact, print head l
1111 Recording electrode on the back side 1)? ) is formed so as to be in contact with the electrically conductive thermal transfer film FI+ and the transfer target FA. The electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL is arranged such that the resistance layer is on the print head TiE side and the ink layer is on the transfer target FA@. During printing, the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IL and the transferred object 'PA move in the direction of the arrow and perform printing one after another on the transferred object FA.

Note that the hardness of the platen FT is soft, 20 to 50'.

The printing head Hi portion of the printing mechanism shown in FIG. 6 is formed as shown in 7g, and the substrate BO is fixed as shown in FIG. 8. Printing head Ha1 illustrated in FIG. 74 and FIG.
The first part is seen from below in FIG. It is observed in the state.

To explain from Fig. 7, the printing head ■E is approximately r15 to 5
A recording electrode DD with a thickness of about 10 to 50 fi is formed on the base [B(l) of Xa thickness by thick film printing, plating, etc., and has a length of 1
Recording electrode section TI)I) of ~5■, driver Xa mounting section WC for transmitting drive signals to recording electrode DD, and common electrode signal wiring section WO in which latch signals, power lines, etc. are formed.
Consists of M. The common electrode signal wiring section WOM has two layers of electrode wiring. The ICs are arranged in a staggered manner on the board and bonded face down. A shift register, a latch, and a drive section are formed within one IC chip.

As shown in FIG. 8, such a board BO is screwed onto a heat radiation fin 1 by a head presser HP having spring properties. The head presser HP is made of metal such as aluminum or iron, or plastic, and has a curved portion that presses the substrate BO. III? -1 is a slit provided to improve presser efficiency, and a presser auxiliary plate MP-2 is installed.

Next, the mechanism of the printing section shown in FIG. 6 will be explained.

This mechanism allows the printing head FiE to be pressed against or released from the platen PT (ink film) by using the head-up cam 0mu-1. Also, by using the head angle changing cam 0A-2, the platen of the printing head Hz can be changed. ? (Ink sheet.

Alternatively, the angle at which the sheet is pressed can be changed.

The case where both cams 0mu1.0mu-2 are used will be described.

The recording printing head HE is located at the fulcrum 11T1 on the head support member ■E-5 in the figure! ! -4 and a fulcrum 20A-51 that is in contact with the angle changing cam 0A-2. The head-up cam 0A-1 is used to raise the tip of the printing head from the platen FT in order to smoothly transport the transfer paper PA and the energized thermal transfer film FI+ when not printing. Fixed to 30 and cam drive motor 0A
-40 power supplies-own company nine-1-2FLl-1'%-
h ＾ −−［Φ −de m−−〇−−１ 珈
^ ・1 rotates and pushes up the head support member HE-5.

Head angle changing cam 0A-2 and head angle changing plate 0A-
20 is a coil spring (
(not shown). As shown in the figure, when the pawl of the head angle changing plate 0A-20 engages with the iron core of the plunger 0A-40 and cannot rotate, the cam drive shaft 0A
-30 rotates, the coil spring passed through the cam drive shaft 0A-30 is loose, so the head angle changing cam 0A-2
No driving force is transmitted to the When a current is applied to the plunger 0A-40 and the iron core is attracted and the head angle changing plate ○mu 1 20 is released, it is wound around the cam drive shaft 0A-30 and the driving force is transmitted to the head angle changing cam 0A-2, which is the fulcrum. 20A-5
Push up 2.

In addition, printing head II! ! is rotated by fulcrum 1 (OA-52).

In other words, the part of the printing head HE where the printing head HE and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL contact each other during printing, and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film? The angle formed by the connecting direction of B is 01, the end of the printing head is to be cleaned, and the angle formed by the object to be cleaned (abrasive paper, polishing platen, etc.) and printing head TX1 during cleaning is 02. The relationship between θ1 and θ2 of the substrate BO and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film "ITJ" at the time is illustrated as in Fig. 9 Ch). Here, Fig.
The 0 degree angle is changed, and the printing electrode DD force is applied on the substrate BO; the average electrode width is L″DD, and the pitch is PDD.
It is formed as. Such an angle θ1. θ2 can be easily changed by rotating the angle changing cam 0A-2.

In addition, by using the above mechanism, the so-called
When performing a function called paper fsedJ or "5heetf...", use the head-up cam 0.
By rotating A-1 and pressing the longer part from the shaft 0A-30, the printing head HK is separated from the platen'PT, and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 7II and the object to be transferred are pressed into contact with the printing head TiE. Without printing,
transported. In addition, the printing head H1li is connected to the platen PT.
Printing can be done by press-contacting the side of the
A cleaning material such as an abrasive material is placed in place of L, and an abrasive material is used for cleaning (the surface of the platen FT is coated with an abrasive material, or an abrasive paper is provided in place of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IL). When pressing the Rad H1n and cleaning it, use the printing head up cam 0A-
Perform 1 pressure welding using the shorter radius of 1.

Then, the angle is set to 01 or θ2 by the printing head H1lf angle changing cam 0A-2.

Table 1 summarizes how each cam is used when printing as shown in Figure 6.

Table 1 Note that if the angle changing cam 0A-2 of the printing head HIli is not rotated (or if there is no such cam), θ1=0.
It is obvious that the value is 2.

[Comparison of electrode hardness and substrate hardness]

Regarding the hardness of the recording electrode 1) D and the substrate BO that constitute the printing head HK using the above device,
Various experiments were conducted.The experimental conditions were as follows: recording electrode D
The pitch Pl)I) of D is 520 μm, the electrode width TI)D is 180 μm, the thickness of the recording electrode I)D is 20 μm, and the number of recording electrodes DD is 640.

The width of the recording section is approximately 2051 m1.

Further, 01=02=45 degrees. The judgment condition is when even one of the 640 electrodes stops printing or the printing is discontinuous when printing is performed by running the energized thermal transfer film after 7 printings (without cleaning). shall be.

Table 2 shows the results of such experiments. To explain this table, the upper left column shows that the substrate BO is made of 900HV of porous alumina, which is a material with a hardness of 5soo to 1000HV, and the recording electrode DD is heated to 700 to 1000H.
800 of tungsten, a material that allows you to select the hardness of V
When configuring 17 notes, "x" means 1115 for running.
Indicates that a printing defect has occurred when the number is less than m.

In contrast, the manganese oxide shown in the upper right column and 211! When a substrate BO with a hardness of 20017 is made with silicon oxide, alumina, potassium oxide, and 2a i chloride as the main components, and an electrode with a hardness of aoouv is used, it is "◎", that is, 111100 for running. m or more - indicates that no printing defects occurred.

Note that the items marked with an x on the wooden surface actually had poor printing when the mileage was less than 2 to 3 yen.

This means that if the recording electrode I)D hardness is sufficiently larger than the substrate BO hardness, the distance to
0 m or more, but if the hardness is less than the same level, it must be constantly cleaned, which means that it cannot be used as a printing machine.

In addition, the combination of the substrate and the electrode was made of 750V hardness and tungsten molybdenum.
×”, and the former is 800I! ■.

7001 for the latter! Although it was a combination of V, it was still "x"
It was.

In addition, a material composed of manganese oxide or the like with a hardness of 300IIV is used as the substrate BO, and the recording electrode DI) is
01! The result of using molybdenum as V was "◎".

This experimental result was obtained because the recording electrode DD of the printing head HE and the substrate BO were simultaneously connected to the energized thermal transfer film I.
If the hardness of the recording electrode DD is equal to or lower than the hardness of the substrate BO by pressing and sliding on the FIJ, the end of the recording electrode DD will wear out immediately, and the recording electrode DD will become a energized thermal transfer film. This is because it will not be enough for Party B.

[Test with different θ1 and 02] Next, θ1 was set to 50 degrees, θ2 was set to 40 degrees, and the other conditions were 1.
A similar experiment was conducted under the same conditions. The results are shown in Table 3.

In this case, none were rated "x", that is, none were completely inappropriate as a printing device.

In addition, when the combination of substrate BO and recording electrode 'DD is made of 7 orsterite ceramic and tungsten molybdenum with hardness of 75017, it is "O", and when the former is aoogv and the latter is 7 (IOHV), it is "O". 0".

In addition, a substrate BO made of manganese oxide etc. with a hardness of 5 souv, and a molybdenum recording electrode D with a hardness of 40017.
The result of configuring the printing head H1lt with the combination of D was "◎".

From this, it can be seen that in the case of combinations marked with "Δ", cleaning may be performed every 20 to 50 m of printing travel. Cleaning power of 20 W or more is sufficiently practical for a printing device.

Furthermore, combinations marked with an "O" indicate that cleaning is performed every 50 to 100 grooves, and combinations marked with an "◎" indicate that the cleaning distance can be increased to 100 grooves or more.

These experimental results were obtained because by making the angles θ1 and 02 unequal, the wear limit at the recording electrode DI) end can be extended until the end of the recording electrode DI) is reduced to 30 parts of the substrate. This is because the gluing distance from the end to the new end can be expanded to a practical range.

〔cleaning〕

Next, the relationship between a change in the shape of the recording electrode DD and cleaning will be described.

FIG. 10 illustrates the state of contact between the head Tiz and the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL during printing.

FA is the transferee. The ink layer and resistance layer of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 1- are omitted from the description.

The energized thermal transfer film IFL moves relative to the printing head H11 in the direction of the arrow. Of course, the printing head
1llt may move to the opposite side, or both may move.

11(a) is a case where the hardness of the recording electrode I)I) is sufficiently greater than the hardness of the substrate BO. In this case, although it was mentioned that #01 and #02 may be different as shown in Figure (A), #1 and #02 are made almost the same. The dotted lines indicate the shape change of the printing head 1!1 end due to printing, and the 2
The dashed line is the print head H when cleaning! Indicates the shape of the edge.

Here, WP is the distance from the edge of the head where the printing electrode is most scratched to the end surface of the head after cleaning. Then, since the hardness of the printing electrode DD is sufficiently greater than the hardness of the substrate BO, the printing electrode DD has a shape protruding from the substrate BO. Therefore, cleaning is essentially unnecessary.

However, if the printing electrodes DD are exposed, conductive dust etc. may adhere between the printing electrodes DD, causing the printing electrodes I) 1
) It is better to perform cleaning to prevent intermittent erosion and leakage. If the printing electrode 'DD is covered with an insulating protective layer, most of these problems can be improved.

Figure CB) shows a state in which the hardness of the printing electrode 1)I) is about the same or lower than the hardness of the substrate BO. In such a case, the printing electrode DD and (substrate BO) generally look like dotted lines.

Figure (C) shows a special state in the case of Figure (B'). In other words, as shown in Figure (0-2), electricity is applied between adjacent printing electrodes D″D to melt the ink. In addition to the wear of the printing electrode DD due to the sliding of 1P'L,
Printing electrode DI) and electrically conductive thermal transfer film? The shape of the printing electrode DD changes due to the discharge between the resistor layers. (a-1
) This situation is shown in the figure. This is an electrically conductive thermal transfer film I.
The positions facing F11 and printing electrode 1)D are designated PVl and PV2 as shown in the figure. Then, since θ1 and θ are different, PVl and 1'V2 parts of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film?
PVl and PV2 are different because the contact conditions between - and the printing electrode DD are different (the 271 part is pressed and the P72 part is easily separated, the contact pressure of the 771 part is large and the contact pressure of the P72 part is small). have different potentials. Therefore P7
A discharge occurs between the two portions of the printing electrode, and the portion of the printing electrode DD closer to the substrate BO is deformed.

This will be explained in more detail using Figure C-2.

In Figure 0-2, after performing electrical thermal transfer between the printing electrodes DI) 1.2, the printing electrodes I) 2.3 and 2.3 at another time, and the same electrodes DDS at another time between 4 and 4. The printing shall be made with It is assumed that the polarity of the printing electrode DD remains unchanged as shown in the figure. Then, electrode deformation occurs in the shaded area of the printing electrode DD having ten electrodes due to discharge.

In addition, in the case of Figure Cb) e ((!-1) # (0-2), the distance 11iWP is approximately 0.5 μm (approximately 13
Inconveniences occur in printing when there are 7μ grooves). this is,
This is because the shape force of the printing electrode 1) I) in contact with the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 1FL changes, and thus the printing conditions change. For example, when printing is performed by changing the printing area of one dot, the dot area will vary widely due to subtle changes in the shape of the printing electrode I)D.

Therefore, the distance @wp may be about 1-2μ groove.

[Printing electrode material and substrate material]

Next, the recording electrode DI) and the substrate BO material will be explained in detail.

Above printing head H1! ! The substrate B'O material is a hard metal such as tungsten, molybdenum, manganese, or molybdenum, or a compound of the hard metal, or a material coated with alumina, glass powder, glass fiber, or silicone. λ1. There is atonement.

In addition, the substrate BO material may be a porous ceramic whose main components are alumina, a ceramic whose main components are manganese oxide and silicon dioxide, or a ceramic whose main components are manganese oxide, silicon dioxide, alumina, potassium oxide, and fluorine. There are some that use ceramics.

Here, the term "main component" means that only the main component is used for the substrate B.
Although O may be formed, it is also possible to mix a small amount of lead, zirconia, potassium, etc. in addition to the main component.

The mixing ratio is about several percent to ten-odd percent. In addition, ceramics whose main components are manganese oxide and silicon dioxide,
Manganese oxide 20~5ovt%, silicon dioxide 70~
It is better to mix 80Wt. An example of such a ceramic is 7-orsteric ceramic.

An example of a ceramic whose main components are manganese oxide, silicon dioxide, alumina, potassium oxide, and fluorine is 10 to 20 Wt% of manganese oxide and 40 to 60 Wt% of silicon dioxide.
%, alumina is 20 to 40 wt%, alumina, potassium oxide, and fluorine are 2 to 15 wt%, and the proportions of alumina, potassium oxide, and fluorine are approximately the same, and the proportion of fluorine is 1/1 of that. ~'L3/3
There is a certain degree of...

In addition, when an insulator is mixed into a hard metal or a hard metal compound, the proportion of the insulator mixed in is 5 to 20 wt.
%And it is sufficient. Thereby, the metal electrode DD portion can be made even harder.

[θ1. Correlation of θ2] Next, 01. An experiment was conducted to find the optimal value of θ2.

θ1 The relationship between θ1 and 02 is very good if it is close to θ2=/2. This is because the electrode and the ink film can be brought into sufficient pressure contact. However, from a mechanical point of view, it is easier to design and operate the recording head angle changing mechanism if θ1 and 02 are as close as possible.

The experimental conditions were that the recording electrode IID was made of 700 HV tungsten molybdenum, the substrate BO was made of 800 HV forsterite ceramic, and the other conditions were the same as in the first example.

The experimental results thus obtained are shown in Table 4.

Here, the "x" indicates that normal printing was not performed when the running distance was less than 5 mm, and means that the printing machine is unsuitable. rOJ means that the experimental values in Table 3 were guaranteed. "Δ" means that cleaning was required at approximately half the mileage of the experimental values shown in Table 3. Although it is desirable to use the angle at ◯, this does not mean that it cannot be put to practical use even at Δ.

In this case, similar results were obtained when the combination of the substrate BO and the recording electrode DD was a 7-orsterite ceramic substrate with a hardness of 750 HV and a tungsten-molybdenum electrode.

Also, the hardness of the former is 800117. The same thing happened when the latter was set to 700Hv.

In this way, the combinations marked O and Δ in Table 3 obtained similar results.

θ2: Contact angle between the current-carrying layer and the printing head during printing θ1: Contact angle between the abrasive paper and the printing head during cleaning θ1≧02 [Manufacturing the printing head...how many people carried out the process] Printing head HF
A thick film printing method with the following steps was used to manufacture +. Manganese oxide 25~s ovt% and silicon dioxide 65~70f
Substrate BO raw materials mainly containing t% are prepared, pulverized, mixed, and then spray-dried to create a green sheet. Also, tungsten and PIC, which are the raw materials for recording needles? After mixing and pulverizing organic binders at a ratio of 9:1 wt%, the organic binders are kneaded to prepare a conductive paste. The conductive paste was printed on the green sheet, and the electrode substrate and electrode were simultaneously fired in a reducing atmosphere to create a printing head. The thickness of the electrode is 30
It was set as μm.

Ceramic M whose main components are manganese oxide and silicon dioxide
The hardness of the board (7*lustellite) is 500-600111
'V, whereas tungsten is about 700IIV
It is.

Here, 61=50@, #2=45°, 100m
When I made 7 prints every time I drove, I was able to make clear prints even after driving for 2000 meters.

In addition, assuming that the recording electrode pitch PI)D is 254 μm,
The electrode width WDD is about (L4 to (L7) of the pitch FDI)
100μ, 120μ, 140μ, 160μ, 170μ)
We conducted an experiment by changing to , and obtained the same results as in Tables 2 and 3.

However, if the recording electrode pitch PI)D, IN(L5 or less), sufficient printing quality could not be obtained.

Moreover, if it is larger than α8, a foreign object (
(electrode debris, etc.) could easily adhere to the recording electrodes, causing erosion between the recording electrodes.

Note that when an insulating protective layer (PTA, P!!T, organic material such as Polysal 7-on, polyamide, polyimide, etc.) with a hardness smaller than the recording electrode DD hardness was formed on the recording electrode T)I), recording was not achieved. It was possible to prevent the occurrence of a blow between the electrodes. Furthermore, in such a case, the protective layer slightly receded from the electrode during the 17 = blowfish process, resulting in good printing.

[Printing head made using other manufacturing methods]

Printing head H1 is printed using the thick film printing method in the same way as the above-mentioned embodiments.
It was created. A porous ceramic containing alumina as a main component was used as the material for the substrate BO, and a mixture of tungsten and alumina was used as the material for the printing electrode I)D.

Porous ceramics mainly composed of alumina are produced at a temperature of 300 to 80°C, which is lower than the complete sintering temperature of alumina, which is about 1600°C.
Obtained by firing at 0°C.

The hardness of the porous ceramic mainly composed of alumina can be about 200 to 600 Hv by controlling the firing temperature and the purity of the alumina. On the other hand, a recording electrode DD made of tungsten mixed with alumina had a hardness of 1000 Hv.

Refreshing was performed every 300 m with θ1=60° and θ2=50°, but no printing defects occurred even after running 2000 grooves.

After printing a thick film in a predetermined pattern on the substrate BO to form the recording electrode I)D, the thick film portion was plated. The thickness of the thick film printing is preferably about 8 to 15 μm, and the thickness of the plating layer is preferably about 5 to 10 μm. The total thickness of the electrode is approximately 10-50μ
It is best to place it in the groove.

If the recording electrode I)D is formed only by thick film printing, the recording electrode 1)D will easily shift, but by plating on the thick film printing in this way, the recording electrode DDrt of a predetermined thickness is formed. Then, the shape of the recording electrode DI) is less likely to be disturbed.

The plating may be electroless plating as well as electrolytic plating.

〔Example〕

Soda glass plate (hardness 500-60
After forming a thick film with silver palladium by screen printing to a thickness of 15 μm using 0), a hard nickel electrolytic plating with a Vickers hardness of about 600 was applied to a groove thickness of 5 μm to form a recording electrode D.
It was set as D. The rest is the same as in Example M.

As described above, when plating a thick film, the main problem is the hardness of the plating. The hardness of the plating may be selected from those listed in Table 2.

Of course, the thick film may be one listed in Table 3, but other materials such as silver paste, gold paste, #I paste, etc. may also be used.

In addition to nickel plating, plating materials include 10 dium plating and plating containing N1 and SiO (composite plating).

Alternatively, after forming a thick film on the entire surface of the substrate BO, a photoresist may be coated thereon and exposed through a film patterned in a predetermined manner to form a recording electrode in a predetermined shape.

In this case, it is also easy to adjust the shape of the recording electrode DD.

In addition, a thick film is coated to a uniform thickness on the substrate BO (
(printing, dipping, brushing, spraying, etc.)
It may be plated to a uniform thickness and then patterned into a predetermined shape using the photolithography technique described above.

Note that 1% poor plating can be made extremely hard by hardening.

〔Example〕

A soft glass ceramic was used as the substrate BO, and nickel plating was uniformly plated on the substrate BO to a thickness of 20 μm. The substrate hardness can be selected from 300 to 60011v. The nickel metal was quenched at 400H'V, but was quenched at about 500°C to have a hardness of 800 to 12001117. Thereafter, a predetermined electrode DD pattern was formed using photolithography technology.

This has made it possible to form a recording head having a dot density of 10 dots/Il1 or more.

〔Example〕

In Example A, the substrate BO was plated to a uniform thickness, and then a predetermined recording electrode shape was formed by photolithography, and then the plating was hardened.

Alternatively, glass, soft glass ceramic, or the like may be used as the substrate BO material, and wires of a predetermined diameter may be arranged on the substrate and fixed with an inorganic adhesive.

〔Example〕

On soft glass ceramic substrate BO, diameter 100-17
0μ wind wires were arranged at 254μm pitch and evenly spaced and fixed with inorganic glass adhesive. The rest is the same as in Example M.

In this case, as the tungsten wire, bulk tungsten with high purity and high hardness is used as the recording electrode DI.
) It can be used as a material with very strong electrical discharge wear resistance and mechanical wear resistance.

Note that the recording electrode I)D on the substrate BO may be left exposed, but an insulating layer whose hardness is softer than that of the electrode may be formed all over the substrate BO. , Ebogoshi, acrylic.

Urethane, silicone, 1?1! ! ? There are resins such as .

[Example of polishing process]

The electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL is made into a roll shape and
I made it into a mackerel roll. A polished portion having a length of 5 to 50 cI11 was formed at the front end of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL, which was supplied first. The abrasive portion is formed by joining commercially available abrasive sheets with adhesive, double-sided tape, or the like. Alternatively, it can be carried out by directly fixing 1910 particles or the like to the surface of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film with an adhesive or the like.

In this way, printing was carried out using the above-mentioned electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL using the printing head HIII in which the hardness of the recording electrode DD marked with ◎ in Table 2 was sufficiently greater than the hardness of the substrate BO.

Then, when performing printing on one roll of electrically conductive thermal transfer film 71, the printing head must be placed first! 11. Since the ends are cleaned, good printing can be performed.

Next, printing was performed using a printing head HE whose printing electrode DD hardness marked with ◯ and Δ in Table 2 had the same or lower relationship with the substrate BO hardness. At this time, θ1
The relationship between and 02 is 01 to θ2, which is the relationship shown in Table 4. In other words, the cleaning section
In the initial unwinding state of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IL, which is pressed with
Similar cleaning and printing were carried out by forming a polishing part on the rear end of the energized thermal transfer film 1P-, which was supplied last, using a roll of the Neyuki-Kaikai-Film T1 on the H-yagura.

In this way, the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 1'L (an electrically conductive thermal transfer film that integrates a separate electrically conductive thermal transfer film and a transferred object P, and may also be used as a return body after printing) a-
By placing cleaning members at the front and rear ends of the roll, the printing head grinding process is executed every time the roll is replaced, so the grinding process is reliably executed for a certain amount after printing a certain distance. . Furthermore, the user of the device is not made aware that special maintenance work is being performed on the device.

Next, the length of one roll of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 71 was made longer than the length required for cleaning the electrode head, and abrasive portions were provided on the electrically conductive thermal transfer film yz surface at every fixed distance required for cleaning. .

Note that the current thermal transfer film IFL does not have a cleaning section, and the number of rotations of the motor for transporting the current thermal transfer film is measured, or a slit is provided in the current thermal transfer film PL to optically measure the printing distance. Alternatively, by providing a magnetic material on the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL and magnetically measuring the printing distance, a cleaning warning mechanism such as a lighting signal or a buzzer can be used after printing a certain distance. The end of the printing head may be cleaned by inserting a cleaning material (such as an abrasive sheet) provided between the platen and the printing head.

At this time, a cleaning section may be formed on the entire surface or a part of the surface of the platen FT. In this way, 1
It is also possible to perform polishing by making sure that the end of the printing head H1 comes into contact with the polishing portion of the platen FT at a predetermined angle before or after printing with the roll of electrically conductive thermal transfer film.

In the above example, the same thing can be said if the transfer object FA is used instead of the electric thermal transfer film 7L.Also, the electric thermal transfer film IP- and the transfer object FA may be integrated before printing and separated after printing. Of course.

[Abrasive member]

Examples of the cleaning member include diamond, SIC, aluminum oxide, and the like. When used as an abrasive member,
These particles are made into particles and bonded to paper, plastic plates, plastic films, metal plates, rubber, platens, etc. using a binder such as an adhesive or adhesive 9 double-sided tape. Alternatively, the particles may be mixed and solidified in a plastic resin.

In addition to PMT, organic binders include ethylene butanol, acrylic, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, general polyesters other than '1'ET, or mixtures thereof.

When the width of one recording electrode of the printing head H1 is about 100 μm, it is better to use a cleaning member with a fineness of about 100 μm. This is because if it is smaller than this, the shape of the end of the printing electrode DD will be destroyed during polishing.

Moreover, if the particles become too fine, the cleaning efficiency will decrease. Therefore, it is better to have a fineness of about #250G or less.

Note that the preferred range is about #-900 to #2000 square degrees.

In addition, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, an electrically conductive thermal transfer film? Ink layers of two colors (red and black, blue and black, red and blue, etc.) may be formed alternately in the transport direction on L, so that the character portion can be printed in either of the two colors.

Alternatively, yellow, magenta, and cyan inks may be sequentially applied to the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL to form a color image.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of the signal processing system of the full color video printer in this embodiment. In this embodiment, video signal input processing, mechanical sequence, etc. are basically controlled by 8-bit 0Ptr. The video signal passes through a signal processing circuit, and then is binarized through a Y-M-Of%a signal and a 4-69-bit M/D converter, which further matches the density characteristics of this printing device. The record 8 is sent as a serial signal to the recording head unit through the ROM table in the form of
The head section consists of a serial-parallel shift register, a latch, a data selector for time-division driving, and a drive circuit, each of which receives shift clock and latch signals from a control circuit.

Address select signal is input.

In such color image formation, one screen is formed on the transfer paper by printing the yellow part of the ink film, then printing the magenta part, and then printing the cyan part. Ta. Electric thermal transfer film? An ink layer with an area equivalent to one screen is formed in each of the three color parts of B, and each time each color is printed once on the transfer object P, the transfer object FA is rewound again and a different color is printed. An imprint was made.

Above is mainly the printing head T111! and ink film IL
He explained the relationship between the two and stated that when the printing head Halt is under certain conditions, the ink layer of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film 7B can be melted and transferred without error. , is almost solved.

However, if you want to avoid overlapping colors or print images of minute diameters more clearly, it is a good idea to make some changes to the transfer material.

The object to be transferred will be described below.

The transfer object FA is not limited to paper, and may be a plastic film. Alternatively, paper or plastic film coated with resin (organic or inorganic such as Sin) may be used.

Plain paper may be used as the transfer object FA, but if paper, plastic film, or a composite thereof with a smoothness unit vector of 1000 seconds or more is used, the print head H1! ! and platen PT, the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL and the transferred object PA are brought into more uniform contact,
Small dots having a printing dot diameter of about 40 to 70 μΦ can be more clearly printed.

[Example of transfer paper]

A smooth coating layer having a thickness of 5 to 20 μm may be formed on plain paper having a thickness of 50 to 80 μm. The material of the coating layer is acrylic resin, urethane resin, polyester resin, PK'I' resin, and 88R (styrene-butadiene copolymer) resin.

etc.

Alternatively, the above-mentioned coating layer having a thickness of 10 to 50 μm and having good smoothness may be formed on a plastic film having a thickness of 40 to 100 μm. Examples of the plastic film include polyester resin, FICT resin, polyethylene resin, polystyrene resin, and polypropylene resin.

Note that if a smooth coating layer has excellent ink absorption properties, when printing in multiple colors, the first ink layer will not bulge on the transfer paper, making it difficult to print the next ink layer. , printing can be performed under uniform pressure with good smoothness.

The above-mentioned coating resin has such properties in addition to improving smoothness.

However, of course, the transfer paper has a structure that does not allow ink to penetrate (
(The ink side may be made in this way) and the ink layer may be raised on the paper.

In such a case, when the printing head is in contact with the electrically conductive thermal transfer film, the ink is in a molten state and then hardens, so there is no problem with smoothness. does not necessarily have to be cylindrical, and may be planar.

In addition, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, when the pressure during printing is about 1.2 to z26/-, the amount of heat generated in the dot part is controlled and the printing becomes difficult when trying to form dots with a diameter of 40 μm to 70 μm. There was a dot part that could not be photographed.

In addition, if the pressure is about SKp/cd, wrinkles may be formed during transport of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL and the transfer target FA, and the entire printing may be caused by the pressure of the printing head am. The polarity of adjacent electrodes on the image head Hen may be reversed. In other words, during a certain printing process, if one of the adjacent printing electrodes III) has the polarity of an electrode and the other has the polarity of one pole, one cycle or every few cycles is printed with one polarity as the polarity and the other as the electrode. You may also take a photo.

Further, it is also possible to form the printing head H11t on one side of the substrate BO with a plurality of signal electrodes for melting ink, and on the other side, form an electrode with a polarity opposite to that of the signal electrode. .

In this case as well, the relationship between the printing electrode DD hardness and the substrate BO hardness, and θ1. The above value applies to the i coefficient of θ2.

The printing device of the present invention controls the current, voltage, etc. of the printing dot part, and generates heat (dielectric heat) of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL.
Of course, gradation printing is also possible by controlling.

This is done by controlling the amount of ink transferred to the transfer object FA by controlling the amount of heat generated.

Furthermore, instead of controlling the amount of ink transferred per dot itself, it is also possible to perform gradation printing by changing the density of transferred dots while keeping the amount of ink transferred per dot approximately the same. Using the printing device of the present invention, the ink once transferred to the transfer target P is melted,
You may also perform a 7-do off after erasing.

It goes without saying that the printing apparatus of the present invention can also be applied to an electrically conductive thermal transfer type printing apparatus that uses the same principle to some extent. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the electrically conductive thermal transfer film and the transfer paper may be slightly different from those in the examples.

Let me give you an example like this.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a printing device to which the technical idea of the present invention can be applied.

Is the electrical thermal transfer film I- a resistive layer? L-1 and metal layer P
L-2. A base layer 7Il-5 and an ink layer IL-4 are formed.

HB-a is a printing head in which a large number of recording electrodes are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. H11α is the other electrode. The printing head H1n-α is brought into contact with the resistance layer PL-1, and the other recording electrode RI! α is in direct contact with metal layer PL-2. Then, the current flows as shown by the dotted line in the figure, and the resistive layer IFI, - in the part where the printing head IIB-a contacts
The ink 1 generates heat and the ink 2 is transferred onto the transfer target P.

Note that the metal layer IFL-2 is not necessarily made of metal, and may be made of carbon or the like. Metal layer] FIl
The electrical resistance of -2 is sufficiently smaller than that of the resistive layer IL-1.

Further, the polarity of the recording electrode DD on the printing head HE-α side may be one pole instead of an electrode.

Further, the base layer IFL-5 may be omitted.

15th FI! i is an application example of the printing apparatus of the present invention.

This means that all of the many recording electrodes DD in the printing head Tin-A11l are polarized only as electrodes (or only as negative polarities). One electrode HHb is in linear or planar contact with the resistance layer of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IFL on the side optically separated from the printing head ii-b. In this way, the area of the part where one electrode HHb comes into contact with the resistance layer of the electrically conductive thermal transfer film PL is wider than the area of the part where one electrode HHb comes into contact with the resistance layer of the printing head HIH-b. It is too small to dissolve. Also, printing hehedo■y
t, b recording electrode I)? ) and one recording electrode I)
Since the printing head I) is optically separated, the position of the portion of the printing head El-b that contacts the electrically conductive thermal transfer film IL to form dots can also be kept constant.

Also, electrical heat transfer film? - A conductor layer having a resistance value sufficiently smaller than that of the resistance layer may be provided inside.

In addition, one electrode HTlb is connected to the electrically conductive thermal transfer film y′
Not in the transport direction of L, but in the energizing thermal transfer film IL and the printing head Iil! ! -j may be in contact with the front.

〔effect〕

The current thermal transfer type printing device of the present invention can thus be constructed by forming the printing head by forming the recording electrode on the substrate by thick film printing, etc., so that fine tp/, Nariki 1・-
1tω arm red! Also, since the recording electrode is pressed against the electrically conductive thermal transfer film at a predetermined angle, good printing quality can always be maintained.

Furthermore, by adjusting the relationship between the hardness of the printing head and the recording electrode and the substrate, even better printing quality can be maintained.

Further, when the hardness of the recording electrode is about the same or lower than the hardness of the substrate, good printing can be performed by cleaning the end portion of the printing head.

At this time, the printing quality can be improved by adjusting the cleaning angle or using a material with a predetermined roughness for cleaning.

Moreover, by using a special material for the transfer target, overprinting and printing of small dots can be performed even better.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) t(-) are examples of the #i electrothermal transfer film with the amount of bacteria printed according to the present invention. Figures 2, (A, and C) are the printing head of the printing device of the present invention. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the printing method of the printing device of the present invention. Figure 4 (α) e(b) and e(c) are explanatory diagrams of the driving method of the printing device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the printing method of the printing device of the present invention. FIG. An example of the mechanical configuration of the printing section. Fig. 7 is an embodiment of the substrate section of the printing head of the printing device of the present invention. Fig. 8 is also an embodiment of the printing head. Fig. 9 (α) is the same, In the explanatory diagram of the printing electrode, Cb) is an explanatory diagram of the printing state. Figure 10 (α>*(b>*<c-1>*<c-2) is
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the printing state of the printing apparatus of the present invention. No. 11g is a printing device of the present invention which can also be used as a video printer.
An example of the circuit when completed. FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are examples of other printing apparatuses to which the present invention is applied. Todo...Printing head DD...Printing electrode and above

Claims (18)

[Claims] (1) In a printing device that uses an electrically conductive thermal transfer film having at least a resistance layer and an ink layer, and performs printing by melting the ink layer to transfer the ink onto a transfer target, the film is slidable. A recording electrode is formed on the substrate constituting the print head, and the electrode surface of the substrate and the film form an angle of about 30 degrees. A printing device characterized in that printing is performed by pressing contact at an angle of ~60°. (2) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the electrode substrate head is scraped off every time sliding printing is performed over a certain distance. (3) Angle θ_ between the substrate surface and the film during printing
Claim 2 characterized in that 2 is smaller than the angle θ_1 that the end surface of the substrate makes with the substrate surface during polishing.
The printing device described in Section 1. (4) The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the difference between θ_1 and θ_2 is 3° to 30°. (5) The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the hardness of the electrode is approximately equal to or less than the hardness of the substrate. (6) When the hardness of the electrode on the substrate is sufficiently greater than the hardness of the substrate, printing is performed by making the end surface of the substrate oblique to the electrode surface and sliding the end surface and the film layer almost parallel to each other. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: (7) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the height of the electrode on the substrate is approximately 10 to 30 μm. (8) The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electrode width is approximately 0.4 to 0.7 of the electrode pitch. (9) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is formed exposed on the substrate. (10) The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an insulating layer having a hardness sufficiently smaller than that of the electrode is formed on the electrode of the substrate. (11) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are formed by thick film printing. (12) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is formed by plating a thick film printed on a substrate. (13) The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the abrasive material is #800 or higher. (14) The printing device according to claim 13, wherein the abrasive material is #2500 or less. (15) The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the abrasive material is formed on an electrically conductive thermal transfer film. (16) The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the abrasive material is formed on the platen. (17) The smoothness of the transferred object is 1000 sec per unit Beck.
A printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing apparatus has the above. (18) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer target has ink permeability and is overlapped.