JPS61192581A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain high quality printing or photoprint not generating background staining or deterioration due to the wrinkles of an ink sheet, by providing a film feed roller receiving predetermined driving force sufficient to feed an ink film as the constitutional element of a means for feeding the ink film coated with heat-sensitive ink. CONSTITUTION:The recording paper 300 of a recording paper roll 301 is sent while held between a platen 13 and a paper press roller 41 and an ink film 200 is fed while held between the platen 13 and a release roller 22 to be taken up by a take-up roller 202 from a supply roll 201. The number of teeth of an ink film driving gear 15 and an ink film release roller gear 23 are determined so that the release roller 22 of the ink film 200 is rotated at a speed slightly faster than the platen 13. By this method, the ink film 200 is fed so as not to generate the relative slip with recording paper 300 at the time of printing or photoprinting and operation for feeding only the ink film in a predetermined amount is stably performed at the time of non-printing or non-photoprinting without receiving the effect of temp. or humidity.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides an ink layer formed of a heat-sensitive ink that is solid at room temperature and melts or vaporizes when heated, using a heating means such as a thermal head or an electric thermal transfer head. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer type printing device (printer) in which a thermal ink film is conveyed by heating locally and transferring the melted or vaporized thermal ink to a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional thermal transfer printers, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-193184, a drive source for conveying the thermal ink film is provided separately from the drive source for the recording medium, and the power of the drive source is applied to the ink film through a torque limiter. It was conveyed to the conveyance rollers and conveyed.

In addition, special public service No. 58-140269 and special public service No. 58-140
There is also an ink film transporting device such as No. 27 in which the driving force for transporting the ink film is transmitted to the ink film winding shaft via a torque limiter.

In this type of printer, when printing or printing, the ink film must be transported without slipping relative to the recording medium, and when not printing, it is necessary to transport only the ink film by a predetermined amount. be.

The reason for the former is that during printing, the thermal head or energized thermal transfer head is pressed against the platen with the ink sheet and recording medium in between, so if slippage occurs between the ink sheet and the recording medium, the ink sheet will be damaged. This is because the ink surface is rubbed against the recording medium, causing background stains on the recording medium, resulting in deterioration of print quality.

The latter reason is to prevent the accumulation of wrinkles on the ink film by transporting only the ink film. Also,
In a color printer that prints or prints using an ink film coated with yellow, magenta, cyan, etc., it is necessary to detect a predetermined color on the ink film and set it at a predetermined position. in this case,
If only the ink film can be transported and set at a predetermined position, there is an advantage that printing or printing can be performed more quickly.

For this reason, many conventional technologies have the above-mentioned two functions.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in the conventional technology described above, in order to satisfy the two functions described above, the torque accuracy of the torque limiter described above must be set fairly accurately, and the peripheral speed of the ink film transport roller must be set at a speed equal to the moving speed of the recording medium. I had to perform electrical processing to make it so. Furthermore, the balance between the tensions on the ink sheet supply side and the ink sheet winding side is also very important in order to realize the above two functions. Therefore, it is necessary to set the pack density on the ink sheet supply side quite accurately.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and its purpose is to transport the ink film in a manner that prevents the ink film from slipping relative to the recording medium during printing or printing, and to transport the ink film during non-printing or printing in a manner that prevents the ink film from slipping relative to the recording medium. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer having an ink sheet transport system that can stably transport an ink film by a predetermined amount without being affected by temperature, humidity, etc.

[Means for solving problems]

The printer of the present invention has a film conveying roller that receives a predetermined driving force sufficient to convey the ink film from the recording medium conveying means as a component of the means for conveying the ink film coated with thermal ink (hereinafter referred to as the ink film). It is something.

In other words, the printing apparatus of the present invention locally heats an ink layer formed of a heat-sensitive ink that is solid at room temperature and melts or vaporizes when heated, using a heating means such as a thermal head or an electric thermal transfer head, and melts or vaporizes the ink layer. A printing device that transfers sublimated thermal ink onto a recording medium is configured, and includes an ink film conveying means for conveying an ink film coated with the thermal ink, and a recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium, The ink film transport means includes a roller that receives a predetermined driving force sufficient to transport the ink film from the recording medium transport means.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration of the present invention, it is possible to easily provide an ink film transport system for a printer that can obtain high quality prints or prints without deterioration of prints or prints due to scumming or wrinkles of the ink sheet.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 1 is the lower frame, and 2 is the upper frame.

The lower frame 1 has 1-1.3 shafts for motor attachment and 1-2.2 shafts for spring attachment. 3 is a paper feed motor, which is a step motor. A gear is provided so as to fit with the main transmission gear 8 and the reduction gear 10. Details here will be described later. The paper feed shimotor 5 is fixed to the plate 5, and the paper feed shimotor 5 is attached to the shaft 2.
-1 is fixed to the upper frame 2. 1B is a tension binding roller. Reference numeral 7 denotes a tension roller gear which meshes with a transmission gear 8 and is connected to a tension roller 1.8 via a clutch which transmits a constant torque, which will be described later. The tension run roller 18 has the role of giving a certain tension to the paper. 11 is a platen gear which meshes with the reduction gear 10 and is directly connected to the platen 13. 12 is a guide roller for the ink film, and 14 is a paper guide. Reference numeral 15 indicates an ink film drive gear, which is connected to the platen by a clutch capable of receiving constant torque transmission (details will be described later). Reference numeral 16 indicates a bearing for the platen 13. 20
0 is an ink film, 201 is an ink film supply roll, and 202 is an ink film winding roll. 17
1 is an ink film movement sensor, and 19 is an attachment of the ink film supply roll 34, which is referred to as attachment α. A slit plate 20 is attached. The aforementioned ink film movement sensor surrounds the slit plate 20 when the upper frame is closed, and can detect its movement. 21 is the other attachment of the ink film supply roll and is referred to as attachment b. 4 is an ink film winding motor, the ink film winding motor is fixed to a plate 6, and is attached to a shaft 1 on the lower frame 1.
-1, it is fixed to the lower frame. Gear train from the ink film take-up motor 4 (not shown here)
is selectively engaged with the head control cam gear 32 and the ink film take-up gear 53 by changing the rotational direction of the motor 4. This motor is a pO motor capable of forward and reverse rotation. (Details described later). The ink film @ scraping gear is directly connected to the attachment 407, and the head control cam gear 32 that drives the take-up roll 202 has a cam portion 52-1. The head control cam gear 52 is connected to the head control cam 27 via the head control camshaft 50. Further, the head control cam 27, which is attached so that the cam phase of the head control cam 27 is the same as the cam portion 32-1 of the head control cam gear, has a phase determining portion 27-1. Further, the head sensor 26 is in contact with the phase determination section 27-1. 24 is a head angle changing cam, and 25 is a plunger, which serves as a trigger when operating the head angle changing cam.

The head angle changing cam 24 is located on the head control cam shaft and is a cam for changing the contact angle of the head to the platen. 22 is an ink film peeling roller whose surface is made of a rubber material with a high coefficient of friction. Reference numeral 23 denotes an ink film peeling roller gear, which is connected to the ink film drive gear 15. A peeling roller spring 29 serves to press the ink film peeling roller 22 against the platen. 31 is a head angle changing lever, 101 is a plate on which the head is attached, and a protrusion 101-1 is provided on this plate so as to engage with the head angle changing lever 51, and the head is attached at the center in the longitudinal direction of the plate. Reference numeral 57 denotes head support plates, one on each side. This supports the head mounting plate 101, which in turn supports the head (not shown). The head support plate 37 has a cam portion 32-1 of the head control cam gear and a seven roller portion 57-1 that engages with the head control cam 27, and a protrusion 37-2 that controls the position of the ink film rake roller. There is.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a rotation axis of the upper frame 2, and the upper frame 2 rotates in the direction of arrow A to become ready for printing or printing. Replace the ink film in the state shown in Figure 1. 3
4.35 is a sensor for detecting the color of the ink film, 54 is a phototransistor, and 35 is a red LED having a center wavelength of 650%.

FIG. 2 is a side view of this embodiment, with the upper frame 2 closed. 38 is a head panel, and 59 is a rotation axis of the head support plate 37. The head support plate 37 obtains a force to rotate in the direction of arrow C around the head rotation axis 59 by the head spring 38 applying a tensile force in the direction of arrow B. 500 is a recording paper, and 301 is a recording paper roll. 41 is a paper press roller, and 42 is a paper cutter. 45 is a tension roller pressing roller.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting method of the head. 10
0 is the head, 100 on the 7 orsterite substrate
An electrode made of -1 tungsten is formed. There are a total of 440 electrodes. Eleven components C are mounted on the head 100 and below, and control the potentials of 440 electrodes. What about 104? 'It is a PC, and has a signal line for controlling the operation of 11 IOs and determining the potential of the desired electrode.
It has a power line. Further, the head substrate 12 has five notches 101-5. The head is mounted on the plate 101.
There are bins 101-2, one on the left and one on the left. 101-5 is a protrusion formed on the head fixing surface. Also two grooves 1
There are 01-4 and 101-5. 101-6 is a screw hole, and there are a total of five screw holes.

102 is a head holding plate, and 106 is a head straightening plate.

The head holding plate 12 has a chevron-shaped protruding portion 102-1 and a flat portion 102-2 following the protruding portion 102-1. Also, 3ri°
There is a hole 102-5. The head correction plate 103 has five holes 103-1.

The notch @ 100-5 is the head attachment point on the plate with protrusion 10.
1-3, the head 100 before mounting is aligned on the board. In this state, using the groove 101-5 as a guide, the head 101 is held down using a head straightening plate, and the head is fixed to the plate with screws.

The head is simply made by printing thick film electrodes on a 7-orste substrate and firing it, so there is considerable warpage and waviness. By fixing this as described above, at least the IC pad portion on the head substrate can be made smooth enough to withstand IO mounting. In this state, work 01
00-2 and? Implement P○104. Then 1Fm'
0104 is folded in the direction of the arrow in the figure. In this state, using the groove 101-4 as a guide, the head presser plate 102 is fixed with screws so as to press the electrode portion of the head. At this time, a thin insulating film with good thermal conductivity is placed under the flat part 102-2 of the head holding plate. Flat part 102-
No. 2 is designed so that the vicinity of the end face of the electrode portion of the head can be pressed down with sufficient force, thereby allowing the head electrode portion to have a fairly flat portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a method of attaching the head mounting plate to the head support plate 57. 44 is the head support plate 3
The arrow 7 indicates a head support leaf spring that is pulled in the M direction. Further, the position of the head support plate on the rotating shaft 39 is defined by two 11i type retaining rings 45. The distance between the two head support plates is set so that the head mounting plate is slightly wider than the width of the plate 101 and narrower than the width of the two bins 101-2 at their farthest ends.

The head support plate 37 has a hole 37-4 with play enough to allow the bin 102-2 to rotate freely, and a groove 57-5 connected to the hole 37-4. The internal information of the left and right grooves 37-5 is hole 57.
It becomes narrower as it approaches -4, and in the immediate vicinity of the hole it becomes equal to the width between the head support plates. The width between the grooves 37-3 is slightly wider at the end of the head support plate than the width between the bins 102-2. When attaching the head holding plate 102 to the head supporting plate 57, attach the bottle 10 with the side opposite to the bottle attachment part first, as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure.
2 into the groove 37-3 and push it into the hole 57-4.

At this time, while the head support plate is being pushed apart in the directions of arrows N and P in the figure, the head mounting plate can be guided along the groove 37-3.

FIG. 5 shows the structure of the ink film. 0
The figure is an overall perspective view of an ink film roll, the figure 0 is a plan view of the ink film, and the figure 0 is a sectional view of the ink film. 210 is a supply core, 211 is a winding core, and each of the supply core and the winding core has two notches at both ends. In this part, the core attachment 19 mentioned above
, 21°28, etc., and the rotation is restricted and fixed. The ink film 200 is wound around a supply core, and a sandpaper 204 having the same width as the ink film 200 is attached to the tip of the ink film 200 . Also, there is a hole 2 in the center of the tip of the sandpaper 204.
04 is there. The winding core has, or can be attached to, a protrusion 211-1 with a brim at the center thereof, and the hole 204-1 of the sandpaper 204 is attached to the winding core.
is passed through this protrusion and is rotatably fixed at the center of this protrusion.

Thereby, it is possible to attach the sandpaper 204 and the winding core at right angles without worrying about accuracy. Since the protrusion 211-1 has a tab, the sandpaper cannot be easily removed. The connection between the ink film and the sandpaper is made by adhesion using double-sided tape or the like between the resistive layer side of the ink film and the anti-file surface 204b side of the sandpaper. This is the adhesive portion 200d. Further, 204α is the sanding surface of the sandpaper.

As shown in FIG.
It consists of layers. Also, in the ink film, most of the part 200-1 has a resistive layer, but the part 200-1 has no resistive layer.
-2 also exists in a thin width, and there is a cyan marker 200
−2α is regularly attached. There are two next to Cyan and one other. The base material used here is PIIiT
and is transparent. Ink layers of five colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are formed in the portion 200-1 where the resistance layer is located.

FIG. 6 ■■O■ is a diagram explaining the printing principle of this embodiment. Figure 0 is a conceptual diagram showing that every other electrode 100-1 of the head can be selected to have a positive potential and a negative potential. ink film 2
00. The positional relationship between the recording paper 300 and the platen 15 is shown. Figure 0 shows the positional relationship of the electrodes on the resistance layer of the ink film, the flow i of the ink flow, and the print area Pe. Further, Figure 0 is a diagram showing the temperature distribution on the ink film 200, and shows that ink in the portion where the temperature is higher than the ink dissolution threshold is transferred, and as the amount of current increases, This indicates that the area will become larger.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of this embodiment.

■ indicates the printing condition of this example, yellow, magenta,
This indicates that printing is performed at regular intervals in the order of cyan. ■ indicates the operation of the paper feed simulator.
Regularly repeats forward rotation, stop, and reverse rotation. 3 shows the operation of the ink film winding motor 4, which also periodically repeats forward rotation, stop, and reverse rotation. ■ indicates the state of the ink film color sensor 54,55, and the measured potential is I
The L state of the JOW level and the H level of the H1gh state are shown. ■ indicates the state of the ink film movement sensor 17, which shows the @L" state where the measured potential is low level and the "111" state where the measured potential is H1gh state. When the ink film 200 is moving, it periodically shows -I level @ It shows "H" level periodically. ■ indicates the state of the head sensor 26, which has an "Il" state and an "H#" state. ■ indicates the state of the head, when it is in close contact with the platen 15 and when it is released from the platen 13. ■ indicates the operation of the plunger 25, and the plunger 25 is activated only in the refresh mode.■ indicates that the head 100 is pressed at a corner, and during printing, the pressed corner is at θh, It is shown that θh+Δθle is obtained when 7 retching is performed (see Fig. 23).

And, Fig. 7 (α) is the print mode (imprint mode)
(b) shows a timing chart in refresh mode.

1) Insertion of recording paper First, *i around the paper feed shimotor 5 will be explained using FIG. A paper feed swing lever 3d and a paper feed motor gear 5a are attached to the output shaft of the paper feed motor 3. The paper feed shimo motor gear 3α is press-fitted and fixed to the output shaft of the paper feed motor 3 at a position where the paper feed swing lever scL is rotatable. 5b is a reverse rotation reduction gear, 5c is a forward rotation reduction gear, and the linked reduction gear 3b and the normal rotation reduction gear 5C, both of which have a large gear and a small gear, swing the paper feed and rotate on the shaft on the bar. It is swivel-mounted, and each large gear meshes with the paper feed motor gear. Also, between the normal rotation reduction gear 3C and the paper feed swing lever,
A bell spring 3f is inserted so that a slight load is applied when the normal rotation reduction gear 3C rotates.

Next, the structure around the tension blind roller will be explained using FIG. 10. 18α is a tension spring, which is a compression coil spring. Reference numeral 18b denotes a tension roller bearing, which is adapted to rotatably receive the tension roller and is attached to the upper frame 2. 18c is a spring stopper, which receives the spring force of the tension spring 18α. The friction plate 1ad is attached to rotate integrally with the tension roller, and is a circular plate having a diameter larger than the diameter of the tension spring 18α. Further, in this example, polyacetal was used as the friction plate. The diameter of the tension plate 1Bg is approximately equal to that of the friction plate 1.
8d, and a tension roller 18 is installed on the friction plate side.
g-1, and in this example, felt was used for this. The tension roller 18$-1 is fixed to the tension plate. The tension roller gear 7 is fixed to the tension run plate with the tension roller bearing in between. 10. Attach the parts shown in Figure 10 to the upper frame 2 in the order shown in the figure as shown by the two-dot chain lines. Then, a frictional load is generated between the friction plate 18d and the tension roller due to the tension spring 18α.

Here, the operation of inserting paper will be explained. (See Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram explaining the operation of the paper feed wheel train during paper feeding.) When the paper feed button (not shown) is held down, the paper feed shimo motor moves as shown in the figure. Rotate in the direction of the middle arrow DO. This is called normal rotation. Then, the platen gear 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure. In addition, since there is a slight load on the rotation of the normal rotation reduction gear 3C, the paper feed swing lever rotates in the direction of the arrow Do in the figure, and the small gear portion of the normal rotation reduction gear 3C is rotated by the transmission gear 8.
interlock with each other. As a result, the tension roller tooth single 7 rotates in the direction of arrow 1 in the figure. As a result, the tension run plate 1Bg also rotates in the direction of arrow 1, and the tension roller 18 also rotates in the direction of arrow 1 due to the frictional force from the tension run plate. Start rotating in the direction of . (Hereinafter, please also refer to FIG. 2.

) In this state, insert the recording paper 00 into the recording paper 2-2. Then, since the tension roller pressing roller 45 is pressed against the rubber roller portion of the tension roller, the recording paper 300 is dragged between them and sent to the platen 15. Then, the conveyance force by the platen is added slightly, and the recording paper 500 is conveyed to the tip of the tooth. At this time, the paper path is guided by the paper guide 14, the ink film 12, and the chevron-shaped protruding portion 102-2 of the head presser plate 102, and is sandwiched between the paper presser roller 41 and the platen to prevent the paper from curling. Pass under it and exit the printer. In FIG. 2, the head 100 and the ink film peeling roller are in contact with the platen 15, but when the paper insertion operation is performed, the head control cam 27
The head 100 and the ink film peeling roller 22 are both rotated 1000 times in the J direction in the figure from the state shown in FIG.
They are separated by enough space for a 0 to pass through.

When the paper feed motor 5 rotates in the normal direction, the rotation speed between the paper feed shimo gear 3α, the normal rotation reduction gear, and the ring of the tension gear 7 is adjusted such that the circumferential speed of the platen 13 is faster than the circumferential speed of the tension roller 18 when the paper feed motor 5 rotates normally. columns are designed.

In this embodiment, the peripheral speed of the platen is 20% faster.

Therefore, when the recording paper 300 is fed between the platen 13 and the paper pressing roller 41, the platen 15
The feed cover at 18 is thicker than the feed amount at tension spring 18. Therefore, even if the recording paper 300 is slack in the paper path, the slack will be taken up naturally. When the slack is removed, the recording paper 300 exerts a force to rotate the tension roller, which has a high circumferential speed, quickly.

The tension roller consists of a tensilean plate of 18g and a friction plate of 18g.
Since it is only receiving the regulating force due to the frictional force between 4,
Although some slippage occurs in this part, it begins to rotate at the same circumferential speed as the platen. In this way, the recording paper 300 can be easily wound around the platen 15 by simply feeding the paper to a certain extent.

2) Print Mode First, the structure around the ink film winding motor 4 will be explained using FIG. 9. The take-up rocking lever 4C is rotatably fixed to the output shaft of the ink film winding motor 4. It is press-fitted and fixed to the output shaft of the ink film winding motor 4 so as to have limited play. There is a single shaft on the take-up swing lever 4a, to which a counter spring 4c, a take-up reduction gear 4b, and an e-type retaining ring 4d are fixed in this order. The winding reduction gear 4b is connected to the countersunk spring 4-
The large gear can rotate on this axis with a slight rotational load due to the spring force caused by the deformation of the gear.
(take-up) is meshed with the motor gear. Since there is a slight load on the take-up reduction gear 4h, the ink film take-up motor 4 is rotated by the arrows, TO, Q, and 0 in the figure.
When the take-up lever rotates in these directions, the take-up swing lever also rotates in the same direction.

Next, the drive circuit for the ink film take-up small motor will be explained with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19.

A bridge circuit is constituted by four drivers 404 to 406 so that the ink film winding) motor 4 can be rotated in forward and reverse directions, and by controlling the potentials of ■ to ■, the rotation direction of the ink film winding data can be selected. , Torque limiting resistor 4 is connected to this bridge circuit and the bridge circuit.
01 and a torque control transistor 402 are connected in parallel.

Unless the base potential (2) of the torque control transistor 402 is set to a low level, most of the current flows through the torque control transistor 402. And here there is almost no voltage drop. Also, if the potential is set to the no level, almost no current flows to the torque control transistor 402,
A considerable amount of the torque flows through the torque limiting resistor 401. In this case, a voltage drop occurs in proportion to the amount of current flowing. Because of the above-mentioned effects, the characteristics of the ink film winding motor can be determined as shown in FIG. 19. In other words, when the potential (2) is set to a high level, the torque can be reduced when the potential is set to a relatively low level. The degree of this decrease can be adjusted by appropriately selecting the value of the torque limiting resistance. Fifth, the 1# structure around the platen 13 will be explained using FIG. 11. The platen 15 is
It consists of a platen shaft 13α and a platen body 15b. The platen shaft 13α is made of iron, and the platen body 13b is made of soft rubber. In Figure @11, the wheel support 16 and the platen gear 11 are attached to the left side of the platen @13α. The platen gear 11 is fixed so as to move integrally with the platen 13. On the right side of the platen shaft 13α, an ink film drive gear spring 15α, an ink film drive gear 13. The bearings 16 are installed in this order. The ink film drive gear spring 15α is attached to the platen shaft 1
It is attached so as to squeeze 3α, and the winding direction is left-handed. The ink film drive gear spring 15α has a hook portion at the right end in the figure, and each is attached so that this portion fits into the hook groove 15A of the ink film drive gear. The parts around the platen 13 are attached to the upper frame 2 so that the left and right bearings are fitted into the grooves on the upper frame 2. Platen 1
5 relative to the upper frame 2 in the left-right direction is determined by fitting an I-shaped retaining ring 15c with a bearing 16 between two grooves on the left side of the platen shaft 13α. If it is attempted to rotate the ink film drive gear 15 in the direction of arrow E in the figure with the platen 13 fixed while it is assembled in the upper frame 2, a torque equal to the loosening torque of the ink film drive gear spring is required. Conversely, when the platen 13 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the ink film drive gear 15 has the ink film drive spring 1.
This means that there is a driving force equal to the loosening torque of 5α.

Fourth, the structure around head control cam #+30 will be explained using FIG. 16.

In the figure, on the left side of the head control cam shaft is a head control cam gear 32. The cam bearing 30α and the head spring 3B are attached in this order. Also, on the right side, head springs 38. Head control cam 27. Cam bearing 30α, head angle changing pawl 48, head angle changing spring 49. A head angle changing cam 46 is attached. Then, the left and right cam bearings 30α are fitted into the holes in the lower frame 1 as shown by the copper wires at the two points in the figure and fixed. The position of the head control camshaft relative to the lower frame 1 is on both sides of the left cam bearing 50α.
This is done by stopping the e-type retaining ring sob. The cam portion 32-1 of the head control cam gear 32 and the head control cam 27 are integrally fixed to the head control cam shaft 30, and have the same cam shape and the same phase. There is. The other hook portions of the left and right Herad springs 5 are attached to the head support plate 37 so that the head 100 can be pressed against the platen 15. The head angle changing spring 49 has its inner diameter expanded and is wound around the head control camshaft 30. The left and right hook portions are accommodated in the notch grooves of the nine head angle changing pawls 48 and the head angle changing cam 46. The head angle changing spring is right-handed.

Based on the above, the operation of this embodiment will be explained using the timing chart shown in FIG.

(2) Initial Reset Before starting printing, the ink layer of the ink film 200 is aligned to a predetermined position.

For this reason, it is first necessary to confirm that the head 100 is released from the close contact with the platen 15. For this reason, the ink film winding lO motor 4 rotates forward. The operation from now on will be explained using FIG. 14 as well. In the figure, the direction of JO is normal rotation. Then, the winding swing lever 4C also moves to JO.
The head control cam gear 32 and the small teeth of the multi-turn reduction gear 4b come to mesh with each other. Then, the head control cam gear S2 rotates in the direction of arrow J in the figure, and as a result, the one-head control camshaft 30 also rotates in the J direction, so that the head control cam 27 also rotates in the J direction. Please refer to FIG. 2 from now on. Then, the head support plate 37 starts rotating in the O or O' direction in the figure around the rotating shaft 39 by the two cams. Then, the head support plate starts rotating in the 0' direction.1. At the point where the head 100 reaches a sufficient distance from the platen 15, the head control cam 2
The head sensor that operates in conjunction with the phase determining section 27-1 integrally provided in the
It becomes L# state. Then, the rotation of the ink film winding motor is stopped. In this state, both the head 100 and the ink film peeling roller 22 are separated from the platen 15, and the ink film driving teeth 15 and the ink film peeling roller gear are disengaged. Now, the ink film winding motor 4 is reversed. (
(See FIG. 15) At this time, the ink film winding motor 4 is rotating in the direction of the arrow QO in the figure. As a result, the take-up swing lever 4C also rotates in the direction of the arrow QO in the figure, and the small gear of the take-up reduction gear 4b then meshes with the ink film take-up gear 55, and the ink film take-up gear rotates in the direction of the arrow QO in the figure. It starts rotating in the direction of Q. As a result, the attachment d also rotates in the direction Q in the figure, and winds up the ink film 200. (Fig. 1, 2
(See figure) At this time, the ink film supply roll 201 is
It rotates in the direction of arrow Q' in the figure. Along with this, the slit plate 20 also rotates in the Q' direction. Therefore, the slit plate 20
The ink film movement sensor 17, which is attached to detect the slit, detects the movement of the slit and repeatedly outputs a signal of 'H# level Ill Lj level. In this way, by the ink film movement sensor 17 outputting signals of H level and TJ level at a certain period, it is possible to detect whether or not the ink film 200 is being transported normally. ink film 200
'H' level, when the
If the 'L' level continues for a predetermined period of time or more, it is assumed that the ink film is being conveyed incorrectly and the system is stopped to prevent the ink film from burning and destroying the system.

At the same time as winding of the ink film 200 begins, the ink film color sensors 34 and 35 detect cyan markers 200-24 on the ink film. (No. 5
(See figure) In the case of initial reset, a location where two markers are close to each other is detected. As the light source of the ink film color detection sensor uses red LInI) 55 with a center wavelength of approximately 650% m, the amount of light transmitted is excessively reduced for some of the cyan markers, which are the complementary color, and the photo Transistor 34 goes into the 1L# state.

To detect where two markers are close to each other, the ink film color sensor 54, 55 changes from the 1L" state to the 1H" state and then again to the @II" state, or from the @H" state to the @L" state. and returns @″L” within the specified time.
②Printing Start When this state is reached, the ink film take-up motor is rotated in the normal direction again, and the rotation is stopped when the head sensor 26-7id changes from the "L" state to the "H" state. At this time, the head 100 is in close contact with the platen 13. Further, the ink film peeling roller is also in close contact with the platen, and the ink film driving gear 15 and the ink film peeling roller gear are meshed with each other. After this state is maintained, the paper feed shimotor 5 is rotated in the normal direction, the ink film winding shimotor 4 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the recording paper is sent and the winding of the p1 ink film is started.

After a short time, a potential is applied to the head, a current is passed through the resistance layer of the ink film 200, and the ink begins to be transferred to the recording paper. At this time, the drive circuit of the ink film winding motor 4 changes the base potential of the torque control transistor 402, which has been at the "L" level, as shown in FIG.
is switched to the 1H" level, and the torque limiting resistor 401
Current will begin to flow. Therefore, the ink film winding torque is much lower than that for ink film alignment. The ink film is peeled off and conveyed by an ink film peeling roller. Also, at this time, the ink film peeling roller 22 has the ink film peeling roller gear 23 meshing with the ink film driving gear 15, and as described above, the ink film peeling roller 22 receives the driving force from the platen 15 up to the loosening torque J of the ink film driving gear spring 15α. receive. The surface of the ink film removal roller is covered with rubber that has a very high coefficient of friction. The force with which the ink film 200 is pulled by the take-up roll 202 is 11, and the ink film 200 is
and the friction coefficient μ between the ink film peeling roller 22 and
The ink film peeling roller 22 is pressed against the platen 13 with a force of 11. Let θ be the angle at which the ink film 200 wraps around the ink film peeling roller 22, and these values are determined as follows (see FIG. 20).

T<'I! , aμθ 10 μhorses...@As a result, the ink film is always conveyed by the driving force T by the ink film peeling roller 22. Therefore, the conveying force of the ink film 200 is 1171, where r is the radius of the ink film peeling roller. Is it possible to make @ groove by increasing μ and θ? , can be set very small. This makes it possible to keep 71, which varies depending on the radius of the take-up roll, small, and to stabilize the ink film conveyance force by determining the ink film conveyance force mainly based on /1, which is determined only by the loosening torque of the spring. ? In order to keep 1 to an appropriate value, the value of the torque limiting resistor in the circuit shown in FIG. 18 is appropriately selected. In addition, the ink film peeling roller 2
2 rotates slightly faster than the platen 15,
The numbers of teeth of the ink film driving gear 15 and the ink film peeling roller gear 23 are determined. When the yellow printing is completed in this way (in this example, 6
Print the 00 line. ) The recording paper and the ink film 200 are conveyed until the ink film 200 is completely peeled off from the recording paper 300, and the rotation of the paper feed shimotor 3 and the ink film winding shimotor is stopped.

Then, the ink film take-up simulator 4 is moved forward and the spool head 100 is moved away from the platen. In this state, the paper feed motor 5 is now reversed.

Please refer to Figure 13 hereafter. At this time, the paper feed motor is
It begins to rotate in the direction of φ. Along with this, the paper feed swing lever 3d also rotates in the direction of the arrow Σφ in the figure, and the reverse reduction gear 3b now meshes with the transmission gear 8, and the tension blind roller gear rotates in the direction of the arrow G in the figure. Also, the platen begins to rotate in the direction of arrow E in the figure. At this time, the reduction ratio from the paper feed shim motor gear 5α to the tension roller gear 7 is such that the circumferential speed of the tension roller 18 is higher than that of the platen. Therefore, the recording paper can return while being stretched by the tension roller 18 with a predetermined force.However, the tension roller 18 has a predetermined Since it is equipped with a friction clutch that generates torque, the amount of paper returned is determined by the amount of rotation of the platen 13. Therefore, if the paper feed motor 5 is reversed by the same number of steps as during printing, the paper will return to its original state. You can return to the position.

While the recording paper 500 is being returned, the ink film winding motor 4 is reversed, and the ink film 200 is fed until the next marker is completely detected.

■After printing the 22nd and 3rd colors, print the 2nd and 5th colors in the same place as the 1st color, then feed the paper a specified amount so that the printed surface is outside the paper cutter. Just do it. Note that overprinting may be done in two colors, four colors, five colors, etc.

3) Refresh Mode This embodiment is provided with a refresh mode in order to prevent deterioration of printing quality due to wear of the head electrode portion. This will be explained using mainly FIG. 7 and FIGS. 21-24.

7, and when in island mode, platen 1 of head 100
The angle at which it is pressed against S changes. The mechanism will be explained. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the constituent elements of the mechanism. As previously explained, the head angle changing pawl 48 is provided on the outside of the lower frame 1 of the head control camshaft 30. Head angle changing spring 49, head angle changing cam 46. is attached.

Further, the lower frame is equipped with a plunger 25 and a head angle changing lever @47-M. The plunger 25 has an iron core to be attracted and a plunger spring 25α attached thereto. Further, the iron core has a collar 25b-1, which serves as a stop for the plunger spring 25α. The head angle changing lever 31 is rotatably attached to the head angle changing lever shaft 47. Type 1 retaining ring 47 to prevent slippage
Attach α to the head angle change lever shaft. In FIG. #E21, the head angle changing lever 31 has its left side portion 31α passing through the notch 1α of the lower seven frames 1, and extends to a position where the head attachment supports the protrusion of the plate 101. (See FIG. 1) The cam follower portion 31b is located on the head angle changing cam 46. The iron core 25b of the plunger 25 is located at a position where it is perpendicular to the claw portion 48α of the head angle changing claw. (See Figures 6 and 22) Next, specific operations will be explained along the timing diagram of the refresh mode in Figure 7.

A sandpaper 204 is attached to the top of the ink film 200, and it is attached to a take-up nine core 211. (See FIG. 5) Therefore, the ink film 200
Immediately after the ink film 200 is converted, there is a sandpaper 204 on the conveyance path of the ink film 200. In this state, when power is turned on to the printer, the head 100 and ink film peeling roller 22
After confirming that the ink film 200 is separated from the platen 15, winding of the ink film 200 is started.

Then, since the slit plate 20 also rotates, the ink film movement sensor 17 periodically indicates "L" and "H# levels, indicating that the ink film 200 is moving. In addition, the ink film movement sensors 54 and 35 continue to indicate shear and the L" level because the sandpaper 204 is present in their detection areas. If this 'L" level continues for a predetermined period or longer, the cyan ink film 200 It should be possible to judge the difference between the marker 200-2α and the sandpaper 204. So, for the prescribed time 1L”
If the ink film 2000 winding operation is found to be sandpaper 204, the ink film winding motor 4 is
is rotated in the forward direction, and the head control camshaft 30 is rotated in the direction of arrow J. Then, along with the head control cam 27, the claw portion 48α of the head angle changing claw 48 also separates from the iron core 25b of the plunger 25 and begins to rotate in the direction of arrow J. At the same time, the angle change spring 4, which had been acting on the loose side until now,
9 acts on the tight side, and the angle changing cam also rotates in the direction of arrow J. Along with this, the angle changing lever 31 rotates in the direction of the arrow R' in the figure, and the head is thereby moved toward the bin 10.
1-2 as the center in the direction of arrow S'. At this time again,
Since the head control cam 27 is also rotating at the same time, the head support plate is rotating in the direction of arrow O. Then, when the even number level of the head sensor changes from "lJ" to "1H", the head 100 comes into close contact with the platen 13 with the angle increased by Δθ compared to when printing. The head angle changing cam 24 adjusts the phase of the head control cam 27 so that it operates as described above.(See Figure 25.) In this state, the paper feed motor is adjusted as in the case of printing. 5 in the normal direction and the ink film take-up motor 4 in the reverse direction to convey the sandpaper 204. As a result, the tip of the head 100 is positioned at the 24th position.
The shaded areas in the figure are removed. In this example, sandpaper 2
04 is about 20 crn. By this operation, the difference in shape between the positive electrode and the negative electrode caused by discharge during printing can be restored to its original shape, and subsequent deterioration in printing quality can be prevented.

When the sandpaper 204 is conveyed, the signal level of the ink film color sensor (34, 55) detects the portion 2aO-2 without the resistive layer of the ink film 200 and becomes 'L'.
Changes from “level” to “@■” level. At this point, the rotation of the paper feed motor 3 is stopped, and the rotation of the ink film winding motor 4 is stopped.
is rotated in the normal direction, and the head 100 is released from the platen 13. At this time, the head angle changing cam 46 rotates in the direction of arrow J together with the head control camshaft 30, and now the head angle changing lever 51 is rotated in the direction of arrow R by the cam.

Along with this, the head 100 also rotates in the direction of arrow S around the bin 101-2.

When the head sensor changes from the 1E'' level to the @L'' level, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 22.

With the above operation, the 7 retouch mode is completed.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the ink film can be stably transported at low cost because it has a roller that receives a predetermined driving force sufficient to transport the ink film.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a full perspective view of an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional WJ diagram of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the head portion of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the head support portion of FIG. 1. The fifth figure is a perspective view of an ink film used in an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. Figure 5 ■ shows the flat WJ mouthpiece 5■ of the ink film in Figure 5 ■.
The figure is a cross-sectional view of the ink film in Figure 50, and ■ in Figure 6.
(2) and (2) are diagrams explaining the printing principle of an embodiment of the printer of the present invention. FIG. 7 (α) and (b) show #! Timing chart of the printer shown in Figure 1. FIG. 8 is a structural diagram around the paper feed shimotor of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a structural diagram around the ink film winding motor of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a structural diagram around the tension roller in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 shows the 12th section between the structures around the platen in FIG.
FIG. 13 is an operational diagram of the configuration shown in FIG. Figures 14 and 15 are operational diagrams of the configuration of Figure 9. FIG. 16 is a structural diagram around the head control camshaft in FIG. 1. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the head. FIG. 18 is a drive circuit diagram of the ink film winding motor of FIG. 1. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the operating characteristics of the ink film winding motor when FIG. 18 is used. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of the operation around the ink film peeling roller of FIG. 1. FIG. 21 is a structural diagram around the plunger in FIG. 1. Figures 22 and 23 are explanatory views of the operation in the fresh mode of Figure 1. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of how to shave the head in the refresh mode. 1...Bottom frame 1-1...Motor mounting shaft 1-2...Spring mounting shaft 2...Upper frame 2-2. ...Recording paper inlet 3...Paper feed shimoter 4...Ink film winding shimoter 5...
...Paper feed shimotor is installed on plate 6...Ink film winding shimoter is installed on plate 7...Tensile roller gear 8...Transmission gear 9... Rotating shaft '10... Reduction gear 11... Platen gear 12... Ink film guide roller 1! J.
...Platen 14...Paper guide 15...Ink film drive gear 16...
... Bearing 17 ... Ink film movement sensor 18 ...
...Tension stripping roller 19...Attachment a 20...6 Slit plate 21...Attachment b 22...Ink film peeling roller 2S...
... Ink film peeling roller gear 24 ...
... Head angle changing cam 25 ... Axis ... Plunger 26 ... Fist / Head sensor 27 ... Head control cam 27-1 ... Phase determination section 28 ...・Attachment C 29...Peeling roller spring 30...Head control camshaft 31...Head angle changing lever 32...
- Head control cam gear 32-1...Cam section 35...Ink film winding gear 54...
...Phototransistor 55...Red LED '37...
...Head support part 37-1...7 year old lower part 37-2...Protrusion 38...Head spring 59...Head rotation shaft 40 ... Attachment d 41 ... Paper press roller 42 ... Paper cutter 45 ... Tension roller Press roller 44 ...
... Head support plate spring 45 ... Type 0 retaining ring 46 ... Head angle changing cam 47 ... Head angle changing lever shaft 48 ...
... Head angle changing claw 49 ... Head direction changing spring 100 ... Head 100-1 ... Electrode 100-2 ... Engineering 0100-4
......Plate 101...Head is attached to plate 101-1...Protrusion 101-2...Bin 102...Head holder Plate 103...Head correction plate 104...1rPC 105...Screw 200...Ink film 200-1...Part with resistance layer 200-2...
... Portion without resistance layer 200-2α ... Cyan marker 201 ... Ink film supply roller 202 ... Ink film take-up roll 204 ... - Sandpaper 210... Supply core 211... Winding core 300... Recording paper 501... Recording paper roll 401... Torque limit Resistor 402...Torque limiting transistor 403-4
06...Driver 3α...Paper feeding] Reverse rotation gear 3b...Reverse rotation reduction gear 3c...Forward rotation reduction gear 5d... Paper feed swing lever 3m...E-type retaining ring 3f...Counter spring 4α...Take-up motor gear 4b...Take-up reduction gear 4C...Take-up rocking lever 4d...E-type retaining ring 4#...Counter spring 13α...Platen shaft 1 s b-... ...Platen body 1Sc..."-e retaining ring 15a... Ink film drive gear spring 15b
...Enjoyment...7. groove 18α...Tension panel 18A...ja11 tension roller bearing 18C...
...Spring stopper 18d...Friction plate 18-...Tension seal plate 18 #-1-...Tensile strength sheet 25α...
-... Plunger spring 25b... Iron core 25b-1-... Boxwood 50α... Cam bearing 30 A-..."e-type retaining ring SaC... ... Spring bottle 200α ... Ink layer 200b ... Base material 200C ... Resistance layer 2QOd ... Connection section 204α ... File surface 204h ......Anti-file surface 6...Current flow Pg...More than print area

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ink layer formed of heat-sensitive ink that is solid at room temperature and melts or vaporizes when heated is locally heated using a heating means such as a thermal head or an electric thermal transfer head, and the melted or sublimated heat-sensitive ink is transferred to a recording medium. The printing apparatus includes an ink film transport means for transporting an ink film coated with the thermal ink, and a recording medium transport means for transporting the recording medium, and the ink film transport means is configured to transport the ink film coated with the thermal ink. A printing apparatus comprising a roller that receives a predetermined driving force sufficient to convey the ink film from a conveying means.