JPS61291158A - Thermal transfer type printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of the mutual slip between a printing medium and a thermal transfer film, by providing a reverse feed means for reversely feeding a printing medium in such a stage that said printing medium and a thermal transfer film are grasped under pressure to a feed side with respect to a printing head. CONSTITUTION:Printed paper 6 is cut and the cut end part thereof is reversely fed along with a thermal transfer film 7 by the rotation of a platen 1 to a C-direction until reaches a printing element 3. In this case, a drive roller 11 is rotated to an F- direction to perform reverse feed over the same length as the platen 1. A take-up means is not provided to a film roll 14 and the thermal transfer film 7 is allowed to stand along with the paper 6 in a state generating looseness as shown by numerals 6', 7'. Even if both of them are allowed to stand in the loosened state, the paper 6a nd the thermal transfer film 7 are grasped under pressure by a reverse feed means 10 consisting of a derive roller 11 and a pinch roller 12and, therefore, by applying braking force to the drive roller 11 in the F-direction between said means 10 and the printing part consisting of the platen 1 and a thermal head 3, the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film are always held under tension and not only looseness but also wrinkles are not generated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A structure of a printing section of a heat transfer type printer device, in which the printing medium and a thermal transfer film are pinched and fed back on the side where the printing medium is fed to the heating element. It is equipped with a feed roller and a pinch roller.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer device used in a facsimile machine or the like, and particularly to the structure of a printing section.

In recent years, facsimile machines and other devices have changed from printing directly on thermal paper using heat-generating elements to improving printing quality and preventing prints from deteriorating over time. 2. Description of the Related Art A method of melting ink using a heating element and transferring the melted ink to a printing medium (hereinafter referred to as paper) has come into use.

On the other hand, also in serial printers and the like, the above heat-sensitive transfer force type has been similarly adopted for the purpose of simplifying the printing mechanism.

Since thermal transfer film is used overlapping paper, it is necessary to feed the same image at the same speed as the paper, and there is a particular need for countermeasures when paper is fed backwards.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of printing by a thermal transfer printer, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a printing section of the thermal transfer printer to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit of the printer device includes a platen 1 rotating in the direction of arrow B, a heating element (hereinafter referred to as (referred to as a thermal head) 3.

A thermosensitive sheet of paper 4 wound in a roll is clamped at the abutting portion 3a between the platen 1 and the thermal head 3, and the sheet of paper 4 is pressed against the thermal head 3 by rotation of the platen in the direction of arrow B. While being printed, it is sent in the direction of the arrow.

When printing of a predetermined length is completed, the paper 4 is rapidly fed until it reaches a cutter 5 at a predetermined cutting position, and when it reaches the cutter 5, it is temporarily stopped and cut.

If the next printing is continued in this cut state, paper 4
In this case, there is a blank space indicated by the arrow I- shown in the figure, which is wasted.

In order to prevent smearing, the leading edge of the cut sheet 4 is transported back to the recording position in the direction of arrow E by reversing the platen 1 in the direction of arrow C.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the printing section of the thermal transfer printer device will be explained. As in the 30th example, the printing section consists of a platen 1 that rotates in the direction of arrow B, and a coil spring 2 attached to the platen 1 that is connected to the arrow P. It is composed of a thermal head 3 that is pressed in a direction.

A sheet of paper 6 and a thermal transfer film 7 having approximately the same width as the sheet of paper 6 are overlapped and pressed at the contact portion 3a between the platen 1 and the thermal gutter 3, and the thermal transfer film 7 is pressed against the thermal gutter. [It is in direct contact with 3.

The paper 6 is wound in a roll to the left in the figure, and the thermal transfer film 7 is also wound around a film roll 9 and positioned to the left in the figure.

As the platen 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow B, the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 are simultaneously conveyed in the direction of the arrow B in a superimposed state.

While the paper 6 is moving, the thermal head 3 prints by thermal transfer.

When the predetermined length of printing is completed, the paper 6 is quickly fed to the predetermined length.
When the cutting position reaches the cutter 5, it is temporarily stopped and cut.

On the other hand, after the thermal transfer platen 7 is transferred onto the paper 6, it is separated and attached to a take-up reel 8 provided at the lower right side of the figure.
is wound up by rotation in the direction of arrow G.

The take-up reel 8 is provided with a sliding friction clutch (not shown), which copes with changes in the take-up force due to changes in the winding diameter.

If the next printing is continued while the paper 6 is in the cut state, a blank area will be created on the paper 6 as explained in FIG. 7 would also result in the same amount of waste.

In order to prevent this, after cutting, the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 are moved by reversing the platen 1 in the direction of arrow C.
The paper is fed in the direction of arrow E until the leading end of the paper reaches the recording position.

When the paper is reversely transported, the thermal transfer film 7 is also transported backwards, and the reversely transported film having the same length as the paper 6 is wound onto the reel by the rotation of the film roll 9 in the direction of arrow F.

Therefore, the film roll 9 is also provided with a sliding friction clutch (not shown) in order to cope with changes in the winding force caused by changes in the winding diameter.

Tension (flake force) is always applied to the thermal transfer film 7 by both sliding friction clutches in order to prevent the occurrence of wrinkles.

C. Problem to be Solved by the Invention 9 As explained above, when the thermal transfer film 7 is fed and reversed, the thermal transfer film 7 is placed against the platen 1 via the paper 6. When the rotational force of the platen 1 is sufficiently transmitted to the thermal transfer film 7, the tension of the friction clutch is also added, causing slippage between the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7.

For this reason, in the case of reverse sending, the item @6 is sent backwards,
There is a problem in that the heat-sensitive transfer film 7 is wasted, stains are generated on the paper due to this deviation, and a large number of man-hours are required to set the torque of the sliding friction clutches provided on both sides.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of a thermal transfer printer device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, when the printing medium 6 cut by the cutter 5 is fed back, the printing medium 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 are pinched and fed back. 10
is provided on the feeding side with respect to the print head 3.

[Effect]

By providing a reverse feeding means on the supply side to the print head, which pinches the printing medium and the thermal transfer film and sends them back,
This makes it possible to prevent slippage between the printing medium and the thermal transfer film.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the thermal transfer printer device of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a reverse feeding means, 11 is a driving roller, 12
1 is a pinch roller, 13 is a coil spring, and 14 is a film roll. Identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal transfer printer device according to the present invention includes a sheet 6 that is fed while being superimposed on a thermal transfer film 7, and a thermal transfer printer that is sensitive to the sheet 6. It includes a thermal head 3 that faces each other via a thermal transfer film 7 and performs printing, and a cutter 5 that cuts the printed paper 6.

In order to avoid wasting the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7, the printed paper 6 is cut at a predetermined position and then transported backwards together with the thermal transfer film 7 until the cut portion reaches the printing element 3. be done.

In the present invention, a reverse feeding means 10 that operates during this reverse feeding is provided on the supply side that supplies the paper 6 and the heat-sensitive diversion film 7 to the thermal head 3.

The reverse feeding means 10 is composed of, for example, a drive roller 11 and a pinch roller 12 biased in the direction of arrow P' by a coil spring 13, as shown in the figure.

In such a structure of the reverse feeding means, the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 are pressed between the drive roller 11 and the pinch roller 12 in an overlapping state.

The operation during printing will be explained below.

The paper 6 (plain paper) wound into a roll is overlapped and pinched by the thermal transfer film 7 wound around the film roll 14, the drive roller 11, and the pinch roller 12, and then the platen 1 and the thermal head 3.

Then, the platen 1 rotates in the direction of arrow B, and printing is performed on the moving paper 6 by thermal transfer by the thermal head 3.

Paper 6 ejected from the thermal head 3 after printing is completed
The paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 are separated, and the paper 6 is sent to the cutter 5, while the thermal transfer film 7 is taken up by a take-up reel 8 equipped with a sliding friction clutch.

and is cut off.

At this time, the thermal transfer film 7 of the same length is also wound up by the take-up reel 8.

Next, the operation during reverse feeding of the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 will be explained.

As explained in FIG. 4, after printing, the paper 6 and the thermal transfer film 7 are reversely fed to avoid waste.

That is, after the printed paper 6 is cut at a predetermined position, the platen 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and then the cut end is fed back together with the thermal transfer film 7 until the cut end reaches the printing element 3.

In the case of this reverse feeding, the driving roller 1 is rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive source (not shown) to perform the reverse feeding of the same length as the platen 1.

The film roll 14 is not provided with any particular means for winding, so the thermal transfer film 7 that is fed backwards is attached to the paper 6.
At the same time, they are left in a slack state as shown by the two-dot chain lines 6'' and 7''Q.

Even if left in such a state, the thermal transfer film 7 and the paper 6 are pinched by the reverse feed means 10 consisting of the drive roller 1 and the pinch roller 12, so that the space between the platen 1 and the thermal Between the head 3 and the printing unit, the driving rollers 1 to 1 are always kept under tension by applying a braking force in the direction of the arrow, and not only do they loosen, but also wrinkles occur. There is no problem in the next printing.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, by using the thermal transfer printer device of the present invention, lightning on the heat transfer film that is sent back together with the paper after printing is eliminated, and the paper is free from stains and stains. This has great industrial and economical effects, such as preventing the occurrence of waste.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a principle diagram of a thermal transfer printer device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of a thermal transfer printer device of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of the printing section of a thermal transfer printer device of the present invention. A side view showing an example. FIG. 4 is a side view showing printing by a thermal transfer printer to which the present invention is applied. In the figure,

Claims (1)

[Claims] A thermal transfer film (7) that is fed while being superimposed on a long printing medium (6), and the thermal transfer film (7) is superimposed on the printing medium (6). a print head (3) disposed in a section and equipped with a heating element that prints on the print medium (6); and a cutter (5) that cuts the print medium (6) at a predetermined position after printing; A thermal transfer printer device that transports a cut end of a print medium (6) cut by a cutter (5) back to the position of the print head (3), wherein the overlapped print medium (6) and the A thermal transfer printer device, characterized in that a reverse feeding means (10) for compressing and reversely feeding the thermal transfer film (7) is provided on the feeding side with respect to the print head (3).