JPS6151393A - Thermal transfer recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inexpensively obtain a compact thermal transfer recording apparatus having high reliability, by performing the driving of the mechanism for the automatic attachment and detachment of a recording medium to a drum by the revolving force of the drum and the information of a drum rotary direction. CONSTITUTION:Information, such that a recording medium is charged in a holding mechanism or not, is detected by a photointerruptor 30. A drum 1 is driven by a motor 31 through a spur gear 32, a bevel gear 33 and a worm gear 34. When the drum 1 is rotated to the direction shown by the arrow (a) in this state, the recording medium is held to the drum 1. The drum 1 is further revolved to the direction (a) and the recording medium is moved to the recording position of a thermal head 5 to perform recording. After the completion of the recording of plural colors, the drum 1 is succeedingly rotated to the direction by the arrow (a) and, after the rear end of the recording medium reached between a take-out pick-up 35 and a take-out guide plate 36, the drum 1 is stopped. Next, when the drum 1 is rotated to the direction shown by the arrow C reverse to the previous direction, the rear end of the recording medium is separated from the surface of the drum 1 by the elasticity possessed by the recording medium and the recording medium advances between the take-out pick-up 35 and the take-out guide plate 36.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device for recording images, characters, etc. on a recording medium, and particularly to a thermal transfer recording device suitable for recording in various colors.

[Background of the invention]

As a method for recording images and characters according to signals in communication equipment and computer terminal output equipment.

Various methods have been proposed. Among these recording methods, an intermediate recording medium 7 provided on the surface of a heat-fusible or heat-sublimable ink layer 7 is used, and this ink layer is selectively heated by a thermal head etc. to the surface of the recording medium. A thermal transfer recording method that transfers ink is considered to be promising.

1st RG! J indicates the main parts of a conventional general thermal transfer recording device. In the figure, an end portion of a recording medium 2 wound around a drum 1 is held by the drum 1 and a holding claw 3. On the surface of the drum 1, there is an elastic glue 4.
(For example, silicone rubber, etc.) is provided. Recording medium 2 and intermediate recording medium (
and then press the thermal helide 5 onto the drum 1 to perform recording 7.

In a state where the thermal pressure is suppressed by nine degrees, one elastic layer 4 is deflected, and the pressure distribution at the contact portion becomes uniform.

In this state, when the heat-generating portion ([F] not shown) is selectively heated to the thermal, the heat-melting or heat-sublimating ink ff1I7 provided on the surface of the intermediate recording medium ρ melts or sublimates. The image is transferred onto the surface of the recording medium 2. When the drum 1 is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow a, the recording medium 2 and the intermediate recording medium 6 move together, and recording is performed.

To record the color of the count, it is sufficient to perform recording using eight ink layers of different colors on the surface of the intermediate recording medium 6.

At this time, the drum position during recording is controlled so that the recording position of each color coincides on the recording medium 2. If the signal to be recorded is a high intensity signal such as a video signal, 3 colors per pixel, 1 in total.
When the amount of information is about 8 bits), a slight recording deviation (for example, one pixel) will cause a serious defect in the recorded image quality.

Therefore, the drum and recording medium must be in close contact with each other while each color is being recorded.

Means are usually provided for retaining the recording medium edge S to the drum. Conventional examples of these include JP-A-57-150
The one in Publication No. 271 is mentioned. This holding method is
The recording medium was attached to and removed from the drum using a driving force that was supplied separately from the driving force of the drum. but,
Conventionally, the recording medium is attached and detached using a solenoid or the like, which has the following disadvantages.

lal A drive source separate from that for the drum is required, which increases the cost and weight of the device, complicates the mechanism, and reduces the reliability of the device.

tel It takes time for one loading/unloading time to stop the drum when loading/unloading the recording medium, which lengthens the total recording time.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the conventional examples described above and to provide a highly reliable and compact thermal transfer recording device at a low cost.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention is characterized in that the mechanism for automatically attaching and detaching the recording medium to and from the Z-drum is driven by the rotational force and rotation direction information of the drum, and the mechanism is simple, highly reliable, and compact.
Furthermore, the present invention aims to realize an inexpensive thermal transfer recording device.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of invention X will be explained using drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the entire thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the drum is supported by a recording device chassis 9, 9'. The recording medium 2 is inserted into the apparatus through the input port 1o. There is a guide plate (not shown) inside the apparatus, and the recording medium 2 is guided into a recording medium holding mechanism (described later) in which one end of the drum is bent. The intermediate recording medium 6 is
The case is stored in the case 11, and only the portion necessary for recording is pulled out. Recording is performed by the thermal lid 5, and the intermediate recording medium p after use is taken up on 9 reels 12.
It is wound up. After the recording is completed, the recording medium 2' is ejected to the outside of the apparatus from the end opposite to the @ section where it is held. During ejection, the holding of the recording medium is scaled, and the ejection operation is completed.

FIG. 3 shows a recording medium holding mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the fixing claw 14 is attached to the drum 1.
It is fixed by a fixed claw support plate 13 fixed to the edge. The rotating claw 15 is supported by a rotating claw support plate 17 so as to be rotatable about a rotating fork 16 . Furthermore, a retaining spring 18 is provided at the tip of the rotating claw support plate 17.
The energized sector 19 is being pressed. The recording medium 2 is held between a fixed claw 14 and a rotating claw 15.

At this time, the recording medium 2 is attached and detached by operating the first movable pin 2o.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the released state of the attachment/detachment mechanism of the recording medium holding mechanism of FIG. 3. FIG. In this state, the fixed claw 14 and the rotating claw 15 are separated 9, and at this time, the tip of the rotating claw support plate 17 is suppressed by the holding spring 18 via the lid 19, The claw 15 does not move freely.In addition, in this state, the recording medium 2 can freely move in and out between the first wax claw 14 and the rotating claw 15 of the holding mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged T view showing the holding state of the attachment/detachment mechanism. In this state, the tip of the rotating pawl or transfer plate 17 is in sector 1.
9 and is suppressed by the holding spring 18,
5 is pressed against the fixed claw 14. At this time, the recording medium 2 is held by the fixed claw 14 and the rotating claw 15.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the holding operation of the recording medium holding mechanism of FIG. 3. In the figure, the rotary bin operating mechanism 21 is fixedly attached to the recording device chassis (not shown in FIG. 1), and
The tip 22' of the attachment/detachment lever 22 is located on the trajectory of the rotating bin 20 as the drum 1 rotates. Rotating bottle operating mechanism 1 includes 5 attachment/detachment lever 22 and release lever 23 on lever rotation shaft 2
It is attached so that it can rotate around 4.

Now, drums! When the fixed claw 14 and the rotating claw 15 are rotated in the direction of the arrow a, the rotating pin 20 and the tip 22' of the attachment/detachment lever come into contact with each other. When further rotated in eight directions, the detachable lever 22 is biased by the detachable spring 25, and this reaction force acts on the rotating pin 20, causing the rotating pin 20 to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown by b. do. At this time, the tip of the one-turn claw support plate 17 passes over the sector 19 and is in the holding state T, that is, the state shown in FIG. 5.

At this time, the release lever 23 is restricted from rotating nine times by the stopper 42 and does not operate.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the releasing operation of the recording medium holding mechanism. When the drum 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow C with the rotary claw 15 pressed against the fixed claw 14, the rotary bottle 20 and the tip 22' of the attachment/detachment lever come into contact. Further C
When rotated in the direction.

The attachment/detachment lever 22 and the release lever 23 rotate, and the release spring 2
6 is energized, and this reaction force acts on the rotating bin 20, causing the rotating bin 2011-] to rotate in the direction of the arrow d.

At this time, the tip of the rotary claw support plate 17 rides over the convex portion 7 of the sector 19 and becomes in the released state, that is, the state shown in FIG. 41.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

First, a recording medium is inserted into the device from the input port 10,
First, it is guided by a guide board 27 and passes through a route 28,
Its end fits between the fixed claw 14 and the rotating claw 15 of the drum 1. When the recording medium is further fed, the length of the path 29 is bent due to the elasticity of the recording medium.

Information as to whether a recording medium has been inserted into the holding mechanism is detected by the photo interrupter 30. The drum i is driven by a motor 31 through an elliptical spur gear 52, a bevel gear 33, and a worm gear 34. When the drums 4 are rotated in the direction of arrow a in this state, the recording medium is held by the drum units as explained in FIG. More drums! The recording medium is rotated in the ua direction to move the recording medium to the recording position of the thermal helide 5 and perform recording.

Note that while the drum y rotates in the direction of the arrow a and performs recording 7, the recording medium holding mechanism is in a holding state, and even if the rotary bin 20 passes through the rotary bin operating mechanism 21, recording will not be possible. No change occurs in the retention state of the medium.

After recording multiple colors, continue to rotate the drum L in the direction of arrow a until the rear end of the recording medium is taken out from the printer 55.
After reaching the space between the drum and the take-out guide plate 360, the drum stops i. Next, drums! ○ Rotate in the direction of arrow C, which is the opposite direction from before. The direction of rotation of the drum can be easily changed by changing the direction of rotation of the motor 31. At this time,
The rear end of the recording medium is separated from the drum surface due to the elasticity of the recording medium, so that the recording medium advances between the take-out opening 35 and the take-out guide plate 36.

At this time, the discharge roller 37 receives the driving force from the motor 31, and is driven by a drive system separate from the drive system of the drum 1 (↑ Nawa, spur gear 38, spur gear pulley 39, and belt 40).
11, the recording medium is rotated in the direction of arrow C, and the recording medium is sent out to the ejection roller 37 and ejected in the downward direction of the trajectory 41. Further, when the drum 1 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 7, the recording medium is released from the drum, and is separated from the drum 1 by the driving force of the ejection roller 37 alone and ejected.

In the embodiments described above, the operating position of the recording medium attachment/detachment mechanism was set to one location on the circumference of the drum once.
This may be done in multiple locations. Further, although the two functions of attaching and detaching are combined, it is also possible to have dedicated functions for each.

〔Effect of the invention〕

By implementing the present invention, the following effects can be obtained in a thermal transfer recording device.

lal Since the recording medium is attached to and detached from the drum using the rotational force of the drum, rotational direction information, and K, no special ground motion source is required for attachment and detachment, and the configuration of the recording apparatus is simplified.

(bl) Since loading and unloading of the recording medium is performed while the drum is rotating, the time required for loading and unloading the recording medium can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main parts of a conventional general thermal transfer recording device, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the thermal transfer recording device according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 7 are a perspective view of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of each part of the apparatus according to the embodiment. Explanation of symbols 1...Drum, 2.2'...Recording medium, 5...Length-round to 9 dots, 6...Intermediate recording medium, 14...Fixed claw, 15...times Moving claw, 2o...Rotating pin, 21
... Rotating bin operation mechanism, 22 ... Attachment/detachment lever, 23
...Tile release lever.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A thermal transfer recording device uses an intermediate recording medium provided with a heat-melting or heat-sublimable ink layer on its surface, selectively heats the ink layer of the intermediate recording medium to melt or sublimate it, and transfers it to the recording medium. A thermal transfer recording device that has a mechanism that automatically attaches a medium to the drum surface, performs recording, and automatically removes the recording medium after recording is completed. A thermal transfer recording device characterized by information-based recording.