JPS6184274A - Ink color detector for ink donor film - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the conventional necessity for filters or the like and simplify construction, by a construction wherein different parts to be detected optically or magnetically are provided in each color region of an ink donor film in correspondence with each ink color, and the parts to be detected are detected by an optical or magnetic sensor. CONSTITUTION:In a thermal transfer type recorder capable of recording in multiple colors by using a single ink donor film, different parts to be detected optically or magnetically are provided in correspondence with each ink color in each color region of the ink donor film comprising a base paper such as a polyester film coated, on one side thereof and in the longitudinal direction thereof, with a plurality of different color inks with predetermined sizes and sequentially. The parts to be detected are detected optically or magnetically. Accordingly, since the ink color of the ink donor film can be detected without using filters which have been conventionally used, the construction is simplified, and a reduction in cost can be contrived.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device capable of performing multicolor recording using one ink donor film, in which the color of ink of the ink donor film in the recording section is The present invention relates to a device for detecting what color a is.

"Conventional Technology J In a thermal transfer recording device, image information is recorded by selectively heating an ink donor film with a thermal head and transferring ink onto recording paper (plain paper) overlaid on the ink donor film. Therefore, if the ink colors are different, it is possible to perform multicolor recording.

FIG. 9 shows an example of such a conventional thermal transfer type multicolor recording apparatus. This recording apparatus is equipped with a long ink donor film 1 wound around a supply roll 2. The ink donor film 1 is the 10th
As shown in the figure, cyan ink C1, magenta ink M1, yellow, 60-color ink Y, and black ink B are placed in the length direction on one side of the base paper (not shown) in a size corresponding to the recording paper 3. It has a structure in which it is applied sequentially. The ink donor film 1 fed out from the supply roll 2 passes through a guide roller 4, between a thermal head 5 and a back roller 6, between a guide roller 7, and between a drive roller 8 and a pinch roller 9, and then passes through a take-up roll. It is designed to be wound up to 10 times.

When the recording paper 3 is sent out from a paper feed tray (not shown) of this recording apparatus, it is conveyed by a pair of paper conveyance rollers 11, and is first superimposed on the cyan ink C of the ink donor film 1 before the thermal head 5. Ru.

When the ink donor film 1 starts running at a predetermined timing, the recording paper 13 is passed between the thermal head 5 and the back roller 6 while being superimposed on the ink C of the ink donor film 1. At this time, the thermal head 5 is driven and recording in yellow is performed. After recording is completed, the recording paper 3 is peeled off from the ink donor film 1 approximately at the guide roller rough portion, and is sent between a pair of paper transport rollers 12.

When the recording of yellow color is completed, the running of the ink donor film 1 is stopped at this timing, and the back roller 6 is appropriately separated from the thermal head 5. Thereafter, the recording paper 3 is backed up by a pair of paper transport rollers 12, passed between a thermal pad 5 and a back roller 6, and sent between a pair of paper transport rollers 11. Thereafter, the back roller 6 is brought into pressure contact with the thermal head 5 again, and the recording paper 3 is conveyed by a pair of paper conveyance rollers 11, and is superimposed on the black ink M of the ink donor film 1 in front of the thermal head 5. When the running of the ink donor film 1 is resumed at a predetermined timing, magenta recording is performed using the same recording principle as that for yellow recording.

When the magenta recording is completed, the recording paper 3 is returned to the front of the thermal head 5 again, and is overlapped with the yellow ink Y of the ink donor film 1, thereby performing yellow recording. Thereafter, the recording paper 3 is returned to the front of the thermal head 5 seven more times, and is superimposed on the black ink B of the ink donor film 1, thereby performing black recording. After completing the four-color recording, the recording paper 3 is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown) by a pair of paper transport rollers 12. Note that as the recording paper 3, a long paper may be used in addition to cut paper.

By the way, in such a recording device, image signals of each color and ink donor film 1 for driving the thermal head 5 are used.
If the inks of each color do not correspond to each other, recording will be performed using different colors, resulting in a recording error. For this reason, such a recording apparatus is equipped with a detection device for detecting the color of the ink on the ink donor film 1 in the recording section.

In such a conventional detection device, the ink surface of the ink donor film 1 is irradiated with a light emitting element provided in front of the thermal head 5, and the reflected light is received by a light receiving element through a filter, thereby detecting the ink. It is designed to detect what color it is.

``Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' As described above, conventional detection devices directly detect the color of ink on the ink donor film, which requires filters, etc., resulting in a complicated configuration and increased cost. was there.

In view of these circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink color detection device for an ink donor film that has a simple configuration and can reduce costs.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In the present invention, different optical or magnetic detection areas are provided in each color region of the ink donor film in correspondence with each ink color, and these detection areas are Detection is performed using an optical or magnetic sensor, eliminating the need for conventional filters.

"Example" The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Examples.

"First Embodiment" FIG. 1 shows the main parts of an ink color detection device for an ink donor film in a first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In this detection device, the width direction of the ink donor film 1 -
Optical detection portions 21 to 24 are provided in each color region on the blade side, respectively. These detected portions 21 to 24 consist of one straight line extending over the entire length of the ink donor film 1 in each color region, and are appropriately shifted in the width direction of the ink donor film 1 corresponding to each color. There is.

For these detection areas 21 to 24, black ink is applied to all portions of the ink donor film 1 in the widthwise side of one side of the base paper (not shown) except for the detection areas 21 to 24. It is formed by The base paper of the ink donor film 1 is made of a transparent material such as a polyester film, and therefore the detection areas 21 to 2
4 is transparent. On the other hand, in front of the thermal head (not shown), optical sensors are provided corresponding to each of the detected portions 21 to 24 of the ink donor film 1, although they are also not shown. These sensors are composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element respectively arranged on one side and the other side with the ink donor film 1 in between.

In this detection device, when the cyan ink C of the ink donor film 1 is located at a position facing the four optical sensors, only the light rays emitted from the light emitting elements corresponding to the cyan color are detected in the cyan color area. The light passes through the detected portion 21 and is received by the corresponding light receiving element. That is, at this time, a color detection signal is output from only the sensor corresponding to cyan among the four optical sensors. Therefore, a control circuit (not shown) determines that the cyan ink C on the ink donor film 1 is in front of the thermal head. When ink MXY or B of another color on the ink donor film 1 is located at a position facing the four optical sensors, the control circuit detects the ink donor film 1 using the same detection principle as in the case of cyan color detection. It is determined that ink M1Y or B of another color is present in front of the thermal head.

Further, in this detection device, since the detected parts 21 to 24 are formed of straight lines extending throughout the length direction of the ink donor film 1 in each color region, one of the detected parts 21 to 24 is always connected to an optical sensor. We will be facing each other. Therefore, the control circuit constantly monitors the color of the ink on the ink donor film 1 in front of the thermal head. As a result, for example, when the power switch of the recording device is turned off and then turned on after a certain period of time, it is possible to immediately determine what color the ink is on the ink donor film 1 in front of the thermal head. , no memory or the like is required for this purpose. Furthermore, if the traveling distance of the ink donor film 1 is counted and stored from the time when the starting edge of each detected portion 21 to 24 passes the optical sensor, the transfer start point can be determined only from the starting edge of each ink. It is also possible to start from the middle of the process.

Furthermore, in this detection device, since the detected parts 21 to 24 are formed using the base paper of the ink donor film 1 and the black ink B applied thereto, the detected parts are formed of other materials. It is not necessary and can be made cheaply.

In the above embodiment, each of the four detected portions 21 to 24 is formed as a straight line, and is shifted as appropriate in the width direction of the ink donor film 1 and detected by each corresponding optical sensor. It is not limited to. For example, as shown in FIG.
It may be formed by a straight line of a book and encoded, and detected by two optical sensors. That is, in this example, the detected portion 21 corresponding to cyan ink C is represented by the code (00), and the detected portions 22 to 24 are sequentially represented by the codes (01), (10), and (11), respectively. It is expressed. In this way, there are at most two straight lines for the detected portion in the width direction of the ink donor film 1, and when the area of the transfer ink is a constant size, the width of the ink donor film 1 can be reduced to a certain extent. be able to. Furthermore, only two optical sensors are required, which further simplifies the configuration and further reduces costs.

Further, in the above embodiment, the detection target parts 21 to 24 are formed by transparent straight lines and are detected by a transmission type optical sensor, but the detection target parts are not limited to this.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the base paper 25 is exposed on one side in the width direction of the ink donor film 1, and black ink is linearly applied to this exposed portion to form the detected portion 25.
24 may be formed and detected by a reflective optical sensor. In this example, the detected parts 21 to 24 have a configuration similar to the example shown in FIG. 1, but it goes without saying that they may have a configuration similar to the example shown in FIG. 2.

"Second Embodiment" FIG. 4 shows the main parts of an ink color detection device for an ink donor film in a second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In this detection device, magnetically detected portions 31 to 34 are provided in each color region on one side in the width direction of the ink donor film 1, respectively. These detected portions 31 to 34 are composed of one to four straight lines extending in the width direction of the ink donor film 1, and are coded. Further, these detection target portions 31 to 34 are provided at one location in each color region or in plurality at intervals in the length direction of the ink donor film 1. These magnetically detected parts 31 to 34
are formed by applying magnetic powder or the like to the upper surface of each ink C, M, Y, and B. These detected parts 31~
34 is configured to be detected by one magnetic sensor, also not shown, provided in front of a thermal head, not shown. Since the detected parts 31 to 34 are coded, the ink donor film 1
It is determined which color of ink is in front of the thermal head.

In this detection device, even if the magnetically detected portions 31 to 34 are transferred to the recording paper together with the ink in those portions, there is no adverse effect on the recording surface. Therefore, the magnetically detected part 3
1 to 34 can be provided within the transfer range of each ink,
The width of the ink donor film 1 can be made the same as the transfer size of each ink. Furthermore, this detection device requires only one magnetic sensor, which simplifies the configuration and reduces costs.

In the above embodiment, the detected portions 31 to 34 are formed by straight lines extending in the width direction of the ink donor film 1, but they are not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 or 2, , ・Ink donor film 1
It may be formed by a straight line extending in the length direction. However, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, four magnetic sensors are required, and in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 2, two magnetic sensors are required.

"Third Embodiment" FIG. 5 shows the main parts of an ink color detection device for an ink donor film in a third embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts as in FIG. 10 are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In this detection device, transparent optical detection portions 41 to 44 are provided in each color region on one side in the width direction of the ink donor film 1, respectively. These detected parts 41 to 44
extend in the longitudinal direction of the ink donor film 1 from the starting end of each color region, and have different lengths corresponding to each color. These detected objects 841
.about.44 are configured to be detected by one transmission type optical sensor (also not shown) provided in front of a thermal head (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows this optical sensor and its peripheral circuit. The optical sensor 51 is a light emitting diode 5
2 and a phototransistor 53. When the speed detection circuit 54 receives the speed signal 55 containing the running speed of the ink donor film 1 and generates a pulse 56 (FIG. 7a) synchronized with the speed signal 55, the light emitting diode 53 responds to the pulse 56. (Figure 7b). The speed signal 55 can be, for example, (1) a signal generated by detecting the amount of rotation of the drive roller 8 in FIG. It consists of the same signal as the pulse signal.

Although the light emitting diode 52 always blinks while the ink donor film 1 is running, the phototransistor 53 does not always receive this light. In other words, when any of the detection areas 1 to 44 of the ink donor film 1 is located at a position corresponding to the light emitting diode 52, the irradiated light passes through the detection area and is received by the phototransistor 53. . Detected part 41~
Since the lengths of the phototransistors 44 are different from each other, the number of times the phototransistor 53 receives light corresponds thereto. For example, in the case of the detection area 41 of cyan ink C, the number of times the phototransistor 53 receives light is two times (left side of FIG. 7C), and in the case of the detection area 42 of magenta ink M, the number of times the phototransistor 53 receives light is two times. 4 times (right side of Fig. 7C), and in the case of the other two detected parts 43 and 44, 6 times, plus 2 each,
It has been 8 times. A counter 57 counts the number of times the light is received and supplies a count signal 58 to a control circuit (not shown). This allows the control circuit to determine what color the ink is on the ink donor film 1 before the thermal head.

In this detection device, the light emitting diode 52 blinks in synchronization with the running speed of the ink donor film 1, so even if the running speed of the ink donor film 1 changes, the number of times the phototransistor 3 receives light as described above will not change. There isn't. Therefore, regardless of the running speed of the ink donor film 1.

The color of the ink can be determined reliably.

In the above embodiment, the detected parts 41 to 44 are provided only at the starting end of each color region of the ink donor film 1, but as shown in FIG. A plurality of them may be provided. Also, the detected part 41
44 may be formed of black ink as in the case shown in FIG. 3, and detected by a reflective optical sensor.

Even in this case, only one reflective optical sensor is required.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, the color of the ink on the ink donor film can be detected without using a filter, which simplifies the configuration and reduces costs. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the main parts of an inter donor film ink color detection device in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views showing respective modifications thereof, and FIG. The figure is a plan view showing the main parts of an ink color detection device for an ink donor film in a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an ink color detection device for an ink donor film in a third embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a block diagram showing a part of the electric circuit of the device, FIG. 7 is a timing diagram shown to explain its operation, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a modification thereof. 9 are schematic configuration diagrams showing an example of a conventional thermal transfer type multicolor recording device, and FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a part of an ink donor film used in the device. 1...Ink donor film, 21-24...
.... Optical detected part, 31-34... Magnetic detected part, 41-44... Optical detected part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An ink donor film formed by sequentially applying a plurality of inks of different colors in a predetermined size on one side of a base paper in the length direction, and a color area of each ink provided in each color area of this ink donor film. 1. An ink color detection device for an ink donor film, comprising correspondingly different optical or magnetic detected portions and a sensor for optically or magnetically detecting these detected portions.