JPS62142669A - Color recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a construction of the titled device, by constituting a feeding means for an image-receiving paper of only a platen roller and a pair of pinch rollers pressed against the platen roller. CONSTITUTION:An image-receiving paper 11 is held in close contact with a platen roller 14 between a pressing position of a pinch roller 15 on the platen roller 14 and a pressing position of a pinch roller 16 on the platen roller 14. A recording-starting position of a first color ink part of an ink sheet 12 is located at a position opposed to heat generating elements, and all of a thermal head 13, the ink sheet 12 and sheet guides 19, 20 are separate from the platen roller 14. At the time of starting recording, the thermal head 13 and the sheet guides 19, 20 are so moved that the heat generating elements are pressed against the platen roller 14 through the ink sheet 12 and the image-receiving paper 11. Next, the heat generating elements corresponding to image information for one line is operated to generate heat, thereby selectively heating a yellow ink and transferring the ink onto the image-receiving paper 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a color recording device that is compact and capable of easily obtaining high-quality images, useful for hard copies of full-color images such as television images and captain systems. be.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a remarkable trend toward colorization of display devices such as CRTs, and with this trend, there has been a demand for hard copy devices capable of recording in color. Among these, the thermal transfer method is attracting attention because it is quiet and easy to maintain, and will play a role in the colorization of many terminal printers, including 01 devices.

Generally, when performing color recording using a thermal transfer method,
As shown in FIG. 6, while conveying the ink sheet 2 and the image receiving paper 1 on which each color surface is sequentially coated with ink in the direction of arrow a,
A thermal head 3 in which heating elements are arranged linearly is pressed against the platen roller 4 through the ink sheet 2 and image receiving paper 1, and the heating elements generate heat according to image information for one line of each color, thereby performing thermal transfer. recording. In this way, after recording one page with the ink of the - color, the receiver paper 1 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow so that the recording start position is at the thermal head section, and then one of the two-color inks is Recording for one page is performed, and in the same manner, recording for one page of the three-color mouth is performed to record a color image using the subtractive color mixing method.

Conventional receiver paper 1 has a capstan roller 5 and a pinch roller 6.
The capstan roller 6 is rotated by the driving means 7 to be conveyed back and forth. Further, when pulling back the image receiving paper 1, the platen roller 4 is rotated by the driving means 7 via the slip mechanism 8, and the image receiving paper 1 is applied with tension at the sandwiched position between the suppression roller 9 and the platen roller 4, and the platen roller 4 is rotated by the driving means 7 through the slip mechanism 8. It is stretched between rollers 4.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in this method, at least the capstan roller 6 and the pinch row 26 .
Two sets of four pressing rollers, the platen roller 4 and the pressing roller 9, are required, making it difficult to downsize, and the capstan roller 6
It is necessary to always hold the image-receiving paper 1 at the pressure contact position of the pinch roller 6, and the non-recorded area on the image-receiving paper 1 becomes longer, which inevitably shortens the recording area, and at the same time, cut paper is used as the image-receiving paper. This had the disadvantage that it was difficult to do so.

In addition, since the recording portion on the image receiving paper 1 comes into contact with the pinch row 26, there is also the drawback that the recorded image becomes smudged.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a pair of pinch rollers that directly drive the platen roller by a driving means and press the platen roller through the receiving paper, and a pair of pinch rollers that press the platen roller through the receiving paper. A brake means for stopping or decelerating the rotation of the pinch roller on the upstream side with respect to the rotating direction of the platen roller is provided to simplify the configuration, shorten the non-recording part, and eliminate slack in the paper. Furthermore, there is also the freedom to either concentrate the pressing force that presses the pinch roller against the platen roller through the image receiving paper on the non-recording area, or to configure at least the portion of the pinch roller that presses against the recording area of the image receiving paper from a slippery member. By rotating it, it is possible to eliminate stains on the image receiving paper and eliminate color shift.

According to the above-described structure, the present invention simplifies the image-receiving paper transport means by only the platen roller and a pair of pinch rollers that press against the platen roller. Since the position can be brought closer to the head, the non-recording area on the image receiving paper can be shortened.

Furthermore, the pinch roller presses the non-recorded area on the image-receiving paper intensively, or the part of the pinch roller that comes into pressure-contact with the recording area is made of a slippery member or is allowed to rotate freely. It is possible to eliminate image stains and color shift caused by pressure contact with the recording section.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, the configuration of a first example of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a color recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view clarifying some of the components in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes image receiving paper, and 12, on the surface facing the image receiving paper 11 on a support such as a PET film, one page of ink of each color, yellow, magenta, which becomes fluid when heated, is applied.
An ink sheet sequentially colored with cyan, 13 a line-type thermal head that arranges heating elements 13a linearly in the width direction of the image-receiving paper 11, 14 a platen roller around which a part of the image-receiving paper 11 is wound, 15 and A pinch roller 16 is pressed against the platen roller 14 via the image receiving paper 11.

17 is a drive means such as a step motor that rotates the platen roller 14 in both directions; 18 is a drive transmission means such as a timing belt that transmits the driving force of the drive means 17 to the platen roller 14; 19 and 2o are the thermal head 1;
3 is a sheet guide that operates integrally with the ink sheet 12 and guides the ink sheet 12. FIG.
6&, a pawl wheel integrally attached to the pawl wheel 21, 22 a pawl that constitutes a ratchet mechanism together with the pawl wheel 21, 23 a tension coil spring that urges the pawl 22 to mesh with the pawl wheel 21, 24 both ends of the pinch roller 15, A pinch roller support member 26 rotatably supports the claw wheel 21 and the claw 22, has one end of a spring 23 fixed, and rotates around a shaft 24 & fixed to the national body (not shown). is a tension coil spring that biases the pinch roller support member 24 so as to come into pressure contact with the platen roller 14.

The ratchet mechanism of the pawl wheel 21 and the pawl 22 constitutes a brake means that allows the pawl wheel 21 and the pinch roller 15 to rotate only in the direction of arrow C.

Further, the vicinity of the bearing portion of the pinch roller 16 has a similar structure, and the pinch roller 16 is connected to the platen roller 14.
arrow d in Figure 1 using the latte-soto mechanism
It can only be rotated in this direction.

Next, the operation of the color recording apparatus in this first embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 1 and 2.

Before recording starts, the image receiving paper 11 is in close contact with the platen roller 14 between the position where the pinch roller 16 presses against the platen roller 14 and the position where the pinch roller 16 presses against the platen roller 14, and the heating element of the ink sheet 12 13flL
The recording start position of the negative color yellow ink is at the position opposite to the thermal head 13. The ink sheet 12 and sheet guides 19 and 20 are attached to the platen roller 1.
4 (13', 12' and 19
', 20'). At the start of recording, the heating element 132
The thermal guide 13 and the sheet guides 19 and 20 are moved in the direction of the arrow e by means not shown so that the ink sheet 13 and the sheet guides 19 and 20 come into pressure contact with the platen roller 14 via the ink sheet 12 and the image receiving paper 11. Next, the heating elements 132L are made to generate heat according to the image information for each line of yellow, and the yellow ink is selectively heated and transferred onto the image receiving paper 11. At the same time, the driving means 17 is synchronized with the image information.
is driven to rotate the platen roller 14 line by line in the direction of arrow f. Here, the pinch roller 16 rotates in the direction of arrow C following the rotation of the platen a-214.
The pinch roller 16 does not rotate due to the latte/soto mechanism. Therefore, at the pressure contact position of the pinch roller 15, the rubber layer on the surface of the platen roller 14 is subjected to shear strain and expands, increasing the apparent circumference of the image receiving paper 11.
The conveyance speed becomes faster. - The pinch roller 16 does not rotate the image receiving paper 11 at the press position of the filter roller 16.
is subjected to load due to friction. Therefore, during the recording operation, the image receiving paper 11 is wound at an angle t while being subjected to tension in the front and rear directions.
The platen roller 14 is in close contact with the surface of the platen roller 14, and moves as the platen roller 14 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow. Further, the ink sheet 12 is conveyed in the direction of arrow g by the frictional force with the image receiving paper 11 at a position where the thermal head 13 and the platen roller 14 are in pressure contact, and is wound up while being applied with tension by means not shown. When one page of recording is completed using the yellow ink in this way, the driving means 17 is stopped and the platen row 21 is
4, and then remove the thermal head 13 and sheet guide f.
9 and 20 in the direction of the arrow to attach the thermal head 13.
Then, the ink sheet 12 is separated from the platen roller 14. (13', 12' and 19', 20
' state) After this - heating element 1 of ink sheet 12
The ink sheet 12 is conveyed in the direction of arrow g by means not shown until the recording start position of the second color magenta ink comes to a position opposite to 3IL. Also, at this time, the driving means 17 is driven five times to rotate the platen roller 14 in the main direction of the arrow. Here, the pinch roller 16 rotates in the direction of arrow d following the rotation of the platen row 214, but the pinch row 215 does not rotate due to the ratchet mechanism. Therefore, based on the same principle as during the recording operation, the image-receiving paper 11 is wound in close contact with the surface of the platen roller 14 at an angle t while being subjected to tension in the front and rear directions, and as the platen roller 14 rotates in the main direction of the arrow. Moving. In this way, the image-receiving paper 11 is pulled back to the recording start position, and the magenta ink recording of the two-color area is started. After this, transfer the printing plate 13 and ink sheet 12 to the thermal platen row 21.
4 to print one page of magenta ink on the yellow ink image. Thereafter, recording with cyan ink of three colors is performed in the same manner to complete the recording of a color image using the subtractive color mixing method.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the conveying means for the image receiving paper 11 can be configured simply by the platen roller 14 and the two pinch rollers 19 and 20 that press against the platen roller 14. At the same time, the pressure contact position between the platen roller and the pinch roller, which is the position where the image-receiving paper is held, can be brought closer to the thermal side.
4, the conveyance accuracy is improved and a good color image with less color shift can be obtained.

The configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the color recording apparatus of the second embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIG.
1 is a driving means, 18 is a drive transmission means, and 19 and 2o are sheet guides.

In addition, Fig. 2 clearly shows the bearing part of the pinch roller, and 21 is a pawl wheel, 22 is a pawl, 23 is a tension coil spring, 24 is a pinch roller support member, and 25 is a bias roller support member 24. It is a tension coil spring,
The above is the same as the color recording apparatus of the first embodiment. The difference in the color recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG. Non-recording section 1 of receiver paper 11
The point is that it is brought into pressure contact with the platen roller 14 only through 1b. Furthermore, the pinch roller 161 (corresponding to the pinch roller 16, not shown) has a similar configuration, and the pinch roller 161 is connected to the non-recording area 1 of the image receiving paper 11.
It is designed so that it comes into pressure contact with the platen roller only through 1b.

The operation of the color recording apparatus of the second embodiment configured as described above is the same as that of the color recording apparatus of the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the pinch roller 1
By reducing the diameters of the central portions 151 & 161a of 51 and 161, the pinch roller presses against the platen roller 14 only through the non-recording portion 11b of the image receiving paper 11, so that the pinch roller that does not rotate due to the ratchet mechanism , stains on the image caused by rubbing the recording portion 11 & on the image receiving paper 11 can be reduced. In addition, the surface condition of the image receiving paper 11 changes every time one page of each color is recorded, the friction conditions between the pinch roller and the recording section 111L change, and the conveying force of the image receiving paper 11 is affected. Color shift can also be reduced.

The configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the color recording apparatus of the third embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIG.
7 is a drive means, 18 is a drive transmission means, and 19 and 2o are sheet guides.

In addition, Fig. 2 clearly shows the bearing part of the pinch roller, and 21 is a pawl wheel, 22 is a pawl, 23 is a tension coil spring, 24 is a pinch roller support member, and 25 is a bias roller support member 24. It is a tension coil spring,
The above is the same as the color recording apparatus of the first embodiment. The difference in the color recording apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG.
The center entrance surface 152&'i that comes into contact with the recording section 11a of the image-receiving paper 11 is reduced by being made of a slippery material such as Teflon. Also, pinch roller 16
2 (corresponding to the pinch roller 16, not shown) has a similar structure, and the central surface 1622L of the pinch roller 162 is made of a slippery member.

The operation of the color recording apparatus of the third embodiment configured as described above is the same as that of the color recording apparatus of the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the pinch roller 1
The central surfaces 1521L and 162&, which contact the recording portion 111L of the image receiving paper 11 of 62 and 1θ2, are made of a slippery member to reduce the frictional force with the recording portion 11a of the image receiving paper 11, so that they can be rotated by a ratchet mechanism. The pinch roller that does not work is the recording part 111 on the image receiving paper 11! Image stains caused by rubbing L can be reduced.

Further, since the frictional force between the image receiving paper 11 and the recording section 11& is small, it is possible to reduce color shift caused by changes in the surface condition of the image receiving paper 11 every time one page of each color is recorded.

The configuration of a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the color recording apparatus of the fourth embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIG.
18 is a driving means, 18 is a drive transmission hand, and 19 and 2o are sheet guides.

Further, the bearing part of the pinch roller is clearly shown in FIG. 2, and 21 is a pawl wheel, 22 is a pawl, 23 is a tension coil spring, 24 is a pinch roller support member, and 26 is a bias roller for urging the pinch roller support member 24. It is a tension coil spring.

The above is the same as the color recording apparatus of the first embodiment. The difference in the color recording apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is that, as shown in FIG.
The central portion 163a in contact with is supported by a bearing 163C,
It is configured to be rotatable so that the braking means by the ratchet mechanism does not work, thereby eliminating friction between the image receiving paper 11 and the recording portion 111L. Furthermore, the pinch roller 163 (corresponding to the pinch roller 16, not shown) has a similar configuration, and the central portion 16:3L of the pinch roller 163 is configured to be freely rotatable.

The operation of the color recording apparatus of the fourth embodiment configured as described above is the same as that of the color recording apparatus of the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the pinch roller 1
By configuring the central portions 153a and 163& of 53 and 163 that are in contact with the recording portion 11a of the image-receiving paper 11 to be rotatable, and eliminating friction with the recording portion 111L of the image-receiving paper 11, a pinch roller that does not rotate due to a ratchet mechanism is created. However, stains on the image caused by rubbing the recording portion 112L on the image receiving paper 11 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the frictional force between the image receiving paper 11 and the recording portion 112L is small, it is possible to reduce color shift caused by changes in the surface condition of the image receiving paper 11 every time one page of each color is recorded.

In all of the examples, a ratchet mechanism was used as a means for stopping the pinch roller, but the same effect can be obtained by using a mechanism such as a one-way clutch or solenoid instead, and these mechanisms can be used to decelerate the pinch roller. Similar effects can be obtained by configuring as follows.

Moreover, in the second embodiment, the pinch roller 161 and the pinch roller 161 are
Although the diameter of a is made small so that the recording portion 11 & of the image receiving paper 11 does not come into pressure contact with each other, the same effect can be obtained even if the central portions 161a and 161 are made of an elastic material such as rubber or foam material. can.

Further, in all the embodiments, the thermal head 13 is of a line type, but a serial type may also be used.

In addition, in all the embodiments, the ink was recorded in the order of yellow, magenta, and cyan, but a different order may be used, and although the types of ink were three colors, it goes without saying that colors other than the three colors may be used.

Effects of the Invention The present invention includes a pair of pinch rollers that press the platen roller through the image receiving paper wound around the platen roller, and a pinch roller that is on the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the platen roller of the pair of pinch rollers. By providing a brake means for stopping or decelerating the rotation of the image receiving paper, the conveying means for the image receiving paper can be made into a simple structure consisting of a platen roller and two pinch rollers that press against the platen roller. Since the pressure contact position of the platen roller and pinch roller can be brought closer to the head, the non-recording area on the image receiving paper can be shortened, and since the image receiving paper can be brought into close contact with the platen roller, conveyance accuracy is improved and color shift is reduced. Good color images can be obtained. Also, the diameter of the portion of the pinch roller that faces the non-recorded area on the image-receiving paper may be made smaller than the other portions, or the portion of the pinch roller that faces the non-recorded area on the image-receiving paper may be made of a material that is softer than the other portions. Alternatively, the portion of the pinch roller that comes into pressure contact with the recording section of the image receiving paper may be made of a slippery member, or the portion of the pinch roller may be configured to be freely rotatable so that the brake mechanism does not work.
The pinch roller on the side where the brake means is effective reduces image stains caused by rubbing the recording area on the image receiving paper, and also reduces color shift caused by changes in the surface condition of the image receiving paper each time each color is recorded. This allows you to obtain high-quality color images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the basic configuration of a color recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial side view enlarging some of the components in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial front view showing the configuration of the pinch roller of the color recording apparatus in the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a partial front view showing the configuration of the pinch roller of the color recording apparatus in the third embodiment of the invention; The figure is a partial front view showing the configuration of a pinch roller of a color recording device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a side view showing the basic configuration of a conventional color recording apparatus. 11... Image receiving paper, 12... Ink sheet, 13... Thermal head, 14...
・Platen roller, 15, 16, 151. 161.1
52,162°153, 163...Pinch roller, 1521L. 1621L...Smooth member, 153&, 163
a... Free rotation part, 17... Drive means, 21... Pawl wheel, 22... Pawl. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 1b Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A platen roller that is rotationally driven in both directions by a driving means, an image receiving paper that is partially wound around the platen roller in a substantially single layer, and a pair that is in pressure contact with the platen roller at two places through the image receiving paper. and a brake means for stopping or decelerating the rotation of the pinch roller on the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the platen roller of the pair of pinch rollers. (2) A color recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the pinch roller facing the recording portion on the image receiving paper has a smaller diameter than other portions. (3) A color recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the pinch roller facing the recording portion on the image receiving paper is made of a softer member than other portions. (4) The color recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein at least the portion of the pinch roller that comes into pressure contact with the recording portion of the image receiving paper is made of a slippery member. (5) The color recording device according to claim 1, 3, or 4, wherein at least the portion of the pinch roller that comes into pressure contact with the recording portion of the image receiving paper is rotatably provided so that the brake mechanism does not work.