JPS6228268A - Multiple printing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance printing speed, by a construction wherein a plurality of printing heads simultaneously print information respectively in a plurality of printing areas of a printing medium. CONSTITUTION:Printing areas A, B, C of a printing paper 1 are simultaneously positioned respectively to printing heads 2a, 2b, 2c. At the same time, an ink ribbon 6 is fed so that unused parts of the ribbon 6 are positioned to the heads 2a-2c. The plurality of printing areas A-C of the paper 1 thus positioned are simultaneously printed by the respective heads 2a-2c through the ribbon 6. In this printing, the paper 1 is minutely fed at a velocity set according to printing characteristics while each of the heads 2a-2c is moved from the leading end to the trailing end of each of the areas A-C. The above operations are repeated until information to be printed is completely printed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a multi-print mechanism, particularly a multi-flint machine for increasing the printing speed of printers used in information processing systems.

[Conventional technology]

In general, various printers are used in information processing systems and the like as output devices for processed information. Typically, such printers are limited by operating speed, mechanical operating conditions, and forces, and are therefore much slower than other devices that make up information processing systems. Therefore, various countermeasures for such free printers have been studied and implemented in the past.

For example, as a countermeasure in terms of systems, it is difficult to install a large number of printers for one arithmetic processing unit and perform simultaneous output, and there are also countermeasures for the Zlinta itself, such as increasing the number of printers or increasing the speed. Improvements have been made to make the mechanical parts electronic. In particular, regarding the latter, dot printers that form a cover pattern using a dot matrix have become mainstream, reflecting the strong need for Norinters that can be adapted to output not only conventional character information but also figures and images.

However, the above-mentioned dot printers have various drawbacks, such as thermal transfer type printers, which have the disadvantage that they cannot improve printing speed because it is difficult to dissipate heat from the transfer head.

Furthermore, even if a transfer head with a large number of heating elements arranged in a straight line is used, it is not possible to eliminate the printing paper and ink ribbon feeding mechanism, and Hata et al.
Therefore, it also has the disadvantage that it is difficult to use printing paper that has strong sub-pillars and is difficult to curl.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The problem to be solved by the present invention, in other words, the purpose of the present invention is to increase the printing speed by installing a plurality of 7-lint heads and operate them simultaneously, and to use a print head with an improved shape. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multiplex printing mechanism which improves the above-mentioned drawbacks by making it possible to print at a printing speed with high rigidity.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The multiple printing mechanism of the present invention includes a print medium for printing and displaying information, an ink ribbon, a medium feeding mechanism for transporting the print medium, a ribbon feeding mechanism for transporting the ink ribbon, and a printer comprising: a plurality of print heads that print the information on a print medium; a plurality of platens that sandwich the print medium and the ink ribbon and face each of the plurality of print heads; Each of the plurality of printheads is configured to simultaneously print the information in a print area of the plurality of printheads.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a multiple printing mechanism according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, print paper 1 is intermittently fed in the P direction by a paper feeding mechanism 7 in synchronization with the printing operation. Similarly, the ink ribbon 6 is also intermittently fed in the R direction by the ribbon feeding mechanism 8 in synchronization with the printing operation.

Each of the print heads 2a, 2b, and 2C is a thermal transfer print head in which a large number of heating elements are arranged in a straight line, and its shape is vertical so as not to limit the quality of the print paper 1. .

Platens 3a, 3b and 3C sandwich print paper 1 and ink ribbon 6, and print heads 2a and 3C, respectively.
It faces 2b and 2C.

Ribbon feed rollers 4a and 4b feed the ink ribbon 6 in synchronization with the print paper 1 during printing.

Guide rollers 5a and 5b guide the ink ribbon 6 that is pressed against the print paper 1 by the print head 2a. Similarly, the guide roller 5c.

5d, 5e and 5f also guide the ink ribbon 6.

FIG. 2 shows the above print heads 2a, 2b and 2.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing print areas on the print paper 1 that are respectively assigned by C. FIG. In the figure, the print head 2a1, the print head 2b for area B, and the print head 2C for area C print at the same time.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart outlining the operation of the multiplex printing mechanism described above. In the figure, a process 51 indicates the operation of feeding the print paper 1, which causes the print paper 1 to be fed.
area A or the print head 2a. At the same time, area B is positioned on the print head 2b, and area C is positioned on the touring head 2C.

Process 52 represents the operation of feeding the ink ribbon 6, thereby locating an unused ink ribbon 6 to each print head 2a, 2b, and 2C. Note that the overall operation time can be shortened by operating the processes 51 and 52 independently and simultaneously.

In the process 53, the print heads 2a, 2b, and 2 corresponding to the plurality of areas A, B, and C of the print paper 1 positioned as described above are connected via the ink ribbon 6, respectively.
C shows the simultaneous printing operation. At this time, the print paper is minutely fed at a speed set according to the printing characteristics until each print head 2a, 2b, and 2c reaches the end of each area A, B, and C.

Process 54 is a process for determining whether there is any information left to be printed or not, and if it remains, process 51 is performed.
, and repeat the above operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the print paper 10 is the first printing mechanism 1.
While passing through the first and second printing mechanisms 21, printing is performed on both the front and back sides.

The first printing mechanism 11 has exactly the same configuration as the multiple printing mechanism shown in FIG.

That is, a plurality of print heads 12a, 12b and 1
2C is a platen 13a facing each other.

A printing operation is performed by sandwiching the printing paper 10 and the ink ribbon 16 between the printing paper 13b and 13c. Then, the print paper 10 and the ink ribbon 16 are intermittently fed by the paper feeding mechanism 17 and the ribbon feeding mechanism 18, respectively.

Further, the second printing mechanism 21 and the first printing mechanism 11 are configured upside down. That is, the plurality of print heads 22a, 22b, and 22e perform a printing operation by sandwiching the print paper 1o and the ink ribbon 26 between the opposing platens 23a, 23b, and 23C, respectively. Then, the print paper 10 and the ink ribbon 26 are intermittently fed by the paper feeding mechanism 27 and the ribbon feeding @Sakaki 28, respectively.

In this way, specified information can be simultaneously printed in a plurality of areas on both the front and back sides of the printing paper 1o.

Note that although the case where the printing paper is a continuous form has been described above, even when the printing paper is a cut sheet, the multiple printing mechanism can be realized in the same manner.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above in detail, according to the multiple print mechanism of the present invention, multiple print heads can simultaneously print information on each area on the print paper, so the number of print heads can be multiplied by the number of print heads in the same time. can be printed. Therefore, there is an effect that the printing speed is improved accordingly.

Additionally, since it uses a vertical print head, it also has the advantage of being able to print at a high capacity even on highly rigid printing paper.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a first embodiment of a multiplex printing mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a print area in the first embodiment, and FIG. A flowchart showing the operation sequence, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the main part of the second embodiment. 1...Print paper, 2a, 2b, 2C...
...Print head, 3a, 3b, 3c...
Platen, 6... Ink ribbon, 7...
- Paper feeding mechanism, 8... Ribbon feeding mechanism. , -- Mutsu agent patent attorney Susumu Uchihara 1゜Engraving of drawings (
No change in content) Purification i5 of the 2015 drawing (Figure 3 with no change) Procedural amendment (voluntary) 1. Indication of the case 1985 Patent Application No. 1688
No. 89 No. 2, Title of the invention: Multiple printing mechanism 3, Relationship with the amended person case Applicant: 5-33-1 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo (423) NEC Corporation Representative: Tadahiro Sekimoto (1 other person: 4) , Agent 5, Prisoner subject to amendment In the "Detailed Description of the Invention" column of the specification (in the "% Claims" column) (0 Drawing 6, Contents of Amendment ) The statement "Print" on page 4, line 8 has been corrected to "perform print traction (pressure movement of the print head toward the print medium)." (2) The statement on page 5, line M7 has been corrected. Also, print heads 2a, 2b and 2
The printing paper 1 and the ink ribbon 6 can be compressed or released by retraction mechanisms 9a, 9b, and 9c. ” I am corrected. (3) Change the description “Processing 51” on page 6, line 5 to “Processing 51”.
"Process 52" indicates the operation of placing the print heads 2a, 2b, 2c in a released state (a state away from the platen).
I will correct it. (4) The statement "51 and 52" on page 6, line 14 will be corrected to "52 and 53." (5) The statement "Can be done" on the 16th line of page 6 is changed to "Can be done."
This shows the operation of bringing the parts into pressure contact state. ” I am corrected. (6) Change “Processing 53” to “Processing 5” on page 6, line 14.
I am corrected as ``5''. (7) Change “Processing 54” to “Processing 56” on page 7, line 5.
” I am corrected. (8) On page 8, line 7, the statement "paper" has been corrected to "paper after head traction operation." (Q: I would like to replace Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings attached to the application with Figures 1 and 4 of the attached drawings, respectively. 7m) Agent: Patent Attorney Uchihara J- = 2, Patent A printer comprising a print medium for printing and displaying claim information, an ink ribbon, a medium feeding mechanism for transporting the print medium, and a ribbon feeding mechanism for transporting the ink ribbon, wherein the information is printed on the print medium. a plurality of printheads that perform printing and traction; and a plurality of platens that sandwich the print medium and the ink ribbon and face each of the plurality of printheads; A multiplex printing mechanism, wherein each of the plurality of printheads simultaneously prints the information in an area.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A printer comprising: a print medium for printing and displaying information; an ink ribbon; a medium feeding mechanism for transporting the print medium; and a ribbon feeding mechanism for transporting the ink ribbon. a plurality of print heads that print the information on the print medium; and a plurality of platens that sandwich the print medium and the ink ribbon and face each of the print heads; A multiple print mechanism, wherein each of the plurality of print heads simultaneously prints the information in a plurality of print areas.