JPS62294594A - Color image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with operation for returning recording paper each time when the recording of one color is finished and to miniaturize the title apparatus, by a method wherein the leading end of the recording paper discharged from a recording means is caught and fed to the inlet side of the recording means to be allowed to stand by and the part except the leading end of the recording paper is continuously guided and received, and the leading end of the recording paper is fed to the recording means to perform the recording of the next color. CONSTITUTION:In a thermal transfer system color image recording apparatus, a recording paper recirculation means 20 catches the leading end of the recording paper discharged from a recording means 20 and moves said leading end to the inlet side of the recording means 10 to allow the same to stand by at the inlet of the aforementioned recording means 10. The part except the leading end of the recording paper discharged from the recording means is guided to the space part formed by the guide plate 51 and side plate 53 in a recording paper guiding and receiving means 50 and received therein. A guide auxiliary means 52 feeds the recording paper guided to the space part along the guide plate 51 by negative pressure due to a blower 55. A second recording paper feed means 30 feeds the leading end of the recording paper allowed to stand-by at the inlet of the recording means to the recording means 10 in order to perform the recording of the next color.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a color image recording device using a thermal transfer method.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as means for recording color image information, there are an inkjet recording method, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, and a thermal transfer recording method. Among these, the inkjet recording method uses colored ink to eject the ink from small diameter nozzles that are independent for each color according to the image signal to be recorded, and makes the ink adhere to the recording paper for recording. However, since it is difficult to use multiple nozzles, it is not only impossible to increase the speed, but the nozzles are easily clogged, and the reliability of the device is poor. In contrast, electrophotography scans a photoreceptor drum, whose surface is made of a photoconductive material such as amorphous selenium, which has been uniformly charged in a dark place, with a laser beam modulated by an image signal.・
An electrostatic latent image is obtained by exposure, which is selectively coated with color toner, developed, and then transferred onto plain paper. This method has the disadvantage that the process is extremely complicated because developing devices with different colored toners are prepared and the above steps are repeated for each color, and the equipment is also large and expensive. .

Furthermore, the electrostatic recording method uses a multi-styral head to create an electrostatic latent image in accordance with the image signal on the electrostatic recording paper that comes into contact with it, and develops it in the same way as in the electrophotographic method. This process is repeated for each color, and the process is similar to that of electrophotography, making it difficult to miniaturize the device.

On the other hand, in the thermal transfer recording method, an ink ribbon with a heat-melting solid ink layer containing a coloring material on a base film such as paper or resin is heated by a thermal recording head that is energized in accordance with an image signal. to melt the ink layer,
The ink is transferred onto plain paper recording paper that comes into contact with the ink ribbon. According to this method, there is no need for development and fixing as in the case of the above-mentioned electrophotographic method or electrostatic recording method, so the process is simplified and the device can be made smaller. To perform color recording using this method, the 12th
As shown in the figure, the three colors cyan, magenta, and yellow,
Alternatively, using an ink ribbon A having an ink layer coated in strips with four colors including black if necessary, the same recording paper is repeatedly scanned and recorded for each color. This is generally called a field-sequential recording method, and the method shown in FIG. 13 and the method shown in FIG. 14 are conventionally known for conveying the recording paper to realize this method.

In the method shown in Fig. 13, for recording one color, for example, cyan,
A platen roller 201 connected to a stepping motor (not shown), a drive roller 202, and a pinch roller 203 working together transport the recording paper 204, and a transport device (not shown) transports the ink ribbon A at the same speed as the recording paper 204. While conveying the recording paper 204 and the ink ribbon A in cooperation with the platen roller 201,
A cyan color image is obtained on the recording paper 204 by selectively energizing the heat-sensitive recording head 205, which is brought into close and pressure contact with the recording paper 204, in accordance with an image signal. When the recording of the first color is completed in this way, the platen roller 201 and the thermal recording head 2
05 is separated by means not shown, and the feed roller 202 is rotated in the opposite direction to return the recording paper 204 until the leading edge of the recording paper 204 reaches near the recording position of the thermal recording head 205.

During this time, the ink ribbon A is conveyed in the same direction as during recording until the next color to be recorded, for example magenta, reaches the recording position of the thermal recording head 205.

After that, the platen roller 201 and the thermal recording head 205
are pressed again, and the recording paper 204 is attached in the same manner as described above.
Magenta color recording is performed over the cyan color recording. Thereafter, by repeating the overlapping recording in the same way for the number of colors of the ink ribbon A, that is, three or four times, a color image recording is finally completed and obtained on the recording paper 205 by subtractive color mixture. This method has the advantage of being able to record color images in a frame-sequential manner using a relatively simple mechanism, but it requires time to return the recording paper each time one color is recorded.

This is wasted time that has no bearing on the net recording, and therefore limits the recording speed, which is disadvantageous for high-speed recording. Also, when returning the recording paper, it is essential to separate the thermal recording head from the platen roller once. If this is not done, the ink ribbon after being used for recording may be returned together with the recording paper, or the recording paper may When the ink ribbon rubs against the ink ribbon, it becomes dirty and the image quality deteriorates. In order to prevent this, a mechanism must be provided to control the pressure contact and separation between the thermal recording head and the platen roller, resulting in a disadvantage that the apparatus becomes complicated. Furthermore, a long space may be required to temporarily accommodate the reciprocating recording paper, which is a disadvantage for downsizing the apparatus.

In contrast to the above, the method shown in FIG. 14 involves winding the recording paper 302 around a drum-shaped platen 301 connected to a stepping motor (not shown).
The thermal recording head 303 is pressed into contact with the ink ribbon A, which has a circumference approximately equal to the circumference of Color recording is performed by conveying at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the drum-shaped platen 301, and by three or four rotations of the drum-shaped platen 301, a color image is created by subtractive color mixing, similar to the method shown in FIG. The record is completed. The recording paper 302 on which recording has been completed in this manner is transferred to the drum-shaped platen 30.
Peel it off from 1 and take it out. According to the method shown in FIG. 14, it is possible to minimize wasted time that is not directly involved in recording, such as returning the recording paper every time one color recording is completed, as in the method shown in FIG. 13 described above. This has the advantage of increasing speed. However, the disadvantage is that the device is expensive because it requires a complicated mechanism for winding and peeling the recording paper around a drum-shaped platen, and it also requires the use of a specially shaped thermal recording head. . Furthermore, since a drum that rotates at a constant speed is used, the time required to record one page is constant regardless of the paper size.In other words, when using short paper, The disadvantage of this method is that it cannot take advantage of its suitability. Also, depending on the length of the recording paper, a large diameter drum-shaped platen (for A4 size recording paper, approximately φ1
00 m+s), which is disadvantageous for downsizing the device, and also has drawbacks such as the need for a stepping motor with a large rotational driving force since the load increases due to its weight.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the former color image recording device using the thermal transfer recording method (see FIG. 13), it is necessary to return the recording paper every time recording of one color is completed, and In the latter case (Fig. 14), a color image recording device using a thermal transfer recording method, the time required to record one color is equivalent to one rotation of a drum-shaped platen even when recording paper of a small size, and there is a limit to speeding up. Ta.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording device that enables high-speed recording.

In addition, in the color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording method of the former (Fig. 13), it is necessary to return only the recording paper while stopping or advancing the ink ribbon, so a mechanism for separating the thermal recording head and the platen roller is required. In addition, in the latter color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording method (Fig. 14), the recording paper is closely held on the drum-shaped platen, and the recording paper is peeled from the drum-shaped platen. Requires a mechanism. Therefore, the device has become complicated and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording device that does not require a complicated mechanism and can be realized at low cost.

Furthermore, in the color image recording apparatus using the thermal transfer recording method of the former (FIG. 13), in order to return the recording paper, a space must be secured to accommodate the returned recording paper, and the latter (Fig. The color image recording device using the thermal transfer recording method shown in Fig. 14) requires a drum-shaped platen that has a longer circumference and a wider width than the largest expected recording paper, and further rotates the drum-shaped platen. Requires a large stepper motor to do so.

Therefore, the device is large.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording device that enables miniaturization of the device.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The color image recording device of the present invention uses an ink ribbon formed by periodically repeating a solid ink layer of a different color from the recording paper to form a band shape. A recording means that transfers ink onto the recording paper using a thermal recording head while conveying them and performs recording, and a recording means that captures the leading edge of the recording paper discharged from the recording means, A recording paper circulation means that moves toward the entrance of the recording means and waits the leading edge of the recording paper at the entrance of the recording means, and a guide plate and a side plate form a space, and a space is formed in the space from the recording means to the recording paper circulation means. a recording paper guide/accommodating means for guiding and accommodating a portion of the ejected recording paper other than the leading edge; and a guiding aid for guiding the recording paper guided into the space of the recording paper guide/accommodating means along the guide plate using air pressure. and a recording paper supplying means for feeding the leading end of the recording paper waiting at the entrance of the recording means to the recording means in order to record the next color.

(Function) According to the color image recording device of the present invention, the leading edge of the recording paper discharged from the recording means is captured by the recording paper circulating means, conveyed to the entrance side of the recording means, kept waiting there, and then recorded. The portion of the recording paper discharged from the means, excluding the leading edge, is guided and accommodated in the recording paper guide and storage means. At this time, air pressure is applied to the recording paper along the guide plate by the guide assisting means. When recording is completed in this way,
The leading edge of the recording paper is fed to the recording means by the recording paper supplying means in order to record the next color.

Repeat this operation as many times as necessary.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 conceptually shows a color facsimile receiving device as a color image recording device according to the present invention.

The housing of this device has side plates 1 at the front and back in Figure 1.
2 (see Figure 4). The side plates 1 and 2 are fixedly installed inside the device housing, and various parts described later are attached to the side plates 1 and 2.

In this device, the recording means 1 is located at the center left in FIG.
0 is arranged, a recording paper circulation means 20 is arranged on the right side of the recording means 10, and a recording paper supplying means (second recording paper supplying means) 30 is arranged below the recording paper circulation means 20. There is. Further, in this recording apparatus, a recording paper guide and storage means 50 is arranged to the right of the recording paper circulation means 20 in FIG. Furthermore, a recording paper storage means 70 is arranged below the recording paper guide and storage means 50. Further, in this recording apparatus, a recording paper supplying means (first recording paper supplying means) 80 is arranged between the recording paper storage means 70 and the recording means 10, and an ink ribbon conveying means is arranged so as to straddle the recording means 10. 90 is disposed, and a recording paper ejection means 120 is further disposed between the tray 3 and the path switching means 6o formed at the upper part of the apparatus housing.

The recording means 10 is composed of a platen roller 11 and a thermal recording head 12. The platen roller 11 is a rubber roller having a metal shaft 11a at the center, and both ends of the shaft 11a are supported by the side plates 1.2 (see FIG. 4) of the housing, and are rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown). . In addition, the thermal recording head 12 has a predetermined density (for example, 16 pel/mm) and a minute heating resistor over a recording width (for example, 216 im in the case of A4 size).
By arranging the ink ribbons in a row so that the number corresponds to (for example, 3456) and applying pulse current to each in accordance with the image information to be recorded, the ink ribbons in contact with the ink ribbons are minutely locally raised; It has the function of melting the solid ink layer applied to the ribbon and transferring it to recording paper to form a visible image.

The recording paper circulating means 20 has a function of capturing the leading edge of the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head 12 and conveying the leading edge to the entrance side of the thermal recording head 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this recording paper circulation means 20 includes a shaft 21 supported by side plates 1 and 2 (see FIG. 4) and driven by a stepping motor via an electromagnetic clutch (not shown). , a grip roller 22 fixed to the shaft 21, and a gripper mechanism 2 disposed within the roller 22.
It consists of 3. The gripper machine (t23 is a device that grips and holds the leading edge of the recording paper, and has a gripper piece 24a at one end.
A rod 24 having a diameter is slidably supported on the shaft 21, and a compression coil spring 25 is arranged around the rod 24, so that the other end of the rod 24 is supported slidably in the radial direction within the elongated hole 22a of the roller 22. The end of the bottle 26 is brought into contact with a cam 27 fixed to the side plate 1.degree. 2 via a cam follower 28.

The gripper piece 24a extends in the width direction of the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22, and blocks 24b are fixed to both ends. This block 24b is fitted into a recess 22b formed on the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22. Therefore, the block 24b of the gripper piece 24a is restrained within the recess 22b and does not rotate. The pin 26 has a cam follower 28 made of, for example, a ball bearing at both ends, and is in contact with a sliding surface 27a of the cam 27 via the cam follower 28. Gripper mechanism 23 configured in this way
Now, the state shown in Fig. 2, that is, the cam follower 2
8 is located on the convex portion 27b of the cam 27, the pin 26 is moved toward the center of the grip roller 22, and the pin 26 causes the gripper piece 24a to grip the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22 via the rod 24. A gap 2 is formed between the gripper piece 24a and the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22.
9 is formed. When the shaft 21 is rotated by the stepping motor 14, the grip roller 22 also rotates in the direction of the arrow.

Then, the cam follower 28 separates from the sliding surface 27a of the cam 27, and the force pressing the pin 26 toward the center of the roller 22 is released. Therefore, the rod 24 is slid in the direction of the pin 26 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 25,
Accordingly, the gripper piece 24a comes into pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22. When the grip roller 22 is further rotated, the cam follower 28 engages with the sliding surface 27a of the cam 27 again. Then, the pin 26 is pushed toward the center of the grip roller 22 via the cam follower 28, and the gripper piece 24a is thereby slightly separated from the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22. That is, the recording paper circulation means 20 equipped with the gripper mechanism 23 waits at the position shown in FIGS. The block 24b stops the receiver and accommodates it in the gap 29 between the gripper piece 24a and the peripheral surface of the grip roller 22.

Subsequently, when the grip roller 22 is rotated, the gripper piece 24a moves in the direction of the surface of the grip roller 22, and the gripper piece 24a and the circumferential surface of the grip roller 22 press and clamp the leading edge of the recording paper. . In this state, the grip roller 22 rotates approximately half a turn from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and releases the leading edge of the recording paper.

The recording paper supply means (second recording paper supply means) 30 includes a feed roller 33 consisting of a drive roller 31 and a pinch roller 32 coaxial with the grip roller 22 (
Figure 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the drive roller 31 has its shaft 34 supported at the tip of an arm 35 whose base end is rotatably supported on the drawing board 1.2. This arm 35 has a plunger 3 of an electromagnetic actuator 36.
6a and a spring 37 are provided, which cause the drive roller 31 to move toward and away from the pinch roller 32. Also, a shaft 38 supporting the arm 35 and a drive roller 31
Pulleys 39 and 40 are disposed on the shaft 34, and a timing belt 41 is wound between the pulleys 39 and 40.

The drive roller 31 is rotated by rotating the shaft 38 with the stepping motor 42 and transmitting the power to the shaft 34 via the boot 939, the timing belt 41, and the pulley 4o.

The pinch roller 32 is arranged between the grip rollers 22 on the shaft 21 as shown in FIG. 4, and the main portion 32a is fixed to the shaft 21 with a set screw 43 as shown in FIG. The main portion 32a of the pinch roller 32 has a long hole 3.
2b is provided through the elongated hole 32b, and the pin 26 described above is inserted into this elongated hole 32b. In addition, this pinch roller 32
A collar 32c is loosely fitted around the main portion 32a of the main portion 32a. The collar 32c is prevented from falling off from the main part 32a by flanges 32d, 32d formed on both sides of the main part 32a. When the driving roller 31 and the pinch roller 32 are in contact with each other, when the driving roller 31 is rotated, the pinch roller 32 is also rotated. but,
The pinch roller 32 only rotates the collar 32c.

The recording paper guide and storage means 5o temporarily stores the recording paper discharged from the recording means 1o, in cooperation with the recording paper circulation means 2o, until recording of the next color starts. As shown in FIG. 1, this recording paper guide/accommodating means 50 has one end facing the vicinity of the path switching means 60, the other end facing the vicinity of the drive roller 31, and an intermediate portion facing the recording paper accommodating means 70. A guide plate 51 is provided that extends along the guide plate 51, and a substantially central portion of the guide plate 51 is curved. Further, the recording paper guiding and accommodating means 50 includes a guide assisting means 52 that guides the recording paper along the guide plate 51. This guide assisting means 52 sucks the recording paper toward the guide plate 51 using negative pressure. In addition to forming a space S, a large number of holes 54 are formed in the curved center portion of the guide plate 51, and a blower 55 is provided on the outer surface of the curved center portion of the guide plate 51.
has been set up.

The path switching means 60 guides the recording paper discharged from the thermal recording head 12 to either the recording paper circulation means 20 or the recording paper ejection means 120 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, this path switching means 60 has a flapper 61, which is rotatably supported by a shaft 62 supported by the side plates 1 and 2. This flapper 61 has a plunger 63a of an electromagnetic solenoid 63.
is locked. A compression coil spring 64 is arranged around the plunger 63a, and this compression coil spring 6
4, the above-mentioned flapper 61 is positioned in the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, and guides the recording paper to the recording paper ejecting means 120. In addition, electromagnetic solenoid 6
3 is energized and excited, the flapper 61 moves to the position shown by the solid line and guides the recording paper to the recording paper circulation means 20.

The recording paper accommodating means 70 has a paper feed cassette 71 that is inserted and loaded from the right side in FIG. 1 into the lower part of the casing.

A plate 73 on which single sheet recording papers 72 are stacked is housed at the bottom of the paper feed cassette 71, and this plate 73 is urged upward by a compression coil spring 74.

The recording paper supply means (first recording paper supply means) 80 conveys the recording paper 72 from the recording paper storage means 70 to the recording means 10, and as shown in FIG. is equipped with a paper feed roller 81, and further includes a paper feed roller 81.
A recording paper feeding mechanism 82 is provided between the printer 1 and the recording means 10. The recording paper feeding mechanism 82 is composed of the drive roller 31 used in the second recording paper supply means 30 and a pinch roller 83 disposed at a fixed position.
As shown in FIG. 5, the electromagnetic solenoid 36 is energized,
By swinging the arm 35 downward, the drive roller 31 is brought into contact with the pinch roller 83. Therefore, under such a situation, the recording paper 72 between the rollers 31 and 83 is fed to the recording means 10.

The ink ribbon transport means 90 is for transporting the ink ribbon 91 between the platen roller 11 of the recording means 10 and the thermal recording head 12. ink ribbon 9
1. A heat-melting solid ink layer containing a coloring material corresponding to the color to be recorded is placed on an extremely thin base film such as paper or resin using a field sequential method, and the length of each color is the maximum length for recording. Three colors, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, four colors in addition to yellow, magenta, cyan, or black are painted in strips so that the length is equal to or slightly longer. The width of the ink ribbon 91 is equal to the width of the recording paper 7.
The width is equal to or slightly larger than 2.

This ink ribbon 91 is wound around a supply roll 92, and after being used for recording, is wound up by a take-up roll 93.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, these supply rolls 92 and take-up rolls 93 are connected to the pair of opposing side plates 1 described above.
, 2 is loaded inside. In FIGS. 7 and 8, two shafts 94.95 and 96.97 are implanted in each of the pair of side plates 1 and 2, and the reel 9 is attached to these shafts.
8.99 and 100°101 are loosely fitted. Of these reels, the reel 98,99 on the side plate 1 is provided with one or more protrusions 98a, 99a at its end, and the protrusions 98a, 99a are connected to the supply roll 92 and the take-up reel 9.
3, thereby locking the supply roll 92 and the take-up roll 93 to the reels 98 and 99. Furthermore, joint members 102 and 103 are loosely fitted to the shafts 94 and 95 between the reels 98 and 99 and the pair of side plates 1 and 2 described above. The joint members 102 and 103 have circles [102a and 103a] at one end, and friction plates 102b and 103b are attached to the discs. The joint members 102 and 103 are connected to a compression coil spring 104 disposed between the joint member and the side plate 1.
105 to the right in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the friction plate 102b.

Reels 98 and 99 are brought into pressure contact with supply roll 92 and take-up roll 93 via 103b. On the other hand, reel 1
00, 101 are biased to the left in FIGS. 7 and 8 by compression coil springs 106 and 107 disposed between the reel and the side plate 2,
The end faces of the rollers are pressed against the end faces of the supply roll 91 and the take-up roll 92. Further, in such an ink ribbon holding means, a rotational torque transmitting means, for example, a timing pulley 108 is fixed to the joint member 103 on the take-up roll 93 side. The timing pulley 108 is linked via a timing belt to a stepping motor (not shown) attached to either the side plates 1 or 2.

The ink ribbon 91 wound around the supply roll 92 and take-up roll 93 contacts the guide bar 109 fixed to the pair of side plates 1 and 2 shown in FIG. The guide bar 110 is disposed so as to pass between the head 12 and the guide bar 110 . Further, the ink ribbon conveying means 90 includes an ink ribbon 91
Ink ribbon detector 11 for detecting color boundary points of
1. This ink ribbon detector 111 sandwiches the ink ribbon 91 with a light emitting element 111a and a light receiving element 1.
11b is disposed, and it is detected that the tip of each color of the ink ribbon 91, which is divided into strips and painted separately, has arrived between the elements 111a and 1llb. The detection signal is used to determine the stop position of the ink ribbon 91.

The recording paper discharge means 120 is for guiding the recording paper on which color reception recording has been completed to the outside of the apparatus, that is, conveying it to the paper discharge tray 3 provided at the top of the apparatus.As shown in FIG. It has 121. The feed roller 121 includes a drive roller 122 and a pinch roller 123.
The shaft 122a of the drive roller 122 is linked to a stepping motor (not shown), while the shaft 123a of the pinch roller 123 is connected to a stepping motor (not shown).
23 is urged by a spring means (not shown) via a bearing so as to come into pressure contact with the drive roller 122.

A guide means 130 is provided between each of the above-mentioned means. The guide means 130 is formed by a guide plate, the guide plate 130a.

130b and 130c constitute transport paths 131, 132, and 133 for supplying the recording paper 72 to the recording means 10, and guide plates 130d and 130e.

Reference numeral 130f constitutes conveyance paths 134 and 135 for conveying the recording paper 72 discharged from the recording means 10 to the recording paper guide and storage means 50 or the paper discharge tray 3. And conveyance path 1
Conveyance path 133 formed in the part where 31 and 132 meet
A detector 136 is installed. This detector 13
6, a light emitting element 136a and a light receiving element 136b are arranged with a transport path 133 in between, and these elements and 136a.

It is detected that the leading edge of the recording paper 72 has reached the interval 136b. The detector 136 is for timing color recording.

FIG. 9 shows a control means 140 for operating the color facsimile receiving apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. That is, in FIG. 9, there is a line control section 141 that controls the connection with a color facsimile transmitter located at a remote location via a transmission line according to a predetermined procedure and inputs a facsimile signal, and a line control section 141 that detects the facsimile signal. , a modem 142 for demodulating and obtaining coded data, and a system control unit 14 centered on a microprocessor that controls the entire device including the operation panel based on the coded data.
3, a decoding unit 144 that restores an image signal to be recorded from encoded data according to a predetermined method procedure, a color conversion circuit 145 that converts the image signal into a recording signal for color printing, and the above-mentioned for frame sequential recording. A page memory 146 that temporarily stores recording signals for each color, a recording control unit 147 that includes, for example, density pattern conversion for gradation recording and control of the energizing pulse width to the heating resistor of the thermal recording head, and a stepping motor. , an electromagnetic solenoid, various detectors, etc., and a power supply device 149 that supplies various voltages and currents necessary for the operation of electronic circuits, thermal recording heads, motors, solenoids, etc.

Next, the function and operation of the color facsimile receiving apparatus will be explained.

First, a color facsimile transmission device placed in a remote location performs necessary color separation, encoding processing, modulation, etc. based on the image signal obtained by scanning a color document, and then sends it through a transmission line. A facsimile signal containing color information is received via a line control section 141, demodulated by a modem 142, and sent to a decoding section under the control of a system control section 143 of an electronic circuit having a block configuration shown in FIG. After being decoded by 144, the image signals separated into colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow by a color conversion circuit 145 are stored in a page memory 146. Based on the control signal from the system control unit 143, the mechanism control unit 1
48 functions to rotate the stepping motor (not shown) of the ink ribbon conveying means 90, and as described above, the ink ribbon 91, which is painted in three colors, for example, yellow, magenta, and cyan, is moved through the timing pulley 108. The material is fed through a guide bar 109, a platen roller 11, and a guide bar 110 in order to be wound onto a take-up roll 93 connected to a stepping motor. At this time, the take-up roll 93 rotates while slipping due to the joint member 103,
Furthermore, since the supply roll 92 is similarly braked by the joint member 102, the ink ribbon 91 is fed while maintaining a predetermined tension. And the ink ribbon detector 11
1 detects the leading edge of the color of the ink ribbon to be printed first, for example, the beginning of yellow, using the field sequential method. This detection signal is sent to the system control unit 143, and the rotation of the stepping motor is stopped via the mechanism control unit 148.
The feeding of the ink ribbon 91 is thereby temporarily stopped at a predetermined position.

Meanwhile, in parallel with the operation of the ink ribbon 91, the mechanism control unit 148 rotates the drive roller 31, energizes and excites the electromagnetic solenoid 36, lowers the free end of the arm 35, and moves the drive roller 31 to the pinch roller. 83. Furthermore, a stepping motor (not shown) starts rotating in a certain direction, for example, counterclockwise, and a paper feed roller 81 linked to the stepping motor via a one-way clutch (not shown) also rotates, causing the recording paper storage means 70 to rotate. The topmost sheet of recording paper 72 stacked in the paper feed cassette 71 is separated by utilizing the difference in the coefficient of friction between the recording paper, the rubber paper feed roller 81, and the recording paper. Then, it is sent out and guided to the conveyance path 131. Furthermore, the conveyance path 131
As shown in FIG. 10, the leading edge of the recording paper 72 fed to be provided.

In this way, the ink ribbon 91 and the recording paper 72 are fed simultaneously, but the leading edge of the recording paper 72 is detected by the detector 136 before reaching the recording means 10. This detection signal is sent to the system control section 143, and the timer means starts timing, and the ink ribbon conveying means 9
The ink ribbon 91 is rotated by the stepping motor 0.
start. While continuing to be fed, the recording paper 72 enters and is held between the rotating platen roller 11 and the ink ribbon 91 that is being fed. At this time, the yellow leading edge of the ink ribbon 91 and the leading edge of the recording paper 72 coincide and overlap. Then, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of time measurement by the timer means, that is, the ink ribbon 9
When the yellow end of No. 1 and the end of the recording paper 72 reach a position directly above or slightly beyond the heating resistor array, which is the recording position of the thermal recording head 12, the control of the system control section 143 described above is activated. So, the page memory 14
Of the image signals separated into three colors stored in 6,
First, an image signal corresponding to yellow color is read out and sent to the thermal recording head 12. The image signal is amplified by a driver mounted on the thermal recording head 12, energizes the heating resistor, generates Joule heat, locally heats the ink ribbon 91, and causes the yellow solid ink layer applied thereto to be heated. The image is melted and transferred to the recording paper 72 that is pressed against it, and a yellow image is first recorded in dots. Recording paper 72
The ink ribbons 91 and 91 are fed by the platen roller 11 while printing is performed sequentially at each scanning pitch as described above so that they are in close contact with each other and no misalignment occurs. After the yellow recording is completed, the recording paper 72 and the ink ribbon 91, which are still in close contact with each other, are fed as they are and reach the guide bar 110. Here, the ink ribbon 91 is rapidly rotated as shown in FIG. 1, but the recording paper tends to move straight due to its rigidity and peels off from the ink ribbon 91. The peeled recording paper 72 is guided by the flapper 61 of the path switching means 60 and moved to the right side in the figure, that is, the recording paper circulation means 2
The gripper piece 24a of No. 0 opens and enters the waiting grip roller 22. As yellow recording continues, the leading edge of the recording paper 72 fed by the platen roller 11 eventually collides with the gripper piece 24a and the bottom of the block 24b.

The details of the color recording mechanism using the frame sequential method, which is the gist of the present invention, will be explained below with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 11, 72 is recording paper, 91 is an ink ribbon, 11 is a platen roller, 12 is a thermal recording head, 22
is a grip roller, 24a is a gripper piece, and 31 is a drive roller. In FIG. 11(a), recording paper 7
2 is still fed, and the recording paper 72 is bent and slightly swollen, that is, the leading edge of the recording paper 72 completely collides with the gripper piece 24a and the bottom of the block 24b, and becomes perpendicular to the direction of travel. When the posture is adjusted, an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) attached to the shaft 21 of the grip roller 22 operates, and the grip roller 22 begins to rotate at the same circumferential speed as that of the platen roller 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the cam 27
is pushed toward the center of the grip roller 22 via the cam follower 28 and rod 24, and the gripper piece 24a
The bottle 26 that was being opened is now open, and the cam follower 28 is
7, the gripper piece 24a returns to its original position under the action of the compression coil spring 25.
closes and grips and holds the leading edge of the recording paper 72. and,
The grip roller 22 continues to rotate while holding the leading edge of the recording paper 72, and stops after rotating approximately half a rotation as shown in FIG. 11(b). Thereafter, the excitation of the electromagnetic solenoid 36 is cut off, and the drive roller 31 comes into contact with the pinch roller 32 coaxial with the grip roller 22 due to the biasing force of the tension spring 37.
The leading end of the recording paper 72 is pinched by this. During this time, the drive roller 31 is stopped. However, the recording of yellow color still progresses, and the recording paper 72 is sent one by one by the platen roller 11, so that the recording paper 72 is moved to the guide plate 51 of the guide/accommodating means 50 as shown in FIG. 11(C). It expands greatly to the right within the space S along the line.

When the recording paper 72 has expanded appropriately, the blower 55 is activated. Then, the air in the space S is discharged to the outside, and the resulting negative pressure moves the recording paper 72 toward the guide plate 51.
to draw to. When the yellow recording approaches the end and the end of the recording paper 72 reaches near the entrance of the recording means 10, the drive roller 31 and grip roller 22 are rotated again as shown in FIG. 11(d). Then, in the grip roller 22, the above-mentioned recording paper 72 of the gripper piece 24a
In other words, the cam follower 28 rides on the sliding surface 27a of the cam 27 in FIG. 2, and the gripper piece 24a opens via the pin 26.

By continuing to rotate the grip roller 22,
The leading edge of the recording paper 72 is completely opened. Meanwhile, recording paper 7
2 is conveyed by the drive roller 31, and the first
As shown in FIG. 1(e), the leading end enters between the rotating platen roller 11 and the ink ribbon 91 being fed as described above with reference to FIG. Here, if the length of each color of the ink ribbon 91 is set to be approximately equal to the length of the recording paper, the leading edge of the next color to be recorded, for example magenta, and the leading edge of the recording paper 72 can be coincide and overlap.

In this way, when the magenta tip of the ink ribbon 91 and the tip of the recording paper 72 reach a position directly above or far behind the heating resistor array, which is the recording position of the thermal recording head 12, the system control unit 143, among the image signals separated into three colors stored in the page memory 146, the image signal corresponding to magenta color is read out and sent to the thermal recording head 12. Then, a driver mounted on the thermal recording head 12 energizes the heating resistor to generate Joule heat, thereby causing the ink ribbon 9
1 is heated to melt the solid magenta ink layer applied thereto and transferred to the recording paper 72 which is pressed against it, thereby recording a magenta color image in the form of dots.

Thereafter, in the same process as in the case of yellow color recording, magenta color recording is performed on top of the already recorded yellow image.

In this way, a color image is recorded while sequentially overlapping each color of the ink ribbon 91, and when recording of the last color to be recorded, for example, cyan, is started by the thermal recording head 12, the mechanism control unit 148 The electromagnetic solenoid 63 of the switching means 60 is demagnetized, the flapper 61 is returned to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
The conveying path 13 of the recording paper ejecting means 120 is blocked.
Open the direction to 3. At the same time, the recording paper ejection means 1
A driving roller 122 linked to the stepping motor 20 (not shown) starts rotating, and two sets of feed rollers 121 operate. However, the recording paper 72 on which recording of the last color to be recorded, for example, cyan, has been completed is fed while being in close contact with the ink ribbon 91, and the recording paper 72 is fed to the guide bar 11.
Reach 0. Here, as described above, the ink ribbon 9
1 is rapidly rotated, the leading edge of the recording paper 72 tries to move straight due to its rigidity and peels off from the ink ribbon 91. In this way, the leading edge of the recording paper 72, which has been peeled off and a complete color received recorded image has been completed, is guided by the flapper 61 of the path switching means 60 and enters the conveyance path 134, as shown in FIG. 11(f). do. Thereafter, the recording paper 72 is discharged and placed onto a paper discharge tray 3 provided at the top of the apparatus by a feed roller 121. When the recording of one page of reception is completed, the mechanism control unit 148 also stops the rotation of the stepping motors (not shown) of the recording means 10 and the ink ribbon conveying means 90, thereby stopping the rotation of the platen roller 11, and also stops the rotation of the ink ribbon 91. supply will also be stopped. On the other hand, when the end of the recording paper 72 passes through the feed roller 121 and the recording paper 72 on which the color received recorded image is formed is completely discharged onto the paper discharge tray 3, the recording paper discharge means The rotation of the not-illustrated stepping motor 120 also stops.

With the above steps, one type of reception and recording operation in color facsimile communication is completed, and a received image identical to that of a color original is obtained.

The principle of subtractive color mixing in color recording is a well-known technique and will not be explained here, but when using the three colors yellow, magenta, and cyan as the solid ink layer colors of the ink ribbon, white, which is the background color of the recording paper, It is well known that eight colors can be reproduced and recorded by adding . Furthermore, if gradation recording is performed using a pseudo-halftone recording method such as the density pattern method, a large number of colors can be reproduced even with the three-color ink ribbon, for example, if the density of the heating element is 16 pels.
When performing gradation recording using the dither method using a 4x4 dot matrix using a thermal recording head of 4 pixels/
It is possible to record 4096 colors with a resolution of mm. It goes without saying that the color facsimile receiving and recording apparatus described in detail of the present invention can be preferably applied to any of the color recording methods described above, and also to recording apparatuses other than color facsimile, such as color copying machines and color printers. The same applies to

In addition, it is also possible to use multicolor recording methods that do not rely on subtractive color mixing, such as multicolor facsimile, which uses ink ribbons painted in strips to record in two colors, red and black. It goes without saying that the present invention can be preferably applied.

In the gripper mechanism 23 of the grip roller 22 in the recording means 10 of the above embodiment, the gripper piece 24a holds and releases the leading edge of the recording paper by a combination of a compression coil spring 25 and a cam 27. However, it can also be suitably realized using other means, such as an electromagnetic solenoid, and is not limited to the embodiments.

Furthermore, the flapper 51 of the path switching means 50 in the recording means 10 opens the direction of the recording paper toward the recording paper circulation means 20 by energizing the electromagnetic solenoid 54, and changes the direction of the recording paper toward the recording paper ejection means 120. However, by energizing the electromagnetic solenoid 54, the recording paper ejecting means 12 is closed.
Alternatively, the direction toward 0 may be opened, and the direction toward the recording paper circulation means 20 may be closed.

Furthermore, the recording paper can be used not only as a single-sheet recording paper cut into a predetermined size as in this embodiment, but also as a roll-shaped recording paper in the same way as described above. That is,
A recording paper cutting means such as an auto cutter is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 131 of the recording paper supply means 80, and the system control unit 143
In response to this command, the recording paper cutting means may be operated via the mechanism control unit 148 so that the recording paper becomes the same size as the transmitted document.

In addition, although the thermal recording head of this embodiment uses a line scanning type to electronically scan and record, it is also possible to use a flying type thermal recording head to mechanically scan and record across the recording paper. The present invention can also be preferably applied to color recording devices such as color printers.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained in detail above, in the color image recording by the field sequential method of thermal transfer recording to which the present invention is applied, the leading edge of the recording paper is captured every time recording of one color is completed, and the recording paper is The leading edge of the paper is moved to the inlet side of the thermal recording head and held there, while all other parts of the recording paper are left slack, and the paper is moved at a predetermined timing when the trailing edge of the recording paper finishes recording. Then, the holding operation of the leading edge of the recording paper is released, and the recording paper is overlapped with the ink ribbon and pressed between the thermal recording head and the platen roller to perform recording of the next color.

Therefore, the wasted time required for the reciprocating movement of the recording paper each time one color is recorded as described in the conventional example can be extremely reduced, and there is an excellent advantage that color recording can be performed at high speed.

Furthermore, the long space for temporarily accommodating the recording paper during the reciprocation of the recording paper in the conventional example becomes unnecessary by applying the present invention, which is advantageous in terms of miniaturization of the apparatus.

Further, it is also possible to keep the thermal recording head in constant pressure contact with the platen roller without performing separation control. For this reason, as in the conventional case, the ink ribbon may be returned together with the recording paper, or the forcible rubbing against the ink ribbon may cause stains on the surface of the recording paper, impairing the image quality. Therefore, the device can be simplified.

Furthermore, after the start of recording, the leading edge of the recording paper is held by the recording paper circulation means for most of the process.
Since the free period is short, it is possible to reduce the skew of the recording paper and the cumulative error in the stroke, so compared to the conventional method that uses reciprocating movement of the recording paper, color shift is extremely small and high-quality color images can be obtained. It has the advantage of being able to

Furthermore, during color recording, only the leading edge of the recording paper is held and the rest of the paper is allowed to sag naturally without being restrained, and the guide auxiliary means allows the recording paper to follow the guide plate, so paper jams can be avoided. troubles can be reduced. Furthermore, since the ink ribbon can be fed independently from the platen roller of the thermal recording head, it is possible to use recording paper of any size. If a cutting means such as an auto cutter is used, it has the excellent feature that a received color image of the same size as the transmitted original can always be obtained.

On the other hand, since recording can be performed using a small diameter platen roller,
Circulating the recording paper does not require a specially shaped thermal recording head, unlike the conventional drum platen system similar to the present invention, and furthermore, the circumference does not need to be longer than the length of the recording paper. This eliminates the need for a drum-shaped platen with a certain large diameter, which has the advantage of making the apparatus compact and inexpensive.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view conceptually showing the configuration of a color facsimile receiving device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional side view showing a recording paper circulation means of the device, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the recording paper. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the circulation means, FIG.
6 is a vertical sectional view of the pinch roller in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing the recording paper supply means and the second recording paper co-supply means. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pinch roller in FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a structure for holding an ink ribbon take-up roll. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a control system of a color facsimile receiving apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a conceptual cross-sectional view of a color facsimile receiving device showing the state in which recording paper is fed to the recording means, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing each process of color recording according to the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a plan view showing a part of a conventional color recording ink ribbon, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are conceptual diagrams showing a conventional color recording system. 1.2... Side plate, 3... Paper discharge tray, 10... Recording means, 11... Platen roller, 12... Thermal recording head, 20... Recording paper circulation means, 21... ·shaft,
22...Grip roller, 23...Gripper mechanism,
24a...Gripper piece, 27...Cam, 30...
Second recording paper supply means, 31... Drive roller, 32.
...Pinch roller, 33...Feed roller, 50.
...Recording paper guide storage means, 51...Guide plate,
52... Guide assisting means, 53... Side plate, 54...
Hole, 55...Blower, 60...Course switching means, 61
... Flapper, 70... Recording paper storage means, 71...
-Paper feed cassette, 72...Recording paper, 80...First recording paper supply means, 81...Paper feed roller, 90...Ink ribbon transport means, 91...Ink ribbon, 92...
... Supply roll, 93 ... Winding roll, 11 ... Ink ribbon detector, 120 ... Recording paper ejection means, 12
1... Feed roller, 130... Guide means, 13
1, 132. 133. 134. 135... Conveyance path, 140... Facun millimeter control means. Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 71 Figure 10 70 (a) (b) Figure 11 (C (d) (e)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A recording paper and an ink ribbon formed by periodically repeating solid ink layers of different colors to form a band are superimposed on each other, and as they are conveyed, a thermal recording head transfers the ink to the recording paper to perform recording. capture the leading edge of the recording paper ejected from the recording unit, move the leading edge of the recording paper to the entrance side of the recording unit, and make the leading edge of the recording paper wait at the entrance of the recording unit; a recording paper circulation means, a recording paper guiding and accommodating means forming a space with a guide plate and a side plate, and guiding and accommodating a portion of the recording paper discharged from the recording means except for the leading edge in the space; guiding auxiliary means for causing the recording paper guided into the space of the recording paper guide/accommodating means to follow the guide plate using air pressure;
1. A color image recording apparatus comprising: recording paper supply means for feeding a leading edge of a recording paper that is kept at an entrance of said recording means to said recording means in order to perform recording of the next color.