JPS6241059A - Thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform satisfactory transfer and recording onto ordinary paper with poor smoothness by thermally transferring and recording a heat-melting ink pattern of a positive image on the base film of an ink carrier onto paper to be transferred with a heating means and removing the heat-melting ink pattern of a negative image using a cleaning means. CONSTITUTION:Heat-melting ink on an ink ribbon 11 is melted by a thermal head 17 and transferred onto a platen roller 14 and an ink pattern of a positive image 16 which has a mirror image relationship with a recorded image is formed. The ink ribbon 11 has its positive image forming surface fitted to paper to be transferred 20 at a position where said ribbon 11 is pressed and held between a heater 18 and a platen roller 21. The ink pattern of a positive image on the base film of an ink ribbon 11 is melted an transferred, recorded on the paper 20 as an image corresponding to an original recorded image. Further, the ink pattern of a negative image 15 transferred onto the platen roller 14 is removed and cleaned by a cleaner 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly to a thermal transfer printer that can perform good recording even on plain paper having a highly uneven surface such as glue paper.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a technology in such a field, there was one described in the Journal of the Institute of Image Electronics Engineers, 12 C4) (1983) P, 285-291. The configuration will be explained below using figures.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional thermal transfer printer, in which a thermal head 1, a platen row 22. Appropriate static pressure is applied between the platen roller 2 and the device board 1, which is made up of an ink ribbon 5 consisting of a heat-melting ink layer 3 and a base film 4, and a transfer paper 6, and The paper 6 is sandwiched between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2 in a state where it is overlapped with the ink ribbon 5.

The recording process in this device is as follows.

First, by inputting a signal corresponding to a recorded image to the thermal head 1, the thermal head 1 generates heat with a heat distribution according to the signal. The heat-melting ink 3 applied with the ink IJ&N 5V is activated by heating due to the thermal distribution of the thermal head 1 and has a low viscosity. The image is transferred onto transfer paper 6. The transferred heat-melting ink is fixedly recorded on the transfer paper 6 through a peeling process.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional apparatus described above, the characteristics of the surface of the paper to be transferred, which serves as an ink receptor, have a large effect on image quality through the transfer rate. According to the above literature, when a transfer probability of 50 es or more is taken as a standard, the surface smoothness of the paper to be transferred needs to be 500 seconds or more when measured by the Peck method, and the surface smoothness of 200 seconds or more is also required for character recording. It is reported that there is.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining transfer recording on plain paper with low surface smoothness in a conventional apparatus.

FIG. 3 (,) shows that the plain paper 6 is in contact with the ink ribbon 5 consisting of the heat-melting ink layer 3 and the base film 4 without being pressurized. There is a space between the paper surface and the heat-melting ink. FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing the state in which the plain paper 6 and the ink ribbon 5 are pressed by the platen roller 2 and the thermal head 1 (not shown). It can be seen that it is decreasing. Here, in the conventional apparatus, transfer missing on plain paper occurs when the recording pixel just hits the space, as shown in FIG.
is not in contact with the plain paper 6 in this state, so the ink 2 is not transferred. The only way to prevent this transfer is to increase the pressure applied between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2, eliminate the space between the ink ribbon 5 and the paper surface, or use paper with a smooth surface.However, there is a limit to the pressure that can be applied. Ash,
Until now, it was only possible to print on highly smooth paper because it was not possible to apply enough pressure to make the paper surface sufficiently smooth.

If you look at the part where the ink has not melted as a plate, you can see Figure 3 (
In c), an intaglio is formed approximately, and there are many similarities with conventional thermal transfer printers, such as the need for high compressibility and smoothness of the paper surface during intaglio printing. Also, Figure 3 (C
] In order to reduce the viscosity of the ink and improve the transfer, if the heat generation amount of the thermal head 1 is increased, the area of the melted ink 2 increases as shown in Fig. 3(d), and the transfer is improved, but the image is It also had the disadvantage of becoming fat and big.

However, with conventional thermal transfer printers, it has been impossible to record images of sufficient quality on plain paper that has a smoothness of only a few grains.

The present invention eliminates the drawback that the thermal transfer printer described above cannot record images of sufficient quality on recording paper with low smoothness, and can perform good transfer and recording even on plain paper with low smoothness such as pound paper. An object of the present invention is to provide a new thermal transfer printer.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve all of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a thermal transfer printer that thermally transfers and records a heat-melting ink on a transfer paper. has a heat-melting ink layer formed thereon, has an @ corresponding to the negative image transfer medium, and is disposed such that the ink-forming surface is in contact with the negative image transfer medium at a predetermined position. The device selectively generates heat in response to an ink carrier and an external signal, and selectively heats the ink carrier at the predetermined position to generate heat of the negative image of the recorded image on the negative image transfer medium. a thermal printing means for thermally transferring a fusible ink pattern to form a hot fusible ink pattern of a positive image in a mirror image relationship with the recorded image on the base film of the ink carrier; a heating means for heating and melting the heat-melting ink pattern of the positive image and thermally transfer recording it onto the transfer paper; and removing the heat-melt ink pattern of the negative image thermally transferred onto the negative image transfer medium. The cleaning means is also provided.

(Function) According to the present invention, since the thermal transfer printer is configured as described above, the heat-fusible ink pattern of the negative image of the recorded image is thermally transferred onto the negative image transfer medium using the thermal printing means. After forming a thermofusible ink pattern of a positive image that is a mirror image of the recorded image on the base film of the ink carrier, a heating means is used to form the thermofusible ink pattern of a positive image on the base film of the ink carrier. Thermal transfer recording can be performed on transfer paper. Further, since the heat-melting ink marks of the negative image on the negative image transfer medium are removed using the cleaning means, the surface of the negative image transfer medium is always smoothed immediately before the negative image is transferred.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows a serial type thermal transfer printer. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a recording carriage, which is movable in the main scanning direction A by guide means (not shown). This recording carriage 10 includes a long ink ribbon 11 formed by forming a heat-melting ink layer on a base film, and a support roller 1 that winds and supports the ink ribbon 11.
2a.

12b, guide rollers 13a and 13b for guiding the ink ribbon 11, a platen row 214 having a sufficiently smooth surface and serving as an endless negative image transfer medium, and a platen row 214 provided opposite to the platen row 214; Ink ribbon 11 in cooperation with 214
Thermal head 17 forms an ink pattern of a positive image 16 on the base film of the ink ribbon 11 by pressurizing and holding the ink ribbon and transfers the negative image 15 onto the grating roller 14. A heater 18 is provided for heating and melting the ink pattern of the positive image 16 formed thereon, and a cleaner 19 is provided for removing the ink pattern of the negative image 15 transferred onto the platen row 214. 20 is a transfer paper. A platen roller 21 is provided to face the heater 18 across the main scanning width of the recording carriage 10, and cooperates with the heater 18 to press and sandwich the transfer paper 20 and the ink ribbon 11. Note that a heat roll or a thermal head may be used in place of the heater 18.

Next, the transfer recording operation of this embodiment will be explained. The ink ribbon 11 is supported by a support roller 12a.

12b is sent in the direction of arrow B), and the heat-fusible ink layer side thereof comes into contact with the platen roller 14 at a position where it is sandwiched between the thermal head 17 and the platen roller 14. At this time, when a black-and-white inverted image of the recorded image, that is, a negative image signal, is given to the thermal head 17 from a control unit (not shown), the thermal head 17 selectively generates heat in response to this signal, causing the ink on the thermofusible ink 711 to melt. melt.

The molten ink forms a negative image 1 on the platen roller 14.
As a result, an ink pattern of a positive image 16 which is a mirror image of the recorded image is formed on the base film of the ink liner 11. Ink ribbon 1 on which an ink pattern of positive image 16 is formed
1 is sent to a position where it is pressed and held between a heater 18 and a platen roller 21, and at this position, its positive image forming surface is brought into contact with the transfer paper 20. The ink pattern of the positive image on the base film of the inkliso 711 is then heated by the heater 18 and melted, and is transferred and recorded onto the transfer paper 20 as an image corresponding to the original recorded image.

Further, the ink pattern of the negative image 15 transferred onto the platen roller 14 is removed and cleaned by a cleaner 19.

When one line of transfer recording is completed as the recording carriage 10 moves, the platen row 221 rotates to feed the transfer paper 20 in the sub-scanning direction in preparation for the next transfer recording.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a line printing type thermal transfer printer.

In Fig. 4, 30 is the transfer paper, and 3 is the transfer paper 30.
A wide and long ink sheet 32a having a width corresponding to
, 32b is a support roller that winds and supports the ink sheet 31, 33 is a guide roller that guides the ink sheet 31, and 34 is an endless roller having a sufficiently smooth surface and a width corresponding to the width of the ink sheet 3. A platen roller 35 serving as a negative image transfer medium is provided opposite to the platen roller 34 and is connected to the platen roller 234.
The ink i'! of the positive image 37 is transferred onto the base film of the ink sheet 31 by pressing and holding the ink sheet 31 in cooperation with the ink sheet 31 and transferring the negative image 36 onto the platen roller 34. ? 38 is a cleaner for removing and cleaning the ink pattern of the negative image 36 transferred onto the platen roller 34; 39 is an ink cartridge for the positive image formed on the base film of the ink sheet 31; A heater 40 for heating and melting the turns is a platen roller that is provided opposite the heater 39 and cooperates with the heater 39 to press and sandwich the transfer paper 30 and the ink sheet 31.

The transfer recording operation of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment described above, so a description thereof will be omitted. In contrast, in this second embodiment, transfer recording is performed by a line printing method using an ink sheet or the like.

The above 1. The cleaner used in the second embodiment is a doctor blade type cleaner that removes ink from the surface, or a solvent such as felt or the like (for example, tetrachloroethylene, fluorotrichloromethane, trifluoroethane, etc.).
It is possible to use a type that dissolves and removes the ink pattern of the negative image on the medium to which the negative image is transferred.

In addition, the above-mentioned No. 1. In the second embodiment, a thermal head is used as a thermal printing means that selectively applies heat to form a positive image or a negative image with respect to a recorded image, but a laser light source is used instead of this thermal head. Alternatively, heat may be applied selectively. Also, the above-mentioned No. 1. In the second embodiment, a disposable type of ink cartridge or ink sheet was shown, but instead of this, ink can be applied to an endless ink carrier such as an endless sheet as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-16915. You can also use a type that can be recycled.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned No. 1. In the second embodiment, a platen roller is used as the endless negative image transfer medium, but an endless sheet or an endless sheet may be used instead.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining transfer recording on plain paper with low surface smoothness according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a thermofusible ink 8 as a positive image is placed on the base film 81 of the ink cancer at the transfer position to the transfer paper 80.
2, the space between the transfer paper 80 and the heat-melting ink 82 is much smaller than in the conventional example described in FIG. 3 above. Here, the heat melt ink 82 is sufficiently heated by the heat roll 83 (or thermal head), and even if the viscosity of the heat melt ink is reduced, the heat melt ink remains only in the image area. The image can be transferred and recorded with sufficient image quality even on plain paper with low smoothness without producing thick lines as shown in FIG. 3(d).

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is heat-melting ink only in the portion corresponding to the recorded image on the ink sheet or ink sheet in contact with the transfer paper.
Even if the ink is sufficiently melted by heating means such as a heater, heat roll, or thermal head, the image will not thicken, and the ink will come into good contact with the transfer paper surface, making it smooth like sandpaper. Good transfer recording can be performed even on recording paper with a low degree of strength. Furthermore, since the cleaning means is provided to remove the ink and base turns of the negative image transferred onto the negative image transfer medium, good ink and base turns of the negative image are always formed on the negative image transfer medium. This will allow you to fill ink sheets or ink sheets with a latin roller.

A thermofusible ink pattern with a good positive image is always formed on the film.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a thermal transfer printer that has excellent transfer characteristics and can always perform stable transfer recording.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional device, and FIG.
, ) to (d) are diagrams for explaining transfer recording on plain paper with low surface smoothness in a conventional apparatus, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining transfer recording on plain paper with low surface smoothness according to the present invention. 10... Recording carriage; 11... Increden;
12a, 12b, 32a, 32b-support roller: 13F
Ls13b, 33... Guide roller; 14, 34...
・Platen roller for negative image transfer: 15, 36...
Negative image; 16,37...Positive image", 17.35.
...Thermal head', 18.39...Heater", 1
9.38...Cleaner", 20.30...Transfer paper; 21,40...Patent applicant Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Pro 1,7M No. 1 Figure qm #) M tail printer blow, 71!b Figure 2

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A thermal transfer printer that thermally transfers and records heat-fusible ink on transfer paper, which has an endless negative image transfer medium and a heat-fusible ink layer formed on a base film, the negative image an ink carrier having a width corresponding to the transfer medium and disposed such that its ink-forming surface contacts the negative image transfer medium at a predetermined position; and an ink carrier that selectively generates heat in response to an external signal. The base film of the ink carrier is heated by selectively applying heat to the ink carrier at the predetermined position to thermally transfer a heat-fusible ink pattern of a negative image of the recorded image onto the negative image transfer medium. a thermal printing means for forming a thermofusible ink pattern of a positive image that is a mirror image of the recorded image; and a thermal printing means for heating and melting the thermofusible ink pattern of a positive image formed on the base film of the ink carrier to A thermal transfer printer comprising: a heating device for thermal transfer recording on a transfer paper; and a cleaning device for removing a heat-fusible ink pattern of a negative image thermally transferred onto the negative image transfer medium. (2) The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the negative image transfer medium is any one of a platen roller, an endless ribbon, and an endless sheet. (3) The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the thermal printing means is either a thermal head or a laser light source. (4) The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the heating means is any one of a heater, a heat roll, and a thermal head. (5) The thermal transfer printer according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning means is either a doctor blade or felt impregnated with a solvent.