JPS6246667A - Color thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an inexpensive and compact color thermal transfer recorder capable of uniformly feeding a recording paper, by a method wherein a recording paper is once paid out by a predetermined amount according to a printing region before the start of recording in the first color, and is contained into a recording paper containing part in the recorder in the state of being folded in two. CONSTITUTION:With a recording-starting signal inputted, an ink sheet 15 is first fed so that the starting position for recording in the first color is brought to the position 10a of heating elements of a thermal head 10, and a platen roller 11 is rotated to feed the recording paper 14 in the direction of arrow C by a predetermined amount L according to the printing region. Next, the platen roller 11 is reversely rotated to feed the paper 14 in the direction of arrow D into the recording paper containing paper 21 provided between the platen roller 11 and a member 19 for smoothing off a curl of the paper, and paper 14 is rewound to the recording-starting position. When preparation for recording is completed, the head 10 separated from platen roller 11 at non- recording time is pressed against roller 11, thereby clamping the paper 14 and the ink sheet 15 between the head 10 and the roller 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention uses ink sheets coated in multiple colors to reciprocate a roll of recording paper corresponding to each color of the ink sheet, The present invention relates to a color thermal transfer recording device that performs color recording.

(Prior Art) A conventional color thermal transfer recording device is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 199671, its configuration was as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, the ink sheet 4 has three colored ink surfaces of yellow, magenta, and cyan, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, and color recording is performed using this ink sheet 4. Nine.

That is, the ink sheet 4 is held between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 2 together with the recording paper 3, and is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

Thermal head 1 driven by the input image signal at this time
The heated ink layer on the ink sheet 1-4 is thermally transferred onto the recording paper 3 and recording is performed.

When the recording of the first color is completed, the thermal head 1 separates the platen roller 2, and only the recording paper 3 is returned to the printing start position in the direction of arrow B in the figure, and the state becomes ready for recording with the second color ink. , color recording is performed on the recording paper 3 by repeating the above-described operations for the third color.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in general, with such a configuration, when recording the first color, the recording paper 3 is connected to the platen roller 4 and the pinch roller.
5, the recording paper 3 is pulled out from the recording paper roll 3a while the second and third colors are returned in the direction of arrow B, and then the slack recording paper 3 is moved along with the transfer sheet 4 to the arrow 6 in the figure. It is designed to record by conveying it in the direction.

In other words, since the inertia and pack tension of the recording paper 3 are different when recording the first color and when recording the second and subsequent colors, uneven feeding of the recording paper (that is, color misalignment during color recording) occurs between the first and second colors. There is a problem that it is easy to
This degrades the quality of recorded images when color recording is performed by moving the recording paper back and forth.

In addition, in JP-A-57-174276, a roll of recording paper is sent out and rewound using a special motor, so all three colors are transported back and forth under the same conditions, but the use of a motor is expensive. There was a problem with becoming.

Therefore, the present invention can reduce the unevenness in feeding the recording paper (and thus color shift) during recording of the first color and subsequent recordings without using a motor or the like.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a color thermal transfer recording device having an inexpensive and compact configuration.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a system in which recording paper for each color of an ink sheet is conveyed back and forth under the same conditions, so that recording of the first color is started. The recording paper is once fed out by a predetermined amount according to the printing area until the recording paper is printed, and then the recording paper is folded in half and stored again in the recording paper storage section provided in the device, in preparation for recording. be.

(Function) By doing this, the inertia of the recording paper roll and the pack tension of the recording paper are always the same in the reciprocating state of the recording paper for each color of the ink sheet during recording. Uneven feeding between the first color and the second color (
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a color thermal transfer printer that is inexpensive, compact, and has excellent recorded image quality, in which color misregistration (color shift) is reduced, and a recording paper rewind motor is not used.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment showing the configuration of a color thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a thermal head 10 having a linear heating element is provided at a position facing a platen roller 11. As shown in FIG. Further, a pinch roller 12 and a recording paper guide roller 13 are provided on the outer periphery of the platen roller 11.

Recording paper guide member 1 rotatably provided around a support shaft 20
6 is provided with the recording paper guide roller 13 and a convex recording paper guide surface 17.

A recording paper curl removal member 19 having an etched portion 18 is used to remove curls in the rolled recording paper 14 by squeezing the recording paper 14 with the etched portion 18. Paper storage section 21 (space)
It is provided so as to form a

The ink sheet 15 is painted separately for each color with ink such as yellow, magenta, cyan, etc.
The ink sheet is guided from the supply roll 15a to the take-up roll 15b via an ink sheet guide 22.

Further, the recording paper 14 is moved from the recording paper roll 14a to the guide 23.
The recording paper is guided to the edge portion 18 of the recording paper curl removal member 19 through the recording paper guide member 16, and while being squeezed, the recording paper passes through the recording paper guide surface 17 of the recording paper guide member 16 and is wound around the platen roller 11 by the guide roller 13 and the pinch roller 12. At the same time, it is conveyed while being held between the rollers.

Next, to briefly explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, normally,
When printing, first print the first color (for example, yellow ink side) of the ink sheet 15 in accordance with the manual input of the printing start signal.
The recording start position is set to the heating element position 10 of the thermal head 10.
At the same time, as shown in FIG. 2, the platen roller 11 is rotated to feed the recording paper 14 in the direction of arrow C by a predetermined amount (L) corresponding to the printing area.

Next, the platen roller 11 is reversed, the recording paper 14 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and the recording paper 14 is fed into the recording paper storage section 21 provided between the platen roller 11 and the recording paper curl removing member 19. Rewind to the recording start position and complete recording preparation.

Record I? ! When the preparation is completed, the thermal helenoids 1 to 10, which were separated during non-recording, are suppressed by the platen roller 11,
A recording paper 14 and an ink sheet 1-15 are held between the platen roller 10 and the platen roller 10.

Recording paper 1 recently fed into the recording paper storage section 21=
1 is stored in the recording paper storage section 21 in a folded state, as shown in FIG.

The recording paper guide surface 17 of the recording paper guide member 16 is provided in a convex shape facing the recording paper storage section 21 (space) provided between the platen roller 11 and the recording paper curl removing member H1. This is because the waist of the recording paper 14 is folded by the guide 17 as a result.

, When recording i12, when one color [1 recording signal is input, the thermal is selectively changed according to the human input signal/\)+-;10
The heating element 10a generates heat, and recording is performed by conveying the recording paper 14 and the ink cartridge h15 in the direction of arrow C by the platen roller 11.

The recording sheets 14 and 5 transported while recording are being separated from each other, and the used ink sheets 15 used for recording are wound onto a roll 15b. Also,】
, the recording paper 14 on which color printing has been completed is moved to the platen roller 1.
1 and pinch roller 12. In addition,
At this time, the recording paper 14 in the recording paper storage section 21 is smoothly fed out.

When the recording of the first color is completed, the rotation of the platen roller 11 is stopped, the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 11 are separated, and the recording start position of two colors 15 (for example, magenta) is placed on the ink sheet 1 by the heating element. At the same time as being conveyed to position 10a, recording paper 14 is again conveyed in the direction of arrow 1°) by platen roller 11.

As shown in Figure 3, the recording paper is stored in the recording paper storage section 21 again.
Recording of 2 colors 1] is completed.

When the recording preparation for 2 colors 1 is completed, the same recording operation as 1 color 1 is repeated to complete the recording.

For the 33rd color, record the 1st color [J: by repeating the same operation as 11 for the 1st and 2nd colors.

Note that after the recording of the 33rd color is completed, the recording paper 14 is not stored in the recording paper storage section 21, but is transported in the direction of arrow C as it is.

That is, color recording 8 is performed on the same recording paper using 33 colors of ink while the recording paper is moved back and forth.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the state of the recording paper (conveyance conditions) during the recording operation of the first to third colors
Since this is always kept at 1, it is possible to prevent uneven feeding of the recording paper (color shift) due to zero or non-uniform back tension or variations in the back tension.

In addition, we have developed a color thermal transfer recording device that does not require a special motor for rewinding the recording paper, and can obtain high-quality color recorded images at a low cost and a compact size. It is possible.

In this embodiment, a recording paper conveyance system including a platen roller 11, a pinch roller 12, and a guide roller 13 is shown. Similar effects can be obtained even in the case of a configuration in which a conveying means is provided (for example, a capstan roller and a pinch roller).

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, when performing color recording by transfer using an ink sheet coated in a plurality of colors, the present invention provides the following advantages: After sending out a fixed amount, the paper is stored in the recording paper storage section with the paper returned, and prepared for recording. Therefore, it is possible to provide a color thermal 4υ-photographic recording device that can obtain high-quality recorded images at low cost without adding a motor or the like.

In addition to this, when the recording paper that has been sent out is rewound and stored, it can be easily stored in the recording paper storage section without causing wrinkles or the like by folding the recording paper. Because of this, it does not take up too much unwinding space within the device, and the recording paper transport system is also shortened, making it more efficient, making it a highly reliable color thermal transfer that is small, lightweight, and produces fewer paper jams. It is possible to provide a recording device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment showing the configuration of the color thermal transfer recording device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a state diagram of the color thermal transfer recording device when a predetermined amount of recording paper is fed out, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of the recording paper. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the ink sheet is stored in a recording paper storage section, FIG. 4 shows a state during recording, FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus, and FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an ink sheet. IO... Thermal head, 11... Platen roller, 12... Pinch roller-1 13... Recording paper guide roller, 14... Recording paper,
15... Ink sheet, 16... Recording paper guide member, 17... Recording paper guide surface, 19... Curling removal member, 21... Recording paper storage section. Patent applicant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 3 + 5b Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pair of platen rollers and a pinch roller that pinch and convey a roll of recording paper; a recording paper guide member having a guide surface that guides the recording paper; and a pair of platen rollers and a pinch roller that pinch and convey a roll of recording paper; The guide surface of the recording paper guide member is provided in a convex shape facing the recording paper housing part, and once the recording paper is sent out, it is placed in the recording paper housing part twice. A color thermal transfer recording device characterized by being rewound and stored in a folded state.