JPS6280075A - Thermal transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the efficiency in using an ink film, prolong the interval of replacements of the ink film and reduce the running cost, by a system wherein when a non-printing region in printing data is in excess of a preset number of lines, pressing of a line-type thermal head against a platen is released, taking-up of an ink film is stopped, and only a recording paper is fed at a high velocity. CONSTITUTION:When the number A of non-printing lines in printing data is larger than a preset number of lines, a recording paper 12 is fed by the distance F between the position D of heating elements and a point E for releasing the paper 12 and an ink film 5 from each other, after printing a line B. A solenoid 8 is energized to attract a plunger 8A, thereby separate a line-type thermal head 1 from a platen 4. At this time, a take-up motor 14 is stopped, thereby stopping the taking-up of the ink film. The recording paper is fed by paper- feeding rollers 6, 7 at a velocity higher than that at the time of printing until a position immediately precedent to the next printing line is brought to a printing position, when the solenoid 8 is deenergized, the thermal head 1 is again pressed against the platen 4, and printing is restarted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printer, and particularly to a thermal transfer printer that increases the efficiency of ink film use, has low running costs, and is suitable for high-speed printing.

[Background of the invention]

Generally, printing formats for forms and slips often have a large number of lines in non-printing areas, as shown in FIG.

When printing such forms and slips with a conventional thermal transfer printer, the ink film and recording paper are sent overlappingly by a platen, so no matter how small the printing area is, the ink film is consumed by the length of the recording paper. Become. For this reason, the efficiency of using the ink film is low and the running cost is high, which is a major drawback for commercial use that is frequently used, and conventional devices have not taken care of this point. In addition, let's talk about related technology.

For example, JP-A-59-110649, JP-A-60-23
There are issues such as No. 91.

[Purpose of the invention]

The object of the invention is in a thermal transfer printer.

The objective is to improve the usage efficiency of the ink film, lengthen the ink film replacement cycle, reduce running costs, and at the same time enable high-speed printing.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention releases the pressing force of the platen and the line-type thermal head to stop winding of the ink film when the number of non-print areas in the print data is greater than the set number of lines.
Only the recording paper is conveyed at high speed.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the thermal transfer printer according to the present invention during printing.

A line type thermal head 1 attached to a head bracket 2 is pressed against a platen 4 by a pressing spring 3 with an ink film 5 and recording paper sandwiched therebetween. The head bracket 2 is connected to a plunger 8A of a solenoid 8, and when the solenoid 8 is energized, the head bracket 2 rotates around a rotation center 9 as shown in FIG.

It is possible to separate the line type thermal head 1 from the platen 4.

The platen 4 and paper conveyance rollers 6.7 disposed before and after the platen 4 are driven by a drive motor 13 and driven by a gear belt or the like (
(not shown) to convey the recording sheet I2.

During printing, the ink film 5 is moved through a slip clutch (not shown) by the film winding motor 14.

It is wound up. At this time, the rotational speed of the film winding motor 14 is set so as to be always greater than the amount by which the recording paper 12 is fed by the platen 4, so that tension is applied to the ink film 5 during printing to prevent wrinkles from forming.

When printing as shown in FIG. 3, if the number of non-printing lines A in the print data is larger than the set number of lines, after printing the line B, the heating element position 1, the recording paper 12, and the ink film 5 are The recording paper is fed a distance F from the peeling point E, and the plunger 8A is attracted by energizing the solenoid 8.

Remove the line type thermal head 1 from the platen 4. This state is shown in Figure 2. At this time, the winding motor 14 is stopped to stop winding the ink film. The recording paper is transported by the paper transport roller 6.7 at a higher speed than the printing speed until it reaches the first printing line (C in Fig. 3), and the solenoid 8 is energized and the thermal head 1 is brought into pressure contact with the platen 4 again. , resume printing.

According to this embodiment, the ink film 101 can be made almost the same as the printing area, and the consumption amount of the ink film can be greatly reduced. At the same time, since the non-printing area is transported at high speed, the recording time can be greatly reduced. Can be shortened.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to consume only the ink film of approximately the same length as the printing area, which improves the efficiency of ink film usage, lengthens the ink film replacement cycle, reduces running costs, and at the same time shortens printing time. There is,

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the printing area of a conventional slip or the like. l...Line type thermal head. 2...Head bracket. 3... Pressing spring, 4... Platen. 5... Ink film, 6... Paper Fl&io
-La. 7...Paper transport roller, 8...Solenoid. 8A...Solenoid plunger. 9... Center of rotation, 12... Recording paper. 13... Drive motor. 14...Film winding motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ink film and a recording paper are sandwiched between a platen and a line-type thermal head that is pressed against the platen by applying a pressing force, and the heating element of the line-type thermal head is selectively made to generate heat, thereby removing the ink film from the ink film. In a printer that records characters, images, etc. by transferring ink to the recording paper, a pressure release mechanism that releases the pressure between the line type thermal head and the platen;
At least one pair of paper conveyance rollers are provided before and after the platen, so that a drive source for the platen and paper conveyance rollers and a drive source for winding the ink film can be independent;
Only when the non-print area in the print data is equal to or greater than the set number of lines, the pressure release mechanism releases the pressure between the platen and the line-type thermal head, stops winding of the ink film, and stops the paper transport. A thermal transfer printer that is characterized by a roller that transports the recording paper to the front of the next printing line at a higher speed than the printing speed.