JPS63104857A - Image printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the size of a printer and shorten printing time, by inserting a recording paper between a plurality of transfer materials and platens arranged in parallel to each other, and heating a plurality of recording head, as required, to superimposingly transfer different coloring agents to the paper, thereby obtaining a multicolor image. CONSTITUTION:A recording paper 21 is supplied from a recording paper roll 26, and is fed sequentially between platens 22, 23 and thermal recording heads 24C, 24B, 24A by synchronous rotation of the platens 22, 23. The heads 24A-24D are selectively heated according to a signal from an image-forming part, and ink layers of transfer materials 25A-25D are melted to achieve thermal recording on the paper 21. Image information transmitted to each of the recording heads is delayed by a period of time required for the paper 21 to be fed between the recording heads, whereby transferring positions for respective colors are registered. After printing of an image in each of the colors is completed, the paper 21 is contained into a paper stacker 29. At the time of monochroic printing, the paper is fed directly to the thermal recording head 24A by a paper guide 32, thereby shortening recording time. Since only a small number of platens are required, the printer can be made smaller in size.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] This is a multicolor image printing device using a thermal transfer recording method, in which recording heads are arranged oppositely above and below two platens whose rotational axes are arranged in parallel. Transporting transfer materials having different colorants between the recording head and the platen, and sequentially transporting recording paper between the transfer material and each platen, using the different color transfer materials and each recording head, A multicolor image printing device that reduces device size and printing time by overlapping and transferring colorants of different colors onto recording paper.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a multicolor image printing device using a thermal transfer method,
In particular, the present invention relates to a multicolor image printing device that is designed to reduce the size of the device and shorten printing time.

Thermal transfer multicolor image printing equipment is small and inexpensive;
In addition, since it produces less noise, it has recently been put into practical use for recording the output of word processors and copying devices.

[Conventional technology]

In such a conventional multicolor image printing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4 are installed. This transfer material 3 is conveyed by a transfer material roll 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer material 3 includes a yellow ink layer 11, a magenta ink layer 12, and a cyan ink layer 13 made of a low melting point material and a colorant on a base material such as polyethylene. , the black ink layer 14 has a predetermined size!
They are repeatedly formed at predetermined intervals.

When an attempt is made to print a multicolor image on the recording paper 2 using this transfer material 3, for example a red image, the ink layer 11 having a yellow colorant is used to print a yellow image on the recording paper. After printing the color image, the platen 1 is rotated in the opposite direction B to pull back the recording paper 2, and then the color image is transferred to the recording paper using the ink layer 12 having a magenta colorant. A red image was printed by transferring it so as to overlap the formed yellow transfer image.

Therefore, it is necessary to rewind the recording paper, which has the disadvantage that printing takes too much time.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
In addition, platen 1^, IB, IC, 1
0, and the recording paper 2 is attached to each thermal recording head 4^, 4B,
The transfer materials 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are sequentially conveyed to 4C and 4D, and the colorants of the transfer materials 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, each having a different color, are overlaid and transferred, or transferred individually, so that the desired color of the image is printed. A method was adopted to do so.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, the above-described conventional apparatus requires a large number of platens and a large number of drive mechanisms, resulting in a problem that the apparatus becomes large and complex.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problems, allows the device to be miniaturized, and
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multicolor image printing device that can shorten printing time.

[Means for solving problems]

As shown in the principle diagram of FIG. 1, the image printing apparatus of the present invention conveys a recording paper 21, and includes two platens 22 and 23 arranged so that their respective rotation axes are parallel to each other, and Thermal recording heads 24^, 24B, 24C, and 24[1] are disposed so as to be in contact with the platens 22.23 of the platens 22.23 and to face each other above and below each of the platens 22.23, and the thermal recording heads 24A, 24B. , 24G, 24D and each platen 2
Transfer materials 25A, 25B, 25G, and 25D are introduced between 2.23 and 25D, each having a different color.
5C, 250, and the thermal recording head 24A inserted between the platens 22, 23 one after another.

24B, 24C, and 240 are heated as necessary to transfer the colorants of the transfer materials 25A, 25B, 25C, and 25D of different colors in a superimposed manner onto the recording paper M121, thereby transferring a multicolor image onto the recording paper 21. do it like this.

[Effect]

The image printing apparatus of the present invention has two platens arranged so that their rotational axes are parallel to each other, and thermal recording heads are installed above and below each platen so as to face each other, thereby printing the required number of platens. To reduce the size of the entire device by reducing the amount of paper, and to shorten the time required for printing by eliminating the need for an operation of rewinding recording paper in the opposite direction.

(Example) Hereinafter, one example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multicolor image printing apparatus of the present invention transports recording paper 21 wound around a recording paper roll 26, and arranges the recording paper 21 so that the rotational axes of the paper rolls 26 are parallel to each other. established 2
platens 22.23, and each platen 22.23.
23 and each platen 22.23.
Thermal recording heads 24^, 24 are disposed facing each other above and below.
B, 24C, 24D, and their respective thermal recording heads 24^,
24B, 24C, 24D and their respective platens 22.23
Transfer materials 25 each having a different color are introduced between
A, 25B, 25C, 25D, and the transfer material 25A, 2
It consists of supply rolls 27 of 5B, 25C, and 25D, and a take-up roll 28.

These transfer materials 25A, 25B, 25C, and 25D are recording paper 2.
The transfer material 25D is yellow, the transfer material 25C is magenta, the transfer material 25B is cyan, and the transfer material 25A is black. , the colorant of each transfer material is
Each one is different.

Further, a paper stacker 29 for storing the recording paper after transfer is installed, and metal claw-shaped paper guides 31 and 32 for changing the conveyance system of the recording paper 21 are installed so as not to run along the periphery of the platens 23 and 22. It's been done.

The thermal recording heads 24A and 24D can be brought into contact with the platen 22, and the thermal recording heads 24B and 24C can be brought into contact with and separated from the platen 23.

FIG. 3 shows a control unit of the multicolor printing apparatus of the present invention, and a memory unit 41 that is stored in a computer and stores image information as values of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color components. and memory section 4
A color conversion unit 42 converts the values of each color component read from 1 into the colors of the transfer material, that is, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and sends the color-converted values to the thermal recording head. and an image forming section 43 that transfers the colorants of the transfer material of each color onto recording paper, a memory section 41 and a color conversion section 42.
and a control unit 44 that controls the entire data of the image forming unit 43.
It becomes more.

A case will be described in which a multicolor image is printed on recording paper using the apparatus of the present invention.

The recording paper 21 is supplied from a recording paper roll 26, and the synchronized rotation of the platens 22 and 23 causes the recording paper 21 to be distributed between the platen 22 and the thermal recording head 240, and between the platen 23 and the thermal recording head 24.
C, between the platen 23 and the thermal recording head 24B, and between the platen 22 and the thermal recording head 24.

Then, the transfer materials 25^, 25B, 25C, 25D are pressed against the platen 22, 23 while being interposed between the thermal recording heads 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and the recording paper 21, and in this state, the thermal recording head 24^ , 24B, 24C, 24D
The heating element formed in a line tod shape is
The transfer materials 25A, 25B, 2 are selectively heated by signals output from the image forming section 43.
Either of 5C and 25D is selectively heated,
The ink layer of the heated transfer material is melted and the recording paper 2
1 will be transferred and recorded.

Here, the thermal recording paper 21 is transferred from the thermal recording head 24D to the thermal recording head 24C by the thermal recording
By delaying the image information sent from the image forming section 43 to C, the transfer positions are matched.

Thereafter, the image information transmitted to each recording head 24B, 24A is similarly delayed by the transport time during which the recording paper 21 is transported between each recording head, thereby matching the transfer positions of each color.

After the image printing for four colors is completed, the recording paper 21 is cut using a cutter or the like and stored in the paper stacker 29.

In addition to this embodiment, when printing only a black image in a single color, the paper guide 32 installed close to the platen 22 during multicolor printing is moved using a solenoid or the like as shown in FIG. Operate in the direction of arrow C.

In this way, the recording paper 21 is directly conveyed between the platen 22 and the thermal recording head 24A, and the thermal recording head 24A is activated by the signal from the image forming section 43.
The colorant of the black transfer material 25A is transferred onto the recording paper 21 by heating the transfer material 4D while being separated from the platen 22.

By doing so, the recording time can be shortened when printing a monochromatic image such as black.

Note that although roll paper was used as the recording paper in this embodiment, cut paper may be used instead of roll paper.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the number of platens can be reduced, so that the apparatus can be made smaller. Furthermore, when it becomes necessary to perform black monochrome printing rather than multicolor printing, the printing speed increases, and it becomes easier to switch from multicolor printing to monochrome printing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control section of the device of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the device other than the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional apparatus, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional transfer material, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional apparatus. In the figure, 21 is recording paper, 22.23 is platen, 24A, 24B
, 24C. 240 is a thermal recording head, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25
D is a transfer material, 26 is a recording paper roll, 27 is a supply roll, 28 is a winding roll, 29 is a paper stacker, 31.
32 is a paper guide, 41 is a memory section, 42 is a color conversion section,
43 is an image forming section, and C is an arrow indicating the moving direction of the paper guide. Unexploded I7 oil equipment monument Figure 1 Fusuke morning 1-Ten M peeling competition H mouth Figure 2 Figure 3 Cold-release busy emergency training exercise Figure 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The recording paper (21) is conveyed through two platens (22, 23) arranged so that their rotation axes are parallel to each other.
), and thermal recording heads (24A, 24D, 24B) disposed in contact with each of the platens (22, 23) and facing above and below each of the platens (22, 23).
, 24C) and their respective thermal recording heads (24A, 24D)
, 24B, 24C) and their respective platens (22, 23)
Transfer materials (2) each having a different color are introduced between
5A, 25D, 25B, 25C), and the recording paper (21) is transferred to each of the transfer materials (25A, 25D, 25B).
, 25C) and the platen (22, 23),
The thermal recording head (24A, 24D, 24B, 24C)
is heated based on a signal sent from an image forming section (43) to superimpose transfer images of transfer materials of different colors on recording paper, thereby transferring a multicolor image onto the recording paper. Printing device. (2) The recording paper (
A paper guide (32) is attached to guide the conveyance of the paper (21).
2. The image printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper guide (32) is used to change the conveyance path of the recording paper (21).