JPS6311368A - N-times mode thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the lowering in use efficiency due to the gap of coating ink, by a method wherein, a length specific-times a length necessary for one recording is set to one unit and moreover colors different from each other are constituted as one set so that the pitch of each unit comes to the almost same length to apply ink to a transfer base material. CONSTITUTION:Heat sublimable inks 11, for example, yellow Y, magenta M and cyan C are applied to a transfer base material at an almost same pitch (b) and each color ink applied at this time is set to a length m-times a length (a) recorded at once. Further, marks 12, 12' are respectively provided to the transfer base material corresponding to the first parts in the inks 11, in this case, the first parts Y1, Y1' of yellow. For example, Y2 of a first color, M2 of a second color and C2 of a third color are recorded corresponding to a recording signal and, when one recording is completed, an ink sheet 13 is transferred by a length of 2(a+b) in the direction shown by an arrow E. The mark 12' is detected when the recording of last Cm is finished and the ink sheet is transferred by a length C in the direction shown by an arrow D.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a thermal printer that uses a thermal head to thermally transfer ink coated on a transfer material to a recording paper. Increase the speed by 1/n (n
is an integer greater than or equal to 2) and transcription 3...-.

The present invention relates to an n-times mode thermal printer using an ink sheet in which recordable heat-melting or heat-sublimation ink is coated on a transfer base material.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional ink sheets used in thermal printers that perform thermal transfer recording are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 1 is an ink sheet, and heat-melting or heat-sublimation ink is applied to the side that contacts the recording paper 3 by the thermal head 2, for example, Y (yellow), 1M (magenta), C (cyan), and the like for one recording. Each color is applied to the required length. Y again,
Marks 4 corresponding to each color of M and C (4Y for Y, 4M for M, 4C for C) are set for each set, with Y, M, and C for one recording as one set. A marr 5 is provided corresponding to. First, the mark 5 is detected by the sensor 6, the ink sheet 1 is stopped at the recording start position, the thermal head 2 is brought into contact with the platen 8 via the ink sheet 1 and the recording paper 3, and the ink sheet 1 is moved to the arrow A1 and the recording paper 3. While moving in the direction of arrow B, the first color Y (yellow) is thermally transferred recorded in accordance with a recording signal (detailed explanation omitted). After completion, the thermal head 2 is separated from the platen 8 and the ink sheet 1 is moved.
The ink sheet 1 is wound up in the direction of the arrow B (the driving method is not shown), and the ink sheet 1 is stopped at the same time as the mark 4M is detected by the sensor 7, and the recording paper 3 is moved in the opposite direction to the arrow B and stopped at the recording start position.

Next, the second color M (magenta) is thermally transferred and recorded in the same manner, and the third color C (cyan) is also recorded in the same manner to complete the thermal transfer recording (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 148779/1983).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such conventional thermal printers, thermal transfer recording is performed using an ink sheet coated with ink of each color, with each recording length being one unit. Therefore, the relative speed of the transfer body to the recording paper is set to 17n times (n is an integer of 2 or more) and a heat-melting type or heat sublimation type ink that can be transferred and recorded is coated on the transfer body base material. Cases (for example, Matsuda, Taro, Imai, Kami Yuba, Shimama, n-time mode recording characteristics of sublimation transfer type thermal recording material') Proceedings of the 2nd Non-Impact Printing Symposium 5-3.
Plol) As the speed of the ink sheet relative to the recording paper becomes slower, the coating length of the ink applied to the transfer body used for one recording becomes shorter, and the gap (L) between the applied inks of each color becomes a problem. .

That is, although the ink application length is shortened, the gap (L) is not shortened, so the ink sheet is used very inefficiently and is expensive.

A foolproof way to solve problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention uses a heat-melting type.

Or use heat dye sublimation ink to the length required for one recording.
A set of different colors (for example, yellow, magenta, and cyan) is set so that the length (m is an integer of 2 or more) is one unit, and the pitch of each unit is approximately the same length. an ink sheet on which at least one set of ink is applied onto a transfer body base material and a mark corresponding to the first ink of each set is provided; a sheet transport amount detection means for detecting the transport amount of the ink sheet; By providing a sheet winding means for winding up the sheet and a sheet 6 rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet, one unit of color ink is thermally transferred and recorded on the recording paper in 1/m increments.
This is designed to reduce the decrease in usage efficiency due to gaps in the applied ink.

Function As described above, the present invention uses heat-melting type or heat-sublimation type ink, with one unit of length being m times the length required for one recording (m is an integer of 2 or more). Moreover, so that the pinch of each unit is approximately the same length, different colors are set as one set,
One or more sets of inks are applied onto the transfer body substrate, and one of each set is
a sheet transport amount detection means for detecting the transport amount of the ink sheet using an ink sheet provided with a mark corresponding to the ink on the transfer body base material; a sheet winding means for winding the ink sheet; A sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet is provided. Therefore, by using one set of ink while rewinding the ink sheet, transfer recording can be performed m times, and when m times transfer recording is completed,
By detecting the mark corresponding to the first ink of the next set, the ink sheet can be wound up and the ink of the next set can be transferred and recorded. At this time,
Since ink is applied continuously within one color (one unit), there is no ink application gap between each recording unlike in the past, and therefore the sheet is used very efficiently and running costs are low. Become something.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the n-time mode thermal printer of the present invention during thermal transfer recording, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the same n-time mode thermal printer during winding or rewinding of an ink sheet. FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an ink sheet used in the n-times mode thermal printer of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 1° is a transfer body base material, and heat sublimation type ink 11 is applied on this transfer body base material, for example, yellow (1), magenta (goods), cyan (q), and approximately the same - The ink is applied at pitch (b).The length of each color ink applied at this time is m times the length recorded at one time (for example, in the case of yellow, the length recorded at one time is a). Y1.Y2゜・・
..., Y m, M1 for magenta. M2.・
・・・・・・．

Mm, CI for cyan, C2,..., Cm
) has become. Marks 12 and 12' are provided on the transfer base material corresponding to the first Yl and Y1' of yellow ink 11, respectively.

Furthermore, this ink sheet 13 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
An example of an n-times mode thermal printer using the following is shown. A thermal head 14 presses a recording paper 15 against a platen 16 via an ink sheet 13 during recording, as shown in the figure. Reference numeral 17 denotes a take-up reel which takes up the ink sheet 13 in the direction of the arrow during recording and is rotatable when rewinding the ink sheet 13 (the drive mechanism and drive release mechanism are not shown). Reference numeral 18 denotes a supply reel which winds up the ink sheet 13 in the direction of arrow E when rewinding the ink sheet 13, and is rotatable during recording (the drive mechanism and drive release mechanism are not shown). Reference numeral 19 is a pinch roller which is configured to be rotatable and which holds the recording paper 15 between the capstan 2 and the recording paper 15.
It is always in pressure contact with o. During recording, the capstan 20 rotates in the direction of arrow F 9'... to drive the recording paper 16 in the direction of arrow H, and when returning the recording paper 15 to record the next color, it rotates in the direction opposite to arrow F. The rotated recording paper 15 is driven in the direction opposite to the arrow H (the driving mechanism is not shown). 21 is a guide roller that guides the ink sheet 13, and 22 is a capstan that rotates in the direction of arrow J during recording and transports the ink sheet 13 at 1/n times the speed of the recording paper 15. 23 is mark 12, 12'
A detection sensor 24 winds the ink sheet 13 and rotates in response to the transport of the ink sheet 13, and a rotating body having a slit on the circumference, and a sensor 26 detects the slit to transport the ink sheet. It constitutes the amount detection means 26. 27 is rotatably supported to press the ink sheet 13 against the capstan 22 and transfer it;
The pinch roller is configured to be separated from the capstan 22 (the drive mechanism is not shown) when rewinding the recording medium or winding up the next recording receptacle. In this state, for example, first, according to the recording signal, the first color Y (yellow) is thermally transferred and recorded (shaded area Y2 in FIG. 3), and at this time, recording 1o is performed.
.

The paper 15 is pressed against the capstan 2o by the pinch roller 19 and is transported at a constant speed in the direction of arrow H, and the ink sheet 13
is pressed against the capstan 22 by the pinch roller 27 and transported in the same direction as the recording paper 15 at a speed 1/n times that of the recording paper 16. After finishing, the thermal head 14 is moved from the platen 16 and the pinch roller 27 is moved from the capstan. 22, and the ink sheet 13 is transported by a take-up reel 17 in the direction of the arrow by a length equal to the pitch b (FIG. 3) at which each color is applied. At this time, the conveyance length is detected by the sheet conveyance amount detection means 26. At the same time, the recording paper 15 is transported by the capstan 2o in the direction opposite to the arrow H and set at the recording start position. In this state, the thermal head 14 is pressed against the platen 16, the pinch roller 27 is pressed against the capstan 22, and the second color (hatched area magenta M2) is recorded. In the same manner, the third color (shaded area C2) is recorded and when one recording is completed, the thermal head 14 is separated from the platen 16, the pinch roller 27 is separated from the capstan 22, and the supply reel 18 is used to move the ink sheet 13id in the direction of arrow E. The sheet is transported by the length (a+b). In this case as well, the transport length is detected by the sheet transport amount detection means 26. Therefore, the ink sheet 13 has been transported to a position where the next yellow (Y3) can be recorded. In this way, recording is performed one after another, and when the recording of the last m-th cyan Cm of the first set is completed, the detection sensor 23 detects a mark corresponding to the first yellow (Y 1') of the next set. 1
2' is detected and the first yellow of the next set (Y q')
The ink sheet 13 is transported by a length C in the direction of the arrow so that the ink sheet 13 is at the recording position. In this way, a state is reached in which recording of the next set is started. In this way, the proportion of gaps between the inks of each color can be reduced, and therefore the ink sheet 13 can be made inexpensive, resulting in low running costs.

Effects of the Invention The present invention uses heat-melting or heat-sublimation ink with a length m times (m is an integer of 2 or more) the length required for recording one image as one unit, and each unit One or more sets of inks of different colors are applied onto the transfer body base material so that the pitches are approximately the same length, and marks corresponding to the first ink of each set are applied to the transfer body. A sheet transport amount detection means for detecting the transport amount of the ink sheet using an ink sheet provided on a base material, a sheet winding means for winding the ink sheet, and a sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet. and. Therefore, by using one set of ink sheets while rewinding the ink sheet, transfer recording can be performed m times, and when the m number of transfer recordings are completed, the mark corresponding to the first ink of the next set is detected and the sheet is After winding up, the next set of ink can be transferred and recorded. At this time, since ink is applied continuously within one color (one unit), there is no ink application gap between each 4U recording as in the conventional method, and the edges of the applied ink are Only the 1st and mth parts are affected by uneven coating, etc., and the efficiency of use is extremely high.Therefore, Inksee 1 can be made inexpensive, and its high cost is very high. be.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

13-7 Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an n-times mode thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention during thermal transfer recording, and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an n-times mode thermal printer during winding or rewinding of an ink sheet. Schematic diagram, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an ink sheet used in the same n-time mode thermal printer, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a conventional ink sheet, and Figure 5 shows how the recording paper is transferred to the thermal head via the same ink sheet. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional thermal printer that presses against a platen and performs thermal transfer. 11... Ink, 12, 12'... Mark, 13... Ink sheet, Y...
Yellow, M...Massive cover, C...Cyan, 14...Thermal head, 15...
...Recording paper, 16...Platen, 17...
...Take-up reel, 18... Supply reel, 2
0.22... Capstan, 26...
Sheet transport amount detection means 0 Name of agent Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person 1st
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure Φ

Claims (1)

[Claims] Transfer recording is possible by increasing the relative speed between the capstan that winds and transports the recording paper and the transfer body by 1/n (n is an integer of 2 or more) and applying heat-melting or heat-sublimation type ink to the transfer body base. an ink sheet applied thereon, a rotatably supported platen, a thermal head that performs pressure recording on the platen via the ink sheet and the recording paper so that the ink contacts the recording paper, and the ink. A transport means for transporting the sheet at 1/n times the transport speed of the recording paper, a sheet winding means for winding the ink sheet, a sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet, and a transport amount of the ink sheet. The ink sheet is coated with different colors, with the length of the ink sheet m times the length required for one recording (m is an integer of 2 or more) being one unit. One or more sets of inks are applied onto the transfer body base material, and one color of one color is applied with the thermal head.
The k-th ink of the unit is thermally transferred and recorded on the recording paper, and then the sheet transport amount detecting means detects a predetermined transport amount of the ink sheet, and the sheet winding means detects a predetermined transport amount of the ink sheet. After winding up the ink of the next color and setting the kth ink of the next color to the recording position, thermal transfer recording of the second color is performed on the recording paper, and in the same way, ink of different colors is sequentially applied to the recording paper after completing the thermal transfer recording, When the sheet transport amount detection means detects a predetermined transport amount of the ink sheet, the sheet rewinding means rewinds the ink sheet so that the (k+1)th ink of the first color of the same group comes to the recording start position. An n-times mode thermal printer.