JPS63134269A - Method and apparatus for color recording - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve color recording at high speed and with high quality, by providing a recording paper circulating means which has a recording paper supporting part for supporting the leading end of a recording paper and which feeds the paper along the peripheral surface of a platen roller, independently of the operation of the platen roller. CONSTITUTION:The leading end of a recording paper 2 is supported by a recording paper circulating means 27 from the start of recording in the first color to the start of recording in the last color, while the recording paper 2 except the leading end thereof is left in a free, slack state until recording in the next color. Thus, wasting of time in reciprocating the paper 2 on recording in each color, as in a conventional system, can be avoided, and high speed color recording can be performed. Further, since the leading end of the paper 2 is securely gripped by a grip roller 27 from the start of recording to the end of recording, skew of the paper 2 and accumulative error in the process can be reduced to extremely low levels, color misregistering is reduced, and color recording with high quality can be achieved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a color recording method and apparatus, and more specifically, a color recording method using a thermal transfer recording method with an improved recording paper feeding method. and equipment.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a method for recording color information, in addition to an inkjet recording method, an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, etc., there is a thermal transfer recording method. , using an ink ribbon A having a heat-melting solid ink layer coated in strips with three colors of yellow, or four colors with black added as necessary, and for each color, according to the image signal. The ink layer is heated by an energized thermal head to melt it, and is repeatedly transferred and recorded onto a plain paper recording sheet that is in contact with the ink ribbon. Compared to the other methods described above, this method has the advantage that the process can be carried out in a cylinder and the apparatus can be made smaller, and has been widely used in recent years.

Conventionally, a method not shown in FIG. 8 and a method shown in FIG. 9 are known for conveying recording paper for color recording by this thermal transfer recording method.

The method shown in FIG. 8 is for recording one color, for example, cyan, by using a platen roller 2 connected to a stepping motor (not shown).
1, a feed roller 202, and a pinch roller 203 that cooperates with the feed roller 202, and a pinch roller 203 that cooperates with the platen 201 to convey the recording paper 204, and a conveyance device (not shown) to convey the ink ribbon A at the same speed as the recording paper 204.
A cyan color image is obtained on the recording paper 204 by selectively energizing the thermal head 205, which brings the recording paper 204 and the ink ribbon A into close and pressure contact with each other, in accordance with the image signal. When the recording of the first color is completed in this way,
The platen roller 201 and the thermal head 205 are separated from each other by means not shown, and the feed roller 202 is rotated in the opposite direction so that the leading edge of the recording paper 204 reaches the thermal head 205.
Return until it reaches near the recording position. During this time, the ink ribbon A is conveyed in the same direction as during printing until the next color to be printed, for example magenta, reaches the printing position of the thermal head 205. Thereafter, the platen roller 201 and the thermal head 205 are brought into pressure contact again, and magenta color recording is performed on the cyan recording on the recording paper 204 in the same manner as described above.

Thereafter, by repeating the overlapping recording the same number of times as the number of colors of the ink ribbon A, that is, three or four times, a color image is finally recorded on the recording paper 205 by subtractive color mixture.

In contrast to the above, the method shown in FIG.
02 is wound around the ink ribbon A, and the length of one color is approximately equal to the circumference of the drum-shaped platen 301.
03, and a drum-shaped platen 30 for each color of recording.
At the same time, rotate the ink ribbon A once in the same direction.
is conveyed by a drive IIF (not shown) at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the drum-shaped platen 301 to perform color recording, and by three or four rotations of the drum-shaped platen 301, it is possible to perform color recording in the same way as in the method shown in FIG. The recording of a color image using subtractive color mixing is completed. The recording paper 302 on which recording has been completed in this manner is peeled off from the drum-shaped platen 301 and taken out.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The method shown in FIG. 8 has the advantage of being able to record color images in a frame sequential manner using a relatively simple mechanism. It takes time to restore the data each time the recording is completed. This is wasted time that has no bearing on the net recording, thus limiting the recording speed.
There is a problem that high-speed recording is disadvantageous. Also, recording paper 20
4, move the thermal head 205 to the platen roller 20.
It is essential to separate the ink ribbon A from the recording paper 204 once. If this is not done, the ink ribbon A after being used for recording will become
Otherwise, the recording paper 204 is forced to rub W1 against the ink ribbon A, resulting in dirt and deterioration of image quality.

In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a wJ mechanism for press-contacting and separating the thermal head 205 and the platen roller 201, which has the drawback of complicating the apparatus. Furthermore, a long space may be required to temporarily accommodate the reciprocating recording paper 204, which is a disadvantage for downsizing the apparatus.

According to the method shown in FIG. 9, unlike the method shown in FIG. 8 described above, the recording paper is returned every time recording of one color is completed.
Since wasted time not directly involved in recording can be minimized, this has the advantage of increasing speed. However, since it requires a complicated mechanism for wrapping and peeling the recording paper 302 around the drum-shaped platen 301, and uses a specially shaped thermal head 303, it has the disadvantage that the apparatus is expensive. be. Furthermore, since the drum 301 that rotates at a constant speed is used, the time required to record one page is constant regardless of the recording paper size.
In other words, when short recording paper is used, the advantage of this method, which is said to be suitable for higher speeds, cannot be taken advantage of. Additionally, due to the length of the recording paper, a large-diameter drum-shaped platen (approximately φ100 mm for A4 size recording paper) is required, which is disadvantageous for downsizing the device, and its weight increases the load. Therefore, there are drawbacks such as the need for a stepping motor with large rotational driving force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a color recording method and apparatus that eliminates the problems of the conventional devices described above and enables high-speed, high-quality color recording using a thermal transfer recording method. shall be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a color recording method and apparatus that can always minimize wasted time not involved in recording, regardless of the size of recording paper.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a small and inexpensive color recording device that can be constructed without using a specially shaped thermal head.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The color recording method and apparatus of the present invention circulates recording paper between a thermal head and a platen roller and feeds the recording paper in a fixed direction. A color recording method in which the recording paper is superimposed on ink layers of different colors on an ink ribbon during each circulation operation, and the ink is transferred to the recording paper by a thermal head while being conveyed by a platen roller. The system is equipped with a recording paper circulation means that holds the leading edge of the recording paper and transports the leading edge of the recording paper along the circumferential surface of the platen roller independently of the platen roller, and holds the leading edge of the recording paper before starting recording. When recording the first color, the leading edge of the held recording paper is rotated about one revolution together with the platen roller and stopped near the entrance of the thermal head and the platen roller, and the leading edge of the recording paper is left to freely slacken except for the leading edge of the recording paper. At a predetermined timing when the recording of the trailing edge of the recording paper is completed, the recording paper circulation means is driven again to rotate the leading edge of the recording paper together with the platen roller for recording the second color. Repeat the above operation a number of times, drive the recording paper circulation means to record the last color, and after the leading edge of the recording paper is sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller, the holding of the leading edge of the recording paper is released. are doing.

The color recording apparatus also includes a recording paper holder that holds the leading edge of the recording paper, and a recording paper circulation means that conveys the recording paper holder along the circumferential surface of the platen roller independently of the platen roller. ing.

(Function) According to the color recording method and H setting of the present invention, the leading edge of the recording paper is held in the recording paper circulation means from the start of recording of the first color to the start of recording of the final color, and the leading edge of the recording paper is The part except the tip is left hanging freely until the next color is recorded.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a conceptual top view showing the configuration of a color recording apparatus according to the present invention.

This device includes a recording means 10 in the center of the device housing 1,
Device! The recording paper conveyance means 20 is depicted in approximately the lower half of the housing 1, and the ink ribbon conveyance means 40 is depicted in the upper half of the housing.

The recording means 10 includes a thermal head 11 having a heat generating element array driven in accordance with an image signal, and a platen roller 12 placed in pressure contact with the heat generating element array of the thermal head 11 in opposition to the heat generating element array. feJWo of the platen roller 12 is
As shown in FIG. 2, the width of the thermal head 11 is set to be narrower than the width W1 of the recording paper 2, and the width of the thermal head 11 is set to be narrower than the width W1 of the recording paper 2.
2 eAW.

approximately equal to. Both ends of the shaft 12a of the platen 0-512 extend outward, and a gear 13 is provided at one end of the shaft 12a. This gear 13 is linked to a stepping motor M1 via a power transmission means such as a timing belt (not shown).

The recording paper transport means 20 includes a recording paper feeding section 21 that feeds the recording paper 2 to the recording means 10, a recording paper circulation section 22 that circulates the recording paper 2 by the number of times the recording paper 2 is colored by the recording means 10, and The recording paper discharging section 23 discharges the recording paper 2 from the recording means 10 to the outside of the apparatus housing 1.

The recording paper feeding BIS 21 stores recording papers 2 in a stacked manner, and includes a cassette 24 which faces into the device housing 1 from the lower part of the side plate 1a of the housing 1, and a cassette 24 which stores the recording papers 2 in a stacked manner. 2, and the one 1 (not shown) is pressed by the motor M2.
a paper feed roller 25 driven via a quake rack;
Recording 2 from the cassette 24 to the circumferential surface of the platen roller 12
A transport path 26 is provided for guiding.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper circulation section 22 is loosely fitted to the shaft 12a of the platen roller 12 via a ball bearing 27a.
Grip rollers 27 are provided at both ends of the platen roller 12, respectively. This grip roller 27
has a gear 28 on its circumferential surface, and the gear 28 is linked to a stepping motor M3 via a power transmission means such as a timing belt (not shown). Further, the grip roller 27 has a curved surface on the side of the platen roller 12 that has approximately the same diameter as the circumferential surface of the platen roller 12, and a gripper piece 29 is arranged on a part of the circumferential surface. This gripper piece 29 is attached to the grip roller 27 by a shaft 29a.
It is rotatably supported. A lever 30 is fixed to the end of the shaft 29a, and a tension spring 31 and a cam follower 32 are disposed at the end of the lever 3o, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the tip of the gripper piece 29 is in pressure contact with the circumferential surface of the grip roller 27 due to the biasing force of the spring 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, cams 33 and 34 are disposed near the entrance and exit of the recording means 10 in the movement range of the cam follower 32. These cams33.
34 is linked to an electromagnetic solenoid 35.36, and by energizing the electromagnetic solenoid 35.36, the cam follower 32 is moved out of the movement range, and by demagnetizing the electromagnetic solenoid 35.36, the cam follower 32 is moved out of the movement range. stand out. When the cam follower 32 comes into contact with the protruding cams 33 and 34, the gripper piece 2
9 is opened. The recording paper discharge section 23 includes a conveyance path 3 that guides the recording paper 2 from the recording section 10 to the side plate 1b of the apparatus housing 1.
7, and a discharge roller 38 is disposed on the conveyance path 37.

The ink ribbon conveyance means 40 includes a take-up roll 41 and a feed-out roll 42, and the take-up roll 41 is linked to a stepping motor M4 via a power transmission means (not shown). The ink ribbon 3 is wound around the feed roll 42, and the tip of the ink ribbon 3 is locked to the take-up roll 41. This ink ribbon 3 is
Similar to ink ribbon 8 shown in FIG. 7, yellow, magenta, and cyan hot-melt inks are applied in strips. This ink ribbon 3 is interposed between the thermal head 11 and the platen row 512.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the color recording apparatus includes a sensor S1 for detecting the leading edge of the recording paper 2 fed from the cassette 24 to the recording section 10, and a sensor S1 for detecting the gripper piece 29. The sensor S2 is provided, and the output signals of these sensors S1.82 are input to the controller 50 as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows the sensor S1. The processing procedure of the controller 50 based on the output signal of S2 is shown. In this controller 50, it is determined whether or not a recording command signal is input (step 100), and if the command is input, the motor M2 is driven (step 101).
). Then, the paper feed roller 25 is rotated, and the cassette 24
The recording paper 2 inside is fed toward the recording means 10 along the conveyance path 26. Then, when the leading edge of the recording paper 2 reaches the sensor S1 and is detected by the sensor S1 (step 102), a timer included in the controller 50 starts measuring time (step 103). During the timing of this timer, the recording paper 2 is moved by the gripper piece 2 of the grip roller 27 that is stopped at the standby position shown in FIG.
9 and comes into contact with the gripper piece 29 to prepare the tip. When the timer ends, the motor M1. M
3, M4 is driven and at the same time electromagnetic solenoid 35.3
6 is also excited (step 104).

Therefore, the leading edge of the recording paper 2 is gripped by the gripper piece 29 as shown in FIG. The ink ribbon 3 is also taken up on a take-up roll 41. And recording paper 2
is overlapped with the ink ribbon 3, and printing is performed by the thermal head 11 according to the printing signal of the first color. On the other hand, the leading edge of the recording paper 2 is conveyed by the grip roller 27, and when the gripper piece 29 reaches the sensor S2, it is detected by the sensor S2 (step 105), and the timer starts counting (step 106). Then, after a certain period of time has elapsed, that is, when the gripper piece 29 reaches the position shown in FIG. 6(b), the motor M3 is stopped, thereby stopping the grip roller 27 (step 107).

The grip roller 27 is kept there until recording of the first color is completed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(C), the portion of the recording paper 2 that is sequentially recorded and discharged from the recording section 10, excluding the leading edge, is placed on the platen roller 1.
It hangs downward in a bulging state.

In this way, when the recording of the first color is completed (step 108), the motor M3 is driven by the recording completion signal, and the grip roller 27 is driven again (step 1
09). Then, as shown in FIG. 6(d), the recording paper 2 is overlapped with the ink ribbon 3 again, and the thermal head 1
1, the second color is recorded according to the recording signal. During this time, the leading edge of the recording paper 2 is conveyed by the grip roller 27, and when the gripper piece 29 reaches the sensor S2, it is detected by the sensor S2 (step 110).
The timer starts timing (step 111). After a certain period of time has elapsed, that is, when the gripper piece 29 reaches the position shown in FIG. 6(b), the motor M3 is stopped and the grip roller 27 is stopped.
is stopped (step 112). The grip roller 27 is kept there until recording of the second color is completed.

In this way, when the recording of the second color is completed (step 113), the recording completion signal drives the motor M3, thereby driving the grip roller 27 three times, and demagnetizing the electromagnetic solenoid 36 ( Step 1
14). Then, as in the case of the first color and the second color, the recording paper 2 is overlapped with the ink ribbon 3 as shown in FIG. be exposed. However, soon after the gripper piece 29 of the grip roller 27 passes the thermal head 11, it comes into contact with the cam 34 and is opened there. Then, the leading edge of the recording paper 2 is released from the gripper piece 29, and
This tip is guided to the conveyance path 37 as shown in FIG. 6(e).

On the other hand, the grip roller 27 continues to be driven, and when the gripper piece 29 is detected by the sensor S2 (step 115), the ml solenoid 35 is demagnetized and at the same time the timer starts counting (step 116). Then, after a certain period of time has elapsed, that is, when the gripper piece 29 reaches the position shown in FIG. 6(b) similarly to the first and second colors, the motor M3 is stopped and the grip roller 27 is It is stopped (step 117). At this time, the gripper piece 29 of the grip roller 27 comes into contact with the cam 33 and is opened. This state is the same as the standby state shown in FIG. On the other hand, the recording paper 2 guided to the conveyance path 37 is
It is discharged to the outside of the device housing 1 by the discharge roller 38.

In this way, when the recording of the third color is completed (step 118), the motor M1. M4 is stopped, thereby causing the platen roller 12 and the ink ribbon take-up roll 4 to
1 is stopped (step 119).

Note that the processing procedure of the controller 50 described above is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above processing procedure.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the leading edge of the recording paper is waiting at the entrance of the recording means before the recording of the previous color is completed, and the leading edge of the recording paper is waiting at the entrance of the recording means before the recording of the previous color is completed. Can record.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the wasted time required for reciprocating the recording paper each time one color is recorded as described in the conventional example, and color recording can be performed at high speed.

Further, the long space for temporarily housing the recording paper during the reciprocation of the recording paper in the conventional example becomes unnecessary, which is advantageous in terms of miniaturization of the apparatus.

In addition, even if the thermal head is kept in constant pressure contact with the platen roller without separating it, the ink ribbon may be returned together with the recording paper as in the conventional case, or the ink ribbon may rub against the ink ribbon, causing the recording paper to rub. The apparatus can be simplified without causing stains on the surface and impairing image quality.

Further, according to the present invention, the leading edge of the recording paper is completely captured by the grip roller from the start of recording to the completion of recording.

Therefore, the skew of the recording paper and the cumulative 1ia error of the process can be made extremely small, and compared to the conventional method using the reciprocating motion of the recording paper, color shift is extremely small, and high-quality color recording can be obtained.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, only the leading edge of the recording paper is held during color recording, and the rest is allowed to naturally sag vertically downward.

Therefore, recording can be performed using a small-diameter platen roller, and unlike the conventional drum platen system, which is the same as the present invention, there is no need for a specially shaped thermal head to circulate the recording paper. Furthermore, there is no need for a large-diameter drum-shaped platen whose circumferential length is greater than the length of the recording paper, and there is an advantage that the apparatus can be constructed in a small size and at low cost.

4゜W in the drawing! JI11 Description Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view conceptually showing the structure of a color recording device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional front view showing the structure of a grip roller, and Fig. 3 is a side view of the grip roller. , FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control circuit of the color recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the controller, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing each process of color recording according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a part of a conventional color recording ink ribbon, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are conceptual diagrams showing a conventional color recording system.

2... Recording paper, 3... Ink ribbon, 1o... Recording means, 11... Thermal head, 12... Platen roller, 20... Recording paper transport means, 21... Recording paper Feeding unit, 22... Recording paper circulation unit, 23... Recording paper discharge unit, 27... Grip roller, 29... Gripper piece, 30... Lever, 31... Spring, 32...・
・Cam follower, 33.34. ...Cam, 35.36
...%1Ili & solenoid, 40... Ink ribbon conveyance means.

Figure 4 Figure 5 (C) Figure 6 Figure 7

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) The recording paper is circulated between the thermal head and the platen roller and fed in a fixed direction, and each time the recording paper is circulated, the recording paper is superimposed on the ink layer of a different color on the ink ribbon. In a color recording method, in which ink is transferred onto recording paper using a thermal head while being conveyed by a platen roller, the leading edge of the recording paper is held and the leading edge of the recording paper is moved around the platen roller independently from the platen roller. The apparatus includes a recording paper circulating means for conveying the recording paper along the surface, holds the leading edge of the recording paper before starting recording, and rotates the held leading edge of the recording paper approximately once together with the platen roller when recording the first color. The recording paper is stopped near the inlet of the thermal head and platen roller, and all parts other than the leading edge of the recording paper are allowed to slacken, and the second color is recorded at a predetermined timing when the trailing edge of the recording paper finishes recording. Then, the recording paper circulation means is driven again to rotate the leading edge of the recording paper together with the platen roller, and the above operation is repeated as many times as necessary. To record the last color, the recording paper circulation means is driven and the recording paper is rotated. A color recording method characterized in that the leading edge of the recording paper is released from being held after the leading edge of the recording paper is held between a thermal head and a platen roller. (2) The recording paper is circulated between the thermal head and the platen roller and fed in a fixed direction, and each time the recording paper is circulated, the recording paper is superimposed on the ink layer of a different color on the ink ribbon, and A color recording device that performs recording by transferring ink onto a recording paper using a thermal head while conveying the recording paper with a platen roller has a recording paper holder that holds the leading edge of the recording paper, and the recording paper holder is attached to a platen. A color recording device characterized by comprising a recording paper circulating means that conveys recording paper along the circumferential surface of a platen roller independently of the roller. (3) The color recording apparatus according to claim (2), wherein the recording paper circulation means includes a roller that is coaxial with the platen roller and can be driven independently of the platen roller. . (4) The color recording apparatus according to claim (3), wherein the recording paper holding section includes a gripper piece that grips the leading edge of the recording paper with the circumferential surface of the roller.