JPS63165169A - N-fold mode thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the use efficiency of an ink sheet, by providing a capstan for transferring recording paper at a constant speed while taking up the same and a capstan for winding an ink sheet at a peripheral speed specific with respect to said speed to transfer the same. CONSTITUTION:An ink sheet 12 and recording paper 13 are fed in the direction shown by an arrow D by a platen 14 and thermal transfer recording is performed by a thermal head 11. At this time, the peripheral speed of a capstan 18 is set so as to become 1/n (n is a positive integer of 1 or more) the peripheral speed of a capstan 15 and the ink sheet 12 is brought into contact with the capstan 18 under pressure by a pinch roller 19 and stably transferred at a transfer speed 1/n the transfer speed of the recording paper 13. After the recording of the first color is finished, the head 11 is spaced apart from the platen 14 and the pinch roller 19 is also spaced apart from the capstan 18 and the recording paper 13 is transferred to the recording start position of the first color. At the same time, the ink sheet 12 is taken up to the recording start position of the second color by a take-up reel 21 to perform the recording of the second color. By this constitution, the use efficiency of the ink sheet can be enhanced.

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/r1 (
The present invention relates to a 4x mode thermal printer using an ink sheet coated on a heat-melting type or heat-sublimation type ink gold transfer base material capable of transfer recording, where n is a positive number greater than 1.

Conventional technology The 6th generation of conventional thermal printers that perform thermal transfer recording
Inksy-1 is shown in FIG. 7. 1 is a thermal head equipped with a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line; 2 is a thermal head in which heat-melting or heat-sublimation ink of multiple colors, such as Y (yellow), 1M (magenta), and C (cyan); The supply reel 7 is wound with an ink sheet coated (FIG. 7) in approximately the same length as the recording paper necessary for recording the same number of times. 3 is recording paper, 4 is a platen, and 5 and 6 are guide rollers. Further, 8 is a pressure roller that constantly presses the recording paper 3 against the platen 4. With the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 3 stacked one on top of the other so that the ink on the ink sheet 2 is in contact with the recording paper 3, the thermal head 1 presses the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 3 against the platen 4, and the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 3 are moved by the arrow mark on the platen 4. At the same time, thermal transfer recording is performed by the thermal head 1 in synchronization with the rotation of the platen 4. At this time, the ink sheet 2 on which thermal transfer recording has been completed is taken up on the take-up reel 9 (FIG. 6). In this way, the first color (for example Y)
When recording is completed, the thermal head 1 separates from the platen 4 (not shown), the platen 4 rotates in the opposite direction to that during recording, and the recording paper 3 pressed against the platen 4 by the suppression roller 8 is moved in the direction of arrow A. sent in the opposite direction. When the recording paper is returned to the recording start position of the first color Y, the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 3 are again pressed against the platen 4 in a superimposed state by the thermal head 1, and the second color M is thermally transferred to the same recording paper. In this way, the third color C is thermally transferred and recorded over Y and M, and the recording is completed.
No. Publication].

Problems to be Solved by the Invention By the way, the relative speed to the recording paper is i1/n times (n is 1
An ink sheet (for example, Matsuda, Taro, Imai) in which heat-melting or heat-sublimation ink that can be transferred and recorded with a larger positive number is coated on a transfer base material.

Kami Yuba and Shima Shima "n-times mode recording characteristics of sublimation transfer type thermal recording material" Paper results of the 2nd Non-Impact Printing Symposium o 3z P 101) When trying to perform thermal transfer recording using f, such conventional In a thermal printer that performs thermal transfer recording, the thermal head is in contact with the platen via the ink sheet and the recording paper, and the relative speed of the ink sheet with respect to the recording paper 'f! It was very difficult to perform thermal transfer recording on the above recording paper with the magnification: 1/n.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes the platen which presses the ink sheet and the recording paper into contact with each other with a thermal head rotatable, and includes a platen on the side opposite to the recording paper supply side with respect to the platen. A first capstan for winding and transporting the recording paper at a constant speed, and a side opposite to the first capstan with respect to the platen, and 1/n with respect to the circumferential speed of the first capstan. (n is a positive number greater than 1) rotates at a circumferential speed,
By providing a second capstan for winding and transporting the ink sheet, the thermal head can be brought into contact with the platen through the ink sheet and the recording paper, and the ink sheet can be moved relative to the recording paper. The speed is increased to 1/n times so that thermal transfer recording can be performed on the recording paper. Moreover, the second capstan is engaged with the first capstan so that only the direction in which the ink sheet is wound up is 1/n times the transport speed of the recording paper, so that The relative speed of the ink sheet to the recording paper is increased by f 1 /n times to perform thermal transfer recording on the recording paper.

Operation The present invention has the above-described configuration, in which the platen that presses the ink sheet and the recording paper into contact with each other by a thermal head is rotatable, the recording paper is wound around the first capstan that rotates at a constant speed, and the recording paper is wound around the first capstan that rotates at a constant speed. Transfer at a constant speed, at a side opposite to the first capstan with respect to the platen, and at a peripheral speed of 1/n (n is a positive number greater than 1) with respect to the peripheral speed of the first capstan. Since the ink sheet is wound around the second capstan which rotates at the same time as the ink sheet, the ink sheet is transported. When the relative speed of the sheet to the recording paper is 1/n times higher, the ink sheet and the recording paper can be stably transported and thermal transfer recording can be performed on the recording paper.

Example FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main part of the present invention and shows the recording state.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a thermal head equipped with a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line, and 12 is a thermal head that performs transfer recording at a relative speed f 1 /n times (n is a positive number greater than 1) relative to the recording paper 13. An ink sheet in which heat-melting or heat-sublimation ink is applied onto a transfer base material, and can be used to print multiple colors of ink,
For example, Y (yellow).

M (magenta) and C (cyan) are applied to approximately 1/n of the length recorded on the recording paper, which is necessary for one recording (Figure 6).
and is wound on the supply reel 17. 14 is a rotatably fixed platen. 16 is a capstan that rotates at a constant speed (drive mechanism not shown) for winding and transporting the recording paper 13; 16 is a capstan 15 that rotates at a constant speed;
This is a rotatably supported pinch roller that presses against the

A capstan 18 is disposed on the opposite side of the platen 14 from the capstan 16, and rotates so that its circumferential speed is 1/n of the circumferential speed of the capstan 15, and winds and transports the ink sheet 12. Reference numeral 19 denotes a rotatably supported pinch roller that presses the ink sheet 12 against the capstan 18. 2o is a guide roller that guides the ink sheet 12, and 21 is a take-up reel that winds up the ink sheet 12 after transfer recording. FIG. 3 shows the drive mechanism of the capstan 18 in further detail.

This will be explained in FIG. 22 is a timing pulley coaxially fixed to the capstan 16, and 24 is a gear 26.
The main body side plate 27 is configured integrally and coaxially with the body side plate 27 so as to be rotatable.
This is a timing pulley that is pivotally supported. The timing pulley 24 is engaged with the timing pulley 22 by stretching the timing belt 23 between the timing pulley 22 and the timing pulley 22. Further, the timing pulley 24 is coaxially engaged with the capstan 18 via a one-way clutch 25. The one-way clutch 25 is press-fitted into the timing pulley 24 and engages with the capstan 18 only when the timing pulley 24 rotates in the direction of arrow C, and when the timing pulley 24 rotates in the opposite direction to arrow C, the one-way clutch 25 engages with the capstan 18. The engagement with the stun 18 is released. At this time, the reduction ratio of the timing pulley 22 and the timing pulley 24 is such that the circumferential speed of the capstan 18 is 1/n of the circumferential speed of the capstan 16.
is set to be. 26 is a retaining ring, and 28 is a bearing. As shown in FIG. 1, the ink sheet 12 and the recording paper 13 are overlapped so that the ink on the ink sheet 12 is in contact with the recording paper 13, and the thermal head 11 presses the platen 14, and the capstan 15 is pressed against the platen 14. Since the recording paper 13 rotates in the direction of arrow B and is pressed against the capstan 16 by the pinch roller 16, the ink sheet 12 and recording paper 13 are fed by the platen 14 in the direction of the arrow, and at the same time, they are synchronized with the rotation of the platen 14. The image is then thermally transferred and recorded by the thermal head 11. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the circumferential speed of the capstan 18 is set to 1/n of the circumferential speed of the capstan 16, and the ink sheet 12
is in pressure contact with the capstan 18 by the pinch roller 19, so the ink sheet 12 moves at 1 of the transport speed of the recording paper 13.
The ink sheet 12 is stably transported at a transport speed of /n, and the ink sheet 12 on which recording has been completed is taken up by the take-up reel 21.

When the first color Y75f is recorded in this way, the second color
As shown in the figure, the thermal head 11 is separated from the platen 14 (the operating mechanism is not shown), and the pinch roller 19 is also separated from the capstan 18 (the operating mechanism is not shown). In this state, the capstan 15 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow B, and the recording paper 1st is transported in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow B to the position where recording of the first color Y starts, and then stops. At the same time, the ink sheet 12 is wound up by the take-up reel 21 until the second color M is at the recording start position. At this time, the timing pulley 24 rotates in the opposite direction to the arrow C, so the timing pulley 24 is disengaged from the capstan 18, so the capstan 18 does not rotate, and the pinch roller 19 is also separated from the capstan 18. Therefore, there is no problem in winding up the ink sheet 12 with the take-up reel 21. When preparations for recording the second color are completed in this way, the state shown in FIG. 1 is restored, and the second color M is recorded. In the same way, the third color C is recorded and the recording is completed.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the platen 14, which is in pressure contact with the ink sheet and the recording paper by the entire thermal head, is rotatable, and the recording paper is placed on the opposite side of the platen from the recording paper supply feeder. A capstan that is wound and transferred at a constant speed, and a capstan that rotates on the opposite side of the platen from the capstan and at a peripheral speed that is 1/n (n is a positive number greater than 1) relative to the peripheral speed of the capstan. However, since it is provided with a capstan for winding and transporting the ink sheet, the relative change of the ink sheet with respect to the recording paper can be controlled by 1 while the thermal head is in contact with the platen through the ink sheet and the recording paper.
Thermal transfer recording can be performed on the recording paper by multiplying the amount by /n times, and the efficiency of using the ink sheet becomes very high, thereby reducing the running cost of the ink sheet. In addition, the timing pulley and the one-way clutch press-fitted with the timing belt are connected so that the capstan engages with the capstan only in the direction in which the ink sheet is wound up at a speed 1/n times the transport speed of the recording paper. Since we have made it possible to perform thermal transfer recording on the recording paper by increasing the relative speed of the ink sheet to the recording paper by 1/n using a simple structure in which the ink sheet is stretched with It does not require a control device and is inexpensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of an n-times mode thermal printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the recording state, and FIG. A schematic diagram showing the ink sheet being wound up by the winding reel to the next color, Figures 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams showing the capstan drive mechanism of the same thermal printer, and Figure 5 is the relative view to the recording paper. Speed 'fz 1 /n (n is a positive number greater than 1)
It can be doubled to perform thermal transfer recording on recording paper.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of ink application on an ink sheet. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the main part of a conventional thermal printer and shows the recording state. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the state of ink application on a conventional ink sheet. 11... Thermal head, 12... Ink sheet, 13... Recording paper, 14...
・Platen, 15...Capstan, 18...
...capstan. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 η Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A first capstan that winds and transports recording paper;
an ink sheet in which a heat-melting or heat-sublimation type ink that can be transferred and recorded at a speed relative to the recording paper 1/n times (n is a positive number greater than 1) is applied onto a transfer base material;
a rotatably supported platen; a thermal head that presses and records on the platen via the ink sheet and the recording paper so that the ink contacts the recording paper;
The ink sheet is disposed on the opposite side of the platen from the capstan and is moved at 1/n of the transport speed of the recording paper.
An n-time mode thermal printer comprising a second capstan that winds and transports the ink sheet at a double speed, and a sheet winding means that winds up the ink sheet. (2) Claim 1, in which the second capstan is engaged with the first capstan so that only the ink sheet winding direction is 1/n times the recording paper transport speed. nx mode thermal printer.