JPS63197670A - Recorder - Google Patents

Recorder

Info

Publication number
JPS63197670A
JPS63197670A JP3080587A JP3080587A JPS63197670A JP S63197670 A JPS63197670 A JP S63197670A JP 3080587 A JP3080587 A JP 3080587A JP 3080587 A JP3080587 A JP 3080587A JP S63197670 A JPS63197670 A JP S63197670A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
recording
electrode
voltage
electrodes
current
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
JP3080587A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Manabu Nishiwaki
学 西脇
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Seiko Epson Corp
Original Assignee
Seiko Epson Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seiko Epson Corp filed Critical Seiko Epson Corp
Priority to JP3080587A priority Critical patent/JPS63197670A/en
Publication of JPS63197670A publication Critical patent/JPS63197670A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B41J2/345Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads characterised by the arrangement of resistors or conductors

Landscapes

  • Electronic Switches (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize a recorder by using a recording head having a picture element density equal to one half of a desired picture element density, by providing a controlling means for applying a voltage between an arbitrary recording electrode and a return circuit electrode, and a controlling means for applying a voltage between arbitrary adjacent recording electrodes. CONSTITUTION:A voltage V0 is applied between 8 recording electrode E2 and a return circuit electrode R, so that a current i0 flows through a resistor layer between the electrode E2 and the electrode R, generating Joule heat. The current i0 gradually diffuses while flowing from the electrode E2 toward the electrode R, with a decrease in current density. Therefore, the heating value is highest in the vicinity of the recording electrode E2, so that when a voltage and an energizing time are selected, only an ink beneath the vicinity of the electrode E2 is melted to form a record dot 10. A voltage V1 is applied between the electrode E2 and a recording electrode E3, so that a current i1 flows through the resistor layer between the electrodes E2 and E3, generating Joule heat. In this case, the current i1 is concentrated on opposed end parts of the electrodes E2, E3 to form a record dot 11. By using the two driving methods, the record dots can be formed in a density equal to two times the arranging pitch of the recording electrodes.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】[Detailed description of the invention]

【産業上の利用分野J 本発明は通電熱転写方式を用いた記録装置に関する。 【従来の技術J 従来の通電熱転写記録方式を用いた記録装置としては「
印写装置」 (特願昭58−186496号)があった
。この発明によりl記録素子による記録ドツトの面積変
調が可能となり、高速、高画質、かつ低価格のフルカラ
ー!!I!J記録装置が実現された。 【発明が解決しようとする問題点1 しかし前述の従来例では、記録ヘッドの記録画素数と同
数の記録電極と駆動回路が必要であった。 従ってN質向上の為に記録Im素の高密度化を計ろうと
すると、同時に記録ヘッドの高密度化が必須であった。 また記録面積の拡大を計ろうとすると記録画素数の増加
に伴い、駆動回路を含めた制御機構が増加してしまう。 このように画素配列の高密度化や、駆動回路の増加、駆
動ITd路実装部の高密度化等、製品の高価格化を招く
要因が多々出現してしまう。本発明は上記のような問題
を解決するもので、その目的とする所は記録電極の配列
ピッチの2倍の密度の記録画素を任意に生成させること
により、記録ヘッド、駆動回路どうの設計、製造工程の
負荷を低減させ、低価格、高品質の通電熱転写記録装置
を提供することにある。 L間厘点を解決するための手段】 本発明の記録装置は、複数の記録電極と前記記録電極列
に平行に配設された帰路電極とを有し、任意の記録電極
と帰路電極間に電圧を印加する制御手段と、任意の隣接
する記録電極間に電圧を印加する制御手段とを有するこ
とを特徴とする。 [実施例] 本発明を用いたフルカラー階調記録装置を製作した。入
力画像信号はNTSCビデオ信号とし、ラインヘッドを
用い、記録密度は6dOt/l1m1.、Iii素数が
主走査方向が511個、副走査方向が480とした。第
2図は記録ヘッドの構造図である。第2図(a)に記録
ヘッド全体の概観を、第2図(b)に記録ヘッド先端の
構造の断面を示した。 第2図(a)において92は記録部、94は駆動IC実
装部、93は前記記録部92と駆動IC実装部94を電
気的に結合するための結合部である。 駆動工C95は本発明による駆動回路をIC化したもの
で、1チツプ当たり64この駆動素子を含む。この駆動
1C95を4個実装部94上に実装した。 記録部92の先端部は第2図すに示すごとく記録電極E
nと帰路電極Rと前記記録電極と帰路電極を電気的に絶
縁する為の絶縁層96、前記記録電極、帰路電極、絶縁
層を支持するための支持体91より構成される。 前記記録電極Enと帰路電極Rの材質はタングステンを
用いたが、硬質で機械的摺動摩耗や、電気的放電摩耗に
対して耐性のある導電材質が望ましい。また前記絶縁層
96には100μm厚の雲母を主成分とした切削性セラ
ミックを用いた。本絶縁層は記録装置の仕様よってはボ
ワイミド樹脂等の有機高分子膜や、ガラス質のものでも
良いが、適当な耐熱性と絶縁耐圧とけずれ易さが必要で
ある。 第3図(a)に本発明に基づく記録装置のフィルム状記
録媒体のロールの構造を示す。73は約2om巻きのフ
ィルム状記録媒体である。カラー記録を行なう為にマゼ
ンタ(M)、シアン(C)、イエロー(Y)のインクが
画部分の面積で順次塗布しである。 第3図(b)は前記フィルム状記録媒体の断面図である
。フィルム状記録媒体は6μm厚のPETをペース/1
182とし、その1方の面にカーボン粒を樹脂中に分散
し4から5μm厚に塗布した抵抗層81を、またもう1
方面には1114をワックス中に分散し2から3μm厚
に塗布したインク層83が設けである。 第4図は本発明による通電熱転写記録装置の構造を示す
図である。被転写紙71は被転写紙ロール72より供給
され、また同じくフィルム状記録媒体73はフィルム供
給ローラ74より供給され、プラテン75の上で記録ヘ
ッド76により加圧、通電記録される。この際フィルム
状記録媒体73の抵抗層(図示せず)と記録ヘッド76
の記録電極Enと帰路電極Rが十分な電気適接触を保っ
ていることは言うまでもない。記録後のフィルム状記録
媒体は前記記録ヘッドのエツジにより被転写紙71より
はがされた後フィルム巻き取りローラ77により巻き取
られる。本記録装置はカラー記録を行なう為にマゼンタ
→シアン→イエローの順に、上記工程を3度繰り返しカ
ラー画像が形成される。 第1図は本発明に基づく記録ドツト形成の原理を示す図
である゛。本図には抵抗層上の記録電極E1、E2、E
3と基路電極Rの接触形状と記録電流の経路iを示しで
ある。本発明においては2種類の記録ドツト形成プロセ
スがある。第1図(a)はその内の1つの記録ドツト形
成の模様を示すものである。第1図(a)において今記
録電極E2と基路電極Rの間に電圧vOが印加されてい
る。従って記録電極E2と基路1極R間に抵抗層(図示
せず)を通じて電流10が流れジュール熱が生じる。 この際電流jOは記録電極E2から基路電極Rに向かい
次第に拡散し電流密度が減少する。従って記録電極E2
の近傍の発熱量が一番多いので、ある適当な電圧と通電
時間を選ぶと記録電極E2の近傍直下のインクのみが溶
融し記録ドツト10が形成される。 また第1図(b)においては、今記録電極E2と記録電
極E3の間に電圧Vlが印加されている。 従って記録電極E2と記録電極E3間に抵抗層(図示せ
ず)を通じて電流11が流れジュール熱が生じる。この
場合記録電極E2と記録電極E3の互いに相対しに側の
記録電極端部に電流i1が集中し、図に示すが如く記録
ドツト11が形成される。 以上の2m類の駆動方法を駆使することにより、記録電
極の直下と2本の記録電極間とに各々任意に記録ドツト
10.11が形成可能となる。すなわち記録電極の配列
ピッチの2倍の密度記録ドツトが形成できる。 上記構成の記録装置により記録を行なったところ、非常
に良好な画質が得られた。また3 dot/mmの密度
の記録ヘッド、半数の駆動回路で6 dat/mmの画
素密度の画像を得ることができた。
[Industrial Field of Application J] The present invention relates to a recording device using an electric thermal transfer method. [Prior art J] As a recording device using the conventional electrical thermal transfer recording method,
"Printing Device" (Japanese Patent Application No. 186496/1983). This invention makes it possible to modulate the area of recording dots using a recording element, resulting in high speed, high image quality, and low cost full color printing! ! I! J recording device was realized. Problem 1 to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional example described above, the same number of recording electrodes and drive circuits as the number of recording pixels of the recording head were required. Therefore, if an attempt was made to increase the density of recording Im elements in order to improve the N quality, it was necessary to simultaneously increase the density of the recording head. Furthermore, when attempting to expand the recording area, the number of control mechanisms including drive circuits increases as the number of recording pixels increases. As described above, many factors that lead to higher prices of products appear, such as higher density of pixel arrays, increased number of drive circuits, and higher density of drive IT road mounting parts. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to arbitrarily generate recording pixels with a density twice the arrangement pitch of recording electrodes, thereby improving the design of the recording head and drive circuit. The object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, high-quality electrical thermal transfer recording device that reduces the load on the manufacturing process. [Means for solving the L-interval point] The recording device of the present invention has a plurality of recording electrodes and a return electrode arranged in parallel to the recording electrode array, and there is no space between any recording electrode and the return electrode. It is characterized by having a control means for applying a voltage and a control means for applying a voltage between arbitrary adjacent recording electrodes. [Example] A full color gradation recording device using the present invention was manufactured. The input image signal is an NTSC video signal, a line head is used, and the recording density is 6 dOt/l1m1. , Iiii prime numbers are 511 in the main scanning direction and 480 in the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the recording head. FIG. 2(a) shows an overview of the entire recording head, and FIG. 2(b) shows a cross section of the structure of the tip of the recording head. In FIG. 2(a), 92 is a recording section, 94 is a drive IC mounting section, and 93 is a coupling section for electrically coupling the recording section 92 and the drive IC mounting section 94. The drive circuit C95 is an IC version of the drive circuit according to the present invention, and includes 64 drive elements per chip. Four drives 1C95 were mounted on the mounting section 94. The tip of the recording section 92 is connected to the recording electrode E as shown in Figure 2.
n, a return electrode R, an insulating layer 96 for electrically insulating the recording electrode and the return electrode, and a support 91 for supporting the recording electrode, the return electrode, and the insulating layer. Although tungsten was used as the material for the recording electrode En and return electrode R, it is desirable to use a conductive material that is hard and resistant to mechanical sliding wear and electrical discharge wear. Further, for the insulating layer 96, a machinable ceramic having a thickness of 100 μm and mainly composed of mica was used. Depending on the specifications of the recording device, this insulating layer may be an organic polymer film such as Voimide resin or a glass material, but it must have appropriate heat resistance, dielectric strength, and ease of tearing. FIG. 3(a) shows the structure of a roll of a film-like recording medium of a recording apparatus based on the present invention. 73 is a film-like recording medium with a roll of about 2 om. To perform color recording, magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) inks are sequentially applied to the area of the image. FIG. 3(b) is a sectional view of the film-like recording medium. The film-like recording medium is 6 μm thick PET pace/1
182, and on one side there is a resistance layer 81 made of carbon grains dispersed in a resin and coated to a thickness of 4 to 5 μm, and on the other side.
An ink layer 83 made of 1114 dispersed in wax and coated to a thickness of 2 to 3 μm is provided on one side. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of an electrically conductive thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention. A transfer paper 71 is supplied from a transfer paper roll 72, and a film-like recording medium 73 is similarly supplied from a film supply roller 74, and is pressed and electrically recorded by a recording head 76 on a platen 75. At this time, the resistance layer (not shown) of the film-like recording medium 73 and the recording head 76
It goes without saying that the recording electrode En and the return electrode R maintain sufficient electrical contact. After recording, the film-like recording medium is peeled off from the transfer paper 71 by the edge of the recording head and then wound up by a film winding roller 77. This recording apparatus performs color recording by repeating the above steps three times in the order of magenta, cyan, and yellow to form a color image. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the principle of recording dot formation based on the present invention. This figure shows recording electrodes E1, E2, and E on the resistance layer.
3 shows the contact shape of the base electrode R and the path i of the recording current. In the present invention, there are two types of recording dot formation processes. FIG. 1(a) shows one of the recording dot formation patterns. In FIG. 1(a), a voltage vO is now applied between the recording electrode E2 and the base electrode R. Therefore, a current 10 flows between the recording electrode E2 and the base path 1 pole R through a resistance layer (not shown), generating Joule heat. At this time, the current jO gradually diffuses from the recording electrode E2 toward the base electrode R, and the current density decreases. Therefore, recording electrode E2
Since the amount of heat generated is the largest near the recording electrode E2, if a certain appropriate voltage and current application time are selected, only the ink immediately below the recording electrode E2 will be melted and the recording dot 10 will be formed. Further, in FIG. 1(b), a voltage Vl is now being applied between the recording electrode E2 and the recording electrode E3. Therefore, current 11 flows through a resistance layer (not shown) between recording electrode E2 and recording electrode E3, generating Joule heat. In this case, the current i1 is concentrated at the opposite ends of the recording electrodes E2 and E3, forming recording dots 11 as shown in the figure. By making full use of the above-mentioned 2m type driving method, recording dots 10 and 11 can be arbitrarily formed directly below the recording electrode and between the two recording electrodes. In other words, recording dots can be formed at a density twice the arrangement pitch of the recording electrodes. When recording was performed using the recording apparatus having the above configuration, very good image quality was obtained. Furthermore, it was possible to obtain an image with a pixel density of 6 dat/mm using a recording head with a density of 3 dots/mm and half the number of drive circuits.

【発明の効果】【Effect of the invention】

以上述べた様に、本発明によれば望む画素密度の半分の
密度の記録ヘッドにより記録装置が実現できる。また駆
動回路やそれに付随する制御回路も半減できる。また駆
動回路を集積したICの基板への実装も容易になる等、
記録ヘッドを主とする記録装置の構造の簡素化が為され
、装置の生産性、コストダウンとうに多大な効果を有す
る。
As described above, according to the present invention, a recording device can be realized using a recording head having a density that is half of the desired pixel density. Furthermore, the number of drive circuits and associated control circuits can be reduced by half. It also makes it easier to mount ICs with integrated drive circuits onto substrates, etc.
This simplifies the structure of the recording apparatus, mainly the recording head, and has a great effect on productivity and cost reduction of the apparatus.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第1図(a)(b)は本発明による記録装置の駆動方式
を示す図。 第2図(a)(b)は本発明による記録装置の記録ヘッ
ドの構造を示す図。 第3図(a)(b)は本発明による記録装置のフィルム
状記録媒体の構造を示す図。 第4図は本発明による記録装置の構造を示す概略図。 72・・・・被転写紙 73・・・・フィルム状記録媒体 76・・・・記録ヘッド 81・・・・抵抗層 83・・・・インク層 91・・・・支持体 95・・・・駆動IC En・・・、・記録電極 R・・・・・帰路電極 以  上 出願人セイコーエプソン株式会社 (Q) ′箒1図 (Q) (b) 第2図 iI3図
FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are diagrams showing a driving method of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrams showing the structure of the recording head of the recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are diagrams showing the structure of a film-like recording medium of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. 72...Transfer paper 73...Film-like recording medium 76...Recording head 81...Resistance layer 83...Ink layer 91...Support 95... Drive IC En..., Recording electrode R...Return electrode and above Applicant Seiko Epson Corporation (Q) 'Broom 1 Figure (Q) (b) Figure 2 iI 3

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 熱刺激により活性化され選択的に被記録媒体に転写され
うるインクの層と通電により発熱する抵抗層を有するフ
ィルム状記録媒体と複数の記録電極と前記記録電極列に
平行に配設された帰路電極と前記記録電極を前記抵抗層
に接触走査させる機構と前記記録電極を通して前記抵抗
層に通電し前記インクを選択的に加熱するための駆動手
段を有する記録装置において、任意の前記記録電極と前
記帰路電極間に電圧を印加する制御手段と、任意の隣接
する前記記録電極間に電圧を印加する制御手段とを有す
ることを特徴とする記録装置。
A film-like recording medium having an ink layer that can be activated by thermal stimulation and selectively transferred to the recording medium and a resistive layer that generates heat when energized, a plurality of recording electrodes, and a return path arranged in parallel to the recording electrode array. In a recording apparatus having an electrode, a mechanism for contacting and scanning the recording electrode with the resistive layer, and a driving means for selectively heating the ink by supplying current to the resistive layer through the recording electrode, any of the recording electrode and the A recording apparatus comprising: a control means for applying a voltage between return electrodes; and a control means for applying a voltage between arbitrary adjacent recording electrodes.
JP3080587A 1987-02-13 1987-02-13 Recorder Pending JPS63197670A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3080587A JPS63197670A (en) 1987-02-13 1987-02-13 Recorder

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3080587A JPS63197670A (en) 1987-02-13 1987-02-13 Recorder

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPS63197670A true JPS63197670A (en) 1988-08-16

Family

ID=12313898

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP3080587A Pending JPS63197670A (en) 1987-02-13 1987-02-13 Recorder

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS63197670A (en)

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