JPS63209860A - Thermal transfer recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit thermal transfer recording suitable for a plurality of different recording medium dimensions by providing a reconstructable attachable/ detachable transport channel length changing means on a recording device. CONSTITUTION:A transport channel expansion unit 6 is separated from the main body of the subject device 2 by pressing an attachment/detachment button 24 and releasing a fixing pawl 25. Therefore, the transport channel length can easily be changed by loading another different type of transport channel expansion unit. A recording medium 1 is charged into the device 2 through a charging port 3, and performs recording in a recording part 7 consisted of a drive roller 8 and a thermal head 9 after passing through a channel F2. The recording medium 1 which has finished recording reaches the recording part 7 again through a forward channel 10a and a return part 12 consisted of a roller 21 and a guide 27 to perform recording in other colors. When a required number of recordings are completed, the recording medium 1 is discharged outside the device 2 from a discharging port 4 via a paper guide member 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device, which is particularly suitable for use as a high-definition, high-density, full-color printer, and which performs overlapping recording of a plurality of different colors and The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device that is compatible with the dimensions of a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, with the expansion of the use of image information, there is a growing need to not only display image information generated by electrical signals on cathode ray tubes and liquid crystal panels, but also to record and save it on recording media such as paper. There are various requests. Furthermore, there are various requirements for image information to be handled, such as color, gradation, high definition, and high density.

A thermal transfer recording method is seen as a promising recording method that is suitable for meeting these various demands.

Furthermore, the use of recording devices using this type of recording method is expected to be applied not only to home use but also to business use, and regarding the dimensions of the recording medium, paper of the size used for general documents, paper of the size used for general documents,
For example, it can handle A4 size (2101'm x 297 cranes), A3 size (420m x 297mm), and 84 size (368mm).
It is desired that three or more types can be handled in the longitudinal direction of the multilayer x 258 dragons, and that the overall size of the device be thin.

Conventionally, various recording methods have been proposed for this type of recording method.
For example, IE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Vol. C.E. 28, (1982) pp. 226-232.
Page (IEEE T-RANSACT rONs Ω
N CONSC0N5U ELECTRONIC3
, VOL, GE-28, (1982) PP226-23
In 2), a color video picture printer (COLORVI) was developed by Masuda et al.
As discussed in the document entitled DEOPICTURE PRINTER), there is known an apparatus that performs recording by winding and holding a recording medium around a cylindrical holding member (platen). That is, in this recording apparatus, first, a recording medium (for example, a rectangular recording paper cut to a predetermined size) is wound around the outer periphery of a cylinder called a platen, with one end of the recording medium being fixed. Next, the platen around which the recording medium is wound is rotated, and during one rotation, a color guide sheet (COLORDYE 5HE) is applied to the wound recording medium.
A thermal head is pressed and heated through an ink carrier called ET to record image information. Then, when the platen rotates once again, it is replaced with a color sheet of a different color and recording is performed. In this way, overlapping recording of multiple colors was performed.

As mentioned above, in this printing apparatus, since the printing medium is fixed to the cylindrical platen, it has the advantage that color shift does not occur when performing overlapping printing of multiple colors, but the size of the printing medium ( In other words, if the size of the recording paper is increased, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the platen in order to wrap the recording medium around the platen. This increases the dimensions of the device, especially the thickness of the device, which in turn increases costs.
In the past, these issues were not recognized.

In addition, with the above-mentioned apparatus, if an attempt is made to record on a recording medium whose dimensions are significantly smaller than the circumference of the platen in the longitudinal direction, a platen with a larger diameter must be used as is, so the length of the recording medium is It was also not fully recognized that the remaining portion of the platen that was not wound would need to be unnecessarily fed during recording, and that the recording time would not be shortened commensurately with the reduction in the size of the recording medium.

Other devices of this type include Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-140
A device as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 271 is known.

In this proposed example, rollers are arranged one by one on both sides of the platen so that the platen is sandwiched between them. First, a sheet of recording medium (recording paper, etc.) is sandwiched between the platen and each roller, and the rollers are placed on both sides of the platen. Make sure that the recording medium is wrapped around the outer circumference about half a turn.

That is, the recording medium is pressed against the outer periphery of the platen by two rows, and is in close contact with the outer periphery of the platen for about half the circumference. Therefore, when the platen is rotated in a predetermined direction, the two rollers also rotate, and the recording medium wound around the platen is fed in one direction. At this time, a thermal head is pressed against the wrapped recording medium with an ink carrier called an ink film interposed therebetween to heat it, and image information is recorded in order from the recording start position on the recording medium. When the recording position of the thermal head reaches the recording end position of the recording medium, the platen is rotated in the opposite direction to the previously specified direction to feed the recording medium in the opposite direction until it returns to the recording start position of the recording medium. return. During this time, the hue of the ink film is replaced with another hue (this ink film is coated with multiple inks in the longitudinal direction, forming a band shape), and recording is performed again from the recording start position on the recording medium. . By repeating the above operations, this printing apparatus performs overlapping printing of a plurality of colors.

In this recording apparatus, if the coating widths of the plurality of hues of the strip-shaped intermediate recording medium are adapted to the dimensions of the recording medium to be used, it is possible to accommodate changes in the dimensions of the recording medium relatively easily.

This recording device can use both large and small recording media, and requires only a relatively small diameter platen.
Although there are advantages such as reducing the size of the compatible thermal head and the overall size of the device, especially the thickness, when recording multiple colors in a superimposed manner, when changing the color material to another hue, the above-mentioned However, since the recording medium is moved back and forth, and the load is applied depending on the driving direction, the position of the recording medium changes each time the reciprocating movement is repeated, which tends to cause color misalignment. It wasn't fully recognized.

Furthermore, when recording on a sufficiently small recording medium, there is a limit to the size of the recording medium (for example, 1
00 m or more), and it was not fully recognized that recording media inevitably have blank areas that are not used for recording.

Furthermore, as another device of this kind, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-450
There is one described in Publication No. 72. This is already done! ! In the example,
First and second rollers are placed in parallel at a predetermined interval, and the two rollers are connected by a belt. First, a belt with a recording medium wrapped around the surface of the belt is rotated between two rollers, and during one rotation of the belt, an ink carrier (called an ink donor sheet) is applied to the wrapped recording medium. The ink donor sheet is in the form of a belt, and a plurality of monochromatic ink layers of different tones are sequentially and repeatedly formed along the longitudinal direction in units of length equal to the outer circumference of the belt. The Searl head is pressed against it to heat it and record image information. Then, the color of the ink donor sheet was changed to another color, and recording was performed again while the belt rotated once, thereby performing overlapping recording of a plurality of colors. However, in this recording device, since the belt is an elastic body, it can expand and contract (
For example, one end of the recording medium does not stretch or contract, so if one end of the recording medium is fixed to the belt surface,
During belt rotation, the recording medium may rise from the belt surface, causing slack. The slack may catch on other parts and cause wrinkles on the recording medium. Further, if slippage occurs between the belt and the roller, the position of the recording medium wound around the belt may also change, resulting in color misregistration. Conventionally, these points were not considered. In addition, the circumference of the belt must match the maximum size of the recording medium that can be recorded, and if the size of the recording medium is made small, the remaining part of the belt's outer circumference will be wasted and empty. need to be sent. No consideration was also given to the fact that this would require extra wasted time.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Summarizing the above, a thermal transfer recording device that performs overlapping recording of multiple colors has the following features: (1) It can easily accommodate changes in the dimensions of the recording medium;
With the change in recording medium dimensions, the recording time and the IC carrier to be used can be optimally selected; (2) the unrecordable portion of the recording medium is small; and (3) the overall size of the device (particularly the thickness) is small. As for making it possible and making it multicolored,
(4) Issues include ensuring that color misalignment does not occur due to slipping or the like when the recording medium is transported inside the apparatus.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above,
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording device suitable for recording image information.

[Means to solve problems]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, in a recording means for recording image information on a recording medium, the former recording medium is moved to a specific member on a conveyance path that is cyclically formed through the recording medium. A conveying means for conveying the medium in a single direction without being fixed to the conveyor is provided, the first recording medium is circulated on the conveying path by the conveying means, recording is performed each time it passes through the first recording means, and after circulation a predetermined number of times, the first recording medium is Image information can now be recorded in single or multiple tones.

Furthermore, by providing a means for movable or removing a part of the recording medium conveyance path and replacing it with another member having a different path length, the length of the entire conveyance path can be changed, and when changing the dimensions of the recording medium, the The configuration allows the length of the medium transport path to be changed.

Further, the distance between the outgoing path and the incoming path of the conveying path connecting the two parts of the return section and the driving force applying means that applies a driving force by rotation that constitutes the circulation conveying path is determined based on the diameter of the two parts. The guide members on either or both of the outbound and return routes were made narrower and provided with curvature.

A detecting means for detecting the position of the recording medium is provided in the recorder, and the recording position of the former recording means on the recording medium is controlled based on the detection result.

[Effect]

By changing a part of the circulation conveyance path for the recording medium, the path length of the circulation conveyance path can be changed as appropriate, and the circulation conveyance path can be set to be suitable for recording media of a plurality of different sizes. Therefore, it is possible to optimally set the time required for recording and the amount of ink carrier used for recording.

In the above structure, the distance between the outward path and the return path in the circulation conveyance path of the recording medium is partially narrowed, and the ink carrier can be stored in the reduced volume inside the conveyance path, thereby reducing the thickness of the mechanical part. It also becomes possible to reduce the volume. Further, since the recording medium is circulated in a single direction and the leading edge position is detected every time it passes through a recording area to perform overlapping recording of a plurality of colors, color misregistration is less likely to occur.

Furthermore, since the space between the recording medium and the circulation conveyance path of the recording medium is not fixed, and conveyance force is applied by friction, there is almost no unrecordable area on the surface of the recording medium, and it is possible to effectively record on the entire surface of the recording medium. It can be done.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an overview of a thermal transfer recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described later.

As shown in the figure, a recording medium 1 is inserted into a recording medium input port 3 provided in an apparatus 1 to perform recording.

Inside the apparatus 1, color materials of a plurality of hues or a single hue are transferred onto a recording medium 1 to perform recording. After the recording is completed, the recording medium 1 is sent out from the discharge port 4 to the outside of the apparatus 1, and the recording is completed.

The input/output port member provided in a part of the device 2 is configured to be detachable from the main body of the device 2, and the conveyance path expansion unit (6) provided separately from the device main body is connected to the input/output port member 6 provided in a part of the device 2. The recording medium 1 having a different size is handled in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal mechanism of a thermal transfer recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the recording medium conveyance path expansion unit 6 is installed.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes the recording medium described above, and 3 and 4 denote an input port and a discharge port similar to those described above, which are provided in the recording medium conveyance path expansion unit i.

Further, U is a recording unit, 8 is a driving force applying roller, 9 is a thermal head, 10 is an outgoing path of the transport path, 11 is a return path of the transport path,
12 is a folding part of the conveyance path, 13 is a paper guide member, 1 is an ink carrier, 16 is a folding roller, 17 is a recording medium pressing roller, 18 is a take-up reel, 19 is a supply reel,
20 is a recording medium detection sensor, and 21 is an auxiliary driving force applying roller.

First, an overview of the overall operation of the above configuration will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium l is input into the storage unit z2 from the input port 3 provided in the conveyance path expansion unit E, and is driven by the sub-driving force applying roller 21 and passes through the path shown by the broken line F1. The recording section 1 is composed of a driving force applying roller 8 and a thermal head 9, and recording is performed there in a rear-guard manner.

After recording, the recording medium 1 passes through the main body side outgoing path 10a of the conveyance path F1 and the auxiliary driving force applying roller 21, and reaches the conveyance path expansion unit moxibustion. And the recording medium l is the unit side outward path 1
0b, passes through the return section of the conveyance path, returns to the main body side again from the unit side return path 11b, reaches the recording section 7 again via the main body side return path 11a, and this time, printing is performed in a different color.

In this way, after recording the required number of times (that is, the number of colors to be recorded), after recording, the paper guide member 13 provided in the conveyance path expansion unit 6 in a part of the conveyance path Fl is moved to the position 13' shown by the dashed line. The recording medium 1 is then discharged to the outside of the apparatus 1 from the discharge port 4 via the paper guide member 13'.

Next, the configuration of the mechanism section will be explained.

The conveyance path Fl is formed into a loop-shaped circulation path, and includes a recording section, a main body side outward path 10a, a vIi feed path expansion unit) 6 side outgoing path 10b, a folding section ■, a conveyance path expansion unit 6 side return path 11b, and It is constituted by a return path 11a on the main body side.

The length of the loop-shaped conveyance path Fl is set to be longer (for example, 440 degrees) than the dimensions of the recording medium used for recording (for example, the long side 42 (1+s) of A3 size), and the length of the loop-shaped conveyance path The entire recording medium (A3 size) fits within the path.

Here, the recording unit unit is provided with a driving force applying roller 8 as a driving force applying means for applying a driving force to the recording medium 1 by rotation, and this driving force applying roller 8 and the thermal head 9
The recording medium 1 is driven by the frictional force due to the pressing force from the roller 8 as the driving force applying roller 8 rotates. At this time, the circumferential length of the driving force applying roller 8 is set shorter than the length of the recording medium (for example, the recording medium is A3 size, the recording medium length is 420 fl, the driving force applying roller length is 120 am, etc.). However, it is not possible to wrap the recording medium over the entire outer circumference of the driving force applying roller 8. That is, only a portion of the recording medium is wrapped around the outer periphery of the driving force applying roller 8, and the remaining portion is within the conveyance path Fl. here,
Although the degree of the driving force applying roller 8 varies depending on the rigidity of the recording medium, in general, in order to convey the recording medium and the roller without slipping, it is necessary to have a curvature that falls within a certain range. It is not possible to increase the curvature (reduce the radius of curvature).

Note that the same applies to the folded portion H.

In this embodiment, a folding roller I6 is installed as a guide member in the conveyance path expansion unit, and a driving force is supplied from the main body of the apparatus 2 as described later.

The conveyance route is configured such that the outbound route 10 and the return route 11 take separate routes so that they do not interfere with each other.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will first be explained in detail starting from the recording section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the recording section of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ink carrier 1 is coated with ink N15 (sublimation dye, etc.) on one surface of the ink carrier 1, and is placed on one side of the recording medium 1 between the thermal head 9 and the driving force applying roller 8. The ink carrier 14 and the recording medium 1 are pressed against each other such that the ink layer 15 is in contact with the surface thereof. On the other hand, the thermal head 9 has the required number of heating elements 22 (the number of recording dots, for example, 297n width of an A3 size recording medium at a density of 8 dots/dragon) along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing (main scanning direction). 2,376 pieces) are installed.

Here, when an appropriate current is applied to each heating element attached to the thermal head 9 according to the image information using means not shown to generate heat, the portion of the ink layer 15 of the ink carrier 14 in contact with the heating element sublimates. Recording is performed by adhering to the surface of the recording medium 1.

After recording one line in the main scanning direction, when the driving force applying roller 8 is rotated in the sub-scanning direction (arrow B direction), the recording medium 1 and the ink carrier 14 (including the ink layer 15) are moved. , the next line can be recorded.

The color tone of the ink layer 15 provided on one surface of the ink carrier 1 soil can be easily varied depending on the type of coloring material (dye) used. In addition, especially when overlapping recording of a plurality of colors is performed, the ink layer 15 of the ink carrier (1) is painted in a plurality of different tones along its longitudinal direction (movement direction). The width of each colored color in the longitudinal direction is the length necessary for recording, the longitudinal dimension of the recording medium,
For example, a distance of 420 m or more for A3 size is sufficient.

Note that, as will be described later, this coating width is changed as appropriate depending on the longitudinal dimension of the recording medium to be used.

Therefore, after one screen is recorded on one side of the recording medium 1,
When recording is performed again on the recorded surface of one side of the recording medium 1 using the ink layer 15 of a different tone of the ink carrier 14, a mixed tone of two different colors can be expressed. Of course 3
The same is true for four colors.

Next, referring to FIG. 1 again, the overall operation of this embodiment will be explained in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium 1 is first taken into the apparatus from the input port 3 of the conveyance path expansion unit l-6 by the folding roller 16 installed in the conveyance path expansion unit i, and then It is sent through the return path 11b on the unit moxibustion side and the return path 11a on the main body side, and reaches the recording section yu. Note that the recording medium 1 is held by a folding roller 16 and a recording medium pressing roller 17e.
When pushed, the leading edge of the recording medium 1 moves straight in the return path 11 due to the rigidity of the medium itself.

The recording medium 1 that has reached the recording section 1 is pressed by the recording medium pressing roller 1
7, it is pressed against the driving force applying roller 8. Due to the frictional force at this time, the driving force applying roller 8 rotates (rotating in the direction of arrow B) and comes into close contact with the ink carrier 14 .

Further, due to the rotation of the driving force applying roller 8, the driving force applying roller 8, the recording medium 1, and the ink carrier ↓ move together to the contact area with the thermal head 9, and from there, the pressing force of the thermal head 9 is applied. It is sent by the frictional force. A separation roller 23 is provided next to the thermal head 90, and the ink carrier 14 is separated from the recording medium 1 and advances to a take-up reel 18 located above the outgoing path 10 of the conveyance path. This take-up reel 1
8 is housed in a space of a curvature portion provided in the conveyance path and having its center of curvature outside the conveyance path.

On the other hand, a new ink carrier 14 is stored in a pre-wound supply reel 19. The supply reel is braked by means not shown, and the ink carrier 14 is supplied under tension in the direction opposite to the rotation of the driving force application roller 8.

Next to the separation roller 23 is a recording medium edge detection sensor 20.
is provided to detect the leading edge of the recording medium 1 and detect that the recording medium 1 has reached the recordable position. The signal from the recording medium detection sensor 20 drives a drive circuit for a thermal head (not shown), and starts recording continuous images.

As continuous recording progresses, the recording medium 1 advances in the conveyance path and is conveyed through the auxiliary driving force applying roller 21 which is driven by a means (not shown) at approximately the same circumferential speed as the driving force applying roller 8. It then advances to the folding rollers 16 of the path expansion unit 6.

Here, the folding roller 16 receives a driving force from the main body and rotates at approximately the same circumferential speed as the driving force applying roller 8, as will be described later. The recording medium 1 is
6, that is, the inside of the folded part 3, and when the recording of a single color is completed, the leading edge of the medium enters the return path 11, and the recording of the next hue can be continued. Note that in recording the next color tone, the leading edge of the recording medium 1 is detected by the recording medium edge detection sensor 20, and the second color can be recorded at the same position as the first color. When the recording of a predetermined number of colors is completed through the above-described operations, the paper guide member 13 is moved to a position 13' indicated by a dashed line, receiving driving force from the main body as described later. As a result, the recording medium 1 that has passed through the recording section 7 passes through the main body side outward path 10a of the conveyance path, the ill feed path expansion unit 6 side outbound path 10b, and the paper guide member 13 from the discharge port 4 of the conveyance path expansion unit 6 to the apparatus. It is discharged to the outside.

Next, a case where the conveyance path expansion unit 6 is replaced will be described.

The transport path expansion unit is fixed to the main body of the apparatus 1 by an expansion unit fixing claw 25 and an expansion unit fixing pin 26. When the attachment/detachment button 24 locked to the fixed claw 25 is pressed to release the fixed claw 25, the transport path expansion unit) 6
is separated from the main body of the device 2. The conveyance path expansion unit 1
The length of the conveyance path can be easily changed to A4, 84, etc. by loading another different type of conveyance path expansion unit, which will be described later, into the main body of the apparatus 1 after detachment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal mechanism of the thermal transfer recording apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, in which the conveyance path expansion unit is not installed and an input/output port member is installed instead. It is a diagram.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, the length of the conveyance path F2 on the loop is set to be longer (for example, 230 mm) than the dimensions of the recording medium used for recording (for example, the short side of A4 size paper is 210 mm), and the length of the conveyance path F2 on the loop is A recording medium (for example, A4 size) is placed in the conveyance path.
The whole thing fits.

In FIG. 3, the parts that are different from FIG.

First, the general operation will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording medium 1 is loaded into the apparatus or inside through the input port 3 provided in the input/output port member i. Here, it is driven by the auxiliary driving force applying roller P21, which operates as a folding part roller, and passes through the path shown by the broken line F2 to the recording part U, which is constituted by the driving force applying roller 8 and the thermal head 9, and there, as will be described later. Record as follows.

The recording medium 1 that has finished recording reaches the input/output port member via the main body side outward path 10a of the conveyance path F2.

Then, the recording medium 1 returns to the main body side again through the folding section (3) constituted by the sub-driving force applying roller 21 and the folding section guide 27 of the transport path, and reaches the recording section again via the main body side return path 11a, and this time Record in another color. In this way, after recording the required number of times (that is, the number of colors to be recorded), the paper guide member 13 provided at the partial input/output port member of the conveyance path A1 is indicated by a one-point line.

The recording medium 1 moves to the position 13', and the recording medium 1 is moved to the paper guide member 1.
It is discharged to the outside of the device 1 from the discharge port 4 via the pipe 3'.

Next, details of the operation with the input/output port member shown in FIG. 3 attached will be explained.

Incidentally, since the recording unit Y was explained using FIG. 2, it will be omitted here.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording medium 1 is first taken into the apparatus from the input port 3 of the input/output port member j by the auxiliary driving force applying roller 21 that operates as a folding roller, and is sent along the return path 11a. , reach the recording department. Furthermore, recording medium 1
, the sub-driving force applying roller 21 and the recording medium pressing roller 1
7c, the leading edge of the recording medium 1 moves straight in the return path 11 due to the rigidity of the medium itself.

The recording medium 1 that has reached the recording section-2 is pressed against the driving force applying roller 8 by the recording medium pressing roller 17a. Due to the frictional force at this time, the ink carrier 1 comes into close contact with the soil as the driving force applying roller 8 rotates (rotates in the direction of arrow B).

Further, due to the rotation of the driving force applying roller 8, the driving force applying roller 8, the recording medium 1, and the ink carrier ↓ move together to the contact area with the thermal head 9, and from there, the pressing force of the thermal head 9 is applied. It is sent by the frictional force. A separation roller 23 is provided next to the thermal head 9, and the ink carrier 1 separates from the recording medium 1 and advances to a take-up reel 18 located above the outgoing path 10 of the conveyance path. This take-up reel 18
is accommodated in a space of a curvature portion provided in the conveyance path and having its center of curvature outside the conveyance path.

On the other hand, a new ink carrier 1 is stored in a supply reel 19 which is wound in advance. The supply reel is braked by means not shown, and the ink carrier 14 is supplied under tension in the direction opposite to the rotation of the driving force application roller 8.

A recording medium edge detection sensor 20 is provided next to the separation roller 23, and detects the leading edge of the recording medium 1.
Detects that the recordable position has been reached. The signal from the recording medium detection sensor 20 drives a drive circuit for a thermal head (not shown) and starts recording continuous images.

As continuous recording progresses, the recording medium 1 advances in the conveyance path and reaches the auxiliary driving force applying roller 21 which is driven by a means not shown at almost the same circumferential speed as the driving force applying roller 8. move on.

Here, the outer driving force applying roller 21 is driven by means not shown, and rotates at approximately the same circumferential speed as the driving force applying roller 8. Further, the auxiliary driving force applying roller 21 works together with a fixed folding part guide 27 of the input/discharging opening mold to operate as a folding part unit of the conveyance path.

The recording medium 1 passes through the folding section (2) and advances to the return path 11a of the recording medium conveyance path. When the monochromatic bone recording is completed, the leading edge of the medium is in the return path 11, and the recording of the next hue can be continued. Note that when recording the next color tone, the leading edge of the recording medium 1 is connected to the recording medium edge detection sensor 2 in the same manner as the first color.
0, and the second color can be recorded at the same position as the first color.

When the recording of a predetermined number of colors is completed through the above-described operations, the paper guide member 13 is moved to a position 13' indicated by a dotted line M. As a result, the weight of the recording medium that has passed through the recording section is discharged to the outside of the apparatus 2 from the discharge port 4 above the input and discharge port via the forward path 10a of the conveyance path and the paper guide member 13'.

As described in FIG. 1, the charging/discharging opening mold can also be removed from the main body of the device 2 by pressing the attachment/detachment button 24 locked to the fixed claw 25 and releasing the fixed claw 25.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, in which a recording medium transport path expansion unit, which is separate from the apparatus main body, is loaded.

In FIG. 4, 28 is the end of the forward path 10a, 29 is the tip of the backward path 11a, 30 is a paper guide member driving force transmission lever, and 31 is a folding roller driving gear.

In the state shown in FIG. 4 alone, the conveyance path of the recording medium does not form a closed path, so recording cannot be performed without the conveyance path expansion unit or the input/output port member.

In a state where actual recording is performed, a conveyance path expansion unit or an input/output port member is attached to this loading portion.

With the above unit etc. installed, the paper guide member driving force transmission lever 30 and the paper guide member of the conveyance path expansion unit or input/output port member are connected and move together, and the paper guide member is transferred from the main body of the device 2. It can be made to work. Also, similarly,
With the above unit etc. installed, the folding roller drive gear 31 and the folding portion roller driven gear of the conveyance path expansion unit or input/output port member mesh with each other, and the folding roller can be driven from the apparatus 1 main body side.

Note that the recording medium is initially input from the conveyance path expansion unit or the input/output port member, and is delivered to the main body of the apparatus 2 through the tip 29 of the return path 11a. Furthermore, during the recording of multiple colors, the recording medium passes from the terminal end 28 of the forward path 10a to the conveyance path expansion unit or input/output member that operates as part of the conveyance path, and after changing direction, returns to the return path 11a. be returned. After the recording medium circulates through the loop-shaped conveyance path multiple times, it is discharged via the conveyance path expansion unit or the input/output port member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a joint portion of a recording medium conveyance path expansion unit, which is separate from the apparatus main body of the thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and the apparatus main body. .

In FIG. 5, 32 is a paper guide member driven lever, 33 is a folding roller driven gear, and 34 is an outgoing path 10 of the conveyance path.
The starting point 35 of b is the terminal end of the return path 11b.

The transport path expansion unit 6 shown in FIG. 5 does not operate until it is attached to the main body of the apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 4.

The transport path expansion unit (6) is operated by the drive force of the paper guide member driven lever 32 and the folding roller driven gear 33 transmitted from the apparatus 1 body when it is attached to the apparatus 2 body.

The recording medium is inserted through the input port of the group of conveyance path expansion units, and passes through the terminal end 35 of the return path 11b of the conveyance path to the main body of the apparatus 1. Further, during recording of multiple colors, the recording medium is transferred from the apparatus main body side to the starting end 34 of the outgoing path 10b of the conveyance path to the conveyance path expansion unit 1, and after changing direction, the recording medium is transferred to the inbound path 10b from the apparatus main body side.
Return to the main body side via 1b. After recording multiple times, the paper guide member driven bar 32 is driven from the main body side, and the paper guide member 13 is driven from the main body side.
moves, and the recording medium is discharged to the outside of the main apparatus from the discharge port above the conveyance path expansion unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the joint surface side with the main body of the apparatus of the input/outlet member used when the conveyance path is set in the shape G (corresponding to A4 size recording medium) shown in FIG. 3. be.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 27 indicates a fixed guide member of the folding portion H.

Similar to FIG. 5 above, the main charging/discharging opening mold does not operate on its own, but only after it is attached to the main body of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, it operates in conjunction with the mechanism on the main body side.

When attached to the main body of the device 1, the input/output port member] is
Power is transmitted from the main body of the apparatus 1 to the paper guide member driven lever 32, and the paper guide member 13 operates.

The recording medium passes to the main body of the apparatus 1, which is comprised of an input port in the input/output port section. Further, during recording of multiple colors, the recording medium is transported from the apparatus main body side to the outgoing path 10a of the conveyance path.
From there, it crosses over to the input/output port member i, and after changing direction, returns to the main body side. After recording a plurality of times, the recording medium is discharged to the outside of the apparatus 1 from the discharge port of the input/discharge port section.

In addition, the folding part Yu shown in FIG.
7 and an auxiliary driving force applying roller 21 on the main body side of the device 1.

As described above, the length of the recording medium conveyance path of the entire apparatus can be easily adjusted by appropriately replacing the conveyance path expansion unit or input/output port member having different partial lengths of a plurality of conveyance path lengths according to the dimensions of the recording medium used for recording. can be changed.

Furthermore, it is possible to easily accommodate changes in recording medium dimensions by changing the ink coating width of the ink carrier to a different width in accordance with the change in the length of the conveyance path.

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the internal mechanism of another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 8, members similar to those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are given the same numbers. In addition, ``Normal'' is the movable part of the main body of the apparatus 1, 10C is the forward path of the transport path of the movable part (2), and llc is the return path of the transport path of the movable part UNI.

The recording apparatus 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is divided into a fixed part and a movable part. As will be described later, the length of the conveyance path of the recording medium can be changed by moving the movable portion (2) in parallel.

First, the general operation will be explained. The recording medium 1 is input through the input port 3, drawn into the apparatus by the folding roller 16, and delivered to the recording section through a circulation path shown by a broken line F3. Then, recording is performed as explained in FIG. 2, and as in the first embodiment, the recording medium 1 after recording is
After passing through the return section (3), the paper reaches the return route 11 and reaches the recording section again, where it records in a different color. In this way, after recording the required number of times (that is, the number of colors to be recorded), the paper guide member 13 provided in a part of the conveyance path F3 in the movable part
is moved to the position shown by the dotted line 13' by means not shown, and the recording medium 1 is transferred to the ejection port 4 via the paper guide member 13'.
is discharged to the outside of the main device.

Next, the configuration of the mechanism section will be explained.

The conveyance path F3 is formed as a loop-shaped circulation path, and is composed of a recording section Y, an outgoing path 10a, an outgoing path 10c1 of the movable portion (2), a return path 1, a backward path 11c, and a backward path 11a.

In FIG. 8, the movable part (2) moves parallel to the main body of the apparatus and is located at the farthest position, and the transport path length is set to be the longest. (For example, the length of the A3 size recording medium is 420 m, which is 440 mm.) Here, the movable part 36 includes an outgoing path 10c, a backward path 11c of the conveyance path, and a return roller 16.
There is also a folding section Yu centered around the paper guide member 13. Since the mechanism shown in FIG. 8 operates in the same manner as the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a detailed explanation of its operation will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

In Fig. 9, 37 is the turning roller drive motor.
be.

The details of the configuration shown in FIG. 9 will be explained below.

The outgoing path 10a and the incoming path 11a, which constitute part of the loop-shaped circulation conveyance path for the recording medium, are fixed to the main body of the apparatus 1. Furthermore, the outgoing path 10c and the incoming path 11c, which constitute a part of the circulation conveyance path, are fixed to the movable portion 36 side. and,
The outgoing path 10a and the outgoing path 10c, and the incoming path 11a and the incoming path 11c are arranged alternately in the same plane in a comb-like shape,
Even if it moves with the movement of the movable part, it functions as a conveyance path without interfering with the movement. Moreover, the folding roller 16 forming the center of the folding part is connected to the folding roller drive motor 3 regardless of the distance from the driving force adding roller 8 on the main body side of the device 1.
7 (for example, a step motor), it can be driven at the same circumferential speed as the driving force applying roller 8.

With the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the length of the loop-shaped conveyance path can be easily changed by moving the movable section 36 in parallel from the main body side.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the internal mechanism of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, with the conveyance path set to the shortest length.

As shown in FIG. 10, the movable part Y is closest to the main body of the apparatus 1, and the loop-shaped conveyance path F4 is set to be the shortest. (For example, corresponding to A4 size 2101■
3071) The details of the operation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 10 are almost the same as those described in FIG. 8 above, and therefore are omitted here.

In carrying out the invention, in addition to the recording method using a sublimable dye as ink, it is also possible to implement the recording method using a heat-melting solid pigment.

Further, in the above embodiment, the dimensions of the recording medium are A4° and A3.
Although only 84 dimensions have been described, it goes without saying that this also applies to other dimensions.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved.

(1) By expanding or elongating a part of the conveyance path through which the recording medium circulates, the conveyance path length can be changed, so it is possible to set a quantitative conveyance path length for the compatible recording medium dimensions, and When recording color tones, the shortest recording time can be achieved.

(2) By installing the attachment or setting the extension member at the position that minimizes the length of the conveyance path of the recording medium,
Both the size and volume of the entire recording device can be minimized. Furthermore, when this shortest transport path length is set to the paper size that is most frequently used on a daily basis (for example, A4 size), the recording device usually requires the minimum configuration, and can minimize both the installation space and weight.

(3) By providing a portion of the transport path where the recording medium circulates that narrows the distance between the outward and return paths, the volume of the transport path can be reduced, and as a result, the volume of the entire device can be reduced. .

(4) Since the recording medium is conveyed in a single direction, slippage of the recording medium is less likely to occur, and color shift when multiple colors are overlapped is less likely to occur. Furthermore, it has become possible to record over almost the entire area of the recording medium.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal mechanism of a thermal transfer recording device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the recording section in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an expanded transport path in FIG. 1. A sectional view schematically showing the internal mechanism with an input/output port member attached instead of the unit, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the part in Figure 1 where the conveyance path expansion unit is loaded, and Figure yJ5 is the
In the figure, a perspective view showing the joint part of the conveyance path expansion unit with the apparatus main body, and FIG. 6 is a side of the joint surface of the input/output port member alone used when the conveyance path is set in the state shown in FIG. 3 with the apparatus main body. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an overview of a thermal transfer recording device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the internal mechanism of another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the internal mechanism of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the internal mechanism in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 with the conveyance path set to the shortest length. 1... Recording medium, 2... Thermal transfer recording device, 3... Recording medium inlet, 4... Outlet, 5... Input/outlet member, 6...
Conveyance path expansion unit, 7... Recording section, 8...
...Driving force adding roller, 9...Thermal head, 10...Outward path of the conveyance path, 11...
Return path of the conveyance path, 12... Return portion of the conveyance path,
13... Paper guide member, 14... Ink carrier, 15... Inner layer, 16... Folding roller, 17... Old... Recording medium presser Laura, 18
...Take-up reel, 19... Supply reel, 20... Recording medium detection sensor, 21...
... Sub-section power addition roller. Agent Patent Attorney 2 Kenjibu (1 other person) kQ) cQ

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A recording means comprising a driving force applying means for transferring the coloring material from an ink carrier supplying the coloring material onto a recording medium by a heating means and moving the recording medium by rotation, and a curvature a guide means comprising a fixing member connecting between a direction changing means for changing the moving direction of a recording medium sent from the recording means back toward the recording means and the driving force applying means; The recording medium circulates in a single direction inside the transport path constituted by an opening/closing means that is provided in a part of the means and opens and closes the guide path of the recording medium so that it can be connected to the outside. In a thermal transfer recording device configured to perform recording of A thermal transfer recording device comprising a removable conveyance path length changing means that can be reconfigured as a thermal transfer recording device having a different conveyance path length by attaching a removably configured conveyance path changing unit to the main body. 2. The thermal transfer recording device according to claim 1, comprising a support means for movably supporting a part of the guide means, a fixed guide member in the movable part, and a fixed guide member in the non-movable part. A thermal transfer recording apparatus characterized in that a conveyance path length changing means is provided using a guide member that connects between the conveyance path lengths.