JPS63209869A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remove a matter adhered to a recording head, by providing a recorder with a cleaner. CONSTITUTION:Heat generating elements 5 of a heat generating part 4 lower the viscosity of an ink 2 with which a second porous layer 1b and a first porous layer 1a are impregnated. The ink 2 thus lowered in viscosity forms an ink image on the porous layer 1b, and the image is provided on a recording medium 3 pressed by a platen roller 6. Then, the heat generating part 4 is separated from a recording body 1, and is moved to a predetermined position. Next, an arm 10 is turned with a shaft 12 as a center, thereby bringing a cleaner 9 into contact with the heat generating part 4. Then, the cleaner 9 is rotated to remove the ink and other contaminants adhered to the heat generating elements 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a recording device, for example, a recording device used in an image processor, an electronic typewriter 1, a facsimile machine, various bulletin boards, and the like.

<Prior Art> Today, the thermal transfer recording method is the mainstream recording method for information processing. According to this method, the apparatus used can be made smaller and lighter, and it is also possible to record on plain paper.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, the above-mentioned recording device has drawbacks such as high running costs because the ink film must be disposable, and the processing of used ink film is complicated. be.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, a recording body consisting of a first porous layer impregnated with a heat-melting ink, a second porous layer provided on the first porous layer, and 2. Description of the Related Art A recording device has been proposed which is characterized by being configured by providing means for applying heat in a pattern to the surface of a body. (Japanese Patent Application No. 61-141322) The present invention is aimed at the technical development of the above-mentioned recording apparatus, and uses a recording head as a means for applying heat in a pattern to the surface of a recording medium during non-recording. The recording head is separated from the body and the surface of the recording head is cleaned with a cleaner, making it possible to always perform recording in a clean state.

<Means for solving the problems> The means of the present invention consists of a first porous layer impregnated with a heat-melting ink and a second porous layer provided on the first porous layer. A recording medium, a means for applying heat in a pattern to the surface of the recording medium, a means for separating the means for applying nuclear heat from the recording medium, and a method for removing deposits that adhere to the surface of the means for applying heat. This recording device is characterized by being equipped with a cleaner for removing the present invention, and is intended to always produce beautiful and stable recordings with the recording device.

<Function> The present invention separates and retreats the recording head, which serves as a means for applying heat in a pattern to the surface of the recording body, from the recording body during non-recording, and also removes deposits on the recording head by providing a cleaner. This makes it possible to heat the recording head in a clean state at all times.

<Embodiment> An embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the recording device according to this embodiment, and the second
The figure is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording medium formed in a cylindrical shape, which includes a first porous layer 1a made of silicone rubber sponge and a second porous layer on the outer surface of the first porous layer 1a. It is constructed by laminating 1b. This second porous layer 1b
is made of porous tetrafluoroethylene resin (for example, Fluorobor, manufactured by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.) with a thickness of 100 ttm and an average pore diameter of 10-.

2 is a heat-melting ink, and the above-mentioned first porous layer 1a
is impregnated on the entire surface. 3 is a recording medium such as paper.

4 is a heat generating section provided on the upstream side of the recording medium 3,
It is constructed by arranging a plurality of heating elements 5 that selectively generate heat in response to an image information signal from a control section (not shown) in an array.

The heat generating part 4 contacts the recording medium 1, and the heat generated by the heating element 5 lowers the viscosity of the ink 2 impregnated into the first porous layer 1a of the recording medium 1.

The ink 2 whose viscosity has been reduced by the heat generated by the heating element 5 passes through the second porous layer 1b and forms an ink image on its surface.

A platen roller 6 is driven by a drive device (not shown) to convey the recording medium 3 and press the recording medium 3 against the recording medium 1 at a predetermined position.

A spring 8 presses the heat generating portion 4 against the surface of the recording medium 1.

9 is a cleaner for the heat generating part 4. cleaner 9
is made of wool, felt, malt filter, etc., and is rotatably attached to the cleaner arm 10.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a drive motor for the cleaner 9, which is configured to rotate the cleaner 9 via a transmission mechanism to keep the surface of the heat generating section 4, particularly the heat generating element 5 and its vicinity clean.

12 is a shaft, and a cleaner arm 10 is attached to this shaft 12.
is fixed, and the cleaner arm 10 is rotated about a shaft 12 by a motor 13, so that the cleaner 9 can be brought into pressure contact with the surface of the heat generating part 4.

Next, a recording method using the apparatus of the present invention will be explained.

First, the heating elements 5 arranged in an array in the heating section 4 are selectively caused to generate heat by an image information signal from a control section (not shown), and the second porous layer of the recording medium 1 with which the heating elements 5 are in contact is heated. 1b
By conducting the heat to the first porous layer 1a, the viscosity of the ink 2 impregnated in this portion is reduced.

The ink 2 having a lower viscosity passes through the second porous layer 1b, and forms an ink image having a predetermined shape corresponding to the heat generating portion of the heat generating portion 4 on the second porous layer 1b.

Next, the ink image formed on the second porous layer lb is
As shown in Figure (A), the recording medium 3 moves as it rotates in the direction of the arrow, contacts the recording medium 1 in the downstream direction, and is pressed by the platen roller 6 at an opposing position. transferred to form an image.

After the recording is completed, the heat generating part 4 located at the position shown in FIG. 2(A) is moved by the driving device 14 to the position shown in FIG. 2(B) together with the heat generating part support 15, spring 8, etc.

Next, the motor 13 is rotated to rotate the cleaner arm 10 around the shaft 12 to bring the cleaner 9 into contact with the heat generating part 4. Thereafter, the cleaner 9 is rotated by the drive motor 11 to remove ink and other stains adhering to the heating element 5 and its vicinity.

In the embodiments described above, the cleaner has a cylindrical shape, but it can also be configured as a blade type as shown in FIG. 3 or a belt type as shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, even when these cleaners are used, the configuration of the recording apparatus is the same as in the previous embodiment.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 16 is a blade-type cleaner made of various types of plastic, rubber, metal, etc. Since the edge of the cleaner 16 acts at an acute angle with respect to the heat generating part 4, residual ink and the like on the surface of the heat generating part 4 are removed. Adhesive matter can be removed efficiently.

In FIG. 4, 17 is a belt-type cleaner made of urethane foam, flocked material, various fibers, etc., and is suspended from shafts 18a and 18b. In this case, since the contact area between the cleaner 17 and the heat generating part 4 becomes large, residual ink and deposits on the surface of the heat generating part 4 can be removed more efficiently.

In this embodiment, when cleaning the heat generating part using a cleaner, it is possible to perform cleaning more effectively by applying ultrasonic vibration.

Moreover, even if the cleaner is brought into contact with the heat generating part 4 under pressure, it is possible to carry out effective cleaning.

Further, in this embodiment, the recording medium 1 is fixed and the heat generating section 4 is moved, but it is also possible to move the recording medium 1 and fix the heat generating section 4 for cleaning.

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, by providing a cleaner for the heating element and removing unnecessary deposits from the heating element, the heat of the heating element can be efficiently conducted to the recording medium.

Furthermore, since heating can be performed in a clean state at all times, good recording can be performed and high-quality images can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the recording apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of cleaning, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of other embodiments of the cleaner. 1 is a recording body, la is a first porous layer, 1b is a second porous layer, 2 is ink, 3 is a recording medium, 4 is a heat generating part, 5 is a heat generating element, 6 is a platen roller, 9 is a cleaner, 10 is a cleaner arm, 11 is a drive motor, 13 is a motor, 14
is the driving device. Applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Shukichi Nakagawa Figure 2 (A) la

Claims (1)

[Claims] A recording body consisting of a first porous layer impregnated with heat-melting ink and a second porous layer provided on the first porous layer, and applying heat in a pattern to the surface of this recording body. A recording apparatus comprising: a means for separating the heat applying means from the recording medium; and a cleaner for removing deposits adhering to the surface of the heat applying means.