JPS63290777A - Electrothermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain a retraction quantity of a recording head substrate in an appropriate range and maintain stable printed image quality for a long time, by incorporating a rotary grindstone for automatically grinding the back side of the tip of the recording head substrate, in a carriage for a recording head. CONSTITUTION:A rotary grindstone 8 incorporated in a carriage automatically grinds the back side of the tip of a recording head 1 by making contact with the back side when the head 1 is separated from a platen 19 by a head-separating spring 13. The diameter, grain size and mounting position of the grindstone 8, the pressing force for pressing the grindstone 8 against the head 1 and the like are appropriately set so as to suppress an increase in the quantity of retraction of the head due to frictional movement on a recording film 11 for printing. A wire 21 is stretched on a main body 20 of a driver for the grindstone 8, and a roller 8a provided coaxially with the grindstone 8 is maintained in contact with the wire 21, whereby the grindstone 8 is rotated according to the movement of the carriage 22. Therefore, the tip of the head 1 makes contact with the grindstone 8 when the carriage 22 is returned, whereby the tip is ground each time the carriage is returned, and the retraction amount is maintained constant.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Industrial application field> The present invention relates to improvements in electrical transfer recording devices.

゛Conventional technology〉 [Electrical transfer recording devices] energize the resistive layer of the recording film using the electrode needle of the recording head, and the heat generated by the resistive layer melts the ink on the recording film and transfers it to the recording paper. Figure 4 shows the state of the tip of the recording head.

In the figure, 1 is a recording head in which a large number of electrode needles 2 are arranged on the surface of an insulating head substrate 3, 11 is a recording film consisting of an ink layer 4, a conductive M5, and a resistive layer 6, and 18 is a recording paper. The head 1 is pressed against the recording film 11 and is energized while sliding, so that the heat generated by the resistor N6 melts the ink in the ink layer 4 and transfers it to the recording paper 18. 19 is a platen.

As described above, since the recording head 1 slides on the resistance layer 6 of the recording film 11, a part of the resistance N6 peels off due to friction, heat generation due to energization, etc., and scum (
Print scum (hereinafter referred to as printing scum) adheres to the tip of the recording head 1, and as printing operations are repeated, the printing scum gradually accumulates, causing deterioration of the print image quality. In addition, the tip of the recording head 1 is worn out by sliding with the recording film 11, and the distance A (
(hereinafter referred to as the amount of retreat) increases, and when this becomes large, the pressure on the contact surface with the recording film 11 decreases, making the contact unstable, and also adversely affecting the transferability of the ink. It causes deterioration.

For this reason, in conventional devices, the contact surface of the recording head with the recording film is polished using polishing films provided at the lead and end portions of the recording film, or a polishing film prepared separately, to remove printing residue. Efforts are being made to restore print quality.

<Points to be solved by the invention> As mentioned above, since the recording head is conventionally polished to remove printing residue, the wear of the recording head is caused by wear due to sliding with the recording film and wear due to polishing. In addition, the amount of retraction increases rapidly (which results in rapid deterioration of print quality).

This invention focuses on these problems and has developed a printer that can maintain stable print quality over a long period of time. ! ! It was created for the purpose of providing a pine copy recording device.

<Means for solving the 1nII point> In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the current-carrying printing apparatus of the present invention automatically turns the back side of the tip of the recording head substrate into a U.
A rotating grindstone for polishing is built into the carriage of the recording head.

Effect> Since the back side of the tip of the recording head substrate is automatically polished with a rotating grindstone, it is possible to maintain the amount of retraction within an appropriate range that does not adversely affect the print image quality. As a result, the recording head is free from restrictions on the amount of retraction set based on ink transfer characteristics, adhesion and deposition rate of print scum, etc., and the writing electrode is given a long life as long as it can fulfill its function as a recording device. .

<Example> Next, the illustrated embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the printing state, and FIG. 2 shows the state during standby or carriage return. The recording head 1 is attached to a holder 10 that is rotatable around a rotation shaft 9, and in the printing state shown in FIG. Can be guessed. On the other hand, during standby or carriage return in FIG. 2, the solenoid 12 pulls the recording head 1 away from the platen 19 in the direction of arrow B via the head separation spring 13.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a pine grindstone built into the carriage, and the recording head 1 is attached to the platen 19 by a head separation bone 13.
It is arranged at such a position that the back side of the tip of the recording head 1 comes into contact with it when it is separated from the recording head 1, and the back side of the tip of the recording head 1 is automatically polished. Here, the diameter and grain size of the rotary grindstone 8, the mounting position, the pressing force against the recording head 1, etc. are appropriately set so as to suppress the increase in the retreat amount A due to printing sliding with the recording film 11. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the portion from the edge 3a of the contact surface with the recording film 11 at the tip of the head substrate 3 to the back surface side is polished. The chain line C in FIG. 4 indicates the shape of the surface polished by Ifil & grindstone 8. In the figure, 15 is a return electrode roller, 18 is a pinch roller, and 17 is an idle roller.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a drive mechanism for the rotary grindstone 8. As shown in FIG. In other words! A wire 21 is stretched around the 1r11 main body 20, and a roller 8a provided coaxially with the rotating grindstone 8 is in contact with the wire 21.
It is designed to rotate according to the movement of 2. Therefore,
The tip of the recording head 1 comes into contact with the rotary grindstone 8 when the carriage 22 returns, and is ground each time the carriage returns, keeping the retreat constant and preventing deterioration of print image quality due to an increase in IT.

Incidentally, the separation of the recording head 1 and the driving of the rotary grindstone 8 may be performed by motors, respectively, and the polishing may not be performed every time the carriage returns, but may be performed at certain regular intervals.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above-described embodiments, the current-carrying recording device of the present invention has a rotary grindstone built into the carriage of the recording head for automatically polishing the back side of the tip of the recording head substrate. It is.

Therefore, the back side of the tip of the head substrate is automatically polished with a rotating grindstone, suppressing the increase in the amount of B, and after 1AflLJ1!
This makes it possible to prevent the deterioration of the print image quality due to the addition of lubricant, thereby making it possible to always perform good printing, and to extend the life of the head.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of the printed state of the main part of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the main part in the state at the time of caliper return, and Fig. 53 shows the drive of the rotary grindstone. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an example of the mechanism. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the state of the tip of the recording head of the electrical transfer recording device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an electrical transfer recording device in which a resistive layer of a recording film is energized by an electrode needle of a recording head, and the heat generated by the resistive layer melts the ink on the recording film and transfers it to the recording paper, the tip of the recording head substrate is An electrical transfer recording device characterized by having a rotary grindstone built into the carriage of the recording head for automatically polishing the back side.