JPH02286274A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs an optimal recording operation depending on the smoothness of a recording sheet.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, various recording apparatuses have been proposed that perform recording in accordance with the smoothness of a recording sheet to perform an optimal recording operation depending on the smoothness of the recording sheet. In other words, JP-A-60-131260,
JP-A-60-131264, JP-A-60-25546
No. 2, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 60-255464, etc., but none of them mention a specific means for realizing a method for measuring the smoothness of a recording sheet.

On the other hand, among various conventional recording devices, in particular those using a thermal transfer method, an inkjet method, and a bubble jet printer method that do not involve pressure fixing such as an impact printing method.
In a recording device using a so-called non-impact printing method, print fixability is influenced by the smoothness of the recording sheet, that is, the paper.

Therefore, it has been said that recording devices using a non-impact printing method are inferior in print quality, fixing properties, etc. for solid paper such as bond paper, which is called high-quality paper.

Further, this tendency also tends to affect the print fixing properties of impact printing type daisy-wheel printers, wire dot printers, and the like.

When we consider the improvement of print fixation, we find that the smoothness of the contact between the ink film and the paper is the determining factor for print quality (it is well known that the smoothness of the paper The main reason why automatic measurement and discrimination means are not built into recording apparatuses is due to restrictions on their external dimensions.

Incidentally, the following methods are listed as conventional methods for measuring smoothness.

(A) Beck smoothness measurement method: 1.
Measure the time (in seconds) required for air at 0 m°C to pass through.

(B) Williams smoothness measurement method Paper is folded and placed facing each other, and the amount of air leakage between them is measured.

(C) Bentsen smoothness measurement method Low-pressure compressed air is generated using a small floor, passed through a constant pressure device, and then constant pressure air of 150 mmHg is sent between the mirror surface and the paper, and its flow rate is measured.

(D) Chapman Smoothness Test Method The lower surface of a glass prism is pressed against a sheet of paper, light is sent from the upper surface, and the degree of diffuse reflection that occurs at the portion where the glass prism and the sheet come into contact is utilized.

(E) Stylus method Scan the paper with a needle with a small tip radius and record the vertical movement of the needle.

Based on each of the methods (A) to (E) explained above, each measuring device has a configuration with a large flame.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, since the measuring device using the conventional method for measuring the smoothness of a recording sheet has a simple configuration, there is a problem that it cannot be incorporated into a recording device. Ta.

Therefore, the recording device of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to perform recording operation at a slow recording speed depending on the smoothness of the recording surface of the recording sheet. The purpose of this invention is to provide a recording device that can perform the following functions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] and [Operation] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the purpose, the recording apparatus of the present invention provides an optimum recording state according to the smoothness of the recording surface of the recording sheet. A recording apparatus comprising a recording operation means for performing a recording operation, the recording apparatus comprising a charging means for charging a recording sheet with an electric charge, and a charge measuring means for measuring the electric charge charged by the charging means, The recording operation means is operated based on the result of the measurement by the means.

Preferably, the charging means includes a flat first electrode that comes into contact with the back surface of the recording surface of the recording sheet being conveyed, and is arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the first electrode. The electric charge measuring means includes a second electrode having a pointed end that generates a corona discharge between the two electrodes, and a third electrode that is connected in parallel to the first electrode, and a third electrode that is connected to the recording surface of the recording sheet. A shielding plate disposed near the third electrode that performs abutting and separating operations on the straight line portion thereof, and a charge due to corona discharge generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. The remaining charges removed by the abutting operation of the shielding plate are detected by the third electrode to obtain a second detection value, and the first detection value detected by the first electrode and the first detection value are detected by the third electrode. determining the smoothness based on the correlation between the two detected values;
The recording operation means is operated based on the recording condition storage means determined by the smoothness. That is, by placing high-voltage electrodes facing each other, a corona discharge is generated, and this corona discharge causes an air flow of charged particles in the air to flow from the second electrode toward the first electrode, and the air flow is transferred to the recording sheet. The smoothness of the recording sheet can be detected by electrically estimating the amount of charged particles leaking from between the gaps between the shielding plates pressed against the recording sheet, and the smoothness is determined from this smoothness. The recording operation means is operated based on recording conditions of the storage means.

[Embodiment] A first embodiment will be described below based on the drawings, and a thermal transfer printing type recording apparatus will be described as an application example of the present invention.

First, FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of a main part of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment, and shows a configuration for measuring the smoothness of a recording sheet F wound around a platen 2 built into a main body 1.
This figure shows the arrangement of a carriage 3 on which a thermal head 6, which is a recording means, is mounted.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the recording means.

In both figures, a recording sheet F is conveyed while being wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the platen 2 as shown. The carriage 3 is slidably guided in the longitudinal direction of the shaft by the shaft 4 and the rail 8, and is driven in parallel to the platen 2 by a carrier motor 10, pulleys 9 and 11, and a belt 1.
The driving force is transmitted by 8. As shown in the figure, a ribbon cassette 5 containing a printing ribbon and a thermal head 6 are mounted on the carriage 3, and the structure is such that a thermal transfer printing operation is performed by these.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the recording sheet F is inserted in the direction of the arrow H and is fed by the rotational movement of the platen 2 in the direction of the arrow. For this purpose, the pinch roller P is partially protruded from the bottom surface of the paper pan 13, which functions as a guide member for the recording sheet F, and is rotatably supported.

On the other hand, a hole 1 is formed in a part of the flat surface of the paper pan 13.
3a is bored, and the electrodes constituting the smoothness measuring device are arranged so as to face each other through the hole 13a. In addition, in order to ensure that all sizes of recording sheets F inserted from the direction of arrow H pass through this hole 13a, this hole 13a is machined and drilled as a long hole at the printing start position of the carriage 3. Ru.

Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the smoothness measuring device, and is an enlarged view of the smoothness measuring device 40 shown surrounded by a circle indicated by a broken line in FIG. The detailed configuration for smoothness measurement will be explained using FIG. 3. As shown in the figure, the negative electrode 15 has a sharp needle-like tip, while the positive electrode 16 has a sharp tip.
is in the form of a plate and is disposed facing the negative electrode 15 while maintaining an inclination angle α.

This negative electrode 15 side has a high potential voltage, for example, -several K.
A potential of v (kilovolts) is applied, thereby causing corona discharge to occur between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 15. This corona discharge causes
The fine particles (■) in the air will be negatively charged. These charged particles (■) are attracted to the positive electrode by the Coulomb force and move, but this movement causes air convection, and the air flow containing the particles (2) moves along the slope of the positive electrode 16 (see arrow 18). The direction changes and convection begins.

On the other hand, the recording sheet F is fixed on the surface of the positive electrode 16, and the air convection containing the fine particles 1 flows along the surface of the recording sheet F in the direction of arrow J. The recording sheet F includes a shielding plate 19 which is made of an insulating material having a width in the direction perpendicular to the drawing, and which is integrated with a member rotatably supported by a rotary shaft support 35 with respect to the main body 1 as shown in the figure. The end face portion is pressed down with a constant pressure by a spring 33, and the shielding plate 19 is arranged so as to block the airflow containing the fine particles (1). In addition, the shielding plate 19 includes a solenoid 3.
2 are connected as shown in the figure, so that the shielding plate 19 can be separated from the recording sheet F.

The details of this shielding plate 19 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing how the shielding plate 19 is pressed against the recording sheet F, and FIG. It is a sectional view which further expanded the figure. In both figures, countless irregularities are formed on the surface of the recording sheet F, indicating that the recording sheet F is not very smooth.

On the other hand, the abutment surface 19 of the shielding plate 19 against the recording sheet F is finished with sufficient precision (finished into a flat shape).

Therefore, the smoothness of the recording sheet F is determined by the size and quantity of the unevenness on the surface of the recording sheet F, and the printing result is influenced by these unevenness. In other words, when the number of these irregularities is small and small, the smoothness is high (
On the other hand, if the surface has many and large irregularities, it is defined as a recording sheet with low smoothness.

Again, in FIG. 1, the air flow containing fine particles (2) is blocked by the shielding plate 19 in this way, but as mentioned earlier, the gap between the shielding plate 19 and the recording sheet F is determined by the unevenness. Because there is a gap between the parts, there are particles (2) that can pass through the gap, and the amount of these particles (2) has a correlation with the gap.

In other words, in the case of recording sheet F with high smoothness, there are fewer particles passing through the gaps per unit time, and recording sheet F
If the smoothness of the surface is low, there are many particles passing through the gaps (
This is the relationship.

On the other hand, a measuring plate 20 made of a conductor is disposed near the shielding plate 19 as shown in the figure, and is connected to the positive electrode 16 via a resistor R. As a result, the measuring plate 20 has a positive potential, and the negatively charged particles (2) passing through the gap are attracted by the Coulomb force, and a weak current flows in the direction of the arrow, creating a voltage between it and the electrode 16. It turns out.

This voltage is proportional to the amount of particles (2) that have passed through the gap, and this voltage is amplified by the amplifier 34 and output 24.
It looks like you will get Here, inside this amplifier 34, a resistor R having an appropriate resistance value is connected to an amplifier 35 as shown in the figure.

Since the amount of fine particles (2) passing through the gap can be measured from the value of the output 24 obtained in this way, the smoothness of the recording sheet F can be measured.

Next, to explain the mechanical operation of the smoothness measuring device explained above, FIG. 6(a) shows the recording sheet F before it is wound around the platen, and FIG. 6(b) shows the recording sheet F before it is wound around the platen.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing the state after being wound around the platen 2. In both figures, the solenoid 32 is energized and the shielding plate 19 is moved to the retracted position as shown in the figure until the recording sheet F is guided by the recording surface by the paper pan 13 and wound around the platen 2. The recording sheet F is kept in a state where it can pass through.

After the recording sheet F has passed, the solenoid 32 is de-energized and the shielding plate 19 is moved by the spring 33 as shown in FIG. 6(b).
It is maintained at the contact position with a predetermined pressure determined by , and brought into contact with the recording sheet F.

Next, after measuring the smoothness of the recording sheet F, the thermal head 6
This section describes a configuration that operates under optimal conditions.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of the first embodiment, in which the entire system is controlled by a central processing circuit CPU34. In this figure, the value of output 24 determined by the smoothness of the various recording sheets used, the appropriate printing conditions (heat, pressure, time conditions, etc.) determined by the value of output 24, and the overall operation. The programs and are stored in the ROM 56. On the other hand, a character generator ROM 55 that stores a printed dot image is connected to the central processing circuit CPU34. Further, a RAM 57, which serves as a work area during program execution, is connected as shown.

On the other hand, a control signal from the central processing circuit CPU34 is manually inputted to a boat 38 that communicates with the outside, and based on this control signal, a smoothness measuring circuit 40 and a solenoid are sent via a driver (drive circuit) 39. 32 control circuits 4
1, a control circuit 42 for the ribbon winding motor, a control circuit 43 for the thermal head, a control circuit 44 for the carrier drive motor, and a control circuit 45 for other drive sources, respectively.

Here, print information 46 is input to the boat 38 by an input means such as a keyboard or an external circuit (not shown), and this print information 46 is input to the central processing circuit CPU 34 via the boat 38. Then, a dot image (or pattern image) that matches this print information 46 is read out from the character generator ROM 55, and is sent to the central processing circuit CP according to microinstructions stored in advance in the program ROM 56.
The printing operation is performed by driving the aforementioned motors and heads via the driver 39 in response to the tJ34 command.

Next, a program for controlling the operation flow of the apparatus described above using the above hardware configuration will be explained.

FIG. 8 shows an execution flowchart of smoothness measurement. In this figure, the recording sheet F is shown in FIG. 6(b).
When a smoothness measurement command is issued from the central processing circuit CPU 34 as shown in the figure, the process advances to step S1 and measurement is started.

Next, proceeding to S2, in order to press the shielding plate 19 against the recording sheet F, the solenoid 32 is turned off, and a high potential is applied to the negative electrode 15 to start corona discharge. Next, in step S3, the value of the output 24 is recognized,
The appropriate printing condition data (heat, pressure, time conditions, etc.) stored in advance in the program ROM 56 is compared with the value of the output 24, and the closest value is determined and read out.

RAM5 is set so that printing will be performed under these conditions during subsequent printing.
Set to 7. Next, in step S5, the solenoid 3 is used to open the shielding plate 19 so that the recording sheet F can be fed.
2 is held in the on state, corona discharge is stopped, the process ends in step S6, and the process proceeds to the next step S7, which is the printing routine flow.

FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are cross-sectional side views of the schematic configuration of the smoothness measuring device of the second embodiment, and since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given. I will omit the explanation and only explain the differences. A spring 33 is directly attached to the solenoid 32, and the structure is such that the shielding plate 19 is rotationally driven via the spring 33.

Therefore, in the first embodiment described above, the drive mechanism for the shielding plate 19 is configured to release the recording sheet F when the solenoid 32 is turned on, and measure the smoothness when the solenoid 32 is turned off. However, in the second embodiment, the recording sheet F can be released when the solenoid 32 is turned off, and the smoothness can be measured when the solenoid 32 is turned on, which can save power. .

In the above explanation, only a recording device using a thermal transfer printing method has been described, but it is not limited to this and can be applied to various recording devices.In particular, so-called non-
In an impact printing type recording apparatus, the print fixing properties are greatly influenced by the smoothness of the recording sheet, that is, the paper, so this can be expected to be particularly effective. In this case, the ink ejection amount, speed, etc. are controlled.

On the other hand, it can also be applied to impact printing type daisy-wheel printers, wire dot printers, etc., and in this case, the pressure of the printed characters and wires is controlled.

[Effects of the invention] As described above, high voltage electrodes are placed facing each other to generate corona discharge, and the smoothness of the recording sheet is measured by the convection of charged particles in the air. By automatically selecting printing conditions and performing printing, it is possible to provide a recording device that can perform recording operations in an optimal recording state depending on the smoothness of the recording surface of the recording sheet.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cutaway side view of the main parts of the recording device of the embodiment, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the recording means, Fig. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the smoothness measuring device, and Fig. 4 is a shielding plate on the recording sheet F. A perspective view showing how 19 is being pressed, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view that is a further enlargement of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 (a)
6(b) is a sectional side view showing the recording sheet F before it is wound around the platen, FIG. 6(b) is a sectional side view showing the recording sheet F after it is wound around the platen 2, and FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of the first embodiment, FIG. 8 is an execution flowchart of smoothness measurement, and FIGS. 9(a) and (b) are cross-sectional side views of the schematic configuration of the smoothness measuring device of the second embodiment. . In the figure, 1... Main body, 2... Platen, 3... Carriage, 6... Thermal head, 13... Vapor pan, 40... Smoothness measuring device, 15... Negative electrode ,
16... Positive electrode, 19... Shielding plate, 20... Measuring plate, 23... Amplifier, 24... Output, 32... Solenoid, 33... Spring, F... Recording Seat, ■・
...They are fine particles. Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A recording apparatus comprising a recording operation means for performing a recording operation in an optimum recording state according to the smoothness of the recording surface of a recording sheet, including a charging means for charging a recording sheet with an electric charge, and a charging means for charging a recording sheet with an electric charge; A recording apparatus comprising a charge measuring means for measuring a charged charge, and operating the recording operation means based on the measurement result of the charge measuring means. (2) The charging means includes a flat first electrode that comes into contact with the back surface of the recording surface of the recording sheet being conveyed;
It consists of a second electrode having a pointed end disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the electrode, and a corona discharge is generated between the two electrodes, while the charge measuring means is connected in parallel to the first electrode. a third electrode, a shielding plate disposed near the third electrode that performs abutting and separating operations at its linear portion with respect to the recording surface of the recording sheet; 2
Of the charge due to the corona discharge generated between the electrodes, the remaining charge removed by the contacting operation of the shielding plate is detected by the third electrode to obtain a second detected value, and the first determining the smoothness based on the correlation between the first detection value and the second detection value detected by the electrodes, and operating the recording operation means based on the storage means of recording conditions determined by the smoothness. A recording device according to claim 1, characterized in that: