JPH034533Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a feeding device for recording paper, etc., in a thermal transfer printer, and more particularly, to a feeding device for recording paper and ink film in a thermal transfer printer.

Thermal transfer printers are already well known, so a detailed explanation will be omitted and the outline will be briefly explained.Thermal transfer printers use an ink film (or ink ribbon) coated with heat-melting solid ink on one side as a recording medium, and print image information. Alternatively, solid ink is melted by a thermal head that is selectively heated according to character information, and the solid ink is transferred onto recording paper to record (or print) information.

Therefore, when using an ink film coated with only one color of solid ink (for example, black), one-color printing is of course performed, but when solid ink of different hues (for example, yellow, cyan, magenta, etc.) are coated, printing is performed in one color. Multicolor printing is possible by using ink film.

What is particularly required in such a thermal transfer printer is to reduce the amount of ink film consumed by minimizing the feed amount of the ink film. In other words, unlike the normal ink ribbon of a percussion printer, which is used by going back and forth many times, the ink film is simply wound onto the take-up reel and discarded, even if there is an unused portion. This is because it is not economical.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
A thermal transfer printer is known in which a feeding device for the ink film 2 and a feeding device for the ink film 2 are provided separately. According to this configuration, the recording paper 1 is wound around the platen 3, and as the platen 3 rotates, the recording paper 1 is fed. On the other hand, the ink film 2 is drawn out from the supply reel 4 and fed by the rotation of a take-up reel (not shown).
More specifically, a configuration is generally adopted in which the platen 3 is rotated by being directly connected to a motor, but the take-up reel is rotated via a clutch. Of course, separate dedicated motors are also provided. With this configuration, both recording paper 1 and ink film 2 are sent after one line printing is completed, but when forming a blank line that will not be printed on recording paper 1, only recording paper 1 is sent. This eliminates the inconvenience of sending unused ink film 2. Therefore, the ink film 2 can be used efficiently, which is economical.

However, the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional example requires a complicated clutch mechanism (for example, consisting of a clutch disc, a clutch pawl, a ratchet wheel, etc.) and a mechanism for connecting this clutch mechanism and a motor. Since multiple motors are required,
The disadvantage is that the configuration tends to be complicated.

The present invention was devised in view of the drawbacks of the conventional examples described above, and is a feeding device for recording paper, etc., which has a simple structure and is capable of simultaneously feeding recording paper and ink film or feeding only the recording paper. The purpose is to provide

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pressing member that can move between a position where the ink film is pressed against a feed roller and a position where the pressure is released, and a tension member that provides a restraining force in the opposite direction to the feeding of the ink film. and a take-up reel that is rotated in synchronization with the feed roller and has an idling means that becomes impossible to wind due to the suppressing force of the supply reel. The suppressing force is set to be smaller than the frictional force acting on the ink film when the pressing member is in the pressing position, and larger than the frictional force acting on the ink film when the pressing member is in the pressing release position, and the pressing member When in the position, the ink film is fed by frictional force against the restraining force, and when in the pressure release position, the take-up reel spins idly due to the restraining force, sending only the recording paper and stopping the ink film. .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on an illustrated embodiment.

First, the configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. 2, which shows the state during printing.

In the figure, 20 is the main body frame, and the side plate 20
a, 20b. In addition, the side plates 20a, 2
Although a bearing groove is formed in the side plate 20
Since part a is shown in a partially broken state, only the bearing groove 20b' (FIG. 7) of the side plate 20b is shown. Reference numeral 21 denotes a first upper plate, which has an inlet 21a for the recording paper 1, and which is connected to the side plate 2 via a shaft 22.
It is rotatably held at 0a and 20b. still,
The entrance 21a is connected to the recording paper 1 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface.
It is formed to have a width approximately equal to the width of. 23 is the second
The side plates 20a, 20b are connected to each other via the shaft 24.
It is held so that it can be rotated. Note that the tip 23a of the second upper plate 23 and the tip 21 of the first upper plate 21
A gap is formed between the holes b, and constitutes an outlet for the recording paper 1. Gears 25 and 26 are rotatably held outside the side plate 20b and are rotated via a pinion of a motor (not shown). A platen 27 is rotatably held by levers 29 and 30 via a shaft 28.
Note that the levers 29 and 30 are fixed to the first upper plate 21. The platen 27 has a cylindrical shape, and its length in the thrust direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) is longer than the width of the recording paper 1. 32 is a gear, which is fixed to the shaft 28;
It meshes with the gear 25. An ink film 34 is pulled out from the supply reel 35, guided by the platen 27 and guide roller 36, and wound onto the take-up reel 37.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the supply reel 35 includes a shaft 35a held by the side plates 20a and 20b, a spool shaft 35b rotatably held by the shaft 35a, and a shaft 35b. The collars 35c, 35d fixed to the collar 35a, and the collars 35c, 3
Leaf springs 35e and 35f apply a strong braking force due to friction to 5d, and one end is connected to the spool shaft 35b.
and a coil spring 35g whose other end is engaged with the flange 35c, and a force that tends to rotate the spool shaft 35b to the left is stored in the coil spring 35g. Therefore, tension is always acting on the ink film 34 and presses the recording paper 1 against the platen 27. That is, at the beginning when the ink film 34 starts to be fed, only the spool shaft 35b rotates and the coil spring 35g is twisted, but when the ink film 34 is further fed and the spool shaft 35b rotates, the plate spring 35e is twisted. , 35f, the shaft 35a and the ribs 35c, 35d also begin to rotate. When the feeding of the ink film 34 is stopped, only the spool shaft 35b is slightly reversed by the action of the coil spring 35g, so that tension is applied to the ink film 34.

Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 4, the take-up reel 37 is connected to a shaft 37a held by the side plates 20a and 20b via a friction plate (not shown). spool shaft 37b
and is fixed to the shaft 37a, and the platen 2
The shaft 37a rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the platen 27, but the ink film 34 is not fed. When the spool shaft 37b is not rotated, a rotation restraining force greater than the frictional force acting on the friction plate acts on the ink film 1, and the spool shaft 37b does not rotate. In other words, only the shaft 37a rotates idly.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2, 40 is a helical shaft, and the side plate 2
It is rotatably held at 0a and 20b, and is rotated via a motor (not shown). A guide rail 41 is held by the side plates 20a and 20b. A carriage 42 is guided and held by the helical shaft 40 and the guide rail 41, and is slid back and forth in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing as the helical shaft 40 rotates. A head assembly 43 has a head plate 44, which is rotatably held by the guide rail 41 and movable integrally with the carriage 42. The head assembly 43 is given a left-handed rotation by a spring 45, and the head plate 44 presses the recording paper 1 and the ink film 34 against the platen 27.
Transfer recording is possible. Therefore, when the carriage 42 is slid back and forth in this state, the head plate 44 is similarly slid back and forth, and transfer recording is performed in a well-known manner. On the other hand, since the head plate 44 releases the pressure against the platen 27 at the start end and the folded end of the reciprocating slide, the recording paper 1 and the ink film 34 are fed by one line during that time. Although the pressure release mechanism for the head plate 44 is not particularly shown, cam members may be arranged at the starting end and the folded back part to push the head assembly 43 around.

46, 47 are roll levers, slot 46a
The pressure roller 48 is rotatably held at the tip thereof, and the side plates 20a,
The pressure roller 48 is rotatably held by the platen 27 (the ink film 34,
(via the recording paper 1) and is restrained. Note that the pressure roller 48 is configured to have approximately the same length as the platen 27. 52 is a plunger type electromagnetic device, and the pin 5 is connected to the tip of the plunger 52a.
3 to the roll lever 46,
It is fixed to the side plate 20a.

Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the motor, gears 26, 2
By rotating the platen 27 to the left via the rollers 5 and 32, the recording paper 1 and the ink film 34 can be fed by one line. This state is as shown in FIG. 5, and its principle is as follows.

That is, F ₁ : Force required to feed the ink film 34 by overcoming the frictional force acting between the plate spring 35e and the ribs 35c, 35d F ₂ : Force required to feed the recording paper 1 T : Ink film 34 tension P: Force that pressure roller 48 presses platen 27 μ ₁ : Coefficient of friction between recording paper 1 and ink film 34 μ ₂ : Between recording paper 1 and platen 27 If the friction coefficient is , when the platen 27 is rotated with the pressure roller 48 pressing the recording paper 1 and the ink film 34, the relationship (P+T)μ ₂ >F ₂ holds and the recording paper 1 is approximately By feeding the recording paper 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow, the relationship (P+T)μ ₁ >F ₁ holds, and the ink film 34 is fed in the direction of the arrow. When the ink film 34 is fed and slack occurs, the spool shaft 37b is also rotated by the shaft 37a rotating in conjunction with the platen 27, and the ink film 34 is wound up by the slack.

Thereafter, when the carriage 42 starts sliding backward, the head plate 44 immediately presses the platen 27, slides in that state to the starting end, and releases the pressure on the platen 27 again.

In this case, if transfer recording was performed during the backward slide, the recording paper 1 and the ink film 34 would be fed one line in the same manner as described above (FIG. 5), but transfer recording would not be performed. If not, only recording paper 1 is fed by one line. To feed only the recording paper 1 by one line, while the head plate 44 is releasing the pressure on the platen 27, the electromagnetic device 52 is energized to attract the plunger 52a, and the roll levers 46 and 47 are rotated to the right to move the pressure roller. 4
8 away from the platen 27, and then rotate the platen 27 to the left.
This state is as shown in FIG. 6, and its principle is as follows.

In other words, when the platen 27 is rotated with the pressure roller 48 separated, the relationship Tμ ₂ >F ₂ holds and the recording paper 1 is fed in the direction of the arrow, but regarding the ink film 34, Tμ ₁ <F ₁ , the ink film 34 cannot be sent. In other words, when the recording paper 1 is fed with the pressure roller 48 separated, only the frictional force due to the tension of the ink film 34 acts between the ink film 34 and the recording paper 1. Due to the frictional force between the recording paper 1 and the ink film 34, the leaf springs 35e and 35f
This means that the friction force between the ribs 35c and 35d cannot be overcome. Therefore, the spool shaft 37b of the take-up reel 37 idles and cannot take up the ink film. vice versa,
This means that the frictional force between the recording paper 1 and the platen 27 caused by the tension of the ink film is sufficient to feed the recording paper 1. The feature of this invention is that the coil spring 35 is
g, the strength of the leaf springs 35e and 35f is determined.

Thereafter, when the electromagnetic device 52 is de-energized, the roll levers 46 and 47 return to the left rotation due to the spring 50.
A pressure roller 48 presses the platen 27. Thereafter, transfer recording is continued by repeating the above-described operations.

On the other hand, when the ink film is used up due to long-term use and the ink film needs to be replaced, the first upper plate 21 is rotated to the left and the second upper plate 23 is rotated to the right. All you have to do is expose the storage area. At this time, the platen 27 also rotates to the left and retreats together with the first upper plate 21, so the seventh
As shown in the figure, there are no members that obstruct ink film replacement. Therefore, the used ink film is removed and a new ink film 13 is installed.
4 in the storage section. Thereafter, when the first upper plate 21 and the second upper plate 23 are restored, the platen 27 is also restored to the state shown in FIG.
mesh with each other. Furthermore, at this time, since the recording paper 1 has already been wound around the platen 27, the setting of the recording paper 1 is completed at the same time as the restoration of the platen 27.

On the other hand, when setting the recording paper 1 after restoring the first upper plate 21, second upper plate 23, and platen 27, the head plate 44 and the pressure roller 4 are set as shown in FIG.
8 away from the platen 27, the platen 27 is rotated to the left manually or electrically (by the motor described above), and the leading edge of the recording paper 1 is inserted through the inlet 21a.
Then, the ink film acts as a guide and guides the leading edge of the recording paper 1 to the platen 27, so that the leading edge of the recording paper 1 wraps around the platen 27 and is ejected from the outlet. At this time, the pressure roller 48 is attached to the platen 2.
7, so for the reasons mentioned above,
Ink film will not be sent.

Although the configuration of the embodiment of the feeding device for recording paper, etc. of a thermal transfer printer according to the present invention is as described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, in the above embodiment, the pressure roller 48 is retracted to release the pressure between the pressure roller 48 and the platen 27, but the platen 27 may be retracted. In this case, gear 2
If a free idle gear is interposed between the platen 5 and the gear 32, the rotation of the platen 27 will not be hindered.

Further, in the above embodiment, a serial type structure is used in which the thermal head runs in the width direction of the recording paper, but a line type with a fixed thermal head having heating elements corresponding to the width of the recording paper may also be used. . In this case, the pressure roller 48 can be omitted if the thermal head can be moved toward and away from the platen.

Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment shows the case where the platen 27 is used for feeding, it is also possible to simply use a feeding roller.

Further, in the above embodiment, the recording paper and ink film are wound around the platen 27, but they may be in contact with each other in a straight line.

As described above, in the present invention, two feeding states can be selected depending on whether or not pressure is applied to the feeding roller, so the configuration is extremely simplified.

Further, since feeding of the ink film when unnecessary can be prevented, there is an effect that the ink film can be used efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the conventional example, FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the supply reel, FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the take-up reel, and FIG. 5 to 7 are side views showing the state after the operation of FIG. 2. 1... Recording paper, 27... Platen (feed roller), 34... Ink film, 35... Supply side reel, 35e... Leaf spring, 35g... Coil spring, 37... Winding side reel, 44... Head plate, 48... pressure roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) Recording paper, a feed roller that feeds the recording paper, an ink film that is fed in the same direction as the recording paper in synchronization with the feed roller during recording, and A thermal transfer printer comprising: a thermal head that presses an ink film onto the recording paper and thermally transfers the ink from the ink film onto the recording paper; and a position where the ink film is pressed against a feed roller and the pressure is released. a supply side reel having a pressing member movable between positions; a tensioning means for applying a restraining force in the opposite direction to the feeding of the ink film; and a take-up reel having an idling means that prevents the ink film from being wound when a restraining force of the reel is applied, and the restraining force of the supply reel is applied to the friction acting on the ink film when the pressing member is in the pressing position. The frictional force is set to be smaller than the force and larger than the frictional force that acts when the pressing member is in the pressing release position, and when the pressing member is in the pressing position, the frictional force moves the ink film against the suppressing force. 1. A feeding device for recording paper, etc., characterized in that when it is in the feeding and pressure release position, the reel on the take-up side rotates idly due to the suppressing force, so that only the recording paper is fed and the ink film is stopped. (2) The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding roller is a platen. (3) The feeding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing member is a pressure roller. (4) Utility model registration claim 1, characterized in that the pressing member is a head plate of a thermal head.
The feeding device according to item 2 or item 2. (5) According to any one of claims 1 to 4 of the utility model registration claim, wherein the tensioning means that applies a restraining force to the ink film in the direction opposite to the feeding direction is a coil spring built in the supply reel. Feeding device as described.