JPH0351163A - thermal transfer color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform printing of high quality by always performing printing under condition fitted to paper by presetting pressure contact force to the optimum condition according to paper to be printed. CONSTITUTION:A spring pressure control cam 32 is provided and the bending of a spring 20C is low and head pressure is relatively low. However, when the spring pressure control cam 32 is rotated, the bending of the spring 20C increases and the setting of head pressure becomes high. In the same way, even on the side of a capstan roller, the pressure of a pinch roller 4 can be selected by the rotation of a spring pressure control ring 33. By presetting spring pressure suitable for each paper by this method, printing shift is reduce. By this constitution, the head pressure and pinch roller pressure fitted to paper can be selected and the printing of paper under the optimum condition can be always performed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to thermal transfer printers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of a thermal transfer color printer. In the figure, 1 is a lower cabinet 17), 2 is a circuit section, and 3 is a power supply panel. 4 is a pinch roller that comes into contact with the capstan roller 5 to apply a driving force. Reference numeral 6 denotes a platen roller, which together with the pinch roller 4 and capstan roller 5 constitutes a paper feeding mechanism. Here, pinch roller 4. The platen roller 6 is driven by a main motor 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a pinch roller lever that is moved by the operation of the cam to bring the pinch row 24 into contact with the capstan roller 6 or to release the contact from the capstan roller 6. 9 is a peeling row 2 that separates the ink film from the paper, 1o is a paper feed roller that brings the paper into contact with the platen roller 6, and 11 is a paper guide that guides the paper. Reference numeral 12 denotes a paper support that stores the paper wound into a roll. A cover frame 13 is opened and closed by engagement and disengagement between the lock lever 14 and the lock lever shaft 15.

A ribbon feed gear 16 for positioning one end of the ribbon feed, in which an ink film is wound into a roll, and a ribbon feed presser 17 for applying a pressing force to the other end of the ribbon feed are arranged. has been done. A head holder 18 has a fixed head 19, and is fixed to a head arm 2o that is linked to the operation of a cam. 21 is a cooling fan for dissipating heat from the main motor 1 circuit section 2, etc., and 22 is an operation panel. 23 is a top cover, and 24 is an upper cabinet.

By the way, in a thermal transfer color printer, paper feeding and printing were performed as shown in FIG.

First, when feeding the paper, as shown in Figure (a),
Due to the rotational driving force of the pinch roller 4 and the platen roller 6 in the counterclockwise direction, the paper 26 is fed by one screen in the input direction from the paper holder 26.

At this time, the head 19 is located away from the platen roller 6, the ink film 27 is in a stopped state, and no printing is performed. In the figure (2L), 28 is an ink film holder, and 29 is an ink film take-up holder.

Next, during printing, the platen row 26 and the pinch row 24 rotate clockwise, as shown in FIG.
The paper 26 is rewound in the B direction by one screen. At this time, the head 19 is in contact with the platen roller 6, the ink film holder 28 and the ink film take-up holder 2
9 is rotating counterclockwise, and the ink film 27 is rewound in the B direction in conjunction with the paper 26. In this way, heat is applied to the ink film 27 from the head 19,
A predetermined print is made on the paper 25.

Incidentally, yellow, magenta, and cyan are sequentially arranged on each screen on the ink film 27, and color printing is performed by repeating the above operation three times.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4 above, when the paper is changed from paper to an OHP film, for example, changes in the thickness of the paper, the type and thickness of the coating agent, the coefficient of friction, etc. As a result, the balance between the frictional forces between the capstan and the pinch roller and between the platen and the head is lost, which tends to cause problems such as printing misalignment.

The present invention attempts to solve such problems.

Means for Solving the Problems The thermal transfer color printer of the present invention includes a capstan roller, a pinch roller provided corresponding to the capstan/roller, a head for applying heat to an ink film, and a head disposed opposite to the head. a platen roller, a spring that presses the pinch roller against the capstan roller or a spring that presses the head against the grating roller, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the spring pressure of at least one of them, and , the pressure contact force is set in advance to optimal conditions.

Function: With this configuration, it is possible to select the head pressure and pinch roller pressure suitable for the paper, and it is possible to always print under the optimum conditions for the paper.

Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing a head section and a capstan roller section of a thermal transfer color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, Figures 1a and 1b are schematic diagrams of the head and platen roller parts. In Figure 1a, the spring pressure adjustment cam 32 is in the position shown, the spring 20G has little deflection, and the head pressure is Low point. However, as shown in Figure 1, the spring pressure adjustment cam 3
2 rotates, the deflection of the spring 20G increases and the head pressure setting becomes higher.

Similarly, on the capstan roller side, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the pressure of the pinch roller 4 can be selected by rotating the spring pressure adjusting ring 330. With this method, printing misalignment can be reduced by setting in advance a spring pressure suitable for each paper.

In the above embodiments, the adjustment was performed using a cam or the like, but it goes without saying that the same effect can be achieved by using, for example, a solenoid or other actuator.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the head pressure and pinch roller pressure can be selected depending on the type of paper, so printing is always performed under conditions suitable for the paper, and high quality printing can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1a, b and 2 a, b are operation explanatory views of the head pressure and pinch roller pressure adjustment mechanism of a thermal transfer color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the thermal transfer color printer. , Figure 4a. b is an explanatory diagram of the operation of a conventional thermal transfer color printer. 4... Pinch roller, 5... Capstan roller, 6... Platen roller, 8...
...Pinch roller lever, 19...Head,
20...Head arm, 26...Paper, 27...Ink film, 30°31...
-...Cam, 32...Spring pressure adjustment cam, 33.
...Spring pressure adjustment ring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A capstan roller, a pinch roller provided corresponding to the capstan roller, a head that applies heat to the ink film, a platen roller placed opposite to this head, and the pinch roller pressed against the capstan roller. and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the spring pressure of at least one of a spring that presses the head against the platen roller, and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the spring pressure of at least one of the spring that presses the head against the platen roller, and is configured to set the optimum conditions in advance depending on the paper to be printed. Thermal transfer color printer.