JPH0596838A - Heat transfer printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the printing quality by removing dust and dirt which are adhered to a film ribbon effectively at a location which is closest to a head by a method wherein a cleaning member is fitted on a protective cover for a thermal head driving IC in such a manner that the cleaning member comes into contact with a film ribbon which is fed to a thermal head. CONSTITUTION:The subject heat transfer printer is equipped with a printing unit 1 which consists of a thermal head 2 and a platen 3, a driving IC 4 to head and drive the thermal head 2, and a protective cover 5 which is provided on the thermal head 2 to protect the driving IC 4; and feeds a film ribbon 9 and a paper P between the thermal head 2 and platen 3, and at the same time, performs printing by heating and driving the thermal head 2. For such a heat transfer printer, a cleaning member 11 is fitted on the protective cover 5 in such a manner that the cleaning member 11 comes into contact with the film ribbon 9 which is fed to the thermal head 2. By doing this, dust and dirt which adhere to the film ribbon is effectively removed at a location which is closest to the thermal head, and the printing quality is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to thermal transfer printers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a schematic structure of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a printing section, which is composed of a thermal head 2 and a platen 3. Usually, the thermal head 2 is provided with a driving IC 4 for driving the head 2 to generate heat, and a protective cover 5 for protecting the driving IC 4.

However, when printing is performed using the thermal transfer printer, the film ribbon 9 is interposed between the thermal head 2 and the platen 3 via the ribbon running means 8 (winding roller 8a, relay roller 8b, etc.). In addition to being supplied, the paper P is supplied from the paper feed unit 6 via the paper conveying means 7 (feed rollers 7a, 7b, 7c, etc.). Characters and the like are printed on the paper P by the cooperation of the thermal head 2 and the film ribbon 9 which are driven to generate heat by the driving IC 4.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned thermal transfer printer, dust that has entered the inside of the printer when the film ribbon 9 is exchanged is taken up by the winding roller 8
The static electricity generated when the film ribbon 9 attached to a is pulled out easily attaches to the back surface of the ribbon 9.

Further, during printing, dust attached to the inner surface of the printer or the like may drop and attach to the back surface of the film ribbon 9 due to vibration or the like.

In this way, when the dust attached to the back surface of the film ribbon 9 is sent to the thermal head 2 as the ribbon 9 travels and is attached to the head 2, the dust attached portion is printed. The white spots and white streaks occur.

Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of such a printing defect, a cleaning member 11A is provided on the upstream side of the thermal head 2 (more specifically, on the upstream side of the protective cover 5) as shown in FIG. The dust adhering to the back surface may be removed.

However, as described above, the cleaning member 11
Even if the dust on the film ribbon 9 is removed by A, the dust may adhere to the portion of the film ribbon 9 that has been cleaned before reaching the thermal head 2, and the above-described printing defect may occur.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer printer capable of effectively removing dust adhering to a film ribbon and improving printing quality.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a printing unit including a thermal head and a platen, a driving IC for driving the thermal head to generate heat, and a driving IC provided on the thermal head to protect the driving IC. A thermal transfer printer comprising a protective cover, supplying a film ribbon and a sheet between the thermal head and a platen, and driving the thermal head to generate heat for printing. It is characterized in that it is mounted so as to come into contact with the supplied film ribbon.

[0012]

In the present invention, the dust adhered to the film ribbon supplied to the thermal head is removed by the cleaning member. At this time, since the cleaning member is attached to the protective cover, the dust can be removed at the position closest to the thermal head, and the probability of the dust adhering after the removal can be greatly reduced.

Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent dust from adhering to the thermal head, and avoid occurrence of printing defects such as white spots and white lines.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively remove dust adhering to the film ribbon and improve the printing quality.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer printer according to this embodiment has a printing section 1 (line-type thermal head 2, platen 3), a driving IC 4, a protective cover 5, a sheet feeding section 6, a sheet conveying means 7, The ribbon traveling means 8 and the cleaning member 11 are included.

The same components as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

Here, the cleaning member 11 is attached to the protective cover 5 so as to come into contact with the film ribbon 9 supplied to the thermal head 2.

In this embodiment, the cleaning member 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a recess 5a for screw attachment formed in the protective cover 5.
Is detachably attached using an appropriate fixing means (for example, double-sided tape, screws, etc.). Further, the cleaning member 11 is formed of felt made of self-discharge type fiber. This makes it easier to remove dust attached to the film ribbon 9 due to static electricity. In addition, the film ribbon 9 is discharged to make it difficult for dust to adhere.

Next, the operation will be described.

Dust that has adhered to the film ribbon 9 due to vibrations during film ribbon replacement or printing is removed by the cleaning member 11. At this time, since the cleaning member 11 is attached to the protective cover 5, it is possible to remove the dust at the position closest to the thermal head 2, and the probability that the dust will adhere after the removal is greatly reduced compared to the conventional case. It

Further, since the cleaning member 11 is formed of a self-discharge type felt, it becomes much easier to remove dust attached to the film ribbon 9 due to static electricity. In addition, the film ribbon 9 is discharged to make it difficult for dust to adhere.

As a result, dust is effectively prevented from adhering to the thermal head 2 and printing defects such as white spots and white lines are avoided.

According to this embodiment, however, the cleaning member 11 is mounted on the protective cover 5 of the thermal head driving IC 4 so as to come into contact with the film ribbon 9 supplied to the thermal head 2. It is possible to effectively remove dust attached to the film ribbon 9 at a position closest to the head 2 to improve print quality.

Further, since the cleaning member 11 is provided in the concave portion 5a of the protective cover 5, the cleaning member 11 can be reliably mounted.

Further, since the cleaning member 11 is formed of the felt made of self-discharge type fiber, the dust adhering to the film ribbon 9 due to static electricity can be removed more easily. In addition, the film ribbon 9 is discharged to make it difficult for dust to adhere. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent dust from adhering to the thermal head 2, and it is possible to further improve the printing quality.

[0027]

According to the present invention, since the cleaning member is attached to the protective cover of the IC for driving the thermal head so as to come into contact with the film ribbon supplied to the thermal head, the head is closest to the head. It is possible to effectively remove dust adhering to the film ribbon at the position and improve the printing quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional thermal transfer printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printing Section 2 Thermal Head 3 Platen 4 Driving IC 5 Protective Cover 9 Film Ribbon 11 Cleaning Member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A thermal head and a platen, a printing unit, a driving IC for driving the thermal head to generate heat, and a protective cover provided on the thermal head for protecting the driving IC. In a thermal transfer printer that supplies a film ribbon and paper between a head and a platen and drives the thermal head to generate heat for printing, a cleaning member is brought into contact with the film ribbon supplied to the thermal head on the protective cover. The thermal transfer printer is characterized in that it is installed like this.