JPH06206364A - Rpinter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a paper discrimination means and a coating agent applying means in a sublimation type thermal transfer printer and obtain printing of high quality on both of sublimation exclusive paper and plain paper. CONSTITUTION:A printer is constituted of a printing part performing sublimation printing by a thermal head 12, a feed part feeding paper 1 by a paper feed roller 15 and a pinch roller 11, a storage part 3 storing a solid coating agent, a liquefying means heating the solid coating agent to form a liquid coating agent 2a, a film forming part applying the liquid coating agent 2a to the paper 1 by a nozzle 4 and smoothing the coating layer to form a film 2c and a paper discrimination sensor 16 discriminating the kind of the paper 1. The storage part 3 may store a coating agent in a liquid state. By this constitution, sharp sublimation printing can be obtained on the arbitrary part of the paper regardless of the kind of paper and the running cost is suppressed and the formation of an image receiving layer and printing operation are simultaneously performed to shorten a printing time at the time of the printing of plain paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a sublimation type thermal transfer printer having an improved pretreatment process for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional sublimation thermal transfer printer will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 shows a printing unit of a conventional printer using a sublimation method. The paper 1 sent to the printing unit is held by the capstan roller 10 and the pinch roller 11, and reciprocates between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13 according to the number of colors of the ink ribbon 14. Usually, the ink ribbons 14 of three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan or four colors of black added are used. At this time, heat is applied by the thermal head 12,
The color is developed on the paper 1 by being pressed against the platen roller 13. In order to develop the color, printing is performed by using the sublimation dedicated paper 1a having a sublimation dye image receiving layer as the paper 1. FIG. 6 shows an ink ribbon 14 for three colors used for printing on the plain paper 1b. Before printing yellow with the yellow ink ribbon 14a, the image receiving layer ribbon 1
4d, the image receiving layer is transferred to the paper by a melting method. Therefore, in order to print three colors, the same time as printing in four colors is required. Similarly, when four-color printing is performed, a time equivalent to that for five-color printing is required.

[0003]

Printing by the sublimation heat transfer system has been attracting attention because it can provide high image quality close to that of a photograph. However, since the expensive sublimation paper is used as described above, there is a problem that the running cost is high. Recently, a technique of transferring an image-receiving layer to plain paper by a heat-sensitive method and printing by a sublimation method on it has been put into practical use, but the process of forming the image-receiving layer takes time and the total printing time is said to increase. There's a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer which can obtain high quality sublimation prints on both sublimation dedicated paper and plain paper in a short time.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in a printer that prints by a sublimation thermal transfer system, a printing portion for sublimation printing, a conveying portion for conveying a recording medium, and a sublimation dye are easily transferred onto the recording medium. Storage means for storing the coating agent applied to the surface of the recording medium in a solid state, liquefying means for liquefying the coating material in the solid state by heat, and application for applying the liquefied coating agent to the recording medium Means, a smoothing means for making the applied coating agent a smooth film, and a paper discriminating means for discriminating whether the recording medium is dedicated sublimation paper or plain paper, and a printing part for performing sublimation printing, A transport unit that transports the recording medium and a liquid coating agent that is applied to the surface of the recording medium to facilitate transfer of the sublimation dye onto the recording medium. Storage means, a coating means for directly coating the liquid state coating agent on the recording medium, a smoothing means for making the coated coating agent a smooth film, and the recording medium is a sublimation dedicated paper or plain paper. A paper discriminating means for discriminating whether or not it may be provided. Further, the applying unit may be configured to selectively apply the coating agent to any part of the recording medium.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a film forming portion for storing, liquefying and spraying the coating agent in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is spraying the coating agent. It is sectional drawing which looked at the nozzle from the arrow A direction in FIG. FIG. 4 shows that the coating agent is stored in a liquid state,
It is sectional drawing which shows the film formation part to apply.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer of this embodiment includes a printing unit for sublimation printing on the paper 1 with a thermal head 12, a platen roller 13 and an ink ribbon 14, a paper feed roller 15 and a capstan roller 10. A transport unit that transports the paper 1 by the pinch roller 11, a coating agent storage unit 3 that stores the coating agent applied to the surface of the paper 1 in a solid state so that the sublimation dye is easily transferred, and the coating agent storage unit 3 A film forming unit for liquefying the coating agent by heat to apply it to the paper 1 and smoothing the applied film, and a paper discrimination sensor 16. The paper discrimination sensor 16 is a reflection type sensor, and when the paper 1 to be printed is the sublimation dedicated paper 1a having an image receiving layer in advance, the black mark printed on the back surface of the paper 1 is read to determine the sublimation dedicated paper 1a. If the paper does not have a black mark, the paper is judged to be plain paper 1b.

The operation of printing on the plain paper 1b in this configuration will be described. When the information input from the paper discrimination sensor 16 is the plain paper 1b, the paper feed roller 1
5, the liquid coating agent 2a sprayed from the nozzle 4 of the coating agent storage section 3 is applied before reaching the heat generating section 12a of the thermal head 12. The applied liquid coating agent 2a is solidified before reaching the thermal head 12, and forms a smooth forming film 2c on the surface of the plain paper 1b. When the plain paper 1b on which the forming film 2c is formed reaches the heat generating portion 12a of the thermal head 12, the printing of the first color is started as in the normal sublimation process. When heat is applied by the heat generating portion 12a of the thermal head 12, the dye of the ink ribbon 14 is formed on the plain paper 1b to form the film 2
Sublimation is carried out on c, and an image is formed. At this time, plain paper 1b
In the rear part, the coating process is continued until the rear end is reached, and the first color is printed at the same time. Plain paper 1
When the coating is completed up to the rear end of b, the supply of the coating agent is stopped. When the printing of the first color is completed, the paper is returned to the printing start position, and the printing of the second and subsequent colors is performed.
When all the printing processes are completed, the plain paper 1b is ejected.

In FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view of the film forming portion, the coating material 2b in the solid state stored in the coating material storage portion 3 is melted and liquefied by being heated by the heater 7 and ejected from the nozzle 4. It adheres to the surface of the plain paper 1b. At this time, the liquid coating agent 2a attached to the paper is
It is smoothed by a brush 8 near the nozzle 4. The liquid coating agent 2a is applied with pressure by the piezoelectric element 5 in the vicinity of the nozzle 4, and is constantly supplied in a constant amount. Further, the backflow prevention valve 6 prevents the backflow of the liquid coating agent 2a, thereby obtaining a stable supply pressure. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 showing a cross section of the nozzle 4 for spraying the liquid coating agent 2a, the nozzle 4 having a width equal to that of the plain paper 1b is slit 9.
The piezoelectric element 5 is arranged in each slit 9 by finely dividing. By selectively driving the piezoelectric element 5, the formation film 2c can be formed on an arbitrary portion of the plain paper 1b.

FIG. 4 shows a modified example of the film forming section in which the coating agent is stored in a liquid state and the liquid coating agent 2a is directly applied to the plain paper 1b. The liquid coating agent 2a stored in the coating agent storage unit 3 is stored in the nozzle 4
It spouts out and adheres to the surface of the plain paper 1b. At this time, the liquid coating agent 2a attached to the paper is smoothed by the brush 8 near the nozzle 4. Liquid coating agent 2
The pressure a is applied by the piezoelectric element 5 in the vicinity of the nozzle 4, and is constantly supplied in a constant amount. Further, the backflow prevention valve 6 prevents the backflow of the liquid coating agent 2a, thereby obtaining a stable supply pressure. It is also possible to incorporate a heater in the brush 8 to help the liquid coating agent 2a to quickly solidify and become the forming film 2c.

The case where the paper discrimination sensor 16 discriminates the plain paper 1b has been described above.
The operation when a is used is as follows. Paper discrimination sensor 1
When 6 determines the sublimation dedicated paper 1a, the piezoelectric element 5 (or both the piezoelectric element 5 and the heater 7) is deactivated and the ejection of the liquid coating agent 2a from the nozzle 4 is stopped. The sublimation dedicated paper 1a is sent as it is between the thermal head 12 and the platen roller 13, and printing is performed by the sublimation method similar to the conventional one.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, by having the paper discriminating means and the coating agent applying means, a clear sublimation print can be obtained on any portion of the paper regardless of the kind of paper. Further, since it is not necessary to use the paper for exclusive use of sublimation, the running cost can be suppressed and the image receiving layer formation and the printing operation can be performed at the same time when printing on the plain paper, so that the printing time can be shortened.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a film forming unit for storing, liquefying and spraying a coating agent in the example.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle for spraying a coating agent as seen from the direction of arrow A in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a film forming unit that stores and applies a coating agent in a liquid state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a printing unit of a conventional printer using a sublimation method.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing ink ribbons for three colors used for printing on plain paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Paper 1a Sublimation Special Paper 1b Plain Paper 2a Liquid Coating Agent 2b Solid Coating Agent 2c Forming Film 3 Coating Agent Storage Section 4 Nozzle 5 Piezoelectric Element 6 Backflow Prevention Valve 7 Heater 8 Brush 9 Slit 10 Capstan Roller 11 Pinch Roller 12 Thermal Head 12a Heat generating part 13 Platen roller 14 Ink ribbon 14a Yellow ink ribbon 14b Magenta ink ribbon 14c Cyan ink ribbon 14d Image receiving layer ribbon 15 Paper feed roller 16 Paper discrimination sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location B41M 5/26 9305-2C B41J 3/20 117 C 8305-2H B41M 5/26

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer for printing by a sublimation thermal transfer method, a printing section for sublimation printing, a conveying section for conveying a recording medium, and a surface of the recording medium for facilitating transfer of a sublimation dye onto the recording medium. Storage means for storing the coating agent applied to the solid state in a solid state, and liquefying means for liquefying the coating material in the solid state by heat,
A coating means for applying the liquefied coating agent to the recording medium, a smoothing means for making the applied coating agent a smooth film, and a paper discriminating means for discriminating whether the recording medium is dedicated sublimation paper or plain paper. A printer comprising. 2. A printer for printing by a sublimation thermal transfer method, a printing section for sublimation printing, a conveying section for conveying a recording medium, and a surface of the recording medium for facilitating transfer of a sublimation dye onto the recording medium. Storage means for storing the coating agent applied in a liquid state in a liquid state, coating means for directly applying the coating agent in a liquid state to the recording medium, smoothing means for making the applied coating agent a smooth film, and the recording method. A printer comprising: a paper discriminating unit for discriminating whether a medium is a sublimation dedicated paper or plain paper. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the coating unit is configured to selectively coat the coating agent on any portion of the recording medium.