JPH07178986A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transfer a sheet to a recording position, transfer it in a vertical scanning direction and then transfer it in a delivering direction with a pair of rollers only. CONSTITUTION:A printer 1 is provided with a recording means 3 for carrying out record on a sheet with ink having a single color or a plurality of different colors and a transferring means 2 for transferring the set sheet to a predetermined recording start position, transferring the sheet from the recording start position in a vertical scanning direction at a predetermined timing and transferring the recorded sheet in a predetermined delivering direction. In this printer, the aforesaid transferring means 2 is constructed with a pair of rollers 11, 12 only.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer which is small in size, low in cost and capable of recording high-quality images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, the use of color images is increasing in various fields of business such as presentations and design sites. For this reason, many color printers have been commercialized.

By the way, although such a color printer has various recording systems, a color image is reproduced by superimposing at least two colors of ink on the same sheet for each color. Therefore, the image quality is determined by the accuracy of the recording position for each color. For this reason, if the recording position for each color cannot be maintained with accuracy according to the resolution, so-called color unevenness or color misregistration occurs and the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, as the resolution becomes higher, the accuracy of the repeated recording position is required. Here, it is the sheet conveyance accuracy that greatly affects the image quality. This involves not only the repeated position accuracy in the feeding direction, but also many factors such as misalignment due to skew of the paper. In addition, in order to suppress the skew feeding, it is necessary to accurately position and align the leading edge of the installed sheet.

Therefore, various means have been developed in order to maintain the positional accuracy of the paper and prevent the deviation. The main examples are those that convey the paper by moving the clamp mechanism in the sub-scanning direction while holding the leading edge of the paper by the clamp mechanism or the like, and the clamp mechanism is provided on the drum to wind the paper around the drum in the sub-scanning direction. There are things to transport. Further, there is also one that conveys a sheet while maintaining positional accuracy with a large number of rollers.

However, such a conveying means has a complicated structure and is a factor of enlarging the entire apparatus. For example, in the case where the clamp mechanism is moved in the linear direction, at least a space for moving the clamp mechanism for the entire length of the sheet is required, and therefore the entire apparatus becomes large. In particular, when dealing with large-sized paper, the tendency of upsizing becomes remarkable. Further, in the case where the clamp mechanism is wound around the drum, the drum diameter is determined by the total length of the paper, so if it is intended to accommodate a large size paper, the diameter of the drum becomes large and the entire apparatus becomes large. On the other hand, in the system using a large number of rollers, the transport mechanism is complicated and the device becomes large. Further, in addition to the above-mentioned conveying means, it is necessary to separately provide a conveying means for feeding and discharging a sheet to a clamp mechanism or the like.

As described above, in order to improve the image quality, not only the structure becomes complicated and the number of parts increases, but also the apparatus becomes large and the weight also increases. In addition, this has also been a factor in raising the price of the device. As a result, it has been difficult to provide a printer capable of recording high-quality color images at a low price. At the same time, if the mechanism becomes complicated, it will affect secondary parts such as maintenance of the device. Further, the apparatus using the drum has a problem that the paper is curled, and the thickness of the recordable paper is limited.

[0007]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, in a color printer or the like, an attempt to improve image quality not only complicates the mechanism and increases the number of parts, but also increases the size and weight of the device. The point is that the price will rise as it does. Therefore, it is impossible to provide products that achieve high-quality recording in the popular machine class.

[0008]

The present invention is characterized in that a sheet is conveyed to a recording position, is conveyed in a sub-scanning direction, and is conveyed in a sheet discharge direction by only a pair of rollers. As a result, a color printer with high image quality can be realized with a simple structure and a minimum number of parts,
It has become possible to reduce the size, weight and cost of the device.

[0009]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below based on examples. 1 to 7 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a thermal sublimation color printer. In FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a printer, and the printer 1 comprises a conveying means 2, a recording means 3, an ink ribbon 4, a control means 5, an operating means 6, a paper guide 7 and a paper port 8, and the like. A color image is recorded on the printed sheet 9.

The conveying means 2 is composed of a pair of rollers 11 and 12. The rollers 11 and 12 are made of, for example, a metal or a metal shaft formed by combining different kinds of metals, silicon rubber, plastic, or the like, and in any case, a material having an optimum conveying condition is used. ing. The rollers 11 and 12 may be made of different materials. The rollers 11 and 12 are rotatably held at a predetermined position of the apparatus, and are brought into contact with and in close contact with each other by a predetermined pressing force by an urging means (not shown). The urging means is provided for the roller 1 when the sheet 8 is conveyed.
Optimal pressure is applied according to the characteristics 1 and 12. Therefore, the rollers 11 and 12 can convey the sheet 8 with high accuracy without causing positional deviation.

Further, the contact / contact portions of the rollers 11 and 12 also have a function of positioning and aligning the paper 8. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the paper 8 installed while being inserted along the paper guide 7 has a roller 11 at the front end thereof.
While being guided by the circumferential surface of 12, it hits the contact / contact portion. As a result, the leading edge of the sheet 8 is positioned and aligned at the same time.

On the other hand, a drive unit 13 is connected to the rollers 11 and 12, and the drive unit 13 rotates the rollers 11 and 12 at a predetermined timing based on a signal from the control means 5. The rollers 11, 12 are driven by the power from the driving means 13.
Conveys the sheet 8 installed as shown in FIG. 6 to a predetermined recording start position (hereinafter referred to as a home position) and at a predetermined timing from the home position in the sub-scanning direction (direction of arrow F in the figure). Then, the paper 8 on which recording has been completed is carried and discharged to the paper guide 7.

Here, the path from the paper guide 7 to the paper opening 8 is configured to convey the paper 9 in a substantially linear direction. Therefore, since the sheet 9 is conveyed in a natural state, a curl is not generated and a thick sheet 9 can be conveyed. In addition, the printer 1 uses the paper 9 conveyed to the home position.
The structure is such that a part of the paper comes out of the main body through the paper opening 8. Therefore, the size of the main body 1a can be minimized in the transport direction of the sheet 9. further,
Since the paper 9 is conveyed in the same path in all the steps of image recording, the structure of the main body can be simplified.

The ink ribbon 4 is, for example, a base film made of polyester or the like, on which thermal sublimation dyes of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and B (black) are sequentially applied for each screen. It is wound around a spool 4a and rotatably held at a predetermined position on the main body 1a. The tip end of the ink ribbon 4 is fixed to the spool 14, and the spool 14 is held at a predetermined position on the main body 1a. A drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the spool 14, and is rotated by power from the drive mechanism to wind the ink ribbon 4 in the direction of arrow F in the figure while conveying the ink ribbon 4 at a predetermined timing.

The recording means 3 is composed of a recording head 21, a platen roller 22 and the like. A plurality of heat generating elements (not shown) are arranged in a line in the recording head 21 in the main scanning direction (width direction of the sheet 9), and selectively based on image data from the control means 5. Heat is generated and the sublimation dye applied to the ink ribbon 4 is heated and sublimated line by line. The recording head 21 is urged by a pressing mechanism (not shown) in the axial direction of the platen roller 22 with a predetermined pressing force, and a heating element comes into contact with and comes into close contact with the platen roller 22. Further, the recording head 21 is provided with a drive mechanism (not shown), and is separated from the platen roller 22 except during recording. Here, the platen roller 22 is rotatably held at a predetermined position of the main body, and rotates according to the sheet 9 conveyed in the sub scanning direction.

The control means 5, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a unit 31, a memory unit 32, a head drive unit 33, a drive control unit 34, a controller 35, and the like. The I / F unit 31 converts image data (video signal or the like) input from the outside via the connector 36 into a digital signal. The memory unit 32 stores the image data converted into a digital signal and outputs the image data to the head driver unit 33 according to a command from the controller 35. The head driver unit 33, based on the input image data,
An applied current is selectively applied to the heating element of No. 1 to perform recording for each line. The drive control unit 34 outputs a control signal to the drive unit of the spool 14, the drive unit 13 of the transporting unit 2 and the drive unit of the recording head 21 in response to a command from the controller 35 to wind the ink ribbon 4 at a predetermined timing. The paper 9 is conveyed at a predetermined timing, and the recording head 21 is brought into contact with or separated from the platen roller 22. The controller 35 is composed of a microcomputer and the like, and outputs signals to the respective parts based on a command from the operating means 6 or a signal from a sensor (not shown) to control the printer 1 as a whole.

The operation unit 6 starts and ends printing,
Commands for each operation are given to the control means 5 such as on / off line setting.

Next, the operation will be described. Here, it is assumed that image data is input to the printer from the outside. First, when you insert the paper 9 along the paper guide 7,
The leading edge of the sheet 9 hits the abutting portion of the rollers 11 and 12, and the leading edges are aligned at the same time. When the sheet 9 is installed, the control means 5 stands by in a printable state.

Next, when the start switch provided in the operating means 6 is turned on, the rollers 11 and 12 rotate and the paper is conveyed to the paper port 8 side. Then, when the paper 9 is conveyed to the home position, the recording head 21 contacts the platen roller 22 with the ink ribbon 4 and the paper 9 interposed therebetween. Here, the paper 9 conveyed to the home position is partially ejected from the main body 1a through the paper port 8.

Next, recording by the recording head 21 for each line and conveyance of the ink ribbon 4 and the paper 9 in the sub-scanning direction are performed at a predetermined timing, and an image for one screen is formed by Y ink. When the recording with the Y ink is completed, the recording head 21 is separated from the platen roller 22. At the same time, the ink ribbon 4 is further conveyed and M
Ink cueing is performed. Further, the sheet 9 is conveyed to the home position again by the rollers 11 and 12.

Thereafter, recording with the M, C, and B inks is sequentially performed in the same manner as the recording with the Y ink. Then, when recording with the B ink is completed, the paper 9
Is immediately discharged onto the paper guide 7 from the position where the recording is completed.

As described above, in the printer 1 of the present invention, the conveying means 2 constituted only by the pair of rollers 11 and 12 maintains the repetitive recording position with high accuracy, and the paper 9 in the entire process of image recording. It can be transported. Therefore, the structure of the entire printer 1 is simplified, and the number of parts for maintaining the positional accuracy can be minimized. As a result, the size of the printer 1 can be reduced and the weight can be reduced. Further, as a maximum effect, it has become possible to provide the printer 1 capable of recording a high-quality color image at a low price. At the same time, the simplification of the structure has a side effect of making maintenance extremely easy. Further, since the printer 1 has a structure in which a part of the paper 9 comes out of the main body in the recording process, the size of the printer 1 can be reduced also by this. In addition, since the paper 9 is conveyed in the same path in all the steps of image recording, the structure of the main body can be simplified. Further, since the paper 9 is conveyed in a natural state, it is possible to print on the thick paper 9 without causing a curl.

In this embodiment, the paper 9 is manually installed in the printer 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an automatic paper feed mechanism may be provided so that a plurality of paper sheets 9 can be set together. Further, if done in this way, it is possible to save the labor when installing the paper 9.

On the other hand, although the present invention is applied to the color printer of the thermal sublimation system in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to such a mode. That is, it can be applied to various types of curler printers such as a thermal transfer system and an inkjet system. Not only that, even when applied to each monochrome type printer, the same effect as that of a color printer can be obtained. In short, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to all types of printers without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the printer main body of the first embodiment is provided with a storing means for storing the paper conveyed to a predetermined recording position by the conveying means, and the same components as those of the first embodiment will be described. The same numbers are attached and the description is omitted. In FIG. 8, a housing 41 is provided in the main body 41a of the printer 41. The storage means 42 is, for example, a path for the sheet 9 formed separately or integrally with a casing that constitutes the main body, and guides the sheet transported to the home position in a predetermined direction over the transport direction. Therefore, the free portion of the sheet 9 conveyed to the home position is guided to the upper surface side of the main body 41a by the storage means 42. As a result, the paper 9 is recorded in a state where it is accommodated within the dimensions of the main body 41a, so that there is an excellent effect that the overall dimensions of the printer 41 can be made more compact, including during recording. Although the storage means 42 is opened in this embodiment, as the third embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The storage means 43 can be configured so as to cover the whole.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an image display device is added to the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 10, an image display means 52 is provided on the main body 51a of the printer 51. Image display means 52
For example, a liquid crystal display is used, and the image of the image data input and stored in the memory unit 53 is displayed according to a command from the operation unit 54. Therefore, the target image to be recorded can be confirmed in advance, useless recording of the image can be prevented, and the waste of the ink ribbon 4 and the paper 9 can be omitted.

Further, as a fifth embodiment, for example, a large capacity RAM is used for the memory unit 53 so that a plurality of image data can be stored, and the operation means 54 is provided with an image selecting function. In this manner, it is possible to display arbitrary image data from the memory section 53 on the calling display means and then record the image data according to an instruction from the operation means 54. By doing so, in addition to the effect of the fourth embodiment, an excellent effect that the range of handling of the printer can be widened can be added.

[0028]

According to the present invention, since a sheet is conveyed to a recording position, is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and is conveyed in the sheet discharge direction, a color printer having a high image quality is provided. With a simple structure and a minimum number of parts, it has become possible to reduce the size, weight and cost of the device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a carrying unit of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state of the printer in the home position of the paper according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 2 Conveying Means 3 Recording Means 4 Ink Ribbon 5 Control Means 6 Paper 7 Rollers 8 Rollers 41 Printer 42 Storage Means 43 Storage Means 51 Printer 52 Display Means 53 Memory Section

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording unit for recording a single color ink or a plurality of different color inks on a sheet, and the set sheet is conveyed to a predetermined recording start position, and at a predetermined timing from the recording start position in the sub-scanning direction. A printer comprising: a transport unit that transports a sheet that has been transported and on which recording has been completed in a predetermined sheet discharge direction, wherein the transport unit includes only a pair of rollers. 2. An ink ribbon coated with a single color or a plurality of different color inks in a predetermined arrangement for each screen, and an ink applied to the ink ribbon by applying thermal energy with the transportation of the ink ribbon. And a recording unit that transfers the sheet to a sheet, and conveys the installed sheet to a predetermined recording start position, conveys the recording sheet from the recording start position in the sub-scanning direction at a predetermined timing, and ejects the recording-finished sheet to a predetermined sheet discharge position. In a printer provided with a conveying means for conveying in a direction,
A printer characterized in that the conveying means is composed of only a pair of rollers. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the conveying unit positions the leading end of the sheet installed on the conveying unit and aligns the sheet. 4. The conveyance of the sheet to a predetermined recording start position by the conveying means, the conveyance of the sheet in the recording direction and the conveyance of the sheet in the discharge direction are the same route. The printer according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. The sheet conveying path is configured so as to have a substantially straight line direction or an arc or a bend that does not cause a curl in the sheet.
The printer according to any one of items 3. 6. The printer according to claim 1, wherein when the sheet is conveyed to a predetermined recording position by the conveying unit, the sheet is temporarily taken out of the apparatus. . 7. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit that stores the sheet conveyed to the predetermined recording position by the conveying unit. 8. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying an image to be recorded on the main body of the printer. 9. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit for storing, in the main body of the printer, one or a plurality of image data of an image to be recorded by the printer. The printer described in.