JPH082653B2 - n times mode thermal printer - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thermal printer for thermal transfer recording of ink coated on a transfer material base material on a recording paper by using a thermal head, and particularly to a relative position of the transfer material to the recording paper. Speed 1 / n times (n
Is an integer of 2 or more) and an n-fold mode thermal printer using an ink sheet in which a heat-melting type or a heat sublimation type ink capable of transfer recording is applied on a transfer material substrate.

2. Description of the Related Art Ink sheets used in conventional thermal printers for thermal transfer recording are shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 1 denotes an ink sheet, and a thermal-melting type or thermal sublimation type ink is applied to the side of the thermal head 2 that contacts the recording paper 3 once with Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), for example. Each color is applied in the length required for recording. Also Y, M, C
Mark 4 corresponding to each color of (
4M for Y, M, 4C for C) 1 for Y, M, C for one recording
As a set, a mark 5 is provided corresponding to each set.
First, the sensor 6 detects the mark 5, the ink sheet 1 is stopped at the recording start position, the thermal head 2 is brought into contact with the platen 8 via the ink sheet 1 and the recording paper 3, and the ink sheet 1 is indicated by arrow A, recording paper. 3 is moved in the direction of arrow B, Y (yellow) of the first color is thermally transferred and recorded according to a recording signal (detailed description is omitted), and after completion, the thermal head 2 is separated from the platen 8 and the ink sheet 1 is moved to the direction of arrow A. The ink sheet 1 is stopped at the same time when the mark 4M is detected by the wind-up (driving method is not shown) sensor 7, and the recording sheet 3 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow B and stopped at the recording start position.
Next, the second color M (magenta) is similarly subjected to thermal transfer recording, and similarly the third color C (cyan) is also recorded to complete thermal transfer recording (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-148779).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such a conventional thermal printer, thermal transfer recording is performed using an ink sheet coated with ink of each color, with a unit of recording length as one unit.
Therefore, an ink obtained by applying a heat-melting type or heat sublimation type ink capable of transfer recording at a relative velocity of the transfer body to the recording paper 1 / n times (n is an integer of 2 or more) is applied on the transfer body substrate. In the case of sheets (eg Matsuda, Taguchi, Imai, Yuba, Shimoma "N-fold mode recording characteristics of sublimation transfer thermal recording media" 2nd Non-Impact Printing Symposium Proceedings 5-3, P10
1) Since the speed of the ink sheet with respect to the recording paper becomes slow, the coating length of the ink applied to the transfer body used for one recording becomes short, and therefore the gap (L) between the coating inks of each color
Is a problem. That is, since the ink application length is shortened but the gap (L) is not shortened, the use efficiency of the ink sheet is very poor and expensive.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses a heat-melting type ink or a heat sublimation type ink m times the length required for one recording (m is an integer of 2 or more). ) As one unit, and the pitches of the units are substantially the same length, and different colors (for example, yellow, magenta, and cyan) are set as one set, and at least one set of ink is used as a transfer material substrate. An ink sheet which is applied on the surface and is provided with a mark corresponding to the first ink of each set, a sheet transfer amount detecting means for detecting the transfer amount of the ink sheet, and a sheet winding means for winding the ink sheet By providing the sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet, the ink of one unit of color is 1 / m
By performing thermal transfer recording on the recording paper one by one, it is possible to reduce the decrease in use efficiency due to the gap between the applied inks.

Action The present invention uses the heat-melting or heat-sublimation type ink as described above, in which the length m times (m is an integer of 2 or more) required for recording one love is one unit, and Each unit has a set of different colors so that the pitches of each unit are approximately the same, and one or more sets of ink are applied onto the base material of the transfer body, and the mark corresponding to the first ink of each set is transferred. A sheet transfer amount detecting means for detecting the transfer amount of the ink sheet using an ink sheet provided on a body substrate, a sheet winding means for winding the ink sheet, and a sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet. And are provided. Therefore, it is possible to transfer and record m times by using the ink sheet while rewinding the ink sheet with one set of ink, and when the m times transfer recording is completed, the mark corresponding to the first ink of the next set is detected. The ink sheet can be wound to transfer and record the next set of inks. At this time, since ink is continuously applied within one color (one unit), there is no ink application gap between recordings as in the conventional case, and therefore the sheet is used efficiently and the running efficiency is high. The cost will be low.

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an n-times mode thermal printer of the present invention during thermal transfer recording, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an n-times mode thermal printer at the time of winding or rewinding an ink sheet. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink sheet used in the n-times mode thermal printer of the present invention. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 10 denotes a transfer body, on which heat sublimation type ink 11 has, for example, yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), each having substantially the same pitch. (B)
Is applied in. Each color ink applied at this time has a length that is recorded at one time as a, and has a length m times the length that is recorded at one time (for example, in the case of yellow, Y1, Y2, ..., Ym,
For magenta M1, M2,…, Mm, for cyan C1, C2,…
…, Cm). Further, marks 12 and 12 'are provided on the transfer member base material in correspondence with the first Y1 and Y1' of yellow here in the ink 11, respectively.

Further, in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG.
An example of an n-times mode thermal printer using a printer is shown. A thermal head 14 presses the recording paper 15 against the platen 16 via the ink sheet 13 during recording as shown in the figure. Reference numeral 17 is a take-up reel, which is configured to take up the ink sheet 13 in the direction of arrow D at the time of recording and to be rotatable at the time of rewinding the ink sheet 13 (a drive mechanism and a drive release mechanism are not shown). A supply reel 18 is configured to wind the ink sheet 13 in the direction of arrow E when the ink sheet 13 is rewound, and to be rotatable during recording (the drive mechanism and the drive release mechanism are not shown). 19 is a pinch roller, and the recording paper 15, which is configured to be rotatable, is always in pressure contact with the capstan 20. During recording, the capstan 20 rotates in the direction of arrow F to drive the recording paper 15 in the direction of arrow H, so that the recording paper 15 can be recorded in order to record the next color.
When returning the sheet, the recording paper 15 rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow F is driven in the direction opposite to the arrow H (the drive mechanism is not shown). twenty one
Numeral 22 is a guide roller for guiding the ink sheet 13, and numeral 22 is rotated in the direction of arrow J during recording to move the ink sheet 13 to 1 / n of the recording paper 15.
It is a capstan that transfers at double speed. 23 is mark 1
Reference numeral 24 is a detection sensor for detecting 2, 12 ', and 24 is a roller portion that winds the ink sheet 13 and rotates corresponding to the transfer of the ink sheet 13 and a rotating body having a slit on the circumference. And constitute the sheet transfer amount detecting means 26. 27 is rotatably supported to press and transfer the ink sheet 13 to the capstan 22, and when the ink sheet 13 is rewound or wound for the next recording, the capstan 22 is
It is a pinch roller configured so as to be further separated (a drive mechanism is not shown). In this state, for example, first, Y (yellow) of the first color is thermally transferred and recorded in accordance with the recording signal (third color).
The shaded portion Y2 in the figure), at this time, the recording paper 15 is pressed against the capstan 20 by the pinch roller 19 and conveyed in the direction of the arrow H at a constant speed, and the ink sheet 13 is moved by the pinch roller 27 to the capstan 22.
It is pressed against the recording paper 15 and transferred in the same direction as the recording paper 15 at a speed 1 / n times that of the recording paper 15. After completion, the thermal head 14 is moved to the platen 16
Accordingly, the pinch roller 27 is separated from the capstan 22, and the ink sheet 13 is applied with each color in the direction of arrow D.
It is transferred by the take-up reel 17 for the same length as (Fig. 3). At this time, the transfer length is detected by the sheet transfer amount detecting means 26. At the same time, the recording paper 15 is transported by the capstan 20 in the direction opposite to the arrow H and set at the recording start position. In this state, the thermal head 14 is brought into pressure contact with the platen 16 and the pinch roller 27 is brought into pressure contact with the capstan 22 to record the second color (shaded portion magenta M2). Similarly, when the third color (the shaded area C2) is recorded and one recording is completed, the thermal head 14 is separated from the platen 16 and the pinch roller 27 is separated from the capstan 22, and the ink sheet 13 is moved in the arrow E direction by the supply reel 18. 2 (a + b)
Is transferred for the length of. At this time as well, the transfer length is detected by the sheet transfer amount detecting means 26. Therefore, the ink sheet 13
Has been transferred to a position where the next yellow (Y3) can be recorded. In this way, the next recording is performed, and when the recording of the last mth cyan Cm of the first group is completed, the detection sensor 23 detects the mark 1 corresponding to the first yellow (Y1 ') of the next group.
When 2'is detected, the ink sheet 13 is moved by the length C in the direction of arrow D so that the first yellow (Y1 ') of the next set comes to the recording position. In this way, the next set of recording is ready to start. As described above, the ratio of the gaps between the inks of the respective colors can be reduced, so that the ink sheet 13
Can be inexpensive and can have low running cost.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention uses a heat-melting type ink or a heat sublimation type ink as a unit having a length m times (m is an integer of 2 or more) the length required for recording in FIG. So that the pitches are approximately the same length, with different colors as one set, one or more sets of ink are applied onto the transfer body substrate, and the mark corresponding to the first ink of each set is formed on the transfer body base. A sheet transfer amount detecting means for detecting the transfer amount of the ink sheet using an ink sheet provided on a material, a sheet winding means for winding the ink sheet, and a sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet. Is provided. Therefore, it is possible to transfer and record m times by using the sheet while rewinding the sheet with one set of ink, and when the transfer recording is completed m times, the sheet corresponding to the first ink of the next set is detected to detect the sheet. The ink of the next set can be transferred and recorded.
At this time, since ink is continuously applied within one color (one unit), there is no ink application gap between recordings as in the conventional case, and the end portion of the applied ink is Even if it is affected by coating unevenness and the like, only the first and the m-th can be used, and the use efficiency can be very high. Therefore, the ink sheet can be made inexpensive, and its cost is great. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an n-times mode thermal printer during thermal transfer recording according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an n-times mode thermal printer during winding or rewinding of an ink sheet. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink sheet used in the same n-times mode thermal printer, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a conventional ink sheet, and FIG. 5 is a recording head pressed against a platen by a thermal head through the ink sheet. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a conventional thermal printer that performs thermal transfer. 11 ... Ink, 12, 12 '... Mark, 13 ... Ink sheet, Y ... Yellow, M ... Magenta, C ... Cyan,
14 ... Thermal head, 15 ... Recording paper, 16 ... Platen, 17 ... Take-up reel, 18 ... Supply reel, 20, 22
...... Capstan, 26 ...... Sheet transfer amount detection means.

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-58-119895 (JP, A) JP-A-59-129196 (JP, A) JP-A-58-201686 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A capstan for winding and transferring recording paper,
An ink sheet coated with a thermal melting type or thermal sublimation type ink capable of transfer recording by making the relative speed of the transfer body 1 / n times (n is an integer of 2 or more) and rotatably A supported platen, a thermal head that press-records on the platen via the ink sheet and the recording paper so that the ink comes into contact with the recording paper, and the ink sheet is 1 / th of the transfer speed of the recording paper. a transfer means for transferring n times, a winding means for winding the ink sheet, a sheet rewinding means for rewinding the ink sheet, and a sheet transfer amount detecting means for detecting the transfer amount of the ink sheet, The ink sheet has a length m times (m is an integer of 2 or more) required for one recording as one unit, and one or more inks are transferred with one set coated with different colors. Applied on the body substrate, Further, a detection means for detecting the first ink of the first color of each set is provided, and the thermal head records one unit of the kth ink of one color on the recording paper by thermal transfer recording, and then the sheet. By detecting a predetermined transfer amount of the ink sheet by the transfer amount detecting means, the predetermined amount of the ink sheet is wound by the sheet winding means and the kth ink of the next color is set at the recording position to set the second color. On the above-mentioned recording paper by thermal transfer recording, and similarly, inks of different colors are sequentially transferred onto the recording paper by k transfer recording.
After the end of the second recording, the sheet transfer amount detecting means detects a predetermined transfer amount of the ink sheet to rewind the ink sheet by the sheet rewinding means and k + 1 of the first proposal color of the same set. When the (k + 1) th thermal transfer recording is performed with the second ink at the recording start position and the mth thermal transfer recording is finished in the same manner, the ink sheet is wound by the sheet winding means, and the first group of the next group is wound. An n-fold mode thermal printer configured to set the first ink of the first color of the next set to the recording position and sequentially perform thermal transfer recording by detecting the first ink of the color by the detection means.