JPH0885660A - Thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Object] The present invention facilitates the work of removing a paper jammed recording paper when exchanging the recording paper without removing the curl removing member from the apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus that can be used and is easy to use. [Structure] A film cassette 23 holding an ink film 11 is detachably attached to an apparatus main body 1, and this recording paper has a recording paper which projects toward a conveyance path of a recording paper 6. It is characterized in that a curl removing member 23 for pressing in the direction of removing the curl is integrally provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a recording apparatus used in a facsimile machine or the like, a recording sheet made of roll paper and a roll-shaped ink film are superposed and conveyed while passing between a thermal head and a platen roller, and output from the thermal head. There is a thermal transfer recording apparatus of a type that transfers the formed image to the recording paper via the ink film.

Conventionally, a thermal transfer recording apparatus of this type has a structure shown in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a thermal transfer recording device mounted on a facsimile machine. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a recording apparatus main body which also serves as an apparatus main body of a facsimile apparatus. A part of an upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 is opened to take in and out a film cassette or recording paper as will be described later, and A swing-up body 2 that opens and closes the open portion 1a is provided so as to be vertically rotatable.

In the figure, 3 is a thermal head provided inside the recording apparatus body 1, and 4 is a rotatable platen roller provided inside the recording apparatus body 1 so as to face the lower side of the thermal head 3. A recording paper reel 5 is provided rotatably on the rear side in the recording paper conveyance direction with respect to the thermal head 3. The roll 4 holds a recording paper 6 made of roll paper. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pair of recording paper feed reels rotatably provided on the front side in the recording paper conveyance direction. These reels 5 and 7 are provided inside (lower side) the thermal head 3.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a film cassette. The film cassette 8 has a space in which reels 9 and 10 to be described later can be placed. The upper surface of the film cassette 8 is open for loading and unloading the reels 9 and 10. The ink film 11 is open for taking in and out. Inside the film cassette 8, a film feeding reel 9 and a film take-up reel 10 are arranged in parallel with a space therebetween and are rotatably supported by the film cassette 8. A roll-shaped ink film 11 is held on the film feeding reel 9. The film cassette 8 is arranged outside (upper side) the thermal head 3 inside the apparatus body 1 and is detachably attached to the apparatus body 1.

Further, the recording paper 6 wound in a roll on the recording paper reel 5 is curled. For this reason, if the recording paper 6 is overlapped with the ink film 11 while the recording paper 6 is being fed from the recording paper reel 5 and recording is performed, the recording paper 6 may not be overlapped with the ink film 11 in a flat state and good recording may not be performed. For this reason, the recording apparatus using the recording paper 6 made of roll paper is provided with a curl removing member that alleviates the curl of the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 5.

In the conventional recording apparatus, an independent curl removing member 12 is prepared. The curl removing member 12 has a length that is the same as the width of the recording paper 6, and is provided between the film cassette and the recording paper 6, that is, the film cassette 8
Is arranged inside the sheet along the width direction of the recording paper 6 and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1 by a member (not shown). The curl removing member 12 is positioned at substantially the same height as the platen roller 4, and pushes down the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 5 to give a tension to alleviate or correct the curl of the recording paper 6. It is supposed to do.

Reference numeral 13 in the drawing is provided on the upstream side in the ink film transport direction with respect to the thermal head 3 and is a feeding reel 9
It is a film guide for guiding the ink film 11 fed out from the thermal head 3. Reference numeral 14 is a guide roller for guiding the ink film 11 passing through the thermal head 3 to the reel 10. Further, the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a rotation driving device (not shown) that rotationally drives the platen roller 4 and the film winding reel 10.

The recording operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus having such a structure is performed as described below. The recording paper 6 is delivered from the recording paper reel 5 and passed between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4. The recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 5 is given a tension by the curl removing member 12 before passing through the thermal head 3 so as to reduce or correct the curl.

Further, the ink film 11 is unwound from the unwind reel 9 and is unwound from the lower opening portion of the film cassette 8 and is passed between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4, and then the ink cassette 11 is unloaded again from the opening portion. It is put inside and wound up by the take-up reel 10.

Then, the platen roller 4 and the film take-up reel 10 are rotationally driven in the directions of the arrows in the figure by a rotary drive device. As a result, the recording paper 6 and the ink film 11 are overlapped, and the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4 are overlapped.
Is transported between The thermal head 3 generates heat based on an image signal from a control circuit (not shown), and the thermal head 3
Ink film 1 passing between the platen roller 4 and the platen roller 4.
1 is heated and the ink of the ink film 11 is transferred to the recording paper 6 passing between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4. After the recording, the recording paper 6 is cut into a length corresponding to the recording amount by a cutter (not shown).

Here, as described above, the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 4 is given a tension by the curl removing member 12 before passing through the thermal head 3 so as to reduce or correct the curl. Therefore, the recording paper 6 overlaps with the ink film 11 in a flat state, and good transfer recording can be performed.

When the ink film 11 is replaced with a new ink film 11 due to use, first, the swing-up body 2 provided on the upper surface open portion 1a of the apparatus main body 1 is rotated upward to open the open portion 1a, Next, the film cassette 7 holding the ink film 11 is removed from the upper surface opening portion 1a of the apparatus main body 1 and taken out to the outside,
The film cassette holding the new ink film 11 is loaded into the device value book.

In addition, when the recording paper 6 is replaced with a new recording paper 6 that is no longer in use, or when the recording paper 6 is jammed during the transportation, a paper jam occurs and the jammed recording paper 6 is removed. First, the swing-up body 2 is first rotated upward to open the upper surface opening portion 1a of the apparatus main body 1, and the recording paper reel 5 causes the film cassette 8 and the curl removing member 12 to move.
Since it is provided inside the apparatus main body 1, first, the film cassette 8 is removed from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out to the outside, and then the curl removing member 12 is removed from the apparatus main body 1 to be taken out to the outside and the recording paper reel 5 is removed. The recording paper reel 5 is removed from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out of the apparatus main body 1, or the recording paper 6 having a paper jam is taken out from the apparatus main body 1.

[0015]

However, such a conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus has the following problems. That is, when replacing the recording paper 6 with a new one, or when removing the jammed recording paper 6 due to a paper jam, the recording paper reel 5 moves the film cassette 8 and the curl removing member 1.
Since 2 is provided inside the apparatus main body 1, the film cassette 8 is first removed from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out to the outside, and then the curl removing member 12 is taken out from the apparatus main body 1 to the outside to take a recording sheet. It is necessary to make a space for removing the reel 7, and then remove the recording paper reel 5 from the apparatus main body 1 and take it out of the apparatus main body 1, or take out the recording paper 6 having a paper jam from the apparatus main body 1. .

That is, when the recording paper 6 is replaced with a new one, or the recording paper 6 is jammed due to a paper jam.
Since the work for removing the curl involves removing the curl removing member 12 from the apparatus main body 1 and taking it out to the outside, it is very troublesome and troublesome.

In order to eliminate such a problem, the curl removing member 12 is provided with the swing-up body 2 provided in the apparatus main body 1.
It is conceivable to provide it on the inner surface of the. However, in this case, the curl removing member 12 provided on the swing-up body 2 projects above the open portion in a state where the swing-up body 2 is rotated upward and the open portion 1a of the apparatus body 1 is opened. Therefore, when the film cassette 8 is taken out from the inside of the apparatus main body 1 through the opening portion 1a to the outside,
Since the film cassette 8 hits the curl removing member 12 projecting to the upper side of the opening portion 1a when loading the inside of the apparatus main body 1 from the outside through the opening portion 1a, the work of taking in and out the film cassette 8 is hindered. It is not preferable to provide the curl removing member 12 on the swing-up body 2 provided on the apparatus main body 1.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when replacing a recording paper, the work of removing the recording paper having a paper jam is performed without the work of removing the curl removing member from the apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus that can be easily performed and is easy to use.

[0019]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a recording sheet made of roll paper and a roll-shaped ink film which are superposed on each other and passed between a thermal head and a platen roller. In a recording apparatus of a type that conveys and transfers an image output from the thermal head onto the recording paper via the ink film, a film cassette holding the ink film is detachably attached to an apparatus body, and The film cassette is integrally provided with a curl removing member that projects toward the conveying path of the recording paper and presses the recording paper in a direction to remove the curl of the recording paper.

[0020]

Since the film cassette is integrally provided with the curl removing member, when the film cassette is moved, the curl removing member also moves. Therefore, if you replace the recording paper with a new one, or remove the jammed recording paper due to a paper jam, if you remove the film cassette from the thermal transfer recording device main body and take it out, the curl removing member will also be removed. It is removed from the device body together with and taken out. After that, the recording paper reel is removed from the apparatus main body and taken out of the apparatus main body, or the recording paper causing the paper jam is taken out from the apparatus main body.

Therefore, when replacing the recording paper with a new one or removing the jammed recording paper due to paper jam, it is not necessary to remove the curl removing member from the apparatus main body and take it out to the outside. It is easier and requires less labor than the conventional method.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, like the conventional example shown in FIG. 5, the present invention is applied to a recording apparatus of a facsimile machine. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the same parts as those of the configuration of the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a facsimile apparatus main body, and in the present embodiment, the facsimile apparatus main body 1
Also serves as the main body of the transfer recording device. The apparatus main body 1 is provided with a swing-up body 2 that opens and closes an opening 1a formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1. 3 is a thermal head, 4 is a platen roller, 5 is a recording paper reel, 6 is a recording paper, 9 is a feeding reel, 10 is a take-up reel, 11 is an ink film, 13 is a film guide, and 14 is a guide roller.

Next, the structure which is a feature of the present invention will be described. Reference numeral 21 is a film cassette formed of, for example, a synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the film cassette 21 is a rectangular parallelepiped having a space portion in which the take-up reel 9 and the take-up reel 10 can be arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. When the ink film 11 is replaced, the reels 9 and 10 and the ink film 11 are opened and closed to allow the ink film 11 to be taken in and out.
An opening 21b is formed in the center of the lower surface to allow the ink film 11 to be taken in and out.

Further, inside the film cassette 21, a film feeding reel 10 and a film winding reel 11 are provided.
The film cassettes 21 are arranged in parallel at intervals.
It is rotatably supported by. Film reel 1
At 0, a roll-shaped ink film 11 is held.

The shaft portions of the reels 9 and 10 project from both end surfaces. Here, the film cassette 21 includes reels 9 and 1.
A length slightly larger than the axial length of 0 and reels 9 and 10
Has a width large enough to be arranged in parallel with each other. A bearing portion 22a is formed at a position where the reel 9 is arranged, and a bearing portion 22b is formed at a position where the reel 10 is arranged, on both side walls of the film cassette 21 in the longitudinal direction. The shaft portions at both ends of the film feeding reel 9 are detachably and rotatably supported by the bearing portion 22a,
Both ends of the shaft of both ends of the film take-up reel 10 are detachably and rotatably supported by bearings 22b.

Further, a curl removing member 23 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the film cassette 21 so as to project therefrom. The curl removing member 23 is located along the axial direction of the reels 9 and 10 and is located between the film feeding reel 9 and the film winding reel 10 of the film cassette 21, and will be described later. To thermal head 3
The recording sheet 6 conveyed toward the recording medium 6 is formed to have a height necessary to reduce the curl of the recording sheet 6 by applying downward tension to the recording sheet 6, and the film cassette 21 is formed as shown in FIG. It is arranged in a cassette loading section 24 provided inside the apparatus main body 1. The cassette loading unit 24 has an open upper surface. The film cassette 21 is loaded / unloaded into / from the cassette loading section 24 via an open portion on the upper surface thereof, is disposed inside the cassette loading section 24, and is detachably held and fixed by a member (not shown).

The film cassette 21 is the cassette loading section 2
The curl removing member 23, which is integrally formed on the lower surface of the film cassette 21 in the state of being arranged at No. 4, protrudes toward the path where the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel is conveyed to the thermal head 3, and performs recording. It is positioned so that the paper 6 is pushed down and tension is applied. That is, the curl removing member 23
Is positioned between the film cassette 21 and the recording paper 6 in order to act on only the recording paper 6 without touching the ink film 11 provided in the film cassette 21 and adversely affecting its operation.

The recording operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus having such a structure is performed as described below. The recording paper 6 is delivered from the recording paper reel 5 and passed between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4. The recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 5 is given a tension by the curl removing member 12 formed integrally with the film cassette 13 before passing through the thermal head 3 so as to reduce or correct the curl.

Further, the ink film 11 is unwound from the unwind reel 9 and is unwound from the lower opening portion of the film cassette 8 and passed between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 4, and then the ink cassette 11 is unloaded again from the opening portion. It is put inside and wound up by the take-up reel 10.

Then, the platen roller 4 and the film take-up reel 10 are rotationally driven in the directions of the arrows in the drawing by the rotary driving device, and the recording paper 6 and the ink film 11 are overlapped to make a sensation. The sheet is conveyed through the space, and thermal transfer recording is performed on the recording paper 6 by the above-described operation.

After the recording, the recording paper 6 is cut into a length corresponding to the recording amount by a cutter (not shown). here,
As described above, the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 5 is given a tension by the curl removing member 23 formed integrally with the film cassette 8 before passing through the thermal head 3 so as to reduce or correct the curl. It Therefore, the recording paper 6 overlaps with the ink film 11 in a flat state, and good transfer recording can be performed.

By the way, when the ink film 11 is used and is replaced with a new ink film 11, first, the swing-up body 2 provided in the upper surface opening portion 1a of the apparatus main body 1 is rotated upward to open the opening portion 1a. Then, the film cassette 21 is loaded into the cassette loading section 24 of the apparatus main body 1.
Film cassette 2 which holds the new ink film 11 by removing it from the upper surface opening portion 1a.
1 is placed in the cassette loading section 24 of the apparatus main body 1.

When the recording paper 6 is used up and is replaced with a new recording paper 6, or when the recording paper 6 is jammed during conveyance and a paper jam is generated, the jammed recording paper 6 is removed. First, the swing-up body 2 is first rotated upward to open the upper surface opening portion 1a of the apparatus main body 1, and the recording paper reel 5 causes the film cassette 8 and the curl removing member 12 to move.
First, the film cassette 21 is installed in the cassette loading section 24 of the apparatus body 1 because it is provided inside the apparatus body 1.
To remove it from the apparatus body 1. This time,
The curl removing member 23 formed integrally with the film cassette 21 is removed from the cassette loading section 24 together with the film cassette 21 and taken out of the apparatus main body 1.

Next, the curl removing member 23 is taken out of the apparatus main body 1 to form a space for removing the recording paper reel 5, and then the recording paper reel 5 is taken out of the apparatus main body 1 and taken out of the apparatus main body 1, or The recording paper 5 causing the paper jam is taken out from the apparatus main body 1.

As described above, since the film cassette 21 is integrally provided with the curl removing member 23, the curl removing member 23 can be moved by moving the film cassette 21.
Also move together. Therefore, when the recording paper 6 is replaced with a new one, or when the jammed recording paper 6 is removed, when the film cassette 21 is removed from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out to the outside, the curl removing member 23 Is also removed together with the film cassette 21 from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out to the outside. After that, the recording paper reel 5 is removed from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out of the apparatus main body 1, or the recording paper 6 having a paper jam is taken out from the apparatus main body 1.

Therefore, when replacing the recording paper 6 with a new one or when removing the recording paper 1 jammed due to paper jam, the curl removing member 23 is removed from the apparatus main body 1 and taken out to the outside. Is unnecessary, and it is easier and more labor-free than in the past.

FIG. 4 shows a film cassette 31 in another embodiment. The film cassette 31 is of a size capable of accommodating and arranging the film feeding reel 9 and the film take-up reel 10 like the film cassette 21 of the above-mentioned embodiment, and has open portions 31a and 31b and bearing portions 32a and 32b. ing. The film cassette 31 is integrally provided with a rotary curl removing member 33.

The rotary curl removing member 33 includes a rod 34 arranged below the lower surface of the film cassette 31,
The film cassette 31 is composed of a pair of rotating arms 35 that hold both ends of a rod 34 pivotally attached by pins 36 to both ends in the longitudinal direction. By rotating the pair of rotating arms 35 downward about the shaft 36, the rod 34 pushes down the recording paper 6 fed from the recording paper reel 5 to apply tension to thereby reduce the curl. And by rotating the pair of rotating arms 35 downward about the shaft 36, the bar 34 is positioned close to the lower surface of the film cassette 31. In this state, the rod 34 does not protrude from the film cassette 31, and the film cassette 3
There is an advantage that the curl removing member 33 does not get in the way when handling 1. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified and implemented in various ways.

[0040]

As described above, according to the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention, since the film cassette is integrally provided with the curl removing member, when the film cassette is detached from the thermal transfer recording apparatus main body and taken out to the outside. , The curl removing member can be removed together with the film cassette from the main body of the device and taken out to the outside. Therefore, when exchanging the recording paper and removing the recording paper with the paper jam, the curl removing member can be used. It can be easily performed without the work of removing it from the device body, and the usability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment in which a thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention is mounted on a facsimile machine.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a film cassette in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a film cassette in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a film cassette according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional example in which a thermal transfer recording device is installed in a facsimile device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device body, 2 ... Swing-up body, 3 ... Thermal head, 4 ... Platen roller, 5 ... Recording paper reel, 6 ... Recording paper, 9 ... Delivery reel, 10 ... Take-up reel, 11 ... Ink film, 21 ... Film cassette , 23 ... Curl removing member, 32 ... Film cassette, 33 ... Curl removing member.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 19, 1995

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Further, the recording paper 6 wound in a roll on the recording paper reel 5 is curled. others
Therefore, the recording paper 6 is output while curled, which makes it inconvenient to use.
May be. Therefore, the recording paper 6 made of roll paper is used.
In the recording apparatus using, the curl removing member that reduces the curl of the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 5 is provided.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In the conventional recording apparatus, an independent curl removing member 12 is prepared. The curl removing member 12 has a length that is the same as the width of the recording paper 6, and is provided between the film cassette and the recording paper 6, that is, the film cassette 8
Is arranged inside the sheet along the width direction of the recording paper 6 and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 1 by a member (not shown). Uncurling member 12 provides tension to the recording sheet 6 fed from the serial Rokushi reel 5 by pressing down toward the bottom, has curl in the recording paper 6 relaxation, or to correct.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Here, as described above, the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel 4 is given a tension by the curl removing member 12 before passing through the thermal head 3 so as to reduce or correct the curl. For this reason, the recording paper 6 is output in a flat state and is easy to handle.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Next, the structure which is a feature of the present invention will be described. Reference numeral 21 is a film cassette formed of, for example, a synthetic resin. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the film cassette 21 is a rectangular parallelepiped having a space portion in which the take-up reel 9 and the take-up reel 10 can be arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. When the ink film 11 is replaced, the reels 9 and 10 and the ink film 11 are opened and closed to allow the ink film 11 to be taken in and out.
At the center of the bottom surface, the thermal head and platen roller are in close contact.
The opening 21b is provided to allow the opening.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0028

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The film cassette 21 is the cassette loading section 2
The curl removing member 23, which is integrally formed on the lower surface of the film cassette 21 in the state of being arranged at No. 4, protrudes toward the path where the recording paper 6 delivered from the recording paper reel is conveyed to the thermal head 3, and performs recording. Press down the paper 6 to increase the curl amount.
It is located to mitigate . That is, since the curl removing member 23 touches the ink film 11 provided in the film cassette 21 and acts only on the recording paper 6 without adversely affecting the operation thereof, the film cassette 21
And the recording paper 6 are located between them.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0039

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The rotary curl removing member 33 includes a rod 34 arranged below the lower surface of the film cassette 31,
A pair of rotating arms 35 and a pair of flaps, which hold both ends of a rod 34 pivotally attached by pins 36 to both ends of the film cassette 31 in the longitudinal direction.
It consists of the film cassette 31 and a spring that connects the rotating arm.
I have. Due to this spring, the rod 36 is kept in tension on the recording paper 6.
If it is strong, it will be positioned on the upper side, and if the tension of the recording paper 6 is weak,
Located on the upper side. Therefore, how to remove the curl is the diameter of the recording paper.
The output recording paper 6 becomes flat evenly depending on the size of
Has the advantage that It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified and implemented in various ways.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper made of roll paper and a roll-shaped ink film are superposed and conveyed while passing between a thermal head and a platen roller, and an image output from the thermal head is transferred via the ink film. 2. Description of the Related Art In a recording apparatus of the type that transfers onto recording paper, a film cassette holding the ink film is detachably mounted on the main body of the apparatus, and the film cassette projects toward the conveyance path of the recording paper to A thermal transfer recording device, characterized in that a curl removing member for pressing the paper in a direction for removing the curl of the recording paper is integrally provided.