JPH09174968A - Cutting method for continuos recording paper - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the cut mark from a recording sheet being cut from a continuous recording paper. SOLUTION: Thermal heads 21, 22 and 23 for yellow, magenta and cyan are arranged along the carrying path of continuous recording paper 15 sequentially from the upstream side so that a full-color image is formed by carrying the continuous recording paper 15 once. A punching means 38 is arranged on the upstream side of thermal head 21 for yellow in order to punch a hole 39 for matching the cut position and color at a side of continuous recording paper 15. After recording a full-color image, the hole 39 is detected by means of a photosensor 51 and removed by making triangular cuts at the opposite ends in the breadthwise direction of continuous recording paper 15 based on a detection signal. Finally, an outlet cutter 52 is operated to cut off the image recording area individually.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting method in which an image is recorded on continuous recording paper and then cut based on the position of a cut mark to separate the sheets one by one.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Printers such as thermal printers, photographic printers and ink jet printers include those that use continuous recording paper and those that use sheet recording paper (cut sheet). Among them, in a printer using continuous recording paper, a cut mark is recorded on the continuous recording paper in order to separate each image of one frame, and the cutter is operated to cut by detecting the cut mark. Further, in a color printer, when recording at least three colors in a frame-sequential manner, the recording start position of each color is aligned with the cut mark as a reference. Marks recorded for such a purpose include those previously recorded on continuous recording paper, those recorded in a printer, and the like, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-86131, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-12209, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 63. -42583, etc. are proposed. As the cut mark, a small hole, a black line, or the like is used, and in the case of the recording surface or the back surface of the continuous recording paper, it is recorded on the side edge portion outside the recording area.

[0003]

By the way, in order to ensure the detection by the sensor, the above-mentioned cut mark is
Its size is slightly larger. For this reason, there is a problem in that a part of the cut remains even after cutting, which makes it unattractive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a continuous recording paper cutting method devised so that cut marks do not remain.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a continuous recording paper is pulled out from a recording paper roll, an image is recorded in a printing section, and then a cut formed on a side edge of the continuous recording paper. In a continuous recording paper cutting method of cutting from a position on or near the mark and separating it into one sheet of recording paper, at the same time as before or after the cutting, cut off the corner of the sheet recording paper including the cut mark. It is the one. As a method of cutting off, four corners of the sheet recording paper may be cut off. Also,
The cut mark may be formed immediately before the recording of the image in the printing unit.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example in which a color thermosensitive recording paper is used as the continuous recording paper 15 will be described. In FIG. 2, the continuous recording paper 15 has a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 17, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 18, a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 19, and a protective layer 20, which are sequentially laminated on a support 16. Each thermosensitive coloring layer 18-
The layers 20 are arranged in the order of thermal recording. For example, in the case of thermal recording in the order of magenta, yellow, and cyan, the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 19 and the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 18 are formed.
Is replaced. Each of these thermosensitive coloring layers 17 to 19
Has a higher coloring heat energy in a deeper layer, and by changing the coloring heat energy applied by the thermal head, the three color heat-sensitive coloring layers can be selectively colored.

In FIG. 1, which shows an outline of the printer, three thermal heads 21 to 23 for yellow, magenta, and cyan are arranged along a linear transport path at substantially constant intervals. In addition, conveyance roller pairs 24 to 29 are provided so as to be positioned in front of and behind each thermal head. The conveying roller pairs 24 to 29 include a capsten roller and a pinch roller. The continuous recording paper 15 is pulled out from the recording paper roll 14 to the conveyance path by the paper feed roller pair 12 rotated by the motor 11, and the conveyance roller pair 2
4 to 29 are conveyed. These transport roller pairs 2
4 to 29 are rotated at constant speeds by pulse motors 30 to 32, respectively.

Vertical type yellow thermal head 2
1, at the lower ends of the magenta thermal head 22 and the cyan thermal head 23, heating element arrays 21a to 23a in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in a line are provided. Each heating element array 21a-23a is a continuous recording paper 1
5 extends in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

The thermal heads 21 to 23 are moved in the vertical direction by a solenoid, a cam mechanism or the like.
At the time of printing, it is moved to a position where it is pressed against the continuous recording paper 15, and at the end of printing it is moved to a position away from the continuous recording paper 15.

A yellow optical fixing device 33 is provided between the yellow thermal head 21 and the magenta thermal head 22, and a magenta optical fixing device is provided between the magenta thermal head 22 and the cyan thermal head 23. Bowl 3
4 are provided. The yellow optical fixing device 33 includes a rod-shaped ultraviolet lamp 33a and a lamp house 33b that emit ultraviolet light having an emission peak of approximately 420 nm.
The optical fixing device 34 for magenta has an emission peak of about 365 nm.
It is composed of a rod-shaped ultraviolet lamp 34a and a lamp house 34b that radiate the above ultraviolet rays.

Platen rollers 35 to 37 are arranged at positions facing the thermal heads 21 to 23, respectively. These platen rollers 35 to 37 are rotatably supported by the platen shafts 35a, 36a and 37a. The platen rollers 35 to 37 may be driven by a motor.

A hole forming means 38 is arranged between the pair of conveying rollers 24 and the thermal head 21 for yellow. The hole forming means 38 is composed of a punch, a die, and a pressing means for pushing the punch toward the recording surface of the continuous recording paper 15. The hole forming means 38 is provided at a position separated from the thermal head 21 along the upstream side by a length L1 and forms a hole 39 at a position corresponding to the length of the image recording area. The length of this image recording area is fixed to a fixed size, for example, a postcard size.
When printing various sizes, the size can be specified. The hole 39 is used to specify the recording start position so that the recording position of each color does not shift and to specify the cutting position for each image recording area. This hole 3
8 is formed on the side edge of the continuous recording paper 15 outside the image recording area.

A reflection type tip sensor 40 is provided at a position separated from the hole forming means 38 by the length L2 on the upstream side. The leading edge sensor 40 includes a light projecting portion and a light receiving portion, and detects that the leading edge of the continuous recording paper 15 has arrived at a point where two optical axes intersect. From the time when this tip is detected,
The recording position of the hole forming means 38 is determined by counting the drive pulses of the motor 30, and the thermal head 2
The start position of 1 up / down and thermal recording is determined.

The magenta thermal head 22 and the cyan thermal head 23 are provided with reflection type photosensors 41 and 42 on the upstream side at positions separated by the length L1, respectively. The hole 39 formed on one end face is detected. Hole 3 in each photo sensor 41, 42
From the time point when 9 is detected, the drive pulses of the motors 31 and 32 are counted to determine the up / down position of the thermal heads 22 and 23 and the start position of thermal recording.

The fixing device 33 and the magenta thermal head 2
Between the guide plate 43 and the guide roller 4
4 are arranged. When there is a difference in transport speed between the thermal heads 21 and 22,
In order to prevent the fluctuation of the conveying load caused by the ups and downs of the rollers 1, 22, the conveying roller pair 25 and the guide roller 44
A slack 45 of the continuous recording paper 15 is formed between and. Similarly, a guide plate 46 and a guide roller 47 are arranged between the fixing device 34 and the cyan thermal head 23, and a slack 48 is formed on the guide plate 46. Since the slacks 45 and 48 are configured to absorb the transport load fluctuation caused by the behavior of the thermal heads 21 to 23, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the stripe-shaped density unevenness due to the transport load fluctuation.

An inlet cutter 49 is arranged on the downstream side of the leading transport roller pair 24. The cutter 49 operates when the designated number of sheets is fed, and cuts the continuous recording sheet into pieces.

A reflection type photosensor 50, a cut-off means 51, and an exit cutter 52 are arranged in this order on the downstream side of the pair of conveying rollers 53 along the conveying direction. The photo sensor 50 optically detects the hole 39. The cut-off means 51 is arranged on both sides of the conveyance path, and is composed of a fixed blade and a movable blade each having a triangular shape. Based on the hole detection by the photo sensor 50, both ends of the cut-off means 51 in the width direction are formed. Cut into triangles. The cut-off range is a range outside the image recording area and corresponding to a square of the sheet recording paper, and is a range including the portion in which the hole 39 is formed.

The exit cutter 52 cuts the continuous recording paper 15 along the apex of the notch formed by the cut-off means 51 based on the hole detection by the photo sensor 50, and separates the sheet recording paper for each image recording area. To A nip roller pair 53 and a discharge roller pair 54 are provided in front of and behind the photo sensor 50, the cut-off means 51, and the exit cutter 52, respectively, and these are cut by the drive of the motor 55 or the continuous recording paper 15 or cut. Transport the sheet recording paper.

Cut-off means 51 and outlet cutter 52
Is from the time when the hole 39 is detected by the photo sensor 50,
By counting the drive pulses of the motor 54, it is possible to determine the position of the hole 39 even if they are arranged at positions displaced from the photo sensor 50 in the transport direction. When cutting the cut-off means 50 and the exit cutter 51, the driving of the motor 55 is stopped to stop the conveyance of the continuous recording paper 15. A dancer roller 56 is provided between the transport roller 29 and the nip roller pair 53 in order to absorb the slack generated by the stop.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When the continuous printing is instructed, the driving of the conveying roller pairs 24-29 and the like are simultaneously started, and the ultraviolet lamps 33a and 34a are turned on. Then, the continuous recording paper 15 is pulled out from the recording paper roll 14 by the rotation of the paper feed roller pair 12.

Immediately after the continuous recording paper 15 is pulled out, the leading edge sensor 40 detects the leading edge. From the time of detection by the tip sensor 40, the number of motor drive pulses of the pulse motor 30 is counted by the counter. When the count value reaches a value corresponding to the length L1 + L2, an operation command is sent to the hole forming means 38. This hole forming means 38
As shown in FIG. 3, a hole 39 as a cut mark is formed on one end surface of the continuous recording paper 15 at the length position L1 from the leading end. At this time, the yellow thermal head 21
The heating element array 21a is brought into pressure contact with the continuous recording paper 15 by being lowered by a cam mechanism or a solenoid.

After the holes have been formed, the continuous recording paper 15 has a length L.
When only one is sent, the heating element array 21a of the yellow thermal head 21 faces the position separated from the hole 39 by the length L1. And the yellow thermal head 21
The heating element array 21a generates heat according to the thermal sensitivity of the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 19 and thermally records a yellow image line by line to form a yellow recording area 15b. As a result, between the hole 39 and the yellow recording area 15b,
A margin of length L1 is taken along the carrying direction.

When the recording of the last line of the yellow image is completed, an operation command is sent to the hole forming means 38 in synchronization with this, and the hole forming means 38 records the second hole 39. As described above, since the holes 39 are recorded in accordance with the length of the image recording area of a certain size, the continuous recording paper 15 having the length L1 extends from the final recording position of the yellow recording area 15b along the upstream side in the transport direction. Holes 39 are sequentially recorded on one end surface, and a margin of length L1 is provided between the mark 39 and the final recording position of the yellow recording area 15b.

When the heat-recorded yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 19 reaches the yellow optical fixing device 33, the ultraviolet lamp 33a.
The near-ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 420 nm is irradiated onto the continuous recording paper 15, and the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 18 is fixed to the extent that the yellow thermosensitive coloring layer 19 does not develop color during the next thermal recording.
After the fixing, the slack 45 is formed between the guide roller 44 and the conveying roller pair 25, and the slack 45 is conveyed toward the magenta thermal head 22.

During this transportation, the hole 39 is provided with the photo sensor 41.
When the detection is made by (1), the magenta thermal head 22 descends and comes into pressure contact with the continuous recording paper 15, and from this detection time, the number of motor drive pulses of the pulse motor 31 is counted by the counter. When the value of this counter reaches a value corresponding to the length L1, the heating element array 22a of the magenta thermal head 22 faces the position separated from the mark 39 by the length L1. From this point on, the heating element array 22a of the magenta thermal head 22 generates heat according to the thermal sensitivity of the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 18, and a magenta recording area 15c is formed by thermally recording a magenta image line by line. As a result, a margin of length L1 is provided between the hole 39 and the magenta recording area 15c, and recording is performed so that the magenta recording area 15c overlaps the yellow recording area 15b.

When the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 18 which has been thermally recorded reaches the magenta optical fixing device 34, an ultraviolet lamp 34a is provided.
From the above, the continuous recording paper 15 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of about 365 nm, and the magenta thermosensitive coloring layer 19 is fixed so as not to develop color during the next thermal recording of the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 18. After fixing, the continuous recording paper 15 is transported toward the cyan thermal head 23 while forming the slack 48 between the guide roller 47 and the transport roller pair 26.

During this transportation, the hole 39 is provided with the photo sensor 42.
Then, the cyan thermal head 23 descends and comes into pressure contact with the continuous recording paper 15. Further, from the time of this detection, the number of motor drive pulses of the pulse motor 32 is counted by the counter, and when the continuous recording paper 15 is fed by L1, the heating element array 23 of the cyan thermal head 23 is generated.
a heats up according to the thermal sensitivity of the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 17, and the cyan image is thermally recorded line by line to the cyan recording area 1
5d is formed. Since the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 17 has a value that the coloring heat energy does not develop in a normal storage state, the cyan thermosensitive coloring layer 17 is not provided with optical fixing property. As a result, a margin of length L1 is provided between the hole 39 and the cyan recording area 15d, and the magenta recording area 15c is surely overlapped with the cyan recording area 15d for recording.

As a result, the three thermal heads 21-
The images of three colors are overlapped and recorded by 23 to form a full-color image. After that, when the leading end of the continuous recording paper 15 is conveyed by the conveying roller 29, slack is formed by the tension roller 55, and then the nip roller pair 52 conveys the slack toward the cut-off means 51.

From the time when the photo sensor 50 detects the hole 39, the number of motor drive pulses of the pulse motor 55 is counted by the counter, and it is confirmed from this count value that the hole 39 has reached the position of the cut-off means 51.
The driving of the nip roller pair 53 and the discharge roller pair 54 is stopped to temporarily stop the conveyance of the continuous recording paper 15.
During this time, the cut-off means 51 is operated to cut off the luck which becomes a corner when the sheet recording paper is formed into a triangle. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, triangular notches 51a and 51b are formed at both ends in the width direction of the continuous recording paper 15 at the positions where the holes 39 are formed. Since the hole 39 is formed within the range of the one notch 51a of the notches 51a and 51b on both sides, the hole 39 is completely removed.

After the operation of the cut-off means 51 is completed, the nip roller pair 53 and the discharge roller pair 54 are driven again. Also in this case, since the number of drive pulses of the motor 55 is counted, when the count reaches a predetermined value, the notches 51a, 5 formed on the continuous recording paper 15 are formed.
The position of 1b reaches the outlet cutter 52. At this time, the driving of the nip roller pair 53 and the discharge roller pair 54 is stopped, and the conveyance of the continuous recording paper 15 is temporarily stopped. During this time, the outlet cutter 52 is operated. As a result, FIG.
As shown in, the outlet cutter 52 is cut along a line 52a connecting the respective vertices of the triangular notches 51a and 51b at both ends.

After the operation of the outlet cutter 52 is completed, the nip roller pair 53 and the discharge roller pair 54 are driven again. As a result, the continuous recording paper 15 is discharged to the outside of the printer as the sheet recording paper 15a for each sheet. Since the four corners of the sheet recording paper 15a are chamfered, the holes 39 are completely removed and the appearance of the sheet recording paper 15a becomes good.

When the continuous recording paper 15 is pulled out by a predetermined number of sheets during the recording of each full-color image, the entrance cutter 49 operates to separate the continuous recording pieces of a predetermined number of sheets. A scrap box is provided below the cut-off means 51. Triangular notch scraps generated by the cut-off means 51 are stored in the scrap box. This waste box can be pulled out from the outside, and can be used again in an empty state by pulling it out after full and throwing away the waste.

Although the hole 39 has a circular shape in the above embodiment, it may have a triangular shape, a rectangular shape or the like. Further, although the photosensors 41, 42 and 50 are of the reflection type, a transmission type photosensor may be used. The corners may be cut off so that the four corners of the sheet recording paper 15a are rounded.

In the present embodiment, after the notch means 51 is cut into a triangle, the image is cut by the exit cutter 52 for each image area. In addition to this, the exit cutter 52 is provided with the function of the cutoff means 51. Then, cutting off and cutting may be performed at the same time. Also, exit cutter 5 first
After cutting at 2, the corners may be cut off.

The cut-off means 51 of the present invention only needs to cut off at least the area where the holes 39 are formed.
However, when the sheet recording paper is used, it is more beautiful if the four corners have the same shape. Therefore, it is desirable to cut off the four corners as in this embodiment. As described above, in the method of forming the holes 39 which are the cut marks in the portions where the four corners of the sheet recording paper are chamfered and notching these four corners, for example, the cut marks are cut before and after the cut marks and cut into strips. Compared with the method of removing the marks, there are advantages that the continuous recording paper is not wasted and the amount of cut waste is small.

In addition to forming the holes 39 by using the hole forming means 38, for example, a mark may be recorded on the recording surface or the back surface by the recording means. The mark may be a line, a fine rectangular shape, a circular shape, or the like, and the recording unit may be an inkjet method or a thermal transfer method using a thermal head and an ink ribbon. Further, if the mark is recorded by using the yellow thermal head 21, the mark recording means and the like can be omitted, so that the cost can be reduced. In this case, a mark is recorded at the position of the thermal head 21 for yellow when it is conveyed by the length of L1 from the front end of the continuous recording paper 15, and then a yellow image is formed when it is further conveyed by the length of L1. Record. Since the cut marks of the reflective photosensors 41 and 42 are recorded in yellow, the sensitivity may be set according to the wavelength of yellow.

Further, in the above embodiment, the hole 39 has both the action of eliminating the positional deviation of each color and the action of specifying the cutting position. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least the cutting position is provided. May be used to identify.

When the image sizes to be recorded on the continuous recording paper 15 are uniform, when the continuous recording paper 15 is manufactured,
Cut marks may be recorded. In this case, in order to prevent the entrance cutter 49 from cutting off the cut mark of the first sheet, it is preferable to cut from a position within the range cut off by the cut-off means 51 and away from the cut mark. Of course, the first sheet may be cut on the cut mark by detecting the tip and equating it with the cut mark.

In the above embodiment, the color thermosensitive recording material 1 is used.
The present invention can be applied to a thermal transfer type thermal printer, an inkjet printer, or the like that uses the ink ribbon to perform color recording on plain paper.

Further, the present invention can be applied to a photographic printer using a photographic printing paper. In this case, printing is performed on the continuous printing paper frame by frame, and after the printing size is conveyed in the feeding direction, cut marks are formed by the hole forming means or the mark recording means arranged on the downstream side of the printing unit. . Then, after development processing, cutting and cutting may be performed based on the cut mark.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cutter for cutting sheet recording paper, or a cutter different from this, is used to make a mark at the same time as the cutting of the sheet recording paper, or before or after the cutting. Since the included corners are cut off, cut marks do not remain on the sheet recording paper. Further, if the corners are cut off so that the four corners of the sheet recording paper are chamfered, the sheet recording paper looks good and the commercial value is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of continuous recording paper.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a shape of a hole.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing steps of cutting off and cutting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 15 Continuous Recording Paper 29-31 Thermal Head 38 Hole Forming Means 39 Holes 40 Tip Sensors 41, 42, 50 Photo Sensor 49 Inlet Cutter 51 Cut-Off Means 52 Outlet Cutter

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A continuous recording paper is pulled out from a recording paper roll, an image is recorded in a printing unit, and then cut from a position on or near a cut mark formed on a side edge of the continuous recording paper to cut one sheet of paper. A method for cutting continuous recording paper, which comprises cutting off the corners of the sheet recording paper including cut marks at the same time as or before and after the cutting. 2. The continuous recording paper cutting method according to claim 1, wherein four corners of the sheet recording paper are cut off. 3. The method for cutting continuous recording paper according to claim 1, wherein the cut mark is formed immediately before recording an image in the printing section.