JPH10138593A - Thermal transfer printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention has an object to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus in which a separation guide is automatically cleaned and components can be easily manufactured and assembled. SOLUTION: In a state where a thermal head 1 is raised and an ink sheet is rolled up, an end portion of a separation guide 3 pushes an ink sheet 10 toward a printing paper 5 side by elasticity of a leaf spring.
Therefore, the ink sheet 10 comes into contact with the leading end of the separation guide 3 at an angle at which the ink sheet 10 is wound more. In this state, dust 19 is removed as the ink sheet 10 is wound up.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer printing apparatus suitable for application to, for example, a video printer and the like, in which a thermal head presses and heats an ink sheet on photographic paper to perform printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, video printers and the like have
2. Description of the Related Art A color thermal transfer printing apparatus that performs printing by raising and lowering a thermal head and pressing and heating an ink sheet against photographic paper is used.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an ink sheet 10 used in this color thermal transfer printing apparatus. Usually, for color printing, each color of yellow, magenta and cyan is arranged by being separated by a marker (black). It is in a state of being caught in the cartridge. Color printing is performed by printing each of these color portions on the same portion of the paper using a thermal head.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus, showing a standby state in which the thermal head 1 is raised most. In this state, insertion and removal of the ink cartridge 6 for replacement is performed.

[0005] The feed roller 8 is rotatably mounted on the side plate 7, is pressed against the pinch roller 9, and conveys the printing paper 5 therebetween. When the feed roller 8 rotates clockwise, the photographic paper 5 is transported in the direction of arrow A, and when it rotates counterclockwise, it is transported in the direction of arrow B. Ink sheet 10
Are stored in the ink cartridge 6. The ink sheet 10 wound on the supply bobbin 11 is wound on the winding bobbin 12 together with the printing. The head lever 2 is rotatably attached to a fulcrum 13 provided on the side plate 7, and the thermal head 1 is attached to an end of the head lever 2. A guide pin 16 of the head lever 2 is held in a cam groove 15 a of a cam 15 rotatably mounted on a cam shaft 14 provided on the side plate 7.

Next, the operation of the conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus will be described with reference to the ink sheet winding state shown in FIG. 9 and the printing state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, in a state where the cam 15 rotates counterclockwise, on a platen roller 17 rotatably attached to the side plate 7,
The thermal head 1 is placed on the photographic paper 5 from above the ink sheet 10.
Crimp. In this state, while the ink sheet 10 is wound on the winding bobbin 12, the printing paper 5 is fed in the direction of arrow B by the feed roller 8, and the thermal head 1 heats the printing paper 5 in accordance with the data, so that printing for one color is performed. Will be

When there is a print of the next color, as shown in FIG. 9, the thermal head 1 is raised halfway and separated from the photographic paper 5, and the photographic paper 5 is moved by the feed roller 8 in the direction of arrow A to start printing. Return to Then, the ink sheet 10 is wound up in the direction of arrow B to the next color based on the marker of the ink ribbon shown in FIG. Thereafter, the printing state returns to the printing state shown in FIG. 10, and printing of the next color is performed. When printing is performed up to the last color, the sheet is discharged in the direction of arrow B, and returns to the standby state of FIG.

In the above series of operations, the ink sheet 10 is pressed against the photographic paper 5 while being heated during the printing operation shown in FIG. 10, and the heated portion of the ink sheet 10 is printed by coloring the photographic paper 5.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views of a thermal head portion of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus. FIG. 11 is a plan view seen from above, and FIG. 12 is a side view. A separation guide 33 that separates the paper and the ink sheet is fixed to the thermal head 1 with mounting screws 4. With this structure, the separation guide 33 protrudes from the lower surface 1a of the thermal head by an amount determined by the height H of the thermal head 1 and the size of the separation guide 33. As a result, the ink sheet 10 is separated from the paper when the thermal head 1 is raised and wound up. At this time, since the separation guide 33 is fixed to the thermal head 1, the same portion 33a is always in contact with the ink sheet 10 as shown in FIG.

[0010]

However, in recent years, it has been required to reduce the size, power consumption, and speed of the apparatus. In particular, in the case of a sublimation type thermal transfer system product requiring high image quality, the sensitivity of the photographic paper has been increased. For this reason, the surface of the photographic paper is very easily damaged because a very smooth surface is used with a soft resin.

FIG. 13 shows how the leading end 33a of the separation guide contacts the ink sheet 10 during printing, and FIG. 14 shows how the leading end 33a of the separation guide comes into contact with the ink sheet 10 when winding up the ink sheet. Show the situation. Since the ink sheet 10 contacts the same portion 33a of the separation guide as shown in the drawing between the time of printing and the time of winding up the ink sheet, dust 19 or the like entangled in the ink sheet 10 is slightly inward from the leading end of the separation guide 33. It accumulates over. In the above-described conventional printing operation, the dust 19 is not naturally removed.

If the dust 19 accumulates at the tip of the separation guide 33, even if the amount is small, the ink sheet is extremely thin (generally 10 μm or less), so that the surface of the photographic paper is directly uneven. Further, in addition to the photographic paper being easily damaged, the thermal head is in contact with almost the entire printing range, so that a scratch on the line in the feeding direction of the photographic paper fills the entire screen, and the printing quality and commercial value are significantly impaired.

There are also problems such as the trouble of cleaning the leading end of the separation guide to prevent scratches, and the necessity of providing a mechanism for enabling this work, that is, providing a back cover under the thermal head.

By the way, the separation guide is a mechanism that can be integrated with the thermal head in terms of function. However, if it is formed integrally, even a slight unevenness or a scratch will result in an extremely expensive thermal head assembly as a defective product. For this reason, the separation guide and the thermal head have conventionally been constituted by separate components.

Further, the separation guide is arranged as close as possible to the heat generating portion of the thermal head in order to maximize the printing area on the sheet as much as possible. For this reason, the height protruding from the thermal head must be set to a strict value with high accuracy so that the way the paper hits the thermal head does not change. However, since the thermal head is formed in a laminated structure, it is difficult to obtain the accuracy of the dimension H in the thickness direction shown in FIG. Further, since the separation guide is close to the heating element, it is difficult to attach the separation guide to the paper side, and is attached to the back side of the thermal head. For this reason, the thickness H of the thermal head and the dimensions of the separation guide must be manufactured with extremely high precision, and this makes the thermal head particularly expensive.

Further, even with the conventional technique of fixing and attaching the separation guide, the amount of protrusion can be adjusted by using a spacer or the like, but the result cannot be known unless one sheet is printed for each adjustment. In particular, when the adjustment cannot be completed in one time, it takes time and effort, and the photographic paper and the ink sheet are consumed.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and performs automatic cleaning of a separation guide with printing and winding-up of an ink sheet, and facilitates production and assembly adjustment of parts. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer printing apparatus.

[0018]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a thermal transfer printing apparatus is provided.
In a thermal transfer printing apparatus in which a thermal head is moved up and down to press and heat an ink sheet onto paper to perform printing, the thermal head is vertically movably attached to the thermal head via an elastic member to separate the ink sheet from the paper. And the separation guide presses down the ink sheet by the elasticity of the elastic member when the thermal head is lifted to perform the winding operation of the ink sheet.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal transfer printing apparatus comprising: a thermal transfer printing apparatus comprising: a thermal transfer printing apparatus; Wherein the amount by which the separation guide projects from the lower surface of the thermal head when the thermal head descends to perform a printing operation can be adjusted by the regulating member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the separation guide and the elastic member include:
The thermal head is formed of an integral leaf spring material, is mounted at the center of the upper end of the thermal head so as to be vertically movable by the regulating member, and is fixed by a fixing member at both end portions on the upper surface of the thermal head. It is characterized by being.

According to the above construction, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the separation guide is vertically movably attached to the thermal head via the elastic member, and the elastic member is moved when the ink sheet is wound up. Because the ink sheet is pushed down by the elasticity of the ink sheet, the ink sheet is wound more around the leading end of the separation guide so that dust is removed as the ink sheet is wound up.

In the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the amount of the separation guide projecting from the lower surface of the thermal head during the printing operation can be adjusted by the regulating member. It can be manufactured at low cost with reduced accuracy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus, the separation guide and the elastic member are made of an integral leaf spring material.
Since it is vertically movably mounted by the regulating member and is fixed by the fixing members at both side ends of the upper surface of the thermal head, it is easy to manufacture and assemble the parts.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are side views of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 shows a state where the ink sheet is wound up, and FIG. 2 shows a state where the image is printed. The same members as those of the conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus are given the same numbers.

The feed roller 8 is rotatably attached to the side plate 7, and is pressed against the pinch roller 9 to convey the printing paper 5 therebetween. When the feed roller 8 rotates clockwise, the photographic paper 5 is transported in the direction of arrow A, and when it rotates counterclockwise, it is transported in the direction of arrow B. Ink sheet 10
Are stored in the ink cartridge 6. The ink sheet 10 wound around the supply bobbin 11 is wound around the winding bobbin 12 by a winding mechanism (not shown) together with printing. The head lever 2 is rotatably attached to a fulcrum 13 provided on the side plate 7, and the thermal head 1 is attached to an end of the head lever 2. A guide pin 16 of the head lever 2 is held in a cam groove 15 a of a cam 15 rotatably mounted on a cam shaft 14 provided on the side plate 7.

Next, the operation of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the cam 15 is rotated counterclockwise by a driving mechanism (not shown).
The thermal head 1 presses the photographic paper 5 from above the ink sheet 10 on a platen roller 17 rotatably attached to the printer. In this state, the photographic paper 5 is fed in the direction of arrow B by the feed roller 8 while the ink sheet 10 is wound on the winding bobbin 12, and the thermal head 1 is energized, that is, heated according to the data. As a result, printing for one color is performed.

When there is a print of the next color, as shown in FIG. 1, the thermal head 1 is raised halfway and separated from the photographic paper 5, and the photographic paper 5 is moved by the feed roller 8 in the direction of arrow A to start printing. Return to Then, the ink sheet 10 is wound up in the direction of arrow B to the next color based on the marker of the ink ribbon. Thereafter, the printing state returns to the printing state shown in FIG. 2, and printing of the next color is performed. When the last color is printed, arrow B
Direction, and returns to the standby state.

In the above series of operations, the ink sheet 10 is pressed against the photographic paper 5 while being heated during the printing operation shown in FIG. 2, and the heated portion of the ink sheet 10 is printed by coloring the photographic paper 5.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of a thermal head portion of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
Is a plan view seen from above, and FIG. 4 is a side view. The separation guide 3 for separating the paper and the ink sheet is integrally formed of a leaf spring material, and its upper surface 3b functions as an elastic member. The separation guide 3 has an oval hole at the center thereof, and is provided with a stopper screw 18 serving as a regulating member.
The print head is mounted on the thermal head 1 with its rising amount restricted, and is fixed by mounting screws 4 on both ends of the upper surface of the thermal head 1. As a result, the separation guide 3 is pressed against the photographic paper by the elasticity of the length L of the upper surface 3b when no load is applied, that is, when the ink sheet is wound up.

In the printing state where the thermal head 1 in FIG. 2 is lowered, the separation guide 3 is pressed against the printing paper 5 and is pushed up relatively to the thermal head 1 to a height regulated by the stopper screw 18. The amount of protrusion of the distal end portion 3a of the separation guide with respect to the lower surface 1a of the thermal head at this time is the same as in the related art, and the printing operation is performed in this state.

When the ink sheet 10 is wound up when the thermal head 1 in FIG. 1 is raised, since the winding tension of the ink sheet 10 is weak, the leading end 3a of the separation guide 3 protrudes toward the photographic paper 5 due to the elasticity of the leaf spring. State.

FIG. 5 shows how the leading end 3a of the separation guide comes into contact with the ink sheet 10 during printing, and FIG. 6 shows how the leading end 3a of the separation guide comes into contact with the ink sheet 10 when winding up the ink sheet. Show the situation. In the state in which the ink sheet is rolled up in FIG.
Pushes the ink sheet 10 toward the printing paper 5 by the elasticity of the leaf spring, so that the ink sheet 10 comes into contact with the leading end 3a of the separation guide at an angle at which the ink sheet 10 is wound more. When the ink sheet 10 is wound up in this state, the dust 19 is removed with the winding.

The lower surface 1 of the thermal head during the printing operation
The amount of protrusion of the distal end portion 3a of the separation guide from a can be adjusted by turning the stopper screw 18. For this reason, it is possible to adjust the amount of protrusion of the distal end portion 3a of the separation guide, which is determined by the height H of the thermal head 1 and the size of the separation guide 3. Further, the amount of protrusion of the leading end 3a of the separation guide can be adjusted while performing the printing operation, that is, while checking the printing state.

[0034]

As described above, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the separation guide is attached to the thermal head so as to be vertically movable via the elastic member. Since the ink sheet is pushed down by the elasticity of the elastic member, the ink sheet is wound more around the leading end of the separation guide, and dust is removed as the ink sheet is wound up.

In the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the amount of the separation guide projecting from the lower surface of the thermal head during the printing operation can be adjusted by the regulating member. Can be manufactured at low cost with reduced accuracy. In addition, since the amount of protrusion of the separation guide can be adjusted while checking the printing state during the printing operation, the amount of protrusion can be easily adjusted to the optimum amount in a short time.

In the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, the separation guide and the elastic member are formed of an integral leaf spring material.
Since it is vertically movably attached by the regulating member and is fixed by fixing members at both ends on the upper surface of the thermal head, it is easy to manufacture and assemble parts, and the vertical movement of the separation guide is stable. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a thermal transfer printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when an ink sheet is wound up.

FIG. 2 is a side view at the time of printing of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a thermal head portion of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a thermal head portion of the thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which a leading end of a separation guide contacts an ink sheet during printing in the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a leading end of a separation guide contacts an ink sheet when the ink sheet is wound up in the thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an ink sheet used in a color thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus in a standby state.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus when an ink sheet is wound up.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus at the time of printing.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a thermal head portion of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a thermal head portion of a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a leading end of a separation guide contacts an ink sheet during printing in a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a leading end of a separation guide contacts an ink sheet when winding up an ink sheet in a conventional thermal transfer printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Thermal head 1a Lower surface of thermal head 2 Head lever 3 Separation guide 3a Tip of separation guide 3b Upper surface of separation guide 4 Mounting screw 5 Printing paper 6 Ink cartridge 7 Side plate 8 Feed roller 9 Pinch roller 10 Ink sheet 11 Supply bobbin 12 Take-up bobbin 13 fulcrum 14 cam shaft 15 cam 15a cam groove 16 guide pin 17 platen roller 18 stopper screw 19 dust

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer printing apparatus for performing printing by pressing and heating an ink sheet on paper by raising and lowering a thermal head, wherein the thermal sheet is vertically movably attached to the thermal head via an elastic member. And a separating guide for separating the ink sheet from the ink sheet when the thermal head rises to perform a winding operation of the ink sheet. Thermal transfer printing equipment. 2. A thermal head according to claim 1, further comprising a regulating member for regulating the vertical movement range of said separation guide so as to be adjustable, and attaching said thermal head to said thermal head. 2. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of protrusion from the lower surface is adjustable by the regulating member. 3. The thermal guide according to claim 1, wherein the separation guide and the elastic member are made of an integral leaf spring material, and are attached at the center of the upper end of the thermal head by the regulating member so as to be vertically movable, 3. The thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the head is fixed at both end portions on both upper surfaces by a fixing member.