JP2765131B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device used as a hard copy of a video system, a computer, or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art In response to recent demands for high-speed hard copy and high-quality color printing, practical use of a recording apparatus centering on a thermal transfer method is progressing. When recording a color image by the thermal transfer method, a three-color surface sequential method is generally used in which an ink sheet is separately applied to three screens of three colors, and recording is performed three times, one screen at a time, at the same location on the recording paper. . In this case, the recording paper needs to return to the same position three times with respect to the thermal head, and there are roughly two types of recording paper transporting methods of the conventional recording apparatus performing such an operation.

The conventional recording apparatus using the first recording paper transport system is the sixth.
Shown in the figure. The drum 104 having the elastic surface 104a
The leading end 101a of 01 is held by the holding means 104b, and the recording paper 101 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow 1a with the recording paper 101 wound around the outer periphery. drum
During one rotation of the 104, the heating element group 103a on the thermal head 103 pressed against the drum 104 via the ink sheet 102 and the recording paper 101 is selectively selectively heated to cause the first sheet of the ink sheet 102 to emit heat.
Is recorded for one screen in the color of. Similarly, during the second rotation, recording in the second color is performed on the first color, and recording in the third color is performed on the first and second colors. Complete.

As described above, according to this conventional method, the recording paper 101 is returned by rotating the drum 104 three times in one direction, so that the recovery time of the recording paper 101 is short and the recording time is shortened. There is.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a recording apparatus using the second conventional recording paper transport system. The recording paper 201 is sandwiched between a capstan roller 205 that is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions and a pinch roller 206 that presses against the capstan roller 205, and reciprocates. At this time, while transporting the recording paper 201 in the direction of arrow 2a, the thermal head 203 is pressed against the platen roller 204 having the elastic surface 204a via the ink sheet 202 and the recording paper 201, and the heating element group 203a is selectively heated individually. Alternatively, the amount of heat generated is controlled to record one screen of the ink sheet 202 in the first color. Next, the thermal head 203 is separated from the platen roller 204, the capstan roller 205 is reversed, and the recording paper 201 is transported in the direction of arrow 2b to return to the same position as before recording. Then, the thermal head 203 is again pressed against the platen roller 204 and the first
While the recording paper 201 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 2a in the same manner as that of the first color, the recording of the second color is performed by superimposing the first color on the first color, and the recording of the third color is superimposed on the first and second colors. Done, 1
Complete color recording for the screen.

As described above, according to this conventional recording apparatus, the recording paper 201
Is transported by the rigid capstan roller 205, so that the transport speed of the recording paper 201 is relatively stable.
It is excellent in that a good image with little color shift can be obtained.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the conventional recording apparatus has the following problems.

In the first conventional example, the peripheral speed v 'of the drum 104 at the pressure contact portion of the thermal head 103 is higher than the peripheral speed v of the non-pressure contact portion including the holding means 104b.
Is determined by the peripheral speed v 'of the press contact portion. However, the peripheral speed v 'of the press contact portion is unstable, and
This is a property that greatly changes depending on the characteristics of the thermal head 104a and the pressing force of the thermal head 103. Therefore, the conveyance distance of the recording paper 101 in one rotation of the drum 104 is not constant, and there is a problem that unevenness in recording density and misregistration of three colors at the time of color recording occur, thereby deteriorating image quality.

In the second conventional example, since the recording paper 201 is conveyed back and forth, the recovery time of the recording paper 201 and the thermal head 203
This requires a pressure contact / separation operation, and there is a problem that the recording time becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper transport system that can perform high-quality color printing with little shift of three colors in a short time in a printing apparatus, and can easily downsize the apparatus. And

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a first means of the present invention is a method in which a carrier holding the leading end of a recording paper rotates around a rigid and fixedly provided elliptical carrier. The recording is performed by pressing the recording means against the elastic member forming a part of the surface of the carrier. Further, the second means of the present invention is such that a carrier holding the leading end of the recording paper rotates around an elliptical carrier which is made of a rigid body and is fixed, and is provided inside the carrier and a part of the carrier surface. The recording is performed by pressing the recording means against the rotatable elastic roller. Further, the third means of the present invention is that the carrier holding the leading end of the recording paper rotates around the outer periphery of the rigid and fixedly provided elliptical carrier, and the carrier is provided inside the carrier and a part of the carrier surface is provided. It is characterized in that a rotatable elastic roller is pressed against the recording means from outside the carrier to perform recording on recording paper.

Action The present invention has the configuration described in the first means of the present invention,
The recording paper is conveyed only by the driving force of the conveyance body holding the leading edge, and the recording paper is guided on the rigid carrier surface to stabilize the conveyance path, enabling high-precision conveyance of the recording paper.
Good image quality with little color shift and uneven density can be obtained. In addition, the carrier can be made elliptical to reduce the size of the apparatus in the height direction.

According to the configuration described in the second aspect of the present invention, the platen roller rotates following the travel of the recording paper at the pressing position of the recording means, so that the traveling load of the recording paper transport body can be reduced.

Further, the configuration described in the third means of the present invention makes it possible to further reduce the size of the apparatus by making the carrier shape elliptical and providing the recording means inside the carrier.

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial schematic configuration showing an enlarged ink sheet 2 as a part of the components in FIG. FIG. 3 and FIG. 3 are partial schematic configuration diagrams clarifying the operation of the components in FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a sheet-like recording paper, 2 is an ink sheet, 3 is a thermal head (recording means) in which heating elements 3a are arranged substantially linearly, 4 is a fixedly provided elliptical carrier, A part of the surface facing the head 3 is made of an elastic body
4a, and the remaining portion 4b is made of a rigid body such as a hard resin or metal. Reference numeral 5 denotes a pulley 5 provided near the outer periphery of the carrier 4 and holding the leading end 1a of the recording paper 1 with a necessary and sufficient force by a chuck portion 5a, and driven by driving means (not shown).
c, 5d and a belt 5e rotate the carrier around the carrier 4; 6 and 7 rotatable guide rollers for abutting on the carrier 4 to guide the recording paper 1; The wound sheet supply reel, 9 is a sheet take-up reel for winding the used ink sheet 2,
Reference numeral 10 denotes a sheet sensor for detecting the position of the ink sheet 2.

Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of the ink sheet 2 and a positional relationship with the sheet sensor 10, and shows a transparent substrate 2a.
The ink corresponding to the area of one image of each color is applied on the upper surface at predetermined intervals in the order of yellow 2b, magenta 2c, and cyan 2d.
Further, the above three colors constitute one set, and a mark 2e indicating the head of the set is provided, and the mark 2e faces the sheet sensor 10 as the ink sheet 2 travels in the direction of arrow b. It is arranged in the position of the direction.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a positional relationship between the tip 5b of the transport body 5 and the thermal head 3 when the transport body 5 passes through the pressure contact portion between the thermal head 3 and the carrier 4. The surface of the tip 5b has substantially the same properties as the recording paper 1.

The operation of the recording apparatus of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 1, in a state 3b in which the thermal head 3 is separated, the transport body 5 rotates in the direction of arrow a while holding the leading end 1a of the recording paper, and a position 3c where the thermal head 3 on the carrier 4 is pressed against the carrier.
(Hereinafter, referred to as a “head press contact portion”), and moves until the recording start position of the recording paper 1 faces the heating element 3a. From this state, the sheet take-up reel 9 is rotated by a sheet driving means (not shown) until the sheet sensor 10 detects the sheet mark 2e so as to find the first color (yellow) of the ink sheet 2. In the direction of arrow b. When the sheet sensor 10 detects the sheet mark 2e, a recording start position of the yellow ink 2b is located at a position facing the heating element 3a of the ink sheet 2.

Next, the thermal head 3 is pressed against the carrier 4 by means (not shown), and the pulley 5c or 5d is driven by a driving means (not shown) such as a pulse motor to rotate the adjacent belt 5e and the carrier 5 in the direction of arrow a. Then, the recording paper 1 is conveyed by a predetermined amount. At the same time, the sheet take-up reel 9 is also rotated to convey the ink sheet 2 in the direction of arrow b and take it up without slack.
As described above, while the recording sheet 1 and the ink sheet 2 are being conveyed, the heating element 3a is energized to selectively generate or control the amount of heat generated, and the ink on the ink sheet 2 is transferred onto the recording sheet, and the yellow ink 2b is used. Complete the recording for one screen. At this point, the carrier 5 has made a complete round of the outer periphery of the carrier 4.

Next, the transport body 5 is further driven to rotate in the direction of arrow a, and the third
As shown in the figure, the thermal head 3 is pushed up by the tip 5b and passes through the head pressure contact portion 3c on the carrier 4. At the same time, the ink sheet 2 continues to be conveyed in the direction of arrow b. Then, the recording start position on the recording paper 1 is changed to the heating element of the thermal head 3 again.
When the ink sheet 2 is opposed to the portion 3a, the recording start position of the magenta ink 2c, which is the second color, is also set to the heating element 3a.
It is in the state of facing. From this state, the same operation as that for the first color is performed, and the image formed by magenta ink is superimposed and recorded on the image formed by yellow ink.

As described above, the recording of the third color (cyan) is performed in the same manner, and the color recording for one screen is completed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the recording paper 1 is
The recording paper 1 is conveyed only by the driving force of the conveyance body 5 holding the recording paper 1 and does not receive the driving force from the elastic body 4a, so that the conveyance speed of the recording paper 1 is stabilized and the reproducibility of the conveyance distance can be improved.
In addition, since the recording paper 1 is guided by the rigid portion surface 4b of the carrier 4, the transport path is stabilized. Therefore, the density unevenness of the recorded image due to the fluctuation of the conveying speed and the low reproducibility of the conveying distance,
Good image quality can be obtained by reducing the displacement of the overlapping position of the color images. Further, since the recording paper 1 orbits around the carrier 4, the operating distance of the recording paper 1 during color recording can be minimized, and since the recording paper 1 rotates only in one direction during recording, the thermal head Since the cue of the next color can be performed without separating the carrier 3 from the carrier 4, the advantage of the first conventional example that the separation / contact operation of the thermal head 3 becomes unnecessary is exhibited without losing the advantage. Further, the size of the device in the height direction can be reduced by forming the carrier into an elliptical shape.

In this embodiment, in order to reduce the frictional load, a coating of a low friction member such as Teflon may be provided on the surface of the elastic body 4a, or the elastic body 4a itself may be formed of a low friction member.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same parts as those in FIG. The difference from FIG. 1 is that a surface layer is formed of an elastic body 25a such as rubber inside a rigid carrier 14 fixedly provided, and a platen roller 25 rotatable around a shaft 25b is provided. The platen roller 25 is configured such that a part of its surface becomes a part of the outer periphery of the carrier 14 at an opening 14 a provided at a position where the radius of curvature of the carrier 14 is the largest. Is pressed against the platen roller 25 at the opening 14a of the carrier 14 via the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 1.

The recording operation of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment configured as described above is performed by rotating the elastic member 4a of the carrier 4 with a platen roller that is rotatable.
25, and the carrier 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the carrier 4 has a shape capable of accommodating the platen roller 25. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted below.

As described above, in the present embodiment, for the same reason as in the first embodiment, the recording time is short, good quality images can be obtained, and not only a small recording apparatus can be provided, but also the platen roller 25 rotates. Since it is possible, the load on the transport body 5 for transporting the recording paper 1 is reduced, and the stable recording paper 1
Transport can be realized, and the apparatus can be made smaller and less expensive. Further, the recording paper 1 is heated in a state close to a flat surface by pressing the thermal head 3 against the platen roller 25 at the opening 14a provided at the position of the largest radius of curvature of the elliptical carrier 14, so that the curl of the recording paper 1 is reduced. It is also possible to reduce it.

In the present embodiment, the platen roller 25 is provided at the position of the largest radius of curvature of the elliptical carrier 14,
Conversely, by providing it at the position where the radius of curvature is the smallest, it is possible to further reduce the size of the entire apparatus including the thermal head 3 in the height direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, if a film of a low friction member such as Teflon is provided on the surface of the carrier 14 or the carrier 14 itself is constituted by a low friction member, the frictional resistance between the recording paper 1 and the outer periphery of the carrier 14 is reduced. As a result, the driving load of the transport body 5 can be further reduced.

Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a basic configuration of a recording apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIG. 4 is different from FIG. 4 in that the carrier 24 is formed into an elliptical shape, the carrier 15 is held around the leading end 1a of the recording paper 1 by the chuck portion 15a, and is rotated therearound by pulleys 15c, 15d and a belt 15e. A thermal head 13, a sheet supply reel 18, a sheet take-up reel 19 and a sheet sensor 11 are configured inside 24, and in particular, the thermal head 13 has a recording surface including a heating element 13 a on a plane portion of the carrier 24. The platen roller 35 is provided outside the carrier 24, and is pressed against the thermal head 13 via the recording paper 1 and the ink sheet 2.
It is a point that is separated.

The recording operation of the recording apparatus of the third embodiment configured as described above is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the recording means including the ink sheet 2 and the thermal head 13 is configured inside the carrier 24. Therefore, the description is omitted below.

As described above, in the present embodiment, for the same reason as in the first and second embodiments, a short recording time, a good image quality with less curl can be obtained, and a compact and low-cost recording apparatus is provided. In addition, since the entire recording means including the ink sheet 2 and the thermal head 13 is formed inside the carrier 24, the size of the apparatus can be significantly reduced.

In the present embodiment, the thermal head 13 is provided on the flat portion of the oblong carrier 24.On the contrary, by providing the thermal head 13 on the circular portion, the size of the entire apparatus including the platen roller 35 in the height direction is further increased. It is also possible to make it smaller.

Further, in this embodiment, if a coating of a low friction member such as Teflon is provided on the surface of the carrier 24 or the carrier 24 itself is formed of a low friction member, the frictional resistance between the recording paper 1 and the outer periphery of the carrier 24 is reduced. As a result, the driving load of the transport body 5 can be further reduced.

Here, in all of the embodiments, the transport body 5 is driven using a pulley and a belt, but the same effect can be obtained by other configurations such as a link mechanism.

In all of the embodiments except the third embodiment, the thermal head 3 itself moves for pressure contact and separation of the thermal head 3 for cueing the ink sheet 2.
The thermal head 3 is normally set in a pressure contact state, and when the transporting member 5 is rotating and passes the position of the thermal head 3, the thermal head 3 in the pressure contact state is pushed up to separate the thermal head 3. Can also.

In all the embodiments, the recording method is a thermal transfer method. However, other recording methods such as a heat-sensitive method and a current-sensing heat-sensitive method may be used, and the recording colors are three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan. However, the same effect can be obtained with other colors including a single color.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the recording paper is sandwiched by the conveyance body and is driven and rotated around a rigid elliptical (or elliptical) carrier, whereby uneven density and color shift are caused. It is possible to obtain a good image with little noise at a high speed, and to reduce the size of the apparatus in the height direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an ink sheet and a sheet sensor in FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial schematic configuration diagram showing an operation when the conveyance body in FIG. 1 passes through the pressure contact portion of the thermal head. FIG. 4 is a basic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Is a basic configuration diagram of a recording apparatus in a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic configuration diagrams of a recording apparatus in a conventional example. 1 ... recording paper, 1a ... tip of recording paper, 2 ... ink sheet, 2a ... base material, 2b ... yellow, 2c ... magenta,
2d: Cyan, 2e: Mark, 3, 3b: Thermal head, 3a: Heating element, 3c: Head press-contact part, 4: Carrier,
4a: Elastic body, 4b: Rigid body, 5: Carrier, 5a: Chuck, 5b: Tip, 5c: Pulley, 5d: Pulley,
5e belt, 6, 7 guide roller, 8 sheet supply reel, 9 sheet take-up reel, 10 sheet sensor, 13 thermal head, 13a heating element, 14
Carrier, 14a ... Opening, 24 ... Carrier, 25 ... Platen roller, 25a ... Elastic body, 25b ... Shaft, 35 ... Platen roller.

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Mushiga 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-61-137458 (JP, A) −181747 (JP, U) Actually open 62-48547 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B41J 13/22

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixedly provided carrier made of a rigid body having a substantially elliptical outer peripheral shape formed by a smooth curve such as an ellipse;
An elastic member that forms a part of the carrier surface, a carrier that holds the leading end of the recording paper and rotates around the carrier in proximity to the surface of the carrier, and presses against the elastic member via the recording paper; A recording unit for performing recording on recording paper by performing recording. 2. A fixedly provided carrier made of a rigid body having a substantially elliptical outer peripheral shape constituted by a smooth curve such as an ellipse;
A platen roller that has an elastic surface and is rotatably provided inside the carrier and a part of the surface constitutes a part of the surface of the carrier; and A carrier that rotates around a carrier, and recording means for recording on the recording paper by pressing against a portion of the platen roller that constitutes a part of the surface of the carrier via the recording paper. Recording device. 3. A part of the transporting body pushes up a part of the recording means when the rotating transporting body passes the position of the recording means, thereby releasing the pressure contact of the recording means with the platen roller. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A fixedly provided carrier made of a rigid body having an approximately elliptical outer peripheral shape constituted by a smooth curve such as an ellipse, and a part of a recording surface provided inside the carrier and having a recording surface Recording means for forming a part of the surface of the recording paper and performing recording on the recording paper; a transport body which holds the leading end of the recording paper and rotates around the carrier in proximity to the surface of the carrier; and an elastic surface. And a platen roller that is rotatably provided and presses against a recording surface of the recording unit that forms a part of the surface of the carrier via recording paper. 5. A part of the transporter pushes up a part of a platen roller when the rotating transporter passes the position of the recording means, thereby releasing the pressure contact of the platen roller with the recording means. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least a part of the surface of the carrier and / or the platen roller is formed of a low friction member.