JP3856321B2 - Sublimation printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sublimation printer that transfers ink on an ink ribbon onto paper by energization heating of a thermal head.

Conventionally, a thermal head and a platen roller are placed facing each other, and the ink ribbon and the paper are passed between them, and the ink on the ink ribbon is transferred to the paper by applying heat with the thermal head during the passage. Sublimation printers that print characters and images have been put into practical use. A sublimation printer cannot print characters and images neatly unless the ink ribbon is pressed against the paper with a sufficient pressing force. In other words, it is necessary to press the ink ribbon against the paper with a sufficient pressing force to print characters and images cleanly. Conventional sublimation printers have a thermal head attached to a head frame and a head arm attached to the head frame as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. By driving the head arm and pressing the thermal head against the platen roller, the ink ribbon is pressed against the paper.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1443736 JP 2002-86769 A

  However, in a conventional sublimation type printer, a head frame that is a structure for attaching a thermal head and a head arm that is a structure for pressing the thermal head against a platen roller are composed of separate parts. For this reason, there existed a problem that there were many number of parts which comprise an apparatus main body, and parts cost was high. In addition, since the number of parts is large, the number of steps for assembling the apparatus main body is also large. As a result, there is a problem that the main body cost is high. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sublimation type printer in which a head frame and a head arm are integrally formed, thereby reducing the cost of parts, reducing the number of assembly steps, and sufficiently reducing the cost of the apparatus main body.

In order to solve the above problems, the sublimation type printer apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) a platen roller rotatably mounted between side plates of the main body frame;
A thermal head arranged to face the platen roller,
In the sublimation printer that presses the thermal head against the platen roller and prints characters and images on a sheet passing between the thermal head and the platen roller.
A head press arm for holding the thermal head;
The head press arm is integrally formed with a head holding portion extending in the width direction of the thermal head and a pair of arm portions extending in the paper transport direction on both sides of the head holding portion, and is bent on both sides of the head holding portion. by a shape forming a side plate, and further an end portion of the arm portion is rotatably mounted on the body frame,
A pressing portion that presses down the head holding portion and presses the thermal head against the platen roller ;
The head holding portion bends a lower end portion of the side plate inward, and holds the thermal head by the bent lower end portion.

  In this configuration, the head press arm that holds the thermal head includes a head holding portion that extends in the width direction of the thermal head, a paper transport direction on both sides of the head holding portion, and a direction substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the head holding portion. , And a pair of arm portions extending in a single shape. Further, the pair of arm portions are attached with end portions, a head holding portion and an end portion on the main body side so as to be rotatable. The pressing unit presses the thermal head against the platen roller by pushing down the head holding unit.

As described above, since the head holding arm and the arm portion are formed integrally with the head press arm, the number of parts constituting the apparatus main body can be reduced, and the part cost can be suppressed. Further, since the number of parts is reduced, the number of assembling steps of the apparatus main body can be suppressed. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus main body can be sufficiently reduced.
Further, since the lower end portion of the head holding portion is bent and the thermal head is received and held at the bent portion, the thermal head can be easily attached to the head holding portion.

(2) the head pressing arm has a shape to form a boss by drawing processing to said side plate,
The pressing portion presses the boss.

  In this configuration, the pressing portion presses the boss formed by drawing on the side plate of the head holding portion.

( 3 ) An elastic member is disposed between the head holding portion and the thermal head.

  In this configuration, the thermal head can be uniformly pressed against the platen roller by the urging force of the elastic member disposed between the head holding portion and the thermal head.

  According to the present invention, the head press arm in which the head holding portion and the arm portion are integrally formed is configured. Therefore, the number of components constituting the apparatus main body can be reduced, and the component cost can be suppressed. Further, since the number of parts is reduced, the assembly man-hour for the apparatus main body can be suppressed. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus main body can be sufficiently reduced.

  Hereinafter, a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration around a printing unit of a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. A sublimation printer 1 according to this embodiment includes a platen roller 2 that is rotatably mounted between side plates of a main body frame, a thermal head 3 that is disposed to face the platen roller 2, and a head press that holds the thermal head 3. An arm 4 and a press lever 5 that presses the thermal head 3 against the platen roller 2 by pressing the head press arm 4 toward the platen roller 2 are provided. The platen roller 2 is laid horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the head press arm 4 includes a head holding portion 11 extending in the width direction of the thermal head 2 and a direction perpendicular to the width direction of the thermal head 2 on both sides of the head holding portion 11 (paper conveyance). A pair of arm portions 12 extending in the direction) are integrally formed.

  2A is a front view of the head press arm (viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and FIG. 2B is a side view of the head press arm. The length of the head holding portion 11 in the width direction is slightly longer than the length of the thermal head 3 in the width direction. Further, side plates 11a are formed on both sides of the head holding portion 12 by bending. As shown in FIG. 2B, the side plate 11a has a notch 11b formed in a part thereof. The side plates 11a on both sides have their lower ends bent inward along the notches 11b, and the thermal head 3 is held by the cut surfaces of the bent portions. Furthermore, the side plate 11b is formed with a boss 11c protruding outward. Between the thermal head 3 and the head holding portion 11, a spring 11d that urges the thermal head 3 toward the platen roller 2 is disposed. The arm portion 12 has an end opposite to the head holding portion 11 attached to the main body frame so as to be rotatable.

  The press lever 5 has a substantially fan shape and is rotated by a motor (not shown). By rotating the press lever 5, the boss 11c formed on the side plate 11b of the head holding portion 11 is pushed down. When the boss 11c is pushed down, the rotation direction of the press lever 5 is the left side (paper discharge side) in FIG. When the press lever 5 pushes down the boss 11c, the head press arm 4 rotates, the head holding portion 11 is lowered toward the platen roller 2, and the thermal head 3 held by the head holding portion 11 is pressed against the platen roller 2. Is done. As described above, since the spring 11d, which is an elastic member, is disposed between the thermal head 3 and the head holding portion 11, the thermal head 3 can be uniformly pressed against the platen roller 2.

  Here, the manufacturing process of the head press arm 4 will be described. The head press arm 4 cuts out a sheet metal having a shape shown in FIG. Next, drawing is performed on portions corresponding to the side plates 11a on both sides of the head holding portion 11 to form bosses 11c, and cuts 11e are made in the end portions of the side plates 11a (see FIG. 3B). ). And the front-end | tip part and the side plate 11a are bent below, and are processed into the shape shown in FIG. Thereby, the head press arm 4 in which the head holding part 11 and the arm part 12 are integrally formed is formed.

  Next, the process of attaching the thermal head 3 to the head press arm 4 will be described. Although not shown, convex portions are formed on the upper surface of the thermal head 3 and the opposing surface of the head holding portion 11 with respect to the upper surface so as to oppose the left and right sides. First, a spring 11d, which is an elastic member, is disposed using a convex portion formed on the upper surface of the thermal head 3 (see FIG. 4A). Next, the head holding portion 11 is pressed from above the thermal head 3, and the lower end portion of the side plate 11a is bent inward along the notch 11e (see FIG. 4B). At this time, the thermal head 3 is received and held by the upper surface (cut surface) of the lower end portion bent along the notch 11e.

  As described above, since the head press arm 4 in which the head holding portion 11 and the arm portion 12 are integrally formed, the number of components constituting the apparatus main body can be reduced, and the component cost can be suppressed. Further, since the number of parts is reduced, the number of assembling steps of the apparatus main body can be suppressed. Therefore, the cost of the apparatus main body can be sufficiently reduced.

  Further, since the thermal head 3 can be attached to the head holding portion 11 by a simple process of bending the lower end portion of the side plate 11a inwardly along the notch 11e, man-hours for assembling the apparatus main body can be reduced, and the apparatus The cost of the main body can be further reduced.

  Further, since the boss 11c pressed by the press lever 5 is formed on the side plate 11a of the head holding portion 11 by drawing, the number of parts required for the configuration for pressing the thermal head 3 against the platen roller 2 can be reduced. Cost can be further reduced.

  Next, operations for printing in the sublimation printer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The sublimation printer 1 of this embodiment is a printer that prints a color image, and an ink ribbon 20 is stretched across the thermal head 3. As shown in FIG. 5, cyan, magenta, and yellow ink ribbons are connected in this order on the ink ribbon 20. The length of the ink ribbon for each color is the same as the length in the transport direction of the paper on which the color image is printed. Although not particularly illustrated, the ink ribbon 20 is configured to be wound on the paper discharge side.

  When a color image to be printed is input, the sublimation printer 1 performs color separation on the input color image, and generates a cyan image, a magenta image, and a yellow image. The sublimation printer 1 feeds a sheet from a paper feed unit (not shown), and the platen roller 2 and the thermal head 3 are placed in a state where the leading end of cyan and the leading end of the sheet are aligned in front of the thermal head 3. Send in between. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the printing position by the thermal head 3, the press lever 5 is rotated to push down the boss 11d formed on the side plate 11a of the head head holding portion 11. As a result, the thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller 2 with a sufficient pressing force. The ink ribbon 20 and the paper are transported between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 2 in a state where they overlap each other. The paper is transported by transport rollers (not shown), and the ink ribbon 20 is wound on the paper discharge side. When the trailing edge of the paper reaches the printing position by the thermal head 3, the winding of the paper and the ink ribbon 20 is stopped, the press lever 5 is rotated, and the boss 11d formed on the side plate 11a of the head holding portion 11 is pressed. Not in a state. Thereby, the printing of the cyan image is completed, and a process of printing the magenta image on the cyan image is started.

  In this state, only the sheet is returned to the sheet feeding side, the leading edge of the sheet, the leading edge of the magenta in the ink ribbon 20 and the leading edge of the sheet are aligned, and the sheet is fed between the platen roller 2 and the thermal head 3 in this state. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the printing position by the thermal head 3, the press lever 5 is rotated to push down the boss 11d formed on the side plate 11a of the head holding portion 11. As a result, the thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller 2 with a sufficient pressing force. The ink ribbon 20 and the paper are transported between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 2 in a state where they overlap each other. The paper is transported by transport rollers (not shown), and the ink ribbon 20 is wound on the paper discharge side. When the trailing edge of the paper reaches the printing position by the thermal head 3, the winding of the paper and the ink ribbon 20 is stopped, the press lever 5 is rotated, and the boss 11d formed on the side plate 11a of the head holding portion 11 is pressed. Not in a state. Thereby, the printing of the magenta image is completed, and a process of printing the yellow image on the magenta image is started.

  Similar to the magenta image printing process described above, in this state, only the paper is returned to the paper feeding side, and the leading edge of the paper, the leading edge of the yellow in the ink ribbon 20 and the leading edge of the paper are aligned. It feeds between the thermal head 3. When the leading edge of the paper reaches the printing position by the thermal head 3, the press lever 5 is rotated to push down the boss 11d formed on the side plate 11a of the head holding portion 11. As a result, the thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller 2 with a sufficient pressing force. The ink ribbon 20 and the paper are transported between the thermal head 3 and the platen roller 2 in a state where they overlap each other. The paper is transported by transport rollers (not shown), and the ink ribbon 20 is wound on the paper discharge side. When the trailing edge of the paper reaches the printing position by the thermal head 3, the winding of the paper and the ink ribbon 20 is stopped, the press lever 5 is rotated, and the boss 11d formed on the side plate 11a of the head holding portion 11 is pressed. Not in a state. Thereby, the printing of the yellow image is completed, and the printing of the color image is completed.

  The sublimation printer 1 discharges the paper on which the color image is printed to a paper discharge unit (not shown), and ends this process.

  Note that the paper used for printing may be cut paper or roll paper.

1 is a side view showing a configuration around a printing unit in a sublimation printer that is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a figure which shows a head press arm. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing process of a head press arm. It is a figure explaining the process of attaching the thermal head 3 to a head press arm. It is a figure which shows the ink ribbon used with the sublimation type printer which is embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-sublimation printer 2-platen roller 3-thermal head 4-head press arm 5-press lever 11-head holding part 11a-side plate 11b-cut 11c-boss 11d-spring 12-arm part

Claims (4)

A platen roller rotatably mounted between the side plates of the main body frame;
A thermal head arranged to face the platen roller,
In the sublimation printer that presses the thermal head against the platen roller and prints characters and images on a sheet passing between the thermal head and the platen roller.
A head press arm for holding the thermal head;
The head press arm has a shape in which a head holding portion extending in the width direction of the thermal head and a pair of arm portions extending in the paper transport direction on both sides of the head holding portion are integrally formed. Is pivotally attached to the body frame,
A pressing portion that presses down the head holding portion and presses the thermal head against the platen roller;
The head press arm has a shape in which a side plate is formed on both sides of the head holding portion by bending and a boss is formed on the side plate by drawing, and the lower end portion of the side plate is bent inward, and the bent lower end portion Holding the thermal head,
The pressing portion presses the boss,
Furthermore, the sublimation type printer which has arrange | positioned the elastic member between the head holding part and the thermal head. A platen roller rotatably mounted between the side plates of the main body frame;
A thermal head arranged to face the platen roller,
In the sublimation printer that presses the thermal head against the platen roller and prints characters and images on a sheet passing between the thermal head and the platen roller.
A head press arm for holding the thermal head;
The head press arm is integrally formed with a head holding portion extending in the width direction of the thermal head and a pair of arm portions extending in the paper transport direction on both sides of the head holding portion, and is bent on both sides of the head holding portion. by a shape forming a side plate, and further an end portion of the arm portion is rotatably mounted on the body frame,
A pressing portion that presses down the head holding portion and presses the thermal head against the platen roller ;
The head holding unit is a sublimation type printer in which a lower end portion of the side plate is bent inward and the thermal head is held by the bent lower end portion . The head pressing arm has a shape to form a boss by drawing processing to said side plate,
The sublimation printer according to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion presses the boss. The sublimation printer according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein an elastic member is disposed between the head holding portion and the thermal head.

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