JPH06246997A - Position detector of color ink sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To achieve the reduction of the length of an ink sheet and a decrease in cost and to also achieve the cueing of a specific color without using a specific mark by differentiating the sensitivities of the ink layers of the specific ink region and other ink region of the ink sheet and detecting the specific ink region when the change of the sensitivities of the ink layers is detected by a detection means. CONSTITUTION:When an optical sensor 107 is present above the yellow ink region of an ink sheet 101, the sensor 107 detects reflected light. Next, the sheet 101 is fed and, when the sensor 107 is present above a magenta ink region, the sensor 107 detects reflected light. Next, the sheet 101 is fed and, when the sensor 107 is present above a cyan ink region, the sensor 107 does not detect reflected light. When the sheet 101 is further fed, the sensor 107 returns to the position above the yellow ink region to again detect reflected light. When the sensor 107 changes from a reflected light non-detecting state to a reflected light detecting state during this operation, the cueing of the yellow ink region is detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording apparatus for transferring an ink layer of an ink medium such as an ink ribbon or an ink sheet onto an image-receiving sheet and appropriately recording on the image-receiving sheet, the ink medium or the ink medium. The present invention relates to a detection device for providing a color identification display on the supply core tube and detecting the color identification display by the detection means to determine the color of the ink medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional thermal transfer printer, an ink sheet that is conveyed in a certain direction at a predetermined speed by a winding core tube or the like that winds the ink sheet, and the same speed as the ink sheet,
The image receiving sheet conveyed in the same direction is overlaid, and the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet are sandwiched between the platen roller and a thermal head that generates a heat pattern according to the image recording information, and the ink of the ink sheet is selectively By the transfer, the image information is transferred onto the image receiving sheet.

The ink sheet used in this printer is called "one-time", and as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 04-013151, ink areas of cyan, magenta, yellow and the like are set as one set, and are set in the ink sheet conveying direction. It is repeatedly arranged along. Therefore, in order to transfer the desired colors in the desired order, it is necessary to detect the ink area of each color for the purpose of finding the head. Further, since the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet move at the same speed during printing, there is a problem that the ink sheet needs to have a length including the length of the image receiving sheet and the detection mark portion provided for each color ink region. there were.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 03-18591, there is a method in which the image-receiving sheet is conveyed at a speed N times (N is an integer) the ink-sheet conveying speed. In this method, an ink sheet called a multi-ink sheet is used, which can cope with the length of the image receiving sheet by 1 / N (N is an integer) or less when printing. In such an ink sheet, the length of the ink sheet can be shortened as compared with one time, but it is necessary to provide a detection mark portion for detecting the heading of the ink area of each color.

Further, as described in JP-A-61-51380, a position detecting device for detecting a mark attached to one end of a supply core tube for supplying an ink sheet is applied to the ink sheet. It was not possible to detect the color position of the ink area on the ink sheet, only by detecting the number of colors of one set of different ink areas.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 02-21951, there is a position detecting device which is provided with a detection mark for detecting head extension outside the ink area of an ink sheet. However, this position detection device has a problem in that the width of the ink sheet is widened by providing the detection mark outside the ink region, and the size of the entire device is increased.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims at shortening the length of the ink sheet, suppressing the manufacturing cost of the ink sheet, and providing a specific mark without providing a special mark on the ink sheet. The purpose is to detect the head of the colored ink area.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a set of a plurality of ink regions of different colors applied in a certain order along the ink sheet conveying direction, and the set is included in the set. The ink layer applied to a specific ink area and the ink layer applied to another ink area are repeatedly arranged so as to have different sensitivities, and a detection unit is provided to face the ink sheet. When the detection means detects a change in the sensitivity of the ink layer applied to the ink area, the detection means detects the head of the specific ink area.

In addition, a plurality of different ink areas of different colors applied in a predetermined order along the ink sheet transport direction are defined as one area.
A set, and the ink sheet is superposed and wound so that the length of the ink region of one set corresponds to one round of the supply core tube for supplying the ink sheet in which the set is repeatedly arranged,
A detection mark is attached to one end of the supply core tube so as to match the boundary of a specific ink region, and an optical sensor is provided so as to face one end of the core tube, and the optical sensor detects the detection mark. When it is detected, the determination for heading a specific ink area is performed.

[0010]

According to the present invention, at the time of printing, it is possible to efficiently detect the head of the ink area without wasting the ink sheet.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a main configuration diagram of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application. The arrow in the figure represents the direction in which the ink sheet is conveyed. In the figure, reference numeral 109 is a supply core tube, and the ink sheet 101 is wound around the core tube 109. The ink sheet 101 is coated with ink in a fixed order along the ink sheet transport direction, with the yellow, magenta, and cyan ink regions as one set, and the yellow and magenta ink regions transmit light and are cyan. The inked areas are configured to block light. still,
The light transmittance of the ink sheet is set to be transparent or blocked by changing the thickness of the ink layer. This ink sheet 1
01 is pulled out from the supply core tube 109, pressed against the platen roller 102, and then wound around the winding core tube 110. Further, a thermal head 105 having a heating element 106 at the tip portion for sandwiching the ink sheet 101 and the image receiving sheet 103, sublimating the ink layer of the ink sheet and transferring to the image receiving sheet 103 faces the platen roller 102. Is provided. A grid roller 104 that conveys the image receiving sheet 103 to which the ink has been transferred at a predetermined timing is provided immediately after the platen roller 102. Further, an optical sensor 107 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element for optically detecting the light transmittance of the ink area applied to the ink sheet 101.
Is provided between the thermal head 105 and the winding core tube 110 so as to face the ink sheet 101, and a reflection plate 108 that reflects light from the optical sensor 107 is
It is provided so as to sandwich the ink sheet 101 and face the optical sensor 107.

Further, at the same time when the optical sensor 107 detects the heading of a specific ink area, the thermal head 10
5 are attached so as to face a specific ink region separated by several sets of the one set of ink regions. In this case, it is preferable that the ink areas to be separated are shorter so that an error in sending a signal detected by the optical sensor to the thermal head is smaller.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the essential portions of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application. It is composed of the ink sheet 101 and an optical sensor 107 that is provided so as to face the ink sheet and that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the configuration of the main part of FIG. The optical sensor 107 and the reflecting plate 108 for reflecting the light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 107 are provided so as to face the optical sensor 107 with the ink sheet 101 interposed therebetween.

Next, an operation example of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application will be described based on FIG. 2 in the order in which the ink sheet 101 is conveyed.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical sensor 1
When 07 is on the yellow ink area of the ink sheet 101, the optical sensor 107 detects the reflected light. Next, when the ink sheet 101 is conveyed and the optical sensor 107 is in the magenta ink area, the optical sensor 107 is used.
Detects reflected light. Next, when the ink sheet 101 is conveyed and the optical sensor 107 is on the cyan ink area, the optical sensor 107 does not detect reflected light. Further, when the ink sheet 101 is conveyed, the optical sensor 10
7 returns to the yellow ink area and detects the reflected light again. The above operation is repeated. In this operation,
In this embodiment, when the optical sensor 107 changes from the state of not detecting the reflected light to the state of detecting the reflected light, the head detection of the yellow ink area is performed. The heads of the magenta and cyan ink areas are the core tubes for supply 109.
This is performed by counting the number of pulses of a pulse motor (not shown) that drives the.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the first invention of the present application. In place of the optical sensor 107 of FIG. 1, optical sensors 107a and 107b, each of which is composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element, are provided. As shown in FIG. Install so as to face each other. In this case, the predetermined interval between the two sensors is made narrow so that the light from the light emitting element of one optical sensor does not affect the light receiving element of the other optical sensor.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the essential parts of another embodiment of the first invention of the present application. Instead of the optical sensor 107 of FIG. 2, optical sensors 107a and 10a each including a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided.
7b is the ink sheet 101 in the ink sheet conveying direction.
Are arranged side by side so as to face each other.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the configuration of the main part of FIG. A reflection plate 108 for reflecting the light from the optical sensors 107a and 107b is provided so as to face the optical sensors 107a and 107b across the ink sheet 101.

Next, an operation example of another embodiment of the first invention of the present application will be described based on FIG. 5 in the order in which the ink sheet 101 is conveyed.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensor 1
If 07a is in the magenta ink area and the optical sensor 107b is in the yellow ink area, the optical sensor 107a,
107b detects reflected light respectively. Next, when the ink sheet is conveyed and both the optical sensors 107a and 107b are in the magenta ink area, the optical sensor 107 is used.
a and 107b respectively detect reflected light. Next, when the ink sheet is conveyed and the sensor 107a is in the cyan ink area and the optical sensor 107b is in the magenta ink area, the optical sensor 107a does not detect the reflected light, and the optical sensor 107b detects the reflected light. . Next, when the ink sheet is conveyed and both the optical sensors 107a and 107b are in the cyan ink area, the reflected light is not detected for each. Next, the ink sheet is conveyed, and the optical sensor 107
When a is in the yellow ink area and the optical sensor 107b is in the cyan ink area, the optical sensor 107a detects the reflected light and the optical sensor 107b does not detect the reflected light. Further, when the ink sheet is conveyed, the optical sensor 10
7a returns to the magenta ink region, the optical sensor 107b returns to the yellow ink region, and the optical sensors 107a and 107b
Respectively detect the reflected light. The above operation is repeated.

In this operation, when the optical sensor 107a detects the reflected light and the optical sensor 107b does not detect the reflected light, the position detecting device detects the heading of the yellow ink area. Become. Also, the optical sensor 107
When a does not detect the reflected light and a photosensor 107b detects the reflected light, this position detecting device detects the heading of the cyan ink area. The detection of the head of the magenta ink area is performed by counting the number of pulses of a pulse motor (not shown) that drives the supply core tube.

The ink sheet 101 used in the first invention of the present application is applied to the ink sheet 101.
It is sufficient if the specific ink area included in the ink area of the set and the light transmittance of the remaining ink area are different, for example,
The yellow and magenta ink areas may block light, and the cyan ink areas may transmit light. The yellow ink area may transmit light, and the magenta and cyan ink areas may block light. Further, the black ink area may block light, and the yellow, magenta, and cyan ink areas may transmit light.

The optical sensors 107, 107a and 107b used in the first invention of the present application are of the reflective type, but may be of the transmissive type without using a reflector.

A magnetic sensor may be used instead of the optical sensor 107. In this case, the ink sheet has a structure in which a plastic film is used as a support, a magnetic layer is provided on the support, and an ink layer is further provided.

FIG. 7 is a main block diagram of an embodiment of the second invention of the present application. The same components as those of the first invention of the present application are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, reference numeral 109 is a supply core tube, and the core tube 109 has a multi-ink sheet 10
1a is wrapped around. This ink sheet 101a
Is a set of yellow, magenta, and cyan ink regions in a fixed order along the ink sheet transport direction, and
Ink areas in which a set is repeatedly arranged are applied. Further, in the supply core tube 109, the length of the ink region for one set corresponds to one round of the supply core tube 109.
The ink sheet 101a is wrapped around. Further, a detection mark 112a is provided at one end of the supply core tube at a portion matching the boundary of a specific ink area of the wound ink sheet 101a. Further, an optical sensor 107c that optically detects the detection mark 112a and includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided so as to face one end of the supply core tube 109.

At the same time that the optical sensor 107c detects the beginning of a specific ink area, the thermal head 1c
05 are mounted so as to face each other over a specific ink area separated by several sets of the one ink area. still,
The shorter the ink areas are, the smaller the error in sending the signal detected by the optical sensor to the thermal head.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the essential parts of an embodiment of the second invention of the present application. The length of the ink area for one set corresponds to one round of the supply core tube 109, and the ink sheet 1
The core tube for supply 10 in which the detection mark 112a is attached to the end of the core tube for supply 109 on which 01a is wound and which coincides with the boundary between the yellow ink area and the magenta ink area.
9 and an optical sensor 107c provided so as to face one end of the supply core tube 109.

Next, an operation example of an embodiment of the second invention of the present application will be described with reference to FIG. Multi ink sheet 101
When the optical sensor 107c provided so as to face one end of the supply core tube 109 when a is conveyed detects the detection mark 112a, it is possible to detect the heading of the yellow ink area. become. Detection of the heading of the magenta and cyan ink areas is performed by counting the number of pulses of a pulse motor (not shown) that drives the supply core tube 109.

The detection mark 112a may be provided at the boundary between the yellow ink area and the cyan ink area, or at the boundary between the cyan ink area and the magenta ink area.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the second invention of the present application. The length of the ink region for one set is determined by the supply core tube 10
9, a detection mark 11 is provided on one end of the supply core tube 109 around which the ink sheet 101a is wound so as to correspond to one round of the ink sheet 101a.
2b, the supply core tube 109 provided with a detection mark 112c at a portion matching the boundary between the magenta and cyan ink regions, and a detection mark 112d at a portion matching the boundary between the cyan and yellow ink regions, and the supply core tube 109 Core tube 1
Two optical sensors 107d and 10 facing one end of 09 and arranged side by side in the direction perpendicular to the ink sheet transport direction.
7e.

Next, an operation example of another embodiment of the second invention of the present application will be described with reference to FIG. When the ink sheet 101a is conveyed, it faces one end of the supply core tube 109,
In addition, when the two optical sensors 107d and 107e arranged side by side in the direction perpendicular to the ink sheet conveyance direction both detect the detection mark, the heading of the magenta ink area is detected. Also, the optical sensor 107d
Detects the detection mark and the optical sensor 107e does not detect the detection mark, the head detection of the cyan ink area is performed. When the optical sensor 107d does not detect the detection mark and the optical sensor 107e detects the detection mark, the head of the yellow ink area is detected.

In the ink sheet used in the second embodiment of the present invention, the length of the ink region for one set may correspond to one round of the supply core tube 109.
A set of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan ink areas may be used.

Further, the length of the ink sheet 101a wound around the supply core tube 109 is 5 of the ink area of one set so that the boundary of the ink area to be overlapped does not shift.
The length is 0 set.

The position at which the thermal head 105 is mounted is not limited to this embodiment. For example, at the same time when the optical sensor detects the heading of the yellow ink area, the thermal head 105 is moved to the magenta position. It may be attached so as to face the ink area of.

In the present embodiment, the sublimation type ink sheet has been described, but a melting type ink sheet may be used. Further, although the thermal printer has been described in the present embodiment, an impact printer may be used.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a mark portion for color detection on the ink sheet, so that it is possible to provide an inexpensive ink sheet. Further, since the detection mark portion is eliminated, it becomes possible to wind a set of a plurality of ink regions having different colors around one supply core tube, and the detection mark attached to the core tube can be wound. By detecting by the optical sensor, it is possible to detect the heading of the ink area of a specific color. Further, by mounting the thermal head as described above, it becomes possible to print at the same time when the detection mark is detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a main part of an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the main configuration diagram of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of another embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 5 is a main part configuration diagram of another embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

6 is a side view of the main part configuration diagram of FIG. 5. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the second invention of the present application.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of main parts of an embodiment of the second invention of the present application.

FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the second invention of the present application.

[Explanation of symbols]

101, 101a Ink sheet 102 Platen roller 103 Image receiving sheet 104 Grid roller 105 Thermal head 106 Heating element 107, 107a, 107b, 107c, 107d, 1
07e Optical sensor 108 Reflector plate 109 Supply core tube 110 Winding core tube 112a, 112b, 112c, 112d Detection mark

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An ink sheet in which a plurality of ink regions of different colors applied in a fixed order along the ink sheet conveying direction is set as one set, and the one set is repeatedly arranged, and the ink sheet is opposed to the ink sheet. An ink layer applied to a specific ink region of the ink sheet,
The sensitivity of the ink layer applied to the other ink areas is made different, and the detection means detects a specific ink area when the change in the sensitivity of the ink layer applied to the ink area is detected. Position detection device. 2. The position detecting device according to claim 1,
The ink layer applied to a specific ink area and the ink layer applied to the other ink area have the light transmittance, one ink sheet is repeatedly transmitted and the other one is blocked, and the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged repeatedly. An optical sensor including an element, the optical sensor is provided so as to face the ink sheet, and the optical sensor detects a specific ink area when detecting a change in light transmittance. Characteristic position detection device. 3. The position detecting device according to claim 2,
When the two optical sensors are provided facing each other at the ink sheet and at a predetermined interval in the ink sheet transport direction, the optical sensors detect that one of the optical sensors transmits and the other blocks. In addition, a position detection device characterized by detecting a specific ink area. 4. An ink sheet in which a plurality of ink regions of different colors applied in a fixed order along the ink sheet conveying direction is set as one set, and the set is repeatedly arranged, and the ink sheet is supplied. The ink sheet is overlapped and wound so that the length of one set of the ink area corresponds to one round of the supply core tube, and the ink sheet is aligned with the boundary of the specific ink area of the ink sheet. A detection mark is attached to one end of the supply core tube, and an optical sensor is provided so as to face one end of the core tube. When the optical sensor detects the detection mark, a specific mark is given. A position detection device that detects an ink region. 5. The position detecting device according to claim 4,
A different detection mark is attached to one end of the supply core tube so as to match the boundaries of a plurality of ink regions of different colors included in the one set, and the optical sensor is attached to one end of the core tube. Two optical sensors are arranged so as to face each other and in a direction perpendicular to the ink sheet transport direction, and when the optical sensor detects the detection mark, it detects a specific ink area. Position detection device. 6. The position detecting device according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, and claim 5 is installed so as to detect a specific ink area and at the same time, face the ink sheet. A position detecting device, wherein a heating element provided at a tip of a thermal head is attached so as to face the specific ink region.