JPH064348B2 - Thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus using a transfer film coated with a heat-meltable ink or a heat sublimable ink.

Configuration of Conventional Example and Problems Thereof In recent years, with the spread of personal computers and word processors, demand for printers, which are output devices thereof, has increased. Especially in OA-related, as a printer, quietness,
A thermal transfer recording device that requires operability and plain paper recording and is also capable of colorization is drawing attention.

The problems of the conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described below.

The transfer medium used in the thermal transfer recording apparatus is generally in the form of a roll in which the transfer medium is wound around a core tube, the transfer medium is set on a supply reel, and the end of the transfer medium is set to a running system path. It is fixed to the core tube set on the take-up reel along with adhesive tape or the like.
Since the supply reel, the take-up reel, and the traveling system for the transfer medium are directly arranged in the housing, the replenishment of the transfer medium and the switching between the single-color recording and the color recording must be performed in the apparatus, and the take-up reel is not required when removing. The transfer medium on the other side slipped and was disturbed, and the winding diameter became large, making it difficult to handle, and it took a lot of time other than recording work such as exchange. Further, since the supply side and the winding side of the transfer medium are separated from each other, there is a problem that wrinkles may occur during replacement or there is a risk of damage.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. A transfer medium transport system is formed as a cartridge, and the cartridge is detachably provided in an upper casing that is separated from a lower casing. An object of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer recording apparatus that can be easily taken out and replaced easily and that a recording medium and a transfer medium can be independently replaced and maintained.

The present invention relates to a thermal transfer provided with a cartridge having a transfer medium and a transport system thereof, an upper casing having a holding means for the cartridge, and a lower casing having a roll recording medium transport system. In the recording apparatus, the cartridge is housed in the upper casing, rotated integrally with the upper casing, and separated from the lower casing, so that the transfer medium and the recording medium can be easily replaced and maintained independently. It is possible.

Description of Embodiments FIG. 1 shows a thermal transfer recording apparatus in this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a lower housing, which includes a pair of drive rollers 10 and 11 for reciprocally transporting a roll-shaped recording medium 4, a platen roller 9, and a pressing roller 12 for pressing the recording medium 4 against the platen roller 9 at all times. It is composed of a first hook 20 which is biased rightward in the drawing by a spring or the like to attach / detach the upper housing 2, a rotation shaft 19 thereof, and a rotation fulcrum shaft 14. Two
Is an upper housing, and is a second hook 16 which is always urged by a spring or the like in the right direction in the drawing to attach / detach the cartridge 3 and its rotating shaft 1.
5 and a pin 17 that locks with the first hook 20. When the lock of the first hook 20 and the pin 17 is released, it can rotate about the rotation fulcrum shaft 14. . Reference numeral 3 denotes a cartridge, which is composed of a supply unit 5 of the transfer medium 7, a winding unit 6, respective reel shafts 18 and 19, running guides 22a and 22b of the transfer medium 7, and a peeling roller 23, and the rotation fulcrum shaft. 14 is engaged with the substantially u-shaped notch 3a of the cartridge 3 and the second hook 1
6 and the reel shaft 18 are engaged with each other, and can be rotated around the rotation fulcrum shaft 14 integrally with the upper housing 2 while being housed in the upper housing 2. Reference numeral 8 is a line thermal head, and 13 is a head holder.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus of this embodiment constructed as described above will be described below.

In the case of color recording, a transfer medium coated with three colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan) is used, and when a recording signal is input, the transfer medium 7 causes the winding section 6 to locate the first color. To be wound up. When the cueing is completed, the transfer medium 7 is stopped, and the recording medium 4 is sent out by the drive rollers 10 and 11 in the left direction by a predetermined amount. After that, the thermal head 8 is pressed against the platen roller 9 via the transfer medium 7 and the recording medium 4, and the driving rollers 10 and 11 start recording sequentially rightward in the drawing. After the recording, the transfer medium 7 and the recording medium 4 are sequentially fed to the position of the peeling roller 23 while overlapping,
After the peeling roller 23, the transfer medium 7 and the recording medium 4 are separated from each other. When the recording of the first color is completed, the thermal head 8 is separated from the platen roller 9, and only the recording medium 4 is sent to the left in the drawing. Thereafter, the thermal head 8 presses the platen roller 9, and the second and third colors are recorded in the same manner, and color recording is possible.

If the transfer medium 7 is used up or if it is desired to change from color recording to monochromatic recording, the lever portion 20a of the first hook 20 is pushed up in the direction A in the figure as shown in FIG. The lock of the body 1 is released, the upper casing 2 is rotated around the rotation fulcrum shaft 14 to be separated from the lower casing 1, and the second hook 16 is released as shown in FIG. Then, the cartridge 3 is separated from the upper housing 2
The cartridge 3 is rotated only around the rotation fulcrum shaft 14 in the direction B in the figure, and then pulled out in the direction D in the figure.
Is removed from the device. By replenishing the transfer medium 7 or converting it to a single color in the removed state, there is no risk of the transfer medium 7 being damaged by components in the device, and the work area generated when replacing the device in the device is reduced. Since there is no restriction and they can be exchanged freely, the time can be shortened and the occurrence of wrinkles can be reduced. If the color or monochrome cartridge 3 is prepared in advance, only the cartridge 3 needs to be replaced, and the time other than the recording work can be significantly reduced.

The cartridge 3 is attached to the transfer medium 7 in the reverse
The cartridge 3 that has been replenished and replaced in the direction E in the figure.
After the character notch 3a is inserted so as to be engaged with the rotation fulcrum shaft 14, it is rotated in the direction C until the reel shaft 18 is locked by the second hook 16, and is housed in the upper housing 2. . After that, the upper housing 2 is rotated and the first hook 20 and the pin 17 are locked, and the set state as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

In this embodiment, the cartridge of the transfer medium 7 is attachable to and detachable from the upper housing 2, and the transfer medium 7 and the recording medium 4 are vertically separated when the upper housing 2 is opened as in the conventional case. The replacement and maintenance of the recording medium 4 can be independently performed.

Further, in this embodiment, maintenance and rotation of the cartridge 3 are performed by the rotation fulcrum shaft 14 provided on the lower housing 1 which is the same as the rotation axis of the upper housing 2.
If it operates integrally, the rotating shaft of the cartridge 3 may be provided in the upper casing, or conversely, a notch portion that engages with the upper casing may be provided to engage the notch portion in the cartridge, A rotating shaft may be provided.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention is a cartridge equipped with a transfer medium and a transport system for the transfer medium, and the cartridge is detachably provided integrally with the upper housing to facilitate replacement of the transfer medium and to perform recording. The medium and the transfer medium can be independently exchanged and maintained, and the practical effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram showing a set state of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a principle diagram showing an opened state of an upper casing of the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a cassette exchange state. It is a principle diagram. 1 ... Lower housing, 2 ... Upper housing, 3 ... Cartridge, 4 ... Roll recording medium, 7 ... Transfer medium, 8 ...
Thermal head, 14 ... Rotating fulcrum shaft, 15 ... Rotating shaft, 16 ... Hook, 18 ... Reel shaft.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihito Saji 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A roll-shaped recording medium, a lower housing provided with a conveying system for the recording medium, a transfer medium coated with at least one color of ink, and a conveying system for conveying the transfer medium. And a casing having a thermal head for recording the recording medium and the transfer medium on top of each other for thermal recording, and a holding means for the cartridge. A thermal transfer recording device, wherein the cartridge is detachably attached to the upper casing when the cartridge is rotated integrally with the upper casing and separated from the lower casing.