JPH0899445A - Method and device for printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent not only the contraction of a picture to be printed or the cutting of a blank portion but also the waste of recording paper caused by the formation of a blank and to provide a printed matter in the same form as a photograph from an aesthetic aspect while enabling the selective printing of a picture or a character by one printer to achieve the functions of two printers. CONSTITUTION: A printing apparatus is equipped with a belt member 60 sucking the recording paper 53 rotationally supported by at least a pair of rotationally driven support rollers 59 to be fed on the surface thereof, charge means 55, 56 charging the belt member in order to draw the recording paper to the belt member and printing means 51, 65 for printing an image on the recording paper sucked on the belt member to be transferred.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing method and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly, when a printing apparatus prints a picture or a character on a recording paper, the printing is performed without any margin on the upper and lower ends of the recording paper. The present invention relates to a printing method capable of selectively printing characters and a printing apparatus using the printing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various methods for printing pictures and characters on a recording paper by a printing device. For example, there is a method in which a thermal transfer head for converting data into heat and an ink film under the thermal transfer head are used to print on a recording sheet located under the ink film. Such a printing apparatus is called a thermal transfer printer, and has a form in which the separated images of yellow, magenta, and cyan that have been color-separated in order to realize full color are overlapped and printed in three times. That is, it is a device that sublimates the ink of the ink film that receives the heat of the thermal transfer head and prints it on a recording sheet. If the color of each ink film is printed on one recording sheet, it is printed in color.

Generally, a printing apparatus can print both characters and pictures, but when characters are printed, it is relatively vivid, but when a picture is printed, there is no vividness, and there are printing apparatuses in which color printing is difficult. For example, a laser printer, a bubble jet printer, an inkjet printer, a dot printer, etc. are examples. That is, although such a printing apparatus can print a picture (color or black and white) and characters (color or black and white), it is mainly used for printing characters because the image quality is not good for printing a picture.

The printed matter printed in color by the thermal transfer printer is as vivid as when a film taken by a photographic machine is printed on photographic paper. Therefore, an image is input by an image input device such as a scanner, the input image is corrected and combined using a computer program to form a new image, and the image is output again in the form of a photograph, Reproduce a virtual object by computer graphic and output it again in a form like a photograph, or create an enlarged electron microscope image as image data and output it in a form like a photograph, X-ray of medical equipment ( Color OHP (Overhead) for X-ray) film and tomographic images
Projector) Can output to film. It is convenient that the image data can be transmitted over a long distance through a wire and a wireless line and the received image data can be reproduced again as a printed matter such as a photograph of a vivid image.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are plan views of a recording sheet showing a printing area printed by a thermal transfer printer. When the image data is printed on the recording paper, the image 1 is printed with the margins 2 remaining on the upper and lower sides of the recording paper as shown in FIG. 1A, or as shown in FIG. The picture is distorted and printed. Also, as shown in FIG.
When printing pictures and characters using the above-mentioned inkjet printer when printing 9 and the characters 50 on the same recording paper, the image quality will deteriorate, but if the above thermal transfer printer is used, The image quality is excellent. However, there are drawbacks that the printing cost is high and the printing speed is particularly slow.

As described above, considering the reason why a blank space remains on a recording sheet when an image is recorded on the recording sheet,
In the case of a drum type printer, as shown in FIG. 2, a clamp 5 is used to bring the recording paper 3 into close contact with the drum 4 while pulling the recording paper 3 tightly. The tip of was hard to print.

That is, in the conventional printing apparatus, when printing an image, the margins at the upper and lower ends are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also the recording paper is wasted, and a picture input from the scanner is printed by such a printer. When printing, the images printed above and below are reduced in size or the picture is cut off due to the reasons described above. Furthermore, when printing the picture and / or the character on the same recording paper, It was not possible to selectively print in consideration of cost and / or importance.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to prevent a picture from being printed due to margins and distortion of a printed matter when printing an image, and to prevent waste of recording paper and reduction and cutting of the picture. Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing method and apparatus for supplying printed matter having no margin such as a photograph in appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing method and a printing apparatus using the same, which can selectively print a picture and / or a character on a recording sheet according to cost and importance. is there.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a printing method according to the present invention is a printing method for printing image data on a recording sheet, wherein the surface of a belt member rotating along a predetermined circulation orbit is used. Supplying the recording paper, charging the belt member so that the supplied recording paper is attracted to the surface of the belt member, and rotating the belt member while the recording paper is attracted. And a printing step of printing image data from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the recording sheet that is rotationally transported.
Discharging the recording paper on which the image is printed from the belt member.

Here, the supplying step is performed by pushing the cartridge containing the recording paper toward the belt member. Further, at least two supporting rollers that rotatably support the belt member and a guide roller that rotates in contact with the outer surface of the belt member are provided, and in the charging step, a voltage is applied between the guide roller and the supporting roller. Is applied. Also, the printing step is performed by two or more print heads having different printing characteristics. Further, the discharging step further includes a step of removing the charged state of the belt member.

Further, the printing apparatus according to the present invention is rotatably supported by at least a pair of supporting rollers which are rotationally driven,
A belt member that attracts the fed recording paper on its surface, a charging unit that charges the belt member to attract the recording paper to the belt member, and a recording paper that is attracted to and transported by the belt member. And a printing unit for printing an image.

Here, the printing means comprises at least two print heads having different printing characteristics and arranged around the belt member, and the print heads can be selectively or combined to print. To be done. Further, the charging means is one of the support rollers.
And a guide roller provided in contact with the outer surface of the belt member, and a switch means connected between one of the support rollers and the guide roller to disconnect the power supply.

[0014]

With such a construction, by providing various print heads on the outer peripheral surface of the belt capable of adsorbing and moving the recording paper, not only the recording paper can be moved precisely, but also the printing head suitable for drawing pictures or characters can be printed. it can. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the blank space of the recording paper from being generated, and one printing apparatus can play the role of a multi-type printer.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the state before the recording paper is fed in the printing method and apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a thermal transfer head 51 that transfers image data by heat is provided with a heating element 52 that radiates heat and a thermal transfer head 51 that is provided on the right side (on the drawing) of the thermal transfer head 51 to the left and right. Head adjustment means 62 for pressing the recording paper 53 is provided on the belt 60 so that the ink film 63 is positioned between the thermal transfer head 51 and the belt 60.

In order to attract and move and guide the recording paper, the belt 60, which generates static electricity, has a roller 55 provided with a switch 56 for turning on / off the power source so as to generate or remove static electricity. A belt transfer shaft 59 is installed. The roller 55 is provided on the outside of the belt and is supplied with electric power while rotating with the belt to serve as an electrode. The belt transfer shaft 59
Causes the belt to rotate at a constant speed,
Pairs with 5, and plays a role of an electrode for generating static electricity.

Below the belt, there are provided a recording paper cassette 54 for supplying the recording paper 53, and a moving means 58 located below the recording paper cassette 54 for moving the recording paper cassette 54 up and down. Has been. In addition, a blade 66 that ejects the recording paper to the paper ejection opening 67 is provided so as to be opened and closed so that the printed recording paper is ejected.

The printing apparatus of the present embodiment constructed as described above operates as follows. As shown in FIG. 4, when the recording sheet cassette 54 is raised by the moving means 58 and the switch 56 is turned on, static electricity is generated on the belt 60 and the recording sheet 5 in the recording sheet cassette 54 is discharged.
Attach 3. Then, the recording paper cassette 54 is lowered by the moving means 58. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, as for the recording sheet, only one recording sheet located at the uppermost portion of the recording sheet cassette 54 is attached to the belt where static electricity is generated.

FIG. 6 shows the printing apparatus of the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state when the recording sheet 53 reaches the initial recording position. As shown in the figure, the recording sheet 5 that has been adsorbed
3 is pressed against the belt 60 again by the roller 55 while moving to the initial recording position 64 as the belt is rotated by the belt transfer shaft 59. Then, when the recording sheet moves to the initial recording position 64, the thermal transfer head 52 uses the head adjusting means 62 in view of the distance from the paper feeding position to the initial recording position 64 and the rotation speed of the belt transfer shaft 59. Thus, the ink film 63 and the leading end of the recording paper 53 are pressed against the belt, and one color of various hues is printed from the leading end of the recording paper 53. Then, the remaining colors are printed on the recording paper while rotating along the belt 60.

As shown in FIG. 7, if the switch 56 is turned off after printing the last color, the static electricity on the belt 60 disappears, and the residual static electricity causes the recording paper 53 on the belt 60 to exit. The sheet is discharged to 67. At this time, the blade 66 opens under the control of a predetermined controller (not shown). FIG. 8 is a side view of a printing apparatus provided with a large number of print heads according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention (the same numbers are used for the same parts used in the preceding embodiments). is there.

As shown in the figure, a thermal transfer head 51 for transferring and printing by heat and an ink jet head 65 for ejecting and printing ink are provided around the belt 60. Therefore, when the vivid image quality is required, the thermal transfer head 51 is used for printing, and when the speed and economy are required, the ink jet head 65 is used for printing, so that the print can be selectively performed depending on the purpose and use. Or, by using the heads in combination, pictures and characters can be easily printed.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a picture or a character is printed on a recording paper, the picture to be printed can be printed by printing so that there are no margins at the upper and lower ends and no distorted picture or character. By preventing the paper from being reduced or cut, it is possible to prevent the waste of the recording paper due to the generation of the blank space, and it is possible to provide the printed matter having the same form as that of the photograph in terms of appearance.

Further, parts such as a roller for adhering the recording paper to the drum and parts such as a paper feed cam and a paper feed roller necessary for paper feeding are reduced, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, by using a print head that prints only characters and a print head that prints vivid pictures, pictures and characters can be printed in parallel or at a minimum cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a recording sheet showing a printing area printed by a conventional printing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a drum type printer shown for explaining a conventional printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a recording sheet showing an example of a printing area printed by the printing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state before recording paper is fed in the printing apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which recording paper is fed in the printing method and apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the printing method and the printing apparatus showing a state in which the recording paper is printed according to the printing method and the apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which recording paper is ejected in the printing method and apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a printing apparatus provided with a plurality of print heads according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 51 thermal transfer head 52 heating element 53 recording paper 54 recording paper cassette 55 roller 56 switch 58 moving means 59 belt transfer shaft 60 belt 62 head adjusting means 63 ink ribbon 54 initial recording position 65 inkjet head 66 blade 67 discharge port

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location B65H 5/00 D 29/16 Z 29/60 C

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printing method for printing image data on a recording sheet, the step of supplying the recording sheet to the surface of a belt member that rotates along a predetermined circulation path, and the supplied recording sheet is the belt member. Charging the belt member so that the belt member is attracted to the surface of the recording sheet, rotating the belt member while the recording sheet is attracted, and rotating the recording sheet from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the recording sheet. A printing method comprising: a printing step of printing data; and a step of discharging a recording sheet on which an image is printed from the belt member. 2. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the supplying step is performed by pushing a cartridge accommodating the recording paper toward the belt member. 3. A charging roller, comprising: at least two supporting rollers that rotatably support the belt member; and a guide roller that rotates in contact with an outer surface of the belt member.
The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the printing is performed by applying a voltage between the guide roller and the support roller. 4. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the printing step is performed by two or more print heads having different printing characteristics. 5. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the discharging step further includes a step of removing a charged state of the belt member. 6. A belt member, which is rotatably supported by at least a pair of rotatably driven support rollers, and which adsorbs the recording paper to be fed on its surface, and the belt for adsorbing the recording paper to the belt member. A printing apparatus comprising: a charging unit configured to charge a member, and a printing unit configured to print an image on a recording sheet that is attracted to and transported by the belt member. 7. The printing means comprises at least two print heads having different printing characteristics, which are arranged around the belt member, and are configured to print selectively or in combination with the print heads. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus. 8. The charging means is connected between one of the support rollers, a guide roller that is installed in contact with the outer surface of the belt member, and one of the support rollers and the guide roller. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a switch means for connecting and disconnecting power supply.