JPS62108080A - Thermal transfer recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent nonuniform feeding or color misregistration from occurring, by providing a pair of rollers for clamping an ink film therebetween between a payout spool and a thermal head, and providing a braking means and a one- way clutch for the shaft of one of the rollers. CONSTITUTION:A pair of rollers for clamping an ink film 100 therebetween are provided between a payout spool 3 and a thermal head 1, and the shaft 50 of one 5 of the rollers is equipped with a friction brake means 40 and with a pulley 52 through a one-way clutch 53. Even when the diameter of an ink film roll 2 is reduced, the ink film 100 is fed under the condition where a predetermined braking force is exerted thereon by the friction brake means 4, so that favorable images free of nonuniformity due to nonuniform feeding, color misregistration or the like can be transfer recorded on an image-receiving paper 101. On the other hand, even when the ink film 100 tends to move in the direction of an arrow A due to adhesion to the paper 101 or the like, the roller 5 is locked with regard to the pulley 52 by the one-way clutch 53.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording device that heats ink applied to a transfer medium and transfers it to an image receiving paper.

Conventional technology There has been a demand for the use of plain paper or color printing in facsimile machines, printers, etc., and technologies such as electrophotographic recording and inkogenic recording have been used as a means to achieve this, but the simplicity of the equipment , Thermal transfer recording is also increasingly used in various fields because of its ease of maintenance.

A conventional thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional thermal recording device. This thermal recording device includes a thermal head 1 for recording according to an input image signal, and a platen roller 9 disposed opposite to the thermal head 1, and between the thermal head 1 and the platen roller 9. Ink film 1oO and image receiving paper 1 as conveyed transfer media
This thermal recording apparatus, which performs transfer and recording by contacting and heating 01, will be described in more detail.

The platen roller 9 is held by a platen lever 11. The platen lever 11 is swingable about a fulcrum, and a 12° spring solenoid 13 is attached to one end. The platen roller 9 is pressed against the thermal head 1 by the spring 12, while the solenoid 1
3 is operated, the platen roller 9 is separated from the thermal head 1.

The image-receiving paper 101 is wound into a roll to form an image-receiving paper roll 7. A drive roller 1o is located between the image receiving paper roll 7 and the platen roller 9, and a drive opening i8 is provided on the side of the platen roller 9 on the opposite side to the drive roller 1o.
．． A cutter 14 is provided.

The ink film 100 is a thin film with a thickness of about 10 μm, and a heat-melting or heat-sublimating ink is coated on the surface that contacts the image receiving paper IC) 1. The ink film 1oO is wound around an ink film holding means supply spool 3 to form a film roll 2. The ink film 100 fed out from the film roll 2 passes through the thermal head 1 and is wound onto a take-up spool 4tp1. The take-up spool 4 is connected to a motor (not shown) via a friction clutch 102 shown in FIG. 6, and the ink film 100 is taken up by rotation of the motor.

As shown in FIG. 6, the friction clutch 102 includes a pulley 23 around which a belt 24 that transmits the driving force of the motor is wound, a pulley 22 around which a belt 26 that transmits rotational force to the take-up spool 4 is wound, and the pulley 22 and the pulley 23. The friction material 21 inserted between the
It has a shaft 27 whose end protrudes outward, and a compression spring 26 stretched between the tip of the shaft 27 and the pulley 23.

A pair of shafts 6 are provided on both sides of the thermal radar 1 to guide the ink film 100, and a spring is attached to one end near the supply spool 3, so that the supply spool is rotated around the fulcrum. A brake 15 is provided to press 3 with a predetermined pressure.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

First 1. The drive roller 8 conveys the image receiving paper 101 in the direction of arrow C according to the input timing of the image signal.

At this time, an electromagnetic clutch (not shown) is attached to the drive roller 1o.
The driving force is not transmitted due to the movement of the

The thermal head 1 sequentially heats the ink film 21, which has been conveyed in advance, according to the input image signal, and transfers pixels corresponding to the image signal onto the image receiving paper 1o1. When the predetermined line has been transferred, the image receiving paper 1o1. The ink film 10o is conveyed in the direction of arrow C and the direction of arrow in by the rotation of the take-up roller 81 and the take-up spool 4, respectively.
Transfer of the next predetermined line is performed. When all predetermined image signals have been recorded, the platen roller 9 that was in pressure contact with the thermal head 1 is released from pressure contact by the operation of the solenoid 13. Then, the image receiving paper 1o1 is conveyed until the recording end of the image receiving paper 1o1 reaches the cutter position. When the receiving paper 1o1 reaches a predetermined position, the cutter 14
It is then cut to size.

Although the above is the operation for monochrome recording, the operation for color recording will be explained next. In this case, as the ink film, for example, the ink film 10 shown in FIG.
02L is used. Ink film 1001L includes
Ink of three primary colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan, is applied at predetermined intervals to a length l that is longer than one screen each.

Between each ink is yellow and magenta.

A color detection mark 31 for identifying cyan is formed,
A sensor (not shown) for reading this color detection mark 31 is provided near the thermal head 1.

First, the sensor detects the color detection mark 31 and confirms that yellow ink is applied next to the color detection mark 310. Next, the platen roller 9 is brought into pressure contact with the thermal head 1, and yellow recording is performed in the same manner as in the case of monochrome recording. After one screen is recorded, the pressure of the platen roller 9 is released. Then, the drive roller 10 is operated to move the image receiving paper 101 in the direction of the arrow and return it to the initial position.

Then, magenta and cyan are transferred in the same way as the yellow described above to create a color record.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-described configuration, the diameter of the film roll 2 gradually decreases, and as a result, the ink film 1
The tension on oO changes, causing uneven feeding to the image receiving paper 101.
Alternatively, color shift may occur. In particular, when performing color recording using an ink film coated with the three primary color inks of yellow, cyan, and magenta, the diameter of the film roll 2 is greatly reduced, and as a result, the ink film 1
The tension generated in 001L is about three times that at the beginning of recording, and the feeding amount of the receiving paper 1o1 changes greatly, causing uneven feeding.
Significant color shift sometimes occurred.

In addition, the ink film and the image-receiving paper are likely to be thermally fused together due to thermal transfer, and if fused, they will peel off.If the braking force of the brake 15 is small, the ink film will be pulled out when the image-receiving paper is ejected, and the film will be pulled out. There was a risk that a jam would occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and even if the diameter of the film roll changes, the tension on the ink film does not change significantly, the feeding unevenness on the image receiving paper does not cause two-color misalignment, and the image receiving It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer recording device that holds the ink film with appropriate tension during paper ejection and prevents the ink film from being pulled out by the image receiving paper.Means for Solving the ProblemsThe present invention achieves the above objects. For this purpose, a pair of rollers is provided between the supply spool, which is a means for holding the ink film as a transfer medium, and the thermal head, and the ink film is fed out from the supply spool, and a braking means is provided on the shaft of one of the rollers. ing. Also, a boob is provided on the shaft of the roller via a one-way clutch. This pulley is adapted to be rotated by a driving means. When this pulley rotates in the ink film feeding direction (hereinafter abbreviated as the forward direction) relative to the roller, the one-way clutch does not connect the roller and the pulley.

In other words, the one-way clutch is connected to the roller when the roller stops and the pulley rotates in the forward direction, or when the roller and pulley rotate in the forward direction and the speed of the pulley is greater than the speed of the roller. It is designed so that it is not connected to the pulley. Note that under the opposite conditions, the roller and pulley will be in a connected state as a one-way clutch.For example, if the pulley is stopped and the roller is about to rotate in the forward direction, the roller and pulley will be in a connected state. In this state, the rotation of the roller is blocked by the stopped pulley.

Function When conveying the image receiving paper and ink film together as in normal transfer operation, the pulley is rotated by the driving means faster than the circumferential speed of the roller, and the roller shaft is braked by the braking means. It is being Even as the transfer operation progresses and the diameter of the film roll of the supply spool becomes smaller, a predetermined amount of tension is continued to be applied to the film by the braking means.

When a predetermined amount of transfer is completed and the image receiving paper is to be conveyed to the cutter side, the pulley is stopped by the driving means, and even if the ink film tries to move in the forward direction as the image receiving paper moves, the one-way clutch will prevent the roller from moving. does not move and holds the ink film securely.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the same members as those shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 are designated by the same reference numerals.

This thermal transfer recording device has a supply spool 3.0 which is a transfer medium holding means. The ink film 1oO as a transfer medium is wound around the supply spool 3 and the film roll 2
is formed. A pair of rollers that sandwich the ink film 1oo are provided between the supply spool 3 and the thermal head 1, and the shaft 6o of one roller (hereinafter referred to as pack tension roller toy) 5 is equipped with a friction braking means 4o as described later. and the pulley 62 via the one-way clutch 63.
and is provided.

The friction braking means 4o is arranged on the side of the pack tension roller 6 (on the back side in FIG. 1), and as shown in FIG. It is located near the. A brake plate 42 is attached to a side plate 41 of the main body, and a shaft 60 passes through the central portion.

A pressure plate 44 to which a friction material 43 is attached in contact with the brake plate 42
is the provision. A pin 46 is fitted into the pressure plate 44 and the shaft 6o, and this pin 46 connects the shaft 5o and the pressure plate 44. On the other hand, a pressure adjustment screw 47 is attached to the tip of the shaft 50, and a compression spring 4 is installed between the pressure adjustment screw 47 and the pressure plate 44.
6 is stretched. By turning the pressure adjustment screw 47, the elastic force of the compression spring 46 is adjusted to change the pressure between the brake plate 42 and the friction material 43, and in turn, the braking force when the pack tension roller 6 rotates is adjusted. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, a pulley 62 is attached to the shaft 60 via a one-way clutch 63, and a belt 61 is hung around the pulley 52. This belt 61
The other end is connected to the motor 105. motor 10
A belt 24 is hung around the shafts of the take-up spool 6 and the take-up spool 4, and the diameters of the shafts on which the belts 51 and 24 are passed are set such that the pulley 62 rotates faster than the pack tension roller 6 due to the rotation of the motor. It has become.

The one-way clutch 53 has a pulley 62 that is connected to the ink film 1o relative to the pack tension roller 5.
o When rotating in the feeding direction (hereinafter referred to as the forward direction), the pack tension roller 6 and the pulley 62 are not connected, whereas under the opposite condition, the back tension control roller 6 and the pulley 62 are connected. That's what I do.

The operation of the thermal transfer recording apparatus configured as described above will be explained.

Since the recording operation is the same as that of the conventional example, here we will mainly explain the operation of the pack tension roller 60. During recording, when the image receiving paper 1o1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow C, the ink film 1oO fed out from the ink film roll 2 is A predetermined braking force is applied by the friction braking means 4 while the paper is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow. Ink film 1o
With the movement of o, the back tension controller 6 moves in the direction of arrow B.
Rotate in the direction. At this time, the belt 61 is moved in the direction of arrow F by the motor 105, and the boolean IJ 62 is rotated in the direction of arrow G as the belt 51 moves. Since the circumferential speed of the pulley 62 is faster than the circumferential speed of the pack tensioner 5, the one-way clutch 63 does not connect the pulley 62 and the shaft 6o, and the rotational force of the motor 105 is transferred to the ink film 10.
o is not added as a braking force. Even if the diameter of the ink film 2 becomes smaller, the ink film 100 is conveyed with a predetermined braking force applied by the friction braking means 4, and the image receiving paper 101 is moved smoothly.

Then, a transfer record of good image quality is formed on the image receiving paper 101 without feeding irregularities, nine color shifts, etc. When conveying only the image receiving paper 1o1, such as when a predetermined transfer recording is completed, the motor 105 is stopped, the solenoid 13 is operated, and the platen roller 9 is separated from the thermal head 1.

Next, 1, the drive row 28 is activated. At this time, pulley 6
2 is stopped, even if the ink film 100 tries to move in the direction of the arrow A due to adhesion to the image receiving paper 1o1, the back tension control roller 6 is not activated by the one-way clutch 6.
3, the pulley 62 is locked. Then, the movement of the ink film 100 is blocked, and the image receiving paper 1o
Only O moves in the direction of arrow C.

In this embodiment, the pulley 62 and the take-up spool 4 are driven by one motor 106, but the circumferential speed of the pulley 62 is set to be faster than the circumferential speed of the take-up spool 4. If set, motors may be installed separately for both and operated in synchronization.

Furthermore, although the present embodiment describes the case where monochrome recording is performed, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and two-color, three-color
Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to color recording using multiple color inks.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, a pair of rollers is provided between the transfer medium holding means and the thermal head, the transfer medium is sandwiched between the rollers, and a braking means is provided on the shaft of one of the rollers, and
This shaft is equipped with a pulley via a one-way clutch, and the locked state of the one-way clutch is controlled by the conditions of the circumferential speed of the pulley and the circumferential speed of the roller.
Even if the film roll diameter changes greatly, the tension on the ink film remains constant, causing uneven feeding to the receiving paper.

This method has the effect that color shift does not occur, and the ink film is held with appropriate tension when the image receiving paper is ejected, so that the ink film is not pulled out by the image receiving paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a thermal transfer recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the friction braking means of the same device, and FIG. 3a is a back tension roller and a 3 is a schematic sectional view of the back tension roller shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional thermal transfer recording device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram showing a friction clutch connected to the take-up spool of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram showing a color ink film used when performing color recording. 1... Thermal head, 2... Ink film roll, 3... Supply spool, 5...
...Back tension roller, 9...7"
-y f roller, 4o...friction braking means,
61...Belt, 52...Boo 1 Haro 3...One-way clutch, 10o...
・Ink film, 1o1... Receiving paper, 1o6
······motor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Thermal transfer, in which a transfer medium and image receiving paper fed out from a transfer medium holding means coated with heat-fusible or sublimable ink are pressed into contact between a platen roller and a thermal head, and the ink is transferred to the image receiving paper by heating of the thermal head. A recording device, comprising a pair of rollers that sandwich the transfer medium between the transfer medium holding means and the thermal head,
A braking means is provided on the shaft of one of the rollers, and a pulley rotated by a driving means is provided on this shaft via a one-way clutch, and the pulley is set relative to the roller in the feeding direction of the transfer medium. When rotating to
A thermal transfer recording device characterized in that the one-way clutch is set so as not to connect the roller and the pulley.