JP2000280506A - Color thermal printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color thermal printer capable of performing the optimum printing of a sublimation type and a melting type. SOLUTION: In a color thermal printer wherein recording paper P is brought into contact with one surface of the ink sheet arranged on a carriage 1 while the line thermal head 11 arranged on the carriage 1 and selectively generating heat corresponding to an image is brought into contact with the other surface of the ink sheet and color printing is applied to the recording paper P by the heat generated in the thermal head, the carriage 1 is constituted so as to make it possible to alter such a state that four melting type ink sheet cassettes 2Y-2K are mounted side by side with respect to the direction crossing the line thermal head 11 at a right angle and such a state that one ink sheet cassette housing a sublimation type ink sheet having width corresponding to that of the line thermal head is mounted and a printing system is changed over so that, when the sublimation type ink sheet is used, line printing is performed and, when the melting type ink sheet is used, serial printing is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color thermal printer, and more particularly, to a printer suitable for use in a sublimation and fusion type color thermal printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional color thermal printers for sublimation and melting include those using a serial head and those using a line head. The one using a serial head prints only a portion having print data, and feeds only paper in a portion without print data, which is effective in reducing running costs. However, horizontal stripes called banding occur between lines, and this is a fatal cause of image deterioration especially in sublimation type printing for performing high-quality printing.

On the other hand, when a line head is used, since the ink sheet width and the head width have the same width as the paper width, banding does not occur and high-quality printing can be performed.

However, when there is no print data on the entire paper such as character data, the ratio of the print portion to the ink sheet area becomes extremely small, and there is a problem that the running cost becomes extremely high.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-256911 (B
41J 2/325) proposes a fusion-type color thermal printer in which four ink sheets of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are arranged and printed in the sub-scanning direction on a carriage that can reciprocate in the main scanning direction. ing.

[0006]

Although the printing speed can be improved by using the above-described color thermal printer, when this printer is applied to a sublimation type, as described above, a horizontal stripe called banding between lines is required. This causes a problem of causing image degradation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a color thermal printer capable of performing optimum printing on each of a sublimation type and a fusion type, in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0008]

According to a color printer of the present invention, a recording paper is brought into contact with one surface of a color ink sheet arranged on a carriage, and the other surface is arranged on the carriage in accordance with an image. In a color thermal printer in which a linear thermal head that selectively generates heat is brought into contact with and a color printing is performed on recording paper by the heat generated by the linear thermal head, the carriage moves in a direction orthogonal to the linear thermal head. A serial type can be changed between a state in which a plurality of ink sheet cassettes are mounted side by side and a state in which one ink sheet cassette containing ink sheets having a width corresponding to the linear thermal head is mounted. It is characterized in that it is possible to switch between printing and line-type printing.

The plurality of ink sheet cassettes contain melt-type color ink sheets of different colors, respectively, and the ink sheet having a width corresponding to the linear thermal head is a sublimation type ink coated with a plurality of colors in a face-to-face order. It is a sheet.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a sublimation printer capable of obtaining a printing quality comparable to that of a photograph and an apparatus capable of performing large-sized fusion-type color printing.

The carriage is provided with a winding means for winding the color ink sheet, and this winding means winds an ink sheet used for printing when a plurality of color ink sheet cassettes are mounted. Thus, it is preferable that the type of the ink sheet to be wound can be selected according to the printing data.

With the above configuration, the ink sheet cassette of the color having no printing data is stopped from taking up the ink, and the ink sheet in the unused portion is prevented from being taken up unnecessarily. it can.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a case where the color thermal printer of the present invention is used for sublimation printing, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a case where the color thermal printer of the present invention is used for fusion printing. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, a carriage 1 has a linear thermal head 11 and an ink sheet cassette 2 containing color ink sheets placed thereon. The carriage 1 moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Further, as the linear thermal head 11 in this embodiment, a linear thermal head capable of printing an A6 plate is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, when sublimation printing is performed, the arrangement direction of the heating elements of the linear thermal head 11 is the main scanning direction. In the ink sheet cassette 2, a sublimation type ink sheet to which yellow, magenta, and cyan dyes are applied is accommodated in the sub-scanning direction, and the ink sheet cassette 2 is set on the carriage 1.
At this time, printing is performed by line printing, and sub-scanning is performed by movement of the carriage 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, when performing the fusion type printing, the arrangement direction of the heating elements of the linear thermal head 11 is the sub-scanning direction.
Magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) fusion type ink sheet cassettes 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are set on the carriage 1 side by side. At this time, serial printing is performed. The moving direction of the carriage 1 is the main scanning direction, and the moving direction of the recording paper is the sub-scanning direction. In addition, four molten ink sheet cassettes 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K
Are the same as the width of the sublimation-type ink sheet cassette 2.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the printing mechanism. The recording paper P is located between the linear thermal head 11 and the platen 4. The ink sheet 2a of the ink sheet cassette 2 is interposed between the recording paper P and the linear thermal head 1. The linear thermal head 11 and the ink sheet cassette 2 move to the left in the drawing (carriage scanning direction),
a is unwound from the supply side roll 2c and is taken up from the winding side roll 2b.
Wound at.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the carriage 1 portion. The carriage 1 moves along the shaft 3 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The movement of the carriage 1 is a movement in the sub-scanning direction in the case of sublimation printing, and is a movement in the main scanning direction in the case of fusion printing.

A supply sprocket 51 and a take-up sprocket 52 are rotatably attached to the ink sheet cassette accommodating portion of the carriage 1. As will be described later, the sprockets 51 and 52 are configured such that when the melt-type ink sheet cassettes 2Y are set, the winding of ink sheets of the ink sheet cassettes 2Y of the respective colors can be independently controlled. Have been. And
The winding-side sprocket 52 is divided into a drive shaft connected to a drive motor (not shown) and sprocket portions 52Y, 52Y divided by a torque limiter mechanism such as a friction sheet.
It is connected to 2M, 52C and 52K and is driven to rotate. As will be described later, the supply-side sprocket 51 is connected to each of the sprockets 51Y, 51M, 51
C and 51K are selectively lockable, and in the locked state, feeding of the ink sheet from the supply roll 2c is prohibited.

When the ink sheet cassettes 2 are mounted in the ink sheet cassette accommodating portion of the carriage 1, the supply rolls 2c of the ink sheet cassettes 2 are mounted on the supply side sprockets 51, and the winding rolls are mounted on the winding side sprockets 52. The take-out rolls 2b are respectively fitted.

The sublimation type printing will be described with reference to FIG. The sublimation type ink sheet cassette 2 is constituted by one ink sheet, and three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are provided in a frame-sequential manner, and are sent in this order. The width of the ink sheet is A6 size width.

In printing, first, the sublimation recording paper P is transported to a predetermined printing start position by a paper transport mechanism (not shown). Then, the linear thermal head 11 presses the ink sheet 2a and the recording paper P with a predetermined pressing force. In accordance with the printing data, the linear thermal head 11 is heated and the recording paper P
To transfer the sublimation dye. When printing of one line in the main scanning direction is completed, the carriage 1 moves by one line, and prints the next line. When the yellow printing is finished,
The linear thermal head 11 is separated from the platen 4,
The carriage 1 returns to the first printing line. Subsequently, magenta printing and cyan printing are sequentially performed, and when the printing is completed, the color-printed sublimation recording paper P is discharged.

Here, if a line head for A6 is used, it is preferable that the recording paper size be smaller than A6 size. It is possible to print on recording paper of a size larger than the line head. In this case, the recording paper is fed, and Y
It is necessary to print the MC. This causes banding (a phenomenon in which the density difference between rows appears as white or black streaks). Banding can be significantly improved by image processing such as dot superimposition processing, but if pursuing high-quality images comparable to photographs, it is better to use a recording paper size that does not cause banding, that is, a recording paper smaller than the width of the line head. Good.

Next, the case where the present invention is applied to a fusion type thermal transfer recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The fusion printing basically performs four-color simultaneous printing. The molten ink sheet cassettes are prepared in four colors: an ink sheet cassette 2Y for yellow (Y), an ink sheet cassette 2M for magenta (M), an ink sheet cassette 2C for cyan (C), and an ink sheet cassette 2K for black (K). The width when the four ink sheet cassettes 2Y are bundled is the same as the width of the sublimation type ink sheet cassette 2.

Each ink sheet cassette 2
The mechanism for transporting Y is configured so that winding of the ink sheet and stopping of winding (supply) of the ink sheet can be controlled independently. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the ink sheet cassette of a color having no print data from being wound up and to prevent the ink sheet in a portion not consumed from being unnecessarily wound up. As a result, running costs are reduced.

The printing operation at the time of fusion printing will be described with reference to FIG. Regardless of the paper size, in the case of fusion printing, the recording paper P is fed to the printing start position. The carriage 1 is moved to perform printing in the main inspection direction. When the printing of the number of printing lines corresponding to the width of each ink sheet is completed, the linear thermal head 11 separates from the platen 4 and the carriage 1
Returns. During this operation, the recording paper P is conveyed, and a line feed operation for the printing line is performed. Subsequently, the operation of printing and line feed for the printing line is repeated.

The printing method is as follows: Y only printing, YM printing, Y
MC printing and YMCK printing are performed in this order. At the end of the paper, YMCK printing, MCK printing, CK printing, K printing, and paper ejection are performed. Therefore, despite the four-color printing, printing is completed without having to return the recording paper once, that is, without returning the recording paper.

Further, as described above, since the winding of the ink sheet of the ink sheet cassette not used for printing is stopped, the printing of the recording paper P at the leading end and the trailing end of the recording paper P is also performed. There is no needless feeding. Further, even during recording, the winding of the ink sheet may be stopped for an ink sheet for which printing is not performed continuously for several dots in order to avoid unnecessary feeding of the ink sheet.

Next, an example of a structure for winding and stopping the above-mentioned ink sheet cassettes. Ink sheets will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the ink supply side sprocket 51 is switched between a locked state and an unlocked state, and in the locked state, the rotation of the ink sheet supply side roll 2c is stopped and the ink sheet is not supplied. Then, even if the winding side sprocket 52 tries to wind up, the winding side sprocket 52 is idled by the torque limiter mechanism because the supply side sprocket 51 is locked. As a result, the feeding of the ink sheet is prohibited, and the ink sheet is not wound on the winding roll 2b. In this way, waste of the ink sheet is prohibited.

The shape of the supply sprocket 51 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the sprocket includes four sprockets 51Y and 5Y.
1M, 51C, 51K, each sprocket 51
Y are provided with hollow shafts 7Y. In this embodiment, the sprockets are 51Y, 51Y.
M, 51C, and 51K are arranged in this order toward the shaft side 3. Accordingly, the hollow shaft attached to the sprocket has the longest hollow shaft 7Y attached to the sprocket 51Y, and sequentially decreases in the order of 7M, 7C, and 7K by the width of the sprocket.

As shown in FIG. 9, between the adjacent sprockets, one hollow shaft is configured to fit into the other hollow shaft, and the hollow shaft 7C fits into the hollow shaft 7K. The hollow shaft 7M fits into the hollow shaft 7C, and the hollow shaft 7Y fits into the hollow shaft 7M. The hollow shafts 7Y attached to the sprockets 51Y ...
Each of the sprockets 51Y passes through the hollow shafts 7M and faces the locking means 6 of the sprocket 51Y.

The hollow shaft 7 of each sprocket 51Y ...
Y ... A pair of cut recesses are formed at the ends.

The locking means 6 which constitutes the locking means for engaging with the hollow shaft of each sprocket 51 is shown in FIG.
0 (a) to (d), the sprocket 5
1Y, four cylindrical columns 61Y and a hollow shaft 9K are provided. At the end of the hollow shafts 9K, a pair of projections that engage with the cut recesses are provided. Each of the cylinders 61K is provided with a recess 60 with which the lock pin 8 is engaged. In this embodiment, the cylinders 61K, 61
C, 61M, and 61Y are arranged in this order. Therefore, the hollow shaft attached to the cylinder is a sprocket 5
The hollow shaft 9Y attached to 1Y is the longest and is sequentially reduced in the order of 9M, 9C and 9K by the width of the cylinder. Between the adjacent cylinders, one hollow shaft is configured to fit into the other hollow shaft, the hollow shaft 9C fits into the hollow shaft 9K, and the hollow shaft 9M fits into the hollow shaft 9C. The hollow shaft 9Y fits into the hollow shaft 9M. Hollow shaft 9 attached to cylinder 61Y ...
Y pass through the hollow shafts 9M and face the cylinders 7Y of the sprockets 51Y. As shown in FIG. 6, the concave portion and the convex portion of the hollow shaft are engaged with each other to form the supply sprocket 51.

Then, as shown in FIG.
Four lock pins 8 are provided corresponding to the recesses. Cylinder 6 corresponding to the sprocket to be locked
The lock pin 8 is engaged with the recess 60 of 1.

Each supply side sprocket 51Y is located in the cassette accommodating portion of the carriage 1, and the lock member 6 is located on the side opposite to the cassette accommodating portion. When the lock pin 8 is depressed by driving means (not shown), the cylinder 6
The lock pin 9 is engaged with the recess 60 of 1Y. The sprockets 51 corresponding to the engaged cylinders 61 are pulled by the take-up side sprocket 52, but the sprockets 51 are fixed by the lock pins 8, so that the sprockets 51 do not rotate. The ink sheet is not fed from the supply roll 2C, and the winding sprockets 52 idle.

As described above, by controlling the pressing of the lock pin 8, the feeding of the ink sheet can be stopped and the winding of the ink sheet can be stopped.

In the above-described embodiment, the supply side sprockets 51 are locked so that the winding of the ink sheet is stopped. It may be configured to transmit the driving force only to the portion and control the winding and stopping of the ink sheet.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sublimation printer capable of obtaining a printing quality comparable to that of a photograph and an apparatus capable of performing large-sized fusion-type color printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a case where a color thermal printer of the present invention is used for sublimation printing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a case where the color thermal printer of the present invention is used for fusing printing.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing mechanism of the color thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a carriage portion of the color thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of fusion printing in the color thermal printer of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a lock mechanism of the sprocket on the supply side of the color thermal printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a lock mechanism in the color thermal printer supply side sprocket of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of each sprocket of the color thermal printer supply side sprocket of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where each sprocket of the color thermal printer supply side sprocket of the present invention is assembled.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of each part of a lock member of the color thermal printer supply side sprocket of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where a lock member of the color thermal printer supply side sprocket of the present invention is assembled.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 2 Ink sheet cassette 2Y-2K Ink sheet cassette 3 Shaft 4 Platen P Recording paper

Claims (3)

[Claims] A recording paper is brought into contact with one surface of a color ink sheet arranged on a carriage, and a linear thermal head arranged on the carriage and selectively generating heat in accordance with an image is brought into contact with the other surface. In the color thermal printer that performs color printing on recording paper by the heat generated by the linear thermal head, the carriage may include:
A state in which a plurality of ink sheet cassettes are mounted side by side in a direction orthogonal to the linear thermal head, and one ink sheet cassette containing an ink sheet having a width corresponding to the linear thermal head is mounted. A color thermal printer, wherein a state can be changed, and serial printing and line printing can be switched. 2. A sublimation in which a plurality of color ink sheets of different colors are accommodated in the plurality of ink sheet cassettes, respectively, and a plurality of colors are sequentially applied to the ink sheet having a width corresponding to the linear thermal head. The color thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the color thermal printer is a mold ink sheet. 3. The carriage is provided with winding means for winding a color ink sheet, and the winding means winds an ink sheet used for printing when an ink sheet cassette of a plurality of colors is mounted. 3. The color thermal printer according to claim 1, wherein the type of the ink sheet to be wound is selectable according to the printing data.