JPH08156296A - Heat sensitive color recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent excess heat from being applied to a heat-sensitive color recording material which may make the heat-sensitive color recording material deteriorate, allow a thermal head to be preheated effectively, and expand a printable area at the same time. CONSTITUTION: A thermal head is preheated before pressed to a heat sensitive color recording material, pressure-contacting and driving of the heat-sensitive color recording material are commenced simultaneously, energy is applied to the thermal head's heat generating resistor so that all preparations for printing may have been made when the thermal head is pressure-contacted to the heat- sensitive color recording material. When preheating finishes (A), controlling of a thermal head moving mechanism begins (B), controlling of a drum platen driving mechanism fitted to the heat-sensitive color recording material begins (C), and energy is applied to the thermal head and tone printing is performed (D).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention develops color by heat energy,
The present invention relates to a color thermosensitive recording apparatus using a color thermosensitive recording material that is fixed in order to prevent re-coloring of an uncolored portion by ultraviolet rays.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A large number of color-developing layers containing an electron-donating dye precursor and an electron-accepting compound as a main component on a support, such as a color heat-sensitive recording material described in JP-A-6140192. There is a multicolor heat-sensitive recording material which has a color developing layer and develops colors at different temperatures and stops the color forming ability by irradiating with ultraviolet rays having different wavelengths after the color formation. When a multicolor image is thermally recorded on such a recording material, a plurality of heat generating elements corresponding to the number of recording pixels are arranged in the recording main scanning direction corresponding to the number of recording pixels and selectively applied to each heating element. By using a thermal head for performing thermal recording of the recording material by controlling the applied energy, first, the uppermost yellow layer of the recording material is thermally recorded. Since this color thermosensitive recording material has lower color heat sensitivity in the lower layer,
At this time, the coloring reaction does not start in the lower layer than the yellow layer. After this thermal recording, the yellow layer is fixed by irradiating with light having a wavelength that decomposes the uncolored diazonium chloride compound in the yellow layer.

Next, thermal recording is performed on the magenta layer with higher thermal energy than that on the yellow layer, and the image is similarly fixed by light. Finally, thermal recording of the cyan layer is performed with the largest thermal energy. However, since the cyan layer is thermally recorded with energy sufficiently larger than the heat that is normally generated naturally, optical fixing for stopping the recoloring ability is not necessary.

A conventional example of a color thermal recording apparatus for performing color recording based on the above principle will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for recording the above-mentioned color thermosensitive recording material. The color thermosensitive recording material 2 is fed from a paper feed port 10 and a leading edge 2-1 is provided by a recording material clamper 11 standing by near the paper feed port 10. The thermal head 4 is fixed to the drum platen 1 while rotating the drum platen 1 in the counterclockwise arrow direction in FIG.
Thermal recording is performed by the heating element 3 inside, and after recording, yellow,
It is optically fixed by ultraviolet fluorescent lamps 5 and 6 which emit fixing wavelengths of magenta. After that, the color thermosensitive recording material 2 on which the thermal recording has been performed up to the cyan layer is the recording material clamper 1.
The sheet is released from 1, and the sheet is ejected from the sheet ejection port 9 by the sheet ejection roller 8 to finish the recording.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the position of the color thermosensitive recording material 2 at the start of recording of each color forming layer. The front end 2-1 of the color thermosensitive recording material 2 at the start of printing is fixed to the drum platen 1 by a clamper 11. Rear end 2-2 of color thermosensitive recording material 2
Is near the fixing unit 7 without being fixed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the color developing characteristics of a color thermosensitive recording material. The yellow, magenta and cyan dyes develop colors corresponding to the applied energy in different energy regions. As you can see from Figure 2, yellow, macenta,
It is necessary to apply strong energy in the order of cyan. That is, the thermal head is preheated before printing each coloring layer, and after the preheating, energy control for print gradation control is performed.

[0007]

According to the conventional color thermal recording apparatus as described above, the color thermal recording material is fed into the apparatus and conveyed to a predetermined printing start position, and then the thermal head is used for color thermal recording. After the material is pressed to a predetermined position, preheating of the thermal head and driving start-up stable operation of the color thermal recording material transport system are started. That is, when the thermal head is preheated, the thermal head is pressed against the color thermosensitive recording material, and the energy for preheating the thermal head is transmitted to the color thermosensitive recording material, which causes deterioration of the preheating efficiency of the thermal head. At the same time, the heat transferred to the color thermosensitive recording material deteriorates the heat-resistant protective layer on the surface of the color thermosensitive recording material or causes unnecessary color development.

Further, since the above-described print preparation operation is started after the thermal head is pressed against a predetermined position of the color thermosensitive recording material, the color thermosensitive recording material is conveyed by a specific distance until printing becomes possible, and the printable area is reduced. Will be done. For example, the tip of the color thermosensitive recording material is clamped by the recording material clamper for fixing the color thermosensitive recording material to 5 mm, and the transport distance required for preheating the thermal head and starting and stabilizing the color thermosensitive recording material drive system is 5 mm. Then, the tip 10 mm becomes a non-printable area.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and preheating of the thermal head is performed before the thermal head is pressed against the color thermosensitive recording material, and at the same time, before the thermal head is pressed against the color thermal recording material. An object of the present invention is to provide a color thermosensitive recording device for driving and starting a thermosensitive recording material.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention performs preheating of the thermal head before the thermal head is pressed against the color thermosensitive recording material and at the same time before pressing the thermal head. In addition, the control method of starting the driving and stabilizing operation of the color thermosensitive recording material and starting the thermal head by the thermal head moving mechanism after the preheating of the thermal head is finished and press-contacting the stable color thermosensitive recording material is used. Color thermal recording method.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the energy for preheating the thermal head is not transferred to the color thermosensitive recording material, and the preheating can be performed efficiently. At the same time, since excess heat is not applied to the color thermosensitive recording material before the start of printing, unnecessary color development and deterioration of the surface protective layer do not occur. Simultaneously with the start of movement of the thermal head, the driving start-up stable operation of the color thermosensitive recording material is started, and when the thermal head is pressed against the predetermined position of the color thermosensitive recording material, all preparations for starting printing have been completed. Since printing is started at the same time when the head is pressed, the pressing position of the thermal head is set to the shortest position where it does not interfere with the fixing clamper of the color thermosensitive recording material, so that an unnecessary printing area is not reduced.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a chart showing the control at the start of printing of the color thermosensitive recording apparatus according to the present invention, which is used for the print control of the printing apparatus of FIG.

The color thermosensitive recording material 2 is fed from a paper feed port 10 by a paper cassette (not shown) and a paper feed mechanism, and the color thermosensitive recording material 2-1 is placed on the drum platen 1 by a recording material clamper 11 waiting near the paper feed port 10. It is fixed to and transported. The recording material clamper 11 is integrally rotated at the same time as the drum platen 1 and is rotated counterclockwise, and stopped below the heat generating resistor 3 of the thermal head 4 standing by above the drum platen 1. After that, energy is applied for preheating the heating resistor 3 of the thermal head 4 (see FIG. 1-
A) is performed. At the time of applying this energy, the thermal head 4 is not pressed against the color thermosensitive recording material 2 but is not in pressure contact, so that the applied energy is not transmitted to the color thermosensitive recording material 2 and efficient heating is performed.

When the preheating of the heating resistor 3 in the thermal head is completed, the control of the thermal head moving mechanism (not shown) is started, and the thermal head 4 is moved in the direction in which the thermal recording material 2 is pressed. Start. At the same time, the control of the drum platen drive mechanism (not shown) is started (FIG. 1-C), and the thermal head 4 moves to the position where the color thermosensitive recording material 2 is brought into pressure contact in synchronization with the timing when the drive is stabilized, and the layout shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. .

In the color thermosensitive recording material 2, a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers are provided on a substrate, for example, yellow is provided in the uppermost layer, macender is provided in the second layer, and cyan is provided in the third layer. Heat resistant protective film is coated. At this time, all the printing preparations have been completed, and energy for controlling the printing density is immediately applied to the thermal head 4 (FIG. 1-D) to perform gradation printing. At this time, by controlling the thermal head 4 so as to move to the shortest position where it does not interfere with the recording material clamper 11, the unprintable area at the leading end is only 5 mm at the leading end clamped by the recording material clamper 11.

Further, the energy for controlling the printing gradation is applied to the heating resistor 3 of the thermal head 4 corresponding to the pixel of the color thermosensitive recording material 2 to be colored.
The second printing line by applying energy to the heating resistor 3 corresponding to the pixels not to be colored at the same time as not causing coloration at the same time to suppress the decrease in the amount of heat generated by the heating resistor 3 due to the preliminary heating energy initially applied. The applied energy efficiency is ensured even in the subsequent printing, and the color thermosensitive recording material 2
The heat balance given to the heat-resistant protective layer on the surface of the color heat-sensitive recording material 2 is made constant by reducing the energy difference between the heat-generating resistors 3 applied to the color heat-sensitive recording material 2 and the printing due to deterioration of the heat-resistant protective layer on the surface of the color heat-sensitive recording material 2 is performed. Prevents matting.

Although this embodiment describes a color thermosensitive recording apparatus which employs a drum platen as the means for conveying the color thermosensitive recording material 2, in practice, as a means for conveying the color thermosensitive recording material 2, a capstan roller and a pinch roller. It is needless to say that the same print start control can be used for the color thermal recording apparatus of the type using.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently preheat the thermal head without applying extra heat to the color thermosensitive recording material 2 which causes deterioration of the color thermosensitive recording material. At the same time, the printable area can be expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a print start control method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing color forming characteristics of each color of the thermal recording apparatus applied to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a main part structure of a conventional color thermal recording apparatus and an apparatus to which the control of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Drum Platen 2 Color Thermal Recording Material 3 Heating Element in Thermal Head 4 Thermal Head 5 UV Lamp for Magenta Fixing 6 UV Lamp for Yellow Fixing 7 Fixing Unit 8 Paper Ejection Roller 9 Paper Ejection Port 10 Paper Feeding Port 11 Recording Material Clamper

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A color thermosensitive recording material is prepared by using a color thermosensitive recording material having a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers, and sequentially performing thermal recording and optical fixing while moving a thermal head and the color thermosensitive recording material relatively. In a color thermosensitive recording device for recording multicolor images, when the thermal head is preheated before starting printing, the thermal head does not press against the color thermosensitive recording material and maintains a predetermined gap with the color thermosensitive recording material. A color thermal recording apparatus characterized by using a recording control method. 2. The color thermal recording material is started to be driven at the same time when the thermal head starts moving to a position for pressing the color thermal recording material after the preheating of the thermal head is completed. Color thermal recording device. 3. A color thermosensitive recording material in which a plurality of thermosensitive coloring layers are layered, wherein the uppermost layer on the equipment has yellow, the second layer has a macender, and the third layer has a cyan coloring layer, and the uppermost yellow layer. 2. The color thermosensitive recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color thermosensitive recording material coated with a heat-resistant protective film is used on the surface of the color thermosensitive recording material. 4. The preheated thermal head applies heat to yellow, which is the uppermost thermosensitive coloring layer of the color thermosensitive recording material, and at the same time, applies heating energy to the thermosensitive coloring layers of the second layer and below so as not to develop color. The color thermosensitive recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein