JP2000168113A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] A non-recording area of a recording medium can be eliminated.
Further, the present invention provides a recording apparatus which does not require many rollers as a conveying member. SOLUTION: The recording medium S has a platen roller 5 that supports the recording medium S and applies a conveying force to the recording medium S, and a heating element that generates heat according to an image signal, and presses the recording medium S against the platen roller 5. And a pinch roller 6 which can take a position where the recording medium S is pressed against the platen roller 5 and a position where the recording medium S is retracted from the pressing position. It is characterized by the following.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for performing recording by causing a recording head to generate heat, and more particularly to a recording apparatus capable of reducing a non-recording area of a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of video cameras, digital cameras, and the like, the demand for color printers for recording color images input from these cameras has been increasing. There are various recording methods of such a color printer, and an ink sheet coated with a heat sublimable or heat-meltable ink is selectively heated by a recording head having an array of heating elements to transfer an ink image to recording paper. A color printer of a recording type is widely used. In particular, the sublimation type thermal transfer recording device
Since high-quality full-color images can be obtained, they are expected to be used as color printers for digital cameras.

Generally, when performing color recording using a thermal transfer system, a mechanism shown in FIG. 3 is used. That is, the recording paper S is fed to the position where the capstan roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 are pressed against each other by manual feeding or using paper feeding means. And
The recording paper S is nipped by the capstan roller 50 and the pinch roller 51, and the recording paper S is fed in the direction of arrow a. At this time, the recording head 52 is at a position separated from the platen roller 53.

The leading end position of the recording paper S is detected by a sensor 54, and a capstan roller 50 and a pinch roller 51 are detected.
Is transported to the position where the pinching is held, and is stopped and held in the pinched state. In this state, the ink sheet 55 in which the respective color inks are applied in a face-sequential manner is wound up and conveyed, and the first color ink is set at the position of the recording head 52. Then, the recording head 52 applies the ink sheet to the platen roller 53.
55 and the recording paper S are pressed.

Next, while driving the capstan roller 50 and the ink sheet take-up reel 56 to convey the ink sheet 55 and the recording paper S in the direction of the arrow b, the recording head 52 having the heating elements arranged is moved to the ink sheet 55. Then, the recording element S is pressed against the platen roller 53 to cause the heating element to generate heat in accordance with the image signal for each line of the first color, thereby thermally transferring the ink to perform image recording.

At this time, the leading end position is detected by the sensor 54, and the heating element of the recording head 52 is driven so that an image is recorded at a predetermined position on the recording sheet S. In this way, after one screen of recording is performed with the first color ink, the recording head 52 is separated from the platen roller 53.

Next, the capstan roller 50 is driven again, the recording paper S is fed in the direction of the arrow a, the leading end position is detected by the sensor 54, and the recording paper S is moved to the position where the nipping by the capstan roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 is held. Feed the recording paper S
And hold it.

[0008] Then, the ink sheet 55 in which the respective color inks are separately applied in a plane-sequential manner is wound up and conveyed, and set so that the second color ink comes to the position of the recording head. From this state, the recording head 52 is pressed against the platen roller 53 via the ink sheet 55 and the recording paper S, and the capstan roller 50 and the take-up reel 56 are driven to convey the ink sheet 55 and the recording paper S in the direction of arrow b. The recording head 52 is caused to generate heat in accordance with the image signal, and the ink of the ink sheet is thermally transferred to the recording paper S to perform the second color image recording.

Similarly, full-color image recording is performed by recording one screen using the third color ink.

[0010]

However, in the recording apparatus described above, at least the capstan roller 50, the pinch roller 51, and the recording head 52 are pressed as recording paper S conveying means. Platen roller
53 rollers are required.

Further, while it is necessary to always hold the recording paper S at the pressure contact position between the capstan roller 50 and the pinch roller 51, the image recording is performed by the recording head 52 and the platen roller.
There is a problem that a non-recording portion having a fixed length is formed on the recording paper S because the pressing is performed at the position where the 53 is pressed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and
An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus which can eliminate a non-recording area of a recording medium and does not require many rollers as a conveying member.

[0013]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is to support a recording medium and provide a conveying force to the recording medium, and a platen in accordance with an image signal. A recording head having a heat generating element for generating heat and capable of taking a position for pressing a recording medium against the platen and a position for retreating from the pressing position, a position for pressing a recording medium against the platen, and retreating from the pressing position And a holding member capable of taking a position.

In the above configuration, when the recording head is at the retracted position, the recording medium is pressed against the platen by the pressing member, and when the recording head is at the pressed position, the pressing member is retracted from the recording medium. Thus, the recording medium is always pressed against the platen. Therefore, the conveying force can be applied to the recording medium by the platen without requiring many rollers, and a non-recording area can be eliminated from the recording medium when forming a color image.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A color thermal transfer recording apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which recording is performed on a recording medium by a recording head, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an ink sheet or a recording medium is being conveyed.

As shown in the figure, an ink sheet 1 in which a heat-fusible or heat-sublimable ink is applied to a support such as a polyethylene terephthalate film is wound around a supply reel 2 and a take-up reel 3, and is wound by driving means (not shown). By rotating the take-up reel 3, the ink sheet 1 is supplied from the supply reel 2 and taken up by the take-up reel 3. The ink sheet 1 is applied with color inks of yellow, magenta, and cyan in color order for color recording.

On the other hand, a recording medium S such as paper or a plastic sheet is configured to be conveyed by a platen roller 5. The platen roller 5 has a length equal to or greater than the width of the recording medium, is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions, and supports the recording medium S during recording. The platen roller 5 is provided with a pinch roller 6 as a pressing member for the recording medium S so as to be pressed and driven to rotate. Therefore, the recording medium S can be conveyed by nipping the platen roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 and driving and rotating the platen roller 5.

A recording head 7 is provided at a position facing the platen roller 5. The recording head 7 is a line type thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in the width direction of the recording medium S being conveyed. As shown in FIG. 1, the recording head is brought into close contact with an ink sheet and generates heat in accordance with an image signal, whereby the molten ink is transferred to a recording medium S to record an image.

The recording head 7 is supported by a head support member 8, which is rotatable about a shaft 8a, and is stretched between the head support member 8 and the apparatus housing. It is urged by the tension spring 9 in a direction to retract (separate) from the platen roller 5. The other end of the head supporting member 8 is in contact with a cam 10 as a head contacting / separating means by the urging. The cam 10 is rotated by driving means (not shown). By rotating the cam 10, the head support member 8 is rotated, and as shown in FIG. A pressing position for pressing the platen roller 5 via
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording head 7 can be moved to a retreat position where the recording head 7 retreats from the platen roller 5.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pinch roller 6 is also configured to be able to take a position where the recording medium S is pressed against the platen roller 5 and a position where it is retracted (separated from the recording medium) from the pressed position. That is, the pinch roller 6 is a shaft
It is rotatably attached to one end of a roller-shaped roller support member 11 that is rotatably supported around 11a,
A link member 12 is connected to the other end of the roller support member 11, and a rotation member 13 is connected to the link member 12 as a pinch roller separation / contact means. The rotating member 13 is a shaft 13a
, And is mounted so that the rotating end thereof comes into contact with the cam 10 by a tension spring 14 stretched between the rotating member 13 and the apparatus housing. Therefore, the rotating member 13
Is rotated by the rotation of the cam 10, and the pinch roller 6 can be pressed against and separated from the recording medium S via the link member 12 and the roller support member 11.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 15 denotes a sensor for detecting the recording medium S being conveyed, and reference numeral 16 denotes a guide member for guiding the conveyance of the recording medium S.

Next, the operation of the color thermal transfer recording apparatus having the above configuration will be described. To start image recording, first, the recording medium S is fed out to a position where the recording head 7 and the pinch roller 6 are pressed against the platen roller 5 by manual feeding or feeding means (not shown). Here, the cam 10 is moved to the arrow c in FIG.
The pinch roller 6 is moved to the pressing position by driving in the direction, and is pressed against the recording medium S supported by the platen roller 5. Then, the platen roller 5 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow e in FIG. 2 in a state where the recording medium S is sandwiched between the platen roller 5 and the pinch roller 6, and the recording medium S is transported in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The recording medium S is detected by the sensor 15, and after the detection, the recording medium S is conveyed to a predetermined amount, that is, the position where the end of the recording medium S is nipped by the platen roller 5 and the pinch roller 6, and stopped. Then, the ink sheet 1 is wound on the take-up reel 3 by a predetermined amount, and the head of the first color ink (for example, yellow) is located.

Next, the cam 10 is driven and rotated in the direction of arrow d in FIG. As a result, the pinch roller 6 separates from the recording medium S, and the recording head 7 moves to the pressing position, and the platen roller 5 moves through the recording medium and the ink sheet 1.
Press. In this state, the platen roller is driven to rotate forward in the direction of arrow f in FIG. 1 to convey the recording medium S in the direction of arrow b, the ink sheet 1 is wound around the take-up reel 3, and the recording head 7 is moved to the first position. The first color ink image is transferred to the recording medium S by generating heat according to the color image signal. Also at this time, the sensor 15 detects the leading end position of the recording medium S, and controls the heat generation of the recording head 7 so that the image recording is performed at a predetermined position of the recording medium S. Then, after a predetermined amount is conveyed after the end of the recording medium S passes through the sensor 15, the conveyance is stopped until the end of the recording medium S is nipped by the platen roller 5 and the pinch roller 6, and then stopped.

When the first color recording is completed as described above, the cam 10 is rotated again to separate the recording head 7 from the recording medium S and the ink sheet 1 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the recording medium S is pressed against the platen roller 5. In this state, the recording medium S is transported and returned in the direction of the arrow a in FIG. 2, and the ink sheet 1 is wound on the take-up reel 3 and the second color ink (for example, magenta)
Cue. Thereafter, the second color recording is performed in the same manner as in the above-described first color recording, and finally, the third color recording is performed in the same manner, thereby recording a color image on the recording medium S. After the color image is obtained, manual or discharge means (not shown)
Then, the recording medium S is taken out of the apparatus, and a series of operations is completed.

As described above, the pinch roller 6 is configured to be able to take a position where the pinch roller 6 presses the recording medium S against the platen roller 5 and a position where the pinch roller 6 is retracted from the position. By pressing the recording medium S against the platen roller 5 by the roller 6, the recording medium S can be conveyed from one end to the other end of the recording medium S on the platen roller, so that an image can be recorded without generating a non-recording area. It becomes possible. Further, the recording medium S can be conveyed by being pressed by the pinch roller 6 and rotating the platen roller in the forward and reverse driving directions, and does not require many rollers as in the related art.

In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the recording head 7 and the pinch roller 6 are moved to the pressing position and the retracted position by using the rotation of the support members 8 and 11, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. It is not necessary to use a mechanism such as a solenoid or a cam.

In the above-described embodiment, a line-type thermal transfer recording apparatus using the ink sheet 1 has been exemplified. However, if the apparatus performs recording while moving the recording head 7 between the pressing position and the retracted position, the recording head may be used. The present invention can be suitably applied to a serial type recording apparatus that scans a document, and a thermal recording apparatus using, for example, thermal paper. Further, the pressing member does not necessarily have to be a roller.

[0028]

The present invention is constructed as described above.
When the recording head is at the retracted position, the recording medium is pressed against the platen by the pressing member, and when the recording head is at the pressing position, the pressing member is retracted from the recording medium, so that the recording medium is always moved to the platen. Will be able to hold down. Therefore, the conveying force can be applied to the recording medium by the platen without requiring many rollers, and a non-recording area can be eliminated from the recording medium when forming a color image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state where recording is performed on a recording medium by a recording head.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an ink sheet or a recording medium is being conveyed.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration of a thermal transfer recording apparatus according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S ... recording medium 1 ... ink sheet 2 ... supply reel 3 ... take-up reel 4 ... transport guide 5 ... platen roller 6 ... pinch roller 7 ... recording head 8 ... head support member 8a ... shaft 9 ... tension spring 10 ... cam 11 ... Roller support member 11a ... shaft 12 ... link member 13 ... rotating member 13a ... shaft 14 ... tension spring 15 ... sensor 16 ... guide member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinya Hirai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kyogoku 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2C064 CC02 CC04 CC07 CC11 EE01 EE05 EE06 EE07 EE15 FF01 FF06 2C065 AA01 AA02 AB01 AB03 AB10 AC01 CC08 CC09 CC24 CC28 CC33

Claims (6)

[Claims] A platen for supporting a recording medium and applying a conveying force to the recording medium; a heating element for generating heat in response to an image signal; a position for pressing the recording medium against the platen; A recording head that can take a position to retreat from the printer, a pressing member that can take a position to press a recording medium against the platen, and a position to retreat from the pressing position. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the recording head is at a retracted position, the pressing member is at a pressing position. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the recording head is at a pressing position, the pressing member is at a retracted position. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing position of the recording medium by the pressing member is near the pressing position of the recording medium by the recording head. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus selectively heats an ink sheet by the recording head, and performs recording by transferring ink of the heated portion to a recording medium. Recording device. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus reciprocates a recording medium by the platen to form a color image.