JP2005343020A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can carry out high-quality image printing by enlarging a frictional resistance of a recording paper to a belt and preventing a transfer shift of the recording paper during printing. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 1 is equipped with a rotatable platen roller 3, a pair of first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 disposed at both of the right and left sides via the platen roller 3, a belt 6 hung on the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 so that an inner face of the platen roller 3 contacts it, a thermal head 7 which can press contact with the platen roller 5 via the belt 6, and the recording paper 2 which can be brought in press contact with the platen roller 3 by the head-downed thermal head 7 via the belt 6. Press contact members 9 which can press contact the recording paper 2 against the belt 2 are arranged between the platen roller 3, and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and more particularly to a printer capable of high-quality image printing by conveying recording paper with high accuracy.

The conventional printer 21 will be described based on Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 21 includes a platen roller 22 having a large diameter and a pair of auxiliary rollers disposed on the left and right sides of the platen roller 22. 23 and 24, and a belt 25 which is stretched between the pair of auxiliary rollers 23 and 24 and is in contact with the platen roller 22 are disposed.
Further, a thermal head 26 is disposed on the platen roller 22 via a belt 25. The thermal head 26 rotates with the rotation support portion 26a as a fulcrum, thereby contacting and separating from the platen roller 22 ( Head up / down) is possible.
An ink ribbon 27 is routed between the platen roller 22 and the thermal head 26 via the belt 25.

Further, one and the other pinch rollers 28 and 29 are pressed against the auxiliary rollers 23 and 24 via the belt 25, and the auxiliary rollers 23 and 24 and the pinch rollers 28 and 29 are interposed between the auxiliary rollers 23 and 24. The recording paper 30 being conveyed is pressed and clamped.
Then, the recording paper 30 press-clamped between the auxiliary rollers 23 and 24 and the pinch rollers 28 and 29 via the belt 25 rotates the platen roller 22 in the direction of the arrow A, and the belt 25 is moved. By rotating it counterclockwise, it can be conveyed in the left direction in the figure.

Further, when the recording head 30 is conveyed in the left direction by rotating the belt 25 counterclockwise with the thermal head 26 lowered, the ink ribbon 27 pressed against the recording paper 30 is wound in the arrow B direction. Is taken.
At the same time, a plurality of heating elements (not shown) of the thermal head 26 are selectively heated based on printing information, whereby the ink on the ink ribbon 27 is thermally transferred to the recording paper 30 and a desired image is recorded on the recording paper 30. Is printed.

When printing a color image, the recording paper 30 is conveyed in the left direction in the figure to print the primary image, and then the thermal head 26 is raised to show the recording paper 30 on which the primary image is printed. Returning to the right direction, the thermal head 26 is lowered again, and the ink of different color ink ribbons 27 is overprinted on the primary image to form a secondary image. Thereafter, a desired color image can be printed on the recording paper 30 by repeatedly overprinting a tertiary image or a quaternary image on the secondary image by the same printing operation.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-032679

However, in the conventional printer 21, the recording paper 30 conveyed in the left direction during printing is between the one pinch roller 28 and the thermal head 26 and between the other pinch roller 29 and the thermal head 26. It is not pressed against the belt 25.
For this reason, the recording paper 30 being printed has a possibility that the frictional resistance between the belt 25 and the recording paper 30 becomes small and a conveyance shift occurs, resulting in a reduction in image quality.

In addition, when printing a color image, it is generated when a secondary image is formed by overprinting different colors of ink on the primary image in a conveyance shift that occurs when the primary image is printed by transporting it in the left direction in the figure. Since the conveyance deviation is accumulated, the quality of the color image may be further deteriorated.
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and provides a printer capable of increasing the frictional resistance of the recording paper with respect to the belt, preventing the recording paper from being transported during printing, and performing high-quality image printing. With the goal.

  As a first means for solving the above problems, a printer according to the present invention includes a rotatable platen roller, a pair of paper feed rollers disposed on both left and right sides of the platen roller, and the pair of paper feed rollers. A belt stretched over the belt, a thermal head that can be pressed against the platen roller via the belt, and a recording sheet that can be conveyed between the platen roller and the thermal head via the belt, A pressure contact member capable of pressing the recording paper against the belt is disposed between the platen roller and the paper feed roller.

  Further, as a second means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the belt is rotated by rotational driving of the platen roller and the paper feed roller.

  Further, as a third means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the pressure contact member can be brought into contact with and separated from the belt in conjunction with head up / down of the thermal head.

  In addition, as a fourth means for solving the above problem, an ink ribbon which is used for printing and is in close contact with the recording paper by the pressure contact member located on the downstream side of the thermal head in the conveyance direction of the recording paper. Is characterized by being peelable.

  Further, as a fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, the press contact member is composed of a rotatable roller.

  Further, as a sixth means for solving the above problem, a plurality of pointed protrusions protruding at a predetermined height are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the platen roller and the paper feed roller, and these protrusions are formed on the belt. It is characterized by biting into.

  Further, as a seventh means for solving the above-mentioned problem, a pinch roller is pressed against the pair of paper feed rollers via the belt, respectively.

  A pressure contact member capable of pressing the recording paper against the belt is disposed between the platen roller and the paper feed roller according to the printer of the present invention, so that the recording paper during printing can be reliably prevented from slipping. And high quality image printing can be performed.

  In addition, since the belt is rotated by the rotation drive of the platen roller and the paper feed roller, even if the recording paper transport load is increased by the thermal head that is down during printing, the belt is reliably rotated to ensure reliable recording. Paper can be conveyed.

  In addition, the pressure contact member can be brought into contact with and separated from the belt in conjunction with the head up / down of the thermal head. I'm trying to get rid of.

  In addition, since the ink ribbon that is used for printing and is in close contact with the recording paper can be peeled off by the press contact member located on the downstream side of the thermal head in the recording paper conveyance direction, After solidifying, the ink ribbon can be peeled off, and high-quality image printing is possible.

  Further, since the pressure contact member is composed of a rotatable roller, the ink ribbon drawn around the pair of pressure contact members can be wound smoothly and smoothly.

  In addition, a plurality of pointed protrusions protruding at a predetermined height are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the platen roller and the paper feed roller, and these protrusions bite into the belt. The belt can be reliably rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the belt.

  In addition, since the pinch rollers are pressed against the pair of paper feed rollers via belts, the recording paper can be conveyed more reliably.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the printer 1 of the present invention will be described based on the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 based on the drawings. The printer 1 of the present invention is, for example, from a card-like cut paper such as photographic paper having a predetermined size. A cylindrical platen roller 3 made of metal is rotatably arranged on a conveyance path through which the recording paper 2 can be conveyed, and a pair of cylindrical columns made of metal are arranged on both the left and right sides of the platen roller 3. The first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 are disposed.
The platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 can be driven to rotate, and can be rotated to the right or left by being independently or gear-coupled.

Further, a plurality of pointed protrusions (not shown) projecting at a predetermined height (for example, a height of 70 to 100 μm) on the outer peripheral surfaces of the platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5. Is formed.
Further, an endless belt 6 made of rubber or the like having high frictional resistance is stretched between the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5, and the inner surface of the belt 6 is a platen roller 3. It is in contact with the outer peripheral surface.

The belt 6 is configured such that a plurality of protrusions formed on the platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 bite into the inner surface.
Therefore, the rotation of the platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 is reliably transmitted to the belt 6 so that the belt 6 can be prevented from slipping. The belt 6 is formed wider than the recording paper 2 so that the recording paper 2 can be reliably reciprocated in the left and right directions in the drawing.

Further, the thermal head 7 is held by a head holding member 8 that can move up and down in a direction in which the thermal head 7 is in contact with and away from the belt 6, and can be raised and lowered as the head holding member 8 moves up and down.
A pair of press contact members 9 made of a rotatable roller are supported on the left and right ends of the lower end of the head holding member 8 in the figure.
An ink ribbon 10 coated with a desired color ink is drawn between the pair of pressure contact members 9 and can be wound in the direction of arrow C at a predetermined winding angle.

A pair of first and second pinch rollers 11 and 12 are in pressure contact with the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 via a belt 6. The first paper feed roller 4 and the first pinch roller 11 and the recording paper 2 conveyed between the second paper feed roller 5 and the second pinch roller 12 can be pressed and clamped.
Then, the recording paper 2 held in pressure contact between the first paper feed roller 4 and the first pinch roller 11 and between the second paper feed roller 5 and the second pinch roller 12 is the platen roller 3 and the first and second papers. The belt 6 that is rotated by the rotation of the paper feed rollers 4 and 5 can be conveyed leftward or rightward in the drawing.

  The operation of printing the entire surface of the recording paper 2 by the printer 1 of the present invention will be described. First, the leading end of the recording paper 2 is placed between the belt 6 rotating in the arrow D direction and the first pinch roller 11. Hold it. Then, the recording paper 2 is conveyed to the downstream side in the direction of arrow D, the leading end portion is positioned on the platen roller 3, and cueing is performed by a sensing member (not shown).

Thereafter, when the head holding member 8 is lowered and the thermal head 7 is lowered, the recording paper 2 is pressed against the belt 6 by the pressing member 9 on the right side of the drawing.
In this state, when the belt 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow D, the recording paper 2 is conveyed between the belt 6 on the platen roller 3 and the thermal head 7 and the downstream side in the direction of arrow D. The

At the same time, when a plurality of heat generating elements (not shown) of the thermal head 7 are selectively heated based on the print information, the ink on the ink ribbon 10 is thermally transferred from the leading end of the recording paper 2 to the recording paper 2 as desired. The entire image can be printed.
The recording paper 2 during printing can increase the frictional resistance against the belt 6 by the pair of press contact members 9, 9.
Therefore, the recording paper 2 being printed can be reliably conveyed downstream in the direction of the arrow D without slipping even when the conveyance load is increased by the thermal head 7 which has been downed, and high-quality image printing is possible. It can be performed.

  When a color image is printed on the recording paper 2, for example, a yellow primary image is printed on the entire surface by the first printing as described above. Then, when the sensing member detects that the trailing edge of the recording paper 2 after printing conveyed in the direction of the arrow D is detached from the thermal head 7, the rotation of the belt 6 is stopped and the head holding member 8 is raised. The thermal head 7 is raised.

Thereafter, the platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 are reversed, the belt 6 is reversed in the direction of arrow E, and the leading edge of the recording paper 2 is positioned at the cueing position when the primary image is printed. Back feed up to.
Since the recording paper 2 at this time is not in pressure contact with the thermal head 7, the transport load is small. Therefore, even if the pressure contact member 9 is not in pressure contact, the first paper feed roller 4 and the first pinch roller 11. By the press contact between the second paper feed roller 5 and the second pinch roller 12, back feed can be easily performed without slipping.

  When the cueing is completed, the head holding member 8 is lowered again, the thermal head 7 is headed down, and the belt 6 is rotated in the direction of arrow D so that different colors are displayed from the top of the primary image on the recording paper 2. For example, a secondary image is formed by overprinting magenta ink. Thereafter, a desired color image can be printed on the recording paper 2 by repeatedly printing a tertiary image on the secondary image or a quaternary image on the tertiary image by the same printing operation.

Further, in the printer 1 of the present invention, the printed ink ribbon 10 is wound up in the direction of arrow C from the pressing member 9 on the left side in the figure at a predetermined peeling angle, so that the distance from the thermal head 7 to the pressing member 9 is increased. By changing, the peeling time of the ink ribbon 10 can be changed.
For this purpose, a high-quality image can be printed by setting the distance from the thermal head 7 to the pressing member 9 on the left side of the drawing corresponding to the time until the ink on the ink ribbon 10 after printing is solidified reliably. it can.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure contact members 9 are described as rotatable rollers, but a convex portion integrally formed with the head holding member 8 may be used.
In addition, the platen roller 3 made of metal and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 have been described as having a plurality of protrusions formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, but the platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 are also described. A rubber member (not shown) having a high frictional resistance is wound around the outer peripheral surface 5, and the inner surface of the belt 6 is pressed against the rubber member.
Therefore, the rotation of the platen roller 3 and the first and second paper feed rollers 4 and 5 is reliably transmitted to the belt 6, and the belt 6 can be prevented from slipping.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main part of a printer according to the present invention. It is the schematic explaining the principal part of the conventional printer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 of this invention Recording paper 3 Platen roller 4 1st paper feed roller 5 2nd paper feed roller 6 Belt 7 Thermal head 8 Head holding member 9 Pressure contact member 10 Ink ribbon 11 1st pinch roller 12 2nd pinch roller

Claims (7)

  A rotatable platen roller, a pair of paper feed rollers disposed on the left and right sides of the platen roller, a belt stretched between the pair of paper feed rollers, and the platen roller via the belt. And a recording paper that can be conveyed between the platen roller and the thermal head via the belt, and the recording paper is provided between the platen roller and the paper feed roller. A printer comprising a pressure contact member capable of being pressed against the belt.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the belt is rotated by rotational driving of the platen roller and the paper feed roller.   3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact member is capable of contacting and separating from the belt in conjunction with head up / down of the thermal head.   2. The ink ribbon that is used for printing and is in close contact with the recording paper can be peeled off by the pressure contact member positioned on the downstream side of the thermal head in the recording paper transport direction. 4. The printer according to any one of 3 to 3.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the pressure contact member is a rotatable roller.   A plurality of pointed protrusions projecting at a predetermined height are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the platen roller and the paper feed roller, and the protrusions bite into the belt. The printer according to any one of 1 to 5. 7. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a pinch roller is pressed against the pair of paper feed rollers via the belt.

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