JP2006315274A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which surely matches a recording starting position of an image at each recording head by improving the detection precision of a marker by a detecting means, and obtains good recording of the image. <P>SOLUTION: The printer comprises a plurality of recording units 6 which carry out recording of the image by each recording head 12; transfer units 24 which transfer a recording medium 2 with a tension between each recording unit 6 and the transfer unit 24 located next at the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in a transfer direction of the recording medium 2, by the rotation of each transfer roller 25; and position detection sensors 15 which are set in the vicinity of each recording unit 6 between each recording unit 6 and each transfer roller 24 arranged next at the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transfer direction, and which detect the marker for registration recorded by a first recording unit 6a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer, and in particular, a plurality of recording units that record images, a transport unit that is provided corresponding to each recording unit and transports a recording medium, and a detection unit that detects a marker recorded on the recording medium. The present invention relates to a printer having

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer that performs recording using a plurality of ink ribbons to which inks of different colors are applied, each ink ribbon is provided by a plurality of recording units each having a recording head provided corresponding to each ink ribbon. A printer is known that records a desired image by transferring the ink to a recording medium.

  In this printer, a plurality of recording units are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval along the conveyance path of the recording medium, and a platen roller is provided at a position facing the recording head via the recording medium and the ink ribbon. Is provided. Each recording unit is a first recording unit, a second recording unit, a third recording unit, and a fourth recording unit from the most upstream side in the transport direction, and the first recording unit is an image of each recording unit. In order to match the recording start position, a positioning marker is recorded in the vicinity of the image recording start position.

  A transport unit for transporting the recording medium is provided on the downstream side of each recording unit in the transport direction of the recording medium. Each transport unit has a pair of transport rollers provided so as to face each other with the recording medium interposed therebetween. Have.

  Further, the printer is provided with a position detection sensor facing the recording medium as a detecting means for detecting the alignment marker, and each position detection sensor has a detection light for the recording medium. And a light receiving element for receiving the detection light reflected by the recording medium. Such a sensor for position detection is generally provided corresponding to other recording units other than the first recording unit, and also reduces the portion of the recording medium where no image is recorded, thereby eliminating the waste of the recording medium. For this purpose, the recording medium is disposed upstream of the other recording unit in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  The printer sandwiches the recording medium by each conveying roller, conveys the recording medium by rotation of each conveying roller, and when the recording medium is conveyed to a position where the recording head and the platen roller in each recording unit face each other, A platen roller is pressed against the recording head via the recording medium. When the alignment marker is detected by the position detection sensor, an image is recorded on the recording medium by the recording head (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a printer, for example, when the second recording head is brought into pressure contact with the platen through the recording medium during recording on the recording medium by the first recording unit, the first recording unit is caused by an impact on the recording medium by the pressure contact operation. There is a risk of discrepancy in recording. For this reason, the printer conveys the recording medium while loosening the recording medium between the respective conveying units and the recording unit adjacent to the downstream side in the conveying direction of these conveying units. Thus, even if an impact is applied to the recording medium by the press-contact operation between each recording head and the platen, the impact is dispersed by the slack of the recording medium, and the platen and the recording head that performed the press-contact operation to the recording medium. It is possible to make it difficult to transmit the impact to the portion where the recording is performed in the upstream recording head.

  However, according to the printer as described above, the upstream side of each recording head in the transport direction of the recording medium is transported while the recording medium is slackened, so that it is disposed upstream of the recording head in the transport direction of the recording medium. The gap between the position detection sensor and the recording medium does not become a constant dimension. As a result, there is a risk that the intensity of the detection light emitted from the light emitting element of the position detection sensor and reflected on the recording medium may vary. In such a case, the detection accuracy of the position detection sensor decreases. As a result, there is a problem in that the positioning marker cannot be reliably detected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-90853

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and by improving the marker detection accuracy by the detection means, the recording start position of the image in each recording head can be surely matched to obtain a good image recording. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the printer according to the present invention is characterized in that it is disposed along a conveyance path of a recording medium, and each recording head and a platen are in pressure contact with each other via the recording medium. A plurality of recording units that perform recording, a first recording unit that is arranged on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium among the recording units, and that records a marker on the recording medium, and in the vicinity of each recording unit The recording medium is provided corresponding to each recording unit, sandwiches the recording medium by a pair of transport rollers, and is adjacent to the downstream of each recording unit and each recording unit in the transport direction by the rotation of each transport roller. A transport unit that transports the recording medium with tension between the transport rollers disposed in a line, and the recording units; Wherein provided between each of said transport units coordinated adjacent the downstream side of the recording unit in serial conveying direction, in that it has a detection means for detecting the marker.

  According to the printer of the present invention, each detection means is provided between each recording unit in which the recording medium is transported with tension and each transport unit adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit in the transport direction of the recording medium. It has been. For this reason, in this printer, the gap dimension between each detection means and the recording medium can be made constant during the conveyance of the recording medium, whereby the detection received by the light receiving element after being reflected by the recording medium. The luminous intensity of the working light can be made constant.

  Further, another printer according to the present invention is characterized in that each of the detection means is disposed in the vicinity of each of the recording units between each of the recording units and each of the transport units.

  According to this other printer of the present invention, each detecting means is disposed in the vicinity of each recording unit between each recording unit and each transport unit adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit in the transport direction. Therefore, the distance between each recording unit and the corresponding detection means can be shortened. Thereby, since the distance between the marker detected by each detection means in the recording medium and the recording start position of the image recorded by each recording unit can be shortened, the recording medium can be used efficiently.

  As described above, according to each printer according to the present invention, the detection of the marker can be performed by receiving the detection light having a constant luminous intensity by the detection unit, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the detection unit. be able to. As a result, the printer can reliably detect the marker by each detecting means, so that it is possible to prevent the image recorded by each recording unit from being shifted, and as a result, a good image can be obtained. Can be recorded.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a printer according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the printer 1, the recording medium 2 is conveyed along a predetermined conveyance path 4 while being guided by a plurality of guide rollers 3. It has come to be.

  Further, the printer 1 has a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) recording units 6 (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) provided so as to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval along the transport path 4. Each recording unit 6 includes a first recording unit 6a, a second recording unit 6b, a third recording unit 6c, and a fourth recording unit 6d from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 2.

  Each recording unit 6 has an ink ribbon 8 to which inks of colors Y, M, C, and BK are applied in order from the most upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 2. Each of them is wound around a pair of ink ribbon rolls 9 and guided by a ribbon guide roller 10 so that the ink application surface is conveyed opposite to the recording medium 2.

  Each recording unit 6 is provided with a recording head 12, which is a thermal head, at a position facing the recording medium 2 via the ink ribbon 8. A plurality of heating elements facing the width dimension of the medium 2 are arranged in parallel in a line shape.

  Each recording head 12 heats a desired heating element based on recording data input to the printer 1 to transfer the ink on the ink ribbon 8 to the recording medium 2, and in the transport direction of the recording medium 2. The recording head 12 of the first recording unit 6a disposed on the most upstream side transfers Y ink to a predetermined portion in the vicinity of the image recording start position on the recording medium 2 so as to record an alignment marker. It has become.

  Further, each recording unit 6 is provided with a platen roller 14 formed with a length corresponding to the width dimension of the recording medium 2 at a position facing the recording head 12 via the ink ribbon 8 and the recording medium 2. ing.

  A plurality of transport units 24 corresponding to the respective recording units 6 are provided on the downstream side of the respective recording units 6 in the transport direction of the recording medium 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each transport unit 24 is opposed to each other via the recording medium 2, and a pair of transport rollers 25 positioned so as to sandwich the recording medium 2 from both surfaces, and each transport in the transport direction of the recording medium 2. A pair of slack rollers 27 are provided on the downstream side of the roller 25 so as to sandwich the recording medium 2 from both sides.

  Each transport unit 24 sandwiches the recording medium 2 from both sides by both transport rollers 25 and rotates both transport rollers 25, thereby each recording unit 6 and each adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction. The recording medium 2 is conveyed with tension between the conveying unit 24. Also, each transport unit 24 drives each slack roller 27 faster than each transport roller 25 of the transport unit 24 located downstream of each transport unit 24 in the transport direction. The recording medium 2 is transported while being slackened between each recording unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of the recording medium 24.

  Between each recording unit 6 and each conveyance unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the conveyance direction, in the vicinity of each recording unit 6, the first recording unit 6a uses Y ink. Position detection sensors 15 (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) for detecting alignment markers recorded on the recording medium 2 are provided corresponding to the recording units 6, respectively. Each position detection sensor 15 includes a first position detection sensor 15a, a second position detection sensor 15b, a third position detection sensor 15c, and a fourth position detection sensor 15d from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 2. It is said that.

  Each position detection sensor 15 includes a light emitting element such as an LED that emits detection light to the recording medium 2 and a light receiving element that includes a phototransistor that receives the detection light reflected by the recording medium 2. The light receiving element receives the detection light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by the recording medium 2 so that the alignment marker is detected.

  A cutting blade 25 is provided in the vicinity of the conveyance path 4 of the recording medium 2 and downstream of each recording head 12 in the conveyance direction. The cutting blade 25 is a long recording medium on which recording has been completed. 2 is cut into a predetermined length.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  First, when image recording data is input to the printer 1, the printer 1 rotates the transport rollers 25 in the transport units 24 to transport the recording medium 2.

  Subsequently, the printer 1 presses the recording head 12 and the platen roller 14 through the recording medium 2 and the ink ribbon 8 in the first recording unit 6a, and the recording head 12 records one image on the recording medium 2. The Y ink is transferred in the vicinity of, and the alignment marker is recorded. At this time, the printer 1 transports the recording medium 2 with tension between each recording unit 6 and each transport unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction. At the same time, the printer 1 drives each slack roller 27 faster than each conveyance roller 25 of the conveyance unit 24 located downstream of each conveyance unit 24 in the conveyance direction, thereby causing each conveyance unit 24 and these conveyance units 24 to be driven. The recording medium 2 is conveyed while being slackened between the recording units 24 adjacent to the downstream side of the recording medium 24.

  Next, the printer 1 emits detection light by the light emitting element of each position detection sensor 15, and receives the detection light reflected on the recording medium 2, thereby aligning with each position detection sensor 15. The marker detection is started. Then, when the alignment marker is detected by the first detection sensor 15a, the printer 1 starts image recording by transferring Y ink to the recording medium 2 in the first recording unit 6a.

  Further, the printer 1 sequentially presses the recording head 12 and the platen roller 14 through the recording medium 2 and the ink ribbon 8 in the second recording unit 6b, the third recording unit 6c, and the fourth recording unit 6d. The recording medium 2 is transported with tension between the recording unit 6 and each transport unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction.

  When the second position detection sensor 15b, the third position detection sensor 15c, and the fourth position detection sensor 15d sequentially detect the alignment markers, the printer 1 performs the second recording unit 6b and the third recording unit. In the unit 6c and the fourth recording unit 6d, image recording is started sequentially, and the Y, M, C, and BK inks are sequentially transferred onto the recording medium 2 to complete the image recording.

  According to this embodiment, each position detection sensor 15 is provided between each recording unit 6 in which the recording medium 2 is transported with tension and each transport unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction. Is provided. For this reason, in the printer 1, the gap dimension between each position detection sensor 15 and the recording medium 2 can be made constant during conveyance of the recording medium 2, so that after being reflected on the recording medium 2, The intensity of the detection light received by the light receiving element can be made constant.

  Therefore, the printer 1 can detect the alignment marker by receiving the detection light having a constant luminous intensity by the light receiving element of each position detection sensor 15, so that the detection accuracy can be improved. . Accordingly, the printer 1 can reliably detect the alignment marker by each position detection sensor 15. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the image recorded by each recording unit 6 from being displaced, and as a result, it is possible to record a good image.

  Each position detection sensor 15 is disposed in the vicinity of each recording unit 6 between each recording unit 6 and each transport unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction. The distance between each recording unit 6 and each corresponding position detection sensor 15 can be shortened. As a result, the distance between the alignment marker detected by each position detection sensor 15 in the recording medium 2 and the recording start position of the image recorded by each recording unit 6 can be shortened. Can be used well.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible as needed.

  For example, in the present embodiment, each transport unit 24 corresponding to each recording unit 6 is provided on the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction of the recording medium 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be provided upstream of each recording unit 6 in the two transport directions. In this case, the printer 1 according to the present invention transports the recording medium 2 with tension between each recording unit 6 and the transport unit 24 adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit 6 in the transport direction. Each position detection sensor 15 may be disposed at a position facing a portion where the medium 2 is conveyed with tension.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention. 1 is an enlarged view showing the main part of the printer of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Recording medium 4 Conveyance path 6a (6) 1st recording unit 6b (6) 2nd recording unit 6c (6) 3rd recording unit 6d (6) 4th recording unit 8 Ink ribbon 12 Recording head 14 Platen roller 15a (15) First position detection sensor 15b (15) Second position detection sensor 15c (15) Third position detection sensor 15d (15) Fourth position detection sensor 24 Transport unit 25 Transport roller 27 Slack roller

Claims (2)

A plurality of recording units that are arranged along a conveyance path of the recording medium, each recording head and the platen are pressed through the recording medium, and an image is recorded by each recording head;
A first recording unit that is arranged on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium among the recording units, and records a marker on the recording medium;
Each recording unit is provided in the vicinity of each recording unit so as to correspond to each recording unit. The recording medium is sandwiched by a pair of transport rollers, and each recording unit and each recording unit in the transport direction are rotated by rotation of each transport roller. A conveying unit that conveys the recording medium with tension between the conveying rollers disposed adjacent to the downstream side of the recording medium; and
A printer, comprising: a detecting unit that is provided between each recording unit and each transport unit adjacent to the downstream side of each recording unit in the transport direction and detects the marker.   2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the detection units is disposed in the vicinity of each of the recording units between each of the recording units and each of the transport units.

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