JP2008168481A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately feeding a paper in an apparatus main body and surely suppressing creases easily generated on an end part in the width direction of an ink sheet. <P>SOLUTION: This sublimation type printer 100 (the image forming apparatus) comprises a printing head 2 which comprises a printing part 2e coming into contact with the ink sheet 51 and can print an image on the paper 60, and a paper guiding member 28 for guiding the conveying direction of the paper 60 when the paper 60 is fed. In addition, the paper guiding member 28 integrally comprises an ink sheet guiding part 28f wherein regions corresponding to end part regions 51b in the width direction (arrow mark X direction) of the ink sheet 51 have shapes projecting to the ink sheet 51 side against a region corresponding to the central region 51a in the width direction (arrow mark X direction) of the ink sheet 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus including a print head that includes a print unit that abuts an ink sheet and can print an image on a sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image forming apparatus that includes a print head that includes a print unit that contacts an ink sheet and that can print an image on a sheet (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  In Patent Document 1, a thermal head (printing head) and a guide bar that is provided at the rear end of the thermal head and regulates the conveyance direction of an ink donor film (ink sheet) that has passed through a heating resistor on the thermal head. And a thermal transfer recording apparatus (image forming apparatus). In the thermal transfer recording apparatus (image forming apparatus) described in Patent Document 1, the contact surface of the guide bar that contacts the ink donor film during printing has a downward slope from the center in the width direction of the guide bar toward both ends. The ink donor film is configured to be conveyed while being curved in the same direction as the contact surface of the guide bar by being formed into a shape that is curved while having.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, a substrate on which a heating element having a predetermined print width is provided on a lower surface and a support plate to which the substrate is attached are integrally formed, and guides the conveyance of a thermal transfer ribbon (ink sheet). There is disclosed a thermal transfer printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) including a thermal head (printing head) including one guide part and a second guide part that is attached to the lower surface of the substrate and guides conveyance of the thermal transfer ribbon. In the thermal transfer printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) described in Patent Document 2, the first guide portion is formed so as to change the cross-sectional shape along the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon, whereby the thermal transfer ribbon is moved in the width direction. It can be conveyed while being warped. Further, the second guide portion is formed so as to have a cross-sectional shape having a predetermined thickness along the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon, thereby regulating the position of the thermal transfer ribbon immediately before the thermal transfer ribbon passes through the heating element. It is configured to be possible.

  In Patent Document 3, a thermal head (printing head) and a support shaft at both ends are supported, and a cylindrical protrusion is provided at the center of the support shaft concentrically with the support shaft. A thermal transfer printer (image forming apparatus) including a tension applying member that applies tension to a thermal transfer film (ink sheet) immediately before being conveyed to a head is disclosed. In the thermal transfer printer (image forming apparatus) described in Patent Document 3, the protrusion of the tension applying member presses the central portion in the width direction of the thermal transfer film, thereby applying tension in the width direction to the thermal transfer film. It is configured to be possible.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-156487 Patent Registration No. 3832097 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-250198

  However, the thermal transfer recording apparatus (image forming apparatus) described in Patent Document 1 discloses and suggests a member that regulates the conveyance direction of the recording sheet when the recording sheet is fed into the apparatus main body. Absent. Therefore, when the recording paper is fed into the apparatus main body with an unnecessary warp shape, there is a problem that the recording paper may not be fed properly due to interference with internal components. Further, in the thermal transfer recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the relationship between the length in the width direction of the guide bar and the width of the ink donor film is not clearly described or suggested, the width direction of the guide bar When the length of the ink donor film is shorter than the width of the ink donor film, the guide bar can only come into contact with the vicinity of the central portion of the ink donor film in the width direction. Until now, it is considered that tension cannot be reliably applied by the guide bar. For this reason, there is also a problem that wrinkles that are likely to occur at the end in the width direction of the ink donor film (ink sheet) cannot be reliably suppressed.

  Further, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus (image forming apparatus) described in Patent Document 2, there is no disclosure or suggestion about a member that regulates a recording medium supply path when the recording medium is supplied into the apparatus main body. . Therefore, when the recording medium (paper) is fed into the apparatus main body with an unnecessary warp shape, the recording medium (paper) may not be fed properly due to interference with internal components. There is a problem. Further, in the thermal transfer printing apparatus described in Patent Document 2, it is considered that the second guide portion is formed to have a uniform cross-sectional shape along the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon. The thermal transfer ribbon is conveyed while receiving the same pressing force from the second guide portion at the center and the end in the width direction. In this case, since no tension is generated in the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon between the center portion and the end portion of the thermal transfer ribbon, particularly wrinkles that are likely to occur at the end in the width direction of the thermal transfer ribbon (ink sheet) are surely ensured. There is also a problem that it cannot be suppressed.

  Further, in the thermal transfer printer (image forming apparatus) described in Patent Document 3, there is no disclosure or suggestion of a member that regulates the conveyance direction of the recording paper when the printing paper is fed into the apparatus main body. . Therefore, when the printing paper is fed into the apparatus main body with an unnecessary warp shape, there is a problem that the printing paper may not be fed properly due to interference with internal components. Further, in the thermal transfer printer described in Patent Document 3, since the tension applying member presses only the central portion in the width direction of the thermal transfer film, it reaches the end portion in the width direction of the transfer film that tends to become wrinkles. It is considered that tension cannot be reliably applied by the tension applying member. For this reason, in particular, there is a problem that wrinkles that are likely to occur at the end in the width direction of the thermal transfer film (ink sheet) cannot be reliably suppressed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one object of the present invention is that paper can be appropriately fed inside the apparatus main body, and the ink sheet An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reliably suppressing wrinkles that are likely to occur at the end in the width direction.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a printing unit that is accommodated in an ink sheet cartridge and abuts on an ink sheet that is conveyed from a supply bobbin of the ink sheet cartridge toward a take-up bobbin during printing, In an image forming apparatus equipped with a print head capable of printing an image on paper, a resin-made resin is arranged between the print section of the print head and the supply bobbin and guides the paper transport direction when paper is fed. The paper guide member has a shape in which an area corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet protrudes toward the ink sheet side with respect to an area corresponding to the center portion in the width direction of the ink sheet. The ink sheet guide portion integrally includes an ink sheet guide portion, and the ink sheet guide portion is inclined in a curved shape from the center portion in the width direction of the paper guide member toward the end portion. Formed by the inclined surface, the surface of the ink sheet guide portion, the shape along the conveying direction of the ink sheet has a round shape.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, as described above, when a sheet is fed, a warp shape that does not require a sheet is provided by including a sheet guide member that guides the sheet conveyance direction. Even when the sheet is fed into the apparatus main body, the sheet conveyance direction is guided by the sheet guide member, so that the sheet can be fed appropriately. In addition, the sheet guide member includes an ink sheet guide portion having a shape in which a region corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet protrudes toward the ink sheet side with respect to a region corresponding to the center portion in the width direction of the ink sheet. By configuring so as to be integrated, the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member starts to contact the end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet from the end region in the width direction of the ink sheet guide portion and The conveyance of the ink sheet can be guided while the state in contact with the end portion in the width direction is continued. Accordingly, since the ink sheet is reliably in contact with the ink sheet guide portion at the end in the width direction of the ink sheet, the surface of the ink sheet is conveyed while being stretched by the pressing force from the ink sheet guide portion. Is done. As a result, wrinkles that are likely to occur at the end of the ink sheet in the width direction can be reliably suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the ink sheet is accommodated in the ink sheet cartridge, and is configured to be conveyed from the supply bobbin of the ink sheet cartridge toward the take-up bobbin during printing. By configuring the paper guide member integrally including the guide portion between the print portion of the print head and the supply bobbin, the ink sheet is sandwiched between the print head and the paper guide member during printing. In such a section, the ink sheet is conveyed without generating wrinkles at the end in the width direction of the ink sheet, so that the print head can reliably press the ink sheet in which wrinkles are suppressed. Further, the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined in a curved shape from the center portion in the width direction of the paper guide member toward the end portion, whereby the ink sheet guide portion is Since the ink sheet can be contacted from the end in the width direction of the ink sheet toward the center by the smooth inclined surface, it is possible to prevent the ink sheet being conveyed from being scratched due to the shape of the ink sheet guide portion. be able to.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the paper guide member is made of resin, and the surface of the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member has a round shape along the ink sheet conveyance direction. With this configuration, when the ink sheet is wound up during printing, the ink sheet guide portion can smoothly come into contact with the ink sheet in the transport direction, so that the ink sheet is wrinkled by scratches or friction caused by the ink sheet guide portion. Generation | occurrence | production can be suppressed.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a print unit that abuts against an ink sheet, and guides a conveyance direction of a sheet when a sheet is fed and a print head capable of printing an image on the sheet. A sheet guide member, and the sheet guide member has a shape in which a region corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet protrudes toward the ink sheet side with respect to a region corresponding to a central portion in the width direction of the ink sheet. An ink sheet guide portion is integrally included.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, as described above, when a sheet is fed, a sheet guide member that guides the conveyance direction of the sheet is provided, so that a warp shape that does not require the sheet is formed. Even when the sheet is fed into the apparatus main body, the sheet conveyance direction is guided by the sheet guide member, so that the sheet can be fed appropriately. In addition, the sheet guide member includes an ink sheet guide portion having a shape in which a region corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet protrudes toward the ink sheet side with respect to a region corresponding to the center portion in the width direction of the ink sheet. By configuring so as to be integrated, the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member starts to contact the end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet from the end region in the width direction of the ink sheet guide portion and The conveyance of the ink sheet can be guided while the state in contact with the end portion in the width direction is continued. Accordingly, since the ink sheet is reliably in contact with the ink sheet guide portion at the end in the width direction of the ink sheet, the surface of the ink sheet is conveyed while being stretched by the pressing force from the ink sheet guide portion. Is done. As a result, wrinkles that are likely to occur at the end of the ink sheet in the width direction can be reliably suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, preferably, the ink sheet is accommodated in the ink sheet cartridge and is conveyed from the supply bobbin of the ink sheet cartridge toward the take-up bobbin during printing, and the ink sheet guide portion is moved. The guide member that is integrally included is disposed between the printing portion of the print head and the supply bobbin. With this configuration, the ink sheet is conveyed without generating wrinkles at the end in the width direction of the ink sheet in the section sandwiched between the print head and the paper guide member during printing. It is possible to reliably press the ink sheet in which the generation of wrinkles is suppressed.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, preferably, the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined in a curved shape from the center portion in the width direction to the end portion of the paper guide member. Yes. With this configuration, the ink sheet guide portion can be contacted from the end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet toward the center portion by a smooth inclined surface, so that the ink sheet guide portion is being conveyed due to the shape of the ink sheet guide portion. It is possible to prevent the ink sheet from being scratched.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, preferably, the paper guide member is made of resin, and the surface of the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member has a round shape along the ink sheet conveyance direction. . With this configuration, when the ink sheet is wound up during printing, the ink sheet guide portion can smoothly abut against the ink sheet in the transport direction, so that the ink sheet may be scratched or rubbed by the ink sheet guide portion. Occurrence of wrinkles can be suppressed.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall configuration of a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 to 12 are diagrams for explaining the details of the sublimation type printer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. First, the structure of a sublimation printer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to a sublimation printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 90 of the sublimation printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is disposed so as to face the metal chassis 1, the print head 2 for performing printing, and the print head 2. Platen roller 3 (see FIG. 4), metal feed roller 4 (see FIG. 4), metal presser roller 5 (see FIG. 4) for pressing the feed roller 4 with a predetermined pressing force, and metal A support rod 6 made of paper, head portion pressing members 7 and 8 for pressing the upper portion of the print head 2 with a predetermined pressing force, a drive gear 9 made of resin, a feed roller gear 10 (see FIG. 5), and a resin A lower paper guide 11a made of resin, an upper paper guide 11b made of resin (see FIG. 4), a rubber paper feed roller 12, a paper feed roller gear 13 (see FIG. 2), and a rubber paper discharge roller 14. , Paper discharge roller gear 15 (see FIG. 2) and winding A reel 16 (see FIG. 2), a motor bracket 17 (see FIG. 2), a stepping motor 18 (see FIG. 2) for transporting the paper 60, and a stepping that becomes a drive source when the print head 2 is rotated. An ink sheet cartridge 50 in which a motor 19 (see FIG. 2), a swingable swinging gear 20 (see FIG. 5), a plurality of intermediate gears 21 to 24 (see FIG. 5), and an ink sheet 51 are stored. And a cartridge support portion 25 for supporting. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the apparatus main body 90 is configured to be disposed inside the resin casing 26. Further, in the sublimation printer 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the ink sheet cartridge 50 and the paper feed cassette 70 for storing the paper 60 supplied to the apparatus main body 90 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 90. It is attached to.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the chassis 1 has one side surface 1a, the other side surface 1b, and a bottom surface 1c arranged so as to face each other. Further, the above-described motor bracket 17 (see FIG. 2) is attached to one side surface 1a of the chassis 1. A cartridge insertion hole 1 d for inserting the ink sheet cartridge 50 is provided on the other side surface 1 b facing the one side surface 1 a of the chassis 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a support hole 1e for rotatably supporting a support bar 6 to which head portion pressing members 7 and 8 are attached is provided on one side surface 1a and the other side surface 1b of the chassis 1, respectively. It has been. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, paper sensors 27a and 27b for detecting the front end portion 60a and the rear end portion 60b of the paper 60 at the time of printing are provided on the bottom surface 1c of the chassis 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the two platen roller bearings 3a are respectively attached to one side surface 1a and the other side surface 1b of the chassis 1, and the platen roller 3 (see FIG. 4) is attached to the two platen roller bearings 3a. Reference) is rotatably supported. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the feed roller 4 has a feed roller gear insertion portion 4 a that is inserted into the feed roller gear 10. The feed roller 4 is configured to be rotatably supported by a feed roller bearing (not shown) attached to the chassis 1. The pressing roller 5 (see FIG. 4) is configured to be rotatably supported by a pressing roller bearing (not shown). Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the feed roller 4 and the pressing roller 5 are rotated in a state where the paper 60 is sandwiched therebetween, thereby feeding the paper 60 in the paper feeding direction (arrow T1 direction) or the paper discharging direction (arrow). U1 direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed roller 12 has a function of conveying the paper 60 stored in the paper feed cassette 70 (see FIG. 1) into the chassis 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the paper discharge roller 14 has a function of conveying the paper 60 after printing to the outside of the chassis 1.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the support part 6a is provided in the one end and the other end part of the support bar 6, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, one and the other support portions 6a of the support rod 6 are rotatably inserted into the support holes 1e on the one side surface 1a of the chassis 1 and the support holes 1e on the other side surface 1b, respectively. It is configured to be. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, head portion pressing members 7 and 8 are attached to the inside of the one end and the other end of the support rod 6 without spinning around the support rod 6, respectively.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the head portion pressing member 7 is integrally formed with a pressing portion 7a and a gear portion 7b. As shown in FIG. 2, the head portion pressing member 8 is integrally formed with a pressing portion 8 a and a protruding portion 8 b that protrudes in the direction in which the support bar 6 extends.

  The head pressing members 7 and 8 are formed with insertion holes 7c and 8c processed into a D-shape, respectively, and in each of the insertion portions 6b provided in the vicinity of both ends of the support bar 6. The insertion holes 7c and 8c are fitted. Thereby, it is comprised so that the support bar 6 and the head part press member 8 can be rotated with rotation of the head part press member 7. FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the head pressing members 7 and 8 are disposed on the one side surface 1a and the other side surface 1b side of the chassis 1, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the print head 2 includes a support shaft 2a, a head portion 2b arranged to face the platen roller 3 (see FIG. 4), a support shaft 2a, and a head portion 2b. A pair of arm portions 2c, an aluminum heat radiating portion 2d for radiating heat of the head portion 2b during printing, and a printing portion 2e provided so as to protrude from the lower surface of the head portion 2b. It is out.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the print head 2 has a resin paper guide member 28 attached to the head portion 2b as a separate member from below. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the paper guide member 28 is rotated in the direction of the arrow P1 together with the print head 2 at the start of printing, and is stopped at a predetermined position, thereby being conveyed to the apparatus main body 90 in the direction of the arrow T1. The front end portion 60 a of the paper 60 to be printed has a role of regulating the transport direction after passing between the print head 2 and the platen roller 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, after the front end portion 60 a of the paper 60 passes between the print head 2 and the platen roller 3 in a substantially horizontal direction, the lower surface of the paper guide portion 28 a of the paper guide member 28. It is possible to suppress the front end portion 60a of the paper 60 from entering the inside of a supply bobbin storage portion 54a of the ink sheet cartridge 50, which will be described later, by being guided obliquely downward while being in contact with the ink.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the resin-made paper guide member 28 is provided at the front end portion of the paper guide portion 28a, the rib 28b for supporting the lower surface of the head portion 2b of the print head 2, and the paper guide portion 28a. A vertical wall 28c provided at the rear end and extending upward from the vertical wall 28c in an obliquely upward direction, and a plurality of hooks 28e (this embodiment) for attaching the paper guide member 28 to the heat radiating member 2d of the print head 2 A mounting portion 28d having three locations in the form is integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 8, the paper guide member 28 dissipates heat by engaging the hooks 28e with the notches 2f (two places) and 2g (one place) provided in the heat dissipating part 2d of the print head 2. It is configured to be attached to the portion 2d.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the width direction of the paper guide member 28 (arrow X direction) is arranged at the rear end of the paper guide portion 28a to which the paper guide portion 28a and the vertical wall 28c are connected. An ink sheet guide portion 28f formed in a curved shape so that the end portion protrudes downward (arrow Y direction) with respect to the central portion is provided in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the paper guide portion 28a. Further, the ink sheet guide portion 28f has a curved shape from the center portion of the ink sheet guide portion 28f to the end portion in the width direction (arrow X direction) in order to form a curved shape. 10, when the print head 2 comes into contact with the ink sheet 51 from above in the arrow Y direction at the start of printing, as shown in FIG. The end portion in the width direction (arrow X direction) is ahead of the center region 51a in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 51 with respect to the end region 51b in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 51. It is comprised so that it can contact | abut.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the surface of the ink sheet guide portion 28f (corresponding to the inclined surface 28g having a shape curved in the width direction) is the width direction of the ink sheet 51 conveyed along with the printing operation. In order that the end region 51b (shown by a two-dot chain line) of the ink sheet 51 can smoothly come into contact, the shape along the transport direction (the direction of arrow A in the drawing) of the ink sheet 51 has a round shape. Is formed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink sheet 51 during printing is inclined downward in the transport direction (winding direction) by the ink sheet guide portion 28 f of the paper guide member 28 immediately after being sent out from the supply bobbin 52. It is configured to be conveyed toward the printing portion 2e of the print head 2 while being changed in a substantially horizontal direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the paper guide member 28 has ribs 28h (three locations in the present embodiment) for securing the bonding strength between the paper guide portion 28a and the vertical wall 28c, after the paper guide portion 28a. It is provided inside the end. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when the paper guide member 28 is attached to the print head 2, fixing portions 28i and 28j for positioning and fixing in the width direction (arrow X direction) are provided on the left and right sides, respectively. It has been.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of heating elements 29 (outer shape is indicated by broken lines) along the width direction of the head portion 2b (the direction of the arrow X in the figure) inside the print portion 2e of the head portion 2b. Is embedded. As shown in FIG. 4, the print head 2 has a vertical direction (in the direction of the arrow P1 and the arrow Q1) about a pair of support shafts 2a attached to the inner side of the one side surface 1a and the other side surface 1b of the chassis 1, respectively. In a direction).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a sheet metal engaging member 30 is attached to the upper surface of the heat radiating portion 2 d of the print head 2 with screws 31. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the engagement member 30 is engaged with the notch 30a and the protrusion 8b (see FIG. 4) of the head pressing member 8 (see FIG. 4) to engage the print head 2 (see FIG. 8). 4) and a fixing portion 30c fixed to the upper surface of the portion corresponding to the head portion 2b of the heat radiating portion 2d, and in the width direction (direction of arrow X in the figure). A connecting portion 30d having the same dimensions as the fixing portion 30c (corresponding to the length L1 in FIG. 6) and extending from the fixing portion 30c to the front surface portion 2h side of the print head 2 by being bent substantially vertically downward. An ink sheet guide portion 30e disposed so as to extend from the coupling portion 30d along the width direction of the print head 2 (the arrow X direction in the drawing) is integrally provided.

  In addition, the ink sheet guide portion 30e includes a flat portion 30f provided in a predetermined region in the center in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the print head 2, as shown in FIGS. Are provided at both ends of the print head 2 in the width direction (arrow X direction), and are inclined at a constant inclination angle α by being bent from the extending direction of the flat portion 30f toward the front surface portion 2h of the head portion 2b. It is comprised from the inclined part 30g formed in this way. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, the ink sheet guide portion 30e is disposed between the print portion 2e of the print head 2 and a take-up bobbin 53 (see FIG. 6) of the ink sheet cartridge 50 described later. It is comprised so that. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the ink sheet guide portion 30e has a convex shape toward the winding direction of the ink sheet 51 (in the direction of arrow A in the figure) by the flat portion 30f and the inclined portion 30g as shown in FIG. It is formed to become.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the contact portion 30h of the ink sheet guide portion 30e that contacts the ink sheet 51 from above during printing is formed by folding the sheet metal member substantially 180 degrees, and the ink The shape of the contact portion 30h along the transport direction of the ink sheet 51 (the direction of arrow A in the figure) is formed to have a U shape so that the sheet 51 can smoothly contact. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11, the ink sheet 51 at the time of printing is supplied from the supply bobbin 52, and immediately after passing through the printing part 2e of the printing head 2 in the direction of arrow A, the contact part of the ink sheet guide part 30e. By 30h, the conveying direction (winding direction) is changed from a substantially horizontal direction to an obliquely upward direction, and is wound around the winding bobbin 53 (see FIG. 4).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a first spring fixing portion 30 i and a second spring fixing portion 30 j are integrally provided in a region located above the head portion 2 b of the engaging member 30. The first spring fixing portion 30i and the second spring fixing portion 30j include a first torsion coil spring 32 and a second torsion coil spring for urging the head portion 2b toward the platen roller 3 (see FIGS. 7 and 11). 33 are arranged in regions corresponding to the head pressing members 7 and 8 (see FIG. 7), respectively. Each of the first torsion coil spring 32 and the second torsion coil spring 33 is an example of the “spring member” in the present invention. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first spring fixing portion 30i and the second spring fixing portion 30j of the engaging member 30 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the platen roller 3 (see FIG. 7). Has been placed. As shown in FIG. 8, the first torsion coil spring 32 and the second torsion coil spring 33 are respectively fixed to the first spring fixing portion 30 i and the second spring fixing portion 30 j of the engaging member 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the first spring fixing portion 30 i of the engaging member 30 is provided with a locking portion 30 k and a protruding portion 301. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the second spring fixing portion 30j of the engaging member 30 is provided with a locking portion 30m and a protruding portion 30n.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first torsion coil spring 32 is pressed by the head portion pressing member 7 (see FIG. 7) when the head portion pressing member 7 (see FIG. 7) rotates downward. One end portion 32a pressed by the portion 7a (see FIG. 7) and the urging force generated by pressing the one end portion 32a are transmitted to the upper surface (upper portion) of the head portion 2b via the fixed portion 30c. And the other end 32b. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second torsion coil spring 33 presses the head pressing member 8 (see FIG. 7) when the head pressing member 8 (see FIG. 7) rotates downward. One end portion 33a pressed by the portion 8b (see FIG. 7) and the urging force generated by pressing the one end portion 33a are transmitted to the upper surface (upper portion) of the head portion 2b via the fixed portion 30c. And the other end 33b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the printing portion 2e of the head portion 2b is moved to the platen roller by the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 32 and the second torsion coil spring 33 transmitted to the upper surface (upper portion) of the head portion 2b. It is configured to be able to be pressed to the 3 side with a predetermined pressing force.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, one end 32a of the first torsion coil spring 32 is locked to the locking portion 30k of the engaging member 30, and the other end 32b is connected to the engaging member. It is fixed to 30 protrusions 30l. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, one end 33a of the second torsion coil spring 33 is locked to the locking portion 30m of the engaging member 30, and the other end 33b is connected to the engaging member. It is being fixed to 30 protrusion part 30n.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the head portion pressing member 8 is rotated upward (in the direction of the arrow Q2), the protrusion portion 8b of the head portion pressing member 8 and the notch portion 30a of the engaging portion 30b are engaged. By doing so, the head portion 2b is also configured to rotate upward (in the direction of arrow P2). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, when the head portion pressing member 8 rotates upward (in the direction of the arrow Q <b> 2), the head portion 2 b pressed by the platen roller 3 is separated upward from the platen roller 3. It is configured. Note that chamfering is performed on the opening side of the notch 30a in order to facilitate engagement with the protrusion 8b.

  1 and 6, the drive gear 9 and the intermediate gear 34 (see FIG. 6) transmit the driving force of the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 2) to the head portion pressing members 7 and 8, It is provided to rotate the head pressing members 7 and 8. The drive gear 9 is attached to the inside of the one side surface 1 a of the chassis 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate gear 34 and the stepping motor 19 are attached to the outside on the one side surface 1 a side of the chassis 1 via the motor bracket 17. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the small-diameter gear portion 9a of the drive gear 9 is meshed with the gear portion 7b of the head portion pressing member 7, and the large-diameter gear portion 9b of the drive gear 9 is connected to the intermediate gear 34 ( 6)). Further, the large-diameter gear 34b of the intermediate gear 34 is meshed with the motor gear 35 of the stepping motor 19 as shown in FIG. As a result, the driving force of the stepping motor 18 can be transmitted to the head pressing members 7 and 8 via the intermediate gear 34 and the driving gear 9.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a motor gear 36 is attached to the shaft portion of the stepping motor 18 attached to the motor bracket 17. Further, the stepping motor 18 has a function as a drive source for driving the gear portion 16 a of the take-up reel 16, the paper feed roller gear 13, the paper discharge roller gear 15, and the feed roller gear 10.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the take-up reel 16 is engaged with a take-up bobbin 53 disposed inside a take-up bobbin storage portion 54 b of the ink sheet cartridge 50 described later. It is configured to wind up the wound ink sheet 51. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the gear portion 16 a of the take-up reel 16 is arranged so as to mesh with the swinging gear 20 swinging.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower sheet guide 11 a is installed in the vicinity of the feed roller 4 and the pressing roller 5. The upper paper guide 11b is attached to the upper part of the lower paper guide 11a. The upper paper guide 11b guides the paper 60 to the feeding path to the printing unit so that the paper 60 passes the lower surface side during paper feeding, and discharges the paper 60 so as to pass the upper surface side when paper is ejected. It is configured to be able to guide the paper path.

  Moreover, the housing | casing 26 contains the cover members 26a and 26b and the pushbutton switch 26c, as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid members 26 a and 26 b are provided on the outer side of the housing 26 so as to be rotatable around the lower end portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid member 26 a of the housing 26 is provided so as to be openable and closable for mounting the paper feed cassette 70 on the apparatus main body 90. In the state in which the paper feed cassette 70 is removed, the lid member 26a is closed to prevent dust and the like from entering the apparatus main body 90. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the lid member 26 b of the housing 26 is provided so as to be openable and closable for mounting the ink sheet cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 90. In addition, except when the ink sheet cartridge 50 is attached / detached, the lid member 26b is closed to prevent dust and the like from entering the apparatus main body 90. Further, the push button switch 26c of the housing 26 is provided as an operation button when the user starts printing, as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ink sheet cartridge 50 includes a supply bobbin 52 for supplying the ink sheet 51 and a take-up bobbin 53 for winding the supplied ink sheet 51 in the arrow A direction. ing. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge case 54 constituting the ink sheet cartridge 50 includes a supply bobbin storage portion 54a that rotatably stores the supply bobbin 52 and a winding bobbin 53 that rotatably stores the take-up bobbin 53. The intake bobbin storage part 54b is composed of a pair of connection parts 54c and 54d that connect the supply bobbin storage part 54a and the take-up bobbin storage part 54b with a predetermined distance therebetween. 1 and 4, when the supply bobbin 52 and the take-up bobbin 53 are stored in the supply bobbin storage 54a and the take-up bobbin storage 54b, respectively, the supply bobbin 52 and the take-up bobbin The ink sheet 51 wound around 53 is exposed to the outside between a predetermined distance between the supply bobbin storage portion 54a and the take-up bobbin storage portion 54b. The ink sheet 51 is configured by sequentially connecting three color ink sheets, a Y (yellow) ink sheet, an M (magenta) ink sheet, and a C (cyan) ink sheet. A compression coil spring (not shown) is provided in each of the supply bobbin storage portion 54a and the take-up bobbin storage portion 54b of the ink sheet cartridge 50. With this compression coil spring, the ink sheet cartridge 50 is always urged in the direction of taking out the ink sheet cartridge 50 (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1) while being attached to the apparatus main body 90.

  13 to 15 are diagrams for explaining the printing operation of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. Next, the printing operation of the sublimation printer 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 to 7, and 10 to 15.

  First, in the state before the start of printing, as shown in FIG. 13, the head portion 2 b of the print head 2 is held at a position spaced upward from the platen roller 3. Further, in this case, the head portion 2b is engaged with the engaging portion 30b (strictly, the notch portion 30a) of the engaging member 30 in which the protruding portion 8b of the head portion pressing member 8 is provided above the head portion 2b. As a result, the rotation of the head portion 2b in the direction of the arrow P1 is suppressed.

  When the user presses the push button switch 26c (see FIG. 3) to start the printing operation, as shown in FIG. 13, the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 6) is driven and the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 6). The driving force of the intermediate gear 34 (see FIG. 6) is pressed through the large diameter gear 34b (see FIG. 6), the small diameter gear 34a (see FIG. 6) and the driving gear 9 (see FIG. 6). By being transmitted to the gear portion 7b (see FIG. 7) of the member 7 (see FIG. 7), the head portion pressing member 7 (see FIG. 7) is rotated in the arrow Q1 direction with the support rod 6 as a fulcrum. At this time, since the head portion pressing members 7 and 8 (see FIG. 7) do not rotate freely with respect to the support rod 6, the head portion pressing member 8 also moves in the direction of the arrow Q1 together with the head portion pressing member 7 (see FIG. 7). It is rotated. Then, the protrusion 8b of the head pressing member 8 rotates in the direction of the arrow Q1, so that the head 2b whose rotation in the direction of the arrow P1 is suppressed by the protrusion 8b rotates in the direction of the arrow P1. Thus, from the state shown in FIG. 13, as shown in FIG. 4, the head portion 2b starts to gradually descend from a position spaced upward from the platen roller 3, and moves toward the platen roller 3 (pressing side). The movement is started.

  Further, as the print head 2 rotates in the direction of arrow P1, the paper 60 is conveyed (feeded) in the direction of arrow T1 from the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the paper 60 is cued by the paper sensors 27a and 27b for detecting the front end portion 60a and the rear end portion 60b.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, after the front end portion 60 a of the paper 60 passes between the print head 2 and the platen roller 3 in a substantially horizontal direction, the paper guide portion of the paper guide member 28. The front end portion 60a of the paper 60 is prevented from entering the inside of the supply bobbin storage portion 54a of the ink sheet cartridge 50 by being guided obliquely downward while being in contact with the lower surface of the paper 28a. Is passed in the direction of arrow T1.

  When feeding paper, as shown in FIG. 5, as the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor gear 36 attached to the stepping motor 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow C3 and passes through the intermediate gears 21 and 22. The feed roller gear 10 rotates in the arrow C1 direction. Thereby, the feed roller 4 rotates in the arrow C1 direction. Further, the paper feed roller gear 13 and the paper feed roller 12 rotate in the direction of arrow C4 via the intermediate gears 23 and 24. Thus, the paper 60 (see FIG. 4) is conveyed in the paper feeding direction (the direction of arrow T1 in FIG. 4). At this time, the swingable rocking gear 20 (see FIG. 5) is not meshed with the gear 16a (see FIG. 5) of the take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 5), and the take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 5). ) Gear 16a (see FIG. 5) does not rotate. As a result, the ink sheet 51 wound around the supply bobbin 52 (see FIG. 4) is not taken up by the take-up bobbin 53 during paper feeding.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 14, after the cueing of the paper 60 is completed, the head pressing members 7 and 8 are further moved in the direction of the arrow Q1 in a state where the print head 2 has been moved to a position for pressing the ink sheet 51 and the paper 60. Is rotated. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, the one end portion 32 a of the first torsion coil spring 32 attached to the first spring fixing portion 30 i of the engaging member 30 is pressed by the pressing portion 7 a of the head portion pressing member 7. . Further, the one end portion 33 a of the second torsion coil spring 33 attached to the second spring fixing portion 30 j of the engaging member 30 is pressed by the pressing portion 8 a of the head portion pressing member 8. At this time, an urging force is generated in the first torsion coil springs 32 and 33, and the urging force is applied to the upper portion of the head portion 2 b via the other end portions 32 b and 33 b of the first torsion coil spring 32 and the second torsion coil spring 33. Is transmitted to. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the printing unit 2 e of the head unit 2 b is pressed against the platen roller 3 via the ink sheet 51 (Y color ink sheet) and the paper 60.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, when the head portion 2b of the print head 2 rotates and contacts the ink sheet 51 in the arrow Y direction from above, the ink sheet guide portion 28f The end portion in the width direction (arrow X direction) is ahead of the center region 51a in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 51 with respect to the end region 51b in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 51. The contact is started. As shown in FIG. 12, immediately after the ink sheet 51 is sent out from the supply bobbin 52, the ink sheet guide portion 28f of the paper guide member 28 causes the end region 51b (2) in the width direction (arrow X direction). (Shown by a dotted line) is pulled in a diagonally downward direction, and the conveyance direction (winding direction) is changed from the diagonally downward direction to the substantially horizontal direction along the surface of the ink sheet guide portion 28f, thereby printing the printing unit 2e of the print head 2. It is conveyed toward. At this time, the ink sheet 51 has an end region 51b (indicated by a two-dot chain line) between the printing portion 2e and the ink sheet guide portion 28f, as compared with a central region 51a (indicated by a solid line). The paper is conveyed toward the print head 2e while being stretched by a large tensile force.

  Then, when the heating element 29 of the printing unit 2 e generates heat, the ink of the ink sheet 51 (Y color ink sheet) is melted and sublimated, and the ink is transferred to the paper 60.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, as the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor gear 36 attached to the stepping motor 18 rotates in the direction of arrow D3, and the feed roller gear 10 is interposed via the intermediate gears 21 and 22. Rotates in the direction of arrow D1. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the feed roller 4 is rotated in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. 5 with the rotation of the feed roller gear 10 (see FIG. 5). It is conveyed in the direction (arrow U1 direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the swingable swing gear 20 is swung in a direction (arrow D2 direction) that meshes with the gear portion 16a of the take-up reel 16, and the gear portion 16a of the take-up reel 16 is swung. Is engaged. As a result, the gear portion 16 a of the take-up reel 16 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D 4, so that the ink sheet 51 wound around the supply bobbin 52 (see FIG. 14) is taken up on the take-up bobbin 53. In this way, as shown in FIG. 14, the paper 60 and the ink sheet 51 are both conveyed in the paper discharge direction (the direction of the arrow U1), and the ink of the ink sheet 51 (Y color ink sheet) is continuously supplied to the paper. 60.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the ink sheet 51 immediately after the ink is transferred to the paper 60 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow A, the ink sheet 51 is the ink provided in the vicinity of the front surface portion 2 h of the print head 2. The conveying direction is changed from the substantially horizontal direction to the obliquely upward direction by the contact portion 30h of the sheet guide portion 30e, and the sheet is wound by the winding bobbin 53 (see FIG. 14).

  Next, when printing of the Y (yellow) ink sheet is completed, the stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 5) is driven, and the driving force of the stepping motor 19 is changed to the intermediate gear 34 (see FIG. 7) and the driving gear. 9 (see FIG. 1) is transmitted to the gear portion 7b (see FIG. 1) of the head portion pressing member 7. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the head portion pressing member 7 (see FIG. 6) is rotated in the direction of the arrow Q <b> 2 around the support bar 6. At this time, since the head portion pressing members 7 and 8 (see FIG. 6) do not idle with respect to the support rod 6, the head portion pressing member 8 is also rotated in the direction of the arrow Q2. Then, when the protrusion 8b of the head pressing member 8 is rotated in the direction of the arrow Q2, the engagement member 30 of the print head 2 engaged with the protrusion 8b by the protrusion 8b of the head pressing member 8 is engaged. The joining portion 30b (strictly, the cutout portion 30a is shown) is lifted upward, and the head portion 2b of the print head 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow P2. As a result, the head portion 2 b of the print head 2 is moved to a position separated from the platen roller 3.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, as the stepping motor 18 is driven, the motor gear 36 attached to the stepping motor 18 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C3 and is fed via the intermediate gears 21 and 22. The roller gear 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow C1. Thus, as shown in FIG. 15, the feed roller 4 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C1 in accordance with the rotation of the feed roller gear 10 (see FIG. 4), so that the paper 60 is fed in the paper feed direction (arrow T1). The paper 60 is cueed by the paper sensors 27a and 27b. Further, the swingable swing gear 20 (see FIG. 5) swings in a direction away from the gear portion 16a of the take-up reel 16 (see FIG. 5) (in the direction of arrow C2 in FIG. 5). Accordingly, the ink sheet 51 wound around the supply bobbin 52 is not taken up by the take-up bobbin 53 and only the paper 60 is conveyed in the paper feeding direction.

  Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, after the front end portion 60 a of the paper 60 passes between the print head 2 and the platen roller 3 in a substantially horizontal direction, the paper guide portion of the paper guide member 28. The front end portion 60a of the paper 60 is prevented from entering the inside of the supply bobbin storage portion 54a of the ink sheet cartridge 50 by being guided obliquely downward while being in contact with the lower surface of the paper 28a. Is passed in the direction of arrow T1.

  Thereafter, for the M color (magenta) ink sheet and the C color (cyan) ink sheet, the same operation as the printing operation when the Y color (yellow) ink sheet shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is printed. Is repeated.

  In the present embodiment, the M (magenta) ink sheet and the C (cyan) ink sheet of the ink sheet 51 (see FIG. 14) are each wound by the winding bobbin 53 (see FIG. 14). However, when printing is repeated on the paper 60 (see FIG. 14), as shown in FIG. 10, the end of the ink sheet guide portion 28f in the width direction (arrow X direction) is aligned with the width direction of the ink sheet 51 (arrow X). Direction) end region 51b is started before the central region 51a in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 51. Then, as in the case where the Y color (yellow) ink sheet is printed, the ink sheet 51 is immediately after being fed from the supply bobbin 52 as shown in FIG. 12, and the ink sheet guide portion 28f of the paper guide member 28. As a result, the end region 51b (indicated by a two-dot chain line) in the width direction (arrow X direction) is pulled obliquely downward, and the conveyance direction (winding direction) is obliquely lowered along the surface of the ink sheet guide portion 28f. The sheet is conveyed from the direction toward the printing unit 2e of the print head 2 while changing in a substantially horizontal direction. At this time, the ink sheet 51 has an end region 51b (indicated by a two-dot chain line) between the printing portion 2e and the ink sheet guide portion 28f, as compared with a central region 51a (indicated by a solid line). The paper is conveyed toward the print head 2e while being stretched by a large pulling force.

  Then, when the heating element 29 of the printing unit 2 e generates heat, the ink of the ink sheet 51 (M color ink sheet and C color ink sheet) is melted and sublimated, and the ink is transferred to the paper 60.

  As shown in FIG. 11, similarly to the case where the Y color ink is transferred to the paper 60, the M color ink and the C color ink of the ink sheet 51 are respectively transferred to the paper 60 while being conveyed in the direction of arrow A. In this case, the ink sheet 51 changes the conveying direction from the substantially horizontal direction to the obliquely upward direction by the contact portion 30h of the ink sheet guide portion 30e provided in the vicinity of the front surface portion 2h of the print head 2, and the winding bobbin. It winds up by 53 (refer FIG. 14).

  When the printing of the ink sheets 51 of all colors is completed, the paper 60 is conveyed in the paper discharge direction (the direction of the arrow U1 in FIG. 15) and discharged outside the apparatus main body 90. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the head portion 2b of the print head 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow P2 to a position spaced upward with respect to the platen roller 3, and the printing operation on the paper 60 is completed.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, when the paper 60 is fed, the paper guide member 28 that guides the conveyance direction of the paper 60 is provided, so that the paper 60 has an unnecessary warp shape. Even when the sheet is fed into the apparatus main body 90, the conveyance direction of the sheet 60 is guided by the sheet guide member 28, so that the sheet 60 can be appropriately fed. Further, in the paper guide member 28, the region corresponding to the end region 51b in the width direction of the ink sheet 51 (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) is the central region in the width direction of the ink sheet 51 (arrow X direction in FIG. 10). The ink sheet guide portion 28f of the paper guide member 28 is configured to include the ink sheet guide portion 28f having a shape protruding toward the ink sheet 51 with respect to the region corresponding to 51a. The ink sheet 51 starts to come into contact with the end region 51b in the width direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) of the ink sheet 51 from the end portion in the width direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) of the portion 28f. The conveyance of the ink sheet 51 can be guided while continuing the state in contact with the end region 51b (in the direction of the arrow 10). Accordingly, since the ink sheet 51 is reliably in contact with the ink sheet guide portion 28f in the end region 51b in the width direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) of the ink sheet 51, the surface of the ink sheet 51 is the ink sheet guide. It is conveyed in a state stretched by a downward pressing force (arrow Y direction in FIG. 10) from the portion 28f. As a result, wrinkles that are likely to occur in the end region 51b in the width direction of the ink sheet 51 (the arrow X direction in FIG. 10) can be reliably suppressed.

  In this embodiment, the ink sheet 51 is housed in the ink sheet cartridge 50 and is configured to be conveyed from the supply bobbin 52 of the ink sheet cartridge 50 toward the take-up bobbin 53 during printing. By configuring the paper guide member 28 including the guide portion 28f integrally between the print portion 2e of the print head 2 and the supply bobbin 52, the ink sheet 51 can be connected to the print head 2 during printing. In the section sandwiched between the paper guide members 28, the direction of the arrow A (see FIG. 12) does not cause wrinkles in the end region 51b (see FIG. 10) in the width direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) of the ink sheet 51. ), The printing unit 2e of the print head 2 can reliably press the ink sheet 51 in which wrinkles are suppressed. Kill.

  In the present embodiment, the ink sheet guide portion 28f of the paper guide member 28 is inclined so as to be curved in a curved shape from the center portion to the end portion in the width direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) of the paper guide member 28. By being configured so as to be formed by 28g, the ink sheet guide portion 28f is brought into contact with the smooth inclined surface 28g from the end portion in the width direction (arrow X direction in FIG. 10) of the ink sheet 51 toward the center portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink sheet 51 being conveyed from being scratched due to the shape of the ink sheet guide portion 28f.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the paper guide member 28 is made of resin, and the shape (inclined surface 28 g) of the ink sheet guide portion 28 f of the paper guide member 28 has a round shape along the conveyance direction of the ink sheet 51. With this configuration, when the ink sheet 51 is wound up during printing, the ink sheet guide portion 28f can smoothly abut on the ink sheet 51 in the transport direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 12). In addition, it is possible to suppress wrinkles from being generated on the ink sheet 51 due to scratches or friction caused by the ink sheet guide portion 28f.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiment but by the scope of claims for patent, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a sublimation type printer as an example of an image forming apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and includes a printing unit that abuts on an ink sheet. Any image forming apparatus provided with a print head capable of printing can be applied to image forming apparatuses other than sublimation printers.

  In the above embodiment, the ink sheet guide portion 28f is formed by the inclined surface 28g that is curved so that the end portion protrudes from the center portion in the width direction with respect to the ink sheet 51. The present invention is not limited to this, and the ink sheet guide portion is provided with a flat portion having a predetermined distance parallel to the ink sheet at the center in the width direction, and predetermined from both ends of the flat portion toward the end portion of the ink sheet guide portion 28f. An inclined surface that is inclined according to the inclination angle may be connected.

  In the above embodiment, the paper guide member 28 is made of resin. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the ink sheet guide portion 30e of the engaging member 30 is flattened by the sheet metal processing and the inclined portion 30f. Similarly to the case where 30 g is formed, the sheet guide member may be made of sheet metal, and the ink sheet guide portion may be formed by bending the plate member.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the first torsion coil spring 32 and the second torsion coil spring 33 are configured to transmit the pressing force of the head portion pressing members 7 and 8 to the upper portion of the print head 2 via the engaging member 30. Although an example is shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pressing force of the head pressing members 7 and 8 may be transmitted to the upper portion of the print head 2 by a spring member other than the torsion coil spring.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing an overall configuration of a sublimation printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sublimation printer according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the overall configuration of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which showed the internal structure of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the arrangement position of the gear of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a front view of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a print head of the sublimation type printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the print head of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a print head and an ink sheet of the sublimation printer according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. It is the figure which showed the state at the time of the printing head of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. 1 pressing a platen roller. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a paper guide member when a print head of a sublimation printer according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 presses a platen roller. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing operation | movement of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing operation | movement of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the printing operation | movement of the sublimation type printer by one Embodiment shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Print head 2e Printing section 28 Paper guide member 28f Ink sheet guide section 28g Inclined surface 50 Ink sheet cartridge 51 Ink sheet 52 Supply bobbin 53 Winding bobbin 60 Paper

Claims (5)

A printing head that includes a printing unit that is accommodated in an ink sheet cartridge and that abuts against an ink sheet conveyed from a supply bobbin of the ink sheet cartridge toward a take-up bobbin during printing and capable of printing an image on a sheet. In the image forming apparatus,
A resin-made paper guide member that is disposed between the printing unit of the print head and the supply bobbin and guides the conveyance direction of the paper when feeding the paper;
The paper sheet has a shape in which a region corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet protrudes toward the ink sheet with respect to a region corresponding to a central portion in the width direction of the ink sheet. The guide part is integrally included,
The ink sheet guide portion is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined in a curved shape from the center portion in the width direction of the paper guide member toward the end portion,
The surface of the ink sheet guide part is an image forming apparatus in which the shape along the transport direction of the ink sheet has a round shape. A print head that includes a print unit that contacts the ink sheet and is capable of printing an image on paper;
A paper guide member that guides the conveyance direction of the paper when feeding the paper;
The paper sheet has a shape in which a region corresponding to an end portion in the width direction of the ink sheet protrudes toward the ink sheet with respect to a region corresponding to a central portion in the width direction of the ink sheet. An image forming apparatus integrally including a guide portion. The ink sheet is accommodated in an ink sheet cartridge and conveyed from a supply bobbin of the ink sheet cartridge toward a take-up bobbin during printing,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the paper guide member integrally including the ink sheet guide portion is disposed between the print portion of the print head and the supply bobbin.   4. The image according to claim 2, wherein the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined in a curved shape from a center portion in a width direction of the paper guide member toward an end portion thereof. 5. Forming equipment. The paper guide member is made of resin,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the ink sheet guide portion of the paper guide member has a round shape along the transport direction of the ink sheet.

Images