JP2524381Y2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a recording device, and more particularly, to a recording device that thermally transfers an image to recording paper using an ink sheet.

(Prior Art) Recently, as an image recording apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus,
An image recording apparatus using a thermal head has been applied since its mechanism and structure are extremely simple and its cost is low, and many commercial products have been commercialized.

FIG. 14 shows an example of such an image recording apparatus. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 1 denotes an image recording device, and the image recording device 1 includes an ink sheet 2 in a main body 1a thereof.
It includes a recording paper 3, a guide roller 4, a peeling roller 5, a spool 6, a thermal head 7, a platen roller 8, and a cutter unit 9. The ink sheet 2 is, for example, a polyester base sheet having a thickness of about several μm and coated with a thermal transfer ink layer. The ink sheet 2 having a width slightly larger than the recording paper 3 is wound around a spool 2a. Has been. The ink sheet 2 is mounted on a holding member (not shown), and is wound around a spool 6 via a guide roller 4 and a peeling roller 5. A back tension mechanism is provided on the holding member of the ink sheet 2, and a predetermined tension is applied when the ink sheet 2 is fed to prevent the ink sheet 2 from wrinkling. The spool 6 is connected to a take-up mechanism (not shown), and takes up the ink sheet 2 after recording in conjunction with the rotation of the platen roller 8. The winding mechanism is provided with a one-way clutch mechanism. When the platen roller 8 rotates in the direction in which the recording paper 3 is conveyed, the ink sheet 2 is wound, and the platen roller 8 moves the recording paper 3 toward the thermal head 7. When the ink sheet 2 is rotated in the returning direction, the winding of the ink sheet 2 is stopped. The recording paper 3 is a roll of plain paper, and its shaft core 3a is rotatably supported by a holding member (not shown). The recording paper 3 is supplied between the thermal head 7 and the platen roller 8 via the guide roller 4 together with the ink sheet 2. The thermal head 7 is provided with a plurality of heating elements (not shown). The heating elements selectively generate heat based on image information from a control unit (not shown), and heat the ink layer applied to the ink sheet 2. Each line is melted and transferred to the recording paper 3 for recording. The recording completed ink sheet 2 and recording paper 3 are separated by a peeling roller 5, the ink sheet 2 is wound around a spool 6, and the recording paper 3 is fed to a cutter unit 9.
After the recording, the recording paper 3 is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter unit 9 and discharged. In FIG. 14,
The numbering of paper guides is omitted.

Here, when the recording is completed and the recording paper 3 is cut by the cutter unit 9, the image recording apparatus 1 rotates the platen roller 8 in the reverse direction to return the recording paper 3 to the thermal head 7 side, and the leading end of the recording paper 3 ( The operation is performed so as to reduce the margin (tip margin) from the cutting position) to the recording start position (approximately 2 to 4 mm), thereby eliminating waste of the recording paper 3.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, such a conventional image recording apparatus 1 is configured such that the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 3 which are consumables are individually mounted. When the ink sheet 2 and the recording paper 3 are exchanged, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

That is, when replacing the ink sheet 2, the spool 2 a and the spool 6 after the winding is completed are removed, a new ink sheet 2 is set on the holding member, and the ink sheet 2 is passed to the guide roller 4 and the peeling roller 5. After that, an operation such as setting the spool 6 to which the leading end of the ink sheet 2 is fixed to the winding mechanism is necessary,
When the recording paper 3 is replaced, the empty shaft core 3a is removed, a new recording paper 3 is set on the holding member, the leading end of the recording paper 3 is pulled out, and the guide roller 4 is passed. Work such as insertion into the cutter unit 9 was required.

Here, particularly when the ink sheet 2 is mounted,
The finger touches the ink layer applied to the ink sheet 2,
If the nail is hooked, the ink layer peels off and stains the finger or nail. In addition, since the ink sheet 2 is made of an extremely thin material, wrinkles may occur depending on how the ink sheet 2 is attached. If there is a peeled portion or wrinkle of the ink layer on the ink sheet 2 after being mounted, there occur problems such as a loss of image information in the portion at the time of recording and a deterioration in quality of a recorded image. For this reason, the handling of the ink sheet 2 requires sufficient care and caution. In addition, when the leading end of the recording paper 3 is inserted into the cutter unit 9, the recording paper 3 is not positioned in the transport direction, so that the recording paper 3 is skewed after mounting and the recording position is shifted.

On the other hand, since the plain paper and the heat-sensitive recording paper used as the recording paper 3 have substantially the same appearance, for example, when switching from the thermal transfer method to the heat-sensitive method, the ink sheet 2 is first used.
When only the paper is removed and the plain paper is replaced with the thermal paper and it is forgotten, or when the plain paper and the thermal paper are attached by mistake, the necessary image information cannot be recorded. Further, if thermal paper is erroneously mounted in the thermal transfer method, image information can be recorded, but waste is increased such as an increase in running cost.

(Purpose of the Invention) Accordingly, the present invention accommodates a roll-shaped recording paper and a winding means for winding a roll-shaped ink sheet and a used ink sheet in a case, and stores the leading end of the recording paper in the case. A recording paper holding means for holding the recording paper is provided, and by automatically aligning the leading end of the recording paper when the ink sheet cassette is mounted, the recording paper can be freely attached to and detached from the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to facilitate and improve the convenience of the apparatus and to improve the quality of a recorded image.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a roll-shaped recording sheet that is conveyed in a predetermined direction, overlaps the recording sheet at least at a predetermined recording position, and is conveyed with the conveyance of the recording sheet. An ink sheet cassette provided with a roll-shaped ink sheet, a winding means for fixing the leading end of the ink sheet and winding up the used ink sheet, and a case for accommodating the above-mentioned parts, the ink sheet cassette being detachably attached to the apparatus main body; The recording paper holding means for holding the leading end of the recording paper before the ink sheet cassette is mounted is disposed on the take-up means side, and the recording paper is conveyed and detached from the recording paper holding means when the ink sheet cassette is mounted. Recording paper positioning means for positioning the recording paper after cutting the leading end thereof by a cutting means, wherein the recording paper holding means comprises a recording paper Or regulated so as to be parallel to the conveying direction, it is preferable to use one with a regulating member for regulating the position of the distal end portion of the recording paper.

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described based on embodiments.

1 to 13 show an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a facsimile machine.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a facsimile machine. The facsimile machine 11 has a main body 11a, a document table 12, and an operation unit 1.
3. A document reading unit 14 and the like are provided, and a main unit 11b is provided with a control unit 15, an ink sheet cassette 16, a recording unit 17, and the like. The document table 12 is a table on which a document 18 to be transmitted is placed, and can collectively set a plurality of documents 18. The operation unit 13 includes, for example, a start key, numeric keys, various control switches, a display unit, and the like, and outputs a command signal for controlling each unit of the facsimile apparatus 11 to the control unit 15.

The document reading unit 14 includes an ADF roller 21, a separation rubber 22, feed rollers 23, 24, 25, 26, and a reading unit 27.
The ADF roller 21 is a roller for automatic paper feeding.
The document 18 set on the document table 12 is moved by one
The sheet is fed to the feed rollers 23, 24, 25, 26 side by side. Each of the feed rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 rotates at the same feed rate, and conveys (sub-scans) the document 18 fed from the ADF roller 21 at a predetermined speed. The reading means 27 includes a light source 28, mirrors 29 and 3
0 and 31 and a line image sensor 32 are provided. For example, a fluorescent lamp is used as the light source 28, and irradiates light over the width direction of the document 18. The emitted light is reflected on the surface of the document 18 and is introduced into the line image sensor 32 by mirrors 29, 30, and 31. The line image sensor 32 is a CCD (C
An image of the document 18 conveyed by the feed rollers 23, 24, 25, and 26 is read line by line from the top thereof, photoelectrically converted, and transmitted to the control unit 15. Output. The original 18 whose image has been read by the reading means 27 is
The paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 33 by 5 and 26 and stocked in a paper discharge tray (not shown). On the other hand, a support member 34 is provided near the paper discharge port 33 of the main body 11a, and the support member 34 can open and close the main body 11a including the operation section 13. As a result, maintenance of the document reading unit 14 is facilitated.
A support member 35 is provided on the lower right side of the main body 11a in FIG. 1, and the main body 11a is
Is held rotatably.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 15 includes a network control circuit 41, a modulation / demodulation circuit 42, a data compression / reproduction circuit 43, a back memory 44, an A / D conversion circuit 45, and a control circuit 46. .
The network control circuit 41 is generally called an AA-NCU, and automatically calls a destination and automatically receives a call from a transmission from an external line. The modulation / modulation circuit 42 is generally called a modem, modulates the image information of the document 18 processed and digitized in the control unit 15 for transmission through an external line, and receives an input from the external line. A digital signal is extracted by duplicating the modulated signal. The data compression / reproduction circuit 43 shortens the transmission time of the image information and increases the efficiency, and compresses (encodes) the image information during transmission.
At the time of reception, the compressed image information is reproduced as original information. The buffer memory 44 stores the image information binarized by the A / D conversion circuit 45 from the document reading unit 14 for each predetermined line (for example, one line) and sends the image information to the data compression / reproduction circuit 43. The image information reproduced by the reproduction circuit 43 as the original information is stored for each predetermined line and output to the recording unit 17. An A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion circuit 45 converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The control unit 15 can process image information (analog signal) for each line read from the document reading unit 14. Convert to image information (digital signal). The control circuit 46 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and is based on a command signal from the operation unit 13 or a signal from a sensor (not shown) provided in each unit, or image information transmitted from an external line. Facsimile machine 11
Is controlled in an integrated manner. The control circuit 46, together with the platen roller 72, constitutes a recording sheet positioning unit.

The ink sheet cassette 16 has an ink sheet 52, a spool 53, a recording paper 54, and a guide roller 55 in a cassette case 51 as shown in FIGS. The cassette case (case) 51 is made of, for example, a resin such as ABS. Inside the cassette case 51, a storage portion 56 for storing the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 in substantially the same manner, the spool 53 and the guide roller A storage section 57 for storing 55 is formed. An opening 58 is formed in the upper surface of the cassette case 51, and the opening 58 is provided between the storage section 56 and the storage section 57, and includes a thermal head 71 and a guide roller 74.
Has a size capable of entering the inside of the cassette case 51. On the other hand, an opening 59 is formed in the bottom portion of the cassette case 51, and the opening 59 is provided at a position substantially opposite to the opening 58, so that the platen roller 72 can enter the inside of the cassette case 51. It has a possible size.
Correspondingly, notches 60 are formed on both side surfaces of the cassette case 51 as shown in FIG. 5, so as to avoid interference between the cassette case 51 and the platen roller 72. on the other hand,
A recording paper holding means 61 is provided on the lower surface side 57a of the storage portion 57, and the recording paper holding means 61 is provided with a regulating member 62 and a holding member.
It is composed of 63. The regulating member 62 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper 54, and is provided in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the recording paper 54, and a wall 62a having the same width dimension as the recording paper 54. A wall 62b for regulating the position of both edges of the recording paper 54 is formed in the cassette case 51. A holding member 63 is formed on the wall portion 62a, and the holding member 63 has a shape having a predetermined width extending from the wall portion 62a toward the storage portion 56. At the tip of the holding member 63, a convex portion 63a is formed across the width direction of the holding member 63, and the convex portion 63a has a height such that it comes into contact with the lower surface of the storage portion 57, that is, the cassette case 51. . The holding members 63 are provided at a single or a plurality of positions (three in this embodiment) at predetermined intervals with respect to the wall 62a. Therefore, the holding member 63 holds the sandwiched recording paper 54 with a predetermined pressure by the convexity 63a provided at the distal end thereof and the spring property of the whole holding member 63. In addition, cassette case 51
A pin receiver 64 (only one is shown in the drawing) is formed on both side surfaces of the recording sheet 17. The pin receiver 64 is provided on the recording unit 17 when the ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted on the recording unit 17. Engage with pins (not shown) and ink sheet cassette
16 Perform overall positioning.

Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the ink sheet 52 is, for example, a polyester base sheet coated with a thermal transfer ink layer, and the ink sheet 52 has a width slightly larger than the recording paper 54. Is a spool (paper tube) 52a
It is wound. Here, the entire length of the ink sheet 52 is set slightly longer than the recording paper 54. The leading end of the ink sheet 52 is fixed to a spool 53 (winding means).
Winded up by 53. As the recording paper 54, a roll of plain paper is used, and a predetermined end mark is provided at the end of the recording paper 54 on the back side in the winding direction. The guide roller 55 is formed of, for example, metal.The guide roller 55 extends in the width direction of the cassette case 51, and contacts the thermal head 71 and the platen roller 72 when the ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted on the recording unit 17. It is arranged so as to be located immediately after the contact portion (recording position). Such a guide roller 55
Secures a feeding path for the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54, and separates the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 that are stuck after recording is completed.

Here, the ink sheet 52, the spool 53, the recording paper 54
The guide rollers 55 are housed in the cassette case 51 in the form shown in FIG. That is, the ink sheet 52
A back tension mechanism 65 is attached to one end of the spool 52a that winds the
Reference numeral 65 gives a load when the ink sheet 52 is wound around the spool 53. Accordingly, the back tension mechanism 65 applies a predetermined tension to the ink sheet 52 to prevent wrinkles. A rewind gear 66 is mounted on the other end of the spool 52a, and the rewind gear 66 transmits an external driving force to the ink sheet 52. On the other hand, a support member 67 is mounted on one end of the spool 53, and a winding gear 68 is mounted on the other end of the spool 53. The winding gear 68
The same as the rewind gear 66 is used. Recording paper
The support member 69 is attached to one end of the shaft core 54a, and the support member 70 is attached to the other end of the shaft core 54a. Note that a knob 70a is formed on the support member 70.
Therefore, the ink sheet 52, the spool 53, and the recording paper 54 are
6. The cassette member 51 is rotatably held at a predetermined position by the support member 67, the take-up gear 68, and the support members 69 and 70. The rewind gear 66 and the take-up gear 68 protrude out of the cassette case 51, and when the ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted on the recording unit 17, a driving unit for the recording unit 17 described later.
The gears mesh with idle gears 105 and 106 provided at 80, respectively. Further, a knob 70a formed on the support member 70 also projects outside the cassette case 51, and the recording paper 54 can be rewound manually. The back tension mechanism 65 and the rewind gear 66 constitute ink sheet supporting means as a whole, and the rewind gear 66 and the take-up gear 68 each constitute transmission means. On the other hand, both ends of the guide roller 55 are rotatably held inside the cassette case 51. Note that the guide roller 55 may be configured so that both ends thereof are rotatably held by a bearing, a bush, or the like.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 3, the recording unit 17 is a thermal head.
71, a platen roller 72, a head bracket 73, a guide roller 74, guide plates 75 and 76, a cutter unit 77, paper discharge rollers 78 and 79, and a driving means (not shown) 80.
The thermal head 71 is provided with a plurality of heating elements (not shown) across the width of the recording paper 54. The thermal head 71 selectively generates heat based on image information from the control unit 15, and The ink layer of the ink sheet 52 supplied between the contacting platen roller 72 is melted line by line, and the recording paper 54 is melted.
Transfer to the top. Thermal head 71 is a head bracket
The head bracket 73 is fixed to the bottom of the main body 11a. The head bracket 73 has a pressing mechanism (not shown), and when the heating element portion of the thermal head 71 comes into contact with the platen roller 72, the head bracket 73 presses the heating element with a predetermined urging force. Enhance. Therefore, the thermal head 71 is separated from the platen roller 72 when the main body 11a is opened around the support member 35, and comes into contact with and closely contacts the platen roller 72 when the main body 11a is closed. The platen roller 72 is rotated by the driving force from the driving means 80, and the recording paper 54 is sub-scanned and cut by the thermal head 71 every time one line is recorded.
(Cutting means) and the cutter unit 77
The recording paper 54 cut in step is returned to form a leading end. The guide roller 74 is made of, for example, metal. The guide roller 74 is rotatably held at both ends by the head bracket 73, and secures a feeding path for the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54. The guide roller 74 moves upward while the main body 11a is opened to facilitate the mounting of the recording paper 54. The guide plates 75 and 76 transport the recording paper 54 along a predetermined route, and are provided across the width of the recording paper 54. The guide plate 75 is disposed so that one side 75a is close to the guide roller 55 provided in the ink sheet cassette 16 and is slightly closer to the spool 53 than the guide roller 55. 76a is the platen roller 72
It is arranged close to. The other sides of the guide plate 75 and the guide plate 76 are disposed so as to be on the side of the insertion opening (not shown) of the cutter unit 77. Therefore, the guide plates 75 and 76 are transported by the platen roller 72, and the recording paper separated from the ink sheet 52 by the guide roller 55.
Guide 54 to cutter unit 77 side. The cutter unit 77 has a paper cutting mechanism inside, and the recording paper 54 conveyed is
Is cut to predetermined dimensions. The recording paper 54 cut by the cutter unit 77 is discharged onto a copy tray (not shown) by discharge rollers 78 and 79. Here, the paper discharge roller 78,
Normally, a predetermined pressing force is applied to and adheres to 79, but the discharge roller 74 is configured to move upward by a predetermined amount in conjunction with the recording paper 54 being conveyed. .

The driving means 80 drives the winding of the ink sheet 52 and the driving of the platen roller 72, and has a structure as shown in FIGS. Also, the driving means 80 is
It is arranged on a frame 81 provided in b.

A stepping motor 82 is fixed to the frame 81, and a belt pulley 8 is mounted on an axis 82a of the stepping motor 82.
3 is fixed. On the other hand, the shaft center 72a of the platen roller 72 is
Is rotatably held by a bush 84, and the shaft 72
A platen gear 85 is fixed to one end of a. In the platen gear 85, a belt pulley 85a and a gear 85b are integrally formed, and the belt pulley 85a is connected to the belt pulley 83 by a timing belt 86. The belt pulley 85a of the platen gear 85 has a larger diameter than the belt pulley 83. Therefore, the rotation of the stepping motor 82 is transmitted to the platen roller 72 via the timing belt 86, and the platen roller 72 rotates at a predetermined reduction ratio. On the other hand, the gear 85b of the platen gear 85 meshes with the friction gear 87, and the friction gear 87 is disposed coaxially with the friction pulley 88. A felt 89 is housed on the thrust surfaces of the friction gear 87 and the friction pulley 88, and the friction gear 87 and the friction pulley 88 can rotate with each other via the felt 89. The friction pulley 88 is inserted into a pin 90 fixed on the frame 81, and is prevented from coming off by an E-ring mounted on an end of the pin 90. Further, a plate 91 is provided on the pin 90, and a spring 92 is contracted between the plate 91 and the friction gear 87,
The spring 92 is a friction gear with a predetermined pressure.
87 is urged toward the friction pulley 88 side. Therefore,
The load (frictional force) between the friction gear 87 and the friction pulley 88 due to the pressing force of the felt 89 and the spring 92
Thus, the driving force is transmitted. Thus, when the driving force input to the friction gear 87 exceeds the load, the felt 89 slips and only a predetermined amount of driving force is transmitted. Such a friction gear 87, a friction pulley 88, a felt 89, a plate 91, and a spring 92 constitute a friction mechanism 93 as a whole.
On the other hand, a one-way mechanism 94 and a one-way mechanism 95 are provided at predetermined positions on the frame 81. The one-way mechanism 94 has a function for winding up the ink sheet, and the one-way mechanism 95 has a function for rewinding the ink sheet. The one-way mechanism 94 includes a one-way pulley 96, a one-way gear 97, and a clutch spring 98, which are connected to the frame 81.
It is arranged coaxially with the pin 99 fixed thereon and
The ring prevents slippage. The one-way pulley 96 and the one-way gear 97 have body portions 96a and 9 having the same diameter, respectively.
7a and can rotate with each other. Also, the torso 96
A clutch spring 98 is tightly wound around a and 97a. When the one-way pulley 96 rotates in the direction in which the spring is wound, the clutch spring 98 strongly presses against the body portions 96a and 97a to drive the one-way pulley 96. To the one-way gear 97, and when the one-way pulley 96 rotates in the opening direction of the spring, the clutch spring 98
The driving force of the one-way pulley 96 is not transmitted to the one-way gear 97 by slipping on the 96a and 97a. That is, the one-way mechanism 94 transmits a driving force only in a predetermined constant rotation direction. Note that the one-way mechanism 95 is a one-way mechanism 94
Since the same configuration is used, only different numbers are appended and description is omitted.

Here, in the present embodiment, the one-way mechanism 94 is set so as to transmit power to the one-way gear 97 when the one-way pulley 96 rotates clockwise, and to slip when the one-way pulley 96 rotates counterclockwise. Reference numeral 95 is set so as to slip when the one-way pulley 100 rotates clockwise, and to transmit power to the one-way gear 101 when the one-way pulley 100 rotates counterclockwise. One-way pulley 96 and one-way pulley
Reference numeral 100 is connected to the friction pulley 88 via a timing belt 104. The one-way pulley 96 and the one-way pulley 100 each transmit a driving force or slip according to the rotation direction of the friction pulley 88. On the other hand, the one-way gear 97 of the one-way mechanism 94 meshes with the idle gear 105, and the one-way mechanism 95
The idle gear 106 meshes with the one-way gear 101. The idle gears 105 and 106 are rotatably supported by pins 107 and 108 fixed on the frame. The idle gear 105 takes up the ink sheet cassette 16 when the ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted on the recording unit 17. The idle gear 106 meshes with the rewind gear 66, and meshes with the gear 68. The idle gears 105 and 106 are a winding gear 68 and a rewind gear.
66 rotation directions for one-way gear 97 and one-way gear
It is provided to make it the same as the rotation direction of 101. Therefore, at the time of recording, the ink sheet 72 is wound up in accordance with the sub-scanning of the recording paper 54 and the transport to the cutting position by the rotation of the platen roller 72, and
When the recording paper 54 is returned by the reverse rotation, the ink sheet 52 is also rewound by a predetermined amount. In FIG. 8, the one-way mechanism 95, the idle gear 106, the pin 108, and the idle gear
Rewind gear 66 of ink sheet cassette 16 meshing with 106
Is omitted.

 Next, the operation will be described.

In the present invention, recording is performed by forming the ink sheet 52, the recording paper 54, and their peripheral members, which have conventionally been separately mounted on the recording unit 17, in the same cassette case 51 as the ink sheet cassette 16. A major feature is that it can be freely attached to and detached from the unit 17. Thus, the mounting of the ink sheet cassette 16 on the recording unit 17 will be sequentially described. The ink sheet cassette 16 is provided to the user as a product in the form shown in FIG.

First, the lock (not shown) between the main body 11a and the main body 11b of the facsimile apparatus 11 is released, and the main body 11a is moved by an arrow F in FIG.
When the main body 11a is lifted in the direction, the main body 11a rotates about the support member 35 and opens to expose the recording unit 17 provided in the main body 11b. At this time, the thermal head 71 moves with the main body 11a apart from the platen roller 72 with which the thermal head 71 comes into contact. Therefore, there is no overlapping member on the recording unit 17. Next, the ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted from above the recording unit 17. The ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted by using pin receivers formed on both sides of the cassette case 51.
The positioning is performed so that the positioning pins provided on the frame 81 of the main body 11b are fitted to the 64. When the ink sheet cassette 16 is positioned, at the same time, the rewind gear 66 and the take-up gear 68 projecting from the cassette case 51 to the outside are driven by the driving means.
It meshes with 80 idle gears 105 and 106, respectively. As a result, the driving force from the driving unit 80 is transmitted to the rewind gear 66 and the winding gear 68, and the driving unit 80 controls the ink sheet.
Winding of the ink sheet 52 or rewinding of the ink sheet 52 can be performed. At this time, one side 75a of the platen roller 72 and the guide plate 75 is
1 and pushes up the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 from below and holds them at a predetermined position.

Next, when the main body 11a is closed, the thermal head 71 and the guide roller 74 enter from the opening 58, and the thermal head 71 contacts the platen roller 72 in the cassette case 51,
In close contact. And when the main body 11a is locked to the main body 11b,
As shown in FIG. 9, the mounting of the ink sheet cassette 16 is completed. When the mounting of the ink sheet cassette 16 is completed, a control signal is output from the control circuit 46, and the stepping motor 82 rotates clockwise to reverse the platen roller 72. As a result, the recording paper 54 in contact with the platen roller 72 is returned in the direction opposite to the feeding direction, and the leading end of the recording paper 54 is separated from the recording paper holding means 61. This is because the return force of the recording paper 54 by the platen roller 72, in other words, the frictional force between the platen roller 72 and the recording paper 54, is greater than the retention force of the recording paper 54 by the holding member 63. At this time, the leading end of the recording paper 54 is regulated by the wall 62b of the regulating member 62 at both edges thereof, and is returned in a state where the recording paper 54 is positioned in the transport direction. Recording paper holding means
The leading end of the recording paper 54 detached from 61 is on one side of the guide plate 75
It is returned to the vicinity of the portion C of the guide roller 55 as shown in FIG. That is, the distance from the portion A to the vicinity of the portion C in FIG. 10 is set in advance as the predetermined amount of pullback of the recording paper 54. When the leading end of the recording paper 54 is returned to the vicinity of the portion C, a control signal is output from the control circuit 46, and the stepping motor 82 rotates counterclockwise to rotate the platen roller 72. As a result, the recording paper 54 is conveyed, but since the leading end of the recording paper 54 has returned to the vicinity of the portion C of the guide roller 55, the tangential direction of the platen roller 72 and the platen roller 55 as shown in FIG. Go straight on to guide plates 75 and 76
When the recording paper 54 is introduced into the cutter unit 77, the control signal from the control circuit 46 is temporarily stopped, and the rotation of the platen roller 72 is stopped.
The recording paper 54 is cut by the cutter unit 77. When the recording paper 54 is cut, a control signal is output from the control circuit 46 to rotate the platen roller 72 again. As a result, the leading end of the recording paper 54 is pulled back from the cutting position by the cutter unit 77 toward the thermal head 71, and a leading end margin is formed as shown in FIG. Note that the leading end margin is set to about 2 to 4 mm.

Incidentally, the ink sheet cassette 16 of the present invention is not limited to the automatic sheet feeding when the new ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted on the recording unit 17 as described above.
That is, during the use of the thermal transfer recording method,
Even when switching to the heat-sensitive method, or when the ink sheet cassette 16 is once removed from the recording unit 17 for maintenance or the like, the operator can hold the leading end of the recording paper 54 by the regulating member 62 of the recording paper holding unit 61 described above. The automatic sheet feeding can always be performed under the same conditions by positioning the sheet and holding the sheet with the holding member 63. By the way, when the ink sheet cassette 16 is mounted on the recording section 17,
The distal end of 54 is not always held at the portion A in FIG. For example, it may be held in the B section. Therefore, since the predetermined amount of pullback is set in advance, the leading end when the recording paper 54 is returned is closer to the recording position than the portion C described above. However, in the ink sheet cassette 16 of the present embodiment, the distance between the portions A and B is set to be smaller than the predetermined amount of retraction, so that even if the ink sheet cassette 16 is pulled back from the state held in the portion B, The moving amount of the section is, for example, up to the D section. Therefore, since there is a margin in the distance from the portion D to the recording position, there is no hindrance to the conveyance of the recording paper 54. In addition, by fixing the leading end of the recording paper 54 to the recording paper holding means 61, the recording paper 54 can be bent, stained, etc. as in the state where the recording paper 54 is pulled out from the ink sheet cassette 16. Without the need for handling. Note that the leading end of the recording paper 54 is
If the recording paper 54 is loosened when it is fixed to 61, the slack can be manually removed by operating the knob 70a provided on the support member 70.

When the facsimile apparatus 11 receives image information input via an external line, the facsimile apparatus 11 modulates the image information in the modulation / demodulation circuit 42, reproduces the original information in the data compression / reproduction circuit 43, and stores the original information in the buffer memory 44. The image information stored in the buffer memory 44 is output to the recording unit 17 together with a control signal from the control circuit 46, and is recorded and reproduced in the recording unit 17. This record
Recording for each line by the thermal head 71 and driving means
The recording paper 54 and the ink sheet 52 are conveyed by 80. That is, when the image information and the control signal are input to the recording unit 17, the heating element of the thermal head 71 selectively generates heat, melting the ink layer of the ink sheet 52 and recording paper.
One line is recorded by thermal transfer to 54. This one
When the stepping motor 82 of the driving means 80 rotates counterclockwise in synchronization with the recording timing for the line, the platen gear 85 connected via the belt pulley 83 and the timing belt 86 rotates counterclockwise. Accordingly, the platen roller 72 to which the platen gear 85 is fixed rotates, and the recording paper 54 is conveyed (sub-scan). Platen gear at the same time
When the friction gear 87 connected to the gear 85b of the 85 rotates clockwise, the rotation of the friction gear 87 is felt.
It is transmitted to the friction pulley 88 via 89. The rotation transmitted to the friction pulley 88 is the timing belt 10
4 via one way mechanism 94, 95 one way pulley 9
6, transmitted to 100. When the rotation direction is clockwise (during forward conveyance, such as during recording), the one-way mechanism 94 operates, and the take-up gear of the ink sheet cassette 16 passes through the one-way gear 97 of the one-way mechanism 94 and the idle gear 105. It is transmitted to 68. Therefore, at the time of recording, an amount of the ink sheet 52 corresponding to the transport amount of the recording paper 54 by the platen roller 72 is wound around the spool 53. At this time, since the one-way mechanism 95 is slipping, the rotation is not transmitted to the rewind gear 66. Therefore, at the time of winding, the spool of the ink sheet 52 is attached to the ink sheet 52.
Only the back tension by the back tension mechanism 65 mounted on the 51a is applied. By the way, the ink sheet 52 wound around the spool 53 has a small winding diameter at the beginning of winding, and a small winding amount per one rotation of the spool 53. The amount of winding per rotation is several times larger than at the start of winding. Therefore, a friction mechanism 93 including the friction gear 87, the friction pulley 88, the felt 89, the pin 90, the plate 91, and the spring 92 is provided in order to keep the winding amount of the ink sheet 52 constant. That is, since the winding diameter is small at the beginning of winding the ink sheet 52 by the spool 53, the torque at the time of winding is also small. However, as the winding diameter increases, the torque during winding increases. Therefore, the winding amount of the ink sheet 52 when the winding diameter of the spool 53 is the minimum is set according to the conveyance amount of the recording paper 54 by the platen roller 72, and the allowable load (torque) of the friction mechanism is set. By doing so, even if the winding diameter of the ink sheet 52 around the spool 53 becomes large, the portion exceeding the allowable load set in the friction mechanism 93 slips and the rotation is not transmitted, so that the winding amount is always constant. , The ink sheet 52 can be wound up.

On the other hand, the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 on which recording has been performed are conveyed to the guide roller 55 side while being adhered to each other by the thermally transferred ink, and the ink sheet 52 is transferred to the spool 53 side via the guide roller 55 and recorded again. The paper 54 is separated and transported to the cutter unit 77 side. That is, when the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 are conveyed to the position of the guide roller 55, the ink sheet 52 is wound around the spool 53 at an acute angle via the outer periphery of the guide roller 55, whereas the recording paper 54 Is formed with a leading edge margin, the recording paper 54 tries to move straight in the tangential direction of the outer periphery of the platen roller 72 and the guide roller 55. At this time, the recording paper 54 is wound so that its recording surface is on the outside, and further,
Since the recording paper 54 goes straight down, the weight of the recording paper 54 is also added, so that the recording paper 54 is transported further away from the ink sheet 52. When the recording is further performed and the recording portion reaches the guide roller 55, the recording paper 54 becomes an ink sheet.
At this time, the leading end of the recording paper 54 comes into contact with the guide plate 75 and is held by the guide plate 75 as shown in FIG. As a result, a peeling force acts on the portion where the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 are stuck, and the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 are completely separated. Then, as the recording is further performed, the ink sheet 52 is conveyed to the spool 53 side, and the recording paper 54 is introduced into the cutter unit 77 while being guided by the guide plates 75 and 76. In this way,
When the recording of one page is completed, the recording paper 54 is conveyed by a predetermined amount from the position where the recording is completed, and cut by the cutter unit 77 into a predetermined size. When the recording paper 54 is cut, the control circuit 46
, The stepping motor 82 rotates clockwise to rotate the platen roller 72 in the reverse direction. As a result, the leading end of the recording paper 54 is pulled back from the cutting position by the cutter unit 77 toward the thermal head 71, and the leading end margin is formed as described above.

On the other hand, when the friction gear 87 rotates counterclockwise with the reverse rotation of the platen roller 72, the friction gear 87
Is transmitted to the friction pulley 88 as described above, and the one-way mechanisms 94 and 9 are transmitted via the timing belt 104.
The power is transmitted to the five one-way pulleys 96 and 100. At this time,
Since the rotation direction is counterclockwise, the one-way mechanism 95 operates and is transmitted to the rewind gear 66 of the ink sheet cassette 16 via the one-way gear 101 and the idle gear 106 of the one-way mechanism 95, and the spool 52a is rotated in the counterclockwise direction. Rotate. Accordingly, the ink sheet 52 is rewound by an amount corresponding to the amount by which the recording paper 54 is pulled back by the platen roller 72. At this time, because the one-way mechanism 94 is slipping, the spool 53 is held in a state where the ink sheet 52 can be rewound freely, and an appropriate tension is applied to the ink sheet 52 to prevent loosening and wrinkles. doing.

Thus, the consumable ink sheet 52, the spool
53, the recording paper 54 and the guide roller 55 are housed in one case, and in this housed state, the detachable attachment / detachment to the recording unit 17 is made easy. At the same time, it is possible to prevent wrinkles of the ink sheet 52 at the time of mounting and to prevent peeling of the ink layer due to a finger touching the ink sheet 52 or hooking of a nail. Further, since the ink sheet 52 and the recording paper 54 can be exchanged as a pair, it is possible to avoid a mounting error between the plain paper and the thermal paper, which has conventionally occurred. further,
After the leading end of the recording paper 54 is held by the recording paper holding means 61 formed in the cassette case 51, and when the cassette case 51 is mounted, the recording paper 54 is reciprocated to be separated from the recording paper holding means 61 and cut off at the leading end. By performing the rewinding and positioning, the same front end margin as in the normal state can be automatically formed simply by attaching the cassette case 51 to the recording unit 17. In addition, since the recording paper 54 can be fed while being accurately positioned in the transport direction, it is possible to prevent skew of the recording paper 54 after mounting. Therefore, not only the convenience of the apparatus using such an ink sheet cassette 16 can be improved, but also the quality of the recorded image can be maintained.

(Effect) According to the present invention, a roll-shaped recording paper and a winding means for winding the roll-shaped ink sheet and the used ink sheet are housed in a case, and the leading end of the recording paper is placed in the case. A recording paper holding means for holding the recording paper is provided, and the recording paper is conveyed when the ink sheet cassette is mounted by the recording paper positioning means, is separated from the recording paper holding means, and the leading end thereof is cut by the cutting means. Therefore, the ink sheet and the recording paper, which are consumables, can be easily attached and detached to and from the apparatus, so that the convenience of the apparatus and the quality of the recorded image can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 13 are views showing an example of a facsimile apparatus to which an embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part thereof, FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof, and FIG. Is a detailed sectional view showing the relationship between the ink sheet cassette and the recording section, FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the ink sheet cassette, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view of the ink sheet cassette, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the ink sheet cassette, FIG. 7 is a main part configuration diagram of driving means of a facsimile apparatus to which the ink sheet cassette is applied, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part when the ink sheet cassette is mounted on the recording unit, and FIG. 10 is a recording paper after the ink sheet cassette is mounted on the recording unit. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing the operation of transporting recording paper after the ink sheet cassette is mounted on the recording unit,
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a leading edge margin of a recording sheet after the ink sheet cassette is mounted on a recording section, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the ink sheet, recording sheet and guide rollers stored in the ink sheet cassette. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows a relationship. FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional facsimile machine. 16: Ink sheet cassette, 46: Control circuit (recording paper positioning means), 51: Cassette case (case),
52: Ink sheet, 53: Spool (winding means), 54
…… Recording paper, 61 …… Recording paper holding means, 62 …… Regulatory member,
71: thermal head, 72: platen roller (recording paper positioning means), 77: cutter unit (cutting means).

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A roll-shaped recording sheet conveyed in a predetermined direction, a roll-shaped ink sheet overlapped with the recording sheet at least at a predetermined recording position and conveyed with the conveyance of the recording sheet, and a leading end of the ink sheet An ink sheet cassette which is provided with a take-up means for taking up a used ink sheet to which the used ink sheet is fixed, and an ink sheet cassette which is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, wherein the ink sheet cassette is mounted on the take-up means side of the case. A recording paper holding means for holding the leading end of the recording paper is provided from the front, and the recording paper is conveyed when the ink sheet cassette is mounted, detached from the recording paper holding means, and the leading end thereof is cut by the cutting means. A recording apparatus comprising a recording sheet positioning means for performing sheet positioning. 2. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording paper holding means comprises a regulating member for regulating said recording paper so as to be parallel to a conveying direction. . 3. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording paper holding means includes a regulating member for regulating a position of a leading end of said recording paper.