JPS63115769A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate detection of a mark on an ink sheet, by providing a reflective member with a lustrous flat surface, providing a projected part for guiding the ink sheet in the vicinity of the lustrous surface, and integrally providing the reflective member in an ink sheet cassette. CONSTITUTION:The quantity of light reflected to a sensor 8 is increased, and a lustrous flat surface 12a and an ink sheet 2 are disposed in a non-contact state, whereby the lustrous flat surface 12a is prevented from being contaminated, and detection of a mark on the ink sheet 2 is facilitated. With a reflective member 12 provided in a body with an ink sheet cassette 7, the construction of the cassette 7 is simplified. Accordingly, a highly reliable, inexpensive recorder can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a highly reliable and inexpensive recording device useful as a hard copy device for outputting images for televisions, computers, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, there has been a remarkable trend toward color display devices such as CRTs, and as a result, there is a growing demand for these node copy devices capable of color recording. Currently, the impact method, thermal transfer method, inkjet method, and electrophotographic method are being considered as color recording methods, but among these, quietness, ease of maintenance,
In terms of cost, it can be said that the thermal transfer method is leading other methods toward practical application.

Conventionally, when color recording is performed using a thermal transfer method, an ink sheet 1o2 is coated in three colors, yellow 1o2b, mazey yui 102c, and sifted y102d, on a transparent base material 102a in the manner shown in Fig. 5, corresponding to each color ink. Opaque marks 102e, 102f, and 102g are provided. and,
As shown in FIG. 4, the ink sheet 102 is
05, take-up roll 106, and glossy member 10
The ink sheet cassette 107 is configured to be removably attached to the main body of the apparatus together with a rotatable shaft-shaped sheet guide 112 around which the ink sheet 102 is wound, making it easy to replace the ink sheet 102 as a consumable item. In a thermal transfer type recording apparatus, an image receiving paper 101 is held between a capstan roller 110 and a pinch roller 111 at a position where it is held between a capstan roller 110 and a pinch roller 111
While being transported in the direction of arrow a/force by 100 rotations drive,
Line-shaped thermal head 103 and platen roller 10
The heating elements 1 are pressed together with the ink sheet 102 at the pressing position of 4 and arranged linearly on the thermal head 103.
By selectively heating 03a, ink is transferred from the ink sheet 1o2 to form an image. At the same time, the shrunk sheet 12 is driven by a sheet driving means (not shown) in the direction of arrow b' via the sheet guide 112, and is wound onto the take-up roll 106. However, the supply roll 105 and the take-up roll 106 are each configured to transmit a predetermined torque via a slip mechanism (not shown). In the case of color recording, the capstan roller 110 is rotated in forward and reverse directions for each color recording, and the image receiving paper 101 is reciprocated three times in the direction of arrow a' or C', while the ink sheet 102 is run in the direction of arrow b'. The three colors yellow, magenta, and cyan are superimposed and recorded on the image receiving paper 101 to form a color image.

However, at the beginning of each color record filJ, the recording start position of the ink of the corresponding color must be located opposite the heating element 103a. Therefore, just before recording each color, the winding roll 10
8, the ink sheet 102 is run in the direction of the arrow b', and the reflected light is detected by the reflective member 109 of the sensor 108 having a light emitting part and a light receiving part.
The recording start position of the detection ink 102d is positioned opposite to the heat generating element 103a, with the recording start state being in a state where it is blocked by 2f or 102g.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with this method, the reflecting member 109 has a cylindrical shape wrapped around the sheet guide 112, and with this shape, the light emitted from the sensor 108 is dispersed on the reflecting member 109. Resulting in. Therefore, the amount of light reaching the light receiving section of the sensor 108 is significantly reduced, which increases detection errors and impairs reliability. In addition, the reflective member 10
9 must be rotatably provided to prevent it from sliding on the ink sheet 102 in order to prevent the reflectance from decreasing due to dirt caused by sliding on the ink sheet 102). The disadvantage of complicating the configuration is that
had at the same time.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a reflective member with a glossy plane, a protrusion for guiding the ink sheet near the glossy plane, and attaches the reflective member to the ink sheet cassette. The structure is such that it is provided integrally.

Function: With the above-described configuration, the present invention increases the amount of reflected light to the sensor, and also prevents the glossy plane from becoming dirty by making the glossy plane and the ink sheet non-contact, thereby making it easier to detect marks on the ink sheet. By integrating the reflective member with the ink sheet cassette, the configuration of the ink sheet cassette can be simplified, and a highly reliable and inexpensive recording device can be obtained.

Embodiment Hereinafter, the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram showing a recording apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an image receiving paper, 2 is an ink sheet, 3 is a thermal head in which heating elements 3a are linearly arranged, and 4 is a platen roller. It is. 5 is a supply roll formed by winding the ink sheet 2, and is connected to means (not shown) such as a slip mechanism so as to rotate with a constant torque when rotating in the direction of arrow a; A take-up roll is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow by a sheet winding means (not shown) via means such as a slip mechanism (not shown). An ink sheet cassette 7 rotatably supports the supply roll 5 and take-up roll 6 and is attached to and removed from the main body of the apparatus in the depth direction of the drawing. Here, 7a is
A supply roll storage section, 7b is a take-up roll storage section, and 12 is a glossy plane 12a provided integrally with the take-up roll storage section 7b.
and a reflective member having protrusions 12b and 12c,
8 is a sensor that has a light emitting part and a light receiving part and detects reflected light;
It is provided at a position facing the glossy plane 12a. and 1
o is a capstan roller, and 11 is a pinch roller that pinches the image receiving paper 1 and presses against the capstan roller 1o. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the ink sheet cassette 7. FIG. The supply roll storage section 7a and the take-up roll storage section 7b prevent foreign matter from coming into direct contact with the ink sheet 2. In addition, when the ink sheet cassette 7 is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, the openings 7C and 7d
The supply roll 5 and the take-up roll 6 are connected to a slip mechanism (not shown) via. Here, when at least the thermal head 3 is spaced apart from the platen roller 4 3', the ink sheet 2 is guided by the projections 12c and 12b, and the supply roll 5 applies pack tension and the take-up roll applies winding force. It runs in a state where it is stretched between 6 and 6. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the basic structure of the ink sheet 2. Yellow 2b, magenta 2c, and cyan 2d are applied on a transparent substrate 2a in the order of ink corresponding to the area of the recording screen. It has corresponding opaque marks 2e, 2f, 2g. However, since mark 2e means the beginning of a set of three colors of ink, it is long so that it can be distinguished from other marks at the time of detection.

Next, the operation of the recording apparatus in this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the ink sheet cassette 7 is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, the take-up roll 6 is rotated in the direction of the arrow C, and the ink sheet 2 is caused to travel in the direction of the arrow C. When the mark 2e on the ink sheet 2, which is guided between the protrusions 12b and 12c and runs under tension, blocks the detection of the light reflected on the glossy plane 12a of the sensor 8, the take-up roll 6 continues to hold the ink for a certain period of time. The sheet 2 is caused to travel in the direction of arrow C and is stopped if the sensor 8 detects no reflected light. At this time, the recording start position of the yellow ink 2b on the ink sheet 2 is set opposite to the heating element 3a of the thermal head 3. Next, the thermal head 3 is pressed against the platen roller 4, the capstan roller 10 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow d, and the image receiving paper 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow e at the position where the capstan roller 10 and the pinch roller 11 are in pressure contact. At the same time, the take-up roll 6 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow to apply tension to the ink sheet 2 while taking it up. At the same time, a desired recording information is transmitted to the thermal head 3, and the heating element 3a selectively generates heat to transfer the ink on the ink sheet 2 to the image receiving paper 1 to obtain a desired image. In this way, when one screen worth of recording with the yellow ink 2b is completed, the thermal head 3 is separated from the platen roller 4 and placed in the position 3', and the capstan roller 1o is moved by the arrow F.
to rotate the image receiving paper 1 in the direction of the arrow q,
Return to recording start state. Further, the ink sheet 2 is wound up in the direction of arrow C, and stops when the mark 2f blocks detection of the reflected light by the sensor 8. At this time, the recording start position of the magenta ink 2C on the ink sheet 2 faces the heating element 3a. Thereafter, in the same way as the above-described recording operation using the yellow ink 2b, one screen worth of recording is performed using the magenta ink 2C, superimposed on the image recorded using the yellow ink 2b.

Similarly, recording is performed using the cyan ink 2d to complete recording of a full color image for one screen. In addition, glossy plane 1
2a has a substantially planar shape, so if the light emitted from the sensor 8 is reflected on the glossy plane 12a, a sufficient amount of light is provided to the light receiving section of the sensor 8. In addition, the ink sheet 2 has a protrusion 12
Since the ink sheet 2 is guided between b and 12c and runs under tension, the ink sheet 2 and the glossy plane 12a are
Never come into contact with the vehicle while driving.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the present invention, by providing the reflective member 12 with the glossy plane 12a, the reflected light to the sensor 8 is increased, and the ink sheet 2 is guided near the glossy plane 12a. Projections 12b, 12c
By providing a non-contact state between the glossy plane 12a and the ink sheet 2, staining of the glossy plane 12a is prevented, thereby making it easier to detect the marks 2e, 2f, and 2g on the ink sheet 2. Further, by integrating the reflecting member 12 with the ink sheet cassette 7, the configuration of the ink sheet cassette 7 is simplified.

Note that in this embodiment, the protrusion 12b of the reflective member 12
, 12C are provided, but the same effect can be obtained with just one reflective member 12, and although the reflective member 12 is integrated with the take-up roll storage section 7b, it may be simply integrated with other parts of the ink sheet cassette 7 or separately. A similar effect can be obtained even if the ink sheet cassette is integrally provided as a member.

In addition, in this embodiment, the base material 2a of the ink sheet 2 is transparent and the marks 2e, 2f, and 2g are opaque, but detection can also be performed in the opposite manner. 2f.

Although it is made longer to distinguish it from 2q, the beginning of the set can also be detected using other methods such as distributing the ink sheet 20 on both sides. Furthermore, although the recording order of the ink colors is yellow, magenta, and cyan, other orders may be used.Although the number of ink types is 3 to correspond to the 3 colors, if there are multiple ink types, other ink types may be used. Get a similar effect.

Further, in this embodiment, the recording method is a thermal transfer method, but other methods such as an electric heat-sensitive method may be used as long as the transfer is performed using an ink sheet. Although this was carried out using a stun roller of 1°, other image-receiving paper transport methods such as transport using a platen roller may also be used.

Effects of the Invention The present invention increases the amount of reflected light to the sensor by providing a glossy plane on the reflective member, and also provides a protrusion that guides the ink sheet near the glossy plane to separate the glossy plane and the ink sheet. By making the reflective member in contact with the ink sheet cassette, it prevents the glossy surface from becoming dirty and makes it easier to detect marks on the ink sheet, and by configuring the reflective member integrally with the ink sheet cassette, the structure of the ink cylindrical cassette is simplified. Therefore, a highly reliable and low-cost recording device can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a recording device according to an embodiment of the present invention taken along a plane perpendicular to the main scanning direction, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the ink sheet cassette shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
1, FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional recording apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the ink sheet shown in FIG. 4. 2...Ink sheet, 2b, 2c, 2d...
... Colorant layer, 2e, 2f, 2g... Mark,
7. Old... Ink sheet cassette, 8... Sensor, 12. Old... Reflective member, 12 a... Glossy plane, 12 b, 12 c... Protrusion. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao and 1 other person No. 1
Figure 2: Light 1 blood Figure 3: Ink sheet Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An ink sheet having a colorant layer coated on its surface and a mark indicating the position of the colorant layer, and an ink sheet cassette that stores the ink sheet and is detachably attached to the main body of the apparatus; A recording device comprising: a reflective member having a glossy flat surface on a portion thereof; and a reflected light detecting means disposed at a position facing the glossy flat surface of the reflective member with the ink sheet interposed therebetween. (2) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective member provided with a projection for guiding at least one ink sheet in the vicinity of the glossy plane. (3) The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which includes a reflective member provided integrally with the ink sheet cassette.