JP2730739B2 - Thermal transfer recording apparatus and facsimile apparatus using the apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thermal transfer recording apparatus for transferring an ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium and recording an image on the recording medium, and a facsimile apparatus using the apparatus. It is about.

[Prior art] Generally, a thermal transfer printer uses an ink sheet in which a heat-fusible (thermal sublimation) ink is applied to a base film,
The ink sheet is selectively heated by a thermal head in accordance with an image signal, and the melted (sublimated) ink is transferred to a recording sheet to record an image. In general, this ink sheet is a sheet in which ink is completely transferred to recording paper by one image recording (so-called one-time sheet). It is necessary to transport the ink sheet by a corresponding amount, and to surely bring the unused portion of the ink sheet to the next recording position. For this reason, the amount of ink sheet used increases, and compared to a normal thermal printer that records on thermal paper,
The running cost of thermal transfer printers has tended to increase.

To solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-83471 has been proposed.
As disclosed in JP-A-58-201686 or JP-B-62-58917, there has been proposed a thermal transfer printer in which a recording sheet and an ink sheet are conveyed at a different speed.

The present invention is a further development of the invention described in the above publication.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] An ink sheet (so-called multi-print sheet) capable of performing image recording a plurality of times is known, and when this ink sheet is used, the recording length L is continuously recorded. The conveyance length of the ink sheet conveyed after the end of each image recording or during the image recording is smaller than the length L (L / n, n> 1).
Can be recorded. As a result, the use efficiency of the ink sheet becomes n times as large as the conventional one, and a reduction in running cost of the thermal transfer printer can be expected. Hereinafter, this recording method is referred to as multiprint.

In a thermal transfer printer that performs such multi-printing, since the moving speed of the ink sheet is lower than the moving speed of the recording paper, the ink sheet wrinkles due to friction between the ink sheet and the recording paper, or the ink sheet becomes dull. Problems. Further, it is common practice to provide a cutter for cutting recorded paper in page units. In particular, in a facsimile apparatus, it is preferable to provide a cutter for cutting recording paper in page units. However,
When such a cutter is provided, the recording paper is conveyed in the cutter direction at the end of recording of one page (so-called front feed), or after the cutting of the recording paper by the cutter, the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper is heated by a thermal head. There is a tendency that the recording paper needs to be conveyed such as returning to the recording position (so-called back feed).

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, in which the ink sheet is stopped at least at the time of transporting the recording medium forward or backward other than at the time of recording, and the ink sheet at the time of other transport is the same as the recording medium. Provided are a thermal transfer recording apparatus and a facsimile apparatus using the apparatus, in which the ink sheet is conveyed at a predetermined speed to prevent slack and wrinkles generated on the ink sheet, and to prevent the surface of the recording medium from being stained. The purpose is to:

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, a thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a thermal transfer recording apparatus that performs image recording by transferring an ink included in an ink sheet to a recording medium, and a recording unit that acts on the ink sheet to record an image on the recording medium; An ink sheet transporting unit for transporting a sheet in a first direction; a recording medium transporting unit for transporting the recording medium; Stopping means for stretching and stopping the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying means when conveying in the opposite direction; and conveying the recording medium in the first direction except at the time of image recording by the recording means. And a transport unit for transporting the ink sheet at a lower speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet transport unit.

The facsimile apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in the above-described configuration, the facsimile apparatus having another configuration is configured such that when the recording medium is exchanged or when the recording medium is conveyed to cut the recording medium by the cutting unit that cuts the recording medium, The operation is such that the ink sheet is stretched and stopped by the sheet conveying means.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of Facsimile Apparatus (FIGS. 1 to 4)] FIGS. 1 to 4 show examples in which the thermal transfer printer of the embodiment is applied to a facsimile apparatus. FIG. 1 shows a control unit and a recording unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the facsimile apparatus.

 First, a schematic configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, a reading unit 100 photoelectrically reads a document and outputs it as a digital image signal to a control unit 101. The reading unit 100 includes a document transport motor, a CCD image sensor, and the like. Next, the configuration of the control unit 101 will be described. A line memory 110 stores the image data of each line of the image data. The line memory 110 stores one line of image data from the reading unit 100 when transmitting or copying a document, and decodes the image data when receiving image data. One line data of the received image data is stored. Then, the stored data is output to the recording unit 102 to perform image formation. An encoding / decoding unit 111 encodes image information to be transmitted by MH encoding or the like, and decodes received encoded image data to convert the image data into image data. Reference numeral 112 denotes a buffer memory for storing transmitted or received encoded image data. Each part of the control unit 101 is controlled by a CPU 113 such as a microprocessor. The control unit 101 includes, in addition to the CPU 113, a ROM 114 that stores a control program of the CPU 113 and various data, a RAM 115 that temporarily stores various data as a work area of the CPU 113, and the like.

A recording unit 102 includes a thermal line head and records an image on recording paper by a thermal transfer recording method. This configuration will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 103 is an operation unit including various function instruction keys such as transmission start and a telephone number input key, and 103a is a switch for instructing the type of ink sheet 14 to be used.When the switch 103a is on, a multi-print ink sheet is provided. However, when it is off, it indicates that a normal ink sheet is mounted. Reference numeral 104 denotes a display unit which is usually provided in the operation unit 103 and displays various functions and the state of the apparatus, and further displays the remaining amount of the ink sheet.
A power supply unit 105 supplies power to the entire apparatus.
106 is a modem (modulator / demodulator), 107 is a network controller (NC
U) and 108 are telephones.

Next, the configuration of the recording unit 102 will be described in detail with reference to the side sectional view of FIG. The parts common to FIG. 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a roll paper in which a recording paper 11 which is plain paper is wound in a roll shape around a core 10a. The roll paper 10 is rotatably stored in the apparatus so that the recording paper 11 can be supplied to the thermal head 13 by rotating the platen roller 12 in the direction of the arrow. A roll paper loading unit 10b removably loads the roll paper 10. Further, reference numeral 12 denotes a platen roller which conveys the recording paper 11 in the direction of the arrow b and a heating element 132 of the thermal head 13.
The ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 are pressed between these steps. The recording paper 11 on which image recording has been performed by the heat generated by the thermal head 13 is conveyed in the direction of the discharge rollers 16 (16a, 16b) by further rotation of the platen roller 12, and when image recording for one page is completed, the cutter 15 is completed. (15a, 15b) is cut into pages by engagement.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an ink sheet supply roll for winding the ink sheet 14, and reference numeral 18 denotes an ink sheet take-up roll, which is driven by an ink sheet motor described later and winds the ink sheet 14 in the direction of arrow a. The ink sheet supply roll 17 and the ink sheet take-up roll 18
Is removably mounted on the ink sheet loading unit 70 in the apparatus main body. Reference numeral 19 denotes a sensor for detecting the remaining amount of the ink sheet 14 and detecting the transport speed of the ink sheet 14. Reference numeral 20 denotes an ink sheet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the ink sheet 14 and the remaining amount of the ink sheet 14 based on a mark attached to the ink sheet 14, and 21 denotes a spring, which detects the recording paper 11 or the ink sheet 14. The thermal head 13 is pressed against the platen roller 12 through the intermediary of the thermal head 13. Reference numeral 22 denotes a recording sheet sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a recording sheet.

 Next, the configuration of the reading unit 100 will be described.

In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a light source for irradiating a document 32. Light reflected by the document 32 is input to the CCD sensor 31 through an optical system (mirrors 50, 51, and lens 52) and is converted into an electric signal. The original 32 is transported by transport rollers 53, 54, 55, 56 driven by a not-shown original transport motor in accordance with the reading speed of the original 32. 57 is a document loading table,
The plurality of originals 32 stacked on the stacking table 57 are separated one by one by the cooperation of the conveying roller 54 and the pressing and separating piece 58, and are conveyed to the reading unit 100.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a control board that forms a main part of the control unit 101, and various control signals are output from the control board 41 to each unit of the device. Reference numeral 106 denotes a modem board unit, and 107 denotes an NCU board unit.

4A and 4B are diagrams showing details of the transport mechanism of the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11, and the same parts as those in the above-described drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 25 denotes an ink sheet transport motor that transports the ink sheet 14 in the direction of arrow a, and reference numeral 24 drives the platen roller 12 to rotate, and recording that transports the recording paper 11 in the direction of arrow b opposite to the direction of arrow a. This is a paper transport motor. 26 and 27 are transmission gears for transmitting the rotation of the recording paper motor 24 to the platen roller 12, and 28 and 29 are transmission gears for transmitting the rotation of the ink sheet motor 25 to the take-up roller 18. 85 is the transmission gear
When the ink sheet 14 is fed out by the ink sheet supply motor that rotationally drives the ink sheet supply roll 17 via 86 and 87, the supply roll 17 is rotated in the direction of arrow C.

Note that, by reversing the conveying directions of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14, the direction in which images are sequentially recorded in the longitudinal direction of the recording paper 11 (the direction of arrow a, the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the recording paper 11). The transport direction of the ink sheet 14 matches. Here, the conveying speed V _P of the recording paper 11, the conveying speed of _{V P = -n · V I (} V I is the ink sheet 14, - the conveying direction of the conveying direction and the ink sheet 14 of recording paper 11 is different When it has) indicates that the relative velocity V _PI of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 against the thermal head _{13, V PI = V P -V I} = (1 + 1 / n) V
Represented by _P, the relative velocity V _PI is V _P or more, i.e., the relative velocity V _PI when transported by conventional same direction '(= (1-1 / n)
V _P ).

In addition to this, when recording for n lines using the thermal head 13, only (l / m) (m
Is an integer, n> m) When the ink sheet 14 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow a, or when the distance corresponding to the length L is recorded, the ink sheet 14 is moved at the same speed in the opposite direction to the recording paper 11 during recording. And rewinds the ink sheet 14 by L · (n−1) / n before recording the next predetermined amount (where n> 1).
In any case these, the relative speed when the relative speed is to be recorded while moving V _P, the ink sheet 14 when recording to stop the ink sheet 14 becomes 2V _P.

FIG. 4B shows that, even in a device in which a hand-cutting cutter 15c is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 16 instead of the cutter 15, the transport control is performed assuming that there is no back feed procedure described later. The same effect can be obtained. Hereinafter, the case of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4A will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a control unit 10 in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an electrical connection between 1 and the recording unit 102, and portions common to other drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals.

The thermal head 13 is a line head. The thermal head 13 is a shift register for inputting one line of serial recording data 43 from the control unit 101.
130, a latch circuit 131 for latching data of the shift register 130 by the latch signal 44, and a heating element 132 composed of a heating resistor for one line. Here, the heating resistor 1
32 is driven by being divided into m blocks denoted by 132-1 to 132-m. 133 is a temperature sensor attached to the thermal head 13 for detecting the temperature of the thermal head 13. The output signal 42 of the temperature sensor 133 is A / D converted in the control unit 101 and input to the CPU 113. As a result, the CPU 113 detects the temperature of the thermal head 13 and changes the pulse width of the strobe signal 47 or changes the drive voltage of the thermal head 13 in accordance with the detected temperature, thereby changing the characteristics (type) of the ink sheet 14. ), The energy applied to the thermal head 13 is changed.

The type (characteristics) of the ink sheet 14 is specified by the above-described switch 103a. In addition, the type and characteristics of the ink sheet 14 may be such that a mark applied to the ink sheet 14 may be detected, a mark provided on a cartridge of the ink sheet 14 or a notch provided on the cartridge. Alternatively, the determination may be performed based on the protrusion or the like.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a drive circuit which receives a drive signal for the thermal head 13 from the control unit 101 and outputs a strobe signal 47 for driving the thermal head 13 in units of blocks. It should be noted that this drive circuit 46 is controlled by the thermal head 1 according to an instruction from the control unit 101.
The energy applied to the thermal head 13 can be changed by changing the voltage output to the power supply line 45 that supplies current to the third heating element 132. Reference numerals 48, 49, and 88 denote motor drive circuits that rotate the corresponding recording paper transport motor 24, ink sheet transport motor 25, and ink sheet supply motor 85, respectively. The recording paper motor 24, the ink sheet motor 25, and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are stepping motors in this embodiment, but are not limited thereto, and may be, for example, DC motors.

[Explanation of the First Embodiment (FIGS. 5 to 9A)] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 in a standby state before the start of the recording operation. 11 is arranged so that the vicinity of the front end is located at the recording position by the thermal head 13. When image recording is started from this state, the recording sheet 11 is conveyed at a velocity V _P in the direction of arrow b, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed at a speed V _I in the direction of arrow a. The relationship between the transport speed V _P and V _I is set to be V _P = -nV _I. Here,-indicates that the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 are transported in different directions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which image recording for one page has been completed. Here, since the rear end of one page on which an image has been recorded is in contact with the thermal head 13, the recording paper 11 must be further moved in the forward direction (arrow In the direction (b), it is necessary to convey by a distance "l" between the recording position by the thermal head 13 and the cutter 15.

Figure 7A is a diagram showing a state when the conveyance, the conveying speed of the recording paper 11 and the V _PF. On the other hand, the ink sheet 14 is held by the holding torque of the motor 25 for conveying the ink sheet.
It is stretched and stopped between the ink sheet supply roll 17 and the take-up roll 18.

When the vicinity of the rear end portion of the recording paper 11 on which the image recording has been performed is conveyed until it passes the cutting by the cutter 15, a driving motor (not shown) for driving the cutter 15 is driven by a command from the control unit 101. Then, the cutters 15a and 15b are engaged with each other, and the recording paper 11 is cut into pages. This is shown in FIG. 8, where 11a is a recorded one-page recording paper portion, 11b is a trailing end portion of a cut one-page recording paper 11a, and 11c is a cut one-page recording paper. It shows the tip of 11a.

FIG. 9A shows that after the recording paper 11 is cut, the recording paper 11 is rewound in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow b in FIG. 7A, and the leading end of the recording paper 11 is slightly discharged from the transfer position by the thermal head 13. 16
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the sheet is conveyed to a position on the side and cueing for recording the next page is performed. Recording paper at this time
Let the rewind speed of 11 be _VPB . At this time, ink sheet 1
4 is an ink sheet supply motor 8 as in the case of FIG.
Due to the holding torque of 5, it is stretched and stopped between the ink sheet supply roll 17 and the take-up roll 18. At this time, the cut recording paper 11a
Is discharged out of the apparatus by the rotation of the discharge roller 16.

As described above, when the recording paper 11 is transported forward or backward to cut the recording paper 11, the ink sheet 14
The ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are stretched and stopped by the holding torque, so that the ink sheet 14 that may be generated due to the transport of the recording paper 11 is distorted. Can be prevented, and the amount of consumption of the ink sheet 14 can be suppressed.

[Second embodiment (FIGS. 5 to 9B)] The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the case of the back feed of the recording paper 11 shown in FIG. 9B.

That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9B,
When rewinding the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper 11 to the recording position by the thermal head 13 after cutting the recording paper 11, the ink sheet 14
At the speed V _IB in the same direction as the recording paper 11. here,
The transport speed V _IB of the ink sheet 14 is the transport speed V of the recording paper 11.
1 / n of _PB .

As described above, when the recording paper 11 is in the front feed (7th A
9B, the ink sheet 14 is stopped, and a speed difference (V _IB = V _PB / n) is given to the transport speed of the recording sheet 11 and the ink sheet 14 at the time of the back feed shown in FIG. 9B. With this, the recording paper
There is an effect that the waste of the ink sheet 14 generated when the 11 is conveyed for the cutting process by the cutter 15 can be reduced to l / n (1 is the distance between the recording position by the thermal head 13 and the cutter 15).

[Third Embodiment (FIGS. 5 to 9B)] A third embodiment is directed to recording paper for cutting with a cutter 15.
When front feeding 11 (Fig. 7A), the ink sheet
Lock 14 to stop. Then, the recording paper 11 in FIG. 9B
The feed speed V _IB of the ink sheet 14
Becomes larger than the conveyance speed V _PB of the recording paper 11 (V _IB ≧ V
_PB ) so that.

In a standby state as shown in FIG. 5 before image recording, the ink sheet 14 must be stretched between the ink sheet take-up roll 18 and the thermal head 13 without slack. This is because, at the start of image recording, when the ink sheet take-up roll 18 is driven to rotate and the conveyance of the ink sheet 14 is started, if the ink sheet 14 is slack, the rotation of the take-up roll 18 causes the ink sheet 14 to rotate. Only the slack is absorbed. Thus, the ink sheet 14 at the time the image recording has been started would ceased being conveyed at a speed V _I. At this time the ink sheet 14 is dragged by the conveying speed V _P of the recording paper 11, sometimes it would be Ika by having the downstream side. To prevent them, during Batsukufuido the recording paper 11, by conveying in the same direction of the ink sheet 14 at a speed V _IB than the conveying speed V _PB of the recording paper 11, to generate a slack in the ink sheet 14 Thus, there is an effect that the ink sheet 14 can be stretched without any need.

Fourth Embodiment In a fourth embodiment, the speed V _{PF of the} recording paper 11 shown in FIG. 7A is used.
At the time of the front feed, the ink sheet 14 is stopped and fixed by the holding torque of the motor 25 for conveying the ink sheet. Then, at the time of back feed of the recording paper 11,
The ink sheet 14 is divided into k (k is a natural number) times, and is conveyed in the same direction as the recording paper 11 by the nip amount of the platen roller 12 △ l.

This is because the back of the recording paper 11
The recording sheet 11 slides on the recording sheet 11, and the ink on the ink sheet 14 is transferred to the recording sheet 11, so that soiling is likely to occur. Therefore, in this embodiment, a top-coated ink sheet 14 as shown in FIG. 13 is used, and the ink sheet 14 is stopped until the top-coating layer is worn.
Then, before the top coating layer of the ink sheet 14 runs out due to friction between the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14,
The ink sheet 14 is transported in the direction of arrow a by the nip amount Δl of the platen roller 12 shown in FIG.

Thereby, when the recording paper 11 is back fed,
There is an effect that the conveyance length of the ink sheet 14 can be set to k × (nip amount) △ l.

Fifth Embodiment (FIGS. 7A and 9B) Next, the ink sheet 14 is stopped during the front feed of the recording paper 11 in FIG. 7A, and the ink sheet 14 is stopped during the back feed of the recording paper 11 shown in FIG. 9B. Transports the ink sheet 14 in the direction of the arrow a at a transport speed of V _IB = _VPB / n _IB (n _IB > n). This n _IB is
This is the maximum number at which no background stain occurs on the recording paper 11 due to friction between the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11.

According to this embodiment, there is an effect that the conveyance length of the ink sheet 14 conveyed for cutting the recording paper 11 by the cutter 15 can be shortened, and the use waste of the ink sheet 14 can be reduced.

[Sixth Embodiment (FIGS. 7B and 9A)] In the first to fifth embodiments described above,
Although the ink sheet 14 is stopped at the time of front feeding of the recording paper 11 as shown in FIG. 7A, in the sixth to eighth embodiments to be described later, as shown in FIG. At the time of feed, the ink sheet 14 is transported and the recording paper 11
At the time of the back feed, the ink sheet 14 is stopped as shown in FIG. 9A.

In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG.
11 is conveyed in the direction of the discharge roller 16, the conveying speed V
_{Assuming PF} , the transport speed of the ink sheet 14 is V _IF = V _PF / n
_Make it an _IF . Then, when Batsukufuido the recording sheet 11 at a speed V _PB is the ink sheet 14 is stopped as shown in Figure 9A. Here, n _IF = n (n is equal to n during recording). As described above, when the recording paper 11 is fed forward at the time of cutting the recording paper 11 in page units, the transportation speed of the ink sheet 14 is reduced, and the transportation waste of the ink sheet 14 can be reduced.

[Seventh embodiment of (FIG. 7B, FIG. 9A)] In the seventh embodiment, the front off Eid when the recording paper 11 is conveyed to the ink sheet 14 at a speed V _IF, ink during Batsukufuido the recording paper 11 The seat 14 is stopped.

In the seventh embodiment, when conveying the recording paper 11 to the discharge rollers 16 direction, when the conveying speed V _PF, made to be the transport speed of the ink sheet 14 in the V _IF = V _PF / n _IF .
Then, when Batsukufuido the recording sheet 11 at a speed V _PB is the ink sheet 14 is stopped. Where n _IF >
n (n is equal to n in the recording). The n _IF is the maximum number at which the recording paper 11 is not stained due to friction between the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11.

As described above, when the recording sheet 11 is fed forward at the time of cutting the recording sheet 11 in page units, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed at a reduced conveyance speed.
Transport waste can be reduced.

[Eighth Embodiment (FIGS. 7B and 9A)] In the eighth embodiment, the recording paper 11 shown in FIG.
When V _PF front feed, the ink sheet 14 is k (k
Is divided into a natural number) times, and transported in the direction of conveying direction opposite to the predetermined amount l ₁ only the recording paper 11, the ink sheet in other times
I'm trying to stop 14. Where l ₁ is the recording paper 11
Is shorter than the amount of feed.

This is because the back of the recording paper 11
The recording sheet 11 slides on the recording sheet 11, and the ink on the ink sheet 14 is transferred to the recording sheet 11, so that soiling is likely to occur. Therefore, in this embodiment, a top-coated ink sheet 14 as shown in FIG. 13 is used, and the ink sheet 14 is stopped until the top-coating layer is worn.
Then, before the top coating layer of the ink sheet 14 runs out due to friction between the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14,
By a predetermined amount l ₁ conveys the ink sheet 14 in the direction of arrow a.

When the recording paper 11 is back fed, the ink sheet 14 is stopped while being stretched by the holding torque of the ink sheet supply motor 85. Here, a predetermined amount l ₁ may be Nitsupu amount △ l of the platen roller 12.

Accordingly, the conveyance length of the ink sheet 14 during the front feed of the recording paper 11 is set to k × l ₁ (or k × △
1) There is an effect that can be achieved.

Above, summarized the construction of eight embodiments described above, (1) when Fuido (front off Eid) at a speed V _PF recording paper 11 in the discharging direction, the ink sheet 14 of the ink sheet conveying motor 25 Hall Day ring After stopping by the torque, the ink sheet 14 is stretched. (First to Fifth Embodiments) First Embodiment Even when the recording paper 11 is back fed, the recording sheet 11 is stopped with the ink sheet 14 stretched.

Second Embodiment When the vicinity of the leading end of the recording paper 11 is rewound to the recording position by the thermal head 13 (back feed), the ink sheet
14 is conveyed at the speed V _IB in the same direction as the recording paper 11. Here, the conveying speed V _IB of the ink sheet 14 is decreased to 1 / n of the conveying speed V _PB of the recording sheet 11.

Third Embodiment At the time of back feed of the recording paper 11, the speed of the ink sheet 14 is increased.
Transport at V _IB (≧ V _PB ). V _PB is the conveyance speed of the recording paper 11.

Fourth Embodiment When the recording paper 11 is backfed, the ink sheet 14 is
(K is a natural number) times, and the nip amount of the platen roller 12 is conveyed in the same direction as the recording paper 11 by the amount of △ l.

Fifth Embodiment When the recording paper 11 is back fed, V _IB = V _PB / n _IB (n _IB
The ink sheet 14 is transported in the direction of arrow a at the transport speed of> n). This n _IB is the maximum number at which the recording paper 11 is not stained by the friction between the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11.

(2) The ink sheet 14 is stopped and stretched by the holding torque of the ink sheet supply motor 85 during back feeding of the recording paper 11. (Sixth embodiment of the embodiment to the eighth) when Fuido (at front off Eid) at a speed V _PF in the discharge direction an embodiment the recording paper 11 in the sixth, speed of the ink sheet 14 V
The _IF, and _{V IF = V PF / n IF} (n IF is equal to n during recording, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed in a direction opposite to the discharge direction of the recording paper 11).

When Fuido at a speed V _PF to an embodiment the recording paper 11 in the seventh to the discharge direction, the velocity V _IF of the ink sheet 14, and _{V IF = V PF / n IF} (n IF is than n during recording Largely, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the recording paper 11 is discharged).

Eighth Embodiment At the time of front feeding of the recording paper 11, the transport of the ink sheet 14 is divided into k times and the platen roller
It is shifted by twelve predetermined amounts l ₁ (or nip amount △ l) and stopped at other times. k is a natural number, l ₁ is recording paper 11
Is sufficiently smaller than the transport length.

[Explanation of Recording Operation (FIGS. 11 to 12)] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording process in the facsimile apparatus of the first embodiment. The control program for executing this recording process is the ROM 114 of the control unit 101. Is stored in

This process is started when the image data for one line to be recorded is stored in the line memory 110 and the recording operation can be started. First, in step S1, one line of print data is serially output to the shift register 130. When the transfer of the recording data for one line is completed, the latch signal 44 is output in step S2, and the recording data for one line is stored in the latch circuit 131. Next, in step S3, the ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are driven, and the ink sheet 14 is moved to (1 / n).
It is transported in the direction of arrow a in FIG. Then, in step S4, the recording paper transport motor 24 is driven to drive the recording paper 11
Is transported in the direction of arrow b by one line. The length of one line corresponds to the length of one dot recorded by the thermal head 13.

Next, proceed to step S5, and generate the heating element of the thermal head 13.
Energize each block of 132 sequentially. Then, when all the blocks m are energized and the image recording of one line is completed, the process proceeds to step S6 to check whether the image recording of one page is completed. If image recording for one page has not been completed,
Proceed to step S7 to copy the recording data of the next line to the thermal head 13
To the shift register 130. Next, returning to step S2, the image recording process is performed as described above.

When the image recording for one page is completed in step S6, the step
Proceeding to S8, the recording paper 11 is fed in the direction of the paper discharge rollers 16a and 16b substantially by a distance corresponding to the recording position by the thermal head 13 and the length 1 to the cutter 15. At this time, the phase excitation signals of the ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are fixed by the drive circuits 49 and 88, respectively, and the ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are stopped. As a result, the ink sheet 14 is held in a state of being stretched between the ink sheet supply roll 17 and the ink sheet take-up roll 18. Note that, at this time, the ink sheet supply roll 17 may be rotated slightly counterclockwise or the ink sheet take-up roll 18 may be slightly rotated clockwise to stretch the ink sheet 14 with a stronger tension. Good.

Next, in step S9, the cutters 15a and 15b are driven to engage with each other, and the recording paper 11 is cut into pages. In step S10, the recording paper 11 is back-fed to find the recording position.
Also at this time, the ink sheet 14 is stopped and stretched between the supply roll 17 and the take-up roll 18. Then, in step S11, the recording paper 11a on which recording has been performed is discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller 16.

In the second embodiment, the steps up to step S9 are the same.
S10 as the conveying speed V _IB of the ink sheet 14 is 1 / n of the return speed V _PB of the recording paper 11, the ink sheet supply motor 85
And the rotation of the ink sheet transport motor 25.

Also the third embodiment, until step S9, the same, the conveying speed V _IB of the ink sheet 14 greater than or equal to the return speed V _PB of the recording sheet 11 in step S10 (V _IB ≧
V _PB ).

FIG. 12A shows the recording paper 1 at the time of back feed of the fourth embodiment.
1 is a flowchart showing the process of transporting the ink sheet 14, and this process corresponds to step S10 in FIG.

In step S21, the value of k is set, and in step S22, the ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are stopped to stop the transport of the ink sheet 14. Steps
In S23, the recording paper 11 is conveyed at the speed _VPB . And step
In S24, it waits for a predetermined time to elapse. This is because the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 slide, and the ink sheet 14
The time for carrying the ink sheet 14 until the top coating layer is removed and the surface of the recording paper 11 becomes dirty is adjusted. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the flow advances to step S25 to check whether k is "0". If k is not "0", the process proceeds to step S26, where the ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are rotationally driven, and the ink sheet
14 is transported by the nip amount # 1 shown in FIG. And
In step S27, k is decremented by one. In step S28, it is checked whether or not the conveyance of the recording paper 11 has been completed.
Return to S21.

Similarly, in the fifth embodiment, in step S10 in FIG. 11, the ink sheet 14 is conveyed at (1 / n _IB : n _IB > n) of the conveying speed V _PB of the recording paper 11 at the time of back feed of the recording paper 11. Convey at speed. The value of n _IB is such that the ink sheet 14 can be transported before the top coating layer of the ink sheet 14 is completely worn out (the recording paper 11 is not stained).
Indicates the maximum value.

Hereinafter, similarly to the flow chart of FIG. 11, the conveyance processing of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 of the fifth embodiment can be realized.

FIG. 12B is a flowchart showing the operation of the sixth embodiment. Here, Steps S8 to S10 in FIG.
This can be realized by replacing the flow chart in Fig. 2B.

In step S31, the conveyance of the recording paper 11 is started, and
The ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are driven at 32 to transport the ink sheet 14 at 1 / n of the transport speed _VPF of the recording paper 11. Accordingly, the recording paper 11 by a length corresponding to the distance l from about recording position of the thermal head 13 to the cutting position by Katsuta 15 is conveyed at a speed V _PF. At the same time, the ink sheet 14
It is transported at the speed of V _IF = V _PF / n. Then, when the recording paper 11 is cut by the cutter 15 in step S9, the process proceeds to step S33.
Then, the excitation phases of the ink sheet transport motor 25 and the ink sheet supply motor 85 are fixed, the transport of the ink sheet 14 is stopped, and a holding torque is generated. Then step
Proceeding to S34, the recording paper 11 is returned in the direction of the thermal head 13 by a predetermined amount, and the process proceeds to step S11. Here, n is the transport speed ratio between the ink sheet 14 and the recording paper 11 during recording.

The seventh embodiment is a flow chart of step S of FIG. 12B.
In 32, this can be realized by setting the transport speed V _IF of the ink sheet 14 to V _PF / n _IF . Here, n _IF is the aforementioned n
The number is larger than the number that can be conveyed without the top coating layer of the ink sheet 14 being worn by the friction with the recording paper 11.

In the eighth embodiment, steps S31 and S32 in FIG.
This can be realized by replacing the flow chart shown in FIG. 2A. In addition, in step S26 in FIG.
The conveyance amount by a predetermined amount l ₁ not Nitsupu amount △ l, it is possible to convey the recording paper 11 scumming without. Here, l ₁ indicates the feed amount of the transport paper 11.

In the control of the value of n described above, when the ink sheet motor 25 is constituted by a stepping motor, the number of steps of the ink sheet 14 may be changed with respect to the conveyance of the recording paper 11 by one line. , By micro-step drive,
It can be set by changing the minimum step angle of the motor.

[Description of Ink Sheet (FIG. 13)] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the ink sheet 14 used for multi-printing. Here, a case of an ink sheet having four layers will be described.

The second layer is a base film serving as a support for the ink sheet 14. In the case of multiprinting, since heat energy is applied to the same location many times, an aromatic polyamide film or a capacitor paper having high heat resistance is advantageous, but a conventional polyester film can be used. From the viewpoint of printing quality, it is advantageous that the thickness be as thin as possible from the role of a medium from the viewpoint of printing quality, but it is preferably 3 to 8 μm from the viewpoint of strength.

The third layer is an ink layer in which an amount of ink capable of performing transfer recording for n times is applied to a recording paper (recording sheet). This component is composed of resin such as EVA as an adhesive, carbon black and nigrosine dye for coloring, carnauba wax and paraffin wax as a binding material, so that it can be used n times in the same place. It is blended. The coating amount is desirably 4 to 8 g / m ² , but the sensitivity and density vary depending on the coating amount and can be arbitrarily selected.

The fourth layer is a top coating layer provided so that the ink of the third layer is not pressure-transferred to the recording paper in a portion where printing is not performed, and is made of a transparent wax or the like. As a result, only the transparent fourth layer is pressure-transferred, thereby preventing the recording paper from being stained. The first layer is a heat-resistant coat layer for protecting the base film of the second layer from the heat of the thermal head 13. This is suitable for multi-printing where thermal energy for n lines may be applied to the same location (when black information continues), but whether to use it or not can be selected as appropriate. It is also effective in the case of a base film having relatively low heat resistance, such as a polyester film.

The ink sheet is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, an ink sheet including a base layer and a porous ink holding layer provided on one side of the base layer and containing ink, or a fine sheet on the base film may be used. An ink sheet provided with a heat-resistant ink layer having a porous network structure and containing ink in the ink layer may be used.

The base film may be, for example, a film or paper made of polyamide, triacetyl cellulose, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or the like. Further, the heat-resistant coat layer is not necessarily required, but may be made of, for example, a silicone resin, an epoxy resin, a melamine resin, or the like.

Further, the ink applied to the ink sheet 14 is not limited to the heat-meltable ink, but may be a heat-sublimable ink. As the ink sheet having heat sublimation, for example, a color containing spacer particles and a dye formed of a guanamine-based resin and a fluorine-based resin on a base material formed of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, or an aromatic polyamide is used. It is provided with a material layer.

Further, the heating method is not limited to the thermal head method using the above-mentioned thermal head, and for example, a current transfer method or a laser transfer method can be used.

Further, in this embodiment, the case where the transport directions of the recording paper 11 and the ink sheet 14 during recording are opposite to each other has been described.However, the present invention is not limited to this. Applicable.

Further, the recording medium is not limited to recording paper, but may be a material capable of transferring ink, such as a cloth or a plastic sheet. Further, the mounting of the ink sheet is not limited to the roll configuration shown in the embodiment. For example, an ink sheet is built in a housing detachable from the recording apparatus main body, and the entire housing is detachably mounted on the recording apparatus main body. It may be a so-called ink sheet cassette type.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, the case of the full line type is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a so-called serial type thermal transfer recording apparatus may be used.

Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the thermal transfer recording apparatus is applied to a facsimile apparatus has been described. However, the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a word processor, a typewriter or a copying apparatus. Of course, it can be applied to

In this embodiment, the back feed of the recording paper 11 is
Although the case was accompanied by the cutting process of the recording paper 11 by the cutter 15, the present invention is not limited to this.For example, when replacing the recording paper 11, when transporting the leading end of the recording paper 11 to the cutter position, The present invention is also applicable to the case where the leading end of the recording paper 11 is back-fed to the image recording position by the thermal head 13.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the recording sheet is conveyed in the discharge direction (front feed) and when the recording sheet is returned (back feed), the recording sheet is stopped while the ink sheet is stretched, so that the ink is stopped. It is possible to prevent the sheet from being sagged or wrinkled.

Further, according to this embodiment, the ink sheet is stretched and stopped at the time of front feeding of the recording paper, and the ink sheet is conveyed at a speed lower than the conveying speed of the recording paper at the time of back feeding of the recording paper. This has the effect of preventing dirt and wrinkles and sagging of the ink sheet.

Further, according to this embodiment, the ink sheet is stretched and stopped at the time of front feed of the recording paper, and the ink sheet is transported faster than the transport speed of the recording paper at the time of back feed of the recording paper. This has the effect of preventing surface dirt and wrinkles and sagging of the ink sheet.

Further, according to this embodiment, the ink sheet is stretched and stopped at the time of back feed of the recording paper, and the ink sheet is transported at a speed lower than the transport speed of the recording paper at the time of front feed of the recording paper. This has the effect of preventing dirt and wrinkles and sagging of the ink sheet.

Further, according to this embodiment, the ink sheet is stretched and stopped at the time of back feeding of the recording paper, and the ink sheet is stopped at the time of front feeding of the recording paper. By transporting the ink sheet, there is an effect that dirt on the surface of the recording paper and wrinkles and slack of the ink sheet can be prevented.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the thermal transfer recording apparatus of the present invention, the ink sheet is stopped at least at the time of transporting the recording medium forward or backward other than at the time of recording, and the ink is stopped at other transports. By conveying the sheet at a predetermined speed in the same direction as the recording medium, it is possible to prevent the ink sheet from sagging or wrinkling, and to prevent the surface of the recording medium from being stained.

As described above, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, when the recording medium is transported forward or backward during cutting or replacement of the recording medium, the slack generated in the ink sheet is stopped and stretched by stopping the ink sheet. Wrinkles can be prevented.

Further, according to the facsimile apparatus of the present invention, at the time of cutting or replacing the recording medium, the ink sheet is stopped at least at the time of transporting the recording medium forward or backward, and the ink sheet is stopped at the time of other transport. By transporting the ink sheet at a predetermined speed in the same direction as above, it is possible to prevent slack and wrinkles generated on the ink sheet and prevent the surface of the recording medium from being stained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical connection between a control unit and a recording unit in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment. 4A and 4B are views showing the structure of a transport system for the ink sheet and the recording sheet, and FIGS. 5 to 9 are diagrams of the recording sheet and the ink sheet in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view showing a contact portion between a thermal head and a platen roller, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a recording process in the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a step S10 of FIG. FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an ink sheet used in this embodiment. In the figure, 10: roll-shaped recording paper, 11: recording paper, 12: platen roller, 13: thermal head, 14: ink sheet, 15: cutter, 16: discharge roller, 17: ink Sheet supply roll, 18 ... Ink sheet take-up roll, 19
…… Ink sheet sensor, 21… Spring, 22… Recording sheet presence / absence sensor, 24 …… Recording sheet conveyance motor, 25 …… Ink sheet conveyance motor, 85 …… Ink sheet supply motor, 86,87… ... Transmission gear, 100 ... Reading unit, 101 ... Control unit, 102 ... Recording unit, 103 ... Operation unit, 104 ... Display unit, 105 ... Power supply, 106 ... Modem, 107 ... NCU, 110 …
… Line memory, 111… coding / decoding unit, 112… buffer memory, 113… CPU, 114… ROM, 115… RAM,
132: Heating resistor (heating element).

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Awai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Satoshi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hisao Terashima 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takehiro Yoshida 3-30-2, Shimomaruko 3-chome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Invention Person Takeshi Ono 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Makoto Kobayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP 57-69081 (JP, A) Actually open 1987-6-11650 (JP, U)

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: recording means for acting on the ink sheet to record an image on the recording medium; An ink sheet transport unit for transporting the ink sheet in a first direction; a recording medium transport unit for transporting the recording medium; Stopping means for stretching and stopping the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying means when the ink medium is conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction of the first direction; Transport means for transporting the ink sheet at a slower speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet transport means when transporting the ink sheet. Recording device. 2. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: recording means for acting on the ink sheet to record an image on the recording medium. An ink sheet transporting unit for transporting the ink sheet in a first direction; a recording medium transporting unit for transporting the recording medium; and A stopping unit that stretches and stops the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying unit when the ink medium is conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction of 1; And a transport unit for transporting the ink sheet at a higher speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet transport unit when transporting in the direction. Transfer recording apparatus. 3. A thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: recording means for acting on the ink sheet to record an image on the recording medium; An ink sheet transporting unit for transporting the ink sheet in a first direction; a recording medium transporting unit for transporting the recording medium; and A stopping unit that stretches and stops the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying unit when conveying the recording medium in the first direction; And a transport unit for transporting the ink sheet at a lower speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet transport unit when transporting in the direction. Transfer recording apparatus. 4. A facsimile apparatus using a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: image input means for reading a document image and converting the image into an image signal; Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving data, recording means for acting on the ink sheet based on the image signal to record an image on the recording medium, ink sheet conveying means for conveying the ink sheet, Recording medium conveying means for conveying a recording medium; cutting means for cutting the recording medium; and conveying the recording medium when exchanging the recording medium or conveying the recording medium for cutting by the cutting means. Control means for controlling the stretching and stopping of the ink sheet by means of the facsimile apparatus. . 5. A facsimile apparatus using a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: image input means for reading a document image and converting the image into an image signal; Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving the ink sheet, recording means for acting on the ink sheet based on the image signal to record an image on the recording medium, and an ink sheet for conveying the ink sheet in a first direction Conveying means, a recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a cutting means for cutting the recording medium, and a first direction for exchanging the recording medium or cutting the recording medium for cutting by the cutting means. Stopping means for stretching and stopping the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying means when the ink sheet is conveyed in a direction opposite to that of the recording medium; Transport means for transporting the ink sheet at a lower speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet transport means when transporting the recording medium in the first direction for cutting by the cutting means. A facsimile machine characterized by the above. 6. A facsimile apparatus using a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: image input means for reading a document image and converting the image into an image signal; Transmitting and receiving means, a recording means for acting on the ink sheet based on the image signal and recording an image on the recording medium, and an ink sheet for conveying the ink sheet in a first direction Conveying means, recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium, cutting means for cutting the recording medium, and exchanging the recording medium or cutting the recording medium for cutting by the cutting means. A stopping unit that stretches and stops the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying unit when the ink sheet is conveyed in a direction opposite to the direction, and exchanges the recording medium. Or, when the recording medium is conveyed in the first direction for cutting by the cutting means, conveying means for conveying the ink sheet at a higher speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet conveying means, A facsimile machine comprising: 7. A facsimile apparatus using a thermal transfer recording apparatus for recording an image by transferring ink contained in an ink sheet to a recording medium, comprising: image input means for reading a document image and converting the image into an image signal; Transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving the ink sheet, recording means for acting on the ink sheet based on the image signal to record an image on the recording medium, and an ink sheet for conveying the ink sheet in a first direction Conveying means, a recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium, a cutting means for cutting the recording medium, and the first recording medium for exchanging the recording medium or cutting the recording medium by the cutting means. Stopping means for stretching and stopping the ink sheet by the ink sheet conveying means when conveying the recording medium, Transport means for transporting the ink sheet at a lower speed than the recording medium by the ink sheet transport means when transporting the recording medium in a direction opposite to the first direction for cutting by the cutting means; A facsimile machine comprising: