JP3497377B2 - Image transfer recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transfer recording apparatus for forming a desired image by transferring donor ink of a donor sheet onto an image receiving sheet by laser exposure or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the printing industry, a printing apparatus for proofreading is often used before printing with a printing machine for mass printing. This is for proof printing without any cost and time before printing using a printing machine capable of high-speed and high-volume printing.

In a printing apparatus for proofreading, it is desired to output an image as close as possible to a finished image. There are several types of such devices,
A transfer type image recording apparatus exists for forming a fine image although it is relatively small.

In such an image transfer recording apparatus,
An image receiving sheet and a donor sheet are used. The image-receiving sheet is wound around the exposure drum, and the donor sheet is further laid on it. Further, by laser exposure, the donor ink of the donor sheet is transferred onto the image receiving sheet, and an image is formed on the image receiving sheet.

Further, in order to form a color image, the above operation is repeated for a plurality of color donor sheets.
Therefore, only the exposed donor sheet is peeled off while the image receiving sheet is wound around the exposure drum, and then the donor sheet of another color is wound around the image receiving sheet and laser exposure is performed. A color image can be formed on the image receiving sheet by sequentially repeating this operation for a plurality of donor sheets.

The image-receiving sheet on the surface of which the image is formed is transferred to a separately provided laminating section. In the laminating section, the image receiving sheet is heated and pressed onto the printing paper (main paper) which is the original printing target, and the donor ink on the image receiving sheet is transferred to the main paper. As a result, a print image for proof is generated on the real paper.

In order to form a color image, it is necessary to equip the apparatus with a plurality of types of donor sheets. Then, in order to efficiently supply the plurality of donor sheets onto the image receiving sheet, there is one that includes a plurality of donor sheet rolls wound in a roll shape in the apparatus. Further, there is one in which a plurality of donor sheet rolls are housed in a rotating rack to efficiently and selectively supply a plurality of donor sheets to an exposure drum. An image receiving sheet roll is also housed in the carousel.

[0008]

In an apparatus for selectively feeding each donor sheet from a plurality of donor sheet rolls accommodated in a carousel, a feed roller for feeding the donor sheet to each donor sheet roll. Are provided respectively. The leading end of the donor sheet is sandwiched by the feed roller, and the donor sheet is fed from the donor sheet roll by a predetermined length by driving the feed roller, cut and supplied to the exposure drum.

Some of the above devices have a single motor for a plurality of feed rollers. This is based on the fact that only one donor sheet roll can be supplied at any one time. By selectively switching the mechanical connection between the plurality of feed rollers and a single motor, the plurality of feed rollers are sequentially driven.

However, switching the connection of a single motor to a plurality of feed rollers sequentially involves mechanical separation and joining. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain high reliability in the switching unit because the number of mechanical operation parts increases.

There is no braking on the feed roller to which the motor is not connected. Therefore, when not connected, the feed roller may idle due to the rotation of the carousel itself. Due to the idling of the feed roller, the donor sheet roll may be unwound further and its leading end may come into contact with other parts to be damaged, or the donor sheet roll may be rewound and the leading end may come off the feed roller. There is a problem such as a problem.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image transfer recording apparatus having a high reliability, which is an apparatus for selectively supplying a plurality of sheets to an exposure drum. To do.

[0013]

To achieve the above object, an image transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1 has a donor sheet having a donor layer on a support layer and an image receiving layer on the support layer. A device for recording an image by transferring ink from the donor sheet to the image receiving sheet by irradiating the donor sheet with a drawing light beam in a state of being superposed on the image receiving sheet, (a) the image receiving sheet A sheet supply means for obtaining a donor sheet by feeding out and cutting a part of a plurality of donor sheet rolls, together with obtaining an image-receiving sheet by feeding out and cutting a part of rolls, and (b) around a predetermined rotation axis. The image receiving sheet is rotatable and the image receiving sheet is wound around the image receiving layer with the image receiving layer being outside, and the donor sheet is wound around the image receiving sheet with the donor layer being inside. A ram body, and (c) an optical scanning unit that scans the donor sheet on the drum body with a drawing light beam, and the sheet supply unit includes (a-1) a roll including the plurality of donor sheet rolls. A roll group accommodating member that is arranged and held around a predetermined center axis, and is rotatable around the predetermined center axis, and (a-2) the rolls corresponding to each roll included in the roll group. A plurality of motors attached to the group accommodation body and feeding out a sheet from each roll, and (a-3) a drive power supply path for guiding the motor drive power from a predetermined motor drive circuit to the vicinity of the roll group accommodation body, (a-4) a plurality of power relay paths attached to the roll group accommodation body and respectively connected to the respective motors,
(a-5) Selective coupling means for electrically coupling one of the plurality of power relay paths selected according to the rotation of the roll group container to the drive power supply path. It is characterized by having.

An image transfer recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the image transfer recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the selective coupling means is (a-5-1) connected to each of the plurality of power relay paths. A plurality of first terminal bodies arranged concentrically around the rotation axis of the roll group accommodation body, and (a-5-2) connected to the drive power supply path to rotate the roll group accommodation body. And a second terminal body that is in contact with a part of the rotation trajectory when the first terminal group rotates, and the second terminal body selectively contacts the plurality of first terminal bodies. , The plurality of power relay paths are selectively coupled to the drive power supply path.

An image transfer recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image transfer recording apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the second terminal body is brought into contact with the first terminal body with a pressing force. Is characterized by.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<A. Device Configuration><A1. General Outline> FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an outline of an image transfer recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image transfer recording apparatus 1 includes an image receiving sheet supply unit 100.
A donor sheet supply unit 200, a recording unit 300, and a discharge unit 400. Further, the image transfer recording apparatus 1 is
The surface is covered by the body cover 10 and is supported by the legs 20.

In the image transfer recording apparatus 1, the image receiving sheet supplying section 100 supplies the image receiving sheet to the recording section 300. Further, the donor sheet supply unit 200 can supply a plurality of types of donor sheets, and the recording unit 3
00, one kind of donor sheet can be selectively supplied from a plurality of kinds of donor sheets. In the recording unit 300, a donor sheet is further wound and wound on the image receiving sheet wound on the drum 310. Then, the donor sheet stacked on the image receiving sheet is subjected to laser exposure based on the image information to be recorded. An image is formed on the image receiving sheet by the sublimation or melting of the donor of the donor sheet heated by the laser exposure, which adheres to the image receiving sheet and is transferred. Furthermore, by attaching donors of different donor colors of different colors (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) to the same image-receiving sheet,
A color image can be formed on the image receiving sheet. This is accomplished by sequentially exchanging the exposed donor sheet with another color donor sheet and performing laser exposure while the image receiving sheet is wound around the drum 310, as described later.

The image receiving sheet on which this image is formed is discharged through the discharging section 400 and taken out from this apparatus. Then, in a separately provided laminating section (not shown), the paper to be printed is heated and pressed. As a result, the donor is transferred onto an arbitrary printing sheet to form an image.

The above is the outline of the image transfer recording apparatus 1.
Next, the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 and the donor sheet supply unit 2
00, the recording unit 300, and the discharge unit 400 will be described.

<A2. Image Receiving Sheet Supply Unit> FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing details of the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 and the donor sheet supply unit 200. Here, first, the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 will be described.

The image receiving sheet supply section 100 has an image receiving sheet roll 130. The image receiving sheet roll 130 is
The image receiving sheet 140 is wound around the core 132.
Further, the image receiving sheet 140 has a supporting layer 142 and an image receiving layer 144 (see FIG. 21), and the image receiving layer 144 is laminated on the supporting layer 142. Image receiving sheet roll 1
In No. 30, the image receiving layer 144 is wound so as to be on the outside of the support layer 142 (hereinafter, the image receiving sheet roll wound in this manner is referred to as an “outer winding” image receiving sheet roll). Further, the image receiving sheet roll 130 has a core 132.
It is installed so that it can rotate around the central axis of.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.
Further description will be given with reference to FIG. The image receiving sheet supply unit 100 further includes an image receiving sheet conveying unit 150. The image receiving sheet conveying section 150 includes a motor 152, a drive transmitting chain 153, and conveying rollers 154, 15
5, the support guide 156, and the image receiving sheet cutting unit 160
And a detection sensor 170 for detecting the end points of the image receiving sheet.

The carrying roller 154 is a pair of rollers 15.
4a and 154b, and a transport roller 155
Has a pair of rollers 155a and 155b. The rollers 154a and 155a are connected to the motor 152 by a drive transmission chain 153,
It is driven by the motor 152. In addition, the roller 154
b and 155b can sandwich the image receiving sheet 140 with a predetermined pressure between the rollers 154a and 155a, respectively. And rollers 154b and 15
5b conveys the image receiving sheet 140 by being driven to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of the rollers 154a and 155a. By such a driving mechanism, the image receiving sheet 14
0 can be sent to the recording unit 300 or vice versa.

The image receiving sheet supply unit 100 having such a structure supplies the image receiving sheet 140 to the recording unit 300.

First, the image receiving sheet 140 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow AR11 by the above-mentioned drive mechanism such as the motor 152 while the front end portion of the image receiving sheet roll 130 is sandwiched by the conveying rollers 154. As a result, the image receiving sheet roll 130 rotates in the direction of the arrow AR11, and the image receiving sheet 140 is fed. Image receiving sheet 140
Is further sandwiched by the transport rollers 155, and the support guide 1
It is guided by 56 and conveyed.

The image receiving sheet 140 thus conveyed by the image receiving sheet conveying section 150 is cut into a predetermined length by the image receiving sheet cutting section 160. The detection sensor 170 is used for measuring the length. Image receiving sheet 14
The length can be measured by detecting the front end of 0 by the detection sensor 170 and considering the rotation speed of the motor. The image receiving sheet 140 is cut into a predetermined length based on the measurement result and supplied to the recording unit 300.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the image receiving sheet cutting section 160. As shown in FIG. 4, the image receiving sheet cutting unit 160
Has a cutter 162, a support 164, and guides 166 and 167. The support portion 164 is the lower support portion 1
It has 64a and the upper side support part 164b. The leading edge of the image receiving sheet 140 sent to the transport roller 154 is
It is guided by the guide 166 and the supporting portion 164 and is conveyed to the conveying roller 155. Lower support portion 164a
Is the contact between the two rollers 154a and 154b and 2
It is arranged above a virtual straight line connecting the contact portions of the two rollers 155a and 155b. In the image receiving sheet conveying section 150, the image receiving sheet 140 is the image receiving layer
4 (see FIG. 21) is conveyed upward. Support 164
By arranging the above as described above, the image receiving sheet 14
The image receiving layer 144 existing on the upper surface of the image receiving sheet 1
The upper support portion 164b does not come into contact during the transportation of 40. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surface of the image receiving layer 144 from being damaged by rubbing during transportation.

The image receiving sheet roll 130 is driven by the above driving.
The image receiving sheet 140 fed out from the sheet is cut to a predetermined length by the cutter 162 after the conveyance is stopped based on the above-described measurement result of the image receiving sheet length.

As described above, the image receiving sheet supplying section 10
For 0, the image receiving sheet 140 having a predetermined length can be supplied to the recording unit 300 by feeding out and cutting a part of the image receiving sheet roll 130.

<A3. Donor Sheet Supply Unit><RotaryRack> The donor sheet supply unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 again. Donor sheet supply unit 200
Has a carousel 210. Carousel 210
Is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow AR1 about the rotation shaft 213 as described later. Further, the rotary rack 210 accommodates a plurality of donor sheet rolls 230 and is arranged “radially” around the rotation shaft 213.

As shown in FIG. 32, the donor sheet roll 230 has a hollow core 232, a donor sheet 240 wound around the core 232, and flanges 234 inserted from both sides of the core 232. As shown in FIG. 5, the three bars 258 on the rotary rack 210 sandwich these flanges 234 and 234, so that the donor sheet roll 230 is rotatably held.

The flange 234 comprises a base portion 235 and a protrusion portion 236. The diameter of the base portion 235 is the core 2.
It is larger than the diameter of the donor sheet portion when the donor sheet 240 is completely wrapped around 32. Therefore, the three bars 258 are arranged on the outermost donor sheet 240.
, But only the flange 234.

Further, a protruding stopper 259 is provided on a part of each bar 258 to restrict the movement of the donor sheet roll 230 in the axial direction.

The donor sheet 240 also includes the support layer 24.
2 and a donor layer 244 (see FIG. 21),
The donor layer 244 and the support layer 242 are stacked.
In the donor sheet roll 230, the donor layer 244
Is wound so as to be on the outside of the support layer 242 (hereinafter, the donor sheet roll wound in this manner is referred to as an “outer wound” donor sheet roll). As will be described later, the donor layer 244 has a donor ink,
This donor ink is transferred onto the image receiving sheet by laser exposure.

<Donor Sheet Feeding Mechanism> FIG. 2 shows a case where six donor sheet rolls 230 having such a structure are housed in the rotary rack 210. The six types of donor sheets include, for example, a donor sheet of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) and a donor of special colors of two colors (for example, gold, silver). Sheets and can be used.

The carousel 210 further has a plurality of donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250. The donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of donor sheet rolls 230. In the figure, six donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 are provided.

The donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250.

The donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 includes a feed roller 254, a support guide 256, and three bars 2.
And 58. As mentioned earlier, the three bars 258
Holds the donor sheet roll 230 by contacting the outer periphery of the flange 234.

The feed roller 254 is the roller 2
54a and 254b. The roller 254a is connected to the motor 252 by the gear mechanism 253 and is driven by the motor 252 as described later (see FIG. 9). The roller 254a and the roller 254b can sandwich the donor sheet 240 with a predetermined pressure. Then, the roller 254b rotates in the opposite direction to the rotation of the roller 254a, so that the donor sheet 24
Carry 0. The donor sheet 240 is a roller 254.
It can be sandwiched by a and 254b, sent out, or vice versa. Further, as the donor sheet 240 is conveyed, the donor sheet roll 230
Rotates. The three bars 258 rotate relative to the flange 234 while rotating the donor sheet roll 230.
Hold.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250. FIG. 33 is a top view of the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 at the position P12. The support guide 256 has a fixed portion 256 which is formed by bending a part of each side end portion at two places.
a and 256b are formed. The support guide 256 is
The fixing portion is fixed to the side plate 211 by screwing the fixed portion in contact with the regions 211a and 211b of the side plate 211.

The leading end 256c of the support guide 256 is flat and guides the donor sheet 240 fed from the donor sheet roll 230 to the feed roller 254. The support guide 256 is the shaft 213 of the carousel 210.
And also serves to separate the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 from other donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250.

With the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 having such a structure, the donor sheet 240 is transferred to the recording unit 3.
00 is supplied. With the tip of the donor sheet roll 230 sandwiched between the feed rollers 254,
The feed roller 254 is driven by the above-mentioned drive mechanism such as the motor 252. By this drive, the donor sheet 240 is fed in the direction of arrow AR2 with the rotation of the donor sheet roll 230 in the direction of arrow AR21. Further, the donor sheet 240 is further cut into a predetermined length in a donor sheet conveying section 270, which will be described later, and supplied to the recording section 300.

The feed roller 254 in the rotary rack 210 has a function of temporarily curling the portion fed from the donor sheet roll 230 in a direction opposite to the curl direction in the wound state and then feeding it. At the time of feeding, the feeding portion of the donor sheet roll 230 is once curled in the opposite direction, and then the donor sheet transport unit 270.
Therefore, the curl when the roll 230 is wound can be corrected to some extent, and the curl can be sent to the transport path 270 or the drum 3 while being curled excessively.
It will never be fed over 10.

<Rotary drive system> FIG. 6 shows a rotary rack 210.
It is a side view which shows the outline of the rotation drive system of itself. As shown in FIG. 6, the carousel 210 has a circular side plate 211 and a rotary shaft 213. The side plate 211 is fixed to the rotating shaft 213. The rotating shaft 213 is supported by a bearing 217 (see FIG. 8), and the rotating shaft 213 has a pulley 21.
6 is fixed. The pulley 216 is the belt 215.
Also, it is connected to the rotary rack driving motor 212 via the speed reducer 214. Therefore, by driving the rotary rack drive motor 212, the rotary shaft 213 is driven.
The side plate 211 can be rotationally driven around the. Further, a base 201 is present below these rotary drive systems and supports these rotary drive systems.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic structure of the carousel 210. Further, FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. Further, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, the carousel 210 is
It has six donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250.

Each of the donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 has a motor 252 and a gear mechanism 2 as shown in FIG.
53, a feed roller 254, and a support guide 256. The roller 254a is rotationally driven by the motor 252 via the gear mechanism 253. The roller 254b is pressed against the roller 254a with a predetermined pressure. Therefore, the roller 254a also rotates with the rotation of the roller 254a, and the donor sheet 240 can be fed or returned by sandwiching the donor sheet 240 between the roller 254a and the roller 254b.

On the side plate 211, each motor 252,
The terminal 262 on the terminal block 261 is fixed. Each of the terminals 262 is electrically connected to a corresponding terminal of the motor 252 by a line 263 such as a power supply line for supplying electric power to the motor 252 and a signal line for exchanging signals with the motor 252. In the figure, each of the donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 has six terminals 262. 6 terminals 2
62 are arranged and fixed in the radial direction on the side plate 211 of the rotary rack 210.

Each of the plurality of donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 has the same structure as each other, and corresponding portions of the plurality of donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 have side plates 21.
1 is arranged on a circle equidistant from the center.
Therefore, the six terminals 262 provided on each of the plurality of donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 are arranged concentrically.

Further, the fixing plate 220 shown in FIG. 8 is fixed to the main body of the apparatus and does not rotate even when the side plate 211 rotates. The terminal 222 is fixed to the fixed plate 220 via the fixed base 223. The fixed base 223 has an insulating portion 223a and a supporting portion 223b. Fixed base 223
As will be described later, the six terminals 222 are attached to the fixing plate 22.
They are arranged in the radial direction of 0.

The carousel 210 rotates about the axis of rotation 213 and one of the plurality of donor sheet rolls 230 is moved to be in position P27 (see FIG. 1). Donor sheet roll 23 present at position P27
The donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 corresponding to 0 can supply the donor sheet 240 of a predetermined length to the donor sheet conveying unit 270, as described later. By rotating the rotary rack 210 in this manner, a desired type of donor sheet 240 can be selectively supplied to the donor sheet transport unit 270.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of the cross section taken along the line BB 'of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, six terminals 222 are fixed to the stationary plate 220 that does not rotate. The six terminals 262 are arranged in the radial direction of the carousel 210.

FIG. 10 illustrates the desired donor sheet roll 23.
0 shows the state of being located at the position P27. Each of the six terminals 262 of the motor 252 of the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 corresponding to the donor sheet roll 230 is in contact with each of the six terminals 222 fixed to the fixing plate 220. An electrical connection is achieved by such contact. The terminal 222 is preferably formed in a leaf spring shape (see FIG. 8). This is to ensure a proper contact by ensuring that a proper pressing force is exerted at the time of contact.

As described above, these six terminals 2
Further, the set of 62 is arranged concentrically on the side plate 211. Further, six terminals 222 are arranged at positions corresponding to a part of the rotation locus of the terminals 262 when the rotary rack 210 rotates. Therefore, the carousel 2
By rotating 10, the same connection as described above can be achieved for each donor sheet feeding mechanism 250. Thus, the terminals 26 that connect to the set of terminals 222
The two sets can be switched, and the set of terminals 262 of the desired donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 can be electrically and selectively connected to the set of terminals 222.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an electrical connection relationship. The terminal 222 fixed to the fixed plate 220 side is connected to the motor drive circuit 224 via the drive power supply path 226. Here, one motor drive circuit 224 is enough for the six motors 252. Because
As described above, the motor 252 that needs to be driven is selectively driven by the rotation of the rotary rack 210.
Because it can be connected to. Further, the motor drive circuit 224 performs a necessary operation based on a command from the control unit 228.

As described above, the carousel 210 containing the plurality of donor sheet rolls 230 can selectively supply the donor sheet 240 of a desired type to the donor sheet transport unit 270. Further, by having the selective connection mechanism as described above, the carousel 210
Can be rotated freely because it is not bound by the connection wiring. Further, the possibility of disconnection of the connection wiring is significantly reduced, and high reliability can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a system is adopted in which the motors are driven by a plurality of motors provided corresponding to the plurality of feed rollers and the driving is electrically switched. Alternatively, there is also a method in which a single motor is installed for a plurality of feed rollers and the connection relationship is mechanically switched sequentially. However, the former method according to the present embodiment is superior to the latter method in terms of reliability and the like.

<Donor Sheet Conveying Section> Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 3. The donor sheet supply unit 200 further includes a donor sheet transport unit 270. The donor sheet transport unit 270 includes a motor 272, a drive transmission chain 273, transport rollers 274 and 275, and a guide 27.
6, a donor sheet cutting section 280, and a detection sensor 290 for detecting the edge of the donor sheet.

The carrying roller 274 is a pair of rollers 27.
4a and 274b, and a transport roller 275
Has a pair of rollers 275a and 275b. The rollers 274a and 275a are connected to the motor 272 by a drive transmission chain 273,
It is driven by a motor 272. Also, the roller 274
b and 275b can sandwich the donor sheet 240 with a predetermined pressure between the rollers 274a and 275a, respectively. And rollers 274b and 2
75b conveys the donor sheet 240 by rotating in the opposite direction to the rotation of the rollers 274a and 275a. With such a driving mechanism, the donor sheet 2
40 can be sent to the recording unit 300 or vice versa.

Further, the donor sheet 240 thus conveyed is cut into a predetermined length by the donor sheet cutting section 280. A detection sensor 290 is used to measure the length of the donor sheet 240. Donor sheet 2
The length can be measured by detecting the end of 40 with the detection sensor 290 and considering the rotation speed of the motor. The donor sheet 240 is cut into a predetermined length based on the measurement result and supplied to the recording unit 300.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the donor sheet cutting section 280. As shown in FIG. 12, the donor sheet cutting unit 280 includes a cutter 282, a supporting unit 284, and a guide 2
86 and 287. The support portion 284 has a lower support portion 284a and an upper support portion 284b. Donor sheet 240 fed to feed roller 254
The leading end of the sheet is guided by the guide 286 and the supporting portion 284, and is conveyed to the conveying roller 274. The upper support portion 284b is arranged below a virtual line connecting the contact portions of the two rollers 254a and 254b and the contact portions of the two rollers 274a and 274b.
In the donor sheet transport unit 270, the donor sheet 24
0 is transported with the donor layer 244 (see FIG. 21) facing down. By arranging the support portion 284 as described above, the donor layer 244 existing on the lower surface of the donor sheet 240 does not come into contact with the lower support portion 284a during transport of the donor sheet. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the surface of the donor layer 244 from being damaged by rubbing during transportation and the like.

By the way, it is possible to arrange the paths according to the characteristics of the surfaces of the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 so that the paths through which the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are conveyed to the recording section 300 are separated. It is based on the fact that it is provided separately. Also, in the above,
Although the support portion 284 has been described, the other guides 28
Similar considerations can be made for 6 and 287 and the like. That is, it is possible to shift the parts that may come into contact with the sheet surface for each sheet conveyance path according to the characteristics of the sheet surface. Also, regarding the material of the parts, for example, it is possible to take a measure to prevent the sheet surface from being damaged by friction and abrasion by applying Teflon processing to the guide surface. It should be noted that such a measure can be applied only to the part on the side where there is a possibility that the surface damage may come into contact with the surface.

Further, since the conveyance paths for both the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are separated, it is possible to supply the image receiving sheet 140 with its surface kept clean. On the other hand, assuming that both sheets are conveyed in the same conveyance path, the donor sheet 240
Some measure is required to prevent the donor ink separated from the donor sheet 240 during the transportation from adhering to the image receiving sheet 140 during the transportation of the image receiving sheet 140. In contrast to this, in the present embodiment, the contamination of the image receiving sheet 140 with the donor ink can be easily and reliably prevented.

Here, when the donor sheet 240 is supplied to the recording portion 300, it is necessary to supply the donor sheet with the donor layer facing down, as described later.

Assuming that the donor sheet roll is inwardly wound, since the donor layer is curled so that it is on the inner side, there is a problem in the transportability of the donor sheet when it is transported in the donor sheet transport section. is there. This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, when the donor sheet 240B is conveyed with the donor layer existing inside the curl on the lower side, the leading end of the donor sheet 240B comes into contact with the lower guide 276 to curl the curl. The leading end of the guide may contact the guide 276. Further, the donor layer 244 of the donor sheet 240 is the support layer 242.
In most cases, the frictional resistance is larger than that. Therefore, this contact deteriorates the transportability. This is a problem mainly due to the curl direction. In the worst case, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, the leading edge of the donor sheet 240B may be further bent in the same direction as the curl direction, and normal feeding cannot be performed.

On the other hand, the case where the donor sheet roll is wound outside will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the donor sheet 240 is curled so that the donor layer is on the outer side, and the leading end of the curled donor sheet 240 does not come into contact with the guide 276. Therefore,
The donor sheet 240 can be transported smoothly. As described above, the curl direction of the donor sheet 240 is preferably the direction shown in FIG. By wrapping the donor sheet roll outside, the donor sheet 240 can be conveyed with the curl direction shown in FIG.

The problem shown in FIG. 13 is unique to the donor sheet 240B, and such a problem is unlikely to occur in the image receiving sheet due to the difference in material.

By the above driving, the donor sheet roll 23
The donor sheet 240 fed out from 0 is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 282 after the conveyance is stopped based on the above-described measurement result of the donor sheet length.

As described above, the donor sheet supply unit 2
00 is a donor sheet 24 having a predetermined length obtained by feeding out and cutting a part of the donor sheet roll 230.
0 can be supplied to the recording unit 300.

<Replacement of Donor Sheet> By the way, when the donor sheet 240 is consumed, the used donor sheet roll 230 is removed and a new donor sheet 240 is removed.
Need to be replaced.

Referring again to FIG. The replacement of the donor sheet roll 230 can be performed by opening the lid 12 (see FIG. 1). At this time, by rotating the rotary rack 210, the donor sheet roll 230 to be replaced is replaced.
Is moved to a predetermined exchange position P12 corresponding to the lid 12.

Further, as described above, each of the donor sheet feeding mechanisms 250 has the support guide 256 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, when a new donor sheet roll 230 is mounted, the end portion of the donor sheet 240 can be easily guided to the feed roller 254 by the tip portion of the support guide 256, which is good in workability.

Further, in this apparatus, the donor sheet 240 is inserted from below the donor sheet roll 230 located at the position P27.
Pull out. However, the donor sheet 240 cannot be pulled out from the upper side of the donor sheet roll 230. Since a virtual line connecting the position where the donor sheet roll 230 is drawn from the upper side and the feed roller 254 intersects with the front end of the support guide 256, the donor sheet 240 is pulled out from the upper surface of the donor sheet roll 230. This is because the front end portion 256c of the support guide 256 hinders it.

Further, as described above, each donor sheet roll 230 is partitioned by the support guide 256 of the corresponding donor sheet feeding mechanism 250. Therefore, even if an operator accidentally drops an unwanted material into the rotary rack 210 when the donor sheet roll 230 is replaced, this unwanted material is located at the donor sheet roll replacement position (P12). Support guide 25
It is secured because it is fastened by 6, and there is no danger of damaging the members inside the image transfer recording apparatus 1.

The image receiving sheet 140 is the donor sheet 2
In many cases, the sheet thickness is larger than 40. In this case, assuming that the sheet lengths held by one roll are the same between the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240, the diameter of the image receiving sheet roll is larger than the diameter of the donor sheet roll. In this case, if the image receiving sheet roll and the donor sheet roll are mounted on the same carousel, an unnecessary space is created in the carousel (see FIG. 34).
On the other hand, in this embodiment, since only the donor sheet roll is mounted on the carousel, no unnecessary space is generated in the carousel as shown in FIG. Therefore, the carousel can be compact in size.

Here, in many cases, the donor sheet roll 230 is replaced at the same time for a plurality of donor sheet rolls 230. Usually, one image receiving sheet 14
0 to multiple donor sheets (especially 4 in YMCK)
This is because each color) is consumed in the same amount.
Further, each of the plurality of donor sheet rolls 230 is rotated at a predetermined exchange position P12 by rotation of the rotary rack 210.
You can move sequentially to. Therefore, even when replacing a plurality of donor sheet rolls 230, the plurality of donor sheet rolls 230 can be sequentially replaced at the same replacement position P12 by opening the lid 12. It is not necessary to open a plurality of lids corresponding to the positions of the respective donor sheet rolls 230, and they can be easily replaced.

On the other hand, the replacement of the image receiving sheet roll 130 is
This is done by opening the lid 11. Image receiving sheet roll 1
The exchange work of 30 can be performed with good workability by ensuring a relatively large space near the opening of the lid 11, and can be performed without rotating the rotary rack 210. It is easier than replacement. Also, the replacement of the image receiving sheet roll 130
The replacement of the donor sheet roll 230 is often performed at a different timing. Therefore, even if a lid is provided at another location, the labor is the same. As described above, the image receiving sheet roll 130 is not stored in the same rotary rack 210 as the donor sheet roll 230, but the image receiving sheet supply unit 1 provided separately
By disposing the image receiving sheet roll 130 at 00, the image receiving sheet roll 130 can be replaced more easily.

<A4. Recording Unit><OutlineConfiguration> The recording unit 300 has a drum 310 (see FIG. 1). FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the drum 310. The drum 310 has a hollow cylindrical shape,
It is rotatably held by a frame 311 (not shown). The drum 310 is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor 312, and is rotationally driven by the motor 312.

A plurality of holes 31 are formed on the surface of the drum 310.
4 are formed. The hole 314 is connected to a blower 316 (not shown). When the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are placed on the drum 310 and the blower 316 is operated, these sheets are placed on the drum 310.
Is adsorbed on.

Further, the drum 310 has a plurality of groove portions 322. The plurality of groove portions 322 are provided in parallel with and parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 310. Drum 3
10 further has a plurality of groove portions 324. The plurality of groove portions 324 are similar to the plurality of groove portions 322 in the drum 31.
It is provided in parallel with the rotation axis of 0 and on a straight line.
Further, each of the groove portions 324 exists at a position corresponding to each position of the groove portion 322 in the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 310. In this way, the drum 310 has 2
It has rows of grooves 322 and 324.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the drum 310.
Above the drum 310, a plurality of peeling claws 332 are
It is provided parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 310 and on a straight line. The same number of the peeling claws 332 as the number of the groove portions 322 are provided, and each of the peeling claws 332 includes the drum 310.
Is provided at a position corresponding to each of the plurality of groove portions 322 in the direction parallel to the rotation axis. Also drum 3
A roller 334 is provided above the unit 10. The roller 334 is driven by a drive mechanism (not shown) to drive the drum 3
The position P31 and the drum 31 which are separated by a predetermined distance from 10
It is possible to move between the position P32 (see FIG. 17) in contact with 0. The roller 334 is used when winding various sheets around the drum 310 (described later).

Further, the recording section 300 includes a recording head 35.
0 (see FIG. 1). The recording head 350 can emit a beam-shaped laser beam. The donor ink on the donor sheet 240 at the position irradiated with the laser light is transferred to the surface of the image receiving sheet 140. The recording head 350 can be linearly moved in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the drum 310 by a drive mechanism (not shown). Therefore, by a combination of the rotational movement of the drum 310 and the linear movement of the recording head 350, it is possible to laser expose a desired position on the donor sheet that covers the image receiving sheet. Therefore, a desired image can be transferred to the image receiving sheet 140 by scanning the donor sheet with a laser beam that is a drawing light beam and performing laser exposure only on the corresponding position based on the image information.

<Drum Winding Operation> Next, the winding operation around the drum 310 will be described. Drum 31
Two types of sheets, the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240, are wound around 0.

First, the image receiving sheet 140 supplied by the image receiving sheet supplying section 100 is wound around the drum 310. As described above, the plurality of holes 314 are formed on the surface of the drum 310, and the image receiving sheet 140 is sucked by the blower 316. As a result, the image receiving sheet 140 is wound while being attracted to the drum 310 as the drum 310 rotates in the direction of the arrow AR31.

In FIG. 17, the image receiving sheet 140 is placed on the drum 31.
It is a figure which shows a mode that it is wound around 0. As shown in FIG. 17, the roller 334 has moved to the position P32,
It is pressed against the drum 310 with a predetermined pressure. Then, the roller 334 sandwiches the leading end of the image receiving sheet 140 supplied from the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 with the drum 310. Furthermore, the arrow AR31 of the drum 310
As the image receiving sheet 140 rotates,
While being attracted to the drum 310 by 6, the drum 31
It is wrapped around 0.

Next, one donor sheet 240 supplied from the donor sheet supply section 200 is the image receiving sheet 140.
Wrapped around. FIG. 18 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 on the drum 310. As shown in FIG. 18, the two types of sheets, the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240, have different sizes. The donor sheet 240 is larger than the image receiving sheet 140 in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, the donor sheet 240 is attracted to the drum 310 by a portion larger than the image receiving sheet 140. Donor sheet 240
Is wound around while being attracted to the drum 310 as the drum 310 rotates in the direction of arrow AR31.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing a state in which both the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are wound around the drum 310. The leading end portion of the image receiving sheet 140 exists at a position corresponding to the plurality of groove portions 324, and the donor sheet 2
The tip portion of 40 exists at a position corresponding to the plurality of groove portions 322. Positioning is performed in such a positional relationship during winding. In addition, by having such a positional relationship, the image receiving sheet 140 will be described later.
And the donor sheet 240 can be easily peeled off from the drum 310.

As described above, the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are supplied to the drum 310. FIG. 20 is a diagram regarding the orientations of the surfaces of the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 when these sheets are supplied. As shown in FIG. 20, the image receiving sheet 140
Is supplied from the image-receiving sheet roll 130 wound outside, and is wound around the drum 310 such that the image-receiving layer 144 is located above the support layer 142. Also, the donor sheet 24
0 is supplied from an outer wound donor sheet roll 230 and is wound on the image receiving sheet 140 and the drum 310 such that the donor layer 244 is located below the support layer 242. In the figure, the wavy line indicates the image receiving layer 1.
The side where 44 and the donor layer 244 are present is shown.

By the above supply, as shown in FIG. 19, one image receiving sheet 140 can be wound on the drum 310, and one donor sheet 240 can be further wound on it.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view showing the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 wound around the drum 310. As described above, the image receiving sheet 140 has the support layer 142 and the image receiving layer 144, and the donor sheet 2
40 has a support layer 242 and a donor layer 244.
By the supply of the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 described above, the donor layer 244 of the donor sheet 240 is present in contact with the image receiving layer 144 of the image receiving sheet 140 as shown in FIG.

The donor layer 24 having such a positional relationship
As described above, the donor ink of No. 4 is used for the recording head 3
It is laser-exposed by 50 and is transferred to the image receiving sheet 140. The rotation direction of the drum 310 during laser exposure is preferably the rotation direction opposite to the arrow AR31.

Donor sheet 2 on the side facing groove 322
This is because when the tip of 40 becomes the most upstream with respect to the rotation direction of the drum 310, the donor sheet 240 may be easily peeled off due to the gap existing between the donor sheet 240 and the groove 322.

<Peeling of Sheet> The donor sheet 240 that has completed the transfer operation is peeled from the drum 310. Next, this peeling operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.

22 and 23, the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 2 wound on the drum 310 are shown.
It is a figure showing the front-end | tip part of 40. FIG. 22 shows the image receiving sheet 1.
40 and the donor sheet 240 are completely wound around the drum 310, and the leading end portions of both sheets and the peeling claw 33.
2 shows the state where it has descended to the peeling position P34. FIG. 23
Shows the state where the tip of the donor sheet 240 is being peeled off.

In FIG. 22, the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are separated by the blower 316 from the drum 3.
Adsorbed on 10. The suction by the blower 316 is continued in the subsequent operations. Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the tip portion of the donor sheet 240 has a plurality of groove portions 32.
It is located above 2.

The drum 310 is rotated in the direction of arrow AR31 at a predetermined speed for peeling. Then, at a predetermined timing, the position of the tip of the peeling claw 332 is set to the drum 310.
It moves from the standby position P33 (see FIG. 16) that does not contact the drum to the position P34 that contacts the drum 310. During this movement, the tip of the peeling claw 332 is moved to the donor sheet 240.
Do not touch on top of. Arrow A on drum 310
With the rotation of the direction of R31, the peeling claw 332 moves to the drum 31.
0 moves relatively in the circumferential direction along the surface of the drum 310. The tip of the peeling claw 332 relatively moves along the shape of the groove 322 on the surface of the drum 310 and sunk into the lower side of the donor sheet 240. The donor sheet 240 moves along the upper surface of the peeling claw 332. A force larger than the suction force of the blower 316 acts on the donor sheet 240, so that the donor sheet 240 is separated from the drum 310. Then, the peeling claw 332 further rises in a direction away from the drum 310 before coming into contact with the image receiving sheet 140, and moves to the standby position P33. After the tip of the donor sheet 240 is peeled off, the drum 310 is continuously rotated, so that the donor sheet 240 is further moved to the drum 310 and the image receiving sheet 1.
It is peeled from 40. At this time, the image receiving sheet 140
Is still adsorbed to the drum 310 by the suction force of the blower 316, so only the donor sheet 240 can be peeled off.

When peeling off the donor sheet 240, it is possible to utilize the nature of the curl direction formed due to the fact that the donor sheet roll 230 is wound outside. The curl direction of the donor sheet 240 is the drum 3
10 is in the opposite direction to the curved surface of the cylindrical surface (see FIGS. 14 and 23). Therefore, the tip end of the donor sheet 240 tends to rise in the direction opposite to the cylindrical curved surface of the drum 310 due to the restoring force of the curl shape, so that the donor sheet 240 is easily separated from the image receiving sheet 140 on the drum 310. It is known that the transfer efficiency of the donor ink varies depending on the peeling angle of the donor sheet, but since the donor sheet 240 is peeled off with a large angle with respect to the image receiving sheet 140 in this apparatus, the transfer of the donor ink is performed. It can be expected to improve efficiency.

The donor sheet 240 peeled off by the above operation is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via the discharging section 400 described later.

Next, the donor sheet 240 of another color is placed on the image receiving sheet 140 which is still wound around the drum 310.
Is wrapped around. Then, by the above-described operation, the donor sheet 24 is applied to the image receiving sheet 140 by laser exposure.
After the donor ink of 0 is transferred, the donor sheet 240
Peel and discharge.

The same operation is repeated for a plurality of predetermined types of donor sheets 240. For example, the image receiving sheet 140 is obtained by repeating the above operation for four types of donor sheets 240 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).
The color image is transferred to.

After that, the image receiving sheet 140 on which the plural kinds of donor inks have been transferred is peeled off. Image receiving sheet 14
The peeling of 0 is performed in the same manner as the peeling of the donor sheet 240. At this time, the peeling claw 332 approaches the plurality of groove portions 324 and peels the image receiving sheet 140 from the drum 310. Further, since the peeling claw 332 can be the same one used for peeling the donor sheet 240, the structure can be simplified. Therefore, the reliability of the machine can be improved.

Image receiving sheet 1 peeled off as described above
40 is discharged to the discharge unit 400.

<A5. Discharge Unit> FIG. 24 shows the discharge unit 400.
It is a side view showing. As shown in FIG. 24, the discharge unit 40
0 has a sheet common transport unit 410, a donor sheet discharge unit 440, and an image receiving sheet discharge unit 450.

The sheet common conveying section 410 is provided with a motor 412.
Drive drive chain 413 and transport roller 41
4, 415, 416, support guides 418, 419,
And a detection sensor 411.

The sheet common carrying section 410 further has a discharge port switching mechanism 420 and a movable guide section 430.

The outlet switching mechanism 420 has a switching plate 421 and a motor 422. Switching plate 42
1 is driven by a motor 422 and can move between two positions described later. Accordingly, the switching plate 421 can guide the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 so as to be discharged to the corresponding discharge ports.

The movable guide portion 430 has a guide plate 438 and a drive mechanism 432 (not shown). The guide plate 438 can be moved between two positions described later by the drive mechanism 432.

The donor sheet discharge section 440 has a donor sheet discharge port 441 and guide plates 448 and 449. The processed donor sheet 240 is discharged to the donor sheet collecting box 40 (see FIG. 1) via the donor sheet discharging section 440.

The image receiving sheet discharging section 450 includes an image receiving sheet discharging port 451, rollers 454 and 455, and a guide 45.
8 and 459. Image receiving sheet 1 on which the image is transferred
40 is a tray 5 via the image receiving sheet discharging section 450.
It is discharged to 0.

Transport rollers 414, 415, 416, 4
54 and 455 are connected to the motor 412 by a drive transmission chain 413, and are rotationally driven by the motor 412. Therefore, the image receiving sheet discharging section 450
It is possible to drive all of the transport rollers 454, 455 of FIG. 4 and the transport rollers 414, 415, 416 of the sheet common transport unit 410 by a single motor 412.

The transport rollers 414, 415, 416,
Like the above-mentioned other conveying rollers, the reference numerals 454 and 455 each include two rollers as one set, and are sandwiched between the two rollers to rotate, whereby the image receiving sheet 14 is rotated.
0 and donor sheet 240 can be conveyed.

<Donator Sheet Discharging Operation> The discharging section 400 having such a mechanism can discharge the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 by the operations described below.

First, the discharge of the donor sheet will be described. The donor sheet 240 that has become unnecessary by laser exposure in the recording unit 300 is the drum 31 as described above.
Stripped from zero. The peeled donor sheet 240 is
While being supported by the peeling claw 332, the support guides 338, 418, 419, and the guide plate 438, it is sandwiched by the transport rollers 414, 415, 416 and sent out, thereby being transported in the direction of the arrow AR40.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the donor sheet discharge section 440. The donor sheet 240 is transported in the direction of arrow AR40 by the transport rollers 414, 415, 416, guided by the switching plate 421 having the position P41 in the drawing, and the donor sheet discharge port 4
Head to 41. The donor sheet 240 is further guided by the guide plate 449 and discharged downward. The discharged donor sheet 240 is collected in the donor sheet collection box 40 (see FIG. 1) installed below.

<Discharging Operation of Image Receiving Sheet> Next, the discharging of the image receiving sheet 140 will be described. The image receiving sheet 140 is
It is discharged as described below. Image receiving sheet 140
After the donor ink is transferred and processed in the recording unit 300, the toner is separated from the drum 310 as described above. The peeled image receiving sheet 140 is peeled off by the peeling claw 33.
2, while being supported by the support guides 338, 418, 419 and the guide plate 438, the transport roller 414,
It is conveyed in the direction of arrow AR40 by being pinched by 415 and 416 and being sent out. The sheet common transport unit 410 is common to the case where the donor sheet 240 is discharged, and the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the transport unit is provided for each sheet. In the sheet common transport unit 410, the donor sheet 240 is transported with the donor layer on the lower side, and the image receiving sheet 140 is transported with the image receiving layer on the upper side. Therefore,
Even if the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are sequentially conveyed using the same conveying path, the image receiving sheet 140
There is no risk that the image formed on the image-receiving layer of (3) is contaminated.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the image receiving sheet discharging section 450. The image receiving sheet 140 is formed by the conveyance roller 41.
The sheet is conveyed in the direction of arrow AR40 by 4, 415, and 416, guided by the switching plate 421 having the position P42 in the figure, and this time heads toward the image receiving sheet discharge port 451. The position of the switching plate 421 is changed by the drive mechanism described above. Image receiving sheet 1
40 is further guided by the guide 459 and once discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

However, not all of the image receiving sheet 140 is discharged to the outside. The image receiving sheet 140 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow AR40, and the rear end portion of the image receiving sheet 140 is present on the guide plate 438 and the conveying roller 41.
In the state of being sandwiched by 6, the drive by the motor 412 is temporarily stopped. Then, the image receiving sheet 140 is pulled back in the direction shown by the arrow AR51 (see FIG. 28) by rotating the motor 412 in the reverse direction by performing the operation described later. That is, a "switchback" operation is performed.

Here, the driving stop timing can be determined by using the signal of the detection sensor 411 (see FIG. 24). The detection sensor 411 detects that the rear end of the image receiving sheet 140 has passed the position of the detection sensor 411. After that, when the image receiving sheet 140 is conveyed and reaches the predetermined position shown in FIG. 26, the driving of the motor 412 is stopped. The predetermined position means that the rear end portion of the image receiving sheet 140 exists on the guide plate 438, and the transport roller 4 is present.
It means a position in the state of being sandwiched by 16. Whether the image receiving sheet 140 has moved a predetermined distance to reach this position can be determined from the number of rotation pulses of the motor 412 from the time when the detection sensor 411 detects the trailing edge.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged side view showing the vicinity of the movable guide portion 430. The guide plate 438 of the movable guide portion 430 is driven by a drive mechanism 432 (not shown) and can move between two positions P43 and P44 shown in the figure. The drive mechanism 432 moves the guide plate 438 from the position P43 to the position P44.

In FIG. 28, the guide plate 438 is at the position P.
It is a figure which shows the state which moved to 44.

Then, the stopped motor 412 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the transport rollers 416,
Drive 454, 455, etc. in opposite directions. By this reverse rotation, the image receiving sheet 140 is pulled back in the direction of the arrow AR51. Then, the image receiving sheet 140 is further supported by the guides 458 while being conveyed by the transport rollers 454 and 455.
Are transported by the tray and delivered to the tray 50.

As described above, the image receiving sheet 140 is transported by switching the transport direction once and switching back on the way. In this way, a part of the discharge path of the image receiving sheet is shared with the discharge path of the donor sheet and the image receiving sheet 140 is carried out by the switchback operation, so that the image forming surface side of the image receiving sheet 140 serves as a support guide or tray 50. The device can be made compact without rubbing.

As described above, the image receiving sheet sent to the tray 50 is taken out from the apparatus and then subjected to additional processing in the laminating section provided separately. As a result, printing is performed on any printing paper.

In the above embodiment, the sheet discharge ports are separated according to the sheet type, but this is for the following reason.

FIG. 29 shows the discharge section 4 of the image transfer recording apparatus 1.
00 is an enlarged view of FIG. The used donor sheet 240 is collected in the donor sheet collection box 40. Further, the image receiving sheet 140 is once carried out of the main body to the outside when performing the switchback.

When the large-sized image receiving sheet 140 is carried out, it is assumed that it contacts the used donor sheet 240 collected in the donor sheet collecting box 40.
In this case, depending on the type of the donor sheet 240, the donor ink may be attached to the image receiving sheet 140 due to contact with the donor ink. Image receiving sheet 14 on which an image is formed
It is necessary to prevent unnecessary donor ink from adhering to the surface of No. 0.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the guide 459 is used.
Is provided. As a result, when an image receiving sheet having a size larger than the distance from the discharge port to the donor sheet collecting box 40 is conveyed to the outside of the apparatus for switching back, the front end portion of the image receiving sheet 140 is not covered by the donor sheet collecting box 40. The unnecessary donor sheet 240 and the image receiving sheet 1 in the donor sheet collecting box 40 are hung down to the outside.
The contact with 40 is prevented. A discharge port switching mechanism 420 is provided to guide the image receiving sheet 140 toward the guide 459 when the image receiving sheet 140 is once discharged.

Image receiving sheet 1 on which an image is transferred in this way
In order to prevent the contact between the 40 and the used donor sheet 240, the outlet switching mechanism 420 and the guide 459 are provided.
Is preferably provided.

If it is not necessary to consider the contact between the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240, both the donor sheet 240 and the image receiving sheet 140 can be carried out from the same discharge port. . In this case, the discharge port switching mechanism 420 is unnecessary, and a simpler mechanism is sufficient.

<A6. Electrical Configuration> The above operation is controlled by the control unit CTL. FIG. 30 shows a functional block diagram of the control unit CTL. The control unit CTL includes an image receiving sheet supply unit 100, a donor sheet supply unit 200, and a recording unit 30.
0, the discharge part 400, etc. are controlled. The control unit CTL controls a drive unit including a motor in each of the above units,
Especially in the recording unit 300, an air unit such as a blower,
It further controls an image processing unit that processes image data. The drive unit of the donor sheet supply unit 200 has two drive systems, a rotary drive system for the rotary rack 210 and a sheet transport drive system for providing the donor sheet 240 from the donor sheet roll 230 to the drum 310. Among them, regarding the motor driving of the sheet conveying drive system, as described above, the motor driving driver is shared by the plurality of donor sheet feeding mechanisms. The drive circuit system is simplified.

<B. Device Operation Procedure> A desired color image is received by the image receiving sheet 1 by the image transfer recording device as described above.
It is possible to form on 40. Below, an example of an operation procedure will be shown in the case of forming a color image using four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
FIG. 31 shows a flowchart of the operation procedure.

First, in step SP10, the image receiving sheet supply section 100 supplies the image receiving sheet 140 to the drum 310. The image receiving sheet 140 is provided by feeding out and cutting a part of the externally wound image receiving sheet roll 130, and is wound around the drum 310.

Next, in step SP20, the donor sheet supply section 200 supplies the yellow donor sheet 240 to the drum 310.

Rotating rack 2 of donor sheet supply unit 200
By rotating 10, the yellow donor sheet roll 230 is moved to a position facing the donor sheet transport path 270. The donor sheet 240 is provided by winding and cutting a part of the outer wound donor sheet roll 230, and is wound around the drum 310.
At this time, the tip of the donor sheet 240 fed from the donor sheet roll 230 is near the cutter 282 outside the rotary rack 210.

At this time, after supplying the donor sheet 240, the donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 drives the feed roller 254 in the reverse direction to store the leading end portion of the donor sheet roll 230 inside the outer peripheral portion of the rotary rack 210. You can However, even in this case, the feed roller 2
54 has its tip end clamped.

Further, since the roller 254a is connected to the motor 252, the feed roller 254 is difficult to rotate due to the inertia of the motor 252 and the like.
Therefore, the front end of the donor sheet roll 230 can be firmly held. The drive mechanism such as the motor 252 can also act as a simple braking mechanism for the feed roller 254.

When the feed roller 254 is not braked, idling of the feed roller 254 may cause the leading end portion of the donor sheet roll 230 to be unwound further and come into contact with other portions, resulting in damage.
Further, the donor sheet roll 230 is rewound by the idle rotation of the feed roller 254, and the donor sheet roll 23
If the leading edge of 0 comes off the feed roller 254, the donor sheet 240 cannot be conveyed normally.

At the next step SP30, the image is transferred and output onto the image receiving sheet 140 based on the image data given in advance. Here, the given image data is further color-separated into an image for each color, and laser exposure is performed based on the color-separated image data for each color. The recording head 350 irradiates the donor sheet 240 with a drawing light beam based on the color-separated image data after color separation. The donor ink of the donor sheet 240 is transferred to the image receiving sheet 140, and the image receiving sheet 14
An image is formed on 0.

Then, in step SP40, only the donor sheet 240 is peeled off from the drum 310. In peeling from the drum 310, since the curl direction of the outer wound donor sheet is opposite to the curved surface direction of the drum,
The donor sheet 240 can be peeled off from the drum 310 relatively easily. The donor sheet 240 separated from the drum 310 is discharged to the donor sheet collection box 40 via the discharge section 400.

At step SP50, it is judged whether or not the transfer is completed for the donor sheets 240 of all colors. Then, when it is necessary to supply another type of donor sheet 240, the above-described processing from step SP20 to SP40 is repeated. In other words, other magenta, cyan,
Each operation is repeated for each color donor sheet 240 of black. As a result, the donor inks of the four color donor sheets are transferred to one image receiving sheet 140, and a color image is formed on the image receiving sheet 140.

When the above processing is completed, step SP50.
At, it is determined that the laser exposure for the last donor sheet 240 is completed.

Then, in the next step SP60,
The image receiving sheet 140 is peeled off from the drum 310. The peeled image receiving sheet 140 is discharged to the tray 50 via the discharging section 400 with a switchback operation. The discharged image receiving sheet 140 is conveyed to a separately provided laminating section, and the donor ink on the image receiving sheet 140 is further transferred to an arbitrary printing paper. This allows color printing for proofing.

<C. Modified Example> In the above embodiment, the first terminal body 262 is provided on the side plate 211 of the carousel 210, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to provide the first terminal body on the curved surface of the rotating shaft 213 and provide the second terminal body at a position corresponding thereto.

Further, although only the plurality of donor sheet rolls 230 are provided in the rotary rack 210, the image receiving sheet rolls 130 can also be accommodated. However, in this case, it is necessary to consider that there is no advantage in supplying the image receiving sheet roll 130 and the donor sheet roll 230 from separate supply means.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second terminal body 222 is formed in the shape of a leaf spring (see FIG. 8), but the invention is not limited to this. Any material can be used as long as it can ensure contact by allowing an appropriate pressing force to act during contact. For example, it may have a shape that pushes a helical spring.

[0147]

As described above, according to the image transfer recording apparatus of the first aspect, the drive power supply path connected to the motor drive circuit and the plurality of power relay paths connected to each motor are provided. The one power relay path is electrically coupled by the selective coupling means according to the rotation of the roll group accommodation body. Thereby, the motor to be driven can be selectively driven.
Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a motor drive circuit for each motor, and the number of motor drive circuits can be reduced, so that the electrical configuration can be simplified. Further, since the selective coupling means realizes electrical selective coupling, higher reliability can be obtained as compared with the case where mechanical driving components are mechanically selectively coupled. Further, since the undriven motor can prevent idling due to its inertia, the sheet will not be unwound or rewound excessively.

According to the image transfer recording apparatus of the second aspect, the plurality of first terminal bodies arranged concentrically around the rotation axis of the roll group accommodation body and the second terminal which contacts a part of the rotation locus. The selective contact with the body selectively couples the plurality of power relay paths to the drive power supply path. Therefore, the electrical selective coupling can be more specifically realized by rotationally moving the first terminal body with respect to the fixed second terminal body.

According to the image transfer recording apparatus of the third aspect, the second terminal body comes into contact with the first terminal body in a state of having a pressing force, so that the contact between them can be ensured. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an outline of an image transfer recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing details of an image receiving sheet supply unit 100 and a donor sheet supply unit 200.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image receiving sheet cutting unit 160.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of a donor sheet feeding mechanism 250.

6 is a side view showing an outline of a rotary drive system of a rotary rack 210. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a carousel 210.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a carousel 210,
It is sectional drawing in AA 'of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a carousel 210,
It is the figure which expanded a part of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of a cross section taken along the line BB ′ of FIG. 6, showing a state where terminals 222 and 262 are in contact with each other.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an electrical connection relationship in a rotating unit.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a donor sheet cutting section 280.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a curl direction when the donor sheet roll is internally wound.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a curl direction when the donor sheet roll is wound outside.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a drum 310.

16 is a sectional view of the drum 310. FIG.

17 is a diagram showing how the image receiving sheet 140 is wound around the drum 310. FIG.

FIG. 18 is a plan development view showing the positional relationship between the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 on the drum 310.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 are wound around the drum 310.

FIG. 20 is an image receiving sheet 140 and a donor sheet 240.
It is a figure showing the direction of the surface of.

FIG. 21 is an image receiving sheet 1 wound around a drum 310.
It is an enlarged view which shows the lamination relationship of 40 and the donor sheet 240.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the leading ends of the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 wound around the drum 310.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the leading ends of the image receiving sheet 140 and the donor sheet 240 wound around the drum 310.

FIG. 24 is a side view showing a discharging section 400.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a donor sheet discharge section 440.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of an image receiving sheet discharging section 450.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged side view showing the vicinity of a movable guide section 430.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a state where the guide plate 438 has moved to the position P44.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the discharge section 400 of the image transfer recording apparatus 1.

FIG. 30 is a functional block diagram of a control unit CTL.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a configuration of a donor sheet roll 230.

FIG. 33 is a donor sheet feeding mechanism 250 at position P12.
FIG.

34 is a reference diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the image receiving sheet supply unit 100 and the donor sheet supply unit 200. FIG.

FIG. 35 is an image receiving sheet supply unit 10 of the image transfer recording apparatus 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating 0 and a donor sheet supply unit 200.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image transfer recording device 100 Image receiving sheet supply unit 130 Image-receiving sheet roll 140 image receiving sheet 200 Donor Sheet Supply Department 210 carousel 222 Second terminal body 224 Motor drive circuit 226 Drive power supply path 230 Donor Sheet Roll 240 donor sheet 250 Donor sheet feeding mechanism 252 motor 253 gear mechanism 254 Feed roller 261 terminal block 262 1st terminal body 263 lines 300 recording section 310 drums 350 recording head 400 discharge section

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Tsutomu Sumioka 5 No.5 Higashikujo Minami Ishida-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto Dainichi Hon screen manufacturing Co., Ltd. Jujo Works (56) Reference JP-A-7-290731 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/525 B41M 5/26

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A donor sheet having a donor layer on a support layer and an image-forming sheet having an image-receiving layer on the support layer are superposed on each other, and the drawing sheet is irradiated with a drawing light beam, A device for recording an image by transferring ink from a donor sheet onto the image receiving sheet, and (a) obtaining an image receiving sheet by feeding out and cutting a part of the image receiving sheet roll, and Sheet feeding means for obtaining a donor sheet by feeding out and cutting a part, and (b) being rotatable around a predetermined rotation axis, and winding the image receiving sheet around the image receiving layer with the image receiving layer outside, A drum body that winds the donor sheet on the image receiving sheet with the donor layer inside, and (c) light that scans the donor sheet on the drum body with a drawing light beam. Scanning means, the sheet feeding means, (a-1) arranged and hold a roll group including the plurality of donor sheet rolls around a predetermined central axis, and rotate around the predetermined central axis Possible roll group accommodating body, (a-2) a plurality of motors attached to the roll group accommodating body corresponding to each roll included in the roll group, and feeding a sheet from each roll, (a-3 ) A drive power supply path for guiding the motor drive power from a predetermined motor drive circuit to the vicinity of the roll group accommodation body, and (a-4) a plurality of drive power supply paths attached to the roll group accommodation body and respectively connected to the respective motors. (A-5) One of the plurality of power relay paths, which is selected according to the rotation of the roll group container, is electrically coupled to the drive power supply path. Selective coupling means,
An image transfer recording apparatus comprising: 2. The image transfer recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selective coupling means is (a-5-1) respectively connected to the plurality of power relay paths,
A plurality of first terminal bodies arranged concentrically around the rotation axis of the roll group accommodation body, (a-5-2) being connected to the drive power supply path, and accompanying the rotation of the roll group accommodation body And a second terminal body that is in contact with a part of a rotation trajectory when the first terminal group rotates, and the second terminal body selectively contacts the plurality of first terminal bodies, An image transfer recording apparatus, wherein the plurality of power relay paths are selectively coupled to the drive power supply path. 3. The image transfer recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second terminal body comes into contact with the first terminal body with a pressing force.