JPH0213245B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a thermal recording device, which includes:
Specifically, the present invention aims to provide a new device that can provide stable recording operation over a long period of time with less wear on the recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art One type of recording apparatus is a thermal recording apparatus in which a recording medium is energized and driven in response to a recording signal to generate heat, and the heat is applied to a recording medium to perform color recording.
Such thermal recording devices are widely used in various fields because they do not require development or fixing and are easy to handle.

By the way, conventional thermal recording devices of this type generally use a thermal head with a thin film resistor or thick film resistor as a recording material, and while sliding this thermal head on the surface of a recording medium such as thermal recording paper. Recording operation is being performed.

However, in such a configuration, if the thermal head is allowed to slide over the recording medium even during return when no recording is performed, the thermal head will wear out in a short period of time, which is not preferable. Therefore, a release mechanism is used that separates the thermal head from the recording medium when recording is not performed, but this mechanism has drawbacks such as a complicated structure, an increased number of parts, and difficulty in achieving miniaturization.

The present invention solves these conventional drawbacks, and uses a shape memory alloy that can reversibly recover its shape with temperature cycles as a recording medium, and heats and deforms the recording medium in accordance with a recording signal to create a recording medium. It is characterized by being brought into contact with.

Hereinafter, it will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of a pen recorder, in which 1 is a thermosensitive recording paper, and 2 is a shape that can be reversibly recovered in accordance with temperature cycles. A recording body made of a memory alloy; 3 a carriage to which the recording body 2 is attached;
4 is a sliding shaft to which the carriage 3 is slidably attached.

The thermosensitive recording paper 1 is fed at a constant speed in a direction B perpendicular to a moving direction A of the carriage 3. The carriage 3 reciprocates on the sliding shaft 4 depending on the magnitude of the measurement signal to be recorded. The recording medium 2 shows the shape of a broken line when not heated, and shows the shape of a solid line when heated, and is shaped so that the end presses against the thermosensitive recording paper 1 when heated. As a heat source for heating the recording medium 2, for example, a heater may be provided in the carriage 3, or a current may be passed through the recording medium 2 itself to cause self-heating by Joule heat. Here, the temperature at the end of the thermal recording paper 1 during heating is
Make sure the temperature is high enough to develop the color.

In such a configuration, when it is desired to record the magnitude of a measurement signal, the recording medium 2 is heated and its end portion is brought into contact with the thermal recording paper 1. As a result, the thermal recording paper 1 develops color, and the magnitude of the measurement signal is recorded in color. If recording is not necessary, heating of the recording medium 2 is stopped. As a result, the end portion separates from the thermal recording paper 1, and recording is no longer performed.

According to this configuration, the recording body can be brought into contact with the thermal recording paper 1 only when recording is necessary without using a conventional release mechanism, so that wear at the edges can be extremely reduced. ,
Stable recording operation can be obtained over a long period of time.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a dot printer, in which a recording body 2 made of seven shape memory alloys arranged in a row is provided. In Figure 2,
The recording body 2 is formed so as to be deformed into an L-shape by heating and press against the heat-sensitive recording paper 1. In such a configuration, a desired pattern is formed by selectively heating and driving the recording body 2 while intermittently moving the thermal recording paper 1 and the carriage 3 relatively in a direction C perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the recording bodies 2. It is possible to perform color recording, eliminate the need for a conventional release mechanism, reduce the size of the device, reduce wear on the recording medium, and provide stable recording operation over a long period of time.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a multicolor recording device, and shows an example of a thermal transfer type. In FIG. 3, 5 is a transfer ribbon that is sent in a direction D along the feeding direction B of the ordinary recording paper 6;
Transfer inks of a plurality of colors are applied in strips so as to correspond to each of the recording bodies 2. In such a configuration, the recording medium 2 and the transfer ribbon 5 are attached to a carriage (not shown) for raster scanning, and the recording medium corresponding to a predetermined color assigned to each channel is assigned to the corresponding channel. By selectively heating and driving the recording medium when it reaches a position corresponding to the magnitude of the measured value, it is possible to transfer and record onto the recording paper 6 in a predetermined color. Note that when recording a plurality of channels in the same color, the recording line type may be made different by changing the sampling period for each channel, for example, so that the recording results of the channels can be easily identified.

In each of the above embodiments, an example was described in which recording is performed by moving the recording bodies in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium. In addition, they may be arranged in a row so as to correspond to the recording range, so as to form a so-called multi-stylus shape.

Alternatively, a plurality of carriages each having a recording medium may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the recording medium, and these carriages may be moved simultaneously to perform the recording operation. According to this, high-speed recording can be realized.

It may also be used in an XY recorder.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize a thermal recording device with a simple configuration, less wear on the recording body, and stable recording operation over a long period of time, which has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are configuration explanatory diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. 1...Thermosensitive recording paper (recording medium), 2...Recording body, 3
... Carriage, 4... Sliding shaft, 5... Transfer ink ribbon, 6... Ordinary recording paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A thermal recording device characterized in that a shape memory alloy that can reversibly recover its shape with temperature cycles is used as a recording body, and the recording body is heated and deformed according to a recording signal to be brought into contact with the recording medium.