JPH0462546B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Technical Field> The present invention performs recording by reciprocating a recording paper a plurality of times, and particularly relates to a recording apparatus that improves the positional accuracy of the recording start of the recording paper.

<Prior Art and Its Disadvantages> When recording is performed by reciprocating a recording paper, it is necessary to prevent relative misalignment between the recording paper and a conveying means for conveying the recording paper. Furthermore, in a device such as a thermal transfer color printer that records another image by superimposing it on top of an already formed image, it is necessary to prevent misalignment between the images to be superimposed.

However, in conventional recording apparatuses, when the conveyance direction of the recording paper is reversed, the recording paper becomes slack, and it is not possible to accurately align the positions of the images to be superimposed.

<Objective of the Invention> An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that can accurately align the recording start position with respect to the recording paper when recording information by reciprocating the recording paper.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> To summarize, the present invention includes: a recording paper conveying means for holding a recording paper and reciprocating it a plurality of times; a home position detection means for detecting the home position of the conveying means; is conveyed in the feeding direction, and after the home position detecting means detects the home position, recording means starts recording; and the recording paper is conveyed in the feeding direction by the recording paper conveying means, After recording necessary information on the recording paper, the recording paper transporting means is further provided with a conveyance control means configured to drive the recording paper conveyance means in the return direction by a specific distance from the home position.

With the above configuration, even if the recording paper becomes sagging when the recording paper is pulled back by driving the recording paper transporting means in the return direction, the recording paper transporting means can be transported in the feeding direction. Since recording is started after this conveying means reaches the home position, slack in the recording paper has already been removed at the time of starting recording, and the recording start position can be accurately aligned. Furthermore, even if the home position detection means for detecting the home position of the conveyance means has a certain width to detect the home position, recording should always be started from the beginning or end of the home position. This makes it possible to eliminate errors caused by the dead zone of the sensor that detects the home position.

<Example> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the structure of a thermal transfer color printer that is an example of the present invention. Reference numeral 16 denotes a paper feed cassette, in which the recording papers 9 are stacked and mounted on a mounting plate 16a. Further, reference numeral 17 denotes a spring that pushes up the mounting plate 16a, and maintains the height of the surface of the recording paper 9 substantially constant according to the number of stacked recording papers 9. Reference numeral 15 denotes a paper feed roller, and when this roller rotates once in the right direction, it feeds out the topmost sheet of the stacked recording papers. Guides 18 and 19 guide the fed recording paper to feed rollers 20 and 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a guide member, which is positioned substantially horizontally during paper feeding. Therefore, the recording paper is transported to the conveyance path 27 by the feed rollers 20 and 21.
and 28. 29 and 3a, 3
Reference numeral b denotes a paper detection sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a paper sensor), which is composed of a reflective photo sensor and detects the conveyance state of the recording paper. 1 is a platen roller (hereinafter simply referred to as a platen), 2 is a bail roller, and the recording paper is sent out in the direction of the drum 7 by rotation of this platen to the left.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an ink film tape, which is fed from an ink film tape supply section to an ink film tape winding section. A thermal head 4 is supported by a support shaft 4a, and is moved in the direction of arrow G via a support spring 5 when the lever 6 moves in the direction of arrow F. As a result, the thermal head 4 presses the ink film tape and recording paper against the platen 1.

A clamp 8 is connected to the drum 7 by a spring 11. The clamp 8 rotates together with the drum 7, but if the drum 7 rotates counterclockwise (rotates in the direction of arrow D) from the position shown in the figure, the clamp 8 will come into contact with a stopper 31 fixed to the main body, and the position of the clamp will change. The drum 7 still stretches the spring 11. This brings the recording paper holding section 12 into an open state. In this state, as described above, after feeding the leading edge of the recording paper to the recording paper holding portion 12 by the platen 1, the recording paper is fed by rotating the drum 7 clockwise (rotating in the direction of arrow C). Spring 1
The leading edge of the recording paper is held by a tension of 1, and the recording paper is wound around the drum 7. At this time, the ink film tape 10 is fed in synchronization with the feeding speed of the recording paper,
By driving the thermal head 4, desired recording can be performed on the recording paper. Next, by driving the lever 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow F, the thermal head 4 is separated from the platen 1, a clockwise rotational torque is applied to the platen 1, and the drum 7 is rotated counterclockwise to release the recording paper. It is returned to the initial position again and the same recording process as above is repeated. At this time, the guide member 22 is held at the position shown in the figure, and the recording paper is returned from the conveyance path 28 to the direction 23. When the recording paper wound around the drum 7 is to be discharged, the recording paper is removed from the drum 7 by rotating the drum 7 to the left until the recording paper holding portion 12 is in an open state. Furthermore, this recording paper is transferred to paper ejection roller 2.
4 and 25, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 26.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the procedure for controlling the rotation of the drum 7. P1 is the position where the drum rotates most to the left (in the direction of arrow D) and stops, and is the position where the recording paper holding portion 12 is open. P2 represents the point at which the drum rotates clockwise (rotates in the direction of arrow C) from point P1 and the recording paper holding section clamps the recording paper.
P4 is the point at which the drum further rotates clockwise and reaches the home position. The thermal head is driven from this position to start thermal transfer. First, the drum is rotated clockwise using a yellow ink film until it reaches P6. The rotation from home position P4 to P6 is the point at which the pulse motor that drives the drum is driven by a predetermined number of steps Nf. Thereafter, the drum is rotated counterclockwise to pull back the recording paper, but the drum stops when it passes home position P4 and reaches P3. This P3 is home position P4
This is the distance (angle) equivalent to Nb as the number of steps of the pulse motor. Subsequently, the drum is rotated clockwise, and when P4 is reached, the thermal head is driven to perform magenta thermal transfer. This operation is repeated to transfer cyan and black. After the black has been transferred and P6 is reached, the drum is rotated counterclockwise and when P2 is reached, the recording paper holding section starts to open. When P1 is reached, the recording paper holding section is completely opened. Thereafter, the drum is rotated clockwise to the initial position P5, and recording for one screen is completed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control section of the thermal transfer color printer. 100 is the main CPU,
Processing is performed according to a control program stored in advance in the ROM 101. The RAM 102 is a memory that is used as a working area during the processing and also stores image information to be recorded. The image scanner 103 converts image information such as a color original into digital information, and the RAM 10
Image information is stored in a predetermined area of 2. Note that the multiplexer 104 switches the bus line of the image scanner 103 and the bus line of the main CPU. 105 is a sub for controlling recording.
It is a CPU and performs processing according to a control program stored in advance in the ROM 106. RAM
A memory 107 is used as a working area when performing the processing. Reference numeral 108 denotes various sensors, including, for example, the above-mentioned paper sensors 3a, 3b and photo sensor 30b. 109 is an I/O for the sub CPU 105 to read the status of these sensors. A pulse motor 110 is a motor that drives the drum 7, and 111 is a sub motor.
This is an I/O that controls the pulse motor according to the processing of the CPU 105. A DC motor 112 is a DC motor that drives the platen 1, and 113 is an I/O that controls forward rotation, reverse rotation, stopping, etc. of this motor. Note that 114 is the paper feed roller 1
This is a motor for driving other drive units such as the motor that drives the drive unit 5. The thermal head 4 is a heating element arranged in a line in the width direction of the recording paper, and the driver 115 drives the thermal head 4 based on the recording data output from the sub CPU 105. The sub CPU 105 receives image information from the main CPU 100, composes recording data according to a predetermined procedure, and outputs it to the driver 115.

4A to 4F are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the control section (mainly the processing procedure of the sub CPU 105). When making new records on recording paper,
First, the pulse motor for driving the drum 7 is driven a predetermined number of steps from the position shown in FIG. 1, and rotated clockwise. As a result, the recording paper holding section 12
Release (n10). Next, the thermal head 4 is separated from the platen by driving the lever 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow F. Further, the guide member 22 is moved horizontally to open the paper feed path (n12→n14). Next, rotate the paper feed roller 15 one turn to the right to feed the recording paper 9.
is fed in the direction of the feed rollers 20 and 21, and the feed rollers 20 and 21 are driven (n16→n18). As a result, the recording paper is sent out through the conveyance paths 27 and 28. Thereafter, the paper sensors 3a and 3b detect the leading edge of the recording paper, and when one of them detects the leading edge, the timer is reset and the time until the other paper sensor detects the leading edge is counted. That is, when the paper sensor 3a (MS1) detects the leading edge of the recording paper at n22, the timer T is reset, and the timer T is incremented until the paper sensor 3b (MS2) detects the leading edge of the recording paper (n24→n26→n28→n30). →n26). Here, the determination of n30 is to determine whether the value of timer T exceeds the permissible range Tm stored in advance, and the value of timer T exceeds the permissible range by the time paper sensor MS2 detects the leading edge of the recording paper. If so, the conveyance of the recording paper is stopped and a message indicating that the conveyance of the recording paper is unbalanced is displayed (n32→n34). MS of the two paper sensors
2 is detected first, first reset the timer T and increment the timer T until the paper sensor MS1 detects the leading edge of the recording paper (n38→n40→n42).
→n44→n40). Similarly, by the time the paper sensor MS1 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, the value of the timer T has reached the allowable range Tm.
If it exceeds the limit, the conveyance of the recording paper is stopped and the same error message is displayed (n44→→n32→n34). For example, this tolerance range Tm is determined by the deviation of both sides of the leading edge of the recording paper.
Set to a value equivalent to 0.5mm. Note that the value of this Tm can also be made variable.

If the timer value from when one paper sensor detects the leading edge of the recording paper to when the other paper sensor detects it is within the allowable range, the platen 1 then sets the recording paper in advance as shown in FIG. 4B. Feed the distance and stop. (n48→n50→n52→n54). After the leading edge of the recording paper is fed to the recording paper holding section 12 in this manner, the drum 7 is rotated clockwise to close the recording paper holding section and clamping the leading edge of the recording paper (n56).

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the paper sensors 3a, 3
The drum 7 is rotated clockwise until b detects the trailing edge of the recording paper (n60→n62). After wrapping the recording paper around the drum 7 until the rear end of the recording paper reaches the position of the paper sensors 3a and 3b, the drum is stopped and the guide member 22 is rotated as shown in FIG. Opening (n64→n66). In this state, reverse rotation torque is applied to the platen 1, and the drum 7
Rotate the drum counterclockwise and rewind the recording paper until it reaches the home position (n68→n70→n72). The home position is detected by a transmission type photo sensor 30b detecting a light plate 30a provided on the inner surface of the drum 7, as shown in FIG. When the drum is rotated to the left, the drum 7 and platen 1 are stopped after rotating by a predetermined number of steps even after passing the home position (n74→n76). In this way, by temporarily feeding the recording paper and returning it to the initial position again, slack in the recording paper is removed.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4D, with the thermal head 4 pressed against the platen 1, the drum 7 is rotated clockwise until it reaches the home position and the ink film tape is fed (n80
→n82→n84→n82). When the drum 7 reaches the home position, the counter P that counts the number of steps of the pulse motor that drives the drum 7 is reset, and as the drum rotates clockwise, the ink film tape is sent and the thermal head 4 is driven (n86→
n88). The number of pixels corresponding to the length of the screen in the recording paper feeding direction on which the counter P should record this process.
Repeat until Pn is reached (n88→n90→n92→n94
→n88). Note that the determination of n92 is to determine whether the paper sensors 3a and 3b have detected the trailing edge of the recording paper.
If the trailing edge of the recording paper is detected before completing the processing of one screen to be transferred, the transfer operation is stopped and a message indicating that the size of the recording paper is abnormal is displayed (n96→n98).

After winding the recording paper around the drum 7 and performing the transfer onto the recording paper as described above, as shown in FIG. After that, the thermal head 4 is separated from the platen and reverse rotation torque is applied to the platen 1 (n100→n102→n104). Subsequently, the recording paper is rewound by rotating the drum 7 counterclockwise until it reaches the home position. Also, at this time, the ink film tape is fed to prepare for the next transfer (n106→n108). After the drum 7 reaches the home position, it is rotated to the left to a predetermined position, and then the drum 7 and the platen 1 are stopped (n110→n112). This returns to the initial state for the next transfer.

Ink film tape Y, M, C, B, Y,
M... is configured in this order, and by performing the above processing for four colors, a color image is recorded on one sheet of recording paper (n114→→n80).

After the transfer of all colors is completed, reverse rotation torque is applied to the platen 1 as shown in FIG. The recording paper that has been wrapped around is discharged from the transport path 28 to the paper discharge tray 26 through the transport path 23 (n120→n122→n124). Through the above processing, a color image is recorded on one sheet of recording paper. When recording is subsequently performed on the second sheet of recording paper, the above process is repeated (n126→→n10).

As described above, the recording start position on the recording paper can be accurately aligned, and color misregistration does not occur.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a thermal transfer color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a drum rotation control procedure, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control section of the thermal transfer color printer, and FIG. Figures A to F are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the control section. 1...Platen, 2...Bail roller, 3a...
...Paper sensor (MS1), 3b...Paper sensor (MS
2), 4...Thermal head, 7...Drum, 8
... Clamp, 9 ... Recording paper, 23, 27, 28
... Recording paper conveyance path, 30a ... Shiny light plate, 30b
...Transmission type photo sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A holding part that holds the recording paper, a recording paper conveyance means that reciprocates the recording paper multiple times, a home position detection means that detects the home position of the conveyance means, and a recording paper conveyance means that detects the home position of the recording paper conveyance means. a recording means that starts recording information after the home position detection means detects the home position during conveyance in the feed direction; and a conveyance control means for driving the recording paper conveyance means in the return direction until reaching a specific distance after the home position detection means detects the home position after necessary information is recorded on the recording paper. A recording device characterized by: