JPH0556276B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention <Technical Field> The present invention provides a recording apparatus that has a recording paper winding section that teaches the leading edge of a recording paper and winds up the recording paper, and is particularly characterized in controlling the conveyance of the recording paper. Regarding.

<Prior art and its disadvantages> When recording color image information on recording paper, the recording paper may be moved back and forth multiple times. For example, in the case of a thermal transfer color printer, it is necessary to use transfer films of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, as ink film tapes, and to record four colors on one sheet of recording paper.
At this time, it is necessary to accurately reciprocate the recording paper so that there is no misalignment in overlapping colors. In addition, even in an X-Y plotter using butene, it is necessary to reciprocate the recording paper so that it does not become misaligned.
When using a general sheet-like recording paper that does not have sprocket holes, it is difficult to accurately reciprocate the recording paper only by rotating the platen.
A method has also been considered in which a portion of the recording paper is conveyed while being clamped, but there is a risk that the recording paper may be wrinkled or distorted unless it is securely clamped.

<Objective of the Invention> An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus that prevents the recording paper from being misaligned during conveyance, and also prevents the recording paper from being wrinkled or distorted.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> A recording paper winding unit that pinches the leading edge of the recording paper and winds the recording paper, a platen that conveys the recording paper to the recording paper winding unit, and is arranged opposite to the platen. a recording head that records information on the recording paper while the recording paper is being fed; and a paper detection sensor that detects the leading edge of the recording paper near the platen; , further comprising a recording paper conveyance amount control means for driving the platen so that the recording paper is conveyed from the position of the paper detection sensor to the position where the leading edge of the recording paper is held by the recording paper winding section.

According to this invention, the recording paper can be accurately reciprocated by the winding unit that pinches the leading edge of the recording paper and winds the recording paper, and furthermore, the position of the recording paper winding unit nipping the leading edge of the recording paper After a paper detection sensor installed near the platen detects the leading edge of the recording paper, the conveyance distance is controlled by the drive amount of the platen. Can be sent accurately. Therefore, the recording paper winding section can grip just the right end of the recording paper.

<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 recording paper 9 is stacked and placed on a placement 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 transferred 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 the ink film tape supply section in the direction of winding the ink film tape. 4 is a thermal head, supported by a support shaft 4a, and lever 6 is in the direction of arrow F.
By moving in the direction, the support spring 5
, and move in the direction of arrow G. 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. As a result, the recording paper nipping section 12 is brought into an open state. In this state, as described above, after the leading edge of the recording paper is fed to the recording paper nipping section 12 by the platen 1, the tension of the spring 11 is increased by rotating the drum 7 clockwise (rotating in the direction of arrow C). The leading edge of the recording paper is held between the rollers and the recording paper is wound around the drum 7. At this time, desired recording can be performed on the recording paper by feeding the ink film tape 10 in synchronization with the feeding speed of the recording paper and driving the thermal head 4. Next, by driving the lever 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow F, the thermal head 4 is moved to the platen 1.
The recording paper is returned to the initial position by applying clockwise rotational torque to the platen 1 and rotating the drum 7 to the left, and the same recording process as described 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 counterclockwise to a position where the recording paper nipping section 12 is in an open state. Furthermore, this recording paper is ejected to a paper ejection tray 26 by ejection rollers 24 and 25.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the vicinity of the recording paper holding section formed by the platen 1, drum 7, and clamp 8. As shown in the figure, the platen 1 and the slit disk 32a are connected via a timing belt 14. 32b is a transmission type photo sensor that detects the slit in the slit disk 32a, and is connected to the platen 1.
The amount of rotation can be counted as the number of pulses. After the paper sensors 3a and 3b detect the leading edge of the recording paper 9, the platen 1 is moved until the number of pulse counts by the photo sensor 32b reaches a predetermined value.
By rotating counterclockwise, the leading edge of the recording paper 9 is fed to the recording paper nipping section 12 as shown in the figure. In this case, the recording paper conveyance speed by the platen 1 and bail roller 2 is approximately equal to the conveyance speed by the feed rollers 20 and 21.

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-described paper sensors 3a and 3b and photo sensors 30b and 32b. 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 an I/O that controls the pulse motor according to processing by the sub CPU 105. The 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 a motor for driving other drive units such as the motor for driving the paper feed roller 15. The thermal head 4 is a heating element arranged in a line in the width direction of the recording paper.
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 means 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, by driving lever 6 in the direction opposite to arrow F, thermal head 4 is separated from the platen. Further, the guide member 22 is turned horizontally to open the paper feed path (n12→n14). Next, rotate the paper feed roller 15 one turn to the right, and feed the recording paper 9.
The paper 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 transport 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 n30
The determination is whether the value of the timer T exceeds the pre-stored tolerance range Tm, and the paper sensor
If the value of the timer T exceeds the allowable range by the time MS2 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, conveyance of the recording paper is stopped and an indication that the conveyance of the recording paper is unbalanced is displayed (n32→n34). If MS2 detects the paper first among the two paper sensors, first reset the timer T and keep the timer T running until the paper sensor MS1 detects the leading edge of the recording paper.
Increment (n38→n40→n42→n44→
n40). Similarly, if the value of the timer T exceeds the allowable range Tm by the time the paper sensor MS1 detects the leading edge of the recording paper, conveyance of the recording paper is stopped and a similar error message is displayed (n44→→n32→n34). This tolerance range Tm
is set, for example, to a value that corresponds to a deviation of 0.5 mm on both sides of the leading edge of the recording paper. 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, then the platen 1 will set the recording paper in advance as shown in Figure 4B. Feed the distance and stop. (n48→n50→n52→n54). After the leading edge of the recording paper is sent out to the recording paper nipping section 12 in this manner, the drum 7 is rotated clockwise to close the recording paper nipping part 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. Opens (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 platen 1 of the drum 7 is stopped after rotating by a predetermined step 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. At this time, the ink film tape is also 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 a color image is recorded on one sheet of recording paper by performing the above processing for four colors (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 wrapped around the paper is ejected from the transport path 28 to the paper ejection 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 leading edge of the recording paper is accurately conveyed without excess or deficiency with respect to the nipping portion that clamps the leading edge of the recording paper, so that the leading edge of the recording paper is reliably clamped. Therefore, no misalignment, wrinkles, or distortion occurs during conveyance of the recording paper during recording.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

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 the configuration near the recording paper holding section, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control section of the thermal transfer color printer. FIGS. 4A to 4F are flowcharts showing the processing means of the control section. 1...Platen, 2...Bail roller, 3a...
...Paper sensor (MS1), 3b...Paper sensor (MS2),
4... Thermal head, 7... Drum, 8... Clamp, 9... Recording paper, 14... Timing belt, 23, 27, 28... Recording paper conveyance path, 32a
...Slit disk, 32b...Photo sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper winding unit that pinches the leading edge of the recording paper and winds the recording paper, a platen that conveys the recording paper to the recording paper winding unit, and a platen that is disposed opposite to the platen and that is in the process of conveying the recording paper. The printer is equipped with a recording head that records information on recording paper, and a paper detection sensor that detects the leading edge of the recording paper near the platen. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording paper transport amount control means for driving the platen by the transport amount from the sensor to the recording paper leading end nipping position of the recording paper winding section.