CA1254795A - Thermal transfer recording method - Google Patents
Thermal transfer recording methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA1254795A CA1254795A CA000490439A CA490439A CA1254795A CA 1254795 A CA1254795 A CA 1254795A CA 000490439 A CA000490439 A CA 000490439A CA 490439 A CA490439 A CA 490439A CA 1254795 A CA1254795 A CA 1254795A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ink ribbon
- recording
- recording paper
- ink
- roll
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 25
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 18
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 description 10
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 241000003910 Baronia <angiosperm> Species 0.000 description 4
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 4
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001454 recorded image Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000019241 carbon black Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000006229 carbon black Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 244000201986 Cassia tora Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000518994 Conta Species 0.000 description 1
- 101150039033 Eci2 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 125000003099 maleoyl group Chemical group C(\C=C/C(=O)*)(=O)* 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940086255 perform Drugs 0.000 description 1
- NCAIGTHBQTXTLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N phentermine hydrochloride Chemical compound [Cl-].CC(C)([NH3+])CC1=CC=CC=C1 NCAIGTHBQTXTLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006122 polyamide resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000136 polysorbate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- KUAZQDVKQLNFPE-UHFFFAOYSA-N thiram Chemical compound CN(C)C(=S)SSC(=S)N(C)C KUAZQDVKQLNFPE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J17/00—Mechanisms for manipulating page-width impression-transfer material, e.g. carbon paper
- B41J17/02—Feeding mechanisms
- B41J17/14—Automatic arrangements for reversing the feed direction
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
- B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
- B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In a thermal transfer recording method of the type using a strip of repeatedly usable ink ribbon wound about an ink ribbon feeding roll, recording is effected by means of a line scanning type thermal head while recording paper and ink ribbon are transported forwardly in the superimposed state. At every time when recording has been achieved both the recording paper and the ink ribbon are released from the clamped state which is caused by means of a combination of platen roller and thermal head and thereafter the ink ribbon is transported backwardly by a distance shorter than the length of a single page. A
short part of the ink ribbon transported backwardly on which recording has been effected is put is use again for next recording operation.
In a thermal transfer recording method of the type using a strip of repeatedly usable ink ribbon wound about an ink ribbon feeding roll, recording is effected by means of a line scanning type thermal head while recording paper and ink ribbon are transported forwardly in the superimposed state. At every time when recording has been achieved both the recording paper and the ink ribbon are released from the clamped state which is caused by means of a combination of platen roller and thermal head and thereafter the ink ribbon is transported backwardly by a distance shorter than the length of a single page. A
short part of the ink ribbon transported backwardly on which recording has been effected is put is use again for next recording operation.
Description
7~5 THERMAI. TRANSFER RECORDING MET~IOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention . ___ . _ The present invention relates to thermal transfer recording method and more particularly to an improved thermal transfer recording method of the type including ink ribbon which can be repeatedly used.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention . ___ . _ The present invention relates to thermal transfer recording method and more particularly to an improved thermal transfer recording method of the type including ink ribbon which can be repeatedly used.
2 0 Description of the Prior Art In the hitherto k~own facsimile apparatus, as means for receiving image informations of an original and recording them, electrostatic recording method and thermal transfer recording method are mainly employed for the signal receiving and recording mechanism. The elec-trostatic recording method has an advantageous feature that recording can be effected at a high speed with high image resolvability, but it has drawbacks -that the appa-ratus using this method is complicated and expensive because developing and fixing of images are required. In addition, recording paper used in this apparatus is expensive, resul~ing in comparatively increased running cost. On the other hands, the thermal transfer recording method has advantageous features that developing and fixing of images are not required because the image is built by primary coloring under the effect of heating and an apparatus using this me-thod can be constructed in the comparatively simple manner, but it has drawbacks that 79~ ~
recording papers are of specially produced type which have less durability and the images recorded thereon can be falsified relatively easily.
In view of the problem inherent to the recording methods as described above, it has been proposed the thermal transfer recording apparatus for a facsimile equipment in which inexpensive ordinary paper is employed as recording medium~ The thermal transfer recording apparatus of this type is operated such that recording paper made of ordinary paper and ink ribbon serving as master recoraing material and comprising a base film made of paper, plastic or the like material with a layer of - thermally fusible solid ink containing coloring agent coated thereon are superimposed one above another so that the ink layer comes in contact with the recording paper and they are transported in a certain direction while the base ~ilm is depressed by means of a platen roller so as to allow it to come in contact with heating resistor elements of a thermal head. When pulse electric current is selectively caused to flow through the heating resistor elements in response to siynals representing an image to be recorded, heat is generated at the heating resistor elements. The generated heat is transmitted to the solid ink layer through the base film of ink ribbon. Thus, the solid ink layer becomes in a semi-fused state a viscous.
The semi-fused ink is transferred to recording paper under the influence of pressure given by the platen roller 7~
whereby a permanent image is built on the paper.
Since this type of recording apparatus uses ordinary paper as recording medium and does not require processes of developing and fixing, running cost can be reduced considerably and can be manufactured in a simple con-struction, in smaller dimensions and at an inexpensive cost. Further, since coloring agent having excellent weather proofness is used for the ink which is transfer-red only onto a required area on the paper, the recording paper and the recorded images are durable for a longer time and falsification of the recorded image is difficult to make compared with the foregoing heat sensitive record-ing apparatus.
However, it has been pointed out that the existent lS thermal transfer resording apparatuses fail to satisfac-torily meet a variety of requirements for receiving and .recording image signals, when use~ in a facsimile appa~
ratus. . ..
Generally, the conventional facsimile machine is adapted to handle originals having a variety of length and therefore the receiving apparatus is required to effect recording in which the recorded paper has the same length as that of the original. For the reason, it is preferablQ
to.use a roll of recording paper wound about a core as ~ecording medium and automat.ically cut it off by the same length as that of an original by actuating an automatic cutter after completion of recording operation of received `` ~L2~;~7~S
f si~nal informations. However, in the case where the conventional thermal transfer recording system is applied to a receiving apparatus of a facsimile, sheet papers cut to a predetermined length, for instance, the length of A4 (29.7 cm) or B4 (36.4 cm) are usually used as recording medium, the length of an original of which image signal can be perfectly transmitted to the receiving apparatus is limited within the extent of the length of a single sheet paper or shorter than the length of the same. Further, the conventional facsimile receiving apparatus is con-structed such that the length of ink ribbon is determined equal to the length of recording paper in the one-to-one relation. Therefore, when image informations of an original whose length is shorter than the length of a recording sheet paper are received by the facsimile re-ceiving apparatus, both the ink ribbon and the recording pàper are caused to have a blank area which is not concerned with recording. However, this is not preferable and acceptable from the viewpoint of cost and recording process. Another drawback of the conventional thermal transfer recording system is that recorded image is clear-ly kept on the ink ribbon in ~he form of a negative image after completion of recording operation. Therefore, there will arise a fear of leading confidential informations from the used ink ribbon.
~ 4 ~2~ 9~i Hence, the present Inventlon provldes an Improved ther-mal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch mal<e It Poss-lble to effect recordlng on a recordlng paper havlng any requlred length.
The present Inventlon also provldes an Improved thermal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch avold useless con-sumptlon of recordlng paper and Ink rlbbon.
The present Inventlon agaln provldes an Improved ther-mal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch can be con-structed In smaller dImenslons.
The present Inventlon further provldes an Improved thermal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch assure that no Informatlon wlll be obtalned from the negatlve Image left on the Ink rlbbon after completlon of recordlng operatlon.
The present Inventlon agaln provldes an Improved ther-mal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch assure thatdrlvlng of the Ink rlbbon Is easy to be controlled.
Accordlng to one aspect of the Inventlon there Is pro-vlded a thermal transfer recordlng method of the type uslng a roll of repeatedly usable Ink rlbbon, sald method comprlslng the steps of: allowlng record paper and Ink rlbbon unwound from sald roll of Ink rlbbon to come In pressure contact wlth a thermal head whlle the recordlng paper and the Ink rlbbon are superIm-posed one above another, transferrlng Ink on the Ink rlbbon onto the recordlng paper by actlvatlng sald thermal head whlle the recordlng Paper and the Ink rlbbon are transported In the super-lmposed state, separatlng the Ink rlbbon away from the recordlng paper, and transportlng the Ink rlbbon backwardly by a predeter-mlned dlstance at every tIme when recordlng Is achleved for an orlglnal havlng the length of a slngle page, sald predetermlned dlstance belng equal to the length of a slngle page of recordlng 7~3~
paper multlplled by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M Is an Inte-ger greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maxImum number of repeated usages of the Ink rlbbon.
In another aspect of the Inventlon there Is provlded a thermal transfer recordlng method of the type uslng a roll repeatedly usable Ink rlbbon, sald method comprlslng the steps of: allowlng recordlng paper and Ink rlbbon unwound from sald roll of Ink rIbbon to come In pressure contact wlth a llne scan~
nlng type thermal head whlle the recordlng paper and the Ink rlb-bon are superImposed one above another, transferrlng Ink on the Ink rlbbon onto the recordlng paPer by actIvatlng sald thermal `1 head whlle the recordlng paper and the ink rlbbon are transported In the superImposed state, countlng the number of scannlng llnes requlred for recordlng Image on an orlglnal, separatlng the Ink rlbbon away from the recordlng paper, and transportlng the Ink rlbbon backwardly by a predetermined dlstance at every time when recordlng Is achleved for each of the orlglnals havlng the length of a slngle page, sald predetermlned dlstance belng equal to a dlstance obtalnable by multipllcatlon of the number of the counted scannlng llnes by pltch of scannlng llnes and by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M Is an Integer greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maxImum number of repeated usages of the Ink rlbbon.
The present Inventlon wlll be further Illustrated by way of the accompanylng drawlngs, In whlch:-~L2~i~7~i BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF TIIE ~RA'NINGS
~ he accompanying drawings will be briefly describedbelow.
Fig. 1 is a schematic ~ragmental vertical sectional view of a facsimile appara-tus, particularly illus-trating the structure of the facsimile signal receiving appara-tus incorporated therein.
Fig. 2 is a fron-t view of mean~ for parting a thermal head away from a platen roller in the facsimile signal receiving apparatus in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 i~ a vertical sectional view of i~c ribbon holding means in the facsimile signal receiving Qpparatus ~
Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of an i~c ribbon driving mechanism in the facsimile signal receiving apparatus.
~ ig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of controlling movement of recording paper and inlc ribbon in the ~acsimile signal receiving app~ratus, and Figs. 6(a) to (j) are a fragmental plan view of a part of -the ink ribbon respectively) particularly illu~trating how -the ink ribbon is -tran~por~ed forwar-dly and baclcwardly ~o as to allow i-t to be put in repeated use.
7~3~
DESCRIP'rIO~ OF THE PR~FERRED EMBODIME~
Now, the present invention will be described in a greater detail hereunder with rePerence to the accompa-nying drawings which schematically illustrate a prafer-red embodiment thereof.
Referring firs-t to Fig. 1, the facsimile signal receiving apparatus include~ an apparatus frame which is constitu-ted by a casing frame lOa of which upper end part is opened to the outsiAe and a cover ~rame lOb adapted to close the upper opening of the casing frame lOa by -turning movement -thereoP. Namely, the cover frame lOb is turnably supported on -the casing frame lOa by means of a support shaft 11 about which it is caused to turn. The facsimile signal receiving apparatlls is ~ully closed wi-th an apparatus cover 10 made of sheet material which is designed to well fit the configuration of the app~ratus frame.
Further, the facsimile signal receiving appara-tus includes a recording paper transportation passage 20.
Specificall~, the recording paper transportation passage 20 is constituted by a recording paper holder 21, a recording paper guide plate 22, a transpor-tation roller 237 ~n automatic cutter 24, a thermal head 25, a platen roller 26t transportation rollers 27 comprising a driving roller 27a and a pinch roller 27b, a transpo-rtation roller 28, a lea~ spring 29 adapted to come in pressure con-tact with the tran~portation roller 28 q 7935;
under -the effec-t of resilient force thereof and a plurality of gulde plates 30, 31a and 31b extended between the associa-ted components. The recording paper holder 21, the -transpor-tation roller 23, the ~utomatic cutter 24 and the thermal head 25 are arranged in the substantially horizontal direction in accordance with the illustra-ted order o~ arra,ngement, whereas the transportation rollers 27 and 28 are arranged in the substantially ver-tical direction. ~mong the ~bove-described components the transportation roller 23, theautomatic cutter 24, the guide plate 30, the platen roller 26, the driving roller 27a constituting the transportation rollers 27, the transportation roller 28~ the guide plates 31a and 31b and rotation~l power source as well a~ power transmission mechanism for the transpor-ta-tion roller 23, the platen roller 26, the driving roller 27a and the transportation roller 28 which are not shown in the drawing are mounted on the cover f'rame lOb.
~s is apparent from -the drawing, the recording paper guide plate 22 is made of thin plate material having the arch-shaped con~iguration and include~ a leaf spring a-t the position where it is brou~ht in pressure contact wi-th the transportation roller 23 under the effect o~' resilient force thereof. rrhe lower end of the recording paper ,rJuide pla-te 22 is fixedly secured to the shaft 32 which is rotatably suppor-tsd on -- 1.0 --the casing frame lOa so -that it is caused to -turn in response -to turning movement of the cover frame lOb by ac-tuating a lever mechanism which is not shown in the drawing. Thus, fit-ting and replacing of an ink ribbon feeding roll to be described later are easy to be effected~
l'he transpor-tation roller 23 is rotated in synchro-nozation with rotation of the platen roller 26 by means of a stepping mo-tor 3~ as illus-trated in Fig. 2 which serves a~ rotational power source for both the transpor-tation roller 23 and the platen roller 26 so as to transport recording paper forwardly while the latter i9 cl~mped between the transportation roller 23 and the leaf ~pring on the recording paper guide plate 22 under the influence o~ a properly determined intensity of resilien-t force thereof Nex-t, the automatic cutter 2~ is constituted by a combination of s-tationary blade 24a and movable blade 24b which is operatively connected to rotational power source ~uch as motor, rotary solenoid or the like which i9 not sho~n in the drawing. When the rotational power source is activated to to turn the movable blade 24a upwardly, recording paper is cut off.
The platen roller is made of rubber with a shaft of metallic material ex-tended along the axi~ thereof.
Ag is best seen from Fig. 2, -the pla-ten roller 2~ is located just above a group of hea-ting resistors on the -- 11 ,.
g5 -thermal head 25 so tha-t it is ro-tated by means o~ rotat-ional power source, power transmis~ion mechanism and ro-ta-tional speed reduction mechanism, for instance, stepping motor 33 which serves to rbtate the transport-ation roller 23 in synchroni.zation with rotation of -the platen roller 26 and gears or timing bel-~s which are not shown in the drawing. rrhus, the platen roller 26 performs transporting operation of recording paper at a predetermined transporting speed in response to information pulses outputted from a control circuit 34 while recording paper and inlc ribbon are auperimposed one above another in the closely contacted state.
~ he thermal head 25 i~ constructed in the form o~
a iine scanning type thermal head and has a lot of micro heating resistors arranged at a prede-termined density (for ins-tance, 8 pieces/mm) by the the number ~for instance, 2048 piece~ in total) corresponding to the width of recording paper (for instance, 256 mm in the case of ~4 size). When the micro heatin~ resistors are turned on pulsewise in accordance wi-th image in~ormati-ons to be recorded,the i~c ribbon which has come in contact with them is locally heated up and the layer of solid ink is locally molten whereby Q visual image i8 built on the recording paper. As illustrated in the drawing, the thermal head 25 i~ provided with pressing meansl for instance, leaf spring 35 which allow3 the -thermal head 25 to be turned in the clockwise direction - ~2 _ ~L25~ 35 (in ~he upward direction) about a ~upport sha~t 36.
'rhus, the thermal head 25 comes in pressure contact with the platen roller 26 with bo-th the ink ribbon and -the recording pa~er belng in-terposed therebetween. On the con-trary, to assure th~t the -thermal head 25 i~ released from the pressure conta.cted statQ~ it~is turned in the anticlockwi~e direction (in the downward direction) by actuating pressure contac-t releasing mean~ for instance~
electromagnetic actuator 37 and thereby a clearance i~
produced bel.~ween -the -therm~l head 25 and -the platen roller 26.
'rhe ~uide pla-te~ 31a and 31b, the -tr~lnsportation roller~ 27 nnd 28 and the lea-f spring 37 adapted to come in pre~ re contact with -the transportation roller 28 under the effect of resilient force thereo-f per-form transporting operation of -the recording paper on which image information~ has been received from the apparatu~
by rotating the -tra.n~portation roller~ 27 and 28 by mean~ of rotationnl power ~ource which i~ not shown in ~he drawin~, -for in~tance, s~ep~ing mo-tor. Incidentally, ln ~he drawing reference numeral 12 de~i~na-tes a recorded paper ~tora~l~e tr~y in which recorded papers di~charged ~rom -the apparatll~ are temporarily stored in the layered ~tructure.
The ~`ac~imile ~ rnal receiving nppar~u~ include~
~180 an 1~ ribbon tr-m~portation pa~snge ~0. Specifi-cally, the ink ribborl transpor-tation pa~age ~0 ie.
9~
con~tituted by a plurali-ty of guide bars 41, 42 and 43.
The ink ribbon 44 is transported via the guide bars 41 and 4.2, the space as de~ined be-tween the thermal head 25 and the platen roller 26 nnd the guide bar ~3.
It should be noted that the i~c ribbon 44 functions as master ma-terial for effecting thermal tran~fer recording and has the layered structure comprising a condensor paper (base paper) having a very -thin thickn-ess, for instance, 16 microns, a coating layer of mixture of polyamide resin and carbon-black having a -thiclcness of about 10 microns, the layer of mixture being coated on the condensor paper and serving as adhesive layer, and a layer of ink con-taining die, material h~ving a lower melting tempera-ture and carbon black, the layer of inlc being located on the layer of mixture. It is confirmed that -the -thus prepared ink ribbon 44 can be repeatedly used at abou-t 10 times. Fur-ther, it i9 found that when the inls ribbon 44 of the ~bove-mentioned type is employed for -the apparatus, it has a recording density of 1.2 at the first time and it has a recording density of 0.6 at the tenth time. This means that a recording density o:~ the inlc ribbon ~4 decre~se stepwise as it is repeatedly used.A part of of the inLc ribbon 4~ is wound about the inlc ribbon feeding roll 45 and another part of the same i9 wound about the ink ribbon winding roll 46. Both -the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the lnk ribbon win~ing roll 46 are housed in a ca~sette ~7.
~5~9S
hs illustrated in Fig~ 3, the ink ribbon feeding roll and the ink ribbon wir~ding roll 46 are rotatably mounted on the side plates 48 and 49 con~tituting the casse-tte 47 and the side plates 48 and 49 are connected to one another by way of stays or the like means. As is apparent from Fig. 1, the ink ribbon cassette 47 is disposed in the area located below the recording paper transportation passage 20.
Fig. 3 illustrates by way of a sactional view how the ink ribbon cas~ette 47 is held by means of the frames 13 and 14 in the casing 10. Both the frames 13 and 14 have shafts 50, 51, 52 and 53 fixedly secured thereto 50 that reels 54, 55, 56 anf 57 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 50, 51, 52 and 53. Among the above-mentioned reels the reels 54 and 55 are operatively engaged to the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 by fi-tting projection 54a and 55a on the right-hand end faces of the reels 54 and 55 into recesses 45a and 46a on the le~thand end face of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding reoll ~6.
Further, joint members 54 and 55 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 50 and 51 in the area as def`ined between the ~rame 13 and the raels 54 and 55. ~he joint members 58 and 59 are integrally formed with circular discs 58a and 59a on tha righthand side thereof as seen in the drawing and friction plates 58b and 58b are adhesively attachsd to the circular di~cs 58a and 59a. Further, 7gS
one-way clutches 60 and 61 are mounted on the joint members 58 and 59 and sprockets 62 and 63 are mount,ed on the one-way clutches 60 and 61 so that the joint members 58 and 59 are operatively associated with the sprockets 62 and 63 to assure rotation only in a certain direction, The joint members 58 and 59 are normally biased in the rightward direction as seen in Fig. 3 under the effec-t of resilient force of compression springs 64 and 65 which are disposed in the area as defined between the joint members 58 and 59 and the frame 13 whereby the reels 54 and 55 come in pressure contact with the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 with -the friction plate~
58b and 59b being interposed therebetween, On the other hand, the reels 56 and 57 are normally biased in the leftward direction a~ seen in Fig. 3 under the effect of resilient force of compression springs 66 and 66 which are disposed in the area as defined between the frame 14 and the reels 56 and 57 whereby the left-hand end faces of the reels 56 and 57 come in pressurecontact with the righthand end faces of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46.
Removal of the ink ribbon cassette 47 from the frame~ 13 and 14 of the casing 10 i9 achieved by way of the steps of pushing the reels 56 and 57 a~ain~t resilient force of the compression springs 66 and 67 by displacin~ the ink ribbon cassette 47 in ths - 16 ~
rightward direction as seen in Fig. 3 and then disenga-ging -the reels 54 and 55 from the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 On the contrary, fit-ting of the ink ribbon cassette 47 ~o the frames 13 and 14 of the casing 10 is achieved by way of the steps of pushing the reels 56 and 57 against resilient force of the compression springs 66 and 67 with the use of the ink ribbon cassette 47 ltself, engaging the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 to the reels 56 and 57 on the righthand side and -then engaging the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and -the ink ribbon winding roll 46 to the reels 54 and 55 on the lef-thand side as geen in the drawing.
~he ink ribbon ~eeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon 15 winding roll ~6 are rotated by means of a driving mechanism as illustrated, for instancet in Fig. 4.
In the drawing reference numeral 68 designates an endless roller chain comprising a number of links, bu~hes and pins. '~he roller chain is endles~ly extended around -thr sprocket~ 62 and 63 on the ink ribbon feedin~ roll ~5 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46. The sl)rocket~ 6~ and 63 are rotated ~ia the roller chain 68 by rotating a sprocket 70 fixedly mounted on a ~ha~t of rotational power source, for instance, stepping motor 69 under control of a control circuit 34.
~peci~ically, when the sprocket 70 i~ rotated in -- lq ._ .
7~;
the direction as identified by an arrow mark scribed with real lines in Fig. 4 as the s-tepping motor 69 i8 rotated, the sprocket 63 in the area of the in}c ribbon winding reel 46 is caused to rota-te in the direction a~
identified by an arrow mark scribed with real lines.
As the sprocket 63 is rotated in the direction as defined above, the one-way clutch 61 is brought in the locked state whereby rotational power of the sprocket 63 is transmitted to the reel 55 via the joint member 59. 'rhus, the inlc ribbon winding roll 46 is rotated in the same direction as the sprocket 63. At this moment the sprocket 62 in the area of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is rotated in the direction reverse to that as identified by an arrow mark scribed with dotted lines.
While the sprocket 62 is rotated in the direction as defined above, the one-way clutch 60 i9 kept in the freely rotatable state whereby rotational power of -the sprocke-t 62 i9 not transmitted to the join-t member 58.
Accordingly, in this case, rota-tional power outpu-tted from the ~-te~ping motor 69 is tramsitted only to the inlc ribbon winding roll 46 and thereby only the i~c ribbon winding roll 46 is rotated. At -this moment the in}c ribbon feeding roll 45 is ro~ated as a follower roll by way of the ink ribbon 44. It ~hould be noted that since the inlc ribbon feeding roll 45 is affected by frictional force which i9 caused bv means of -the friction plate 5~b of the ~oint member 5~, the ink ~25~ 5 ribbon 44 is stretched under the influence of a -properly determined intensity of -tension force.
~ n the contrary, when the sprocket 70 is rotated in the direction as identified by an arrow mark ~cribed with dotted lines in Fig. 4 as the stepping motor 69 is rota-ted (in the reverse direction), -the sprocket 62 in the area of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is caused to rotate in the direction as identified by an arrow mark ~cribed with dotted lines. While the sprocket 52 is rotated in the direction a~ defined abo~e, the one-way clutch 60 i9 kept in the loclced state whereb~ rotational power of the sprocket 62 is transmitted to the reel 54 via the joint member 58. rhus, the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is rotated in the same direction as the sprockeb 62. At this moment the sprocket 63 in the area of the - ink ribbon winding reel 46 is rotated in the direction reverse to that as identified by an arrow mark scribed with real lines. 'Nhile the sprocket 63 is rotated in the direction as defined above, the one-way clutch 61 i~ kept in the freely rotatable state and rotational power of the sprocket 63 is not transmitted to the joint member 59. Accordingly, in this case, rotational power outputted from the stepping motor 69 i~ transmit-ted only to the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and only the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is rotated so that the lnk ribbon winding roll 46 is caused to rotate as follower roll by way of the ink ribbon 44. ~ince the ink ribbon - i9 -winding roll 46 is affected by fritctlonal force which i~ caused by means of the friction plate 59b of the joint member 59 and transmitted thereto via the reel 55 at this moment, the ir~ ribbon 44 is stretched under the in~luence of a properly determined intenslty o~ tension force.
The ink ribbon feeding roll ~5, the ink rlbbon winding roll 46 and -the ink ribbon casse-tte 47 with the ink ribbon 44 contained therein are arranged in such a manner that the ir~ ribbon 44 is interposed between the thermal head 25 and the platen roller 26 while it comes in contact with the guide bars 41; 42 and 43, as illus-tra-ted in Fig. 1.
~ roll of recording paper 80 is held on the recording naper holder 21 and the leading end of recording paper 80a unwound from the recording p~per roll 80 is first drawn -to -th.e position l.ocated between the thermal head 25 and the ~laten roller 26 via the recording ~aper guide plate 22, the transportation roller 23, the automatic cutter and the guide bar 42.
Further, it is drawn ~ur-ther to the position behind the group of micro heating resis-tors by a distance of several millimeters~
When the cover fra.me lOb is opened awa,y from the casing frame lOa of the facsimile signal receiving apparatus by turning movemerlt, the tr~nsportation roller 23, the platen roller 26, the automatic cutter ~5~ 5 24, the driving roller 27a constitu-ting -the transport-ation roller 27, -the transportation roller 28 and the guide plates 30, 31a and 31b are displaced upwardly together with the cover frame lOb and at the same time the recording paper guide plate 22 is -turned in the clockwise direction as seen in the drawing. As a result the area where -the recording paper holder 21 and the ink ribbon cassette 47 are to be housed are exposed -to the outside. 'IYhile the above-described sta-te is maintained, an inlc ribbon cassette 47 and a roll of recording paper 80 can be loaded on the casing frame lOa. Next, when the cover frame lOb is closed, the transpor-ta~ion roller~23, -the platen roller 26, the au-tomatic cutter 24 9 the driving roller 27a constituting -the transportation rollers 27, the tran~-porta-tion roller 28 and the guide plates 30, 31a and 31b are restored to their original position and at the same time the recording paper guide plate 22 resumes its original position.
Next, operation of the facsimile signal receiving apparatus as constructed in the ~bove-described manner will be described below wi-th reference to a flow chart as illustrated in Fi~. 5.
'i~hen -the facsimile 3ig,nal receiving appar~-tus initiates its operation, the leading end of recording paper 80a unwound from the recor~ing ~aper roll 80 is drawn to the position behind -the group of micro heatin~
resistOr~ on the thermal head 25 by a distance of about
recording papers are of specially produced type which have less durability and the images recorded thereon can be falsified relatively easily.
In view of the problem inherent to the recording methods as described above, it has been proposed the thermal transfer recording apparatus for a facsimile equipment in which inexpensive ordinary paper is employed as recording medium~ The thermal transfer recording apparatus of this type is operated such that recording paper made of ordinary paper and ink ribbon serving as master recoraing material and comprising a base film made of paper, plastic or the like material with a layer of - thermally fusible solid ink containing coloring agent coated thereon are superimposed one above another so that the ink layer comes in contact with the recording paper and they are transported in a certain direction while the base ~ilm is depressed by means of a platen roller so as to allow it to come in contact with heating resistor elements of a thermal head. When pulse electric current is selectively caused to flow through the heating resistor elements in response to siynals representing an image to be recorded, heat is generated at the heating resistor elements. The generated heat is transmitted to the solid ink layer through the base film of ink ribbon. Thus, the solid ink layer becomes in a semi-fused state a viscous.
The semi-fused ink is transferred to recording paper under the influence of pressure given by the platen roller 7~
whereby a permanent image is built on the paper.
Since this type of recording apparatus uses ordinary paper as recording medium and does not require processes of developing and fixing, running cost can be reduced considerably and can be manufactured in a simple con-struction, in smaller dimensions and at an inexpensive cost. Further, since coloring agent having excellent weather proofness is used for the ink which is transfer-red only onto a required area on the paper, the recording paper and the recorded images are durable for a longer time and falsification of the recorded image is difficult to make compared with the foregoing heat sensitive record-ing apparatus.
However, it has been pointed out that the existent lS thermal transfer resording apparatuses fail to satisfac-torily meet a variety of requirements for receiving and .recording image signals, when use~ in a facsimile appa~
ratus. . ..
Generally, the conventional facsimile machine is adapted to handle originals having a variety of length and therefore the receiving apparatus is required to effect recording in which the recorded paper has the same length as that of the original. For the reason, it is preferablQ
to.use a roll of recording paper wound about a core as ~ecording medium and automat.ically cut it off by the same length as that of an original by actuating an automatic cutter after completion of recording operation of received `` ~L2~;~7~S
f si~nal informations. However, in the case where the conventional thermal transfer recording system is applied to a receiving apparatus of a facsimile, sheet papers cut to a predetermined length, for instance, the length of A4 (29.7 cm) or B4 (36.4 cm) are usually used as recording medium, the length of an original of which image signal can be perfectly transmitted to the receiving apparatus is limited within the extent of the length of a single sheet paper or shorter than the length of the same. Further, the conventional facsimile receiving apparatus is con-structed such that the length of ink ribbon is determined equal to the length of recording paper in the one-to-one relation. Therefore, when image informations of an original whose length is shorter than the length of a recording sheet paper are received by the facsimile re-ceiving apparatus, both the ink ribbon and the recording pàper are caused to have a blank area which is not concerned with recording. However, this is not preferable and acceptable from the viewpoint of cost and recording process. Another drawback of the conventional thermal transfer recording system is that recorded image is clear-ly kept on the ink ribbon in ~he form of a negative image after completion of recording operation. Therefore, there will arise a fear of leading confidential informations from the used ink ribbon.
~ 4 ~2~ 9~i Hence, the present Inventlon provldes an Improved ther-mal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch mal<e It Poss-lble to effect recordlng on a recordlng paper havlng any requlred length.
The present Inventlon also provldes an Improved thermal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch avold useless con-sumptlon of recordlng paper and Ink rlbbon.
The present Inventlon agaln provldes an Improved ther-mal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch can be con-structed In smaller dImenslons.
The present Inventlon further provldes an Improved thermal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch assure that no Informatlon wlll be obtalned from the negatlve Image left on the Ink rlbbon after completlon of recordlng operatlon.
The present Inventlon agaln provldes an Improved ther-mal transfer recordlng method and apparatus whlch assure thatdrlvlng of the Ink rlbbon Is easy to be controlled.
Accordlng to one aspect of the Inventlon there Is pro-vlded a thermal transfer recordlng method of the type uslng a roll of repeatedly usable Ink rlbbon, sald method comprlslng the steps of: allowlng record paper and Ink rlbbon unwound from sald roll of Ink rlbbon to come In pressure contact wlth a thermal head whlle the recordlng paper and the Ink rlbbon are superIm-posed one above another, transferrlng Ink on the Ink rlbbon onto the recordlng paper by actlvatlng sald thermal head whlle the recordlng Paper and the Ink rlbbon are transported In the super-lmposed state, separatlng the Ink rlbbon away from the recordlng paper, and transportlng the Ink rlbbon backwardly by a predeter-mlned dlstance at every tIme when recordlng Is achleved for an orlglnal havlng the length of a slngle page, sald predetermlned dlstance belng equal to the length of a slngle page of recordlng 7~3~
paper multlplled by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M Is an Inte-ger greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maxImum number of repeated usages of the Ink rlbbon.
In another aspect of the Inventlon there Is provlded a thermal transfer recordlng method of the type uslng a roll repeatedly usable Ink rlbbon, sald method comprlslng the steps of: allowlng recordlng paper and Ink rlbbon unwound from sald roll of Ink rIbbon to come In pressure contact wlth a llne scan~
nlng type thermal head whlle the recordlng paper and the Ink rlb-bon are superImposed one above another, transferrlng Ink on the Ink rlbbon onto the recordlng paPer by actIvatlng sald thermal `1 head whlle the recordlng paper and the ink rlbbon are transported In the superImposed state, countlng the number of scannlng llnes requlred for recordlng Image on an orlglnal, separatlng the Ink rlbbon away from the recordlng paper, and transportlng the Ink rlbbon backwardly by a predetermined dlstance at every time when recordlng Is achleved for each of the orlglnals havlng the length of a slngle page, sald predetermlned dlstance belng equal to a dlstance obtalnable by multipllcatlon of the number of the counted scannlng llnes by pltch of scannlng llnes and by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M Is an Integer greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maxImum number of repeated usages of the Ink rlbbon.
The present Inventlon wlll be further Illustrated by way of the accompanylng drawlngs, In whlch:-~L2~i~7~i BRIEF DESC~IPTION OF TIIE ~RA'NINGS
~ he accompanying drawings will be briefly describedbelow.
Fig. 1 is a schematic ~ragmental vertical sectional view of a facsimile appara-tus, particularly illus-trating the structure of the facsimile signal receiving appara-tus incorporated therein.
Fig. 2 is a fron-t view of mean~ for parting a thermal head away from a platen roller in the facsimile signal receiving apparatus in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 i~ a vertical sectional view of i~c ribbon holding means in the facsimile signal receiving Qpparatus ~
Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of an i~c ribbon driving mechanism in the facsimile signal receiving apparatus.
~ ig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the steps of controlling movement of recording paper and inlc ribbon in the ~acsimile signal receiving app~ratus, and Figs. 6(a) to (j) are a fragmental plan view of a part of -the ink ribbon respectively) particularly illu~trating how -the ink ribbon is -tran~por~ed forwar-dly and baclcwardly ~o as to allow i-t to be put in repeated use.
7~3~
DESCRIP'rIO~ OF THE PR~FERRED EMBODIME~
Now, the present invention will be described in a greater detail hereunder with rePerence to the accompa-nying drawings which schematically illustrate a prafer-red embodiment thereof.
Referring firs-t to Fig. 1, the facsimile signal receiving apparatus include~ an apparatus frame which is constitu-ted by a casing frame lOa of which upper end part is opened to the outsiAe and a cover ~rame lOb adapted to close the upper opening of the casing frame lOa by -turning movement -thereoP. Namely, the cover frame lOb is turnably supported on -the casing frame lOa by means of a support shaft 11 about which it is caused to turn. The facsimile signal receiving apparatlls is ~ully closed wi-th an apparatus cover 10 made of sheet material which is designed to well fit the configuration of the app~ratus frame.
Further, the facsimile signal receiving appara-tus includes a recording paper transportation passage 20.
Specificall~, the recording paper transportation passage 20 is constituted by a recording paper holder 21, a recording paper guide plate 22, a transpor-tation roller 237 ~n automatic cutter 24, a thermal head 25, a platen roller 26t transportation rollers 27 comprising a driving roller 27a and a pinch roller 27b, a transpo-rtation roller 28, a lea~ spring 29 adapted to come in pressure con-tact with the tran~portation roller 28 q 7935;
under -the effec-t of resilient force thereof and a plurality of gulde plates 30, 31a and 31b extended between the associa-ted components. The recording paper holder 21, the -transpor-tation roller 23, the ~utomatic cutter 24 and the thermal head 25 are arranged in the substantially horizontal direction in accordance with the illustra-ted order o~ arra,ngement, whereas the transportation rollers 27 and 28 are arranged in the substantially ver-tical direction. ~mong the ~bove-described components the transportation roller 23, theautomatic cutter 24, the guide plate 30, the platen roller 26, the driving roller 27a constituting the transportation rollers 27, the transportation roller 28~ the guide plates 31a and 31b and rotation~l power source as well a~ power transmission mechanism for the transpor-ta-tion roller 23, the platen roller 26, the driving roller 27a and the transportation roller 28 which are not shown in the drawing are mounted on the cover f'rame lOb.
~s is apparent from -the drawing, the recording paper guide plate 22 is made of thin plate material having the arch-shaped con~iguration and include~ a leaf spring a-t the position where it is brou~ht in pressure contact wi-th the transportation roller 23 under the effect o~' resilient force thereof. rrhe lower end of the recording paper ,rJuide pla-te 22 is fixedly secured to the shaft 32 which is rotatably suppor-tsd on -- 1.0 --the casing frame lOa so -that it is caused to -turn in response -to turning movement of the cover frame lOb by ac-tuating a lever mechanism which is not shown in the drawing. Thus, fit-ting and replacing of an ink ribbon feeding roll to be described later are easy to be effected~
l'he transpor-tation roller 23 is rotated in synchro-nozation with rotation of the platen roller 26 by means of a stepping mo-tor 3~ as illus-trated in Fig. 2 which serves a~ rotational power source for both the transpor-tation roller 23 and the platen roller 26 so as to transport recording paper forwardly while the latter i9 cl~mped between the transportation roller 23 and the leaf ~pring on the recording paper guide plate 22 under the influence o~ a properly determined intensity of resilien-t force thereof Nex-t, the automatic cutter 2~ is constituted by a combination of s-tationary blade 24a and movable blade 24b which is operatively connected to rotational power source ~uch as motor, rotary solenoid or the like which i9 not sho~n in the drawing. When the rotational power source is activated to to turn the movable blade 24a upwardly, recording paper is cut off.
The platen roller is made of rubber with a shaft of metallic material ex-tended along the axi~ thereof.
Ag is best seen from Fig. 2, -the pla-ten roller 2~ is located just above a group of hea-ting resistors on the -- 11 ,.
g5 -thermal head 25 so tha-t it is ro-tated by means o~ rotat-ional power source, power transmis~ion mechanism and ro-ta-tional speed reduction mechanism, for instance, stepping motor 33 which serves to rbtate the transport-ation roller 23 in synchroni.zation with rotation of -the platen roller 26 and gears or timing bel-~s which are not shown in the drawing. rrhus, the platen roller 26 performs transporting operation of recording paper at a predetermined transporting speed in response to information pulses outputted from a control circuit 34 while recording paper and inlc ribbon are auperimposed one above another in the closely contacted state.
~ he thermal head 25 i~ constructed in the form o~
a iine scanning type thermal head and has a lot of micro heating resistors arranged at a prede-termined density (for ins-tance, 8 pieces/mm) by the the number ~for instance, 2048 piece~ in total) corresponding to the width of recording paper (for instance, 256 mm in the case of ~4 size). When the micro heatin~ resistors are turned on pulsewise in accordance wi-th image in~ormati-ons to be recorded,the i~c ribbon which has come in contact with them is locally heated up and the layer of solid ink is locally molten whereby Q visual image i8 built on the recording paper. As illustrated in the drawing, the thermal head 25 i~ provided with pressing meansl for instance, leaf spring 35 which allow3 the -thermal head 25 to be turned in the clockwise direction - ~2 _ ~L25~ 35 (in ~he upward direction) about a ~upport sha~t 36.
'rhus, the thermal head 25 comes in pressure contact with the platen roller 26 with bo-th the ink ribbon and -the recording pa~er belng in-terposed therebetween. On the con-trary, to assure th~t the -thermal head 25 i~ released from the pressure conta.cted statQ~ it~is turned in the anticlockwi~e direction (in the downward direction) by actuating pressure contac-t releasing mean~ for instance~
electromagnetic actuator 37 and thereby a clearance i~
produced bel.~ween -the -therm~l head 25 and -the platen roller 26.
'rhe ~uide pla-te~ 31a and 31b, the -tr~lnsportation roller~ 27 nnd 28 and the lea-f spring 37 adapted to come in pre~ re contact with -the transportation roller 28 under the effect of resilient force thereo-f per-form transporting operation of -the recording paper on which image information~ has been received from the apparatu~
by rotating the -tra.n~portation roller~ 27 and 28 by mean~ of rotationnl power ~ource which i~ not shown in ~he drawin~, -for in~tance, s~ep~ing mo-tor. Incidentally, ln ~he drawing reference numeral 12 de~i~na-tes a recorded paper ~tora~l~e tr~y in which recorded papers di~charged ~rom -the apparatll~ are temporarily stored in the layered ~tructure.
The ~`ac~imile ~ rnal receiving nppar~u~ include~
~180 an 1~ ribbon tr-m~portation pa~snge ~0. Specifi-cally, the ink ribborl transpor-tation pa~age ~0 ie.
9~
con~tituted by a plurali-ty of guide bars 41, 42 and 43.
The ink ribbon 44 is transported via the guide bars 41 and 4.2, the space as de~ined be-tween the thermal head 25 and the platen roller 26 nnd the guide bar ~3.
It should be noted that the i~c ribbon 44 functions as master ma-terial for effecting thermal tran~fer recording and has the layered structure comprising a condensor paper (base paper) having a very -thin thickn-ess, for instance, 16 microns, a coating layer of mixture of polyamide resin and carbon-black having a -thiclcness of about 10 microns, the layer of mixture being coated on the condensor paper and serving as adhesive layer, and a layer of ink con-taining die, material h~ving a lower melting tempera-ture and carbon black, the layer of inlc being located on the layer of mixture. It is confirmed that -the -thus prepared ink ribbon 44 can be repeatedly used at abou-t 10 times. Fur-ther, it i9 found that when the inls ribbon 44 of the ~bove-mentioned type is employed for -the apparatus, it has a recording density of 1.2 at the first time and it has a recording density of 0.6 at the tenth time. This means that a recording density o:~ the inlc ribbon ~4 decre~se stepwise as it is repeatedly used.A part of of the inLc ribbon 4~ is wound about the inlc ribbon feeding roll 45 and another part of the same i9 wound about the ink ribbon winding roll 46. Both -the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the lnk ribbon win~ing roll 46 are housed in a ca~sette ~7.
~5~9S
hs illustrated in Fig~ 3, the ink ribbon feeding roll and the ink ribbon wir~ding roll 46 are rotatably mounted on the side plates 48 and 49 con~tituting the casse-tte 47 and the side plates 48 and 49 are connected to one another by way of stays or the like means. As is apparent from Fig. 1, the ink ribbon cassette 47 is disposed in the area located below the recording paper transportation passage 20.
Fig. 3 illustrates by way of a sactional view how the ink ribbon cas~ette 47 is held by means of the frames 13 and 14 in the casing 10. Both the frames 13 and 14 have shafts 50, 51, 52 and 53 fixedly secured thereto 50 that reels 54, 55, 56 anf 57 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 50, 51, 52 and 53. Among the above-mentioned reels the reels 54 and 55 are operatively engaged to the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 by fi-tting projection 54a and 55a on the right-hand end faces of the reels 54 and 55 into recesses 45a and 46a on the le~thand end face of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding reoll ~6.
Further, joint members 54 and 55 are rotatably mounted on the shafts 50 and 51 in the area as def`ined between the ~rame 13 and the raels 54 and 55. ~he joint members 58 and 59 are integrally formed with circular discs 58a and 59a on tha righthand side thereof as seen in the drawing and friction plates 58b and 58b are adhesively attachsd to the circular di~cs 58a and 59a. Further, 7gS
one-way clutches 60 and 61 are mounted on the joint members 58 and 59 and sprockets 62 and 63 are mount,ed on the one-way clutches 60 and 61 so that the joint members 58 and 59 are operatively associated with the sprockets 62 and 63 to assure rotation only in a certain direction, The joint members 58 and 59 are normally biased in the rightward direction as seen in Fig. 3 under the effec-t of resilient force of compression springs 64 and 65 which are disposed in the area as defined between the joint members 58 and 59 and the frame 13 whereby the reels 54 and 55 come in pressure contact with the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 with -the friction plate~
58b and 59b being interposed therebetween, On the other hand, the reels 56 and 57 are normally biased in the leftward direction a~ seen in Fig. 3 under the effect of resilient force of compression springs 66 and 66 which are disposed in the area as defined between the frame 14 and the reels 56 and 57 whereby the left-hand end faces of the reels 56 and 57 come in pressurecontact with the righthand end faces of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46.
Removal of the ink ribbon cassette 47 from the frame~ 13 and 14 of the casing 10 i9 achieved by way of the steps of pushing the reels 56 and 57 a~ain~t resilient force of the compression springs 66 and 67 by displacin~ the ink ribbon cassette 47 in ths - 16 ~
rightward direction as seen in Fig. 3 and then disenga-ging -the reels 54 and 55 from the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 On the contrary, fit-ting of the ink ribbon cassette 47 ~o the frames 13 and 14 of the casing 10 is achieved by way of the steps of pushing the reels 56 and 57 against resilient force of the compression springs 66 and 67 with the use of the ink ribbon cassette 47 ltself, engaging the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46 to the reels 56 and 57 on the righthand side and -then engaging the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and -the ink ribbon winding roll 46 to the reels 54 and 55 on the lef-thand side as geen in the drawing.
~he ink ribbon ~eeding roll 45 and the ink ribbon 15 winding roll ~6 are rotated by means of a driving mechanism as illustrated, for instancet in Fig. 4.
In the drawing reference numeral 68 designates an endless roller chain comprising a number of links, bu~hes and pins. '~he roller chain is endles~ly extended around -thr sprocket~ 62 and 63 on the ink ribbon feedin~ roll ~5 and the ink ribbon winding roll 46. The sl)rocket~ 6~ and 63 are rotated ~ia the roller chain 68 by rotating a sprocket 70 fixedly mounted on a ~ha~t of rotational power source, for instance, stepping motor 69 under control of a control circuit 34.
~peci~ically, when the sprocket 70 i~ rotated in -- lq ._ .
7~;
the direction as identified by an arrow mark scribed with real lines in Fig. 4 as the s-tepping motor 69 i8 rotated, the sprocket 63 in the area of the in}c ribbon winding reel 46 is caused to rota-te in the direction a~
identified by an arrow mark scribed with real lines.
As the sprocket 63 is rotated in the direction as defined above, the one-way clutch 61 is brought in the locked state whereby rotational power of the sprocket 63 is transmitted to the reel 55 via the joint member 59. 'rhus, the inlc ribbon winding roll 46 is rotated in the same direction as the sprocket 63. At this moment the sprocket 62 in the area of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is rotated in the direction reverse to that as identified by an arrow mark scribed with dotted lines.
While the sprocket 62 is rotated in the direction as defined above, the one-way clutch 60 i9 kept in the freely rotatable state whereby rotational power of -the sprocke-t 62 i9 not transmitted to the join-t member 58.
Accordingly, in this case, rota-tional power outpu-tted from the ~-te~ping motor 69 is tramsitted only to the inlc ribbon winding roll 46 and thereby only the i~c ribbon winding roll 46 is rotated. At -this moment the in}c ribbon feeding roll 45 is ro~ated as a follower roll by way of the ink ribbon 44. It ~hould be noted that since the inlc ribbon feeding roll 45 is affected by frictional force which i9 caused bv means of -the friction plate 5~b of the ~oint member 5~, the ink ~25~ 5 ribbon 44 is stretched under the influence of a -properly determined intensity of -tension force.
~ n the contrary, when the sprocket 70 is rotated in the direction as identified by an arrow mark ~cribed with dotted lines in Fig. 4 as the stepping motor 69 is rota-ted (in the reverse direction), -the sprocket 62 in the area of the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is caused to rotate in the direction as identified by an arrow mark ~cribed with dotted lines. While the sprocket 52 is rotated in the direction a~ defined abo~e, the one-way clutch 60 i9 kept in the loclced state whereb~ rotational power of the sprocket 62 is transmitted to the reel 54 via the joint member 58. rhus, the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is rotated in the same direction as the sprockeb 62. At this moment the sprocket 63 in the area of the - ink ribbon winding reel 46 is rotated in the direction reverse to that as identified by an arrow mark scribed with real lines. 'Nhile the sprocket 63 is rotated in the direction as defined above, the one-way clutch 61 i~ kept in the freely rotatable state and rotational power of the sprocket 63 is not transmitted to the joint member 59. Accordingly, in this case, rotational power outputted from the stepping motor 69 i~ transmit-ted only to the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 and only the ink ribbon feeding roll 45 is rotated so that the lnk ribbon winding roll 46 is caused to rotate as follower roll by way of the ink ribbon 44. ~ince the ink ribbon - i9 -winding roll 46 is affected by fritctlonal force which i~ caused by means of the friction plate 59b of the joint member 59 and transmitted thereto via the reel 55 at this moment, the ir~ ribbon 44 is stretched under the in~luence of a properly determined intenslty o~ tension force.
The ink ribbon feeding roll ~5, the ink rlbbon winding roll 46 and -the ink ribbon casse-tte 47 with the ink ribbon 44 contained therein are arranged in such a manner that the ir~ ribbon 44 is interposed between the thermal head 25 and the platen roller 26 while it comes in contact with the guide bars 41; 42 and 43, as illus-tra-ted in Fig. 1.
~ roll of recording paper 80 is held on the recording naper holder 21 and the leading end of recording paper 80a unwound from the recording p~per roll 80 is first drawn -to -th.e position l.ocated between the thermal head 25 and the ~laten roller 26 via the recording ~aper guide plate 22, the transportation roller 23, the automatic cutter and the guide bar 42.
Further, it is drawn ~ur-ther to the position behind the group of micro heating resis-tors by a distance of several millimeters~
When the cover fra.me lOb is opened awa,y from the casing frame lOa of the facsimile signal receiving apparatus by turning movemerlt, the tr~nsportation roller 23, the platen roller 26, the automatic cutter ~5~ 5 24, the driving roller 27a constitu-ting -the transport-ation roller 27, -the transportation roller 28 and the guide plates 30, 31a and 31b are displaced upwardly together with the cover frame lOb and at the same time the recording paper guide plate 22 is -turned in the clockwise direction as seen in the drawing. As a result the area where -the recording paper holder 21 and the ink ribbon cassette 47 are to be housed are exposed -to the outside. 'IYhile the above-described sta-te is maintained, an inlc ribbon cassette 47 and a roll of recording paper 80 can be loaded on the casing frame lOa. Next, when the cover frame lOb is closed, the transpor-ta~ion roller~23, -the platen roller 26, the au-tomatic cutter 24 9 the driving roller 27a constituting -the transportation rollers 27, the tran~-porta-tion roller 28 and the guide plates 30, 31a and 31b are restored to their original position and at the same time the recording paper guide plate 22 resumes its original position.
Next, operation of the facsimile signal receiving apparatus as constructed in the ~bove-described manner will be described below wi-th reference to a flow chart as illustrated in Fi~. 5.
'i~hen -the facsimile 3ig,nal receiving appar~-tus initiates its operation, the leading end of recording paper 80a unwound from the recor~ing ~aper roll 80 is drawn to the position behind -the group of micro heatin~
resistOr~ on the thermal head 25 by a distance of about
3 mm where the recording paper 80a is clamped between the -thermal hea.d 25 ~nd t}1e platen roller 26~
Next, -the platen roller 26~ the transportation rollers 26, 27 and 28 and the stepping motor 69 are driven in res~onse to signals received via cable or channel whereby tr~nsportation of the recording paper 80a and the ink ribbon 44 is star-ted (step 101).
Subseq~lent -to the step -the thus received signals are subjected to electrical processing such as modulating, coding and amplifying so as to allow them to be conver-ted to image information signals which in turn a.re transmitted to t.he thermal head 25. Thus, the layer o~
solid ink on the ink ribbon 44 is locally mo:!.ten in accordance wi-th the recorded pattern on the basis of principle o~ thermal transfer recording system and molten ink is transferred on-to the recording paper 80a with the aid of the platen roller 26 whereby recording is effected (step 102). Recording is carried out for each of scanni-'g lines (step 103). On completion of recording across one scanning line the recording paper 80a and -the ink ribbon 44 are -transported by a dis-tance e~ual to one pitch of sc~nning lines by means of the platen roller 26 and the transportation roller 23 bo-th of which are rotated b~ the common stepping motor 33, while -they are maintained in the closely con-tacted s-tate. While recording is repeatedly carried out in - 22 _ 7~5 that way, the direction of transpor-ta-tion of the ink ribbon 44 is changed at -the guide bar ~3 and thereby the recording paper 80a is parted away from the ink ribbon 44 because it ~ends to move further linearly due -to i~8 ridigity. The thus ~eparated recording paper 80a i~ -transported fur-ther along the guide plate~
31a and 31b by rota-ting the driving roller 27a and the transportation roller 28 in coopera-tion with -the pinch roller 27band -the leaf spring 29. It should be added -that rotation of the driving roller 27a constitu-ting the -transportation rollers 27 is ~ynchronized with rotation of -the platen roller 26. On completion of recording operation for a single page having the length equal to size of an original of which image signal~
have been tramsitted to -the facsimile signal receiving apparatus (step 104), the platen roller 26, the transp-ortation rollers 23, 27 and 2~ and the stepping mo-tor 69 stop their ro-tation (~-tep 105). Next, an elec-troma-gnetic ac-tuator 37 which serves as means for releasing the thermal head 25 from the contacted state is ac-tua-ted (se-tp 106). ~rhus, the -thermal head 106 is parted away from the pla-ten roller 26 so as to alLow bo-th the recording paper 80a and the ink ribbon 44 to be released from the pressed state and the stepping mo-tor 33 serving as co~non rotational power source for ~oth the ~laten roller 26 and the transportation roller 23 and another stepping motor for rota-ting the transpor-tation rollers 7~5;
27 and 2~ (not shown) are driven in the reverse direction (step 107). After recording operation has fully finis-hed, the recording pa-per 80a is transported backwardly.
',Vhen the tail end of a part of recording paper 80a having the length of a single page reaches the posi-tion where the stationary blade 24a comes in cu-t-ting contact wi-th the movable blade 24b, that is, the cutting position in the autornatic cutter 24, the stepping mo-tor 33 and the aforesaid another stepping motor for the transportation rollers 27 and 28 (not shown) are caused to stop their rotation i~necliately and thereafter the movable blade 24b in the automatic cutter 24 is actuated to cu-t th~ part of recording paper 80a on which recording has been effec-ted to the substantially same Length as -that of an original of which image informa-tion signals have been transmitted to -the apparatus (step 108)c Immediately after com~)letion of cu-tting opera-tion the stepping motors for rota-ting the platen roller 26, the tran~portation roller 23 and t~e transportation rollers 27 and 28 are driven in the normal direc-tion at a high rotational speed so as to transport the recording paper 80a forwardly again (step 109). '~he thus cut part of recording paper is transported further by rota-ting the : driving roller 27a and ~he transnortation roller 28 in coopera-tion with -the pinch roller 27b and the leaf spring 29 un-til it is di~charged from the apparatus.
~ecordsd paper sheets are stored in the recorded pa~er ~2~i~793~
storage tray 12 in the layered s-tructure. On the other hand, the leading end of unrecorded part of recording paper ~Oa is drawn to the position behind the group of micro heating resistors on the -~hermal head 25 by a ~redeterlnined distance, for instance, 3 mm. At this moment -the stenping motor 33 for rotating both -the platen roller ~3 and the transportation roller 23 stops its rotation.
On the other hand, as the stepping motor 6~3 is driven in the reverse airection (step 110), the ink ribbon feedin~ roll 45 is rotated in the clock~ise direction as seen in Fig. 1 at a predetermined rotational speed and thereby -the ink ribbon 44 inclusive the recorded part thereof is transported backwardly by a predetermined distance L' which is shorter than the length L of a single page~ Next, the solenoid 37 for actuating the thermal head 25 is restored -to its original position (step 111) so that -the recording paper 80a and the ink ribbon 44 are clalnped between the -thermal head 25 and the platen roller 26 under the effect of pressure. -Now, the apparatus is ready -to start nex-t recording operation.
Incidentally, a part of the ink ribbon 44 having the length L' which has been transported backwardly after completion of recording operation for a single page is put in use again for next recording opera-tion.
In the illustrated elnbodilnent of the invention -the 7~5 length L~ may be deterrnined to the length o~ an original having, for instance, a size of B4 lnultiplied by a factor ( 1 - l/M ), when it is assumed that the number of times of repeated usage of the ink ribbon 44 is designated b~ reference letter M. Further, when the number of scanning lines required for recording of a single page is counted by using any suitable mearls, for instance, pulse counter for counting scanning clock signals and as a resul-t of counting it amounts to N, the length ~' may be determined as follows.
L' = N ( 1 ~ ) X pitch of scanning lines In the last mentioned case any part on the ink ribbon can be repeatedly used by about N times, e~en when recording of received signals is effected for original having different size.
Next, description will be made as to operation o the ink ribbon 44 in the case of M = 3 with reference to ~igs.6 (a) to (j) as follows.
Fig. 6(a) shows by way of a fragmental plan view the leading end part of unused ink ribbon and an arrow mark A shows the position where a group of micro heating resis-tors are arranged on -the thermal head 25~ Fig.
6(b) shows the state of -the ink ribbon after recording (as identified by small circle mark~ is effected by a distance of ~ e~1ual to the length of a single page.
Fig. 6(c) shows that the i~ ribbon is tran~ported backwardly from the position in Fi~. 6(b) by a distance ~iL25~79S
f ( 1 - l/M ) L and it is ready -to effect recording (as identified by small square marks) for a second page.
~ig. 6(d) shows tha-t recording for the second page has been finished. As is apparent from Fig. 6(d), the ink ribbon is repeatedly used at twice times in the area located within the extent of l/3L to I. as measured from the leading end of the ink ribbon. Next, the ink ribbon is transpor-ted backwardly from the position in Fig. 6 (d) by a distance of 2/3L (see ~ig. 6(e)~. Now, it is ready to effect recording for a third page. Figo 6(f) shows that recording (as identified by small X marks) for the third page has been finished. In the illustrated state the ink ribbon is repeatedly used at three times in the area located within the extent of 2/3L to 3/3L
as measured from the leading end of the ink ribbon.
Next, -the i~c ribbon is transported backwardly from the posi-tion in Fig. 6(f) by a distance of 2/3L (see ~ig.
6(g)). Fig. 6(h) shows that recording (as identified by smaller circle marks) has been effected for a fourth page. Thereafter, the ink ribbon is transported back-wardly from the position in Fig. 6(h) by a distance of 2j3L (see Fig. 6(i)). Finally, ~ig. 6(j) shows that recording (as identified by small triangle marks)haS
been finished for a ~ifth page.
As is apparen-t from Figs. 6(d) to (j), the area located within -the extent of -the leading end of the ink ribbon to l/3L as measured therefrom is used by a - 2'7 _ gs single time, -the area located wi-thin the extent of l/3L
to 2/3~ as measured f`rom the leading end of the ink ribbon is repeatedly used at twice times and the area located behind the posi~ion of 2/3~ as measured from the leading end of the ink ribbon is repea-tedly uses at three times.
~ s will be readily apparènt from the abo~e descri-ption, the repeatedly used part of the ink ribbon 44 has a nu~nber of tripled negative images recorded thereon.
As a result, the tripled negative images cannot be practically recognized by any other person.
While the present invention has been described above with respect to -the case where i-t i5 applied ~o a facsimile signal receiving apparatus in which a roll of recording paper is used a~ recording medium, it should of cource be understood -that it should not be limi-ted only to this but it may be applied not onl~ to a facsimile apparatus in which a number of sheet papers are used as recording medium but also to a printer.
- 2~ -
Next, -the platen roller 26~ the transportation rollers 26, 27 and 28 and the stepping motor 69 are driven in res~onse to signals received via cable or channel whereby tr~nsportation of the recording paper 80a and the ink ribbon 44 is star-ted (step 101).
Subseq~lent -to the step -the thus received signals are subjected to electrical processing such as modulating, coding and amplifying so as to allow them to be conver-ted to image information signals which in turn a.re transmitted to t.he thermal head 25. Thus, the layer o~
solid ink on the ink ribbon 44 is locally mo:!.ten in accordance wi-th the recorded pattern on the basis of principle o~ thermal transfer recording system and molten ink is transferred on-to the recording paper 80a with the aid of the platen roller 26 whereby recording is effected (step 102). Recording is carried out for each of scanni-'g lines (step 103). On completion of recording across one scanning line the recording paper 80a and -the ink ribbon 44 are -transported by a dis-tance e~ual to one pitch of sc~nning lines by means of the platen roller 26 and the transportation roller 23 bo-th of which are rotated b~ the common stepping motor 33, while -they are maintained in the closely con-tacted s-tate. While recording is repeatedly carried out in - 22 _ 7~5 that way, the direction of transpor-ta-tion of the ink ribbon 44 is changed at -the guide bar ~3 and thereby the recording paper 80a is parted away from the ink ribbon 44 because it ~ends to move further linearly due -to i~8 ridigity. The thus ~eparated recording paper 80a i~ -transported fur-ther along the guide plate~
31a and 31b by rota-ting the driving roller 27a and the transportation roller 28 in coopera-tion with -the pinch roller 27band -the leaf spring 29. It should be added -that rotation of the driving roller 27a constitu-ting the -transportation rollers 27 is ~ynchronized with rotation of -the platen roller 26. On completion of recording operation for a single page having the length equal to size of an original of which image signal~
have been tramsitted to -the facsimile signal receiving apparatus (step 104), the platen roller 26, the transp-ortation rollers 23, 27 and 2~ and the stepping mo-tor 69 stop their ro-tation (~-tep 105). Next, an elec-troma-gnetic ac-tuator 37 which serves as means for releasing the thermal head 25 from the contacted state is ac-tua-ted (se-tp 106). ~rhus, the -thermal head 106 is parted away from the pla-ten roller 26 so as to alLow bo-th the recording paper 80a and the ink ribbon 44 to be released from the pressed state and the stepping mo-tor 33 serving as co~non rotational power source for ~oth the ~laten roller 26 and the transportation roller 23 and another stepping motor for rota-ting the transpor-tation rollers 7~5;
27 and 2~ (not shown) are driven in the reverse direction (step 107). After recording operation has fully finis-hed, the recording pa-per 80a is transported backwardly.
',Vhen the tail end of a part of recording paper 80a having the length of a single page reaches the posi-tion where the stationary blade 24a comes in cu-t-ting contact wi-th the movable blade 24b, that is, the cutting position in the autornatic cutter 24, the stepping mo-tor 33 and the aforesaid another stepping motor for the transportation rollers 27 and 28 (not shown) are caused to stop their rotation i~necliately and thereafter the movable blade 24b in the automatic cutter 24 is actuated to cu-t th~ part of recording paper 80a on which recording has been effec-ted to the substantially same Length as -that of an original of which image informa-tion signals have been transmitted to -the apparatus (step 108)c Immediately after com~)letion of cu-tting opera-tion the stepping motors for rota-ting the platen roller 26, the tran~portation roller 23 and t~e transportation rollers 27 and 28 are driven in the normal direc-tion at a high rotational speed so as to transport the recording paper 80a forwardly again (step 109). '~he thus cut part of recording paper is transported further by rota-ting the : driving roller 27a and ~he transnortation roller 28 in coopera-tion with -the pinch roller 27b and the leaf spring 29 un-til it is di~charged from the apparatus.
~ecordsd paper sheets are stored in the recorded pa~er ~2~i~793~
storage tray 12 in the layered s-tructure. On the other hand, the leading end of unrecorded part of recording paper ~Oa is drawn to the position behind the group of micro heating resistors on the -~hermal head 25 by a ~redeterlnined distance, for instance, 3 mm. At this moment -the stenping motor 33 for rotating both -the platen roller ~3 and the transportation roller 23 stops its rotation.
On the other hand, as the stepping motor 6~3 is driven in the reverse airection (step 110), the ink ribbon feedin~ roll 45 is rotated in the clock~ise direction as seen in Fig. 1 at a predetermined rotational speed and thereby -the ink ribbon 44 inclusive the recorded part thereof is transported backwardly by a predetermined distance L' which is shorter than the length L of a single page~ Next, the solenoid 37 for actuating the thermal head 25 is restored -to its original position (step 111) so that -the recording paper 80a and the ink ribbon 44 are clalnped between the -thermal head 25 and the platen roller 26 under the effect of pressure. -Now, the apparatus is ready -to start nex-t recording operation.
Incidentally, a part of the ink ribbon 44 having the length L' which has been transported backwardly after completion of recording operation for a single page is put in use again for next recording opera-tion.
In the illustrated elnbodilnent of the invention -the 7~5 length L~ may be deterrnined to the length o~ an original having, for instance, a size of B4 lnultiplied by a factor ( 1 - l/M ), when it is assumed that the number of times of repeated usage of the ink ribbon 44 is designated b~ reference letter M. Further, when the number of scanning lines required for recording of a single page is counted by using any suitable mearls, for instance, pulse counter for counting scanning clock signals and as a resul-t of counting it amounts to N, the length ~' may be determined as follows.
L' = N ( 1 ~ ) X pitch of scanning lines In the last mentioned case any part on the ink ribbon can be repeatedly used by about N times, e~en when recording of received signals is effected for original having different size.
Next, description will be made as to operation o the ink ribbon 44 in the case of M = 3 with reference to ~igs.6 (a) to (j) as follows.
Fig. 6(a) shows by way of a fragmental plan view the leading end part of unused ink ribbon and an arrow mark A shows the position where a group of micro heating resis-tors are arranged on -the thermal head 25~ Fig.
6(b) shows the state of -the ink ribbon after recording (as identified by small circle mark~ is effected by a distance of ~ e~1ual to the length of a single page.
Fig. 6(c) shows that the i~ ribbon is tran~ported backwardly from the position in Fi~. 6(b) by a distance ~iL25~79S
f ( 1 - l/M ) L and it is ready -to effect recording (as identified by small square marks) for a second page.
~ig. 6(d) shows tha-t recording for the second page has been finished. As is apparent from Fig. 6(d), the ink ribbon is repeatedly used at twice times in the area located within the extent of l/3L to I. as measured from the leading end of the ink ribbon. Next, the ink ribbon is transpor-ted backwardly from the position in Fig. 6 (d) by a distance of 2/3L (see ~ig. 6(e)~. Now, it is ready to effect recording for a third page. Figo 6(f) shows that recording (as identified by small X marks) for the third page has been finished. In the illustrated state the ink ribbon is repeatedly used at three times in the area located within the extent of 2/3L to 3/3L
as measured from the leading end of the ink ribbon.
Next, -the i~c ribbon is transported backwardly from the posi-tion in Fig. 6(f) by a distance of 2/3L (see ~ig.
6(g)). Fig. 6(h) shows that recording (as identified by smaller circle marks) has been effected for a fourth page. Thereafter, the ink ribbon is transported back-wardly from the position in Fig. 6(h) by a distance of 2j3L (see Fig. 6(i)). Finally, ~ig. 6(j) shows that recording (as identified by small triangle marks)haS
been finished for a ~ifth page.
As is apparen-t from Figs. 6(d) to (j), the area located within -the extent of -the leading end of the ink ribbon to l/3L as measured therefrom is used by a - 2'7 _ gs single time, -the area located wi-thin the extent of l/3L
to 2/3~ as measured f`rom the leading end of the ink ribbon is repeatedly used at twice times and the area located behind the posi~ion of 2/3~ as measured from the leading end of the ink ribbon is repea-tedly uses at three times.
~ s will be readily apparènt from the abo~e descri-ption, the repeatedly used part of the ink ribbon 44 has a nu~nber of tripled negative images recorded thereon.
As a result, the tripled negative images cannot be practically recognized by any other person.
While the present invention has been described above with respect to -the case where i-t i5 applied ~o a facsimile signal receiving apparatus in which a roll of recording paper is used a~ recording medium, it should of cource be understood -that it should not be limi-ted only to this but it may be applied not onl~ to a facsimile apparatus in which a number of sheet papers are used as recording medium but also to a printer.
- 2~ -
Claims (2)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A thermal transfer recording method of the type using a roll of repeatedly usable ink ribbon, said method com-prising the steps of: allowing record paper and ink ribbon unwound from said roll of ink ribbon to come in pressure contact with a thermal head while the recording paper and the ink ribbon are superimposed one above another, transferring ink on the ink ribbon onto the recording paper by activating said thermal head while the recording paper and the ink ribbon are transported in the superimposed state, separating the ink ribbon away from the recording paper, and transporting the ink ribbon backwardly by a predetermined distance at every time when recording is achieved for an original having the length of a single page, said prede-termined distance being equal to the length of a single page of recording paper multiplied by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M is an integer greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maximum number of repeated usages of the ink ribbon.
2. A thermal transfer recording method of the type using a roll of repeatedly usable ink ribbon, said method comprising the steps of: allowing recording paper and ink ribbon unwound from said roll of ink ribbon to come in pressure contact with a line scanning type thermal head while the recording paper and the ink ribbon are superimposed one above another, transferring ink on the ink ribbon onto the recording paper by activating said thermal head while the recording paper and the ink ribbon are transported in the superimposed state, counting the number of scanning lines required for recording image on an original, sepa-rating the ink ribbon away from the recording paper, and trans-porting the ink ribbon backwardly by a predetermined distance at every time when recording is achieved for each of the originals having the length of a single page, said predetermined distance.
being equal to a distance obtainable by multiplication of the number of the counted scanning lines by pitch of scanning lines and by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M is an integer greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maximum number of repeated usages of the ink ribbon.
being equal to a distance obtainable by multiplication of the number of the counted scanning lines by pitch of scanning lines and by a factor equal to 1-1/M, where M is an integer greater than or equal to two and not greater than the maximum number of repeated usages of the ink ribbon.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP254,332/1984 | 1984-11-30 | ||
| JP59254332A JPS61132366A (en) | 1984-11-30 | 1984-11-30 | Thermal transfer recording method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1254795A true CA1254795A (en) | 1989-05-30 |
Family
ID=17263531
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000490439A Expired CA1254795A (en) | 1984-11-30 | 1985-09-11 | Thermal transfer recording method |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4675698A (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS61132366A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1254795A (en) |
Families Citing this family (22)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS6353070A (en) * | 1986-08-25 | 1988-03-07 | Hitachi Ltd | Thermal transfer recorder |
| GB2223455A (en) * | 1988-08-12 | 1990-04-11 | Scient Generics Ltd | Thermal printing |
| JPH03218860A (en) * | 1988-11-01 | 1991-09-26 | Canon Inc | Thermal printer and facsimile device |
| JPH02125772A (en) * | 1988-11-04 | 1990-05-14 | Canon Inc | Thermal transfer recording apparatus and facsimile apparatus using the same apparatus |
| JPH02128855A (en) * | 1988-11-09 | 1990-05-17 | Canon Inc | Thermal transfer recorder and facsimile terminal device using the same recorder |
| EP0368323B1 (en) * | 1988-11-09 | 1999-05-26 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Thermal transfer recording apparatus and facsimile apparatus |
| JP2544485B2 (en) * | 1989-07-14 | 1996-10-16 | 株式会社テック | Printer |
| JPH03176175A (en) * | 1989-12-06 | 1991-07-31 | Canon Inc | Thermal transfer recording apparatus |
| US5114251A (en) * | 1990-05-25 | 1992-05-19 | Hewlett-Packard Company | Self-aligning thermal print head and paper loading mechanism |
| US5126186A (en) * | 1991-06-24 | 1992-06-30 | Cheek Maurice R | Enhancement of fabric ribbon type impressions |
| US5399031A (en) * | 1993-02-25 | 1995-03-21 | Eastman Kodak Company | Assisting movement of dye receiver past thermal print head |
| GB9410273D0 (en) * | 1994-05-20 | 1994-07-13 | Prestek Ltd | Printing apparatus |
| GB2289652A (en) * | 1994-05-26 | 1995-11-29 | Illinois Tool Works | Ink ribbon economy strategies for thermal printers. |
| DE69704546T2 (en) * | 1997-02-26 | 2001-08-09 | Itw Ltd | Printer for printing from a tape-shaped recording medium |
| GB9703955D0 (en) * | 1997-02-26 | 1997-04-16 | Itw Ltd | A printer for printing on a continuous print medium |
| GB2349605A (en) * | 1999-05-05 | 2000-11-08 | Allen Coding Systems Ltd | Thermal tape transfer mechanism wherein the tape is driven in a reverse direction following a print action for reuse thereof |
| US6307583B1 (en) | 1999-09-01 | 2001-10-23 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Thermal printer with reversible ribbon and method therefor |
| JP3976477B2 (en) * | 2000-06-16 | 2007-09-19 | 日本ビクター株式会社 | Thermal transfer recording device |
| US20040216628A1 (en) * | 2003-04-30 | 2004-11-04 | Michael Nordlund | Dual-speed drive mechanism |
| JP4830903B2 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2011-12-07 | 日本ビクター株式会社 | Thermal transfer printing method and thermal transfer printing system |
| US9033600B2 (en) * | 2008-05-29 | 2015-05-19 | Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. | Jam-free printer |
| JP6298713B2 (en) * | 2014-05-23 | 2018-03-20 | キヤノンファインテックニスカ株式会社 | Printing device |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR88260E (en) * | 1965-02-22 | 1967-01-06 | Bull General Electric | Improvements to the provisions concerning printing tape in printing machines |
| US4558963A (en) * | 1982-08-30 | 1985-12-17 | International Business Machines Corporation | Feed rates and two-mode embodiments for thermal transfer medium conservation |
-
1984
- 1984-11-30 JP JP59254332A patent/JPS61132366A/en active Pending
-
1985
- 1985-09-11 CA CA000490439A patent/CA1254795A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-09-12 US US06/775,258 patent/US4675698A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS61132366A (en) | 1986-06-19 |
| US4675698A (en) | 1987-06-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |