Sublimation type color printer

Details Sublimation type color printer Sublimation type color printer

2000-09-27

2001-06-19

Tran, Huan (Department: 2861)

Incremental printing of symbolic information

Thermal marking apparatus or processes

Record receiver driving means

C347S176000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06249301

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sublimation type color printer used for an output device for a digital photograph. This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 11-273456, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, an output device which can prints a high-quality picture at low-cost is required due to the popularization of the digital camera. In response to this requirement, there is a sublimation type (heat transcription type) color printer which prints a picture on a paper pulled out from a roll of the paper. The adoption of the rolled paper is moreadvantageous than a pre-cut paper in terms of costs.
FIG. 6
shows a structure of a conventional sublimation type color printer. In this figure, reference number
1
denotes a paper, reference number
2
denotes a roll of the paper
1
, reference number
3
denotes a platen, reference number
4
denotes a pair of first transfer rollers, reference number
5
denotes a pair of second transfer rollers, reference number
6
denotes a cutter, reference number
7
denotes a paper guide, reference number
8
denotes a thermal head, reference number
9
denotes an ink ribbon, and reference number
10
denotes a paper outlet.
In this sublimation type color printer, an operator sets the roll
2
at the predetermined position, and pulls the leading edge of the paper
1
from the roll
2
and manually inserts the tip between the first transfer rollers
4
, in preparation for the operation. Next, the operator gives a paper induction command by operating a switch button (omitted in the Figure) for example, then, an initial operations such as cutting the leading edge of the paper
1
are done, and the tip is finally guided to a print stand-by position PS in FIG.
7
. At this print stand-by position PS, the leading edge of the paper
1
projects slightly from the first transfer rollers
4
in the direction of the second transfer rollers
5
.
Further, as a result of giving a print command at the print stand-by position PS shown in
FIG. 7
, a print operation is carried out and the paper
1
reciprocates within a predetermined printing area. In the normal color print, the printed colors are expressed by stacking the layers of three colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), on the paper
1
, and an overcoat layer covers these layers for preventing the fading of the colors. Therefore, in the case of the conventional printer as shown in the Figure, the paper
1
reciprocates four times within the printing area, and the printing by the each ink ribbon which corresponds to the each color of Y, M, and C, and the coating of the overcoat layer are successively carried out.
The print operation for a piece of paper is finished in the above-described manner, and then, the paper
1
is cut by the cutter
6
to the predetermined length and ejected from the outlet
10
. In addition, when a series of the above-described work for printing is finished, the leading edge of the paper
1
is returned to the print stand-by position PS in FIG.
7
.
In the sublimation type color printer, when dust and the like lie on the paper, or the paper is folded, inks are not transferred on this part and an insufficient transfer occurs. Such an insufficient transfer reduces the commercial value of the output device for the digital camera in which a high-quality picture is required.
Furthermore, in addition to the quality requirements of the picture, the reduction of the running cost is also required for the widespread adoption of the pictures by the sublimation type color printer instead of photographs using silver-salt.
However, in the conventional sublimation type color printer as described above, the paper
1
at the print stand-by position PS is prepared away from the roll
2
, and therefore, dust can easily accumulate on the paper
1
. Furthermore, the paper
1
at the print stand-by position PS is prepared in a holding manner by the guides
7
and the first transfer rollers
4
which locate the upper and lower sides of the paper
1
, and therefore, the paper
1
can easily become folded.
In addition, the dust which attaches to the paper
1
at the production of the paper
1
, the dust which exist in the printer and lies on the surface of the paper
1
, and cellulose which exist in the paper
1
and lies on the surface of the paper
1
, are thought to be the source of the dust which causes the insufficient transfer However, it is difficult to remove this dust completely.
The present invention is provided in consideration of the above circumstances, and purposes of the present invention are to provide a sublimation type color printer which can provide a high-quality picture with low running cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, to solve the above-described problems, the following measures are adopted.
The present invention relates a sublimation type color printer for printing a paper pulled out from a roll of the paper, cutting the paper to a predetermined length, and outputting the printed paper; wherein the roll is installed into a cassette. The printer comprises a paper transfer means which can transfer a leading edge of the paper along the front and rear directions between a print stand-by position at the outside of the cassette and a stand-by position inside the cassette.
In this case, it is preferable that the tip reverts to the stand-by position in the cassette for stand-by when no print command is received during a predetermined time.
It is further preferable that the tip is transferred to the print stand-by position when the tip is located in the stand-by position in the cassette and some operation is done by a host of the printer.
In this sublimation type color printer, the paper is covered in the cassette when no print command is received because the paper transfer means is provided, and therefore, the adhesion of dust and the like to the surface of the paper decreases, and the folding of the paper in the cassette is prevented. Therefore, the cause of the insufficient ink transfer is solved and a high-quality a picture can be provided with low running cost using the rolled paper which is advantageous in cost. Furthermore, the total time for the print operation is not increased because the tip is transferred to the print stand-by position by some operation of the host.
The present invention also relates a sublimation type color printer for printing a paper pulled out from a roll of the paper which is installed in a cassette by reciprocating the paper within a predetermined print area, cutting the paper to a predetermined length by a cutter, and outputting the printed paper. The printer comprising a plurality of dust collection rollers which have adhesive surfaces and provided for attachment to the transference course of the paper between the cassette and the cutter, and respectively provided to a position adjacent to the paper outlet of the cassette and to a position adjacent to the front of the cutter.
In this case, it is preferable that the dust collection rollers are provided at the outlet of the print area.
It is further preferable that at least one of the dust collection rollers has a means for detecting the transference situation of the paper.
In this sublimation type color printer, dust on the paper is removed by the dust collection rollers before the print. Furthermore, the desirable material for the dust collection can be employed for the dust collection rollers without consideration for the reverse transcription toward the dust collection rollers because the dust collection rollers are provided at the outlet of the printing area. In addition, the abnormal transference of the paper is detected and the appropriate measure can be carried out because the means for detecting a transference situation of the paper is provided on the dust collection rollers.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5201588 (1993-04-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 63-303779 (1988-12-01), None
patent: 4-246575 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 5-147280 (1993

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Sublimation type color printer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Sublimation type color printer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sublimation type color printer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2515938