EP0086661A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal transfer color printer and its method of operation
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1983-02-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A thermal transfer color printer has an elongated thermel printhead (20) and a carrier drive (30) for transporting a multicolor ink carrier sheet (22) in a first direction and a medium drive (40) for transporting a record medium (24), in the same direction and rate, contiguously over the head (20). The printhead (20) has a row of thermal elements, each of which may be energized to transfer a particular color ink on to the medium (24) as the carrier sheet (22) moves over the head (20). Various transferable color inks form areas (22-1 to 22-4) which are arranged in equal color lengths along the length of the carrier sheet (22). Each respective color area extends transversely across the width of the sheet and are successively arranged along the length of the carrier sheet in a repeated sequence. The printhead (20) is selectively forced into contact with the carrier sheet (22) and record medium (24) as they advance at the same rate by means of the carrier and record drive (30,40). The record drive means (40) also transports the record medium (24) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, through one color length while the printhead (20) is disengaged from the carrier sheet (22) and record medium (24). This permits superimposing of color patterns for creating greater color hues and color ranges. The movement of the record medium (24) in the second direction occurs at a higher rate than the transportation of the record medium in the first direction.
Inventors
- 👤 Masasumi C/O Toshiba Corporation Yana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:07
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J17/00; B41J17/22; B41J17/24; B41J35/00; B41J35/16; B41J35/18; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/50; H04N1/506; H04N1/508
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
284 words
A thermal color printer for printing a color image comprising a thermal printhead (20) having a linear array of thermal elements (100) which are selectively energisable by color component electrical signals representing the color image to be printed; first guide means (28, 134, 32) for guiding in a direction transverse to the array a color carrier sheet (22) carrying a plurality of different color-record forming materials; second guide means (85, 40, 84) for guiding a record medium sheet (24) in said direction on the side of the carrier sheet (22) distant from the printhead (20); means (128) for selectively forcing the printhead (20) into contact with the carrier sheet (22) for thermally transferring the color materials from the carrier sheet (22) on to the record medium (24) when the thermal elements (100) are energised; carrier sheet drive means (66) for transporting the carrier sheet (22) in the said direction while the printhead (20) contacts the carrier sheet (22); and record medium drive means (78) for transporting the record medium (24) in the said direction: characterised in that the printer is designed to use a carrier sheet (22) carrying in successive lengthwise areas (22-1 to 22-4) a repeated sequence of the different color-record forming materials, and in the provision of control means (300, 302) the functions of which include controlling the drive means (66, 78) to cause the carrier sheet (22) and the record medium (24) to be driven at the same rate and in the same direction while the printhead (20) is in contact with the carrier sheet (22) and to cause the record medium (24) to. be driven in the opposite direction while the carrier sheet (22) and the printhead (20) are disengaged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
284 words
A thermal color printer for printing a color image comprising a thermal printhead (20) having a linear array of thermal elements (100) which are selectively energisable by color component electrical signals representing the color image to be printed; first guide means (28, 134, 32) for guiding in a direction transverse to the array a color carrier sheet (22) carrying a plurality of different color-record forming materials; second guide means (85, 40, 84) for guiding a record medium sheet (24) in said direction on the side of the carrier sheet (22) distant from the printhead (20); means (128) for selectively forcing the printhead (20) into contact with the carrier sheet (22) for thermally transferring the color materials from the carrier sheet (22) on to the record medium (24) when the thermal elements (100) are energised; carrier sheet drive means (66) for transporting the carrier sheet (22) in the said direction while the printhead (20) contacts the carrier sheet (22); and record medium drive means (78) for transporting the record medium (24) in the said direction: characterised in that the printer is designed to use a carrier sheet (22) carrying in successive lengthwise areas (22-1 to 22-4) a repeated sequence of the different color-record forming materials, and in the provision of control means (300, 302) the functions of which include controlling the drive means (66, 78) to cause the carrier sheet (22) and the record medium (24) to be driven at the same rate and in the same direction while the printhead (20) is in contact with the carrier sheet (22) and to cause the record medium (24) to. be driven in the opposite direction while the carrier sheet (22) and the printhead (20) are disengaged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 1, wherein each of the areas (22-1 to 22-4) defines the maximum printing zone of the printer and has a width W which is substantially equal to that of the carrier sheet (22) and a length 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the color materials comprise: yellow, magenta and cyan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A. thermal transfer color printer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the record medium sheet (24) is a paper sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the paper sheet (24) has a width substantially equal to the width of the carrier sheet (22).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier sheet drive means includes a supply reel 26 for the carrier sheet (22) and for supplying the carrier sheet (22) to the thermal elements (100); a take-up reel (30) for receiving the carrier sheet (22) supplied from the supply reel (26); and a carrier pulse motor (66) for driving the take-up reel (30).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 6, wherein the record medium drive means includes a platen roller (40) rotatably supported at a position adjacent the printhead (20); two pinch rollers (84, 85) each rotatably supported adjacent the platen roller (40) at opposite sides thereof, for pressing the record medium (24) against the surface of the platen roller (40); and a platen pulse motor (78) for driving said platen roller and for transporting the record medium (24) in either direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 7, wherein the means for selectively forcing the printhead into contact with the carrier sheet (22) comprises: a pivotally supported support plate (110) carrying the printhead (20) on a surface opposite to the platen roller (40); and support plate controlling means (122, 124, 128, 130) for pivotally moving the support plate (110) between a first position in which the thermal elements (100) are forced into contact with the carrier sheet (22) and a second position in which the print head (20) is disengaged from the carrier sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 8, wherein the supply reel (26) and take-up reel (30) are rotatably supported by a friction coupling (144, 148) to cause the carrier sheet (22) to be transported at a constant rate irrespective of variations in diameter of the carrier sheet (22) wound on the reels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
The thermal transfer color printer of claim 9, wherein the control means includes an electronic control system for controlling the operation of said printing comprising: a support plate circuit means (324), coupled to the support plate controlling means (128) for moving the support plate (110) between its first and seocnd positions; carrier control circuit means (382), coupled to the carrier pulse motor (66), for controlling the carrier pulse motor (66) to transfer the carrier sheet in the first direction substantially along the length 1 while the support plate (110) is in said first posit'ion; platen control circuit means (334), coupled to the platen pulse motor (78), for controlling the platen pulse motor to transfer the carrier sheet (24) in the first direction substantially along the length 1 while the support plate (110) is in said first position; and for causing the platen pulse motor (78) to transfer the carrier sheet (24) in the opposite direction substantially along the length 1 while the support plate (110) is in said second position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 10, wherein the electronic control system forther comprises: an image memory (310) for storing a plurality of color component signal constituting the color image to be printed; and a signal controller (315) for providing separate categories of the color component signals to the printhead (20) for energizing the thermal elements (100), each of the color component signals being supplied to the printhead (20) during separate printing cycles while the carrier sheet (22) and paper sheet (24) are transported together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal transfer color printer according to claim 11, wherein each category of color component signals corresponds to a separate color ink.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
272 words
A method of printing color images utilizing thermal printing comprising the steps of: transporting a color carrier sheet (22) in a first direction along the direction of its length, the carrier sheet having a plurality of different color-record forming materials, each material alternately and successively distributed in color areas arranged along said direction; transporting a record medium sheet (24) in said direction at a rate substantially equal to a rate of said carrier sheet; pressing a thermal printhead (24) on to the carrier sheet (22) and record medium sheet (24) while they are moving in said first direction, said printhead (24) having a linear array of thermal elements (100) arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of carrier sheet length; supplying a first category of a plurality of color component signals to said printhead for energizng the thermal elements (100) and thermally transferring one of the color forming materials on the carrier sheet (22) onto the record medium sheet (24), each color component signal category corresponding to a respective color of said color forming materials; transporting the carrier shcet (22) and record medium sheet (24) together in the first direction at substantially the same rate while the printhead (20) is pressed to the carrier sheet (22) and record medium sheet (24); transporting the record medium sheet (24) in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, while the printhead (20) is disengaged from the record medium sheet (22); and supplying a second category of color component signals to the printhead (20) for thermally transferring another different coloring forming material on the carrier sheet (22) to the record medium sheet (24).
Claim 15
Independent Claim
272 words
A method of printing color images utilizing thermal printing comprising the steps of: transporting a color carrier sheet (22) in a first direction along the direction of its length, the carrier sheet having a plurality of different color-record forming materials, each material alternately and successively distributed in color areas arranged along said direction; transporting a record medium sheet (24) in said direction at a rate substantially equal to a rate of said carrier sheet; pressing a thermal printhead (24) on to the carrier sheet (22) and record medium sheet (24) while they are moving in said first direction, said printhead (24) having a linear array of thermal elements (100) arrayed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of carrier sheet length; supplying a first category of a plurality of color component signals to said printhead for energizng the thermal elements (100) and thermally transferring one of the color forming materials on the carrier sheet (22) onto the record medium sheet (24), each color component signal category corresponding to a respective color of said color forming materials; transporting the carrier shcet (22) and record medium sheet (24) together in the first direction at substantially the same rate while the printhead (20) is pressed to the carrier sheet (22) and record medium sheet (24); transporting the record medium sheet (24) in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, while the printhead (20) is disengaged from the record medium sheet (22); and supplying a second category of color component signals to the printhead (20) for thermally transferring another different coloring forming material on the carrier sheet (22) to the record medium sheet (24).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of printing according to claim 13, wherein the record medium sheet (24) is transported in the second direction through the length of one color area and at a rate higher than the transportation of the record medium sheet (24) in the first direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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