EP0098033A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1983-04-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-04-14
Abstract
Abstract In a thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus, a recording sheet (16) to which a picture is to be transferred and an ink film (14) having an ink layer (142B, 142C, 142M, 142Y) are passed between a thermal head (64) and a platen roller (10) so that ink of the ink film is transferred to the recording sheet in accordance with a picture pattern. The thermal head is provided with heating resistors which are arranged in a line and which selectively generate heat in response to picture signals. Thus, the ink of the ink film is selectively heated and softened or melted to be transferred to the recording sheet. The ink film and the recording sheet pass through a gap between the platen roller and the thermal head in such a manner that the ink layer of the ink film is in contact with the recording sheet. In the ink transfer, the platen roller can rotate while pressing the ink film and the recording sheet on the heating resistor array of the thermal head. A restricting roller (22) rolling on the platen roller is disposed upstream of the heating resistor array with respect to the travelling direction of the ink film. The ink film passes through a gap between the restricting roller and the platen roller to be guided in a specific path.
Inventors
- 👤 Masasumi Yana
- 👤 Tadayoshi Ohno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:03
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J17/00; B41J17/28; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; B41J31/00; B41J31/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus comprising: recording means (18) including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line and selectively generating heat in response to picture signals; supporting means (12) for supporting the recording means; a rotatable platen roller (10) with its axis of rotation in alignment with the extending direction of the array of the heating elements, one of the platen roller and the supporting means being urged to the other so that the peripheral surface of the platen roller may come into contact with the heating elements of the recording means; and an ink film (14) having an ink layer (142B, 142C, 142M, 142Y), the ink film overlapping a recording medium (16) so that the ink layer is in contact with the recording medium when the ink film passes through a gap between the platen roller and the recording means and moves along the circumference of the platen roller as the platen roller rotates, so that the ink layer is selectively heated by the heat from the heating elements to transfer ink thereon to the recording medium; characterized by, further comprising ink film guide means (22, 79, 80) disposed upstream of the recording means with respect to the travelling direction of the ink film, for preventing the ink film from being folded transversely due to thermal contraction caused by the heat from the heating elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus comprising: recording means (18) including a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line and selectively generating heat in response to picture signals; supporting means (12) for supporting the recording means; a rotatable platen roller (10) with its axis of rotation in alignment with the extending direction of the array of the heating elements, one of the platen roller and the supporting means being urged to the other so that the peripheral surface of the platen roller may come into contact with the heating elements of the recording means; and an ink film (14) having an ink layer (142B, 142C, 142M, 142Y), the ink film overlapping a recording medium (16) so that the ink layer is in contact with the recording medium when the ink film passes through a gap between the platen roller and the recording means and moves along the circumference of the platen roller as the platen roller rotates, so that the ink layer is selectively heated by the heat from the heating elements to transfer ink thereon to the recording medium; characterized by, further comprising ink film guide means (22, 79, 80) disposed upstream of the recording means with respect to the travelling direction of the ink film, for preventing the ink film from being folded transversely due to thermal contraction caused by the heat from the heating elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said recording means includes a thermal head (64).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by comprising a spring (71) urging said supporting means toward the platen roller (10) so that the ink film (14) and the recording medium (16) are held under pressure between the platen roller (10) and the recording means (64).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said ink film (14) includes a base layer (141) and an ink layer (142B, 142C, 142M, 142Y) thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said preventing means includes a restricting roller (22) capable of rolling on the peripheral surface of the platen roller (10) with its axis parallel with that of the platen roller, so that the ink film (14) passes through a gap between the restricting roller and the platen roller to be guided in a specific path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that one of said platen roller (10) and said restricting roller (22) is urged to the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said restricting roller (10) is attached to the supporting means (12).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said preventing means includes a pair of pinch rollers (79, 80) arranged near the platen roller (10) with their axes parallel with that of the platen roller, so that the ink film (14) passes through a gap between the pinch rollers to be guided in a specific path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising holding means (23) disposed downstream of the recording means (64) with respect to the travelling direction of the ink film (14), whereby the ink film is held across its full width under pressure in the direction of.its thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said holding means includes a pressure roller (23) capable of rolling on the peripheral surface of the platen roller (10) with its axis parallel with that of the platen roller, so that the ink film (14) passes through a gap between the pressure roller and the platen roller to be held under pressure in the direction of its thickness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said platen roller (10) and said pressure roller (23) are urged toward each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that said pressure roller is attached to the supporting means (12).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a pair of pinch rollers (32, 33) with their axes parallel with that of the platen roller. (10) and pressed toward the platen roller from both sides thereof, wherein said recording medium (16) passes through a gap between the pinch rollers and the platen roller so that the recording medium is moved as the platen roller rotates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a supply roller (20) for the ink film (14), a .take-up roller (25) wound with the ink film let out from the supply roller, and guide means (21, 24) arranged in an ink film feeding region between the supply roller and the take-up roller to guide the ink film between the platen roller (10) and the recording means (64).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The thermal ink-transfer printing apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that said guide means includes a first guide roller (21) disposed upstream of the preventing means with respect to the travelling direction of the ink film, and a second guide roller (24) disposed downstream of the platen roller.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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