JPH09290937A - Sheet package and magazine for image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the cover of a sheet package from pressing the top surface of a recording sheet even when the cover falls down by mounting a pair of projections on both sides of the side which is the turning shaft of the cover. SOLUTION: A cover 84 is mounted on one side of an opening surface of a hollow case 82 in a sheet package 12 such that it can be freely turned around the side and a moisture regulating member 86 is attached to the outer surface of the cover 84. The cover 84 has a pair of projections 90 at the opposite positions of both sides of the side which is the turning shaft. When the sheet package 12 is housed in the lower case 25A of a magazine 24, the pair of projections 90 of the cover 84 of the sheet package 12 are pushed up a prescribed distance by a pair of projections 92 mounted on the lower case 25A of the magazine 24 corresponding to the projections 90, whereby a prescribed gap between the cover 84 of the sheet package 12 and a heat-sensitive recording sheet A is formed, which can prevent the close contact of heat-sensitive sheets A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet package for containing a sheet-shaped recording material (hereinafter referred to as a recording sheet) used in an image recording apparatus, and a magazine for containing the sheet package.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various image recording apparatuses such as printers and copying machines have been proposed. For example, in the medical field, conventionally, an image recording apparatus to which a wet system is applied to obtain a recorded image by performing wet processing after photographing or recording on a silver salt photographic light-sensitive material has been used.
Image recording apparatuses to which a dry system that does not require wet processing is applied have come to the fore, and a typical example thereof is a thermal image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a thermal recording apparatus).

In a thermal recording apparatus, a sheet-shaped thermal recording material (hereinafter referred to as a thermal recording sheet) having a thermal recording layer formed by using paper, film or the like as a support is used, and the thermal recording of the thermal recording sheet is carried out. A thermal head consisting of a number of heating elements arranged in a row is pressed against the layer, and while heating each heating element of the thermal head according to the recorded image, both are placed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the array direction of the heating elements. The image is recorded by moving the heat-sensitive recording layer of the heat-sensitive recording sheet.

Needless to say, a medical image recording apparatus requires a high quality recorded image in order to prevent erroneous diagnosis. Therefore, it is preferable to make the recording sheet highly sensitive in order to improve the quality of the recorded image. However, as the sensitivity of the recording sheet increases, the sensitivity of the recording sheet fluctuates sensitively in response to changes in humidity, which makes it difficult to stably record high-quality images. is there.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, the inventors of the present invention have disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-289019 that a heat-sensitive recording sheet using a humidity control material for keeping humidity constant. I have already proposed a package.

FIG. 6 shows a Japanese Patent Application No. 7-289019.
1 shows a conceptual diagram of a thermal recording sheet package proposed in the specification. In the figure, the sheet package 13 includes a case 83 having an outlet 81 for the recording sheet A.
A humidity control material 87 is attached to the upper surface of the recording sheet A, and a predetermined number of recording sheets A are accommodated inside the sheet. The sheet package 13 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag at the time of use and stored in the magazine 23 together with the sheet package 13.
The magazine 23 is used by being loaded in the loading section of the image recording apparatus.

In this sheet package 13, since the recording sheet A can always be favorably held in a predetermined humidity environment, high-quality image recording can be stably performed, and of course, the recording sheet A can be recorded. Since the sheet package can be easily accommodated in the magazine 23 without touching directly with the hand, the loading of the recording sheet A is completed only by mounting the magazine 23 in the image recording device, and the recording image by the oil of the hand or the like is completed. It is preferable because it can prevent adverse effects.

By the way, the case 8 accommodated in the moisture-proof bag.
The height of the side surface of 3 is set so that the height of the side surface of the case 83 and the height of the uppermost surface of the recording sheet A are approximately the same when a predetermined number of the recording sheets A are stacked in the case 83. Has been. This is because the upper surface of the case 83 and the uppermost surface of the recording sheet A are formed in order to prevent the recording sheets A from being rubbed against each other during transportation and causing scratches, or the structural volume of the recording sheets A being wasted. This is because there is no extra space provided between and.

However, when the case 83 is made by processing a thin flat plate such as paper or resin, the humidity control material 87 is provided on the upper surface thereof.
When the recording sheet A is pasted, the upper surface of the case 83 hangs down a little and presses the uppermost surface of the recording sheet A. During the first 20 to 30 sheets, there is a problem that the trailing end portions of the recording sheets A are in close contact with each other and two or more recording sheets A are taken out at the same time, that is, a so-called sheet defect occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet package and a magazine for an image recording apparatus which can improve the sheet-fed property in view of various problems based on the above-mentioned prior art.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a sheet package for containing a sheet-shaped recording material used in an image recording apparatus, which is a hollow case having an opening surface on one surface. And a lid body provided on one side of the opening surface of the case so as to be rotatable around the one side as a central axis, and the lid body has a pair of sides on both sides of the side that is the central axis. The present invention provides a sheet package for an image recording device, which has a protrusion.

The present invention is also a magazine for accommodating the above-mentioned sheet package, wherein a hollow first case having an opening surface on one side and the opening surface of the first case are closed to close the first case. A second case fixed to the case, wherein the first case has the inner side surface corresponding to the pair of projecting portions of the lid of the sheet package when the sheet package is accommodated. The second case has a pair of protrusions that push up a pair of protrusions of the lid of the sheet package, and the second case can be opened and closed at a portion corresponding to the outlet of the sheet package when the sheet package is accommodated. The present invention provides a magazine for an image recording device, which has a lid.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A sheet package and a magazine for an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Here, as an example of the image recording apparatus, a thermal image recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a thermal recording apparatus) is taken as an example, and a sheet-shaped thermal recording material (hereinafter referred to as a thermal recording sheet) used in the thermal recording apparatus is accommodated. A sheet package to be used and a magazine that accommodates the sheet package will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a heat-sensitive recording apparatus using a sheet package and a magazine for the image recording apparatus of the present invention. The heat-sensitive recording apparatus 10 of the illustrated example records heat-sensitive images on a heat-sensitive recording sheet of, for example, B4 size, and is a magazine 2 that accommodates the sheet package of the present invention.
4 is configured to include a loading unit 14, a feeding and transporting unit 16, a thermal head 66, a recording unit 20 for performing thermal image recording on the thermal recording sheet A, and an ejecting unit 22.

The heat-sensitive recording sheet A comprises a transparent film such as a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film as a support, and a heat-sensitive recording layer formed on one surface thereof. The sheets (bundles) are accommodated in the sheet package of the present invention, and the sheet packages are accommodated in the magazine 24 of the present invention and taken out one by one from the magazine 24 for thermal image recording.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet package of the present invention. The illustrated sheet package 12
Has a case 82 and a lid body 84 formed of a resin such as polypropylene or cardboard, and a humidity control material 86. The lid body is provided on one side of the opening surface of the hollow case 82 with this side as the central axis. 84 is rotatably provided, and the humidity control material 86 is attached to the outer surface of the lid 84 by a double-sided tape or the like.

The case 82 serves as a tray for accommodating the heat-sensitive recording sheet A, and is a box-shaped hollow housing having an opening surface on one surface (upper surface in the drawing). On the other hand, the lid 84 covers a part of the opening surface of the case 82.
It has a length shorter than the opening surface of the second opening by a predetermined length, and has a pair of projecting portions 90 at opposite positions on both sides of the side serving as the rotation center axis. The opening formed when the lid 84 is aligned with the opening surface of the case 82 is used as an outlet 80 for the thermosensitive recording sheet A.

The case 82 and the lid 84 may be integrally molded, or they may be molded individually and then the lid 84 is formed.
One side may be attached to one side of the opening surface of the case 82.

A bundle of a predetermined number of heat-sensitive recording sheets A is accommodated inside the case 82 with its recording surface facing downward, and a part of the opening surface of the case 82 is covered by a lid 84. The sheet package 12 is a moisture-proof bag 8 when not in use.
It is hermetically housed in 8 and kept at a predetermined humidity.
On the other hand, at the time of use, the sheet package 12 is taken out from the moisture-proof bag 88 and stored in the magazine 24. In addition,
The magazine 24 is loaded in the loading unit 14 of the thermal recording device 12.

The humidity control material 86 absorbs moisture when the humidity is high,
When the humidity is low, the humidity of the environment around the thermal recording sheet A is always kept constant by humidifying, and, for example, the one made of inorganic powder such as sodium alumina silicate is used. be able to. Humidity control material 8
Various commercially available products can be used as 6, and for example, a humidity control material commercially available under the trade name of SHC Paper from Tokushu Paper Co. can be suitably used.

According to the seat package 12 of the present invention,
Since the thermosensitive recording sheet A is kept at a predetermined humidity by the humidity control material 86 attached to the lid 84, the sensitivity of the thermosensitive recording sheet A does not change due to a change in humidity, and high-quality image recording is stably performed. be able to. Further, since the thermal recording sheet A is housed in the magazine 24 together with the sheet package 12 without directly touching the thermal recording sheet A, the thermal recording sheet A can be easily filled in the magazine 24, and the oil etc. from the hands adheres. It is possible to prevent adverse effects on the heat-sensitive recorded image.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the magazine 24 of the present invention. The illustrated magazine 24 includes a lower case (first case) 25A and an upper case (second case).
25B and.

The lower case 25A is the seat package 12
A lower case 2 which is a box-shaped hollow housing having an opening surface on one surface (upper surface in the drawing).
5A, when the sheet package 12 is correctly housed, the pair of protrusions 9 of the lid 84 of the sheet package 12
On each inner surface of the lower case 25A corresponding to 0,
It has a pair of protrusions 92 that push up the pair of protrusions 90 of the lid 84 of the sheet package 12.

On the other hand, the upper case 25B is the lower case 25A.
Is a box-shaped hollow housing that completely covers the opening surface of the same, and also has an opening surface on one surface (lower surface in the figure), and when the sheet package 12 is correctly housed in the lower case 25A. The take-out port 80 of the sheet package 12
An openable / closable lid 26 is formed at a portion corresponding to.

A sponge 27 such as urethane foam is arranged around the entire circumference at the joint between the lower case 25A and the upper case 25B and at the joint between the lid 26 and the upper case 25B and the lower case 25A. The case 25A and the upper case 25B have the sponge 27 as the upper case 25B.
It is fixed by a well-known means such as a magnet so as to be crushed by the protrusion 23. When the lid 26 is closed, the magazine 24 is kept airtight to the extent that moisture does not flow in and out, and the thermosensitive recording sheet A is kept at a predetermined humidity.

Here, FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view when the sheet package 12 of the present invention is accommodated in the magazine 24 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is the perspective view of the sheet package 12 of the present invention is accommodated in the magazine 24 of the present invention. The respective schematic cross-sectional views at the time of performing are shown. Lower case 25A to upper case 2 of magazine 24
5B is removed, and the sheet package 12 is stored in the lower case 25A as it is. At this time, the pair of protrusions 90 of the lid 84 of the sheet package 12 are pushed up for a predetermined distance by the pair of protrusions 92 of the lower case 25A of the magazine 24 corresponding thereto.

As a result, a space is formed between the cover 84 of the sheet package 12 and the thermal recording sheet A at a predetermined interval, and even if the cover 84 of the sheet package 12 hangs down, the uppermost surface of the thermal recording sheet A is Since there is no pressing, and therefore the rear end portions of the thermal recording sheets A do not come into close contact with each other, it is possible to prevent sheet defects as much as possible and improve the reliability of the sheet mechanism. Therefore, only one thermal film A can be reliably taken out from the magazine 24.

The loading section 14 is a housing 2 of the thermal recording apparatus 10.
8, guide plate 32, guide roll 3 formed in 8
4, 34 and a stop member 36. The magazine 24 is inserted into the insertion opening 3 of the loading section 14 with the lid 26 side first.
0 to the inside of the thermal recording apparatus 10 and the guide plate 32
While being guided by the guide rolls 34, 34, the thermal recording device 10 is pushed down to a position where it contacts the stop member 36.
At a predetermined position.

The supply / conveyance unit 16 takes out the thermosensitive recording sheet A from the magazine 24 loaded in the loading unit 14 and conveys it to the recording unit 20, and includes a suction cup 40 for adsorbing the thermosensitive recording sheet A by suction. It has a sheet-fed mechanism to be used, a conveyance means 42, a conveyance guide 44, a regulation roller pair 52 located at the exit of the conveyance guide 44, and the like.

The conveying means 42 includes a conveying roller 46, a pulley 47a coaxial with the conveying roller 46, a pulley 47b connected to a rotational drive source, a tension pulley 47c, an endless belt 48 stretched around these three pulleys, and a conveying means. It is configured to have a nip roller 50 and the like that are pressed by the roller 46.

In the thermal recording apparatus 10, when the recording start is instructed, the lid 26 of the magazine 24 is opened by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown). At this time, as described above, the pair of projecting portions 90 of the lid 84 of the sheet package 12 has the lower case 25A of the magazine 24 corresponding thereto.
The pair of protrusions 92 push the sheet 92 up for a predetermined distance, and a space is formed between the cover 84 of the sheet package 12 and the thermal recording sheet A at a predetermined interval.

Therefore, since the uppermost surface of the thermosensitive recording sheet A is not pressed, only one sheet is reliably taken out from the magazine 24 by the sheet-fed mechanism using the suction cup 40, and the tip of the thermosensitive recording sheet A is It is supplied between the transport roller 46 of the transport means 42 and the nip roller 50. When the thermal recording sheet A is nipped between the transport roller 46 and the nip roller 50, the suction by the suction cup 40 is released, and the supplied thermal recording sheet A is transported along the transport guide 44.

When the thermal recording sheet A to be recorded is completely discharged from the magazine 24, the lid 26 is closed by the opening / closing means. The distance defined by the transport guide 44 from the transport means 42 to the regulation roller pair 52 is set to be slightly shorter than the length of the thermal recording sheet A in the transport direction, and the thermal recording sheet A is transported by the transport means 42. The tip reaches the regulation roller pair 52,
The regulation roller pair 52 is initially stopped, and the leading end of the thermal recording sheet A is stopped here.

The leading end of the heat-sensitive recording sheet A has a pair of regulation rollers 5.
When the temperature reaches 2, the temperature of the thermal head 66 is confirmed, and if the temperature of the thermal head 66 is a predetermined temperature, conveyance of the thermal recording sheet A by the regulation roller pair 52 is started, and the thermal recording sheet A is recorded in the recording unit. It is transported to 20.

The recording section 20 has a thermal head 66, a platen roller 60, a cooling fan 76 for cooling the thermal head 66, a cleaning roller pair 56, a guide 58, a guide 62 and a conveying roller pair 63.

In the illustrated example, the thermal head 66 is
For example, in order to perform thermal image recording with a recording (pixel) density of 300 dpi, a thermal head main body in which a glaze is formed on a thermal recording sheet A in which heating elements for performing thermal recording for one line are arranged in one direction. , And a heat sink fixed to the thermal head body. The thermal head 66 is supported by a support member 68 that is rotatable about a fulcrum 68a in the direction of arrow a and in the opposite direction.

The platen roller 60 is a thermosensitive recording sheet A.
Rotating at a predetermined image recording speed while holding at a predetermined position,
The thermosensitive recording sheet A is conveyed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the glaze extending direction. The cleaning roller pair 56 is a roller pair including an adhesive rubber roller and a normal roller.

Before the thermal recording sheet A is conveyed, the supporting member 68 is rotated upward (in the direction opposite to the arrow a direction), and the glaze of the thermal head 66 and the platen roller 60 are not in contact with each other. . When the conveyance is started by the regulation roller pair 52, the thermosensitive recording sheet A is then nipped by the cleaning roller pair 56, and is further conveyed while being guided by the guide 58.

When the leading edge of the thermal recording sheet A is conveyed to the recording start position (the position corresponding to the glaze), the supporting member 68 is rotated in the direction of arrow a, and the thermal recording sheet A is transferred to the glaze of the thermal head 66 and the platen. It is sandwiched by the roller 60 and the glaze is pressed against the recording layer. Next, the heat-sensitive recording sheet A is held at a predetermined position by the platen roller 60, and at the same time, the platen roller 60, the regulation roller pair 52, the conveyance roller pair 63, and the like indicate the arrow b
Is conveyed in the direction.

Along with this conveyance, the heat generating elements of the glaze are heated in accordance with the recorded image, so that the heat sensitive image is recorded on the heat sensitive recording sheet A. The heat-sensitive recording sheet A on which the heat-sensitive image recording has been completed is guided by the guide 62, is conveyed by the platen roller 60 and the conveying roller pair 63, and is ejected to the tray 72 of the ejecting section 22. Tray 72
Is projected to the outside of the thermal recording apparatus 10 through a discharge port 74 formed in the housing 28, and the thermal recording sheet A on which an image is recorded is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 74 and taken out.

The sheet package and magazine for the image recording apparatus of the present invention have been described above in detail by taking the thermal recording apparatus as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and a recording sheet is used. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to all image recording apparatuses, and various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0042]

As described above in detail, the sheet package for the image recording apparatus of the present invention has a pair of protrusions on its lid, and correspondingly, the sheet package for the image recording apparatus of the present invention is provided. The magazine has a pair of protrusions on the inner surface of the first case, and when the sheet package is accommodated in the magazine, the pair of protrusions of the first case of the magazine covers the lid of the sheet package. The pair of protrusions are pushed up by a predetermined distance to form a space with a predetermined distance between the lid of the sheet package and the recording sheet. Therefore, according to the sheet package and the magazine for the image recording apparatus of the present invention, even if the lid of the sheet package hangs down, the uppermost surface of the recording sheets is not pressed, and therefore the rear end portions of the recording sheets are It is possible to prevent defective sheet feeding and improve the reliability of the sheet feeding mechanism.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an example of a thermal image recording apparatus using a sheet package and a magazine for an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a sheet package for an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a magazine for an image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet package of the present invention accommodated in the magazine of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the sheet package of the present invention is housed in the magazine of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of a sheet package and a magazine that use a humidity control material.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Thermal image recording device 12, 13 Sheet package 14 Loading part 16 Supplying / conveying part 20 Recording part 22 Ejecting part 23 Protrusion 24 Magazine 25A, 25B, 82, 83 Case 26, 84 Lid 27 Sponge 28 Housing 30 Insertion port 32 Guide Plate 34 Guide roll 36 Stopping member 40 Sucker 42 Conveying means 44 Conveying guide 46 Conveying rollers 47a, 47b Pulley 47c Tension pulley 48 Endless belt 50 Nip roller 52 Restricting roller pair 56 Roller pair 58, 62 Guide 60 Platen roller 63 Conveying roller pair 66 Thermal Head 68 Support member 68a Support point 72 Tray 74 Discharge port 80,81 Outlet port 86,87 Humidity control agent 88 Moisture-proof bag 90 Projection part 92 Projection part A Recording sheet

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sheet package for accommodating a sheet-shaped recording material used in an image recording apparatus, comprising: a hollow case having an opening face on one side; As a sheet package for an image recording apparatus, wherein the lid body has a pair of protrusions on both sides of a side that is a central axis of the lid body. . 2. A magazine for accommodating the sheet package according to claim 1, wherein a hollow first case having an opening surface on one side, and a first case
And a second case fixed to the first case by closing an opening surface of the case, the first case being a lid of the sheet package when the sheet package is accommodated. A pair of protrusions for pushing up the pair of protrusions of the lid of the sheet package on the respective inner side surfaces corresponding to the pair of protrusions of the second case, and the second case when the sheet package is accommodated. A magazine for an image recording apparatus, which has a lid body that can be opened and closed at a portion corresponding to an outlet of the sheet package.