Patent Publication Number: US-9427983-B2

Title: Simplex and duplex printer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a printer for performing printing on a sheet-like substrate or a continuous substrate by the heat of a thermal head, and more particularly to a simplex and duplex printer capable of performing simplex/duplex printing on a substrate. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A dye sublimation printer, which performs printing by feeding a substrate, having a receptive layer on both sides, from a roll of the substrate, and transferring a dye or a pigment onto the substrate by heating a thermal head, is known as a printer for performing duplex printing. 
     In such a dye sublimation printer, a roll of substrate is held in a holding section; the holding section is rotated to reverse the substrate, which is fed from the roll of substrate, so as to perform duplex printing. The substrate after printing is cut to obtain a printed sheet-like substrate. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-93255 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     As described above, a technique for performing duplex printing on a substrate while feeding the substrate from a roll of substrate has been developed. However, there is a demand for a printer which uses a pre-cut sheet-like substrate and performs duplex printing on the sheet-like substrate while transporting the substrate by means of a transport mechanism and reversing the substrate. A compact and inexpensive simplex/duplex printer will be achieved if such a mechanism for performing duplex printing on a sheet-like substrate can be incorporated into an existing simplex printer. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above situation. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simplex and duplex printer which can easily reverse a sheet-like substrate to perform duplex printing on the substrate and which, by incorporating such a duplex printing mechanism into an existing simplex printer, can be made compact and obtained at a low cost. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     The present invention provides a simplex and duplex printer comprising: a printing section; a rolled substrate supply section for supplying a continuous substrate, which is to be printed on one side, from a roll of the substrate to the printing section; a sheet-like substrate supply section, provided below the rolled substrate supply section, for storing sheet-like substrates which are to be printed on both sides, and sequentially supplying the sheet-like substrates to the printing section; and a reversing mechanism, disposed between the printing section and the sheet-like substrate supply section, for reversing a sheet-like substrate, which has been returned from the printing section, so that the printing section-facing surface changes from one surface to the other surface. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reversing mechanism reverses the sheet-like substrate, which has been returned from the printing section, while allowing the sheet-like substrate to travel in one direction. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a continuous substrate cutter for cutting the continuous substrate is provided on the exit side of the printing section. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reversing mechanism is provided with a sheet-like substrate cutter for cutting the sheet-like substrate. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reversing mechanism is located just below the continuous substrate supply section. 
     Advantageous Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, a compact and inexpensive simplex and duplex printer can be obtained by incorporating a duplex printing mechanism, which performs duplex printing on a sheet-like substrate, into an existing simplex printer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a simplex and duplex printer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 through 10  are diagrams illustrating a simplex and duplex printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of the simplex and duplex printer, and  FIGS. 2 through 10  are diagrams illustrating the action of the simplex and duplex printer. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the simplex and duplex printer  10  is a dye sublimation printer which transports a sheet-like substrate  1  having a receptive layer on both sides and performs duplex printing on the sheet-like substrate  1  by means of a printing section comprised of a thermal head  12 , and which transports a continuous substrate  41  having a receptive layer at least on one side and performs simplex printing on the continuous substrate  41  by means of the printing section comprised of the thermal head  12 . 
     The simplex and duplex printer  10  includes the printing section comprised of the thermal head  12 , a rolled substrate supply section  42  for supplying a continuous substrate  41 , which is to be printed on one side, from a roll of the substrate  41  to the thermal head  12 , and a sheet-like substrate supply section  25 , provided below the rolled substrate supply section  42 , for storing sheet-like substrates  1  which are to be printed on both sides, and sequentially supplying the sheet-like substrates  1  to the thermal head  12 . 
     The simplex and duplex printer  10  further includes a reversing mechanism  20  disposed between the thermal head  12  and the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 . The reversing mechanism  20  is configured to reverse a sheet-like substrate  1 , which has been returned from the thermal head  12  to the reversing mechanism  20 , so that the thermal head  12 -facing surface changes from one surface  1   a  to the other surface  1   b.    
     The reversing mechanism  20  is disposed just below the rolled substrate supply section  42 , and the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  is disposed below the reversing mechanism  20 . The simplex and duplex printer  10  therefore has a compact structure as a whole. 
     Of the above components, the rolled substrate supply section  42  and the thermal head  12  may be existing ones. By disposing the reversing mechanism  20  and the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  below the existing rolled substrate supply section  42 , the simplex and duplex printer  10  according to the present invention can be produced at a low cost with the use of the existing rolled substrate supply section  42  and thermal head  12 . 
     A one-side substrate transport path  15   a  is provided on the entrance side of the thermal head  12 , while an other-side substrate transport path  15   b  is provided on the exit side of the thermal head  12 . The one-side substrate transport path  15   a  and the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  constitute a substrate transport path  15 . 
     A platen roller  13  for holding a sheet-like substrate  1  or the continuous substrate  41  is provided on the opposite side of the sheet-like substrate  1  or the continuous substrate  41  from the thermal head  12 . 
     The above-described reversing mechanism  20  is connected to the one-side substrate transport path  15   a  of the substrate transport path  15 , and reverses a sheet-like substrate  1  so that the thermal head-facing surface changes from the one surface  1   a  to the other surface  1   b  while allowing the sheet-like substrate  1  to travel in one direction. The reversing mechanism  20  is comprised of a looped reversing transport path  20   a  which is connected at an end portion  21  to the one-side substrate transport path  15   a.    
     The end portion  21  of the looped reversing transport path  20   a  functions as the entrance and the exit of the looped reversing transport path  20   a.    
     A guide transport path  24  for guiding a sheet-like substrate  1 , which has been supplied from the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 , to the looped reversing transport path  20   a  is provided between the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  and the looped reversing transport path  20   a . Transport rollers  23  are provided at the looped reversing transport path  20   a -side end of the guide transport path  24 . 
     Below the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  is provided a pick-up lever  25   a  for picking up the sheet-like substrates  1  which are placed on a lifting plate  25   b  in the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 . Of the sheet-like substrates  1  which have been raised by the pick-up lever  25   a , the top sheet-like substrate  1  is fed by a pick-up roller  26  to the guide transport path  24 . 
     In particular, a separation roller  27  and a sheet feeding roller  28  are provided at the entrance to the guide transport path  24 . The top sheet-like substrate  1  of the sheet-like substrates  1  which have been raised by the pick-up lever  25   a  is fed by the pick-up roller  26  to the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 . It is possible that a sheet-like substrate  1 , lying under the top sheet-like substrate  1 , may be fed together with the top sheet-like substrate  1  toward the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 . In that case, however, the sheet-like substrate  1  under the top sheet-like substrate  1  comes into contact with the separation roller  27  and will not be fed to the guide transport path  24 . 
     The one-side substrate transport path  15   a  of the substrate transport path  15  is provided with transport rollers  16  and a substrate transport mechanism  30 , with the transport rollers  16  being connected to the looped reversing transport path  20   a . An end detection sensor  35  for detecting the ends  1 A,  1 B of a sheet-like substrate  1  is installed between the substrate transport mechanism  30  and the transport rollers  16 . The substrate transport mechanism  30  consists of a friction roller  31  and a pinch roller  32 , as will be described later. 
     Discharge rollers  18  are provided at the exit of the other-side substrate transport path  15   b , and a cutter  29  for cutting the continuous substrate  41  is installed on the exit side of the discharge rollers  18 . 
     The cutter  29  is to remove the front and rear margins of the continuous substrate  41  after printing, and consists of a fixed blade  29   b  and a movable blade  29   a  for cutting the continuous substrate  41  between it and the fixed blade  29   b.    
     An outlet opening  45  for discharging a sheet-like substrate  1  from the looped reversing transport path  20   a  is provided between the looped reversing transport path  20   a  and the guide transport path  24 . A cutter  19  for cutting the sheet-like substrate  1  is installed on the exit side of the outlet opening  45 . The cutter  19  is to remove the front and rear margins of the sheet-like substrate  1  after printing, and consists of a fixed blade  19   b  and a movable blade  19   a  for cutting the sheet-like substrate  1  between it and the fixed blade  29   b.    
     A sublimation transfer ribbon  5  for performing sublimation transfer is supplied from a ribbon unwinding section  6  to the thermal head  12  as a printing section. The ribbon  5  supplied from the ribbon unwinding section  6  is used in sublimation transfer printing performed by the thermal head  12 . The used ribbon  5  after the printing is rewound in a ribbon rewinding section  7 . 
     The looped reversing transport path  20   a  of the simplex and duplex printer  10  has a circular shape as a whole, and is disposed just below and vertically side-by-side with the rolled substrate supply section  42 . 
     The looped reversing transport path  20   a  can thus be compactly disposed below the rolled substrate supply section  42 . 
     The above-described components, such as the substrate transport mechanism  30 , the rolled substrate supply section  42 , the thermal head  12 , the ribbon unwinding section  6 , the ribbon rewinding section  7 , the transport rollers  16 , the discharge rollers  18 , the cutter  19 , the cutter  29 , the pick-up lever  25   a , the pick-up roller  26 , the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 , are all drive-controlled by a control device  11 . All of the components and the control device  11  are housed in a chassis  10 A. 
     The control device  11  includes a transport mechanism drive-control section  40  for drive-controlling the substrate transport mechanism  30  with high accuracy to carry out high-accuracy multi-color printing with the thermal head  12 . The transport mechanism drive-control section  40  will be described later. 
     The substrate transport mechanism  30  for transporting a sheet-like substrate  1  and the end detection sensor  35  will now be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the one-side substrate transport path  15   a  of the substrate transport path  15  is provided with the substrate transport mechanism  30  for transporting a sheet-like substrate  1  and the end detection sensor  35 , which are disposed between the thermal head  12  and the transport rollers  16 , with the substrate transport mechanism  30  lying nearer to the thermal head  12 . 
     The substrate transport mechanism  30  comprises a friction roller  31  and a pinch roller  32  for pressing a sheet-like substrate  1  against the friction roller  31 . 
     The end detection sensor  35 , located adjacent to the transport roller  16  side of the substrate transport mechanism  30 , can detect the ends  1 A,  1 B of a sheet-like substrate  1 . A detection signal from the end detection sensor  35  is sent to the transport mechanism drive-control section  40 . Based on the signal from the end detection sensor  35 , the transport mechanism drive-control section  40  drive-controls the friction roller  31  to perform positional adjustment of the ends  1 A,  1 B of a sheet-like substrate  1 , thereby enabling high-accuracy multi-color printing with the thermal head  12 . 
     The operation of the simplex and duplex printer  10  of this embodiment, having the above-described construction, will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 10 . 
     A description is first given of simplex printing on the continuous substrate  41 , supplied from the rolled substrate supply section  42 , performed by the thermal head  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     First, the continuous substrate  41  is unwound from the rolled substrate supply section  42  and fed on the substrate transport path  15  toward the discharge rollers  18 . 
     Next, printing by sublimation transfer is performed by the thermal head  12  on one surface of the continuous substrate  41   
     In particular, the continuous substrate  41 , whose front end has been discharged to the outside of the discharge rollers  18 , is transported in the opposite direction by the rolled substrate supply section  42  and the discharge rollers  18  and returned toward the rolled substrate supply section  42 . At the same time, the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  is supplied from the ribbon unwinding section  6  to the thermal head  12 . A dye or pigment, contained in the ribbon  5 , can be transferred onto one surface of the continuous substrate  41  by the heat from the thermal head  12 . 
     The sublimation transfer ribbon  5  has Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and OP (overcoat) regions. Y printing is first performed by the Y region of the ribbon  5 . 
     In this manner, Y printing is performed on the one surface of the continuous substrate  41  with the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  in the thermal head  12 . The continuous substrate  41  after the Y printing is again fed on the substrate transport path  15  toward the discharge rollers  18 . 
     Thereafter, while returning the continuous substrate  41  toward the rolled substrate supply section  42  as in the Y printing, M printing and C printing are sequentially performed on the one surface of the continuous substrate  41  with the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  in the thermal head  12 . After completion of the multi-color printing, an overcoat layer is formed on the one surface of the continuous substrate  41 . 
     The continuous substrate  41  after the simplex printing is fed on the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  of the substrate transport path  15  toward the discharge rollers  18 . The non-printed front margin of the continuous substrate  41  is then removed by the cutter  29 . 
     The continuous substrate  41  is discharged by the discharge rollers  18  to the outside, and then the rear margin of the continuous substrate  41  is removed by the cutter  29 . 
     The entirely printed substrate  41 , which has undergone the simplex printing and the removal of the front and rear margins, is discharged by the discharge rollers  18  to the outside and taken out as a product. 
     Duplex printing on a sheet-like substrate  1 , supplied from the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 , performed by the thermal head  12  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 through 10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a number of sheet-like substrates  1  are stacked in the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 . 
     First, the pick-up lever  25   a  raises the lifting plate  25   b  in the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 , thereby raising the sheet-like substrates  1  placed on the lifting plate  25   b.    
     Thereafter, the top sheet-like substrate  1  of the sheet-like substrates  1  on the lifting plate  25   b  is fed by the pick-up roller  26  to the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 . 
     The transport rollers  23  near the looped reversing transport path  20   a  then rotate in synchronization with the pick-up roller  26 , the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 . 
     The sheet-like substrate  1 , which has been fed by the pick-up roller  26  to the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 , is fed to the looped reversing transport path  20   a  via the guide transport path  24 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . It is possible that a sheet-like substrate  1 , lying under the top sheet-like substrate  1  of the sheet-like substrates  1  in the sheet-like substrate supply section  25 , may also be fed together with the top sheet-like substrate  1  toward the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28 . In that case, however, the sheet-like substrate  1  under the top sheet-like substrate  1  comes into contact with the separation roller  27 . Thus, only the top sheet-like substrate  1  is fed to the guide transport path  24  and then to the looped reversing transport path  20   a.    
     When the rear end  1 B of the sheet-like substrate  1  is detected by a detection sensor (not shown) provided in the guide transport path  24 , the pick-up lever  25   a  is lowered to lower the lifting plate  25   b  and the sheet-like substrates  1  on it in the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The sheet-like substrate  1  in the looped reversing transport path  20   a  is fed by the transport rollers  16  and the transport mechanism  30  to the substrate transport path  15  via a route switching plate  46  and the end portion  21 . 
     The sheet-like substrate  1  is pressed by the pinch roller  32  against the friction roller  31  in the transport mechanism  30 . Therefore, when the friction roller  31  is driven by the drive-control section  40 , the sheet-like substrate  1  can be securely transported by the frictional force generated between it and the friction roller  31 . Further, unlike a transport roller having surface microprotrusions which are caused to dig into a sheet-like substrate, the friction roller  31  will not cause damage to the sheet-like substrate  1 . 
     As described later, both surfaces of the sheet-like substrate  1  are to come into contact with the friction roller  31  of the transport mechanism  30 . The friction roller  31 , which transports the sheet-like substrate  1  by the frictional force, does not cause damage to both surfaces of the sheet-like substrate  1 , thereby enabling appropriate printing to be performed on both surfaces of the sheet-like substrate  1 . 
     The sheet-like substrate  1  is fed on the substrate transport path  15  toward the discharge rollers  18 . 
     On the other hand, the pick-up roller  26 , the separation roller  27  and the sheet feeding roller  28  are all stopped. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 4 , printing by sublimation transfer is performed by the thermal head  12  on one surface la of the sheet-like substrate  1 . 
     In particular, the sheet-like substrate  1 , whose front end has been discharged to the outside of the discharge rollers  18 , is transported in the opposite direction by the discharge rollers  18  and fed in the direction from the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  of the substrate transport path  15  toward the one-side substrate transport path  15   a  by the transport rollers  16  and the substrate transport mechanism  30 . At the same time, the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  is supplied from the ribbon unwinding section  6  to the thermal head  12 . A dye or pigment, contained in the ribbon  5 , can be transferred onto the one surface  1   a  of the sheet-like substrate  1  by the heat from the thermal head  12 . 
     The sublimation transfer ribbon  5  has Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan) and OP (overcoat) regions. Y printing is first performed by the Y region of the ribbon  5 . 
     In this manner, Y printing is performed on the one surface  1   a  of the sheet-like substrate  1  with the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  in the thermal head  12 . The sheet-like substrate  1  after the Y printing is fed to the one-side substrate transport path  15   a  of the substrate transport path  15 , and enters the looped reversing transport path  20   a  from the end portion  21  which functions as the entrance and the exit of the looped reversing transport path  20   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sheet-like substrate  1  in the looped reversing transport path  20   a  is again fed to the one-side substrate transport path  15   a  of the substrate transport path  15  and then to the other-side substrate transport path  15   b . Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, M printing and C printing are sequentially performed on the one surface la of the sheet-like substrate  1  with the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  in the thermal head  12 . After completion of the multi-color printing, an overcoat layer is formed on the one surface la of the sheet-like substrate  1 . 
     As described above, the sheet-like substrate  1 , whose front end has been discharged to the outside of the discharge rollers  18 , is transported by the transport mechanism  30  in the direction from the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  toward the one-side substrate transport path  15   a , and Y printing, M printing and C printing are sequentially performed and then an overcoat layer is formed on the one surface  1   a  of the sheet-like substrate  1  by means of the thermal head  12 . 
     When the sheet-like substrate  1  is transported by the transport mechanism  30  in the direction from the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  toward the one-side substrate transport path  15   a , the front end  1 B of the sheet-like substrate  1  is detected by the end detection sensor  35 , and a detection signal from the end detection sensor  35  is sent to the transport mechanism drive-control section  40 . Based on the signal from the end detection sensor  35 , the transport mechanism drive-control section  40  can drive-control the friction roller  31  to perform positional adjustment of the front end  1 B of the sheet-like substrate  1 . 
     In this regard, it is possible that during transport of the sheet-like substrate  1  by the transport mechanism  30 , slight slipping may occur between the friction roller  31  and the sheet-like substrate  1 , resulting in a small positional displacement therebetween. 
     In that case, the transport mechanism drive-control section  40  can control the drive of the friction roller  31  based on a signal from the end detection sensor  35 , thereby adjusting the position of the front end  1 B of the sheet-like substrate  1 . Such positional control of the sheet-like substrate  1  by the drive-control section  40  is performed every time the respective-color printing (Y printing, M printing, C printing) is performed or an overcoat layer is formed. This makes it possible to securely perform positional control of the sheet-like substrate  1 , thereby enabling high-accuracy multi-color printing with the thermal head  12 . 
     Multi-color printing of the one surface is of the sheet-like substrate  1  by sublimation transfer is performed in the above-described manner by means of the thermal head  12 . 
     After completion of the multi-color printing, a reversing operation for the sheet-like substrate  1  is performed in the looped reversing transport path  20   a , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In particular, the sheet-like substrate  1  after the printing of the one surface la is fed into the looped reversing transport path  20   a , and travels in one direction in the looped reversing transport path  20   a  by means of the transport rollers  23  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     The sheet-like substrate  1  is reversed while it is traveling in one direction in the looped reversing transport path  20   a . Thus, the thermal head  12 -facing surface changes from the one surface is to the other surface  1   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the reversed sheet-like substrate  1  then enters the one-side substrate transport path  15   a  of the substrate transport path  15  via the end portion  21 . 
     Thereafter, the sheet-like substrate  1  is fed on the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  of the substrate transport path  15  toward the discharge rollers  18 . The reversing operation for the sheet-like substrate  1  is thus completed. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 7 , Y printing is performed on the other surface  1   b  of the sheet-like substrate  1  with the sublimation transfer ribbon  5  in the thermal head  12  in the same manner as described above. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 8 , M printing and C printing are sequentially performed and then an overcoat layer is formed on the other surface  1   b  of the sheet-like substrate  1  with the sublimation transfer ribbon  5 . Multi-color printing of the other surface  1   b  of the sheet-like substrate  1  is thus completed. 
     Next, the sheet-like substrate  1  after the duplex printing of the both surfaces  1   a ,  1   b  is fed on the other-side substrate transport path  15   b  of the substrate transport path  15  toward the discharge rollers  18 . 
     Thereafter, the sheet-like substrate  1  is returned from the discharge rollers  18  and enters the looped reversing transport path  20   a  in which the route switching plate  46  has previous been switched. The sheet-like substrate  1  travels on the switched route toward the outlet opening  45  in the looped reversing transport path  20   a . The non-printed front margin of the sheet-like substrate  1  is then removed by the cutter  19  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The sheet-like substrate  1  is discharged from the outlet opening  45 , and the rear margin of the sheet-like substrate  1  is removed by the cutter  19  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
     The entirely printed sheet-like substrate  1 , which has undergone the duplex printing of the one surface  1   a  and the other surface  1   b  and the removal of the front and rear margins, is thus discharged to the outside and taken out as a product. 
     As described hereinabove, according to the printer of this embodiment, sublimation transfer printing can be easily performed by means of the thermal head  12  on one surface of the continuous substrate  41  unwound from the rolled substrate supply section  42 . Further, a sheet-like substrate  1  can be easily and securely reversed simply by allowing it to travel in one direction in the looped reversing transport path  20   a  of the reversing mechanism  20 . Sublimation transfer printing can be easily performed by means of the thermal head  12  on both surfaces  1   a ,  1   b  of the thus-reversed sheet-like substrate  1 . 
     The reversing mechanism  20 , comprised of the looped reversing transport path  20   a , has a circular shape as a whole and, in addition, the reversing mechanism  20  and the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  are disposed below the rolled substrate supply section  42 . The simplex and duplex printer  10  can therefore have a compact construction as a whole. Therefore, in the event of jamming of a sheet-like substrate  1 , the location of the sheet-like substrate  1  in the interior of the chassis  10 A can be easily found and the sheet-like substrate  1  can be easily taken out by opening the chassis  10 A. 
     Furthermore, the simplex and duplex printer  10  can be produced easily at a low cost simply by utilizing the existing rolled substrate supply section  42  and the existing thermal head  12 , and disposing the sheet-like substrate supply section  25  and the reversing mechanism  20  below the rolled substrate supply section  42 . 
     Furthermore, the end detection sensor  35  detects the ends  1 A,  1 B of a sheet-like substrate  1  and, based on a detection signal from the end detection sensor  35 , the drive-control section  40  drive-controls the friction roller  31  to perform positional adjustment of the sheet-like substrate  1 . This enables high-accuracy multi-color printing of the sheet-like substrate  1  with the thermal head  12 . 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  sheet-like substrate 
           1   a  one surface 
           1   b  the other surface 
           5  sublimation transfer ribbon 
           6  ribbon unwinding section 
           7  ribbon rewinding section 
           10  simplex and duplex printer 
           10 A chassis 
           11  control device 
           12  thermal head 
           13  platen roller 
           15  substrate transport path  15   
           15   a  one-side substrate transport path 
           15   b  other-side substrate transport path 
           16  transport roller 
           18  discharge roller 
           19  cutter 
           20  reversing mechanism 
           20   a  looped reversing transport path 
           21  end portion 
           23  transport roller 
           24  guide transport path 
           25  sheet-like substrate supply section 
           25   a  pick-up lever 
           26  pick-up roller 
           27  separation roller 
           28  sheet feeding roller 
           29  cutter 
           30  substrate transport mechanism 
           31  friction roller 
           32  pinch roller 
           40  drive-control section 
           41  continuous substrate 
           42  rolled substrate supply section 
           45  outlet opening 
           46  route switching plate