CN102348559B

CN102348559B - Apparatus for reducing flash for thermal transfer printers

Info

Publication number: CN102348559B
Application number: CN201080011525.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·E·梅纳德; T·R·赫尔曼; K·R·赫弗雷
Original assignee: ZIH Corp
Current assignee: Zebra Technologies Corp
Priority date: 2009-01-10
Filing date: 2010-01-08
Publication date: 2014-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-08
Also published as: WO2010080940A2; WO2010080940A3; EP2385901A4; EP2385901A2; CN102348559A; WO2010080940A4; EP2385901B1

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly that includes an image transfer station and a blower configured to provide a cooling stream of air to a product being printed upon. Nozzles may be positioned such that the air targets the leading edge and side edges of the product to facilitate removal of the intermediate transfer media from the targeted areas and reduce the occurrence of flash. Also, a chamber may be defined by a wall of the transfer assembly and peel bars to focus the air flow and insulate the cooling stream of air from the heat of the transfer device. The blower may be configured to provide air when the product is received into and expelled from the transfer assembly. The printing assembly may include sensors and control circuitry for detecting the position of the product and controlling the blower accordingly.

Description

For reducing the equipment of the burr of thermal transfer printer

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of for dielectric card or other products are being carried out to the methods, devices and systems that image transfer operating process reduces burr, more particularly, relating to a kind of comprising is constructed to provide cooling-air to flow to be easy to remove from product the printing assembly of the device of intermediate transfer medium near product.

Background technology

Can adopt several different methods by image printing to medium.A kind of such method is heat transfer printing (hot transfer printing), and heat is used to from middle transfer medium (" IT medium ") image transfer to product therein, for example dielectric card.IT medium generally includes the layer that is designed to be bonded to product when being heated.

Typically, in heat transfer printing process, printing dyestuff is applied to IT medium.In the further subsequent process of printing process, part IT medium is transferred on product.In some cases, the size of IT medium can be not exclusively and the consistent size of product.For example, IT medium can be larger than product, and when IT medium is applied to product, the edge of IT medium can be at the edge of product extension.After the liner of IT medium is applying IT medium, when product is removed, at the part IT medium of the edge of product extension, may from product, remove by halves, thereby cause burr (flash).The function that burr may make product have to reduce and/or the aesthetic effect of minimizing.

So applicant finds, expects to provide a kind of printing machine that is suitable for adopting to reduce reliably and at low cost the method for burr IT dielectric printing product.As described in more detail below, in making great efforts invention and develop the process of such printing machine, applicant confirms and overcome multiple challenge.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides the air blast (hair-dryer) of cooling-air stream and/or the cooling chamber demand above solving with the printing assembly that is easy to remove intermediate transfer medium and reduce the generation of burr from product by a kind of combination image transfer assembly being provided and being constructed to the product being just printed, and obtains other advantage.Embodiments of the present invention comprise following embodiment.

In one embodiment, provide a kind of intermediate transfer printing assembly being constructed to from middle transfer medium to transferred product image.Intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises transfer assembly, shifts assembly and comprises transfer device.Shifting assembly is constructed to by product and intermediate transfer medium being received in transfer assembly, compress intermediate transfer medium between transfer device and product, sending (expelling) product and peel off intermediate transfer medium so that visual from middle transfer medium to transferred product from product from shifting assembly, like this, image is transferred to product from middle transfer medium.Intermediate transfer printing assembly is also included in and is suitable for receiving being positioned at of product shifts assembly cooling chamber nearby after intermediate transfer medium is compressed between transfer device and product, wherein, chamber is constructed at least one in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium.

In some cases, printing assembly also comprises that at least one is constructed to by cooling chamber, roughly provide continuously from transfer assembly is sent process at product the air blast of cooling-air stream.Product can limit a pair of opposed (opposed) transverse edge substantially vertical with receive direction, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to the roughly whole length cooling products along opposed transverse edge.In addition, product can limit the visual receiving surface that comprises surface characteristics, wherein, intermediate transfer medium comprises He Fei transfer part, transfer part, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to the visual receiving surface of the cooling product nearby in surface characteristics, to promote the transfer of transfer part and the removal of non-transfer part when middle transfer medium is stripped from.Surface characteristics can select free magnetic stripe, sign board, smart card noncontact chip, smart card contact chip, RFID responder, printed antenna, the back of the body to carry the group that label, pattern adhesive, die-cut feature, snap ring, maintenance feature, elevated regions, thermograph region and foil area form.

Cooling chamber can be arranged communicatively with cooling device, at least one while shifting in assembly to be received in when product in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium.Shift assembly and can be the single-pass bilateral that the opposed visual receiving surface being constructed to from middle transfer medium to product shifts the first and second images and shift assembly.In addition, cooling chamber can be arranged communicatively with cooling device, at least one while shifting in assembly to be received in when product in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium.In some cases, shifting assembly can be constructed to along first direction, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in transfer assembly, and send along second direction to major general's product from shifting assembly, and cooling chamber can be constructed to along first direction, be received in while shifting in assembly and to major general's product along second direction at least one when transfer assembly is sent cooling products or intermediate transfer medium when product and intermediate transfer medium.

Printing assembly can also comprise that at least one is constructed to provide the air blast by the cooling-air stream of cooling chamber, and wherein, air blast comprises two nozzles.Cooling chamber can be constructed to when product be roughly arranged in intermediate transfer assembly bonding station nearby time cooling products or intermediate transfer medium at least one.Cooling chamber can be constructed to when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer components apart (or throw off) position nearby time substantially stop cooling.In addition, transfer device can comprise at least one heater block, and cooling chamber can comprise and is constructed to cooling concentrating of the interface of product and intermediate transfer medium nearby and causes greatly the shell of the heater block isolation of cooling and transfer device.Shell can comprise that the wall that shifts assembly is positioned at the stripping rod nearby of product surface with at least one, and wall limits the slit that is constructed to receive product.

In some cases, cooling chamber and cooling device are arranged communicatively, at least one while shifting in assembly to be received in when product in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium, wherein, transfer device comprises heater block, and wherein, cooling chamber comprise be constructed in product or intermediate transfer medium at least one nearby, cooling and cause greatly the shell of the heater block isolation of cooling and transfer device concentrating nearby of bonding station.Shell can comprise that the wall that shifts assembly is positioned at the stripping rod nearby of product surface with at least one, and wall limits the slit that is constructed to receive product.

In some embodiments, printing assembly can also comprise that at least one is constructed to testing product with respect to the sensor that shifts the position of assembly, and the control circuit of arranging communicatively with described at least one sensor and cooling device, control circuit is constructed to make cooling device to engage, with at least part of ground in product with respect to the cooling cooling chamber in position that shifts assembly.Control circuit can be constructed to make cooling device to engage, with cooling cooling chamber before the image transfer operation at printing assembly.

In other embodiment, a kind of method that shifts transfer part from supplying with body (donor) medium is provided, the method comprises product and supplies with body medium and receives and shift in assembly, like this, supply with body medium and shifting between the transfer device of assembly and product compressedly, from transfer device, send product, like this, supply with the carrier part of body medium and peel off from product, and at least one when cooling products when shifting assembly and send product or supply body medium.The method can also comprise cooling products when product is received in transfer assembly.In some cases, cooling products comprises that cooling products reaches predetermined duration.

In addition, by product with supply with body medium and be received in to shift and can comprise along first direction product in assembly and supply with body medium and be received in and shift in assembly, from shifting assembly, send product and comprise along second direction and send product from shifting assembly.Product can limit the leading edge with respect to first direction, with respect to the back edge of first direction, and two opposite side edges between leading edge and back edge, wherein, cooling products comprises the roughly whole length of the leading edge of cooling products, and the roughly whole length at two opposite side edges.

In addition, the method can comprise starts cooling device to reach predetermined duration, with when product, be roughly positioned at supply body medium bonding station nearby time cooling products.Product can be detected with respect to the position of shifting assembly, and wherein, cooling products comprises the detection position cooling products based on product.Product can limit the visual receiving surface that comprises surface characteristics, wherein, supply with body medium and comprise He Fei transfer part, transfer part, and wherein, cooling products comprises the cooling visual receiving surface at surface characteristics product nearby, to promote the transfer of transfer part and the removal of non-transfer part when supplying with body medium and be stripped from.

In other embodiment, intermediate transfer printing assembly is provided as being constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product, and intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises transfer assembly, shifts assembly and comprises transfer device.Shifting assembly is constructed to by product and intermediate transfer medium being received in transfer assembly, compressing intermediate transfer medium between transfer device and product, sending product and peel off intermediate transfer medium so that image is transferred to product from middle transfer medium from product from shifting assembly.Intermediate transfer printing assembly can also comprise the cooling device that is arranged in transfer assembly nearby and is constructed to cooling products when product is received in transfer assembly.Cooling device can be constructed to cooling products when product is sent from shifting assembly.

In some cases, intermediate transfer assembly can also comprise that at least one is constructed to testing product with respect to the sensor of the position of shifting assembly, and the control circuit of arranging communicatively with at least one sensor.Control circuit can be constructed to when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer medium bonding station nearby time make cooling device engage, when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer medium separation point position nearby time disconnect cooling device.Product can limit a pair of opposed transverse edge substantially vertical with receive direction, wherein, shift assembly and limit the cooling chamber that is constructed to receive product before product is received in transfer device, and wherein, cooling device is constructed to cooling this chamber so that product is cooled along the roughly whole length of transverse edge.The group that cooling device can select free fan, air blast, fin, flow deflector, liquid valve jacket, fin, thermoelectricity cold drawing and Po Er note (Peltier) cooling device to form.

In another embodiment, provide a kind of printing process that adopts intermediate transfer printing assembly.The method comprises product and intermediate transfer medium to receive and shifts in assembly, when product is received between cooling products while shifting in assembly, the transfer device that is shifting assembly and product, compresses intermediate transfer medium and send product so that intermediate transfer medium is peeled off from product from shifting assembly.

In some cases, when sending product from transfer assembly, product is cooled.Cooling products comprises that cooling products reaches predetermined duration.Product can limit a pair of opposed transverse edge substantially vertical with receive direction, and wherein, cooling products comprises the roughly whole length of cooling transverse edge.In addition, product can limit the visual receiving surface that comprises surface characteristics, wherein, intermediate transfer medium comprises He Fei transfer part, transfer part, and wherein, cooling products comprises the visual receiving surface of cooling surface feature product nearby, like this, when middle transfer medium is stripped from, transfer part and product keep together, and remove from product non-transfer part.

In other embodiment, provide a kind of intermediate transfer printing assembly being constructed to from middle transfer medium to transferred product image.Intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises transfer assembly, shift assembly comprise a pair of between it, limit roll gap and be constructed to intermediate transfer medium is pressed against to the opposed warm-up mill on product.Shift assembly and be constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product.Intermediate transfer printing assembly also comprises and is constructed to the control circuit of the temperature of control roll independently, and shifting the cooling device of arranging and be constructed to cooling products when product is received in transfer assembly nearby of assembly.

In some cases, in roller is heated to the temperature higher than another roller.Meanwhile, cooling device can select the group that free air blast and fin form.Cooling device can be constructed to cooling products when sending product from transfer assembly.

In other embodiment, trans-printing assembly is provided as being constructed to shifting transfer part from supplying with body medium.Trans-printing assembly comprises transfer assembly, shifts assembly and comprises that a pair of being constructed to is pressed against the opposed roll on product by supplying with body medium, wherein, shifts assembly and is constructed to from supplying with body medium to transferred product transfer part.Trans-printing assembly also comprises each the control circuit of temperature that is constructed to control independently in opposed roll, and is shifting the cooling device of arranging of assembly nearby.

In some cases, in control circuit control roll is heated to the temperature higher than other roller.In can control roll one of control circuit is heated to the first temperature, for promoting transfer part from supplying with the transfer of body medium.In addition, cooling device can select the group that free fan, air blast, fin, flow deflector, liquid valve jacket, fin, thermoelectricity cold drawing and Po Er note cooling device form.Cooling device can be constructed to cooling products when sending product from transfer assembly.

In another embodiment, provide a kind of being constructed to the visual receiving surface of product, to shift the trans-printing assembly of transfer part from supplying with body medium.Trans-printing assembly comprises transfer assembly, shifts assembly and comprises transfer device.Thereby shifting assembly is constructed to shift compression in assembly, between transfer device and product and supply with body medium, from shifting assembly, send product and remove and supply with body medium transfer part from supplying with that body medium is transferred to product and to the visual receiving surface of product, shift transfer part from supplying with body medium from product by product is received in.Trans-printing assembly also comprises the cooling chamber nearby that is suitable for receiving the transfer device of product after supply body medium is compressed between transfer device and product.

In some cases, trans-printing assembly is intermediate transfer printing assembly, and supplying with body medium is intermediate transfer medium.In other cases, supply with the group that body medium selects free tape, sign board, magnetic stripe, hologram, strikes off band and paillon foil formation.Product can limit a pair of opposed transverse edge substantially vertical with receive direction, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to the roughly whole length of cooling transverse edge.

Image receiving surface can comprise surface characteristics, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to cooling surface feature visual receiving surface nearby.The group that surface characteristics can select free magnetic stripe and smart card noncontact chip to form.Transfer device can comprise heater block, cooling chamber can comprise be constructed to product or supply with in body medium at least one nearby, peeling off, concentrating nearby of position is cooling and cause greatly the shell of the heater block isolation of cooling and transfer device.Printing assembly can also comprise air blast, and wherein, air blast comprises two nozzles, and each nozzle is positioned at each one end of cooling chamber, so that cooling-air stream is conducted through chamber.

In another embodiment, intermediate transfer printing assembly is provided as being constructed to transferred product image.Intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises intermediate transfer medium, and intermediate transfer medium comprises image disposed thereon, shifts assembly and is constructed to the air blast that cooling-air stream is provided off and at product nearby.Shifting assembly comprises transfer device and is constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product.Especially, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in and shift in assembly along first direction, intermediate transfer medium is compressed between transfer device and product, product is sent from shifting assembly along second direction, intermediate transfer medium is peeled off from product, like this, image is from middle transfer medium to transferred product.

In some cases, air blast is constructed to when product is sent along second direction from shifting assembly, optionally at product, provide cooling-air stream nearby, but when product is received in transfer assembly along first direction, at product, do not provide cooling-air stream nearby.Product can limit edge, and air blast can be constructed to flow towards margin guide cooling-air.In some embodiments, shifting assembly can be to be constructed to the single-pass bilateral that opposed visual receiving surface from from middle transfer medium to product shifts the first and second images to shift assembly.

Printing assembly can also comprise one or more sensors and the control circuit of arranging communicatively with sensor.Sensor can be constructed to testing product with respect to the position of shifting assembly.In addition, control circuit can be constructed to respect to shifting when assembly is disposed in primary importance, make air blast engage at product, to provide cooling-air stream nearby when product, when product is disposed in the second place with respect to transfer assembly, at product, does not provide cooling-air stream nearby.

In some cases, air blast can comprise the single charging portion being communicated with two fluid nozzles.Product can limit two edges that extend along first direction, and each nozzle can be located nearby at the edge separately of product.Shift assembly and can also comprise at least one surface that is positioned at product stripping rod nearby.Stripping rod and transfer device can jointly limit chamber, each nozzle can with chamber in fluid communication locate, with guiding cooling air stream, pass through chamber.In some cases, air blast can comprise centrifugal fan.

In other embodiment, intermediate transfer printing assembly is provided as comprising intermediate transfer medium, intermediate transfer medium comprises image disposed thereon, shift assembly, at least one is constructed to testing product with respect to the sensor that shifts the position of assembly, air blast, and the control circuit of arranging communicatively with sensor.Shifting assembly can comprise transfer device and can be constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product.Air blast can be constructed to flow at the cooling-air that provides nearby of product.In addition, control circuit can be constructed to respect to shifting when assembly is disposed in primary importance, make air blast engage at product, to provide cooling-air stream nearby when product, when product is disposed in the second place with respect to transfer assembly, at product, does not provide cooling-air stream nearby.

In some embodiments, sensor and control circuit can be constructed to optionally make air blast to engage, and with when providing cooling-air stream from shifting when assembly is sent product, still when product is received in transfer assembly, do not provide cooling-air stream.In addition, product can limit edge, and air blast can be constructed to flow towards margin guide cooling-air.

Shift assembly and can be the single-pass bilateral that the opposed visual receiving surface being constructed to from middle transfer medium to product shifts the first and second images and shift assembly.In addition, air blast can comprise the single charging portion being communicated with two fluid nozzles.Air blast can also comprise centrifugal fan.

In other embodiment, intermediate transfer printing assembly may be provided in and comprises intermediate transfer medium, and intermediate transfer medium comprises image disposed thereon, and comprises the transfer assembly of transfer device.Shifting assembly can be constructed to by product and intermediate transfer medium being received in transfer assembly to compress intermediate transfer medium between transfer device and product along first direction, along second direction, from shifting assembly, send product so that intermediate transfer medium is peeled off from product, and the interface between intermediate transfer medium and product cooling-air stream being provided nearby and intermediate transfer medium from product peel off and from middle transfer medium to transferred product image.

Printing assembly can also comprise that at least one is constructed to testing product with respect to the sensor of the position of shifting assembly, and the control circuit of arranging communicatively with sensor.Control circuit can be constructed to make air blast to engage to provide product cooling-air stream nearby when product is positioned in order to peel off intermediate transfer medium from product.

In some cases, shift assembly can comprise be constructed to provide cooling-air stream two fluid nozzles the air blast of the single charging portion that is communicated with.In addition, product can limit two edges that extend along first direction, and each nozzle can be located nearby at the edge separately of product.Air blast can also comprise centrifugal fan.

Therefore, as described in more detail below, printing assembly is provided as being easy to intermediate transfer medium and removes from product, and reduces the generation of burr.

Accompanying drawing explanation

With reference to the accompanying drawings, it must not drawn in proportion, wherein:

Fig. 1 is according to the side view of the printing machine of the combining drum blower fan of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates according to the sidepiece of the intermediate transfer medium of known prior art structure;

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates according to the sidepiece of the transfer assembly with stripping rod of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates according to the sidepiece of the transfer assembly of describing in Fig. 3 that air blast is shown of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is schematically illustrating according to the intermediate transfer medium that is applied to product of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is according to the single-pass bilateral image transfer assembly of another embodiment of the invention and the perspective schematic view of air blast;

Fig. 7 is according to the perspective view of the air blast of the single charging portion of the combination of an embodiment of the invention and two nozzles;

Fig. 8 is with respect to the perspective view that shifts the transfer assembly of assembly and product orientation according to the nozzle that air blast is shown of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is according to the perspective view of the transfer assembly that comprises the stripping rod that limits cooling chamber of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is schematically illustrating according to the printing assembly that comprises sensor and control circuit of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 is schematically illustrating according to the printing assembly that comprises the sensor of locating along the transfer path of product of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 illustrates with respect to the sidepiece of transfer assembly that shifts assembly and be positioned at the product of primary importance to schematically illustrate;

Figure 13 is that the sidepiece of transfer assembly that Figure 12 of the product that is positioned at innermost position is shown schematically illustrates;

Figure 14 illustrates with respect to the sidepiece of transfer assembly of Figure 12 that shifts assembly and be positioned at the product of the second place to schematically illustrate;

Figure 15 schematically illustrates according to the sidepiece of the transfer assembly that cooling chamber is shown of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 16 is the perspective view of the transfer assembly of Figure 15; With

Figure 17 schematically illustrates according to the sidepiece of the printing assembly of the combining drum blower fan of an embodiment of the invention and cooling fan.

The specific embodiment

With reference to the accompanying drawings a plurality of embodiments of the present invention are described more completely hereinafter, wherein, but some not all embodiments of the present invention are illustrated.In fact, the present invention can specialize in many different forms, and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiment proposing here; On the contrary, these embodiments are provided as content disclosed by the invention and will meet applicable legal requirement.Identical Reference numeral represents identical element in the whole text.

As described in more detail below, printing assembly is provided as comprising image transfer (transfer) assembly and is constructed to cooling products off and on and/or the cooling chamber of the intermediate transfer medium that is used to print on product.Cooling chamber can pass through cooling device or equipment, and for example the operation of air blast or fin is cooling.The in the situation that of air blast, air blast can comprise centrifugal fan, and can have the single charging portion that air is provided to two nozzles.Alternatively, a plurality of air blasts with a plurality of nozzles can be used to provide cooling effect, and those skilled in the art is appreciated that according to the content of the disclosure.

Have many cooling devices known to those skilled in the art, it can be used to cooling chamber, assembly, product, supply body medium or its some combination according to content disclosed herein.Such device comprises fan, air blast, fin, flow deflector, liquid valve jacket, fin, thermoelectricity cold drawing and Po Er note cooling device.Although polytype cooling device can be used to cooling cooling chamber, for easy explanation, description below adopts and is constructed to provide the example that enters and pass through the air blast that the cooling-air of cooling chamber flows.

The in the situation that of air blast, the nozzle of air blast can be positioned as air outside the edge of product or flow in contingent other position of burr.Air blast can be constructed to be received in while shifting in assembly and/or when it is sent from transfer assembly and/or when product is stripped from, provide air when middle transfer medium when product.Printing assembly can also comprise for detection of product with respect to shifting the position of assembly and sensor and the control circuit of the Position Control air blast based on detected.

Except improving the aesthetic effect of product, minimizing burr according to the embodiment of the present invention a plurality of advantages are provided, this is apparent according to disclosed content below for a person skilled in the art.For example, the larger free degree of the time that described embodiment permission needs to product printshop, and conventionally can allow printing time faster.In addition, a plurality of potential printed design are possible, for example, be included in the design of the printing distributing on the surface of product unequally, typically more difficult for printing in hot system.In addition, embodiments of the present invention can allow the printing to dissimilar basic unit, that be for example made of a variety of materials, that have different thickness or comprise the basic unit of the coating may with different heat-transfer characters.

In addition, paper or Synthesis Card, label, label, wrist strap and other product can have kinds of surface feature, and how it can receive aspect image, ink or thin layer and change at them.These features are provided as the special performance of principal character of product or the visual effect of raising conventionally.Such feature can comprise that magnetic stripe, sign board, smart card noncontact chip, smart card contact chip, RFID responder, printed antenna, the back of the body carry label, pattern adhesive, die-cut feature, snap ring or other maintenance feature, elevated regions, thermograph and paillon foil.Therefore, embodiments of the present invention can allow to the basic unit's printing that comprises such surface characteristics.

For illustrative purposes, description is below described the intermediate transfer printing assembly that is constructed to printing or treatment media card.But it should be noted that, the present invention is not restricted to for dielectric card, and in fact can be in conjunction with being constructed to printing or processing the printing assembly of " product " of any type, comprise but be not restricted to dielectric card, label, RFID label, smart card, can print object and similar product.Such product can for example, consist of cellulosic-based material (, paper, cardboard, timber etc.), polymer, metal, thin layer, composite, film or other similar material.

In addition, still for illustrative purposes, description is described the image transfer station that is incorporated in printing machine or is used by printing machine.But, it should be noted that, embodiments of the present invention are not restricted in printing machine and use, in fact, can be included in the image transfer station of using in medium treating apparatus, comprise but be not restricted to card printer, label printing machine, desktop printing machine, laminating machine, RFID reader, encoder or other similar media processes assembly.

Usually, image can several different methods form on visual receiving surface.In heat transfer printing, for example, pressure and heat are used to make to supply with the coating fusing of body medium, and like this, coating (for example, dyestuff) is retained on the visual receiving surface of product.In addition to other, supplying with body medium for example can comprise intermediate transfer medium, tape, sign board, magnetic stripe, hologram, strike off band and paillon foil.An example of heat transfer printing is intermediate heat trans-printing.In intermediate heat trans-printing, from the ink of tape, be transferred to intermediate transfer medium, like this, image forms on intermediate transfer medium.Then, image is transferred to product by intermediate transfer medium is coated to product, and this will discuss below in more detail.

Although a plurality of embodiment of the present invention can be used to make heat transfer printing and intermediate heat trans-printing easy, description below and relevant accompanying drawing be take intermediate transfer printing and are described embodiments of the present invention as background.But, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, according to the content of the disclosure, a plurality of embodiment of the present invention also can be applicable to heat transfer printing, for example, (to work as dyestuff, image), while being transferred, the rear portion that makes carrier or tape (that is to say, supply with body medium) is easily from the removal of the visual receiving surface of product.For description above and the object of appending claims, this removal process can be similar to intermediate transfer strip step, will be described in more detail below.In one embodiment, the cooling chamber the following describes can be constructed to cooling products when product is sent from transfer assembly after tape is applied to product, so that tape is easily removed from print product.

Fig. 1 illustrates the alternative pack of printing assembly.But, for object clear and that be easy to discuss, and whole parts of not shown printing assembly.With reference to Fig. 1, intermediate heat trans-printing assembly 10 can comprise intermediate transfer medium (" IT medium ") 15, comprise the transfer assembly 20 being constructed to from IT medium 15 to the visual transfer device 25 of dielectric card 30 transfers, and air blast 35.In some cases, air blast 35 can be incorporated into and shifts in assembly 20 or form its part.

Inventor has determined the several factors that can improve printing quality, in some embodiments, may affect the generation of burr on dielectric card.Such factor comprises and moves through the type of speed while shifting assembly 20, transfer device 25 and structure, the temperature of transfer device 25, the temperature of transfer device 25 surrounding environment nearby, size and the material composition of the card 30 of printing thereon when card, (for example existing of surface characteristics on the visual receiving surface of card, RFID chip or magnetic stripe), image with respect to the position of the visual receiving surface of card, image content (for example, light contrast is dark visual), and the type of the IT medium 15 using.Factor is above here just to illustrate rather than to propose in order limiting, because consider the content of the disclosure, other factor can be easily apparent for a person skilled in the art.An example of the IT medium that can be combined with a plurality of embodiments of the present invention is the dye sublimation IT medium tape from the parts No.800133-601 of DNPIMS u s company.

IT medium 15 can be disposed in IT medium donor rollers and IT medium is packed up (not shown) between roller.IT medium donor rollers can be distributed IT medium 15 by printing station 40, and therein, printing dyestuff can be applied to IT medium 15.Further, in downstream, IT medium 15 can extend through and shift assembly 20, and therein, the part IT medium 15 that stands printing can be transferred on dielectric card 30.

Described printing assembly 10 can also comprise color tape donor rollers (not shown), and color tape is packed up roller (not shown), and tape print head 45.Color tape donor rollers can be supplied with the color tape 50 of the colouring agent plate sequence with the plate that for example comprises yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and/or black (K), and it is for printing to IT medium 15 by color gamut and/or bright/dark shade.Color tape 50 can be transferred as jointly extending with IT medium 15 between tape print head 45 and cylinder 55.Then, tape print head 45 can be by thermal bonding, so that printed image is printed in a part for IT medium 15.

Then, printing IT medium 15 can be transferred to downwards shifts assembly 20, as shown in the figure.Shifting assembly 20 forms by being constructed to engage with IT medium 15 printed image is printed to the surperficial transfer device 25 of dielectric card 30.Shift assembly 20 and can comprise polytype transfer device 25 for engaging with IT medium.For example, in Fig. 1, transfer device 25 is add thermal compression roller relative with dummy roll 26.Alternatively, transfer device can consist of a pair of opposed arc cylinder that adds thermal compression roller, limits relative arcuate surfaces, reciprocal clamp or other similar device.

In some cases, for example in one-sided transfer assembly (in more detail below discuss), transfer device comprise a pair of between it, limit roll gap 101 (shown in Figure 15) be constructed to IT medium 15 is pressed against to the opposed warm-up mill 25,26 on dielectric card 30.Especially, opposed warm-up mill 25 does not need to be heated to equal temperature.For example, roller can be controlled by being constructed to the control circuit of the temperature of control roll independently, and like this, (for example, roller 25) in roller for example can be heated to, than another (, roller 26) the high temperature in roller.In this, the visual receiving surface that at high temperature roller 25 can be constructed to from IT medium 25 to card shifts image, although but another roller 26 is still heated, be maintained at than the required low temperature of temperature of releasing layer 15B thermal activation (thermally activate) that makes IT medium.In an example, roller 25 can be heated to the temperature in the scope of about 155 ℉-200 ℉, and another roller 26 is heated at the temperature in the scope of about 65 ℉-85 ℉.

In some cases, dielectric card 30 can be sent from card feeder, and is supplied to printing assembly 10.Before arriving transfer assembly 20, dielectric card 30 can pass through coding station 58, and dielectric card 30 can adopt information coding therein.Shifting assembly 20 places, dielectric card 30 can jointly extend and align with the printing of IT medium 15.

Therefore, shift assembly 20 and be constructed to by dielectric card 30 and IT medium 15 are received in transfer assembly 20, compress IT medium 15 between transfer device 25 and dielectric card 30, send dielectric card 30 from transfer device 20, and peel off IT medium 15 to shift image from IT medium 15 to dielectric card 30 and shift image from IT medium 15 to dielectric card 30 from dielectric card 30.In this, conventional IT medium 15 is described in Fig. 2.Conventional IT medium 15 comprises for supporting the carrier thin film 15A of release liner 15B and printing receiving unit 15C.Image (for example, figure, text, bar code and other mark) is printed or is formed on printing receiving unit 15C.Therefore,, when being applied to dielectric card 30, printing receiving unit 15C arranges the image receiving surface of contiguous dielectric card 30.

Releasing layer 15B can be by thermal activation, and for discharging printing receiving unit 15C, it can be pressed against simultaneously or be transferred to the image receiving surface of card 30.In many embodiments, can not expect that whole printing receiving surface 15C is transferred.For example, in the situation that IT medium is greater than card 30, or comprises and attempt to keep substantially freely for example, in the situation of surface characteristics (, magnetic stripe etc.) of printing receiving unit 15C at card 30.Therefore, IT medium can comprise He Fei transfer part, transfer part.In many embodiments, for example, between the He Fei transfer part, transfer part of supplying with body medium (, tape, IT medium etc.), there is no difference physics or chemistry.On the contrary, shift assembly and be constructed to make transfer part activation, and be constructed to not make the activation of non-transfer part.Therefore,, when the rear layer of carrier thin film or supply body medium is stripped from, transfer part keeps, and non-transfer part is stripped from together with carrier thin film or laying.

In some embodiments, except printed image above-mentioned or replace printed image above-mentioned, can provide non-thermal activated media and dielectric support thin-layer tablet.In this, supply with body medium (for example, IT medium 15, thin-layered medium etc.) and be easy to such thin-layer tablet to be transferred to dielectric card or other visual receiver media, this is apparent for a person skilled in the art.

Get back to described embodiment, when IT medium 15 is applied to dielectric card 30 by transfer device 25, IT medium 15 can be peeled off from dielectric card 30, and for example dielectric card 30 is sent from shifting assembly 20.In some cases, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, IT medium 15 is removed under the help of stripping rod 60, and stripping rod can engage with IT medium 15 in stripping area, and is easy to IT medium 15 and removes with specific angle with respect to dielectric card 30.

With reference to Fig. 4, air blast 35 can be constructed to flow at the cooling-air that provides off and on nearby of dielectric card 30.In some cases, air blast is constructed to provide cooling-air stream when dielectric card 30 enters transfer assembly 20.In other cases, when dielectric card 30 is sent from transfer assembly after IT medium is compressed into dielectric card, application cooling-air stream.In other cases, at dielectric card, apply cooling-air stream when shifting the entering and exit of assembly, for example, in the single-pass bilateral printing operation being described below.

Under any circumstance, and do not attempt to limit by theory simultaneously, cool stream can make 15 crystallizations of IT medium, like this, when IT medium 15 is peeled off from dielectric card 30, due to crystallization process become more frangible part IT medium 15 can be more completely from the other parts fracture that is bonded to dielectric card 30 (that is to say, reduce burr) of IT medium 15.The part IT medium 15 by becoming burr that as a result, can extend through the edge of dielectric card 30 can be removed when IT medium 15 is peeled off from dielectric card 30.In other words, cooling-air stream can be easy to the removal of the non-transfer part of IT medium 15, and like this, in fact the transfer part of roughly only attempting to remain on the visual receiving surface of card is held.

Fig. 5 describes the cooling of above-described part IT medium 15.In Fig. 5, for example dielectric card 30 roughly along direction A (for example limits two, receive direction, maybe when being received the moving direction of card while shifting in assembly 20) edge 32,34 of opposed alignment, with two opposed transverse edges 31,33 vertical with receive direction A roughly.Therefore, in some cases, one in transverse edge is to be received with respect to dielectric card 30 " front " edge 31 that shifts the direction A in assembly 20, another in transverse edge is that the edge with respect to 33, two alignment of back edge of direction A is two opposed lateral edges 32,34 arranging along the direction A between front and rear edge 31,33.IT medium 15 can be at one or more edges of dielectric card 30 extension, and this causes burr 16,17,18.For example, in Fig. 5, IT medium 15 extends to outside lateral edges 32,34.

In addition, as described above, the visual receiving surface of card 30 may comprise that prevention IT medium 15 (for example, the non-transfer parts of IT medium) are from the surface characteristics of removing completely of card.For example, part IT medium 15 may have the trend that becomes burr in the region relevant with being arranged in the lip-deep magnetic stripe of card 30 or smart card contact chip.In for example supplying with therein other the embodiment that body medium is tape, for example, burr may refer to dyestuff part or the residue below that is retained in inadvertently product or card after strip operation.Such burr are harmful to for printing quality, consider the content of the disclosure, and this is easily apparent for a person skilled in the art.

The application of surrounding by the IT medium 15 for bilateral printing at dielectric card 30, for example, shown in Fig. 8 and 9 and the following describes, IT medium can make IT medium from edge, remove completely with engaging of leading edge 31, and this is difficult in typical stripping process.But, by towards dielectric card 15, especially towards the burr region 16,17 of lateral edges 32,34 or the burr region 18 of leading edge 31, and surface characteristics 23 can be arranged in the lip-deep burr region 19 guiding cooling air streams 36 of card wherein, IT medium 15 possibility crystallizations in these regions, this allows to remove the more successful strip operation of excessive IT medium 15 in burr region.In other words, cooling result as the IT medium 15 in burr region 16,17,18,19, IT medium carrier film 15A by the edge 31,32,34 with dielectric card 30 and/or surface characteristics (for example peels off, magnetic stripe 23 or smart card noncontact chip) the printing receiving unit 15C of justified margin in IT medium 15, produce fracture, remove thus the excessive IT medium 15 in burr region 16,17,18,19.Therefore, in some cases, cooling-air stream 36 can towards the visual receiving surface guiding of one or more edges and/or the card of dielectric card 30, for example, make to cause the strip operation of the burr in IT medium 15 edges that roughly align with dielectric card edge 31,32,33,34 region of reducing the surface characteristics that may promote burr to carry out.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, dielectric card 30 and IT medium 15 are received and shift in assembly 20 along first direction A, and send from shifting assembly 20 along second direction B.For example, shifting assembly can be the single-pass bilateral transfer assembly that is constructed to shift by shifting assembly 20 opposed visual receiving surface from IT medium 15 to dielectric card 30 in the single channel of dielectric card 30 the first and second images, the name of for example submitting on April 19th, 2006 is called to be described in the U. S. application No.11/406548 of " single-pass bilateral image transfer method and system ", and its whole content is incorporated into this by reference.

For example, in Fig. 6, single-pass bilateral shifts assembly 21 and is shown as dielectric card 30 and IT medium 15 therein and is received in and shifts in assembly 21 and be sent along B direction along A direction.When dielectric card 30 and IT medium 15 are received, shift in assembly 21, and for example, during by transfer device 25 (in this case, a pair of thermal compression roller that adds), the first and second images are printed on the counter surface of dielectric card 30.For example, when dielectric card 30 arrives certain position (, when dielectric card 30 is received while shifting in assembly 21 in-position C, shown in dotted line), the tension force in IT medium 15 can be easy to make dielectric card 30 to send from shifting assembly 21 along B direction.

In some embodiments, air blast 35 is constructed to flow when the cooling-air that provides nearby at dielectric card 30 while shifting in assembly 20,21 and when dielectric card 30 is sent along second direction B from shifting assembly 20,21 is provided along first direction A dielectric card 30.Therefore, when dielectric card 30 is received in transfer assembly, as shown in Figure 12, air blast can provide the Air Flow of scheduled volume, like this, the air containment causing providing is enough large, to guide Air Flow in the whole length at transverse edge (example is leading edge 31 as shown in Figure 5).For example, inventor's discovery, approximately the minimum flow velocity of 2.6cfm provides greatly reducing of burr at leading edge 31.An example of the fan that can be combined with a plurality of embodiments of the present invention is Cooltron blower fan, and model FBD5015B24W7-11 is nominally the Air Flow of 4.90cfm.

When dielectric card 30 advances with respect to the common transfer assembly 20,21 relevant with the joint of dielectric card and IT medium 15 from primary importance X, result as the cool stream in the region engaging with leading edge 31, IT medium may start crystallization, is easy to thus in this region peeling off subsequently.In one embodiment, cooling-air stream can be provided at dielectric card 30 nearby within the scheduled time of time that engages or approach along direction A (Figure 12) at first IT medium from dielectric card with IT medium.For example, for about 1.5 inches of dielectric cards 30 that every wonderful speed is advanced, cooling-air stream may be provided in about 4.8 seconds.Therefore, when dielectric card 30, along direction A, from primary importance X-direction, innermost position Y (Figure 13) moves to while shifting assembly, and air blast can continue to provide cooling-air stream.When dielectric card 30 is sent from shifting assembly, dielectric card can be (Figure 14) mobile from the separated relevant second place X ' of IT medium 15 with product along direction B from innermost position Y-direction.In some cases, the first and second position X, X ' is located adjacent one another or be positioned at roughly the same position.When dielectric card 30 is disposed in while moving in second place X ' and along second direction, air blast can be directed to and stop, so that cooling-air stream to be provided.Therefore,, when IT medium 15 is roughly peeled off from dielectric card 30, cooling-air stream can stop providing.In other words, in some cases, at product, from the process that shifts the reception of assembly and send, cooling-air stream can provide continuously.

Therefore, when dielectric card is roughly positioned at intermediate transfer assembly bonding station, for example primary importance X nearby time, cooling-air stream can be activated, with cooling medium card 30 and/or IT medium 15.Similarly, when dielectric card 15 is roughly positioned at intermediate transfer components apart position, for example second place X ' nearby time, cooling-air stream can be stopped, cooling substantially to stop.

Air blast 35 can be constructed to open and close, and like this, when blower opening, provides cooling-air stream, when air blast cuts out, does not provide cooling-air stream.Alternatively, air blast 35 can be constructed to produce continuously cooling-air stream, still can comprise and be constructed to stop air for example, at certain time (, when dielectric card 30 is transferred assembly 20 reception) mobile valve.Similarly, air blast 35 can comprise current divider or when dielectric card 30 is transferred assembly 20 reception, can flow away from dielectric card 30 guiding cooling airs.

Forward Fig. 7 below to, air blast 35 can comprise 65, one nozzles of single charging portion that are communicated with two nozzle 70 fluids or can use according to the structure of system more than two nozzles.Charging portion 65 can be for example by flexible pipe 75, pipe, pipeline or be constructed to allow air-flow other parts by be wherein connected to nozzle 70.Air blast 35 can also comprise centrifugal fan 80.In some embodiments, two or more centrifugal fans can be used to guarantee to produce suitable Air Flow.Centrifugal fan 80 can be constructed at selected pressure, for example approximately under 19mm water column or higher pressure, provide certain air containment, this can for example not affect, in the situation that the IT medium 15 that transfer device 25 places occur is easy to the aligning of some part (, burr region 16,17,18) of dielectric card 30 and IT medium 15 to the heating coating (shown in Figure 4 and 5) of dielectric card 30.In some embodiments, each nozzle 70 can be constructed to, towards dielectric card 30 guiding air, reduce air flowing towards transfer device 25 simultaneously.For example, as shown in Figure 7, nozzle 70 can comprise closed side 71 and open side 72, and side 72, towards transfer device 25 location, is opened away from transfer device 25 location in closed side 71, and like this, air is prompted to flow towards dielectric card 30 with away from transfer device 25.This feature is also shown in Figure 8.

In some cases, shift assembly 21 and can comprise the wall 105 being arranged between transfer device 21 and nozzle 70, as shown in Figure 15.For example, wall 105 can be printing machine housing or the extension of shifting the housing of assembly 21, the position of wall can help to make to comprise that the transfer device 25 of heater block (for example, hot-rolling) and the cooling effect of the cooling-air stream being provided by nozzle 70 isolate, and vice versa.In some embodiments, wall can for example, towards peeling off position (, starting to peel off from product or card at this IT medium or other supply body medium) or concentrating cooling-air stream towards the interface 66 of IT medium 15 and dielectric card 30.In other embodiment, in order to allow card/IT medium to enter transfer device 25, wall 105 can limit the slit 110 that is constructed to receive product or product is sent from transfer device 25.

In some cases, shown in as mentioned above and Fig. 9, shift assembly 20 and comprise one or more stripping rods 60 that IT medium 15 is removed from dielectric card 30 that are constructed to be easy to.Stripping rod 60 can, in the surperficial location nearby of dielectric card 30, be peeled off from the visual receiving surface of card to be easy to IT medium 15.

Therefore,, in the embodiment shown in Figure 15 and 16, wall 105 and stripping rod 60 can limit the shell of the effect of cooling chamber 85 jointly.For example, cooling chamber 85 shells can be constructed at dielectric card 30 nearby, for example the cooling effect of concentrating cooling-air to flow nearby at the interface 66 of IT medium 15 and card.In this, each nozzle 70 can be in the location, one end of cooling chamber 85, and as shown in the figure, cooling-air circulation supercooling chamber guides like this, and along the edge 31,32,33,34 of aiming at, passes through on the surface of dielectric card 30.In other words, nozzle 70 can be opposite each other ground and with when dielectric card 15 is received or vertically locate from shifting the path that assembly 20,21 sends, like this, when card is when shifting assembly and move, dielectric card roughly passes through between nozzle.

In some embodiments, other cooling device of air blast 30 or some can guiding cooling air circulation supercooling chamber, with in image transfer operation (Figure 12) cooling chamber in advance before, to promote the crystallization of IT medium 15 before the introducing at dielectric card 30.This in advance cooling down operation can also provide cooling device (for example, air blast 30) from static or " shut " mode" to the time cooling or that open mode operation, guarantee thus in cooling chamber, to exist enough cooling-airs to flow when card is introduced into.In another embodiment, cooling device (for example, air blast 30) can be engaged, and with the card/supply body medium bonding station in conjunction with Figure 12 discussion, provides cooling-air stream nearby.In other embodiment, cooling device (for example, air blast 30) can be in transfer operation process at some, other some place engages, like this, cooling-air stream is at first only when card is sent while entering cooling chamber and provided from transfer assembly.

The process that each in cooling device joining technique above can be used to send from transfer assembly at card, when dielectric card passes through chamber, (for example, long-time cooling chamber) affects the low temperature in cooling chamber.After image is transferred to dielectric card 30 (Figure 16), the continuous-flow of cooling-air circulation supercooling chamber 85 is because nozzle 70 can similarly concentrate on cooling effect on lateral edges 32,34 in lateral edges location nearby, because the air containment through cooling chamber when dielectric card 30 is sent can concentrate on leading edge 31.

Except concentrating on product cooling, the shell of cooling chamber 85 can also play the effect of the heater block that causes greatly cooling and transfer device 21 (for example, warm-up mill etc.) isolation.Adopt the method, when dielectric card 30 is transferred assembly 21 reception, IT medium 15 can be transferred device 25 and effectively heat, to discharge the printing receiving unit 15C of IT medium 15, and in the obvious counteractive situation that there is no cooling-air stream, image is printed to dielectric card 30.Adopt identical method, the heat that shell can make cooling chamber 85 and heater block by transfer device 25 distribute is isolated, and increases thus the temperature difference between transfer device and cooling chamber.Therefore the cooling-air stream that, flows through cooling chamber can more effectively be easy to peeling off of IT medium 30 as described above.

In some embodiments, cooling chamber 85 can shift the layout nearby of assembly 20,21, and can be suitable for receiver media card 30 when IT medium is compressed between transfer device and dielectric card.Therefore, cooling chamber 85 can be constructed to cooling medium card 30 and/or IT medium 15 when dielectric card is sent from shifting assembly 20,21.In some cases, cooling chamber 85 can be constructed to when product is received in transfer assembly or when it is received and send, cooling medium card 30 and/or IT medium 15.In addition, cooling chamber 85 can be constructed to when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer assembly bonding station nearby time cooling medium card 30 and/or IT medium 15, and can be constructed to when dielectric card be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer components apart position nearby time stop cooling.

In one embodiment, each nozzle can be in the location nearby at the edge separately of dielectric card 30, so that cooling-air stream mobile concentrated on the edge of most probable experience burr problem.For example, at the long edge of dielectric card 30, be that in the printing operation (long margin guide or LEL operation) of leading edge, minor face edge (or the edge aliging with the direct of travel that passes in and out the dielectric card 30 that shifts assembly 20) may be more prone to burr problem than long edge.This may be due to the IT medium 15 of the amount of the minimizing along minor face edge and the minimizing that may occur in IT medium 15 bonding, to promote the excessive part of IT medium 15 from the removal at edge.In this case, nozzle 70 can be constructed as shown in Figure 8, to aim at the lateral edges 32,34 of most probable experience burr.In another example, nozzle can be positioned as, when IT medium 15 is peeled off from dielectric card 30, the cooling-air stream interface 66 between IT medium and dielectric card 30 (see Fig. 3 and 9) nearby.

In some cases, as described above, due to the relatively little thickness of card (may for example about 0.03 inch), therefore the leading edge 31 with respect to direction A may also tend to burr problem.This little thickness may for example cause IT medium 15 in the region of leading edge 31 in the transfer operation of single-pass bilateral reduce bonding, and adopt the enough Air Flows by nozzle can allow cooling-air stream to flow in the roughly whole length of leading edge 31, to reduce the burr in this region, as described in conjunction with Fig. 5 above.

With reference to Figure 10, in some embodiments, printing assembly 10 comprises one or more sensors 90 and the control circuit 95 of arranging communicatively with sensor.Sensor 90 can be constructed to detect dielectric card 30 with respect to the position of shifting assembly 20, and control circuit 95 transmission of signals that use can be to startup when the Position Control air blast 35 based on dielectric card 30 at least in part time.Therefore, control circuit 95 can be constructed to make air blast 35 to engage, for example, (to be disposed in primary importance X when dielectric card 30 with respect to conventionally relevant with the joint of product with intermediate transfer medium transfer assembly, intermediate transfer medium bonding station shown in Figure 12) cooling-air that provides nearby at dielectric card 30 in the time of in flows, when dielectric card moves from the innermost position Y of primary importance X-direction along direction A with respect to shifting assembly, when then (Figure 13) mobile from innermost position Y-direction second place X ' along second direction B, continue to make air blast to engage, when dielectric card be disposed in conventionally with product from the separated relevant second place X ' of middle transfer medium (for example, intermediate transfer medium separation point position shown in Figure 14) in the time of in, separated with air blast.Therefore, in some cases, control circuit can be constructed to make cooling chamber 85 to engage, with position cooling medium card 30 or the IT medium 15 with respect to transfer assembly 20 based on card.

Except or replace the position of dielectric card 30, sensor 90 can detect multiple other situation, and can by control circuit 95, control based on these situations the startup of air blasts 35.For example, sensor 90 can detect the temperature of cooling locular wall, the temperature of the temperature of medium, IT medium, enter the air of air blast 35 temperature, exit nozzle 70 and enter the air of cooling chamber temperature, exit the temperature of air of cooling chamber and the temperature of the air of cooling chamber inside, and can make cooling chamber start or stop in response to detected situation.

For example, when towards and/or when shifting assembly 20 and advance, sensor 90 can detect dielectric card 30 before or after edge.Therefore,, with reference to Figure 11, when dielectric card 30 enters transfer assembly 20 and engages with IT medium 15, sensor 90 can detect leading edge 31 and detection is sent to control circuit 95, then may open air blast 35.When detecting for the second time by sensor 90, the leading edge 31 of dielectric card 30 (that is to say, when dielectric card 30 moves out when shifting assembly 20 and IT medium 15 and roughly peeling off from card along direction B, as shown in Figure 14), control circuit 95 can cut out, or make air blast 35 separation, until next dielectric card 30 detected, enter transfer assembly.

Those skilled in the art considers that the content of the disclosure it is evident that, inventive concept described herein does not need air blast to be opened in all application and/or closes or start and/or stop.In fact, in an exemplary embodiment, air blast does not need to be closed/to stop, and cooling-air stream can adopt valve and/or other similar Air Flow control device provide or do not provide at product, cooling chamber and/or IT medium nearby.

Except or replace the position of dielectric card 30, sensor 90 can be constructed to detect other situation.For example, sensor 90 can be constructed to detect the position of IT medium 15, or can be constructed to detect air-flow or temperature conditions.For example, the temperature of testing environment temperature, dielectric card 30 before or after providing to dielectric card 30 can be provided one or more sensors 90, the temperature of the temperature of IT medium 15 or cooling-air stream.Adopt the method, sensor 90 may be able to help to determine when cooling-air stream should be directed to dielectric card 30, and when cooling-air stream should be directed to the position of dielectric card 30.

In some embodiments, printing assembly 10 comprises cooling fan 120, and it is contained in printing assembly essential electric parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings except cooling, and the temperature of the air that provided by air blast 35 is also provided with 65 cooperations of air blast charging portion.With reference to Figure 17, for example cooling fan 120 can be positioned in a side of charging portion 65 one end of printing assembly 10, and can be by being arranged in the entrance ventilating opening 125 suction air of the opposite side of charging portion, as shown in the figure.Therefore, flowing through the inlet air flow path 130 that entrance ventilating opening 125 enters cooling fan 120 can make air flow at charging portion 65 around, thereby take away any excessive heat increasing at charging portion around, and effectively make the temperature of charging portion inside reduce at least several years.As a result, the air that enters charging portion 65 by charging portion entrance 135 can remain on than more do not approach the temperature of the surrounding air of printing assembly 10 outsides from air intake ventilating opening 125 flows to the situation of help of air of cooling fan 120.Inventor notices, in the situation that not having 120 pairs of charging portions of cooling fan 65 to ventilate, the burr of the leading edge 31 of dielectric card 30 can not reduce especially effectively.

In the situation that the help of the instruction proposing in having description above and relevant accompanying drawing, those skilled in the art in the invention will remember of the present invention many modifications of proposing and other embodiment here.Therefore, should be understood that, the present invention is not restricted to disclosed specific embodiment, and revises with other embodiment and attempt to be included in the scope of appending claims.Although use specific term here, they only use with meaning common and that describe, rather than the object in order to limit.

Claims

1. be constructed to from middle transfer medium to an intermediate transfer printing assembly that is limited with the transferred product image of a pair of opposed transverse edge, described intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises:

The transfer assembly that comprises transfer device, wherein, shifts assembly and is constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product in the following manner:

Along receive direction, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in transfer assembly, wherein, the opposed transverse edge of described product is approximately perpendicular to described receive direction,

Between transfer device and product, compress intermediate transfer medium,

From shifting assembly, send product, and

From product, peel off intermediate transfer medium so that visual from middle transfer medium to transferred product; With

Be suitable for receiving being positioned at of product and shift assembly cooling chamber nearby after middle transfer medium is compressed between transfer device and product, wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to along the roughly whole length cooling products of described opposed transverse edge or at least one in intermediate transfer medium.

2. printing assembly as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, described printing assembly also comprises at least one air blast, and described air blast is constructed to from transfer assembly is sent process, by cooling chamber, provide roughly continuous cooling-air to flow at product.

3. printing assembly as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, described product limits the visual receiving surface that comprises surface characteristics, wherein, intermediate transfer medium comprises He Fei transfer part, transfer part, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to the cooling visual receiving surface that is positioned at surface characteristics product nearby, to promote the transfer of transfer part and the removal of non-transfer part when middle transfer medium is stripped from.

4. printing assembly as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that, surface characteristics can select free magnetic stripe, sign board, smart card noncontact chip, smart card contact chip, RFID responder, printed antenna, the back of the body to carry the group that label, pattern adhesive, die-cut feature, snap ring, maintenance feature, elevated regions, thermograph region and foil area form.

5. printing assembly as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, cooling chamber and cooling device are arranged communicatively, at least one while shifting in assembly to be received in when product in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium.

6. printing assembly as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, shifting assembly is that the opposed visual receiving surface transfer first single-pass bilateral visual and the second image being constructed to from middle transfer medium to product shifts assembly.

7. printing assembly as claimed in claim 6, is characterized in that, cooling chamber and cooling device are arranged communicatively, at least one while shifting in assembly to be received in when product in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium.

8. printing assembly as claimed in claim 6, it is characterized in that, shifting assembly is constructed to along first direction, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in transfer assembly, and send along second direction to major general's product from shifting assembly, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to along first direction, be received in while shifting in assembly and to major general's product along second direction at least one when shifting assembly and send cooling products or intermediate transfer medium when product and intermediate transfer medium.

9. printing assembly as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, described printing assembly also comprises that at least one is constructed to provide the air blast by the cooling-air stream of cooling chamber, and wherein, air blast comprises two nozzles.

10. printing assembly as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, cooling chamber be constructed to when product be roughly arranged in intermediate transfer assembly bonding station nearby time cooling products or intermediate transfer medium at least one.

11. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, cooling chamber be constructed to when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer components apart position nearby time substantially stop cooling.

12. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, transfer device comprises at least one heater block, and wherein, cooling chamber comprises shell, and described shell is constructed at the interface of product and intermediate transfer medium, concentrate cooling nearby and cause greatly the heater block of cooling and transfer device to be isolated.

13. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 12, is characterized in that, shell comprises that the wall that shifts assembly is positioned at product surface stripping rod nearby with at least one, and wall limits the slit that is constructed to receive product.

14. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, cooling chamber and cooling device are arranged communicatively, at least one while shifting in assembly to be received in when product in cooling products or intermediate transfer medium, wherein, transfer device comprises heater block, and wherein, cooling chamber comprises shell, described shell be constructed in product or intermediate transfer medium at least one nearby, cooling concentrating nearby of bonding station, and cause greatly heater block isolation cooling and transfer device.

15. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 14, is characterized in that, shell comprises that the wall that shifts assembly is positioned at product surface stripping rod nearby with at least one, and wall limits the slit that is constructed to receive product.

16. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 1, is characterized in that, described printing assembly also comprises:

At least one is constructed to detect described product with respect to the sensor of the position of described transfer assembly; With

With the control circuit that described at least one sensor and cooling device are arranged communicatively, control circuit is constructed to make cooling device to engage, with at least part of ground in product with respect to the cooling cooling chamber in position that shifts assembly.

17. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 16, is characterized in that, control circuit is constructed to before the image transfer operation of printing assembly, cooling device be engaged with cooling cooling chamber.

18. 1 kinds of methods that shift transfer part from supplying with body medium, described method comprises:

Along first direction, product and supply body medium are received in transfer assembly, so that supply with body medium shift between the transfer device of assembly and product compressed, wherein, described product limits leading edge, with respect to the back edge of first direction, and described product limits and is placed in two opposed lateral edges between leading edge and back edge;

Along second direction, from transfer device, send product, so that supply with the carrier part of body medium, from product, peel off; With

When shifting assembly and send product along the whole length cooling products of the roughly whole length of the leading edge of product and two opposed lateral edges or supply with at least one body medium.

19. methods as claimed in claim 18, is characterized in that, described method also comprises cooling products when product is received in transfer assembly.

20. methods as claimed in claim 18, is characterized in that, cooling products comprises that cooling products reaches predetermined duration.

21. methods as claimed in claim 18, is characterized in that, described method also comprises:

Cooling device is started reach predetermined duration, with when product, be roughly positioned at supply body medium bonding station nearby time cooling products.

22. methods as claimed in claim 21, is characterized in that, described method also comprises that testing product is with respect to the position of shifting assembly, and wherein, cooling products comprises the detection position cooling products based on product.

23. methods as claimed in claim 18, it is characterized in that, product limits the visual receiving surface that comprises surface characteristics, wherein, supply with body medium and comprise He Fei transfer part, transfer part, and wherein, cooling products comprises the cooling visual receiving surface at surface characteristics product nearby, to promote the transfer of transfer part and the removal of non-transfer part when supplying with body medium and be stripped from.

24. 1 kinds are constructed to from middle transfer medium to the intermediate transfer printing assembly that is limited with the transferred product image of a pair of opposed transverse edge, and described intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises:

The transfer assembly that comprises transfer device, wherein, trans-printing assembly limits the cooling chamber that is constructed to receive product before product is received in transfer device, shifts assembly and is constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product in the following manner:

Along receive direction, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in transfer assembly, wherein, described a pair of opposed transverse edge is approximately perpendicular to described receive direction,

Between transfer device and product, compress intermediate transfer medium,

From shifting assembly, send product, and

Be arranged in and shift assembly nearby and be constructed to cooling described chamber when product is from transfer assembly is sent so that along the roughly cooling device of whole length cooling products of described transverse edge.

25. intermediate transfer printing assemblies as claimed in claim 24, is characterized in that, described intermediate transfer printing assembly also comprises:

At least one is constructed to testing product with respect to the sensor that shifts the position of assembly;

Control circuit, its arrange communicatively with at least one sensor and be constructed to when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer medium bonding station nearby time make cooling device engage, when product be roughly positioned at intermediate transfer medium separation point position nearby time make cooling device separated.

26. intermediate transfer assemblies as claimed in claim 24, is characterized in that, the group that cooling device selects free fan, air blast, fin, flow deflector, liquid valve jacket, fin, thermoelectricity cold drawing and Po Er note cooling device to form.

27. 1 kinds of methods that adopt the printing of intermediate transfer printing assembly, described method comprises:

Along receive direction, the product and the intermediate transfer medium that are limited with a pair of opposed transverse edge are received in transfer assembly, wherein, described a pair of opposed transverse edge is approximately perpendicular to described receive direction;

Cooling products when product is received in transfer assembly, wherein, cooling products comprises the roughly whole length of cooling described transverse edge;

Compress intermediate transfer medium shifting between the transfer device of assembly and product; With

From shifting assembly, send product, so that intermediate transfer medium is peeled off from product.

28. methods as claimed in claim 27, is characterized in that, described method also comprises cooling products when sending product from transfer assembly.

29. methods as claimed in claim 27, is characterized in that, cooling products comprises that cooling products reaches predetermined duration.

30. methods as claimed in claim 27, it is characterized in that, product limits the visual receiving surface that comprises surface characteristics, wherein, intermediate transfer medium comprises He Fei transfer part, transfer part, wherein, cooling products is included in the surface characteristics visual receiving surface of cooling products nearby, so that when middle transfer medium is stripped from, transfer part and product keep together, and remove from product non-transfer part.

31. 1 kinds are constructed to transfer part be transferred to the trans-printing assembly the product that is limited with a pair of opposed transverse edge from supplying with body medium, and described trans-printing assembly comprises:

Shift assembly, it comprises that a pair of being constructed to is pressed against the opposed roll on product by supplying with body medium, wherein, shifts assembly and is constructed to from supplying with body medium to transferred product transfer part;

Be constructed to control independently the control circuit of the temperature of each opposed roll; With

Be arranged in and shift assembly cooling device nearby, wherein, described cooling device is constructed to the roughly cooling-air stream of whole length guiding air along described opposed transverse edge.

32. trans-printing assemblies as claimed in claim 31, is characterized in that, one in control circuit control roll is heated to the temperature higher than another roller.

33. trans-printing assemblies as claimed in claim 32, is characterized in that, one in control circuit control roll is heated to the first temperature, for promoting transfer part from supplying with the transfer of body medium.

34. trans-printing assemblies as claimed in claim 31, is characterized in that, the group that cooling device selects free fan, air blast, fin, flow deflector, liquid valve jacket, fin, thermoelectricity cold drawing and Po Er note cooling device to form.

35. trans-printing assemblies as claimed in claim 31, is characterized in that, cooling device is constructed to cooling products when sending product from transfer assembly.

36. 1 kinds of visual receiving surfaces that are constructed to be limited with to the either side at image receiving surface from supplying with body medium the product of a pair of opposed transverse edge shift the trans-printing assembly of transfer part, and described trans-printing assembly comprises:

Shift assembly, it comprises transfer device, wherein, shifts assembly and is constructed in the following manner from supplying with body medium to the visual receiving surface transfer transfer part of product:

Product is received in and is shifted in assembly,

Between transfer device and product, body medium is supplied with in compression,

From shifting assembly, send product, and

From product, remove and supply with body medium so that transfer part is transferred to product from supplying with body medium; With

Transfer device cooling chamber nearby, it is suitable for receiving product after supply body medium is compressed between transfer device and product, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to the roughly whole length of cooling described transverse edge.

37. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 36, is characterized in that, trans-printing assembly is intermediate transfer printing assembly, and wherein, supplying with body medium is intermediate transfer medium.

38. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 36, is characterized in that, supply with the group that body medium selects free tape, sign board, magnetic stripe, hologram and paillon foil to form.

39. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 36, is characterized in that, visual receiving surface comprises surface characteristics, and wherein, cooling chamber is constructed to cooling described surface characteristics visual receiving surface nearby.

40. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 39, is characterized in that, the group that surface characteristics selects free magnetic stripe and smart card noncontact chip to form.

41. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 36, it is characterized in that, transfer device comprises heater block, and wherein, cooling chamber comprises shell, described shell be constructed to product or supply with in body medium at least one nearby, peeling off, concentrating nearby of position is cooling, and cause greatly heater block isolation cooling and transfer device.

42. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 36, is characterized in that, described printing assembly also comprises air blast, and wherein, air blast comprises two nozzles, and each nozzle is positioned at each one end of cooling chamber, so that cooling-air stream is conducted through cooling chamber.

43. 1 kinds are constructed to the intermediate transfer printing assembly that is limited with the transferred product image of a pair of opposed transverse edge, and described intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises:

Comprise visual intermediate transfer medium disposed thereon;

Along first direction, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in transfer assembly,

Between transfer device and product, compress intermediate transfer medium,

Along second direction, from shifting assembly, send product, and

Be constructed to along each air blast that provides off and on cooling-air to flow of the described opposed transverse edge of product.

44. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 43, it is characterized in that, air blast is constructed to optionally at product, provide cooling-air stream nearby when product is sent along second direction from shifting assembly, but at product, does not provide cooling-air stream nearby when product is received in transfer assembly along first direction.

45. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 43, is characterized in that, shifting assembly is that the opposed visual receiving surface transfer first single-pass bilateral visual and the second image being constructed to from middle transfer medium to product shifts assembly.

46. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 43, is characterized in that, described printing assembly also comprises:

At least one is constructed to testing product with respect to the sensor that shifts the position of assembly; With

Control circuit, itself and at least one sensor are arranged communicatively and be constructed to provides cooling-air stream nearby at product when product is disposed in primary importance with respect to transfer assembly, when product is disposed in the second place with respect to transfer assembly, at product, does not provide cooling-air stream nearby.

47. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 43, is characterized in that, air blast comprises the single charging portion being communicated with two fluid nozzles.

48. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 47, is characterized in that, product limits two edges that extend along first direction, and wherein, each nozzle is located nearby at the edge separately of product.

49. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 47, is characterized in that, shift assembly and comprise at least one surface that is positioned at product stripping rod nearby, wherein, stripping rod and transfer device delimit chamber, and wherein, each nozzle, in each location, one end of chamber, passes through chamber with guiding cooling air stream.

50. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 43, is characterized in that, air blast comprises centrifugal fan.

51. 1 kinds are constructed to the intermediate transfer printing assembly that is limited with the transferred product image of a pair of opposed transverse edge, and described intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises:

Comprise visual intermediate transfer medium disposed thereon;

The transfer assembly that comprises transfer device, wherein, shifts assembly and is constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product;

Be constructed to the air blast that cooling-air stream is provided in each of the described opposed transverse edge of product nearby; With

Control circuit, it is arranged communicatively with at least one sensor and is constructed to and with respect to shifting when assembly is disposed in primary importance, make air blast engage at product, to provide cooling-air stream nearby when product, when product is disposed in the second place with respect to transfer assembly, at product, does not provide cooling-air stream nearby.

52. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 51, it is characterized in that, sensor and control circuit are constructed to optionally make air blast to engage, and with when providing cooling-air stream from shifting when assembly is sent product, still when product is received in transfer assembly, do not provide cooling-air stream.

53. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 51, is characterized in that, shifting assembly is that the opposed visual receiving surface transfer first single-pass bilateral visual and the second image being constructed to from middle transfer medium to product shifts assembly.

54. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 51, is characterized in that, air blast comprises the single charging portion being communicated with two fluid nozzles.

55. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 51, is characterized in that, air blast comprises centrifugal fan.

56. 1 kinds are constructed to the intermediate transfer printing assembly that is limited with the transferred product image of a pair of opposed transverse edge, and described intermediate transfer printing assembly comprises:

Comprise visual intermediate transfer medium disposed thereon;

The transfer assembly that comprises transfer device and air blast, described air blast comprise be constructed to provide cooling-air stream two fluid nozzles the single charging portion that is communicated with, wherein, shift assembly and be constructed to the image from middle transfer medium to transferred product in the following manner:

Along first direction, product and intermediate transfer medium are received in transfer assembly, so that intermediate transfer medium is compressed between transfer device and product,

Along second direction, from shifting assembly, send product, so that intermediate transfer medium is stripped from from product, and

At intermediate transfer medium, when product is peeled off, what in each of described opposed transverse edge, be in interface between intermediate transfer medium and product provides cooling-air to flow by described two nozzles nearby.

57. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 56, is characterized in that, described printing assembly also comprises:

Control circuit, itself and at least one sensor are arranged communicatively, and are constructed to engage at product, to provide cooling-air stream nearby when middle transfer medium makes air blast when product is peeled off.

58. printing assemblies as claimed in claim 56, is characterized in that, air blast comprises centrifugal fan.